Shelley The Republican

American Hero....Again!

2008-09-24T14:50:00.004-05:00

Check mate! John McCain shows leadership and asks Obama to join him. Meanwhile, we are still waiting on Obama to show he cares about something besides himself as he prepares for a debate that will not have McCain in attendence.

Finally, someone in the government, who isn't all about himself. Shelley the Republican says, "Hats off! You're a true American!"

MCCAIN SUSPENDS CAMPAIGN TO FOCUS ON ECONOMY; WANTS DEBATE DELAYWed Sept 24 2008 14:58:02 ET

MCCAIN: America this week faces an historic crisis in our financial system. We must pass legislation to address this crisis. If we do not, credit will dry up, with devastating consequences for our economy. People will no longer be able to buy homes and their life savings will be at stake. Businesses will not have enough money to pay their employees. If we do not act, ever corner of our country will be impacted. We cannot allow this to happen.Last Friday, I laid out my proposal and I have since discussed my priorities and concerns with the bill the Administration has put forward. Senator Obama has expressed his priorities and concerns.This morning, I met with a group of economic advisers to talk about the proposal on the table and the steps that we should take going forward.I have also spoken with members of Congress to hear their perspective.It has become clear that no consensus has developed to support the Administration' proposal. I do not believe that the plan on the table will pass as it currently stands, and we are running out of time.Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me.I am calling on the President to convene a meeting with the leadership from both houses of Congress, including Senator Obama and myself. It is time for both parties to come together to solve this problem.We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved.I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the commission on presidential debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.I am confident that before the markets open on Monday we can achieve consensus on legislation that will stabilize our financial markets, protect taxpayers and homeowners, and earn the confidence of the American people. All we must do to achieve this is temporarily set politics aside, and I am committed to doing so.Following September 11th, our national leaders came together at a time of crisis. We must show that kind of patriotism now. Americans across our country lament the fact that partisan divisions in Washington have prevented us from addressing our national challenges. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country.Developing...

I'm with the guy who has the sign

2008-09-23T23:40:00.003-05:00

Not literally. Just philosophically. Yeah, it's a pretty risky bet given everything my government has told me but after looking at my 401K, what the hell?

The benefits? Well, we go ahead and cut off our leg and get over it. The dollar is already worth little (note my rant about the money printing at the U.S. Treasury in a previous depressive state) and people have lost their jobs. What's the $80 billion to $2 trillion going to do much more than prop up other country's markets from a tail spin?

Sure. I've listened to an endless amount of analysis. Yes, yes. I understand that markets will crash, Iran will start making bombs and the life as we know it is over but who am I leaving my blood, sweat and tears anyway? The illegal aliens, who I'll not be able to hire any more to clean my house? Or, maybe Mexico will think us less desirable when the jobs dry up? I say--let the wolves come.

Alright, I'm in my fantasy mode again about ways we could fix this mess and my MBA didn't even come from Harvard.

First, I'm calling the U.N. and telling them the Bank of U.S. is officially shut and all those countries they just love with their human rights lectures, 30-hour weeks, and hats out with no loyalty to the U.S. countries can split up the cost between themselves. Our contribution just fell to 25% since everyone hates us anyway. Call us when you think America is cool enough to take our cash and show us some respect.

Then I'm calling Mexico and letting them know their breathern is coming home. Nah, I'm not going to cart all of them out on a U.S. 747. I'm simply starting in the manufacturing industry top 200 and I'm going to let some agents visit their sites unannounced. For every undocumented worker, they're going to have one week to replace the person with an American or they will face a fine of $10,000 per head. And, then we're going to put Americans to work by putting agents in the HR offices of companies that like to ignore our laws.

Next, I'm calling the leadership in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and everywhere else with a bunch of illegals running amuck. The Federal Law is clear. You can not be here without proper visas and paperwork. The Feds will be pulling the 50/50 split of funding for illegal medical support, Medicaid, social programs and education programs. If you can't figure out a way for a school to ask if the student is a legal U.S. student then we're not supporting the bill.

Then, I'm calling the two geniuses known as Sarbanes and Oxley to rewrite the bill and they don't leave Washington until they figure out how to protect U.S. shareholders without screwing people who have new businesses.

Until the Senate and Congress works out a way to cut their spending 20% like the American public, their salary will be cut 20%. In addition, I will enact that no new spending will be allowed to pass (minus the 2/3 vote) unless their public approval rate is above 70%. Otherwise, I assume the American people think they are doing a poor job and they shouldn't be trusted for "new projects."

I figure that will clear up a couple of trillion in a couple of years. If my household budget is cut, I figure the budget of the House should be cut, too.

As they say in the newpaper biz...

2008-09-23T23:31:00.002-05:00

“Good luck. Hope it is right. We’re all counting on you.”

http://www.seattleweekly.com/2008-09-17/news/mark-powell-s-war-on-error.php

"Mark Powell finds mistakes everywhere he looks. National monuments, scholarly texts, museums, The Washington Post, The New York Times: All have drawn the attention of Powell's rabid, error-spotting eye. Powell will leave you seven-minute voicemails about these errors. When you call him back, he'll tell you how good he is at finding them--in great detail. When after two and a half hours you finally manage to hang up the phone, you'll vow never to speak with Mark Powell again. Then he'll call, and you'll listen. Because the thing is, Mark Powell is always right."

Web Site for Scandal Junkies

2008-09-23T23:27:00.003-05:00

Ok, I admit it. I'm a scandal junkie so you can imagine my joy when I bumped into this site that delivers a daily eMail like a fairy with pixie dust.

"ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. We strive to foster change through exposing exploitation of the weak by the strong and the failures of those with power to vindicate the trust placed in them."

Things to do: Plug something besides my blog. Check.

Next: Go to grocery store for milk, bread and a stick of butter.

Weekend Highlights and Football Season Kicks Off

2008-09-02T10:05:00.002-05:00

Palin's daughter is pregnant, Gustav was the big news for the weekend, and the Grid Iron gods have once again been paid homage as football season kicks off on Thursday.

For the Labor Day weekend, I packed the family up and headed to the Guadalupe River. For those unfamilar with Texas, tubing the Guadalupe is part of the Texas lifestyle. You get a rubber tube for you and one for your cooler, you sit in water that averages around 73 degrees and float down river and over a few rapids until you run out of beer.

People have figured out all sorts of contraptions to enhance the entertainment value of the float from coolers equiped with stereo systems that would rival home systems to the exotic tube floats that include umbrellas and chaise loungers. You see a little bit of everything in this Hill Country college tradition from the kids who left a can of beer at the condo with the sign, "AA Meets Here," to the two old women playing guitars off the side of their home and patio that overlooked the river.

When I returned, I couldn't wait to find out what I had missed since McCain had announced Palin as his VP selection. I couldn't believe it. The RNC had cancelled because Gustav was heading to New Orleans and according to non reporting gut sites like Daily Kos bloggers had posted things about Palin's daughter I will not even repeat on this blog.

After about a day of Gustav moving towards New Orleans, it was time to move onto more important issues like fantasy football. Oh, how I wanted Tom Brady but unfortunately my turn to pick didn't come until slot number 11. Brady posted over 428 fan points last season and I was ready for someone to say, "What? A QB choice in round 1? That's crazy!" But, enough people had read Fantasy Guru to say, "Yeah, I want him over LT."

At the end of the weekend, I had a team that has a pretty good chance of kicking butt, Gustav tore down some electricity lines, and polls show that Palin added value to the McCain ticket.

Palin Excites Republicans as McCain's VP Pick

2008-08-29T09:58:00.003-05:00

McCain's camp just turned Obama's strategy upside down by picking Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK). First, she is young. Second, she has a son who just enlisted in the Army last year. Third, her approval rating is over 80%. Fourth, when faced with having a down syndrome child, she chose life. And, could be the first woman ever elected as Vice President.

When Obama was given a chance to bring in Hillary Clinton he didn't even bother to vet her or make her a consideration. In fact, the last week was filled with stories about the tension between the Clintons and Obamas. To sum it up, Obama just wanted Clinton to go away. When it came time to make a choice, he didn't make change. He chose the old white Democrat--Joe Biden.

McCain proves to be the maverick he claims by chosing Palin. She also appears to all the things that make up the conversative movement including pro-choice. In fact, she was tested. When they knew she would have a down syndrome child, she chose to have the child. The Palin family released this statement the morning after Trig Paxson's birth:

“Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed.”

Three days later, Gov. Palin was back at work.

Palin reflects the true superwoman that many of us are. We work, we are caretakers, we want more from our career, and we want the best for our families.

With a son in the military, Palin will be keenly aware of how decisions regarding our military will influence their well being. Neither Obama, who has never served, nor Biden can make decisions with that in the back of their mind. In fact, no man can even pretend to understand the worry that comes with a mother, who has a son in a war zone.

I couldn't be more thrilled. Congratulations Sen. McCain! Job well done!

Mrs. Obama Finally Falls in Love with Country

2008-08-25T22:05:00.004-05:00

The polls showing McCain in a dead heat must have reached the Obama camp. In a speech that was less than motivating, Mrs. Obama gave the key note speech at the Democratic Convention tonight.

In the course of 20 minutes, Mrs. Obama successfully mentioned the following key phrases: Chicago, Hillary Clinton, college, values, Joseph Biden, and her children. In a final effort to endure the women in the audience to not vote for McCain the Obamas pawned out their children in a dialogue with Barack Obama.

The bottom line is that the polls really question whether Obama is ready to lead the country. Is he too radical? Is the fact that he and his running mate are the most liberal people (ranked 1 and 3) in Congress? Or, is it that the Hillary supporters just got fed up with the bait and switch?

The answer is all three. Bill Maher on MSNBC all but called anyone who did not support Obama as stupid. "They actually believe that drilling off shore will lower the price of oil," he said. I guess since I didn't go to Cornell then I can't possibly comprehend supply and demand economics.

This was a focused group speech that had been tested. We've seen the real Michelle Obama when she was ad lib and we know how she really feels--she's not proud of the U.S.; she wanted to scratch out Bill Clinton's eyes because he did some stump speeches for one of Obama's opponents; and any challenge from the media means they are evil doers.

For me the big ticket is Hillary Clinton's speech. Oh, I hope she will not disappoint. Please let the Hillary supporters come large and in-charge.

Veepstakes

2008-08-13T20:16:00.003-05:00

I may have told you that I only vacation in Republican states. Why would I put my hard earned taxed dollars into more Democratic hands? Thus, this week my vacation has taken me to Florida.

It's just a few weeks now until Obama speaks in Denver and the Republicans go to Minnesota (How did that happen?). So the big discussion is who will be the choice for each candidate that will make or break a candidate?

I've concluded if McCain picks Romney I'm not going to even bother going to vote. As a candidate, shouldn't your business case be a little more obvious than to worry about Michigan, which went Republican when it counted. A McCain Romney ticket says, "Hey, Republicans. Screw you!"

So who would I like to put with McCain? I like Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Why? I like that she represents a state who's ready for us to drill like crazy for oil. I like how she runs a state bordered by the pseudo-French (aka Canada) and those crazy Russians, who will put a flag miles below frozen icebergs. I like the fact that she would be willing to sue the U.S. for the right to allow drilling. Most of all, I like the fact she is from a state that represents the fact that Americans can buy any damn thing we want.

I've never been thrilled about the idea of Condi Rice. There's something about her that lacks charisma. Sure, she loves shoes, plays the piano, and is smarter than I am, but that's just not good enough. Who cares that she referees the male leaders of the world from creating another war? She just doesn't seem like the gal you can't wait to meet for happy hour, which is the true test of any potential VP.

Honestly, the Republicans aren't going to have much choice than to pick a woman. After all, Hillary supporters are angry. I don't mean mad. I mean angry. What's the difference? One can be forgotten with a "I'm sorry, honey." The other is, "I will never forget that you forgot my birthday and then tried to pick up a flower at 7-11." And these angry, forgotten Hillary supporters will be looking to stick to Obama and what better way than by voting for a Republican woman? They want to tell Obama they are mad he beat her, got nominated by the pre-determined rules in Florida and Michigan, which by the way were designed to punish Republicans, and that a man--even if he is still a minority--beat their candidate.

Remember, McCain is so old that he's an absolute. A vote for McCain ensures that he will die in the next four years, Obama will go away, and Hillary and Bill will return to the White House in 2012. And, they get a woman while they wait....and wait...and wait. However, Obama means that he might actually do a good job and beat her again in 2012.

Yep, a vote for McCain is a vote for Hillary. So, here's to feeding the alligators.

All the things wrong with this election

2008-06-25T20:07:00.002-05:00

I admit it. Everything is so wrong with politcs I don't even know where to start. I have an entire nation, who hasn't even taken the time to read Obama's website to know that as president his goals include more vacation time, making sure farmer's have Internet, and a total irrational approach to foreign policy. But, heck, every college kid in America is Obama happy.

Then, Tim Russert died. He was the last of a breed of objective journalists.

Then, I'm Chicago this week and every where I look there's an Obama for President t-shirt. Goodness! How much more must a person take? But, wait...there's more.

We have that whole $300 billion mortgage blow-out sale at the treasury; gas is $4 a gallon and no one wants us to drill anywhere except where oil doesn't exist; and the feds kept the interest rate the same.

I hate Congress. I hate the insanity at the Supreme Court. And, I am definitly not happy with the happy printing of the dollar going on at the Treasury Dept. So, as if listening to all the Democrats wasn't enough, now the stupidity of a super large government spending Republican party has screwed us royally. Only this time it's going to nearly cost us the country.

Thus, I need something to make me happy because I'll be paying a lot more taxes this year. My friends will all be unemployed because of this increase of taxes and my increased intake of PB&J doesn't exactly rock my world. So, I might as well blog about things that make me happy.

Let me think about what that might be since my country is going down a tank and no one cares.

Really? John Glenn endorses Clinton? Who knew?!

2008-02-15T11:40:00.000-06:00

HillaryClinton.com - View Post: "Former Ohio Senator and astronaut John Glenn announced his endorsement of Hillary Clinton today.

'With all of the challenges facing Ohio and America, we need a leader who can deliver real solutions on her first day in office,' Senator Glenn said.

'Hillary Clinton will immediately go to work turning around our economy and rebuilding the middle class. She has the strength and experience to take on the Republicans in November and win Ohio and the White House.'"

Well, she had to find someone since Hollywood and Washington has left her side.

Will Jeb Bush be VP?

2008-02-15T11:36:00.000-06:00

Political Radar: George H.W. Bush to Endorse McCain: "ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Former President George H.W. Bush will endorse Sen. John McCain for president on Monday in Houston, Texas, sources tell ABC News.

The endorsement from the former president is expected to increase pressure on former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee to end his bid for the GOP nomination."

STR is hearing that Jeb Bush is being considered as a possibility for the Vice President spot to quiet unhappy conservatives, who are unhappy with McCain.

Hmm...I might vote for McCain Bush only for the thrill of calling my friends and saying, "24 years of Bush... I'm McLovin' it!"

Shouldn't these be our initiatives?

2008-02-15T11:19:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the White House: "Mrs. Laura Bush addresses guests as she prepares to introduce President George W. Bush Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008 at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., prior to an address about their upcoming trip to Africa. Mrs. Bush outlined the many United States initiatives in cooperation with Africa nations that help improve education, reduce poverty and fight pandemic diseases. White House photo by Chris Greenberg"

I don't mean to be a party pooper but as I was reading this it occured to me, "Shouldn't these initiatives be the priorities for the U.S. rather than for our foreign policy?"

I know it is cynical but given that most of Africa is on the take and even if we get past that level you have the French at the next level, who we know are famous for having their palms greased (see previous posts about Iraq), I was left wondering why we are pumping money into their education and disease issues?

I know, I know. As I roll my eyes. We're a rich country. The world is falling apart. We have this thing we are supposed to do to spread democracy across the world like a fairy spreading her dust across all those who are less fortunate making their three wishes to go to the big gala event and is without a dress. But, let's get serious. No Child Left Behind is a bust. Diseases that were once erradicated in the U.S. are coming back online because we've decided that immigration laws should just be ignored. And, I still have people asking for money in the downtown area in which I work.

Since Iran has all the cash - let the Muslims help Muslims.

Putin is another white male who would not vote Clinton

2008-02-15T11:16:00.000-06:00

Putin vs. Clinton - Ben Smith's Blog - Politico.com: "'At a minimum, a head of state should have a head,' Putin said."

Meet Your Candidates America: No Substance Obama or Hot Head McCain

2008-02-14T18:18:00.004-06:00

These are your candidates America. After several primaries, it is clear who the choices will be. Either a really great orator or a spit ball of a military guy. I feel like the joke is on me.

Romeny endorsed McCain today so there is no way Huckabee can get a miracle win out of the primaries. Obama will pull so far ahead that Clinton can not win. Thus, leaving us with a man who has accomplished little besides being an accomplished speaker and a famous POW.

I'm not sure who gets my anger. Is it the media? The opposing party? A whole society who doesn't realize what they have done to our world? A group of hand out taking people, who love the idea of entitlement programs?

This is it, huh? This is the best America had to put up to represent its future? We should be ashamed at the talent that politics drags in behind its wheel cart on a Saturday afternoon. I guess I should stop working hard now. Clearly, it doesn't matter what the results are. As long as people like the way you talk. Or, if you let enough people cross your border and take your neighbor's job while you reform how you run for office - that's all you need to win.

Great job, America! Great job.

Superdelegates get campaign cash - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com

2008-02-14T18:15:00.000-06:00

Superdelegates get campaign cash - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com: "Many of the superdelegates who could well decide the Democratic presidential nominee have already been plied with campaign contributions by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, a new study shows.

'While it would be unseemly for the candidates to hand out thousands of dollars to primary voters, or to the delegates pledged to represent the will of those voters, elected officials serving as superdelegates have received about $890,000 from Obama and Clinton in the form of campaign contributions over the last three years,' the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics reported today.

About half the 800 superdelegates -- elected officials, party leaders, and others -- have committed to either Clinton or Obama, though they can change their minds until the convention."

Huckabee Done: Romney Endorses McCain

2008-02-14T17:27:00.001-06:00

Romney Endorses McCain: "BOSTON (AP) - Republican campaign dropout Mitt Romney endorsed John McCain for the party's presidential nomination and asked his national convention delegates to swing behind the likely nominee.

'Even when the contest was close and our disagreements were debated, the caliber of the man was apparent,' the former Massachusetts governor said, standing alongside his one-time rival at his now- defunct campaign's headquarters. 'This is a man capable of leading our country at a dangerous hour.'"

Starbucks Customer No More - And, I'm Not Angry

2008-02-11T09:38:00.000-06:00

My first visit to Starbucks was in 1987 where a non coffee drinker was looking for a way to blend with fellow coffee drinkers. I discovered the steamer. A blend of syrups and hot milk, I discovered my drink--the vanilla, almond steamer with whip. Today, on my visit to Starbucks, the cashier informed me that my almond syrup has been discontinued by Starbucks.

For 15 years, I have drank one single drink at nearly $4 a pop. That's a lot of money and today they cut my habit cold turkey. No warning. No notice. This is as if Coke (my other vice) went out of business and didn't allow me the chance to stock up.

What will I do without my almond syrup? It will never be the same. Goodbye, Starbucks!

Romney is Out of the GOP Race

2008-02-07T12:12:00.001-06:00

If McCain couldn't be more smug, Romney says he is stepping down for the good of the party. Excuse me while I peel my hands off my face.

In six months you'll hear me screaming from a polling booth in the middle of Texas, "Damn, you McCain! Damn, you!"

If Bloomberg enters, would you vote for him?

My McCain Hangover

2008-02-06T21:34:00.000-06:00

Well, it is clear. I have to come up with a strategy to keep McCain out of office. I feel like I'm wrapped up in the Brittany Spears drama--how far do we need to fall before we reach rock bottom?

Ol' Mac has put his finger up at Republicans for eight years and now he wants our votes. Wait, he doesn't care if we vote for him actually. He thinks he has this wrapped up without any of us. In fact, he's so liberal that all the Democrat strategists on t.v. tonight have said they actually fear McCain. (Meanwhile, they are all so excited about how many people are showing up to vote for the Obama/Clinton ticket.)

Two things are going to happen in 2008 and Republicans, who voted for McCain should pat themselves on the back for the darn scenario. First, there are Republicans, who are so angry at McCain, that they will vote for ANYONE but McCain. He sided with a free for all for illegals. He was against the Bush tax cuts (by the way, if you earn more than $40,000, beware, a tax hike is coming your way). If there was something we needed his support, you can count on it - he was radio silent. He was no Republican. He was carrying a grudge for eight long years and 2008 is his year to get revenge.

The second scenario--and one that I doubt could happen with a Clinton/Obama ticket--is that he wins. He gets in office. I promise his approval ratings while in office will make Bush look like the most popular person in your high school senior class. And, let's not forget about this little temper problem he has. Do we really want someone with this much lack of control with the ability to tick off the entire world at any given moment?

McCain is wrong. If you are in a state that still hasn't voted in the primaries, mathematically, there's still time to right the ship.

News Flash...McCain Not Sweeping His Home State

2008-02-05T20:22:00.000-06:00

Exit polls indicating that John McCain is not taking his home state of Arizona as easily as expected and it is not a winner take all state, which means he may be splitting the delegates with Romney and Huckabee--a big loss when Huckabee (Ark.) and Romney (Mass.) got their own states this evening.

More evidence that McCain's liberal ways are catching up with him. More to come.....

Not so fast McCain, Huckabee, you're the one for me!

2008-02-05T20:10:00.000-06:00

I'm watching the Super Tuesday numbers roll in and my worst nightmare is forming. The day I show up at the poll in November and I am presented with McCain or Hillary. I promise you I will not vote for McCain because he is no friend of the Republicans--plus, I can't stand to hear him say, "My friend" a zillion times while he is president.

He is smug. He is a friend of open borders. He buddied up with the Kennedy's and like Limbaugh said he seems to gravitate towards the fringes of our party rather than the center of our values.

While he's going around talking about how bad the Republicans screwed up in the last six years, where was he beating the drum to stop spending? Where was he while he was flying around with Ms. Clinton appearing on the news channels? And, exactly what did campaign finance really mean to the middle class while our mortgages were closing in on us? (If I hear him talk about that one more time....)

Do we really want a president who's going to be a doom and gloom guy? I will write in my own name before I vote for the maverick.

At least Huckabee can give a decent, inspiring speech that doesn't make you want to take out a knife and saw off your ears. Shelley supports Huckabee! Let's hope tonight isn't his goodbye speech.

2007-09-14T15:29:00.000-05:00

Predicting the election takes time. On a wall in my office, I have a list of all the candidates and plenty of people stop by daily to tell me exactly what they think.

This week a Democrat stopped by to tell me they liked Fred Thompson because they enjoyed watching him on Law and Order. Is this seriously going to be the only value of our next president?

I find myself yelling at the television on a daily basis, "People, if you want to provide free healthcare, end poverty, and cut taxes, stop the insanity!"

If I were president, I would require that school systems qualify citizen status the same way that we all have to prove our kids were vaccinated. Hospitals would be released from potential lawsuits of turning away non-US citizens for non-life threatening visits when they have no way to pay for services. And most of all, I would penalize any corporation who breaks the law and employs non-US citizens and does not follow the legal process for employing them.

If I were president these three things would save the border states billions in public services. I took my calculator out and realized that a loose calculation shows my $5,000 property tax bill would be cut in half by simplying employing these strategies. My health care insurance for my family would be covered by such an act.

If I were president, I would cut half of the programs currently being funded by the government. Most of them are pork projects anyway like a highway in the middle of nowhere, an outdated program or a non-essential program that does not enhance the value of life of Americans. You would most likely have a reduction of taxes around 20%. You currently take home only one-third of what you make. Imagine if your contribution was a mere 15%?

In conjunction with that program, I would dissolve the IRS. A flat tax is fair. If you don't spend it, the government doesn't get your money. Currently, you are taxed when you make income, when you go shopping, or if you buy a new car.

My foreign policy would be simple, "If you want America's funding, you're going to put in some sweat equity to helping make America great." If a citizen of another country wants a bag of rice, then they will have to participate in a work program that supports our military, museum system or other non-intelligence community. The hand outs will end because they don't like us any way.

I'm also going to significantly reduce the U.N.s monetary support until either a) other country's leadership steps up and contributes more or b) they stop complaining about America.

I'm also going to allow border agents to shoot anyone crossing over the border or trying to outrun the law. And, heck, while I'm at it, I'm going to give federal support to spankings in the school system.

Most of all, let capitalism reign supreme.

Shelley the Republican Met Mitt

2007-08-14T20:11:00.000-05:00

Besides taking one of my worst pictures ever with a possible future U.S. President (OMG! My hair is so flat!), my overall impression of Gov. Mitt Romney was favorable. He connected with the people, positions himself on the issues well, and darn it... people like him.

Romney came into the reception area and worked the room with the ease of a socialite. I was impressed that he took the time to shake every single person's hand, spend a couple of minutes chatting with him, and take questions from the crowd. More impressive was the Texans for Mitt crowd who indeed were Texans for Mitt.

As I'm munching on the pepper cheese, I wasn't thinking about Mitt. I was too busy thinking about the fact my hair looked horrible in the picture, I wore the wrong shoes for standing, not to mention a shirt too big, which in turn made me look like the size of a Thoroughbred next to the fit and trim governor in the perfectly tailored suit (although extremely comfortable at the office in slouch mode)....but I digress.

My only suggestion to the Romney team is that he talks too long. True, I'm so ADD that I can barely brush my teeth without getting distracted. However, a simple question needs a straightforward answer. Some of his responses seemed a little canned from my perspective but he did have some interesting tidbits worked into his stump speech.

He rolled through his position on the hot topics easily, made sure to mention illegal immigration, border control, health care and Iraq within a five minute discussion - impressive. After a thorough discussion on these topics and his very high level plan of action relating to these topics, the crowd highly disappointed me.

They asked about him attending the Texas straw poll (yawner), writing a book about his campaign journey, and getting the party back to values. Oh, and my personal favorite, "Who is your 20th century idol?" You get three guesses on his answer and the first two don't count. If you're slow, he was the greatest president in our history and died recently of Alzheimer's. (As if the answer would be anyone but Reagan in this election.)

Shelley the Republican has decided to give Romney a chance to impress. Initially the LDS issue gave me pause, but we're going to watch him more. He's at least giving us more entertainment than Fred Thompson these days.

Shelley the Republican Now More of a Poker Charity Republican

2007-08-13T11:04:00.000-05:00

While most political junkies were waiting for the results of the Iowa straw poll this weekend, I decided to use my time to support a charity and participate in a poker tournament benefitting the Greyhouse Adoption League of Texas http://www.galtx.org/index.htm and the The Greg Buckner Foundation.

Yes, that's me with Dallas Maverick Greg Buckner after beating him out of the tournament and finishing third. More importantly, I was the last woman standing at the final table. In a tournament on Friday, I finished first beating out more than 60 players. Seems I'm on a hot streak unlike our friends Tommy Thompson, Karl Rove, and many others in the Republican party.

I suppose it's time for me to become involved again the process. Our choices? A LDS member, who by many other LDS members aren't inclined to vote for him; a former mayor, who probably is more liberal than most of us would prefer; and a host of other candidates that range from hippie peace fans to illegal immigrant supporters. Quite the bunch, huh?

On the other side, we have a former first lady, who is so conflicted I can't figure out from one day to the next what side she is on; a rookie, who talks out both sides of his mouth and is idolized by the youth; and their host of nuts who thrive on the chance to argue with Bill O'Reiley and then use that as a reason to raise money.

My favorite candidate due to the sheer viral marketing they have been able to develop is Rep. Ron Paul. Google him and you'll find all sorts of tags about how he won this or that debate. Heck, I didn't even see him on television, let alone realize he won. However, they captured the Howard Dean approach to campaigning and maybe he'll be the chairperson of our party soon.

The bottom line is our country is in trouble. We allow some French company to throw our markets into a panic, sub prime loans are kicking everyone around at the wrong time, liberal baby boomers think that illegal immigrants are going to pay for their social security, and it's hard to find any real support for our troops.

Like in Texas Hold 'Em, I'm going to be very patient with my big slick. I'm going to a meet and greet with Mitt Romney this week and hope to see if we can figure out if this guy has what it takes. Maybe I shouldn't be so concerned about his religion, but I have this gut feeling something is going to go very wrong in the court of public opinion.

A New Year

2007-01-21T16:45:00.000-06:00

I have been to New York so much in the past quarter that I can actually tell you where Tribeca and SOHO split, cool restaurants with the best food at Union Station, and the difference between Midtown and Downtown. However, I can't tell you where to find one, single conservative in the entire area.

Every time I'm at a bar, minding my own business and eating my dinner alone, someone strikes a conversation with me. Regardless of any conscious effort I make to avoid the topic at any cost, the moment I admit I am from Texas the "I hate George W. Bush" conversation follows.

Last week, as I am trying to stomach meatloaf at a poor choice of a dinner destination on Prince Street, two men walk in and sit at the open spots next to me. The conversation starts innocently enough regarding the quality of the meatloaf and my boasting of my own Southern recipe. Soon we are discussing the validity of ADHD and how Republicans can not be single parents. Anyone who knows me realizes I could not possibly have enough strength to leave the topic.

With each shot, he gets more Liberal, which illustrates that ignorance must be innate since our real personalities seem to emerge when we get drunk. After a few more drinks he goes out to call his girlfriend, who happens to be a very well known celebrity. Ahh, all the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together.

It was then I realized how real the hate for Bush is in Hollywood.

I'm rooting for Chicago today. Let's just hope I don't have to turn my back on the NFL. I wouldn't know what to do with myself while bypassing the movie theatre hasn't been that tough over the past few years.

Thank God the Democrats Erased the Society of Corruption with the Election

2006-11-15T15:09:00.001-06:00

The Blotter: "As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was one of the members of Congress Abramoff had allegedly implicated in his cooperation with federal prosecutors.

A spokesperson for Reid, elected yesterday as the Senate Majority Leader, said the senator had done nothing illegal or unethical.

'We have no idea what Abramoff is telling prosecutors to save his skin, but I do know that these kind of old allegations are completely ridiculous and untrue,' Sen. Reid's spokesman Jim Manley told ABC News. "

Thank God the Democrats Erased the Society of Corruption with the Election

2006-11-15T15:09:00.000-06:00

Thank God the Democrats Erased the Society of Culture with the Election

2006-11-15T15:08:00.000-06:00

Top 10 Democrat Sex Scandals in Congress

2006-10-05T08:55:00.000-05:00

Top 10 List - HUMAN EVENTS : Top 10 Democrat Sex Scandals in Congress: "10. Sen. Daniel Inouye. The 82-year-old Hawaii Democrat was accused in the 1990s by numerous women of sexual harassment. Democrats cast doubt on the allegations and the Senate Ethics Committee dropped its investigation.

9. Former Rep. Gus Savage. The Illinois Democrat was accused of fondling a Peace Corps volunteer in 1989 while on a trip to Africa. The House Ethics Committee decided against disciplinary action in 1990.

8. Rep. Barney Frank. The outspoken Massachusetts Democrat hired a male prostitute who ran a prostitution service from Frank’s residence in the 1980s. Only two Democrats in the House of Representatives voted to censure him in 1990.

7. Former Sen. Brock Adams. The late Washington Democrat was forced to stop campaigning after numerous accusations of drugging, assault and rape, the first surfacing in 1988.

6. Former Rep. Fred Richmond. This New York Democrat was arrested in 1978 for soliciting sex from a 16-year-old. He remained in Congress and won re-election—before eventually resigning in 1982 after pleading guilty to tax evasion and drug possession.

5. Former Rep. John Young. The late Texas Democrat increased the salary of a staffer after she gave in to his sexual advances. The congressman won re-election in 1976 but lost two years later.

4. Former Rep. Wayne Hays. The late Ohio Democrat hired an unqualified secretary reportedly for sexual acts. Although he resigned from Congress, the Democratic House leadership stalled in removing him from the Administration Committee in 1976.

3. Former Rep. Gerry Studds. He was censured for sexual relationship with underage male page in 1983. Massachusetts voters returned him to office for six more terms.

2. Former Rep. Mel Reynolds. The Illinois Democrat was convicted of "

The Pope must die, says Muslim

2006-09-18T16:47:00.000-05:00

The Pope must die, says Muslim | News | This is London: "A notorious Muslim extremist told a demonstration in London yesterday that the Pope should face execution.

Anjem Choudary said those who insulted Islam would be 'subject to capital punishment'.

His remarks came during a protest outside Westminster Cathedral on a day that worldwide anger among Muslim hardliners towards Pope Benedict XVI appeared to deepen.

The pontiff yesterday apologised for causing offence during a lecture last week. Quoting a medieval emperor, his words were taken to mean that he called the prophet Mohammed 'evil and inhuman'. "

Get Ready - The Hillbillies Return to Washington

2006-09-07T09:49:00.000-05:00

ABC News: 'Love Her or Hate Her?' -- Early Polls on Hillary: "According to the poll on Hillary Clinton from Time magazine, 53 percent of those surveyed have a favorable impression of the freshman senator, a number that ranks above that of her primary Democratic contenders for the nomination: former Vice-President Al Gore received a 49 percent favorability rating, and 2004's presidential hopefuls John Edwards and John Kerry received 46 percent and 45 percent, respectively.

Perhaps more important, 67 percent of those polled see Clinton as politically moderate - a powerful statistic for any presidential hopeful mounting a campaign in the politically polarized climate. "

Today's Who Cares Moment

2006-09-06T16:30:00.000-05:00

Backpage Article Display: "Berlin - US pop superstar Janet Jackson hopes Hillary Clinton will become the first woman president of the United States, she said in an interview on Monday.

'Hillary Clinton as president - that would be great,' Jackson said. 'Then she could show all those people who wouldn't trust a woman with such a job.'

Jackson, who is currently promoting her new album 20 Y.O., declined to criticise US President George W Bush directly, saying only: 'I am not satisfied with the situation in this world. I hate war.' "

Towel Heads say, "Cheese!"

2006-09-06T15:55:00.000-05:00

Katie Couric's new version of news started out on the right foot. After all, being objective is no longer a need for the Fourth Estate. Instead, the leader, "Are we winning the war on terrorism?"

I decided to count the number of times I have been attacked since September 11 - none. Hmmm. If they are winning, why aren't they winning where the media live? I guess they are partnering with terrorists to keep their frequent flyer status.

It is time for us to untie the hands of our military and let them do their job. To answer Katie's question about "Things seemed to be going well in Afghanistan," she said. "What happened? Why is it unraveling now?"

Maybe because we're too busy trying to protect our soldier's public image while you do everything in your power to make them look like the bad guys rather than the people who live to kill you on their way to hell.

Voters won't tolerate 'axis of amnesty'

2006-09-06T13:57:00.000-05:00

CNN.com - Dobbs: Voters won't tolerate�'axis of amnesty' - Sep 6, 2006: "Our midterm elections are now two months away, and congressional, senatorial and gubernatorial campaigns are about to shift into high gear. After five weeks at home with their constituents, or at least some of them, our elected representatives are now back in session in Washington and fully armed with an understanding of the will of the people, ready to do the people's business.

Their first order of business? Why, to announce there will be no business done in this session of Congress on the critically important issues of border security and immigration reform. Can you feel the excitement?

Congressional and Senate Republicans have discovered that Karl Rove and his friend, President George W. Bush, not only don't have a clue when it comes to their favored 'comprehensive immigration reform' plans, but also that Rove and Bush's alliance with open borders Democrats represents an axis of amnesty that their constituents simply won't tolerate."

Getting Back to the Blog

2006-08-26T16:09:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time since I last blogged. It seems that in the course of some mistake I made in my profile that I changed my profile and could not recover my password after I had changed it. After several months of working with blogger.com, I now have my password and have proven I am indeed Shelley the Republican (the CIA could learn a few things from the security people at Blogger.com).

Unfortunately, I have lost my producer and most likely will not be able to put the audio back online anytime soon--at least no audio with the quality I once had.

I look forward to getting back into the swing of things and your comments!

Thank God! But, Why Can't They "Git R Done?"

2006-04-07T11:52:00.000-05:00

Immigration bill fails key vote - Politics - MSNBC.com: "WASHINGTON - The Senate sidetracked sweeping immigration legislation Friday amid partisan recriminations, leaving in doubt prospects for passage of a measure that offered the hope of citizenship to millions of men, women and children living in the United States illegally.

The bill gained only 38 votes on a key procedural test, far short of the 60 needed to advance.

The vote marked a turnabout from Thursday, when the Senate�s two leaders had both hailed a last-minute compromise as a breakthrough in the campaign to enact the most far-reaching changes in immigration law in two decades."

Hillary's Not Hollywood's Darling

2006-04-06T16:51:00.000-05:00

Inside Bay Area - IBA - Home: "DEPENDING on whom you talk to in Hollywood these days, Hillary Clinton is either too conservative, too polarizing, too famous, too stiff or -keep this to yourself!-too sexy.

And those are just the opinions of the celebrities who vote Democrat. (Don't even ask what the few Republicans had to say.)

Once the darling of the industry's liberal set, Clinton has come under attack from some as she starts to line up support for what many feel will be a run for the presidential nomination. But that's not unusual for Hollywood - it's almost like a rite of passage, says veteran Democratic strategist Bill Carrick: You haven't really made it as a politician here until the stars line up to kick your tires.

Plus, 'The Democrats want to win so badly, and Hillary is such an important leader, they're going to scrutinize everything she does,' Carrick said.

The chatter started quietly last year, when the Hollywood political crowd began speculating that Clinton could be a 2008 contender. Of course her people denied it, saying she's concentrating on her Senate re-election campaign in New York this year. (But it didn't help that she was coming to town a lot, collecting tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions - money that could be used in the presidential election.)

For months, few were willing to say anything negative on the record, for fear of offending Clinton and her husband, Bill, who became Hollywood's favorite during his political career. When Hillary Clinton decided to run for the Senate in 2000, she was greeted with tremendous support from the entertainment industry's power brokers. "

Algeria Forbids Efforts to Convert Its Muslims - New York Times

2006-04-06T10:35:00.000-05:00

Algeria Forbids Efforts to Convert Its Muslims - New York Times: "ALGIERS, April 5 (Reuters) Algeria has passed a law prohibiting efforts to convert Muslims to another religion, the country's chief of religious affairs said on Wednesday. The move seems aimed at maintaining stability after the Islamist violence that had plagued the country for a decade.

Muhammad Aissa, director of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told the state radio network that the measure, passed on March 20, was prompted by the activities of Christian evangelists, particularly in the restive ethnic Berber region of Kabylie."

The Truth Hurts in France

2006-04-05T12:30:00.000-05:00

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | French hopping mad over lazy frog jibe: "A sense of humour was holding - just - on both sides of the Channel yesterday, after a budget airline from Yorkshire posted a website cartoon of a French frog blocking a runway with a placard reading 'I am lazy'.

The jibe was prompted by widespread disruption of British flights in France, culminating in British passengers chanting 'Rosbifs want to go home' for two hours when their plane was marooned at Chambry in the Alps. 'It seems to me that either the air traffic controllers or the students run France at the moment,' said Philip Meeson, chief executive of Jet2.Com, which has played on a no-nonsense, plain-spoken local image to build a customer base at Leeds-Bradford airport."

Scotsman.com News - International - Laura Bush 'dismayed' at Hillary Clinton's frayed carpets

2006-04-05T09:36:00.000-05:00

Scotsman.com News - International - Laura Bush 'dismayed' at Hillary Clinton's frayed carpets: "FOR eight years she was the female power in the White House, a hands-on first lady who brought her lawyer's mind to weighty matters of state and was never afraid to muscle in on her husband's job of running the country.

But running a household, it seems, was another matter for Hillary Clinton.

A new book reveals how Laura Bush was left dumbfounded by her predecessor's garish taste in home decor and distinctly unimpressed with her housekeeping skills after taking over the White House in 2000. "

Sarandon wants monitoring for U.S. elections - Gossip: The Scoop - MSNBC.com

2006-04-03T16:28:00.000-05:00

Sarandon wants monitoring for U.S. elections - Gossip: The Scoop - MSNBC.com: Has anyone bothered telling Susan and the rest of Hollywood they are an embarrassment to the United States?

"Susan Sarandon wants the U.S. presidential elections to be monitored by outside interests. The "Bull Durham: star says that the 2004 vote was so fraudulent that we need international oversight - like troubled third-world countries do.

"I believe our next election should be monitored by international entities, just like it happened in Haiti and Iraq," Sarandon told Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo, according to our translator. "The last one was an embarrassment. Everybody knew there was fraud, but nothing was done about it. In some states there were more votes than people able to vote."

Veiled Muslims Recruited for Bank - Are They Serious?

2006-04-03T10:26:00.000-05:00

Khaleej Times Online: "COPENHAGEN - In a step, many may construe as one of the repercussions of the crisis that resulted in the publishing of blasphemous cartoons by the Danish daily Jyllands Posten, a manager of a Danish Bank located in a biggest neighbourhood where foreigners live has opened job opportunities for minorities, especially Muslims men and women, particularly the veiled ones.

This is regarded as a precedent in a country where 200,000 Muslims live. Attracted by the offer, a number of Muslims applied for jobs in the bank, a branch of the most important bank in Denmark.
The new tendency yielded fruit as a large number of Muslims have transferred their bank accounts to the said bank."

Muslims in Britain urge change in U.S. policies

2006-04-03T10:24:00.000-05:00

Charlotte Observer | 04/02/2006 | Muslims in Britain urge change in U.S. policies: "BLACKBURN, England - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice heard passionate complaints Saturday from British Muslims about U.S. polices in Iraq, toward the Palestinians and at the American-run detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Some complaints were voiced respectfully by Muslim leaders who met with Rice. Others were chanted and shouted by anti-war protesters.

Kam Kothia, one of the Muslim community leaders who met with Rice, said the group respectfully told her 'we want to see change' in U.S. policies in the Muslim world. He said he told Rice that the Bush administration should engage, not isolate, the new Hamas government in the Palestinian areas, because it was democratically elected in a process Washington backed."

Palestinian Official Says Its Our Fault Muslims Can't Get Along

2006-03-30T10:39:00.000-06:00

Palestinian Official Criticizes U.S. - Yahoo! News: "GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Newly installed Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar said the United States is biased toward Israel, guilty of crimes against Muslims and Arabs and is widening the rift with the Middle East.

Zahar, considered one of the more hard-line officials in the Palestinians' new Hamas-led government, also said his group would not cave in to international pressure to change its ways and had no plans to negotiate with Israel.

Zahar, responding to a statement by President Bush that Washington would not give aid to a Hamas-led government unless it changed its extremist policies, said those comments were in line with American support for Israel in the United Nations, and its massive aid to Israel."

Muslims Offended by Mother Teresa

2006-03-30T10:36:00.000-06:00

Planned Mother Teresa statue irks Albania Muslims - Yahoo! News: "SHKODER, Albania (Reuters) - Muslims in Albania's northern city of Shkoder are opposing plans to erect a statue to Mother Teresa, the ethnic Albanian Catholic nun in line for elevation to sainthood by the Vatican.

The dispute is unusual for Albania, where religion was banned for 27 years under the regime of dictator Enver Hoxha and where religious harmony and mixed marriages are the norm.

Seventy percent of the population are liberal Muslims, the rest are Christian Orthodox and Catholic.
But Muslim groups in Shkoder rejected the local council plan for a Teresa statue, saying it 'would offend the feelings of Muslims.'"

Military Shuns Many of Recruiting Age - Yahoo! News

2006-03-12T16:25:00.000-06:00

Military Shuns Many of Recruiting Age - Yahoo! News: "WASHINGTON - Uncle Sam wants YOU, that famous Army recruiting poster says. But does he really? Not if you're a Ritalin-taking, overweight, Generation Y couch potato or some combination of the above.

As for that fashionable 'body art' that the military still calls a tattoo, having one is grounds for rejection, too.

With U.S. casualties rising in wars overseas and more opportunities in the civilian work force from an improved U.S. economy, many young people are shunning a career in the armed forces. But recruiting is still a two-way street - and the military, too, doesn't want most people in this prime recruiting age group of 17 to 24.

Of some 32 million Americans now in this group, the Army deems the vast majority too obese, too uneducated, too flawed in some way, according to its estimates for the current budget year."

Daschle Considering '08 Presidential Bid - Yahoo! News

2006-03-12T16:21:00.000-06:00

Daschle Considering '08 Presidential Bid - Yahoo! News: "It is amazing to me that Daschle continues to live in some fantasy world where he believes he could be the U.S. President. The 2x4s of past attempt results that have hit this guy between the eyes clearly have been in vain.

Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, accusing the GOP of spreading a message of fear, says he is considering a 2008 presidential bid.

'I haven't ruled anything out or anything in at this point,' Daschle said in an interview Saturday night after a hometown dinner in his honor.

'I'm encouraged by the strong support many people have voiced for my candidacy around the country and in South Dakota. I'll make a decision at some point later on this year,' he said."

Protesters OK Breaking Immigration Law

2006-03-11T10:12:00.000-06:00

cbs2chicago.com: Chicago news, weather, traffic: Protesters Rally Against Illegal Immigration Bill: "(CBS) CHICAGO Crowds marched through the city on Friday to rally against HR 4437 - The Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005.

Supporters of the bill before Congress say it beefs up border protection. But thousands of people in Chicago's Latino community call the pending bill a blatant violation of rights.

As CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports, the protesters -- of Polish, Irish, Latino, Chinese and many other nationalities -- gathered at Union Park, at Ashland Avenue and Lake Street, and marched to the Loop. From the air, it appeared to be an endless sea of demonstrators, flooding the streets to protest the recently-passed house bill, which would make it a crime to hire or even help undocumented immigrants. "

My Way News

2006-03-11T10:10:00.000-06:00

My Way News: "American hostage Tom Fox has been killed and his body, showing signs of torture, left at a garbage dump in Baghdad, police said on Saturday.

One of the policemen who found the body said the 54-year-old peace activist, wearing a gray tracksuit, appeared to have beaten with electric cables before his death. He had a single gunshot wound to the head and his hands were tied behind him.

Fox, who had been in Iraq to campaign against the U.S. occupation and to work for the release of Iraqis held by U.S. forces, was taken hostage with three colleagues in November by a group calling itself the 'Swords of Truth.'

The group had threatened to kill the four, members of the Chicago-based Christian Peacemaker Teams, unless U.S. forces and the Iraqi authorities freed all prisoners in their custody."

Hague War Crimes Tribunal Full Coverage on Yahoo! News

2006-03-11T10:08:00.000-06:00

Hague War Crimes Tribunal Full Coverage on Yahoo! News: "AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Slobodan Milosevic, the former Yugoslav leader, who was branded 'the butcher of the Balkans' and was on trial for war crimes after orchestrating a decade of bloodshed during the breakup of his country, was found dead Saturday in his prison cell. He was 64. Milosevic, who suffered chronic heart ailments and high blood pressure, apparently died of natural causes and was found in his bed, the U.N. tribunal said, without giving an exact time of death. "

ABC News: Faith Hill, Tim McGraw Blast 'Humiliating' Katrina Cleanup

2006-03-09T12:41:00.000-06:00

ABC News: Faith Hill, Tim McGraw Blast 'Humiliating' Katrina Cleanup: "Faith Hill and Tim McGraw � two stars who usually stay out of politics � blasted the Hurricane Katrina cleanup effort, with Hill calling the slow progress in Louisiana and Mississippi 'embarrassing' and 'humiliating.'

The country music artists -who are natives of the storm-ravaged states- were at times close to tears, and clearly angry when the subject of Katrina came up during a news conference today. They had met with reporters in Nashville to promote their upcoming Soul2Soul II Tour, but when asked about the hurricane cleanup, the stars pulled no punches.

'To me, there's a lot of politics being played and a lot of people trying to put people in bad positions in order to further their agendas,' McGraw, a 38-year-old native of Delhi, La., told ABC News Radio. "

Debbie Schlussel

2006-03-07T19:10:00.000-06:00

Debbie Schlussel: "Usually, it's American Indians allegedly offended by the names of baseball and football teams in college and the pros.
And we thought you couldn't get more politically correct in sports than soccer. After all, the boring sport is popular in all the countries that hate us. And not popular in the greatest country on earth (America, to our 'fans' from the Al-Jazeera audience).

But we were wrong.

In fact, you can't be proud of your state or country anymore, if you are American. Take Major League Socccer's 'Houston 1836.' That WAS the name of the team . . . until Hispanics got offended.

You see 1836 was the year Houston was founded. Critics felt this name was 'anti-Mexican' because it's also the year Texas gained its independence by defeating Mexico. So, now, independence is a crime."

DenverPost.com - HOME

2006-03-07T11:14:00.000-06:00

DenverPost.com - HOME: "An overwhelming majority of the public believes fighting between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Iraq will lead to civil war, and half say the United States should begin withdrawing its forces from that violence-torn country, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey found that 80 percent believe that recent sectarian violence makes civil war in Iraq likely, and more than a third say such a conflict is 'very likely' to occur. These expectations extend beyond party lines: More than seven in 10 Republicans and eight in 10 Democrats and independents say they believe such a conflict is coming. "

Muslims ask French to cancel 1741 play by Voltaire

2006-03-07T11:13:00.000-06:00

Muslims ask French to cancel 1741 play by Voltaire: "Late last year, as an international crisis was brewing over Danish cartoons of Muhammad, Muslims raised a furor in this little alpine town over a much older provocateur: Voltaire, the French champion of the 18th-century Enlightenment.

A municipal cultural center here on France's border with Switzerland organized a reading of a 265-year-old play by Voltaire, whose writings helped lay the foundations of modern Europe's commitment to secularism. The play, 'Fanaticism, or Mahomet the Prophet,' uses the founder of Islam to lampoon all forms of religious frenzy and intolerance."

British Muslims Most Advantaged - Yet They Still Complain

2006-03-07T11:12:00.000-06:00

Gulf Times Newspaper - Qatar, Gulf and World News - Qatar: "British Muslims are the most advantaged, both in the fields of rights and opportunities, among their fellow believers in the whole of Europe, a member of a visiting UK delegation has said.

"From freedom to exercise their faith to equal opportunities, Muslims in the UK enjoy a unique position," Lutfur Rahman Ali, one of the members of a British delegation that visited Qatar, told Gulf Times yesterday.

The delegation comprised Muslims drawn from different fields like politics, business, tourism, media and government."

Europe's angry young Muslims

2006-03-07T11:10:00.001-06:00

BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Europe's angry young Muslims: "Europe is home to a new generation of alienated young Muslims whose anger may turn to radicalism, the BBC's Islamic affairs analyst Roger Hardy finds in new three-part series.

Part one looks at the root causes of last year's London bombings and Paris riots. "

Driver at UNC Cites Vengeance for Muslims

2006-03-07T11:10:00.000-06:00

Driver at UNC Cites Vengeance for Muslims: "A University of North Carolina graduate from Iran, accused of running down nine people on campus to avenge the treatment of Muslims, said at a hearing Monday that he was 'thankful for the opportunity to spread the will of Allah.'

Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar was accused of driving a sport-utility vehicle through the Pit, a popular campus gathering spot, injuring nine people Friday. None of the victims was seriously hurt."

Hamas Video: 'We Are A Nation That Drinks Jewish Blood,' Promises To Kill Jews 'Until We Have Quenched Our Thirst With Your Blood'

2006-02-27T09:54:00.000-06:00

ZOA 2-24-06: Hamas Video: 'We Are A Nation That Drinks Jewish Blood,' Promises To Kill Jews 'Until We Have Quenched Our Thirst With Your Blood': "Hamas, the Islamist terrorist group that won Palestinian legislative elections last month, recently posted on its official website a video which presents the parting video messages of two Hamas suicide bombers, with one of them stating that 'we are a nation that drinks blood' and that Hamas promises to drink the blood of Jews 'until we have quenched our thirst with your blood.... until you leave the Muslim countries.' The second suicide bomber is seen assisted in dressing by his mother as he prepares himself for a suicide terrorist attack (Hamas website, courtesy of Palestinian Media Watch). "

Holy Cow! S.D. House Approves Abortion Ban Bill

2006-02-24T15:32:00.000-06:00

ABC News: S.D. House Approves Abortion Ban Bill: "State lawmakers voted Friday to ban nearly all abortions in South Dakota and sent the measure to the governor, who said he is inclined to sign it.

Under the legislation, doctors in South Dakota would face up to five years in prison for performing an abortion unless it was necessary to save the woman's life.

The bill directly targets Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. State lawmakers believe the nation's highest court is now more likely to reverse itself on the abortion issue because of the recent appointments of Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito.

Planned Parenthood, which operates the only clinic performing abortions in South Dakota, has pledged to challenge the measure in court if Gov. Mike Rounds signs it into law. "

Vatican to Muslims: practice what you preach - Yahoo! News

2006-02-24T11:12:00.000-06:00

Vatican to Muslims: practice what you preach - Yahoo! News: "PARIS (Reuters) - After backing calls by Muslims for respect for their religion in the Mohammad cartoons row, the Vatican is now urging Islamic countries to reciprocate by showing more tolerance toward their Christian minorities.

Roman Catholic leaders at first said Muslims were right to be outraged when Western newspapers reprinted Danish caricatures of the Prophet, including one with a bomb in his turban. Most Muslims consider any images of Mohammad to be blasphemous.

After criticizing both the cartoons and the violent protests in Muslim countries that followed, the Vatican this week linked the issue to its long-standing concern that the rights of other faiths are limited, sometimes severely, in Muslim countries."

Nigerian Muslims Flee Sectarian Violence - Yahoo! News

2006-02-23T10:32:00.000-06:00

Nigerian Muslims Flee Sectarian Violence - Yahoo! News: "ONITSHA, Nigeria - Muslims fled this southeast Nigerian city and corpses still smoldered in its streets Thursday as two days of sectarian violence that killed more than 50 people subsided.

Onitsha has borne the brunt of a wave of sectarian violence across the country, sparked by weekend protests against caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. The violence is the worst of its kind since 2004, when Muslim-Christian skirmishes in northern Plateau and Kano states killed more than 700 people. Thousands of people have died in religious violence, often interwoven with ethnic rivalries, since 2000."

We knew it! Documents Reveal White House Deal on Ports - Yahoo! News

2006-02-23T07:43:00.000-06:00

Documents Reveal White House Deal on Ports - Yahoo! News: "My question is what other deals do we have out there with countries like Mexico?

WASHINGTON - Under a secretive agreement with the Bush administration, a company in the United Arab Emirates promised to cooperate with U.S. investigations as a condition of its takeover of operations at six major American ports, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The U.S. government chose not to impose other, routine restrictions.

In approving the $6.8 billion purchase, the administration chose not to require state-owned Dubai Ports World to keep copies of its business records on U.S. soil, where they would be subject to orders by American courts. It also did not require the company to designate an American citizen to accommodate requests by the government.

Outside legal experts said such obligations are routinely attached to U.S. approvals of foreign sales in other industries."

Media portrays Muslims only as terrorists, says local Islamic head - Oh, is there another type?

2006-02-22T11:13:00.000-06:00

Media portrays Muslims only as terrorists, says local Islamic head - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM: "THE head of the body representing Muslims in Jamaica is calling for unbiased coverage by the media of his religion to prevent Muslims being portrayed only as terrorists.

Saying that terrorist acts are not condoned by Islam, the president of the Islamic Council of Jamaica, Mustafa Muhammad, claimed that the media was only interested in Muslims' views when there is a terrorist or violent act carried out by Muslim extremists."

Massacre of Christians by Those in the "Religion of Peace"

2006-02-21T20:23:00.000-06:00

>>> AsiaNews.it <<< Massacre of Christians in Jolo deals heavy blow to hopes for peace: "The massacre of Christians in Jolo "deals a heavy blow at hopes for peace" and is very dangerous because "any incident can now spark a war of religion," a local Catholic source (who preferred to remain anonymous for security reasons) told AsiaNews as he commented this morning's attack against Christians in Patikul, a small town on Sulu Island near Jolo (Mindanao). The perpetrators could be foreign extremists from abroad, a missionary expert in Filipino affairs said.

Muslim extremists raided the farm over night in Patikul township, killing six Christians, including a nine-month infant girl, said Brigadier General Alexander Aleo, the island's military chief, who also confirmed that five other people were seriously wounded, among them a three-year old boy.
The gunmen appeared to be from the Abu Sayyaf (Bearers of the Sword) Group, a Muslim extremist organisation believed to be al-Qaeda-linked.

According to one eyewitness who survived, the attack was clearly motivated by religion. "Survivors of the carnage told military investigators that the attackers asked them for their religion. The gunmen left and then came back soon after and just opened fire on the Christians," Brig. General Aleo said. "

Students reject honor to 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' hero

2006-02-21T18:46:00.000-06:00

Students reject honor Marine Corp. hero: "The University of Washington's student senate rejected a memorial for alumnus Gregory 'Pappy' Boyington of 'Black Sheep Squadron' fame amid concerns a military hero who shot down enemy planes was not the right kind of person to represent the school.

Student senator Jill Edwards, according to minutes of the student government's meeting last week, said she 'didn't believe a member of the Marine Corps was an example of the sort of person UW wanted to produce.' "

RealClearPolitics - Commentary - What Will Europe Really Do? by Victor Davis Hanson

2006-02-21T18:42:00.000-06:00

RealClearPolitics - Commentary - What Will Europe Really Do? by Victor Davis Hanson: "Nothing is quite as surreal as the Islamic world�s fury at the liberal and innocuous Danes. How could anyone wish to burn their embassies and kill their citizens, when they have always offered all the politically correct, multicultural platitudes and welcomed in any and all from the Middle East?

Now the furor over the cartoons, coming on the heels of the bombings in Madrid and London, the French rioting, the murders in Holland, and the failed European negotiations with the Iranian theocracy have shaken Europe to its foundations.

If the most liberal and tolerant states in Europe such as Holland and Denmark have the most problems with Islamic radicals, then what does that say about the continent as a whole? Why were not the calculating jihadists singling out a more unapologetic Catholic Poland that has larger contingents in Iraq and is far prouder of its Christian roots?"

HILLARY CLINTON OK AFTER TRYING TO BYPASS A SECURITY AIRPORT ROADBLOCK

2006-02-21T18:39:00.001-06:00

HILLARY CLINTON OK AFTER TRYING TO BYPASS A SECURITY AIRPORT ROADBLOCK: "Bob's Note: This article is pure spin. What happened was that there was a line of cars waiting in line to be cleared to go through an airport mandatory check point. Hillary, control-freak that she is, impatient bitch that she is, thinking she is better than everyone else, had her limosine try to literally race past the officers and checkpoint. The officers tried to stop her limo and one officer was hit by the limo as it sped by. Frankly, the officers at that point had every right to draw their guns and fire at the limo and its occupants to stop it. For all they knew the limo could have been carrying a suitcase nuclear bomb headed for the airport.

It is my opinion that Queen Hillary 'What Rapist?' Clinton should have been arrested on the spot and charged with attempted murder, reckless and negligent driving, and any other applicable charges for this intentional attempt to run a security check point."

Muslims Believe Israel Responsible for Bird Flu

2006-02-21T18:39:00.000-06:00

MEMRI:: "On January 31, 2006, the Syrian government daily Al-Thawra published an article by columnist Abd Al-Rahman Ghunaym suggesting that Israel created the avian flu virus in order to damage 'genes carried only by Arabs.' The article further speculates that Israel may have planted the virus in East Asia in order to mislead the world, and that this is why the disease first appeared in that remote region. Another possibility given is that the virus was created to attack 'the yellow race - especially in China and Vietnam' which are 'rising powers' threatening 'American hegemony over the world.' "

Liberal Networks Let Al Gore Slide

2006-02-21T18:27:00.000-06:00

NewsBusters.org | Exposing Liberal Media Bias: "By checking with our network watchers and double-checking with Nexis, ABC, CBS, and NBC have all completely ignored Al Gore's speech in Saudi Arabia, where he denounced the U.S. government for committing 'terrible abuses' against Arabs after 9/11, and that Arabs had been 'indiscriminately rounded up' and held in 'unforgivable' conditions. "

HBO's Gumbel: Lack of Blacks Makes Olympics 'Look Like a GOP Convention' | NewsBusters.org

2006-02-21T18:25:00.000-06:00

HBO's Gumbel: Lack of Blacks Makes Olympics 'Look Like a GOP Convention' | NewsBusters.org: "So try not to laugh when someone says these are the world's greatest athletes, despite a paucity of blacks that makes the Winter Games look like a GOP convention. Try not to point out that something's not really a sport if a pseudo-athlete waits in what's called a kiss-and-cry area, while some panel of subjective judges decides who won ... So if only to hasten the arrival of the day they're done, when we can move on to March Madness - for God's sake, let the games begin.'"

New Fatwa Gives Go Ahead in Use of Nukes

2006-02-21T18:23:00.000-06:00

MEMRI: Latest News: "On February 16, 2006, the reformist Internet daily Rooz (www.roozonline.com ) reported that for the first time extremist clerics from Qom had issued what the daily called 'a new fatwa,' which states that 'shari'a does not forbid the use of nuclear weapons.'

The following are excerpts from the Rooz report by Shahram Rafizadeh: [1]

'When the Entire World is Armed With Nuclear Weapons, it is Permissible to Use These Weapons as a Counter-[Measure]' "

Cleric Announces $1M Bounty on Cartoonist

2006-02-21T17:36:00.000-06:00

BREITBART.COM - Cleric Announces $1M Bounty on Cartoonist: "They are just like us, not! Cleric Announces $1M Bounty on Cartoonist"

By RIAZ KHAN
Associated Press Writer

PESHAWAR, Pakistan

A Pakistani cleric announced a $1 million bounty for killing a cartoonist who drew the Prophet Muhammad as thousands joined street protests after Friday prayers.

Denmark, which first published the cartoons, temporarily closed its embassy and advised its citizens to leave Pakistan.

Prayer leader Mohammed Yousaf Qureshi announced the bounty for killing a cartoonist to about 1,000 people outside the historic Mohabat Khan mosque in the northwestern city of Peshawar.

He said the mosque and the Jamia Ashrafia religious school he leads would give a $25,000 reward and a car for killing the cartoonist who drew the prophet caricatures _ considered blasphemous by Muslims. He said a local jewelers' association would also give $1 million, but no representative of the association was available to confirm the offer. "

FrontPage magazine.com :: Tampa Jihadi Olympics by Joe Kaufman

2006-02-21T17:34:00.000-06:00

FrontPage magazine.com :: Tampa Jihadi Olympics by Joe Kaufman: "From March 11th through the 12th, the Muslim American Society of Tampa will be holding its MAS Olympics 2006. The two-day event will comprise of the standard kids sports -basketball, football, soccer, volleyball - things certainly that would appear wholesome and not present the general public with any grounds for pause.

However, given this group�s propagation of radical Islamist beliefs, there are a number of reasons why this event should concern everyone who cares about the welfare of children and the safety and security of the United States. "

School trains suicide bombers - Religion of Terrorism Enhancing Society Once More

2006-02-21T17:29:00.000-06:00

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | School trains suicide bombers: "The Islamic Jihad is running a summer school - to teach boys the benefits of becoming suicide bombers.

A new generation of children, Palestinian boys aged between 12 and 15 years old, is growing up amid conflict and violence.

The militant group has a sworn mission to wage a holy war against Israel.

The boys are told not only that it is good to kill, but also that it is good to die.

They learn that suicide bomb attacks have proved the most deadly way to hit the Israelis. "

WorldNetDaily: U.S. Supreme Court depicts Muhammad

2006-02-21T17:25:00.000-06:00

WorldNetDaily: U.S. Supreme Court depicts Muhammad: "While Muslims engaged in violent protests worldwide over caricatures of Muhammad have insisted any image of their prophet is considered blasphemous, a prominent frieze in the U.S. Supreme Court portrays the Islamic leader wielding a sword.

The stone sculptures of 18 lawgivers, from Hammurabi to John Marshall, are meant to signify the law's foundation in a stable society. Included is Moses with the Ten Commandments.

The artwork, which is high above the justice's mahogany bench, was designed by sculptor Adolph A. Weinman for the building, which opened in the 1930s. Muhammad is between Charlemagne and Justinian.
The Muslim cartoon controversy erup"

Religion of Terrorism Once Again

2006-02-20T19:23:00.000-06:00

Top News Article | Reuters.com: "JALALABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Hundreds of Afghan students shouted support on Monday for Osama bin Laden and threatened to join al Qaeda during a protest against cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.

In an attempt to cool the controversy after a weekend of rioting in countries including Nigeria, where 28 people were killed, and Libya, where 11 died, Pope Benedict said the world's religions and their symbols had to be respected.

Pakistan's main Islamist alliance vowed to broaden its campaign with more protests targeted at the U.S. and Pakistani presidents.

The protest in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad passed off without violence. Students gathered at the university campus chanted 'Death to Denmark', 'Death to America' and 'Death to France', a witness said.
They also shouted support for al Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahri.

Shouting 'Death to Karzai', they demanded President Hamid Karzai close the embassies of Denmark, the United States and France and expel their forces from Afghanistan.

'If they abuse the Prophet of Islam again we will all become al Qaeda,' the students shouted."

Osama bin Laden & al-Qaida Full Coverage on Yahoo! News

2006-02-20T16:11:00.000-06:00

Osama bin Laden & al-Qaida Full Coverage on Yahoo! News: "Osama bin Laden vowed never to be captured alive and said the U.S. military had become as 'barbaric' as Saddam Hussein in an audiotape reposted on a militant Islamic Web site after first being broadcast last month. In the tape posted to the Web site Monday, bin Laden offered the United States a long-term truce but also said his al-Qaida terror network would soon launch a fresh attack on American soil. The tape was initially broadcast Jan. 19 on Al-Jazeera, the pan-Arab satellite channel. "

Muslims Assault U.S. Embassy in Indonesia - Yahoo! News

2006-02-20T10:05:00.000-06:00

Muslims Assault U.S. Embassy in Indonesia - Yahoo! News: "JAKARTA, Indonesia - Hundreds of Muslims protesting caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad tried to storm the U.S. Embassy on Sunday, smashing the windows of a guard post but failing to push through the gates. Several people were injured.

Pakistani security forces, meanwhile, sealed off the capital of Islamabad to block a planned mass demonstration and fired tear gas and gunshots to chase off protesters. In Turkey, tens of thousands gathered in Istanbul chanting slogans against Denmark, Israel and the United States.

Protests over the cartoons, which first appeared in a Danish newspaper in September and have been republished in other European publications and elsewhere, have swept across the Muslim world, growing into mass outlets for rage against the West in general, and Israel and the United States in particular."

Religion of Peace Strikes Again and Torches Another Building

2006-02-18T11:36:00.000-06:00

Italian official quits amid cartoon fury - Mideast/N. Africa - MSNBC.com: "TRIPOLI, Libya - An Italian government official resigned on Saturday following deadly clashes in Libya over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that he had made into T-shirts and wore on state television, a spokesman said.

"I have resigned," Ansa news agency quoted Reforms Minister Roberto Calderoli Calderoli as saying.
Satirical cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad continued to send shock waves around the world Friday as protesters set fire to the Italian consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and clashed with police hours after an Islamic cleric in Pakistan offered a $1 million reward for killing one of the cartoonists. "

"Shias Are Not Muslims," says website

2006-02-18T11:10:00.000-06:00

Islamic Thinkers Society - Media: "Here is the video of our first local demonstration on Defending the Honor of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. Some individuals were able to burn the Danish flag in order to make a political statement. NOTE: Burning a flag is NOT ILLEGAL as of yet. So nothing was done against the law."

Jokes about Cheney's hunt never misfire, comics find | www.azstarnet.com �

2006-02-16T14:56:00.000-06:00

Jokes about Cheney's hunt never misfire, comics find | www.azstarnet.com �: "The Internet sprouted with offerings of 'Dick Cheney hunts people' T-shirts and comments about calling the vice president 'Deadeye Dick.'

There also was a version of the vice presidential seal featuring a shotgun-wielding Elmer Fudd in hunting gear, with the inscription: 'Be vewy vewy quiet. We're hunting I-wackies.'

'Guns don't shoot people. The vice president shoots people,' read one posting. Davezilla.com lampooned the difference between a quail and a hunter in a bright-orange vest.

Sarah and Jim Brady, founders of a leading gun-control group, blasted the vice president for his staunch support of guns.

'Now I understand why Dick Cheney keeps asking me to go hunting with him,' Jim Brady said in a statement. 'I had a friend once who accidentally shot pellets into his dog - and I thought he was an idiot.' "

Filipino Muslims �behead� effigies of cartoonists in Marawi - INQ7.net

2006-02-16T14:30:00.000-06:00

Filipino Muslims �behead� effigies of cartoonists in Marawi - INQ7.net: "Thousands of angry Filipino Muslims "beheaded" two effigies of cartoonists and set a Danish flag on fire in a protest over the controversial caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed.
The protesters marched through the streets of this southern Philippine city and demanded death for the artists who drew the cartoons that first appeared in a Danish newspaper in September.

At the same time, they reiterated their demand for an apology from the Danish government.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen had said Denmark and its people could not be held responsible for the drawings published by an independent Danish newspaper, and reprinted by other publications in a show of "solidarity for press freedom."

This was the fourth protest in the Philippines as outrage spread across the Muslim world over the caricatures, including one portraying the Prophet Mohammed wearing a bomb-shaped turban."

siliconindia--Business and Technology portal for the global Indian

2006-02-14T12:19:00.000-06:00

siliconindia--Business and Technology portal for the global Indian: "NEW DELHI: A major political storm is brewing in the country after the central government asked the defense ministry for details on Muslims, their ranks and their roles in the armed forces.

The opposition, quickly sensing opportunity, slammed the government and said the government was dividing the armed forces on religious lines which was bad for the nation. They also said such a move will demoralize the defense forces. "

Muslims say happy Valentine's Day the only way they know how - torch the holiday

2006-02-14T12:17:00.000-06:00

World News Article | Reuters.co.uk: "NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Hardline Hindu groups and radical Muslims burnt Valentine's Day greeting cards on Tuesday and held protests across India against celebrating the festival of love, saying it was a Western import that spread immorality.

Saint Valentine's Day has become increasingly popular in India in recent years, a trend led by retailers who do healthy business selling heart-shaped balloons and fluffy teddy bears.

But the growing popularity of the day in officially secular, but mainly Hindu India has also sparked protests which have sometimes turned violent.

On Tuesday, protests were held in the capital New Delhi, some towns in the country's south and the only Muslim state of Jammu and Kashmir, where an Islamic insurgency has raged since 1989.

About two dozen women separatists, veiled in black from head to toe, rummaged shops and burnt Valentine's Day cards in Srinagar, Kashmir's summer capital, witnesses said.

'Valentine's Day spreads immorality among the youth,' Asiya Andrabi of the Dukhtaran-e-Milat (Daughters of the Muslim Faith), a group of women separatists, said in a statement."

FOXNews.com - U.S. & World News - Muslim Mob Targets Western Businesses in Pakistan

2006-02-14T12:15:00.000-06:00

FOXNews.com - U.S. & World News - Muslim Mob Targets Western Businesses in Pakistan: "LAHORE, Pakistan -Thousands of protesters rampaged through two cities Tuesday, storming into a diplomatic district and torching Western businesses and a provincial assembly in Pakistan's worst violence against the Prophet Muhammad drawings, officials said. At least two people were killed and 11 injured.

Security forces fired into the air as they struggled to contain the unrest in the eastern city of Lahore, where protesters burned down four buildings housing a hotel, two banks, a KFC restaurant and the office of a Norwegian cell phone company, Telenor.

U.S. and British embassy staffers were confined to their compounds until police dispersed the protesters, some of whom chanted, 'Death to America!'"

Scalia Dismisses 'Living Constitution' - Yahoo! News

2006-02-14T11:45:00.000-06:00

Scalia Dismisses 'Living Constitution' - Yahoo! News: "PONCE, Puerto Rico - People who believe the Constitution would break if it didn't change with society 'idiots,' U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says.

In a speech Monday sponsored by the conservative Federalist Society, Scalia defended his long-held belief in sticking to the plain text of the Constitution 'as it was originally written and intended.'
'Scalia does have a philosophy, it's called originalism,' he said. 'That's what prevents him from doing the things he would like to do,' he told more than 100 politicians and lawyers from this U.S. island territory.

According to his judicial philosophy, he said, there can be no room for personal, political or religious beliefs.

Scalia criticized those who believe in what he called the 'living Constitution.'"

Opinion: Democracy in a Cartoon - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

2006-02-11T13:58:00.000-06:00

Opinion: Democracy in a Cartoon - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News: "Best-selling author and Muslim dissident Ibn Warraq argues that freedom of expression is our western heritage and we must defend it against attacks from totalitarian societies. If the west does not stand in solidarity with the Danish, he argues, then the Islamization of Europe will have begun in earnest."

National Ledger - Is Jay Rockefeller The Source of the NSA Leak to the NY Times?

2006-02-11T13:56:00.000-06:00

National Ledger - Is Jay Rockefeller The Source of the NSA Leak to the NY Times?: "CIA director Porter Goss is telling anyone that cares to listen that leaks about the NSA's international terrorist surveillance program and other intelligence activities have severely damaged America's security.

Can someone ask him if he broke the law? So who is the leaker? Who is gabbing with the NY Times? Jed Babbin believes it may be Jay Rockefeller."

Ann Coulter Article is Must Read

2006-02-11T13:08:00.000-06:00

Welcome to AnnCoulter.com: "One showed Muhammad turning away suicide bombers from the gates of heaven, saying 'Stop, stop-we ran out of virgins!' � which I believe was a commentary on Muslims' predilection for violence. Another was a cartoon of Muhammad with horns, which I believe was a commentary on Muslims' predilection for violence. The third showed Muhammad with a turban in the shape of a bomb, which I believe was an expression of post-industrial ennui in a secular � oops, no, wait: It was more of a commentary on Muslims' predilection for violence.

In order to express their displeasure with the idea that Muslims are violent, thousands of Muslims around the world engaged in rioting, arson, mob savagery, flag-burning, murder and mayhem, among other peaceful acts of nonviolence.

Muslims are the only people who make feminists seem laid-back."

Blog: Freedom for Egyptians: Egyptian Newspaper Pictures that Published Cartoons 5 months ago

2006-02-11T13:01:00.000-06:00

Freedom for Egyptians: Egyptian Newspaper Pictures that Published Cartoons 5 months ago: "I promised you in my previous post to bring you the images of the Egyptian newspaper, Al Fager (as pronounced in Egyptian Arabic) that published the Danish Cartoons five month ago on Oct 17, 2005. Here is below the front page where the Prophet Muhammed(PBUH) cartoon from Jyllands-Posten was published. "

Laura Bush "Gracious As Always"

2006-02-11T12:58:00.000-06:00

DRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2005�: "
Laura Bush says Hillary 'out of bounds'
Sat Feb 11 2006 11:42:42 ET

From ABC interview of Laura Bush at Winter Olympics today, for broadcast on Monday:

Q Before I let you go, one political question, because I'll get fired if I don't ask at least one political question. The ceremony for Coretta Scott King was just so moving, all the speakers at that. Hillary Clinton has now taken a little bit of the forefront. And I know that you all travel together, and just a week before, she had some very harsh words about this administration, saying it could be one of the worst -- go down in history as one of the worst ever. Is that just politics, is that fair game, or is that out of bounds, a statement like that?

MRS. BUSH: Well, of course I think it's out of bounds. But I think it�s politics, it's certainly politics. President Clinton and President Bush and President Bush number 41 who was with us, as well, are in a club together, and really, I think, wives of the Presidents are in a club, as well. We know what it�s like to live in that house. We certainly know what it's like to have your husband criticized. So I think there's a certain empathy that we might have for each other that we wouldn't have maybe for somebody else who said something like that.

Q Well said, gracious as always. Mrs. Bush, thank you very much for your time.

MRS. BUSH: Thanks, Robin."

Blog with Mosque Watch

2006-02-10T14:48:00.000-06:00

We all love the information uncovered by Mosquewatch.com and now we can participate in his own version of Jihad against terrorism. One of the most entertaining parts of the blog world is our ability to leave comments and participate in subject matter. We now have that chance with Mosquewatch's blog.

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