28
Dec
I don’t like picking on kids of candidates unless they put themselves in the mix voluntarily. But sheez louise, this pic is awful!
27
Dec
I am reading right now that Benazir Bhutto died in the suicide attack on her rally.
This is awful news.
I have heard a lot of speculation that Al Qaeda has focused on Pakistan since it’s getting its butt kicked in Iraq and Afghanistan. That makes sense. What doesn’t make sense there is attacking Bhutto. Musharraf is unpopular and losing international support. His crackdown a month ago and subsequent agreement to leave the military only weakened him. Killing Bhutto only makes the actions of Musharraf look like they were the right thing to do at the right time. This is all Musharraf needs to go back to his international supporters and get more help, both economically and militarily. He has done what the international leaders have asked, and this is where it has lead. Maybe we need to listen to him a little more and those not living there a little less.
On the flipside of the issue, although Al Qaeda has been fingered, this sure fits conveniently into Musharraf’s political needs. With an election next month, it looked to the average outsider that Musharraf’s days were numbered. He even hinted as such agreeing to be the Prime Minister. All of that was purely based on the assumption that Bhutto was going to win. Scratch all that. Nothing changes.
I have felt for six years we need to be IN Pakistan moreso than either Afghanistan or Iraq. Afghanistan can be a pain in the butt, but they have no organized government and no ability to mount a military. Iraq was a roaring pussycat. A pain in the butt for sure, but once we went in, there was obviously nothing tangible there. In both cases, I liked going in. In both cases, I think we’ve stayed too long and haven’t watched over them in a true 21st century military fashion. Pakistan’s a different animal entirely. They have nukes. There’s no question, there’s no doubt. They have them. They have a good sized army. Not terribly motivated or organized, but they have one. They also have a horribly ineffective and weak government. The death of Bhutto is just another prime example of how ineffectively that government can protect itself ( if it wishes to ). I also see even more destabilization as protests against Musharraf/Al Qaeda mount. If Musharraf clamps down on Al Qaeda, the warlords resist. I don’t think he has the manpower to deal with them all. Enter the US. Exit Iraq and Afghanistan and keep satellites with missiles aimed directly at their capitol buildings until they show they can behave civilly.
Take all those troops and put them in Pakistan. Make sure those nukes are safe. And, kill Osama Bin Laden. Once he’s dead, and the Pakistanis prove they can respect a government they choose, then get our troops out pronto and put a couple of satellites with missiles pointed right at their capitol as well.
It’s really that simple.
Other Views:
- Michelle Malkin - She’s going exclusively with the Jihadist angles. I’m not ready to rule out other interests yet.
- JammieWearingFool
- AllahPundit has some pics from the scene. Needless to say, use caution.
A lot is being made of the Iowa and New Hampshire caucuses. Now we’re facing “crunch time“. Let’s look at a little history, shall we?
Here’s Iowa’s history of caucus voting:
Democrats
- January 19, 2004 – John Kerry (38%), John Edwards (32%), Howard Dean (18%), Richard Gephardt (11%) and Dennis Kucinich (1%)
- January 24, 2000 – Al Gore (63%), Bill Bradley (37%)
- February 12, 1996 – Bill Clinton* (unopposed)
- February 10, 1992 – Tom Harkin (76%), “Uncommitted” (12%), Paul Tsongas (4%), Bill Clinton* (3%), Bob Kerrey (2%) and Jerry Brown (2%)
- February 8, 1988 – Richard Gephardt (31%), Paul Simon (27%), Michael Dukakis (22%) and Bruce Babbitt (6%)
- February 20, 1984 – Walter Mondale (49%), Gary Hart (17%), George McGovern (10%), Alan Cranston (7%), John Glenn (4%), Reubin Askew (3%) and Jesse Jackson (2%)
- January 21, 1980 – Jimmy Carter (59%), Ted Kennedy (31%)
- January 19, 1976 – “Uncommitted” (37%), Jimmy Carter* (28%) Birch Bayh (13%), Fred R. Harris (10%), Morris Udall (6%), Sargent Shriver (3%) and Henry M. Jackson (1%)
- January 24, 1972 – “Uncommitted” (36%) and Edmund Muskie (36%), George McGovern (23%), Hubert Humphrey (2%), Eugene McCarthy (1%), Shirley Chisholm (1%) and Henry M. Jackson (1%)
Republicans
- 2004- George W. Bush* (unopposed)
- 2000- George W. Bush* (41%), Steve Forbes (30%), Alan Keyes (14%), Gary Bauer (9%), John McCain (5%) and Orrin Hatch (1%)
- 1996- Bob Dole (26%), Pat Buchanan (23%), Lamar Alexander (18%), Steve Forbes (10%), Phil Gramm (9%), Alan Keyes (7%), Richard Lugar (4%) and Morry Taylor (1%)
- 1992- George H. W. Bush (unopposed)
- 1988- Bob Dole (37%), Pat Robertson (25%), George H. W. Bush* (19%), Jack Kemp (11%) and Pete DuPont (7%)
- 1984- Ronald Reagan* (unopposed)
- 1980- George H. W. Bush (32%), Ronald Reagan* (30%), Howard Baker (15%), John Connally (9%), Phil Crane (7%), John B. Anderson (4%) and Bob Dole (2%)
- 1976- Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan
Toss out the unopposed and Iowa is just as likely to not pick the winner of their party’s nomination process as they are to pick it. There’s nothing telling there.
Now, New Hampshire:
Democrats
- January 27, 2004: Senator John Kerry defeated Governor Howard B. Dean III, General Wesley K. Clark, Senator John Edwards, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich and Reverend Al Sharpton.
- February 1, 2000: Vice President Al Gore defeated Senator Bill Bradley
- February 20, 1996: President Bill Clinton (no serious opposition)
- February 18, 1992: Senator Paul Tsongas defeated Governor Bill Clinton, Senator Bob Kerrey, Senator Tom Harkin, Governor Jerry Brown, and mayor Larry Agran
- February 16, 1988: Governor Michael Dukakis defeated Congressman Richard A. “Dick” Gephardt, Senator Paul Simon, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, and Senator Al Gore
- February 28, 1984: Senator Gary Hart defeated Vice President Walter Mondale, Senator John Glenn, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, and Senator George McGovern
- February 26, 1980: President Jimmy Carter defeated Senator Edward Kennedy, and Governor Jerry Brown.
- February 24, 1976: Governor Jimmy Carter defeated Congressman Mo Udall, Senator Birch Bayh, Senator Fred R. Harris, and Ambassador R. Sargent Shriver
- March 7, 1972: Senator Edmund Muskie defeated Senator George McGovern and Mayor Samuel William Yorty
- March 12, 1968: President Lyndon B. Johnson defeated Senator Eugene McCarthy
- March 10, 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson (no serious opposition)
- March 8, 1960: Senator John F. Kennedy defeated businessman Paul C. Fisher
- March 13, 1956: Senator Estes Kefauver defeated Governor Adlai E. Stevenson II
- March 11, 1952: Senator Estes Kefauver defeated President Harry S. Truman
Republicans
- January 27, 2004: President George W. Bush (no serious opposition)
- February 1, 2000: Senator John McCain defeated Governor George W. Bush, Malcolm S. “Steve” Forbes, Jr., Ambassador Alan Keyes, and Gary L. Bauer
- February 20, 1996: Pat Buchanan defeated Senator Bob Dole, Governor A. Lamar Alexander, Steve Forbes, Senator Richard G. “Dick” Lugar, and Ambassador Alan Keyes
- February 18, 1992: President George H. W. Bush defeated Patrick J. “Pat” Buchanan
- February 16, 1988: Vice President George H. W. Bush defeated Senator Bob Dole, Congressman Jack F. Kemp, Jr., Governor Pierre S. “Pete” du Pont IV, and Reverend Marion G. “Pat” Robertson
- February 28, 1984: President Ronald Reagan (no serious opposition)
- February 26, 1980: Governor Ronald Reagan defeated Ambassador George H. W. Bush, Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr., Congressman John B. Anderson, and Congressman Philip M. “Phil” Crane
- February 24, 1976: President Gerald R. Ford defeated Governor Ronald Reagan
- March 7, 1972: President Richard Nixon defeated Congressman Paul N. “Pete” McCloskey, Jr. and Congressman John M. Ashbrook
- March 12, 1968: Vice President Richard M. Nixon defeated Governor George Romney
- March 10, 1964: Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. defeated Senator Barry M. Goldwater, Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, and Vice President Richard Nixon
- March 8, 1960: Vice President Richard Nixon (no serious opposition)
- March 13, 1956: President Dwight D. Eisenhower (no serious opposition)
- March 11, 1952: General Dwight D. Eisenhower defeated Senator Robert Taft and Governor Harold Stassen
- 1948: Governor Harold E. Stassen defeated Governor Thomas E. Dewey
Same holds true in New Hampshire as well. Both states have a long history of sending meaningless delegates to their convention and not establishing any nation wide trend.
Some candidates will fall out, some will rise and fall, and some will flame out. Bottom line, crunch time is February 5, 2008. I’ll start getting really excited about all this come February 1, 2008.
26
Dec
I was listening to a debate I think it was on CNN. The emphasis of the debate was how qualified Hillary Clinton was to lead the country based on her own statements of how she had helped lead the country during her husband’s tenure. There was a Republican debator, and a Democrat debator. The first words out of the Democrat’s mouth was stating that Hillary had more experience than Bush, who has gotten us into two wars and tarnished the US’s international reputation. To this debator, Hillary’s own words were completely irrelevant. It didn’t matter what Hillary had said so long as she can recite the words “has gotten us into two wars and tarnished the US’s international reputation” yet again. Although I made no effort to remember who either debator was, I do remember the title no Democrat can seem to live without. This has tugged at me for a couple of years now. What are the Democrats going to do the day after Bush is out of office? They will have nothing to hang their mantra on. And, I’m quite certain in very short time the entire US public will tire of a failed president who’s only claim to success would be that they didn’t get us into two wars and tarnish the US’s reputation.
Got news for that debator, and Howard Dean too, I think the US is already tired of that recital and looking desperately for a candidate that has their own song. Namely, I’ll wager a bet right now that more people are concerned with our economy than they are the two wars and a tarnished reputation.
What really amazes me is that is the exact same song John Kerry sang four years ago.
What do you think?
Mike Huckabee ran a tv ad wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Boring you say? Well, some people can find something interesting in anything. Namely, this extremely controversial image appeared without the intention of the Huckabees ( according to them ):
That glowing cross is actually a bookshelf ( see the lights sitting on it? ). Now, some apparently believe Mike actually staged the tree and the entire set around the fact that by partially obscuring the bookshelf with a Christmas Tree, it appears to be a cross. Since it’s not good enough to go running around SAYING he’s a Christian, he obviously needed props to prove it.
Me? I think it’s merely what he says it is, a bookshelf. However, I like his response much, much, better:
“I will confess this: If you play the spot backwards it says, ‘Paul is dead. Paul is dead.”‘
Score one for Mike. The ad is meaningless to me. The response priceless.
The entire time Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher was in office, Attorney General Greg Stumbo dogged him about hiring people based on political patronage. Stumbo even went so far as to file corruption charges and seat a grand jury before dropping the charges so that he could run for governor himself. People of Kentucky bought into Stumbo’s allegations, with the help of the local media, and voted Ernie out. Presumably because of those allegations of patronage.
So, what’s the first thing our new, improved, Democrat governor does? Check this one out:
12/14/2007
Associated Press
FRANKFORT — Gov. Steve Beshear appointed a restaurant franchise company executive on Thursday to head the state’s homeland security agency.
Beshear appointed Adam Edelen, 33, to be Kentucky’s next executive director of homeland security. Edelen currently works for Thomas & King Inc., a restaurant franchise company that operates Applebee’s and Carino’s restaurants in five states including Kentucky, according to the company’s Web site.
“The task of keeping our public safe is an awesome responsibility, and I am confident that Adam will work with our communities and first responders to ensure the state is ready and prepared for any emergency it might face,” Beshear said in a statement.
Beshear took office on Tuesday. He has been filling out his administration with top-level administrators, and on Wednesday his cabinet secretaries were sworn into office.
Edelen was an aide to former Gov. Paul Patton and has worked as vice president of the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce.
Registry of Election Finance records show Edelen donated $2,000 to Beshear during the past election and sponsored a fundraiser for Beshear that took in $4,000. He also contributed to Democrats Jack Conway and Crit Luallen during their winning campaigns for attorney general and state auditor.
You read that right. Based on his restaurant experience, Adam Edelen will be in charge of Homeland Security.
I’m waiting for our new attorney general to investigate this blatant and overt patronage as well. ( What’s that you say? Edelen donated to him TOO? )
Just another example of what voting incumbants out just to say you voted the incumbant out gets ya. Things are SOOOO much better now in Kentucky.
18
Dec
This is pretty amazing to me:
Thinking this story was blown out of proportion or something, I read on:
“She did not use it inappropriately. She did not threaten anyone with it. She didn’t pull it out and brandish it. Nothing of that nature,” explained Marion County School Spokesman Kevin Christian, who added that it made no difference what the knife was being used for, they had no choice but to call police.
“Anytime there’s a weapon on campus, yes, we have to report it and we aggressively report it because we don’t want to take any chances, regardless,” Christian said.
How do they suppose kids eat meat? I did some research and came up empty. However, I guess we can assume they feed them a staple of non-meat products such as pizza and cereal? I have no clue. There’s no answers at the Marion County Schoool District site.
I understand the caution. What I don’t understand is the intolerance.
14
Dec
A lot is being made of H.R. 4279, referred to as PRO IP. Depending on who you ask, it either makes felons out of anyone who listens to music on the internet. Or, it does nothing more than create more beauracracy in DC. After reading it, I tend to side with the latter. However, it does create a federal position to prosecute college kids downloading music whereas that was left to NIAA in the past. The bill is authored by John Conyers. Where are the Big Brother chants? I CAN’T HEAR YOU!
I’m gonna try something here. I have no clue how well this work. Supposedly I can embed and track this legislation. So, here goes:
In the meantime, the legislation technically modifies existing code. In other words, it’s not really doing anything that hasn’t been done other than staffing the enforcement of whatever it was in the past and raising the penalties. However, don’t take my word on that as it is confusing and vague. If you are concerned about this further invasion into your civil liberties that has gone almost entirely ignored, ask for clarification from the person who authored it. That would be John Conyers.
13
Dec
This is dumb. Walmart was selling these clever little panties:
On the back it says “When you have Santa”.
Someone objected so Walmart is yanking them off the shelves.
Grow
up
people.
They’re cute. So what if it infers something a little risque? If I find them at my local Walmart before they hide them, I’m buying some for the step-girl. And, if they come in Mrs. Moon’s size, I’ll get her some as well. ( Point of clarification, according to the story, they only come in junior sizes. That’s a marketing mistake if you ask me. )
Ed Morrissey at Captain’s Quarters respects William F. Buckley’s endorsement of Mitt Romney. I don’t.
However, Ed goes on to say he’s not terribly convinced this will mean a lot to the average voter. I do agree with that.
The problem I have with Buckley is he picks and chooses which Republicans he thinks are good enough Republicans based on his criteria. It’s not a conservative thing, it’s a Buckley thing. From my experience, he decides he doesn’t like someone, THEN applies the appropriate conservative transgressions to validate his pre-jury guilt. As such, I grew tired of Buckley’s crap a long time ago. I’m gonna guess I’m not the only REPUBLICAN who feels that way.
The Romney camp has every reason to celebrate Buckley’s endorsement. I’d rather have Oprah’s.
