Disgrace

The media would have you believe the disgrace is to the Marines.

It is not.

It is a complete disgrace to the media that is running outright lies promoted by CAIR. This is beyond the pale.Watch the damned video yourself. It does not - remotely - say what the media is saying it does.

This is a media completely and utterly out of control.

This is looking more and more to me like a coordinated propaganda campaign and the media is cooperating fully. I pray that this time they have finally overplayed their hand - because they got caught this time. This is verifiable by anyone with ears and no thinking person can agree that the video says what the headlines say it does.

UPDATE: Uncle Jimbo has the lyrics posted at Blackfive.

Hastert Actually Listening?

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert has suddenly signaled that he will want to seriously look at the bill passed by the Senate on immigration reform.

Hopes for a quick compromise on immigration were dealt a blow Tuesday after House Speaker Dennis Hastert said he wanted to take a "long look" at a Senate bill offering possible citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants.

Hastert said hearings on the Senate bill should be held before appointing anyone to a House-Senate committee to negotiate a compromise immigration bill. Later, he said he was unsure what the House's next move would be.

"We're going to take a long look at it," Hastert said late Tuesday.

House Majority Leader John Boehner agreed. "I think we should know clearly what's in the Senate bill," Boehner said. But he added there are lots of ways to understand its contents.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, also scheduled a hearing for Monday to review provisions in the bill requiring employers to verify that their workers are legal.

Cornyn said he opposes a provision allowing workers to use up to 20 documents to verify they are legal workers. Also, the Department of Homeland Security has raised concerns about how quickly it must have in place an electronic system that employers will use to verify their workers legal status, Cornyn's spokesman Don Stewart said.

"This will give us a chance to look at it in more detail," Cornyn said.

Sending a bill that has already passed the Senate to hearings would be a highly unusual move and make completing a final bill before Congress goes on its summer recess in August far less likely. Disagreement on procedural issue has kept negotiations from starting, but there were hopes that could be resolved this week.

I smell serious trouble for the roll-job the Senate tried to buffalo though. Good. First get the border secure, then start working on compromise for the rest of it. Anything else will not work. Secure the border and a lot becomes possible. Put the monster the Senate gave birth to in place and we are in serious trouble as a nation.

On Being Delusional

Jeff Goldstein over at Protein Wisdom has a post on what has to be the weirdest comment I have ever seen from anyone at Daily Kos.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a look of misery and dejection on the face of my daughter as I just did a moment ago.  She just couldn’t understand why the President would be going to Iraq when so many things are wrong in this country. “Doesn’t Mr. Bush care about us anymore?” she asked pitifully.

I sat down with her on the sofa and (as calmly as I could) tried to explain to her why the President seems to be abandoning his country.  “Honey, I think his boss, Mr. Rove, sent Mr. Bush out of the country in order to keep himself out of the newspapers.  You see, he wasn’t sure if he was going to be arrested today or not, and so he planned Mr. Bush’s trip ahead of time just in case…”

It goes downhill, believe it or not, from there. This person, quite honestly, needs professional help. So does the daughter. Being subjected to someone this far out of control simply cannot be healthy for a child. Children should be worrying about Santa and the Easter bunny, not about Mom and Dad's delusional political beliefs.

101st Blog Of The Day

Today my continuing mission to visit one member of the fighting 101st each day takes me over to The Influence Peddler. Nanman and MikeD run an interesting blog that I've actually visited several times in the past. Today they have a fascinating post up about the counting of chickens and the dangers thereof. There's quite a lot of other stuff, do stop by and take a look. (Because they are on Blogger, I can't trackback).

Panel Recommends Ward Churchill Be Fired

Wow, the panel that was investigating Ward Churchill at the University of Colorado has recommended he be fired on a 6 to 3 vote.

Ward Churchill, the professor who called some of the World Trade Center victims "little Eichmanns," should be fired because of "repeated and deliberate" infractions of scholarship rules, a University of Colorado committee said today.

The recommendation, which came on a 6-3 vote, now goes to university officials for a final decision.

Churchill, a tenured professor of ethnic studies who has vowed to fight his dismissal with a lawsuit, "has committed serious, repeated, and deliberate research misconduct," the school's Standing Committee on Research Misconduct said in its final report.

Big news. Churchill vows to file suit if he is terminated. Hard to believe, but sanity appears to have broken out in academia. At least momentarily.

UPDATE: Thanks to Right Voices for the link. Thanks also to A Blog For All.

Cue Tippi Hedren

In a live action remake of the Alfred Hitchcock classic The Birds, police in Put In Bay, Ohio responded to complaints that a bird was attacking passersby on Lake Erie island. Whereupon the feathered fury went after the investigating officers. They gallantly retreated.

The unidentified avian adversary can be recognized by it's distinctive coloration. It is black with red spots. And it's freaking mean, too. The police are not sure if this is the same bird that attacked joggers near the same spot last year.

We strongly advise residents to board up their windows at once. Make sure all openings are tightly closed. And don't forget the darn chimney like the dummies in the movie! Now that the perilous pigeon (Or perhaps deadly duck of death) has tasted human flesh, your days are numbered.

Not that we're trying to fear-monger or anything.

Patrick Kennedy Pleads Guilty

Patrick Kennedy has entered a plea of guilty to driving under the influence and has been ordered to undergo court monitored drug treatment and one year of probation. He was also given a ten day jail sentence which he would serve if he violates the other terms of the sentence.

Kennedy, D-R.I., also was ordered to pay at least $350 in connection with his middle-of-the-night car crash last month near the Capitol.

Two other charges against Kennedy were dismissed: reckless driving and failure to exhibit a driving permit.

Accompanied by his lawyer, Kennedy entered his plea Tuesday afternoon before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Aida Melendez.

"I am pleading guilty to driving under the influence," Kennedy said.

Melendez ordered Kennedy to undergo court-monitored drug treatment and pay $350 — $250 of which would go to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, and $100 to a crime victims' fund. She also gave Kennedy a 10-day jail sentence that he would serve if he violated the terms of his probation, and she ordered him to serve 50 hours of community service with the boys and girls club.

Interesting. I had not even heard he had been charged. Good move to handle it at once and in public. Cynthia McKinney should maybe pay attention here.

Kerry Into Full Cut And Run Mode

All the unlovely characteristics of the left were on display at a gathering sponsored by the Campaign for America's Future today. Hillary Clinton was heckled and John Kerry cheered. Clinton for failing to advocate the "surrender now" theme favored by John "Magic Hat" Kerry.

With the war looming over congressional elections in November as well as the 2008 presidential campaign, the two Democratic senators and possible White House contenders took opposing positions on the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq.

Shouts of "troops out" and "bring them home" competed with boos when Clinton said she did not think it was "smart strategy" to set a date certain for pulling out 130,000 American soldiers.

"I do not agree that it is in the best interest of our troops or our country," the New York senator and former first lady told the left-wing gathering sponsored by the Campaign for America's Future.

Clinton devoted only a few minutes of her speech to the divisive issue of Iraq and tried to strike a moderate tone in what she called a sometimes "difficult conversation."

Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee, denounced the war as "immoral" and a "quagmire" founded on a lie. He called President George W. Bush and Vice President        Dick Cheney "arm chair warriors whose front line is an air-conditioned conference room."

Clinton refused to embrace the early troop withdrawal demanded by the Democratic Party's anti-war left and favored by some in Congress, but also said she did not support an open-ended U.S. commitment.

"This new Iraqi government needs to be told they have to take responsibility for their own security and stability, that there must be a plan that will begin to bring our troops home," she said.

Kerry, who spoke after Clinton, talked almost exclusively about the war. He conceded his vote for the congressional resolution authorizing it was "wrong."

"We cannot have it both ways," he said to shouts of "tell that to Hillary."

This will play very well in the heartland. Trust me. Left-wing Democrats, the gift that just keeps giving.

UPDATE: Account from someone who attended.

UPDATE: Washington Post Coverage. Note Pelosi's support for the Murtha official cut and run policy.

Getting The Word Out

On June 3rd, Officer Kristina Ripatti of the LAPD was shot and badly wounded by a robbery suspect. She will recover, but will be paralyzed from the chest down. She is married to another LAPD police officer and has a 15-month old daughter. Patterico has asked that people consider sending a donation to help the family out. He's taking donations and also has the address of the special fund that has been set up at the Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union.

See Patterico's site for more details on Officer Ripatti and consider helping out if you can.

Surging Tax Revenues

Here's a story that I simply cannot wait to see the MSM spin on. Tax revenues are growing so rapidly that there is a distinct chance the the budget deficit could be cut in half this year.

Aided by surging tax receipts, President Bush may make good on his pledge to cut the deficit in half in 2006 — three years early.

Tax revenues are running $176 billion, or 12.9%, over last year, the Treasury Department said Monday. The Congressional Budget Office said receipts have risen faster over the first eight months of fiscal '06 than in any other such period over the past 25 years — except for last year's 15.5% jump.

The 2006 deficit through May was $227 billion, down from $273 billion at this time last year. Spending is up $130 billion, or 7.9%.

The CBO forecast in May that the 2006 deficit could fall as low as $300 billion. Michael Englund, chief economist of Action Economics, has long expected a deficit of about $270 billion this year. Now he thinks there's a chance the "remarkable strength in receipts" will push the deficit even lower.

With the economy topping $13 trillion this year, a $270 billion deficit would equal less than 2.1% of GDP, easily beating the president's 2.25% goal. Bush made his vow when the White House had a dour 2004 deficit forecast of 4.5% of GDP, or $521 billion. The actual '04 deficit came in at $412 billion, or 3.5% of GDP, before falling to $318 billion, or 2.6% of GDP, in 2005.

I fully expect the MSM to announce the imminent collapse of the economy because tax revenues are straining the ability of the Treasury to hold it all. Or something equally dismal. Don't worry, they'll think of some negative spin to put on it. I have faith in them.

Iraq, Jordan And Zarqawi

Omar at Iraq The Model has a really interesting post up about reactions in Iraq and Jordan to the killing of Zarqawi. I think this is some really hopeful stuff he's noting.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat reports that authorities in Jordan have issued arrest warrants against four MPs from the Islamic movement; two of whom (Mohammed Abu Faris and Jafar al-Hourani) are already in custody while the search continues for Ali Abu al-Sukkar and Ibrahim al-Meshokhi.

Al-Arabiya TV mentioned today that arrests were made after families of victims of the Amman hotel bombings raised the case to the authorities after the four parliamentarians attended a mourning ceremony at Zarqawi's family home.
One of the four Islamists appeared on TV and called Zarqawi a martyr while denying that title to the victims of the Amman suicide bombings which obviously enraged the families that protested the outrageous attitude in front of the building of the Jordanian parliament.

Meanwhile in Baghdad, Al-Mada reports:
The Iraqi foreign ministry summoned the Palestinian consul Mr. Daleel al-Qassos last morning to express Iraq's shock and disappointment by Hamas's defense of Zarqawi and calling him a martyr while the entire world knows the crimes this terrorist committed against Iraqis and other peoples in the region including the Palestinians who had fallen in the Amman bombings. (Links removed - see Omar's post)

This is some very significant progress, I think. Governments are willing to start cracking down on people who openly support terrorists and to denounce governments that profess support. This is badly underreported in the world media. Potentially, this is a huge step in the right direction.

No Nudes Is Good Nudes

Here we go again with streakers in the news! (In)famous British streaker Craig Bowler has been arrested for failing to live up to the terms of his banning from soccer matches. After streaking a game in 2003 he was supposed to surrender his passport. When he didn't, the police decided to grab him before he trundled off to Germany to visit the World Cup. Another "serial streaker" by the name of Mark Roberts has also been blocked from traveling to Germany.

Unlike Lisa Lewis, these two guys do not wear bikinis when streaking. Although there is a photo showing Mark Roberts in what appears to be a tutu. (Work safe).

Letter From A Marine

Bruce Kesler has a post up about a letter from a Marine currently in Fallujah. The letter was sent to the Marine's hometown paper, the Ridgefield Press, and is published there.

My primary concern is the assertion that these individuals support the troops in Iraq but not our mission. It boggles my mind that this logic is actually utilized on a large scale.
Supporting the troops but not the war is like saying that you support filmmakers but not making films. One cannot claim to support an individual in a given profession but not support what the said profession entails. This is essentially a slap in the face to those in the service.
How protesting the job we are doing in Iraq while demanding our withdrawal constitutes supporting us is beyond me.
Furthermore, I am particularly interested in how these people support us, specifically. I have never once received a letter from an individual who claims to “support the troops, not the war.” Not a single Marine I know has received anything that could be considered remotely supportive from any of these people or the groups they represent. We have received phone cards, hygiene supplies, food, etc. from members of state and local government, radio stations, schools, private individuals and organizations, but never once from any group claiming to “support the troops, but not the war.”
I ask again: How can these groups claim to support our troops while telling us that what we are participating in is wrong?
How can they support us if they are essentially saying that our blood and sacrifices have all been given in vain?
How can they support us if they say that our comrades and brothers who have been wounded or killed in action have done so for a hopeless and morally questionable cause?

This is a very powerful letter, please take the time to read it. Anthony Ippoliti writes a pretty fine letter to the editor.

(Note to other bloggers, links should go to Bruce at Democracy Project.)

Gore To Train Minions

In a move that will certainly come as no surprise to regular readers here, Al Gore has announced he will begin training 1,000 recruits to spread the word about global warming. We here at Blue Crab Boulevard have long warned about the dangers the coming robotic penguin army will present to others considering a run for the Presidency in 2008. We told you so. Here's a quick look at the first group of recruits.

©Magic 8-Ball Photography and Sewage Treatment, Inc.

UPDATE: Hot Air has more. So does Brainster.

In Stupidity We Trust

Well, not content with his previous fifteen minutes of fame, Michael Newdow is back in the news. Newdow is the atheist who sued over the Pledge of Allegiance including the words 'under God' and lost in the Supreme Court. In his latest suit he was suing over the use of the motto 'In God We Trust' used on US currency. The case was dismissed by a US District Court judge.

Michael Newdow, the Sacramento, California lawyer and doctor who had previously launched a court challenge on behalf of his daughter over the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance said in schools, had argued that "In God We Trust" on monetary instruments violates his rights.

Newdow claimed that by using coins and currency bearing the phrase, he is forced to carry religious dogma, proselytise and evangelise for monotheism.

The judge disagreed. Newdow will appeal to the 9th Circuit. Expect them to reinstate the suit and the Supremes to kill it. In the meantime, Mr. Newdow should immediately begin using a Visa or MasterCard transaction card so as not to violate his own logic. Or go to the barter system. Or move.

UPDATE: Many thanks to Sister Toldjah for the link.