and They Figure it Out
The media may be slow, but sometimes I guess they get it... The Jefferson case can be bad for democrats and at the very least destroy their attempts to paint all republicans as corrupt -- that is if the republican leadership can get their act together and...
Jefferson case may hurt his party
Jefferson case may hurt his party
A host of Louisiana politicians - former governor Edwin Edwards, most famously - have been caught in local kickback schemes. This case alleges overseas deals and bribery of foreign officials, however. Not only could it be bad for Louisiana, but also for Democrats nationally, who are trying to win mid-term elections by painting Republicans as corrupt. This week, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi asked Jefferson to give up his seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee. He refused.Technorati Tags: politics, corruption, democratic corruption
NOT Above the Law
They may think they are above the law, but they are not! These individuals appear to be standing up to these politicians and the political pressures -- I hope the trend continues!
Nation & World: Justice reportedly defiant over raid
Nation & World: Justice reportedly defiant over raid
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department signaled to the White House this week that the nation's top three law-enforcement officials would resign or face firing rather than return documents seized from a Democratic congressman's office in a bribery investigation, administration sources familiar with the discussions said.Technorati Tags: political corruption, politics
What -- No Change?
Though gas prices are higher and despite the gloom and doom from the media and predictions of a necessity to change our habits -- evidence that is a crock! Will these guys ever get a clue and actually learn what Americans think instead trying to sway American's opinions?
Gas costs don't slow Memorial Day travel
Gas costs don't slow Memorial Day travel
A gallon of regular gas may cost 86 cents more this year than last year, but tourism officials expect just as much traffic -- in some instances, more -- as last year as drivers flock to area beaches to kick off the unofficial start of summer.Technorati Tags: gas prices
Out of Touch - Part 2
More evidence the 'big news' from USA Today was 'much to do about nothing' -- hmm, the MSM really has the pulse of America don't they - NOT!
Hayden confirmed as CIA director
Technorati Tags: Hayden, media bias, spying
Hayden confirmed as CIA director
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Friday confirmed Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden as CIA director in a vote that gave a broad bipartisan endorsement to the architect of President George W. Bush's domestic spying program.
Technorati Tags: Hayden, media bias, spying
Out of Touch - Part 1
Americans support drilling 100 miles from shore drilling--but, but, but...I thought Americans were supportive of environmentalist.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Floridians support lifting a ban on oil drilling 100 miles or more from the state's Gulf Coast beaches by a 51 to 42 percent majority, and many say rising gasoline prices have influenced their approval, a poll released Thursday showed.Technorati Tags: oil, offshore drilling
Such support stunned environmentalists...
Guess They Think They Are...
...above the law! Shame on all them -- any congressman, Republican, Democrat, or Independent who breaks the law should be brought to justice. Since we know politicians will protect their own -- look at this situation -- who else will hold them accountable. Their (politicians) desire to be 'above the law' is equivalent to blinders-blinding Republicans of an opportunity to once and for all squash this "culture of corruption" BULL! Well, maybe not BULL -- the bi-partisan circling of the wagons on this issue may indicate a "culture of corruption"; however, not a Republican thing or Democratic thing, but a HOUSE thing!
House leaders demand FBI return papers
House leaders demand FBI return papers
"The Justice Department must immediately return the papers it unconstitutionally seized," Dennis Hastert, the speaker of the House, and Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader, said in a statement. They also said that the congressman, William Jefferson, a Democrat from Louisiana, should cooperate with the investigation.There was a warrant not to mention evidence ($90,000.00 worth) -- wasn't a warrant all that was required in their (poloticians) last argument?
The search warrant, signed by Judge Thomas Hogan of U.S. District Court, was based on an affidavit that agents had found $90,000 in cash in a freezer at Jefferson's home. White House officials said they did not learn of the search until after it had been carried out.Technorati Tags: political corruption, politics
Whoops!
This is not good -- why would someone take this type of information home?
Social Security Numbers for Millions of Veterans Stolen From V.A. Official's Home
Social Security Numbers for Millions of Veterans Stolen From V.A. Official's Home
WASHINGTON — Personal data, including Social Security numbers of 26.5 million U.S. veterans, was stolen from a Veterans Affairs employee this month after he took the information home without authorization, the department said Monday.Technorati Tags: veterans
Got to Love Education
Who says academia is 'fair and balanced' -- not I!
Study of Speakers at 32 Elite Colleges and Universities
Study of Speakers at 32 Elite Colleges and Universities
(Hat tip: Hot Air)Twenty-two of the thirty-two schools surveyed did not have a single Republican or conservative commencement speaker in the entire ten years surveyed. The same schools invited 173 liberals and Democrats to address their graduating classes in the same ten-year period. Six of the remaining schools invited only one Republican or conservative each, as compared to 38 liberals or Democrats. The three schools (Haverford, Swarthmore and UCLA) which host multiple speakers every year did not feature a single Republican or conservative speaker as balanced against 54 liberals and Democrats. Overall, the ratio of commencement speakers on the left to commencement speakers on the right is 226 to 15, a little over 15-1. 141 commencement speakers were not associated with a partisan viewpoint.
Clarification -
In my last post I wondered why "the administration doesn't challenge these 'liars' more often" -- but just Monday I asked Why. I still don't know why the President felt it necessary to defend a program that the majority of Americans support. My curiosity of why stories like this go unchallenged doesn't involve 'defending yourself', it involves simply calling a 'duck' a 'duck' or a 'lie' a 'lie'!
Bunch of Hubbub for Nothing
More evidence that the media could care less about truth and accuracy in their quest to destroy this administration! Fortunately, their attacks appear to involve someone or something that is willing to step up and challenge them... I still wonder why the administration doesn't challenge these 'liars' more often -- yes 'liars', to use your position to promote hearsay and innuendo as fact in an effort to sway others (the population) to your agenda is LYING! Challenging them (the MSM) and demonstrating their lies and 'half-truths' is the ONLY way to stop the BULL!
Verizon: We Didn't Give Customers' Call Records to NSA Either
Verizon: We Didn't Give Customers' Call Records to NSA Either
NEW YORK — Verizon Communications Inc. denied Tuesday that it had received a request for customer phone records from the National Security Agency, bringing into question key points of a USA Today story.Now pay close attention to this!
"Contrary to the media reports, Verizon was not asked by NSA to provide, nor did Verizon provide, customer phone records," the New York-based phone company said in an e-mailed statement. The statement came a day after BellSouth Corp. also said the NSA had never requested customer call data, nor had the company provided any.
Verizon also said USA Today erred in not drawing a distinction between long-distance and local telephone calls.Let's look at USA Today's justification for their deceit -- guess 'no comment' only works for Democrats!
"Phone companies do not even make records of local calls in most cases because the vast majority of customers are not billed per call for local calls," Verizon's statement said.
USA Today said in a follow-up story Tuesday that BellSouth did not challenge the initial report when given details about it before publication. But BellSouth spokesman Jeff Battcher said he never agreed to the reporter's allegations when presented with them.Technorati Tags: media bias, domestic spying, phone calls
You Want Hear this in The MSM
Cal Thomas shares some information that I predict will be ignored by the MSM -- what say you?
Morale is slipping in Iraq. Fighters are growing doubtful of success. A comprehensive strategy for winning the conflict is nonexistent. Is this an assessment of the U.S. military?Technorati Tags: Iraq, good news, war on terror
No, it is an assessment about the insurgents who oppose the elected Iraqi government...
Google Release Notebook
Have you ever found something interesting, while surfing, but didn't have time to investigatate it... Well now you can 'note it' and come back later -- from anywhere -- and investigate. Even better you can take anything with -- for example directions, phone numbers, etc.
Official Google Blog: Note this
Official Google Blog: Note this
Excellent!
Bryan over at Hot Air has a good post. The FACT that "jobs Americans aren't doing" is 'offensive' is something I pointed out a couple of weeks ago -- of course he does it with greater skill then I.
Technorati Tags: immigration, illegal immigration, Presidential address
...line in his speech tonight about “jobs Americans aren’t doing.” It’s probably the worst single line in widespread political use today. Its one benefit may be that it’s ecumenical in its offensiveness–everyone outside the political class can find some reason to find it grating. To a legal immigrant, that line is offensive because it makes it sound as though Americans are somehow innately superior and should’t have to work. It comes across as condescending and racist at the same time. To American citizens, the line is offensive because it gives the impression that Americans are lazy and no longer capable of hard work. Do the politicians from Bush on down realize that that one single line slaps everyone outside the Beltway in the face? Do they care?My wife, also lovely and a legal immigrant finds the phrase offensive too -- she too voted and is a fan of President Bush; however, believes that her country of origin or region of origin simply doesn't have the 'voter block' to get the politicians to care about what they think. By the way, they (my wife and her acquaintances) feel the path required of them to become 'legal citizens' and 'legal immagrants' is fine and "worth the prize"!
Technorati Tags: immigration, illegal immigration, Presidential address
Why?
Why does the President waste time defending something only critics have issues with -- the majority of Americans approve?
Bush defends domestic spying
Phone-Records Surveillance Is Broadly Acceptable to Public
Bush defends domestic spying
WASHINGTON - President Bush defended the scope of the government’s domestic surveillance programs that have riled privacy advocates and threatened to impede the Senate confirmation of Bush’s new pick to lead the CIA.
Phone-Records Surveillance Is Broadly Acceptable to Public
May 12, 2006 — Americans by nearly a 2-1 ratio call the surveillance of telephone records an acceptable way for the federal government to investigate possible terrorist threats, expressing broad unconcern even if their own calling patterns are scrutinized.Technorati Tags: phone calls, spying, domestic spying
Price Control?
The Washington Times has a good article, How gas price controls sparked '70s shortages, for those that remember the times...
...although the best response would have been to let prices rise, giving oil companies an incentive to produce more and consumers an incentive to conserve, "this basic level of economics is seldom understood by the public, which often demands 'political' solutions that turn out to make matters worse.Technorati Tags: oil, fuel prices, crude
Not Sure I Agree!
I am not sure I agree with this -- the National Guard has somethings to take care oversees and the money spent on these 'temporary' deployments might be better spent on a permanent fix like hiring more boarder patrol personnel and surveillance equipment. Doesn't using the National Guard indicate this is temporary and imply an action to 'quiten' the critics? Not to mention 'Posse Comitatus'...
Bush to Call On National Guard for Border Control
Bush to Call On National Guard for Border Control
WASHINGTON — President Bush will use a prime time speech Monday night to call for thousands of National Guard troops to be deployed along the Mexican border to help back up the U.S. Border Patrol.Technorati Tags: immigration, National Guard, Borders
About the Regurgitated Story
If you missed it, though doubtful, USA Today regurgitated an old story about "domestic" phone calls. Andrew C. McCarthy picks the intent of the story apart... This regurgitation is getting old, don't you think?
Big Brother is watching you. Collecting your names and addresses. Mapping out your telephone numbers and e-mail address. Making note of your interests. Paying close attention to how you spend your money.
[...]
After all, if you wade through all the layers of reporter Leslie Cauley’s conscious misdirection—including the silly observations about government failing to seek judicial warrants before obtaining non-private information for which government has never been required to get warrants—you will learn that scrupulous measures were actually taken by the National Security Agency and cooperating telephone companies to withhold customer names, street addresses and other personal identifiers from the government.
No, I’m not talking about the Big Brother at the NSA. Or the big Big Brother in the Oval Office.
I’m talking about the 535 Big Brothers (and Sisters) in Congress.
All is Not Well in DNC Land
Looks like there is a family feud over at the DNC -- confusion over direction, who would have thought it?
The blowup highlights a long-standing tension that has pitted Democratic congressional leaders, who are focused on their best opportunities for electoral gains this fall, against Dean and many state party chairmen, who believe that the party needs to be rebuilt from the ground up -- even in states that have traditionally been Republican strongholds.Technorati Tags: Dean, DNC
History - We Should Remember
Ben Stein has a good piece "What You need to Know"!
Second, almost no one today knows anything about history. No one has context. But life without historical context is shallow and unsatisfactory. If you don't know how mankind suffered in World War II, if you don't know how your fellow Jews or Slavs suffered in the Holocaust, if you do not know what Communism did to fifty million good people, you cannot possibly know how blessed your life in the United States of America is in 2006. If you do not know how much your grandparents had to work to get you where you are, you cannot know how precious that car your parents gave you is, or how lucky it is that you can study without having to work at a part-time job. If you do not know how your fellow African Americans were treated in rural 1920s Mississippi, you cannot know how lucky you are to live in an America that has the opportunities this nation now affords men and women of every race.
Knowledge of history is context and context is everything.