Disaster Prep

WND reports:

Americans are not only eating up the fall's only two hit network TV shows both dealing with nuclear attacks, they are also showing more interest in preparing for the disasters U.S. officials have characterized as inevitable in the future.

Here's what we learned from Hurricane Katrina:

You can't have too many guns and too much ammo.

Want to make a fortune? Stock up on beer and cigarettes. Those were the hot items.

Practical tip: If "All circuits are busy" when trying to use your cell phone, send a text message. It uses a LOT less bandwidth and will, in all likelihood, get through.

Now when is that next gun show??

See, I Told You So!

Remember back in February, I assailed Rick Warren for being a false shepherd?
(If not see here and here.)

Well, if you thought I was nuts, try this on for size:

In fact, after I called him out last week in my column, Warren e-mailed me claiming to have been misquoted by the official Syrian news agency.

''Joseph, why didn't you contact me first and discover the fact that I said nothing of the sort?'' he pleaded. ''The trip was a favor to my next door neighbor, had nothing to do with policy, and was done with the State Department's knowledge – who told us to expect exactly what Syria did – a PR blast. I don't pretend to be a diplomat. I'm a pastor who just gets invited places.''

I pointed out to Warren that WND had indeed attempted to contact him about his trip. No one from his Saddleback Church ever returned our calls the day the story broke.

''I'm sure since you were warned in advance by the State Department that you took the precaution of recording your own words,'' I suggested in my response. ''We look forward to seeing the transcripts or hearing the recordings.''

I also asked if he could respond specifically to the words put in his mouth by the Syrian news agency. And lastly I suggested that he should have ''counseled with me, or other people knowledgeable about the Middle East before doing so much damage with your reckless trip.''

I really didn't expect to hear back from Warren – but, a few minutes later, I did, with an absolutely stunning retort.

He let me know he is a close friend of President Bush ''and many, if not most, of the generals at the Pentagon.''

He also told me he did not tape anything while in Syria, ''because it was a courtesy call, like I do in every country.''

Warren explained that he had also counseled with the National Security Council and the White House, as well as the State Department, before his little courtesy call for a neighbor.

''In fact,'' Warren added, ''as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and Oxford Analytica, I might know as much about the Middle East as you.''

A member of the CFR??!??!
The global think tank that leads the march for OneWorld Government??
Like described in the Bible??
Like the AntiChrist is going to use to ascend to power??


Another exemplary "Christian" leader.
I hope his church wakes up and sweeps him out as fast as Ted Haggard's booted him.

End times, folks. End times.

Darwin at Work

A retired priest committed suicide by setting himself on fire in a German monastery in protest at the spread of Islam and the Protestant Church’s inability to contain it.

Guess he showed those terrorists.
Sent them fleeing back to the mountains of Afghanistan.

At least suicide bombers have the sense (usually) to take an enemy or two with them.

Adds New Meaning to Pass the Plate

From MSNBC:

The Rev. Ted Haggard admitted Friday he bought methamphetamine and received a massage from a gay prostitute who claims he was paid for drug-fueled trysts by the former head of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Let me be up front: I DO NOT like Ted Haggard. Just his looks give my spirit the creeps. That, however, does not shade my opinion of this:

Shortly after Haggard told reporters outside his home, "I bought it for myself but never used it. I was tempted, but I never used it,”

Before my Christian brethern get all stupid and come running to his defense, how many of you believed Slick Willie when he claimed "I smoked pot but didn't inhale"?

Haggard, 50, said he never had sex with Jones.

This is like a bad rerun..."I did not have sex with that woman, Miss Lewinski"
What's next, dark blue, semen stained jockey shorts??

...he said he bought the meth because he was curious.

Uhhh, I don't think so. Curious people by pot. Curious people buy cocaine.
Meth is for the experienced users among us.

Today's Thought

There is room for all of God's creatures.

Right next to the mashed potatoes.

IQ Test

From EW.com :

The international press won't get their first look at the documentary Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing until its gala premiere at the Toronto Film Festival tonight. But EW.com got an early look at the sure-to-be-controversial doc in Los Angeles and can attest that the film will continue to bring the (ex?) country trio more plaudits from progressives and further condemnation from conservatives. And if you think singer Natalie Maines had some harsh words for President Bush in public, wait till you hear what she had to say about him behind the scenes.

In one memorable scene, Maines watches news footage of the president being interviewed about the furor that followed the singer's on-stage comment that she was ''ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas,'' which resulted in the group being dropped from most radio stations, as well as protests and plummeting sales. ''The Dixie Chicks are free to speak their mind,'' Bush told Tom Brokaw at the time, adding, ''They shouldn't have their feelings hurt just because some people don't want to buy their records when they speak out. You know, freedom is a two-way street.''

After watching this footage, Maines repeats the president's comment about how the group shouldn't have their ''feelings hurt,'' incredulous, and then says, ''What a dumb f---.'' She then looks into the camera, as if addressing Bush, and reiterates, ''You're a dumb f---.''

Now, I don't make any claim to knowing George Bush's intelligence status.
But if your verbal outbursts get you pulled off radio stations, concerts get cancelled and record sales plummet, AND you continue to shoot your mouth off some more, the last thing I would do is question ANYONE's intelligence status.

Initially, sisters Emily Robison and Martie Seidel seem downcast over their apparently nose-diving popularity, but Maines assures them, ''I think this is better for our career.'' And when whether to stay quiet or get their backs up becomes an issue, the singer jokes, ''Now that we've f---ed ourselves, I think we have a responsibility to continue to f--- ourselves,'' amid gales of laughter.

I rest my case.

Intellectual Malfunction

From BREITBART.com:

US pop superstar Janet Jackson hopes Hillary Clinton will become the first woman president of the United States.

"Hillary Clinton as president -- that would be great," Jackson said in an interview with German press agency DPA Monday. "Then she could show all those people who wouldn't trust a woman with such a job."

Oh yes, I going to take political advice from someone who doesn't have the IQ to operate her wardrobe correctly.

Why would anyone with a pulse and at least 50% functioning brain cells even CARE what these idiot celeberities have to say?

A Tragic Loss

Every once in a while, a person comes along that changes life for the average American.
They modify the way things are done.
They add their own phrases to the American lexicon.
They are burned forever into the American psyche.

One such man recently passed away.

No, not the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin! Please.
He just got what was eventually coming.
After all, these are called WILD animals for a reason.
Just ask Siegfried and Roy.

The man of whom I speak is Arthur Schiff.

Stop scratching your head, I'll tell you.

Arthur Schiff was a marketing genius.

From the Washington Post:

Arthur Schiff was an ingenious salesman, a veritable artist of American capitalism. He sold everything, and sold it by the trainload: pots and pans, pantyhose, wrinkle cream, teeth whiteners, windshield wipers, scratch removers and weed whackers. Anyone who ever watched television in the graveyard hours knows Schiff's work. Likely as not, it enchanted, amused, appalled or got them to reach for their wallets and their phones.

Over more than 30 years, Schiff created some 1,800 "long-form" or "direct response" TV commercials. He was the unseen king of the infomercial, the hidden hand behind the "amazing" Steakhouse Onion Machine, the "miraculous" Ambervision Sunglasses and the "revolutionary" Shiwala car mop.

That's right, Arthur is the King of the Infomercial, before the word was even invented.
His most famous product? The Ginsu Knife.

And those phrases?
"But wait, there's more!"
"Isn't that amazing?"
"Now how much would you pay?"
"Act now and you'll also receive . . . "

Love him or hate him, television, and America, will never be the same.

A Breath of Fresh Air

From Human Events, Don Feder offers his "Top 10 Reasons Why Islam Isn't Exactly a Religion of Peace"

Would you be more likely to have an anxiety attack at 20,000 feet if the passenger seated next to you was: A) An Irish nun saying the Rosary? B) A Mormon missionary in regulation white shirt and narrow, black tie? C) A Hari Krishna in a standard-issue saffron robe? or D) A bearded bloke of Middle Eastern complexion holding a well-thumbed Koran?

When you hear of a terrorist incident, is the first thought that pops into your head: Probably some crazy Muslim? Guess what? It probably was some crazy Muslim!

Guessing the religion of those who plant bombs, highjack planes, fire into crowds of civilians, take hostages and murder hostages is the world’s ultimate no-brainer.

And yet our leaders, the media and many of us pretend there’s absolutely no connection between psychopathic, ideological killers and the religion which exalts the slaughter of unbelievers.

I was in London when the latest terrorist conspiracy went down. On the evening news, I heard a BBC reporter interviewing a neighbor of one of the suspects. “He was a good lad,” the neighbor opined. “Played football” (British soccer). “Recently, he became very involved with his religion” (hint: not The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

How often have we heard those fatal words? Born-again Christians witness and do good works. Born-again Muslims work with liquid explosives.

Think about the really ghastly terrorist incidents over the past two decades -- the 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing (242 dead), the 1988 Pam Am 103 bombing (259 dead), the 1993 World Trade Center attack (6 dead, more than 1,000 injured), the 1994 bombing of the Buenos Aires Jewish Center (86 dead), the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam (291 dead, 5,000 wounded), the 2000 attack on the U.S.S. Cole (17 dead), September 11, 2001 (over 3,000 killed), the 2002 Moscow theater hostage-taking (94 dead), the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis (344 dead), the 2004 Madrid train bombings (192 dead), the 2005 London underground bombings (56 dead) and the 2006 commuter train bombings in Mumbai -- formerly Bombay (at least 200 dead).

In each and every case, the killers were …? That is correct, sir -- Muslims! What other religion condones savagery committed in its name? Jesus said turn the other cheek. Muhammed said cut off the other guy’s cheek. The Torah says show kindness to strangers. The Koran says: If you can’t convert them, kill them.

Mr. Feder goes on to provide a 10 point rebuke of Islam utilizing (oh no!) the words of their own leaders and statistical analysis. (Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!)

An insightful and at times entertaining analysis.
A must read for everyone.

Australia Gets It Right

Prime Minister John Howard earlier had said he supported monitoring the activities of those in Australia's mosques, citing a need for the government to know if members of the Islamic community supported or taught violence.

And Education Minister Brendan Nelson said those members of the Islamic faith who do not support Australian values are welcome to leave.

"We have a right to know whether there is, within any section of the Islamic community, a preaching of the virtues of terrorism, whether any comfort or harbour is given to terrorism within that community," Howard told Australian radio earlier.

There has been concern that there might be a terrorist attack in Australia, and in a report Treasurer Peter Costello said some could be asked to leave the country.

"If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Shariat law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you," he was quoted as saying. "I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia, one the Australian law and another the Islamic law, that that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option."

There ya' go! Assimilate yourself into the society in which you live, or get out.

Just a wild guess, but if Australia followes through with this mindset, it will be a much more peaceful and safe place than the US. After all, we have Global George and his free-flowing borders (no, I didn't loose my disdain for Bush while I was absent)

Resurrection

OK, the boredom is lifting.
News seems to have been just so predictable and obvious the past few months, I really didn't want to post anything.
But recently, there have been a few "interesting" items appearing.
So, I'm back!

Not sure what the format or topics will be, so you'll just have to stay tuned and we'll find out together!

Let Us Pray...

The National Day of Prayer Task Force estimated more than 40,000 events would occur as part of the observance, which this year was marked with the theme “America, Honor God,” based on 1 Samuel 2:30, “Those who honor me, I will honor.”

Why do people interpret this to mean a nation, instead of an individual, as it is plainly written?

The observance was the sixth consecutive year Bush has spoken in the White House on the National Day of Prayer. The president also issued a proclamation on the National Day of Prayer on May 3.

THE PRESIDENT: Welcome to the White House. I am really glad you're here. Thanks for coming. And I'm honored to join you for the National Day of Prayer. On this special day, we give thanks for the many ways that America has been blessed, and we acknowledge the Almighty, who is the source of these blessings.

Just which god is "the almighty"? GOD in Heaven? The GOD of Abraham, Issac and Jacob? The GOD of the Bible?
Or is it the god of the Masons? Or some generalized, hocus-pocus, depends-how-you-feel "god"?

Prayer is a gift from Almighty God that transforms us, whether we bow our heads in solitude, or offer swift and silent prayers in times of trial.

Uhh, actually, No. There is no Biblical indication that anything other than spoken prayer is effective.

Prayer strengthens us by reminding us that God loves and cares for each and every soul in His creation.

No, again.
Biblical doctrine gives evidence that GOD only cares for those who worship HIM through HIS Son, Jesus of Nazareth. (BTW...Christ is not His last name.)

GOD says believers are to have the Mind Of Christ.
We are supposed to have supernatural discernment.
Why do so many Americans fall for this empty nonsense??

(I have a theory, but that's for a later time.)

No One, You See, Is Smarter Than He...

...they call him Flipper, Flipper...

If he's the smartest creature on the planet, explain this.





Thanks to Crispy @ MRB!

Where Were These People Raised?

So I'm coming out of HomeDepot. Had to stop in and pick up a few odds and ends.
I'm walking to my truck, and there is some guy parked a few spaces over, loading 4' X 8' sheets of cement board (like drywall, but heavier).

I toss my two bags into my truck and stroll back over to this guy and holler, "You need some help loading that drywall?"
No response.
Since he's sweating like crazy (its 4 in the afternoon and probably 85 degrees), I figure he either didn't hear me or is too pooped to answer, since he's already loaded about 4 sheets and some 2 X 4's.

So I go over and give him a hand loading the last 4 sheets. This stufff is about twice the weight of regular drywall! So its hefty.
Anyway, we finish, I throw a bag of insulation that had fallen on the ground into the back of his truck, and leave him to load a few marble window sills.

I walk past him again, headed back to my truck.
Nothing.
No response.
No "Thanks".
Not even a grunt in my direction.

I'm now LAUGHING to myself (out loud) as I get back in my truck, wagging my head.

I pull away, not even a wave.

On the way home, I start thinking I did Society a disservice.
I should have perforated his frontal lobe with a .40S&W

Did you have parents or did you grow up with a pack of wolves???

A Soldier, a Tombstone and The Nutjob

Cindy Sheehan, the anti-Bush activist dubbed the "Peace Mom" for her efforts to stop the war in Iraq is lashing back at detractors who decry her lack of a tombstone for her son, Casey Sheehan, who was killed in the conflict two years ago.

In her own words:

For the first year after Casey was killed, I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to place a TOMBstone on my son's grave. I didn't want one more marble proof that my son was dead. I couldn't even call where he was buried a "cemetery," I had to call it "Casey's Park." I placed fresh flowers in the cup every week and journaled there almost on a daily basis, and often laid on it and fell asleep and dreamed of my needlessly killed son.

Is there any doubt that her grasp on reality is tenuous, at best?

Have any of these people who claim that I am pissing on my son's grave even visited him?

Uh, Cindy honey...I bet if there was a TOMBSTONE so people could find him, LOTS would come visit. And thats exactly what you don't want; people to honor your son, the Soldier.

ANYONE Have a Spine?

From the Drudge Report:

XXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX THU MARCH 23, 2006 13:11:09 ET XXXXX

ABC NEWS EXEC: 'BUSH MAKES ME SICK'; E-MAIL REVEALED

**Exclusive**

A top producer at ABC NEWS declared "Bush makes me sick" in an email obtained by the DRUDGE REPORT.

John Green, currently executive producer of the weekend edition of GOOD MORNING AMERICA, unloaded on the president in an ABC company email obtained by the DRUDGE REPORT.

"If he uses the 'mixed messages' line one more time, I'm going to puke," Green complained.

The blunt comments by Green, along with other emails obtained by the DRUDGE REPORT, further reveal the inner workings of the nation's news outlets.

A friend of Green's at ABC says Green is mortified by the email. "John feels so badly about this email. He is a straight shooter and great producer who is always fair. That said, he deeply regrets the sentiment expressed in the email and the embarrassment it causes ABC News."

Developing...

Now, I really don't have a problem with the content of the email...if you don't like the guy, fine.
But if that is actually your opinion, why don't you have the backbone to admit it??

"Yup, I said it. He makes me sick."
That would be SO refreshing!
Instead, we get these namby-pamby, empty, insincere "apologies".

Words mean things.
Say what you mean, and mean what you say.

A "Practical" Fellow

Once again, Global George demonstrates his non-Christianity.
A questioner posed the following to GlobalG following his speech last night in Cleveland:

My question is that author and former Nixon administration official Kevin Phillips, in his latest book, 'American Theocracy,' discusses what has been called radical Christianity and its growing involvement into government and politics," asked an unidentified woman. "He makes the point that members of your administration have reached out to prophetic Christians who see the war in Iraq and the rise of terrorism as signs of the apocalypse. Do you believe this, that the war in Iraq and the rise of terrorism are signs of the apocalypse? And if not, why not?"

Here's his reflective response:

The president elaborated: "Here's how I think of it. The first I've heard of that, by the way. I guess I'm more of a practical fellow.

Never heard of that?? That demonstrates a total lack of any knowledge of Revelation or any of the other books that deal with End Time events.
A dominant Bible theme is that Isreal will be the focus of attention and activity as End Times approach and progress. And this comes as news to such a great Christian as GlobalG?

"I'm more of a practical fellow."
That's code for "I don't believe those fairy tale stories of the Bible. I only believe what my senses tell me."

Global Secular Humanist, boys and girls.
Global Secular Humanist.

Joseph Farah Weighs In

Seems WND.com's Joseph Farah is a little concerned about False Shepards:

We Americans are being thoroughly indoctrinated by the mass media, the government schools, the propaganda arms of the federal government and the pseudoscience-government complex on the phony issue of global warming.

Now, if all that is not enough, some significant church leaders are attempting to make the global, pagan, socialistic agenda behind the conspiracy a matter of faith.

If it exists, which is highly questionable, it certainly wasn't caused by man and there is nothing mankind can do about it. If it doesn't exist, which is probable, these charlatans are going to rob you blind paying for it any way.

An unspoken tenent behind the theory of global warming, is that God didn't really know what he was doing during creation. After all, we're about to destroy the planet.

No, I think GOD made it so it would last as long as HE needed it.
(More bad news for you enviro-wackos: the earth IS going to be destroyed. GOD tells us that in HIS Word. But in HIS time, not ours.)

That's basically all you need to know about global warming. It's a bunch of hot air, all right – hot air generated by people whose goal is always the same, redistributing wealth and reordering civilization.

Now I expect this sort of thing from Al Gore. The man is a liar. That's what he does for a living. And he has done well for himself in purposely, knowingly deceiving people in his quest for a global utopia run by his puppeteers, whoever they may be.

But Rick Warren, author of "The Purpose-Driven Life"?

Todd Bassett, national commander of the Salvation Army?

Leith Anderson, former president of the National Association of Evangelicals?

That's right. Those are just three of the Christian luminaries who signed on to this pact with the globalist devil – who sold their American birthrights for a mess of political correctness.

Joining them in this scam are World Vision President Rich Stearns, Wheaton College President Duane Litfin, Christianity Today Editor David Neff and Executive Editor Timothy George.

They all signed on to the "Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action" – and climbed into bed with funding sources that hate God, hate Christianity and hate freedom. Among them, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund – a group determined to bring the world under the yoke of global government and global religion.

But I guess none of this should really surprise us. After all, just a month ago, Rick Warren was quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer as indicting Christian fundamentalism as a moral and spiritual equivalent of Islamic fundamentalism.

"Muslim fundamentalism, Christian fundamentalism, Jewish fundamentalism, secular fundamentalism – they're all motivated by fear," he said. "Fear of each other."

Well...I never heard that last little tidbit!
Thats enough that every true Christian should have nothing to do with him.
Throw out your copy of Purpose-Driven Life!
(Yup, he said it! Read it here. Last paragraph.)

More Idiots

A poll released today shows 70 percent of American evangelical Christians see global warming as a "serious threat" to the future of the planet.

Conducted by Ellison Research, the survey indicates a majority of evangelicals agree with 85 Christian leaders who signed an Evangelical Climate Initiative unveiled Feb. 8 that calls for government action to deal with so-called global warming. The initiative includes a campaign of newspaper, TV and radio ads.

I wish someone had asked these same poll questions a number of months ago, before all this nonsense with the so-called Evangelical Climate Initiative began.

My gut reaction is that it would have been much lower. I think what we are seeing is the lemmings following their big-name "Christian" leaders.
"Oh, if Rick Warren is for this, it must be good and right."

Morons.
No where in the Bible does Jesus say big government is the answer. The only people he instructs to do ANYTHING are Israel and / or the Church.
In fact, He most commonly ignores secular government.
Also, for those of you that have actually READ the Bible, you will recall that Big Government is who GOD and the Saints battle in the Book of Revelation.

Aside from the fact that there is no independent evidence that global warming is actually occurring! The only scientists that are saying it are the ones dependent on government for their paycheck.
In addition, all the Evironmental Chicken Littles, 20 years ago, were warning of a coming Ice Age. Now which is it?

The Bible tells us that in the Last Days there will be False Shepards.
In my opinion the 85 "leaders" that signed this, just exposed themselves.

In the near future, when the government tries to implant a chip into your hand or forehead, how many of these "leaders" will tell us, "No, that isn't REALLY the Mark of the Beast. Its for your benefit."
And how many "Christians" will go along with them?

I will try to find a list of who signed this thing and post it.
My suggestion: RUN from these people and have nothing to do with their ministries.

(Well, that didn't take long. Found a list of signatories here.)

Scalia Cracks Me Up

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."

"That's the argument of flexibility and it goes something like this: The Constitution is over 200 years old and societies change. It has to change with society, like a living organism, or it will become brittle and break."

"But you would have to be an idiot to believe that," Scalia said. "The Constitution is not a living organism, it is a legal document. It says something and doesn't say other things."

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Critics

I've been thinking about Joel Stein and all those like him, who have nothing favorable to say about those who serve in our military.

Needless to say, they annoy the crap out of me.

I came across this quote which pretty well sums it up more eloquently than I could write it.

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
~ Teddy Roosevelt

Writing on the Wall

The United States military announced yesterday that it would convert some of its largest ballistic nuclear missiles to carry conventional warheads for use in precision attacks against terrorist targets or rogue states.
The report stated briefly that the navy would convert "a small number of Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles for use in conventional prompt global strike".
The new generation of satellite-controlled ballistic missiles can deliver large warheads with devastating accuracy even when deployed with a conventional warhead.

In what appears to be a thinly disguised threat, Global George feels he can bring Iran into submission via a shower of Trident missles to take out their nuclear development program. No great surprise on the strategy, since many have been saying that we don't have the troop strength to engage in simultaneous ground wars in Iraq AND Iran.

We shall see.
I have a queasy feeling that the Law of Unintended Consequences will once again rear its ugly head.

Throwing Gas on the Fire

You've probably heard recently that Muslims world-wide are in a uproar over the publication of some political cartoons featuring Muhammad.

Well, thanks to Human Events here they are!!
Enjoy.

PS. Email me if this link goes dead. Not sure how long HumanEventsOnline.com will weather the storm.

The So-Called War

Americans need to be treated like convicted criminals and have all aspects of their life, person and activities open to inspection, all to prevent terrorist attacks.
We need to have a post-9/11 mindset, we're told. The world just isn't the same anymore.

Then explain this one, from DEBKA.com, for me.

After a series of muddled statements and zigzags, wishful thinking prevailed in London and Brussels after all. The European Union, led by the Middle East Quartet, agreed to release financial aid to a Palestinian government taken over by a terrorist organization.

“We give them three months to assess the situation. We don’t want chaos and we want to go on with the peace process,” said EU foreign executive, Javier Solana at the end of the foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels Monday, 30 Jan.

Hamas, which is responsible for at least 60 bombing attacks on Israelis and countless deaths, did not have to fight too hard or too long for a reversal of the short-lived boycott on funding, sparked by its election victory over Fatah with 74 seats in the 132 Palestinian Legislative Council.

The Islamist terrorists were not required to give up a single principle for the sake of Western aid.
The stakes are high. The EU gave the PA $615 million last year. The US had budgeted $234 for 2006.

$849 MILLION freakin' dollars from the people who are supposedly FIGHTING terrorism!!??!
All set to go into the hands of Hamas.

There are only two options here:
1) Politicians are BIGGER idiots than I ever imagined (that would take some doing) or
2) This war is against free people and the removal of their rights.

Compassion of Motherhood

So, you think Palestinians are just like you?
Islam is a religion of peace?
Try this on for size.

She has encouraged three of her sons to die attacking Israel, and would be proud if the other three followed suit. She appeared in a video with her youngest boy, Mohammed, 17, telling him not to return alive from a suicide mission. Now she is a democratically elected Hamas member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
"Encouraging my sons to be martyrs is serving Islam," she said through her fourth son, Wesam, 33, who says that, like his fellow "Mujahideen", he considers "martyrdom the way to liberation".

When you all going to figure out this is not the WWE?
This is a death match. Last man standing wins.
Only civilazition is at stake.
Yahweh akbar!!

Preview of Iraq??

Global George worked SO hard to bring freedom and democracy to the Palestinians.
He got those mean Jews to give back some of the land they rightly won.
And he brought that grand panacea, "free elections" to the Palestinians.
And what do we get? This:

Hamas, a terrorist group responsible for more than 100 suicide bombings and scores of shooting and rocket attacks, won overwhelmingly in yesterday's Palestinian parliamentary elections and will form the next government, according to initial ballot results released this morning.

Ain't democracy grand?!?
Now that the nuts are running the asylum in Gaza and the West Bank, how long before the same happens in Iraq?
Nation-building is for the birds.
The only thing consistent about government is that it operates by the Law of Unintended Consequences.

Do They Give ANYONE a Column??

When you read an opinion piece in a major American newspaper, you at least expect the author to have a basic working knowledge of the subject of which they write. Automotive guys should have a basic understanding of cars, yet need not be well versed in chassis dynamics. Medical writers should have foundational knowledge of physiology, biochemistry and anatomy.
However, when we get to politics, all bets are off. Fifth grade social studies is not even a prerequisite.

Take, for example, Joel Stein's piece of excrement in the LA Times entitled "Warriors and Wusses".

And I've got no problem with other people — the ones who were for the Iraq war — supporting the troops. If you think invading Iraq was a good idea, then by all means, support away.
But I'm not for the war. And being against the war and saying you support the troops is one of the wussiest positions the pacifists have ever taken — and they're wussy by definition.
Blindly lending support to our soldiers, I fear, will keep them overseas longer by giving soft acquiescence to the hawks who sent them there — and who might one day want to send them somewhere else.

Uh, Joel...it wasn't the soldiers who decided to go to Iraq. They were sent there by the guys you and your ilk elected, Republican AND Democrat. And the soldiers have no say in how long they will be there. You're a little confused here about who makes the policy.

Besides, those little yellow ribbons aren't really for the troops. They need body armor, shorter stays and a USO show by the cast of "Laguna Beach."
The real purpose of those ribbons is to ease some of the guilt we feel for voting to send them to war and then making absolutely no sacrifices other than enduring two Wolf Blitzer shows a day. Though there should be a ribbon for that.

True, the ribbons are stupid and actually do nothing for the troops. You should take the money you were going to waste on ribbons and send it to the USO, or some other military charity.
On the other hand, I checked with a number of friends who vote regularly, and none of us can remember a ballot question, "Should we send troops to war?" Again, you're a little confused about who makes policy decisions.

I do sympathize with people who joined up to protect our country, especially after 9/11, and were tricked into fighting in Iraq.

Those Saudis, they sure fooled us!! Making us think they flew planes into the World Trade Center!!! Haha!

And just what do you think "supporting" the soldiers means? They are doing a job...a job that requires, at times, great sacrifice and is done many times under difficult circumstances. But you know what? They knew this going in and they accepted the challenge anyway. They realized that life is not all about them. Is it too much to ask to show them some kindness? You don't have to like what they are doing. I imagine that at times some of them don't like it either.
If you see a soldier on the street, just say "Thanks for your sacrifice." Doesn't mean you agree with the policy, but that you recognize that they are putting everything they have on the line. Here's an idea! If you meet one in a 7-11, go crazy and spend a buck and pay for that soda he's buying!

Global George has done a disservice to many by portraying this as a war against Iraq. It is much greater than that. It is a war against radical Islam, which THEY declared. This is probably the only war in the past 100 years in which the threat to the US is real. Be mad about Vietnam. Debate involvement in WWII or Korea. But don't give up on this one unless you want to be praying toward the east a few times a day.

The Unreported Story

By now, those of you with at least a minimum of contact with the outside world have heard that Osama bin Laden has released another audio tape, this one promising furhter attacks on US soil.
If you are really lucky, your news source has even reported that "Sammy" bin Laden has offered a truce (but no terms were set forth).
Unfortunately, that's where the story stops for most.

Doesn't it seem odd to you that if the terrorists are winning the war, as our beloved media tries to portray, that they are beginning to float "truce" trial baloons?
What gives?

Robert Spencer, over at JihadWatch.org gives us some insight:

In Islamic theology traditionally the forces of jihad ask for a truce when they are weak and need to gather strength. Hmmmm.

ADDENDUM: I have been asked to provide details of the truce in Islamic law. Here is a passage from Umdat al-Salik (Reliance of the Traveller), a Shafi'i Sharia manual endorsed by Al-Azhar University in Cairo as conforming to the "practice and faith of the orthodox Sunni community":

Truces are permissible, not obligatory....Interests that justify making a truce are such things as Muslim weakness because of lack of numbers or materiel, or the hope of an enemy becoming Muslim...If the Muslims are weak, a truce made be made for ten years if necessary, for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) made a truce with the Quraysh for that long, as is related by Abu Dawud....The rulings of such a truce are inferable from those of the non-Muslim poll tax; namely, that when a valid truce has been effected, no harm may be done to non-Muslims until it expires. -- Umdat al-Salik, o9.16

Maybe, just maybe, something positive will come out of this mess.

You Voted for Them, Why??

The U.S. Treasury Department today announced federal income and expenditure figures for December, showing government spending hit a record high and Washington took in even more than it spent.

The $230.9 billion spent was an all-time high for a single month. That figure represented a 5.6 percent increase over the spending level in December 2004.

AP reported through the first three months of the current budget year, which began on Oct. 1, government tax receipts have totaled $530.2 billion, up 8.8 percent from the same period a year ago. During the same three months, the federal government has spent $649.52 billion, a 7.2 percent increase from the same period a year ago.

This should remove any remaining vapor of a suggestion that George Bush is a conservative.

And don't bother telling me that Congress authorizes all spending.
Has he vetoed ONE spending bill?