Blue Crab Boulevard

George Santayana famously said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." The Swedes have just proven the truth of that. They are building a Trojan Moose.

When completed, the 148-foot tall, 155-foot long moose will have a restaurant in its belly, as well as a concert hall, conference rooms and a shop, Thorbjorn Holmlund, project coordinator and local tourism promoter, said Thursday.

The monument will be so massive that its hooves will be firmly planted in two different counties, Vasterbotten and Norrbotten, about 540 miles north of Stockholm.

"The reason we decided to build a moose is because there is something magnificent about the animal. It's the king of the forest," Holmlund said.

The wooden moose is being financed by shadowy donors - they'll find out too late that it was the moose who were paying for it. We all know what will happen once the Trojan Moose is completed, don't we? Heavily armed moose will spring from the giant wooden moose, conquering the entire region. It's inevitable. Well, unless it turns out like another Trojan animal. Say a rabbit.

This is funny, even if it is just a bit of baseless pot stirring. It seems Barack Obama had breakfast with New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. The New York Media is having a ball with it.

NEW YORK (CBS) ? Just when the speculation seemed to simmer to silence, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has once again turned up the heat on the presidential hot stove.

The Independent mayor had a mystery breakfast meeting in Manhattan Friday morning with Democratic candidate Barack Obama, a move that could irk the Hillary Clinton campaign seeing as, after all, New York is her turf.

Bloomberg has repeatedly asserted he plans to complete his entire mayoral term and keep out of the presidential race, but he sure knows how to tease the masses.

Obama and Bloomberg met on a coffee date, scheduled because of their "mutual interest." The billionaire mayor and the Illinois senator chatted over eggs and potatoes early Friday at the New York Luncheonette on East 50th Street.

"We are trying to push our agenda because it helps New Yorkers, and because what's worked in New York will work elsewhere," said Bloomberg spokesman Stu Loeser. "There are a lot of people we'd like to speak to and we're going to continue to press our case."

Security closed the diner to regular customers while the politicians were there. 

I don't see either of these men agreeing to be Vice President. Obama is running strongly enough that even if he does not get the nomination as President in 2008 that he would be a contender in the future - provided he does not disappear into the obscurity of the VP job. (Al Gore, anyone?). Bloomberg has 'way too big an ego to play second fiddle. So I think there is no reason to worry about them teaming up.

But if they did, which party would be more frightened by the third party run?

Peggy Noonan poses a fictitious scenario: what if the Democratic CNN/YouTube debate had been handled in exactly the same way as CNN handled the recent Republican one. That is, allowed so many opposition party plants to ask skewed questions that played to negative stereotypes. It is an interesting thought experiment:

I will never forget that breathtaking moment when, in the CNN/YouTube debate earlier this fall, the woman from Ohio held up a picture and said, "Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama, Mr. Edwards, this is a human fetus. Given a few more months, it will be a baby you could hold in your arms. You all say you're 'for the children.' I would ask you to look America in the eye and tell us how you can support laws to end this life. Thank you."

They were momentarily nonplussed, then awkwardly struggled to answer, to regain lost high ground. One of them, John Edwards I think, finally criticizing the woman for being "manipulative," using "hot images" and indulging in "the politics of personal destruction." The woman then stood in the audience for her follow up. "I beg your pardon, but the literal politics of personal destruction–of destroying a person–is what you stand for."

Oh, I wish I weren't about to say, "Wait, that didn't happen." For of course it did not. Who of our media masters would allow a question so piercing on such a painful and politically incorrect subject?

I thought of this the other night when citizens who turned out to be partisans for Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama and Mr. Edwards asked the Republicans, in debate, would Jesus support the death penalty, do you believe every word of the Bible, and what does the Confederate flag mean to you?

It was a good debate, feisty and revealing. It's not bad that the questions had a certain spin, and played on stereotypes of the GOP. It's just bad that it doesn't quite happen at Democratic debates. Somehow, there, an obscure restraint sets in on the part of news producers. Too bad. Running for most powerful person in the world is, among other things, an act of startling presumption. They all should be grilled, everyone, both sides. Winter voting approaches; may many chestnuts be roasted on an open fire.

I've pointed out that I thought the candidates handled the skewed questions rather well. I have also pointed out that CNN abdicated its responsibility to viewers by failing to either block Democratic party activists or disclose who they were. And I guarantee that if a Republican activist had posed the above question, lefty heads would have exploded all over the blogosphere in an unstoppable chain reaction of howling, frothing rage.

Noonan also comments on a number of other developments in the political world, and I'd recommend going over to read her take on things. She paints a very interesting picture of Hillary Clinton, who shows all the signs of budding political panic.

They will get Gillian Gibbons out of the country at once before the crazed lynch mobs get their hands on her. The jailed "teddy bear teacher" is the target of heavily armed mobs who are demanding her execution over a freaking teddy bear.

Thousands of Islamic fanatics wielding clubs and knives are marching through the streets of Khartoum demanding the execution of teddy bear teacher Gillian Gibbons.

As the mother-of-two started a 15-day prison term, protestors left mosques across the Sudanese capital to denounce the "lenient verdict" and call for the death penalty.

The mob descended on Martyrs Square, which is in front of the presidential palace, many arriving in pick-up trucks with loudspeakers blaring messages condemning Miss Gibbons.

Hundreds of riot police had been deployed but they made no attempt to disrupt the rally.

"Shame, shame on the U.K.," protesters chanted," as they called for Gibbons' execution, saying, "No tolerance: Execution," and "Kill her, kill her by firing squad."

The Daily Mail has an on-line petition asking that the authorities free her. (Earlier post is here.) Sudan already has enough of an international incident on its hands. It does not need the lynching of a 52-year old teacher as well. Frankly, I don't understand why people go to work in countries like this. There have been too many cases like this and the trend is getting worse.

The Politico is reporting that the abrupt about face of John "Unindicted ABSCAM Co-Conspirator" Murtha on progress in Iraq has presented the Democratic leadership with an enormous problem. It has more than a bit to do with things Murtha has said, they way he said them and the sudden, complete reversal. Nancy Pelosi will be angry about being stabbed in the back be the Pennsylvania hack.

Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), one of the leading anti-war voices in the House Democratic Caucus, is back from a trip to Iraq and he now says the "surge is working." This could be a huge problem for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other Democratic leaders, who are blocking approval of the full $200 billion being sought by President Bush for combat operations in Iraq in 2008.

Murtha's latest comments are also a stark reversal from what he said earlier in the year. The Pennsylvania Democrat, who chairs the powerful Defense subcommittee on the House Appropriations Committee,  has previously stated that the surge "is not working" and the United States faced a military disaster in Iraq.

Murtha told CNN on July 12, following a Bush speech, that the president's views on the success of  surge in Iraq were "delusional."

"Well it's delusional to say the least," Murtha told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "As I said earlier, and you heard me say it, it's a failed policy wrapped in illusion. Nothing's gotten better. Incidents have increased. We have had more Americans killed in the last four months than any other period during the war."

Murtha added: "I don't acknowledge there has been any progress made. Maybe in Baghdad. But it just breaks out someplace else. We called for extra troops two years ago. We put money in for 30,000 troops. They haven't even been able to raise the 30,000 troops they have. So they have to break all their guidelines. But there's no progress being made."

The fracture of the Democrats over this will be fast and ugly. I expect there is going to be a real donnybrook in the next leadership meeting. Pelosi is scheduled to speak to the DNC on Friday - reporters will be waiting for her. This is going to be fun to watch.

Following up on the report that Canadian beer drinkers are now the leading menace to the planet because of their use of the dreaded beer fridge to cause global warming, a few others are weighing in. We here at Blue Crab Boulevard would like to propose a modest solution to our neighbors to the north. For the good of the good of the children of the world, we ask Canadians to send us your beer. We promise to keep it safe and cold. Honest. Oh, and send bacon, too.

Others: Fausta: Clearly Joanna doesn't understand that a beer fridge is a necessity, not a frivolous luxury. (She also thoughtfully points out that The Mythbusters proved that the quickest way to cool beer is with a CO2 fire extinguisher!)

Moonbattery: Property rights are a small price to pay for rescuing the polar bears.

Granite Grok: Is this the Brit-Canadian version of Democrats getting vaccinations before going to a NASCAR race? 

Jules Crittenden: Beer fridge buyback?  When you pry my cold, dead fingers off it.

Small Dead Animals: Pack Your Bags, Bangladesh. Looks like you're moving to higher ground.

No Runny Eggs: My response, “Get me another beer, wenches!

Tim Blair: Well done, Canadian beer drinkers. I hope you’re proud of yourselves.

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Being a hardware kind of guy with only some minor software abilities, I have no idea why the display of posts suddenly includes what it supposed to be hidden coding. I can't even get to the WordPress site right now, so I'm wondering if there is a WordPress problem. I'll keep working on this.

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With steaming heaps of all-natural, bovine end-product, piled high and deep. The folks at CNN are lashing out at bloggers and others who dare to question them on their packing the CNN/YouTube debate with questions from Democratic party operatives, sympathizers or activists.

After spending the day facing accusations it stacked the deck against the Republican presidential contenders by having Democratic backers ask video questions during its debate, CNN on Thursday responded that it doesn't know what the fuss is all about.

The cable news network, in collaboration with video Web site YouTube, hosted the Wednesday night debate that had more than 30 voters pose questions to the Republican candidates. It later turned out that several of those questioners are actively supporting Democratic candidates.

"The whole point of these ground-breaking CNN/YouTube debates is to focus on substantive questions of concern to real people and to throw open the process to a wider range of Americans all around the country. CNN cared about what you asked, not who you were. This was the case for both the Democratic and the Republican CNN/YouTube debates," CNN said in a statement issued late in the day.

"The issues raised during last night's debate were legitimate and relevant no matter who was asking the questions. The vested interests who are challenging the credibility of the questioners are trying to distract voters from the substantive issues they care most about. Americans are tired of that discredited low-road approach, and throughout this election campaign CNN will stay focused on what the candidates are saying about the pressing issues facing this country at a critical time in our history.

Now, I really could use a new vest. The old one is much too large since I lost all that weight feasting on the largess from the oil companies - the last group I supposedly got payoffs from for asking questions. The leftist blame game of accusing others of accepting payments or being "in the pockets" of those who oppose the left's views is getting old. And CNN has just displayed exactly why their behavior is being criticized. I am on the record as saying I did not care - at all - about the content of the questions. What I object to is the skewing of the playing field while CNN touts their objectivity. The Republican candidates handled the stacked questions pretty well, I thought. (I didn't see all of them.)

The rather obvious display of the "Clinton News Network's" bias is that they did not do even rudimentary fact-checking on the questions submitted by opposition activists. That is the issue. General Kerr, who asked the question that got the whole 'plant' thing raging appeared on CNN twice in 2003. They knew who this guy was and they had a responsibility to check who he was affiliated with.

Just to shovel all the bovine end product back off the real issue, CNN, here's the short version. You, as a custodian of a public debate, had a responsibility to ensure that political operatives and activists did not try to stack the deck. Were the questions wildly out of line? No. That does not change a thing. You had a responsibility to either ensure fairness or disclose things that might impact fairness.

You did neither. You are wrong. That is what the fuss is about.

But do send the new vest, won't you? 

Now, I really could use a new vest. The old one is much too large since I lost all that weight feasting on the largess from the oil companies - the last group I supposedly got payoffs from for asking questions. The leftist blame game of accusing others of accepting payments or being "in the pockets" of those who oppose the left's views is getting old. And CNN has just displayed exactly why their behavior is being criticized. I am on the record as saying I did not care - at all - about the content of the questions. What I object to is the skewing of the playing field while CNN touts their objectivity. The Republican candidates handled the stacked questions pretty well, I thought. (I didn't see all of them.)

The rather obvious display of the "Clinton News Network's" bias is that they did not do even rudimentary fact-checking on the questions submitted by opposition activists. That is the issue. General Kerr, who asked the question that got the whole 'plant' thing raging appeared on CNN twice in 2003. They knew who this guy was and they had a responsibility to check who he was affiliated with.

Just to shovel all the bovine end product back off the real issue, CNN, here's the short version. You, as a custodian of a public debate, had a responsibility to ensure that political operatives and activists did not try to stack the deck. Were the questions wildly out of line? No. That does not change a thing. You had a responsibility to either ensure fairness or disclose things that might impact fairness.

You did neither. You are wrong. That is what the fuss is about.

But do send the new vest, won't you? 

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I have never even pretended to have any respect for John Murtha, the utterly corrupt, unindicted ABSCAM co-conspirator who has served as a Congressman from Pennsylvania for far too long. I think he is a hack and exemplifies everything that is wrong in Washington. I also believe his posturing pandering to the anti-war left has been dangerous to our troops and has been nothing more than political opportunism.

Today, he proves me right.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John Murtha today said he saw signs of military progress during a brief trip to Iraq last week, but he warned that Iraqis need to play a larger role in providing their own security and the Bush administration still must develop an exit strategy.

"I think the 'surge' is working," the Democrat said in a videoconference from his Johnstown office, describing the president's decision to commit more than 20,000 additional combat troops this year. But the Iraqis "have got to take care of themselves."

Violence has dropped significantly in recent months, but Mr. Murtha said he was most encouraged by changes in the once-volatile Anbar province, where locals have started working closely with U.S. forces to isolate insurgents linked to Al Qaeda.

The polls changed and so did the weather vane that is John Murtha. AllahPundit has video of Murtha denouncing other Democrats who came back from Iraq saying there was real progress. (The weather hadn't changed then, apparently.) No matter how he tries to qualify this, Murtha just did a complete 180. My guess is that he is seeing polling that he is very worried about. This corrupt piece of work would not reverse course so completely unless he was actually worried - to the point of being frantic - about something.

I said all along that it was a very bad bet the Democrats were making against America and American forces.

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No. not the R.E.M. song. This is serious. The global warming true believers are now coming for Canadian beer drinkers:

The government-commissioned study says the old, inefficient "beer fridges" that one in three Canadian households use to store their Molson and Labatt's contribute significantly to global warming by guzzling gas- and coal-fired electricity.

"People need to understand the impact of their lifestyles," British environmental consultant Joanna Yarrow tells New Scientist magazine. "Clearly the environmental implications of having a frivolous luxury like a beer fridge are not hitting home. This research helps inform people — let's hope it has an effect."

The solution? Buy back programs:

University of Alberta researcher Denise Young, who led the study, suggests that provincial authorities hold beer-fridge buy-backs or round-ups to eliminate the threat — methods that Americans use to get guns off the streets.

I have a better idea. Offer to trade the beer fridge for a gun. Messing with a Canadian's beer is not a good idea. I lived near the Canadian border for many, many years and know a pretty fair number of Canadians. And they take their beer very, very seriously. These "studies" get more hysterical all the time. Gingerbread house collapse: global warming. Obese moose: global warming. Those are amusing. Messing with the beer - you'll get some attention alright. It just won't be the kind you expected.