Rest assured First Deputy Prime Minister...

Russia Says New ICBM Can Beat Any System

"As of today, Russia has new tactical and strategic complexes that are capable of overcoming any existing or future missile defense systems," [First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei]Ivanov said, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency. "So in terms of defense and security, Russians can look calmly to the country's future."

Rest assured Mr. First Deputy Prime Minister, Russia can rest in peace. Just so long as your country doesn't use this new weapon to threaten the West.

We trust you. But, we will want to verify...

Tag: cold war
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Polls and The War

Bush believes public wants success in Iraq

The Leftist media has constantly used polls to argue most Americans want us to leave Iraq:

In fact, polls show Americans do not disagree [that the war is going badly], and that leaving — not winning — is their main goal.

In one released Friday by CBS and the New York Times, 63 percent supported a troop withdrawal timetable of sometime next year. Another earlier this month from USA Today and Gallup found 59 percent backing a withdrawal deadline that the U.S. should stick to no matter what's happening in Iraq.

A comment attributed to English politician Disraeli seems appropriate here: "There are lies, damnable lies, and statistics." The White House aides have it right:

Bush aides say poll questions are asked so many ways, and often so imprecisely, that it is impossible to conclude that most Americans really want to get out.

Precisely. The statistics are useless unless the questionnaire is opened up to scrutiny. But, that fact doesn't deter the Leftist media from trotting them out at every opportunity. To paraphrase Scottish author Andrew Lang: "[They] use statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts—for support rather than illumination."

Tag: Iraq
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Human rights abuse!

U.S. Accused of Human Rights Violations

We have been accused!

GENEVA - A U.N. investigator accused the United States on Friday of human rights violations in its fight against terrorism, criticizing the use of military commissions to try civilians and interrogation practices.

Oh. It's the U.N. Never mind. I thought it was something serious.

Tag: news
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Our Generals timid?

Marines Fail to Get Gear to Troops

WASHINGTON - The system for delivering badly needed gear to Marines in Iraq has failed to meet many urgent requests for equipment from troops in the field, according to an internal document obtained by The Associated Press.

This is a story about how our Marines desperately need suitable equipment to fight the enemy they are facing.

The document [outlining equipment needs of our Marines] was to be presented in March to senior officials in the Pentagon's defense research and engineering office. The presentation was canceled by Marine Corps leaders because its contents were deemed too contentious, according to a defense official familiar with the document. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss it publicly.

This reminds me of the movie about the Battle of Rorke's Drift, where soldiers returning from the firing line to fetch ammunition were upbraided by the Quartermaster for not queuing up and waiting their turn.

Have our Generals become such wussies that they are subordinating our war fighting capability to political niceties?

If so, the Republic is lost.

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Scrap guest worker visa: Faulty reasoning?

Senator: Scrap Temporary Worker Program

The guest worker program, part of the immigration reform legislation currently in the Senate, is being criticized by labor unions and business groups alike:

Many labor unions say it would keep wages low and create a class of abused foreign workers. Some business groups call the leave-and-return element unworkable.

Sen. Dorgan, sponsor of an amendment to strike the guest worker program, is following the union line of reasoning:

"It is just a fiction that these are jobs Americans aren't willing to do," Dorgan said. "The fact is that the overwhelming majority of these jobs are currently done by Americans. The main reason that big corporations want a guest worker program is that it will drive down U.S. wages."

The "wages" argument doesn't stand up to scrutiny. We don't have to guess about the effect of guest workers on wages because the guest workers are already here and have been for a long time. It is hard to imagine how issuing a visa will change the existing economics of that segment of the labor market.

If having a guest worker program is a bad idea, those against it will have to come up with a better argument.

Tag: immigration reform
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Pelosi—Hard of hearing.

Pelosi Says Bush Has 'Tin Ear' on Iraq

WASHINGTON - President Bush has a "tin ear" when it comes to Iraq and should compromise with majority Democrats on a war spending bill with a timetable for U.S. troops to leave, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

The public wants accountability, said Pelosi, D-Calif., and "that is where the president refuses to listen. We've worked in a bipartisan way with the president on trade, on immigration, on our innovation agenda, on many issues. But when it comes to the war in Iraq, the president has a tin ear. He just cannot hear, except that which he wants to hear on it."

Or, maybe it is the other way around.

The Democrats are overreaching in assuming the voters want out of Iraq. More likely, the voters want a more vigorous prosecution of the war.

But, can the Democrats hear that? Or, do they hear only what they want to hear.

Tag: news and politics
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Time to go home, Jimmy

Carter Blasts Bush on His Global Impact

Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States, a man who presided over the most failed Administration in U.S. history, had this to say about the Bush Administration:

Former President Carter says President Bush's administration is "the worst in history" in international relations, taking aim at the White House's policy of pre-emptive war and its Middle East diplomacy.

This said as though his encounter with the Iranians during his Administration was some sort of stunning success.

Apparently, Carter's comments were made while promoting his book, Sunday Mornings in Plains:

"Apparently, Sunday mornings in Plains for former President Carter includes hurling reckless accusations at your fellow man," said Amber Wilkerson, Republican National Committee spokeswoman. She said it was hard to take Carter seriously because he also "challenged Ronald Reagan's strategy for the Cold War."

I think it's time for ol' Jimmy to hang it up at the old folks home down there in Plains, GA.

Tag: news and politics
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Harry Reid—Gone 'round the bend?

White House Rejects War Bill Concession

The House and Senate representatives went up to the White House today where the Democrats made this really swell offer:

In a closed-door meeting with Bush's top aides on Capitol Hill, Democrats said they'd strip billions of dollars in domestic spending out of a war spending [bill] that Bush opposed if the president would accept a timetable to pull combat troops out of Iraq. As part of the deal, Democrats said they would allow the president to waive compliance with a deadline for troop withdrawals.

So, the Democrats loaded up the war spending bill with unrelated spending then offered to back it out if the President would do the one thing he wouldn't do under any circumstances. Clearly, the Democrats have totally lost their minds.

Then Harry Reid comes away with this comment:

"To say I was disappointed in the meeting is an understatement," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "I really did expect that the president would accept some accountability for what we're trying to accomplish here."

Accept accountablility? For what? To join in with the insanity the Democrats are perpetrating on the Nation? The mind boggles.

Stop and think what you are doing, Harry. Because, the voters will surely hold you accountable.

Tag: news and politics
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Eliot Spitzer v. The Seneca Nation

Spitzer, Senecas meet face-to-face

This situation bears watching.

The Seneca Nation have treaty rights going back to the establishment of the U.S. But, Native Americans have always been at a disadvantage in dealing with the Federal Government.

An example are difficulties having to do with two New York State highways passing through Seneca territory:

The Senecas got Spitzer’s attention last month by disavowing the 1954 Thruway easement through the Cattaraugus Territory south of Buffalo and their later plans to void the 1976 Southern Tier Expressway easement through their Allegany Territory near Salamanca.

The issue is New York State's failure to follow through on compensation promised to the Seneca as part of the highway easement deal.

Now, Spitzer wants to tax sales of gasoline and tobacco made in Seneca territory despite the Treaty of 1842 exempting the Seneca from taxation.

Why is this happening? It's happening simply because merchants outside the Territory are complaining they can't compete.

Is this a good reason for overturning a Treaty? I don't think so. This bears watching.

Tag: news
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Enough

Giuliani Reports $16.1M, Edwards $29.5M Senate Dems Fail to Cut Off War Funds Israeli Aircraft Fires on Hamas Targets Senators Renew Call for Gonzales' Ouster Clinton Won't Commit on Iraq Deadline
Too much.
Potbelly Stove recommends kdfc fm

Tag: radio

American leftists on verge of capitulation

Bush Names Pentagon General 'War Czar'

It was a difficult job to fill, given the unpopularity of the war, now in its fifth year, and uncertainty about the clout the war coordinator would have. The search was complicated by demands from Congress to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq and scant public support for the war. The White House tried for weeks to fill the position and approached numerous candidates before settling on Lute.

Okay, folks. Can you see why al-Qaeda is so emboldened? The Congressional Democrats (along with their handmaidens, the leftist media) have so drowned out public opinion, our enemies get the impression we are all primed for dhimmitude. The very actions of Congress are endangering the Nation.

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al-Qaeda aligns with Congressional Democrats

Huge search is on for ambushed soldiers

The demagoguesDemocrats in Congress are endangering the Country. Here is proof:

Sheik Mohamad Al Janabi, a reputed al-Qaida member in the nearby city of Salman Pak, said in a telephone interview that he was unable to contact his comrades in Mahmudiyah to determine whether they were responsible for the attack. But, he added, "I can assure you that we will start pressuring Bush in a new way at the same time he is facing pressures from the Democrats and the American people. And there will be no problem to sacrifice 10 soldiers in order to abduct a single American soldier and get him on televisions' screens begging for us to release him."

It is clear to me the imperious Congressional Democrats are a disgrace and will be the ruin of the Country. Patriotic are they? As much as Benedict Arnold was. Shameless surrender monkeys they are, the mind boggles at the thought that any one of them should remain in office. Even worse, occupying the top office.

As for the reference to the American people, that can be laid at the feet of the pollsters, conniving rascals that they are.

Tag: news and politics
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You heard it here first, folks

Panty-Clad Man Tries Robbery With Lighter

INWOOD, W.Va. - A thief covered his face with a pair of blue women's underwear and used a pistol-shaped cigarette lighter in a botched robbery of a convenience store, police said. "I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried," State Police Sgt. T.C. Kearns told The Journal in Martinsburg.

You've heard it here first, folks. I've never actually seen blue women so I am not sure what their underwear is like. But, this fellow must have thought is was a 'sure thing.'

Tag: news
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Editorial bias at the AP

U.S. military deaths in Iraq at 3,380 By The Associated Press May 09 4:18 PM U.S. military deaths in Iraq at 3,378 By The Associated Press May 8, 7:25 PM U.S. military deaths in Iraq at 3,376 By The Associated Press May 7, 6:57 PM U.S. military deaths in Iraq at 3,373 By The Associated Press May 6, 6:45 PM

And, on and on it goes; the daily count of U.S. losses in Iraq. But, here is one headline that will never have an A.P. by-line:

U.S. abortion rate at 1.3 million per year

These deaths by abortion are ongoing but are not reported. Why not? What's the difference?

The difference stems from a strong bent, at the A.P., towards the leftist agenda; an agenda which includes being pro-abortion and includes having a rabid dislike of the current Administration.

So, the selective reporting by the A.P. on Iraq, including the daily count of losses, is done to advance their anti-Administration agenda. Likewise, advancement of their pro-abortion stance is accomplished by ignoring similar abortion statistics.

These two examples illustrate the selective approach to reporting at the A.P. It is apparent objective reporting at the A.P. has fallen victim to leftist ideology. As such, the A.P. fails at the role of unbiased provider of information to the public.

Tag: news and politics
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On Dinosaurs the Big Three carmakers

Panel Approves Fuel Economy Proposal [1]

A Senate panel released proposed legislation to require improved motor vehicle fuel efficiency:

It would raise the nationwide fleet fuel economy average by about 40 percent compared with the current levels of 25 mpg and increase standards by 4 percent a year from 2020 through 2030.

It is a softball piece of legislation; the automakers have until the 2020 model year to advance the fuel mileage to 35mpg. That's thirteen years from now.

Nevertheless, the wailing and gnashing of teeth has begun:

Domestic automakers and the United Auto Workers have said the proposal would be unattainable and threaten jobs at a time when General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group have already announced thousands of job cuts.

Alan Reuther, the UAW's legislative director, wrote that the proposal would force manufacturers "to close more facilities, destroying tens of thousands of additional jobs and undermining the economic base of communities across this country."

Alright, this the same old stuff the automakers have trotted out every time the Feds prod them into making changes: Seat belts, fuel economy, crash worthiness, etc.

Unattainable? The new standards don't kick in until 2020. That's thirteen years for them to catch up on what they should have been doing all along. And, I suspect they couldn't produce one shred of scientific evidence supporting the claim better fuel economy is unattainable.

As for job losses, what's causing that? Hardship meeting fuel standards? No, the Big Three are cutting jobs because they build inferior cars and no one wants to buy them.

So, to the Big Three carmakers: Cut the crap and start working. Or, like the dinosaurs before you, you will be crowded out by a new, more agile species.

Tag: news and politics
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On a woman's Right to Choose

The GOP lineup on TV the other day had a thing about abortion. You probably are more familiar with the MSM's euphemism "right to choose."

Now, consider this: A neanderthal type decides to beat up his pregnant other and the unborn child is killed. He's charged with felony assault and homicide. In other circumstances, a woman decides she wants to kill her unborn child and seeks an abortion.

So, I ask you, what is the difference between these two scenarios? Which, by the way, are not so far fetched. In either case, the child dies. Who has committed the greater transgression against human life?

Tag: news and politics
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More fools

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, German expert Olav Hohmeyer, attending the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) meeting, speaks during a news conference in Bangkok Thursday, May 3, 2007. Hohmeyer said that developed and developing nations have equal responsibilities and obligations to cut greenhouse gas emission, but developed nations should take the lead because of their advantages in technologies and resources. Hohmeyer was one of the authors of the third volume of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). (AP Photo/Xinhua, Ling Shuo

But, of course, if Herr Hohmeyer is so convinced of his position, he should take his argument directly to Merkel's government: Show us how it's done, in other words.

It won't happen. This whole global warming thing is directed at the most successful economies. And, global warming is only the vehicle, not the reason.

Tag: climate change
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