There's a group, the Illinois Association of Minorities in Government, that strongly hints we need hiring quotas at presidential libraries. Or at least at Springfield's new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.
From AP:
The head of a group representing minorities says the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum's hiring record is a disappointment to Lincoln's legacy.
Roy Williams of the Illinois Association of Minorities in Government wrote a letter to library officials this week in which he said it was unacceptable that only seven of the complex's 107 employees, or 6.5 percent, are minorities.
``I just think that makes it more appalling in that Lincoln stood for... equality for all,'' said Williams of the nation's 16th president.
``When you look at what the man stood for and what he was about, it just doesn't match,'' Williams said. ``I believe they should live up to the standard of Lincoln.''
Williams blamed Gov. Rod Blagojevich's office for dictating who should be hired, including people with family ties or other connections. He wants to meet with library officials to discuss ways to improve minority hiring.
Blagojevich spokeswoman Cheryle Jackson disputed the governor's office role in hiring, saying the state's personnel code largely determines employment.
The library's executive director, Richard Norton Smith, said officials had discretion in hiring about 50 library and museum employees, with the rest coming primarily from the state historic library and other state agencies.
Twelve African-Americans passed state tests for open positions, he said. Eight were asked to interview, and four turned down that chance. The remaining four were offered jobs and three accepted.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Chicago's Mayor Daley apologizes for corruption
From AP, Hat tip to Third Wave Dave:
Mayor Richard Daley has apologized for the state of scandal-plagued City Hall, saying he should have done more to prevent corruption in his administration.
Speaking to about 300 people at a budget hearing Tuesday night at the South Shore Cultural Center, the mayor said he should have worked harder to ensure good government.
"It's become clear to me that I should have done more to maintain higher ethical standards and prevent corruption," he said. "I let you down by not putting the same energy into fixing those problems that I have into moving our city forward."
Federal authorities have spent more than 18 months investigating bribes given in return for jobs in a city trucking program. Earlier this year, that probe expanded to alleged fraud in the city's hiring practices.
Behind that prosecutorial drive against Chicago's City Hall is US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. He's also the force behind the indictment (see earlier post from today) that led to the guilty plea of political consultant--and husband of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky--Robert Creamer.
His office is also presenting the case against former Illinois Governor George Ryan.
In short, Patrick Fitzgerald is cleaning up at least some of the sleaze that pervades Illinois politics.
His aggressiveness as a prosecutor has not made Fitzgerald popular with the power brokers--Republican and Democratic--in Illinois.
Fitzgerald's four year term is up in October. Many of those power brokers don't want him back.
Courtesy of Cal Skinner, there is a web site dedicated to the cause of keeping Patrick Fitzgerald as US Attorney for Northeastern Illinois. Here is that site, and spread the good word about Fitzgerald around, even if you don't live in Illinois.
Mayor Richard Daley has apologized for the state of scandal-plagued City Hall, saying he should have done more to prevent corruption in his administration.
Speaking to about 300 people at a budget hearing Tuesday night at the South Shore Cultural Center, the mayor said he should have worked harder to ensure good government.
"It's become clear to me that I should have done more to maintain higher ethical standards and prevent corruption," he said. "I let you down by not putting the same energy into fixing those problems that I have into moving our city forward."
Federal authorities have spent more than 18 months investigating bribes given in return for jobs in a city trucking program. Earlier this year, that probe expanded to alleged fraud in the city's hiring practices.
Behind that prosecutorial drive against Chicago's City Hall is US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald. He's also the force behind the indictment (see earlier post from today) that led to the guilty plea of political consultant--and husband of Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky--Robert Creamer.
His office is also presenting the case against former Illinois Governor George Ryan.
In short, Patrick Fitzgerald is cleaning up at least some of the sleaze that pervades Illinois politics.
His aggressiveness as a prosecutor has not made Fitzgerald popular with the power brokers--Republican and Democratic--in Illinois.
Fitzgerald's four year term is up in October. Many of those power brokers don't want him back.
Courtesy of Cal Skinner, there is a web site dedicated to the cause of keeping Patrick Fitzgerald as US Attorney for Northeastern Illinois. Here is that site, and spread the good word about Fitzgerald around, even if you don't live in Illinois.
Phelps' Westboro cult praises Katrina, calls USA an "evil fag nation"
Here is the latest press release from that scumbag group, the Westboro Baptist Church.
Moron Fred Phelps: His miniscule congregation is scheduled to be in Constantine, Michigan tomorrow to picket the wake and funeral of Sgt. Brian Morris, who was killed in Iraq earlier this month, as this Marathon Pundit post explains.
To borrow from Herman Melville's Moby Dick:
From hell's heart I stab at thee...
Moron Fred Phelps: His miniscule congregation is scheduled to be in Constantine, Michigan tomorrow to picket the wake and funeral of Sgt. Brian Morris, who was killed in Iraq earlier this month, as this Marathon Pundit post explains.
To borrow from Herman Melville's Moby Dick:
From hell's heart I stab at thee...
Congresswoman Schakowsky's husband pleads guilty to fraud
Democrat Jan Schakowsky represents Marathon Pundit in Congress. She's a moonbat's moonbat, as you'll read here.
Schakowsky has not been accused of wrongdoing, as the below article correctly explains. However, while her husband, Robert Creamer, was the Executive Director of the Illinois Public Action Council (the vantage point from which Creamer was manipulating these schemes), Jan was on the group's board of directors.
Creamer is a political force in his own right, having worked as a political consultant for fellow Democrats Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago and Illinois' Governor Rod Blagojevich.
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
Political consultant Robert Creamer, the husband of U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, pleaded guilty Wednesday to writing rubber checks and failing to collect withholding tax from an employee so he could use the money to pay a bill.
Creamer, 58, could face four years in prison on the two felony counts when he is sentenced Dec. 21.
Schakowsky was by Creamer's side as he pleaded guilty.
"I still stand by him," the Democrat said after the hearing. "He's a wonderful man, and this doesn't define what he is."
Creamer pleaded guilty to one count each of bank fraud and failure to collect withholding tax. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped several other counts.
Prosecutors said they hope Judge James B. Moran will sentence Creamer to four years behind bars. His lawyer, Theodore Poulos, said he hopes his client can avoid prison and serve whatever sentence he receives in a halfway house or house arrest.
Schakowsky, who lives in the Chicago suburb of Evanston and represents a heavily Democratic district, said she didn't think Creamer's plea would prompt a primary challenge next year. She has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
UPDATE 3:00 PM CDT: Associated Press has a more detailed article here.
An excerpt:
Creamer admitted in his 18-page signed plea agreement that he wrote checks on accounts that lacked sufficient funds to cover them. He was able to do this repeatedly because he moved money from one account to another in three banks in 1997, playing what bankers describe as the float and thus making them believe that the accounts had more money in them than they actually did.
Schakowsky has not been accused of wrongdoing, as the below article correctly explains. However, while her husband, Robert Creamer, was the Executive Director of the Illinois Public Action Council (the vantage point from which Creamer was manipulating these schemes), Jan was on the group's board of directors.
Creamer is a political force in his own right, having worked as a political consultant for fellow Democrats Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago and Illinois' Governor Rod Blagojevich.
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
Political consultant Robert Creamer, the husband of U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, pleaded guilty Wednesday to writing rubber checks and failing to collect withholding tax from an employee so he could use the money to pay a bill.
Creamer, 58, could face four years in prison on the two felony counts when he is sentenced Dec. 21.
Schakowsky was by Creamer's side as he pleaded guilty.
"I still stand by him," the Democrat said after the hearing. "He's a wonderful man, and this doesn't define what he is."
Creamer pleaded guilty to one count each of bank fraud and failure to collect withholding tax. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped several other counts.
Prosecutors said they hope Judge James B. Moran will sentence Creamer to four years behind bars. His lawyer, Theodore Poulos, said he hopes his client can avoid prison and serve whatever sentence he receives in a halfway house or house arrest.
Schakowsky, who lives in the Chicago suburb of Evanston and represents a heavily Democratic district, said she didn't think Creamer's plea would prompt a primary challenge next year. She has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
UPDATE 3:00 PM CDT: Associated Press has a more detailed article here.
An excerpt:
Creamer admitted in his 18-page signed plea agreement that he wrote checks on accounts that lacked sufficient funds to cover them. He was able to do this repeatedly because he moved money from one account to another in three banks in 1997, playing what bankers describe as the float and thus making them believe that the accounts had more money in them than they actually did.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Katrina: A natural and man-made disaster
The storm itself was bad enough. That's the natural disaster. Reports are coming in of widespread looting, and now a prison riot where hostages have been taken.
A police officer in New Orleans was shot in the head by looter, the cop is expected to recover, thankfully.
I'm sure there are plenty of stories of person sacrifice and heroism, but these reports are quite depressing.
Michelle Malkin is working overtime on the developing Katrina story, and if there were Academy Awards for blogging, she'd win all of them for her work on the Hurricane Katrina and it's aftermath.
A police officer in New Orleans was shot in the head by looter, the cop is expected to recover, thankfully.
I'm sure there are plenty of stories of person sacrifice and heroism, but these reports are quite depressing.
Michelle Malkin is working overtime on the developing Katrina story, and if there were Academy Awards for blogging, she'd win all of them for her work on the Hurricane Katrina and it's aftermath.
Saudi sheikh issues anti-soccer fatwa, some players quit & join the Iraqi jihad
From the Arab News:
An interesting article published in Al-Watan newspaper last week mentioned a fatwa (religious edict) from a sheikh here that had been published on the Internet. It said that playing soccer was sinful in Islam if it did not abide by certain rules. The rules it specified were as follows:
1. That players should not wear T-shirts with numbers on them, trousers, or shorts, and only play with their sleeping clothes, as wearing the previously mentioned items would be copying the infidels.
(My note: But they'd be copying the infidel Pajamahudeen!)
2. That there be three periods instead of two, so that it would not comply with the international standards of soccer set by the infidels.
3. That players should spit in the face of the striker if he rejoices in scoring a goal in the opposing team’s net, as the purpose of the game is to be fit only, not for rejoicing in scoring.
4. The utterance of all words such as “foul”, “penalty”, “out”, and others is sinful since they are made up by the infidels who set soccer rules. There should also not be a crowd watching or cheering the game.
The fatwa goes on, but I think I will stop here. According to press reports, three Saudi players of a local football club in Taif named “Al-Rasheed” left their team because of the fatwa, and also left the country to join the jihadists in Iraq.
And to think the sheikh left out of his fatwa the abhorent soccer curse: The scoreless tie!
An interesting article published in Al-Watan newspaper last week mentioned a fatwa (religious edict) from a sheikh here that had been published on the Internet. It said that playing soccer was sinful in Islam if it did not abide by certain rules. The rules it specified were as follows:
1. That players should not wear T-shirts with numbers on them, trousers, or shorts, and only play with their sleeping clothes, as wearing the previously mentioned items would be copying the infidels.
(My note: But they'd be copying the infidel Pajamahudeen!)
2. That there be three periods instead of two, so that it would not comply with the international standards of soccer set by the infidels.
3. That players should spit in the face of the striker if he rejoices in scoring a goal in the opposing team’s net, as the purpose of the game is to be fit only, not for rejoicing in scoring.
4. The utterance of all words such as “foul”, “penalty”, “out”, and others is sinful since they are made up by the infidels who set soccer rules. There should also not be a crowd watching or cheering the game.
The fatwa goes on, but I think I will stop here. According to press reports, three Saudi players of a local football club in Taif named “Al-Rasheed” left their team because of the fatwa, and also left the country to join the jihadists in Iraq.
And to think the sheikh left out of his fatwa the abhorent soccer curse: The scoreless tie!
Michelle Malkin on Katrina
Same as yesterday, Michelle Malkin is doing a fabulous job chronicling the ongoing disaster of Hurricane Katrina.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Chicago Reader on the Alan Dershowitz-Norman Finkelstein feud
The very liberal free-weekly, The Chicago Reader, as an article about the feud between Alan Dershowitz and DePaul University's Norman Finkelstein.
It's available here as an Adobe PDF file, you're going to have to magnify it to read the article.
The Reader, in my opinion, is overly sympathetic towards the Finkelstein side. Norman has been called a holocaust denier by the Anti-Defamation League.
It's available here as an Adobe PDF file, you're going to have to magnify it to read the article.
The Reader, in my opinion, is overly sympathetic towards the Finkelstein side. Norman has been called a holocaust denier by the Anti-Defamation League.
Southern Illinois loses another orthopedic surgeon
From the Belleville News-Democrat:
Dr. Donald Serot's announcement that he was quitting medicine took everyone by surprise.
A mainstay of the area's shrinking pool of orthopedic surgeons, Serot, 58, was known as both an aggressive marketer and a surgical innovator.
As owner of the Center for Orthopedics in Belleville, Serot brought in hundreds of patients -- many of them from outside St. Clair County-- for knee and hip replacements.
Performing operations two days a week at Belleville's Memorial Hospital, Serot averaged about 500 surgeries a year and grossed at least $1.5 million in revenue, Illinois secretary of state records show.
But on July 27, Serot announced suddenly that he was leaving medicine for good.
"Despite all the rumors, I am merely leaving because the medical world has changed so drastically in my 28 years in practice," he wrote in a letter to Memorial Hospital colleagues.
Two weeks before his sudden announcement, though, Serot settled a medical malpractice lawsuit filed against him in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
The Metro East area (the Illinois side of the the St. Louis metropolitan area) is the lawsuit capital of America. Madison County (ironically, the home of the Downstate Pundit) is nationally known as a good place to file lucrative class-action suits.
Belleville is in neighboring St. Clair County. For years, doctors have been leaving St. Clair and the other Metro East counties because they can't afford the medical malpractice premiums insurers charge doctors practicing medicine there. Neuro-surgeons, oby-gyn doctors, and orthopedic surgeons are hard to find in Metro East. The John Edwards types have chased them away, compelling the residents of this area to travel far from home to find the medical services they need.
Of course, the Democratic Party, the "party of the little guy," has little to say about this problem, because of course trial lawyers are a massive source of political donations for the Dems.
Last week, Governor Blagojevich (yes, a Democrat) finally signed a tort-reform bill placing caps on medical-malpractice suits. But it was too late for Dr. Serot. Sure, he claims family considerations are the reason for his leaving medicine. Perhaps that's true, or maybe he's too much of a gentleman to tell the nasty truth.
Then again, maybe Dr. Serot knows that doctors in Metro East--and those in need of medical help from that area---aren't safe yet.
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
At some point in the not-too-distant future -- perhaps it already happened Thursday after Gov. Blagojevich signed his new law limiting medical lawsuits -- a doctor somewhere in Illinois probably will make a mistake, causing his or her patient a catastrophic injury.
That will trigger not just a lawsuit against the doctor and/or the hospital, but a lawsuit seeking to have the new law Blagojevich just signed declared unconstitutional.
Illinois' trial lawyers say this law violates all the same parts of the state Constitution that are still in place from 10 years ago and 30 years ago when the state Supreme Court struck down laws limiting the amount of money juries can award victims of medical malpractice to $500,000 for non-economic damages.
Dr. Donald Serot's announcement that he was quitting medicine took everyone by surprise.
A mainstay of the area's shrinking pool of orthopedic surgeons, Serot, 58, was known as both an aggressive marketer and a surgical innovator.
As owner of the Center for Orthopedics in Belleville, Serot brought in hundreds of patients -- many of them from outside St. Clair County-- for knee and hip replacements.
Performing operations two days a week at Belleville's Memorial Hospital, Serot averaged about 500 surgeries a year and grossed at least $1.5 million in revenue, Illinois secretary of state records show.
But on July 27, Serot announced suddenly that he was leaving medicine for good.
"Despite all the rumors, I am merely leaving because the medical world has changed so drastically in my 28 years in practice," he wrote in a letter to Memorial Hospital colleagues.
Two weeks before his sudden announcement, though, Serot settled a medical malpractice lawsuit filed against him in St. Clair County Circuit Court.
The Metro East area (the Illinois side of the the St. Louis metropolitan area) is the lawsuit capital of America. Madison County (ironically, the home of the Downstate Pundit) is nationally known as a good place to file lucrative class-action suits.
Belleville is in neighboring St. Clair County. For years, doctors have been leaving St. Clair and the other Metro East counties because they can't afford the medical malpractice premiums insurers charge doctors practicing medicine there. Neuro-surgeons, oby-gyn doctors, and orthopedic surgeons are hard to find in Metro East. The John Edwards types have chased them away, compelling the residents of this area to travel far from home to find the medical services they need.
Of course, the Democratic Party, the "party of the little guy," has little to say about this problem, because of course trial lawyers are a massive source of political donations for the Dems.
Last week, Governor Blagojevich (yes, a Democrat) finally signed a tort-reform bill placing caps on medical-malpractice suits. But it was too late for Dr. Serot. Sure, he claims family considerations are the reason for his leaving medicine. Perhaps that's true, or maybe he's too much of a gentleman to tell the nasty truth.
Then again, maybe Dr. Serot knows that doctors in Metro East--and those in need of medical help from that area---aren't safe yet.
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
At some point in the not-too-distant future -- perhaps it already happened Thursday after Gov. Blagojevich signed his new law limiting medical lawsuits -- a doctor somewhere in Illinois probably will make a mistake, causing his or her patient a catastrophic injury.
That will trigger not just a lawsuit against the doctor and/or the hospital, but a lawsuit seeking to have the new law Blagojevich just signed declared unconstitutional.
Illinois' trial lawyers say this law violates all the same parts of the state Constitution that are still in place from 10 years ago and 30 years ago when the state Supreme Court struck down laws limiting the amount of money juries can award victims of medical malpractice to $500,000 for non-economic damages.
Downstate Pundit has new domain
Another blogger has moved from Blogger.com Downstate Pundit has his own domain, and the revamped blog looks pretty darn good.
And besides the look, there are plenty of good posts there. Drop by.
And besides the look, there are plenty of good posts there. Drop by.
SIU soldier hoax ripples continue
From the Chicago Tribune, free registration required:
The hoax that led the student newspaper at Southern Illinois University to chronicle the life of a non-existent soldier in Iraq and his young daughter also duped members of a southern Illinois fire department.
Stories about Kodee Kennings and her father, Army Sgt. Dan Kennings, and letters supposedly from Kodee ran for more than one year in the college's student newspaper, the Daily Egyptian. But a Tribune investigation last week revealed that Kodee and her father do not exist.
On Sunday, the chief of the West Frankfort Fire Department confirmed that Kodee and supposed guardian Colleen Hastings--in fact, a 10-year-old Indiana girl and Jaimie Reynolds of Marion, Ill., respectively--had spoken to firefighters at his department in September 2004."She was there one day," West Frankfort Fire Chief Lawrence Jamrozek said.
The young girl said Sunday that she remembers visiting a firehouse and meeting a man, with a name similar to that of a volunteer firefighter, who arranged for her and Reynolds--in their guises as Kodee and her guardian--to speak at the firehouse.
The 2004 appearance resulted in a short article in the Southern Illinoisan, written for the newspaper by a freelance reporter who said Sunday that he happened to be passing the firehouse the day of the visit.
The talk to firefighters made no plea for money, Jamrozek said. But the volunteer firefighter did have other contacts with Reynolds and later give Christmas presents to the young girl, Jamrozek said.
The hoax that led the student newspaper at Southern Illinois University to chronicle the life of a non-existent soldier in Iraq and his young daughter also duped members of a southern Illinois fire department.
Stories about Kodee Kennings and her father, Army Sgt. Dan Kennings, and letters supposedly from Kodee ran for more than one year in the college's student newspaper, the Daily Egyptian. But a Tribune investigation last week revealed that Kodee and her father do not exist.
On Sunday, the chief of the West Frankfort Fire Department confirmed that Kodee and supposed guardian Colleen Hastings--in fact, a 10-year-old Indiana girl and Jaimie Reynolds of Marion, Ill., respectively--had spoken to firefighters at his department in September 2004."She was there one day," West Frankfort Fire Chief Lawrence Jamrozek said.
The young girl said Sunday that she remembers visiting a firehouse and meeting a man, with a name similar to that of a volunteer firefighter, who arranged for her and Reynolds--in their guises as Kodee and her guardian--to speak at the firehouse.
The 2004 appearance resulted in a short article in the Southern Illinoisan, written for the newspaper by a freelance reporter who said Sunday that he happened to be passing the firehouse the day of the visit.
The talk to firefighters made no plea for money, Jamrozek said. But the volunteer firefighter did have other contacts with Reynolds and later give Christmas presents to the young girl, Jamrozek said.
Jesse Jackon visits Venezuela
Jesse just loves to hobnob with leaders who oppose America. But it gets his name in the news.
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
The Rev. Jesse Jackson offered support for President Hugo Chavez on Sunday, saying a call for his assassination by a U.S. religious broadcaster was a criminal act and that Washington and Venezuela should work out differences through diplomacy.
The U.S. civil rights leader condemned last week's suggestion by Pat Robertson that American agents should kill the leftist Venezuelan leader, calling the conservative commentator's statements "immoral" and "illegal." Jackson said the U.S. government must choose "diplomacy over any threats of sabotage or isolation or assassination."
"What we must work on is a good-neighbor policy," Jackson said Sunday in a telephone interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. "We and Venezuela need each other. We should focus on a mutually beneficial relationship and reduce the rhetoric that is putting anguish, anxiety and anger between us."
Chavez, a self-styled "revolutionary,'' has often accused President Bush's government of planning to overthrow him. He warned Friday that some American leaders have considered killing him. U.S. officials have repeatedly denied such claims.
Robertson's comments last week have increased already-tense relations between Caracas and Washington. He called for Chavez's assassination on his TV show "The 700 Club," saying the United States should "take him out" because the Venezuelan leader poses a danger to the region.
Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition of America and a supporter of Bush's re-election bid, later apologized.
Jackson arrived Saturday for a visit along with members of his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. In a speech to Venezuela's National Assembly, Jackson said every country has a right to self-determination, and touched on subjects from poverty to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s role in the civil rights struggle of American blacks.
Jackson later met and shook hands with Chavez during the Venezuelan leader's weekly radio and television program.
"Reverend Jackson, you can be sure that we will continue fighting for the ideas of Martin Luther King, for Christ the redeemer's idea of loving one another and building a society of equals through our peaceful and democratic revolution," said Chavez.
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
The Rev. Jesse Jackson offered support for President Hugo Chavez on Sunday, saying a call for his assassination by a U.S. religious broadcaster was a criminal act and that Washington and Venezuela should work out differences through diplomacy.
The U.S. civil rights leader condemned last week's suggestion by Pat Robertson that American agents should kill the leftist Venezuelan leader, calling the conservative commentator's statements "immoral" and "illegal." Jackson said the U.S. government must choose "diplomacy over any threats of sabotage or isolation or assassination."
"What we must work on is a good-neighbor policy," Jackson said Sunday in a telephone interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. "We and Venezuela need each other. We should focus on a mutually beneficial relationship and reduce the rhetoric that is putting anguish, anxiety and anger between us."
Chavez, a self-styled "revolutionary,'' has often accused President Bush's government of planning to overthrow him. He warned Friday that some American leaders have considered killing him. U.S. officials have repeatedly denied such claims.
Robertson's comments last week have increased already-tense relations between Caracas and Washington. He called for Chavez's assassination on his TV show "The 700 Club," saying the United States should "take him out" because the Venezuelan leader poses a danger to the region.
Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition of America and a supporter of Bush's re-election bid, later apologized.
Jackson arrived Saturday for a visit along with members of his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. In a speech to Venezuela's National Assembly, Jackson said every country has a right to self-determination, and touched on subjects from poverty to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s role in the civil rights struggle of American blacks.
Jackson later met and shook hands with Chavez during the Venezuelan leader's weekly radio and television program.
"Reverend Jackson, you can be sure that we will continue fighting for the ideas of Martin Luther King, for Christ the redeemer's idea of loving one another and building a society of equals through our peaceful and democratic revolution," said Chavez.
Katrina hitting Gulf Coast hard
Obviously still a developing story....our prayers our with those down there.
UPDATE 12:30 PM: Michelle Malkin, as always, is all over the story.
UPDATE 12:30 PM: Michelle Malkin, as always, is all over the story.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Phelps cult headed to Constantine, MI Thursday
On August 1 I blogged about the wonderful town of Constantine, Michigan while visiting my daughter at camp in nearby Three Rivers.
(If the first Constantine post doesn't show, click a second time on your browser's "Go" button. Blogspot is acting funny lately)
That picture (taken with my camera phone) is in the middle of a park off US 131--Washington St. in Constantine.
The caption reads: "Constantine: To Her Soldiers, 1861-1865."
Sgt. Brian Morris was a Constantine soldier. He was killed in Iraq earlier this month.
Morris' wake and funeral will take place on Thursday, Sept. 1 in picturesque Constantine. Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church cult, apparently undaunted after being driven out of Tennessee (see post from earlier today) , plan to be there to peddle their "God Hates America" bile at this sad occasion.
Here is Phelps' latest disgusting flier.
First anniversary of the Beslan terrorist atrocity this week
Hard to believe, but it's not been quite a year since the Beslan massacre. The terrorists seized the school in Beslan on Sept. 1, the slaughter of the innocents occurred three days after that.
As there should've been, there's been much blogging on the 7/7 London terrorist attacks. But let's not ever forget Beslan.
Via Michelle Malkin, here's a great post by Dan Darling on the Rantburg blog.
By the way, my style book says not to use the same word too many times in one post. But since Reuters and the BBC like NOT to use the word "terrorist," I have no problem using it as often as I feel it is appropriate.
Katrina vs. Cindy
Friend of the blog Third Wave Dave has an insightful post on Hurricane Katrina knocking Cindy Sheehan out of the news.
My opinion? When it's Nature vs. Man (or Woman), Nature wins. And the media is covering the Hurricane
Also, according to TWD, the Reverend Al Sharpton might be a Crawfordpalooza no-show.
Cindy, whatever your point was, you made it. Forget the bus tour. Go home.
My opinion? When it's Nature vs. Man (or Woman), Nature wins. And the media is covering the Hurricane
Also, according to TWD, the Reverend Al Sharpton might be a Crawfordpalooza no-show.
Cindy, whatever your point was, you made it. Forget the bus tour. Go home.
Tennesseans run Phelps' Westboro cult out of town
"We'll run you out of town" is a line used a lot in a lot of films that are shown on American Movie Classics and Turner Classic Movies.
But I can't recall any time when that threat was followed up on in any of those movies.
Well, yesterday, in real life, Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist "Church" was run out of Smyrna, TN.
Meanwhile, Ashland City TN was equally non-hospitable to Phelps and his loons.
From AP:
So many counterdemonstrators were gathered in Ashland City that police, sheriff's deputies and state troopers were brought in to control traffic and protect the protesters.
More from the same article:
Members of a church say God is punishing American soldiers for defending a country that harbors gays, and they brought their anti-gay message to the funerals Saturday of two Tennessee soldiers killed in Iraq.
The church members were met with scorn from local residents. They chased the church members cars down a highway, waving flags and screaming "God bless America."
"My husband is over there, so I'm here to show my support," 41-year-old Connie Ditmore said as she waved and American flag and as tears came to her eyes. "To do this at a funeral is disrespectful of a family, no matter what your beliefs are."
And here is something on that Phelps' "church:"
The church, which is not affiliated with a larger denomination, is made up mostly of Phelps' children, grandchildren and in-laws.
The cult is probably in Indiana now, getting ready for their next bizarre protest. Well that is unless they've wised up and headed west on I-70 to their home base in Topeka, KS.
UPDATE 10:15 AM CDT: The Tennessean weighs in here with this article, Hundreds come to honor soldiers, drown out protesters.
UPDATE: 8:00 PM CDT: One more good Westboro article from a Volunteer State paper, the Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Cindy Sheehan funding: Ben "Ben & Jerry" Cohen is one of the moneymen
I've been wondering out loud on Marathon Pundit about who is funding Crawfordpalooza and the Cindy Sheehan extravaganza in Texas.
Via Andrew Walden of Moonbat Blog, who discovered this KGO ABC 7 San Francisco article, which looks into "Camp Casey" and it's organizers and funders
With the President back at his Crawford ranch, the anti-war protest right outside his ranch is getting a lot more media attention. ABC7 looks at who is financing the operation and who's providing on-the-ground support.
The camp at Crawford is full of Cindy Sheehan supporters, people from all walks of life, but off to the side are a small group of professionals skilled in politics and public relations who are marketing Cindy Sheehan's message.
Cindy Sheehan kneels before a cross with her son's name on it, touches his picture, wipes her tears. It's an outpouring of emotion that is part of a scheduled news event organized daily for the television, radio and print reporters who crowd in to capture a mother's grief.
Cindy Sheehan: "I'm never going to see him again, I'm never going to hold him again, I'm never going to hear his voice again."
Sheehan's message hasn't changed since she got here, but the support staff interested in getting that message out to the world has grown considerably.
Organizers are set up in a house trailer. Their meetings closed to reporters.
Leading the group is Fenton Communications employee, Michele Mulkey, based in San Francisco. Fenton specializes in public relations for liberal non-profits.
Their bills are being paid for by True Majority, a non-profit set up by Ben Cohen -- of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream fame.
Ben Cohen, True Majority: "People are willing to listen to her and we want to do as much as we can to make her voice heard."
Cohen's group has teamed up with Berkeley based MoveOn.org, an anti-Bush group co-founded by Joan Blades.
Earlier this month, MoveOn helped organize anti-war vigils in support of Cindy Sheehan.
Current Democratic National Party Chair Howard Dean's organization Democracy for America is also involved, as is the more radical anti-war group Code Pink organized by San Francisco's Medea Benjamin.
Money donated through these groups and others is helping to pay for Gold Star families whose children have been killed in Iraq to attend anti-Bush protests.
This week Simi Valley California Gold Star wife Melanie House flew to Idaho for a protest and then flew to Crawford.
ABC7's Mark Matthews: "Can you tell us if you're getting help in airfare to come down here?"
Melanie House: "What difference does that make?"
There is real reluctance to talk about who's paying, and the P.R. machine that's promoting Cindy Sheehan, but not everyone here is completely comfortable with it.
In summary, this is anything but a mainstream group of people down at Crawfordpalooza.
Via Andrew Walden of Moonbat Blog, who discovered this KGO ABC 7 San Francisco article, which looks into "Camp Casey" and it's organizers and funders
With the President back at his Crawford ranch, the anti-war protest right outside his ranch is getting a lot more media attention. ABC7 looks at who is financing the operation and who's providing on-the-ground support.
The camp at Crawford is full of Cindy Sheehan supporters, people from all walks of life, but off to the side are a small group of professionals skilled in politics and public relations who are marketing Cindy Sheehan's message.
Cindy Sheehan kneels before a cross with her son's name on it, touches his picture, wipes her tears. It's an outpouring of emotion that is part of a scheduled news event organized daily for the television, radio and print reporters who crowd in to capture a mother's grief.
Cindy Sheehan: "I'm never going to see him again, I'm never going to hold him again, I'm never going to hear his voice again."
Sheehan's message hasn't changed since she got here, but the support staff interested in getting that message out to the world has grown considerably.
Organizers are set up in a house trailer. Their meetings closed to reporters.
Leading the group is Fenton Communications employee, Michele Mulkey, based in San Francisco. Fenton specializes in public relations for liberal non-profits.
Their bills are being paid for by True Majority, a non-profit set up by Ben Cohen -- of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream fame.
Ben Cohen, True Majority: "People are willing to listen to her and we want to do as much as we can to make her voice heard."
Cohen's group has teamed up with Berkeley based MoveOn.org, an anti-Bush group co-founded by Joan Blades.
Earlier this month, MoveOn helped organize anti-war vigils in support of Cindy Sheehan.
Current Democratic National Party Chair Howard Dean's organization Democracy for America is also involved, as is the more radical anti-war group Code Pink organized by San Francisco's Medea Benjamin.
Money donated through these groups and others is helping to pay for Gold Star families whose children have been killed in Iraq to attend anti-Bush protests.
This week Simi Valley California Gold Star wife Melanie House flew to Idaho for a protest and then flew to Crawford.
ABC7's Mark Matthews: "Can you tell us if you're getting help in airfare to come down here?"
Melanie House: "What difference does that make?"
There is real reluctance to talk about who's paying, and the P.R. machine that's promoting Cindy Sheehan, but not everyone here is completely comfortable with it.
In summary, this is anything but a mainstream group of people down at Crawfordpalooza.
Meet Pamela Brown: A hero from Tennessee
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and perform all types of noble deeds.
In Smyrna, TN, mother of four Pamela Brown read in a local paper that the vile Westboro cult, led by Fred Phelps was coming to Middle Tennessee to picket two funerals of Army National Guardsman killed in Iraq.
From the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle:
Pamela Brown wants a wall of people to stand silently and peacefully between anti-gay protesters and participants in today's funeral for an Army National Guardsman killed in Iraq.
Brown, a Smyrna wife and mother of four children, said she was outraged after reading in newspapers Thursday that members of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., would demonstrate against homosexuality at today's 2 p.m. funeral for Staff Sgt. Asbury Fred Hawn of Lebanon. The service will be at First United Methodist Church, 300 Sam Hager St., Smyrna.
Westboro Baptist members announced they also will protest outside the funeral of Spc. Gary Reese Jr. of Ashland City, who served in the Army National Guard's 278th Regimental Combat Team with Hawn. On Aug. 13, Hawn and Reese were killed while on patrol in Tuz, Iraq, when their vehicle was hit by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.
Reese's funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at the National Guard Armory, 1935 state Highway 12 South, in Ashland City.
"I thought about the Hawn family's 12-year-old daughter," Brown said Friday afternoon. "I thought it would be awful that during this sad day, she would have to see them and read their signs. I felt I just had to do something. It came to me that we should build a wall of people to shield the family from the protesters."
Brown picked up the Yellow Pages and started calling churches in Smyrna. At Stones River Baptist Church, secretary Zanie Mullins, answered and immediately responded to Brown's plea. Mullins starting spreading the word through the church's prayer circle phone and e-mail lists. Other churches responded in kind, and the message was moving. She called Nashville daytime talk radio host Phil Valentine, who started talking about the idea.
Brown said her husband, Keith Brown, and Sgt. Hawn worked at the Nissan auto plant in Smyrna before Hawn was deployed to Iraq, but the families had never met. Mullins said Stones River Baptist had offered support for the 278th in the past.
By 4 p.m. Friday, Pamela Brown said she was confident a sizable crowd would assemble for the funeral today to shield the mourners from the Kansas zealots. She doesn't want any confrontations or verbal exchanges, and trusts her churchgoing neighbors will act with dignity.
"We want the family to know we support them, and we want to honor Sergeant Hawn for his bravery and sacrifice," she said.
Pamela Brown. Hero.
(Still awaiting word what happened in Tennessee today. Stay tuned.)
In Smyrna, TN, mother of four Pamela Brown read in a local paper that the vile Westboro cult, led by Fred Phelps was coming to Middle Tennessee to picket two funerals of Army National Guardsman killed in Iraq.
From the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle:
Pamela Brown wants a wall of people to stand silently and peacefully between anti-gay protesters and participants in today's funeral for an Army National Guardsman killed in Iraq.
Brown, a Smyrna wife and mother of four children, said she was outraged after reading in newspapers Thursday that members of Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., would demonstrate against homosexuality at today's 2 p.m. funeral for Staff Sgt. Asbury Fred Hawn of Lebanon. The service will be at First United Methodist Church, 300 Sam Hager St., Smyrna.
Westboro Baptist members announced they also will protest outside the funeral of Spc. Gary Reese Jr. of Ashland City, who served in the Army National Guard's 278th Regimental Combat Team with Hawn. On Aug. 13, Hawn and Reese were killed while on patrol in Tuz, Iraq, when their vehicle was hit by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.
Reese's funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at the National Guard Armory, 1935 state Highway 12 South, in Ashland City.
"I thought about the Hawn family's 12-year-old daughter," Brown said Friday afternoon. "I thought it would be awful that during this sad day, she would have to see them and read their signs. I felt I just had to do something. It came to me that we should build a wall of people to shield the family from the protesters."
Brown picked up the Yellow Pages and started calling churches in Smyrna. At Stones River Baptist Church, secretary Zanie Mullins, answered and immediately responded to Brown's plea. Mullins starting spreading the word through the church's prayer circle phone and e-mail lists. Other churches responded in kind, and the message was moving. She called Nashville daytime talk radio host Phil Valentine, who started talking about the idea.
Brown said her husband, Keith Brown, and Sgt. Hawn worked at the Nissan auto plant in Smyrna before Hawn was deployed to Iraq, but the families had never met. Mullins said Stones River Baptist had offered support for the 278th in the past.
By 4 p.m. Friday, Pamela Brown said she was confident a sizable crowd would assemble for the funeral today to shield the mourners from the Kansas zealots. She doesn't want any confrontations or verbal exchanges, and trusts her churchgoing neighbors will act with dignity.
"We want the family to know we support them, and we want to honor Sergeant Hawn for his bravery and sacrifice," she said.
Pamela Brown. Hero.
(Still awaiting word what happened in Tennessee today. Stay tuned.)
Tennessee paper lashes out at Phelps and Westboro
Bill Hobbs came across this editorial today, from the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle. An interesting excerpt:
Small, pitiful groups of perverse traitors cloaked in a warped, hate-filled and degraded version of Christianity are tirelessly traveling across America, cruelly protesting at the funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq.
They are scheduled to stop in Middle Tennessee today, in Smyrna and Ashland City, to dishonor the solemn services and add to the horror and grief of those who mourn Staff Sgt. Asbury F. Hawn of Lebanon and Spc. Gary Reese Jr. of Ashland City. The Army National Guardsmen served together in the 278th Regimental Combat Team and died in an enemy attack Aug. 13 in Iraq.
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., will be there, not to spread the comforting Gospel of Jesus Christ, but to spew a disgustingly vulgar and crude message of gay hatred while celebrating the death of U.S. soldiers.
This evil little congregation, led by Fred Phelps, gained infamy for showing up at the funerals of homosexuals to taunt family and friends and to promote their own unique brand of hatred. This summer they started picketing the funerals of soldiers killed in battle with placards that say, "We hate gays" and "Thank God for dead soldiers."
Their Web site, www.godhatesfags.com promotes the protests in crude press releases that say, "They turned America over to fags; they're coming home in body bags."
The editorial goes on to call the Wesboro group a "cult of losers."
Small, pitiful groups of perverse traitors cloaked in a warped, hate-filled and degraded version of Christianity are tirelessly traveling across America, cruelly protesting at the funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq.
They are scheduled to stop in Middle Tennessee today, in Smyrna and Ashland City, to dishonor the solemn services and add to the horror and grief of those who mourn Staff Sgt. Asbury F. Hawn of Lebanon and Spc. Gary Reese Jr. of Ashland City. The Army National Guardsmen served together in the 278th Regimental Combat Team and died in an enemy attack Aug. 13 in Iraq.
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., will be there, not to spread the comforting Gospel of Jesus Christ, but to spew a disgustingly vulgar and crude message of gay hatred while celebrating the death of U.S. soldiers.
This evil little congregation, led by Fred Phelps, gained infamy for showing up at the funerals of homosexuals to taunt family and friends and to promote their own unique brand of hatred. This summer they started picketing the funerals of soldiers killed in battle with placards that say, "We hate gays" and "Thank God for dead soldiers."
Their Web site, www.godhatesfags.com promotes the protests in crude press releases that say, "They turned America over to fags; they're coming home in body bags."
The editorial goes on to call the Wesboro group a "cult of losers."
AP runs Phelps' cult story
Yesterday, the Peoria Pundit, Bill Dennis, said the most underreported Illinois story in August was the Westboro Baptist "Church" anti-Gay protests at the funeral's of two Illinois soldiers killed in Iraq.
This afternoon, there are two of these protests scheduled by the God Hates Fags "preacher" in Tennessee. Tomorrow Fred Phelps and his jerks are headed to Indiana.
But the news black out may be lifting: AP has a story on today's Tennessee pickets. 'Bout time!
Thanks to Bill Hobbs for getting the word out in Tennessee.
This afternoon, there are two of these protests scheduled by the God Hates Fags "preacher" in Tennessee. Tomorrow Fred Phelps and his jerks are headed to Indiana.
But the news black out may be lifting: AP has a story on today's Tennessee pickets. 'Bout time!
Thanks to Bill Hobbs for getting the word out in Tennessee.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Mayor Daley questioned by Feds
Even though it's stated he's not a target of the prosecutors, it's never a good situation to have the feds questioning you in your office.
From ABC 7 Chicago:
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says he met Friday with representatives of the US attorney who are investigating corruption at City Hall. The mayor said he answered all questions "fully and openly." He then talked about the troubled times for his administration.
The mayor was not under oath, and Daley made it clear he does not believe he is a target of federal investigators. Nonetheless, it certainly is significant that the mayor met with the feds.
From ABC 7 Chicago:
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says he met Friday with representatives of the US attorney who are investigating corruption at City Hall. The mayor said he answered all questions "fully and openly." He then talked about the troubled times for his administration.
The mayor was not under oath, and Daley made it clear he does not believe he is a target of federal investigators. Nonetheless, it certainly is significant that the mayor met with the feds.
Southern Illinois University in the news again for the wrong reasons
The Daily Egyptian, Southern Illinois University's student newspaper, found out it had a hoax-ster on it's hands this week.
This story is still gaining momentum. AP reports:
Kodee Kennings' story was pure gold. For nearly two years, the motherless 8-year-old spoke and wrote movingly of her struggle to deal with her soldier father being shipped off to fight in Iraq, and Southern Illinois University's student newspaper chronicled her thoughts in its pages.
But there was no Kodee Kennings, and the elaborate hoax exposed Friday left The Daily Egyptian embarrassed.
"Certainly for us it's a sad day," said Eric Fidler, Daily Egyptian faculty adviser for the past year. "Some good can come from this, but it doesn't help our reputation. All we can do is be upfront with what happened and what we know."
A 2004 SIU graduate who posed as Kodee's guardian says she and a former Daily Egyptian editor concocted the story to help his career. He denies that and says he was duped, too.
A 10-year-old girl who posed as Kodee in public appearances and a man who pretended to be her father say they were unwitting participants in the scam and believed they were acting in a film.
The tale began to unravel last week when the Daily Egyptian heard that the soldier had been killed in Iraq and subsequent investigations by the student newspaper and the Chicago Tribune exposed that he did not exist.
Earlier this year at Southern Illinois University, a popular professor was the target of a leftist witch-hunt. The professor, Jonathan Bean, is the only conservative on the faculty of the SIU History Department.
Common sense won out, and the lefties backed off.
Then last month, the SIU chapter of the Christian Legal Society filed suit in federal court to be reinstated at Southern as a sanctioned school organization. A student who never attended a Christian Legal Society event complained to the college's administration because members of the CLS are asked to follow Christian beliefs.
This membership requirement violated SIU's affirmative action policy, the educrats there discovered.
No student was ever denied membership into the Christian Legal Society for not following adhering to Christian beliefs, it's important to note.
There's been a lot of talk in the media and the blogosphere about college team nicknames and mascots. Southern Illinois University's teams are called the Salukis, an ancient breed of dog from Eqypt.
But perhaps SIU's nickname should be changed to the Moonbats?
This story is still gaining momentum. AP reports:
Kodee Kennings' story was pure gold. For nearly two years, the motherless 8-year-old spoke and wrote movingly of her struggle to deal with her soldier father being shipped off to fight in Iraq, and Southern Illinois University's student newspaper chronicled her thoughts in its pages.
But there was no Kodee Kennings, and the elaborate hoax exposed Friday left The Daily Egyptian embarrassed.
"Certainly for us it's a sad day," said Eric Fidler, Daily Egyptian faculty adviser for the past year. "Some good can come from this, but it doesn't help our reputation. All we can do is be upfront with what happened and what we know."
A 2004 SIU graduate who posed as Kodee's guardian says she and a former Daily Egyptian editor concocted the story to help his career. He denies that and says he was duped, too.
A 10-year-old girl who posed as Kodee in public appearances and a man who pretended to be her father say they were unwitting participants in the scam and believed they were acting in a film.
The tale began to unravel last week when the Daily Egyptian heard that the soldier had been killed in Iraq and subsequent investigations by the student newspaper and the Chicago Tribune exposed that he did not exist.
Earlier this year at Southern Illinois University, a popular professor was the target of a leftist witch-hunt. The professor, Jonathan Bean, is the only conservative on the faculty of the SIU History Department.
Common sense won out, and the lefties backed off.
Then last month, the SIU chapter of the Christian Legal Society filed suit in federal court to be reinstated at Southern as a sanctioned school organization. A student who never attended a Christian Legal Society event complained to the college's administration because members of the CLS are asked to follow Christian beliefs.
This membership requirement violated SIU's affirmative action policy, the educrats there discovered.
No student was ever denied membership into the Christian Legal Society for not following adhering to Christian beliefs, it's important to note.
There's been a lot of talk in the media and the blogosphere about college team nicknames and mascots. Southern Illinois University's teams are called the Salukis, an ancient breed of dog from Eqypt.
But perhaps SIU's nickname should be changed to the Moonbats?
Peoria Pundit on Eric Zorn's blog: Phelps' Westboro cult protests most underreported story of the month
Agree. Agree! Agree! Here is the entire article, free registration may be required.
MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY
Bill Dennis (Peoria Pundit) --the anti-gay protests that Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church have held outside the services of at least two Illinois-based servicemen.
MOST UNDER-REPORTED STORY
Bill Dennis (Peoria Pundit) --the anti-gay protests that Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church have held outside the services of at least two Illinois-based servicemen.
Krugman burned by Brainster blogging
New York Times' columnist Paul Krugman has been forced to issue a retraction of his column last week Free registration required. He tried to back off a bit Monday, but today he had to spill the beans on himself, but our good friend Pat Curley at Brainster had the goods on Krugman a week ago. Well done!
From Krugman:
Corrections: In my column last Friday, I cited an inaccurate number (given by the Conyers report) for turnout in Ohio's Miami County last year: 98.5 percent. I should have checked the official state site, which reports a reasonable 72.2 percent. Also, the public editor says, rightly, that I should acknowledge initially misstating the results of the 2000 Florida election study by a media consortium led by The Miami Herald. Unlike a more definitive study by a larger consortium that included The New York Times, an analysis that showed Al Gore winning all statewide manual recounts, the earlier study showed him winning two out of three.
Great, Paul, blame Congressman Conyers. You're a reporter, you doofus, research your story. Do your job.
No credit is given to Pat for his discovery by Krugman. Michelle Malkin's blog knows better.
From Krugman:
Corrections: In my column last Friday, I cited an inaccurate number (given by the Conyers report) for turnout in Ohio's Miami County last year: 98.5 percent. I should have checked the official state site, which reports a reasonable 72.2 percent. Also, the public editor says, rightly, that I should acknowledge initially misstating the results of the 2000 Florida election study by a media consortium led by The Miami Herald. Unlike a more definitive study by a larger consortium that included The New York Times, an analysis that showed Al Gore winning all statewide manual recounts, the earlier study showed him winning two out of three.
Great, Paul, blame Congressman Conyers. You're a reporter, you doofus, research your story. Do your job.
No credit is given to Pat for his discovery by Krugman. Michelle Malkin's blog knows better.
Crawfordpalooza has caterers. Who is paying for this?
Cindy Sheehan, whose financial situation I've pondered, now has caterers at her encampment in Crawford, TX, according to her blog on Huffington Post.
By no means am I implying anything illegal is going on, but exactly who is financing this set-up?
Since Cindy is "so public" about everything in her life, including the channeling of her late son's thoughts about Bush (he says Bush is an idiot) from heaven, when is Cindy going to tell us about the funding arrangements for her "Camp Casey?"
By no means am I implying anything illegal is going on, but exactly who is financing this set-up?
Since Cindy is "so public" about everything in her life, including the channeling of her late son's thoughts about Bush (he says Bush is an idiot) from heaven, when is Cindy going to tell us about the funding arrangements for her "Camp Casey?"
Thursday, August 25, 2005
The food must be good at Crawfordpalooza....
Because Al Sharpton is on his way to the Sheehan enpampent in Crawford, TX.
PETA's annoying presence felt in Illinois this week
Yesterday in Peoria, two PETA idiots felt the need to strip down to their underwear and have themselves wrapped in plastic, as if the pair were steaks for sale.
No one pointed out to them that steaks don't wear undies.
In short, this stunt didn't "play in Peoria."
But it did bring the prompt attention of the Peoria Police, according to the Peoria Journal-Star. Hat tip (again) to Peoria Pundit.
A dozen police officers descended on the noon protest along the sidewalk in front of Caterpillar Inc. Headquarters at Main and Adams streets.
"This was quite surprising," said Chris Link, campaign coordinator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "The officers didn't give us any warning or say we were doing anything wrong. They just started throwing blankets" (over the protesters), he said.
What a moron. Chris just may be the missing link.
Moving up to the northern part of the state, there's a move afoot to essentially ban elephants in Chicago, and hearings on this burning issue in Chicago took place in front of the Chicago City Council's Parks & Recreation committee today.
From NBC 5 Chicago:
Alderwoman Mary Ann Smith (48th Ward) has introduced legislation that would require any zoo or other stationary animal exhibit to provide a minimum of 10 acres of space -- five acres indoors and five outdoors -- per elephant. Meanwhile, circuses or other traveling exhibits would have to provide a minimum 1,800 square feet indoors and outdoors for a single elephant, with an additional 900 square feet indoors and outdoors per additional elephant.
Finding that kind of open space in a city like Chicago is impossible, which Ald. Smith surely knows.
And yes, PETA is involved in Smith's elephant ride, which this July press release trumpets.
PETA talks about the need for elephants in the wild to walk many miles a day for food and water, something they can't do in zoos or circuses.
But in zoos and circuses, food and water is brought to the elephants.
No one pointed out to them that steaks don't wear undies.
In short, this stunt didn't "play in Peoria."
But it did bring the prompt attention of the Peoria Police, according to the Peoria Journal-Star. Hat tip (again) to Peoria Pundit.
A dozen police officers descended on the noon protest along the sidewalk in front of Caterpillar Inc. Headquarters at Main and Adams streets.
"This was quite surprising," said Chris Link, campaign coordinator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "The officers didn't give us any warning or say we were doing anything wrong. They just started throwing blankets" (over the protesters), he said.
What a moron. Chris just may be the missing link.
Moving up to the northern part of the state, there's a move afoot to essentially ban elephants in Chicago, and hearings on this burning issue in Chicago took place in front of the Chicago City Council's Parks & Recreation committee today.
From NBC 5 Chicago:
Alderwoman Mary Ann Smith (48th Ward) has introduced legislation that would require any zoo or other stationary animal exhibit to provide a minimum of 10 acres of space -- five acres indoors and five outdoors -- per elephant. Meanwhile, circuses or other traveling exhibits would have to provide a minimum 1,800 square feet indoors and outdoors for a single elephant, with an additional 900 square feet indoors and outdoors per additional elephant.
Finding that kind of open space in a city like Chicago is impossible, which Ald. Smith surely knows.
And yes, PETA is involved in Smith's elephant ride, which this July press release trumpets.
PETA talks about the need for elephants in the wild to walk many miles a day for food and water, something they can't do in zoos or circuses.
But in zoos and circuses, food and water is brought to the elephants.
Drew Carey brings comedy to the troops in Afghanistan
Cleveland's favorite son Drew Carey is leading a troupe of comedians entertaining the troops in Afghanistan.
Drew Carey rocks!!
From the US Dept. of Defense web site:
After spending most of the last 24 hours meeting airmen at an air base in Southwest Asia, a group of comedians led by television star Drew Carey arrived here early today to entertain the troops.
Along with Carey, comedians Dave Mordal, Jimmy Shubert, Steve Byrne and Pedro Hernandez are on the tour.
On a whirlwind day Aug. 24, the comics met, signed autographs for and posed for pictures with hundreds of airmen assigned to the Air Force's 379th Expeditionary Wing before boarding a C-130 transport for the five-hour flight to Bagram.
Today, the comics are scheduled to perform at Methar, Jalalabad and Asadabad forward operating bases in Afghanistan before returning for a performance at Bagram's "clam shell" on Aug. 26.
The tour is the first partnership between Defense Department's Armed Forces Entertainment and DoD's America Supports You program. It's a way to bring the America Supports You message directly to the troops, said Brian Natwick of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, which oversees the ASY program.
Remember that program's name: America Supports You!
Drew Carey rocks!!
From the US Dept. of Defense web site:
After spending most of the last 24 hours meeting airmen at an air base in Southwest Asia, a group of comedians led by television star Drew Carey arrived here early today to entertain the troops.
Along with Carey, comedians Dave Mordal, Jimmy Shubert, Steve Byrne and Pedro Hernandez are on the tour.
On a whirlwind day Aug. 24, the comics met, signed autographs for and posed for pictures with hundreds of airmen assigned to the Air Force's 379th Expeditionary Wing before boarding a C-130 transport for the five-hour flight to Bagram.
Today, the comics are scheduled to perform at Methar, Jalalabad and Asadabad forward operating bases in Afghanistan before returning for a performance at Bagram's "clam shell" on Aug. 26.
The tour is the first partnership between Defense Department's Armed Forces Entertainment and DoD's America Supports You program. It's a way to bring the America Supports You message directly to the troops, said Brian Natwick of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, which oversees the ASY program.
Remember that program's name: America Supports You!
Sheehan back in Crawford, but will start bus tour to Washington
Well, Cindy Sheehan is back in Crawford, TX. She'll hang around her leftist encampment for about a week, then she'll kick off a bus tour to Washington DC.
As I've mentioned before, I greatly sympathize over the loss of her son in Iraq, but now she's turning out to be yet another self-absorbed baby boomer trying to re-live her 1960s moment, in this case, becoming Ken Kesey in Tom Wolfe's Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test.
Bob Hope and zombies
This video clip has been bouncing around the blogosphere, Third Wave Dave sent it to me, but I haven't figured out how to put in on my blog. Flopping Aces has that expertise. Worth a look and pretty funny, too.
New Hamphshire woman complains after doctor tells her to lose weight
We've really sunk low as a society if stuff like this is allowed to happen. Maybe the doctor sounded sarcastic when he passed on his advice, but to me, it sounds like he was just doing his job. Fox & Friends was talking about this story this morning.
From AP:
As doctors warn more patients that they should lose weight, the advice has backfired on one doctor with a woman filing a complaint saying he was hurtful, not helpful.
Dr. Terry Bennett says he tells obese patients their weight is bad for their health and their love lives, but the lecture drove one patient to complain to the state.
"I tried to get her attention. I told her, 'You need to get on a program, join a group of like-minded people and peel off the weight that is going to kill you,'" he said.
Her complaint, filed about a year ago, was investigated by a panel of the New Hampshire Board of Medicine, which recommended that Bennett be sent a confidential letter of concern. The board rejected the suggestion and asked the attorney general's office to investigate.
Bennett rejected that office's proposal that he attend a medical education course and
acknowledge that he made a mistake.
Bruce Friedman, chairman of the board of medicine, said he could not discuss specific complaints.
From AP:
As doctors warn more patients that they should lose weight, the advice has backfired on one doctor with a woman filing a complaint saying he was hurtful, not helpful.
Dr. Terry Bennett says he tells obese patients their weight is bad for their health and their love lives, but the lecture drove one patient to complain to the state.
"I tried to get her attention. I told her, 'You need to get on a program, join a group of like-minded people and peel off the weight that is going to kill you,'" he said.
Her complaint, filed about a year ago, was investigated by a panel of the New Hampshire Board of Medicine, which recommended that Bennett be sent a confidential letter of concern. The board rejected the suggestion and asked the attorney general's office to investigate.
Bennett rejected that office's proposal that he attend a medical education course and
acknowledge that he made a mistake.
Bruce Friedman, chairman of the board of medicine, said he could not discuss specific complaints.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Phelps "God hates fags" Westboro cult headed back to Indiana Sunday
Although I'd heard of Kansas loon Fred Phelps' and his Westboro Baptist "Church" many years before, it was this story from NBC 5 Chicago that caught my attention earlier this month.
The clearly disturbed "Rev." Phelps is operating under the delusion that God is killing our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan because of our tolerance of gay rights and because some hooligans torched his "church" in the 1990s.
Phelps' crew of crazies picketed the funeral of Army Spc. Adam Harding of Portage, IN on August 5. Harding, a true hero, was awarded a Bronze Star.
Alderman James Balcer, a Chicago Democrat, denounced the Westboro Portage protest in a press conference three days later. This act enraged Phelps, who has labeled the alderman a "fag enabler" and a future target for Westboro pickets, according to fliers available on God Hatesfags.com.
As posted here yesterday evening, Phelps has a Tennessee 2-fer of soldiers' funeral protests planned for Saturday.
They'll be heading up Interstate 65 almost immediately, as they hope to ruin the funeral of Army Sergeant Jeremy Doyle in Martinsville, IN, a town located halfway between Indianapolis and Bloomington.
High school nicknames revisited
Mr. Right of The Right Place did some research on a heavily reported story. Canton, Ohio's Timken High School has a very high pregnancy rate among its female student population. Of the 490 girls there, 65 are pregnant.
Read here to see what nickname the Timken High kids go by.
Another hat tip to Third Wave Dave.
Read here to see what nickname the Timken High kids go by.
Another hat tip to Third Wave Dave.
Ramsey Clark and all lawyers but one canned by Saddam Hussein
It was announced today that Ramsey Clark, onetime US Attorney General, who became afflicted with Moonbat Disease shortly after leaving the Johnson White House, was fired, along with countless other attorneys, by Saddam Hussein.
From CNN:
Saddam Hussein met his lawyer and the chief judge investigating charges against him on Tuesday and confirmed that the rest of his legal team had been sacked.
"The judge asked president Saddam Hussein about his family's statement that his legal team had been fired and he confirmed it," Khalil Dulaimi, the only lawyer authorized to represent the toppled Iraqi leader, told Reuters.
Ramsey shouldn't feel bad. Those dismissed by Saddam Hussein while he was dictator of Iraq were treated far more harshly.
From CNN:
Saddam Hussein met his lawyer and the chief judge investigating charges against him on Tuesday and confirmed that the rest of his legal team had been sacked.
"The judge asked president Saddam Hussein about his family's statement that his legal team had been fired and he confirmed it," Khalil Dulaimi, the only lawyer authorized to represent the toppled Iraqi leader, told Reuters.
Ramsey shouldn't feel bad. Those dismissed by Saddam Hussein while he was dictator of Iraq were treated far more harshly.
Sheehan heading back to Crawford
As I've commented before: Doesn't this woman have a job? She must have some income, because she's threatened not to pay taxes next year.
Anyway, she's headed back to Crawford. From her Huffington Post article:
I'm coming back to Crawford for my son. As long as the president, who sent him to die in a senseless war, is in Crawford, that is where I belong. I came here two and a half weeks ago for one reason, to try and see the president and get an answer to a very simple question: What is the noble cause that he says my son died for?
Cindy, the president met with you already. Your adult son volunteered for the Army. It was his choice.
I sincerley sympathize with your heartache, but please do what most parents who've lost children do: Mourn, remember, and try to make the best out of whatever time left you have on this planet. And stop calling those roadside bombers and suicide attackers "freedom fighters."
Anyway, she's headed back to Crawford. From her Huffington Post article:
I'm coming back to Crawford for my son. As long as the president, who sent him to die in a senseless war, is in Crawford, that is where I belong. I came here two and a half weeks ago for one reason, to try and see the president and get an answer to a very simple question: What is the noble cause that he says my son died for?
Cindy, the president met with you already. Your adult son volunteered for the Army. It was his choice.
I sincerley sympathize with your heartache, but please do what most parents who've lost children do: Mourn, remember, and try to make the best out of whatever time left you have on this planet. And stop calling those roadside bombers and suicide attackers "freedom fighters."
No nickname at Lemont High: Go you student athletes!!! Fight! Fight! Fight!
Lemont is a southwestern suburb of Chicago, near where I grew up. I found this article buried deep in the Chicago Tribune:
Lemont High School has avoided a nickname controversy by deciding to use no nickname for now.
The District 210 board has rescinded a decision made last school year to use the nickname Titans. That would have replaced Injuns."
We're just going to go out and play for Lemont High School," athletic director John Young said Tuesday. Young said it would cause no problem with athletic uniforms because none uses a nickname. The district is conducting a community survey to determine a mascot.
Go student athletes!!!!
My opinion? There used to be a lot of limestone quarries near Lemont. In a "tip of the hat" to the great film, "Breaking Away," if the school board insists on dumping the Injuns nickname, why not "the Cutters."
Lemont High School has avoided a nickname controversy by deciding to use no nickname for now.
The District 210 board has rescinded a decision made last school year to use the nickname Titans. That would have replaced Injuns."
We're just going to go out and play for Lemont High School," athletic director John Young said Tuesday. Young said it would cause no problem with athletic uniforms because none uses a nickname. The district is conducting a community survey to determine a mascot.
Go student athletes!!!!
My opinion? There used to be a lot of limestone quarries near Lemont. In a "tip of the hat" to the great film, "Breaking Away," if the school board insists on dumping the Injuns nickname, why not "the Cutters."
Oh, I almost forgot, there are two canals that converge near Lemont, the Sanitary Ship and the Calumet-Saganashkee. My late father told me--more than once--that one of my great grandfathers, Patrick Curran, helped dig, make that "cut the stone" of the Cal-Sag Canal. As a descendent of a cutter, Lemont High School has my permission to use the Cutters nickname.
I'll get this post notarized, if necessary.
Go Cutters!! Fight! Fight! Fight!
Cindy Sheehan: Iraq terrorists are freedom fighters
Shocking that she said that? Not really. But the real news, in my opinion, is that many of her supporters are Camp Sheehan agree that these roadside bombers really are freedom fighters.
From WorldNet Daily:
Cindy Sheehan, the so-called Peace Mom seeking a second meeting with President Bush in connection with the Iraq War death of her son, says terrorists killing Americans are "freedom fighters."
She made the remark during her trek earlier this month to Crawford, Texas; but her equating the enemy with freedom fighters has not been highlighted by the mainstream media, despite her telling it directly to a reporter for CBS News.
From WorldNet Daily:
Cindy Sheehan, the so-called Peace Mom seeking a second meeting with President Bush in connection with the Iraq War death of her son, says terrorists killing Americans are "freedom fighters."
She made the remark during her trek earlier this month to Crawford, Texas; but her equating the enemy with freedom fighters has not been highlighted by the mainstream media, despite her telling it directly to a reporter for CBS News.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Welcome Bill Hobbs readers
Simply put, Bill Hobbs has a great blog. He did fantastic job keeping track of the many vote fraud schemes during Election 2004.
Unfortunately, as my next post shows, for some, there is still no stigma against vote fraud.
UPDATE Wed. Aug. 24 9:45 AM CDT: Phelps' has posted the sickening fliers on his web site created for the Tennessee soldiers' funerals. They're here and here.
Unfortunately, as my next post shows, for some, there is still no stigma against vote fraud.
UPDATE Wed. Aug. 24 9:45 AM CDT: Phelps' has posted the sickening fliers on his web site created for the Tennessee soldiers' funerals. They're here and here.
East St. Louis Dem vote fraud update: Two of the convicted cheaters rehired by ESL
From the Belleville News-Democrat:
Two city workers who were fired in June after being convicted of vote fraud in federal court have been rehired.
But two other city workers who lost their city jobs in April after pleading guilty and later testifying for the prosecution during the same monthlong vote fraud trial in East St. Louis federal court have not gotten their City Hall jobs back.
Democratic precinct committeemen Sheila Thomas and Jesse Lewis, convicted in June, were back on the job Monday in the department of regulatory affairs.
Thomas is a clerk and Lewis is a housing inspector. Both were fired after their convictions and face sentencing in October.
Their rehiring has prompted City Councilman Eddie Jackson to call for a citywide hiring policy regarding job candidates who have felony records.
Several longtime city employees have felony records ranging from drug charges to homicide.
Last November, votes were bought by Democratic precint captains for $10.00 each.
Here's a good summary of this under-reported scandal.
Two city workers who were fired in June after being convicted of vote fraud in federal court have been rehired.
But two other city workers who lost their city jobs in April after pleading guilty and later testifying for the prosecution during the same monthlong vote fraud trial in East St. Louis federal court have not gotten their City Hall jobs back.
Democratic precinct committeemen Sheila Thomas and Jesse Lewis, convicted in June, were back on the job Monday in the department of regulatory affairs.
Thomas is a clerk and Lewis is a housing inspector. Both were fired after their convictions and face sentencing in October.
Their rehiring has prompted City Councilman Eddie Jackson to call for a citywide hiring policy regarding job candidates who have felony records.
Several longtime city employees have felony records ranging from drug charges to homicide.
Last November, votes were bought by Democratic precint captains for $10.00 each.
Here's a good summary of this under-reported scandal.
Two Tennessee Phelps' Westboro cult pickets scheduled Saturday
The America hating, soldier-despising homo-phobe Fred Phelps-led Westboro cult, a so-called church, is headed to Tennessee on Saturday for separate protests of soldiers' funerals. Scroll down on Marathon Pundit for more on Phelps and his cult. The nut-jobs were last seen in Zion, IL.
California Moonbats trying to stop West Nile virus spraying
West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne disease that kills people. Or cripples them. The former mayor of my town was afflicted, he was in the hospital for weeks--he's never going to fully recover, he can barely walk. City council meetings were moved from our village hall to a building without stairs.
Friend of the blog Steven Plaut at Moonbat Central has a post about a group in California that wants to stop insectide spraying, which the Cali moonbats call: urban adulticide mosquito spraying.
Friend of the blog Steven Plaut at Moonbat Central has a post about a group in California that wants to stop insectide spraying, which the Cali moonbats call: urban adulticide mosquito spraying.
Wife beating: According the to Arab News, this is how to proceed
According to Saudi Arabia based Arab News, a man must not be hasty when beating his wife. Follow the necessary steps:
I find it unacceptable when some people twist the meaning of a particular verse in the Holy Qur’an — especially the one which permits a husband to beat his disobedient wife. Those who do the twisting must understand that the permission is only given under certain circumstances and that the beating is intended as a remedy for specific situations. It is unfortunate that some well-known and respected Muslim scholars have either willingly or unwillingly joined a campaign seeking to distort the meaning of that particular verse.
In many cases, they have given a different meaning from the one actually intended. The verse — number 34 in Surah IV — reads as follows: “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore, righteous women are devotedly obedient and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard. And to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first) and (then) refuse to share their beds (and last) beat them (lightly), but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means of annoyance.”
It is quite obvious here that Islam adopts a gradual approach starting with verbal admonishment of the wife, then seeks a period of refraining from conjugal relations and, finally, if the husband finds the situation very serious, he may strike his disobedient wife.
No word on when it's okay for a wife to beat her husband.
I find it unacceptable when some people twist the meaning of a particular verse in the Holy Qur’an — especially the one which permits a husband to beat his disobedient wife. Those who do the twisting must understand that the permission is only given under certain circumstances and that the beating is intended as a remedy for specific situations. It is unfortunate that some well-known and respected Muslim scholars have either willingly or unwillingly joined a campaign seeking to distort the meaning of that particular verse.
In many cases, they have given a different meaning from the one actually intended. The verse — number 34 in Surah IV — reads as follows: “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore, righteous women are devotedly obedient and guard in (the husband’s) absence what Allah would have them guard. And to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first) and (then) refuse to share their beds (and last) beat them (lightly), but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means of annoyance.”
It is quite obvious here that Islam adopts a gradual approach starting with verbal admonishment of the wife, then seeks a period of refraining from conjugal relations and, finally, if the husband finds the situation very serious, he may strike his disobedient wife.
No word on when it's okay for a wife to beat her husband.
Monday, August 22, 2005
Phelps' Westboro cult, "Pure and simple evil,"
Well, the goofs showed up Sunday in Zion, IL, a Chicago suburb on the shore of Lake Michigan just south of Kenosha, WI.The goofs being the Fred Phelps Topeka, KS based Westboro cult, whose home page is God Hates Fags.com.
They were protesting the funeral of Army 1st Lt. David Giaimo, who was killed earlier this month in Iraq.
The mainstream media is afraid to report on this group, saying they don't want to give attention to Phelps' group, attention the disturbed individual surely craves.
I disagree with that mindset, and so does Bill Dennis, the Peoria Pundit:
More than once, I’ve read the opinion that the media shouldn’t give Phelps and his people any “publicity.”
Whether or not any particular groups gets publicity from news covering isn’t important. The news media needs to cover the news, whether or not it’s news we want to hear.
It’s not the media’s job to keep us from having to hear ugly messages. The people who work in the information business need to reject the notion that the public is better off when it is kept in the dark. We wouldn’t tolerate the government doing that to us. Why does the media think it has the right to keep unpleasant news away from us?
It’s the news media’s job to answer questions, not to turn their head and pretend they didn’t hear the question.
Back to Zion: The area's major newspapers (Chicago Tribune, the Sun-Times, as well as the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) again ignored the story.
But Frank Abderholden of the Waukegan Sun reported on it:
In a bizarre sideshow, a small group of people from the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. showed at the wake of the Waukegan serviceman who died in Iraq.
The six people to picketed for about an hour across the street from the Congdon Funeral Home protesting with signs that said "God Hates Fags," among other anti-gay slogans. The group had alerted the funeral home to the protest.
Group members believe that because their church was bombed by an improvised explosive device years ago, that now God is using IED's to punish the "rich fag nation" of the United States.
A small contingent of veterans on motorcycles also came to the wake of Army 1st Lt. David Giaimo to keep an eye on the group and make sure they didn't cross the street.
"I'm here because I don't want them to disrupt this," said Evan Breyn, an American Legion member from Crystal Lake.
Another motorcyclist was from the Combat Veterans Association.
"We're here to act as a barrier. This has happened across the country," he said, noting that the group, well known for brandishing anti-gay signs at the funeral of homosexuals, also attends other gay-related events.
"This is pure and simple evil," Breyn said of the group.
So there are people watching the Phelps' group. Good.
Special thanks to of course Peoria Pundit, but also Rich Miller of Capitol Fax, and Amy Allen of Obiter Dictum for posting news on Phelps and not kowtowing to the MSM groupthink.
Moron New York Times' Paul Krugman from the American Thinker
Last week, I commented on this American Thinker post from Ed Lasky about New York Times moonbat columnist Paul Krugman.
Friend of the blog Richard Baehr, also of the American Thinker weighs in here on Krugman.
And the same publication comments on Krugman here, courtesy of Thomas Lifson.
Brainster has been on the Krugman beat for a while, too.
Friend of the blog Richard Baehr, also of the American Thinker weighs in here on Krugman.
And the same publication comments on Krugman here, courtesy of Thomas Lifson.
Brainster has been on the Krugman beat for a while, too.
Chicago North Shore Diners: Picking up the checks for sailors' meals
Great Lakes Naval Training Center in North Chicago is where all enlisted sailors start their navy careers.
And the residents of the North Shore are grateful, and showing via their wallets:
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
Random acts of kindness are happening in Lake County.
Restaurants on the North Shore say their patrons are getting into the habit of picking up the tabs of fellow diners who happen to be military personnel as a gesture of goodwill.
At Egg Harbor Cafe, a cozy breakfast and lunch spot in Lake Forest, sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago are treated to free meals several times a month. Diners started picking up the tab after Sept. 11, manager Michelle Rasmus said.
Most of the time, it's done anonymously. All of the time, the sailors are "very grateful," she said.
And the residents of the North Shore are grateful, and showing via their wallets:
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
Random acts of kindness are happening in Lake County.
Restaurants on the North Shore say their patrons are getting into the habit of picking up the tabs of fellow diners who happen to be military personnel as a gesture of goodwill.
At Egg Harbor Cafe, a cozy breakfast and lunch spot in Lake Forest, sailors from the Great Lakes Naval Base in North Chicago are treated to free meals several times a month. Diners started picking up the tab after Sept. 11, manager Michelle Rasmus said.
Most of the time, it's done anonymously. All of the time, the sailors are "very grateful," she said.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Joan Baez joins in at Sheehan's "Crawford-palooza"
Anachronistic folkie Joan Baez showed up at the Sheehan spread near Crawford, TX today. This ought to double her monthly CD sales to maybe, 10 a month.
When will Country Joe & the Fish show up?
Hat tip to Pat Curley of Brainster for coming up with the moniker "Crawford-palooza."
When will Country Joe & the Fish show up?
Hat tip to Pat Curley of Brainster for coming up with the moniker "Crawford-palooza."
Chicago White Sox end 7 game losing streak, punish "Big Unit;" Royals finally win
Well, it's over, the Chicago White Sox in a big way ended their longest losing streak of the season, by pounding the New York Yankees' Randy "The Big Unit" Johnson with back-to-back-to-back homers in the fourth inning. The Sox ended up winning 6-2 on Chicago's South Side.
Last night another losing streak was broken. The Kansas City Royals had lost 19 straight games before winning last night against the Oakland Athletics.
As reported last week here, it's been a tough time for Royals' manager Buddy Bell. His nephew, Tim Bell, Jr., was killed in action in Iraq and Buddy missed a game against Seattle to attend his nephew's funeral.
Last night another losing streak was broken. The Kansas City Royals had lost 19 straight games before winning last night against the Oakland Athletics.
As reported last week here, it's been a tough time for Royals' manager Buddy Bell. His nephew, Tim Bell, Jr., was killed in action in Iraq and Buddy missed a game against Seattle to attend his nephew's funeral.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Phelps' "God Hates Fags" Westboro cult heading to Zion, IL Sunday
Hmm....maybe they're feeling the pressure...it seems Rev. Fred Phelps' anti-Gay Westboro cult (I refuse to call them a church) is not giving as much advance notice of it's anti-American pickets of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Afraid of counter protests, Fred?
For the second day in a row, Phelps' and his God Hates Fags whackos are giving just 24-hour notice of it's next picket.
For the uninitiated, Kansan Fred Phelps' celebrates the death of each American soldier killed in action in the Middle East; he believes each combat death is actually divine punishment against the United States for our acceptance of gay rights.
The picture above is from Friday's last-minute protest of a soldier's funeral in Missouri.
This is what Zion, a modest suburb located just south of the Wisconsin border, can expect Sunday. That afternoon, the funeral of Army 1st Lt. David Giaimo will take place, and Phelps' cult hopes to ruin it.
Pro-war Fort Qualls set up to counter Sheehan protests in Crawford
Just breaking from AP:A patriotic camp with a "God Bless Our President!" banner sprung up (in downtown Crawford) Saturday, countering the anti-war demonstration started by a fallen soldier's mother two weeks ago near President Bush's ranch.
The camp is named "Fort Qualls," in memory of Marine Lance Cpl. Louis Wayne Qualls, 20, who died in Iraq last fall.
(Qualls is pictured on the left.)
"If I have to sacrifice my whole family for the sake of our country and world, other countries that want freedom, I'll do that," said the soldier's father, Gary Qualls, a friend of the local business owner who started the pro-Bush camp. He said his 16-year-old son now wants to enlist, and he supports that decision.
Qualls' frustration with the anti-war demonstrators erupted last week when he removed a cross bearing his son's name that was among hundreds the group had put up along the road to Bush's ranch.
Saudis move to end polio spread, anti-vaccine paranoia the cause of the outbreak
On the surface, it seems like a sensible thing: Ensuring that people who enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been vaccinated for polio.
From the Arab News:
Young pilgrims coming for Haj or Umrah from polio-hit countries will have to prove that they have been immunized against the crippling virus, according to an advisory issued by the Ministry of Health yesterday.
The new directive, which comes ahead of the high Umrah season of Ramadan in October and the Haj in January, covers visitors under the age of 15 from the 19 countries currently reporting polio cases.
Pilgrims in that age group must show valid proof of vaccination in order to obtain entry visas for the Kingdom. The regulation applies to visitors from Afghanistan, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan and Yemen, a Health Ministry spokesman said.
But why the need?
Via Daniel Pipes' site, I found this information from an AP article this March:
In 2003, Islamic clerics claimed the United States was using polio vaccine to sterilize Muslims or contaminate them with the AIDS virus. They ordered a boycott in messages disseminated from mosques, in radio broadcasts and by door-to-door campaigning.
The U.S. Embassy called the claims "absolutely ridiculous."
But three powerful state governors in the north joined the polio boycott, and it dragged on 11 months before authorities persuaded the governors in July to accept vaccine bought from the predominantly Muslim nation of Indonesia.
By then the number of polio cases in Nigeria had risen fivefold, and the crippling disease had spread to nine other African countries where it previously had been eradicated.
Now there are fears the anti-vaccine sentiment could also affect (an ongoing) measles outbreak.
No mention of the anti-vaccine paranoia in that Arab News article.
From the Arab News:
Young pilgrims coming for Haj or Umrah from polio-hit countries will have to prove that they have been immunized against the crippling virus, according to an advisory issued by the Ministry of Health yesterday.
The new directive, which comes ahead of the high Umrah season of Ramadan in October and the Haj in January, covers visitors under the age of 15 from the 19 countries currently reporting polio cases.
Pilgrims in that age group must show valid proof of vaccination in order to obtain entry visas for the Kingdom. The regulation applies to visitors from Afghanistan, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan and Yemen, a Health Ministry spokesman said.
But why the need?
Via Daniel Pipes' site, I found this information from an AP article this March:
In 2003, Islamic clerics claimed the United States was using polio vaccine to sterilize Muslims or contaminate them with the AIDS virus. They ordered a boycott in messages disseminated from mosques, in radio broadcasts and by door-to-door campaigning.
The U.S. Embassy called the claims "absolutely ridiculous."
But three powerful state governors in the north joined the polio boycott, and it dragged on 11 months before authorities persuaded the governors in July to accept vaccine bought from the predominantly Muslim nation of Indonesia.
By then the number of polio cases in Nigeria had risen fivefold, and the crippling disease had spread to nine other African countries where it previously had been eradicated.
Now there are fears the anti-vaccine sentiment could also affect (an ongoing) measles outbreak.
No mention of the anti-vaccine paranoia in that Arab News article.
New Hillary 2008 cartoon
In the spirit of Jib Jab, there is a "Hillary 2008" cartoon available on Grab.com. Click here.
Phelps' Westboro cult on Cindy Sheehan
Fred Phelps, the "God Hates Fags" guy is addressing the Cindy Sheehan phenomenon in another one of his cheaply printed flyers here.
The Kansas loon calls Bush a "hell-bound" hypocrite.
And he's got another picket scheduled, this time in Arkansas, this evening.
The Kansas loon calls Bush a "hell-bound" hypocrite.
And he's got another picket scheduled, this time in Arkansas, this evening.
White Sox slump continues, but another Sox blogger found
No, I'm not panicking about the Chicago White Sox eight game losing streak. They suffered through a similar streak when they won the AL West in 1993.
As for good news, another conservative poliblogger and White Sox fan has come forward. Angry Jolietan.
AG has a good post about Ron Gidwitz, a Repuplican who's running for Illinois governor. Giddy has a tough climb, as he is part owner of an apartment complex in Joliet that can be called, without reservations, a slum. Gidwitz and is family own just a small part of Evergreen, but Giddy has been elusive on who the other owners are.
Angry Jolietan has been added to the Marathon Pundit blogroll.
As for good news, another conservative poliblogger and White Sox fan has come forward. Angry Jolietan.
AG has a good post about Ron Gidwitz, a Repuplican who's running for Illinois governor. Giddy has a tough climb, as he is part owner of an apartment complex in Joliet that can be called, without reservations, a slum. Gidwitz and is family own just a small part of Evergreen, but Giddy has been elusive on who the other owners are.
Angry Jolietan has been added to the Marathon Pundit blogroll.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Cindy Sheehan planning Crawford "Summer of Cindy" return
How long will this go on? Forget about her political stance. Does Cindy have bills to pay?
Yes, Cindy is planning to return to Crawford. What happens when President Bush goes back to Washington? Does she follow him? Will she replace that fishing hat with a wool cap after the first Washington frost?
Michelle Malkin has called this "The Summer of Cindy." Just as the summer of 2001 was the Summer of Chandra Levy, 2002 (I think) was the Summer of Shark Attacks, 2005 is indeed the Summer of Cindy.
In other words, it's the overplayed story that dominates MSM reports in summer, when news tends to be slow. People are on vacation, Congress and state legislatures are out of session. So is the US Supreme Court. Legal depositions are postponed for golf outings (Although lawyers will claim they're "working on other cases.")
Sports news drags. The baseball pennant races haven't peaked. Preseason football? Funny, by the second week, if not the first, who really talks about those exhibition games? MLS soccer? Well, the family members of the players are following the games closely.
Same in the business world. Slow. Pick up a newspaper and read the ads. Dominated by "Back to School Specials." Outside of sweaters and jackets, everything being advertised for those "specials" was available for the "Summer Heat" specials in June. The electronics industry, the toys and games sellers , book publishers, are all gearing up for the Christmas gift season.
Still, it's not a bad thing that it's the Summer of Cindy. Last year in Russia, the late summer terrorist attacks made it the Summer of Beslan there. Summer in Britain this year is the Summer of the 7/7 bombings.
Remember, Cindy and your followers, we're at war. Summer isn't over, and it still could end up being the Summer of the Minneapolis Nuke Attack. And if something like that happened, before long, it would be "Cindy who?"
And Cindy, those car payments of yours will still be due every month.
MEMRI: Al-Qaeda in Iraq: the drafters of the Iraqi Constitution and those who support them are infidels who must be killed
And another reminder we're at war...
From MEMRI, the Middle East Media Research Institute, an excerpt:
In an attempt to prevent the Iraqi constitution committee from submitting its draft, Al-Qaeda in Iraq has posted threats on Islamist forums warning to harm those involved in drafting the constitution, and those who support them. The constitution, it says, is an act of heresy, and those who act to implement it are infidels who must be killed.
As part of the campaign against the constitution, the information department of Al-Qaeda in Iraq also launched an anti-constitution and anti-election propaganda campaign, in the form of posters on Islamist forums.
The following are excerpts from statements and forum postings:
Al-Qaeda Court: We Will Kill Anyone Who Makes Himself Partner to Allah and Drafts a Constitution
On August 11, 2005, the Shari'a Court of Al-Qaeda in Iraq issued a communiqué threatening to kill the drafters of the Iraqi constitution, and those who promote it, and to strike at the polling places of the referendum on the constitution, which is scheduled for October 2005.
"The Shari'a Court of Al-Qaeda in Iraq will act in accordance with Allah's decree, and will kill anyone who appoints himself partner to Allah and drafts a constitution of falsehood by whose laws people will act in matters of livelihood, life and death, honor, and domestic and foreign policy.
"Allah said: ' Fight them until there is no more fitna [civil strife] and the religion is only Allah's; but if they desist, then surely Allah sees what they do ' [Koran 8:39]… The goal of our struggle is to eradicate the [danger] of fitna that liesin the heretical modern constitution. We will fight it by argument and by communiqués, and also by sword and spear – because the constitution is a false religion and its drafters and those who promote it are apostates [murtaddoon]…
From MEMRI, the Middle East Media Research Institute, an excerpt:
In an attempt to prevent the Iraqi constitution committee from submitting its draft, Al-Qaeda in Iraq has posted threats on Islamist forums warning to harm those involved in drafting the constitution, and those who support them. The constitution, it says, is an act of heresy, and those who act to implement it are infidels who must be killed.
As part of the campaign against the constitution, the information department of Al-Qaeda in Iraq also launched an anti-constitution and anti-election propaganda campaign, in the form of posters on Islamist forums.
The following are excerpts from statements and forum postings:
Al-Qaeda Court: We Will Kill Anyone Who Makes Himself Partner to Allah and Drafts a Constitution
On August 11, 2005, the Shari'a Court of Al-Qaeda in Iraq issued a communiqué threatening to kill the drafters of the Iraqi constitution, and those who promote it, and to strike at the polling places of the referendum on the constitution, which is scheduled for October 2005.
"The Shari'a Court of Al-Qaeda in Iraq will act in accordance with Allah's decree, and will kill anyone who appoints himself partner to Allah and drafts a constitution of falsehood by whose laws people will act in matters of livelihood, life and death, honor, and domestic and foreign policy.
"Allah said: ' Fight them until there is no more fitna [civil strife] and the religion is only Allah's; but if they desist, then surely Allah sees what they do ' [Koran 8:39]… The goal of our struggle is to eradicate the [danger] of fitna that liesin the heretical modern constitution. We will fight it by argument and by communiqués, and also by sword and spear – because the constitution is a false religion and its drafters and those who promote it are apostates [murtaddoon]…
Missiles fired at Navy ship off Jordan
Another reminder that we're at war...
From AP:
Attackers fired at least three rockets from Jordan early Friday, with one narrowly missing a docked U.S. Navy ship and killing a Jordanian soldier. It was the most serious militant attack on the Navy since the USS Cole was bombed in 2000.
Another rocket fell close to a nearby airport in neighboring Israel, officials said. Jordanian and Israeli authorities said militants fired the Katyusha rockets from a warehouse in the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba.
A group linked to al-Qaida claimed responsibility in an Internet statement. The statement purportedly from the Abdullah Azzam Brigades could not immediately be verified.
From AP:
Attackers fired at least three rockets from Jordan early Friday, with one narrowly missing a docked U.S. Navy ship and killing a Jordanian soldier. It was the most serious militant attack on the Navy since the USS Cole was bombed in 2000.
Another rocket fell close to a nearby airport in neighboring Israel, officials said. Jordanian and Israeli authorities said militants fired the Katyusha rockets from a warehouse in the Jordanian Red Sea port of Aqaba.
A group linked to al-Qaida claimed responsibility in an Internet statement. The statement purportedly from the Abdullah Azzam Brigades could not immediately be verified.
Cindy Sheehan's mother suffers stroke
Cindy's gone back home, at least for now, to California. I hope Cindy's mother is better, she's suffered a stroke. And I also hope Cindy, well, stays in California.
Air America Scandal
There's so much to report at Air America: Misappropriation of charitiable funds, lawsuits from broadcasters, lies, spins...just go to Michelle Malkin's site and start scrolling.
Phelps' Westboro Kansas Kult to protest St. Louis-area funeral today!
Well, the gay-haters are back, this time coming to Florissant, MO in northern St. Louis County, protesting at the funeral of Army Specialist Christopher M. Katzenberger, who was killed in Iraq earlier this month. The protest is Friday, August 19.
Here is the latest vile flyer.
In an interesting writing style twist, the Catholic Church where the funeral will be held is not referred to by the Westboro cult as a "fag church." This time they call it a leper colony.
Phelps' Westboro cult celebrates each soldiers death "Pastor" Fred Phelps is a rabid homo-phobe who believes God is punishing America for it's acceptance of the gay lifestyle.
Expect a scene like this in Florissant this morning. That photo is from a similar protest held Monday in Oklahoma
Thursday, August 18, 2005
The friends of the New York Times' Paul Krugman
From the American Thinker's Ed Lasky:
Enron adviser and NYT columnist Paul Krugman has also been employed by ex-Malaysian strongman Mahathir Mohammed. Krugman absurdly defended him against charges of anti-Semitism and ignored his role in framing deputy Prime Minister Anwar as corrupt and homosexual, in order to deny Anwar the possibility of replacing Mahathir as leader.
A Malaysian court has just found that the charges were scurrilous, and has awarded a record sum to Anwar as damages. Nothing can compensate him for his ruined political career, six years in jail, and physical torture (the real kind, not Abu Ghraib panty-headgear)
Uber-liberal Krugman saw no problem in Mahathir's attacks against Anwar. While in jail for six years on trumped up charges, Anwar was beaten. No apology has been forthcoming from Mahathir OR KRUGMAN.
Of course, Krugman never had a mea culpa over his being on the payroll of Enron, either.
Back in 2003, CNN was kind enought to put together a Mahathir Mohammed quotebook. Here is what MM said about Jews:
"The Jews for example are not merely hook-nosed, but understand money instinctively." - Mahathir's book 'The Malay Dilemma' 1970
"We (Muslims) are actually very strong. 1.3 billion people cannot be simply wiped out. The Europeans killed 6 million Jews out of 12 million. But today the Jews rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them." - October 2003.
One more, not from MM or Krugman:
By their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew vii. 20.
Enron adviser and NYT columnist Paul Krugman has also been employed by ex-Malaysian strongman Mahathir Mohammed. Krugman absurdly defended him against charges of anti-Semitism and ignored his role in framing deputy Prime Minister Anwar as corrupt and homosexual, in order to deny Anwar the possibility of replacing Mahathir as leader.
A Malaysian court has just found that the charges were scurrilous, and has awarded a record sum to Anwar as damages. Nothing can compensate him for his ruined political career, six years in jail, and physical torture (the real kind, not Abu Ghraib panty-headgear)
Uber-liberal Krugman saw no problem in Mahathir's attacks against Anwar. While in jail for six years on trumped up charges, Anwar was beaten. No apology has been forthcoming from Mahathir OR KRUGMAN.
Of course, Krugman never had a mea culpa over his being on the payroll of Enron, either.
Back in 2003, CNN was kind enought to put together a Mahathir Mohammed quotebook. Here is what MM said about Jews:
"The Jews for example are not merely hook-nosed, but understand money instinctively." - Mahathir's book 'The Malay Dilemma' 1970
"We (Muslims) are actually very strong. 1.3 billion people cannot be simply wiped out. The Europeans killed 6 million Jews out of 12 million. But today the Jews rule the world by proxy. They get others to fight and die for them." - October 2003.
One more, not from MM or Krugman:
By their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew vii. 20.
More Aussie troops to Afghanistan
News you won't find in the New York Times Friday morning. Never forget, the Australians have been with us in every war (sometimes they were there first) since World War I.
According to AFP:
(Afghan foreign minister) Abdullah said he was delighted that Australia had agreed to send troops to his country. "That's very good news for the people of Afghanistan," he told reporters.
According to AFP:
(Afghan foreign minister) Abdullah said he was delighted that Australia had agreed to send troops to his country. "That's very good news for the people of Afghanistan," he told reporters.
MSM finally covers the Matt Barber story: Conservative writer fired by Allstate
This story has been bouncing around the blogosphere for a few months, a few online publications have written about it, as has at least one community paper (the Northbrook Star), but as is usually is the case, the mainstream media is behind the curve.
Matt Barber writes occasionally for various conservative journals such as The American Thinker. Last December, he wrote an essay critical of gay marriage. It was written at home on his own computer on his own time. But since Allstate supports "diversity," this, apparently, was too much for the insurance giant to handle. They fired him.
Allstate's side of the story, is of course different. But Matt's explanation passes the Occam's Razor test, or at least I think so.
This morning's Chicago Tribune has an article about the Matt Barber case. Here is an excerpt, free registration is required:
J. Matt Barber, a born-again Christian from Villa Park, hoped to get some reaction in December when he wrote a fiery online essay denouncing same-sex marriage and the "destructive nature ... of the homosexual lifestyle."
But the strongest response, Barber said, came from his employers at Allstate Corp. He said two supervisors slapped the article down in front of him, told him he was suspended without pay and had him escorted from the company grounds in Northbrook.
"I'm thinking, `What business is this of yours?'" said Barber, 36, who had worked for Allstate for five years, mostly in corporate security. "This is something I did on my own time. This was my own viewpoint. ... [One supervisor] said, `Well, you know, here at Allstate we have a very diverse community.'"
Allstate fired Barber three days later, setting off a dispute that shows signs of becoming the next legal cause celebre among religious conservatives. As the issue becomes a growing rallying point among conservatives, Christian groups have protested Barber's fate on Web sites and in newsletters, generating what they said are more than 240,000 e-mails and an unknown number of phone calls to Allstate.
Matt Barber writes occasionally for various conservative journals such as The American Thinker. Last December, he wrote an essay critical of gay marriage. It was written at home on his own computer on his own time. But since Allstate supports "diversity," this, apparently, was too much for the insurance giant to handle. They fired him.
Allstate's side of the story, is of course different. But Matt's explanation passes the Occam's Razor test, or at least I think so.
This morning's Chicago Tribune has an article about the Matt Barber case. Here is an excerpt, free registration is required:
J. Matt Barber, a born-again Christian from Villa Park, hoped to get some reaction in December when he wrote a fiery online essay denouncing same-sex marriage and the "destructive nature ... of the homosexual lifestyle."
But the strongest response, Barber said, came from his employers at Allstate Corp. He said two supervisors slapped the article down in front of him, told him he was suspended without pay and had him escorted from the company grounds in Northbrook.
"I'm thinking, `What business is this of yours?'" said Barber, 36, who had worked for Allstate for five years, mostly in corporate security. "This is something I did on my own time. This was my own viewpoint. ... [One supervisor] said, `Well, you know, here at Allstate we have a very diverse community.'"
Allstate fired Barber three days later, setting off a dispute that shows signs of becoming the next legal cause celebre among religious conservatives. As the issue becomes a growing rallying point among conservatives, Christian groups have protested Barber's fate on Web sites and in newsletters, generating what they said are more than 240,000 e-mails and an unknown number of phone calls to Allstate.
Found: Another White Sox fan poliblogger
Respublica is a great conservative blog based in the Metro East (near St. Louis) part of Illinois. It's been added to the blogroll. Now the bad news, the White Sox have lost five straight, as Respublica reports. They're still up by eleven games, though.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Sailor gets her running in: On the deck of an aircraft carrier
Maggie DeLany claims to be a non-runner, but she must be hooked, since she tries to get in thirty minute run on the deck of the aircraft she's serving on.
Interesting excerpt from Maggie's Runner's World article:
Surrounded by the stunning blue water of the Pacific, I have unlimited scenery. I've been able to run overlooking Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima and Mt. Fuji near Tokyo. I've run overlooking the small, unnamed islands to the northeast of Australia and the hills around Dili, in East Timor.
To the untrained eye, the flight deck can appear easy, like a flat track. This is completely untrue. The winds and seas provide all the actual and perceived hills one could want, and the aircraft chained on the flight deck offers the hazards of a cross-country course. The Sailors and Marines who flock to be outside make the flight deck as crowded as Central Park.
But Maggie's favorite running scenery is the blue ocean itself.
On a personal note, the Chicago Marathon is less than two months away, so I'll be sneaking in a few running posts here and there.
Look for a post in the next few days on the Jeff Galloway method of training. What will I write? Let's just say that Jeff won't be linking back to Marathon Pundit.
Robb Kestner of Running at the Mouth has his insight on Galloway here.
Interesting excerpt from Maggie's Runner's World article:
Surrounded by the stunning blue water of the Pacific, I have unlimited scenery. I've been able to run overlooking Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima and Mt. Fuji near Tokyo. I've run overlooking the small, unnamed islands to the northeast of Australia and the hills around Dili, in East Timor.
To the untrained eye, the flight deck can appear easy, like a flat track. This is completely untrue. The winds and seas provide all the actual and perceived hills one could want, and the aircraft chained on the flight deck offers the hazards of a cross-country course. The Sailors and Marines who flock to be outside make the flight deck as crowded as Central Park.
But Maggie's favorite running scenery is the blue ocean itself.
On a personal note, the Chicago Marathon is less than two months away, so I'll be sneaking in a few running posts here and there.
Look for a post in the next few days on the Jeff Galloway method of training. What will I write? Let's just say that Jeff won't be linking back to Marathon Pundit.
Robb Kestner of Running at the Mouth has his insight on Galloway here.
Common sense ruling from a judge! Death Penalty Evidence Not Allowed In Gov. Ryan Trial
Now here is someone that President Bush should consider for the next Supreme Court vacancy: Rebecca R. Pallmeyer.
From AP:
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that former Gov. George Ryan (R-IL) cannot present evidence during his upcoming corruption trial about his efforts to change a flawed system that sent 13 wrongfully convicted men to death row.
"The court sees no meaningful relationship between Ryan's decisions regarding the death penalty and the offense conduct with which he is charged here," U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer wrote in her ruling. "Ryan's legitimate official acts, such as commuting death sentences, are not alleged to be part of the scheme or conspiracy to commit fraud."
From AP:
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that former Gov. George Ryan (R-IL) cannot present evidence during his upcoming corruption trial about his efforts to change a flawed system that sent 13 wrongfully convicted men to death row.
"The court sees no meaningful relationship between Ryan's decisions regarding the death penalty and the offense conduct with which he is charged here," U.S. District Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer wrote in her ruling. "Ryan's legitimate official acts, such as commuting death sentences, are not alleged to be part of the scheme or conspiracy to commit fraud."
The latest from our Saudi allies...
...this is an ongoing feature here on Marathon Pundit, reporting on our "allies" in the War on Terror, Saudi Arabia:
From the Tehran Times:
Five Saudi nationals have been killed while fighting against U.S. forces in Iraq over the past week, the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan reported Wednesday.
Al-Watan said among them was Ahmed al-Wazzan, 30, who had been a teacher in a village in Al-Qassim province, north of Riyadh, before heading to Iraq from a neighboring country.
Saudis who have infiltrated Iraq have been using satellite telephones to call on their relatives and friends to join the insurgency against U.S.-led forces in Iraq, it said.
Al-Watan said most Saudi combatants in Iraq were based in Al-Qaim, western Iraq, near the border with Syria.
(My note: Syria. Shocking! Syria!)
In May, Al-Watan reported the death in action of two Saudis who had entered Iraq from Syria. It also said 137 Saudis have been detained in Syria for attempting to infiltrate Iraqi territory.
Saudi Foreign Minister Saudi al-Faisal said in June that his country was exerting all efforts to prevent Saudis from heading to Iraq to join the insurgency, without giving figures or details.
Many Saudi veterans of the war in Afghanistan against the Soviet occupation during the 1980s have since joined the Al-Qaeda terror network of Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.
From the Tehran Times:
Five Saudi nationals have been killed while fighting against U.S. forces in Iraq over the past week, the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan reported Wednesday.
Al-Watan said among them was Ahmed al-Wazzan, 30, who had been a teacher in a village in Al-Qassim province, north of Riyadh, before heading to Iraq from a neighboring country.
Saudis who have infiltrated Iraq have been using satellite telephones to call on their relatives and friends to join the insurgency against U.S.-led forces in Iraq, it said.
Al-Watan said most Saudi combatants in Iraq were based in Al-Qaim, western Iraq, near the border with Syria.
(My note: Syria. Shocking! Syria!)
In May, Al-Watan reported the death in action of two Saudis who had entered Iraq from Syria. It also said 137 Saudis have been detained in Syria for attempting to infiltrate Iraqi territory.
Saudi Foreign Minister Saudi al-Faisal said in June that his country was exerting all efforts to prevent Saudis from heading to Iraq to join the insurgency, without giving figures or details.
Many Saudi veterans of the war in Afghanistan against the Soviet occupation during the 1980s have since joined the Al-Qaeda terror network of Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.
Oohie-poohie PC smell at IUPUI
In addition to consistent blogging on the Thomas Klocek scandal, I've been keeping an eye at other PC atrocities within American academia. There is no shortage of material, by the way.
Here's another one. Apparently the unhappy story of Professor William Bradford seems to be finally gaining some momentum. Bradford is a non-tenured law school professor Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. IUPUI for short, but students and faculty commonly refer to it as (no I'm not making this up) as "Oohie-Poohie." And there is a flow of ca-ca coming from there.
Non-tenured professor. Just like Klocek at DePaul.
In late June I came across this Volokh Conspiracy post, which brought me to this Indianapolis Star column by Ruth Holladay.
Here is an excerpt:
In March 2004, he said, he was told during a review that someone described him as "uncollegial."
That's the new kiss-of-death buzzword. "Faculty seeking to get rid of others claim they are not collegial," Bradford said.
Bradford wrote a defense of the flag after 9/11 -- one that hung in the school lobby until some faculty objected.
He refused to sign a letter sent by (Fellow IUPUI Professor of Law Florence) Roisman defending Ward Churchill. He's the Colorado professor who called victims of 9/11 "little Eichmanns."
Roisman would not comment specifically on Bradford's collegiality or lack thereof. She denied his politics was the issue.
Professor Henry Karlson, a respected senior faculty member, finds Bradford collegial and more. "He's perhaps the finest young man we have recruited."
But, yes, there is a problem. "Some members of the faculty, for reasons I cannot ascertain, are trying, for lack of a better term, to drive him away."
Students have voted Bradford their favorite teacher.
(Another IUPUI law professor Mary Harter) Mitchell long has been an anti-war activist. She did not return three calls on Friday.
Roisman said she is a proud member of the left. "I am a person of very progressive politics," she said. "Everybody there would tell you I am the most to-the-left person (on the faculty.)"
In winter 2003, Roisman made news for objecting to a tree with ornaments in the school lobby. After it was removed, she successfully lobbied against a new display -- an Indiana winter scene.
Then-Dean Tony Tarr weathered that storm, then resigned in 2004.
The new, interim dean is Susanah Mead, a longtime faculty member.
On Friday, Mitchell and Roisman threw a party for Mead. Only women faculty and staff were invited. Mead acknowledged she heard some rumblings about sexism.
Bradford laughed. "If a male dean came in, and only male faculty held such an event, can you imagine the outrage?"
There he goes again -- being uncollegial.
There's more: Bradford, who as noted before, refused to sign the Roisman "Oohie-Poohie" letter supporting Ward Churchill. Bradford, unlike Churchill, actually is a Native American. Professor Bradford is also an Army veteran who fought in Desert Storm and Bosnia.
"Professor X" has written two articles in the last week for FrontPage Magazine about the Bradford case. They are here and here. Yes, the PC pressure within academia is such that Professor X has to use a pseudonym.
One of the more chilling items in the articles is this: Professor Roisman has filed an ethics violations charge at "Oohie Poohie" with the school's vice chancellor, William Plater. Why? Because Bradford talked to Ruth Holladay of the Indianapolis Star.
This is why we need an Academic Bill of Rights.
Three words describe what I think about "Oohie Poohie" Stink. Stank. Stunk.
Professor Florence Roisman can be e-mailed at froisman@iupui.edu
Professor Mary Harter Mitchell can be e-mailed at macmitch@iupui.edu
Vice Chancellor William Plater can be e-mailed at wplater@iupui.edu
As always, please use such information with respect and responsibility.
Here's another one. Apparently the unhappy story of Professor William Bradford seems to be finally gaining some momentum. Bradford is a non-tenured law school professor Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. IUPUI for short, but students and faculty commonly refer to it as (no I'm not making this up) as "Oohie-Poohie." And there is a flow of ca-ca coming from there.
Non-tenured professor. Just like Klocek at DePaul.
In late June I came across this Volokh Conspiracy post, which brought me to this Indianapolis Star column by Ruth Holladay.
Here is an excerpt:
In March 2004, he said, he was told during a review that someone described him as "uncollegial."
That's the new kiss-of-death buzzword. "Faculty seeking to get rid of others claim they are not collegial," Bradford said.
Bradford wrote a defense of the flag after 9/11 -- one that hung in the school lobby until some faculty objected.
He refused to sign a letter sent by (Fellow IUPUI Professor of Law Florence) Roisman defending Ward Churchill. He's the Colorado professor who called victims of 9/11 "little Eichmanns."
Roisman would not comment specifically on Bradford's collegiality or lack thereof. She denied his politics was the issue.
Professor Henry Karlson, a respected senior faculty member, finds Bradford collegial and more. "He's perhaps the finest young man we have recruited."
But, yes, there is a problem. "Some members of the faculty, for reasons I cannot ascertain, are trying, for lack of a better term, to drive him away."
Students have voted Bradford their favorite teacher.
(Another IUPUI law professor Mary Harter) Mitchell long has been an anti-war activist. She did not return three calls on Friday.
Roisman said she is a proud member of the left. "I am a person of very progressive politics," she said. "Everybody there would tell you I am the most to-the-left person (on the faculty.)"
In winter 2003, Roisman made news for objecting to a tree with ornaments in the school lobby. After it was removed, she successfully lobbied against a new display -- an Indiana winter scene.
Then-Dean Tony Tarr weathered that storm, then resigned in 2004.
The new, interim dean is Susanah Mead, a longtime faculty member.
On Friday, Mitchell and Roisman threw a party for Mead. Only women faculty and staff were invited. Mead acknowledged she heard some rumblings about sexism.
Bradford laughed. "If a male dean came in, and only male faculty held such an event, can you imagine the outrage?"
There he goes again -- being uncollegial.
There's more: Bradford, who as noted before, refused to sign the Roisman "Oohie-Poohie" letter supporting Ward Churchill. Bradford, unlike Churchill, actually is a Native American. Professor Bradford is also an Army veteran who fought in Desert Storm and Bosnia.
"Professor X" has written two articles in the last week for FrontPage Magazine about the Bradford case. They are here and here. Yes, the PC pressure within academia is such that Professor X has to use a pseudonym.
One of the more chilling items in the articles is this: Professor Roisman has filed an ethics violations charge at "Oohie Poohie" with the school's vice chancellor, William Plater. Why? Because Bradford talked to Ruth Holladay of the Indianapolis Star.
This is why we need an Academic Bill of Rights.
Three words describe what I think about "Oohie Poohie" Stink. Stank. Stunk.
Professor Florence Roisman can be e-mailed at froisman@iupui.edu
Professor Mary Harter Mitchell can be e-mailed at macmitch@iupui.edu
Vice Chancellor William Plater can be e-mailed at wplater@iupui.edu
As always, please use such information with respect and responsibility.
University of Illinois chairman speaks against NCAA on Illini, Chief issue
Great article in today's Chicago Tribune (free registration required). Tough to excerpt, but so it's worth a visit to the Tribune web site.
The chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees , Lawrence Eppley discusses the Illini nickname and Chief Illiniwek issues.
Says Epley:
"It is noteworthy that the NCAA's edict as it pertains to the University of Illinois directly contradicts a 1995 finding by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights . . . that the existence of the Chief did not constitute a `racially hostile environment at the University.'
`Illini' is an appellation proudly carried not only by our student-athletes, but also by tens of thousands . . . who positively associate themselves with our university."
The chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees , Lawrence Eppley discusses the Illini nickname and Chief Illiniwek issues.
Says Epley:
"It is noteworthy that the NCAA's edict as it pertains to the University of Illinois directly contradicts a 1995 finding by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights . . . that the existence of the Chief did not constitute a `racially hostile environment at the University.'
`Illini' is an appellation proudly carried not only by our student-athletes, but also by tens of thousands . . . who positively associate themselves with our university."
Where is PETA? Saudi man celebrates divorce by killing goats
The latest from our Saudi allies. According to the Arab News:
A Saudi man celebrated the divorce from his wife in a unique way, Okaz newspaper reported. The man slaughtered many goats and invited large number of guests to celebrate his freedom from a very violent wife who had made his life a misery for three years. The husband was honoring a vow to hold a large party if he ever managed to separate from his wife. A large number of his neighbors came to join in the celebration.
Will PETA speak out? Probably not.
This is the stuff PETA is concerned about: A Chicago alderman wants 10 acres per elephant for any pachyderm that's within city limits. Half of those acres need to be indoors.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Sheehan entourage moves off roadside, still near Crawford
I still think Thirdwave Dave phrased it best: It's time to go home, Cindy.
This is going to sound cruel, but the vision I have here is of Linus waiting in vain in that pumpkin patch in "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."
AFP weighs in:
The high profile peace camp set up by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan is to move from the roadside outside President George W. Bush's Texas ranch to a private property nearby following mounting hostilities with local residents.
But Sheehan, whose protest has come to symbolize rising anti-war sentiment among Americans, has insisted she will not abandon her demonstration until the president agrees to a meeting.
A source close to the activists at the camp said Sheehan has accepted an offer to move onto private land next to Bush's Prairie Chapel ranch following mounting tensions in recent days.
Gas Prices Hit $3 A Gallon In Chicagoland
From CBS 2 Chicago:
At one Evanston gas station, regular costs $3.06 a gallon. That’s one of the highest in the area, but paying over $2.50 is common. The cheapest CBS 2 could find Tuesday morning was $2.61 a gallon in Romeoville.
At one Evanston gas station, regular costs $3.06 a gallon. That’s one of the highest in the area, but paying over $2.50 is common. The cheapest CBS 2 could find Tuesday morning was $2.61 a gallon in Romeoville.
Carole Moseley Braun may be planning Chicago mayoral run
Carole: Your six years in the senate were an embarrassment. Except for the several dozen supporters you had in Iowa, seemingly, your 2004 presidential run's sole purpose was to make Dennis Kucinich's support seem gargantuan. And now, according to Fran Spielman of the Chicago Sun-Times, you're considering a run for mayor of Chicago.
Carole move on. You've had you're time in the sun.
Here's what's in the Sun-Times today:
Is former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D-Ill.) laying the groundwork to run for mayor in 2007 -- either against Mayor Daley or if mounting corruption scandals cause Daley to walk away?
If she isn't, why did her brother -- a Chicago Police sergeant -- call the Fraternal Order of Police and ask about the timing of the FOP's mayoral endorsement?
An FOP official said Monday that Joe Braun, the former senator's brother, placed the call and told FOP officials in no uncertain terms that his sister would be a candidate for mayor.
Contacted Monday about her brother's maneuverings, the normally gregarious Moseley Braun was taken aback.
"You just threw me for a loop. I'm surprised at that information. . . . I did not ask him to do anything in that regard," she said.
Carole move on. You've had you're time in the sun.
Here's what's in the Sun-Times today:
Is former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D-Ill.) laying the groundwork to run for mayor in 2007 -- either against Mayor Daley or if mounting corruption scandals cause Daley to walk away?
If she isn't, why did her brother -- a Chicago Police sergeant -- call the Fraternal Order of Police and ask about the timing of the FOP's mayoral endorsement?
An FOP official said Monday that Joe Braun, the former senator's brother, placed the call and told FOP officials in no uncertain terms that his sister would be a candidate for mayor.
Contacted Monday about her brother's maneuverings, the normally gregarious Moseley Braun was taken aback.
"You just threw me for a loop. I'm surprised at that information. . . . I did not ask him to do anything in that regard," she said.
Sheehan's followers: Hard at work removing anti-Israeli rants from their websites
Friend of the blog Sol from Solomonia posted this on Sunday, here is an excerpt:
A Judenhass Horse
Further on the post below, Not a Saint, let's take a look at the horse Cindy Sheehan has tied her cart to, the Crawford Peace House [Note: The CPH people have deleted the material mentioned in this post from their page, but I have the original. Here is the Google cache. See the update at the bottom of this post.]. They claim to be a house of peace, and Cindy Sheehan's agenda would seem to be centered on the War in Iraq, but even a cursory look at the CPH's web page shows a clearly different agenda. As I write this, the word "Iraq" appears on CPH's front page a total of ONE time. The number of times a certain eastern Mediterranean country's name appears? Seventeen times. And the single essay on the page is about...Iraq? No. It is about the world's true demon, root of all evil, Israel.
The first photo is one of a Mr. Eugene Bird giving a speech with a Palestinian flag waving next to him. Who is Mr. Bird? According to Honest Reporting, Bird is President of the Paul Findlay founded anti-Semitic, anti-Israel Council for the National Interest, a group which seeks "to restore a political environment in America in which voters and their elected officials are free from the undue influence and pressure of a foreign country, namely Israel." He also writes regularly for the Saudi shilling, and need I mention anti-Israel, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs -- where old Arabist diplomats who've gone native go to die.
Bird is known for blaming Israel for the Abu Ghraib abuses:
We know that the Israeli intelligence was operating in Baghdad after the war was over. The question should be: Were there any foreign interrogators among those that were recommending very, very bad treatment for the prisoners?
Do I need to mention that Bird is a big fan of divestment, and uses all sorts of strained narrative reasoning to justify himself? He also thinks what we really need is -- not Syrian, not Saudi -- but an Israel Accountability Act.
By the way, if you want a report on the demonstration these pictures are apparently from, you can get it at this Indymedia site.
The second photo on the CPH site shows a man holding a sign which appears to show the ever shrinking borders of "Palestine." What do you think the protester thinks would be a "just solution" to this shrinkage?
The third and fourth pictures are of protesters carrying the mother of all anti-Israel banners, which also looks like it blames the Jewish State for the region's strife. As an emailer wrote to me, "This is a group that appears to think that it was Israel that started the wars in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973. Remember when Polish tanks invaded Germany on Sept 1, 1939? Remember when the United States bombed Pearl Harbor? Cindy Sheehan's friends probably do."
Sol goes on to mention a second time that some of these sites have been cleansed of the anti-Israel ramblings and photos. His point is still valid: It's fair to judge Cindy Sheehan by the company she keeps.
A Judenhass Horse
Further on the post below, Not a Saint, let's take a look at the horse Cindy Sheehan has tied her cart to, the Crawford Peace House [Note: The CPH people have deleted the material mentioned in this post from their page, but I have the original. Here is the Google cache. See the update at the bottom of this post.]. They claim to be a house of peace, and Cindy Sheehan's agenda would seem to be centered on the War in Iraq, but even a cursory look at the CPH's web page shows a clearly different agenda. As I write this, the word "Iraq" appears on CPH's front page a total of ONE time. The number of times a certain eastern Mediterranean country's name appears? Seventeen times. And the single essay on the page is about...Iraq? No. It is about the world's true demon, root of all evil, Israel.
The first photo is one of a Mr. Eugene Bird giving a speech with a Palestinian flag waving next to him. Who is Mr. Bird? According to Honest Reporting, Bird is President of the Paul Findlay founded anti-Semitic, anti-Israel Council for the National Interest, a group which seeks "to restore a political environment in America in which voters and their elected officials are free from the undue influence and pressure of a foreign country, namely Israel." He also writes regularly for the Saudi shilling, and need I mention anti-Israel, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs -- where old Arabist diplomats who've gone native go to die.
Bird is known for blaming Israel for the Abu Ghraib abuses:
We know that the Israeli intelligence was operating in Baghdad after the war was over. The question should be: Were there any foreign interrogators among those that were recommending very, very bad treatment for the prisoners?
Do I need to mention that Bird is a big fan of divestment, and uses all sorts of strained narrative reasoning to justify himself? He also thinks what we really need is -- not Syrian, not Saudi -- but an Israel Accountability Act.
By the way, if you want a report on the demonstration these pictures are apparently from, you can get it at this Indymedia site.
The second photo on the CPH site shows a man holding a sign which appears to show the ever shrinking borders of "Palestine." What do you think the protester thinks would be a "just solution" to this shrinkage?
The third and fourth pictures are of protesters carrying the mother of all anti-Israel banners, which also looks like it blames the Jewish State for the region's strife. As an emailer wrote to me, "This is a group that appears to think that it was Israel that started the wars in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973. Remember when Polish tanks invaded Germany on Sept 1, 1939? Remember when the United States bombed Pearl Harbor? Cindy Sheehan's friends probably do."
Sol goes on to mention a second time that some of these sites have been cleansed of the anti-Israel ramblings and photos. His point is still valid: It's fair to judge Cindy Sheehan by the company she keeps.
Monday, August 15, 2005
British Muslims: Keep extremist mosques open to prevent more extremism
This is in the "Breaking News" section of the Daily Telegraph tonight:
Muslim leaders have challenged Prime Minister Tony Blair's anti-terror plans as they revealed fears that Islamic values could be "demonised".
Among the proposals they criticised was the closure of mosques defined as extremist, which they warned could "fuel a radical sub-culture".
So Tony, I guess the extremist mosques should stay open.
Muslim leaders have challenged Prime Minister Tony Blair's anti-terror plans as they revealed fears that Islamic values could be "demonised".
Among the proposals they criticised was the closure of mosques defined as extremist, which they warned could "fuel a radical sub-culture".
So Tony, I guess the extremist mosques should stay open.
David Limbaugh: The President, Polls and Perseverance
Here's a colum, make that an excerpt of one, that needed to be written, courtesy of David Limbaugh:
As prescient as the Framers were, it's unlikely they could have foreseen the coming technological advances and information explosion that would arm a hostile media and opposition party with selective bad news and polling data with which to badger a president into submission.
It takes a strong person as president to withstand the temptation to sacrifice the long-term best interests of the nation by succumbing to the seduction of daily polls and their promise of immediate popularity upon obedience to the whimsical popular will.
We need look no further back in history than the Clinton years to see what happens when a president tends to govern by polls rather than principle. It was a formula for putting off serious problems -- such as Al Qaeda and Social Security -- when tackling them might bring you into disfavor.
By contrast, we can study the present Bush administration to see what happens when a president governs by principles and goals to which he has consistently pledged fidelity. It's a formula for occasionally disastrous polling results, as we witnessed this week with reports of the president's lowest-yet approval ratings.
The mainstream media are gloating about the president's popularity free-fall, apparently oblivious to the damage they are inflicting on the nation with their ceaseless one-sided news coverage.
As prescient as the Framers were, it's unlikely they could have foreseen the coming technological advances and information explosion that would arm a hostile media and opposition party with selective bad news and polling data with which to badger a president into submission.
It takes a strong person as president to withstand the temptation to sacrifice the long-term best interests of the nation by succumbing to the seduction of daily polls and their promise of immediate popularity upon obedience to the whimsical popular will.
We need look no further back in history than the Clinton years to see what happens when a president tends to govern by polls rather than principle. It was a formula for putting off serious problems -- such as Al Qaeda and Social Security -- when tackling them might bring you into disfavor.
By contrast, we can study the present Bush administration to see what happens when a president governs by principles and goals to which he has consistently pledged fidelity. It's a formula for occasionally disastrous polling results, as we witnessed this week with reports of the president's lowest-yet approval ratings.
The mainstream media are gloating about the president's popularity free-fall, apparently oblivious to the damage they are inflicting on the nation with their ceaseless one-sided news coverage.
Malkin reports correct: Cindy Sheehan's husband files for divorce
Michelle Malkin posted this information yesterday, and her blogging was correct, as AP now reports:
The husband of Cindy Sheehan, the mother camped outside President Bush's Texas ranch to protest the death of a son in the Iraq war, has filed for divorce, according to court documents.
Patrick Sheehan filed the divorce petition Friday in Solano County court, northeast of San Francisco. His lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday.
The husband of Cindy Sheehan, the mother camped outside President Bush's Texas ranch to protest the death of a son in the Iraq war, has filed for divorce, according to court documents.
Patrick Sheehan filed the divorce petition Friday in Solano County court, northeast of San Francisco. His lawyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday.
(Not from the Onion) Tehran Times: Iran must act logically and diplomatically: Leader
This is what the Tehran Times says:
“In the modern world, one should act with a strong, clear, and convincing logic, total awareness, and observation of all diplomatic protocols,” Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said here on Monday.
That makes me feel better.
“In the modern world, one should act with a strong, clear, and convincing logic, total awareness, and observation of all diplomatic protocols,” Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said here on Monday.
That makes me feel better.
KC Royals manager Buddy Bell misses game to attend funeral for nephew killed in Iraq
The Kansas City Royals are having a brutal year and are currenty suffering through a 15 game losing streak. And there is more bad news: Manager Buddy Bell mised tonight's game so he could attend his nephew's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery.
His nephew, Marine Lance Cpl. Tim Bell Jr. was killed by a roadside bomb this month.
His nephew, Marine Lance Cpl. Tim Bell Jr. was killed by a roadside bomb this month.
Peoria Pundit: Phelps' Westboro cult protested East Peoria marine's funeral
Yesterday, I posted that it appeared that Fred Phelps' Westboro "God Hates Fags" cult didn't show up to protest the funeral of USMC hero Terry Ball of East Peoria.
Well, I was wrong.
The Peoria Journal Star covered the funeral, but no mention of Phelps' group protesting the funeral.
But the protesters from the Westboro Hate Cult were there. Bill Dennis, who writes the superb Peoria Pundit blog reports:
The Westboro Baptist Church is headed by the Rev. Fred Phelps. They gained nationwide notoriety by protesting the funerals of gay hate crime victims. They are the ones who carry those “God Hates Fags” signs. Their message these days is that God is mad at the United States for people insufficiently intolerant of homosexuals, so He is responsible for killing soldiers and Marines fighting in Iraq.
It’s not a pretty message. But the fact they were doing this is news. It was a national story before we all learned that Terry Ball passed away.
More than once, I’ve read the opinion that the media shouldn’t give Phelps and his people any “publicity.” Whether or not any particular groups gets publicity from news covering isn’t important. The news media needs to cover the news, whether or not it’s news we want to hear.
It’s not the media’s job to keep us from having to hear ugly messages. The people who work in the information business need to reject the notion that the public is better off when it is kept in the dark. We wouldn’t tolerate the government doing that to us. Why does the media think it has the right to keep unpleasant news away from us?
It’s the news media’s job to answer questions, not to turn their head and pretend they didn’t hear the question.
Ball will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Thanks, Bill.
Later this morning, the Phelps hate cult will protest the funeral of Marine Corporal Nick Bloehm in Renton, WA.
Did you hear that, MSM???
Marathon Pundit commenter Michelle weighs in:
Those asshats were there. From Peoria TV station week.com
A group from Westboro Baptist Church, out of Topeka, Kansas, protested outside of the memorial this afternoon. The group has been holding protests outside military funerals across the country. The pickets are not in objection to the war in Iraq, but rather to further their own political agenda.
Well, I was wrong.
The Peoria Journal Star covered the funeral, but no mention of Phelps' group protesting the funeral.
But the protesters from the Westboro Hate Cult were there. Bill Dennis, who writes the superb Peoria Pundit blog reports:
The Westboro Baptist Church is headed by the Rev. Fred Phelps. They gained nationwide notoriety by protesting the funerals of gay hate crime victims. They are the ones who carry those “God Hates Fags” signs. Their message these days is that God is mad at the United States for people insufficiently intolerant of homosexuals, so He is responsible for killing soldiers and Marines fighting in Iraq.
It’s not a pretty message. But the fact they were doing this is news. It was a national story before we all learned that Terry Ball passed away.
More than once, I’ve read the opinion that the media shouldn’t give Phelps and his people any “publicity.” Whether or not any particular groups gets publicity from news covering isn’t important. The news media needs to cover the news, whether or not it’s news we want to hear.
It’s not the media’s job to keep us from having to hear ugly messages. The people who work in the information business need to reject the notion that the public is better off when it is kept in the dark. We wouldn’t tolerate the government doing that to us. Why does the media think it has the right to keep unpleasant news away from us?
It’s the news media’s job to answer questions, not to turn their head and pretend they didn’t hear the question.
Ball will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Thanks, Bill.
Later this morning, the Phelps hate cult will protest the funeral of Marine Corporal Nick Bloehm in Renton, WA.
Did you hear that, MSM???
Marathon Pundit commenter Michelle weighs in:
Those asshats were there. From Peoria TV station week.com
A group from Westboro Baptist Church, out of Topeka, Kansas, protested outside of the memorial this afternoon. The group has been holding protests outside military funerals across the country. The pickets are not in objection to the war in Iraq, but rather to further their own political agenda.
Runner's death follow-up
According to AP, the cause of death of the runner who died after completing Chicago's Elvis 5K on Saturday was arterial sclerosis cardiovascular disease--better known as "heart disease."
My prayers are with the deceased and his family.
My prayers are with the deceased and his family.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Sheehan cont'd
More Cindy Sheehan stuff coming tomorrow. Huffington Post is already whining about the smear jobs.
It's a Neo-con conspiracy, the leftists say. I'm still not sure what that is, but I very well may be a Neo-con--the definition of which has varied over the five years of the Bush presidency, but I believe that as of this date, a Neo-con (one word? two? hyphen? no hyphen?) is a conservative who supports Israel.
Folks, a little help on this one, please!
It's a Neo-con conspiracy, the leftists say. I'm still not sure what that is, but I very well may be a Neo-con--the definition of which has varied over the five years of the Bush presidency, but I believe that as of this date, a Neo-con (one word? two? hyphen? no hyphen?) is a conservative who supports Israel.
Folks, a little help on this one, please!
Phelps' Westboro cult: An East Peoria no-show?
I guess Fred Phelps and his Westboro hate group doesn't "play in Peoria." Or East Peoria.
As I've blogged here in the last week, Fred Phelps rabidly anti-gay Westboro cult, founders of the God Hates Fags web site, has been protesting at the funerals of soldiers killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The sicko is celebrating these combat deaths, claiming it's God's punishment for American acceptance of homosexuality.
Once again, here is the disgusting flier calling for the whackos in the Westboro cult to protest the August 13 funeral of Marine Sergeant Terry Ball.
In today's Peoria Journal-Star, there was no mention of Phelps' group showing up to disrupt the Ball funeral. Did they chicken out? Is Phelps' group simply not large enough to get bodies to the Peoria area? It's possible the newspaper chose to overlook these idiots. But it doesn't matter.
Lots of other people did show up, as the Journal-Star reports:
The funeral home was so full that mourners spilled over into another room, where the service was cast on video. Cars were so numerous that they extended into a lot across the street. Local marines and police officers swarmed the building to pay their last respects to the local hero who lost his life fighting for his country.
Are you reading this, "Rev." Phelps?
As I've blogged here in the last week, Fred Phelps rabidly anti-gay Westboro cult, founders of the God Hates Fags web site, has been protesting at the funerals of soldiers killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The sicko is celebrating these combat deaths, claiming it's God's punishment for American acceptance of homosexuality.
Once again, here is the disgusting flier calling for the whackos in the Westboro cult to protest the August 13 funeral of Marine Sergeant Terry Ball.
In today's Peoria Journal-Star, there was no mention of Phelps' group showing up to disrupt the Ball funeral. Did they chicken out? Is Phelps' group simply not large enough to get bodies to the Peoria area? It's possible the newspaper chose to overlook these idiots. But it doesn't matter.
Lots of other people did show up, as the Journal-Star reports:
The funeral home was so full that mourners spilled over into another room, where the service was cast on video. Cars were so numerous that they extended into a lot across the street. Local marines and police officers swarmed the building to pay their last respects to the local hero who lost his life fighting for his country.
Are you reading this, "Rev." Phelps?
Atta Boy, Mark Steyn: Columnist on 9/11 commision Atta denials
Mark Steyn's column in today's Chicago Sun-Times, is as usual, brilliant.If you want to know everything wrong with the 9/11 Commission in a single sound bite, consider this from Al Felzenberg, its official spokesman, speaking Wednesday:
''There was no way that Atta could have been in the United States at that time, which is why the staff didn't give this tremendous weight when they were writing the report. This information was not meshing with the other information that we had.''
In fairness to Felzenberg, he was having a bad week, and a hard time staying on top of the commission's ever-shifting version of events. It emerged that the U.S. military had fingered Mohammed Atta -- the guy who plowed Flight 11 into the first World Trade Center tower -- well over a year before before 9/11. Or as the Associated Press puts it:
"A classified military intelligence unit called 'Able Danger' identified Atta and three other hijackers in 1999 as potential members of a terrorist cell in New York City
Felzenberg is right on one point, there is no official record of Atta being in the US in 1999. Burearcrats always look for the paper trail and rules of course are that you have to follow the paper trail to get to "the truth."
Did it occur to Felzenberg may have sneaked into the country from jidadist hotspots such in Canada?
Steyn writes:
Here's one way just for a start. Forget the southern border, insofar as there is such a thing. Fact: On America's northern border, no record is kept of individual visitors to the United States. All that happens is that a photo scanner snaps your rear license plate. The scanner is said to be state-of-the-art, which is to say, as one Customs & Border official told me, it's "officially" 75 percent accurate. On the one occasion my own license plate was queried, it turned out the scanner had misread it. So, just for a start, without any particular difficulty, a friend of Mohammed Atta could have rented a car for him in Montreal and driven him down to New York -- and there would be never be any record to connect him to the vehicle anywhere in the United States or Canada.
Or Atta could just have walked across the border. The picture above is of the Vermont-Quebec border. All Mohammad would need is to possess a moderate level of hiking skills.
Michelle Malkin has unconfirmed report that Cindy Sheehan's husband has filed for divorce
Michelle Malkin in all over the Cindy Sheehan phenonemon. Not mentioned her, but covered on hers and other blogs, is that not all of the late Casey Sheehan's family supports Cindy's anti-Bush jihad.
Malkin writes: Like it or not, the dispute between Cindy Sheehan and some of her family members is news. According to a Solano County court document unearthed by Dang if I Know, there may be a new development in that rift:
Malkin writes: Like it or not, the dispute between Cindy Sheehan and some of her family members is news. According to a Solano County court document unearthed by Dang if I Know, there may be a new development in that rift:
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Counterprotest of Cindy Sheehan
Thank you (finally) MSM for pointing that not everyone is fawning over Cindy Sheehan...
From AP:
The morning pro-Bush rally at the site (near Sheehan's group) was organized by Darrell Ankarlo, a conservative radio talk show host for KLIF in Dallas, who said: "In my heart of hearts I believe that we're trying to do the right thing (in Iraq)."
He also asked to meet with Sheehan, but she only agreed to meet privately Saturday evening with Bush supporters whose relatives have died in Iraq.
The 250-plus Bush supporters stood in the blazing sun for a few hours in a ditch across the street from the campsite. Most waved American flags and held signs, including "Help! I'm surrounded by America-hating idiots!" and "Thank you, Mr. President."
"I feel sorry for Cindy, but I think she went about this the wrong way," said Bill Garrett, of Dallas, a member of Protest Warrior, a group that frequently holds counter protests to anti-war rallies. "Somebody's got to stand up to them."
From AP:
The morning pro-Bush rally at the site (near Sheehan's group) was organized by Darrell Ankarlo, a conservative radio talk show host for KLIF in Dallas, who said: "In my heart of hearts I believe that we're trying to do the right thing (in Iraq)."
He also asked to meet with Sheehan, but she only agreed to meet privately Saturday evening with Bush supporters whose relatives have died in Iraq.
The 250-plus Bush supporters stood in the blazing sun for a few hours in a ditch across the street from the campsite. Most waved American flags and held signs, including "Help! I'm surrounded by America-hating idiots!" and "Thank you, Mr. President."
"I feel sorry for Cindy, but I think she went about this the wrong way," said Bill Garrett, of Dallas, a member of Protest Warrior, a group that frequently holds counter protests to anti-war rallies. "Somebody's got to stand up to them."
Runner dies in Chicago's Elvis 5K
Sad to say, this is the second death of a runner in a Chicago race this year. Memorial Day weekend, a Catholic school teacher in his 20s died in the Soldier Field 10 miler. This evening, a 52 year-old man died in the annual Elvis 5-kilometer race in Lincoln Park.
Happy Birthday to Grant Wood's American Gothic
Yes, perhaps the most famous American painting has turned 75, Grant Wood's American Gothic.
And yes, the house in the background is the real American Gothic house.
Happy Birthday, American Gothic!
Michelle Malkin: Yes, Cindy Sheehan has changed her story
Michelle has been tirelessly pursuing the truth in the Cindy Sheehan story, and has been the brunt of many personal attacks because of her persistence. But she hasn't slowed down.
In her latest post, YES, CINDY SHEEHAN CHANGED HER STORY, she comes across this paragraph in today's front page Sheehan story in the Washington Post:
After the meeting, [Cindy Sheehan] was quoted by the newspaper in her hometown of Vacaville, Calif., as saying that the president seemed sympathetic. Subsequently, she has said that Bush treated her callously during the meeting.
Another Malkin find: In this morning Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Robert Jamieson Jr. writes:
Trouble is Sheehan is not sincerely interested in meeting Bush for a private, heartfelt chat about her understandable anguish and lingering questions.
She wants to make a public splash by allowing critics of the unjustified war in Iraq to use her as a human bazooka against Bush, who got us into this war mess.
That Sheehan would allow her private grief to be plied for a public stunt seems unfathomable even if her underlying message about unnecessary blood being shed by American soldiers hits the mark.
Sheehan already got face time with the president, right here in Western Washington last year -- a fact that folks tend to ignore as Sheehan morphs into the celebrity du jour...
In her latest post, YES, CINDY SHEEHAN CHANGED HER STORY, she comes across this paragraph in today's front page Sheehan story in the Washington Post:
After the meeting, [Cindy Sheehan] was quoted by the newspaper in her hometown of Vacaville, Calif., as saying that the president seemed sympathetic. Subsequently, she has said that Bush treated her callously during the meeting.
Another Malkin find: In this morning Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Robert Jamieson Jr. writes:
Trouble is Sheehan is not sincerely interested in meeting Bush for a private, heartfelt chat about her understandable anguish and lingering questions.
She wants to make a public splash by allowing critics of the unjustified war in Iraq to use her as a human bazooka against Bush, who got us into this war mess.
That Sheehan would allow her private grief to be plied for a public stunt seems unfathomable even if her underlying message about unnecessary blood being shed by American soldiers hits the mark.
Sheehan already got face time with the president, right here in Western Washington last year -- a fact that folks tend to ignore as Sheehan morphs into the celebrity du jour...
Friday, August 12, 2005
Phelps' "God Hates Fags" cult in East Peoria Saturday: What to do
Hat tip (again) to Bill Dennis of Peoria Pundit and (hard to believe this), Daily Kos:
Says Bill:
I admit to mixed feelings about whether or not to encourage some sort of counter-protest to the “God Hates Fags” people who plan to picket outside war hero Marine Gunnery Sgt. Terry Ball’s funeral tomorrow. But Daily Kos has a few good ideas on how this could happen in a respectful way:
RULES:
On the other hand, I don’t think any good ever really comes from ignoring hate groups. They don’t just fade away. We need to let the family know that people appreciate his sacrifice.
So, if there are people who plan to go and counter protest, these are the rules they should follow.
Says Bill:
I admit to mixed feelings about whether or not to encourage some sort of counter-protest to the “God Hates Fags” people who plan to picket outside war hero Marine Gunnery Sgt. Terry Ball’s funeral tomorrow. But Daily Kos has a few good ideas on how this could happen in a respectful way:
RULES:
- Complete silence
- Respectful funeral attire
- No disrespectful actions like flipping off the evil bastards
- No war, sexuality, or other “political” signs
- No contact or interaction with the evil bastards whatsoever
- No violence or any act that could lead to violenceNo talking to the media during the silent “counter-protest”
- Follow all requests made by the Ball family and the East Peoria Police
- We Love You, Terry
- God Bless the Troops
- God Loves the USA
- Thank You For Your Sacrifice, Terry
- Hug a Marine
- God Loves All Marines
- Pray for Terry’s Family
- We Will Never Forget Your Sacrifice, Terry
- Thank God For Marines
On the other hand, I don’t think any good ever really comes from ignoring hate groups. They don’t just fade away. We need to let the family know that people appreciate his sacrifice.
So, if there are people who plan to go and counter protest, these are the rules they should follow.
Congresswoman Schakowsky: Entrenched in the Cindy Sheehan camp
Marathon Pundit has the terrible misfortune of being represented in the US House of Representatives by Jan Schakowsky, one of the most liberal members in Congress.
In my last significant post about Congresscritter Schakowsky, from June 22, I called her on the carpet for this comment she made about Dick Durbin's now legendary Gitmo comments:
"The Bush Administration and Republican leaders are engaged in a pathetic attempt to make Senator Dick Durbin's condemnation of the use of torture at Guantanamo Bay an issue. As a result of the revelations of conditions at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, and Bagram prison in Afghanistan, the Republicans owe the American people, our soldiers and veterans an apology for undermining American values such as the Rule of Law, putting our troops at greater risk around the world, and cutting veterans health care benefits when they come home."
It was unclear when that comment by Schakowsky was made. So, identifying myself as a "free-lance journalist and blogger," I faxed her DC office and to summarize, asked her two questions.
In my last significant post about Congresscritter Schakowsky, from June 22, I called her on the carpet for this comment she made about Dick Durbin's now legendary Gitmo comments:
"The Bush Administration and Republican leaders are engaged in a pathetic attempt to make Senator Dick Durbin's condemnation of the use of torture at Guantanamo Bay an issue. As a result of the revelations of conditions at Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, and Bagram prison in Afghanistan, the Republicans owe the American people, our soldiers and veterans an apology for undermining American values such as the Rule of Law, putting our troops at greater risk around the world, and cutting veterans health care benefits when they come home."
It was unclear when that comment by Schakowsky was made. So, identifying myself as a "free-lance journalist and blogger," I faxed her DC office and to summarize, asked her two questions.
- Did you make that comment before Durbin's second, more substantial apology?
- And if the answer to the second question is "Yes," do you still stand by your comments.
Well, I never heard from Jan or her staff. I guess she's written off this constituent and this "free-lance journalist."
A couple of posts back, I referenced a Ben Johnson Front Page Magazine article about Cindy Sheehan, Schakowsky is mentioned. Here is that part of the article:
Then came the callers. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, who described herself as a member of the "Out-of-Iraq Coalition," called in for the (Democrats.com web) broadcast. Rep. Schakowsky, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, gushed, "I'm just so proud of you. My heart is with you." Schakowsky, like Medea Benjamin, gushes over Fidel Castro, as well; Schakowsky has consistently tried to ease travel restrictions to the island gulag. For these and other "progressive" efforts, Schakowsky received an award from the Democratic Socialists of America.)
Moron Schakowsky:
As reported here several times on Marathon Pundit, Schakowsky's husband, Robert Creamer, is awaiting trial for fraud charges. John Kass of the Chicago Tribune writes:
.....Robert Creamer was indicted last year on federal charges of kiting millions of dollars worth of checks and cheating on his income tax, while running the liberal, aggressive good-government group Illinois Public Action...
Although she has not been implicated in the scandal, Congresscritter Jan was on the Illinois Public Action Council Board of Directors at the time the financial misdeeds were taking place.
Also, presumably, Jan and Robert were living in the same house at the time.
That end's today's post about Jan Schakowsky, Marathon Pundit's rep in the House.
Wisconsin governor vetoes Voter ID bill for third time
For all the talk of the Republican "theft" of Ohio from John Kerry last November, there has been little talk of the shenanigans that went on in the Dairy State last year.
From AP:
Jim Doyle vetoed a Republican bill Friday that would have forced Wisconsin voters to show government-issued photo identification at the polls.
The veto marks the third time Doyle, a Democrat, has killed a GOP attempt at establishing a photo ID requirement at the polls. Republicans, still stinging from President Bush's narrow loss to Democrat John Kerry in Wisconsin last fall, insist photo identification at the polls would fix what they call a broken electoral system.
But the governor said photo identification would do nothing to correct problems while making it more difficult for people who don't have driver's licenses or state-issued photo IDs, especially senior citizens. Doyle has defended his two prior vetoes on the same grounds.
``Under this proposal, nearly one-quarter of Wisconsin's elderly population could be disenfranchised. I cannot allow that to happen,'' the governor said in a written statement.
Investigators in Milwaukee believe 4,600 more ballots were cast than registered voters in the city during the 2004 presidential race. Felons cast hundreds of votes and people used fake names and addresses, they say.
The state GOP this week announced it found evidence of nine more cases of double-voting in Milwaukee. State Republican Party chairman Rick Graber said investigators used U.S. Postal Service change-of-address records and voter lists to trace the names of nine people who voted in Milwaukee, then voted again in either Chicago, Minneapolis or Madison.
Bush lost Wisconsin by just 12,000 votes. Most of the allegations of vote fraud come from heavily Democratic Milwaukee County.
Wisconsin is one of the few states that allows election day voter registration.
From AP:
Jim Doyle vetoed a Republican bill Friday that would have forced Wisconsin voters to show government-issued photo identification at the polls.
The veto marks the third time Doyle, a Democrat, has killed a GOP attempt at establishing a photo ID requirement at the polls. Republicans, still stinging from President Bush's narrow loss to Democrat John Kerry in Wisconsin last fall, insist photo identification at the polls would fix what they call a broken electoral system.
But the governor said photo identification would do nothing to correct problems while making it more difficult for people who don't have driver's licenses or state-issued photo IDs, especially senior citizens. Doyle has defended his two prior vetoes on the same grounds.
``Under this proposal, nearly one-quarter of Wisconsin's elderly population could be disenfranchised. I cannot allow that to happen,'' the governor said in a written statement.
Investigators in Milwaukee believe 4,600 more ballots were cast than registered voters in the city during the 2004 presidential race. Felons cast hundreds of votes and people used fake names and addresses, they say.
The state GOP this week announced it found evidence of nine more cases of double-voting in Milwaukee. State Republican Party chairman Rick Graber said investigators used U.S. Postal Service change-of-address records and voter lists to trace the names of nine people who voted in Milwaukee, then voted again in either Chicago, Minneapolis or Madison.
Bush lost Wisconsin by just 12,000 votes. Most of the allegations of vote fraud come from heavily Democratic Milwaukee County.
Wisconsin is one of the few states that allows election day voter registration.
Blog wars: Cindy Sheehan
I've had my hand full of it, literally, dealing with that Hate Group leader Fred Phelps, so I haven't gotten a chance to cover Cindy Sheehan.
Cindy is the 48 year-old California mother of Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, who was killed in action in Sadr City last year. The loss of her son was of course devestating to her. Although the death of a child, even a grown one, is every parent's worst nightmare, most mothers and fathers are not emotionally prepared to cope with such a loss. The death of a parent, spouse, or sibling, however heartbreaking, is part of the accepted cycle of our own lives.
Cindy is camped out near President Bush's Crawford, TX ranch. Last summer President Bush met with Ms. Sheehan to console her on the loss of Casey. As reported in Drudge and many other sites, Cindy's story on that meeting has changed over the months.
Moonbattery has afflicted Cindy, as she's been spouting out comments like the one below, as reported in leftist-hack Alexander Cockburn's Counterpunch. Since she apparently muffed her opportunity to rant in front of President Bush last year, this is what she'd like to say now to him:
"And the other thing I want him to tell me is 'just what was the noble cause Casey died for?' Was it freedom and democracy? Bullshit! He died for oil. He died to make your friends richer. He died to expand American imperialism in the Middle East. We're not freer here, thanks to your PATRIOT Act. Iraq is not free. You get America out of Iraq and Israel out of Palestine and you'll stop the terrorism," she exclaimed.
Ah yes, out of Palestine....It's the Jews, the Jews....always the Jews...
Alexander Cockburn's good pal Noam Chomsky, or perhaps DePaul's Norman Finkelstein, very well may be writing her stuff.
And what does Cockburn call America's War on Terror? To him, it's the "Tenth Crusade."
Oh incidentally Cindy and Alexander, even if we left Iraq and the Israelis packed up and moved to the Canary Islands, militant Islamic terrorism would not stop. Their agenda is quite large. There's the reconquest of al-Andalus (Spain) on their plate, the restoral of the Islamic Caliphate, world-wide Shariah (Islamic law) to be put into force.....
Did I leave anything out? Oh, the subjugation of women.....
Cindy is now a hero to the liberals. Leftist bloggers of course love her. Sites such as Huffington Post and Democrats Underground have seemingly dropped all regular programming to become "All Cindy-All-The Time" outlets.
And it hasn't stopped there: Very good friend of the blog Pat Curley has seen his Brainster blog overrun by leftie trolls. Another friend of Marathon Pundit, Michelle Malkin, whose blog doesn't allow comments, has seen her e-mail box fill up with obscene missives.
More on Cindy Sheehan to come. Thank you Pat Curley for the Counterpunch article.
UPDATE 5:48PM CDT: This comes from today's excellent Ben Johnson's FrontPage Magazine article: More Sheehan Jew-baiting. Via that article to Free Republic to a Google group comes this e-mail from Cindy Sheehan:
Am I emotional? Yes, my first born was murdered. Am I angry? Yes, he was killed for lies and for a PNAC Neo-Con agenda to benefit Israel. My son joined the Army to protect America, not Israel. Am I stupid? No, I know full-well that my son, my family, this nation, and this world were betrayed by a George Bush who was influenced by the neo-con PNAC agenda after 9/11.
The PNAC short for Project for the New American Century. In the thinking of paranoid leftists, the PNAC's goal is for American dominance throughout the world, particulary in the Middle East. With of course Israel having a strong say in how things will be run.
Again, it's always the Jews....the Jews.....
Cindy is the 48 year-old California mother of Army Spc. Casey Sheehan, who was killed in action in Sadr City last year. The loss of her son was of course devestating to her. Although the death of a child, even a grown one, is every parent's worst nightmare, most mothers and fathers are not emotionally prepared to cope with such a loss. The death of a parent, spouse, or sibling, however heartbreaking, is part of the accepted cycle of our own lives.
Cindy is camped out near President Bush's Crawford, TX ranch. Last summer President Bush met with Ms. Sheehan to console her on the loss of Casey. As reported in Drudge and many other sites, Cindy's story on that meeting has changed over the months.
Moonbattery has afflicted Cindy, as she's been spouting out comments like the one below, as reported in leftist-hack Alexander Cockburn's Counterpunch. Since she apparently muffed her opportunity to rant in front of President Bush last year, this is what she'd like to say now to him:
"And the other thing I want him to tell me is 'just what was the noble cause Casey died for?' Was it freedom and democracy? Bullshit! He died for oil. He died to make your friends richer. He died to expand American imperialism in the Middle East. We're not freer here, thanks to your PATRIOT Act. Iraq is not free. You get America out of Iraq and Israel out of Palestine and you'll stop the terrorism," she exclaimed.
Ah yes, out of Palestine....It's the Jews, the Jews....always the Jews...
Alexander Cockburn's good pal Noam Chomsky, or perhaps DePaul's Norman Finkelstein, very well may be writing her stuff.
And what does Cockburn call America's War on Terror? To him, it's the "Tenth Crusade."
Oh incidentally Cindy and Alexander, even if we left Iraq and the Israelis packed up and moved to the Canary Islands, militant Islamic terrorism would not stop. Their agenda is quite large. There's the reconquest of al-Andalus (Spain) on their plate, the restoral of the Islamic Caliphate, world-wide Shariah (Islamic law) to be put into force.....
Did I leave anything out? Oh, the subjugation of women.....
Cindy is now a hero to the liberals. Leftist bloggers of course love her. Sites such as Huffington Post and Democrats Underground have seemingly dropped all regular programming to become "All Cindy-All-The Time" outlets.
And it hasn't stopped there: Very good friend of the blog Pat Curley has seen his Brainster blog overrun by leftie trolls. Another friend of Marathon Pundit, Michelle Malkin, whose blog doesn't allow comments, has seen her e-mail box fill up with obscene missives.
More on Cindy Sheehan to come. Thank you Pat Curley for the Counterpunch article.
UPDATE 5:48PM CDT: This comes from today's excellent Ben Johnson's FrontPage Magazine article: More Sheehan Jew-baiting. Via that article to Free Republic to a Google group comes this e-mail from Cindy Sheehan:
Am I emotional? Yes, my first born was murdered. Am I angry? Yes, he was killed for lies and for a PNAC Neo-Con agenda to benefit Israel. My son joined the Army to protect America, not Israel. Am I stupid? No, I know full-well that my son, my family, this nation, and this world were betrayed by a George Bush who was influenced by the neo-con PNAC agenda after 9/11.
The PNAC short for Project for the New American Century. In the thinking of paranoid leftists, the PNAC's goal is for American dominance throughout the world, particulary in the Middle East. With of course Israel having a strong say in how things will be run.
Again, it's always the Jews....the Jews.....
Moron Fred Phelps: Illinois Leader's Proft speaks out on "the loony bin escapee"
Momentum is building against deranged cult leader Fred Phelps. As readers of this blog know, Fred Phelps' rabidly anti-Gay Westboro group has been sending protesters to the funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.In essence, his group is celebrating the deaths of these brave men and women, claiming that God is punishing America for supporting Gay rights.
As mentioned here several times on Marathon Pundit, the Phelps group is planning to come to the heart of America, the Peoria area (If it plays in Peoria...) to picket the funeral of Marine Gunnery Sgt. Terry Ball in East Peoria tomorrow.
Dan Proft of the Illinois Leader writes eloquently about the Phelps problem and what to do when similar demagogues pry their way into the public consiousness, exploiting the fears and prejudices that, sadly, still percolate in American society.
Writes Proft, who also called Phelps "a loony bin escapee:"
A couple years back, I had a conversation with Chicago radio talk show host Deborah Rowe (WLS-AM 890, M-F, 9pm-midnight) that I've referenced before and that has stuck with me since.
We were talking about what Republicans need to do in order to establish trust in the black community that can foster dialogue and, ultimately, result in GOP hopefuls getting a fair hearing from black voters.
The issue is a complicated one that is not easily synthesized into a one sentence answer. However, there is one thing that Rowe said to me that I've tried to take to heart.
"Stand up when you should stand up" said Rowe.
Time to stand up.
Do this responsibly, legally, and non-violently, but it's time to stand up against Phelps.
Radical cleric Bakri banned from the UK
On Wednesday I blogged about Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, the radical Islamic cleric who praised the 9/11 attacks, and called Osama bin Laden "a sincere man who fights against evil forces."
The Syrian-born cleric left for a month long vacation in Lebanon, where he was promptly arrested, but almost as quickly, set free.
As hoped for (by me in my that post), the Brits won't let him return. The UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke used his power to bar his return to Britain, stating Bakri's presence there would "not (be) conducive to the public good."
Meanwhile, British authorities have arrested 10 foreign radicals, and the Brits plan to have them deported.
The Syrian-born cleric left for a month long vacation in Lebanon, where he was promptly arrested, but almost as quickly, set free.
As hoped for (by me in my that post), the Brits won't let him return. The UK Home Secretary Charles Clarke used his power to bar his return to Britain, stating Bakri's presence there would "not (be) conducive to the public good."
Meanwhile, British authorities have arrested 10 foreign radicals, and the Brits plan to have them deported.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Ill. Lt. Gov Pat Quinn to attend Marine Sgt. Ball's East Peoria funeral, denounces "despicable" protesters
Another Capitol Fax hat tip. This statement was received by Rich Miller, who runs that blog:
"On behalf of Illinois' 13 million citizens, we honor the life of Gunnery Sgt. Terry Ball and we mourn his loss. His memorial service on Saturday is a profoundly sad day for everyone in the Land of Lincoln and anyone who would dishonor his memory is truly despicable. May God rest the immortal soul of Gunnery Sgt. Terry Ball."
Acc. to Rich, Lt. Governor Quinn, an Oak Park Democrat, attends these events regularly and with no fanfare.
That despicable group is of course the Fred Phelps anti-Gay Westboro cult.
I refuse to call them a "church."
Phelps' Topeka, KS based cult, which blames American tolerance of homosexuality for the death of soldiers such as Marine Sgt. Terry Ball.
Thank you Pat Quinn for speaking out!
Scroll down for other posts on Phelps, including the one directly below. It has an updated Phelps flier that brings Chicago Alderman James Balcer into the fray.
"On behalf of Illinois' 13 million citizens, we honor the life of Gunnery Sgt. Terry Ball and we mourn his loss. His memorial service on Saturday is a profoundly sad day for everyone in the Land of Lincoln and anyone who would dishonor his memory is truly despicable. May God rest the immortal soul of Gunnery Sgt. Terry Ball."
Acc. to Rich, Lt. Governor Quinn, an Oak Park Democrat, attends these events regularly and with no fanfare.
That despicable group is of course the Fred Phelps anti-Gay Westboro cult.
I refuse to call them a "church."
Phelps' Topeka, KS based cult, which blames American tolerance of homosexuality for the death of soldiers such as Marine Sgt. Terry Ball.
Thank you Pat Quinn for speaking out!
Scroll down for other posts on Phelps, including the one directly below. It has an updated Phelps flier that brings Chicago Alderman James Balcer into the fray.
Chicago Alderman James Balcer now a Phelps picket target
According to this vile flier, which relates to the above post, Alderman James Balcer, a Chicago Democrat, is now a "picket target" of Fred Phelps' rabidly anti-Gay Westboro cult.
That's Alderman Balcer on the left, Mayor Daley is on the far right; this picture was taken at a Pearl Harbor Day memorial.
As blogged here on Marathon Pundit Monday, Balcer led a Chicago protest denouncing the groups' disruption of the Portage, IN funeral of Army Specialist Adam Harding.--a roadside bomb killed Harding in Iraq.
Alderman Balcer is a Vietnam War vet, and the only alderman to vote "no" on 2003 Chicago City Council opposing the war in Iraq.
And here's what the Phelps flier says about Alderman Balcer:
The sodomite policies of politicians like Chicago Alderman James A. Balcer killed Sgt. Ball.
The cheaply printed and poorly written flier ends with the threat to include the South Side Alderman as someone his group will likely picket.
Welcome Capitol Fax readers
Thanks, Capitol Fax for the hat tip. For those outside Illinois, Rich Miller's Capitol Fax is the blog for Illinois politics. Worth a visit.
Unions shunning pro-CAFTA Dem Congresswoman Bean
Democrat Melissa Bean unseated longtime suburban Chicago Congressman Phil Crane last year. Over the years Crane had become unpopular, he had a reputation for being aloof, and there were claims he didn't visit the district much.
That district, Illinois' 8th, is has a reliable Republican base, however making Melissa Bean quite vulnerable in next year's election.
Bean did what I think was a great thing for her constituents: She voted for CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Her reasoning was sound: CAFTA will be a boon for the businesses and farms in the 8th congressional district.
Organized labor is not happy with Congresswoman Bean. Last week, the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor dumped their plan to honor Bean as it's person of the year. The reason? The CAFTA vote.
Yesterday, a group led by the Chicago Federation of Labor picketed her Schaumburg office because of CAFTA.
Now there's speculation that organized labor may field a primary challenger against Bean.
This of course will almost guarantee the 8th falls back into the Republican fold.
That district, Illinois' 8th, is has a reliable Republican base, however making Melissa Bean quite vulnerable in next year's election.
Bean did what I think was a great thing for her constituents: She voted for CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Her reasoning was sound: CAFTA will be a boon for the businesses and farms in the 8th congressional district.
Organized labor is not happy with Congresswoman Bean. Last week, the Northeastern Illinois Federation of Labor dumped their plan to honor Bean as it's person of the year. The reason? The CAFTA vote.
Yesterday, a group led by the Chicago Federation of Labor picketed her Schaumburg office because of CAFTA.
Now there's speculation that organized labor may field a primary challenger against Bean.
This of course will almost guarantee the 8th falls back into the Republican fold.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Westboro cult adds East Peoria protest to list of funerals to disrupt
Earlier today I posted this about Fred Phelps' Westboro group. In addition to the three funerals of US soldiers his cult plans to protest this week, he's added one for this Saturday for an East Peoria, IL marine.
Phelps, a so-called preacher, is under the delusion that soldiers are being killed because of American tolerance for homosexuality.
Warning, the flier is quite inflammatory.
The East Peoria soldier was a marine sergeant, and yes, a hero.
From the Peoria Journal-Star , (hat tip to Peoria Pundit) .
(Sgt. Terry) Ball and his unit were driving along a road they often patrolled on June 12 when he spotted something unusual. After he got out of the vehicle, he approached the suspicious-looking object and told his unit to stand back, Sharon Ball said.
"He saw something in the road that didn't look right, and when he walked up to see what it was they detonated it," she said.
Military officials told relatives that Ball's actions prevented others in his unit from being wounded, Sharon Ball said.
"Because he held his men back and walked up there, someone told his wife he had saved his unit's life," she said.
Ball was wounded in June. President Bush presented Sgt. Ball his Purple Heart last month.
Phelps, a so-called preacher, is under the delusion that soldiers are being killed because of American tolerance for homosexuality.
Warning, the flier is quite inflammatory.
The East Peoria soldier was a marine sergeant, and yes, a hero.
From the Peoria Journal-Star , (hat tip to Peoria Pundit) .
(Sgt. Terry) Ball and his unit were driving along a road they often patrolled on June 12 when he spotted something unusual. After he got out of the vehicle, he approached the suspicious-looking object and told his unit to stand back, Sharon Ball said.
"He saw something in the road that didn't look right, and when he walked up to see what it was they detonated it," she said.
Military officials told relatives that Ball's actions prevented others in his unit from being wounded, Sharon Ball said.
"Because he held his men back and walked up there, someone told his wife he had saved his unit's life," she said.
Ball was wounded in June. President Bush presented Sgt. Ball his Purple Heart last month.
Antlers banned from Lambeau Field: No more "Packalope"
The Packalope has been a long-time denizen of Lambert, uh, make that Lambeau Field, the home stadium of the Green Bay Packers.
There he is on the left.
Well, he's now banned, or at least his helmet is, from Lambeau Field.
According to AP, antlers, including those affixed to football helmets, are viewed as a potential weapon.
Green Bay Police Commander Ken Brodhagen says umbrellas are also not allowed in Lambeau. What if it rains?
The antler rack is a ten-pointer. If you're interested in finding 16-point antlers, see Senator John Kerry here with his prize catch.
Radical UK cleric leaves Britain on trip, note to authorities: Don't let him back in!
On July 23rd I blogged about CAIR and radical UK cleric Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed. The poster on the left was produced from one of his groups, Al-Muhajiroun.
I'll repost what was originally published in the Washington Post (the original WashPo link has vanished).
Militant Islamists will continue to attack Britain until the government pulls its troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, one of the country's most outspoken Islamic clerics said on Friday.
Speaking 15 days after bombers killed over 50 people in London and a day after a series of failed attacks on the city's transport network, Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed said the British capital should expect more violence.
"What happened yesterday confirmed that as long as the cause and the root problem is still there ... we will see the same effect we saw on July 7," Bakri said.
"If the cause is still there the effect will happen again and again," he said, adding he had no information about future attacks or contacts with people planning to carry out attacks.Bakri, a Syrian-born cleric who has been vilified in Britain since 2001 when he praised the September 11 hijackers, said he did not believe the bombings and attempted attacks on London were carried out by British Muslims.
He condemned the killing of all innocent civilians but described attacks on British and U.S. troops in Muslim countries as "pro-life" and justified.
In an interview with Reuters, Bakri described Osama bin Laden, leader of the radical Islamist network al Qaeda, as "a sincere man who fights against evil forces."
Bakri said he would like Britain to become an Islamic state but feared he would be deported before his dream was realized.
"I would like to see the Islamic flag fly, not only over number 10 Downing Street, but over the whole world," he said.
The sheikh arrived in Britain as an asylum seeker in 1993 from Syria. He's not a UK citizen.
He's the type of person the British need to deport, but in a lucky break, that may not be necessary. With little fanfare, Bakri left for a four-week vacation to Lebanon, as the Arab News reports.
British Home Secretary Charles Clarke has the power to bar the Sheikh's return to Great Britain. He should do the wise thing and keep him out.
Here's a postscript, from the Sept. 9, 2004 Daily Telegraph:
An extremist Islamic cleric based in Britain said yesterday that he would support hostage-taking at British schools if carried out by terrorists with a just cause.
Omar Bakri Mohammed, the spiritual leader of the extremist sect al-Muhajiroun, said that holding women and children hostage would be a reasonable course of action for a Muslim who has suffered under British rule.
Krazy Kansas Westboro group plans to disrupt three soldier funerals this week
This week, trouble is coming to Tennessee, New York State and Oklahoma, courtesy of deranged cult leader Fred Phelps and his Westboro group from Topeka, KS.
From their website, this is the list of soldier funerals they plan to ruin:
August 11, 2005 (Tomorrow)
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
McKenzie, TN
McKenzie Funeral Home, 1749 E. Cedar Ave., for funeral of Army Spc. James Dustin "Dusty" Carroll
August 12, 2005
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Ronkonkoma, NY
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Fag (Phelps' words, not mine) Church, 800 Portion Rd., for funeral of Army Staff Sgt. James D. McNaughton
August 13, 2005
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Broken Arrow, OK
Floral Haven Cemetery, 6500 S. 129th East Ave., for funeral of Marine Sgt. James R. Graham III
Please use this information responsibly and legally.
Here is another foul-smelling flyer from the Westboro group.
From their website, this is the list of soldier funerals they plan to ruin:
August 11, 2005 (Tomorrow)
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
McKenzie, TN
McKenzie Funeral Home, 1749 E. Cedar Ave., for funeral of Army Spc. James Dustin "Dusty" Carroll
August 12, 2005
10:30 am - 11:00 am
Ronkonkoma, NY
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Fag (Phelps' words, not mine) Church, 800 Portion Rd., for funeral of Army Staff Sgt. James D. McNaughton
August 13, 2005
9:30 am - 10:00 am
Broken Arrow, OK
Floral Haven Cemetery, 6500 S. 129th East Ave., for funeral of Marine Sgt. James R. Graham III
Please use this information responsibly and legally.
Here is another foul-smelling flyer from the Westboro group.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Monday in Iran: Nukes and Syria
Yesterday, Axis of Evil member Iran restarted it's uranium enrichment program.
Also yesterday, likely a coincidence but one never knows, the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Tehran.
And speaking of the Axis of Evil, I think Syria is a worthy addition to that club.
Also yesterday, likely a coincidence but one never knows, the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Tehran.
And speaking of the Axis of Evil, I think Syria is a worthy addition to that club.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Chicago Alderman leads outcry against protesters at soldier's funeral
The picture on the left was taken at the funeral for Army Specialist Adam Harding of Portage, Indiana, a town near Gary.
Yes, that's right, it reads "Thank God for Dead Soldiers."
Adam was killed in Iraq, and his funeral last week was marred by protesters from the infamous Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, KS.
Westboro Baptist claims that God is killing US soldiers because of American tolerance for homosexuality. The group is led by the Reverend Fred Phelps, who operates this web site, God Hates Fags. On the site, there's a page that thanks God for the London 7/7 bombings, lamenting only that it was unfortunate more people weren't killed or injured.
This group (I really want to avoid calling it a "church") has been around a while, they've acquired a name of sorts for organizing similar protests at funerals of AIDS victims.
On Friday, about 10 idiots from Westboro made the trip to Portage for the protest at Harding's funeral. These 10 are either terribly misguided or just plain evil.
Meanwhile, earlier today Alderman James Balcer of Chicago's 11th Ward organized a protest dencouncing this group. Balcer said of Westboro, "This, I believe, is as low as one can go."
Westboro's Jonathan Phelps (likely a relative of Fred) said this about Harding's combat death:
"Not only am I happy about it, the Bible says you are supposed to wash your feet in the blood of the wicked."
The full story is here, courtesy of NBC 5 Chicago.
UPDATE 11:27 PM August 9. Rich Miller of Capitol Fax has come across this despicable flyer that was handed out in June at the funeral of Simpson, IL soldier Brian Simpson.
Rich has heard reports that the group is headed to Ohio. They were in Portage, IN Friday.
Warning Ohioans: A plague may be coming your way via the Indiana Toll Road.
Fitzgerald gets vote of confidence from Gonzales
More Fitzgerald blogging.
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was in Chicago today. This is what he had to say about US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, from ABC 7 Chicago:
The US attorney general, Alberto Gonzales made it clear in Chicago Monday that a controversial and high-visibility justice department subordinate, US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, will probably be reappointed by President Bush when his four-year term expires in October.
"You'll have to ask the president as to whether or not he intends to find a new US attorney for this district. I will say from my vantage point as the attorney general, I have great confidence in Pat Fitzgerald," said Alberto Gonzalez, attorney general
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was in Chicago today. This is what he had to say about US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, from ABC 7 Chicago:
The US attorney general, Alberto Gonzales made it clear in Chicago Monday that a controversial and high-visibility justice department subordinate, US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, will probably be reappointed by President Bush when his four-year term expires in October.
"You'll have to ask the president as to whether or not he intends to find a new US attorney for this district. I will say from my vantage point as the attorney general, I have great confidence in Pat Fitzgerald," said Alberto Gonzalez, attorney general
Profile of federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald
Good profile from Mike Robinson of the Associatied Press about US Attorney for Northeastern Illinois Patrick Fitzgerald. You know him from Plamegate, but he's also making life hellish for Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and former Illinois Governor George Ryan.
And he's prosecuted a lot of mobsters and terrorists. An admirable fellow.
And he's prosecuted a lot of mobsters and terrorists. An admirable fellow.
Salman Rushdie: Bring on the Islamic reformation
When Salman Rushdie writes about Islamic extremism, it's best to listen. This article is in today's Front Page Magazine, and provides insight that only he can provide:
When Sir Iqbal Sacranie, head of the Muslim Council of Britain, admitted that "our own children" had perpetrated the July 7 London bombings, it was the first time in my memory that a British Muslim had accepted his community's responsibility for outrages committed by its members. Instead of blaming U.S. foreign policy or "Islamophobia," Sacranie described the bombings as a "profound challenge" for the Muslim community. However, this is the same Sacranie who, in 1989, said that "Death is perhaps too easy" for the author of "The Satanic Verses." Tony Blair's decision to knight him and treat him as the acceptable face of "moderate," "traditional" Islam is either a sign of his government's penchant for religious appeasement or a demonstration of how limited Blair's options really are.
When Sir Iqbal Sacranie, head of the Muslim Council of Britain, admitted that "our own children" had perpetrated the July 7 London bombings, it was the first time in my memory that a British Muslim had accepted his community's responsibility for outrages committed by its members. Instead of blaming U.S. foreign policy or "Islamophobia," Sacranie described the bombings as a "profound challenge" for the Muslim community. However, this is the same Sacranie who, in 1989, said that "Death is perhaps too easy" for the author of "The Satanic Verses." Tony Blair's decision to knight him and treat him as the acceptable face of "moderate," "traditional" Islam is either a sign of his government's penchant for religious appeasement or a demonstration of how limited Blair's options really are.
Incoming Ohio Congresswoman Jean Schmidt: She's run 54 marathons (incl. 4 this year)
Regarding last week's much-watched Ohio special congressional election, somehow I missed this detail. The victor, Republican Jean Schmidt, has run 54 marathons.
I did some research, and this year she's already finished four marathons. Awesome.
Here's how Jean did, courtesy of Marathon Guide.
I did some research, and this year she's already finished four marathons. Awesome.
Here's how Jean did, courtesy of Marathon Guide.
- Disney World Marathon, Jan 9, 4 hours 2 minutes, 26 seconds.
- Austin Marathon, Feb 13, 4:03:07
- Knoxville Marathon, March 20, 4:03:46 (First in her age group)
- Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon: May 1, 3:56:21
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Peter Jennings dies of lung cancer at age 67
Just breaking...he died at his New York City home this evening. Speculation of this news was spreading through the Internet, as Michelle Malkin reported earlier tonight.
David Horowitz brings up the Thomas Klocek free speech case in debate
Simply said, one of the greatest conservative writers and thinkers is David Horowitz. His Front Page Magazine web site is an invaluable source of information on the PC assault on America, specializing in the continued leftward drift of academia in this country. He's the author of several books, the most recent of which is the non-political The End of Time.
Horowitz is the driving force behind the Academic Bill of Rights, which has in turn, has inspired congressional bill HR 609, which may be voted on by the full House this summer.
That bill is the Higher Education Re-Authorization Act, which has a section in it greatly influenced by Horowitz' ideas.
From the Students for Academic Freedom (yet another Horowitz project) web site:
The academic freedom provisions in HR 609 were inspired by the Academic Bill of Rights. (The Academic Bill of Rights and a list of national and state legislation currently under consideration is available on the organization's website at http://studentsforacademicfreedom.org.) These provisions state in part that, "an institution of higher education should ensure that a student attending such institution on a full- or part-time basis is evaluated solely on the basis of their reasoned answers and knowledge of the subjects and disciplines they study and without regard to their political, ideological, or religious beliefs" and that students should be exposed to "diverse approaches and dissenting sources and viewpoints within the instructional setting."
Let's hope HR 609 becomes law soon.
David Horowitz recently participated in a debate with liberal Ohio University professor Kevin Mattson. The complete transcript is here.
In the debate, Horowitz brings up the sad case of Thomas Klocek, a DePaul professor who was suspended for defending Israel in front of some Muslim students at a student activities fair there. The students were not accustomed to having their controversial (except on college campuses) views challenged.
Marathon Pundit has been blogging the Klocek free speech struggle since March 1. This Richard Baehr American Thinker article neatly sums up this PC-thinking run amok case.
Here is what Horowitz said about Klocek:
The reason there are so few cases of liberal students abused by conservative professors is obvious. First, there are so few conservative professors since the university hiring process has been so politicized as to weed them out (yet another abuse of academic freedom). Second, because there are so few conservative professors, they have to be extra careful lest the ax fall on them. Thomas Klocek was an adjunct at DePaul until he got into an argument off campus with some anti-Israel Muslim students, who complained. Now he's gone.
On June 14, Klocek filed a lawsuit against DePaul.
Horowitz is the driving force behind the Academic Bill of Rights, which has in turn, has inspired congressional bill HR 609, which may be voted on by the full House this summer.
That bill is the Higher Education Re-Authorization Act, which has a section in it greatly influenced by Horowitz' ideas.
From the Students for Academic Freedom (yet another Horowitz project) web site:
The academic freedom provisions in HR 609 were inspired by the Academic Bill of Rights. (The Academic Bill of Rights and a list of national and state legislation currently under consideration is available on the organization's website at http://studentsforacademicfreedom.org.) These provisions state in part that, "an institution of higher education should ensure that a student attending such institution on a full- or part-time basis is evaluated solely on the basis of their reasoned answers and knowledge of the subjects and disciplines they study and without regard to their political, ideological, or religious beliefs" and that students should be exposed to "diverse approaches and dissenting sources and viewpoints within the instructional setting."
Let's hope HR 609 becomes law soon.
David Horowitz recently participated in a debate with liberal Ohio University professor Kevin Mattson. The complete transcript is here.
In the debate, Horowitz brings up the sad case of Thomas Klocek, a DePaul professor who was suspended for defending Israel in front of some Muslim students at a student activities fair there. The students were not accustomed to having their controversial (except on college campuses) views challenged.
Marathon Pundit has been blogging the Klocek free speech struggle since March 1. This Richard Baehr American Thinker article neatly sums up this PC-thinking run amok case.
Here is what Horowitz said about Klocek:
The reason there are so few cases of liberal students abused by conservative professors is obvious. First, there are so few conservative professors since the university hiring process has been so politicized as to weed them out (yet another abuse of academic freedom). Second, because there are so few conservative professors, they have to be extra careful lest the ax fall on them. Thomas Klocek was an adjunct at DePaul until he got into an argument off campus with some anti-Israel Muslim students, who complained. Now he's gone.
On June 14, Klocek filed a lawsuit against DePaul.
Summer sneak attack: NCAA's PC war on Indian mascots
Perfect timing for the NCAA to tighten the screws on the remaining member universities that have American Indian nicknames: In the dead of summer when most schools are void of students. Even summer school isn't in session in early August. Yes, it's a sneak-attack.
Cowards.
There are 18 colleges left that have team nicknames that in some way have ties to Native Americans.
Most are small schools, only two of them are perennial national powers in a major sport, the University of Illinois (basketball) and Florida State University (football). Illinois is known as the Fighting Illini, FSU's sports team are called the Seminoles.
Full disclosure: I'm an alumnus of Illinois. That's Chief Illiniwek on the left, the mascot for U of I teams since 1926.
Over the decades, many schools have been bullied into changing their Indian nicknames into something else deemed more acceptable. The St. John's Redmen are now the Red Storm. Dartmouth and Stanford both had "Indians" as their nickname, that moniker has been replaced by, respectively, these lame replacements: Big Green and Cardinal.
The Executive Committee of the NCAA admitted that they don't have the authority to issue a ban on Indian nicknames.
But at NCAA tournaments, such as the highly popular NCAA basketball "March Madness" tourney, this is what that executive committee won't allow:
- Schools with Indian nicknames hosting NCAA postseason events
- Indian mascots, such as Chief Illiniwek, to appear at any NCAA tournaments
- Logos with Indian images, even on team uniforms, to be visible at these same events
UPDATE 8/8/05 9:54 CDT: Guards of Magog sent me this 2002 National Review Online article which confirms my suspicions that Native Americans aren't bothered by the use of Indian nicknames.
An interesting passage:
The Peter Harris Research Group polled 352 Native Americans (217 living on reservations and 134 living off) and 743 sports fans; the results are published in SI's March 4 issue.
Here's the most important finding: "Asked if high school and college teams should stop using Indian nicknames, 81 percent of Native American respondents said no. As for pro sports, 83 percent of Native American respondents said teams should not stop using Indian nicknames, mascots, characters, and symbols."
The poll also found that 75 percent of Native Americans don't think the use of these team names and mascots "contributes to discrimination." Opinion is divided about the tomahawk chop displayed at Atlanta Braves games: 48 percent "don't care" about it; 51 percent do care, but more than half of them "like it." The name "Redskins" isn't especially controversial either; 69 percent of Native Americans don't object to it. As a general rule, Indians on reservations were more sensitive about team names and mascots, but not to the point where a majority of them ever sided with the activists on these questions.
Sports Illustrated writer S. L. Price reaches the obvious conclusion: "Although Native American activists are virtually united in opposition to the use of Indian nicknames and mascots, the Native American population sees the issue far differently."
Back from Michigan....
...and lots of blogging to do. First, the NCAA continues its PC war on Indian mascots.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Air America....and off to Michigan
Marathon Pundit is heading back to Michigan for a couple of more days. I've been on a semi-vacation from the blog (and on vacation from my regular job), so I haven't been able to blog about the Air America scandal. When I get back into town, will it still be broadcasting? Michelle Malkin has a good summary of the shady dealings here. Just keep scrolling!
Church held hostage by suburb's zoning schemes
The Blanchard Road Alliance Church wants to create a satellite house of worship in Warrenville, a suburb west of Chicago.
But it doesn't fit into "the plan" of Warrenville officials. According to this Daily Herald article:
The (city's plan) commission, an advisory board that reviews all new developments, said church officials would have to ask for a zoning change.
But the commission said it was unlikely the city council would grant a change because the city's comprehensive plan has the southwest area of Route 59 and Butterfield slated for a larger-scale commercial and retail development.
But right next to the property is another church.
More: from a press release sent by friend of the blog Tom Ciesielka:
Ironically, while Warrenville will not allow the Blanchard Church property to be used as a place for worshipers to gather, its zoning code permits the church's property to be used for other assembly purposes including: civic buildings, schools, and union halls.
"When people come to church they are gathering for a common purpose. It makes little sense for Warrenville to say Teamsters can meet in our building to decide on union benefits, but people who want to assemble to worship and do good for the community cannot gather in the same place." said Skye Jethani, pastor for the Blanchard Church in Warrenville.
So Blanchard Road Alliance is left with no other option. They're suing Warrenville, charging the city with violating the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment and religious discrimination.
But it doesn't fit into "the plan" of Warrenville officials. According to this Daily Herald article:
The (city's plan) commission, an advisory board that reviews all new developments, said church officials would have to ask for a zoning change.
But the commission said it was unlikely the city council would grant a change because the city's comprehensive plan has the southwest area of Route 59 and Butterfield slated for a larger-scale commercial and retail development.
But right next to the property is another church.
More: from a press release sent by friend of the blog Tom Ciesielka:
Ironically, while Warrenville will not allow the Blanchard Church property to be used as a place for worshipers to gather, its zoning code permits the church's property to be used for other assembly purposes including: civic buildings, schools, and union halls.
"When people come to church they are gathering for a common purpose. It makes little sense for Warrenville to say Teamsters can meet in our building to decide on union benefits, but people who want to assemble to worship and do good for the community cannot gather in the same place." said Skye Jethani, pastor for the Blanchard Church in Warrenville.
So Blanchard Road Alliance is left with no other option. They're suing Warrenville, charging the city with violating the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment and religious discrimination.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Chicago White Sox: First team to 70 wins!
The Chicago White Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays this afternoon on Chicago's south side, 5-4.
They're the first MLB team to reach 70 wins this season.
As I've lamented, they're are just (as far as I know), two other political bloggers who are White Sox fans, Capitol Fax and Guards of Magog. Where are the rest of you guys/ladies?
Back to Michigan tomorrow for a few days.
They're the first MLB team to reach 70 wins this season.
As I've lamented, they're are just (as far as I know), two other political bloggers who are White Sox fans, Capitol Fax and Guards of Magog. Where are the rest of you guys/ladies?
Back to Michigan tomorrow for a few days.
Tehran Times brings back "The Great Satan"
I take a peek every few days at the Tehran Times, Iran's official English language mouthpiece.
In their style book, Israelis are generally referred as "the Zionists." Years ago, the United States was, of course, the Great Satan, but at least in the Tehran Times, that epithet hasn't been used lately.
Until yesterday, in an article about the swearing in of Mahmud Ahmadinejad, Iran's new president.
From the Tehran Times:
On Iran’s foreign policy, the Supreme Leader said that the Islamic Republic always follows a pacifist approach.
Iran does not seek strife with any country or nation, but world powers, especially the Great Satan (the United States) should realize that the Iranians will continue to vigorously defend their rights and will never give in to bullying powers, he added.
Thanks for the parentheses to clarify things.
In their style book, Israelis are generally referred as "the Zionists." Years ago, the United States was, of course, the Great Satan, but at least in the Tehran Times, that epithet hasn't been used lately.
Until yesterday, in an article about the swearing in of Mahmud Ahmadinejad, Iran's new president.
From the Tehran Times:
On Iran’s foreign policy, the Supreme Leader said that the Islamic Republic always follows a pacifist approach.
Iran does not seek strife with any country or nation, but world powers, especially the Great Satan (the United States) should realize that the Iranians will continue to vigorously defend their rights and will never give in to bullying powers, he added.
Thanks for the parentheses to clarify things.
Al-Qaida big shot mouths off again
This is from AP. Ayman al-Zawahri is the Egyptian former pediatrician. Presumably, Dr. al-Zawahiri never took his Hippocratic oath.
Al-Qaida deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri threatened more destruction in London, saying in a videotape broadcast today that British Prime Minister Tony Blair would be to blame.
"Blair has brought to you destruction in central London, and he will bring more of that, God willing," al-Zawahri said in the tape, which was broadcast on the pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera. He was blaming Blair for the bombings on three London subway trains and a bus on July 7 that killed 56 people.
Referring to the Western nations who have contributed troops to the U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq, he said: "As to the nations of the crusader alliance, we have offered you a truce if you leave the land of Islam.
"Hasn't Sheik Osama bin Laden told you that you will not dream of security before there is security in Palestine and before all the infidel armies withdraw from the land of Muhammed," al-Zawahri, added referring to the leader of the al-Qaida network, bin Laden.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Fatina the marathoner, redux
You know, based on the stuff I'm finding out about professional discrimination victim Fatina Abdrabboh via Ankle Biting Pundits, Michelle Malkin, and Brainster, not to mention Technorati.com, I'm getting really curious about Fatina's marathon training regimen.
I roasted myself on Sunday (ran 17 miles), Monday(10 miles) and yesterday (10 more). The first was early in the day, the second two were mid-day, the temps were in the lower 90s.
Each day I wore just a light-colored singlet and shorts. Wearing the get up Fatina had (see prior post) on a day when it's even just 70 degrees seems insane. If that's what Fatina is wearing, what's her daily mileage? Does she do a long run on the weekend, as I do?
What organized races has Fatina run in?
Also, although there are many charitable exemptions, but the Boston Marathon is a race that runners have to run a qualifying time to be accepted as an official entrant. And online applications for the Boston Marathon won't be accepted by the race officials for another six weeks.
Thanks to Pat Curley at Brainster for e-mailing the Christian Science Monitor article to me this afternoon.
UPDATE 12:15PM CDT Aug 3: The 2006 Boston Marathon is on April 17th. Even for a presumably first-time marthoner, and speaking as a runner who knows hundreds of runners, I think it's odd that she's training for a marathon that is almost nine months away. And she still has to get accepted into the race by the marathon officials.
I roasted myself on Sunday (ran 17 miles), Monday(10 miles) and yesterday (10 more). The first was early in the day, the second two were mid-day, the temps were in the lower 90s.
Each day I wore just a light-colored singlet and shorts. Wearing the get up Fatina had (see prior post) on a day when it's even just 70 degrees seems insane. If that's what Fatina is wearing, what's her daily mileage? Does she do a long run on the weekend, as I do?
What organized races has Fatina run in?
Also, although there are many charitable exemptions, but the Boston Marathon is a race that runners have to run a qualifying time to be accepted as an official entrant. And online applications for the Boston Marathon won't be accepted by the race officials for another six weeks.
Thanks to Pat Curley at Brainster for e-mailing the Christian Science Monitor article to me this afternoon.
UPDATE 12:15PM CDT Aug 3: The 2006 Boston Marathon is on April 17th. Even for a presumably first-time marthoner, and speaking as a runner who knows hundreds of runners, I think it's odd that she's training for a marathon that is almost nine months away. And she still has to get accepted into the race by the marathon officials.
Muslim woman and her marathon training
Since this is the Marathon Pundit blog, I couldn't let this article pass unnoticed.
I'm still catching up from my little excursion in Michigan (see my previous posts), so I didn't initially notice this op-ed by Fatina Abdrabboh from late July that appeared in the Christian Science Monitor.
As I did with John Kerry's daughter, I salute Ms. Abdrobbah for making the commitment to train for and run a marathon. Fatina is training for the "big one" of marathons, Boston, the runners' Valhalla.
Abdrobbah wears a hijab, and in my many years of running 5Ks, 10ks and marathons, I've never seen a runner wear a hijab. I view that as a unique feature to Fatina, not as a problem.
But since she wears a hijab, Abdrobbah has to endure stares, dirty looks and brush-offs from ordinary people she encounters day to day as she goes about her routine activities in the Boston area. Is that right? No.
Abdrobbah writes:
Why is my stance on terrorism my only defining feature? Casual conversations at the grocery store, the gym, the dry cleaner all seem laser-guided, by the way I look, to Islam and terrorism - and never to those everyday conversations that might revolve around other aspects of my life like how I like my Harvard classes, my training for the Boston Marathon, or my recent obsession with my stock portfolio.
I desperately try to shrug these incidents off as I focus on school and training for the marathon. But these incidents don't seem to be isolated - and, indeed, have intensified just since the July 7 suicide bombings in London and last week's attempted bombings there. Columnists in many of our nation's most influential newspapers focused on the Arab and Muslim response to the attacks. They castigated Arab and Muslim Americans for not publicly condemning terrorism - as if, in addition to the condemnations Muslim groups have indeed issued in days since 7/7, we're expected to march in the streets of New York, Washington, and Boston and chant, "We hate Bin Laden, too."
But I wonder if - given the fearful environment - that would be enough of an "unequivocal" condemnation.
Sorry, but as I posted here last week in regards the American Muslim anti-terror fatwa, it's not enough. A second Marathon Pundit post from the same day draws heavily from a 2003 Daniel Pipes article, I'll excerpt (again) a bit from that piece.
Pipes comments that such questions posed in suitable situations as "Is Islam a religion of peace?" and "Do you condemn terrorism?"— have little value, for they depend on definitions (of peace, of terrorism, etc.).
Here's a good series of questions--in my opinion--straight from Pipes, that are a perfect follow up to those Muslims who "condemn terrorism"
Do you condone or condemn the Palestinians, Chechens, and Kashmiris who give up their lives to kill enemy civilians? Will you condemn by name as terrorist groups such organizations as Abu Sayyaf, Al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, Groupe Islamique Arm e, Hamas, Harakat ul-Mujahidin, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and Al Qaeda?
Ms. Abdrobbah, Muslims need to make condemnations like this to be viewed as credible when denouncing terrorism. Is this fair? Perhaps not to you personally, but we're at war with extremists who call themselves Muslims.
Good luck in the Boston Marathon, Fatina, all the same. And watch out for the hills in Newton, they're quad-killers. They hills start at mile 16.
Update 10PM CDT: It has come to my attention that Fatina is a professional "victim." She's a past winner of Ankle Biting Pundits' coveted "Buffoon of the Week" award.
From the ABP's "salute" to Fatina:
And as you will see below, there's very compelling evidence that she is also may be someone who seemingly shows up in many newspaper stories complaining about how she, as an Arab American, is a victim of American ignorance and racism. As you will see below, we can't say for certain she is the same person who appears in the stories below. But no matter, if there is more than one Fatina Abdrobboh, then they can all share the award, as they would be equally as buffoonish.Michelle Malkin blogged about her today, OH, NO, NOT HER AGAIN, although, she took a different approach to her dismissal of Ms. Abdrobbah's whining.
Back to running. Fatina, your body absorbs an enormous amount of unneeded heat by dressing in black and wearing hijab. You're a candidate for a heat stroke, Boston is having a hot summer. Try a white hijab.
Runners/Bloggers update: Robb of "Running at the Mouth" training for the Columbus Marathon
Ohio blogger and friend of this blog Robb K. has begun training for the Columbus Marathon.
For the 16th straight year, I'll be running (but not racing) in the Chicago Marathon, leading a pace team, so there's an outside chance I might sneak in another marathon before the end of 2005.
For the 16th straight year, I'll be running (but not racing) in the Chicago Marathon, leading a pace team, so there's an outside chance I might sneak in another marathon before the end of 2005.
Birkett's disclosure statement
Illinois stuff: DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett may be running for governor in next year's Republican primary. By all accounts, he hasn't raised a lot of money, but unlike multi-millionaires Jim Oberweis and Rod Gidwitz, he's not in the financial position to loan his campaign fund money from his own personal bank account. Nor does he have a statewide office or a congressional seat from which to milk funds from contributors who need "favors."
This comes our way from the excellent Obiter Dictum blog:
This comes our way from the excellent Obiter Dictum blog:
In a press release that accompanied his D-2 (campaign disclosure) form, Birkett deadpanned, "If this campaign is about who has raised the most insider money, Rod Blagojevich has already won in a landslide. Fortunately, for voters, there still is a chance to learn from the very near past." Said he, "I've never been deterred by an initial lack of money," alluding to his successful 1996 primary challenge of Anthony Pecarelli, who was appointed to serve out Jim Ryan's unexpired term, and his 2002 race for attorney general.Good for Jim B.
Welcome Moonbat Central Readers!
Dr. Steven Plaut, a great friend of this blog and strong supporter of Thomas Klocek in his free speech battle with DePaul University, has once again chosen to link to Marathon Pundit.
Here is his post from Moonbat Central, More PC Terror at SIU (Southern Illinois University).
Moonbat Central is a project of Front Page Magazine.
Thanks Dr. Plaut!
Here is his post from Moonbat Central, More PC Terror at SIU (Southern Illinois University).
Moonbat Central is a project of Front Page Magazine.
Thanks Dr. Plaut!
Three Rivers, Michigan and Andrew Carnegie
On the way home, in fact before I reached Constantine, MI, I spent some time in the town of Three Rivers. The Latvian camp Garezers, where my daughter is right now, is just north of the town of 7,000.
And what are those three rivers? The St. Joseph, Rocky and Portage Rivers. The first river is best known as the part of the route that French explorer LaSalle took in his successful quest to cross the North American continent from the Great Lakes to the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Like Constantine, Three Rivers is also blessed with a beautiful downtown that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The top picture, taken on my camera phone yesterday afternoon, shows a typical late 19th/early 20th century small town main street, in fact, the avenue is called Main Street.
Third Wave Dave mentioned in the previous comments page that it's great to walk around these old-style downtowns. I felt the same sentiment, in fact, I decided, or felt compelled, to pick up a book for my daughter (Roald Dahl's 1972 sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), at Lowry's Book Store on historic Main Street. Walking around is great, spending a little bit of money in such a place is even better.
A couple block's north of Lowry's, I came across the Old Three Rivers Library. It was financed by a grant from Andrew Carnegie. After amassing a fortune creating the company now known as US Steel, Carnegie decided to give most of his fortune away.
Financing the creation of libraries one of his philanthropic goals. Carnegie grants created over 2,000 free public libraries, the Three Rivers Library of course just being one.
According to Wikipedia:
Nearly all of Carnegie's libraries were built according to "The Carnegie Formula" which required the town that received the gift to:
demonstrate the need for a public library;
provide the building site; and
annually provide ten percent of the cost of the library's construction to support its operation.
Prior to this push from Andrew Carnegie, small town public libraries were a rarity. Carnegie also financed the creation of some big city free libraries as well.
In addition to being a great businessman and a pioneering philanthropist, Carnegie was also a philosopher of sorts. This comes from one of my favorite books, Heather MacDonald's The Burden of Bad Ideas. The tome came my way as present from a great friend of the blog.
From Page 5:
The growing abyss between the vast industrial fortunes and the common laborer, Carnegie argued, was the inevitable result of the most beneficial economic system man has ever known. The tycoon, however, merely held his fortune in trust for the advancement of the common good; moreover, he should give away his wealth during his lifetime, using the same acumen that he showed in making it. The scientific philanthtropist will target his giving to "help those who help themselves," creating institutions through which those working poor with a "divine spark" can better themselves economically and spiritually. The "slothful, the drunken (and) the unworthy" were outside of scheme: "One man or woman who succeeds in living comfortably by begging is more dangerous to society, and a greater obstacle to the progress of humanity, than a score of wordy Socialists," he pronounced.
History is in Three Rivers Michigan. And Constanstine, Michigan. It's everywhere, you just have to look (but not that hard).
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
More Michigan blogging...Constantine, MI
As noted in the previous post, I returned home this evening after a few days in Michigan. I was dropping my eight year-old daughter off at Latvian camp. My wife, as I've noted on Marathon Pundit a few times, is a native of Latvia.
The camp is run by Garezers (site is in Latvian). Latvian refugees who fled Stalin's tyranny founded the camp in 1965. I'll blog more about Latvia and Garezers next week, I'm going back to Garezers Friday, and I want do more research before I write my definitive article.
On the way back to my home in suburban Chicago, I drove through two very picturesque towns. The picture (taken by me this afternoon) on the top is from the downtown of Constantine, MI, a quaint town of 2,000 located in far southern Michigan. It's just six miles north of the Middlebury exit of the Indiana Toll Road. One of my goals in blogging, as with most bloggers, is get the "little stories" some air to breathe. Or to find little bits of history, which in the case of the millions who've travel the Indiana Toll Road, is less than ten minutes off Interstate 80/90.
Constantine's downtown commercial district is on the National Register of Historic Places. US Route 131 (Washington Street) takes you through the heart of Constantine and that district. There are also many stately Victorian homes along Washington Street.
I also took the second photo this afternoon, the cannon is in a park, also right off the same street.
Here's my point: Stories to write about are everywhere, and it doesn't take much of an effort to find things to blog about while on the road. Just drive a little bit away from an interstate highway...
Tomorrow, Three Rivers, Michigan.
Back from Michigan...
...the Michigan-Indiana state line, on US Route 131, just south of White Pigeon, MI.
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