Don't get stuck on stupid

David Limbaugh (another of my favorite bloggers), uses Gen. Russell Honore's classic admonition to reporters, "Don't get stuck on stupid.", to bring the Dems to task in this article at Townhall.

The Sound and the Fury

Edward Morrissey (Captain Ed at Captains Quarters - one of my favorite bloggers) once again skewers the silly moonbats in this article on the Senate Judical Committee hearings for Judge John Roberts.

GAO report released

As reported here, the GAO released it's report on who it sees as the largest threat to the US and the West in the GWOT, and it unapologetically names Islamic extremism as the largest threat.

This will surely prompt great wailing and gnashing of teeth among the liberals and terrorism enablers Muslim apologists, don't you think?

Hamas latest Darwin Awards contestants?

The Darwin Awards are given to those people who remove themselves from the human gene pool in spectacular ways. As reported here, apparently Hamas is now vying for one of the coveted awards.

Unfortunately, the idiots who blew themselves up also killed a large number of Palestinian children, which is tragic.

ELF targeted by Seattle FBI

As reported here, ELF, the domestic eco-terrorist Earth Liberation Front group, which operates in secrecy has become a top priority of the Seattle FBI office, with the Building Industry Association of Washington throwing in a $100,000.00 reward to help.

Since 1996, it is estimated that arsons committed by ELF has cost over $8 million in damages, and there are fears that eventually someone will be hurt or killed through the actions of these domestic terrorists. The most recent activity of the group is acts of arson in new housing developments in the Seattle suburbs of Sammamish and Redmond.

Now, here's what's wrong - beyond the actual crime, that is - with the activities of ELF. They are supposedly committing these acts to "protect the environment", specifically trees, right? Well, every time these numbnuts burn down a house, guess what happens? The builder replaces what was burned down. How does the builder do that? By purchasing more lumber. Where does lumber come from? Trees, perhaps? So ... protesting against the use of trees for lumber by burning down new houses, causing more lumber to be used to rebuild what was destroyed?

Their "logic" escapes me.

Seattle City Council gets tough with Mayor

As reported here, after mounting frustration in the City Council over getting timely information from the Mayors office and city departments, the City Council voted as one voice to make changes to force the issue.

I seem to remember Mayor Nichols saying that he would be running a "transparent" administration. Transparency in government means the free sharing of information, Mr. Mayor.

New book promotes sex with children

As reported here, there is a new book out that is promoting pederasty as being "normal". Written by so-called PhD "experts", who try to "pimp" pederasty, or sexual relations between adult men and adolescent boys, citing the Greeks, Romans, and Japanese Samurai, saying that "it can be a form of mentoring".

Mentoring? You call the act of sodomy on a young boy by an adult male a form of mentoring? I call it an abnormal crime of the worst sort!

Hat tip: Littlebee55

Mariners, Mariners, wherefore art thou?

The Seattle Mariners have managed to put together two pathetic seasons in a row. They lost to another pathetic team on Saturday, and it will be a toss up if they will win against Detroit today. After a season (is it really only three before this one?) where they set a record and then went on to ignominy by not getting to the World Series, how have they fallen so far? I have been a Mariners fan since they became a member of the American League. I was privileged to sing the National Anthem for them before the start of several games while they played in the Kingdome. I was one of those who kept thinking, "maybe next year in the above .500 club". When they became the American League West champions I was moved to buy the video about the season. When they moved into "the Safe" I was excited and have attended many games there. But last year I was so disappointed in the team that I stopped watching the games on TV and stopped listening to the games on the radio in July. I almost have done the same thing this year. After seeing several games with the new young players taking over for the creaky old folks and seeing some good games (as well as some terrible ones) I am starting to think that maybe next year...

Freeway entrance for just busses?

I found out a couple of days ago that there is a freeway onramp from the Lynnwood park and ride that is limited to just busses. This strikes me as a monumental waste of our money. The figure that I heard was $17 million. That amount doesn't strike me as being such a problem, just that it is not being used for anything other than "mass transit". If the busses are usually half full when they stop at a park and ride, then the number of people on the bus total about 15 to 20. If there are 150 uses of the ramp by the busses each day then about 3000 people use the ramp. I can think of many ramps that could have been built that would have enabled many more than just 3000 to get on the freeway...

This brings to mind, what is the Dept of Transportation really trying to do? Somebody's idea of "improving" the uses of the freeway by "encouraging" people to get on a bus? What kind of improvements can there be by trying to get people to use the least convenient form of transportation available? If I have a story (and I do, actually more than one)about the Metro bus system's ineptitude in providing anything approaching convenience, then there are probably at least two for everyone who has been forced to depend on Metro and quite possibly several even from those who choose to ride the bus.

Before anyone takes aim at me for implying problems for riding the bus, please understand that I would use the bus if I had a job downtown unless I had paid (by the company) parking where I worked. The city of Seattle has done a masterful job in limiting parking places downtown and making it super expensive to even park for a short period of time. Not to mention the length of time that one can park in a spot should one be available. I had a job that required me to park on the street in Seattle in order to repair computers in various places and sometimes I was risking getting a parking ticket simply because the repair took longer than 1.75 hours. Since I was paid per job, the thought of getting a parking ticket was a negative incentive for doing my best work. I also have no problem with those who choose to work downtown or nearby environs and use the bus to get there.

I suppose that I am just thinking in terms of DOT providing their services for the larger number of commuters since the money for the ramp came from those who pay the gas taxes, and to a much smaller percentage of those who use bus. But why would that be of any consequence to the DOT's choices in how the gas tax is spent? After all, none of them are elected or are fireable? I have often joked about getting job with the DOT so that I wouldn't have to work until I retired...

The world has lost a great warrior

After decades of persuing Nazi war criminals, Mr. Wiesenthal finally gets to rest in peace.

Let us remember his efforts to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive, and his fight against anti-Semitism. Let us all pick up the torch that he carried for so long.

Monumental surrender

The winning design for the Flight 93 Memorial has stirred controversy and outrage, with it's crescent of maple trees, which is the symbol of the faith of the hijackers.

In this piece, Michelle Malkin offers up her scathing opinion of this.

How will the cities be rebuilt?

In the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast cities, how will that be done? Will the cities be rebuilt as they were, or is this the opportunity to start with a "clean slate", and create places that, as Mark Trahant says in this piece, are places where everybody wants to come?

Only time will tell, of course, but my hope is that both the citizens of the region, and the local, state and federal government officials will sit down and seriously consider exactly what should be done, and how they will go about it. Only a serious discussion will enable them to avoid the mistakes of the past.

Afghan polls close without much violence

As reported here, after decades of violent turmoil, the Afghan people turned out to vote for their representatives in the lower house of their government.

After a slow turnout in the morning, things picked up, with thousands of Afghani's turning out to vote, and as they did in Iraq, after voting, they dipped their fingers in indelible ink to both prove they voted and to prevent double voting.

Oh, yeah, one other thing that didn't happen on this historic day in Afghanistan. There were no major attacks by remnants of the Taliban, as they had vowed. I guess the presence of about 100,000 Afghani troops and police, along with about 30,000 foreign troops, may have made the thugs think twice about showing their faces.

I think President Hamid Karzai spoke eloquently well, when he said, "We are making history. It's the day of self-determination for the Afghan people. After 30 years of wars, interventions, occupations and misery, today Afghanistan is moving forward, making an economy, making political institutions."

And to think some lunatics in our country don't want to see something like this happen, either in Afghanistan, or in Iraq.

State economic forecasters project $1.1 billion surplus

When the former Attorney General stole the election took office as Governor, there was great wailing and knashing of teeth about a "budget crisis" for the state of Washington, resulting in "emergency" enactment of a veritable plethora of new taxes, most notable of which are on soda pop, Spam (the original Spam, not the junk you get in your e-mail), candy, cigarettes, and, oh yes, we can't forget the new gas tax either, all of which the Dem dominated legislature passed with obvious glee.

Well, guess what? According to this article, state economic forecasters are predicting a $1.1 billion dollar surplus. That sure doesn't sound like our state budget is in a crisis, now does it? Now where do you suppose all that "extra" money came from? Must be from all the candy, soda, booze, and cigarettes, not to mention gas, that we here in Washington are consuming.

Budget crisis? What budget crisis?

Feds not first in line for blame

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it caused, comes the finger pointing, and people playing the "blame game". This needs to stop, folks.

If you don't have an understanding of the processes for disaster relief, and who is responsible to do what and when, Julia Youngs lays it out for you in this piece.

Once again, Julia gets it right.

Once again, the P-I editorial board is wrong

In this piece, they are bemoaning the "silence" from state and local government officials regarding I-912, the gas tax appeal initiative.

Where the P-I editorial board is wrong, is that, instead of calling for more taxes, and more spending - as they have been doing for months now - they should be calling for fiscal restraint and responsible spending. With the existing 28 cent per gallon gas tax, and the amount of driving people around here do, with more efficient use of revenues raised through the existing tax, maintenance of infrastructure, along with new construction, can be done.

But, as usual, the P-I editorial board (along with most politicians) just doesn't understand the concepts of fiscal restraint and responsible spending. Makes me wonder how many over draft fees they incur on their own checking account, you know?

A very moving 9/11 memory

Below are the memories of a friend of mine, Debbie, who details some things that she went through on that horrific day, and later. When I first read what she wrote, I was very moved, and couldn't help but shed a few tears as I was taken back to that terrible day, and my own memories.

By the way, Debbie's husband Mike, is serving our country in Afghanistan. Your thoughts and prayers for Mike, and for all those who are serving in harms way, will be greatly, and humbly, appreciated.

Thank you, Debbie, for so graciously allowing me to post this here.

And now, Debbie's moving rememberance.

I had gotten up particularly early that day for some reason. I was on my back porch gathering my thoughts for the day when the phone rang. It was my mom, “Debbie! Turn on Fox News – a plane just flew into the World Trade Center!”

I stayed on the phone, stepped through the glass sliding door and was instantly at my television. My mother and I were talking about the first plane that hit, wondering what in the world happened. Was it an accident? Was the pilot drunk or sick? We were just wondering, questioning each other while we were watching the tower burn. It seems like it was no time and together we watched the second plane plow into the second tower. We were dumbfounded. I remember we both screamed. That time I ran into the bedroom and woke up my husband, who had not been in bed very long. He came out and we watched it together: the flames, people jumping from the buildings and the towers falling down. I remember watching that big cloud of dirt and debris chasing the people down the street that were running for their lives. I remember seeing the police and the firemen running into what would ultimately be their deaths, instead of running away like I’m pretty sure I would have done. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’m a coward like that. I’m sure my first inclination would be to run like hell. I remember being in awe at how they did that.

At some point, my mother and I hung up and my husband and I just sat there and watched it all day. I remember I went through many emotions that day, but I didn’t cry. It was a long, long time before I cried.

The next evening my husband came to me and told me he had something he wanted to talk to me about. We sat in the family room and he told me that he wanted to join the Army again, but was pretty sure they wouldn’t take him. So he decided he would try the National Guard. Mike was almost 46 years old the day he told me he wanted to rejoin. I asked him why he wanted to do that. He said, “Deb, we’ve been attacked. We’ll be going to war and I want to do my part. I’ve trained for half my adult life for war and now it’s time to use that training.” I was so numb from emotion that I could barely speak. But I did manage to say, “I understand. If that’s what you want to do, then I support you 100%.”

He had to lose a LOT of weight before the National Guard would take him – almost 80 pounds. I had watched his weight seesaw back and forth for 21 years, but I had never seen him so determined. He lost the weight and in June 2002 he threw up his right hand and swore to protect and defend the United States of America.

I said I didn’t cry for a long, long time. At that time I worked for my church doing volunteer administrative work at home. I made tracts, kept the church directory and miscellaneous typing/computer things – just little things like that. About a week before the 1st anniversary of 9-11, the church secretary called and asked me if I would type 3,000 names so we could put them on little flags to pass out to the congregation. The 3,000 names were the victims of 9-11. It was then that I cried: typing all of those names, one after the other after the other. It’s not that it was not real for me before, but I think I was still just so numb. I remember in June or July wondering, “Why haven’t you cried? Are you that heartless? You haven’t shed a tear.” I wrestled with that for months. Then, once I started crying, I couldn’t stop. All of the anger, frustration, and heart breaking, crushing emotion came forth in a river of tears that I could not stop. I had to force myself to continue typing all those names. I think for every stroke of the keyboard, I shed two tears. I cried until I couldn’t cry anymore that day. But I still cry sometimes when I think about it.

I don’t only cry for the victims of 9-11 or their families. I cry for my country as I look around me on the news; people in my extended family and friends that just don’t get it. I cry for the appeasers of Islamofascism and the political correctness of the day.

I stay at home with all of my creature comforts, safe and sound, as my husband is half way around the world defending the rights of Cindy Sheehan and Michael Moore and all of the people that would just as soon spit on him as to shake his hand and say anything encouraging to him or his fellow service men and women. Sometimes I lay awake at night begging God to protect him and bring him home safely to me, all in one piece and then I turn on the television or read an article on the internet where Code Pink is protesting our wounded soldiers at Walter Reed. Or I get the privilege of seeing Jesse Jackson sucking up to a monster like Hugo Chavez, while calling our President a racist. And then I get to see Cindy Sheehan trashing the memory of her brave son and trying her damndest to make all those brave men and women that have died in Iraq to have died in vain. Yes. They all have that right and I will not deny them that right. But I have the right to be as mad as hell over it, too, and to think of them as traitors and appeasers.

I am not a warmonger. I abhor violence. But I believe there are things worth fighting for and 9-11 was certainly one of those times.

Hurricane Katrina victims still need your help

Although much has been done, much still needs doing. Please help by donating what you are able to, to organizations who are on the 'front lines', doing what they can. Here are four links.

The American Red Cross

The Salvation Army

Mercy Corps

AmeriCares

Never Forget

Today, September 11, 2005 marks the fourth anniversary of the attack, not only on our nation, but on our very way of life by “people” bound and determined to enslave not only us, but the entire world.

These “people” want to return us to the time where they controlled vast swaths of the world, imposing their will, and their so-called “Religion of Peace”, through the sword. This is something that we cannot, must not, allow to happen. If a modern, free society, is to survive, we must fight these “people” at every turn, and never surrender. For if we surrender, we shall die.

Yet, there are those in our society who think that these “people” can be appeased, and that if appeased, they will stop the violence that they inflict upon the world. This is a fallacy, born of a “head in the sand” type of wishful thinking.

Neville Chamberlain found that out in 1939, when he attempted to appease one of the vilest monsters that has ever walked this earth, Adolph Hitler, when he proclaimed upon his return to London, “Peace in our time!”. Because of Chamberlain’s ill-fated attempt at appeasing Hitler, countless millions were soon subjugated under the jack boots of the Nazi regime, resulting in the deaths of countless millions more, as the world convulsed in total war.

Just as Adolph Hitler wanted the power to dominate the world, imposing his will, so these “people” want to dominate the world, so they may impose their will upon everyone. Whether you realize it or not, the truth of the matter is that we are once again embroiled in a world war, one that we must win, whatever the cost, if our society, our very way of life is to survive.

On this fourth anniversary, take a moment to reflect on what is at stake, for much is at stake. Do not take the freedoms that we enjoy for granted, for if we lose this war, we will lose those freedoms, which is the ultimate goal of those “people”.

I would rather stand and fight as a free man, and risk the possibility of death, rather than surrender and guarantee my death as a slave.

Never forget.

Annan failed to stop corruption in UN

As reported here, after a year, the Volcker Commission comes to the conclusion that Annan could have, and should have, stopped the corruption in the UN, but didn't, and that the UN "is inefficient, overpoliticized, corrupt, and in desperate need of immediate repair."

It took them a year to figure this out? Heck, they could have saved (or paid me) the $32 million they spent just by asking me.

Nations across the world responding to US disaster

I posted earlier that as of Friday, on 25 nations had made offers of assistance, most of which were paltry. Well, folks, the other nations of the world are beginning to step up to the plate with offers of assistance that are far from paltry, including nations still recovering from the devastating tsunami, and Afghanistan.

All I can say, is a heartfelt thank you.

Hat tip: Supedujour

Judge Roberts nominated for Chief Justice

Judge Roberts nominated for Chief Justice.

Not even confirmed yet, Judge Roberts has been nominated by President Bush to succeed the late Judge Rehnquist as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. I'm actually quite surprised by this, in light of the fact that Judge Thomas or Judge Scalia have sat on the court for many years, and either one of them could have filled the position with distinction.

Of course, now the Dems are saying that Judge Roberts must be held to a higher standard, with Dem Senate leader Reid saying, "The Senate must be vigilant." [Emphasis mine]

There are two things wrong with these statements.

One is that, aren't judges nominated for the Supreme Court already held to the highest standard, as opposed to the standards for say, a nominee for an appellate position? If nominees for the Supreme Court are already held to the highest standards, how high of a standard do they want, anyway? I mean, come on - that's illogical! Oh, wait ... there I go again, expecting logic to be applied. We are, after all, talking about the Dems here. Silly me!

The second is, "The Senate must be vigilant." Vigilant? Against what? A judge that interprets laws based on what the Constitution actually says, rather than what he thinks it should say? Oh, please. Note to Dems - interpreting laws based on what the Constitution says is the job of the Supreme Court, not legislating from the bench, making up laws on the fly based on how they feel, or what they think the Constitution says.

Up to now, I haven't commented very much on the nomination of Judge Roberts, as I don't have a background in law, and therefore haven't felt, well, qualified if you will, to speak to that. But, watching the Dems and their leftist cohorts foaming at the mouth trying everything in their power to block his nomination through innuendo and outright lies, I have come to the conclusion that Judge Roberts will make a fine Supremem Court Judge, and by extension, a fine Chief Justice.

Chief Justice Rehnquist dies at age 80

Although not a total shock, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, William H. Rehnquist has died at the age of 80, after battling thyroid cancer.

The Washington Times has an informative article here, and Yahoo has an entire page dedicated to links regarding his passing, and his life.

Who will be the next Chief Justice? President Bush has an opportunity to shape the direction of the court for many years to come with his decision. Let's just hope and pray that he makes the right decision.

A new addition to our links

A great new addition to our links is Bear Politics. The Bear has a terrific blog, which I encourage everyone to go check out, and not just because he has linked to us, which he has graciously done - thanks Bear! - but because of his insights, which are worth reading.

When you do check out his blog, tell him I sent ya. :)

Shameful

As reported here, as of this past Friday, only 25 nations have offered help to the US in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, with only China having donated any actual dollars ($100,000.00 to the ARC) so far, and from what I've read in other sources, the offers of "help" have been paltry in comparison to the need.

Granted, the US is the richest nation, with the greatest resources available, but still. It's the principle of the thing, you know? Who is it that is first to offer both material and economic assitance to other nations during a catastrophe? The US. Who is it that is usually first on the scene? The US. Who is it that never imposes conditions on the assistance offered? The US.

Then why is it that, as of Friday, only 26 nations had made any offers of assistance?

It's shameful. Plain and simply shameful.

Opponents to I-912 slow to get started

As reported here, pro gas tax groups have been slow "getting off the dime" in opposing I-912, which would repeal the onerous 9.5 cent per gallon tax increase passed (by "emergency" decree, no less, thwarting any possibility of a citizens referendum on this) by our Dem dominated state legislature.

House Transportation Committee Chairman, Ed Murray (D-Seattle - what else?), said that, "The silence is rather interesting at this late date in the game.", adding, "Alan Mullay (executive VP of Boeing) and John Rindlaub (former president of the greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce) stated after the nickel passage that it wasn't good enough and the Legislature hasn't gone far enough to fix transportation, " adding further, "And now we've gone further than everybody's wildest transportation dreams. It's time for them to step up and perform the same sort of miracle at the ballot as we did in the Legislature."

Everybody's wildest transportation dreams? Obviously Mr. Murray is only including Dems in that "Everybody" statement, as this gas tax bill was opposed by Reps in both the House and the Senate.

Miracle? The only "miracle" that occured in the legislature is that the Dems had enough votes to pass this new tax by declaring an emergency, thereby negating a People's Referendum on it. So, Mr. Murray wants those who are for the new gas tax to perform the same type of "miracle", which to me sounds like he wants to deny the people of the State of Washington a voice in how, not to mention how much, they are taxed.

Mr. Murray, it seems, is following the new "motto" of the DNC - Lie, Cheat, and Steal. Do whatever it takes to win. Mr. Murray also seems to have forgotten one thing - the people.

We demand a voice, Mr. Murray, in how this state is run, whether it be through laws passed in the legislature, through referendum, or by the initiative process. You would do well to remember that.

Issaquah City Ordinance being challenged in court

As I first reported here, the City of Issaquah was to vote on an ordinance restricting where convicted sex offenders could live within the city limits, in an effort to keep them as far as possible away from children.

Well, the ordinance passed, and went into effect on September 1st, but as reported here, this ordinace is being challenged in court by - you guessed it - those "defenders of the oppressed (including convicted sex offenders)", the ACLU.

They are challenging this on the grounds that this ordinance is "unconstitutional" in that it violates the rights of the sex offenders to live wherever they please, stating that it is "cruel and unusual punishment" to make them live where there aren't any children around that they can prey upon.

What about the rights of children to not be victims of sexual predation? What about the rights of the parents of those children, to have their children not live in fear of being sexually assaulted? What about that, ACLU?

The ACLU supposedly defends those who are not able to defend themselves, right? Well, doesn't that include children, who are among the least able to defend themselves?

The ACLU is one of the most morally reprehensible organizations inflicting this planet, insinuating their morally bankrupt agenda into nearly every facet of civilized society, and they need to be confronted, and hopefully stopped, every time they attempt to do something like this.

Note to the judge(s) who will be hearing this case - consider very carefully which way you decide the outcome of this lawsuit, by taking into consideration the very real vulnerability of the children this ordinance strives to protect, versus the so-called "rights" of convicted sexual predators to live in close proximity to children that they could prey upon.

KC Elections supervisor may be fired

As reported here, KC Elections Director Dean Logan may fire the absentee-ballot supervisor, Nicole Way because of the foul ups with absentee-ballots in 2002, 2003, and 2004.

A brief recap of the foul ups - absentee-ballots not being mailed in time to overseas voters; absentee-ballot envelopes being sent out with no ballots inside; not finding 96 ballots in time to count them last November; failing to find valid signatures on file, but counting those ballots anyway; and improperly reporting the tabulation of absentee-ballots.

Now, I don't know about you, but I know that if I had made that many consistant errors in my job (and lied about it), I would have been fired long ago! Why it has taken Dean Logan so long to come to this conclusion is beyond me!

Hopefully, more "heads will roll", including Dean Logan's.