Clueless

Kerry still doesn't get it.

NEW YORK — John Kerry (search) believes he lost to President Bush because of the video from Usama bin Laden (search) that surfaced just days before the Nov. 2 presidential election.

The Massachusetts senator told FOX News' senior correspondent Geraldo Rivera that he believes he lost because the tape may have scared the American electorate.

It wasn't the bin Laden "tape" that cost him the election...it was bin Laden. You see, what people like Kerry still don't understand is that most people want a Commander in Chief that will hunt down and kill these pricks. While Kerry was selling "sensitivity" and "nuance", Bush was selling perserverance and ruthlessness. That's the difference.

More EU Silliness

Scripture says a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. Well, so are the Europeans. First this:

European Union justice and interior ministers agreed Friday that new immigrants to the 25-nation bloc should be required to learn local languages, and to adhere to general "European values" that will guide them toward better integration.

Dutch immigration minister Rita Verdonk, who chaired the meeting, said all countries agreed to make integrating newcomers a priority, considering the growing ethnic tensions as EU nations struggle to absorb a steady stream of poor, mostly Muslim immigrants.

Ok, that seems like a good idea (although I thought arrogant Americans were the only ones who imposed their values on others). But then I read this:

PARIS (AFP) - The French public broadcasting regulator authorized an Arabic-language television station close to the Lebanese Shiite Muslim Hezbollah group to transmit programs within the European Union (news - web sites).

The Al-Manar station, well known within the Arabic world, had committed itself in an agreement "not to incite hatred, violence or discrimination based on race, sex, religion or nationality," said the French Audiovisual Council.

Jewish groups had earlier urged French authorities not to grant a licence to the channel to transmit programmes in France after it had put out material criticized for perceived anti-Semitic content.

So you attempt to reduce Islamist extremism by requiring immigrants to adopt "your values", then you allow Hezbollah TV on the airwaves. That's just plain stupid.

Say It Ain't So

You gotta love those enlightened Europeans. They're so sophisticated.

Big Bro' - Friend to Native Americans

From today's Native American Times:

The principal of a Kentucky high school involved in a racially tinged flap says he hopes that the incident will lead to further education and understanding.

The incident happened when a Native American student at the school became offended during a pep rally that featured students dressed as American Indians in an apparent attempt to taunt a rival school with a team called “The Indians.”

“Then other people came out screaming and hollering and pretended to beat them up,” Sara Berry, a 16-year-old member of the Choctaw Nation told the Bowling Green Daily News. “I was crying and wanted to go straight to the administration right then. I was hurt and angry.”

Principal Gary Fields has now invited Berry to help design a program to educate students about Native American issues.

“It doesn’t matter what the reason is-if a student comes into my office and if they are offended we want to make them feel safe and have a voice. I don’t want her to feel we are unresponsive of her needs,” Fields told the Native American Times.

The Kentucky town of Bowling Green may not seem like a major melting pot, but Fields said the city has a refuge center and the school has subsequently seen an influx of students from Bosnia and Liberia to add to the already large African American and Hispanic student body.

“Diversity is alive and well in our hallways,” Fields said.

Amen, Brother

This from Cliff May at National Review:

From the far left all the way to the center left, commentators are arguing that President Bush should appoint Cabinet members who disagree with him, who don’t share his vision, who aren’t eager to implement his agenda. For example, David Gergen has an op-ed in today’s New York Times on “the promise and the peril of a cabinet speaking in unison.” Fair enough.

So why is it that these same commentators are not demanding ideological diversity on the campuses? Why don’t they want some young professors who will tell the superannuated hippies and old New Leftists that their vision is wrong, and their agenda outmoded, foolish and destructive?

And how about the main-stream media? Wouldn’t it be nice to have a few editors and producers who disagreed with the weltanschauung of Dan Rather, Peter Jennings, et al?

You see, dissent on and from the Right is good. Dissent on and from the Left is not.

All Bubba, All The Time

Even Leftie TV critic Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post couldn't stomach the Bubba bash from the media yesterday:

Clintonista Central

If you were watching cable yesterday, you'd have thought that the capital had been moved to Little Rock.

The media can't resist a gathering of presidents, and never could resist a story line involving Bill Clinton (remember his hospital-bed advice to John Kerry?). Especially when his wife (who's also making the TV rounds, including Larry King and Greta Van Susteren) may run for his old job.

But I don't remember anything like all this live coverage when Bush 41 opened his library, do you? And the ex-prez got an hour with Peter Jennings on "PrimeTime" last night.

Nothing like this for Bush 41. Really Howard? I wonder why.

Now That's An Ally

Great quote from Allawi:

Iraqi Prime Minister Dr. Allawi said that he would reserve all comments on the death of the injured Iraqi in Felujah at the hands of a U.S. Marine, until the U.S. reports the finding of the investigation. He also said, "The fighting that the Iraqi & U.S. forces (in Felujah) have contributed greatly to the improvement of security in Iraq. These forces protect the Iraqi civilians from the terrorists and armed thugs, which used Felujah as a base of operations. These Terrorists are murderers, criminals and need to be dealt with accordingly."

Now, if we could only get Chirac to disavow the terrorists.

Oh, The Tangled Webs We Weave

INDIO, Calif. - A teenager was convicted of attempted murder for shooting his pregnant girlfriend at the clinic where she went to get an abortion.

Jeffrey Cameron Fitzhenry, 17, was convicted Wednesday. The shooting April 29 left the 16-year-old girl a quadriplegic, and the fetus was declared dead three days afterward.

The victim, identified only as Sara S., testified Fitzhenry repeatedly threatened her, saying that she was "depriving him of his unborn child." When she entered the clinic, Fitzhenry followed her, argued with her, and shot her in the neck, she said.

Defense attorney Robert Dunn argued that only a lesser charge of attempted voluntary manslaughter should be considered. He said Fitzhenry shot the girl after a "continuous escalation" of anger and he did not plan to kill her.

The jury also found Fitzhenry guilty of assault with a deadly weapon and enhancements that make him subject to a sentence of life in prison. A sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 6.

Prosecutors did not seek a separate murder charge for the fetus because of the girl's decision to have an abortion, according to Robert Blythe, an attorney handling the girl's lawsuit against Fitzhenry.

Let's see if I've got this straight. If the young girl wanted to let the baby live, this guy would have received a murder charge on top of the attempted murder charge. But since she wanted to kill it, his killing it was ok. What have we become?

Top 20 of All Time

Here's Rolling Stone's top 20 songs of all time. Was there anyone under 50 voting?

1. Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan
2. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones
3. Imagine, John Lennon
4. What's Going On, Marvin Gaye
5. Respect, Aretha Franklin
6. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys
7. Johnny B Goode, Chuck Berry
8. Hey Jude, The Beatles
9. Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
10. What'd I Say, Ray Charles
11. My Generation, The Who
12. A Change is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke
13. Yesterday, The Beatles
14. Blowing in the Wind, Bob Dylan
15. London Calling, The Clash
16. I Want to Hold Your Hand, The Beatles
17. Purple Haze, The Jimi Hendrix Experience
18. Maybellene, Chuck Berry
19. Hound Dog, Elvis Presley
20. Let It Be, The Beatles

So Much For Diversity

Another example of The Left's racially tolerant, open-minded attitude toward blacks:

MILWAUKEE - A radio talk show host drew criticism Thursday after calling Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) an "Aunt Jemima" and saying she isn't competent to be secretary of state.

John Sylvester, the program director and morning personality on WTDY-AM in Madison, said in a phone interview Thursday that he used the term on Wednesday's show to describe Rice and other blacks as having only a subservient role in the Bush administration.

Time's Person of the Year

Here are my nominations. First, the obvious choices:

1. President Bush - He continues to dominate the world stage...and Democrats.
2. Karl Rove - Bush's "brain."
3. Iyad Allawi - The man with the toughest job in the world is hanging tough.
4. Hamid Karzai - Leading the newly freed Afghan people and winning elections.

Now, my darkhorses:

1. Pat Tillman - Epitomizes the American soldier and American ideals.
2. The women of Afghanistan - Looked terrorists in the eyes and stood in line to vote.
3. Jesus Christ - Most popular figure in entertainment (Passion of the Christ) and at the polls.
4. Michael Moore/Howard Deane - Set back the Democratic Party 8 years.
5. Hurricanes - Enough said.

Beware the Disinformation

Even Iraqis realize the West is not getting the whole story:

The Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk criticized Western media "misinformation" about his country and insisted that Iraqis are looking forward to elections "because they will be useful for national unity."

"It is not all death and destruction," explained Archbishop Louis Sako in an interview Tuesday published by AsiaNews. "

Much is positive in Iraq today," he said. "Universities are operating, schools are open, people go out onto the streets normally." He did acknowledge that "where there's a kidnapping or a homicide the news gets out immediately, and this causes fear among the people."

Yet, "there is no organized resistance" in Iraq, the prelate insisted. "Those who commit such violence are resisting against Iraqis who want to build their country. "

Iraqis instead are resisting against terrorism and are not carrying out attacks, which instead are the work of foreign infiltrators. I have stressed this before: Saudis, Jordanians, Syrians and Sudanese have entered Iraq. Prime Minister Allawi has said this as well. And clearly, there are also Iraqi collaborators who, for money, help the terrorist hide."

Just Do It

This piece from the Washington Post this morning is discouraging:

[T]he administration plans to push major amendments that would shield interest, dividends and capitals gains from taxation, expand tax breaks for business investment and take other steps intended to simplify the system and encourage economic growth... To pay for them, the administration is considering eliminating the deduction of state and local taxes on federal income tax returns and scrapping the business tax deduction for employer-provided health insurance.

Come on, Mr. President, reform the tax code. Be bold. Do a flat tax, 17%, minimal deductions, with the option to continue paying under the current system if you so desire. Make Steve Forbes Treasury Secretary and install Jack Kemp at Commerce. Create a tax reform commission headed by Dick Armey. Just do it.

Then barnstorm all across the country. Take your team with you and head to Ohio and Florida and Texas. Team up with Arnold in California and Rudy in New York. Pull a Reagan and go over the heads of Congress and take it directly to the people. Tell them you're going to stick it to the special interests and lobbyists in Washington. Just do it. Just do it.

Bush Being Bush

This is another reason why I respect the President so much. Not only is he a good man, but he's classy too. Here's a bit from his tribute to Bill Clinton yesterday:

Over the years, Bill Clinton showed himself to be much more than a good politician. His home state elected him governor in the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s, because he was an innovator, a serious student of policy, and a man of great compassion. In the White House, the whole nation witnessed his brilliance and mastery of detail, his persuasive power, and his persistence. The President is not the kind to give up a fight. His staffers were known to say, "If Clinton were the Titanic, the iceberg would sink." (Laughter.)

During his presidency, Bill Clinton seized important opportunities on issues from welfare to free trade. He was a tireless champion of peace in the Middle East. He used American power in the Balkans to confront aggression and halt ethnic cleansing. And in all his actions and decisions, the American people sensed a deep empathy for the poor and the powerless.

Shortly before leaving office, President Clinton said, "Christ admonished us that our lives will be judged by how we do unto the least of our neighbors." Throughout his career, Bill Clinton has done his best to live up to that standard. And Americans respect him for it.

Kofi Going Bye Bye?

Here's hoping Kofi's going down:

UN employees were readying on Friday to make a historic vote of no confidence in scandal-plagued Secretary General Kofi Annan, sources told AFP.

The UN staff union, in what officials said was the first vote of its kind in the more than 50-year history of the United Nations, was set to approve a resolution withdrawing its support for the embattled Annan and UN management.

Annan has been in the line of fire over a high-profile series of scandals including controversy about a UN aid programme that investigators say allowed deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to embezzle billions of dollars.

But staffers said the trigger for the no-confidence measure was an announcement this week that Annan had pardoned the UN’s top oversight official, who was facing allegations of favouritism and sexual harassment.

Quote of the Day

"If the NBA were on Channel 5 and a bunch of frogs making love were on Channel 4, I'd watch the frogs, even if they were coming in fuzzy."-- Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight

The Wisdom of Oliver

November 18, 2004 -- IS Oliver Stone's $150 million epic "Alexander" too gay for mainstream audiences? Stone, who previously stirred controversy with "JFK" and "Natural Born Killers," is on the hot seat again with his biopic about the bisexual Macedonian emperor, played by Colin Farrell, which opens next Wednesday...

"Alexander lived in a more honest time," Stone told Playboy magazine.

"We go into his bisexuality. It may offend some people, but sexuality in those days was a different thing. Pre-Christian morality. Young boys were with boys when they wanted to be."

Ah yes, those were the good old days, when young boys were with boys, men with boys, men with little girls, young girls with young girls. Don't you hate it when that Christian morality stuff gets in the way of a good time. No wonder Stone loves Castro - that Christian morality never gets in the way.

Racist?

This is a new one on me.

Two days after the network aired the segment featuring Eagles star receiver Terrell Owens and actress Nicollette Sheridan, coaches and players were still talking about it.

Reaction ranged from amusement to anger. Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy found it racially offensive.

"To me that's the first thing I thought of as an African-American," Dungy said Wednesday.

"I think it's stereotypical in looking at the players, and on the heels of the Kobe Bryant incident I think it's very insensitive. I don't think that they would have had Bill Parcells or Andy Reid or one of the owners involved in that," he added, a reference to the coaches in the game.

Dungy has a point - Parcells and Reid are white. But they're also fat and ugly and have zero chance of scoring with Nicollette Sheridan.

One Less Shopper

So long Best Buy and Target. You just lost this customer.

As the Salvation Army kicks off its annual red-kettle program today, a growing number of retailers, from Best Buy to Target, are banning Salvation Army bell ringers from their doors -- to avoid having to choose between competing charities and out of concern for customers, they say.

Michael Moore's "Minutemen"

Here's a sweet story on the freedom-fighters in Iraq:

Such is the fear that the heavily armed militants held over Fallujah that many of the residents who emerged from the ruins welcomed the US marines, despite the massive destruction their firepower had inflicted on their city.

A man in his sixties, half-naked and his underwear stained with blood from shrapnel wounds from a US munition, cursed the insurgents as he greeted the advancing marines on Saturday night.

"I wish the Americans had come here the very first day and not waited eight months," he said, trembling. Nearby, a mosque courtyard had been used as a weapons store by the militants. . . .
The same story of arbitrary executions was told by another resident, found by US troops cowering in his home with his brother and his family.

"They would wear black masks, carry rocket-propelled grenades and Kalashnikovs, and search streets and alleys," said Iyad Assam, 24. "I would hear stories, about how they executed five men one day and seven another for collaborating with the Americans. They made checkpoints on the roads. They put announcements on walls banning music and telling women to wear the veil from head to toe."

It was not just pedlars of alcohol or Western videos and women deemed improperly dressed who faced the militants' wrath. Even residents who regard themselves as observant Muslims lived in fear because they did not share the puritan brand of Sunni Islam that the insurgents enforced.

al Ja-Reuters Is At It Again

Here's a blurb from Reuters on Time's considerations for "person" of the year:

Gibson was proposed for directing "The Passion of the Christ," a controversial film seen by many as anti-Semitic. Moore made "Fahrenheit 9/11," a film highly critical of the Bush administration which was a huge box office hit.

So much good stuff compacted into this one little paragraph. The Passion is described as "a controversial film." True. But what about "Fahrenheit 9/11." No, there wasn't any controversy surrounding those 90 minutes of falsehoods, fabrications, and distortions. The Passion was also seen "by many as anti-Semitic." Well, that depends on what your definition of "many" is. If the Anti-Defamation League and Frank Rich are your sole barometer for what's anti-semitic, then I guess you're right.

And finally, "Fahrenheit 9/11" is described as a "huge box office hit." That it was, taking in over $119 million dollars. But that's chump change compared to the $370 million taken in by The Passion. But then again, The Passion was "controversial."

Yes They Were, Pat

Pat Buchanan commenting on a recent column by Jeff Jacoby of the Boston Globe:

If, as Jacoby writes, Arafat "inculcated the vilest culture of Jew-hatred since the Third Reich," why did Ehud Barak offer him 95 percent of the West Bank and a capital in Jerusalem? Why did "Bibi" Netanyahu give him Hebron?

Why did Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin share a Nobel Prize with him? Why did Bill Clinton invite him to the White House more times than any other leader? Were they all enablers of terrorism?

No.

Well, actually they were, Pat. Barak, Peres, Rabin, Bibi, Clinton, etc. All of them. They all tried to "deal" with butchers, and all of them failed. Only one has succeeded...Sharon. Why? He - with the help of President Bush - isolated Arafat and hunted down the terrorists. Pretty simple.

Huh?

Check out this little nugget from the US Catholic Bishops Conference:

Bishops vote down statement encouraging more Bible reading.

Despite pleas from Bible Belt bishops, the Catholic bishops of the United States yesterday voted to shelve plans to develop a statement urging greater use of the Bible, a move aimed at restraining spending and cutting down on a crush of publications they fear have little impact.

Now we wouldn't want more Bible reading, would we?

NHL Russia?

As a result of the NHL lockout, some commentators are speculating about a possible league move to Russia. I think I agree with this reaction:

I suppose you could play in Russia -- as long as you're willing to get along without certain Western luxuries like reliable electricity, potable water and the rule of law.

Yeah, bad idea.

Take That NFL

Let's see if we've got this straight:

Showing Nicollette Sheridan in a pregame promotion for "Monday Night Football" wearing nothing but a towel?

Bad.

Showing the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders repeatedly during the game, all 38 of them dressed in costumes that, sewn together, still wouldn't be enough material for a decent towel?

Good.

Listening to ABC fake an apology and watching the NFL recoil in mock horror because somebody forgot the difference between league-sanctioned "cheesecake" and the unsanctioned variety?

Priceless.

All Bubba, All The Time

It's nice to see that the Slickster has finally taken responsibility for his actions. Uh, yeah.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Bill Clinton (news - web sites)'s presidential library devotes one of 14 exhibit areas to scandal, explained in the context of Republican Party efforts to discredit Clinton.

...The scandal exhibit, called "The Fight for Power," mentions Lewinsky by name and includes sections called "Politics of Persecution" and "A New Culture of Confrontation."

Great News Out of D.C.

Here's hoping the Democrats have finally abandoned their abortion-on-demand litmus test for their leaders in Washington:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada won election as leader of the shrunken Democratic minority on Tuesday and said he stands ready to cooperate with Republicans or confront them as he deems necessary.

...With the exception of abortion rights and gun control, both of which he opposes, Reid's recent voting record on major issues puts him in the mainstream of Senate Democrats.

Unbiased Headline of the Day

From the Daily Mirror (UK):

MARINES BACK KILLER COMRADE
Nov 17 2004
By Don Mackay

US marines defended a comrade yesterday over the killing of a wounded Iraqi rebel in a mosque.

Nice Work Guys

This has to be done now, but couldn't you stop spending like drunken sailors:

Republicans want a larger, $800 billion increase in the politically sensitive federal debt limit to ensure the Treasury has sufficient borrowing authority to finance continued high budget deficits through this fiscal year, the WALL STREET JOURNAL reports.

House and Senate Republicans had calculated that they needed an increase of $690 billion to cover funding needs, but party leaders now have chosen to seek the higher figure intended to carry the Treasury until the next fiscal year begins in October 2005.

The increase would be the third in as many years and bring the debt limit to $8.184 trillion -- 37% higher than the ceiling that President Bush inherited in 2001." The Senate is "expected to take up the bill today in anticipation of a final vote tomorrow night.

Terrible News

Kmart is buying Sears in an $11 billion deal that industry watchers say could shake up the mall-based landscape by creating a low-priced shopping haven for consumers. "Imagine going into Kmart and buying a Sears Craftsman tool set, or buying Kmart's Martha Stewart home products at Sears. This deal will take the loyal shoppers of each retailer and cross-pollinate them with familiar brands from each store," said retail analyst Marshal Cohen.

Now, if Sears was buying Kmart I'd be happy. Sears - by all accounts - is a well-run company with quality products. But Kmart will destroy everything good about Sears. Why? Because Kmart is the worst run company on the planet. I've been to Kmart hundreds of times and I have NEVER had one good experience. So why do I keep going? For convenience. But I put a stop to that a while ago.

Changing of the Guard

With William Safire retiring from the NY Times, it will be interesting to see who replaces him. Hugh Hewitt has some interesting suggestions.

My Advice for Dan O'Brien

If I'm Dan O'Brien, I take a look at this list and make some moves. The Reds can't afford over-priced superstars. They need to focus on "value" players - especially pitchers.

1. Step one would be to re-sign Paul Wilson.
2. Step two to trade Kearns or Dunn for a good, young starting pitcher.
3. Step three to sign a solid reliever.
4. Step four to sign a third baseman.
5. Step five to do whatever is necessary to get out from under Griffey's contract (even if it means eating most of it).

The Left Still Doesn't Get It

Here's MSNBC's Chris Matthews, on last night's Hardball, posing a question about the alleged shooting of an unarmed Iraqi combatant by a United States marine, to Ken Allard, retired military:

"Well, let me ask you about this. If this were the other side, and we were watching an enemy soldier --a rival, I mean they're not bad guys especially, just people who just disagree with us, they are in fact the insurgents, fighting us in their country-- if we saw one of them do what we saw our guy do to that guy, would we consider that worthy of a war crimes charge?"

Now, I realize that NOBODY watches "Hardball", but at what point will the networks dispose of nitwits like Matthews. "Rivals"? "Not bad guys especially"? What the hell is he talking about. Does he watch the news? Does he have any idea what's going on? Obviously not.

A Once Great Champion

This is so sad. Is there no one around Evander to put a stop to this? Not so long as the checks keep rolling in.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Evander Holyfield was suspended indefinitely by New York boxing officials in the wake of his loss Saturday night to journeyman Larry Donald.

The suspension means the 42-year-old former four-time heavyweight champion will have to seek medical clearance if he wants to fight again.

After losing a lopsided decision to Donald, Holyfield said he still plans to fight. Holyfield won only one round on one scorecard and two on the other two in the 12-round fight.

Holyfield has won only two of his last nine fights, and took a beating a year ago from James Toney. Donald didn't hurt him, but Holyfield landed only 78 punches of his own over 12 rounds, according to ringside statistics compiled by Compubox.

Holyfield told the New York Daily News on Monday that the New York State Athletic Commission was involved in a "conspiracy" to get him out of boxing and that he would contest the ban.

Just Go Away

I thought we'd seen the last of James Baker. Apparently not.

During an interview with host Larry King on CNN last night, James. A Baker, the former U.S. secretary of state, who currently serves as the Bush administration's special envoy on Iraqi debt, called on the Israeli government to release Marwan Barghouti, the jailed Palestinian leader who is serving five life sentences in an Israeli jail for ordering attacks against Israel.

Barghouti is responsible for killing four Israelis and a Greek monk. In addition, Barghouti was head of the terrorist Tanzim and al Aksa Martyrs Brigades elements of Yasser Arafat's Fatah organization. No, I think the Israeli's should keep Barghouti right where he is. Hey, maybe James Baker could join him.

Why So Few Black Golfers?

From ESPN:

The fact that two of the top three male golfers in the world -- Vijay Singh and Tiger Woods -- are men of color is compelling and, on the surface, inspiring. But that inspiration is only skin deep. A glimpse just a shade below the surface reveals a reality closer to despair than hope. Simply put, 30 years ago there were 10 African-Americans with PGA Tour cards. Today, there is one -- Tiger Woods.

The answer is simple. It's a lack of fathers in the home. Golf - much like baseball - is a game of fathers and sons. So naturally, if there are no fathers around, the sons will not participate. Nearly 70% of all black children today are born out-of-wedlock. Nearly 70%. That's astonishing.

The result is very little participation from blacks in golf and a dwindling number playing baseball. Many claim it's a class issue, but that's not true. The great Charlie Sifford and Lee Elder and Calvin Peete came from nothing - yet had fathers and a community that supported them. Therein lies the problem. It's the family, stupid.