RINO Sightings - The "39th Birthday Blues" Edition

It's time for the latest carnival of the Raging RINOs. Unfortunately for me, later this week I will be marking my 39th birthday (for the first time). If turning 40 is the alarm going off, then 39 is hitting the "snooze" button. I volunteered to host this edition of the carnival to take my mind off of this upcoming event and I was treated to a great round of submissions.

So hop into your safari jeep and let's get underway for this week's R.I.N.O. Sightings!

Higher Learning

First up, we take a look at some whacky things going on in the Academy. Cardinal Martini has been following a story about Dr. Diana Blane, a USC Professor who says all men are rapists and posts topless photos of herself on her Flikr website.

The Recovering Democrat tells us about a Boston College professor who resigned his post in protest of Secretary of State Condi Rice's scheduled commencement address. One down, thousands more to go...

Cultural Debates

The Commissar takes exception to a post that argues against Evolution in favor of Intelligent Design. And the fisking ensues.

Many fans of the film "The Big Lebowski" think of it a "stoner" film, considering that "The Dude" is an aging ex-hippy. Not so, says Blogger Ale. Hey, didn't you notice all those white russians?

Freedom Of Speech

You can't be a blogger and not be concerned over first amendment protection. And we have two examples of the Bush Administration encroaching on them. Eric at Classical Values slams a proposal to filter out blogs from public library servers - not just certain blogs, all blogs. Because they're potential sexual predators.

Barry at Everanche found a simple six word reaction of one website proprietor who has been contacted by the FBI.

Election 2006

Barry also looks at the state of U.S. politics, with six months to go before November's election.

On that same topic, Dan at Searchlight Crusade observes that both parties have an opportunity this Fall. He offers a winning strategy to whichever one has the 'nads to do it.

The Old World

But even France has its own political intrique unfolding. Pigilito calls our attention to a smear campaign against a challenger to the current government.

And Tom Hanna highlights the double standard being used by old Europe to rebuke their socialist brethren in Latin America.

Media Matters

Are newspapers gasping their last dying breaths? Not so fast, says Don Surber, who describes how the internet is keeping newspapers alive rather than killing them off.

The NSA Today

The biggest meme of the week was Thursday's USAToday story about the database of phone numbers being used by the NSA to locate and catch terrorists. AJ Strata asks "Do we want to stop a terrorist attack or not?".

Mark at Decision '08 puts to rest any question of the program's legality.

Jeff at the SoCalLaw Blog explains how civil lawsuits against the NSA are being thwarted because they involve state secrets.

CNN's Jack Cafferty showed signs of "Bush Derangement Syndrome" on the air when he suggested that we are on the verge of "a dictatorship". Scott at Environmental Republican says give me a break.

And on a lighter note, Rachel from Tinkerty Tonk reveals the kind of transcripts you might find in her NSA file.

I doubt there is a single sensible person out there that doesn't smell a rat when you consider the timing of the USAToday story with the current Senate hearings on General Michael Hayden's nomination as new CIA Director. Cold Hearted Truth looks at how the MSM just had to try, and how polls show they failed...again

Well, that's it for this week. Until the next Carnival, this is Gary the Ex-Donkey saying "Keep Raging!"

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Gratuitous Melissa Theuriau Post Alert

To make your weekend a sweet one.

Moratorium on French-bashing remains in effect here at Ex-Donkey Blog.

Sigh.

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New Poll

This weeks latest poll is up in the sidebar: "How Will Gas Prices Affect Your Driving Habits This Summer?"

The results of the "If AZ Senator John McCain Earned The GOP Nomination in 2008, Would You Vote For Him" Poll were as follows:

(10.5%) = "Absolutely, He's My First Choice"
(15.1%) = "He's Not My First Choice, But I'd Vote For Him In The General Election"
(36.0%) = "I Wouldn't Be Thrilled About It, But I'd Hold My Nose And Pull The Lever"
(23.3%) = "Only If Hillary Was The Democrat Candidate"
(5.8%) = "I Would Consider Not Voting On Election Day"
(4.7%) = "I Would Definitely Stay Home On Election Day"
(4.7%) = "I Would Vote Democrat Rather Than See McCain Become President"

So while McCain completely turns off 15% of the respondents, 85% would vote for McCain under the right circumstances. Of that amount, a full three quarters of respondents are resigned to voting for McCain if he gets the nomination.

But if John McCain wants the GOP nomination, he has a long way to go before he earns enough core support to have any hope. Certainly, the biggest factor is field of candidates. But at this point, despite his popularity with the media, I think his chances of becoming the nominee are pretty piss poor. Keep in mind that this is as unscientific a poll as you could get (with the possible exception of the CBS/NY Times poll, that is).

I will run this same poll agains every three months to see if any trends develop.

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Scarlett Names Her Boobs

Yes, she has a pet name for them.

Scarlett Johansson has revealed her pet name for her boobs is "My Girls".

The Match Point actress said: "I like my body and face and I love my breasts - 'My Girls'."

The actress also revealed she is not looking forward to getting old uses anti-ageing cream.

According to The Sun she added: "I never want to look like an old bag".

I've got pet names for them, too: "just" and "right".

The 21-year-old actress has a while yet before she has to worry about getting old. But sooner or later, we'll be looking at two old bags. In the meantime, however, she probably ought to be spending her time working on her acting skills.

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More Aiding And Abetting - The NSA Hysteria

You know very often when a meme like this hits the 'net, I don't put to much effort into posting about it because it's so widespread there's not much I can add to it. But a couple of issues really gall me about this, which I'll get to in a minute.

You can always count on the MSM to blare a provocative headline and bury relevant details in the story. Most people are too busy to look at the details and draw their conclusions from the headline, which are reinforced by the Left-leaning talking heads on TV.

To look at the front page of yesterday's copy of USAToday (a paper they have to give away at hotels to get people to read it) you would never know what the true nature of this program is. It's external data. That is, it's just a bunch of phone numbers. There are no names and addresses assigned to them. Yes, it's easy enough to find that info. Hell, I can do it with a Google search. But it wasn't even requested from the phone companies. 99% of that information is extraneous for what it's used for.

The database is used to find patterns - calls going to the Middle East and calls coming in to the U.S. from the Middle East. If a pattern is identified, the numbers are checked against numbers associated with known and suspected terrorists. If it finds nothing, they move on to the next pattern. The NSA is trying to find Al Qaeda sleeper agents in this country. And I guaranty you it's worked in the past. Bull Moose observes:

"As of yet, there is no evidence that the government was eavesdropping on private conversations of innocent citizens. What we know is that it is a collection of phone numbers that were put into super computers to detect patterns of suspect activity. The Bushies were not using information to destroy their political opponents. The NSA is legitimately obtaining data to thwart terrorists.

Has it been a mere coincidence that the American homeland has not been attacked since 9/11? It is likely that the hard and innovative work of dedicated patriots at the NSA and other national security agencies has kept our nation safe." [emphasis mine]

This type of program has been used before and while it is wider is scope that those in the past, it is far less intrusive that policies of past Presidents - including Democrats like Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy and Clinton. The most recent example is the ECHELON program.

The emphasis here is national security, which has just been breached. Once again, another Clinton-toady intelligence official has leaked information about how we identify enemy activity. This should be an outrage. But no where outside of the Right blogosphere is that issue even discussed. Michelle Malkin weighes in:

"So what if spilling the beans about all of our highest-level efforts to monitor al Qaeda operatives undermines the War on Terror, eh, fellas? Anyway, all the cool kids in elite journalism are doing it. Why should The Washington Post and New York Times get all the glory, right?

And thus, USA Today tapped its anonymous, loose-lipped, illegally leaking sources and breathlessly disclosed a classified data-collection agreement between private phone companies AT&T, Verizon and BellSouth and the National Security Agency. According to the newspaper's piece (a naked attempt to derail former NSA head Gen. Michael Hayden's nomination as CIA chief):

"The NSA program reaches into homes and businesses across the nation by amassing information about the calls of ordinary Americans - most of whom aren't suspected of any crime. This program does not involve the NSA listening to or recording conversations. But the spy agency is using the data to analyze calling patterns in an effort to detect terrorist activity, sources said in separate interviews."

Note, please: "This program does NOT involve the NSA listening to or recording conversations."

They're looking at massive amounts of numbers and phone-call patterns, not eavesdropping on teenage lovers' quarrels or your neighbor's pizza order or Susan Sarandon's heart-to-hearts with Cindy Sheehan.

And: "The spy agency is using the data to analyze calling patterns in an effort to detect terrorist activity."

Translation: The counterterror experts at the NSA are - gasp - doing their job. And - to their credit - some American companies are stepping up to the plate to help them."

The most amusing aspect of this whole flap is that so many individual Americans - who do not make or receive calls from known or suspected terrorists - actually believe that the government gives a crap about their phone activity. Please.

When you consider the kind of personal information we regularly provide the Federal Government, it puts this silliness into perspective. As the Media Research Center's Rich Noyes explains:

"Given that another government agency — the IRS — maintains information on American citizens’ employment, banking, investments, mortgages, charitable contributions and even any declared medical expenses, this hardly seems like a major assault on personal liberty.” Ooh! Shocking new report! The IRS has a database with your personal information in it! That story is just waiting to be discovered."

UPDATE: 11:55am
Oh, and apparently even the WaPo has to admit that the majority of Americans support these NSA programs:

"The new survey found that 63 percent of Americans said they found the NSA program to be an acceptable way to investigate terrorism, including 44 percent who strongly endorsed the effort. Another 35 percent said the program was unacceptable, which included 24 percent who strongly objected to it.

A slightly larger majority--66 percent--said they would not be bothered if NSA collected records of personal calls they had made, the poll found."

The same poll shows 51% of respondents approve of the President's handling of these matters. And, considering how skewed to the Left these WaPo polls are, the real number is probably much higher. ABC News has a similar poll with respondents approving of these measures by 2-1. To the MSM, I say "nice try".

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Walking On Eggshells

Now there's an organization to teach Americans how to act around the world. It's based in San Francisco, no surprise there, and provides companies with a "World Citizens Guide" to distribute to their employees who travel internationally. The goal is to counter the "Ugly American" stereotype in the face of a growing anti-Americanism in other countries. And what kind of advice does this "Guide" offer?

*** Think as big as you like but talk and act smaller. In many countries, any form of boasting is considered rude. Talking about wealth, power or status -- corporate or personal -- can create resentment.

*** Speak lower and slower. In conversation, match your voice level and tonality to the environment and other people. A loud voice is often perceived as bragging. A fast talker can be seen as aggressive and threatening

*** Dress up. You can always dress down. In some countries, casual dress is a sign of disrespect. Check out what is expected and when in doubt, err on the side of the more formal and less casual attire. You can remove a jacket and tie if you are overdressed. But you can't make up for being too casual.

***Listen at least as much as you talk. By all means, talk about America and your life in the country. But also ask people you're visiting about themselves and their way of life. Listen, and show your interest in how they compare their experiences to yours.

You've got to be kidding me.

The problem with Americans is not that we’re loud, rude or arrogant. The problem is that so many of us seem to suffer from some kind of ridiculous inferiority-complex. We’re a little too oversensitive to global peer pressure. What is this? High School? We have to change our behavior so we can be accepted by the “cool kids”?

No thanks. That flies in the face of what it means to be an American. In the United States, we value the uniqueness of the individual and we donÂ’t apologize for it.

This "Guide" is geared specifically for business travelers who act as representatives of their employers as well as their country. But there are a lot of Americans who travel for pleasure that would favor this approach.

Well, I have some better advice for Americans who travel outside of the U.S. (and it applies to foreign travelers who come here as well):

1) If you are a guest in someoneÂ’s country, be as respectful to the host as you would if you were a guest in someoneÂ’s home.

2) Be yourself. ItÂ’s idiotic to try and act like somebody that youÂ’re not to meet someone elseÂ’s standards. If someone doesnÂ’t like you as you are, thatÂ’s his problem. And some people won't like you no matter how you act. You just can't win with them.

3) DonÂ’t take any crap. If someone doesnÂ’t like your country it doesnÂ’t give him the right to insult you and you donÂ’t have to accept it. DonÂ’t fight about it. Simply express your disappointment that they feel that way and remove yourself from the situation. Just walk away.

4) DonÂ’t apologize for your country, even if you personally disagree with some of its policies. The fact that you have the right to openly disagree with your government is what makes the United States such a great nation.

5) Avoid visiting countries with cultures that are openly hostile to yours. WhatÂ’s the point?

Stick with these basic guidelines and you should be fine.

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Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!!!!

Tony Snow, that is.

Before he even takes the podium for the first time as official White House Press Secretary, Tony Snow shot off a round of emails to his prey the WH Press Pool criticizing the major networks for the way they've distorted their coverage of the President.

“The New York Times continues to ignore America’s economic progress,” blared the headline of an e-mail sent to reporters Wednesday by the White House press office.

Minutes earlier, another e-mail blasted CBS News, which has had an unusually rocky relationship with the White House since 2004, when CBS aired what turned out to be forged documents in a failed effort to question the presidentÂ’s military service.

“CBS News misleadingly reports that only 8 million seniors have signed up for Medicare prescription drug coverage,” Wednesday’s missive said. “But 37 million seniors have coverage.” On Tuesday, the White House railed against “USA Today’s misleading Medicare story.”

“USA Today claims ‘poor, often minority’ Medicare beneficiaries are not enrolling in Medicare drug coverage,” the press office complained. “But by April, more than 70 percent of eligible African Americans, more than 70 percent of eligible Hispanics, and more than 75 percent of eligible Asian Americans are enrolled or have retiree drug coverage.”

Now that's more like it!

The Drive-By Media are on notice: Like the infamous Howard Beale in the movie, "Network", Snow (as the voice of the President) is mad as hell, and he's not going to take it anymore!

I absolutely cannot wait for Snow's first press conference. This is going to be soooooooo good. Heh.

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When Radical Environmentalism Kills

What do you call someone who's actions cause the untimely deaths of tens of millions of innocent people? Well, usually we consider them a mass murderer. But some people's simple acts can cause a ripple effect with horrible results.

Take Rachel Carson, for example. You may or may not have heard of this woman. In 1963 she wrote a book called "Silent Spring" that theorized - and it was only a theory, mind you - that the pesticide DDT was having a catastrophic effect on the earth's ecosystem. The title suggested that in the near future, we would no longer be greeted in the springtime with the sound of chirping birds because they would all be dead. She thought DDT destroyed their eggshells.

The radical environmentalist movement, which was then in its early stages, siezed on this theory and politicized it with such ferocity that DDT was eventually banned from use. Here's the problem. Her theories were proven false less than twenty years later. But that wasn't enough to lift the ban. Because by then the Eco-nuts had so ingrained the world with the idea that it was hard to convince it otherwise. Even today, the whackos in the radical environmentalist movement worship her as a saint.

But who payed the price for her bogus claims? The people of the Third World:

"The ban on DDT robbed developing nations of a cheap, safe and effective means of combating malaria, which kills two million people each year.

That tots up to at least 50 million deaths since the bans took effect in the early 1970s. And for what? Even at the time, Carson's claims that DDT was responsible for everything from the thinning of eggshells to cancer in humans looked shaky. By the mid-1980s they had been utterly discredited. Yet by then Carson's claims had achieved the status of holy writ among environmentalists - and among right-on officials in government ministries. Third World nations were threatened with trade sanctions if they even suggested using DDT in fields or homes.

Now, finally, the giant US Agency for International Development is supporting the widespread use of DDT in Africa to combat malaria. The effect is likely to be quite simply breathtaking, for DDT is truly a miracle cure for this deadly mosquito-borne scourge."

Nice legacy, huh? Generating unnecessary hysteria and the deaths of millions.

Oh, but Rachel Carson's intentions were good, were they not? We can't blame her for the fact that 400 million people around the world get infected with malaria every year, can we?

You bet your ass, we can. But she's not alone. Millions of other people with "good intentions" put healthy skepticism aside and helped cause these needless deaths. Oh jeez, how could concern for the environment be bad? It's bad when people accept unproven claims because so many "experts" claim that they're likely to be true - even if they have no solid evidence. Their intentions are good, after all.

And God forbid you question these people. It makes you a greedy, evil, uncaring jerk. And before you know it, everyone who doesn't want to be thought of as a greedy, evil, uncaring jerk signs on to these crack-pot theories de jour. That's how you get unhinged demagogues like Al Gore screaming at the top of his lungs that the world will end in ten years if you don't listen to him.

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Get "Lost" Tonight

Finally! Season two is starting to get interesting - just as its winding down. It's not like I was ready to give up this show, but man up until now it's been fairly underwhelming. While we've learned a little more about the "others" and the "hatch", the plot was getting - IMO - a little stagnant.

Well, last week's show put an end to that. And J.J. Abram's promise to make the last few episodes "killer" is coming to fruition.

SPOILERS BELOW!!! more...

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Painting The Map Red

Go over to The Real Ugly American for an extensive review of Hugh Hewitt's new book, "Painting The Map Red". Rick incorporates part of an interview he had with Hewitt to examine what the GOP needs to do to increase its majority and break the 50/50 Electoral deadlock we've seen in the last two Presidential elections.

I own the book and it's next in line for me to read. This post makes me want to get to it faster!

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"Every Year Is Worse Than The Previous Year"

I wasn't going to bother posting on this topic, as some of the "biggie" blogs have it covered. But this is war.

Al Qaeda is sucking wind in Iraq per a transmission intercepted by CENTCOM who's author bemoans the deteriorating situation of the "jihad" movement against the forces of Democracy. Captain Ed has an excellent analysis.

They are unorganized, running out of ammunition and failing in their attempts to manipulate the U.S. media. They are slowly but surely diminishing from a threat to a nuisance. In other words WE ARE WINNING and THEY ARE LOSING. Big Time.

So desperate are these mujahidin thugs that they are resorting to hacking blogs with Denial-Of-Service attacks. Such an attack went after the Mu.nu and Blogspot sites this morning. Dr. Rusty Shackleford has the details.

Nice try, scumbags.

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I Can Feeeeeel Your Anger

WaPo columnist Richard Cohen dared express an opinion that Stephen Colbert was not funny at the White House correspondent's dinner and the Lefty fever swamp overflowed with bile - filling his email inbox with raw sewage.

Cohen, a Liberal, recognizes this seething anger from the Left. It seems all too familiar to him:

"This spells trouble -- not for Bush or, in 2008, the next GOP presidential candidate, but for Democrats. The anger festering on the Democratic left will be taken out on the Democratic middle. (Watch out, Hillary!) I have seen this anger before -- back in the Vietnam War era. That's when the antiwar wing of the Democratic Party helped elect Richard Nixon. In this way, they managed to prolong the very war they so hated.

The hatred is back. I know it's only words now appearing on my computer screen, but the words are so angry, so roiled with rage, that they are the functional equivalent of rocks once so furiously hurled during antiwar demonstrations. I can appreciate some of it. Institution after institution failed America -- the presidency, Congress and the press. They all endorsed a war to rid Iraq of what it did not have. Now, though, that gullibility is being matched by war critics who are so hyped on their own sanctimony that they will obliterate distinctions, punishing their friends for apostasy and, by so doing, aiding their enemies. If that's going to be the case, then Iraq is a war its critics will lose twice -- once because they couldn't stop it and once more at the polls."

Yes. Use your aggressive feelings. Let the hate flow through you. It is unavoidable. It is your destiny. You will pay the price for your lack of vision.

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Here Come The Judges

The political strategery of Darth Rove, Lord of the Sith, is becoming clearer. First, get Senate Democrats back on their anti-NSA surveillance jag. Appointing the architect of that program as head of the CIA ensures that the hearings will once again reinforce an important concept in the minds of swing voters: Republicans want to protect the lives of your children from Al Qaeda and Democrats want to protect the lives of Al Qaeda from Republicans.

The other hot-button issue: judicial nominations. Now Lord Rove has prepared a list of twenty judicial picks to send to Capitol Hill for confirmation, which will surely cause Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee to raise the Filibuster issue...again.

It's incredible to me how these people always fall into the trap. I guess they just can't help themselves.

When an unnamed White House official questioned the strategy, Rove is reported to have said: "I have foreseen it. Everything that has transpired has done so according to my design. Now...witness the full firepower of this fully-armed and operational White House!"

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Bush Names Hayden To Head CIA

The President announced today that Tom Hayden Sterling Hayden Hayden Christensen Michael Hayden (that's General Hayden to you) as the new Director of the CIA, replacing Porter Goss.

Hey, I've been paying no attention to this since Friday so I don't know Gen. Hayden from Adam but the folks at Wizbang are high on this appointment:

"General Hayden is a superb choice for several reasons:

1) He used to run the NSA and the terrorist surveillance program, so he is an expert in these areas.

2) His nomination will bring to the surface those lawmakers who are for a strong national security, particularly the terrorist surveillance program, and those who are not. With the November elections approaching, the American people will need to know this information.

3) He is a military man. In spite of the claims from Rep. Pete Hoekstra that this is a problem, many military men have run the civilian CIA. I'm hoping General Hayden can infuse into the CIA two very important things it needs: discipline and loyalty."

Looks good to me.

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RINO Sightings

This week's edition is hosted by Environmental Republican!

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CIA Director Porter Goss Resigns

Announcement just came in.

Well, we need a replacement who'll go in and purge the agency of Clinton-toady leakers. And I have a suggestion: more...

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Rumsfeld Heckled By Bitter Ex-CIA Kook

SecDef Donald Rumsfeld was confronted by conspiracy-theory spinning former intellingence analyst Ray McGovern at a press conference yesterday.

AllahPundit chronicles prior incidences of when this moonbat was off his meds.

"General, sometimes there just reaches a moment when I can no longer suffer fools like that one gladly. Soon as this presser is done, I want you to get me Jack Bauer on the phone."

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New Poll

Even though we're two full years out from the 2008 Presidential primary season, the name of Arizona Senator John McCain is the subject of much discussion as the potential 2008 nominee. The MSM have all but anointed him but most Republicans and Republican-leaning voters have some definite feelings about his candidacy.

I'll likely repeat this poll every few months and track the responses for any trends. So go sound off about the "straight talk express".

Note: I've moved the Weekly Poll a little farther down the sidebar, after the "Day By Day" cartoon.

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It's Friday "WTF?" - A Multi-Purpose Tool

Painter uses his johnson to paint a portrait of Australian PM John Howard.

Tim Patch also used his penis to paint opposition leader Kim Beazley, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

He unveiled both portraits at the opening of the Sexpo exhibition in Perth.

Mr Patch, from Queensland, admitted his family were a little surprised by his new painting technique.

He said: "My dad is not too impressed. He shook his head and said: "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear"."

That's right, Dad. All that money you spent to send Timmy to art school really paid off.

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Expanding My Horizons

Picked up a copy of this book at lunch today:

Why, you ask?

Well, I've never been much of a wine drinker. I'm more of a beer guy with the occasional tequila or vodka cocktail. The reason I've never really been into wine is simply my lack of familiarity with good wine. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm more used to the mass-produced crappy variety that's so full of sulfites it makes my head feel like it's going to implode.

I did NOT buy this book because I want to be a wine expert or try to pass myself off as one. I DID buy it because life is all about learning and lately I've come to believe that one thing in life that it's useful to have is a basic understanding and appreciation of what a decent wine should taste like. I don't know. I think there are just certain things that are meant to be enjoyed. Maybe it has something to do with recently seeing the movie "Sideways" or maybe I'm just tired of being clueless in certain situations that call for ordering wines, serving wines and picking out a wine to bring to someone's house.

I think the potential benefit is at least worth such a minimal investment of time and money.

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