I will be leaving for JFK shortly for my flight to the strange and paradoxical land of Paris, France. I have been to Europe numerous times prior, however, never to Paris, I do hope it lives up to its hype, which I am sure it will. After all, it is the Paris, France.
There is currently an election going on there, among other things, so I anticipate that to be a lot of fun. I spend a lot of time dealing with the bold subtleties of American politics so it will be somewhat refreshing (or substantially more confusing) to get to experience the dirty workings of another country for a change.
Pictures may even be uploaded when I return on the 21st. Till then, this baby is going cold.
Cheerio.
13 April 2007
09 April 2007
Muddy Water
The business of politics is a messy one. And if one ever feels the compulsion to take a closer look at the way in which our country is run on a daily basis, I guarantee you they will almost automatically assume we are breaking the law. However, this messy business sometimes is perfectly legal, although, that does not necessarily mean it does not dance the line between ethical and not so ethical. This kind of foggy distinction is the basis of the call to arms by Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), John Kerry (D-MA), and Robert Casey (D-PN). This happy trio of ultra-liberal Senators is calling for a review of the recess appointment of Sam Fox to the post of Ambassador to Belgium. Sam Fox, is known to have donated money to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group which attacked Kerry's military record and some would attribute as one of the agents of his downfall. With this record, one can be certain that Mr. Fox would never have survived a Congressional Approval Hearing with a Democratic majority. As such, President Bush got Mr. Fox in via a recess appointment effectively taking Congress out of the equation. Although that may seem...seedy, which it more or less is, it is not illegal. However, we will probably see the public siding with the Democratic Senators, for the composure of this appointment does indeed come across as, well, just as they say it is. In the end though, one has to remember that Washington is a giant sausage factory, and no one really wants to know how it is all made.
Nancy Pelosi: Get Back to Work!
Members of the Republican Party in both the House and the Senate are formally requesting that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-NY) "get back to work" after her controversial diplomatic excursion to the Middle East. The interesting thing about this request, aside from its overall hilarity in the grand scheme of things, is the use of the phase "Global War on Terror" which the Democrats have been phasing out. However, regardless of semantics, you have to realize the partisan nature of this development. Republicans want the American People to remember that while Nancy Pelosi was out playing Secretary of State, she was ignoring her post where a critical bill to fund the troops sat idle.
For more developing coverage, visit the fine folks at the Drudge Report.
Credit for this story goes to the Drudge Report.
For more developing coverage, visit the fine folks at the Drudge Report.
Dear Speaker Pelosi:
We are writing to urge you to call the House back into session immediately so that Congress can finish its work on the emergency legislation to fund the Global War on Terrorism. This funding request has been pending since February 5, but your leadership team chose to leave town for more than two weeks rather than completing this bill. As a result, our troops have been put at risk.
We are especially troubled by the House's failure to appoint conferees. The Senate appointed conferees on March 29, moments after passing its bill, but the House never did so despite passing the bill a week earlier. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told the Senate that he hoped the House-Senate conference would begin on March 30. That hoped-for progress has been thwarted by your failure to act.
It should go without saying that our military leaders are in the best position to know the needs of our troops, and they have left no doubt that this funding is needed urgently. General Peter Schoomaker, United States Army Chief of Staff, has written that, "without approval of the supplemental funds in April, we will be forced to take increasingly draconian measures which will impact Army readiness and impose hardships on our Soldiers and their families." Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has also emphasized the dangers of delay: "This kind of disruption to key programs will have a genuinely adverse effect on the readiness of the Army and the quality of life for soldiers and their families."
Our troops need this funding, and they need it soon. The Senate is in session and ready to work. We respectfully request that you cancel the remainder of your break, call the House back into session, appoint conferees promptly, and work in good faith to pass a clean supplemental funding bill that the President can sign as soon as possible. Every day we don't fund our troops is a day their ability to fight this war is weakened.
Credit for this story goes to the Drudge Report.
08 April 2007
Kick the tires and light the fires.
This baby is back in business. After substantial break from normal operation, I have decided that is time take on the world once more. You ready?
22 February 2007
A Series of Incoherent Thougts: Notes from my Vacation
Today is the first actual day of living it up here at the resort. Now when I say, “living it up” you have to bear two things in mind about me. One, I do not like the sun, and two; I do not like to swim. Irony ensues as this place has nine pools and the lovely state of Arizona is in a state of constant sun saturation. I make due however, choosing to sit under an umbrella with my trusty iPod, and a copy of the latest EGM.
All though the patrons of the resort are hardly diverse (white, mid forties to early sixties) the choice of beverages are. From a frozen cappuccino in the morning, to a strawberry daiquiri come lunch life was diversity in a blender (much to the dismay of the ACLU). As I mentioned the lack of human diversity, one is forced, and thankfully so, to acknowledge of the intricate blend of tropical paradise and desert oasis. Walking a few feet here you take in the ever green, highly manicured grasses, and at the same time tan soil dotted with beautiful cactus plants. Neatly trimmed hedges stand their ground next to midget palm trees. These contrasting themes do not fight each other, but rather work in harmony to produce a scene that is truly breathtaking.
As I walk the grounds of this place and take notice of the people here, I am inclined to think that if you combined the net-income of all the guests you could very well afford to purchase a couple of states, or a small nation. For, as one meanders through the line of darkwood beach chairs you can rest assured that the guy whose drink you may have accidentally tipped over was probably the CEO of Verizon, or the President of Toshiba. These shirtless CEOs reveal their office tans, which are most comparable to the gamer tan of which I sport. To their side, is, more often than not, a scandaly-clad woman whose age even David Blaine couldn’t guess. Through the magic of cosmetic surgery these trophy wives 2.0 defy your perception of age, though at the same time you have assume that they were aged enough to need the services of a Beverly Hills Doc. However, this is not the definite standard. Every so often you take notice of a large graying man with an attractive, young, Asian woman. One has to assume, that like his Ferrari, she’s a rental. So maybe I was wrong to question the diversity of the people who cook their bodies under the Arizona sun. If beauty can only be skin deep, why not diversity?
Aside from the “Playboy” bunnies you will see here regularly, there is a surprising abundance of real bunnies, which are very cute, very brown, and very slim. I guess the only arguable difference between the two would be that only one of them you have to pay to walk on all fours.
What makes this place the crown jewel of five star resorts is the abundance of activities, however, the one thing that I value above all the rest here is the where you can just think. Impulse buying still goes, but even that moves a comfortable pace. As cliché as this may come across, the only real decisions that one has to make here is do I want to go to the poolside bar or chill in the cushy lounge? If that is your prime decision, all the more power to you, for you are truly living it up.
I may have over-estimated my assertion regarding the average age of the guests at this resort. I have seen my fair share of teenage girls with sunglass lenses arguably larger than their brains. The always roam in groups larger than three and carry with them a sort of movie star vibe, as if I should be bowing when they walk by.
I am not very fluent in the use of flip-flops. I am near certain that I have tripped over them as many times as there are needles on all the cacti in this state or, the number of times I have heard “on the rocks, with salt.” However, I am drawn to them. It must be the symbolic nature of the flip-flop itself, a direct representation of relaxation. You are not truly on vacation unless you are wearing flip-flops. So, here I am. Tripping over myself for the cause of the vacationing spirit.
Right now I am sitting in the hotel lobby area. It is a large expansive area that contains a bar, a lounge, a place for tea, and leads to a terrace that allows for a fantastic view of the resort and the outlying city of Phoenix. I am staring at a fireplace wondering if my presence will go unacknowledged. The city looks wonderful tonight. It’s not yet dark, but just enough that the urban lights can be seen. It is truly a sight to behold.
Another benefit to my location is the view of the people. I can analyze their movements and observe their interactions. The section of the lounge that I inhabit is more or less an empty sector though. However, from my seat I have a panoramic view of the entire scene. Hopefully that waitress will finally take notice of my arrival.
The battery on my laptop is running low, about thirty eight percent. I am trying to make the most of it.
The best way to observe is from the outside looking in. As obvious as this may seem, people tend to forget how much you miss when you are caught up in the thick of it. “Embedded in America”, as The Onion would say. A casual observer misses the emotion. The man in the middle gets the emotion but misses the big picture. There are trade offs, as with everything. One, I suppose, could argue that it would be easier to build from the small emotional clips, and form the big picture from it. However, sometimes it’s just easier to work down.
The people sitting at the table about seven yards in front of me are made up of two older women, one I think I younger than the other, and two older men, one I think is younger than the other. Friends perhaps? They do not appear to share any family connection.
Just as I finished that last statement the piano began to play. Tonight’s pianist is a bald man, imposing, but with a certain air of openness. It sounds beautiful really. Hard to describe. I wish someone would bring me a drink so I could truly enjoy this, although the chances of that happening are arguable. Funny enough, just as I wrote that last line the aforementioned waitress approached me.
“Are you doing OK?”
“A Coke would be lovely.”
“OK, I’ll be right with you.”
So goes the exchange. My episode of outside observing briefly interrupted with actual contact with the people that set the scene. The pianist drones on and I am brought back to the outside.
Lovers stroll outside, husband and wife. She stops to comment on a couch that looks remarkably like her own. He walks a few steps forward and turns, staring back at her. They continue their stroll making a “U” back toward the lobby. The pianist reaches the bridge. The conservation at the table directly in front of me has picked up. Brief intervals of forced laughter slice through the elegant atmosphere created by the sound of an old Steinway, and a large fountain in the center of the lobby. A woman wearing a brown sleeveless top and khakis stops to observe a clear vase containing pink flowers. I assume she is wondering if they are real. I believe they are. Just as she moves away the people at the table directly in front of me, sign their check and leave. It turns out there were three woman and one man, my mistake. As the busboy makes his move on the table, all evidence that the party had been enjoying their evening there is removed. Two martini glasses, a champagne glass, a bowel of toasted nuts; all removed, as the consumers have disappeared into the fray. It has grown darker, and my waitress is nowhere to be found. My battery power is at thirty-two percent. I will leave at ten. I think she is coming. However, her tray seems to be missing my Coke, she realizes her mistake upon the recognition of my person.
“I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your Coke.”
“That’s OK.”
Her accent appears to be southern, she must have moved here. Not really a bad choice. If you do not mind a little heat in the summer, it is really a nice place to be. The tones of the piano have reached a dramatic pitch. Candles are flickering all around, and as I shift my gaze toward the city I realize the similarity between the urban lights that punctuate the night sky and the candles that glow dimly throughout the scene within. The piano is now playing a light hearted tune. I do not recognize it by name.
The waiters dressed in black move across the room like ghosts. Brought back into the plane of human existence only by brief interactions. They swiftly and silently make their rounds. My waitress arrives with my Coke.
“I’m sorry again for the delay, this one’s on me.”
“No, that’s all right…”
Before I could finish my protest…
“I insist, please enjoy.”
I have a free drink. This is pretty good news. It’s always fun to get a free drink. The world seems like such an inviting place all of the sudden. However, I do not now how to act now. Should I just leave without paying? I hope that she remembers to pick up the tab; the precedent she set is a little worrisome. She was nice however; I will give her the benefit of the doubt.
My Coke tastes very good, and for split second I could have sworn the pianist was playing the intro to Billy Joel’s Piano Man, however, I am mistaken. The woman in the brown top returns and once again goes to observe the clear vases that contain the pink flowers. This time however, her husband accompanies her. He motions her over to a couch not to far from where I am sitting. I can pick up bits of their conversation. It seems she is definitely intrigued by those clear vases.
I think the pianist is now playing Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain. I may be wrong. I have about three quarters left of my coke and my battery is at twenty-six percent. The night is still young.
People are attracted to laptops. They attempt to hide their gazes as the pass by. We are all guilty of it. Our eyes are drawn to the screen, as curiosity gets the better of us. However, all they will see right now is a dimly lit screen and a wall of Times New Roman. I think the Times font is derivative of the New York Times. That would be interesting. I just recently found out that Time Square was named for the New York Times; it’s possible that the font is named for it as well.
The lobby has cleared up somewhat since I arrived on the scene. The real action is outside. There, the resort has beautiful fires lit on the terrace and there seems to be a silent competition amongst the guests to get closet to it.
There is a significant chance that my battery will outlive my Coke. The poor thing is two sips away from death, and my battery still has twenty three percent left. It is now seven twenty postmeridian. I may take my leave shortly. Will it be rude if I just leave my glass behind? Of course not, you pay good money to have people pick up after you. I think the nightly cost of my stay here is around 1,500 dollars.
I recognize the pianist’s tune; it’s Billy Joel’s She’s Always a Woman to Me. I picked up on the bridge. He is definitely taking some artistic liberties with it, but it’s definitely Joel. I was hoping to hear at least one tonight.
My Coke is now done, and my battery is about to cross the barrier from twenty percent into the teens. Working it’s way down. Just as an observer works from the big picture, to the small emotional clips, I have worked down.
All though the patrons of the resort are hardly diverse (white, mid forties to early sixties) the choice of beverages are. From a frozen cappuccino in the morning, to a strawberry daiquiri come lunch life was diversity in a blender (much to the dismay of the ACLU). As I mentioned the lack of human diversity, one is forced, and thankfully so, to acknowledge of the intricate blend of tropical paradise and desert oasis. Walking a few feet here you take in the ever green, highly manicured grasses, and at the same time tan soil dotted with beautiful cactus plants. Neatly trimmed hedges stand their ground next to midget palm trees. These contrasting themes do not fight each other, but rather work in harmony to produce a scene that is truly breathtaking.
As I walk the grounds of this place and take notice of the people here, I am inclined to think that if you combined the net-income of all the guests you could very well afford to purchase a couple of states, or a small nation. For, as one meanders through the line of darkwood beach chairs you can rest assured that the guy whose drink you may have accidentally tipped over was probably the CEO of Verizon, or the President of Toshiba. These shirtless CEOs reveal their office tans, which are most comparable to the gamer tan of which I sport. To their side, is, more often than not, a scandaly-clad woman whose age even David Blaine couldn’t guess. Through the magic of cosmetic surgery these trophy wives 2.0 defy your perception of age, though at the same time you have assume that they were aged enough to need the services of a Beverly Hills Doc. However, this is not the definite standard. Every so often you take notice of a large graying man with an attractive, young, Asian woman. One has to assume, that like his Ferrari, she’s a rental. So maybe I was wrong to question the diversity of the people who cook their bodies under the Arizona sun. If beauty can only be skin deep, why not diversity?
Aside from the “Playboy” bunnies you will see here regularly, there is a surprising abundance of real bunnies, which are very cute, very brown, and very slim. I guess the only arguable difference between the two would be that only one of them you have to pay to walk on all fours.
What makes this place the crown jewel of five star resorts is the abundance of activities, however, the one thing that I value above all the rest here is the where you can just think. Impulse buying still goes, but even that moves a comfortable pace. As cliché as this may come across, the only real decisions that one has to make here is do I want to go to the poolside bar or chill in the cushy lounge? If that is your prime decision, all the more power to you, for you are truly living it up.
I may have over-estimated my assertion regarding the average age of the guests at this resort. I have seen my fair share of teenage girls with sunglass lenses arguably larger than their brains. The always roam in groups larger than three and carry with them a sort of movie star vibe, as if I should be bowing when they walk by.
I am not very fluent in the use of flip-flops. I am near certain that I have tripped over them as many times as there are needles on all the cacti in this state or, the number of times I have heard “on the rocks, with salt.” However, I am drawn to them. It must be the symbolic nature of the flip-flop itself, a direct representation of relaxation. You are not truly on vacation unless you are wearing flip-flops. So, here I am. Tripping over myself for the cause of the vacationing spirit.
Right now I am sitting in the hotel lobby area. It is a large expansive area that contains a bar, a lounge, a place for tea, and leads to a terrace that allows for a fantastic view of the resort and the outlying city of Phoenix. I am staring at a fireplace wondering if my presence will go unacknowledged. The city looks wonderful tonight. It’s not yet dark, but just enough that the urban lights can be seen. It is truly a sight to behold.
Another benefit to my location is the view of the people. I can analyze their movements and observe their interactions. The section of the lounge that I inhabit is more or less an empty sector though. However, from my seat I have a panoramic view of the entire scene. Hopefully that waitress will finally take notice of my arrival.
The battery on my laptop is running low, about thirty eight percent. I am trying to make the most of it.
The best way to observe is from the outside looking in. As obvious as this may seem, people tend to forget how much you miss when you are caught up in the thick of it. “Embedded in America”, as The Onion would say. A casual observer misses the emotion. The man in the middle gets the emotion but misses the big picture. There are trade offs, as with everything. One, I suppose, could argue that it would be easier to build from the small emotional clips, and form the big picture from it. However, sometimes it’s just easier to work down.
The people sitting at the table about seven yards in front of me are made up of two older women, one I think I younger than the other, and two older men, one I think is younger than the other. Friends perhaps? They do not appear to share any family connection.
Just as I finished that last statement the piano began to play. Tonight’s pianist is a bald man, imposing, but with a certain air of openness. It sounds beautiful really. Hard to describe. I wish someone would bring me a drink so I could truly enjoy this, although the chances of that happening are arguable. Funny enough, just as I wrote that last line the aforementioned waitress approached me.
“Are you doing OK?”
“A Coke would be lovely.”
“OK, I’ll be right with you.”
So goes the exchange. My episode of outside observing briefly interrupted with actual contact with the people that set the scene. The pianist drones on and I am brought back to the outside.
Lovers stroll outside, husband and wife. She stops to comment on a couch that looks remarkably like her own. He walks a few steps forward and turns, staring back at her. They continue their stroll making a “U” back toward the lobby. The pianist reaches the bridge. The conservation at the table directly in front of me has picked up. Brief intervals of forced laughter slice through the elegant atmosphere created by the sound of an old Steinway, and a large fountain in the center of the lobby. A woman wearing a brown sleeveless top and khakis stops to observe a clear vase containing pink flowers. I assume she is wondering if they are real. I believe they are. Just as she moves away the people at the table directly in front of me, sign their check and leave. It turns out there were three woman and one man, my mistake. As the busboy makes his move on the table, all evidence that the party had been enjoying their evening there is removed. Two martini glasses, a champagne glass, a bowel of toasted nuts; all removed, as the consumers have disappeared into the fray. It has grown darker, and my waitress is nowhere to be found. My battery power is at thirty-two percent. I will leave at ten. I think she is coming. However, her tray seems to be missing my Coke, she realizes her mistake upon the recognition of my person.
“I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your Coke.”
“That’s OK.”
Her accent appears to be southern, she must have moved here. Not really a bad choice. If you do not mind a little heat in the summer, it is really a nice place to be. The tones of the piano have reached a dramatic pitch. Candles are flickering all around, and as I shift my gaze toward the city I realize the similarity between the urban lights that punctuate the night sky and the candles that glow dimly throughout the scene within. The piano is now playing a light hearted tune. I do not recognize it by name.
The waiters dressed in black move across the room like ghosts. Brought back into the plane of human existence only by brief interactions. They swiftly and silently make their rounds. My waitress arrives with my Coke.
“I’m sorry again for the delay, this one’s on me.”
“No, that’s all right…”
Before I could finish my protest…
“I insist, please enjoy.”
I have a free drink. This is pretty good news. It’s always fun to get a free drink. The world seems like such an inviting place all of the sudden. However, I do not now how to act now. Should I just leave without paying? I hope that she remembers to pick up the tab; the precedent she set is a little worrisome. She was nice however; I will give her the benefit of the doubt.
My Coke tastes very good, and for split second I could have sworn the pianist was playing the intro to Billy Joel’s Piano Man, however, I am mistaken. The woman in the brown top returns and once again goes to observe the clear vases that contain the pink flowers. This time however, her husband accompanies her. He motions her over to a couch not to far from where I am sitting. I can pick up bits of their conversation. It seems she is definitely intrigued by those clear vases.
I think the pianist is now playing Carly Simon’s You’re So Vain. I may be wrong. I have about three quarters left of my coke and my battery is at twenty-six percent. The night is still young.
People are attracted to laptops. They attempt to hide their gazes as the pass by. We are all guilty of it. Our eyes are drawn to the screen, as curiosity gets the better of us. However, all they will see right now is a dimly lit screen and a wall of Times New Roman. I think the Times font is derivative of the New York Times. That would be interesting. I just recently found out that Time Square was named for the New York Times; it’s possible that the font is named for it as well.
The lobby has cleared up somewhat since I arrived on the scene. The real action is outside. There, the resort has beautiful fires lit on the terrace and there seems to be a silent competition amongst the guests to get closet to it.
There is a significant chance that my battery will outlive my Coke. The poor thing is two sips away from death, and my battery still has twenty three percent left. It is now seven twenty postmeridian. I may take my leave shortly. Will it be rude if I just leave my glass behind? Of course not, you pay good money to have people pick up after you. I think the nightly cost of my stay here is around 1,500 dollars.
I recognize the pianist’s tune; it’s Billy Joel’s She’s Always a Woman to Me. I picked up on the bridge. He is definitely taking some artistic liberties with it, but it’s definitely Joel. I was hoping to hear at least one tonight.
My Coke is now done, and my battery is about to cross the barrier from twenty percent into the teens. Working it’s way down. Just as an observer works from the big picture, to the small emotional clips, I have worked down.
27 January 2007
25 January 2007
You have to give Coulter credit...
Her pieces, if anything, are fun to read.
Speaking of which, the horny hick's wife finally ended the breathless anticipation by announcing that she is running for president. I studied tapes of Hillary feigning surprise at hearing about Monica to help me look surprised upon learning that she's running.
Hillary is Dem Frontrunner: Time Poll
According to a survey conducted by Time Magazine in which 1,026 registered voters were polled, Hillary Clinton (D-NY), is 19 points ahead of Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). These results prove to be interesting especially after the media splash Obama has made.
24 January 2007
State of the Union Cliff Notes
I took these during the SOTU, and I will share them with you.
State of the Union 2007
in order as they are addressed
-Madame Speaker-
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
-remarks on speaker
-congrats to dem majority
-7.2 million new jobs
-3 economic reforms
-balance budget
-without raising taxes
-deficit cut in half
-get rid of deficit in five years
-restrain federal spending
-no applause from Hillary
-earmarks
-cspan joke
-crackdown
-entitlements
-social security
-education
- no child left behind
-raise standards
-promote achievement
-funding for struggling students
-math and science
-reauthorization
-Healthcare
-reform 4,500 per family of 4
-tax code reform to allow affordability of healthcare
-federal support of state insurance
-affordable choices grants
-expand health savings accounts
-medical liability reform
-Secure border
-double border patrol size
-temporary worker program
-employment immigration reform
-call for debate
-Oil
-America's dependency
-Clean coal, nuclear, solar
-hybrid, biodiseal
-ethanol
-reduce gasoline usage in the US 20% in next 10 years
-mandatory fuel standard
-modernize fuel economy standards for cars
-Doubling strategic oil reserves
-Courts
-fair hearing
-prompt voting
-Homeland Security
-call for debate
-take the fight to the enemy
-all standing
-prevented plots
-lists stopped terror plots
-sunni extremists
-preach with threats
-promise paradise for murder
-quotes warning from terror leader
-shia extremists
-Iran
-hezbollah
-threat to democracy, gain weapons
-dangers have not ended
-lawful and proper tool...to protect american people
-desire for liberty in middle east
-syria
-afghai elections
-iraqi (3) elections
-12 million citizens vote
-2006 hezbollah
-undermine lebanon's government
-al qaeda- blew up mosque
-sectarian violence
-can't leave iraq behind
-victory in iraq
-New Iraq Strategy
-iraqi government must stop sectarian violence
-20,000 soldiers to baghdad, clear and hold
-advisers
-an-bar province
-aid local forces 4,000 troops
-prevent iraq from being taken by al-qaeda
-iraq support with troops and confront radicals
-take back capital
-commitment to people of iraq
-strategy best chance for success
-if we pull out, (basically chaos)
-iraq cannot fall to terrorists
-War on Terror
-did not vote for failure (iraq)
-support our troops
-war on terror will continue on
-bipartisan council on war on terror
-authorize increase size of marine corp
-volunteer civilian reserve core
-diplomatic strategy
-multinational force
-mideast allies
-sanctions on iran
-democratic palestinian state
-diplomacy on korean peninsula
-asian allies
-cuba
-darfur
-Misc.(includes special mentions)
-fight aids in africa
-poverty/hunger
-emergency plan for aids relief
-50,000 increase to 800,000 with aids medicine
-combat malaria in africa
-millennium challenge account
-trade and debt relief
-special guest, from africa, in NBA
-julie clark-baby einstein company
-american enterprise
-child help
-children have the right to live in a world that is safe
-wesley autrey
-subway hero
-tommy rieman
-used body as shield to protect gunner
-kept fighting
-State of the Union is strong
State of the Union 2007
in order as they are addressed
-Madame Speaker-
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
-remarks on speaker
-congrats to dem majority
-7.2 million new jobs
-3 economic reforms
-balance budget
-without raising taxes
-deficit cut in half
-get rid of deficit in five years
-restrain federal spending
-no applause from Hillary
-earmarks
-cspan joke
-crackdown
-entitlements
-social security
-education
- no child left behind
-raise standards
-promote achievement
-funding for struggling students
-math and science
-reauthorization
-Healthcare
-reform 4,500 per family of 4
-tax code reform to allow affordability of healthcare
-federal support of state insurance
-affordable choices grants
-expand health savings accounts
-medical liability reform
-Secure border
-double border patrol size
-temporary worker program
-employment immigration reform
-call for debate
-Oil
-America's dependency
-Clean coal, nuclear, solar
-hybrid, biodiseal
-ethanol
-reduce gasoline usage in the US 20% in next 10 years
-mandatory fuel standard
-modernize fuel economy standards for cars
-Doubling strategic oil reserves
-Courts
-fair hearing
-prompt voting
-Homeland Security
-call for debate
-take the fight to the enemy
-all standing
-prevented plots
-lists stopped terror plots
-sunni extremists
-preach with threats
-promise paradise for murder
-quotes warning from terror leader
-shia extremists
-Iran
-hezbollah
-threat to democracy, gain weapons
-dangers have not ended
-lawful and proper tool...to protect american people
-desire for liberty in middle east
-syria
-afghai elections
-iraqi (3) elections
-12 million citizens vote
-2006 hezbollah
-undermine lebanon's government
-al qaeda- blew up mosque
-sectarian violence
-can't leave iraq behind
-victory in iraq
-New Iraq Strategy
-iraqi government must stop sectarian violence
-20,000 soldiers to baghdad, clear and hold
-advisers
-an-bar province
-aid local forces 4,000 troops
-prevent iraq from being taken by al-qaeda
-iraq support with troops and confront radicals
-take back capital
-commitment to people of iraq
-strategy best chance for success
-if we pull out, (basically chaos)
-iraq cannot fall to terrorists
-War on Terror
-did not vote for failure (iraq)
-support our troops
-war on terror will continue on
-bipartisan council on war on terror
-authorize increase size of marine corp
-volunteer civilian reserve core
-diplomatic strategy
-multinational force
-mideast allies
-sanctions on iran
-democratic palestinian state
-diplomacy on korean peninsula
-asian allies
-cuba
-darfur
-Misc.(includes special mentions)
-fight aids in africa
-poverty/hunger
-emergency plan for aids relief
-50,000 increase to 800,000 with aids medicine
-combat malaria in africa
-millennium challenge account
-trade and debt relief
-special guest, from africa, in NBA
-julie clark-baby einstein company
-american enterprise
-child help
-children have the right to live in a world that is safe
-wesley autrey
-subway hero
-tommy rieman
-used body as shield to protect gunner
-kept fighting
-State of the Union is strong
21 January 2007
Bait and Switch: How 2008 Will Go Down
Bait and switch. That's right, remember that term. I foresee that in 08. The bait? None other than media darling Senator Barack Obama. The switch? Al Gore, John Edwards. Here's how it goes down. Obama is a household name and the notion of him in the Oval Office is spreading like wildfire however, what people can't seem to see, with all of those lovely smoke and mirrors obstructing their view is, he stands for nothing except for being as liberal as one could possibly be, but that's it. We don't know Barack, we know the media's version of Barack, nothing more, nothing less. That's fine for the Democrats. He's like a super model in a beer commercial. The beer may taste like crap but you are drawn in by the supermodel. Flash forward a year. They switch Barack with someone more battle hardened, let's say, Gore. People were already lured to the Dem side with lovely Barack and say, "Hey, that Barack fellow was mighty neat, this Gore fella' is a Democrat too, maybe they are similar!" So they buy the beer and they will realize it's shit. BUT WAIT, it's too late. Oh no! You just spent one vote on crappy beer.
17 January 2007
Interview With Fallujan Police Officer
A very interesting interview with an Iraqi from the "In Iraq Journal" I invite you all to take a read, it is really interesting stuff.
Link
Link
What Will Kill Republicans in 08
Republicans are in trouble. A series of scandals and a highly controversial war weigh heavy on the American mind and the media loves making sure it sticks, especially if it comes to screwing over the Republican party. The Dems have had their fair share of scandal and an ass-load of hypocrisy but the media tends to throw that on the one day news cycle. However, it is not the media that will kill Republicans in 08 as much as it is themselves. Right now, I am tired of the same Evangelical good Ole' boy. I want someone who is willing to compromise and forgo their preconceived notions in order to serve the greater good. Senator John McCain and Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, are, in my mind, the last hopes of the Republican party. They are the most potentially electable candidates except for one thing, they are not conservative enough to secure the nomination. Although McCain has been working hard to alter his image to challenge that fact there's no denying his past. Also, Mr. Giuliani's pro-gun control, pro-choice and pro-gay marriage stance, probably will not bode well for him when it comes to the Caucasus and primaries. For it is the party faithful who vote there and the party faithful are the ultra conservatives, so far off to the right in fact that if they Earth were flat they probably would have fallen right off it. The party needs to show that is open to new ideas. For right now that is what people want. New ideas. Americans are coming to the realization that the old ideas aren't working and someone who seems to embody a progressive spirit would be a breath of fresh air for the Republican Party, and for that matter the nation. As Avril Levine once sang, "I'm a hazard to myself, don't let me get me."
16 January 2007
Article of the Month- 1st
This new segment will highlight an article (usually an editoral) that I think was well written and had an interesting point of view. This will be posted once a month, not on any specific day, just when I find the article. So this first one was written by James Poniewozik, of Time Magazine. The article is titled The Evolution of Jack Bauer.
So enjoy...
So enjoy...
13 January 2007
11 January 2007
Dodd is Running
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) announced Thursday on the MSNBC morning show "Imus in the Morning" that he would be running for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd announced Thursday he will run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, saying problems at home and abroad meant it was time for him to "get out of the bleachers and onto the arena floor."
Dodd, a 26-year Senate veteran, told the "Imus in the Morning" radio show he will file paperwork to establish a campaign committee later in the day.
"I know how to do this. I know what has to be done. I'm going to get out and make my case," Dodd said. He described himself as a dark horse in a Democratic field dominated by Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) of Illinois — neither of whom have yet entered the race.
"There's a heightened sense of urgency about the condition of the country. But it isn't just Iraq — there are problems here at home that are huge," Dodd said. He said he planned to focus on issues like education, energy policy and health care in his campaign.
Cleaning House
Last night President George W. Bush announced to a weary nation a plan for victory in Iraq. However, the nation looks on this plan with a skepticism fueled by the barrage of bad press and scandal that has surrounded both the Bush administration and the war itself. In what some would consider the most important speech of his career, the president let fall the blame of past failures upon himself in the hopes that this nation could move on and in doing so secure Iraq and allow it to prosper under the flag of democracy and liberty for all. His speech outlined a plan to send around 20,000 more troops to Iraq mainly to Baghdad. Where upon those troops would be embedded with Iraqi battalions already in the region. They would begin the difficult process of clearing and holding parts of the key 30 mile region. This surge of troops allows for a 1 to 50 task ratio which in military terms is just what you want as opposed to the vastly outnumbered troops in Iraq prior to this plan. However, the greatest obstacle this plan faces is not the lack of man power, we have plenty of that, but rather a lack of will. The country is not yet ready to sacrifice more young men and women with the mindset that more of those will be returning back in body bags. With most Democrats and some Republicans in opposition to this we will see a non-binding resolution spring up to declare their opposition to this plan. We will not yet see the removal of funding, for the Democrats do not yet have enough public support to embark on such an endeavor. However, if they do, Iraq may well be another Cambodia. Most Democrats claim that in order for the Iraqis to stand up we must stand down. However, they cannot stand up until the constant threat, and devastation of the insurgency is removed. We must secure the future of Iraq for the ink that writes the future of Iraq also writes the future of the United States.
Cheers.
Cheers.
27 December 2006
22 December 2006
Closed for the Holidays
Hello everyone, I just wanted to let you know that from now until January 2nd there will be no updates. This is not definite for something may come up that just has to be posted but until that time arrives this baby will not be awakened till 2007. It's been fun and I have enjoyed this experience immensely. Enjoy your Holiday.
Cheers
Cheers
18 December 2006
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