Tuesday, August 30, 2005

I Was Wrong

I spoke prematurely yesterday regarding the severity of Hurricane Katrina, especially as it relates to New Orleans. A 200 foot break has occurred in the levee surrounding the 17th Street Canal and is slowly flooding the city. From everything I have heard, the flooding will continue until it is either stopped, or the level of water in the city is equal to that of Lake Pontchartrain. I have no idea how deep that is, but if that occurs it will be catastrophic.

An attempt is going to be made to drop huge sandbags by helicoptor into the break with the hopes that it will seal the break. Hopefully this will stop the flooding or at the very least, slow it down. I haven't been able to follow the story as closely as I would have liked due to work, so I won't attempt to provide many details here. The information above has been pulled in snippets from Brendan Loy's website as he has been following it from the beginning. I'm sure there are a lot details I have left out, so for accuracy's sake check it out there. I have found no better place to get detailed and updated information on Katrina. He links lots of other places as well.

Since there is a lot of information I am not aware of regarding this tragedy, it is probably best for me not to discuss the details for fear of getting them wrong. Had I known about the breach in the levee, yesterday's post would have been a lot different. I am not sure when the breach occurred, but I still want to apologize for reacting prematurely. I in no way intended to diminish the severity of the events and should have left the analysis to the experts.

Please keep those in Louisianna, Mississippi, and Alabama in your thoughts and prayers. Many lives have been lost and countless others have been forever changed. May God be with them and with those who endeavor to help them.

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Monday, August 29, 2005

Hurricane Katrina

It appears as though Hurricane Katrina wasn't as catastrophic to New Orleans as was predicted, which is to say that New Orleans still exists. From everything I was hearing yesterday, a direct hit would have completely destroyed the city. Comparisons were made to Atlantis, and from the looks of the storm yesterday, I was inclined to believe them. Thankfully that dire prediction didn't come to pass. That said, from all of the footage I have seen, this storm has inflicted some horrific damage along the coastlines of Louisianna and Mississippi, and continues to be a real threat further inland. It will probably be tommorrow or later before we know the full damage done by Katrina, but I think it is safe to say that it lived up to the hype.

I have never in my lifetime seen such a menacing looking storm and I thank God I was not in its path. My thoughts and prayers are with those who were and still are. I cannot imagine a more terrifying event to endure.

Leaving work today, I got soaked by an afternoon shower (possibly a far reaching rain band from Katrina) and a thought hit me. Most of the time I am annoyed when I get soaked by an afternoon thunderstorm or rain shower, but not today. Today I considered myself extremely fortunate to be riding home in wet clothes, because I knew I had a home to go back to and dry clothes to put on when I got there. I knew where my next meal was coming from and where I would lay my head tonight. There are many who don't have that luxury this evening, and possibly won't for some time. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers, because that may be all some have going for them right now.

Thanks to Outside the Beltway Traffic Jam and Mudville Gazette Open Post

Update: Brendan Loy has been extensively following Katrina. Lots of great information and eye-opening photos. Just start at the top and scroll!

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Wednesday, August 24, 2005

This is Why We Fight!

I've had something on my mind for quite some time now, and for reasons for which I'm not completely certain, have been unable to collect my thoughts on the matter adequately. In the interest of being polite, I have neglected discussing it here. I will probably never be able to express it well enough to be satisfied with the end result, but if nothing else, I will at least put my mind at ease. What has been on my mind is this: Anti-American rhetoric via the mainstream media and the anti-war left.

I should probably begin by saying that merely being anti-war is not what is bothering me. We are all Americans and have a right to express our opinions as we wish. War is an ugly business, so it is understandable to me that some people will react differently than others when it becomes a reality.

The problem I have is with the over-the-top rhetoric coming from some in the anti-war crowd, specifically the types of protesters that are currently encamped near the Bush Ranch in Crawford, Texas. I had not expressed my opinion on Cindy Sheehan because I was afraid my opinion would be viewed, at best, as impolite, and I didn't want to be appear unsympathetic to a grieving mother. I feel deeply for her as a grieving mother, but have absolutely no respect for the tactics she and others are currently using in their efforts. It is my opinion that her efforts long ago ceased being about Casey and have become largely agenda driven. The fact that she called our president, George W. Bush, the world's biggest terrorist, considers insurgents to be freedom fighters, and thinks our military is engaged in a war of terror, helped form this opinion.

I cannot fathom what it is about America that leads some people to decide to blame the country first for every problem that comes along. America has given these people the opportunity to express their opinions openly, and yet they seem to have forgotten the sacrifices that were made to give these rights to them.

It is America and the military they berate, that has given this right to them. They forget that if they were to have uttered any anti-establishment sentiments in either Iraq or Afghanistan as little as 4 years ago, they would have been executed within minutes of uttering the first few syllables. We're talking tongue extractions, feet first wood chipper rides, beheadings, hangings, firing squads; whatever struck the executioner's fancy at the time. This is what a lot of the anti-war crowd has chosen to defend, instead of the country that gives them the right to express their opinion without retribution. It seems to be primarily due to an uncontrolled hatred for George W. Bush. They appear to have made the decision to sell out their country for what amounts to approximately 520 votes.

The same goes for the mainstream media. They refuse to report good news coming from Iraq and Afghanistan simply because it might help George W. Bush. They have an agenda that requires them to spin the War on Terror in a way that does the most harm to the current administration, without regard for the damage it does to the country. The media can tell us the exact number of troops killed at any time of the day, how many car bombs exploded and where, and speculate about the Vietnam-like quagmire we are embroilled in, etc. but they won't tell us about successes such as restoring power grids, rebuilding schools, building roads, and training and equipping an Iraqi police force and a military that will allow them to handle their own security. They'll tell you about Iraqi people who want us to leave immediately but won't tell you about those who have gained a thirst for freedom, who are thankful they have been liberated, and who want us to stay until the job is finished. They'll lead you to believe that freedom cannot succeed there while neglecting the craving the Iraqi citizens have developed for it.

The media acts puzzled by the success of blogs while they stare at the very answer in the mirror. The media is precisely the reason that blogs have become such a success story. If the media was doing it's job, few people would need blogs to fill in the missing information. By failing to do their job, they have created the very monster they despise.

It seems to me that people have forgotten exactly what happened on 9/11. Have they wondered what the final thoughts were of those innocent people who looked out their windows on a gorgeous September day to see a commercial airliner flying straight toward them? I have.

Who would they have said goodbye to if only they had the chance? How many children were at home that afternoon wondering when Daddy would be there to play catch or what story Mommy would read them at bedtime? How would what happened be explained to them and by whom? Why did those who jumped have to be faced with the unconscionable decision of whether to burn to death or jump? Who will take care of my family? Did they know how much I loved them?

What decisions would I have made if death were a virtual certainty? I don't know, but I think about it a lot. I also wonder how anyone can place blame on anyone other than those who were responsible for it. How does one make the connection that everything we have done and will do in Iraq and Afghanistan is President Bush's fault? I can't tell you. My mind just doesn't work that way. I wonder if those who do think this way have forgotten the event that started it all.

I've heard some people say that they don't believe terrorists will ever strike us again and believe with all their hearts that we are the ones who caused it. Have the terrorists told them something they have told no one else? It seems to be forgotten by many that 9/11 was not the first time the World Trade Center was attacked. Do they remember February 26,1993? Six people were killed and over a thousand injured. The towers didn't fall then and virtually nothing was done about it other than a few arrests. It was treated as a law enforcement matter by the Clinton Administration. Nothing was done to eliminate the threat, they were able to regroup and continue planning, and they came back to attack us again. If we don't experience another terroist attack on our soil, it will only be because the threat was largely eliminated by treating it for what it actually is: WAR!

If we pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan before the job is finished, they will do it again. They want us all dead and will keep trying until they succeed or they are stopped. The last thing I want is for the anti-war crowd to get their way and, in the end, prove me right. It would dishonor those who have been innocently slaughtered by terrorists and those who have fought and died to avenge those deaths and promote freedom across the globe.

Thanks to Mudville Gazette Open Post

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Monday, August 22, 2005

Light Blogging

I realize blogging has been rather light lately. I'm still trying to fit it into a very hectic school, homework, and work schedule. For regular readers, don't worry, I haven't given up on it. I've had no shortage of opinions, just a shortage of time. Keep checking back. I'm not planning on going anywhere!

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Friday, August 19, 2005

Warning: Do Not View While Drinking!


(Via Cox & Forkum)

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ACLU To Start Advising Terrorists

Jay at Stop the ACLU brought some breaking news to my attention:

(Via World Net Daily)

Prisoners advised of ‘right’ not to answer interrogators

U.S. military sources tell Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin that American Civil Liberties Union attorneys have been permitted to advise Guantanamo Bay prisoners, including Taliban and al-Qaida operatives, that they have the right not to answer the questions of interrogators.

In addition, the Pentagon has brought in a veteran staff attorney from the ACLU to serve as chief defense counsel in future military tribunals.

That story is breaking now at the premium, online, intelligence newsletter published by the founder of WND.

Jay adds:

I think there will be more to come on this. But just a short note…I know all of these prisoners might not be guilty, but many of them are without question. Many are sworn enemies of America bent on destroying liberty. How does this fall into American civil liberties? And why is it not considered aiding the enemy? And why is the pentagon involved in this crap? The ACLU is on the wrong side of liberty yet again.

Looks like the ACLU is proving yet again they would rather embolden terrorists than defend the rights of ordinary Americans. Oh, I forgot! They haven't been in that business in quite a while.


By the way, if anyone from the ACLU is reading this, I have some information that you might find particularly helpful: The detainees at Guantanamo Bay aren't Americans, they're terrorists!
I think a name change might be in order if this is the class of people you feel you have to defend.
If you merely change the 'A' to a 'T' you would more accurately reflect your current mission statement. Just a thought!

Thanks to Mudville Gazette Open Post

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Thursday, August 18, 2005

Gaza Withdrawal Has No Upside

I have been wanting to post my thoughts regarding the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip for a couple of days now. I chose to wait, with the thought that some reflection might allow me to see some small sliver of logic behind this move. Sadly, but not surprisingly, I found none.

I don't know another way to express my thoughts on this matter other than being absolutely direct. This is, without a doubt, one of the most asinine atrocities a democratic government could ever inflict upon its own people. In the interest of forming some sort of peace with the Palestinians, the Israeli government is siding with terrorism over the welfare of its own people. It is a move, in my opinion, that will repay them with further terrorism one hundred fold.

The Palestinian people, whether it is politically correct to say so or not, are a people who are largely controlled by Hamas and other like-minded terror groups. On balance, they do nothing to denounce these terrorist organizations, and by doing nothing, they give them tacit approval for the terrorist attacks they commit against the Jewish people. Israel has just invited them to become their next door neighbors in a one-sided agreement that gives Israel nothing.

The Israeli government has essentially made a deal with the devil. They have decided, for reasons unclear to me, that it is a good idea to forcibly remove its own citizens from their land and give it to a group of people who largely support terrorism against their country. They are replacing largely law abiding citizens with those who largely wish to destroy them.

The terrorism will not stop as a result of this move; it will be thought to have been effective and they will be emboldened by it. They don't merely want their own homeland, they want the total elimination of Israel. They will not stop at Gaza. Next they will demand the West Bank. Will you cede that to them as well? Tel Aviv and Jerusalem will soon follow. Israel gets absolutely nothing in this deal, but gives away practically any guarantee for their future security.

Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Prime Minister, had this to say in an interview with MSNBC anchor Lester Holt:

You know I’ve been advocating policy of fight terrorism, not rewarding terrorism for the last 20 years, probably actually a little more than that, during my days as ambassador in the U.N., I think I’ve carved out a thoroughly consistent record, as a did also as prime minister, what works is when you stand up to terror, what doesn’t work is when you give it rewards. Unfortunately, and probably for good intentions, we’re giving terror a reward which will result in bad consequences. Not only for us by the way, because I think Gaza could very well be, over the next couple of years, may turn out to be an invaluable base for terror, just as Lebanon used to be, because there is no government, and this I fully agree with our ambassador in Washington, you’re really going to see whether Abu Masin does anything to terrorists. He hasn’t lifted a finger, and I suspect he’s not going to lift a finger and the result will be far from advancing the cause of peace, which I fervently want, this will set peace back and set terror forward.


Read the whole thing.

This is from a man who has forgotten more about fighting terrorism than most of us will ever know! He believes, as do I, that this is a bad deal despite what may have been good intentions.

We have all heard that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Whether it was intended or not, this pullout, which lacks reciprocity and built in security for Israel, puts hell that much closer to their doorstep.

Thanks to Mudville Gazette Open Post

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Sunday, August 14, 2005

What's a Link from Captain's Quarters Worth?

(Via Captain Ed)

Captain Ed is in full disclosure mode as he live blogs Justice Sunday II in Nashville. In an earlier post he informed us, in the interest of full disclosure, that his travel expenses would be covered in return for his coverage of the event. He said nothing about who would be covering his transportation, food, and drink expenses while he was there. Not until today, that is!

Apparently, Lance from Red State Rant picked up the lunch tab for Captain Ed, Trey Jackson, and Joe Carter before the event today and has also been providing transportation while they are there. I am going to take a wild guess here and say that Captain Ed's bill for lunch was between $10-$14 based on the picture of Lance from Red State Rant on Captain's Quarters. It looks suspiciously like Applebee's, or some place very similar in the background, so I'm sticking with the $10-$14 range with a margin of error of plus or minus $2-$3.

Lance from Red State Rant got 8 links in one post from Captain Ed today at a price of between $1.25-$1.75 per link. Of course the price goes up some when you factor in transportation costs, but it still seems like Lance from Red State Rant got quite a value. I checked all of the links and each one sends you to Red State Rant, which of course is the blog of Lance from Red State Rant.

Of course I mean all of this in good humor because I know that Lance at Red State Rant is just being a true southern gentleman and displaying the hospitality that we Southerners are known for. I'm sure that Lance at Red State Rant would have done the same thing even if he hadn't gotten a single link, because that's just what we do in the South. We make others feel welcome. Lance at Red State Rant is no exception.

(By the way Lance, I just provided 9 links to your site in one post, and it didn't cost you a dime. What can I say? I'm cheap!)

Full Disclosure: In the interest of full disclosure, the above post was intended to be humorous in nature. No seriousness was intended nor should be implied.

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Friday, August 12, 2005

Friday Night Funny!

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Thursday, August 11, 2005

9/11 Commission Report Omits Relevant Information

Much has been made of the supposed failure of the Bush Administration and others to “connect-the-dots” regarding intelligence available prior to the attacks of September 11, as if doing so would have prevented it. Maybe. Maybe Not. The fact is that 19 terrorists boarded 4 airliners armed with little more than box cutters and a willingness to die for their cause. It is incredibly difficult to stop a group of terrorists with such an intense motivation and determination to complete their assignment. Not impossible, but not at all guaranteed, regardless of the steps taken to prevent it.

I have always felt the 9/11 Commission would amount to little more than an organized witch-hunt. They had the benefit of hindsight and used it, in my opinion, to place blame instead of solve problems. However, it now appears they have withheld evidence that should have been included in their report. They didn’t fail to connect-the-dots; they just failed to include the dots that didn’t fit within their preconceived notions.

This from Yahoo News via Captain Ed:

The Sept. 11 commission knew military intelligence officials had identified lead hijacker Mohamed Atta as a member of al-Qaida who might be part of U.S.-based terror cell more than a year before the terror attacks but decided not to include that in its final report, a spokesman acknowledged Thursday.

Al Felzenberg, who had been the commission's chief spokesman, said Tuesday the panel was unaware of intelligence specifically naming Atta. But he said subsequent information provided Wednesday confirmed that the commission had been aware of the intelligence.

It did not make it into the final report because the information was not consistent with what the commission knew about Atta's whereabouts before the attacks, Felzenberg said

I suppose it’s fairly simple to connect-the-dots when you can pick and choose which dots to use! It takes a lot of nerve to accuse others of missing links that may have prevented 9/11 only to turn around and omit relevant information from the final report. I think they call this hypocrisy.

Michelle Malkin notes:

The 9/11 Commission was supposed to give the America people a complete, unbiased story of the government failures that led up to the September 11 terrorist attacks. But the Commission now admits its acclaimed Final Report ignored key information provided by a U.S. Army data mining project, Able Danger, which identified Mohammed Atta and several other hijackers as potential terrorists prior to the September 11 attacks. The Able Danger team recommended that Atta and the other suspected terrorists be deported. That recommendation, however, was not shared with law enforcement officials, presumably because of the "wall" between intelligence activities and domestic law enforcement.

I think it is now safe to assume that the 9/11 Commission was nothing more than an exercise in hypocrisy and a waste of taxpayer money. What little credibility the commission had, has now vanished as a result of the swollen egos and self-righteousness of its members.

Thanks to Mudville Gazette Open Post and Outside the Beltway Traffic Jam

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Wednesday, August 10, 2005

See No Evil! Hear No Evil! Speak No Evil!

I have been a little busy this week and as a result, have not been able to maintain my normal blogging routine. Pundit Junior started 1st Grade this week, and needless to say, things have been a little different around here. He seems to be handling it rather well! Mom and Dad are a different story, but we're slowly coming around as well.

Another person who has been busy this week is John in Carolina. He took it upon himself to take on Melanie Sill, editor of the Raleigh News and Observer regarding the Air America scandal. I'm sure you are aware of it, but apparently the stench hasn't drifted Ms. Sill's direction yet.

He provided this to try to help her along:

The scandal has been widely reported in all New York City newspapers except the liberal Times. For instance, here and here. National newspaper columnists have reported on it. Here’s Mark Steyn’s column. Bloggers have reported, with Michelle Malkin and Ed Morrissey on top of the story every day. I just Googled “Air America loan scandal” and got more than 330,000 hits.

Here's Ms. Sills response to John:

John,

I'll repeat this brief response on the blog... we've checked our news
services repeatedly and do not find this story. In searching blogs I
find repeated references but no original reporting. Thus I'm not
certain at this point what "story" exists on Air America, but if a
story is reported and distributed we will look at publishing it. I'd
point out that this is an example of conspiracy theories without basis.
You accuse me and The N&O of bias -- where is any evidence of this?

Best regards,
Melanie Sill


John provided 5 different sources plus 330,000 Google hits to Ms. Sill and she was still unable to find any evidence of a story. There is an elephant in the room, and she is staring out the window pretending it doesn't exist. This is the textbook definition of bias, in my opinion.

John is calling on anyone who can provide any additional information that might clear things up for Ms. Sill, to contact her via her blog. I doubt it will help. After all, if she can ignore a single elephant in the room, it's probably not much of a stretch to believe she could ignore an entire herd.

Note: Captain Ed and Michelle Malkin have been all over this story since the moment it broke. Just follow the links and scroll to your heart's content.

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Monday, August 08, 2005

Farewell for Now, Michael Churchill

Blog buddy Michael Churchill has made his last post for a few months. A member of the Armed Forces, he is leaving to serve his country for a few months, but left us this to remember him by until he returns:

A Patriots Poem

When I think about what I want: I am reminded of what I have.
When I can realize what I have: I am reminded of what it took to achieve it.
Nothing in life is easy, and if it was, it wasn’t worth it.
What do you feel and think about when the National Anthem is played?
I feel an overwhelming sense of pride.

When I think about what I have lost: I am reminded of what I have gained.
When I can realize what I have gained: I am reminded of what it took to achieve it.
Nothing in life should be taken for granted, and if you have, you may want to re-consider.
What do you feel and think about when you see a plane full of soldiers returning from Iraq to loved ones?
I feel an overwhelming sense of duty and honor.

When you think about it, about our country: remember those who serve to defend it.
When you think about what you have: remember what it took to achieve it.
Serving our country is not easy, and if it were, I wouldn’t do it.
So the next time you hear the National Anthem played, remember those who serve, and those who have come before.
It’s not until you realize what you have lost, that you are reminded of what you have gained…

Freedom.


God bless and good bye.


God be with you, Michael, and with your family, and all with whom you serve! You make us proud!

Also posted on Mudville Gazette Open Post and Outside the Beltway Traffic Jam

Update: Big Thanks to Mudville Gazette for their link to this post in the 8/9 Dawn Patrol.
I'm sure Michael will appreciate the opportunity for more readers to be able to enjoy his poem. It is, without a doubt, among the best I've ever read!

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Saturday, August 06, 2005

There's a Tear in My Foster's

(Via Mudville Gazette, Michelle Malkin)

I found out yesterday that, within a month, Arthur Chrenkoff will no longer be blogging. No more Good News from Iraq, Good News from Afghanistan, and, in general, no more Chrenken' off. The reason he will no longer be blogging is, to me, the saddest part of it all. He's not leaving because he wants to, he's leaving because he has to.

One of the conditions for accepting a new job was that he not blog or write anymore. I can think of no greater injustice than telling someone who has such an obvious gift for writing and research, that he is no longer able to do so. I'm sure Arthur has some very compelling reasons for agreeing to these terms, but I can imagine the decision is tearing him up inside. I can't speak for him, but I know that's how I would feel and I don't have one tenth of his talent and ability.

Michelle Malkin said in her post yesterday "In an ideal world, someone smart in the journalism business would have hired him full-time to allow him to keep doing what he is doing." I honestly can't understand why they haven't. You don't get the talent of Arthur Chrenkoff from journalism school, you are born with it. His talent would be invaluable to any news organization regardless of what they paid him. They would instantly be able to provide well sourced and well researched reports available nowhere else in the mainstream media. Given the current track record in the media these days, he would be worth his weight in gold.

I would like to wish Arthur all the best in his new endeavor and wish him all the success in the world. I have never met him, but like many others, feel that I know him. After all, isn't that the trademark of a talented writer?

In a perfect world, Arthur would continue his work anonymously. The information he provides is invaluable and will be sorely missed. Those who regularly read him don't have to see his name to know who is behind the keyboard.

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Thursday, August 04, 2005

Heh!


This was just too good to pass up. I Hope it will suffice for today. Life called and I'm running late. Hopefully normalcy will return tomorrow.

Captain Ed and Michelle Malkin have extensive coverage of the scandal that is, no doubt, the inspiration for the above cartoon. Don't waste your time looking for coverage in the mainstream media; it's not there. Zip! Zero! Nada!


Hat Tip: Cox and Forkum

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Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Here We Go Again!

It's August, so it must be time for the annual report of the President's vacation habits by The Washington Post:


WACO, Tex., Aug. 2 -- President Bush is getting the kind of break most Americans can only dream of -- nearly five weeks away from the office, loaded with vacation time.

The president departed Tuesday for his longest stretch yet away from the White House, arriving at his Crawford ranch in the evening to clear brush, visit with family and friends, and tend to some outside-the-Beltway politics. By historical standards, it is the longest presidential retreat in at least 36 years.


The August getaway is Bush's 49th trip to his cherished ranch since taking office and Tuesday was the 319th day that Bush has spent, entirely or partially, in Crawford -- roughly 20 percent of his presidency to date, according to Mark Knoller, a CBS Radio reporter known for keeping better records of the president's travel than the White House itself. Weekends and holidays at Camp David or at his parents' compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, bump up the proportion of Bush's time away from Washington even further.

Bush's long vacations are more than a curiosity: They play into diametrically opposite arguments about this leadership style. To critics and late-night comics, they symbolize a lackadaisical approach to the world's most important day job, an impression bolstered by Bush's periodic two-hour midday exercise sessions and his disinclination to work nights or weekends. The more vociferous among Bush's foes have noted that he spent a month at the ranch shortly before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when critics assert he should have been more attentive to warning signs.


The Washington Post loves to bring this non-story to light this time every year in what can only be viewed as an attempt to cast a negative light on President Bush. If I were writing it, however, I probably would have researched my source just a tad to make sure he hadn't said something previously that would make my story dead on arrival. They obviously didn't.

According to Mark Knoller, August 19,2004:


When it comes to the president, one phrase the White House hates to use is: "On vacation."

It conjures up an unflattering image of a chief executive with his feet up and the phone off the hook - ignoring the responsibilities of his office.

Of course, it's a myth. American presidents these days can get away from the Oval Office, but not its responsibilities. The burdens of the job follow him wherever he goes - including his ranch in central Texas.

Word of Advice: If you are going to go to all the trouble to cast the President in a negative light, make sure your source doesn't do the same to you.

Others Blogging: Blogs for Bush, GOP Bloggers

Thanks to Mudville Gazette Open Post

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Intelligent Design vs. Evolution

It appears that President Bush caused quite a stir with these comments yesterday:

President Bush said Monday he believes schools should discuss ''intelligent design'' alongside evolution when teaching students about the creation of life.

During a round-table interview with reporters from five Texas newspapers, Bush declined to go into detail on his personal views of the origin of life. But he said students should learn about both theories, Knight Ridder Newspapers reported.

''I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought,'' Bush said. ''You're asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, the answer is yes.''

The theory of intelligent design says life on earth is too complex to have developed through evolution, implying that a higher power must have had a hand in creation.


So that there is no confusion as to where I stand on the matter: I am a Christian and make no apology for it. That means that I believe God created the Heavens and the Earth and it was not the result of a "big bang" or some other theory. If there was a bang, God fired the gun that caused it! That's what I believe. Based on a lot of what I've read in the blogosphere today, my statement above may create more enemies than allies. If that means that a lot of readers I have come to know and respect, stop visiting my site or delete me from their blogrolls, so be it. I believe what I believe. I feel I have been tolerant of opposing points of view and would hope they would be as well, but if they aren't, then it is a price I am willing to pay.

That said, I don't believe that Intelligent Design or Creationism should be taught in public schools. My personal reason is they won't teach it correctly. I much prefer my children learn it from their parents and their church. I also don't believe that Creationism is a science and it should not be taught as such. Creationism stems from faith, not from science.

The thing that is disappointing to me about the discussion of the President's comments, is the intolerance of opposing views to Evolution in the blogosphere today. I'm just talking about the center to right side of the blogosphere! I'm not naming names here because frankly, the vitriol is embarrasing. There are some who are lumping people who even fathom Creationism as a possibility, into the drooling idiot category. This is unbelievable to me! At times, it was as though I was visiting the discussion forums at Democratic Underground.

I believe in Creation, but that does not mean that I don't believe life forms have adapted to their environments over the ages. How many cavemen and dinosaurs have you seen lately? I believe that they existed and I don't believe fossils are some type of conspiracy dumped on us by scientists.

Because I believe God had a hand in these changes, am I to be looked upon as some sort of idiot? Is what I believe any more idiotic than thinking that everything appeared out of thin air? Where did the thin air come from that everything supposedly sprang from? Where did the first thing that evolved, evolve from? I believe someone set everything in motion, and unlike the Deists, I believe he stuck around afterwards. Is that supposed to make me more of a fool than those who believe it was all set in motion by some process of which the absolute beginning can't be pinpointed?

My intention is not to make waves here, but to demonstrate how pathetic it is to paint Creationists as idiotic, merely because their views are different than your own. We're not talking about political opinion here, we are talking about basic beliefs that make us each who we are as a person. There are opposing views as to how we all got here, and while I don't personally believe Evolution is the theory to end all theories, I can respect one's right to believe what they wish.

I believe President Bush was merely pointing out that there are theories other than Evolution , not promoting religious indoctrination in the public school system. Why should Evolution be accepted at face value as the only possibility for our existence? The fact that Evolution is a theory means that it has not yet been proven as fact.

Sure, there are findings that can be used to support Evolution to a certain point, just as there are findings that can be used to support events in the Bible. If either view is to be taught in our public schools, why shouldn't the other be presented in it's proper context? It doesn't have to be: God created the Heavens and the Earth. It could be as simple as: Other theories suggest that a higher power created the universe. Why is Evolution relevant while Intelligent Design is not? I think that is all that President Bush was trying to point out.

I guess the bottom line for me is this: On one hand, I don't think Intelligent Design should be taught in Public Schools because I don't believe it belongs in a science class. On the other hand, I don't believe the Theory of Evolution should be taught as if it is proven fact either. At the very least, students should be informed that Evolution is but one of many widely accepted views. What's wrong with that?

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Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Hail to the Chief!

President Bush has made a recess appointment of John Bolton to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and I couldn't be happier. The President gets the man he wants at the United Nations to try to restore some sort of credibility there, (a monumental task in my opinion) and he sidesteps the Senate to do it.

Actually, sidestep is probably the wrong word to describe what President Bush did. He acted on authority specifically granted to the President in the U.S. Constitution:

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session. (Emphasis added)


When you get right down to it, President Bush would be well within his executive powers to recess appoint John Roberts to the Supreme Court if he chose to do so. So much for all of the documentation the Democrats are demanding on Roberts for the confirmation process! Roberts could actually serve on the Supreme Court until the end of the next Congressional session without answering a single question. Now there's a thought!

Back to Bolton, I think he is the right man for the job and regardless of what the Democrats would have us believe, he would most likely have been confirmed if he had not been filibustered. President Bush stood by Bolton and did the right thing. America doesn't need another Kofi Annan sympathizer at the U.N., they need someone who will hold them accountable for their actions and who speaks for the President. I believe Bolton will do just that.

Although the Democrats may cry foul, they don't have a leg to stand on. They may claim "abuse of power" and other such nonsense, but all that has occurred is the legitimate exercise thereof. Power is won at the ballot box in what we in America like to call elections and it isn't being abused, it is being utilized. As much as the Democrats may hate it, the President is in charge, not them.

Thanks to Mudville Gazette and Outside the Beltway Traffic Jam

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Monday, August 01, 2005

Just Returned

I just returned from a camping trip with my family over the weekend. I should get back to normal shortly, but haven't been able to comment for the last couple of days. I guess you could say I was in the middle of nowhere. I couldn't even get a signal on my cell phone where I was. I will be posting again soon, but thought an explanation about my whereabouts was in order.

I will have comments on President Bush's recess appointment of John Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the UN and other recent developments as soon as I can get the time. You can probably guess that I am happy that the President has taken this step.

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