Live From New Fallujah - SOTU 2006!

Wow, Laura looks beautiful in her pink suit - classy as usual. And can I please say how much I adore Dick Cheney? He's hunching into his seat looking officious and serious - in the Dick Cheney-esque way of his.

(we're watching Fox News, just FYI.)

Here comes Alito and the Supreme Court justices - including the newly sworn-in Samuel Alito! What a moment for him and his wife. Wow.

Cindy Sheehan was apparently removed in HANDCUFFS from the gallery - and DETAINED, but not yet arrested. She had some kind of banner that she planned to unfurl? It's unconfirmed. (She was the guest of congresswoman Lynn Woolsey?) I don't understand why she felt the need for a banner --weren't the pots and pans enough??? And her flashlights, Sage, don't forget the flashlights...

Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States!!

Any thoughts on the blue tie???
It's more...purple. Like a combo of Red/Blue? Trying to extend that "olive branch" thingie?
Purple??? Are you kidding me? He's not out for a part in Brokeback Mountain. It's BLUE.

GAH! John and Teresa. My eyes!!

Tribute to Coretta Scott King. Nice.

Good points addressing the divisive political climate... wish his sentiment was felt on both sides of the aisle...
"Seeking the end of tyranny in our world..." -- How can anyone argue with the justness of that goal?
(Shut up, McCain..)

Women voting in Afghanistan. Iraqis voting. Freedom. Not "misguided idealism".

Liking Bush's demeanor and confidence so far... comes from a man speaking from true conviction.
"The United States will never surrender from the world"

He's doing a great job here. Seriously. His speaking style seems a lot different this time around. (of course the dems aren't clapping - or if they are they sort of look like they're swatting a stray fly or something.)

When Bush says "We ARE winning", the libs don't stand, but of course the Republicans do...as do the military men.

Speaking of which, the troops will come home based on what the military commanders say, not politicians.

"Hindsight is not wisdom and second guessing is not a strategy" -- You tell 'em, Dubya!!!

I think Kerry is napping. Or maybe he's praying? Head down, eyes closed...
Bush looks very "Presidential". Well, he is the President - but he seems more forceful and strong and confident than he has in past speeches.

Did you see the prideful smile in Sgt. Clay's father's eyes??? A far cry from Cindy Sheehan, eh?
(good point, Sage)

Democracies in the Middle East will not look like our own. But it IS their right as members of humanity.

Iranian government must not gain nuclear weapons. Are you LISTENING, Iran? Ya'll are next.

"America respects you and your country. And will be allies someday with a free and democratic Iran." (speaking to the people of Iran)

I like how he' pointed out the reality that though Democracies are good, we can't expect them to all have the same value system as we do. The new Democracies will be founded in each country's traditional values. (Kind of like here in America - Contrary to Liberal belief, we can be a good Democracy and still hold true to traditional American values...)

Reauthorize the Patriot Act!!

Terror Surveillance program. It's essential. If there are people in our country talking to Al Qaida we want to know about it - and will not wait until we are attacked again.

Lovely, spine-crawling shot of a smug, smirking, really really repulsive Hillary Clinton. Thanks, Fox News. Now I need to call my therapist.

Yes! We need to make those tax cutts permanent!!!! (Remember - 2/3 of our economy is consumer spending...)
I like that he's planning cutting unnecessary spending projects. We'll see how that goes. Sheets might have issues with the national dandilion planting institute he had planned for West Virginia...

Lookie there. The Democrats find something to clap about. Social Security reform not pasing. Nice. ("this year 2 of my dad's favorite people turn 60. Me and Bill Clinton". har.)

Shot of John McCain and his chins looking really...McCainey.

Yes! PLEASE --buy American!!! Especially lots of great cars, trucks and SUVs from New Fallujah!!! (We're partial to Jeep and Chevy, ourselves...)

Immigration reform...Guest worker program...blah, blah, blah.

"Affordable Health Care" doesn't mean Socialism...not sure if Hillary realizes that. But the Dems decide to clap for that too.

Glad he brought up the lawsuit issues --I know people in med school and it's no joke that students are not becoming ob/gyns b/c the health care costs are so great they cannot afford it any longer. (Do you know people can sue the delivering doctor for things that happen to children until they're 18??? It's ridiculous!)

Gee, um, I thought Bush and Cheney were supposed to be "in bed" with the big oil companies. Do you really think he'd be talking about moving beyond an oil based economy if that were the case? (In typical Bush fashion, he actually means to achieve his goals, just not talking about them.. and has set some pretty aggresive timetables here...)

American Competitiveness Initiative??? But liberals don't want us to succeed. Remember, we're the bad, evil capitalists ruining the environment, blah, blah, blah...

Bush says there are fewer abortions now than in the past three decades. Indicates that the new generation is seeing that "a life of personal responsibility is a life of fulfillment".

America is NOT in decline. We have proven the pessimists wrong - and we will do it again. Period. Thank you, Dubya.

(yahoo - shout out to Alito!)

Sit DOWN, Levin
The prez. asks politicians in D.C. to always remember that they are supposed to be worthy of holding public office... (unless, of course, you're a Kennedy, and then anything goes)
Awww, Laura's so cute

EWWWWW -- Lurch! (back from the slopes, we see)

We are confident of the victories to come. May God bless America.


...Sage went to get a beer. Dems on next. I've got my tinfoil ready.

So now all of the commentators and critics are coming out... My overall impression was that it was one of Dubya's better speeches. He wasn't here today to go into hours of detail on each specific policy issue. He was giving a broad, overall take on the State of the Union and where we need to move forward. The overall tone of the speech exuded optomism --Americans achieving our dreams, helping other countries achieve their right to live freely, in democracies --in true W. fashion, very optomistic and positive.

Liberals: Repeat after me: "America good. Terrorists, dictators and communists bad." Got it?

Richmond, VA. Do I have to watch Tim Cain? Do I have to? *whine* sigh.

He's going to invoke Coretta Scott King and use her for a political point? Classy. Not.
Okay, now he's talking about how Katrina is Bush's fault? Shut it. Please. I can't stand it.

A democrat talking about common sense. That's rich.

Sage is eating pizza. How's that pizza, Sage? Can I walk away, now? no? Sigh.

Here we go. "Reckless spending". He seems to think that Democrats were focused on results and were fiscally more responsible. Whatever.

"No Child Left Behind" is wreaking havoc on schools. Mmm-kay, then.

This guy has a wonky eyebrow. And he seems a bit...French. But that's probably just me. Ooh, and look, Sage. He's wearing a RED tie. Dubya wore a BLUE tie. Coincidence?

He hasn't forgotton about 9/11. Good to know. They have a commitment to win the WOT. Since when? I'm confused. Wish I could have a beer.

Ooh! Here it is. Bush lied us into war. I knew that was coming.

Bush bad because he wanted to cut troops? I thought that was a good thing. Now he's yammering about body armor - the same body armor addressed by the Pentagon recently in response to Hillary's screeching.

Why do I have this feeling that we're going to see the guy with the freaky eyebrows running in '08?

I really hope he says a few more things about Virginia, though.

Oh, sorry, I drifted off for a bit there. Sounds more of the same from the Dem response. "We have a better way." Their policy doesn't work, we have a better way. Wah!. (Whenever they have details about this mysterious "better way" I'd be glad to hear about it.)

Wait, is he still talking???

Awww, he's wearing an American flag and said "God" bless America. He's gonna get smacked for that, I'm sure.

Brit Hume says Cain's theme was "a better way". More like "we have a better way but we don't know what it is until a Republican says something we can say the opposite of".

I want to see the 4 protestors outside banging on their pots and pans, darn it. Where are the protestors?? Smokin' a doobie and muchin' on vegan burgers -- I'm not sure they realize it's over yet...

Okeedokee then. Our first "live blog" event. That was fun. I think we'll do this again. Hope the pink/yellow thing wasn't too distracting. Hopefully we'll have pictures posted tomorrow!


(more liveblogging and reactions at Right Wing News)

State of the Union address tonight

The Sage and I will be "live-blogging" the SOTU tonight - and I'm sure the Sage will ask me to subject myself to the dem's "response", too. Being pregnant and all, I can't drink myself into a nice, pleasant haze through which to watch it, either. Maybe I'll have her sit through it instead.

Via Drudge is a rather suprisingly pessimistic, scowl-y pre-emptive article about expectations for the speech tonight:

President Bush will deliver his fifth State of the Union address Tuesday after arguably the worst year of his presidency, looking to reinvigorate confidence in his leadership and the U.S. role in the world.

"Arguably the worst"? Based on...what. The MSM's opinion? Their slanted reporting? He's doing a great job, and has been doing a great job. Had a Democrat president been doing and accomplishing what he's done and accomplished, they'd be erecting monuments in his honor. But, he's a Republican. So...let's make up stuff about "domestic" wiretapping and "lying" and cry about how "bad" the economy is.

He will argue that his program to secretly eavesdrop on communications between people in the United States and suspected terrorists overseas is not only legal, but necessary, despite the questions raised by legal experts. He'll urge Congress to renew the controversial portions of the anti-terrorism USA Patriot Act, set to expire Friday and blocked by lawmakers insisting on new privacy safeguards.

They start out stating the truth - "eavesdrop on communications between people in the United States and suspected terrorists overseas" but then add "despite questions raised by legal experts". These so-called "experts" are parroting the same stupid lie that it's "domestic" wiretapping.
Anyway, I won't go through and fisk the whole thing. It's a busy Tuesday here!

SOTU, circa 2005.

See also Michelle Malkin's round-up.

More tonight!

UPDATE: Peakah of Peakah's Provocations has another good reason to watch tonight:

You never know whether or not Kennedy's lid is going to finally blow as he gyrates uncontrollably in his seat while the DT's creep in, whether the staples holding Pelosi's face on suddenly give way revealing her true identity, or if the Prez is going to turn into a stammering mess as he attempts to lay out his strat-eeeeg-ery.

I sure wish there was a cam on Algore's cell in the insane asylum so we can watch him turn every possible shade of purple.

Now *that's* funny.

Poor, poor Teddy.

Poor Ted. He brought out his A game (or what he considered his A game - the rest of the country wondered what in the heck he was even talking about - or, as Sage puts it, his "AA" game...) and Alito still got confirmed.

Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. became the nation's 110th Supreme Court justice on Tuesday, confirmed with the most partisan victory in modern history after a fierce battle over the future direction of the high court.

The Senate voted 58-42 to confirm Alito _ a former federal appellate judge, U.S. attorney, and conservative lawyer for the Reagan administration from New Jersey _ as the replacement for retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who has been a moderate swing vote on the court.

Yeah.
One more for the good guys.

No way! I DON'T Believe it!

A Liberal who can't manage budgets??? A liberal who's overspent?

Well, apparently Screamin' Dean is even worse than most of the fair Dems in Congress...

Let's get this straight --they can't even manage their own national committee budget, but they expect us to trust them with the country's???

Looks like he'll have to go to Ohio, and Michigan, and California, and Iowa, and South Carolina, etc., etc., etc. to try to boost those coffers back up.

On the plus side, perhaps this means we have fewer lie-ridden, shameless Democratic campaign ads to look forward to this election year...

Yea!
: )

Bush = Butcher

(at least it's more original than what we've heard lately...)

From al-Zawahri, bin Laden's second in command, comes the shaking of a tiny fist in the direction of the Great Satan and its leader, George W. Bush.

Some of this sounds strangely familiar. See if you see the similarities between a-Z's screed and what we've heard just in the past few days from liberals. (excellent fisk by Stop the ACLU here)

"Butcher of Washington, you are not only defeated and a liar, but also a failure. You are a curse on your own nation and you have brought and will bring them only catastrophes and tragedies," he said, referring to Bush.

"In seeking to kill my humble self and four of my brothers, the whole world has discovered the extent of America's lies and failures and the extent of its savagery in fighting Islam and Muslims."

"My second message is to the American people, who are drowning in illusions. I tell you that Bush and his gang are shedding your blood and wasting your money in frustrated adventures," he said, speaking in a forceful and angry voice.

"The lion of Islam, Sheik Osama bin Laden, may God protect him, offered you a decent exit from your dilemma. But your leaders, who are keen to accumulate wealth, insist on throwing you in battles and killing your souls in Iraq and Afghanistan and _ God willing _ on your own land."

Al-Zawahri then vented more fury at the United States and Britain, its main coalition partner in Iraq.

"Your leaders responded to the initiative of sheik Osama, may God protect him, by saying they don't negotiate with terrorists and that they are winning the war on terror. I tell them: You liars, greedy war mongers, who is pulling out from Iraq and Afghanistan? Us or you? Whose soldiers are committing suicide because of despair? Us or you?" he said.

"You, American mother, if the Pentagon calls to tell you that your son is coming home in a coffin, then remember George Bush. And you, British wife, if the Defense Department calls you to say that your husband is returning crippled and burnt, remember Tony Blair."

You be the judge. Does it bother anyone else that he sounds, verbatim almost, like a liberal?

Super Bowl Hype: Occasionally...

Mitch Album actually makes a good point...

BTW, working is especially difficult this week when you know there are tailgate parties going on all around you every night...

Free Speech?

"Free speech" is only a God-given right if you're a liberal, apparently. There are temper-tantrums planned for the President's speech tomorrow night, organized by none other than Cindy "Don't forget about me please" Sheehan. They're going to be trying to "drown out" the President, complete with shining flashlights in his eyes.

Anti-Bush protesters plan to hold a noisy demonstration outside the U.S. Capitol Tuesday night, when President Bush delivers his State of the Union speech to Congress. During a protest demanding that "Bush step down," liberal activists, headlined by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, will try to drown out Bush's address with drums, violins, pot-and-pan banging, car horns, church bells, and raised voices, according to a press release. "People will use flashlights to shine the light on Bush's lies," protest organizers said.

And why, you may ask, are they doing this? What is their reason for being so upset?

"after years of an unjust war raging in Iraq, widespread use of torture, massive spying and total neglect of the people of New Orleans, it is time to force President Bush to step down."

So they're stupid AND childish. Very, very mature. You've never heard of any Republican acting in such a childish manner. And you never will.

UPDATE: From Michelle Malkin (also follow this link via Michelle's site to Gateway Pundit. Good stuff) - Cindy Sheehan is now buddybuddy with Hugo Chavez. This woman makes my patriotic skin crawl right off my body and hide under my bed.

However, I appreciate the honesty. Dems like Marxist dictators? Wait a minute. I thought they were criticizing Dubya for being Hitler-esque. Shouldn't that be considered a compliment coming from them?

Sage and I remember when John Edwards was in New Fallujah during the elections. He was appearing at a popular venue outside the city - and of course, the Sage and I as members of the OCYRs were present and accounted for, holding our Bush/Cheney 04 signs and having a good ol' time across the street from the liberals waiting in line to see Mr. Edwards.

We were laughing and carrying on, chanting "Four More Years" and whatnot. In response the liberals across the street unfurled a red flag with a gold hammer and sickle on it. Yep. We all shook our heads in amazement and thanked them for their honesty.

So I guess I shouldn't be so surpised that Ms. "I'm relevant! No really!" Sheehan is hobnobbing with the communists...

Update: OH GROSS!!

(p.s. speaking of SOTU, Conservababes will be "live blogging" the speech tomorrow...)

Sunday reading

Please go read David Limbaugh's latest column entitled "Enough with the Distortions". Short read, yet very thought-provoking. He puts into concise words what I'm sure all of us have been wondering about in regards to not only the double-standards laughably trotted out by liberals, but the out-and-out lies and fabrications we hear daily.

More recently, they've latched on to the administration's eavesdropping of Al Qaeda without a warrant, which they insist on misportraying as the president's "domestic spying program." They intend to leave the impression that the "power-mad" president has a perverse interest in monitoring private communications between innocent citizens.

Can someone please tell me what motive President Bush would have -- other than laudably trying to prevent further terrorist attacks -- to listen in on private citizen's phone calls? Can they produce just one innocent victim of the NSA surveillance program?

Better yet, can anyone explain why the administration should need to demonstrate probable cause to listen in to a suspected terrorist's communications when time is of the essence? Do we really want to hamstring our intelligence agencies when
going after the enemy in war -- as opposed to pursuing suspected criminals for
law enforcement purposes?

More importantly, does anyone really believe Democratic leaders oppose the blanket practice of monitoring Al Qaeda, and, if so, why? Or are they just grandstanding, as usual, to score political points?

These double standards remind me of what I was thinking about yesterday when I happened to catch "E News Weekend" and saw (liberal) stars enjoying fabulous, expensive, over-the-top lifestyles. Can anyone please explain to me why Republicans are the so-called "party of the rich" when 98% (or more) of celebrities who make $10-20 million a movie are liberals and that's okay? Why is liberal wealth and excess somehow different or...better than a Republican's? Why are they entitled to the debauchery and 15,000 square foot mansions and ultra-expensive, custom automobiles, and a Republican is scoffed at for being "wealthy"? (even though a lot of us are middle-class hard working people...FAR from "wealthy")

And don't tell me that liberals are better philanthropists. That it makes it okay for them to revel in their wealth while making fun of a Republican's success. Republicans are just as generous - if not more. However, the difference is that Republicans believe in "teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime" instead of the liberals' "give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day". So we're seen as hard-hearted because we believe people should help themselves and not depend on government handouts?

Many Republicans that have money that I know or have heard of have worked for it. Hard. They're entrepreneurs, hard-working executives or creative inventors. Hollywood liberals, by contrast, are pampered, spoiled, values-challenged talking heads - paid to say someone else's lines in movies that lately nobody even wants to see. They're given expensive gifts by product manufacturers' marketing gurus in the hopes that they'll wear it or use it so the rest of us in fly-over country will buy it too. Because supposedly we want to be like them, right?

Why? I've become more and more disgusted with it all. It all hit me upside the head yesterday watching that entertainment "News" show. Why is it okay for people like Barbra Streisand and Sean Penn and Tim Robbins to bash our President and complain about Republicans when she's surrounded by wealth and power - everything she makes fun of Republicans for? Why are we the close-minded puritans and that's bad? Is it so much better to be a close-minded, ignorant heathen?

And why do they need us in any way anyway? Why are they trying to market sunglasses and Louis Vuitton purses to us when they don't care what we really DO want? Movies that nobody wants to see (Brokeback Mountain for example) are marketed to death in the hopes that we'll go to see it. Their revenues are going down the tubes but they don't get it. They sit around and give each other awards and congratulate themselves and their brilliance while the rest of the country rolls their collective eyes in exasperation.

I could go on and on about how liberals (especially Hollywood liberals) go out of their way to sneer at our values while foisting theirs on us, but I'm sure you've all heard it before. People say "well, we should do it back to them. Make up a lie and repeat it over and over and over until they forget what the truth is". But frankly, I would expect more of us. We've continually taken the high road, in the spirit of our President, and I think we should continue. We know what the truth is - and I suspect most liberals do, too.

Like Mr. Limbaugh said: Enough with the distortions.

A side note: In the spirit of the caterwauling and history-revising surrounding the McCarthy hearings and the findings that a LOT of the Hollywood types and media types were, in fact, communist sympathizers...what do you think the chances are that the wailing about wiretapping is because they have something to hide?

Is it too much of a stretch? We know that many "reporters" and news types have given aid and comfort to the enemy...I wonder what HUAC would find were it functioning today?

UPDATE: Our ever-alert ExPreacherMan has kindly pointed out an error in the above post. Honest mistake, yet it needs to be corrected. Allow me to quote from EPM himself:

When we were active in politics in the 60's "McCarthy era" McCarthy was our friend, the communists whom he investigated were our enemies all just as you said.

However, you fell into the trap as did so many friends and enemies. The correct acronym was/is HCUA, not HUAC. The Liberals deliberately started calling it that because you could say the word "HUAC" and it sounded grating. They proclaimed the committee was un-American to investigate their friends the Commies. The right one HCUA became the misused acronym HUAC, universally and many times intentionally misused by the left.

Compare the two:
Wrong -- HUAC House Un-American Activites Committee -- (Nothing un-American about the activities of the Committee!)
RIGHT -- HCUA House Committee on Un-American Activities (Everything the Committee investigated was right.)

The right acronym, HCUA, House Committee on Un-American Activities is definitely the good guy, because they were not Un-American but a committee investigating un-American Activities. Old Joe McCarthy, the committee chairman, hunted the lib's un-American activities relentlessly and everywhere, especially in Hollywood.

In those days it was easy to spot liberals by their misuse of the acronym.

Oops. Thank you, sir, for setting us straight. :)

Weekend Miscellany

GOOOOOORE!!!
Gore speaks up to criticize the "ultra conservative" leadership in Canada.

In response, Canada said, (from Barking Moonbat) “This strange man seems lost. I think he’s yours. Please take him home and make sure he stays there.”

Right Winged has more...




Cindy Sheehan still searching for relevance:

Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan has threatened to run for Sen. Dianne Feinstein's (D-Calif.) seat unless Feinstein filibusters Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. Sheehan, who was in Caracas, Venezuela Friday attending the World Social Forum, heard that several Democrats planned to filibuster Alito but that Feinstein, who is up for re-election in November, announced that she will vote against Alito but would not filibuster the nomination."I'm appalled that Diane Feinstein wouldn't recognize how dangerous Alito's nomination is to upholding the values of our constitution and restricting the usurpation of presidential powers, for which I've already paid the ultimate price," Sheehan said in a statement.

Sheehan claimed Alito has "an extensive paper trail documenting the right-wing political agenda that he has actively advanced, not only as a high-ranking official in the Reagan Administration, but also as a judge."

I bet Ms. Feinstein is quaking in her Blahniks...not.
Cindy, shut. Up. Please.

Polls and other useless data: 57% of Americans support use of force in Iran. Buried in the very last two paragraphs of the article is the bias:

Respondents were also divided, largely along party lines, over whether the Iraq war is really part of Washington’s war on terrorism; 51% say it is, 46% say it is not. President Bush has repeatedly cast Iraq as the central front in the war on terrorism. But many of his administration’s prewar claims about Iraq’s ties to Al Qaeda have turned out to have been overstated or based on unreliable intelligence sources.

"Repeatedly cast Iraq...central front...prewar claims...overstated". Apparently those 51% that believe it IS part of the WOT are disillusioned or something, right? No, for the 8,783rd time, Saddam had ties to Al Qaeda. We never said nor has the President ever said he was the mastermind behind 9/11, but he was buddy-buddy with AQ. (Clinton and the Dems said so back in 98. Intelligence now supports it. But apparently the Financial Times isn't privy to this information) Reminder to the MSM: Just because you say it in print over and over STILL doesn't make it uneqivocally true anymore.

Pimpin' politics, yo.
Ann Coulter = Lil' Kim? Yeah, okay. Take Ann Coulter, remove class, most of her clothing, moral values, and about 70 IQ points. Sure, okay. I can see it.

George Bush = Gangsta? (oldie but goodie) So says 50 Cent. Fitty says he sees a lot of "himself" in Dubya. I bet the President got a good laugh when he heard that. (Fifty Cent and Kid Rock do a Cowboy/Gangsta collaboration? I think we're on to something here...)

See if you can read this without rolling your eyes and/or snickering in a wry manner. (two laughs in one! Jimmy Carter brokers peace and is the beatific facilitator of the Palestininan elections - AND he's fawned over and breathlessly praised in this insipid article) At least they edited it, though - the watchful readers at Lucianne caught the change...

Earlier:

The mood was disaster-in-progress when the unflappable Jimmy Carter stepped into the room yesterday to share a few quiet moments with the Toronto Star. /break/ At 81, clear-eyed and calm, America's most beloved ex-president — who yesterday sanctified the Palestinian election as head of the 950-strong international observer mission — took the earthquake in stride.

This is what it reads now:

...At 81, clear eyed and calm, the former U.S. president — who yesterday sanctified the Palestinian election as head of the 950-strong international observer mission — took the earthquake in stride.

*whew* That was close. BillyBob Clinton must have made a "hey, I'M the most beloved, dang it" call just in the nick of time.

Pre-blogging the Superbowl

What would a blog from New Fallujah be without some form of commentary on the upcoming Super Bowl festivities - from the "front lines" as it were. As you all know, the Superbowl and all the associated festivites is coming to Ford Field February 5th.

Some people we know are a bit concerned about terrorism on that day, seeing as how Dearborn is a hop, skip, and a jump from Detroit - and Dearborn has the highest population of Arabs and Muslims this side of Iraq.

Debbie Schlussel found a story announcing that a bomb was found on a Mesaba commuter flight out of Detroit Metro. "It also raises questions regarding whether terrorists are testing the system just prior to the Superbowl, here."

They're probably going to have a rather hard time of it, seeing as how..."the FBI and Detroit Police will open one of the largest security operations in U.S. history, guarding against any threats to Super Bowl XL and aided by more than 50 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Including private security guards, there will be upward of 10,000 security personnel on duty in Detroit for the Super Bowl, rivaling the security for any other one-day event in U.S. history and on a scale with a presidential inauguration, the FBI says, capping 18 months of intensive preparations. It would be a larger force than any previous Super Bowl."

Not to mention - if you think New Yorkers are tough, try instigating something in downtown Detroit. Instigating something in, say, Birmingham or Troy might be met with a "feh" and a few eye rolls. But in the D? You're liable to lose an appendage or worse.

I just hope that nothing embarassing happens. I'm not talking about a tragic full-scale terrorist attack, here, I'm talking about some idiot shooting someone downtown over his sneakers. Or just because. We were embarassed before when the Superbowl XVI was in the Silverdome - complete with an ice rink for parking, terrible weather, no accomodations for reporters and press...it was a trainwreck.
(this is from an Hour Detroit story I read yesterday - and of course they don't have an online edition.)

It's going to be a very exciting weekend for us native Detroiters, though. I'm sure we'll all be on celebrity watch like we were during the finals 2 years ago. (the conservaMom almost got her foot stepped on by none other than Kobe Bryant at a Birmingham movie theater!)

I'm sure we'll have more to say as the date nears.

see also...Where the Playahs Play.

Happy Friday!

Update: Who is this George Sada person, anyway? Why should we care what he has to say? Is his claim of Iraq's WMDs being moved to Syria something we should take seriously? Mark in Mexico says "yes".


Fun stuff from all over the place:

Update II: Bogus poll at the New York Times relating to "warrantless surveillance". See Powerline for the actual question asked and decide for yourself. (see also link at Powerline to Ankle Biting Pundits for thorough fisking and analysis)


First up: Dubya decides there is such a thing as "too much stoopid" during press conferences and doesn't take questions from Helen Thomas. (previously posted video between her and W and her and Scott McClellan) Oh, you mean press conferences are for taking valid questions and be allowed to answer them? Is that what they're for? Not, as Ms. Thomas thinks, to display ignorance and stupidity for all the world to see? Of course, Ms. Thomas replies like a lady by calling the President a coward. (didn't she say she would off herself a while ago?) See RightWinged for more - including links to previous moonbattery by Ms. Thomas.

Speaking of obsolete has-beens, John F Kerry still thinks he's running for office. He also thinks people care what he says. Oh, and he wants to filibuster Alito.

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts was lobbying his Democratic colleagues to filibuster the Alito nomination -- an uphill fight, given that none of the chamber's 55 Republicans have opposed his confirmation and three Democrats are on the record supporting it.

"Judge Alito's confirmation would be an ideological coup on the Supreme Court," Kerry said in a written statement.

"We can't afford to see the court's swing vote, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, replaced with a far-right ideologue like Samuel Alito."

Dick Durbin says he's smart:

"One of the first responsibilities of someone in Congress is to learn how to count," the Illinois Democrat said. "Having made a count, I have come to the conclusion it is highly unlikely that a filibuster would succeed."

Yay! He can count! (It's also unlikely that it will succeed seeing as how 55 Republicans and 3 Democrats are on board. See? I can count too!)

A suprising word or two from Byrd and Johnson (yes, Robert Byrd...that one.)

In a speech on the Senate floor, Byrd, the longest-serving Democrat in the Senate, said he refused "simply to toe the party line when it comes to Supreme Court justices."

"My considered judgment ... leads me to believe [Alito] to be an honorable man, a man who loves his country, loves his Constitution and a man who will give of his best," said Byrd, who faces re-election in November. "Can we really ask for more?"

Johnson said that while he was "troubled" by some of Alito's views, "I cannot accept an argument that his views are so radical that the Senate is justified in denying his confirmation."

He also said he would oppose any filibuster of the nomination.

Hm. Very interesting. So at this point John F Kerry is to the left of Robert "KKK" Byrd? That should give one pause. Also should give one pause to read in the article that there's speculation that Kerry might want to run in 2008? Do we REALLY get a second chance at this guy? (more from Lucianne.com)

Michelle Malkin has more - including video of Mr. Byrd speaking on the Senate floor about how "appalled" the people ("his" people) of West Virginia are/were with the Alito hearings. "File this under even a broken clock is right twice a day", says Ms. Malkin...

On a more serious note: Concise Q&A style fact sheet on Hamas, Israel and the future. (Via Lucianne)

HEY!! Lookie here!! (shameless self-promotion) We were the website of the day over at Right Wing News!

*happy dance*

More later, ladies and gents. If anyone runs across anything interesting to discuss, please feel free to post it in the comments. We'll do a sort of "Open Line Friday" sort of thing.

WMDs in Syria?

Interesting theory from a man who would know.

The man who served as the no. 2 official in Saddam Hussein's air force says Iraq moved weapons of mass destruction into Syria before the war by loading the weapons into civilian aircraft in which the passenger seats were removed.

The Iraqi general, Georges Sada, makes the charges in a new book, "Saddam's Secrets," released this week. He detailed the transfers in an interview yesterday with The New York Sun.

"There are weapons of mass destruction gone out from Iraq to Syria, and they must be found and returned to safe hands," Mr. Sada said. "I am confident they were taken over."

Mr. Sada's comments come just more than a month after Israel's top general during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Moshe Yaalon, told the Sun that Saddam "transferred the chemical agents from Iraq to Syria."

...

The Syrian ruling party and Saddam Hussein had in common the ideology of Baathism, a mixture of Nazism and Marxism.

Syria is one of only eight countries that has not signed the Chemical Weapons Convention, a treaty that obligates nations not to stockpile or use chemical weapons. Syria's chemical warfare program, apart from any weapons that may have been received from Iraq, has long been the source of concern to America, Israel, and Lebanon. In March 2004, the director of Central Intelligence, George Tenet, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, saying, "Damascus has an active CW development and testing program that relies on foreign suppliers for key controlled chemicals suitable for producing CW."

The CIA's Iraq Survey Group acknowledged in its September 30, 2004, "Comprehensive Report," "we cannot express a firm view on the possibility that WMD elements were relocated out of Iraq prior to the war. Reports of such actions exist, but we have not yet been able to investigate this possibility thoroughly."

"But...but...BUSH LIED!! There aren't any WMDs. We were "mislead" into war with Iraq."

I'll wait here for the media to pick up on this, research it, interview Sada and admit that maybe, just maybe, WMDs *do* exist after all.

I can hear the crickets chirping already.

Michelle Malkin has a round-up posted, as well. She doesn't think the MSM will even blink. We agree.

Be sure to also go read Rick Moran's roundup and commentary at Rightwing Nuthouse...

Hamas rules Palestine...

Please see Michelle Malkin's extensive roundup of this very disturbing turn of events.

President Bush and Dr. Rice speak out.

President Bush said Thursday that Hamas cannot be partner for Middle East peacemaking without renouncing violence, and he reiterated that the United States will not deal with Palestinian leaders who do not recognize Israel's right to exist.

Bush urged Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to remain in office after Wednesday's stunning Hamas victory over Abbas' Fatah faction in Palestinian elections.

<>Dr Rice: "Palestinian people have apparently voted for change, but we believe their aspirations for peace and a peaceful life remain unchanged," she said. Rice said those goals will require renunciation of violence and terrorism and acceptance of Israel's right to exist side-by-side with a Palestinian state.

"Anyone who wants to govern the Palestinian people and do so with the support of the international community has got to be committed to a two-state solution," Rice said. "You can't have a peace process if you're not committed to the right of your partner to exist."

And in the spirit of "find humor wherever you can", go read IMAO's "Know Thy Enemy: Hamas". (oldie but goodie.)

* Contrary to popular belief, Hamas has nothing to do with ham. Actually, if you throw hams at them, they'll get angry.

* I don't like to loosely throw around charges of anti-Semitism, but I don't think Hamas members like Jews.

* One of the reasons that they keep attacking is that none of the Hamas members knows what "ceasefire" means and are too embarrassed to ask.

* Suicide bombings started when parents found out how much money they would save if their kids just blew themselves up instead of going to college.

Oh, c'mon. It's FUNNY. Admit it. (liberals will fail to see the humor, but that's even funnier...)

Welcome to Detroit where the playas play...

Wow. I couldn't have said it better myself.

This actually instilled pride. I'd always had pride, esp. in our teams, but this really sums up my feelings about the D and why I hope to never move from the great state of Michigan...

This is horrifying.

UPDATE: Wednesday, 1/25 (bumped to the top - this is classic "blogs in action" stuff!

Mr. Stein got hisself spanked. By the blogsphere. Big time. And the silly man things the swarm will "die down". Not on your life, buster. (via Lucianne - click the link for other blogs' reactions as well as Lucianne reader comments...)

Stein said that, despite the fact that his e-mail address was not made public by the paper, he had received some 100 "hate e-mails" by noon. "They're telling me to leave the country, which sounded good at first because I thought they meant a vacation. But they didn't mean a vacation," he said. The columnist said he suspected the reaction was largely fueled by the Web sites, adding: "My guess is that it will die down pretty quickly." Stein said he had long considered the issue and that whenever a politician opposes the war but supports the troops "I just always think they are covering their ass." Asked if he had regrets, he said: "No, because I'm against the war. (I have no regrets) if this helps us get out of that war and bring our troops home safely."

Transcript from Hugh Hewitt's radio show with Mr. Stein. This Stein dude is a real mimbo. Sorry! He is.

Original post:
Joel Stein writing for the LA Times:

But I'm not for the war. And being against the war and saying you support the troops is one of the wussiest positions the pacifists have ever taken — and they're wussy by definition. It's as if the one lesson they took away from Vietnam wasn't to avoid foreign conflicts with no pressing national interest but to remember to throw a parade afterward.

Blindly lending support to our soldiers, I fear, will keep them overseas longer by giving soft acquiescence to the hawks who sent them there — and who might one day want to send them somewhere else. Trust me, a guy who thought 50.7% was a mandate isn't going to pick up on the subtleties of a parade for just service in an unjust war. He's going to be looking for funnel cake.

I know this is all easy to say for a guy who grew up with money, did well in school and hasn't so much as served on jury duty for his country. But it's really not that easy to say because anyone remotely affiliated with the military could easily beat me up, and I'm listed in the phone book.

I'm not advocating that we spit on returning veterans like they did after the Vietnam War, but we shouldn't be celebrating people for doing something we don't think was a good idea. All I'm asking is that we give our returning soldiers what they need: hospitals, pensions, mental health and a safe, immediate return. But, please, no parades.

Seriously, the traffic is insufferable.

Kudos to you if you can get through the whole thing...

It's Meme-Day Wednesday!

Our illustrious friend the Yak of Random Yak fame tagged us to play the "Meme" game! We of course are honored to participate, and will ask five of our blogger buds to play along, too. Apparently the way this works is...we have no idea how this works. But it's fun! And it's our blog. So there.

1. What were three of the stupidest things you've ever done in your life?
Patriotette - As far as fashion and hairstyles, the 80s weren't kind. That takes care of #1 and #2. #3 has got to be either the time I followed Boy George's concert tour around the country or not finishing college when I was young, stupid, and had no other responsibilities. One of the above is something I made up.
Sage - Sorry. Too personal.

2. At the current moment, who has the most influence on your life?
Patriotette - obviously the life busy growing inside me has a pretty big influence - such as how to sit, what to wear and what not to eat. That's at this particular moment. But in general, I have to say God. Definitely.
Sage - Me.

3. If you were given a time machine that functioned, and you were allowed to only pick up to five people to dine with, who would you pick?
Patriotette - can I take some of the people in the time machine with me? Okay, here's what I'd do. I'd pack Al Gore, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton into the machine and go back...oh, about 10 years. (this is an arbitrary number) I'd schedule dinner with them along with Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Somewhere nice with white tablecloths. I'd rent the whole restaurant out in the name of privacy. Then I'd leave to go to the ladies room a la the Godfather, come back, and eliminate them all. How's that. No? *sigh* Okay then, I'd dine with Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Joe McCarthy, George Washington and JFK.
Sage - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Ronald Reagan, Jesus

4. If you had three wishes that were not supernatural, what would they be?
Patriotette - a private home on my private island, a red 1970 Cutlass 442 convertible with white leather interior, no term limits for Republican presidents. *smirk*
Sage - A billion dollars, to meet my soul mate, health for my family and I.

5. Name two things you regret your city not having, and two things people should avoid.
Patriotette - #1. a safe downtown area (although we've improved immensely in the last few years) #2. reliable, safe public transportation that services all points between Detroit and Pontiac. Two things people should avoid when coming to Detroit is #1. 8 mile road (between Woodward and...west of there) and #2 walking down dark alleys alone without some kind of assault rifle handy.
Sage - A subway/reliable public transportation system, a football team; avoid just about everything outside of the very center of downtown

6. Name one thing that has changed your life.
Patriotette - obviously? Getting pregnant. Absolutely beyond stunning what that event has done to change my outlook, priorities, and view of the world in general. It even amazes me.
Sage - (taking the 5th)

7. Choose five other bloggers to carry on the meme.
ExPreacherman from Notes from a Retired Preacherman. He's got, like, lots of life experience.

Benedict from Benedict Blog. Because we like his style.

Amy Proctor. Amy's cool.

Timmer from Righting America. He'll be honest. With a twist.

Ryan from Jokers to the Right. Sarcasm. We like sarcasm.

TV Blogging.

As an update from this post, I just read that "Book of Daniel" has been cancelled. NBC just pulled it after advertisers boycotted and people just simply stopped watching it.

No wonder as it portrays an Episcopalian priest and his family as utter nutjobs...but what can you expect from the MSM. This time, though, they didn't get away with it.


West Wing. Cancelled. Check.
Book of Daniel. Cancelled. Check.

Law and Order. On its way down.
Commander in Chief. Ratings tanked.

Two down, two to go.

In related news, The New York Times doesn't get why they're losing money and readership either.

Happy Iraqis...

Means unhappy liberals.

Or as Glenn Reynolds (Instapundit) puts it "Apparently, being crushed under the iron heel of Chimpy McHitlerburton's evil empire isn't so bad:"

Iraqis and Afghans are the among most optimistic people in the world when it comes to their economic future, a new survey for the BBC suggests. . . .

In Afghanistan, 70% say their own circumstances are improving, and 57% believe that the country overall is on the way up. In Iraq, 65% believe their personal life is getting better, and 56% are upbeat about the country's economy.

*snort* "Chimpy McHitlerburton" *snort*

Our heroes have always been...

...cowboys.

Oh, Canada

Looks like we have more in common with our neighbors to the north than I thought...

"After 13 years and four failed mandates, the era of Liberal arrogance is ending," local candidate Michael Smith told a Winnipeg rally as he introduced Conservative leader Stephen Harper, who made stops in Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia on Sunday.

Well... I don't know about liberal arrogance ending here, but their power and relevance is...

Some polls suggest the Liberals will get their lowest percentage of votes in any election since independence in 1867, even lower than the 28 percent they collected in 1984.

Wouldn't that be great, eh? Let's hope for them things turn out. I've spent way too much time in Canada and like the country too much to put up with their recent America bashing and far left politics. I mean, we expect the US national anthem to be booed in Quebec (they prolly boo the English version of their own anthem up there...) but when it spreads to BC at a youth hockey tournament, things have gone too far. Biased referies I can handle, but not that. Oh, and considering they don't even need an army b/c they have us down here to protect them, I'd say if not supporting, than at least not opposing us and siding with France in international conflicts would be nice.


This is funny... a little worry from Michael Moore. (the direct link wasn't working, but you can get there via drudge) I like how the title is about him "weighing in" on the election. Anyone want to hazard a guess on how much Michael Moore does weigh by now?

Oh, and can anyone set me straight on his documentaries? I keep getting Bowling for Columbine and SuperSize Me mixed up...

It's still January, too...

...which means it's still Sanctity of Life month here at Conservababes.

UPDATE: This is going to leave a mark. Liberal caterwauling commences in 10...9...8...

Please go read LaShawn Barber's post on the topic. (warning: graphic photo in her post, links link to graphic photos as well)

There was a discussion in this thread about a woman’s “right to choose” in cases of rape and incest. Killing babies conceived during rape or incest is supposedly a “tough” issue for Christians, the commenter says. Since the day I realized I was a Christian, I was never torn about this issue. The life of the unborn is precious and worthy of protection no matter how that life is conceived. It really isn’t more clear than that. What’s unclear is whether Christians are willing to live as the world does or as God requires.

Think about it. Do you believe God says this is OK if the woman was raped? Is the prohibition against murder lifted in this case? The focus should always be on the unborn life, not the circumstances of conception and definitely not our feelings about it. Of course it would be hard to deal with, but believers have something unbelievers don’t: faith that moves mountains. The trials Christians face deepen our faith. Dealing with the consequences of sin (our own and everyone else’s) and emerging with even stronger faith in the One who saved us is what makes us different from the world. The Christian is supposed to deal with hardship in a way that distinguishes him from the non-Christian.

Sometimes what men intend as evil, God intends as good for his purposes, and Christians have to trust that God knows what he’s doing.

Yep. Good stuff there.

If I didn't trust that "God knows what he's doing" in regards to my situation, I don't know what I'd do. He does know what he's doing. "Beauty out of chaos", sometimes. But he knows what he's doing.

Monday morning. Again.

Why is it that every Monday I read the news and sigh? I look and look for an inspiration for a post and I come up empty. Even Drudge didn't give me anything to go with this morning. So...instead, I found some little gems from Debbie Schlussel and others - gems that gave me a chuckle or two. Hope you enjoy.

First up is Ms. Schlussel's post about The View, more specifically Star Jones - who annoys me to no end, by the way. Now that I realize most celebrites are reality-challenged, reading their inane comments don't upset me anymore - they make me snicker. Stupid people are funny. And Star's latest is laugh-out-loud funny.

Next is the reason - in a nutshell - why I don't read Glamour, Cosmo, Elle, Vanity Fair, or Marie Claire anymore. I used to look forward to airline travel because the minute I'd get to the airport, after I checked in, I'd go to the newsstand and buy all of the above and catch up on vapidity while I wait to board and then during the flight. However, over time, I realized that I was being made fun of in their pages. (again, not me personally, but my beliefs, my values...all these things were being scoffed at)

I was being told that: promiscuity is applauded, and is a great cure for stress and boredom. Doesn't matter with whom you are sleeping, as long as you're with someone. (because if you're "single"? Woah, are YOU a loser.) You must buy these "bargain" $850 flip-flops to be "current" because after all, Jessica Simpson has them. Hillary Clinton is a woman to emulate because of her strength of character and intelligence. Laura Bush is a dumpy housefrau and we pity her, but isn't she cute?

On and on and on, ad nauseum. I finally got the hint and realized these publishers didn't really want ME as a reader - apparently I don't fit their demographic. So now I'm a big Allure, Lucky, Cooking Light and Every Day with Rachel Ray reader. (with Allure and Lucky I still get my "you gotta have this really expensive niffnaw right NOW" jones satisfied without the "if you're not sleeping around and wearing these $800 flip-flops while bashing Bush, opposing the war and exhorting the wonderfulness of Hillary Clinton we think you're a big square" crap.)

Okay. There's my Monday rant for ya'll. I feel better. Don't you?

More...
Speaking of Hollywood liberals, the West Wing has been cancelled. Law & Order has been moved to compete directly with "Lost". Seems NBC is having some issues with disseminating their liberal talking points...

Michelle Malkin has a Saturday Night Live video you MUST see.

Frank J. at IMAO is a chickenhawk and proud of it! (Update: No, he's not. Harvey at IMAO is a proud chickenhawk. We'll check back to see if Frank J. weighs in on the subject.)

Jimmah "The Peanut" Carter opens his mouth again.

So the Sage calls me last night to alert me to the lastest ravings of a treasonous, has-been President that hasn't yet accepted that he was a dismal failure in the eyes of thinking, non-communist Americans.

Here's what this doddering idiot had to say (via Fox News - scroll to the bottom):

Former President Jimmy Carter says he's encouraged by the participation of Hamas in next week's Palestinian elections because the terrorist organization has political integrity.
Carter told CNN that Hamas may consist of "so-called terrorists," but added "there have been no complaints of corruption against [their] elected officials."Carter onceded that some in Hamas "deny Israel's right to exist," but defended the group's legitimacy as a political party.

Yes, he said "Hamas" has political integrity. They are only "so-called" terrorists.

Keep talkin', Dems. Loud and clear, please. We want more Gore, more Carter, more Hillary, please. You're digging your own graves.

p.s. After I got the Sage's message it took me a solid 20 minutes to even find a link with a quote from Carter from yesterday. Either the online news community hasn't caught up yet or it will be under-reported as usual.

More from:
New Wars
Moonbattery
Right Wing News
Little Green Footballs (Hamas is shelling out $180,000 for an "image makeover"??)
American Crusader

Related...
You might be a liberal if...

Ronald Reagan's 1981 Inaugural Address

Because sometimes we need reminding...

January 20, 1981

Senator Hatfield, Mr. Chief Justice, Mr. President, Vice President Bush, Vice President Mondale, Senator Baker, Speaker O'Neill, Reverend Moomaw, and my fellow citizens:

To a few of us here today this is a solemn and most momentous occasion, and yet in the history of our nation it is a commonplace occurrence. The orderly transfer of authority as called for in the Constitution routinely takes place, as it has for almost two centuries, and few of us stop to think how unique we really are. In the eyes of many in the world, this every-4-year ceremony we accept as normal is nothing less than a miracle.

Mr. President, I want our fellow citizens to know how much you did to carry on this tradition. By your gracious cooperation in the transition process, you have shown a watching world that we are a united people pledged to maintaining a political system which guarantees individual liberty to a greater degree than any other, and I thank you and your people for all your help in maintaining the continuity which is the bulwark of our Republic.

The business of our nation goes forward. These United States are confronted with an economic affliction of great proportions. We suffer from the longest and one of the worst sustained inflations in our national history. It distorts our economic decisions, penalizes thrift, and crushes the struggling young and the fixed-income elderly alike. It threatens to shatter the lives of millions of our people.

Idle industries have cast workers into unemployment, human misery, and personal indignity. Those who do work are denied a fair return for their labor by a tax system which penalizes successful achievement and keeps us from maintaining full productivity.

But great as our tax burden is, it has not kept pace with public spending. For decades we have piled deficit upon deficit, mortgaging our future and our children's future for the temporary convenience of the present. To continue this long trend is to guarantee tremendous social, cultural, political, and economic upheavals.

You and I, as individuals, can, by borrowing, live beyond our means, but for only a limited period of time. Why, then, should we think that collectively, as a nation, we're not bound by that same limitation? We must act today in order to preserve tomorrow. And let there be no misunderstanding: We are going to begin to act, beginning today.

The economic ills we suffer have come upon us over several decades. They will not go away in days, weeks, or months, but they will go away. They will go away because we as Americans have the capacity now, as we've had in the past, to do whatever needs to be done to preserve this last and greatest bastion of freedom.

In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. The solutions we seek must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price.

We hear much of special interest groups. Well, our concern must be for a special interest group that has been too long neglected. It knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and factories, teach our children, keep our homes, and heal us when we're sick -- professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truckdrivers. They are, in short, "We the people," this breed called Americans.

Well, this administration's objective will be a healthy, vigorous, growing economy that provides equal opportunities for all Americans with no barriers born of bigotry or discrimination. Putting America back to work means putting all Americans back to work. Ending inflation means freeing all Americans from the terror of runaway living costs. All must share in the productive work of this "new beginning," and all must share in the bounty of a revived economy. With the idealism and fair play which are the core of our system and our strength, we can have a strong and prosperous America, at peace with itself and the world.

So, as we begin, let us take inventory. We are a nation that has a government -- not the other way around. And this makes us special among the nations of the Earth. Our government has no power except that granted it by the people. It is time to check and reverse the growth of government, which shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed.

It is my intention to curb the size and influence of the Federal establishment and to demand recognition of the distinction between the powers granted to the Federal Government and those reserved to the States or to the people. All of us need to be reminded that the Federal Government did not create the States; the States created the Federal Government.

Now, so there will be no misunderstanding, it's not my intention to do away with government. It is rather to make it work -- work with us, not over us; to stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle it.

If we look to the answer as to why for so many years we achieved so much, prospered as no other people on Earth, it was because here in this land we unleashed the energy and individual genius of man to a greater extent than has ever been done before. Freedom and the dignity of the individual have been more available and assured here than in any other place on Earth. The price for this freedom at times has been high, but we have never been unwilling to pay that price.

It is no coincidence that our present troubles parallel and are proportionate to the intervention and intrusion in our lives that result from unnecessary and excessive growth of government. It is time for us to realize that we're too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We're not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope.

We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are not heroes, they just don't know where to look. You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet heroes across a counter, and they're on both sides of that counter. There are entrepreneurs with faith in themselves and faith in an idea who create new jobs, new wealth and opportunity. They're individuals and families whose taxes support the government and whose voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art, and education. Their patriotism is quiet, but deep. Their values sustain our national life.

Now, I have used the words "they" and "their" in speaking of these heroes. I could say "you" and "your," because I'm addressing the heroes of whom I speak -- you, the citizens of this blessed land. Your dreams, your hopes, your goals are going to be the dreams, the hopes, and the goals of this administration, so help me God.

We shall reflect the compassion that is so much a part of your makeup. How can we love our country and not love our countrymen; and loving them, reach out a hand when they fall, heal them when they're sick, and provide opportunity to make them self-sufficient so they will be equal in fact and not just in theory?

Can we solve the problems confronting us? Well, the answer is an unequivocal and emphatic "yes." To paraphrase Winston Churchill, I did not take the oath I've just taken with the intention of presiding over the dissolution of the world's strongest economy.

In the days ahead I will propose removing the roadblocks that have slowed our economy and reduced productivity. Steps will be taken aimed at restoring the balance between the various levels of government. Progress may be slow, measured in inches and feet, not miles, but we will progress. It is time to reawaken this industrial giant, to get government back within its means, and to lighten our punitive tax burden. And these will be our first priorities, and on these principles there will be no compromise.

On the eve of our struggle for independence a man who might have been one of the greatest among the Founding Fathers, Dr. Joseph Warren, president of the Massachusetts Congress, said to his fellow Americans, "Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of . . . . On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important questions upon which rests the happiness and the liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves."

Well, I believe we, the Americans of today, are ready to act worthy of ourselves, ready to do what must be done to ensure happiness and liberty for ourselves, our children, and our children's children. And as we renew ourselves here in our own land, we will be seen as having greater strength throughout the world. We will again be the exemplar of freedom and a beacon of hope for those who do not now have freedom.

To those neighbors and allies who share our freedom, we will strengthen our historic ties and assure them of our support and firm commitment. We will match loyalty with loyalty. We will strive for mutually beneficial relations. We will not use our friendship to impose on their sovereignty, for our own sovereignty is not for sale.

As for the enemies of freedom, those who are potential adversaries, they will be reminded that peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it; we will not surrender for it, now or ever.

Our forbearance should never be misunderstood. Our reluctance for conflict should not be misjudged as a failure of will. When action is required to preserve our national security, we will act. We will maintain sufficient strength to prevail if need be, knowing that if we do so we have the best chance of never having to use that strength.

Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have. It is a weapon that we as Americans do have. Let that be understood by those who practice terrorism and prey upon their neighbors.

I'm told that tens of thousands of prayer meetings are being held on this day, and for that I'm deeply grateful. We are a nation under God, and I believe God intended for us to be free. It would be fitting and good, I think, if on each Inaugural Day in future years it should be declared a day of prayer.

This is the first time in our history that this ceremony has been held, as you've been told, on this West Front of the Capitol. Standing here, one faces a magnificent vista, opening up on this city's special beauty and history. At the end of this open mall are those shrines to the giants on whose shoulders we stand.

Directly in front of me, the monument to a monumental man, George Washington, father of our country. A man of humility who came to greatness reluctantly. He led America out of revolutionary victory into infant nationhood. Off to one side, the stately memorial to Thomas Jefferson. The Declaration of Independence flames with his eloquence. And then, beyond the Reflecting Pool, the dignified columns of the Lincoln Memorial. Whoever would understand in his heart the meaning of America will find it in the life of Abraham Lincoln.

Beyond those monuments to heroism is the Potomac River, and on the far shore the sloping hills of Arlington National Cemetery, with its row upon row of simple white markers bearing crosses or Stars of David. They add up to only a tiny fraction of the price that has been paid for our freedom.

Each one of those markers is a monument to the kind of hero I spoke of earlier. Their lives ended in places called Belleau Wood, The Argonne, Omaha Beach, Salerno, and halfway around the world on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Pork Chop Hill, the Chosin Reservoir, and in a hundred rice paddies and jungles of a place called Vietnam.

Under one such marker lies a young man, Martin Treptow, who left his job in a small town barbershop in 1917 to go to France with the famed Rainbow Division. There, on the western front, he was killed trying to carry a message between battalions under heavy artillery fire.

We're told that on his body was found a diary. On the flyleaf under the heading, "My Pledge," he had written these words: "America must win this war. Therefore I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone."

The crisis we are facing today does not require of us the kind of sacrifice that Martin Treptow and so many thousands of others were called upon to make. It does require, however, our best effort and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds, to believe that together with God's help we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us.

And after all, why shouldn't we believe that? We are Americans.

God bless you, and thank you.

Pistons: 32-5

Followed only by San Antonio at 31-9. Why anyone cares about the Lions on this blog (ahem) is beyond me.




In other news, our very own Flip Saunders has been chosen to coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars.

Long Live Peggy

In a characteristically great editorial, Peggy Noonan reflects on the Democrat's losses, the new media, and what the Republicans need to do for this country.

Let's also take a moment to thank God for Ronald Reagan. 25 years ago today, he took office for the first time and started the conservative revolution. I hate to think where we'd be (or wouldn't be) today without him.

Thoughts on television...

We have blogged before about Law & Order and how they've become an elitist mouthpiece for the far-left. We've discussed movies like Brokeback Mountain and Syrianna and how they don't do well because, well, us mainstreamers don't really care to see that stuff. How movies like Narnia and the Incredibles and the Passion of the Christ and movies like that do very well in the box office and how Hollywood may never make the connection. Ever.

Via Drudge this morning I read an article about the show Commander In Chief. The ratings are sliding downward. Let's see if you can figure out why, just based on the first paragraph of this news article:

The new ABC drama series, which earned star Geena Davis a Golden Globe Award this week for her role as the first female U.S. president, seems to be sinking into the same midterm malaise affecting the approval ratings of President Bush; "Commander's" ratings have been declining steadily since bowing to big numbers in September.

Anybody catch that? That sneer in the middle of the paragraph?

THAT sort of sneering is why CiC isn't doing well. It started out fine, and even I was willing to give it the benefit of the doubt. But over time I became weary of the bias and the slant. And the sneers in my direction from the producers and writers of the show. (well, not "in my direction", per se, but in the general direction of people who believe as I do)

The article goes on to compare CiC's initial success to West Wing's. Do they pick up on similarities between the subject matter? Nope. CiC's downturn is because of production issues.

Mmmm-kay.

You keep thinking that way. We'll keep watching shows like House and 24 and CSI (and ignoring shows like CiC, Boston Legal, and Law & Order) you know, the ones that aren't propaganda outlets for looney moonbat tinfoil hat wearing koolaid drinking conspiracy theories and boldface lies.

Speaking of Hollywood and Moonbats...Jack Abramoff's father writes a scathing letter to George Clooney for his comments at the Golden Globes directed at Mr. Abramoff. Would that EVERYONE offended by Hollywood writes a letter like this one. (not defending Abramoff. Just for the record...)

UPDATE: Benedict at Benedict Blog alerted us to the "great minds think alike" phenomenon. He went into much more detail about what we were discussing above, and you really should click over there. Like, now. (be sure to click on the other two posts referenced in his quote, especially this one)

To read insights like:

Could this divergence in the fortunes of the two shows be simply that one is better and more entertaining than the other? Of course. But the cultural / political implications are clear for anyone to see. As can be seen from the links provided in my posts on 24 from earlier this week (see here and here), the exploits of Jack Bauer hold tremendous red-state appeal. Commander-in-Chief, on the other hand, was widely seen as a paean to the policies and personal ambitions of Hillary Clinton, who weekly would use her superior intelligence, charm and understanding of human nature to foil the schemes of the evil, bigoted Republicans and bring light and truth to the world. /gag.

"Gag" indeed. Do you think Hollywood will EVER "get it"? Ever? I hear their lamenting about box office slumps and decreasing revenues, and all they can say is that it's the movie theater's fault. Or production problems. Or not enough Raisinettes at consession stands in Kansas. Someday, maybe. Someday.

Friday randomness...

It's 50 degrees here in New Fallujah. FIFTY. I went outside this morning to warm up the ol' Jeep, wearing my winter coat and steeled for coldness...and ended up taking off the coat. No coat while driving. When it's this uncharacteristically warm in January I think that either we're going to get snow until June or the end of the world is near. Oh well, this snow-weary chick isn't going to complain too loudly. (and we're getting 6" of snow tonight apparently so I guess I'd better enjoy it while I can)

Important stuff:

My second favorite guy in the White House growls at BoomBoom Bin Laden's "truce".

Good stuff at Lucianne.com this morning.

Michelle Malkin has immortalized an exchange between Helen Thomas and Scott McClellan from yesterday. And they wonder why they have no credibility.

And this is from yesterday, actually, but it's still funny. "Destined for the Bargain Bin".
Song titles from Osama Bin Laden's greatest hits album:

1. "Die, infidels."
2. "Blame it on the jooos."
3. "Another attack is coming soon."
4. "Instead of just 72 virgins, can I have a few sluts, too?"
5. "I really am still alive."
6. "The Dialysis Song"
7. "Another attack is coming soon... this time for real."
8. "I'll kill you all after I get this gum out of my beard."
9. "No, we're not losing membership, but who wants to buy some used AK-47s?"
10. "Die, infidels." the Fat Boy Slim remix
11. "Why does bacon have to smell so good?"

The comments section has a few more gems...

I'm sure there will be more later, but right now we're not feeling all that "deep" and "political" and stuff.

I've found it.

Photo of the day, courtesy of RHOG.

The second one. Of Dubya doing something.

Ooooh. We're so scared. Quaking in our boots.

NOT.

Bin Laden is yammering about more attacks. Offers truce.

Let's all say it together now.

WHATEVER.


***UPDATE***: Please go read Lucianne.com's commentors. Hilarious as usual.

My favorite so far: "This is like a geopolicital version of 'Weekend at Bernie's.'"

Highlights include postulating that the photo is actually Ho Ho Dean in a sheet, coining a new nickname for Osama ("Boom Boom" Bin Laden), and "we should accept a truce from the bad guys, as long as they assemble over there on that 'X' in anticipation of an American negotiator, who should be coming along directly. If the negotiator whistles as he makes his way to the 'X,' and has a bulbous nose and tail fins--well, when you care, you send the very best. "

Worth the click, ya'll.


***UPDATE #2***:Full text of Boom Boom Bin Laden's "speech" here. Does this remind anyone of any Democrat politician? Does anyone besides me think this sounds a lot like Liberal's talking points? Just sayin'.