Slightly New Element

Immediately to the right of this post, you will notice my old elephant with a new twist. The American Flag behind the elephant. That was done by the brilliant Espella Humanzee and I'm delighted with it. Thanks Espella! By the Bye, Espella has his prediction up for 2006. I can't help but agree!

Bravo!

As Roger L. Simon noted: Bravo!! (read the whole thing.)

texas vs. usc!

A good friend of mine, The Real Ugly American (click on the link, there is some good reading there) went on vacation and asked me (and another dude) to put up a few posts for him while he was gone. We both graciously agreed to do so, then found out that we were gonna root for different teams for the National Collegiate Football Championship. Well, that started a rivalry and below is my latest entry in that rivalry.

Not very long ago, I posted this graphic of the University of Texas Longhorn, with TEXAS superimposed above it:

Not willing to let things slide, some worthy, but ultimately losing USC fan posted on this very same blog this graphic:

Kind of puny as graphics go, only 150 pixels wide and a mere 200 tall. Nothing like my robust 250 pixel wide and 225 pixel tall graphic of the GREAT TEXAS LONGHORN

But I digress. The real reason my worthy (but ultimately gonna lose fellow conservative and otherwise brilliant) blogger bud posted such a small graphic is because if you enlarge the graphic to where you can see what is going on, you see this:

You really can't blame him though, who wants to publicize that the TROJAN mascot is rooting for TEXAS?

HOOK 'EM HORNS!

As I said, mosey over to The Real Ugly American and when TRUA comes back and enjoy his blog, he and his blog buds have some great reading (but you be sure and come back now, ya' hear?)

Ted Kennedy Attacks on Homeland Security: "Fake but Accurate"

A UMass - Dartmouth College student claimed to have been visited by Homeland Security agents, who were investigating him for wanting to check out Chinese Communists Mao's "Little Red Book" from the library. The timing was perfect to help sabotage the vote on the Patriot Act, and Ted Kennedy jumped on it faster than he could swim. From the WSJ Opinion Journal come this report with this follow-up. It seems as if the story was false, but the Senator is sticking by it as "fake but accurate."

Federal agents' visit was a hoax: Student admits he lied about Mao book

The UMass Dartmouth student who claimed to have been visited by Homeland Security agents over his request for "The Little Red Book" by Mao Zedong has admitted to making up the entire story. The 22-year-old student tearfully admitted he made the story up to his history professor...after being confronted with the inconsistencies in his account. ...His basic tale remained the same: The book was on a government watch list, and his loan request had triggered a visit from an agent who was seeking to "tame" reading of particular books. He said he saw a long list of such books.

The story's release came at a perfect storm in the news cycle. Only a day before, The New York Times had reported that President Bush had allowed the National Security Agency to conduct wiretaps on international phone calls from the United States without a warrant. There was an increased sense among some Americans that the U.S. government was overstepping its bounds and trampling on civil liberties in order to thwart future attacks of terrorism. The story of a college student being questioned for requesting a 40-year old book on Communism fed right into that atmosphere.

Oh, it's so touching that the lying student "tearfully admitted" to the truth.

But, before the truth came out, how did the Senior Senator from Massachusetts use the story for political purposes? Here's what he said in an op-ed:

On wiretapping, Bush isn't listening to the Constitution, By Edward M. Kennedy

Think of the chilling effect on free speech and academic freedom when a government agent shows up at your home -- after you request a book from the library. Incredibly, we are now in an era where reading a controversial book may be evidence of a link to terrorists. Something is amiss here. Something doesn't make sense. We need a thorough and independent investigation of these activities. The Congress and the American people deserve answers now.

Well, I think we have the answers you wanted, Senator. Now, how about an apology? Here's how that was handled:

It's Mao or Never

Here's the actual Kennedy response as reported by the Globe: "Laura Capps, a Kennedy spokeswoman, said last night that the senator cited ''public reports" in his opinion piece. Even if the assertion was a hoax, she said, it did not detract from Kennedy's broader point that the Bush administration has gone too far in engaging in surveillance."

Okay, the Senator fell for the hoax and didn't check it out because it furthered his attacks against the President, but when confronted with the truth it still didn't matter, because his statements were correct even if supported by lies. Is Dan Rather his ghost writer?

Oh, and the student? Here's the university's position about the student, his lies, and the effect on our country: "He needs attention, he needs care. I feel for the kid. We have great concern for this student's health and welfare." and "We consider this to be an issue to be handled faculty member to student. We wouldn't discuss publicly any other action. Student discipline is a private matter." Do you think that the student learned a lesson here? Do you think that it's the right one?

The next time that some Democrat or liberal is telling you that Bush lied, consider the source.

Press: Clinton Exposed...regarding Iraq, that is.

It's just too bad that we had to invade Iraq under a Republican president. Otherwise, the Commander in Chief would enjoy the support of the predominant media. But, would Clinton have gone into Iraq under similar circumstances as President Bush? Well, here's what some "main stream media" journalists had to say about that in this article and as reported below.

Appearing on "Meet the Press" with Tim Russert this week, two broadcast veterans, Tom Brokaw of NBC and Ted Koppel, agreed that the press shouldn't be faulted too harshly for not questioning more deeply the claims of WMD in Iraq -- and declared that Bill Clinton would have gone into Iraq just like George Bush if he was still president after 9/11.

RUSSERT: And (Ted Kennedy and Sen. Byrd) were not questioning whether Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

BROKAW: No. No. No.

RUSSERT: That seemed to be a uniformly held belief.

BROKAW: Right. Yeah.

KOPPEL: Nor did the Clinton administration beforehand.

BROKAW: No.

KOPPEL: I mean, the only difference between the Clinton administration and the Bush administration was 9/11.

BROKAW: Right.

KOPPEL: If 9/11 had happened on Bill Clinton's watch, he would have gone into Iraq.

BROKAW: Yeah. Yeah.

I'm sure that there is some explaining or clarification due on this before these two "fine" reporters are ostracized by their fellow journalists. Of course, you would never know that Clinton would have gone into Iraq by the way he speaks now. It sure must be nice to sit on the sidelines making judgements on Iraq and appearing so wise after the fact.

Liberal Ideas

One of the more conservative blogs employing biting humor (and oh so correct 99.999999% of the time) is Espella Humanzee. A fellow Texan and for sure a caustic wit (yesterday's post is a great example). Scrolling down his site early this morning, I came across a sidebar graphic that I thought was so accurate it was worth putting on my blog as an entry. Some of my more "lefty" type readers won't get it or if they do, they will be insulted (hey guys, you can't be insulted when your friends tell you the truth), but the vast majority of my thinking readers will. If you doubt the veracity of the graphic, just go to the sites indicated (no, I won't provide a link to garbage sites.) Heh!

Continue reading "Liberal Ideas"

The NYTimes - Not Respectable Anymore

My friend Seth, over at Hard Astarboard is angry at the New York Times, as all thinking individuals are and he links his story to the always interesting Michele Malkin. But, Seth says it better than ever I could:

No, New York Times, We're Not Done With You Yet...
...and we won't be until everybody in America knows what a lying, treasonous, shameless, bogus, idiotarian, leftist propaganda generating, thoroughly liberal-biased source of disinformation you have become, abusing the reputation you earned back in the days when you were a respectable newspaper.

Columnist and blogger extraordinaire Michelle Malkin puts in her two cents, as succinct and on-point as always.

Anyone who thinks the times isn't a biased lefty rag is obviously not a thinking person!

'Twas The Night Before Hanukkah!

Once again, my coffee in hand and a smile on my face, I was scrolling through the blogosphere and chanced on a favorite site, The Winds Of Change. There, I came across this delightful takeoff on the Night Before Christmas. It was so good, I had to share it with you! It may be a day or two late, but it is well worth it. By the way, if The Winds of Change isn't on your regular reading list, shame on you!

'Twas the night before Hanukkah and all over the place There was noise, there was kvetching Soch ah disgrace!

The Kinderlach, sleeping,
uneasily felt
The chocolate rush
from the Hanukkah gelt

And me in the easyboy,
so stuffed with latkes,
I stretched the elastic
which held up my gatchkes

When up on the roof
(and it has a steep pitch)
A fat alte kakker
was making a kvitsch.
I jumped up real quick
and I ran to the door,
Was it a bandeet,
or only a schnorrer?

He wasn't alone;
he had eight ferdelach,
And called them by name
as he gave a gebrach:

"On Moishe, on Yankel, on Itzik, on Sam,
On Mendel, on Shmendrik, on Feivush, on Ham;
My kidneys are kvelling;
do you give a damn?"

He had a white beard
and payyes to boot,
And to keep out the cold,
he had such a nice suit!

A second from Peerless,
I could tell at a glance,
But the cut was okay,
and so were the pants.

He was triple XL,
a real groisser goof,
So I yelled out,
"Meshuggener! Get off from Mein roof!"
He jumped down and said
as he shook hands with me,
"Max Klaus is the name.
You have maybe some tea?"

So I gave him a gleisel,
while he shook his white mop,
Mutt'ring, "Always the same thing,
They're dreying my kopp!"

From Vancouver to Glace Bay,
Outremont to Reginek,
Every shmo in the world
hakks meir a cheinik!

They're screaming for presents,
and challah with schmaltz,
And from Brooklyn alone,
the back pain, gevaltz!"

So we sat and yentehed,
and we spun the old dreydels,
(He took all of my money,
and one of my kanidels)

He said, "Business is not bad,
a living I make,
But I'm getting too old
for this Hanukkah fake;

And the cell phones, you see
how my pacemaker dings?
For two cents I'd quit,
and move to Palm Springs!"

And he gave a geshrei
as he fled mit a lacht,
"Gut Yontiff to All,
Vey is Mir, Such a Nacht!"

(Author Unknown)

The Silence of the candidate!

Hillary is silent! What's that you say? Hillary, the mouth, silent? Ann Althouse suspects that Hillary knows that speaking out against the wire-tapping of folks here in America calling friends perhaps associated with Al Qaeda is a losing proposition. Could be!

Hillary didn't get where she is by being dumb (although she is, from my point of view, nowhere near as brilliant as she and everyone else thinks she is - shrewd perhaps, but not brilliant). The fact of the matter is, as a commenter on Althouse noted:

"Scarcely anyone will admit to it, but most people are perfectly willing to sacrifice a little freedom for security. The revelation that the government is taking proactive measures against terrorism - even ones which may well be illegal, if not unconstitutional (see Orin Kerr's comments here) is reassuring. Of course, most people are also aware that there is something socially unacceptable about admitting ass much, but when you vote, it's just you and a ballot paper, and I think people get pretty honest about what they think when they vote."

I couldn't have said it better myself. And this, my beloved readers will indicate that Hillary is much smarter than the rest of the Democratic herd. Though that isn't saying much.

A tip of the GM Chapeaux to Ann Althous and the Instapundit

Cross Posted at The Real ugly American

Four on the Floor: As low as this can go.

-- G.M. challenged me to answer The Meme of Four, so here is my best attempt:

Four jobs you’ve had in your life: Taking our garbage cans to the street, picking up bread and milk on the way home, representing my wife in traffic court (and winning), and defending Ronald Reagan against liberals.

Four movies you could watch over and over: Just intellectual movies with messages like Pee Wee's Big Adventure, National Lampoon's Vacation, Smokey and the Bandit, and especially these Jane Fonda films.

Four places you’ve lived: As "lived" can have more than one meaning...a golf course along the ocean, going parking as a teenager, 1971 road trip to New Orleans, and as an electrician in Colonial America in my former life.

Four TV shows you love to watch: Star Gazer, Winky Dink with samples here, Girls Gone Wild infomercials, and the Charlie's Angels show where Farrah Fawcett wore that cute swim suit.

Four places you’ve been on vacation: I take vacations one hour at a time at work.

Four websites you visit daily: Microsoft Help Page, GM's Corner, HTTP 404 - File not found, and this science fiction site.

Four of your favorite foods: Any meal picked up by a client, ketchup, pralines, and Dippin' Dots.

Four places you’d rather be: The future, the White House, further from Neverland Ranch, and age eighteen again with what I know now.

Four albums you can’t live without: Only the ones that I use for drink coasters. Not this one, probably not this one, not this one, certainly not this one, and REALLY not this one .

I hope this cleared up any questions and gave you more insight into how I think. Satisfied, G.M.?

The Sulu Archipelago

Who would have thought that a petite blond US Military Sergeant handing out gifts in the Phillipines would be part of the War on Terror. But she was, she is and it is.

Irony Abounds When You Least Expect It!

My Gawd, I hope he isn't looking at TEXAS!

The Meme Of Four

I don't do memes. I think they are frequently silly, time wasters and only occasionally funny. So far, I've passed on about 10 chances to participate, but this one was passed on to me by my blogfather Marc Cooper. Now, talk about the Odd Couple, Marc is a cussed, obstinate progressive with a superb ability to write, unfortunately what he writes about doesn't make any sense to a thinking individual (But hey Marc, you know I love you right?) On the other hand, I'm sure Marc feels pretty much the same about the things I write. That being said, I'll answer his Meme and Pass it on to Dr. Pat Santy who writes the marvelously readable Dr. Sanity. Are you listening Pat?

Four jobs you’ve had in your life: Gas Station Jockey, Retail Clerk in a Men's Clothing Store, Soldier, Counselor!

Four movies you could watch over and over: The first three Star Wars movies. The Lord of The Rings, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Greatest Story Ever Told!

Four places you’ve lived: Stuttgart, Germany; Alexandria, Virginia; Fort Amador, Canal Zone, Republic of Panama; San Antonio, Texas!

Four TV shows you love to watch: Oz; C.S.I.; Hill Street Blues; Boston Legal!

Four places you’ve been on vacation: (Other than Paris; Rome; Madrid; London): St. Petersberg, Russia; Stockholm Sweden; Bermuda and Jamaica!

Four websites you visit daily: My blogroll; Instapundit; Opinion Journal; and The Wide Awakes

Four of your favorite foods: Peanutbutter, Lettuce, Tomato and Miracle Whip sandwiches; Babyback Ribs; tenderloin steaks; any Mexican Dish!

Four places you’d rather be: On a deep sea fishing trip; on a cruise with my beloved wife; Las Vegas; exploring any ancient ruin!

Four albums you can’t live without: Any Mannheim Steamroller; Any Buddy Holly and the Crickets; The Kingston Trio, from the Hungry i; Sergei Rachmaninoff - The Complete Collection!

If you would care to leave your own answers in the comment sections, please feel free to do so!

Oh, and Woody has to do an Entry too (not a comment Woody - you don't get away that easy)

Merry Christmas To All

Singing with Joy and love, cherish with me these beloved Christmas Carols.

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund,
Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

A Joy Filled And Blessed Christmas To All

Luke, Second Chapter Verse 1-20
1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife,[a] who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold,[b] an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.�
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!�[c]

15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.� 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely[d] known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Matthew, Chapter 2, Verse 1-11

Wise Men from the East
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.�
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
6 ‘ But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’�[a]

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.�
9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

And in the spirit of giving, we bid you "Peace, and good will toward men."

Carnival of Christmas

The FIRST Carnival of Christmas is up! What a great idea!

Again, Merry Christmas!!!

Hey, Liberals--If you support our troops, show it.

Some messages don't require further explanation, but is this too subtle for liberals to understand?

Found at and a thanks to Denny's in Atlanta

Tis The Season To Be Jolly ...

For My Liberal Democratic Friends:

"Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society ! have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor that America is the only "America" in the Western Hemisphere. And without regard to the ace, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee. By accepting these greetings you are accepting the following terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for herself or himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish ! at the sole discretion of the wisher."

For My Republican Friends:
Here's wishing all of you...... A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

HT to Raven

Bush Still President: The Left Cancels Christmas

The left has clamored all year for the removal of President Bush, Karl Rove, V.P. Dick Cheney, and Sec. Donald Rumsfeld. They regularly speculate about the latest and greatest crime by each leader that will surely result in his firing or impeachment. Blogs and editorial pages are full of letters and comments with hopeful claims of misdeeds and demands for removal. But, so far, the batting average of the left is worse than an American League pitcher. All these men whom the left hates are still in power. It must be frustrating to believe yourself so good and so right and never score a run. Here's more of the futility and deceipt of the hopeful left to dispose of President Bush:

"Impeachment' Talk, Pro and Con, Appears in Media at Last" -- By E&P Staff

Newsweek online noted a “chorus� of impeachment chat, and its Washington reporter, Howard FIneman, declared that Bush opponents are “calling him Nixon 2.0 and have already hauled forth no less an authority than John Dean to testify to the president’s dictatorial perfidy.

Is this a "vast left-wing conspiracy?" The left continually tries to link Bush with Nixon. John Dean? Is he still alive? Maybe Bush should counter with G. Gordon Liddy. The linkage could be worse. They could compare Bush to the worst president of our era--Jimmy Carter. The article continues:

Todd Gillman wrote in the Dallas Morning News: "Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., suggested that Mr. Bush's actions could justify impeachment.�

Ooooh... Now, there's a credible source for you! Is he next going to quote Rep. Cynthia al-McKinney, D-Ga.? More.

A smattering of polls (some commissioned by partisan groups) has found considerable, if minority, support for impeachment. But Frank Newport, the director of the Gallup Poll, ...noted that he had been besieged with emails calling for such a survey, but felt it was an "organized" action. ...(Chief Washington Post pollster Richard) Morin complained that he and other pollsters have been the "target of a campaign organized by a Democratic Web site demanding that we ask a question about impeaching Bush in our polls."

As usual, a small radical minority try to falsely pass themselves as being in greater numbers and mainstream.

Now, to shed some light on the "admitted impeachable offense" by the President, in which he authorized wiretaps wiithout court warrants...

"Warrantless' searches not unprecedented" By Charles Hurt, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Previous administrations, as well as the court that oversees national security cases, agreed with President Bush's position that a president legally may authorize searches without warrants in pursuit of foreign intelligence.

"The Department of Justice believes -- and the case law supports -- that the president has inherent authority to conduct warrantless physical searches for foreign intelligence purposes and that the president may, as he has done, delegate this authority to the attorney general," Clinton Deputy Attorney General Jamie S. Gorelick said in 1994 testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

In 1994, President Clinton expanded the use of warrantless searches to entirely domestic situations with no foreign intelligence value whatsoever. In a radio address promoting a crime-fighting bill, Mr. Clinton discussed a new policy to conduct warrantless searches in highly violent public housing projects.

In 1978...Attorney General Griffin B. Bell testified before a federal judge about warrantless searches he and President Carter had authorized against two men suspected of spying on behalf of the Vietnam government.

Oh, well. At least the left has kept us entertained with their attacks, and their time-consuming efforts have kept them from even thinking about new ideas and winning elections.

New Comic In Town

First, I read Cox and Forkum, then came Chris Muir then Ipso Facto and now there is Winger to add to the list. Gad Zooks what great talent these guys have.

Open Letter To The Distinguished Gentleman From Nevada!

Dear Senator Reid: You sir, despite the title of this blog entry, are no gentleman. Moreover, that should be obvious to even you. Chris Muir has, in his cartoon above, nailed you for the scoundrel that you are. Your leadership of the once great Democratic Party has left it in tatters, perhaps even worse than your predecessor did, and that is saying a lot!

Recently, you bragged to your democratic colleagues, that you had "killed" the renewal of the Patriot Act. How dare you! I will admit that you had some help then from others that share your particular brand of so-called "patriotism", but you cravenly took credit of that act of cowardice on yourself. When, the following day, you were challenged on that bit of "statesmanship" by the president, you again cravenly changed your tune to show how much you wanted a Patriot Act. Sir, you seemingly care for this country, but only when the country stands for your particular brand of democracy (small d) meaning of course that you and those that think like you are only satisfied when you get to rule your way, and didn't Mr. Muir say just that?

Did you learn nothing from the loss of Dear Leader Daschle? Do you not understand that this country is at war with a relentless enemy who wants nothing but your death, and the death of everything you say you hold dear? Have you not listened to those terrorists who proclaim the desire for a new Caliphate? Do you not remember the beheading of hostages in a brazenly cowardly attempt to sway public opinion or who murdered, yes murdered over 3000 Americans in a wanton terrorist attack?

I have been accused of being a "cheerleader" for President Bush and for the war in Iraq, and for the war on Terror. Guilty as charged. One of the major reasons for this is the behavior of Democrats such as you. When I see the majority of Democrats in the United States Senate call for the immediate pull out of our troops, when I see Democratic congressmen demand a pullout, then vote against that very pull out when the Republicans call their hand, I wonder where is this Democratic Party headed?

Senator, have you EVER considered why you are the MINORITY leader in the US Senate? Perhaps if you reflect on how your party handles governance in a time of war, how it and it's allies in the ACLU "demands" information be made public, information that cannot but help our enemies maybe you will begin to see that the majority of the American people do not back your handling of national security. Maybe, just maybe if you eschew the politics of the DU and Daily Kos and your so-called "base" you could gain some traction with the American voting public. However, to be totally honest, I will not hold my breath.

I cannot help but think that past Democrats such as Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John Kennedy and Scoop Jackson, and even Hubert Humphrey are spinning in their graves. That, is a sad note on the state of affairs in the current Democratic Party!

Thanks for the Assist and a Hearty Tip of the GM Chapeaux to Chris Muir
Linked at Right Wing Nuthouse, at Dr. Sanity, at Sister Toldjah and at Pirates Cove

Common Sense Judge Hits ACLU with Truth

A federal appeals court ruled that the Ten Commandments could be displayed in a Kentucky courthouse. What is particularly enjoyable about the ruling is what one of the judges had to say to the ACLU, which sued to have the display removed.

Judge Tells ACLU What Everyone Else Knows

Judge Richard Suhrheinrich's ruling said the ACLU brought "tiresome" arguments about the "wall of separation" between church and state, and it said the organization does not represent a "reasonable person."

Suhrheinrich wrote that a court has to decide whether a "reasonable person" would find that a government display endorses religion, not whether someone finds it offensive. He said the ACLU "does not embody the reasonable person." He criticized the organization for arguing that the First Amendment mandates a "wall of separation between church and state." "Our nation's history is full of governmental acknowledgment and in some cases accommodation of religion," the judge wrote.

The lawyer representing Mercer County said the ruling was welcome. "For too long (Kentuckians) have been lectured like children by those in the ACLU and elsewhere who claim to know what the people's Constitution really means," Manion said in a statement. "The court recognizes that the Constitution does not require that we strip the public square of all vestiges of our religious heritage and traditions."

(State representative Rick) Nelson said, "It's a common-sense ruling" that reflects "what a lot of people have said all along."

Isn't it nice to win one against the ACLU? They didn't have a prayer.

Linked At Stop The ACLU

Let the Military Fight Terrorists -- Not Jesus

Okay, what's going on here? Are our armed forces being forced to rely on an all-encompassing generic god for their guidance, comfort, and protection--in the name of "tolerance?" Within an article in The Washington Times come these revelations: "'I am a Navy chaplain being fired because I pray in Jesus' name,' said Navy Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt. ...Official military policy allows any sort of prayer, but Lt. Klingenschmitt...cites his training at the Navy Chaplains School in Newport, R.I., where 'they have clipboards and evaluators who evaluate your prayers, and they praise you if you pray just to God,' he said. 'But if you pray in Jesus' name, they counsel you.'"

I honestly want to know if I'm seeing this issue correctly and completely. Excerpts from this next article say more, but I encourage you to read it in its entirity along with other links provided in this entry:

U.S. military bans Christian prayer: Chaplains forbidden to pray in name of Christ

By Rand Green, Editor & Publisher, Perspicacity Press, © 2005 Rand Green Communications

NO PRAYERS in school. No mention of God in the Pledge of Allegiance. No Christmas decorations on public property. No wearing of crosses by airline pilots on duty. The removal of images of the cross from century-old city seals. There is seemingly no limit to the ways in which those who want to remove all vestiges of religion, and particularly of Christianity, from the public view are seeking to undermine the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.

Their latest target is the United States military. Chaplains in the military are now being told they cannot mention the name of “Jesus� when they pray, except within the confines of their own churches.

North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones...told of a conversation he had...with a Navy chaplain who was also a Methodist minister. The chaplain had recently given a prayer at a remembrance service for marines killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. “He closed his prayer in the name of Christ Jesus, and about two hours later he got a call from a major in the Marine Corps who told him that in those kind of settings, outside the church, he is not to pray in the name of Jesus Christ.�

It is “an atmosphere of intimidation,� and it is having “a chilling effect,� said Jay Sekulow. “This is political correctness that is just absolutely run amok here. The idea that you would ... censor or silence these pastors because you don’t like the idea that they would pray according to the dictates of their own faith is to me just absurd.�

The current crackdown on prayer in the military, and more specifically in the Air Force, which has just recently issued new restrictive guidelines, is “an overreaction to the situation at the Air Force Academy,� said Mr. Sekulow...

How this started is explained in this article from World Net Daily, which said:

In a move that echoes the recent decision of the U.S. Department of Defense to deny Boy Scouts use of military facilities, the U.S. Air Force Academy is warning Christian cadets to curb their faith.

Officials at the Colorado Springs military college have instituted a new training program, Respecting the Spiritual Values of People, to teach the cadets, 90% of whom are from Protestant or Catholic backgrounds, tolerance toward non-Christians. The program follows an August survey that found complaints of religious bias.

At the Nov. 2 kickoff for the Respecting the Spiritual Values of People program, cadets were advised by head chaplain Michael Whittington to not hold Bible studies in their dormitories, but he was overruled by Commandant Brig. Gen. Johnny Weida.

Another article from World Net Daily provides additional information:

"We support free exercise of religion, but we do not push religion," Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, a Navy veteran, told the paper. He said he was hired earlier this year to assist the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force with writing the guidelines. The new rules come on the heels of criticism of the academy by a pair of congressional Democrats, Reps. Steve Israel of New York and Lois Capps of California.

Why are some offended by certain religious expressions? As examples, a report from a military task force cited "fliers that advertised a screening of The Passion of the Christ at every seat in the dining hall" and "when a chaplain defends saying 'Jesus will be with you, Jesus will save you' with the response 'That's the way we do it here – we promote Jesus.'"

The ACLJ, a concerned Christian group, is compiling a petition to protect military prayer for submission to the President.

Let me recommend that the readers study this issue further to determine for yourselves if the military is falling prey to political correctness and religious intolerance and if this movement should be confronted. Our soldiers are put in harms way every day and they need comfort and peace from the God they worship--not a false idol created by government.

A good answer to this problem might best be this: WWJD?

Out of Pocket

I will be out of pocket on a short business trip for the next 48 hours or so... Woody is in charge so be nice to him!

Christmas, 2006?

Will this be the front page of the New York Times in 2006? Time will tell!!! H/T to Sacred Cow Burgers

A new look

Those of you, not still stupified by thanksgiving, and not yet (but gonna be) stupified by Christmas will notice that there has been a change in the blog. The sidebar is now on the right and the site now loads much, much faster (and thus, obviating the need for the warning that USED to be under the elephant on the sidebar. Go thank Michael at Slobokan's Site O' Schtuff. He and the folk at Elegant Webscapes do great work!

We are still encountering problems with comments... so... PLEASE don't use the Preview Button... just comment, enter the security code and click the POST button. If you do have problems, please don't hesitate to contact me via e-mail.

Help Rename Arnold Schwarzenegger Stadium

Good for California's Governator!

After the extreme left and Europeans became angry that Gov. Schwarzenegger acceded to the courts and California's death penalty and after his home town officials began the process to strip his name from the sports stadium honoring him, the governor said in essence, "Let me help you" --and, it doesn't sound as if he'll "be back."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday told officials in his hometown in Austria to remove his name from a sports stadium and stop using his identity to promote the city. The governor's request came after politicians in Graz began a petition drive to rename the stadium, reacting to Schwarzenegger's decision last week to deny clemency to condemned inmate Stanley Tookie Williams.

In the letter, Schwarzenegger also said he would no longer permit the use of his name "to advertise or promote the city of Graz in any way" and would return the city's "ring of honor." The ring was given to him in a ceremony in Graz in 1999. At the time, Schwarzenegger said he considered it "a token of sincere friendship between my hometown and me." "Since, however, the official Graz appears to no longer accept me as one of their own, this ring has lost its meaning and value to me. It is already in the mail," the governor wrote.

Reactions over this issue from Europe and the governor's home town included these comments:

From one German magazine came this:

Williams was executed on Monday night after spending 24 years on Death Row during which he wrote children's books encouraging kids to shun a life of crime.

Italy's chapter of Amnesty International called the execution "a cold-blooded murder" and added:

His execution is a slap in the face to the principle of rehabilitation of inmates, an inhumane and inclement act toward a person who, with his exemplary behavior and his activity in favor of street kids, had become an important figure and a symbol of hope for many youths.

Got it? They wanted Crips founder and murderer Tookie Williams to live for the children. Schwarzenegger hates the children!

From a commenter in the "guest book" at the Graz tourism site:

The point is Tookie hadn't the right (to kill) and so hadn't Arnold Schwarzenegger,by the way whose name the Americans can't even pronounce. And to react to some statements, Arnold Schwarzenegger does care about this stadium, because he is egocentric and already ordered to rename this stadium and I, as an Austrian, am fine with that. Arnold Schwarzenegger may have acted in some cult-movies, but he isn't and good politician and worse he is republican.

Don't you love moralizing from the righteous left--especially that in Europe, which has all the answers to our problems? I'm not making a statement one way or the other on the death penalty. However, I do get tired of smug comments from other nations, obviously envious of the U.S., telling us that we have to be more like them to be civilized.

Well, if the stadium isn't going to be named after Arnold Schwarzenegger anymore, we can help the town council of Graz to find a fitting new name that represents their system of values. Might I suggest "Tookie Williams Stadium?"

Dr. Helen Picks A Bone With The APA - And Does It Well.

One of my favorite sites, and maybe because I'm a mental health professional, is the site of the socalled "Instawife" or Dr. Helen who blogs at, oddly enough (Heh, as her hubby would say,) Dr. Helen. Recently, she published an article regarding the roots of conservatism as posited by the American Psychological Association and the article was not, oh, shall we say "unbiased?"

Dr. Helen took the article to task because of perceived bias. She wrote:

I have mentioned a research study by the APA entitled, Political Conservatism as Socially Motivated Cognition, that appeared biased against conservatives. The study pointed out that there had been little research done on the traits of liberals--but they must have overlooked ...[an]... article in Clio Psych's Journal from 2003."

In the Political Conservatism as Socially Motivated Cognition, article, you will find this:

Ten meta-analytic calculations performed on the material - which included various types of literature and approaches from different countries and groups - yielded consistent, common threads, Glaser said.

"The avoidance of uncertainty, for example, as well as the striving for certainty, are particularly tied to one key dimension of conservative thought - the resistance to change or hanging onto the status quo, they said.

"The terror management feature of conservatism can be seen in post-Sept. 11 America, where many people appear to shun and even punish outsiders and those who threaten the status of cherished world views, they wrote. [emphasis added]"

And, Dr. Helen would be right, that is biased. But what seemingly really ticked off the good Dr. was the statement inclusion of a statement that, according to Dr. Helen:

The study pointed out that there had been little research done on the traits of liberals--but they must have overlooked this article in Clio Psych's Journal from 2003".

And the article that Dr. Helen notes? An excerpt:

Research on the psychology of radical activists helps us to understand this mismatch between Chomsky's ideas and his personal style. In the 1970s, Stanley Rothman and Robert Lichter administered Thematic Apperception Tests to a large sample of "new left" radicals (Roots of Radicalism, 1982). They found that activists were characterized by weakened self-esteem, injured narcissism and paranoid tendencies. They were preoccupied with power and attracted to radical ideologies that offered clear and unambiguous answers to their questions. All of these traits can be found in the work of Chomsky and other anti-imperialist intellectuals. [emphasis added]"

So, weakened self esteem? Injured narcissism? Paranoid tendencies? Preoccupied with power? Attracted to radical ideologies? Seems to me to be a good description of the vast majority of those found on DU, DK, and in the Democratic party today. I'd be even willing to bet that if the same research were to be duplicated today, the results would be pretty near identical.

I think I'd rather be willing to hang on to terror(ism) management and punish the outsiders (who cause the terrorism in the first place) than be considered to have an injured narcissism. But that is just me. Heh!

And a Tip of the GM Chapeaux to Dr. Helen and to James Taranto

Iraq Strategy For Dummies

Ken Summers at It Comes In Pints? has the study guides for the Democratic and Media elites who are generally clueless about the war. Ken got the idea from a comment on Glenn Reynolds:

Some people are asking what's new about this strategy. The answer -- as Jon Henke notes -- is nothing, really. ("Naturally�after having paid more attention to the critics claiming there's no plan than to, you know, the actual plan�everybody is acting all surprised and confused. . . .This isn't the 'first time' the White House has disclosed the strategy for victory in Iraq, and the strategy isn't 'new'. This is something reporters really should know. . . . Granted, the White House should have done a better job at spreading this message from the very start. But it's sheer laziness and/or incompetence on the part of the media and critics to pretend that the Iraq strategy hasn't been widely available for a long time.")

What's new is that the White House is forcing people to pay attention to the plan, and to the fact that there is, and has been, a plan even though the press has ignored it. That many media outfits, as Henke notes, seem to think this is all new is merely evidence that they've been providing lousy war coverage all along.

But the White House, if a bit late in the day, is doing something it needs to do. You can't rely on bloggers to do it all.

I don't think the Dems will learn anything, even with a tutor, but it was nice of Ken to provide the study materials.

Yes, Virginia, There Is Freedom In The Middle East

The gentleman to the right is unfortunately deceased. He was born in 1839 and died in 1906 living to the ripe old age of 67; young by today's standards, but pretty old given the times. His name is Francis Pharcellus Church. A name that does not easily roll off the tongue, but one must assume that his parents loved him and though they stuck him with the approbation "Pharcellus." Perhaps they were thinking of Pharsalus, An ancient city of Thessaly in northeast Greece where Julius Caesar decisively defeated Pompey nearby in 48 B.C.

But I digress, Mr. Church was a newsman, an editor and a publisher. He was a lead editorial writer on his brother's newspaper, the New York Sun, and it was in that capacity that in 1897 he wrote his most famous editorial, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."

It is in this context that I reprint part of that editorial:

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light which childhood fills the world would be extinguished."

With abject apologies to Mr. Church, and to Virginia O'Hanlon, a little 8 year old girl who lived on West Ninety-Fith Street in New York, I pen the following:

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest man that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, belief and a steadfast love for freedom can discern the need for freedom; in the Middle East and beyond. Is it real? Ah, Virginia (and the Democratic Party) there is nothing else as real and abiding. No Freedom? Thank God there is Freedom, it lives and will live forever. A thousand years from now, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now freedom will continue to make glad the hearts of mankind.

Freedom is worthwhile, what ever the cost. Vain and vainglorious men will challenge that statement forever, for they cannot abide the lack of power, of power ripped from their hands by people with stout hearts and with a goal of giving to others what they have been given. Today, there are vainglorious men and women in our own land, men and women who care little for the concept, though they say they do. Men and women who call for the return of the men and women in uniform, those with stout hearts who suffer and die and are greviously wounded in the cause. Yet, Virginia, freedom will out! It always does and you can rest assured that in the twilight of history, in the years to come, the world will celebrate those men and women. They will be lauded, and the naysayers will not be remembered at all, save in the small minds of those who place politics over a polity based on freedom.

In Praise of a Democrat

A true political GIANT, William Proxmire died today at the age of 90. I for one was sorry to see him retire in '89 because he was one democrat that I really liked. Liberal in some areas, but a fierce conservative when it came to government spending and encroachment into ordinary life.

Proxmire was called once, so independent that he was often considered a party of one. He almost always got elected by huge margins, seldom took any money from anyone and often had election expenses of less than $1000.00.

His Golden Fleece awards were absolutely priceless in terms of humor, grace, and caustic wit and absolute correctness. For example, in 1975, Proxmire awarded the Golden Fleece to the Selective Service System and Army Corps of Engineers For a $98,029 contract awarded to Kenneth Coffey to study the all-volunteer army concept in foreign countries two years after the all-volunteer army had already been put into effect in the U.S.

On one occasion, he decried a study of how do humans fall in love and he quipped "I don't want to know the answer."

Other Proxmire gems:

The last few years have been my happiest. I'm happy in the years that most people are blue and sad and waiting to die. I don't feel that a bit. Smiling has a lot to do with it. You can just lift your spirits by smiling a little bit."

"The biggest danger for a politician is to shake hands with a man who is physically stronger, has been drinking and is voting for the other guy."

"I have spent my career trying to get Congressmen to spend the people's money as if it were their own. But I have failed."

"Power always has to be kept in check; power exercised in secret, especially under the cloak of national security, is doubly dangerous"

Proxmire was so anti-spending, he often earned top marks from the National Taxpayers Union, an admittedly conservative organization aimed at reducing taxes and government spending. After retirement, Proxmire served on the board of the NTU. Not bad for a "liberal."

William Proxmire , 1915-2005. Requiescat In Pace

Good for the Iraqi people!

GM Votes for the Iraqi People. Care to Join Me?

Coming Home And The Last Goodbye

Every once in a while, you come across something so haunting, so deep and so stiring that it sticks in your mind like nothing else. This is such a story. I received an e-mail from a really good, though new, friend, Rick who writes The Real Ugly American. Rick asked me to share his post with all of my readers, and after looking at the post, I could not but comply.

There are those today who still think of the Vietnam Veterans as "terrorists" who leveled villiges reminiscent of the actions of Jenghis Kahn, who call our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan "idiots" and "mercenary's." That dear friends is a lie. Our troops are heros, proud and bloodied, but unbent. Heros all whose actions over the decades from The Battle of New Orleans through the assault on Fallujah have kept us free, and wrested freedom for others.

Rick's piece opens with an intro from Docski, a member of a vets forum:

Some here would call them idiots. Some would make fun of them for risking their lives for $75 a month in combat pay. I call them some of the bravest and finest people I have ever known. Hearts of Vikings.

Tycz and I patroled together on the Teams for 4 or 5 months. Doc Miller was my replacement. We buried them this past spring in DC.

and from the article that the above was an intro to:

Four dead men. One already is smoldering. The elephant grass is on fire. Three other Marines are still alive for now, but if the North Vietnamese Army doesn't get them, the fires surely will.

It is late morning, May 10, 1967, on Hill 665 northwest of Khe Sanh. A Marine reconnaissance patrol named Breaker is in trouble...

Read the whole thing, you will really miss something of merit if you don't.

When Is The World Going To Take Iran Seriously?

My blog friend Seth at Hard Astarbord has a new entry up on the Mad Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of the Rogue State of Iran. This "nation" is full of terrific people who have a government that is full of crap. Having said that, the recent pronouncements by Ah^MADinejad regarding our friends the Israelis is next to impossible to believe. Ah^MADinejad stated:

"Some European countries insist on saying that Hitler killed millions of innocent Jews in furnaces. Although we don't accept this claim, if we suppose it is true, if European countries claim that they have killed Jews in World War II, why don't they provide the Zionist regime with a piece of Europe? Germany and Austria can provide the regime with two or three provinces for this regime to establish itself, and the issue will be resolved. You offer part of Europe, and we will support it."

Seth reports that Mark Steyn has the lowdown in what has to be a must read column. Thanks Seth for the pointer.

A Secularist Looks At Christmas Symbols.

I love surfing, especially on the internet so I don't get wet in this cold, cold time of year (where the hell is global warming when you want it?). But I digress, I came across this item in Xtreme Right Wing and laughed my fanny off. It's a good thing that I didn't have coffee in my mouth at the time, cause it would have sprayed everywhere. Here is a sample:

Perhaps the most popular and influential symbol is Santa Claus, AKA Santa, AKA Saint Nick, AKA Saint Nicholas, AKA Chris Cringle, AKA Father Christmas, AKA Machine Gun Nicky. Every year, Santa spies on our children and based on criteria set by the fanatical Christian Right and the Bush Administration, unilaterally decides which children are deemed “good.� In the spirit of Christianity, these children are almost always White, Americans. Notice in the picture below, how Santa enslaves these poor reindeer to transport him all around the world. In some children’s books he’s also been depicted actually using a whip on these beautiful creatures. Who’s looking out for their rights?"

"His wares are said to be crafted in sweat shops by the slave labor of “Little People.� Human Rights Watch still has not been given access to inspect Santa’s compound at the North Pole."

Carnival of German-American Relations, Vol 1, No. 1

On this date in 1941 Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich declared war on the United States and thus signed it's death warrant. Relationships between our two countries between then and now have had more ups and downs than a roller coaster; the ride has been at times exhilarating, at times terrifying, at times maddening but it has never been boring.

Welcome to the first Carnival of German-American Relations. Willkommen zum ersten Karneval der Deutsch-Amerikanischen Relationen.

Joerge Wolf of the Atlantic Review had the idea of hosting a carnival to help the peoples of two great countries better understand each other. GM Roper of GM's Corner was asked to pitch in and this is the result. This carnival is unique in that it is being hosted on two continents seperated by the Atlantic Ocean simultaneously. Although the majority of posts picked for the carnival will be in English, an occasional German post will be selected. If you have difficulty reading and understanding German, you can often get a rough translation here or here. Just follow the directions. Now, on with the carnival of more than excellent posts. Read them all, follow the links, make comments on posts you either agree with, or disagree with. Be polite to the other commenters and polite to the authors. This is, after all, about understanding. Below, you will find links to both German and American, English and Japanese blogs. Blogs from the left of us, blogs from the right of us, blogs in front of us have vollyed and thundered. Some posts will make you angry, some will cause you to reflect, but all are part of a growing trans-atlantic dialogue that can only serve us well. Germany thwarted what many of us felt was a just cause in going after Iraq. Schroeder, who was one of the master's of that action, is no longer in power. Maybe we can heal the rift. Maybe not, but we have to try. Too much is at stake in this troubled world.

Our first entry notes the tremendous help the United States received from Germany following Hurricane Katrina. From The Quaker Economist comes "Thanks Germany." A tid bit for you: Remember those estimates that it would take three to six months to pump the water out of New Orleans? Just ten days after those estimates were made, the city is more or less dry. There is a story behind this news. It has to do with a large contingent of German volunteers who came to play a major role in the rescue of New Orleans. It's time someone told their story.

Next comes Ray D. of David's Medienkritik who is really angry at German Media for planting, nourishing, watering anti-American feeling in the little ones. This one is a must read as it gets to the root of anti-American feeling for many (most?) Germans today, but also portends what we can expect in the future if relationships don't improve.

Bill Rice who writes By Dawns Early Light contributes Germany's Angela Merkel, the Next Bismarck? This is a terrific read and looks at German governance. A particularly apt statement: "Ms. Merkel, like Otto von Bismarck almost 150 years before, has positioned herself (all the while in a weak government) as the center of gravity for any reform and progress in Europe. She has distanced herself from the non-democratic Russians, usurped the stumbling French, and opened the door to the outsider British while affirming America's role in European security. And all this with one tour.

Atlantic Review has an article Germany's Aid To Katrinas Victims also noting the quick response of the German Republic when we were hit by one of the worst storms of the last 100 years. This is good reporting.

Olaf at Extrablog is quite angry with the United States. For good reason? I don't think so, but Olaf does.

Sandra Plas of The Transatlanticist contributes Eagle Nations. Sandra looks at the relationship between Germany and the United States from a Dutch viewpoint. Good reading!

Michael Meyn, a "Germerican" talks about why he decided to stay in America after 9-11. Well worth the read, and then some.

Kathy Krajco who writes at "At The Zoo" has written (pixeled?) a terrific post (warning, long but worth every minute of your time) on the Roots of Anti-Americanism! Way to go Kathy!!

Bruce Miller writing at Old Hickory's Weblog has an interesting article up regarding his take on Condi Rice's recent trip to meet with Angela Merkel. Bruce doesn't think that the ascension of Merkel to the Chancerllorship will improve relations much: "I've said it before. And I find occasion to keep saying it. I just don't know what gave the Bush Republicans the idea that having the Christian Democrats come to power in Germany was going to result in warmer US-German relations." An interesting read even if you don't agree with the premise and well worth your time.

Quick Rob, a delightful read under any circumstances contributes: US-German Relations. Quic Rob notes: Schroeder’s tendency to use Bush-bashing as an election strategy in the same manner with which Arab despots use Americans and Jews as scapegoats belied both a shallow foreign policy approach and a weasely personality, not to mention a lack of respect for his electorate. As German pundits would ridicule the Americans for being talked down to by sloppy-speaking Shrub , so the Germans and their American issues were manipulated on the campaign trail to boost Schroeder’s image..." Besides, Quick Rob quotes GM's Corner in this article, so you know it's gotta be good!

Clemens Wergin, Editorial Writer and Political Book Editor of Berlin's leading newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, submitted his article Die neue Freiheit (The New Liberty) about the Schroeder era, which was printed in November 2005. Clemens provided the following summary in English:

After the 2 plus 4 treaty it took some years until the German governments fully realized that Germany had regained complete sovereignty in its foreign policy. It was not until the red-green coalition took power that German foreign policy began to break the mold of the cold war years. This essay examines the legacy of the seven Schroeder years, new traits of Germany's foreign policy that should be kept and others that are in desperate need to be mended. The article argues that Germany should regain the middle ground again, between the US and France in transatlantic issues and between the British and the French approach in European matters, because this is the only way to regain influence on Germany's major partners in the world. Schroeder postured as somebody whose aim was to build a new self-confident foreign policy, but instead of increasing Germany's foreign policy options he actually reduced them by almost unconditionally binding himself to the French in international and European issues. It' s about time that German politics but also the German public dropped fantasies of building a counterweight to the US. Almost no one in the world profits as much from America's stabilizing role on the globe as Germany, the worlds export champion. So the biggest threat to the world is not the US, as many Europeans think, but the fact that one day the Americans might not be willing anymore to shoulder the enormous burden of their stabilizing role. Germany's foreign policy also in remote regions like Asia should do everything to easen this burden instead of making it even more heavy. One of the most disappointing fesatures of his foreign policy are in the field of human rights and transformation, issues that once had been at the core especially of the foreign policy thinking of the greens. But in the very moment that Moralpolitik became a function of Realpolitik through 9/11, highlighting the fact that the Middle East policies of the West of stability and blocked reforms had utterly failed, the social democrats and greens missed the chance of making transformation and democratization their top priorities and didn't take up the chances of Bush's Greater Middle East initiative that was actually much more in tune with European policy approaches than the regime change doctrin of the first Bush term.

If you can't read his Tagesspiegel-article in German , you could try this automatic google translation. Clemens Wergin blogs at Flatworld.

Rosemary with Knickerbocker News not only publicizes the Carnival, she tells us why she mistrusts Germany: Prior to the 1441 resolution, which was unanimously endorsed, France and Germany promised Secretary of State Powell they would back the United States if Saddam Hussein did not comply with said resolution. This was very important because had they done so, a united front would possibly have provided enough pressure on Saddam Hussein to back down and comply. He would have been without allies in the UN." Rosemary makes some good points.

Shah Alexander writing in Global American Discourse (from Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan ) has written an interesting article noting that while European-American relations are improving, Asian-American ones are not. "New German administration will put more emphasis on the transatlantic alliance than the Franco-German axis. Even France is trying to move closer to the United States, in face of the Arab riot near Paris. Both Germany and France are beginning to recognize that they keep close ties with the United States in order to defeat common threats, particularly radical Islam terrorists."

GM of this Blog contributed "New German Leadership; Or Just A New Wrapper?"

Starling Hunter writing at "The Business of America Is Business" has a very interesting, take on the source of Modern Germany's problems; Otto von Bismarck. The title is terrific: Grand Theft Otto. A sample: It's long past the time that the German people reclaim what Grand Theft Otto helped steal from them and their forefathers- a firmly established Democracy ."

Clive Davis from the United Kingdom who writes, interestingly enough, the Clive Davis Blog has entered a terrific Interview with Jeff Gedmin called "Transatlantic Voices." Gedmin is, according to Clive: Director of Berlin's Aspen Institute, a self-styled "marketplace of ideas" that has been described by Irwin Stelzer as the city's "de facto U.S. embassy". A former Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, Jeff writes for Die Welt, and The Financial Times. He also contributed an essay to Stelzer's recent collection, Neoconservatism." This is a fascinating interview, complete with links to various subjects discussed. Miss this one, and you will have missed a lot.

Erik P. Hauth with Ringfahndung (dragnet operation or cordon search) submitted his "fictitious" plea to Arnold Schwarzenegger not to execute the convicted murderer Tookie Williams. This is totally tongue in cheek. I think!

Jim at Attack Machine remembers the Berlin Airlift and wonders why so many German's have seemed to have forgotten it. So do I.

George A. Pieler and Jens F. Laurson writing in Tech Central Station have a great article on the New Chancellor Andrea Merkel. They wonder if Merkel is Outfoxed, or Leading the Pack?

From Carsten Boesel at the TransatlanTicker wrote Wanted: A Bit of Berkeley for Germany and notes:
It is only recently that commentators and employers have abandoned their dream of a German Harvard in favor of the University of California system as a far more feasible model for higher education reform in Germany. Now, why anyone would want to import the ultra lib Berkely system to Germany is beyond me (just kidding folks) but Carsten makes a challenging case. Go read it, short and sweet and very well written.

Ralf Goergens writing in the very popular Chicagoboyz has written a very well thought out article:
A postmortem of the 2005 German general elections Ralf sees perhaps, a rocky road ahead: "The previous grand coalition in the late 1960's had been quite successful, but then bother partners had put the interests of the country before their own, and there are strong doubts that the Social Democrats will be willing to do that this time around."

Last, but not least by a long shot Anton Reiser who calls his blog a "Psychological Weblog" takes a look at Merkel: Merkel Looks to Undo Bankrupt German Foreign Policy and is a little upset with the German Main Stream Media. A good good read.

That concludes our first ever Carnival on German-American Relations. Both Joerg Wolf of Atlantic Review and I thank you very much for participating, and for reading our contributors. Improving understanding first involves breaking down barriers and increasing contact. If two great nations like ours, with the history we have cannot do this, who can?

If you would like to host the next Carnival of German American Relations, please email Joerg Wolf at Atlantic Review. His e-mail address is Joerg DOT Wolf @ atlanticreview dot org. (be sure and substitute and bring it all together)

MEMO TO ALL EMPLOYEES

MEMO TO ALL EMPLOYEES
RE: Christmas PARTY ON DEC. 23RD
DATE: DEC. 1ST

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23, starting at noon in the banquet room at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue. No-host bar, but plenty of eggnog! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols...feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus! A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00 P.M. Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time, however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees! A special announcement will be made by our CEO at that time!

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Woody

Little Boxes On the Hillside And They're All Made Out Of Ticky Tacky...

Surfing through the internet today, I came across Instapundit who had an interesting little title up: Little Boxes. Said title noted a follow up to his Tech Central Station column on urban sprawl.

But I digress, what caught my eye, and engaged my memory was the title "Little Boxes" and my mind instantly (perhaps the intent of the Instapundit?) was taken back to Pete Seeger circa 1963 when he sang:

Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky,
Little boxes, little boxes,
Little boxes, all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same.

And the people in the houses
All go to the university,
And they all get put in boxes,
Little boxes, all the same.
And there's doctors and there's lawyers
And business executives,
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same.

And they all play on the golf-course,
And drink their Martini dry,
And they all have pretty children,
And the children go to school.
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university,
And they all get put in boxes
And they all come out the same.

And the boys go into business,
And marry, and raise a family,
And they all get put in boxes,
Little boxes, all the same.
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky-tacky
And they all look just the same.

Maybe you don't remember this song, maybe you do. I remember it because I was then in my senior year in high school living with my parent's a stone's throw from the Potomac River and just down river from Washington D.C. The neighborhood was staunchly middle class, with carports not garages, postage size back yards, and every 10^th house of roughly the same design. Little boxes indeed. Not much of a hillside though. The years were of protest songs, Hootnanny was a popular TV show, folk singers all the rage and the Beatles had not been totally crowned as the kings of pop music then. In fact, there were still a lot of Buddy Holly fans around. But the protest songs... ahhhh, the protest songs.. "If I Had A Hammer;" "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?" and so many others. The Halcyon days of conformity, of Bass Weejun shoes, wool socks with matching colored shirts. Madras Plaids, narrow ties. '61, '62, and '63.

Then, Kennedy was assassinated and the upheaval began for many of us. Vietnam, drugs, sex and rock and roll. Nehru Jackets, Bell Bottoms, and Beads, oh yes, the Beads.

Again, I digress and as I write this, the tinkle of "Little Boxes" continues to run through my head. I followed Glenn Reynolds link to "Albion's Seedlings" and this article by James C. BennettTicky-Tacky

It seems as though Pete Seeger didn't write that song, though I can't remember why I thought he did, it was written by Malvina Reynolds who was at the time a member of the Communist Party, USA. Bennett states:

The political context of the song was interesting. Right after World War Two, the Communist Party USA, seeking to capitalize on its wartime link to "our ally, Uncle Joe Stalin", launched a big organizing drive around one of the major general complaints of the time, which was the lack of available housing. The CPUSA's drive was centered on demands for a gigantic government housing program to build government-owned "worker's apartments". This drive quickly petered out as the veteran's housing loan program and rapid suburban development rapidly produced millions of single-family houses, to the delight of returning veterans and wartime workers who had been renting chicken coops and trailers.

Bennett follows with this:

It also marks the Left's shift from critiquing the market economy for producing too little, to critiquing it for producing too much -- substituting an aesthetic critique for an economic one. This in turn was a symptom of the collapse of any trace of a working-class base for the hard Left, and its replacement by a bohemian-intellectual base.

"Collapse of any trace of a working-class base for the hard Left, and its replacement by a bohemian-intellectual base." Well, one would think then, that the left and Liberal would be (and indeed are) two different things. Reading Daily Kos, Democratic Underground and many other leftist sites, it is hard to imagine a bigger divide between those folk and the Liberals of the 40's and early 50's and mid 60’s. In fact, the left today (not necessarily liberals) are all but indistinguishable from the tyrannies of the Soviets. They are ardently anti-capitalist, vociferously anti-American, and seemingly bereft of common sense. I remember when solid Liberalism (with a capital L) was anti-fascist, now the left (little l) decry our war against the islamo-fascists. The seeds of the movement were sown in the minds of pseudo intellectuals who have continued to expand their thoughtless tirades against everything that smacks of free choice. I remember when Liberals stood against discrimination, against the bashing of gays, and sometimes even in favor of equal rights for women (although, truth be told, my mother was a feminist long before Bella Abzug discovered hats) and insisted she get (and she always got) equal treatment and respect from even the most chauvinistic pig (though there were a few that tried to out think her - trust me, it couldn't be done cause I tried so many times… and mom was a card carrying Republican.)

Now, the left supports the pali's and the "insurgents" and states that the only reason terrorists are in Iraq are because the US invaded and booted Saddam Hussein. What sophomoric nonsense.

I mourn the real Liberals in this country, the ones that stood for human dignity and responsibility and freedom and understanding and free markets and lower taxes and international relations based on what was right, not what was easy or had the greatest support. Oh, wait, I don't need to do that, to mourn that is, their title has changed. Now, they are called Neo-Cons and Conservatives. Cool.

And so, my little thought experiment/reminiscing has run it's course. From Little Boxes to Pete Seeger, to the CPUSA, to bohemians, to classical Liberalism to leftists to the War on Terror and the destruction of common sense in the hard left. Isn't it interesting what seeing an entry on a blog in the internet can do?

Freedom Flies In Your Heart Like An Eagle

December 7, 1941. A day that will live in infamy. But from this day, a young Texas kid would lie about his age and go through the rigors of war in the 3^rd Infantry Division and become the most decorated soldier in WWII. His name, Audi Murphy. This is a part of a Poem he wrote, but it is the most important part as we remember those who gave their lives after December 7, 1941 through the Iraq war in an effort to keep us free:

Freedom flies in your heart like an eagle. Let it soar with the winds high above Among the spirits of soldiers now sleeping, Guard it with care and with love.

Guard it with care and with love. Who could have said it better than Murph?

H/T to Andy, a commenter at BlackFive and while you are at it, read Black Five's "A Different Christmas Poem" posted by Subsunk. It is a tremendous poem.

Grunts Who Carry Rifles

Full Disclosure: I am not a combat veteran, though I served in the United States Army. I have not been shot at nor heard shots fired in anger. I did not serve overseas. But, I have a tremendous respect and profound gratitude for those that did. I am delighted to be the son and grandson and great grandson of "Lifers." Who, between them fought in 5 wars; the Spanish American war, WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. My great granddad was a Sergeant, my granddad a light Bird who was a P.O.W. in the Philippines. And my beloved and missed father who was a "full Bird" on retirement after 32 years of Active duty and three wars.

I am proud of any number of friends who are former Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. I work with a number of them today. I have counseled a number of vets with posttraumatic stress disorder, lingering psychic wounds from Vietnam. I am proud of all of them as well; they served in hell.

I am proud of the service of Jack Murtha too. Nevertheless, that will not stop me from saying that he is very wrong, and if not senile, is certainly acting that way now. I take with umbrage those who call Murtha a coward, clearly, as his medals suggest he is not. However, that gains him nothing. A man can be a hero 40 years ago and off base today. The hero who was lucky enough to come home in the mid 60's recently said, regarding our military that they are "broken, worn out" and "living hand to mouth," He also said "I predict he'll make it look like we're staying the course," Murtha said, referring to Bush. "Staying the course is not a policy." Of course, Congressman Murtha may not realize that staying the course is as much a policy as getting out now.

I have serious doubts about the Honorable Jack Murtha at this point. The news has played up his "change" from a steadfast supporter of all things military to someone who has turned into an anti-war hero. I debunked this some two weeks ago here. Murtha's call for a pull out resulted in a bitterly fought resolution in the House of Representatives.

The Main Stream Press (the delightedly wicked "liberal press" which liberals fully deny and go to great lengths to "prove" that they are not because after all they are owned by corporations) has been having a field day. Several days ago Senator John "Do you know who I am" Kerry stated that American troops are terrorists:

And there is no reason, Bob [Schieffer on Face The Nation], that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women...

Kerry is of course, in the words of James Taranto a "haughty, French-looking Massachusetts gentleman who by the way served in Vietnam." Kerry is however, even in trouble with the Democratic party's so called base because, in the words of that famous liberal blogger Markos Moulitsas Opined

There's a little kerfuffle inside the Democratic Senate caucus over John Kerry's insistance [sic] in being part of the official party response to Bush's hilarious "plan" in Iraq. Reid originally had designated Sen. Jack Reed to provide the official response. Reed did the "prebuttal" yesterday and had a press conference set up for today.

However, John Kerry stomped over Reed by deciding he was going to hold a press conference this morning as well in a naked bid to steal the limelight. Eventually, Reid was forced to combine the two press conferences to try and maintain a unified Senate Democrat response, but Kerry's antics have generated some ill will.

Much ado about nothing? Perhaps. But several DC Democrats I've spoken to today were not happy with Kerry's antics. And given 1) Kerry's continued inability to clearly articulate a coherent position on the war . . ., and 2) the fact that Kerry voted for it (while Reed did not), it's not hard to see why.

Some of the comments are delightful, especially one near the very end where the commenter acknowledges that the Dem Party Base is "eating their own:"

What we don't need is a refighting of the primaries, or the campaign, with the perception that it was an easy win with 55% of America liking Bush, the war, and 70% believed in the Iraq-911 linkage. It was difficult playing the margins with the media accounting for such ignorance about the war.

The next election will still be difficult with corporate media liking the GOP, and the GOP organization counting the votes. There was nothing Kerry could have done differently in Ohio, so please get over it. The proof is not there or anywhere, definitively, without access to their machines, or a whistleblower.

We need less infighting and eating of our own. Kos posts something like this, and the spin machine comes out. I would say Kos is swiftboating Kerry with made up rumor and misinformation, just as he did during the campaign. He was paid by Dean, and that accounts for some of the resentment. [emphasis added]

But, I digress. The press is also lapping up Howard "Yarrrgggghhhhh" Dean's call for unilateral surrender in an interview with WOAI Radio in San Antonio, Texas:

I've seen this before in my life. This is the same situation we had in Vietnam. Everybody then kept saying, 'just another year, just stay the course, we'll have a victory.' Well, we didn't have a victory, and this policy cost the lives of an additional 25,000 troops because we were too stubborn to recognize what was happening."

Well, they are all wrong. However, that is not the point of this post. The point of this post is the damage they are doing to the Grunts Who Carry Rifles. As a psychotherapist, one of the things I do when I am working with a parent with an unruly and yes, sometimes even obnoxious child is to drill into their heads that they cannot be their child's friend, they have to be the parent; that there are some very simple behavioral truisms. The first of these is that behavior that is reinforced tends to continue, and behavior that is punished (and sometimes ignored) tends to decrease. In this case, the Democrats who are piling on the "get out now" bandwagon are reinforcing the behavior of the islamo-fascists. Dean alluded to Vietnam, not because it was true, but because that represents the epitome of the anti-war left. Mark Silverberg said it quite well:

In a recent article in the Washington Times, Arnaud de Borchgrave noted that during the Vietnam War, General Giap relied on the American peace movement to weaken American resolve. That had the effect of turning an American military victory into a political defeat. Former North Vietnamese General Staff officer Bui Tin once said that the peace movement was "essential to our strategy." In America, the open support of Hanoi by Jane Fonda, former Attorney General Ramsey Clark (now head of International ANSWER, which coordinates the largest protests) and others "gave us confidence that we should hold on in the face of battlefield reverses," Bui Tin said. "Through dissent and protest," the US "lost the ability to mobilize a will to win."

Notice that the "get out now" Democrats (and many others, truth be told) are reinforcing the belief that the islamo-fascists have that if they keep up the carnage, continue to psychologically (and physically?) dope up their ignorant followers into suicidal bombings, that the US will pull out and they will win, and then they will turn to other targets. Unfortunately for this to occur the US Military, their allies and the Iraqi's who have joined the police and military to establish a true democracy in the middle east will be harmed in the process. The very guys, described as Grunts (who carry rifles, wh drive trucks, who patch wounds and provide aid even to their sworn enemy in setting up schools, clean water supplies etc.) who will be killed, maimed and given a good dose of psychic-horror that will later morph into PTSD for a future generation of therapists to work with.

The other side of this equation is that behavior that is punished tends not to repeat itself. In the old USSR, acts of terrorism against the Soviet Union were dealt with swiftly and harshly. Terrorists who attacked and killed Russian officials in Lebanon a couple of decades ago were hunted down and "terminated with prejudice" in the spy-thriller vernacular.

Look, this is not rocket science so even the Democrats and wavering RINO's ought to be able to understand, the fastest way out of Iraq is to present a united front, to go after the terrorists with everything we've got, to track down and kill each and everyone we can identify. When the islamo-fascists understand this, they will wither on the vine and maybe, just maybe their movement will die an ignoble death.

But, I'm just as sure that won't happen, as I'm sure that John "Do you know who I am?" Kerry is not going to sign his SF 180. They have a blind side to reality. That is why Kerry still thinks he is the front-runner in the race for the Democratic nomination in 2008, why Howard Dean thinks he can utter defeatism from every podium he can get his hands on. That is why a former hero like Jack Murtha, who having gained the limelight with his bogus “turn around� now demands even more light on him with his "broken" comments. They don't get it, they just don't get it and the guys who bear the brunt of their stupidity, their intransigence, their anti-military ranting, the Grunts Who Carry Rifles will be the ones who pay the price.

So, the next time you hear one of these folk say that they "Support The Troops," call them what they are; LIARS!

So Much for Democrats Boosting Troop Morale

This doesn't require explanation from me. I'll let the Democrats explain their Iraqi plan in their own words.

Dean: US Won't Win in Iraq 12/5/2005

(SAN ANTONIO) -- Saying the "idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong," Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean predicted today that the Democratic Party will come together on a proposal to withdraw National Guard and Reserve troops immediately, and all US forces within two years.

Maybe saying that the Democrats can win elections "is an idea which is just plain wrong."

Kids Say the Darndest Things

CNN had a segment regarding gun accidents during hunting. They profiled hunting tragedies of children and were leading the viewers to see all guns and the gun industry as evil. The segment got to an interview with two young girls, ages 12 and 13, who hunted; and, CNN got a startling response that went counter to the image of two sweet girls only interested in boys and hanging out. Here's part of the transcript and imagine the two young girls' voices in this exchange.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, hunting, of course, has been a part of American culture from the start. And most hunters never get hurt, of course. But what you may know is that fewer children are taking it up. That has the hunting industry worried, and, in -- in fact, trying to recruit more kids to carry guns and join the hunt.

Here's Jonathan Freed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Before dawn on the plains of Montana, it's cold, and so is Danielle Faechner. She's a bit sleepy, too.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go right down the fence line. There's two deer standing down there.

FREED: But it doesn't matter, because Danielle is being driven by the excitement of a rite of passage. She recently turned 12 and can now hunt legally in the state, along with her father, Steve, and her 13-year-old sister, Serena.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: See the deer. You see the white spot?

FREED: They are stalking deer.

...UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you see it?

FREED: This time, it's big sister Serena who ends up making a kill...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got him.

...FREED (on camera): There are a lot of people who, you know, their -- their biggest thing that they are waiting for is to get their driver's license. That's next, I'm guessing, for the two of you.

SERENA FAECHNER, 13-YEAR-OLD HUNTER: I want that, too, yes. It would be nice.

(LAUGHTER)

FREED: But if you had to choose between the two?

S. FAECHNER: I would choose hunting.

D. FAECHNER: You can't eat a car. You can eat a deer.

(LAUGHTER)

...FREED (voice-over): Jonathan Freed, CNN, Havre, Montana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

I love it. Of course, CNN wants to present the image that teaching kids to hunt is bad, but it seems that these kids have more sense than the network. Tomorrow, they should have a segment on kids using guns to deter burglars.

Citations Concernant Le Français ~ Quotes Regarding The French

And now a word regarding our French Allies

"France has neither winter nor summer nor morals. Apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country. France has usually been governed by prostitutes." --Mark Twain.

"I would rather have a German division in front of me than a French one behind me." --General George S. Patton.

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion." --Norman Schwartzkopf.

"We can stand here like the French, or we can do something about it." --Marge Simpson

"As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure." --Jacques Chirac, President of France

"As far as France is concerned, you're right." --Rush Limbaugh,

"The only time France wants us to go to war is when the German Army is sitting in Paris sipping coffee." --Regis Philbin.

"The French are a smallish, monkey-looking bunch and not dressed any better, on average, than the citizens of Baltimore. True, you can sit outside in Paris and drink little cups of coffee, but why this is more stylish than sitting inside and drinking large glasses of whisky I don't know." --P.J O'Rourke (1989).

"You know, the French remind me a little bit of an aging actress of the 1940s who was still trying to dine out on her looks but doesn't have the face for it." --John McCain, U.S. Senator

"You know why the French don't want to bomb Saddam Hussein? Because he hates America, he loves mistresses and wears a beret. He is French, people." --Conan O'Brien

"I don't know why people are surprised that France won't help us get Saddam out of Iraq. After all, France wouldn't help us get Hitler out of France either" --Jay Leno.

"The last time the French asked for 'more proof' it came marching into Paris under a German flag." --David Letterman

"Only thing worse than a Frenchman is a Frenchman who lives in Canada." --Ted Nugent.

"War without France would be like ... uh ... World War II."

"The favorite bumper sticker in Washington D.C. right now is one that says 'First Iraq, then France.'" --Tom Brokaw.

"What do you expect from a culture and a nation that exerted more of its national will fighting against Disney World and Big Macs than the Nazis?" --Dennis Miller.

"It is important to remember that the French have always been there when they needed us." --Alan Kent

"They've taken their own precautions against al-Qa'ida. To prepare for an attack, each Frenchman is urged to keep duct tape, a white flag, and a three-day supply of mistresses in the house." --Argus Hamilton

"Somebody was telling me about the French Army rifle that was being advertised on eBay the other day -- the description was, 'Never shot. Dropped once'." --Rep. Roy Blount (MO)

"The French will only agree to go to war when we've proven we've found truffles in Iraq." --Dennis Miller

Q. What did the mayor of Paris say to the German Army as they entered the city in WWII?
A. Table for 100,000 m'sieur?

"Do you know how many Frenchmen it takes to defend Paris? It's not known, it's never been tried." --Rep. Roy Blount (MO)

"Do you know it only took Germany three days to conquer France in WWII? And that's because it was raining." --John Xereas, Manager, DC Improv.

The AP and UPI reported that the French Government announced after the London bombings that it has raised its terror alert level from Run to Hide. The only two higher levels in France are Surrender and Collaborate. The rise in the alert level was precipitated by a recent fire which destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively disabling their military.

French Ban Fireworks at Euro Disney - (AP), Paris, March 5, 2003

The French Government announced today that it is imposing a ban on the use of fireworks at Euro Disney. The decision comes the day after a nightly fireworks display at the park, located just 30 miles outside of Paris, caused the soldiers at a nearby French Army garrison to surrender to a group of Czech tourists.

Saddam and Weapons... Really? Yeah, Who'da Guessed it!

Ethan Wallison who writes the delightful Room 12a is revealing one more bit in the exposure of the lie of weapons acquisition by Saddam Hussein, former Swine Herd President of Iraq. This bit from London's Independent:

KIEV, Ukraine -- A Ukrainian presidential bodyguard who exposed the country's biggest political scandal, involving murder, corruption, and illegal arms sales to Saddam Hussein has returned home, vowing to put his former boss, Leonid Kuchma, behind bars.
Major Mykola Melnychenko fled Kiev in 2000 after revealing excerpts from secret recordings he made of Mr Kuchma which implicated the president in the murder of a journalist who had exposed the corruption of Mr Kuchma's 10-year rule.

Major Melnychenko has been provided with a bodyguard by the Ukrainian intelligence services since his arrival on Wednesday from the US where he was given political asylum in 2003. He was with a former Ukrainian MP, Oleksandr Yalyaskevych, also granted US asylum after claiming Mr Kuchma's henchmen had tried to kill him....[snip]

Major Melnychenko says he saw Mr Kuchma taking bribes, and recorded him allegedly authorising sales of sophisticated defence systems to Iraq in contravention of UN sanctions."

My friend Ethan wraps up with:

I guess in this instance, as in so many others, "containment" meant restraining one's impulse to collapse in gales of laughter at the impotence of the international sanctions imposed on Saddam."

You know, if Room 12a isn't a part of your regular blog reading regimine, it oughta be, it really oughta.

Twas The Night Before Holiday Christmas!

New German Leadership, Or Just A New Wrapper?

Angela Merkel (née Kasner), Chancellor of Germany was born in Hamburg, Germany. With her newly sworn in cabinet, she is the first female Chancellor of Germany, the first former citizen of the GDR (German Democratic Republic) to lead the re-unified Germany and the first woman to lead Germany since it became a modern nation state in 1871. One wonders what former strongmen like Bismark and Konrad Adenauer would think? Well, it really doesn't matter, she is there now, and relationships between Germany and America my never be the same.

The United States has had an up and down history with female leaders, Margaret Thatcher of England, Golda Mier of Israel, Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Corazon Aquino of Philippines and Indira Gandhi of India. Strong women all, and always having an effect on the United States relationships with that country. Will the relationships with Germany then, be different with Merkel as Chancellor?

Merkel, as was noted, was born in Hamburg, but raised in communist East Germany. In 1990 she was elected to the Bundestag. Merkel became a member of the CDU and was picked by Helmut Kohl to be the Minister of Women and Youth. In 1998, strugling with the increased costs of reunification, the Kohl government was defeated by Gerhard Schröder.

So, a new day is dawning in Germany, a new Chancellor, a tough, conservative female. What does that portend for future relationships between Germany and the United States? To begin with, much of the diplomatic warfare between these two countries had been "poisoned" by Schröder's choice to lambast the US over the Iraq war. He shamefully used increasing anti-americanism in Europer and Germany to get himself re-elected in 2002. Merkel had come out in favor of supporting the US invasion of Iraq as "unavoidable." Leading up to the elections in 2005, the CDU was significantly ahead of the SPD by some 21%. However, Merkel proposed Paul Kirchhof as head of fiscal policy but Kirchhof proposed an addition of a flat tax and Merkel proposed an increase in the value added tax to fill in the funding gaps. Both proposals convinced many Germans that the CDU was snuggling up to the rich at the expense of the poor. The CDU lost ground and the SPD merely held a position that there would be no flat tax or an increase in the VAT.

The election was extremely close with the CDU and its allies garnering 35.2% of the vote and the SPD and its allies garnering 34.2%. Both Merkel and Schröder claiming victory. Finaly, after a couple of months wrangling, a "grand coalition" was formed and Merkel named Chancellor.

The US and Germany have a long history of rocky relationships. From a previous posting:

German/American or Deutsch/Amerikanisch have, since the beginning of World War I, had a rocky relationship. Yet, our two countries are bound by more than just being adversaries, we share more common bonds than most people realize. From the first German settlers in 1683 through out the early and mid 1900's Germans came to this country in droves. . . Americans claiming German ancestry number more than 60 million, fully one fifth of our population according to the 2000 census. Our language is peppered with German words from "Cobalt" to "Waltz," from "Frankfurter" to "Sauerkraut." We have been friends, enemies and nodding acquaintences."

Merkel's ascendency to the chancellorship of Germany may be the beginning of a new chapter in the dance between our two countries. She has good conservative credentials that please many American conservatives, she quoted (actually, plagerized a la Biden) passages from Ronald Reagan in her debates with Schröder, but she has a liberal streak in her too. She noted that "The state has to be the Gardner, not the fence." Many on this side of the atlantic would dispute that. Much of Germany's economic and political problems today are that the state has over-watered, over-fertalized and under-pruned the garden.

I have observed Germany from afar for many decades, the German people are industrious, hard working and dynamic. If left alone, the boom would probably be stupendous. But, Germany, like France, Belgium, England is the "Nanny State." Its citizens have figured out that they can vote in the individuals and parties that will hand out the most goodies. One result of this social tinkering has been the growth of unemployment in Germany of a seasonally adjusted rate of 11.5%. and the unemployment amoung its "guest workers" (Gastarbeiter) are primarily of Turkish descent or immigrants, as many now, as three generations worth is greater than 21%. Germans view Turks with suspicion primarily for two, and possibly three reasons. First was September 11, 2001 and second the murder of Theo van Goeh, and the possible third? Muslim rioting in France.

How this will play out in the US-German dance is unclear but the issue cannot be ignored.

Germany has a problem according to Aaron Erlich:

Starting in the 1950s, to feed the post World War II economic miracle, Germany signed bilateral agreements with poorer Mediterranean countries to import guestworkers to fill vacant positions in the booming industrial economy. The first guestworkers came from southern European countries, mainly Italy, Croatia, Spain, and Greece. As these sources of labor dried up, the German authorities moved further afield. In the 1960s and 70s millions of Turks came to work in Germany. This Turkish population soon overtook all of the other guestworker populations and today 2,375,000 people of Turkish origin live in Germany and comprise approximately thirty percent of all those of foreign descent."

"Turks in Germany are not the educated elites from Ankara or Istanbul but come from the Anatolian Plain, a place that has not taken on the trappings of modernity and remains a cultural backwater."

So, while both countries struggle with Islamic identity within their boundaries, both countries work on their economic growth (and here the US is outstripping the German effort by far) and both countries consider how their respective leaders get along, a new day is dawning. As Angela Merkel stated in her first address to the Bundestag and reported by the German Embassy in Washington, “Let us dare to have more freedom,�... alluding to a call by Willy Brandt in 1969 to dare to have more democracy. “Let us release the brakes on growth. Let us free ourselves from bureaucracy and old-fashioned regulations.�

New conservative leadership, or the old liberal leadership in a new wrapper? Time will tell.

Space Aliens Inhabit Bodies of Democrats: No Sign of Intelligent Life

Yes, it seems to be true. Space aliens have taken over the bodies of prominent Democrats. They are working to take over our country by destroying our military and will to fight. If you believe them, we have no hope and you must make them masters of your life. They will subject vast segments of society by gradually making them dependent for basic needs and security--for the price of their freedoms. They will force them to give up their weapons. Those who resist and strive to remain self-sufficient will be drained financially with exorbitant taxes--even those who are dead will be taxed again, but they will still count their votes. The plot is sinister, but their plans constantly fail. There is a reason.

These aliens were thought to represent intelligent life from another world, but so far there have been no signs of intelligence coming forth from these Democratic look-alikes. They have no concept of history and have failed to learn anything from previous elections. They continually criticize those in current power but offer no original ideas for alternatives--thus, unhappy voters see no reason to change to them. The alien "solutions" have been seen before and the consequences have recked havoc on the populace. In fact, Jimmy Carter, an alien, tried to destroy our nation before being shot-down by a Ronald Ray-gun.

The aliens claim that quitting a war brings peace, but they give hope to the enemy and end up with more deaths in the battlefield and with the citizens. They claim that higher taxes and more money spent on the poor will make everyone equal and end poverty--yet, trillions of dollars later there is just as much poverty as before. They want to cripple the economic engine that drives our free enterprise system to "save the earth," but their proof of global disaster is manipulated and their allies are competing and envious nations. They say that they want free speech but they limit debates with political correctness and bans on "hate speech" that they define. They spread propaganda through school programs put in place eighty years ago and that are beginning to bear fruit with school officials who discourage individual thought and classes that won't teach our nation's founding. After school, adult indoctrination continues through some sinister device that goes under the code name MSM.

Alien Leader Planning to Go to New
Hampshire and South Carolina and
Arizona and North Dakota....

Yet, it's possible that they came from Bizarro World where everything is backwards. They say we should quit when they mean that we should fight and win. They say that the President lies when they mean that he is honest. They say that they care "for the children" when they care for themselves. It's possible--but unlikely. Well, maybe that last example is true.

Be aware of these aliens and don't give them power to control you or our nation. Analyze what they say and watch what they do. Question their motives and watch for tell-tale signs such as anger or evading your points, as this is common to the alien Democrats. The consequences of following them lead to ruin. But, we can avoid the bad fates that their kind have created in other lands--like France.

I hope that we can end their attempt to capture our minds and bodies before they can perform the well-documented and unpleasant anal probes of their victims. However, I already feel like they have stuck it to me in the end. Spread the word--and keep your pants on.

NOTE FROM GM: I have taken an extraordinary step in the comments section of this entry and removed a number of comments wherein a troll or several trolls have asked Woody to defend his allegations. People, this was a humor section and it is MY BLOG and I have invited Woody to be a part of that effort. Woody has surpassed expectations as a blogger. He is intelligent, kind and up front. I will no longer tolerate those trolls whose only purpose is to drive traffic to their blog or to tie up this blog in interminable argument for the sake of argument. The posts are not gone, I'm just storing them in a different place. If the socalled authors of those comments wish, they can e-mail me an apology, Woody an apology and post a comment apologizing to the other commenters and readers. Then, and only then will I return their comments to the comment section.