Musings of a Whiskey Rebel wishes all of you a prosperous and healthy New Year. May all your dreams come true this year.
Richard Whalen has some good ideas that Republicans need to consider as they move toward 2008.
Don't miss reading Michelle Malkin's round up of notable quotes from 2007.
Suitably Flip has the story about the success of General Petraeus and our brave troops.
The Steelers play Jacksonville Saturday night. It will be a short playoff season for my beloved Steelers.
If ever there was a sports team that needed to be reorganized, Miami is it. I know that this is just the beginning. Look for Parcells to make a coaching change pretty quickly.
Captain Ed has a terrific article about Hillary. His comparison of her to Geraldo is on the money.
This is a good move by President Bush. Something like this will hurt the government of Sudan more than anything else we could do.
Brian Billick was fired as head coach of Baltimore. Football is a tough game.
I sure think it is wrong to let this lady go free. She tried to kill the President of the United States.
Well, they couldn't possibly appoint someone as bad as Trent Lott was, could they?
Here in Florida, we periodically have problems with jellyfish, but I have never heard of this many people being stung.
They say the life span of Orangutans is 40 to 50 years, so I guess this old guy lived to a ripe old age.
I don't know how the rest of you feel, but having a 19 year old, naive, inexperienced child succeed Benazir Bhutto makes no sense. Nor does having her husband, who has been widely accused of corruption, as chairman of the party, make any sense to me.
I sometimes wonder if this part of the world will ever have peace.
Here is a letter from General Petraeus - my Man of the Year - to the troops.
I have a feeling it will be a long time before we know the truth.
President Bush plans to veto the defense policy bill, claiming that there is a provision in it that would permit Americans to go after Iraqi assets held in American Banks, if they successfully sue for the atrocities of Saddam Hussein. Iraq has threatened to withdraw all funds from American banks.
I like Jay Lefkowitz, however I do not agree with his analysis, nor do I agree with his conclusion.
More details about the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. What a terrible tragedy for all peace loving people.
Convincing Conservatives that he is a real conservative has been Mitt Romney's problem all along.
This op-ed in the Wall Street Journal offers a fascinating narrative of the history of the celebration of Christmas.
It is always rewarding to see so many people remembering the real meaning of today.
I was glad to read this story. Certainly candidates need to stop the free ride for these consultants.
Someone needs to tell the IRS, since they greatly restrict what people on social security can make.
The truth is the Democrats have fallen flat on their faces.
This is the kind of substantive issue discussion that we need to see more of. John McCain voted no on all Bush tax cuts. I'd like to hear him discuss why.
George Will nails the do-nothing Congress of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.
This is a devastating editorial by the Concord Monitor stating their reasons that Mitt Romney should not be elected President. They are pretty compelling reasons.
A fascinating story about the change in cultures where it was once almost mandatory to have boys.
John McCain remains too unpredictable to get the Republican nomination
William Kristol writes that Time Magazine got it wrong. They sure did.
I would love to see this happen. The Democrats base would abandon them in droves if they did this.
The Heritage Foundation has a good explanation of why and how the President can cancel many of the pork in the omnibus bill.
I like Senator Coburn. He is one of the stalwarts in the battle for fiscal responsibility.
Maybe Secretary Gates needs to be a little more forceful than he has been with Congress.
over 11,000 earmarks. The question is how long are we, the American people, going to put up with this?
The Steelers won last night 41 to 24. We need to get our defense back playing together. They did not look good, but Big Ben and our receivers took care of everything. We lost Willie Parker for the rest of the year - a loss we can't afford.
Paul Weyrich is the pundit I dislike the most. He is arrogant, pompous and self serving. I rarely pay any attention to anything he says. He lost my respect when he presumed to tell people who the good and bad Christians were in politics. But in this case, I have to give him credit for the article about the pork in the omnibus bill just passed by Congress.
Tom Tancredo has dropped his futile bid for the White House and endorsed Mitt Romney.
My Heritage.org has the story of the ugly spending bill passed by Congress. What a disaster with all the earmarks, and unfortunately, the President intends to sign it.
President Bush gave Congress a pass on earmarks. That will come back to haunt the Republican party.
Rumor is that he will announce tomorrow that he is supporting Fred Thompson.
If you want to get a good idea of what a fraud this Democratically controlled Congress is, just read this article.
Tony Blankley writes for the Washington Times. His article about the in-fighting of the Republican party is on the money. Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters has the story.
I must admit that I am very tired of the odd names that parents stick their kids with in today's society, but as I read this story I thought 'I don't want a Court telling us what we can name our kids!!'
Well, if the Democrats are seriously thinking of getting rid of Senator Byrd, maybe they will add Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi to the list.
I respect elderly people, but there comes a time when someone of Senator Byrd's age and health has to realize that a younger person should step in.
Again, Captain Ed has it right. I can't imagine anything worse than a brokered convention.
Captain Ed, as usual, is on the money with what shenanigans this Congress is up to.
Bret Stephens has an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal about the 43,000 mile journey around the world of the United States Atlantic Fleet on December 16, 1907. It is well worth reading today.
Everyone should read this carefully. Anytime the Federal government gets involved, it can't be good.
Ron Kessler has an article in Newsmax quoting Senator Bond about what Iran is really up to. I respect and trust Senator Bond's judgement, certainly much more than I trust the Intelligence community.
I can't vouch for the accuracy of this report, but it is well worth reading.
At this rate the Steelers will be lucky to make the playoffs. On second thought, they don't deserve to make the playoffs.
CQ has a way for all of us to track our Congressional porkers.
It's troubling to me that other campaigns didn't see the Governor coming. It shows shortsightedness on their part.
Shame on Mitch McConnell. Just another reason why he should not be the leader of the Republican party in the Senate.
I have followed politics closely for 40 years. I have never seen a candidate who has impressed me more with his fund raising ability than Ron Paul. Having said that, I have never seen a candidate who impresses me less with his philosophy. I have read a lot about what Mr. Paul believes and where he stands on the issues. I don't agree with him on any issue, but I do respect his fundraising ability.
Charles Babington is a lousy reporter, but this is a good analysis of what has happened to Congressional Democrats. Pay particular attention to what Trent Lott says.
Salena Zito has a good article about Rudy Giuliani. As she points out, he never planned on competing in Iowa, but if he loses in Florida (where he is now running third), his campaign is over.
I wonder how long it will take the liberals to begin to devour the Dems in Congress?
I never thought I would see the time that I would post an article about John McCain, and this week I have posted two. This is another good article about Senator McCain.
This is good news for Conservatives. ActBlue is one of the biggest fundraising organizations for the far left.
Nancy Pelosi and her Democratic cronies in the Senate and the House misread Republican resolve on a lot of issues.
The Hill is reporting that Ed Rollins is going to serve as Mike Huckabee's national chairman.
This is a very interesting article. I'm not sure that McCain's or Thompson's tactics make much sense, though.
Wow!! How cool is this. Captain Kidd the Pirate - they think they have found his ship off a tiny Dominican Republic Island - Catalina Island.
James Pinkerton of Newsday has it right in this story. The DNC, like most political pundits, vastly underestimated Mike Huckabee. Now that he has become a real player, they are scrambling.
I seldom disagree with Ed Morrissey in his commentary, but I do here. We can't have it both ways. During the time that Bill Frist was Senate Majority Leader and Denny Hastert was Speaker of the House, all the pundits said that they did exactly what the White House wanted, and therefore, had no institutional integrity. Frist, in particular, was savaged by everyone for being Bush's guy, who did everything that the President wanted. Now Captain Ed is saying that Bush had to cover for his spend happy Congress. I don't think so. I think Bush was very happy with what was going on, and now sees a political advantage in fighting with the Democrats over everything. The Republican base was not happy with the wasteful spending, and Bush is trying to help his party, by preaching to the choir.
I guess in today's society, everyone has to think very carefully before they say anything.
Unbelievable!!! All thirty teams had players involved. This is as bad as the Black Sox scandal.
I'm surprised to see Roger Clemen's name, but the others were expected.
So many politicians think they know better than the American voter. Maybe they are finally getting the message.
I am not a fan of John McCain, but I think every American should respect him. This is a powerful story.
I don't think anyone can disagree with this assessment of the non-debate. The highlight of the day was Senator Thompson saying I'm not going to play the hand game.
WOW!!! Someone should tell the Democrats that they are writing the playbook for the Republicans.
The Republicans are proving the old adage in the Senate, it is a lot easier to be in the minority.
The Administration has to find a better way of keeping key Congressional committees informed.
The do nothing Congress lives up to it's name. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Harry Reid is the worst majority leader ever. Take a look at his accomplishments in his first year vs. those of Bill Frist in his first year. Frist is head and shoulders above Reid, but then, contrary to the fables of the media and the far left, Frist is ahead of most previous majority leaders.
Here is the link to the story in the New York Times about Mike Huckabee that is stirring up all the controversy. Judge for yourself.
This is not good news for the world of sports in general, and major league baseball in particular.
Does Bill Clinton really think Hillary's campaign is in trouble? If he does, is he the person to rescue it?
The race in Virginia wasn't really contested by the Democrats, but the 5th Congressional District in Ohio was hotly contested. This sounds like the way things are going to go in the upcoming election.
I wonder what it will take to convince people that we are fighting World War III?
A quarter of a percentage point wasn't aggressive enough for the stock market.
Ron Christie has an op-ed in "The Hill" that sums up what I think. George Bush is proving to be much livelier than the pundits thought.
Just one more reason that I wish Congress would just go home. I know that can't happen, but they are doing nothing constructive.
When I read stories like this, I just wish Congress would go home until after the Presidential election.
Dennis Prager has a thoughtful, timely article on what we should be looking at in choosing our Presidential candidate.
This is certainly good news. The key remains education. The more knowledge young people have about the danger of drugs, the more likely they are not to use them.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I still don't like the government getting involved in this.
A bachelor President, no matter who, would certainly be interesting in terms of media coverage.
Interesting article in the New Yorker regarding the Republican party and immigration. I don't agree with a lot of it, but it's worth reading.
I think the poll results are probably right, but as usual with the New York Times, their conclusion is ridiculous. What the poll numbers do indicate is not a dissatisfaction by Republican voters, but rather, several outstanding candidates, who are making the choice difficult.
Does anyone else think that Congressman Obey is the biggest gift the Democrats have given the Republicans so far? This guy is just unreal. Doesn't he realize he is playing right into the Administration's hands?
This is an excellent opinion/analysis of the danger of voting for Mitt Romney. Every Republican should read it and give it careful consideration.
Hugh Hewitt has the story of the female security guard in Colorado who saved a lot of lives with her heroic behavior.
As expected, after such an overwhelming loss, the grades are not very high. I'm not usually inclined to blame any one individual for a loss, but the Steeler Offensive Coordinator leaves a lot to be desired. Also, I would be tempted to fire Anthony Smith immediately.
This is good news for the United States, simply because we can't afford another hot spot in the world.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I have been following the political process since 1960, and I can't remember seeing a floor fight. It would really make this year memorable.
Interesting analysis by one of my least favorite pundits, Robert Novak. I'm not sure that I agree with his conclusions. Time will tell.
I think that in the end it comes down to who blinks first. I don't think it will be the President.
I know, how devastating these kind of cases can be to people who can no longer earn a living because of a disability, and have to wait years for a decision from an Administrative Law Judge. During my legal career, I handled many social security disability cases, and they were always some of the toughest cases of my practice.
Well, I have to salute the New England Patriots. They were clearly the better team today. In fact, I don't know if any team can beat them this year. Tom Brady is awesome.
I normally don't even bother to read the Daily Kos, because it is so far off the wall, but this story just shows how much the Republicans have frustrated the far left.
One thing about Mayor Giuliani, he isn't afraid to say what he thinks.
Salena Zito has an excellent analysis of four of the Republican frontrunners, including why they can win the nomination and why they can't. I'm disappointed that she left out Fred Thompson.
This is the best analysis I have ever read of what we need to do to win the war on terror and the war in Iraq. Every American should read this article.
Following are members of the House and Senate who have announced they will retire at the end of the 110th Congress or seek other offices:
Senate (6)
Wayne Allard , R-Colo.
Larry E. Craig , R-Idaho
Pete V. Domenici , R-N.M.
Chuck Hagel , R-Neb.
Trent Lott , R-Miss.*
John W. Warner , R-Va.
House (23)
Tom Allen , D-Maine, (1st District) running for Senate
Julia Carson , D-Ind. (7th District)
Barbara Cubin , R-Wyo. (At Large)
Terry Everett, R-Ala. (2nd District)
Mike Ferguson , R-N.J. (7th District)
J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.* (14th District)
David L. Hobson , R-Ohio (7th District)
Duncan Hunter , R-Calif. (52nd District) running for president
Ray LaHood , R-Ill. (18th District)
Jim McCrery , R-La (4th District)
Michael R. McNulty , D-N.Y. (21st District)
Steve Pearce , R-N.M. (2nd District) running for Senate
Charles W. “Chip” Pickering Jr., R-Miss. (3rd District)
Deborah Pryce , R-Ohio (15th District)
Jim Ramstad , R-Minn. (3rd District)
Ralph Regula , R-Ohio (16th District)
Rick Renzi , R-Ariz. (1st District)
H. James Saxton , R-N.J. (3rd District)
Tom Tancredo, R-Colo. (6th District) running for president
Mark Udall , D-Colo. (2nd District) running for Senate
Tom Udall , D-N.M. (3rd District) running for Senate
Jerry Weller , R-Ill. (11th District)
Heather A. Wilson , R-N.M. (1st District) running for Senate
* Lott, whose term expires in 2013, is expected to resign from the Senate by the end of the year.
* Hastert resigned Nov. 26.
I wonder how long it will take for the pundits to list Harry Reid as the worst majority leader ever? I actually feel kind of sorry for Reid, simply because he is learning what I have been saying for three years. You have to have sixty votes in the Senate to get anything done. I don't think not being able to get sixty votes represents anything but political hardball. People constantly badmouthed Bill Frist, and in my opinion, he managed to get a lot done during his four years as majority leader, even though he had to deal with RINOS and backstabbers like McCain and Lott and Graham. Funny how things turn out, isn't it?
Well, it didn't take the President long to respond. Bravo Mr. President. Well done!!!
This is one of those stories that I can only shake my head at. The Democratic candidates have agreed that they will not campaign in Florida because Florida is holding it's primary on January 29 instead of bowing to the will of the DNC and holding it on February 5. So, no campaign appearances, but they sure are sneaking into Florida to hold fundraisers. I hope the Democrats in Florida have enough sense to ignore them.
I'm not sure that this is a good idea. I think Senator Thompson should not even be thinking, at this point in time, of making Iowa a make or break deal. February 5 will tell the story, and he should be fighting to stay in the race until then. What do you all think?
Governor Huckabee has released his proposal for immigration reform.
Does anyone even pay attention to these forecasters? I know that those of us who live in Florida pay very little attention to the forecasters, but a lot of attention when the storms actually form.
David Brooks has an interesting piece in the New York Times. It is one that I totally disagree with. Brooks says that Mitt Romney, in not addressing the issue of non-believers in his speech of yesterday, has inadvertently continued the war in America between the religious and the non-religious. Nothing could be further from the truth. Why in the world would a person who faithfully practices his faith and has a strong belief in God want to address someone who does not? I felt that Governor Romney's speech was ill-conceived because it did not address the issues that trouble so many non-Mormons, the mysteries of the Mormon religion as it is practiced. I do not believe that the majority of the American people are bigoted. I do believe that they will not vote for a candidate that they are not comfortable with. That is where Mitt Romney is at.
Maybe it is time to think of getting rid of the entire page system.
Lamar Alexander is a good choice for a leadership position. Now we have a good Republican leadership team in place with Mitch McConnell, Jon Kyl, Lamar Alexander and Kay Bailey Hutchison. Let's figure out a way to win back some of those Republican seats in the Senate.
As I read the analysis of Governor Romney's speech about religion, and the other problems that he faces, i found myself in agreement with the major points of the analysis. There is no one speech that can eliminate his religion problem. The other major problem that he faces is the fact that he has changed positions on some important issues. I always view that as a plus in a candidate, except when it is apparent that their change is a direct attempt to pander to voters. But more importantly, although I listened carefully to Governor Romney's speech this morning and thought it was powerful, I don't think he eased the fears about his religion. Unlike John Kennedy, who when he made his speech, was one or about 50 million Roman Catholics in the United States, Governor Romney's Mormon religion represents a very small number of Americans. The Mormon faith remains shrouded in mystery. I do not think religion should be any part of our consideration of the qualifications of a Presidential candidate, but unfortunately, it is. Governor Romney must explain his religion to those voters who are afraid of it. I don't mean that he has to justify his religion. No American should ever do that. But he should explain some of the unique features of the Mormon religion. I grew up with a cousin who converted to Mormonism as an adult. He and I discussed his religion at length, and soon discovered that his Mormon religion and my Roman Catholic religion had one strong bond in common - both believed in God and Jesus Christ. But the Mormon religion was fascinating to me, and I never tired of hearing my cousin explain it's unique rituals and beliefs. I liked the idea that one day a week was family time. No matter what they had to do, they found time for their family that one night every week. I wish Governor Romney had explained some of the more mystical rituals of the Mormon church. I think most Americans would then be as comfortable with his faith as I am.
I'm not sure that I view Romney's speech as shifting course. I think it was just a necessity that arose because of the media's insistence that his religion is an issue. I listened to his speech and I don't think it will satisfy his critics, but then, I don't think anything will.
I still find it difficult to believe that this kind of speech is necessary in today's America. Shame on all of us who would base a vote on this man's religion. I do not support Mitt Romney, but the last thing on my mind is his religion. If he wins the Republican nomination, I will support him, as I would Giuliani, or McCain. My choice for the nomination is Huckabee or Thompson, but in the end I will support any of the Republican nominees.
Well, since we need civilian contractors in Iraq to help protect Americans, I'm glad that the Pentagon has come up with a way to control them.
Tim Tebow, the sophomore quarterback from Florida has a real chance to be the first sophomore to win the Heisman.
As usual, Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters has an excellent article, this time about the importance of independent voters to the Republican party, and how the Republican party can win them back - fiscal discipline is the secret.
Tom Bevan lists the top five errors (so far) of the 2008 campaign. I think he is a little premature in listing Mitt Romney's speech on religion, which hasn't been delivered yet.
Ed Morrissey has a good article about the infamous Jack Cafferty of CNN's Situation Room. Cafferty has now attacked Mitt Romney's religion. Read his article and vote on the question of what should be done about Cafferty.
Come on Governor Romney, you just made Giuliani's case for him!!!
Kay Bailey Hutchison is a good lady. If I had a vote, I would have voted for Senator Alexander, but I hate to hear Republicans talking negatively about a good solid Republican Seanator.
It's about time Congress does something about this problem. The middle class is being squeezed by these kind of deceptive practices.
President Bush seems determined to fight the battle over Iraq war funding with Congress. Good for him.
Another good column by Jack Kelly. John Murtha is one of those old style politicians, like Ted Kennedy, who really needs to leave Congress.
As a retired attorney, I understand better than the average lay person that Prosecutors can only enforce the laws that are in existence, but in this case, we need to enact appropriate legislation to prevent this from happening again.
Good for President Bush. I think he has made sure that he will not be considered irrelevant. I have been doing quite a lot of research about past majority leaders, and, after having listened to all the pundits saying how ineffective Senator Frist was, I have been pleasantly surprised to find that he ranks in the top three of majority leaders in terms of legislation passed and signed by the President. Harry Reid, although, he only has a year under his belt, has accomplished little, and is on course to be the most inept leader we have seen. It just goes to prove two theories of mine: 1. you need 60 Senators to accomplish anything. 2. it is easier to be the minority party in the Senate.
I find it sad that 47 years after John F. Kennedy's speech on his faith, another politician feels compelled to speak about his own religion. I had hoped that we as a nation had gotten beyond this issue.
My favorite team, the Pittsburgh Steelers upped their record to 9 and 3 with a 24 to 10 win over Cincinnati.
I don't know if there is any truth to this story, but Senator Craig has to realize that it is time for him to leave politics.
The Newt speaks his mind about Bill Clinton.
After West Virginia lost to my favorite team, Pitt, and Missouri got knocked off, I kind of expected Ohio State to jump back up there.
An interesting op-ed. We already know that today's liberals are not like those of our parent's generation. The thing that concerns me the most with this new brand, is that they have not only lost touch with prior generations, but they have also lost touch with the guiding principles of this country.
I would like to see Kay Bailey Hutchison win this position, but the guys seem to have completely forgotten her.
Ed Morrissey has a really interesting article about the CNN debate debacle of Wednesday evening. As he said, corruption is a strong word, but CNN's behavior gives rise to the question.
As we recognize World Aids Day, we must also recognize that there is a lot of work to be done to bring this terrible disease under control. Let our country resolve to lead the way.
The news from Iraq continues to get better. Hopefully, this trend will continue and the Iraqis will begin to control their own destiny.
Wouldn't it be nice if race had nothing to do with who a person backs in an election?
This is an interesting article. I recommend it to all of the Thompson supporters. I don't agree with the premise of the article, which is the old garbage that Fred is lazy, but I think Thompson supporters could help the Senator a lot by getting out there and talking about his ideas. He has a lot of good ones, and they are getting no attention. That's too bad.
I confess, I have found it difficult to take Ron Paul seriously at times, because he is such a poor debater, but I think it is time for everyone to begin to take this guy seriously and to listen to his message. I am not a libertarian, and I strongly disagree with his position on Iraq, but there are a lot of people out there listening to him. We all should, maybe we can learn something.
I wish the GOP candidates would think about the party a little more. They are setting the Republican party up for a massive defeat in 2008.
This story in the Politico shows again the rapid shift of priorities in national politics.
The Politico is reporting that police have been called to a hostage situation at a Hillary Clinton field office in New Hampshire. Hopefully, this situation will be resolved safely.
Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters has a good article about the shift in the war in Iraq, and the problems it presents for the Democrats.
Michelle Malkin has an article in the New York Post about the mess that passed for a debate on Wednesday night.
Every time something like this occurs, it reminds me of the problems we face in the world.
This story just keeps getting more and more interesting. Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters has the story.
Redstate goes after CNN. Good for them.
Check out the grades for the Republican Candidates from the debate of last night.
Why do I have the feeling that Bin Laden knows Al Qaeda is losing everywhere?
I find it strange that CNN didn't do a better job of checking out the people asking questions.
I didn't get the sense that any of the candidates, except perhaps Rudy, got personal. I thought it was a serious discussion, mishandled by CNN.
If the media and the politicians had bothered to listen to Senator Thompson, they would know that this is exactly the kind of campaign he said he would run.
I think Fred Barnes should have just sat back and enjoyed the spectacle. Huckabee had the right approach.
It is no surprise to me that the press ranks dead last in this survey.
Wonder if this had something to do with Senator Lott resigning?
I don't think this is what McCain-Feingold intended, but it just goes to show the power of the Clintons.
36 Days until the Iowa Caucuses
41 Days until the New Hampshire Primary
52 Days until the South Carolina Primary
62 Days until the Florida Primary
Well, at least former President Clinton thinks all the Republican candidates are interesting.
If you watched Monday night's Steelers - Miami football game on ESPN, you saw the terrible condition of the field. I don't buy Art Rooney II's excuse for the condition of the field. Didn't he watch the weather forecasts up there? And what's up with letting high school and college teams use the field before an important pro game? I graduated from law school with Art, and he is a terrific person, but he dropped the ball on this one.
My good friend John LeBoutillier has another terrific article in Newsmax. He is one of the best columnists I have ever read, and I recommend his articles to all of you. I don't always agree with John, but I know that when I read one of his articles he will speak plainly without any of the extra verbage that so many writers like to engage in.
This guy is too funny. He wants to observe because he doesn't think we will want to vote for President Bush again. I guess someone forgot to tell him that the President isn't running again.
I guess even the good Doctor has to make a living sooner or later.
Stuart Rothenberg of Roll Call makes the argument that Ron Paul is still irrelevant in Republican politics, that his fundraising pales in comparison to the front runners, and that he should not be taken seriously because he has no chance to win the Republican nomination. I still believe that he has no chance to win the nomination, but I believe that he must, and should. be taken seriously.
David Brooks has an excellent op-ed in the New York Times, in which he writes about the fundamental soundness of America's economy, and America's standing in the financial world.
The Steeler organization should be screaming bloody murder over the condition of the field - oh yeah, the Steelers won 3 - 0.
Denny Hastert has resigned from the House of Representatives effective tonight. God Speed Mr. Speaker.
An excellent analysis by David Rogers of the battle ahead for leadership positions in the Republican Senate caucus.
The Politico is reporting that Senator Jon Kyl will run for the whip position. Come on folks, don't we have some better people in our party. I sure don't want a pro-amnesty Senator in the number two position.
Mort Kondracke of Roll Call talks about what the Democrats intend to do in 2009 if they win the White House and gain control of both houses of Congress.
Jack Kelly has a column in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, highlighting Joe Lieberman's remarks about the behavior of Democrats regarding the war in Iraq. Mr. Kelly correctly points out that the American people will remember the actions of the Democrats.
The Politico is reporting that Trent Lott will resign, possibly announcing it as early as today. I have never cared for Lott, but we can't afford to keep losing Republican Senators. Nevertheless, I will certainly not miss Trent. He is the kind of Republican that only hurts our party.
Powerline has a post about Michael Gerson's book, called Heroic Conservatism. Powerline makes much the same points that George Will made in his article called "The Failings of Heroic Conservatism". Unfortunately, my dislike of the arrogance of Will's writing style and his speaking style caused me to ignore the excellent points that Powerline and Wills made. Read their articles. They really do explain a lot of the shortcomings of the Bush administration over the last several months.
Fred Barnes has this crazy idea that we can actually shrink the federal government.
As time goes on, I dislike George Will more and more. Not so much for his philosophy, because I agree with most of what he says, but because of his arrogance. He gives the conservative movement a bad name with his superior, patronizing attitude toward all who disagree with him. The conservative movement would be better served without the arrogance of pundits like him and William Kristol.
I thought this was one problem that we would not have to deal with again in my lifetime.
This story really caught my eye, because I have a friend who has been fighting a battle against his former employer over this very issue for years.
Just received this link from Tommy Oliver. A good article in National Review by Larry Kudlow.
Michelle Malkin has a commentary about an American soldier and the tragedies that he and his family have endured. Every American should read this story.
A very thoughtful article about Iran. I think all Americans will agree that we need to move very slowly with this country.
Mark Steyn writes about the dilemma so many Republicans find themselves in. We like something about each of the major Republican candidates, but, unfortunately, there is also something about each one that we strongly dislike.
I don't know about you, but even before the ship hit the piece of ice, this didn't seem like much of a vacation to me.
This is a great story by the Chicago Tribune. Reading it, you get a sense of why the momentum in the war in Iraq has shifted in favor of the United States.
The Chinese government denied the USS Kittyhawk permission to dock in Hong Kong. No big deal, except that many family members of the crew of the Kittyhawk flew to Hong Kong from Japan, planning to spend a holiday with their loved ones. Even though China later granted permission, it was too late, since the ship had already put out to sea. Just another slap in the face by the Chinese government.
I just read this editorial in Investors Daily. It makes a lot of sense. If someone from a foreign country doesn't want to become American, why would they come to this country? It really is the difference between the immigrants from Europe, Asia, and Eastern Europe, and those entering our country within the last 30 years.
The Wall Street Journal thinks that this case before the United States Supreme Court will define once and for all the rights of individuals to own firearms under the Second Amendment. I think, like so many cases decided by the Supreme Court, it will only muddy the waters.
The New York Times has a thoughtful editorial about Immigration, but I think they misstate the anger of the American people. Yes, we are angry about the border not being secure, but we are equally angry about all of the illegal immigrants already in the country, straining resources that should rightfully be used for American citizens.
Don't let the title fool you. The author, Gerard Baker, thinks the American economy is in pretty decent shape.
An interesting theory. What do all you amateur scientists and astronomers think?
Charles Krauthammer is one of my favorite Conservatives. Once again he tells it like it is.
The Republican Primary calender is as follows:
Jan. 3 - IA (caucus)
Jan. 5 - WY (convention)
Jan. 8 - NH
Jan. 15- MI
Jan. 19- SC, NV (caucus)
Jan. 29- FL
Feb. 2 - ME (caucus)
Feb. 5 - Super Tuesday
I read this column in the Boston Herald by Michael Graham and thought about my own family and the poverty that my parents knew, and how well we all live now.
Roy Beck, President of NumbersUSA has this to say about Senator Thompson's Border Security and Immigration Plan: "Reading Thompson's full proposed immigration policy this afternoon, I am blown away by its depth, its breadth and at how it would so fundamentally change Americans' future for the better." I thought maybe you all would like to read it also.
Every once in a while I read an article that says far better than I ever could what is in my heart. This is one of those articles.
Wonder how Harry Reid and the Democrats will deal with victory?
Rick Santorum has a great op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer that all Republicans should read and think about.
Paul Krugman of the New York Times has started a war of words with the Washington Post editorial writer, Ruth Marcus. This is what started the battle. Read the other two posts to get a sense of the fight. After this article by Krugman, Ruth Marcus responded with "Krugman vs. Krugman." Yesterday Paul Krugman fired back with "They Hate Me - They Really Hate Me." I found it fascinating to see supposedly liberal columnists fighting it out so publicly.
So what else is new? This guy has been stonewalling everyone for years.
I strongly believe that research should continue. This is the beginning of the process, not the end. Just imagine what we can accomplish if we couple embryonic stem cell research with this latest discovery.
As expected, New Hampshire will hold it's Presidential primary January 8.
As I read this article by David Horowitz the thing that troubled me the most is the attitude of so many of my liberal friends. I hope they wake up and realize that terrorists are real and want to kill us before it is too late for America to defeat the terrorists.
I didn't like this headline, but left it alone, because once again it shows the bias of the MSM. I have news for all of them. Being just Fred is plenty good enough for millions of his supporters.
You have to love Mitt Romney's explanation, but I loved what Judd Gregg said even more.
This is an excellent article by the New York Post that really brings home to all of us the extraordinary courage of our military. We can never thank these young people enough.
I support embryonic stem cell research. I have never been able to reconcile the thinking of President Bush or other conservatives who view embryonic stem cell research as the taking of a life, when everyone admits that the embryos will be discarded by the parents if they are not used for research. To me it has always made more sense to use these soon to be discarded embryos for the common good rather than just to throw them away. Having said that, I am very hopeful that the new stem cell findings will end the controversy over embryonic stem cell research. However, I think it is way too early to make the giant leap that the supporters of embryonic stem cell research have been proven wrong. Wouldn't it be better to simply say the new findings are promising, but we have a long way to go. I believe that we should continue with embryonic stem cell research.
I have known Jack Murtha for years. He hasn't changed one bit. He thinks he is much more important than he really is. Hugh Hewitt has an excellent piece about Murtha and his ridiculous statements. Make sure you read this.
This story about Dick Morris, if true, is fascinating. I have no respect for Morris, but, frankly, I had never heard any of this stuff. I now have to wonder what in the world is he doing on Fox News every night?
Neil Diamond was always one of my favorite singers. I don't know why, but I always assumed that the song was about Caroline Kennedy.
Normally the Tibetan Monks wait until after the death of the Dalai Lama to begin the search for his successor. But the current Dalai Lama is thinking of appointing his successor while he is still alive so that China will not be able to choose his successor. I think that is a smart move.
It will be very interesting to see which way McConnell tries to steer the Republican caucus.
Byron York has a very good article in National Review Online about Mitt Romney and his Mormon faith. I have felt from the beginning that at some point Governor Romney is going to have to give a speech about his religious beliefs. I have known Mormons all of my life. In fact, one of my cousins converted to the Mormon faith. I do not consider the religion to be a mystery, and I certainly don't believe that it should disqualify a person from seeking the office of President. I am not a Romney supporter, but I feel strongly that we should not elect our next President based on his religion.
This certainly doesn't come as a surprise, but it could mean major trouble for the United States.
Senators Coburn, DeMint and McCain sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Gates suggesting that he take the pork money in the Defense bill and send it to the troops. What a terrific idea. I hope he does exactly that.
If this story is true, our society is even sicker than I thought it to be.
This is disturbing news, but I have confidence in the American economy, and expect the dollar to bounce back.
I wonder if it is just because Americans are so busy, or if it is because more and more Americans don't know how to read?
I always had doubts about Fran Townsend as Homeland Security Adviser to the White House, so I can't say that I'm sorry to see her leave.
The Steeler's report card for game 10 is about what you would expect after such a terrible performance.
This is a big endorsement for John McCain. Tom Kean is a real heavyweight in terms of national security issues.
The first sentence of Salena Zito's article says it all: "It's the economy again, stupid."
An excellent analysis of Tony Blair's position on the war in Iraq, and why he believed in it then, and believes in it now.
As a native Western Pennsylvanian, I have read Jack Kelly for years. Finally, a reporter is telling the truth about what is happening in Iraq.
Governor Mike Huckabee makes a compelling argument for taking the issue of abortion away from the states. I especially like his analogy to the civil war.
Good news in Iraq. I wonder how difficult it will be to find this story in the US media?
David Broder sure has it right. I know that I would love to see a serious discussion of the issues, rather than 30 second sound bites.
Interesting story about Barack Obama in Powerline. Actually, it is a story about all of the Democratic candidates, and how they have applied George Bush's policy to other middle eastern countries, but aren't willing to apply that policy to Iraq.
I have a feeling that Mitch McConnell can take care of himself. He may be a tempting target for the Democrats, but he is a skilled politician, who knows how to play the game.
This article makes Harry Reid look even sillier than he normally does.
As we approach Thanksgiving, every American and every person of good will should read this article.
This seems to be the day for finding good articles about good people. Senator Pete Domenici is featured in this story. I have a feeling that he will be missed when he retires from the Senate.
After reading this article, it is obvious that top government officials hold General Petraeus in very high regard. I can't think of anyone I would rather have picking the next generation of Generals than this man.
It sure didn't take Barack Obama long to respond to Bob Novak's column about Hillary Clinton supposedly sitting on scandalous information about Obama. It's almost comical to watch Democrats fight like this, but in reality, it is sad for the entire political process.
This is kind of a strange article for a conservative columnist to post, but Bob Novak loves this stuff.
This is a horrible story, and I hope Prosecutors find a way to bring charges against the adults involved in such a cruel hoax.
The United States has stepped up it's efforts to end the crisis in Pakistan. We need to keep the pressure on.
I don't think anything will be decided concerning the Republican nomination before February 5. Then we will have a better idea of who the candidate will be. Don't underestimate Huckabee and Thompson.
I suspect the Democrats are going to find there is a lot of fight left in George Bush.
When the New York Times blog questions Carville's partisanship, CNN's handling of the needed disclosure that James Carville is a Clinton partisan, and Wolf Blitzer's handling of the debate, you know that the entire debate must have been bad.
As Paul of Powerline says If this is true it is truly disturbing. Standford does appear to be violating the Solomon Amendment.
The President of Iran could get a job as a comedian in the United States.
Barry Bonds has been charged with perjury by a grand jury. Another black eye for the sports world.
If this story turns out to be true, it could set organ donations back for the next decade.
This has the appearance of dirty politics at it's worst level. I hope they find out who is responsible and prosecute them.
At least 600 people are believed to have died from a cyclone that hit Bangladesh.
The United States Military sent 600 troops into two villages south of Baghdad. The raid was tied to the kidnapping of three American soldiers earlier in the year.
As one Republican staffer said "Harry Reid has threatened this 14 times, and only kept the Senate in session on the weekend one time.
I think this article sums up the dilemma the Democrats are facing. We are winning in Iraq, and they will certainly have to cope with victory. Wonder what their excuse will be for the victory?
I worked in a steel mill when affirmative action was at it's peak. If Peter Brown is right, we are in for a whale of a fight over immigration.
As expected, the United States Supreme Court has halted the execution of the Florida man convicted of killing an 11 year old Florida boy. Too bad.
Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters has another good post about America's renewed popularity in Europe. Funny how things turn around, isn't it?
This is a must read for anyone who follows politics closely. I know I am constantly wondering who leaked a story and why they would do that. Read this article, and you begin to get an idea.
When I graduated from College with a Business degree and an Accounting Major, I wanted to go to law school and become a tax attorney. I did go to law school, but this kind of article makes me very glad that I did not become a tax attorney, instead choosing to become a general practicioner.
This case now goes to the United States Supreme Court, which is expected to halt the scheduled execution until they decide another death penalty case. I guess, since I live in Florida, and have read the story of the 11 year old boy who was killed by this monster, I have to wonder, what about the victim and his family? Where is their justice?
David Broder has an interesting article. He talks about two issues that can have a negative affect on the Democratic nominee for President, especially, if as expected, that nominee is Hillary Clinton. The first is fairly obvious. Immigration is going to hurt the Democratic nominee, whoever that person is. The second is one that most people don't talk openly about. No, it isn't about the first woman President, or the first black President. How will the American people react to a two headed President? Hillary and Bill, or Billary as so many Republicans like to refer to it. I suspect that most Americans will be uncomfortable with getting Bill along with Hillary. We have all been satisfied with term limits for our President. It serves our country well. This seems like a back door approach to get Bill back in the White House.
Private-label cereal maker Ralcorp Holdings Inc. said Thursday it will purchase Kraft Foods Inc.'s Post cereals unit, the nation's third largest with brands like Spoon Size Shredded Wheat and Post Raisin Bran.
The companies said the deal includes Ralcorp stock valued at about $1.65 billion. Ralcorp will also assume $950 million in debt, boosting the total deal value to $2.6 billion.
The Democrats have another plan about SCHIP. Even though their second version passed both houses a few weeks ago, the Democrats have not sent it to the President. They are still trying to win enough votes to override a Presidential veto. If they can't do that, they are thinking about just extending it until the end of the fiscal year, which will be September 30, 2008, then bringing it up again for a vote. The idea is that this would force Republicans to either back the Democrats version or vote against a popular bill. Democrats are pretty devious.
This article was in the Washington Times today. I have not really had a lot of respect for Conservatives like Paul Weyrich for quite some time. He seems to think that he must prove his power by attacking conservative politicians. Well after reading these quotes he has zero credibility with me.
Paul M. Weyrich, president of the Free Congress Foundation, said the endorsement "makes no sense," and speculated that it had been motivated by money.
"I think in all probability the Thompson people were engaged with the National Right to Life people in financial dealing," said Mr. Weyrich, who has endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination.
"In the past, the Republican Party has funded National Right to Life, and while the committee can raise money on its own, it needs funding" from outside sources.
Peter Berkowitz has an incisive analysis of the insane hatred of George W. Bush by the left.
A major earthquake struck northern Chile on Wednesday, toppling power lines, closing roads and sending terrified residents into the streets. Authorities reported some injuries but no deaths from the quake, which was felt in the capital as well as neighboring Peru and Bolivia.
The earthquake, which struck at 12:40 p.m. local time (10:40 a.m. EST), measured magnitude 7.7 and was centered 780 miles north of Santiago, or 25 miles east-southeast of Tocopilla, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Captains Quarter has a must read article about earmarks that got inserted into the defense bill that President Bush signed yesterday.
Another smart decision by a politician. However, this time it may be too late.
The Governor of New York is finally showing a little intelligence.
This is an op-ed by the daughter of Benazir Bhutto's younger brother. It is worth reading.
Good for the President. It would be nice if Congress got the message.
This is not good news. I still believe this disease can be a major epidemic.
The Heritage Foundation has a fascinating article about the National Education Association and their defeat of a proposed bill in Utah. Here is what the Heritage Foundation says "Utah voters have rejected Referendum 1, a ballot proposal to approve a universal school-choice plan signed into law by Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr., earlier this year."
The NEA spent $3.1 million on its anti-voucher campaign.
Captain's Quarters has a good article about Iran and the lies they have told the rest of the world about their nuclear program.
Tigerhawk can always be counted on for an interesting article. This one points out the disaster that was Richard Nixon, and makes comparisons between past Presidents and today's Presidential candidates.
The Politico is reporting that Republicans in the House and the Senate are leaning even more to the right than they did before they lost control of Congress. Well, that's a good thing. The Republican party is more conservative than the Democrats, and we need to return to our base before 2008.
Now this is unusual. A man from New Mexico crossed the Mexican border several times and is accused of raping 13 women in Mexico. According to Mexican police, several of the victims have identified the accused as the rapist.
The American people always want to win. As the Iraq war turns around, and they realize that we are winning over there, the strategy of the Democrats in Congress will be recognized for exactly what it is - pure politics, without a plan.
Vladimir Putin is due to step down next year from his position as the leader of Russia. This article makes it pretty clear that he expects to continue to be very involved in the government.
After reading this article, it appears that attacks on abandoned Iraqi villages by Turkish gunships may have been done with at least the implicit support of the United States.
I can't imagine that this is a surprise to anyone familiar with what is going on in Pakistan. Bhutto has been placed under house arrest for the second time since the turmoil started and now she wants Musharraf to resign.
I just couldn't resist this story about Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He has had a tremendous season, and the last two games just prove his value to the Steelers. I agree with Ron Cook that Big Ben belongs right up there with Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
The situation in Pakistan continues to get worse. Somehow Musharraf must find a way to get Democracy back on track in that important country.
The biggest oil spill in San Francisco Bay in two decades, and the ship's pilot thought it was a minor impact?. You've got to be kidding me.
Robert Novak has an article in Townhall about the various ploys that the Democrats have attempted regarding the Appropriation Bills. The story of how the Democrat's tactics to play politics with bills needed to run the government is a fascinating story.
The Steelers came roaring back in the second half to beat the Cleveland Browns 31 to 28. Pittsburgh's record is now 7 and 2.
As a person who believes strongly in organ transplants, I found this story extremely disturbing. I think that those of us who have read what Dr. Bill Frist, one of the world's most renowned transplant surgeons says about the ethical constraints of transplantation, I know that ethical transplant surgeons would never approve of this type of activity.
Wow!! What a game, the Steelers looked terrible in the first half, but came roaring back in the second half to beat Cleveland 31-28. The Steelers are now 7 and 2.
Can anyone tell me why the Democrats are leading in all the polls for 2008? With comments like this, I sure don't understand it.
I think that everyone who lives in a state where one of the parties have taken delegates away would agree that the process is a real mess. Here in Florida both Democrats and Republicans are complaining and threatening to sit the 2008 election out.
This poem was sent to me by Volusia County Republican Chairman Jim Coffield. I'm sure he won't mind my sharing it with all of you.
Freedom Is Not Free written by Joyce Ann Geyer with Love to all our Veterans.
On this Veteran's Day
A prayer we must say
As we do every night
While they are in plight
We thank all of our men and women
Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Fire and Policemen
Who are keeping America free from harm
Keeping chaos from our country while bearing arms
God blessed us with these people who give their time
Ever watchful to find peace and keep us from crime
Even though we are at war keeping faith is our goal
Ever vigilant we all must be and staying in control
Always remembering to ask Our Lord for protection
Guiding us in peace, love, and bring us in good direction
Holding us in His arms and keeping us from strife
Freedom is not free, as many have paid with their life
A beautiful tribute to all of our veterans. Thanks to River West, who sent it to me.
Thank you to all of our Veterans. We can never thank you all enough for everything you have sacrificed for all of us.
William Bennett has a thoughtful article in the National Review. He talks about the tough times that we are living in right now, the tough war that we are fighting, and the tough times that our politicians are facing. But as Mr. Bennett points out, our country, our military and our leaders have been in tougher situations, and we have survived.
A relative of legendary Notre Dame football player George Gipp had his body exhumed so that a DNA test could be conducted to determine if he had sired a child. The girl who was born shortly after Gipp died from pneumonia and a staph infection, believed until her death that Gipp was her father. A femur bone was removed from Gipp's body, and DNA tests determined that he was not the father of the girl. My question is, what difference did it make? Why would you disturb his body to prove whether or not he was the father of a woman now dead?
Mitt Romney says he kind of likes the idea of giving a speech explaining his Mormon faith, but his aides are advising him not to give such a speech, fearing that it will focus too much attention on his religion. I think that is a big mistake. Governor Romney should give such a speech. Living in the deep south, I know the prejudices of many of the people who live here. A speech explaining his faith and the influence it would have on him is critical if he hopes to carry the South.
This Congress hasn't gotten much right, in my opinion, and the border issue is no exception. They can't seem to understand that the American people want our borders secured before any other immigration measure is considered.
Peggy Noonan has a column in the Wall Street Journal talking about the legendary Women Leaders of the World. She correctly points out that not one of them used their sex as a methodology to get elected or to garner votes. Hillary are you listening?
Karl Rove has an op-ed in yesterday's Wall Street Journal that expresses eloquently my view of the current Congress. No appropriation bills have been sent to the President's desk yet. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have made a sham out of this Congress.
It's not often that you hear of one leader of a country speaking so plainly. Good for King Juan Carlos of Spain for saying what many of us would like to say to Chavez.
A really interesting story on what makes someone a hero. Loyalty was one of the biggest factors, according to the author of the story. Doing what was expected of you was another factor.
If this story doesn't make you stop and think about what is important in life, nothing will.
The question of the Sheriff Deputy's age is an important consideration for everyone. Why was a man 76 years of age left alone to guard a prisoner who was already serving two life terms in prison. It doesn't make much sense to me, and I'm sure it doesn't to the family of the slain deputy Sheriff. The deputy paid an unacceptable price for the lack of common sense of his superior officers.
A good article about Dr. Bill Frist, and the schedule that he keeps with trips to Spain, Egypt and Morocco, along with speeches in numerous states, and teaching graduate students at Princeton. It is interesting to read the perspective that grad students believe Dr. Frist brings to the classroom.
Pakistani police placed opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under House arrest earlier today and then released her from custody this evening. This situation just keeps getting worse every hour.
This is a quote from a speech delivered by Senator Lieberman: "Since retaking Congress in November 2006, the top foreign policy priority of the Democratic Party has not been to expand the size of our military for the war on terror or to strengthen our democracy promotion efforts in the Middle East or to prevail in Afghanistan. It has been to pull our troops out of Iraq, to abandon the democratically elected government there, and to hand a defeat to President Bush."
More than 100 workers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport have been found with fake security passes, officials have said.
NOTE: I just received this information as an e-mail from Fred Thompson's campaign. I think that it is a plan that everyone should read about, so I am printing it in it's entirety. That should not be construed to mean that I am in agreement with any part of the plan. I have not studied it in sufficient detail to make that decision.
Fred Thompson’s Plan to Ensure Retirement Security for All Americans
COURAGE TO SPEAK THE TRUTH ABOUT DIFFICULT ISSUES
* Fred Thompson believes there is no reason to run for President of the United States if you can’t tell the American people the truth about complex issues like Social Security.
* We need leaders, like Fred, with the courage to address this issue head-on while there is still time to solve the funding shortfall without draconian cuts in benefits or tax increases.
* As we speak, Congress is raiding the Social Security Trust Fund. If we don’t act soon, the politicians in Washington will either repay those ‘IOUs’ through tax hikes or benefit cuts. American workers deserve access to the same retirement security options that Member’s of Congress enjoy.
* The current Social Security system is broken and if it isn’t reformed, future generations will no longer have it as a safety net for retirement.
* If Social Security is not reformed and saved for future generations, current law effectively requires a 23% cut in benefits when the Trust Fund runs out of money around 2041.
* We cannot afford to wait until the Social Security Trust Fund runs out of money–the longer we wait, the worse the problem grows and the more dramatic any solution will have to be.
A STRAIGHTFORWARD AND HONEST PLAN TO SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY AND PROTECT SENIORS
* Fred Thompson’s plan to Save Social Security keeps our promise to America’s seniors. It offers retirement security by fully protecting their benefits. Current beneficiaries and those close to retirement will not be affected by these changes. No one over the age of 57 would be affected.
* Fred Thompson’s plan will also offer younger workers retirement security. Younger workers will be given the option of growing their wealth for the future and participating in a successful investment program similar to the one enjoyed by Members of Congress.
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AMERICA AND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TODAY’S WORKERS
* Fred Thompson trusts the American people to understand the problem and accept that we need to address it now, and he will not hide the ball from them, as the other candidates are doing.
* His plan preserves real benefits at current levels, promotes personal freedom by giving workers a say in their financial future, and saves Social Security for future generations. This is critical to America’s long term Security, Unity, and Prosperity.
* We live in the greatest nation on earth – a free nation with free markets where citizens who play by the rules and work hard can expect to live the American Dream.
* If they need help in this country they can get help and those that can help themselves are expected to do so.
* Fred Thompson’s plan to protect Social Security guarantees promises made to our seniors and gives today’s workers more choice and greater opportunity for their future.
ISSUE / PROBLEM
* Since its inception in 1935, Social Security has done a good job of reducing poverty among the elderly.
* But it’s time we speak candidly to the American people; the current program is fiscally unsustainable.
* Social Security actuaries warn that if nothing is done, the Social Security Trust Fund will be bankrupt by 2041.
* That sounds like a long way off, but one-third of those now in their fifties and almost all of those in their thirties and forties will be looking to collect benefits when the money runs out.
* When that happens, retirees will face an immediate 23 percent cut in their benefits. Other options at this time are for Congress to raise taxes by 30 percent just to sustain the promised level of payments, or raise the retirement age, or come up with some combination of these three choices.
* Without question, unless Social Security is transformed and saved, fewer younger workers.
FRED THOMPSON’S PLAN
* Fred Thompson’s plan for saving and protecting Social Security will:
* Protect Benefits for current retirees and guarantee them for future generations;
* Balance Social Security so that it is permanently sustainable for future generations;
* Save Social Security for all Americans by treating all retirees fairly (No one over 57 would be affected);
* Leave untouched the calculation of the annual cost-of-living adjustment;
* Provide retirement options for future retirees that allows them to secure their own retirement future; and
* Eliminate the estimated $4 trillion unfunded Social Security future liability.
* To accomplish these goals, Fred Thompson’s plan will:
* First, provide voluntary personal retirement “add-on” accounts to supplement current benefits. It is a government-sponsored 401(k)-like supplement to Social Security that helps Americans build personal wealth. These accounts will allow each worker to contribute 2 percent of his/her wages into a voluntary account; The federal government will progressively match the worker’s contribution each month; both the worker’s contribution and the match would be invested in qualified stock and bond portfolios of their choice.
* Second, index the initial Social Security Benefit Formula for prices, not wages. Social Security today promises future retirees more benefits than current retirees receive, even though they put the same amount of money into the system. The system should be adjusted so that it is fair to all retirees. Adjusting the formula will also guarantee that all retirees – current and future – receive benefits from a system currently running out of money.
* We do not need to change the retirement age with this approach beyond the currently scheduled increase.
* We can preserve an annual cost-of-living adjustment as calculated under the current formula with this approach.
CONCLUSION
* We have a choice before us: ignore the problem and expect future generations to pay the bill, or take action now to save and protect Social Security for all retirees.
* No other candidate has come forward with a plan, demonstrating their disregard for the challenges facing our country.
* We need leaders like Fred Thompson with the courage to address this issue head-on while there is still time to solve the funding shortfall without draconian cuts in benefits or tax increases.
* Fred Thompson’s plan preserves real benefits at current levels, promotes personal freedom by giving workers a say in their financial future, and saves Social Security for future generations. This is critical to America’s long term Security, Unity, and Prosperity
Eric Lindros, one of the best hockey players, when he was healthy, has retired after 13 seasons. Considering all of the concussion that Eric has suffered, I thought he should have retired when he was playing for the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Senate has begun debate on the confirmation of Judge Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General. A vote later this evening is possible. It may be closer than it should be, but I expect Judge Mukasey to be confirmed.
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows that "Americans have turned sharply away from President Bush and toward domestic issues favoring his partisan adversaries. But offsetting that demand for change in the Presidential contest are reservations about Senator Clinton's truthfulness and ideology."
This is a story that I really don't understand. The National Archives Inspector General reports that the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is unable to properly account for more than 80,000 of the 100,000 articles in its collection. I have a feeling that we are not getting the whole story here. 80,000 items do not get stolen or lost without someone noticing. I would bet that we will hear more about this in the days ahead.
I'm not sure who advised the President to veto this bill, but I think that he got bad advice. I have told family and friends for years that a person should always pick their battles carefully. In this instance the President vetoed an Authorization bill. Congress routinely does the authorization bills first, and then at a later date does the corresponding appropriation bills. What this means in terms of the Water Projects bill, which was an authorization bill, Congress is saying that these are the projects that we intend to authorize. That doesn't mean that they will all be included in the appropriations bill to follow. Historically, about 70 percent of all projects authorized actually get appropriated. The President, to prove his point of fiscal responsibility, would have been better off to have waited for the appropriations bill and exercise his veto on that bill, which is where the money is.
The President's approval rating remains low, but Congress' rating is even lower. What does that tell you about the Democrat's failure to accomplish anything?
Chuck Todd writes about the angry electorate. Mr. Todd believes that the electorate is angrier than any of the pundits imagined. In fact, he thinks it is more than anger, it is distrust of the government itself. He raises what happened in Utah, New Jersey and Oregon as proof of this proposition. In Utah, the voters said no to state government leaders who wanted to start a private school voucher program. In New Jersey, voters struck down a proposal to expand stem cell research. In Oregon voters said no to a cigarette tax increase to pay for expanded health care.
I disagree totally with this column by Gregory Scoblete, but like my viewers to see how ridiculous some of these liberal writers can be. This is a good article for that purpose only.
The Wall Street Journal has a post on the editorial page of today's edition talking about what Oregon voters did on Tuesday. Governor Ted Kulongoski and the State Legislature in Oregon wanted to broaden eligibility for Oregon's Healthy Kids Schip program to 300% of the federal poverty level. They would also allow all families to opt in, regardless of income. They intended to pay for it by expanding cigarette taxes. Democrats in the Legislature couldn't get the three-fifths approval required for a tax increase in the legislature, so they put the issue on the ballot. Well, the voters in Oregon resoundingly voted no. That should send a message to the Democrats in Washington, don't you think.
This is the kind of article that makes you think. Martin Gilbert has written a book called "Churchill and the Jews". I found the preview of the book very interesting, and I would urge everyone to read the book. Arthur Herman previews the book in this post from the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Gilbert in his book points out that Winston Churchill, who was a student of history, "came to feel that Judaism was the bedrock of traditional Western moral and political principles." Mr. Gilbert quoted Chruchill as arguing that "For Europeans to turn against the Jew, was for them to strike at their own roots and reject an essential part of their civilization." As Mr. Herman says "Martin Gilbert's book reminds us that anti-Semitism is the dark turn of the modern mind against itself, and a form of cultural patricide."
Well, it looks like the Republicans are taking a page out of the Democrats playbook. Five states will be penalized for holding early primary contests. Those states are New Hampshire, Florida, South Carolina, Michigan and Wyoming. I don't know what the national parties are thinking, but disenfranchising party loyalists is not the answer.
Millions of Chinese-made toys have been pulled from shelves in North America and Australia after scientists found they contain a chemical that converts into a powerful date rape drug when ingested. WOW!!
Pat Robertson announced today that he is backing Rudy Giuliani for President. Go figure.
Record oil prices edged closer to $100 a barrel Wednesday amid expectations of declining U.S. supplies. The weak dollar and OPEC's apparent reluctance to pump more crude into the market also boosted prices.
GM posted the largest quarterly net loss in its history due largely to a $38.6 billion noncash charge related to tax asset valuation, but also had to deal with a loss at it's financial arm GMAC and continued weakness in the North American market.
DirecTV's third quarter net income dropped 14% as the company spent more to provide customers with high-definition channels and digital video recorders.
Police swung batons and fired tear gas at 400 supporters of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy addressed a joint session of Congress today, assuring members of Congress that "our friendship and our alliance is strong." What a nice change. Finally, a friendly French government.
Wall Street suffered its second big drop in a week Wednesday, with investors worried about spreading fallout from the credit crisis at banks and about a dollar that just keeps getting weaker.
President Bush met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy today and they agreed that Iran should not have nuclear weapons. Finally, a friend in France.
I just listened to Senator Harkin on the floor of the Senate bashing President Bush for not pressing Musharraf on what is going on in Pakistan. Well as usual, Senator Harkin is wrong again. The President is pushing Musharraf as hard as he can to hold elections and restore the Constitution.
Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, who met last week with Rudy Giuliani, has decided to endorse Senator John McCain.
Pakistan's deposed chief justice called on lawyers throughout Pakistan to defy police and continue to protest President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule.
A two year old girl from Inda underwent surgery on Tuesday. The little girl was born with four arms and four legs. Doctors are hopeful that the surgery will leave the girl with a normal body. I sure hope so.
Now that Chief Executive Charles Prince of Citigroup, Inc. has quit, what will it take to clean up the mess left behind. It certainly will take time. It will also take innovation and imagination by Citigroup officials to win back the confidence of investors. I hope they are up to the task.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is visiting the United States this week. It is expected that relations between France and the United States will be much warmer than they have been in the past. Let's hope so.
Bret Stephens has a very interesting op-ed in the Wall Street Journal. Mr. Stephens compares the debate over waterboarding with the actions of much of the World, including the United States during World War II. the death of Paul Tibbets, Jr. the pilot of the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was a reminder of another time when our country was at war, and the steps we took to save American lives. Call me crazy if you want, but I don't think we were wrong to drop the Atomic bomb on Japan, and I would have no problem with taking any action necessary to protect American lives today. If that means we are lowering ourselves to the level of our enemies, then so be it.
Ed Morrissey has an important post about Ron Paul's fundraising. While I don't believe that I could ever support Ron Paul for President, simply because I disagree with him on too many issues, starting with the war in Iraq, he has earned my respect with his fundraising capabilities, and I believe that his candidacy must be taken seriously. Kudos to Congressman Paul. His supporters are working hard for him.
Paul Weyrich has an article in Townhall discussing the group called Reagan 21. Personally, I think that groups like this serve no useful purpose. You would think Senators and Congressmen would have enough to keep them busy without forming these kind of groups.
Ed Morrissey has a post pointing out that the Senate and House are doing exactly what they promised the American people they would not do, inserting earmarks that are not in either the House or Senate bill, but mysteriously show up in the conference bill. So much for ethics reform.
As usual Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters has an excellent post about how the Democrats continue to shoot themselves in the foot, this time over the Mukasey nomination
Cal Thomas really nails my feelings on the issue of Immigration. Two paragraphs of his article really sums it up.
"Much of the anger is caused by the federal government's refusal to adequately enforce existing immigration laws. Most citizens know that if they break laws, they will pay a penalty. They know their driver's license is a privilege and that the state that issues them can take them away when certain laws are broken. They see New York governor Eliot Spitzer ordering special classes of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants and regard it as a double standard. Countries to which Americans travel prohibit us from working in those countries, but we are told we must accept law-breaking foreign workers."
"The war over immigration is essentially a battle for the Hispanic vote. Politicians will do anything to get it, including disregarding the laws they are sworn to uphold. The politician who gets on the wrong side of this issue, like Hillary Clinton did in the most recent Democratic presidential debate - is likely to pay a heavy price from the majority who obey laws. For the moment, we still outnumber the illegals."
Ben Rothlisberger and James Harrison were the big stars of the Monday night game against the Baltimore Ravens. Big Ben threw for five touchdowns. Harrison recovered a couple of fumbles, intercepted a pass and threw in a couple of sacks for good measure.
I don't agree with Frank Gaffney at all. He believes that President Bush's policies during his first term have come unraveled. While there have certainly been unexpected road blocks, I think that the President and his Secretary of State have basically followed through on his first term initiatives.
I used to have a lot of respect for Paul Weyrich. Now he has zero credibility with me. If his idea of stopping Rudy is to back Romney instead of a real Conservative, he just confirms my skepticism of him. Shame on you Mr. Weyrich. There are real conservatives running. Why aren't you backing them?
Good follow up article about Prime Minister Gordon Brown's agenda. After reading all of the programs that Gordon Brown is proposing, I think steady as you go pretty much sums up his philosophy. I like Gordon Brown, and I think he is an astute politician.
Queen Elizabeth has announced to the British people the program of the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. Included in Mr. Brown's program are measures dealing with terrorists, climate change, health, nuclear power, education and housing. Sounds like an ambitious agenda, Mr. Prime Minister.
According to CNN 21,000 people were let into the country, who should not have been. Fortunately, most of them evidently are not considered security risks. Doesn't that make you feel better?
Ron Paul has impressed me with his ability to raise money online. $3.5 million in a little over 24 hours is pretty impressive.
The Club for Growth has issued their Senate Repork Card. Check it out.
Iran dismissed the possibility of a U.S. military strike against the country Monday and said Tehran was ready to consider a new round of talks with Washington on security in Iraq.
After reading this article, it seems pretty clear that the study that made the determination that the United States now ranks 15th on the income scale is a flawed study.
The situation in Pakistan continues to deteriorate. The Bush Administration has got to be worried about what is going on over there.
Bayer AG has halted worldwide sales of its antibleeding drug Trasylol after a Canadian clinical study last month found that it could be linked to a higher risk of death than other drugs.
This article, written by Stanley Kurtz paints a grim picture of what could happen in Pakistan. Mr. Kurtz thinks that Pakistan faces the real possibility of civil war. Mr. Kurtz's article is a must read for any serious student of this region of the world.
For the first time since the Immigration controversy started, a reporter has the courage to tell the truth. Michael Barone has the story about the problem that most Americans have with the proposed comprehensive immigration reform bill. As Mr. Barone points out, it isn't that most people are prejudiced, on the contrary, most people would welcome immigrants, be they Hispanics, or from another region of the world. But people want our laws enforced, the borders secured and immigrants to come into the country legally. That doesn't make a person racist, and if the politicians don't understand that shame on them.
The Republican presidential fight in South Carolina reflects the race at large - a knock down drag out battle that could go any which way. The contest is really a toss up.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy made a trip to Chad and met with Chad's leader Idriss Deby to discuss the situation involving French Nationals being held by Chad on kidnapping charges. Sarkozy left Chad with 7 of the Europeans held, including 3 French journalists and four flight attendants from Spain.
The Politico has not been fair to Fred Thompson ever since he said he might run for President. Why would we expect anything different from them now? I thought Senator Thompson was terrific on Meet the Press.
Barbara Boxer, my least favorite politician of all time, is at it again. Her hysterical pandering about global warming and the polar bears was nauseating to watch. The article by Debra Saunders sure says what I thought when I listened to Senator Boxer.
Frank Rich has an interesting op-ed in the New York Times. I think he is on the money with his analysis. But only to the extent that the liberal Democrats will fall into the trap set by the much smarter Bush administration. Iran will become a big issue in the 2008 election, and if the Democrats react predictably, they could very well lose the White House.
This is a really good story about Fred Thompson. To me, it illustrates why he is such a good candidate. I have a lot of respect for a guy who came up the hard way.
Charles Mahtesian has an article in the Washington Post about Mike Huckabee. He reports that Huckabee is for real - a man poised to go further on the national stage than any other candidate produced by the Christian conservative movement. I don't see Huckabee as being produced by the Christian conservative movement, but I agree that Huckabee could very well be the sleeper in the Republican field.
The Washington Times reports on the deepening crisis in Pakistan. The United States has made it clear that they are not happy with President Musharraf's actions in suspending the Constitution. Equally troubling to me what his removal of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and other judges. Can you imagine what would happen in this Country if the President removed our Chief Justice?
Ed Morrissey has another excellent post, this time about the behavior of Republicans and Democrats in Congress - to pork up any appropriation that gets enacted. Captain Ed reports that over $3 billion in pork will get attached to the defense appropriation bill representing 1,337 separate earmarks - just in the House version. So much for transparency in Congress.
Al Qaeda terrorists have been "almost defeated" in Iraq's Anbar province, once considered the heart of the resistance to the U.S. led coalition, a top Anbar Sunni leader said yesterday. More good news coming out of Iraq.
The confirmation of Judge Michael B. Mukasey to be the next Attorney General of the United States seems certain with the announcement by Democratic Senators Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein that they will support Judge Mukasey.
I'm not sure that this is a nonpartisan focus group, but it is an interesting article. The crux of the article seems to be that Republicans are still searching for their ideal Presidential candidate. I think most of us who belong to the GOP would agree with that. But most of us also agree that there is still a lot of time for our party to settle on the ideal choice.
Fred Barnes argues, in the Weekly Standard, that Republicans are growing convinced they can win the White House again in 2008. He points to the fact that we are winning the war in Iraq, the unpopularity of the Democratic Congress, the success of the economy and several other issues that are emerging in favor of the Republicans.
President Musharraf of Pakistan has declared a state of emergency and suspended the country's constitution temporarily. The United States has already voiced it's displeasure.
I keep asking people why is the success that our military is now enjoying in Iraq not being reported by the Media? This story at least does report it. The article leads with a headline "Serious success in Iraq is not being recognized as it should be." General Petraeus has done a terrific job and it is time for the media in the states to start telling the truth.
This op-ed gives even more reasons why the Law of the Sea Treaty should not be approved by the United States Senate.
The Politico is reporting that a poll from the Pew Research Center is showing that the Republican party is in worse shape than it has been in in a long time. According to the poll only 36 percent of Republicans and Republican leaning independents say the GOP does an excellent or good job of standing up for traditional GOP positions. I think that this poll, like so many others will turn out to be wrong when it comes to Presidential politics.
the New York Times is reporting that the chairman and chief executive of Citigroup, Charles O. Prince, III has told directors that he will resign because of the sharp drop in profit and the 5.9 billion write-down that Citigroup has experienced.
The New York Times reports that Senate Democrats are facing an agonizing choice - they have to find a way to raise at least $50 billion in new taxes, or undermine their "paygo" rule. The dilemma comes about because of the Alternative Minimum Tax. Democrats and Republicans are anxious to prevent the AMT from adversely affecting about 23 million households. It will be fascinating to watch the Dems try to deal with this.
Captain's Quarters has a great post about the liberal bias in the media. Ed Morrissey talks about a report by Harvard University. According to the report not only are the Democrats favored by the tone of the coverage, they also get more coverage. Read the whole post. It is well worth the time.
Peggy Noonan is one of my favorite pundits. She gets right to the point with this op-ed. Real simply, Ms. Noonan says "It's startling. It's still 1993 in there, the year before her fall." I hope Peggy Noonan is right.
John Fund has an op-ed about Hillary Clinton's answer during the last Democratic debate when she was asked about Governor Spitzer's idea to issue drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. If you recall, during the debate, at first Hillary appeared to support the idea, then she backtracked, saying she didn't say it should be done, but she did recognize why the Governor was trying to do it. Mr. Fund argues that everyone needs to look very closely at what the Governor wants to do, because it stops just short of being an engraved invitation for voter fraud. As Mr. Fund points out the National Voter Registration Act, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993 requires all states to offer voter registration to anyone getting a driver's license. All a person has to do is fill out a form and check a box stating they are a citizen. No one checks to see if the person checking the box is actually a citizen. Nice way to let anyone vote.
A New Jersey man was sentenced to more than two years in prison on Friday for helping send "spam" e-mails to more than 1.2 million America Online subscribers.
President Bush kept his word and vetoed a bill that would have authorized hundreds of water projects, saying it was too expensive because it had unneeded projects supported by individual lawmakers. It appears both the House and Senate have enough votes to override the President's veto.
Michael Mukasey got the support of two key Senate Democrats. Chuck Schumer and Dianne Feinstein both indicated they will vote for Mukasey.
A discarded cigarette or other smoking materials may have caused a beach house fire that killed seven South Carolina college students. The fire was accidental.
Check out the Telegraph's list of top 100 Conservatives and Liberals. I sure don't agree with most of their picks. Bush should rank much higher, Tom DeLay doesn't belong on the list, Bill Frist does. Lots of other ones that I would have added. See what you think.
Late Thursday night Barack Obama introduced a resolution that claims President Bush does not have the authority to use military force against Iran. I'm sure the terrorists love to read this kind of garbage.
The Labor Department reported that employers boosted payrolls by 166,000 people in October, the most in five months.
President Bush, in a strong speech on Thursday, warned the Democrats that denial of the war is dangerous for our country and our people. He is right, and the Democrats should listen.
The Stock Market closed down 360 points on Thursday. It's interesting that one of the reasons given was that the economy is slowing. What about the 166,000 jobs that have been added to the economy?
Gneral Mills has recalled about 5 million frozen pizzas nationwide under the Totino's and Jeno's labels because of possible e. coli contamination.
A small town in Tennessee has run out of water. This is incredible in our country. Surely there is something that the State or Federal government can do to help the people of Orme.
Wow!!! Every time I read a story about Pirates, I just shake my head in amazement. Earlier this week, Pirates took over a North Korean tanker off the coast of Africa. The United States Navy went to the aid of the North Korean tanker, and ultimately ended up boarding the tanker to treat the wounded on the ship. Now the Navy is keeping its eye on a Japanese tanker that has been taken over by pirates off the coast of Somalia. Our Navy is incredible, but I bet the men and women in the Navy never thought they would end up battling pirates. Great story.
According to Congress, the Food and Drug Administration isn't paying enough attention to inspecting the growing amount of drugs produced by foreign manufacturers. I don't trust Congress enough to believe anything they say, so I view this story with a lot of skepticism.
China has raised gasoline and diesel prices by about 10 percent to curb demand amid shortages that have caused long line at filling stations and disrupted trucking in key export areas. In a perverse way, it's comforting to know that we aren't the only country struggling with high gasoline prices.
This story is looking worse and worse for the nine French nationals and seven Spaniards under arrest in Chad for attempting to illegally remove 21 girls and 82 boys aged 1 to 10 from their native land. According to the UN 91 of the children mentioned a family environment. I'm not sure what that means, but if it turns out these kids had family willing to take care of them, it seems pretty clear that the French and Spaniards could face some pretty serious charges, and deservedly so.
More than 700 toy factories in southern China have been banned from exporting what they produce as part of a crackdown on shoddy products, the government said Thursday. It's about time.
This is what we don't need in Congress, more fighting by the politicians. I guess they haven't gotten the message that the voters want the partisanship to end, and legislation to get accomplished.
Pete Du Pont has an op ed in the Wall Street Journal pointing out how much tax cuts help the economy and the follies of the Democratic proposals led by Charlie Rangel.
The Politico has a post about how angry voters are with everyone in Washington D.C. As they say, the anti-Washington mood has reached breathtaking levels. This quote pretty much sums it up "One has to reach back almost 30 years, to the low points of Jimmy Carter's presidency, to find a time when there was such simultaneous disdain for both the executive and the legislative branches, as measured by Gallup approval ratings."
This is a good article analyzing what is causing the latest price spike in oil prices. According to the BBC the latest price spike has been caused by tensions between Turkey and Kurdish separatists. The article also points out that demand for oil world wide continues to soar.
Oil prices continue to climb, after figures showed a surprise fall in US crude reserves. That can't be good news for American consumers.
Typical European Justice. One of the accused masterminds of the 2004 Madrid terror bombings was acquitted of all charges Wednesday by a Spanish court in the culmination to a politically divisive trial over Europe's worst Islamic militant terror attack.
Grady Little is out as manager of the Dodgers, clearing the way for Joe Torre to take over. Does anyone beside me have a problem with the way this is being done?
Iran warned the United States it would find itself in a "quagmire deeper than Iraq" if it attacked the Islamic state. I think everyone in our country knows that the last thing we need is another war, but I seriously doubt that our military would be very frightened of Iran.
Iraqi soldiers are now taking charge of protecting the country's greatest assets against insurgents under a plan to hand over control to Iraqis. It's about time.
Good News!!! A jury today ordered a Kansas church to pay $2.9 million in compensatory damages to relatives of a gay US Marine after church members cheered his death at his funeral. The church, Westboro Baptist Church based in Topeka, Kansas, has behaved vicously for years, demonstrating at soldiers funerals and cheering their deaths. I hope this is enough to stop them.
Fox News just announced the following News Bulletin:
FEDERAL RESERVE CUTS KEY INTEREST RATE BY A QUARTER-POINT TO 4.5 PERCENT
Michael Gerson has a very good op-ed expressing his views on the ideological identity crisis that the Republican Party is in the midst of. For all of us who love the Republican Party it is well worth reading.
Ruth Marcus has an excellent op-ed in the Washington Post. She writes about fliers that turned up in mailboxes in Massachusett's 5th Congressional District the weekend before the special congressional election there, attacking the Republican challenger Jim Ogonowski. They were sent by a group named "Democracy Still Works." She makes some great points in the article, and all of us who have concerns about 527's and other attack organizations should read what she says.
The Christian Science Monitor has a good article about the efforts of BeadForLife, a small Colorado-based nonprofit group and their efforts to help African women. This is an inspiring story of how the people of Africa can be helped, and how they are helping themselves.
Another good post by Powerline. They refer their readers to the NEFA Foundation and their pamphlet - The Muslim Brotherhood in the United States. It is well worth reading.
Powerline has a good post about the Democratic candidates for President. It is, by now, pretty clear that there isn't much difference between any of the Democrats. We are in for a long election season.
Power Line has a follow up to Tony Blankley's story about the big tent of our party continuing to shrink. The attacks on Governor Huckabee are unwarranted, and distasteful.
Another good post by Ed Morrissey about last evenings Democratic debate. Hillary gets credit for the fastest flip-flop in political history. First she backed Eliott Spitzer's plan to give illegal immigrants drivers licenses, then, when Edwards and Obama called her on it, she said she didn't support it. That happened within two minutes. Wow!!
Captain's Quarters has an especially appropriate post about too many debates. That is exactly what I thought when I heard Tim Russert's question to Dennis Kucinich last night about UFO's. Guess Russert couldn't think of a better question to ask one of the candidates.
Tony Blankley has a way of putting things in perspective. If the Republican activists keep beating up on our candidates, we may very well end up with Hillary in the White House. Now that is a Halloween trick, for sure.
Senator James Inhofe is opposed to the Law of the Sea Treaty. The Bush Administration favors it, but most Republicans are opposed to it. Read Senator Inhofe's reasoning and see what you think.
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