A little harsh

Not quite the way to spread Christmas cheer.

What editorial board sends out a "do-not Endorsement"?

The Concord Monitor broke with political tradition Sunday, telling readers in the state with the first presidential primary why they should not vote for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney instead of whom they should support.

In a scathing anti-endorsement that called Romney a "disquieting figure," the New Hampshire newspaper's editorial board said he looks and acts like a presidential contender but "surely must be stopped" because he lacks the core philosophical beliefs to be a trustworthy president.

"When New Hampshire partisans are asked to defend the state's first-in-the-nation primary, we talk about our ability to see the candidates up close, ask tough questions and see through the baloney. If a candidate is a phony, we assure ourselves and the rest of the world, we'll know it," the newspaper said. "Mitt Romney is such a candidate. New Hampshire Republicans and independents must vote no."

Who does that?

Pinheads

After Bill O'Reilly's Pinheads of the Year report last night, with judges going soft on child sex offenders, we find one here in Wisconsin.

Maximum penalty of sexually abusing your three daughters? "The charges carry a combined maximum penalty of more than 1,200 years of prison and extended supervision." Ooooh, a prison sentence. He might has well have pulled a Paris Hilton. Can we say, LETHAL punishment?

When are we going to change this law? Jail time, and more often than not- only probation - is unacceptable to our children.

Ron Paul can float away with his blimp

Calling Mike Huckabee a Fascist? Not exactly a trait of the "revolution" of LOVE.

Barack Hussein Who?

There have been rumors circulating about Barack Obama's religion:

His attendance here at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, with the news media in tow, was as much an observation of faith as it was a rejoinder to baseless e-mailed rumors that he is a Muslim and poses a threat to the security of the United States.

Obama did not address the rumors, but described how he joined Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago two decades ago while working as a community organizer...

Obama staffers and volunteers say they periodically encounter voters who say they cannot support Obama because they've heard he is Muslim, a claim that has been making its way through Internet sites and blogs since he announced his candidacy for president.

While it would be horribly un-PC to address the issue of religion after glowing over Romney's faith & politics speech a few days ago, these everyday folks have done so for me.

However, it isn't his religion which would make Obama a threat to the security of the United States anyway.

Nerves

Could this be due to...

this?

3 interceptions later... maybe Tony should have had more than a pop-tart for breakfast.

Surge!

BAGHDAD - Violence in Iraq is at its lowest levels since the first year of the American invasion, finally opening a window for reconciliation among rival sects, the second-ranking U.S. general said Sunday as Iraqi forces formally took control of security across half the country.

Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, the man responsible for the ground campaign in Iraq, said that the first six months of 2007 were probably the most violent period since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. The past six months, however, had seen some of the lowest levels of violence since the conflict began, Odierno said, attributing the change to an increase in both American troops and better-trained Iraqi forces.

"I feel we are back in '03 and early '04. Frankly I was here then, and the environment is about the same in terms of security in my opinion," he said. "What is different from then is that the Iraqi security forces are significantly more mature."

Shout it from the rooftops!

Romney Meets the Press

This morning on Meet the Press, Tim Russert spent the majority of an hour grilling Governor Romney on his "past" statements and his most recent explanations of what he stands for on each issue from stem cells to FeeFees.

What I found most interesting was Romney's cool and calm. He remained, under every instance, collected and able to step back and say "let's look at the facts here and why I said such and such," helping bring the clips Russert was often referring to into context and perspective.

It may seem I'm on the bus, but I'm not for any candidate just yet. I do see, however, how Romney could easily sit at any round table- cabinet members to world leaders- and lead a discussion, drawing on others for their input and carefully weighing all information provided. He can keep a level head and perspective. He does not fluster easily.

One of my favorite moments from this morning came in an answer to a question on illegal immigration and amnesty.

MR. RUSSERT: The children they had born here are U.S. citizens, so do the children stay here and the parents go home?

GOV. ROMNEY: Well, that's a choice, of course, the parents would, would make.

Bingo- personal responsibility. Mitt is a Federalist in terms of government control and plans, but also a level-headed parent and grandparent who I believe thinks the responsibility starts at home.

And as to the allegations that Romney is a flip flopper, we wonder if we can take him at his word today?

MR. RUSSERT: ...you look at those comments and quotes all--on every one of these issues, there has been an--a--an evolution, an intellectual journey on all these issues.

GOV. ROMNEY: Oh, Tim, if you're looking for someone who's never changed any positions on any policies, then I'm not your guy. I, I do learn from experience. If you want someone who doesn't learn from experience, who stubbornly takes a, a position on, on a particular act and says, "Well, I'm never changing my view based on what I've learned," that, that doesn't make sense to me.

I think we have to take him at his word. None of the candidates are perfect. The question is, who can we see leading the nation?

How does he do it?

Somehow despite his low approval ratings (though I remind the reader of Congress' even lower 22% approval-ouch), the President still has some sway from the Oval office.

"With Democrats beginning to give in to the White House on energy and spending bills, and with their hopes of expanding a popular children’s health program all but dashed, President Bush has scored three political victories this week on Capitol Hill."

How in heaven could this be?

"...Independent analysts, Democrats and even some Republicans say that by distancing himself from Congress instead of diving into the hard work of negotiations, Mr. Bush has deepened the already deep divide between himself and lawmakers, making compromise on other matters, like his long-sought domestic surveillance bill, more difficult."

I say keep your distance, Mr. President.

"On children’s health insurance, Mr. Bush has twice vetoed legislation sought by Democrats, arguing that their bill was a move toward socialized medicine. On energy, he forced Democrats to abandon a significant tax increase on the oil industry and a requirement that electric utilities use renewable resources."

I'd rather the President forego the "bossom buddy" bonding ritual and use his veto pen on a Congress that's trying to force universal health care or socialized medicine on the American people.

My how times have changed

Beware the enemy within.

MADISON, Wis. -- A group of protesters wants U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin to lead an effort to impeach President George W. Bush and keep the United States from attacking Iran.

About 20 people organized by MoveOn.org crowded into Baldwin's Madison office and demanded she become a leading voice for impeachment. They also presented her staff with a petition declaring that Americans don't want another war and Bush has no authority to attack Iran.

MoveOn's Madison coordinator Patty Zahler said the petition has 1,200 signatures. The organization said it planned to drop off identical petitions at congressional offices around the country.

Beware the powerful anti-american groups like moveon.org, advocating the removal of a president and protecting a terrorist state against the united states.
6 years ago...imagine what would have happened to an organization advocating those things on December 14, 2001.

A day of "so sorry"

"Huckabee Apologizes to Rival"

"CLINTON PERSONALLY APOLOGIZES TO OBAMA OVER DRUG FLAP"

One, I believe done in good faith. The other,a political ploy?

His highness, Tom Brady

This is not a real mosaic. They just superimposed some small individual photos over the big one of Brady's head. Dumb.



In New England they call him "The Prince." Dumber.

Science? or Torture?

We don't need cats that glow.

"Researchers in South Korea have cloned a cat and modified its genes so that it will glow red under ultraviolet light, the Korea Times reports.

The Gyeongsang National University researchers, led by Prof. Kong Il-keun, modified the genes of Turkish Angora cats so that a red protein would glow in their skin when exposed to ultraviolet light, the paper reports.

The scientists modified the skin cells of the mother cat by using a virus to make the protein fluoresce, according to the Times.

Four of the glowing kittens were born in January and February of this year, but only three survived.

Researchers found that cells throughout the dead kitty fluoresced red, the paper said."

Duh, the virus you used to make it glow killed it, sickos! If you want a Christmas kitty, just tie a ribbon around it's neck for heaven's sake.

Non-crime criminals

Wrong answer, Rudy.

But Giuliani’s “I don’t care” attitude toward illegals sometimes morphed into unabashed cheerleading, as if he were rolling out the red carpet for them.

“Some of the hardest-working and most productive people in this city are undocumented aliens,” the mayor said at a 1994 press conference. “If you come here and you work hard and you happen to be in an undocumented status, you’re one of the people who we want in this city. You’re somebody that we want to protect, and we want you to get out from under what is often a life of being like a fugitive, which is really unfair.”

The Examiner asked Giuliani why it was unfair to apply fugitive status to someone who broke the law to enter the United States.

“We were going to treat them as a fugitive if they committed a crime,” he replied. “And we weren’t going to treat them like a fugitive if they were being calm and responsible and decent.

“And finally, it didn’t much matter what I did with them,” he added. “The turning over of names to the immigration service was a mere formal act. It was absurd to think that they could possibly handle it. It continues to be absurd.

The problem comes with the "it doesn't matter anyway" attitude. We can never gain control of the problem if we keep saying it's OK to come and work hard- even if you come illegally. I understand the idea of taking baby steps to get somewhere in what seems like an impossible situation - and securing the Mexico-US border is a good start. But it doesn't mean we can be so complacent.

I want people to have the same American dream my great grandparents, grandparents, and own mother and father enjoyed- which I too now pursue. But we all have to wait in line at some point in life. Even if they're not committing crimes here, they already committed the greatest one. Sending the message that we want the work of illegals is the wrong one to send to our own citizens and other countries.

A National Review

Discarding the "take it with a grain of salt" principle, this article and endorsement from National Review today could seal the deal for Romney.

"Unlike some other candidates in the race, Romney is a full-spectrum conservative: a supporter of free-market economics and limited government, moral causes such as the right to life and the preservation of marriage, and a foreign policy based on the national interest. While he has not talked much about the importance of resisting ethnic balkanization — none of the major candidates has — he supports enforcing the immigration laws and opposes amnesty. Those are important steps in the right direction.

"Romney is an intelligent, articulate, and accomplished former businessman and governor. At a time when voters yearn for competence and have soured on Washington because too often the Bush administration has not demonstrated it, Romney offers proven executive skill. He has demonstrated it in everything he has done in his professional life, and his tightly organized, disciplined campaign is no exception. He himself has shown impressive focus and energy.

"His conservative accomplishments as governor showed that he can work with, and resist, a Demo­crat­ic legislature. He knows that not every feature of the health-care plan he enacted in Massachusetts should be replicated nationally, but he can also speak with more authority than any of the other Republican candidates about this pressing issue.

"Some conservatives question his sincerity. It is true that he has reversed some of his positions. But we should be careful not to overstate how much he has changed. In 1994, when he tried to unseat Ted Kennedy, he ran against higher taxes and government-run health care, and for school choice, a balanced budget amendment, welfare reform, and “tougher measures to stop illegal immigration.” He was no Rockefeller Republican even then.

"He may not have thought deeply about the political dimensions of social issues until, as governor, he was confronted with the cutting edge of social liberalism.

"He still has some convincing to do with other conservatives. Romney has been plagued by the sense that his is a passionless, paint-by-the-numbers conservatism. If he is to win the nomination, he will have to show more of the kind of emotion and resolve he demonstrated in his College Station “Faith in America” speech.

"For some people, Romney’s Mormonism is still a barrier. But we are not electing a pastor.

"More than the other primary candidates, Romney has President Bush’s virtues and avoids his flaws. His moral positions, and his instincts on taxes and foreign policy, are the same. But he is less inclined to federal activism, less tolerant of overspending, better able to defend conservative positions in debate, and more likely to demand performance from his subordinates. A winning combination, by our lights. In this most fluid and unpredictable Republican field, we vote for Mitt Romney."

Although I've probably posted most of it - don't take my word for it. Read it.

Snow and awe

I thought the midwest was supposed to know how to handle snow.

"Travel expected to worsen; city declares snow emergency"

"More Ice and Snow Hit Area: Ice and snow nearly crippled this morning's commute"

"Twice the plows, but officials still urge caution on slippery roads"

"Heavy Snowfall Slows Travel In Southern Wisconsin: Cold Temperatures Coming Tuesday Night"

Did anyone else know it was snowing this much? Ah, just another topic for a sensationalized news story.

In the meantime, I'll be shoveling out my driveway.

Excuse me

while I lose my lunch.

"I thought she was the most gifted person of our generation," said Clinton, who said he told her, "You know, you really should dump me and go back home to Chicago or go to New York and take one of those offers you've got and run for office."

Blech.

This guy's a winner

RICHMOND, Va. -- In the months since Michael Vick pleaded guilty for his role in a federal dogfighting case, Vick should have been trying to impress federal officials with his honesty and contrition. It would have reduced his time in prison considerably.

Instead, Vick flunked a drug test, lied about his drug use and failed a lie-detector test on his role in the executions of fighting dogs that failed to perform.

In his sentencing hearing Monday in Richmond, Va., Vick paid the price.

U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson sentenced Vick to 23 months in a federal penitentiary. With time off for good behavior, Vick would be eligible for release in May 2009.

His court drawing is even less flattering.

To the two players wearing "Free Mike Vick" under their uniforms- do you really think this guy is worth it?

Listen to Judge Hudson:

Even Michael Vick's personal apology did not impress Hudson. As Vick tried to make a statement, Hudson admonished him, saying he should "be apologizing to the millions of kids who idolize you."

Court adjourned.

Disgusted by Penn State students

The students who are responsible for such a sick idea disgust me.

It's not just a costume, pal. Maybe if you had been shot, you'd get it.

The man cries

and he still defines MAN.

(click on the link to the right- Make a Wish Award)

A Huck of an explanation

For those of you listening to the cries "Huckabee is not a fiscal conservative!," Dick Morris has his own take:

Published on TheHill.com on November 28, 2007.

As Mike Huckabee rises in the polls, an inevitable process of vetting him for conservative credentials is under way in which people who know nothing of Arkansas or of the circumstances of his governorship weigh in knowingly about his record. As his political consultant in the early ’90s and one who has been following Arkansas politics for 30 years, let me clue you in: Mike Huckabee is a fiscal conservative.

A recent column by Bob Novak excoriated Huckabee for a “47 percent increase in state tax burden.” But during Huckabee’s years in office, total state tax burden — all 50 states combined — rose by twice as much: 98 percent, increasing from $743 billion in 1993 to $1.47 trillion in 2005.

In Arkansas, the income tax when he took office was 1 percent for the poorest taxpayers and 7 percent for the richest, exactly where it stood when he left the statehouse 11 years later. But, in the interim, he doubled the standard deduction and the child care credit, repealed capital gains taxes for home sales, lowered the capital gains rate, expanded the homestead exemption and set up tax-free savings accounts for medical care and college tuition.

Most impressively, when he had to pass an income tax surcharge amid the drop in revenues after Sept. 11, 2001, he repealed it three years later when he didn’t need it any longer.

He raised the sales tax one cent in 11 years and did that only after the courts ordered him to do so. (He also got voter approval for a one-eighth-of-one-cent hike for parks and recreation.)

He wants to repeal the income tax, abolish the IRS and institute a “fair tax” based on consumption, and opposes any tax increase for Social Security.

And he can win in Iowa.

When voters who have decided not to back Rudy Giuliani because of his social positions consider the contest between Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, they will have no difficulty choosing between a real social conservative and an ersatz one....

Read the rest

Godless coin

Oh how lovely it is to have found two new dollar coins as I cleaned out my purse today. Remembering I received these at an automatic stamp machine outside the post office, I have every nerve to march back up to the United States Postal office and DEMAND some God-loving coins!




Look closely, there is NO "In God We Trust" on the face of these coins. Even Sacagewea got In God We Trust. I refuse to believe this is a good idea. And of all places NOT to place the trusting in God -the Presidential- the Founding Fathers' $1 Coins.

We are truly a nation in need of Prayer.

Food for thought

It's interesting to see the Black Voices critique of Black Female Celebrities "we love to hate."

If white voices had pulled together this list, boy would they be railed on.

I wonder what would happen if Black Voices had put white women on this list?

"An American, not only a Mormon..."

I find the speech today by Governor Romney at the George H. W. Bush's Presidential library rhetorically pleasing in several different ways.

"A person should not be elected because of his faith, nor should he be rejected because of his faith.

"Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin."

I'm salivating here.

"When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God."

"A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States."

Calling upon Americans to do better- respect at a deeper level- could be the most powerful way to turn the discussion in his favor, I think. My former religious rhetoric professor is probably having a field day with this speech!

"....but I think they (those who think his religion will sink his candidacy) underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience."

"These are not bases for criticism, but a test of our tolerence." (I wish he had paused here!) "Religious tolerance would be a shallow test of our principles indeed, if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree."

Beautiful.

"We are a nation under God, and in God we do indeed trust."

Say it again!

"I will not separate us from the God who gave us liberty."

Romney stands out on a teetering limb, stating blatantly where he believes God does belong, and where it does not. His speech today may become an outline for office-holders everywhere struggling with the idea of balancing faith and politics.

Watch it here.

Dems think they're so funny

This really pisses me off.

"State Republicans don't have a clear-cut candidate for governor. For a variety of reasons, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is on the outs with conservatives. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker is busy running for re-election.

Beyond that, the GOP cupboard is full of nothing but has-beens and third-tier legislators.

All this talk about a possible McCoshen candidacy has Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's supporters feeling downright giddy.

"Remember what we did to Mark Green? He had to go to Tanzania (after the election)," joked one Doyle insider, referring to the ex-congressman's appointment as the U.S. ambassador there.

As for McCoshen, the Doyle insider said, "We'll bury him."

Actually, "insiders," you can take no credit for the Incumbent's re-election. You do however have the anti-war, anti-President Bush, anti-Republican Congress mentality in 2006 to thank, no- to grovel at.

You fall far below the level of Mark Green. You are the pus that infects the mucus that cruds up the fungus that feeds on the pond scum of Wisconsin's waste water.

Stuffed with fluff

A teacher will be deported from the Sudan for naming a teddy bear Muhammad. She named an animal, though inanimate and for a child's classroom, after the prophet which landed her in jail and amidst rioters chanting "Execute her!"

Many in the West were mystified by the anger over a teddy bear.

During her trial, a weeping Gibbons said she had intended no harm. Her students, overwhelmingly Muslim, chose the name for the bear, and Muhammad is one of the most common names for men in the Arab world. Muslim scholars generally agree that intent is a key factor in determining if someone has violated Islamic rules against insulting the prophet.

With all the press this has received, is anyone realizing it's about a silly little teddy bear? A woman could have been lashed forty times over Paddington Bear, or Teddy Ruxpin, for crying out loud.

Think about the name, Jesus. While known as the Son of God to Christians, and also recognized as a historical figure by the Jewish people, Jesus' name was like that of John in his day. Very popular, a regular name to most, I assume it would fall amidst the Johns, James, Toms, and Mikes of today. Why do those groups not rise up in anger and riot when we hear the name Jesus applied to other things? A child's toy, a generic movie character? Could it be, we are not a people of hate?

The Muslim people seem to find a reason to hate the British or Americans -Westerners- no matter what their offense.

You take an event like this teacher incident, enlarge it and make a bomb out of it," he told AP. The aim is to show "Muslims in Sudan don't want these people (Westerners) to interfere, we want African troops."

Who's interfering? You've got a selfless teacher teaching young children English amidst other things and acknowledging their own desire to make and name a classroom mascot.

A peaceful religion, this Islam, these Muslims? That is a bunch of teddy bear shit. For whatever reason, the tolerance of peace certainly is missing in Islam.

Reality TV wants to hand out green cards

When we though reality TV was losing steam, "Who wants to marry a US Citizen?" appears.

It's this generation's 'Dating Game,' but with a twist -- it aims to show love knows no borders," Martinez told Reuters.

Sure, love knows no borders when people fake it to obtain a green card.

Show creator Adrian Martinez said that Morusa Media has not yet found a network to produce or air the show, but he is currently in talks with one cable TV network and already has signed up contestants for six episodes.

I sure hope no network will produce this trash. 6 people already want to participate in this? I'm assuming those are the non-English speakers, who didn't understand how STUPID the idea is.

"We're just out to play matchmaker," said the show's host, Angelo Gonzales. "There are thousands of U.S. citizens seeking a spouse, and just as many immigrants seeking the same. So we want to make it a win-win situation for all involved."

Wow. What about a reality show that doesn't mock the immigration problem we already have in this country?

Another Gibbs special

As if faking injuries under 2 minutes (as in the Packer-Redskins game) wasn't enough, Gibbs botches a completely win-able game today, and blames himself for failing to win one for Sean Taylor.

I can't help but feel for the grieving Skins tonight. Boys, you did your job.