Beware folks. Moonbats will be reaching full strength in the coming days! As a public service, I have included this monitor in the sidebar.

Thanks to Mike's America for the tip!

Posted by: Gary at 02:08 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 51 words, total size 2 kb.

Ever go to the polls here in the States and have the person working your voting booth hand you one of those round stickers that say "I Voted Today"? Do you put it on? Do you leave it on the rest of the day?

Or do you crumple it up and throw it away because you're embarrassed that you took a few minutes out of your day to exercise a right that millions of men and women died for; embarrassed to have people know that you actually care enough to vote for someone, because you think they might snicker or roll their eyes at you because it's not "hip" to vote? Maybe you just don't want people to ask you who you voted for because you don't feel like getting into an argument.

Well, for the second time this year, Iraqi citzens got their unique tell-tale proof that they voted - an ink-stained finger. And they're proud to show you, even at the risk of being killed by those who desperately want to stop it.

It speaks volumes that even those Iraqis who opposed the proposed Constitution did so by voting "no" rather than blowing up a polling place. This, my friends, is democracy. It's not as "democratic" as the kind we enjoy here in America - which itself is far from perfect - but it's light-years ahead of where any of the biggest cynics thought Iraq would be at this point.

In most of Iraq, polling centers hosted a steady stream of voters throughout the day. But the vote appeared split along sectarian lines. In Sunni neighborhoods of Baghdad, Baquba, and the northern city of Mosul, a wide majority of Sunnis said they voted "no." In the Shiite neighborhoods of the same cities, the opposite was true.

"Of course I voted yes,'' says Aisha Mohammed, a Shiite woman emerging from the polling place in Baquba. "This is our future - and I think it will start to bring peace." She contrasted Iraq's last referendum - an Oct. 15, 2001, vote for president in which Hussein received 100 percent of the vote - with this one. "No more fake elections - real elections have to be good for Iraq."

"I came here to challenge the force of evil," says Abu Ali Shawkat Kadhim in Baghdad, a Shiite laborer whose brother, nephew, and cousins were killed under Hussein's regime. "Please do not say Sunni refuse and Shiites agree. Say the forces of evil refuse and the forces of good say yes."

Democracy is hard. Most worthwhile things are. And once freedom is embraced it's pretty hard to let go - as demonstrated here by celebrating Iraqis, brought to you by "Iraq The Model".

Posted by: Gary at 01:35 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 479 words, total size 3 kb.

This comes under the "irony can be pretty ironic sometimes" category:

U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy attempted to rescue six men who had become trapped by high tide on a jetty off Hyannisport on Sunday.

Kennedy was walking his two dogs on the shore at 11:15 a.m. when he spotted the men cut off from shore by the rising waters. They had been fishing on a jetty that begins at the tip of the Kennedy compound.

Tides had risen over the patchy rocks, which made it difficult to walk back to shore.

Kennedy and a friend tried to rescue the men using a 13-foot boat but rough waters forced them back.

Posted by: Gary at 10:08 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 127 words, total size 1 kb.

A lot of people in the media are framing the Miers debate is terms of Pro-Life forces versus Pro-Choice forces, mostly because the abortion issue has become one of the most contentious between Conservatives and Liberals. But the bigger picture here is the circumstances that led to Roe v. Wade, which goes beyond the issue itself. more...

Posted by: Gary at 09:55 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 649 words, total size 4 kb.

Headed East today and stopped in East Hampton, CT at a local flower and garden shop that becomes "Pumpkintown" every October. Two-year old Kevin (my little pumpkin) had a ball with his brothers, Ryan and Justin. Unfortunately he's squinting in this shot, but it was the best one I could get.

When we got home, I was unloading the car and smelled a fireplace roaring somewhere nearby, the wind blowing through the trees on a cool fall evening. The full moon (a harvest moon) was shining it's pale light down into my backyard. Even the Giants game can't get me down. I love this time of year.

Posted by: Gary at 10:51 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 117 words, total size 1 kb.

UPDATE: Ugh. I listened to this god-awful game on the radio and it was excrutiating. Both offenses were horrible, but Dallas' "D" was better. Frankly, it never should have even gotten to overtime.

The Giants' secondary once again showed how woefully inept they are. And for crying out loud, pull CB Will Allen. He SUCKS!! Freaking loser from Syracuse. What the hell was the front office thinking when they drafted this moron. He makes Amani Toomer look like the President of MENSA. Dill-wad!!

Should've know better than to draft someone from Syracuse in the first place.

Well, now the NFC East is all tied up at 3-2, except for Dallas which is 4-2 by virtue of having not had their bye week and winning today.

Cripes. What a pathetic display.

I won't be able to watch this one live, which is a shame because I consider this one of THE games of Week Six. The result could go a long way in determining who will give the Eagles their biggest competition for the Division Title.

Posted by: Gary at 10:10 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 181 words, total size 1 kb.

Austin Bay has an excellent round-up of reports from Iraq.

Turnout was 61% with Sunnis voting in surprisingly high numbers. Though this Sunni turnout could make the result close, it's largely expected that Iraq's new Constitution will be ratified. Final vote count should come in a couple of days.

Roger L. Simon provides some important perspective:

Because the mainstream media has done its best to hypnotize the public into believing the "failure" of the American democracy project in Iraq, it is worth comparing some dates:

Operation Iraqi Freedom - began March 19, 2003
Election to ratify constitution for a democratic Iraq - October 14, 2005

That's two years and seven months.

US Declaration of Independence - July 4, 1776
Completion of US Constitution - September 17, 1787 (took effect 1789)

That's eleven years and two months. (I could have begun with the Boston Tea Party which would have added another three years.)

Anybody want to take a bet about how history will regard Operation Iraqi Freedom? No wonder the New York Times is singing a (relatively) different tune this morning.

h/t: Michelle Malkin

Posted by: Gary at 08:24 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 245 words, total size 2 kb.

Jiblog, a self-described "Midwestern, gas guzzlin', beer chuggin', one woman lovin', son of a bitch conservative."

I'd love to watch a Packers-Giants game with this dude.

Whoops, looks like we both need to update our cowbell links.

UPDATE: Fixed! More Cowbell!!!

Posted by: Gary at 12:32 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 52 words, total size 1 kb.

Mohammed from Iraq The Model has voted his "yes" for the new Iraqi Constitution. And so are many of his fellow Iraqis. His report is here.

BareKnucklePolitics is live blogging the referendum.

Posted by: Gary at 08:25 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 40 words, total size 1 kb.

1 You say: “Mohammed from Iraq The Model has voted his "yes" for the new Iraqi Constitution. And so are many of his fellow Iraqis” Harriet M., is that you?? See I’m just wandering- she also claims to be a “former Democrat” who’s found a midlife purpose in the adoration of King George If so, you forgot to add: “I love you Mr. President Sir, Yes Sir!” like that hapless Iraqi trooper told our video-confcalling El Presidente supremo yesterday!! ;-) ;-) By saying “YES” to the Iranian-made Islamic fundamentalist charter that passes for a “constitution” in collaborationist circles, “Omar” (no doubt an acronym for Operation Massive American Resonance in the Pentagon’s technocratic PR jargon) and his ilk have surely stroke a mighty blow for freedom and thus contributed significantly to the “global war against terror” whatever that means ;-) Now excuse me while I go spank my monkey. Ba-Ba-Booey. Howard Stern Rules!!!! Eternally Yours in Liberty, Dr Victorino de la Vega Chair of the Thomas More Center for Middle East Studies

Posted by: Dr Victorino de la Vega at October 15, 2005 10:01 AM (j8UZq)

2 Hey, Vic. How's it hangin'? Your use of the winking smilies indicates to me that your trying to be amusing or that you find yourself attracted to me. If it's the former, you need to work on that because your comment was about as funny as a ruptured testicle. If it's the later, I have to tell you that I'm completely hetero, sorry. BTW, I'm a Howard Stern fan, too. Ba-Ba-Booey back atcha!

Posted by: Gary at October 15, 2005 12:23 PM (kB4So)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Posted by: Gary at 07:48 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 12 words, total size 1 kb.

OK, so you take two fads of the 1970's - disco and streaking - and you put them together to get: Nude Disco! In Britain, no less.

Clubbers have to wear shoes to protect their feet in case of smashed glass but the only pants to be seen in the whole place belong to the bar staff.

Even the DJ is naked behind his decks, though fully-clothed bouncers are stationed outside to stop clothed clubbers stumbling in unawares.

Jamie Rocket, 29, who helps organise the Starkers! night, said naked clubbing was an exhilarating experience.

What a sight this must be. A room full of butt-naked, pasty-white Brits doing dance moves that are hard enough to watch under normal circumstances.

Whatever floats your boat, I guess.

Posted by: Gary at 03:00 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 163 words, total size 1 kb.

An article in the Wash Times quote several prominent Conservatives in both Washington and among the punditry who are now emboldened enough to call for President Bush to rescind Harriet Miers nomination. While I will admit that if Miers withdrew her own name, the political firestorm would be quelled somewhat and her critics perhaps satisfied, for the President to pull the nomination would be an unmitigated disaster.

1) The media would paint the President - and by extension, the Republican party - as beholden to a fringe, extreme Right-Wing element who "pulls the strings" of the GOP. This impression will take root with the great numbers of voters who really aren't paying all that much attention to this matter. It will only serve to reinforce a stereotype of the Republican party that the Left and their media enablers will use to their advantage in 2006 and 2008, by scaring off moderate/independent voters.

2) The Democrats would interpret this move as a sign of weakness on Bush's part and be emboldened to ratchet up the "borking" of any replacement nominee, no matter who it is. The bloody battle that the President may have been trying to avoid would only be intensified. If Bush has damaged the relationship with his own base, why should Democrats not kick him when he's down?

3) It's just not right. Miers deserves a hearing even if it already seems like there is nothing she could say to undo the damage done by the attacks on her, compounded by the White House's lame defense of her. Conservatives rail at Liberals for treating Republican nominees unfairly. How can they be equally unfair without being hypocritical?

In the article, Leonard Leo reminds us of the lack of leadership and conviction demonstrated by the GOP-controlled Senate last May:

"I find it highly ironic that many of the same conservatives criticizing the president's nominee were nowhere to be found when it came time to pull the trigger on filibuster reform," said Mr. Leo, adding that he wholeheartedly supports the Miers nomination. "If I'm the president, I wouldn't have a high level of confidence that my boys in the Senate can get the job done."

Posted by: Gary at 09:40 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 469 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Miers has the stink of slow painful death all over her. I suspect that, in the next few weeks, the Bush-Miers loyalists will begin hedging their bets. This woman is another Souter. We'll have to live with her for many years to come. I really don't care how it's done, her name has to be withdrawn. I am a Conservative. I was a Conservative as a Democrat. I'm a Conservative as a Republican. If the Republican Party is embarrassed by how badly this has all been handled... Good. As a Conservative, I have a simple message: "Stop taking me for granted! I'm not an evangelical pro-life zealot. I'm a CONSERVATIVE! And there are many more like me." Ex-Donk, I love your site. Keep up the good work!

Posted by: Nickie Goomba at October 14, 2005 01:52 PM (9B2q6)

2 Thanks Nickie! Truth be told, if Drudge splashed "Miers Withdraws Herself" on his site this afternoon, I would breathe a sigh of relief. This bickering is pointless (great, now I sound like Governor Tarkin: "Vader, release him!). But if she doesn't withdraw (and I have no reason to think she will) I would like the GOP to ask her serious, intelligent questions about her judicial philosophy. I don't care about her personal philosophy, if she's going to vote against Roe I want it to be because it's bad law and bad precedent, not because she's pro-life. If the answers aren't good enough, they should vote her down and move on.

Posted by: Gary at October 14, 2005 02:31 PM (PLHs9)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter Ten is posted.

Posted by: Gary at 07:35 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 16 words, total size 1 kb.

The Ant and the Grasshopper - a cautionary tale brought to you by the creative mind of Pam Meister. This qualifies as a "must-read".

Posted by: Gary at 03:38 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 30 words, total size 1 kb.

Considering the information in the last post, it's really hard to gage where this nomination stands. But I wanted to present a quote from Fred Barnes' latest in The Weekly Standard. True, President Bush bears some responsibility for "misunderestimating" the reaction of his base with this nomination. But that reaction, while understandable, has been more than a little unfair. As Barnes explains:

Bush supporters who were angry over Miers should have waited. That's the bottom line. Rather than bellow that Miers isn't qualified and won't turn the Court to the right, they should have given her a chance to prove her conservatism at the hearings. They owed Bush at least that much. Of course it's not too late for Miers, in her testimony, to change their minds. But my fear is that the rift the Miers nomination opened between Bush and his (mostly conservative) followers will be slow to heal. It shouldn't have been this way.

UPDATE: 4:00pm
If Miers does withdraw, it will be interesting to read the reaction of some of the most vocal opponents.

Posted by: Gary at 03:26 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 281 words, total size 2 kb.

Drudge is breaking news of testimony given by Harriet Miers that she considers the Federalist Society "politcally charged" but not the NAACP. And that she once belonged to the Liberal "Democratic Progressive Voters League".

It's getting ugly out there.

Posted by: Gary at 01:27 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 51 words, total size 1 kb.

OK, in this episode Kate (Evangeline Lilly) was featured in only three scenes. And in every one of them she was smokin' hot!

Oh, and apparently there's another hatch on the island where the survivors in the tail section of the plane are living.

Did I mention how awesome Kate looks dripping wet wrapped in a towel?
:-)

Also, for anyone interested in watching that "Dharma Initiative" orientation film again, it's online here. Notice at the begining it says "3 of 6", which would lead me to believe that since the guy on the film identifies that location as "station 3", there are a total of 6 hatches/bunkers on the island.

Posted by: Gary at 09:37 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 123 words, total size 1 kb.

The editors of OpinionJournal.com take a look at the al-Zawahiri letter and highlight his one reason to be hopeful:

Amid these lamentations, however, one area emerges about which the terror commander exudes great confidence: the media. The lesson he learned from Vietnam is that "more than half of the battle is taking place on the battlefield of the media." He clearly wants to use the media, in the U.S. and in the Arab world, to induce the U.S. to pull out of Iraq and default a position of strength to al Qaeda.
He actually worries about the possibility that Zarqawi will blow victory on the media battlefield: Toward this end, he gently urges Zarqawi to discontinue his habit of beheading hostages, suggesting that perhaps instead he could just shoot them. "We are in a media race for . . . hearts and minds," he writes.

The long Zawahiri letter is a rough roadmap of the strategic vision for al Qaeda's intentions in Iraq and the global jihad. If it has a familiar ring, that's because George Bush has been warning the world about it for several years.

Posted by: Gary at 08:45 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 217 words, total size 1 kb.

Ace has pens his love-letter to the the departing Chancellor. Heh.

Posted by: Gary at 04:50 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 21 words, total size 1 kb.

I was just reading John Hinderaker's post on the al Zawahiri four-step plan for Middle-East Wahabist Islamic Domination. He presented it in this way:

This is not, to put it mildly, the picture of a successful organization. But it is an organization with a strategy. Zawahiri lays it out:

The first stage: Expel the Americans from Iraq.

***

The third stage: Extend the jihad wave to the secular countries neighboring Iraq.

The fourth stage: It may coincide with what came before: the clash with Israel, because Israel was established only to challenge any new Islamic entity.

The Underpants Gnomes have a three-phase business plan, consisting of:

Step One: Collect underpants

Step Two: ???

Step Three: Profit!

None of the gnomes actually know what the second phase is, and all of them assume that someone else within the organization does.

Posted by: Gary at 03:40 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
Post contains 201 words, total size 2 kb.