WAXMAN WARNS OF CONFRONTATION WITH RICE OVER iRAQI CORRUPTION
Now I have heard of a lot of out of control Democrats, but this guy really takes the prize. He is going to pick a fight with the Secretary of State!!! Give me a break!!
Now I have heard of a lot of out of control Democrats, but this guy really takes the prize. He is going to pick a fight with the Secretary of State!!! Give me a break!!
Posted by Paradise at 9:36 PM 0 comments
For the first time, rocks have been extracted from California's San Andreas Fault by scientists drilling some three kilometers below the surface. The hope is that experts can establish if any precursor signals exist that could be used to predict earthquakes reliably and accurately.
Posted by Paradise at 9:26 PM 0 comments
Labels: science
We never seem to see these kind of stories in the Mainstream Media.
Posted by Paradise at 9:21 PM 0 comments
Labels: Iraq
President Bush has emphatically rejected claims his administration uses torture and defended the CIA's methods.
Posted by Paradise at 9:13 PM 0 comments
If you don't get this newsletter, sign up for it. It is excellent. Here are some recent quotes:
Couric Uncomfortable with Patriotism
" … And, you know, the whole culture of wearing flags on your lapel and saying 'we' when you were referring to the United States, which, and, and, you know, even the 'shock and awe' in the initial stages, it was just too jubilant and just a little uncomfortable. And I remember feeling when I was anchoring the Today show this inevitable march toward war and kind of feeling like 'Will anybody put the brakes on this?' and 'Has this been properly challenged by the right people?' …"
-- Katie Couric, in an interview by former CBS newsman Marvin Kalb at the National Press Club that aired September 26 on C-SPAN2; reported by MRC's CyberAlert Friday September 28
A Sampling of Media Bias Highlights
From the Media Research Center
Ignorant Reporting or Deliberate Attempt to Silence Conservative Talk Radio? - 1
A dishonest attempt to discredit and impugn the character of Rush Limbaugh was in full view last week for all to see. Even after Limbaugh clarified remarks he had made on his radio program, MSNBC continued to smear him for something he did not do. Limbaugh used the term "phony soldiers" to refer to one Jesse MacBeth, a cut-and-run defeatist who passed himself off as a veteran Army Ranger but who in fact had never even finished basic training. Ignoring the facts, MSNBC jumped on Limbaugh for insulting the troops. Others in the liberal media followed, also defying the truth. The continuing smear led MRC to point out that such "character assassination" amounted to "nothing short of a deliberate pattern to smear the reputations of conservative media personalities in order to eliminate any voice of opposition."
-- MRC press release, October 1; CyberAlert October 1 and NewsBusters Blog September 28
Ignorant Reporting or Deliberate Attempt to Silence Conservative Talk Radio? - 2
The smearing of Rush Limbaugh by leftists in the media followed hard on the heels of the smearing of Bill O'Reilly by leftists in the media. Do you see a pattern here? O'Reilly had made on-air remarks to black journalist Juan Williams about his pleasure over the harmony that prevailed during a meal at a mostly-black-clientele restaurant in Harlem. Somehow, CNN and MSNBC saw this a possible "Imus moment" for O'Reilly. Soon, CBS's Early Show picked up the story with "In Hot Water" and "O'Race Factor" on screen. Then an MSNBC on-screen graphic abandoned all subtlety and flat-out accused O'Reilly of racism. It read: "Anchor's Racist Comments." Amazingly, none of these shows bothered to mention that Juan Williams himself, the black journalist who was with O'Reilly when he made the remarks, defended O'Reilly: "It had nothing to do with racist ranting by anybody except these idiots at CNN." MRC's CyberAlert has documented that behind bo th the Limbaugh smear and the O'Reilly smear was the leftwing, Clinton-allied group, Media Matters.
-- MRC CyberAlert Sept. 27, Oct. 1-3.
We are Not Making This Stuff Up, People
On Thursday's Good Morning America, ABC host George Stephanopoulos provided another example of the media carrying the Clinton camp's water. After playing a debate clip of the New York Senator publicly disagreeing with her husband over a question about torture, Stephanopoulos revealed to co-host Robin Roberts: "My e-mail started going off the minute after that exchange happened. All the Clinton people." Stephanopoulos, a former top aide to Bill Clinton, explained that Mrs. Clinton's operatives "were thrilled" with the retort and "they like any moment where she can show that, actually, she's the one in charge. He's not pulling the strings." In other words, the Clinton camp e-mailed the ABC anchor, told him the debate moment they most appreciated and Stephanopoulos dutifully highlighted it the next day on Good Morning America.
-- MRC's CyberAlert, Friday, September 28
Posted by Paradise at 9:08 PM 0 comments
Labels: media
Tony Snow is going to be missed. Here is what he recently said:
CNN's Susanne Malveau: "How does the President regain the credibility that he needs to convince the American people that that's true (that the surge is working) Tony?"
Retiring White House Press Secretary Tony Snow: "Well, you know what Suzanne, your credibility rating--journalists' credibility ratings--are lower than the President's."
Posted by Paradise at 8:53 PM 0 comments
Labels: media
At least 200,000 people have died and some 2 million people have been forced from their homes during the four year conflict in Darfur. With all this killing going on, a rebel leader now is threatening to boycott upcoming peace talks if more than two rebel groups are invited. Won't these people ever learn?
Posted by Paradise at 8:46 PM 0 comments
The House of Representatives has passed a bill thretening to impose sanctions on Ethiopian officials and stop military aid unless democratic reforms are made. Did the House forget that Ethiopia is our strongest ally in the African region in the war on terror?
Posted by Paradise at 8:36 PM 0 comments
Labels: Africa, Ethiopia, politics, war on terror
Newt Gingrich's attorney is now letting it be known that Newt's claim that campaign finance laws knocked him out of the Republican presidential race is not exactly true. In fact, the Attorney said Newt could have gotten into the race legally, and maintained his political group. He would have to have kept the funds carefully segregated, and according to Newt's attorney, they were prepared to do that.
Posted by Paradise at 5:47 PM 0 comments
Labels: Newt Gingrich, politics, Republicans
This is an op-ed from September 28, but I think the point of it is very valid. Frederick W. Kagan correctly points out that most politicians in Washington ignored perhaps the most important point made by General David Petraeus; the defeat of al Qaeda in Iraq requires a combination of conventional forces, special forces and local forces. As Mr. Kagan says
"One thing is clear from the Iraqi experience. It is not enough to persuade a Muslim population to reject al Qaeda's ideology and practice. Someone must also be willing and able to protect that population against the terrorists they had been harboring, something that special forces and long-range missiles alone can't do."
Posted by Paradise at 3:37 PM 0 comments
Labels: General Petraeus, Iraq
Captain Ed reports that the Republican fundraising numbers reveal a three-way photo finish at the top. Rudy Giuliani raised $11 million, Mitt Romney raised over $18 million, but 8.5 million was a personal loan from himself, and Fred Thompson raised $9.3 million for the quarter.
Posted by Paradise at 3:22 PM 0 comments
Labels: politics, Republicans
Ed Morrissey of Captains Quarters has an article on the retirement of New Mexico's Republican Senator Pete Domenici and what it will mean for the Republicans in the Senate and the Republican party in New Mexico.
Posted by Paradise at 3:16 PM 0 comments
Labels: politics, Republicans
As I said earlier, I believe Jimmy Carter to be one of the worst Presidents our country has ever had. Earlier today, I gave him credit for standing up to the dictators in the Sudan. Well, I spoke too soon. Now he claims that there is no genocide in Darfur. Mr. Carter, you need to leave the Sudan. You are not helping the people of Darfur with those kind of comments.
Posted by Paradise at 8:28 PM 0 comments
Labels: Africa, Darfur, Jimmy Carter
Senator Fred Thompson reported $12.7 million in campaign contributions in a very short period of time. So much for the argument that he would have trouble raising money. Senator Thompson's campaign is now in high gear.
Posted by Paradise at 8:20 PM 0 comments
Labels: Fred Thompson
This week, Africom becomes officially operational under the command of General William Ward. It should be interesting to see what our military intends to do in Africa.
Posted by Paradise at 4:08 PM 0 comments
the new top military adviser to US President George W. Bush has said he wants to prepare the military for challenges beyond Iraq and Afghanistan.
Posted by Paradise at 4:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Iraq
an unidentified man was arrested Tuesday near Baghdad and charged with smuggling $100 million into Iraq during the past few months to finance terrorist operations.
Posted by Paradise at 3:50 PM 0 comments
Labels: Iraq
BBC News has an interesting article about the President's veto of the child health bill. The BBC points out that the bill proposed higher tobacco taxes to provide an extra $35 billion. The Democratic controlled Congress wanted to expand the program by $35 billion, while the President proposed a $5 billion dollar increase. The President has said from the beginning that he is willing to negotiate with the Democrats, but they seem to be more intent on making it a political issue.
Posted by Paradise at 3:22 PM 0 comments
Labels: Bush, Democrats, politics, Republicans, SCHIP
You have to nominate them Mr. President. Why is the President's staff so slow in getting these nominations up to the Hill. As Senator Thune says, it is tough to argue obstructionism when the nominees haven't even been sent to the hill. There are 48 vacancies on the federal district and appellate courts, and the Administration has yet to nominate judges for 24 of those seats.
Posted by Paradise at 3:16 PM 0 comments
Labels: law, politics, Republicans
I view Jimmy Carter as the worst American President during my lifetime, and perhaps the worst of all time. However, I give him credit for standing up to the Sudanese officials who refused to let him visit the refugee camp in Darfur. Good for him!!
Posted by Paradise at 3:11 PM 0 comments
Rudy Giuliani raised $11 million, ahead of Mitt Romney who raised $10 million. Romney also contributed $8.5 million to his own campaign. McCain raised $6 million and Fred Thompson an estimated $8 million.
Posted by Paradise at 3:04 PM 0 comments
Labels: politics, Republicans
The Court ruled that Senator Craig's plea was accurate, voluntary and intelligent, and because the conviction is supported by the evidence...the Defendant's motion to withdraw his guilty plea is denied.
Posted by Paradise at 2:58 PM 0 comments
Labels: law, politics, Republicans
hillary Clinton, according to ABC News has advanced to her most powerful advantage on the Democratic nomination campaign. On the Republican side Rudy Giuliani leads his competitors on the issues as well, but by smaller margins than Clinton.
Posted by Paradise at 10:02 PM 0 comments
Labels: Democrats, politics, Republicans
Tony Blankley has an op-ed in Real Clear Politics in which he talks about the need for the GOP to have a survival instinct. Mr. Blankley makes one point "Every faction within the GOP coalition should agree immediately to make no further demands of their party. The Conservatives of 2007 and 2008 should simply let their strongest candidate campaign in a way most likely to gain victory."
Posted by Paradise at 9:52 PM 0 comments
Labels: politics, Republicans
This is a good article to read to get a perspective on Hillary vs. Barack.
Posted by Paradise at 9:11 PM 0 comments
The Senate passed the Defense Authorization bill with an amendment that would extend hate crimes legislation to cover sexual orientation and gender identity. Many observers now question that the hate crimes legislation actually criminalizes points of view rather than conduct. The comments of Representatives when asked this question are interesting.
Posted by Paradise at 7:04 PM 0 comments
President Bush vetoed a bill that would have dramatically expanded children's health insurance. It was the fourth veto of Bush's presidency. The Senate approved the bill with enough votes to override the veto, but the margin in the House fell short of what is needed. President Bush said the country needs to put the poor kids first, also indicating that he does not want the federal government running the health care system.
Posted by Paradise at 6:31 PM 0 comments
Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico intends to retire at the end of his term next year. Domenici becomes the fifth Republican Senator to announce his retirement. Domenici will be remembered by me as the mentor to former Senator Bill Frist.
Posted by Paradise at 6:25 PM 0 comments
Labels: politics, Republicans
WOW!! I thought the Civil War ended this kind of talk. Two advocacy groups from opposite political traditions - New England and the South are sitting down to talk in Chattanooga. The Middlebury Institute wants liberal states like Vermont to be able to secede peacefully, because they are tired of foreign wars and what they consider right-wing courts. The League of the South likes the idea. They are a conservative group that refuses to give up on Southern independence.
Posted by Paradise at 6:18 PM 0 comments
Terrific article about Senator Thompson by Peter Mulhern. Mr. Mulhern talks about the other Republican candidates and points out that they come up short. He also points out the differences between Senator Thompson and the other candidates. On every important point, Thompson comes up ahead of the other potential nominees.
Posted by Paradise at 9:37 PM 0 comments
Labels: Fred Thompson, politics, Republicans
A Cleveland mother who was arrested after the bathtub drownings of her two young daughters was a domestic violence victim who had no documented history of neglecting her children.
Posted by Paradise at 9:26 PM 0 comments
Labels: law
Sudan has criticized the United States and the European Union for failing to impose sanctions on Darfur rebel groups believed to be behind the deadliest attack on African Union troops in the region.
Posted by Paradise at 9:20 PM 0 comments
Labels: Darfur
Richard Nadler has an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal in which he points out that the GOP paid for get tough border politics. Specifically he points out how much of the Hispanic vote the GOP lost in 2006, and what they can expect to lose in 2008.
Posted by Paradise at 9:15 PM 0 comments
Labels: politics, Republicans
Thaddeus McCotter wrote a good article for Townhall.com. He argues that the SCHIP bill must be vetoed. As he points out this is a politically motivated bill advancing a government run health care system by arbitrarily spending $35 billion over the next five years. What I found interesting was his comparisons of the contrasts between the two parties guiding principles:
1. Republicans believe Americans are sovereign citizens. Democrats believe Americans are hapless victims.
2. Republicans believe the federal government must serve sovereign Americans. Democrats believe Americans must serve a sovereign federal government.
3. Republicans believe in reducing people's taxes. Democrats believe in raising people's taxes.
4. Republicans believe social programs exist to make poor people self-reliant. Democrats believe social programs exist to make all people state dependents.
5. Republicans want poor people to escape the welfare state. Democrats want all people inside the welfare state.
6. Republicans believe America needs a fiscally sound social safety net that temporarily helps poor people and respects taxpayers. Democrats believe America needs a big government trampoline that permanently traps poor people and impoverishes taxpayers.
7. Republicans believe a social program's success is measured by how many people have escaped from it. Democrats believe a social program's success is measured by how many people have been added to it.
8. Republicans believe government should not use taxpayers' money to unfairly compete against taxpaying businesses. Democrats believe government should use taxpayers' money to unfairly compete against taxpaying businesses.
9. Republicans believe in free enterprise and our citizenry. Democrats believe in the welfare state and its bureaucracy.
Posted by Paradise at 8:47 PM 0 comments
Labels: SCHIP
Here come the tax and spend Democrats. Top House Democrats are proposing a war surtax. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey says the surtax would be a percentage of each person's tax bill. We will see how far this goes.
Posted by Paradise at 6:45 PM 0 comments
70,000 donors, $200,000 a day raised. Pretty good stats for Team Thompson.
Posted by Paradise at 12:54 PM 0 comments
A jury ruled Tuesday that New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas sexually harassed a top team executive. The jury also ruled that Thomas does not have to pay punitive damages to the woman.
Posted by Paradise at 11:46 AM 0 comments
Labels: basketball, sports
The Politico reports that after months of smooth sailing with the mainstream media, Hillary Clinton has run into a few rough spots. According to the Politico, this is just an example of the skepticism between the Clintons and the elite media. I think it is more of a case of the Clintons tripping themselves up again.
Posted by Paradise at 11:20 AM 0 comments
On Monday suspended running back Ricky Williams applied for NFL reinstatement. According to league programs, when a player applies for reinstatement the doctors have up to 45 days to submit their report and recommendation to the commissioner.
Posted by Paradise at 11:45 PM 0 comments
I still can't quite figure out what right Joe Biden has to divide up a sovereign nation. I must be missing something.
Posted by Paradise at 11:42 PM 0 comments
The Politico is reporting that the Republican race is no clearer after funding reports. I beg to differ with them. The pundits have been saying from the beginning that this was an important milestone for Senator Fred Thompson. Well, Senator Thompson's campaign is reporting that he raised 8 million dollars between July 1 and September 30. That is a pretty impressive figure, and catapults Senator Thompson to the forefront of the race, in my opinion
Posted by Paradise at 11:36 PM 0 comments
Labels: Fred Thompson, Republicans
Fox News has just reported that Senator Fred Thompson's campaign has raised 8 million dollars in the third quarter. Pretty impressive numbers for a guy who just entered the race a month ago. Maybe now Fox news will give the Senator the respect that he deserves.
Posted by Paradise at 9:24 AM 0 comments
Labels: Fred Thompson, Republicans
Fred Barnes has an article in the Weekly Standard in which he debunks the analogy used by many Presidential candidates, including Mitt Romney, comparing mandated health insurance to automobile insurance. As Barnes explains it, the health insurance proposals being talked about would all require everyone to have health insurance. The difference with car insurance, is that only those who own and operate vehicles are required to have it, and many of them drive without it, anyway.
Posted by Paradise at 9:18 AM 0 comments
Labels: healthcare, SCHIP
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi confirmed on Friday that President Bush reiterated to her that he intended to veto the SCHIP biill. Dana Perino, the President's press secretary, said that the President will veto the present bill, and that he then expects to be sent a reasonable bill, that a compromise can be reached on.
Posted by Paradise at 9:12 AM 0 comments
Labels: SCHIP
The LA Times had an interesting article in Sunday's edition called "Candidates go Code Blue on Healthcare". The article talks about the plans offered by the Democrats and the Republicans. When it comes to the plans of Obama, Hillary and Edwards, the article points out that they differ in details and ambition, but diagnose the problem the same way. Not enough people have health insurance. The one big change each plan would make is that insurers would not be able to refuse coverage or charge higher rates based on preexisting conditions.
The Republican plans take a very different approach. Their plans are all based on the assumption that healthcare costs are skyrocketing because the American people use their doctors too much. Their idea, make us pay for care directly rather than for premiums. How do they propose to do that? Well, Rudy Giuliani for example wants to provide a fixed tax exemption for health insurance of $7,500 for individuals and $15,000 for families. Romney's plan would do away with state regulation of insureres. It will be interesting to see what we end up with, if anything at all.
Posted by Paradise at 8:49 AM 0 comments
Labels: Democrats, healthcare, Republicans
Here is the report card for the Pittsburgh Steelers for week 4 - their 21 to 14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. As you will see, there was a considerable drop off in play and coaching at all levels.
Posted by Paradise at 8:42 AM 0 comments
There is no joy in Steelerville tonight. The black and gold lost their first game, to the Arizona Cardinals.!!!!
Posted by Paradise at 10:36 PM 0 comments
Rudy Giuliani makes a pretty good argument that he is the Republican candidate that can beat Hillary Clinton. The only problem is he needs to get the GOP nomination first. If the Christian right has their way that may prove very difficult to do.
Posted by Paradise at 10:18 PM 0 comments
Labels: politics, Republicans
So the Democrats want to increase dramatically funding for Children's Health Coverage. They insist that it will be paid for. How? By increasing the tax on cigarettes. Guess who the vast majority of smokers in this country are? You got it - people with relatively little money and education.
The Congress wants to increase the federal cigarette tax by 156 percent, taking it to $1.00 per pack from the current 39 cents. Now, follow this convoluted logic. Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader says we are going to pay for this. In the long run, maybe it will stop people from smoking. Well, Harry, genius that you are, if people quit smoking, they won't be paying that 156% increase in the cigarette tax. So how will you pay for SCHIP?
Posted by Paradise at 8:10 PM 0 comments