Why I Love Bill Kristol

April 14, 2008
Op-Ed Columnist
The Mask Slips
By WILLIAM KRISTOL

I haven’t read much Karl Marx since the early 1980s, when I taught political philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania. Still, it didn’t take me long this weekend to find my copy of “The Marx-Engels Reader,” edited by Robert C. Tucker — a book that was assigned in thousands of college courses in the 1970s and 80s, and that now must lie, unopened and un-remarked upon, on an awful lot of rec-room bookshelves.

My occasion for spending a little time once again with the old Communist was Barack Obama’s now-famous comment at an April 6 San Francisco fund-raiser. Obama was explaining his trouble winning over small-town, working-class voters: “It’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

This sent me to Marx’s famous statement about religion in the introduction to his “Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right”:

“Religious suffering is at the same time an expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of a heartless world, and the soul of a soulless condition. It is the opium of the people.”

Or, more succinctly, and in the original German in which Marx somehow always sounds better: “Die Religion ... ist das Opium des Volkes.”

Now, this is a point of view with a long intellectual pedigree prior to Marx, and many vocal adherents continuing into the 21st century. I don’t believe the claim is true, but it’s certainly worth considering, in college classrooms and beyond.

But it’s one thing for a German thinker to assert that “religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature.” It’s another thing for an American presidential candidate to claim that we “cling to ... religion” out of economic frustration.

And it’s a particularly odd claim for Barack Obama to make. After all, in his speech at the 2004 Democratic convention, he emphasized with pride that blue-state Americans, too, “worship an awesome God.”

What’s more, he’s written eloquently in his memoir, “Dreams From My Father,” of his own religious awakening upon hearing the Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s “Audacity of Hope” sermon, and of the complexity of his religious commitment. You’d think he’d do other believers the courtesy of assuming they’ve also thought about their religious beliefs.

But Obama in San Francisco does no courtesy to his fellow Americans. Look at the other claims he makes about those small-town voters.

Obama ascribes their anti-trade sentiment to economic frustration — as if there are no respectable arguments against more free-trade agreements. This is particularly cynical, since he himself has been making those arguments, exploiting and fanning this sentiment that he decries. Aren’t we then entitled to assume Obama’s opposition to Nafta and the Colombian trade pact is merely cynical pandering to frustrated Americans?

Then there’s what Obama calls “anti-immigrant sentiment.” Has Obama done anything to address it? It was John McCain, not Obama, who took political risks to try to resolve the issue of illegal immigration by putting his weight behind an attempt at immigration reform.

Furthermore, some concerns about unchecked and unmonitored illegal immigration are surely legitimate. Obama voted in 2006 (to take just one example) for the Secure Fence Act, which was intended to control the Mexican border through various means, including hundreds of miles of border fence. Was Obama then just accommodating bigotry?

As for small-town Americans’ alleged “antipathy to people who aren’t like them”: During what Obama considers the terrible Clinton-Bush years of economic frustration, by any measurement of public opinion polling or observed behavior, Americans have become far more tolerant and respectful of minorities who are not “like them.” Surely Obama knows this. Was he simply flattering his wealthy San Francisco donors by casting aspersions on the idiocy of small-town life?

That leaves us with guns. Gun ownership has been around for an awfully long time. And people may have good reasons to, and in any case have a constitutional right to, own guns — as Obama himself has been acknowledging on the campaign trail, when he presents himself as more sympathetic to gun owners than a typical Democrat.

What does this mean for Obama’s presidential prospects? He’s disdainful of small-town America — one might say, of bourgeois America. He’s usually good at disguising this. But in San Francisco the mask slipped. And it’s not so easy to get elected by a citizenry you patronize.

And what are the grounds for his supercilious disdain? If he were a war hero, if he had a career of remarkable civic achievement or public service — then he could perhaps be excused an unattractive but in a sense understandable hauteur. But what has Barack Obama accomplished that entitles him to look down on his fellow Americans?
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Hat tip to Ace of Spades, follow the link and read his commentary and the comments of his readers, I found it laugh out loud funny.

John Kerry's Anniversary

John Kerry's Anniversary
This totally rocks, so I stole it whole from Matt at Hub Politics. Everyone in Massachusetts needs to watch this video and read the information Matt has compiled.

The text Matt wrote to accompany the video:
Even sadder than the fact that Kerry hasn't done anything in 9 years, in his entire career in the Senate, he's been the lead sponsor of only 8 bills:
S.J.RES.158: A joint resolution designating October 22 through 28, 1989, as "World Population Awareness Week".Introduced: 6/16/1989Latest Major Action: 10/25/1990Law No: 101-465
S.J.RES.160: A joint resolution designating the week beginning October 20, 1991, as "World Population Awareness Week".Introduced: 6/13/1991Latest Major Action: 10/30/1991Law No: 102-149
S.1563: A bill to authorize appropriations to carry out the National Sea Grant College Program Act, and for other purposes.Introduced: 7/25/1991Latest Major Action: 12/04/1991Law No: 102-186
S.J.RES. 318: A joint resolution designating November 13, 1992, as "Vietnam Veterans Memorial 10th Anniversary Day".Introduced: 6/18/1992Latest Major Action: 10/24/1992Law No: 102-518
S.J.RES.337: A joint resolution designating September 18, 1992, as "National POW/MIA Recognition Day", and authorizing display of the National League of Families POW/MIA flag.Introduced: 9/15/1992Latest Major Action: 9/30/1992Law No: 102-373
S.1206: A bill to redesignate the Federal building located at 380 Trapelo Road in Waltham, Massachusetts, as the "Frederick C. Murphy Federal Center". Introduced: 7/1/1993Latest Major Action: 4/14/1994Law No: 103-234S.1636: A bill to authorize appropriations for the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and to improve the program to reduce the incidental taking of marine mammals during the course of commercial fishing operations, and for other purposes.Introduced: 11/08/1993Latest Major Action: 4/30/1994Law No: 103-238
S.791: A bill to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the women's business center program.Introduced: 4/14/1999Latest Major Action: 12/9/1999Law No: 106-165
*************************
Thanks Matt! This was just great.

Welcome Wonkette Readers!

A screen capture from Wonkette

One Step Ahead
Ten blogs whose posts on April 11 best represented the collective buzz on April 12 (ranked).
Bostonmaggie
Nuke's NEWS & VIEWS
Political Punch
Zennie's Zeitgeist
Born Again Redneck Yogi
A Blog For All
Moonbattery
Hillbilly White Trash
CALIFORNIA YANKEE
The Discerning Texan

****************
LOL, I am madly flattered!

Logan Act

Logan Act

Logan Act

For Christ's Sake, can't someone charge this jackass under the provisions of the Logan Act?

Jimmy Carter Defends Meeting With Hamas

"President Carter is a private citizen. We respect his views," Stephen Hadley, President Bush's national security adviser, said Sunday on ABC.
"The position of the government is that Hamas is a terrorist organization and we don't negotiate with terrorists. We think that's a very important principle to maintain," Hadley said. "The State Department made clear we think it's not useful for people to be running to Hamas at this point and having meetings."
Carter demurred.
"I feel quite at ease in doing this," he said. "I think there's no doubt in anyone's mind that, if Israel is ever going to find peace with justice concerning the relationship with their next-door neighbors, the Palestinians, that Hamas will have to be included in the process."

Who cares if you feel at ease? It is not your place to negotiate with terrorists.

Sure! Egg Me On!

Sherri is egging me on. Like I need it!

I am in work and aggravated.

First - I woke up upset about something I bollixed up last night.

Then there was the stupid NPR thing on the ride to Charlestown.

Next - During Father Mahoney's sermon, I nearly burst into tears. Somehow, while he was talking to the whole Church and not even looking at me.....he reached down inside me and plucked one of the few remaining heart strings. Now, I have to do something I DON'T WANT TO DO!

Fine - off to CCD. I was so aggravated I went right up to Joan and beefed. She laughed at me and sent me to my class. About 20 seconds into it, the Evers kid had me laughing. I said "You know, I came in here peeved about something.....and you're making me laugh." He said "You're welcome!" LOL Fine!

Then it was down to my parent's for tea where I recounted a little problem I had and my fabulously heartless mother said "Don't you have any good news?" LOL So I laughed and told her funny things and good things. You really can't sulk around my mother.....she won't tolerate it. Have I mentioned the blog mortifies her?

Then it's off to go to work. I stop at the supermarket to pick up something for lunch and my brother Frankie calls.
Where am I? Supermarket.
Where is he? My bedroom.
Ahhhh, yes, I asked him to come down and measure for the drywall project. LOL Fine, I'm on my way. There is lot's of sighing. I make a lot of people feel this way. But Frankie is the most comical.
Are you leaving the closet? No. Sigh
Are you covering the open rafters in the ceiling? No. Sigh
Are you getting a new door? No. Sigh
Why are all these extra kids in your house (Frank had friends sleep over)? This is normal. Sigh
Then we go to Jennifer's house for a few minutes. She has company. I walk in and put milk in her fridge. I am asked why I am putting milk in a fridge that has milk........I explain that I will be back at 2100 to watch "John Adams" and I would like real milk with my cookies and aggravation.

Then it's into work, where SB comes out and tels me the most marvelous story, and I actually manage to nitpick. I'm a jackass.

Now I am sitting here in work, off the clock, blogging and eating my much delayed lunch. The phone system isn't functioning properly and I haven't decided what to do about it yet.

I'm in a mood.

Sometimes I Wonder How I Don't Have An Aneurysm

I was driving to Mass this morning, listening to WBUR.....like most Sunday mornings. I wasn't awake enough to listen to the "1776" CDs. I have to pay close attention to those...."chandeliers", WTF? Thank God for the Armorer. Anyway, I am driving and listening to "Weekend Edition". It's news and the Puzzle Master and they have this segment called "This I Believe". Usually, I find these little essays highly enjoyable and interesting.

So this morning's "This I Believe" segment features a woman named Aileen Mory. What an asshat! She starts out with bemoaning her own shortcomings as a "citizen" (I'm with you, Aileen, you suck!). You see, Aileen doesn't believe in the war. But she really can't be bothered to do jack about it. (No problem, Aileen, we're rolling along fine without you.) So, what's her solution to her ennui? And so, in the name of shared pain, I support the reinstitution of the draft. (Come again, elohssa?) Of course, reinstitute the draft and then everyone would become involved and feel *connected*.

You can listen to her here, if you need to.

So, Aileen, let me help you with this. If you feel *disconnected* from the military how about you skip upsetting the whole applecart and just go to *connect yourself*. Go to America Supports You or Soldiers Angels or ValorIt or volunteer at a VA Hospital or for the USO. That way you can feel connected without actually *FUCKING THINGS UP ROYALLY*. You see Aileen, many smart people....serious people......people who ARE connected to the military think it's a good idea that the people in the military want to be there in the military. They don't want people who aren't dedicated to being there. I have never heard such a stupid reason for re-introducing the draft in all my life. I have heard arguements on both sides and while there are some valid arguements against an all-volunteer military......this is not one of them.

So get connected. Don't get connected. I don't give a fat rat's ass. But stop talking like an idiot.

And if my way of life is threatened by outside forces, I'll be forever grateful to that soldier guarding the wall. Unfortunately, that soldier is invisible to me. I know he's out there, but he doesn't have a face — certainly not the face of my child.

Well, assclown, they are not invisible to me! The lives of people who matter a great deal to me are at stake in this arguement and I do not appreciate idiots who want to mess with it.

Confusion surrounds Iran blast

Updates from Al Jazeera English
Confusion surrounds Iran blast

At least 11 people have been killed and almost 200 others wounded in an explosion in a mosque in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz.
Initial reports said that the blast had been caused by a "home-made" bomb, but senior regional officials said on Sunday that it may have been an accident.
Commander Ali Moayeri, Fars province police chief, said that a display of munitions could have caused Saturday's blast.
"The incident could have happened as a result of negligence. A while ago at this site there was an exhibition commemorating the [1980-1988] Iran-Iraq war," he said.
Television pictures showed shards of glass and piles of debris outside Shiraz's Mosque of the Martyrs as large crowds waited for news of relatives.
The death toll is expected to rise due to the severity of some people's injuries, officials said.

'No bomb'
"Initial surveys have proved that no bomb was involved and therefore there have been other probable causes," Ebrahim Azizi, the governor of Fars province, was quoted as saying by the state-run IRNA news agency.
Earlier, the Fars news agency, citing city officials had reported that "a powerful bomb" had exploded.
Al Jazeera's Alireza Ronaghi in Tehran said that the Iranian government may be being cautious about the cause of the blast with the country just two weeks away from the second round of elections."
What we see here is that some of the officials have expressed concern about the nature of this explosion," he reported.
"We have heard the speaker of the parliament saying today that government officials and the authorities need to investigate deeply and properly what this incident was."
Jaber Baneshi, the prosecutor in Shiraz, told IRNA that "a judicial probe has been launched to determine the cause of the explosion and the possibility of sabotage".

'Package planted'
However, Mohammad Anjavinejad, the preacher who was addressing the crowd at the mosque, reportedly cast doubt on the accident theory, saying that the force of the blast and the presence of an individual who planted a package in the building suggested otherwise.
"Some parties are trying to show this was an accident to portray the city as safe. But it is their duty to implement security," he told the Alef news website.
The explosion took place at around 9pm local time (1630GMT) on Saturday during evening prayers.
State television urged people in Shiraz to donate blood for the wounded and said that all nurses in the city had been called to report for work.
Fars said the force of the blast shook houses more than one kilometre away."
There was a huge blast and the whole place lit up. Everyone started shouting and screaming and tried to help each other," Marzian Mohammadnejad, a witness, told Iran's English language Press-TV.

Bahai faith banned
Fars reported that the mosque hosted weekly speeches denouncing Wahhabism - a version of Sunni Islam - and the outlawed Bahai faith. Iran is a predominantly Shia country.
Iran had been the cradle of the Bahai faith in the middle of the 19th century. After the Islamic revolution in 1979, the faith was banned and the country's constitution does not recognise it as a religious minority.
Last year, Bahai communities abroad said some of followers of the faith were detained in Shiraz while working with poor communities there.
Shiraz is close to a number of ancient sites popular with tourists.

Iran suffered its last major bombing in February 2007 in the southeastern city of Zahedan.
Thirteen members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard died in that blast, and a Sunni group called Jundallah, or God's Brigade, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Several dead in Iran mosque blast

Masjed-e Shohada (Martyr's Mosque) was built by the local ruler Sa'd ibn Zangi, patron of the poet Saadi, at the end of the 12th century. It is one of the largest ancient mosques in Iran but sadly it has been extensively damaged by earthquakes

From Al Jazeera English
Several dead in Iran mosque blast
Eight people have been killed and 50 others wounded in an explosion in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, a national news agency has reported.
The explosion on Saturday was caused by "a powerful bomb at Shiraz's Mosque of the Martyrs after evening prayers," a report by Fars news agency said, citing city officials.
The death toll is expected to rise due to the severity of some people's injuries, officials have said.
Mohamed Hasan al-Bahrani, Al Jazeera's Tehran bureau chief, said that available information says that a bomb detonated in the mosque after Maghreb and Isha prayers.
The explosion took place in the section where males were praying, according to reports.
Shiraz is close to a number of ancient sites popular with tourists.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the explosion.
The last major bombing in Iran occurred in the south-eastern city of Zahedan in February 2007.
Thirteen members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard died in that blast, with Sunni fighters blamed for the attack.

From IRNA
Bomb blast in Shiraz wounds many
Shiraz-Bomb Blast
According to reports from Shiraz, a bomb blast at a Hosseiniyeh (a religious center) in a central Shiraz district wounded dozens of worshipers, some very critically.
Local sources say here that the explosion took part at central city of Fars Province's Seyyed ul-Shohada Hosseiniyeh.
According to IRNA reporter in Shiraz, the explosion wave was so strong that the glasses of the windows of many houses in neighboring regions of the Hosseiniyeh broke and intimidated the residents.
There are still no exact reports on the number of the wounded, or killed victims of the explosion, but the relief and fire station forces are currently present at the explosion site assisting the victims.
Some unofficial sources speak of a high number of casualties due to the blast.
IRNA would dispatch more complete reports upon receiving them.

From The Patriot Post

THE FOUNDATION
“The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men.”—Samuel Adams

My Bad Boyfriend on American Idol

He rocked! LOL Clinton and Obama were stiffs.

What A Rough Night!

Jen's line of the night.......explaining to Bill why I can't back up properly out of Ed's driveway. "Cut her some slack, she's left handed! Why that's practically autistic!"

Gee, thanks........this is what I get from driving the drunk bus?

Hey Southie, who you taking in the Notre Dame vs. BC NCAA hockey matchup Saturday?

Frankie asked me to drive Bill home. No problem, I love Bill, he is one of my extras. Maybe ten minutes after Frank leaves, he calls to "check" on Bill. Hi! How about a little trust? I never lost you or your brother. Geez.

Marine who lost leg returns to combat in Iraq

Marine who lost leg returns to combat in Iraq
Sniper’s bullet destroyed gunnery sergeant’s knee, but not his will to serve
By Mike Celizic
TODAYShow.com contributor
updated 8:59 a.m. ET, Thurs., April. 10, 2008
If you’ve ever wondered what the Marines have in mind when they advertise for “a few good men,” look no further than Gunnery Sgt. William “Spanky” Gibson.
Two years ago, he lost a leg to a sniper’s bullet in Iraq. Today, he’s back in the combat zone — by his own choice.
If you notice an unusual spring in his step as he goes about his duties at Camp Fallujah in Iraq, mark it down to the wonders of the modern technology that went into the carbon-fiber prosthetic leg Gibson wears. He may have surrendered a leg in serving his country, but he’s far from handicapped.
“As soon as a person says disabled, and they think they're disabled, they might as well keep their butt in a chair and not do anything the rest of their life,” the 37-year-old career Marine said in a story reported for TODAY by NBC News correspondent Ned Colt in Iraq.
As he goes about his duties for the 1st Marine Expeditionary force as a weapons coordinator in operations command, Gibson is an inspiration to his fellow soldiers and even to the commander in chief.
"When Americans like Spanky Gibson serve on our side, the enemy in Iraq doesn't got a chance,” President Bush said in a recent appearance in the Pentagon to mark the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
In May 2006, Gibson was on foot patrol in Ramadi in Iraq when a sniper’s bullet tore through his left knee. “Basically, the bullet disintegrated my kneecap, completely,” he said.
Being a Marine, his first instinct wasn’t to call for help but to try to get back up and return to the fight. That was impossible with the damage his knee had sustained. Besides the damage to the bone and connective tissue, the bullet that hit him also severed a major nerve and his femoral artery.
In the hospital, doctors tried to save his leg, but Gibson knew it wasn’t going to heal.
“Every day I’d beg the surgeons — I'd beg ’em, ‘Just cut it off, close me up. Get me out of here,’ ” he said, actually laughing at the memory.
Within two months of being wounded, Gibson, who makes his home in Pryor, Okla., with his wife and young daughter, was back at work at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
As he learned to navigate on his new leg, he dove back into sports, relearning how to ski and run.
Encouraged by his progress, he started training for triathlons and last year completed the “Escape from Alcatraz” race, which included a swim from the legendary prison island in San Francisco Bay to the mainland.
Marine Gen. James Mathis was at the swim and while congratulating Gibson for his achievement, asked him if there was anything he could do for the 19-year Marine veteran. Just one thing, said Gibson — get him back to Iraq.
Just two other soldiers have returned to Iraq after amputations, and navigating bureaucratic hurdles wasn’t easy, but with friends like Mathis on his side, Gibson got his wish in February, deploying to his backline job in Fallujah just 21 months after he was wounded.
To Gibson, there wasn’t any question about going back. “It's my life,” he said. “It's what I love. For me at least, being a Marine means being prepared to go into conflict.”
On the base, he’s an inspiration to other Marines, who see what he’s done and find it easier to shoulder their own loads.
“You may be down sometimes, but you look at him and say, ‘This is what it's all about,’ ” said Master Sgt. Solomon Reed. “It's inspirational to the Marines."
Gibson sees it as just doing his job. He’s seen progress in Iraq in the past two years and compares where that country is to where the United States was when it set out on the road to independence.
“This is where we were 232 years ago as a new nation,” he once said. “Now they're starting a new nation, and that's one of my big reasons for coming back here.”
******
I love this story! Plus, his nickname is Spanky! LOL That's one of my Frankie's nicknames - Spanky-Frankie!
GySgt. Spanky Gibson - You Rock!

"Why Aren't You In New York?"

So yesterday, as you know if you are following our continuing saga, I didn't go to New York because Uncle J is not properly invested in providing me with entertainment. Ok, I didn't go because it was cancelled.

Anyway, I immediately emailed Jen with that info. No reply.

Later, around 1700 I send a text "Plans tonight?" No reply.

At 2000 she sends me a text "Leaving work." I send "Movies?" She answers "Yes"

We meet, we were crazy early, I get a blow-by-blow of her stunning day at work and CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Her promotion. We watch the movie. "Vantage Point" (which I loved!).

We were leaving and heading to our respectives cars.

Jen turns to me..........."Why aren't you in New York?"

LOL!

Something That Still Steams Me

It's been 32 years since this pic was snapped on Boston's City Hall Plaza. Adam over at Universal Hub just dredged it all up again. Geez, thanks buddy!

As I said over at Adam's place: "A picture might be worth a thousand words, but what does it help if they are the wrong words? The pic is sensational, but it wasn't photojournalism. You really don't get the true story. It shocks, it does not inform. Being from Charlestown, I always knew the villians here were liberal politicians moving about poor whites and poor blacks, like pawns in a game. Especially Ted Kennedy who thought he could ride his brothers' names past any criticism. This pic isn't photojournalism. It is misleading. It's sensational, it does not inform."
Judge for yourself At first glance, what most people see is a young white man preparing to impale a black man with a US flag, while another white man holds the black man in place.

Shocking? Of course. True? Not hardly.

First and foremost, the kid holding the flag, is an asshat. However, witnesses observed him to be swinging the flag back and forth in front of him in an arc. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong to do that with anything, much less an American flag. However, he is not preparing to spear Mr. Landsmark.

Also, the man behind Mr. Landsmark was Jimmy Kelly from South Boston. He is not holding Mr. Landsmark, he is pulling him from harm's way. Kelly later went on to become a Boston City Councilor and served the people of his district, South Boston with everything in him.

One of Adam's commenters added a link to an article in US News & World Reports. So you know this is the real gouge and not just a Townie girl white-washing history.

Why is this being brought up again now? Well it seems that someone has written a book about the pic. A whole book? Well, whatever, you know I have to read it, it's about Boston and I am a Bostonian.

I Like This Guy!

Ron Winter prints his take on yesterday's scandalous interrogation of General Petraeus and Amb. Crocker by leftist Senators. It is much more cohesive than anything I could have written.

Levin Again Displays Ignorance of Military Issues; Cross Examines Petraeus Like Criminal Defendant; Dems Use Troops As Pawns

It's a good read. I love the part where he fisks the Dem charge about Iraqi troops deserting in Basra.

Rockefeller Attacks My Bad Boyfriend!!!!

Apologize all you want, asshat! I don't accept.
West Virginia Senator Apologizes for Comments on McCain
By KATE PHILLIPS
Senator John D. Rockefeller IV personally apologized to Senator John McCain of Arizona on Tuesday after remarking in an interview that Mr. McCain’s years as a Navy fighter pilot would not have given him an understanding of everyday issues faced by Americans.
In an interview in his home state, West Virginia, on Monday, Mr. Rockefeller, a Democrat, told The Charleston Gazette that Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, could not relate to the everyday concerns of people on issues like health care.
According to the article, Mr. Rockefeller said: “McCain was a fighter pilot, who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000 feet. He was long gone when they hit. What happened when they get to the ground? He doesn’t know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues.”
On Tuesday, the McCain campaign demanded an apology, not just from Senator Rockefeller, but also from Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, because he has received the West Virginian’s endorsement.
“I have deep respect for John McCain’s honorable and noble service to our country,” Mr. Rockefeller said in a statement. “I made an inaccurate and wrong analogy and I have extended my sincere apology to him. While we differ a great deal on policy issues, I profoundly respect and appreciate his dedication to our country, and I regret my very poor choice of words.”
Later in the day, Mr. Rockefeller’s office issued an updated statement, saying Mr. McCain had graciously accepted the apology and the two had sat together privately during a vote in the Senate in the afternoon.
The Obama campaign also issued a statement: “Senator Obama has a deep respect for Senator McCain’s service to this country and he does not agree with what Senator Rockefeller said.”
In the Gazette article, Mr. Rockefeller explained his decision to endorse Mr. Obama, praising his communication skills while taking swipes at previous nominees.
In the past, Mr. Rockefeller said, the Democratic Party “nominated people like Al Gore and John Kerry who knew all the answers to everything and who could not relate to regular people. That is the main reason a lot of people voted for Bush. People said, ‘I could have a beer with this guy.’ ”
“Obama is simply unflappable. He takes questions carefully and makes you a believer,” he said, adding that his whole family is united behind Mr. Obama, unlike any candidate before.
According to a partial transcript of the interview provided by Mr. Rockefeller’s office, Mr. Rockefeller was asked about reports of Mr. McCain’s temper.
Mr. Rockefeller said they had been on the Commerce Committee together for 16 years. “He does have a temper,” he said. “Out on the trail, everything’s sort of been monotone.”
“I don’t think that will survive the general election,” he added.
********
Could this guy be any stupider?
Nice apology! Somehow he manages to take a swipe at the rest of us. "...nominated people like Al Gore and John Kerry who knew all the answers to everything and who could not relate to regular people. That is the main reason a lot of people voted for Bush. People said, ‘I could have a beer with this guy.’ ”
So Rockefeller thinks Bush supporters were just too stupid to vote for the better candidates? Typical limousine liberal. "Oh lovey! Those commoners are ruining everything!"
And of course this is supposed to be an apology, but he has to take another shot at McCain and talk about his temper.
Also, never mind the fact that he is unfairly attacking McCain's integrity......he doesn't even know what he is talking about - there were no laser guided missiles when John McCain was flying in Vietnam and no A-4 ever bombed from more than 14,000 and most much lower. Perhaps it's too much to ask an ignorant Democrat who never served in the military.

I don't believe everyone needs to serve in the military, but if you didn't, you should think twice before you talk smack.

Have I Ever Told You......

....that I suck at the 50/50 questions? They trip me up everytime. The closest the Vets for Freedom National Heroes Tour was coming to Boston was New York. But they were also going to be in DC. DC was going to be bigger, but that's twice as far. So, I think and think,....

I settle on New York. There's no event per se, but I am told that there will be "a booze up after the TV shows and hoopla." No problem! I'm in.

Then this morning Uncle J catches me just before I head off to Yank-mee territory.

Should have picked DC. ConcreteBob went and froze his ass off (southerners have thin blood) and he sent me a link for some great coverage at This Ain't Hell.

Jimbo, I have two books that need to be autographed.

Sgt. Adam Kennedy - One Year Later

I hope time has helped the Kennedy family somewhat with their loss. That is not to say that they should get over it. I would never for a moment imagine they could. I simply hope that time has helped them in some way. That they can focus on the happier memories.

Sgt. Kennedy is a true American hero and he is missed. I say this never having met him myself. However, he was held in high esteem by someone I love and respect.

The images of his family saying goodbye were haunting. I put this in another post, but it applies here as well.

"I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln

PO2 Michael A. Monsoor MOH Ceremony

1500 EST - I am watching the Monsoor MOH ceremony right now. I will post video as soon as I have it later this evening.

It's live on the Pentagon Channel right now.
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OK, now it's 1700 and if you go to the Pentagon Channel, you can choose the video of the MOH Ceremony. For some reason I can't embed it. Blogger is frustrating me.

Chuck at America's North Shore Journal has a very in depth write up of today's ceremony and PO2 Monsoor here.

Fair winds and a following sea, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor.

Tracking Rabbits

The NYPD, The FBI, and the CIA are all trying to prove that they are the best at apprehending criminals. The President decides to give them a test. He releases a rabbit into a forest and each of them has to catch it.
The CIA goes in. They place animal informants throughout the forest. They question all plant and mineral witnesses. After three months of extensive investigations they conclude that rabbits do not exist.
The FBI goes in. After two weeks with no leads, they burn the forest, killing everything in it - including the rabbit - and they make no apologies. The rabbit had it coming.
The NYPD goes in. They come out two hours later with a badly beaten bear. The bear is yelling: "Okay! Okay! I'm a rabbit! I'm a rabbit!"

National Heroes Tour

Tomorrow is an important day for the National Heroes Tour. You know Uncle Jimbo will have it all covered. I want to be there in DC for "Vets On The Hill", but it's not possible. What is possible though is that I hook up with them in New York. Their last stop.

I was talking via email with several people about the prospect and to one I said

"I am hoping to hook up with all of them in New York on Wednesdy for the last stop on the tour. I am pressuring Uncle J to organize a pub crawl.....you know I don't make an appearance if there is not a party.....or is it that everywhere I appear becomes a circus. Well, it's one of those two.

M"

LOL, truer words were never spoken!

This Is Just Wrong

so....why did I laugh?

Moses? Meet Moses.

Charlton Heston dead at 84
By BOB THOMAS, Associated Press Writer
LOS ANGELES - Charlton Heston, who won the 1959 best actor Oscar as the chariot-racing "Ben-Hur" and portrayed Moses, Michelangelo, El Cid and other heroic figures in movie epics of the '50s and '60s, has died. He was 84.The actor died Saturday night at his home in Beverly Hills with his wife Lydia at his side, family spokesman Bill Powers said.
Powers declined to comment on the cause of death or provide further details.
Heston revealed in 2002 that he had symptoms consistent with Alzheimer's disease, saying, "I must reconcile courage and surrender in equal measure."
Read the rest here.

File Under - Not For Nothing

Hillary's tax info was finally released. -
Clintons Made $109 Million in Last 8 Years
By MIKE McINTIRE
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton released tax data Friday showing they earned $109 million over the last eight years, an ascent into the uppermost tier of American taxpayers that seemed unimaginable in 2001, when they left the White House with little money and facing millions in legal bills.

The bulk of their wealth has come from speaking and book-writing, which together account for almost $92 million, including a $15 million advance — larger than previously thought — from Mr. Clinton’s 2004 autobiography, “My Life.” The former president’s vigorous lecture schedule, where his speeches command upwards of $250,000, brought in almost $52 million.

During that time, the Clintons paid $33.8 million in federal taxes and claimed deductions for $10.2 million in charitable contributions. The contributions went to a family foundation run by the Clintons that has given away only about half of the money they put into it, and most of that was last year, after Mrs. Clinton declared her candidacy.
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Now, let me say, I have no problem with the Clinton's making money. That's their right. That's the American way. But I have to laugh at this part "The contributions went to a family foundation run by the Clintons that has given away only about half of the money they put into it, and most of that was last year, after Mrs. Clinton declared her candidacy." LOL

McCain: Tolerance

Incredibly, This Guy Faces Charges

I feel for this guy, having actually gone up to a stranger's car and ripped the tattered remnants of a tiny U.S. flag off of his car antenna. The guy was in the car and I gave him a little lecture. Strangely, even though he was younger and bigger, he stayed in the car and was silent. I finished and told him to go. I got back in my car and called SB. His reaction? "I'm not surprised Maggie."
Plus there is my adventure in the bushes, lol.

Hey, Dan Turner! Princess Crabby says Bravo Zulu!

Mr Turner saw this: Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas Golden of the Joint Forces Headquarters Forward, Georgia National Guard stepped up to the plate and orchestrated this:

U.S. Soldiers restore honor to Old Glory

Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq, Saturday, 29 March 2008
By Sgt. 1st Class Stacy Niles

More than 150 U.S. Soldiers and civilians restored honor to a U.S. flag that lay lonely and forgotten on the grounds of a Georgia apartment complex for almost a week in February.
The flag was retrieved by a passerby who could not stand seeing the flag treated in such a manner.
Having passed the discarded flag twice, Dan Turner took the flag the third time he saw it lying on the ground and sent it to his friend Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas Golden of the Joint Forces Headquarters Forward, Georgia National Guard.
“This flag was being used as landscape art and a business flagging without the daily outdoor ceremony it deserved. In the end it simply was allowed to lie in the mud of the Irwin Bridge right-of-way for a week while managers, landscape personnel and employees, residents and neighbors simply ignored it lying on the ground,” wrote Turner in a letter to the apartment complex, sheriff’s department, judges and the editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
After taking the flag, Turner e-mailed Golden and asked if he would fly the flag at Forward Operating Base Delta, Iraq. Turner cleaned the flag and shipped it to Golden who was more than happy to restore the flag’s honor before returning it to Turner.
“The U.S. flag for me is more than just a piece of cloth to be flown or displayed as a matter of convenient patriotism or decoration. It is the one true symbolic representation of what our nation and her principles stand for,” Golden said. “Also, many great men and women have served in uniform, and in many cases, died for advancing freedom and democracy as well as the preservation and perpetuation of our freedom, liberty and way of life we enjoy every day which our flag symbolizes.
“It’s our flag, and people don’t always pay it the respect it’s due,” he said.
Turner and Golden, who have been friends for more than 16 years, share a strong sense of patriotism which is shown annually on Memorial Day weekend when they drive to Marietta National Cemetery to place wreaths on the graves of Turner’s father and brother. Turner’s father fought in World War II and his brother died in Vietnam at the Battle of Hue. Turner’s mother served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
After placing the wreaths on the graves, Golden and Turner walk the entire cemetery to pick up and replace any flags that may have fallen after being placed by Boy Scouts.
“Dan and I feel as though no flag, no matter how small or great, can be left upon the ground if we have the ability to take action and correct the situation,” Golden said, “which is exactly what Dan did by ‘rescuing’ the current flag.
“Unfortunately, our society has come to take for granted the sacrifices that have been made throughout our history to ensure our way of life will survive and endure no matter the source or location of the threat. It is for these and many other reasons I feel so strongly that our flag should never be allowed to be desecrated in any form or fashion,” he said.
Title 4, Section 8 of the U.S. Code says the flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or merchandise. The section goes on to say that the flag should never be fastened, displayed, used or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled or damaged.
To restore the flag’s honor, Golden and Soldiers from 214th Fires Brigade organized a flag-raising ceremony March 22 attended by Soldiers and civilians.
“I’m really thankful that a lot of folks came out,” Golden said. “What made it even better was its simplicity. People came because they wanted to and they came out of respect.”
The ceremony offered a way for those who believe in the flag to be united, said Chap. (Maj.) Michael Hoffman, the 214th FB chaplain.
“I appreciated this citizen taking the time to remember and act on what the flag stands for,” Hoffman said. “Being a part of the ceremony and restoring honor is just a way for us to be included with him in honoring both the flag and our nation.
“I wonder what people were thinking, but I am grateful for this man taking the time to do something. I am inspired by him taking the initiative to do something,” said Hoffman of those who allowed the flag to remain on the ground. “You can say how you feel about this country, but this guy proved it by what he did.”
Turner was charged with theft for taking the flag, but he expresses no regrets in doing what he did.
“I wanted to make this issue a statement and I’m willing to bear the consequence of my actions to the sheriff as directed by the judge or the property owner,” said Turner in his letter. “There is no excuse for common theft, yet I felt compelled to take action now and worry about the consequences later.
“I find no pride in breaking the law, but there are mitigating circumstances that put me over the line,” Turner said. “Allowing this flag to lie in the mud was a disgrace; however, my lack of action would have been even more disgraceful. I acted on the behalf of all those that did not, could not or would not take action.”

You can read more coverage of the story here and here.

In Case You Peek

I forgot to ask one question.

Boston, April 4, 1968

I was really too young to remember it, just barely 7. My own home was still grieving the loss of my mother's father ten days earlier. However, there were discussions after the fact. Especially when we all read "Common Ground" by J. Anthony Lukas. I had lots of questions for my parents and grandmother. I have been thinking about this lately because of a post I saw at Universal Hub. In the post Adam talks about the James Brown concert that VH1 describes as "The Night James Brown Saved Boston". I was never a fan. Sure he was helpful, but for a price - $60,000. I don't know what that translates to today, but I'm sure it was quite the sum.

No, in my house credit for Boston surviving that time goes to "Kevin from Heaven", the mayor that was smart enough to marry a Charlestown girl. Yes, he was liberal, but I loved him. You know I was a Goldwater Girl, but I had my heroes across the aisle. Kevin White was young and charismatic and four months into office when this happened. Kevin was smart enough to listen to Boston City Councilor Tom Atkins who went on to hold an important position in the NAACP and his own mayoral aide Barney Frank (who hasn't done many things right in my eyes since).

The three important factors were the following.

One - He kept the Boston Police Department from rushing into the grieving Roxbury to quell every little disruption. Mayor White understood that some steam had to be let off. This is not a knock against the BPD in specific or police in general. Their natural instinct is to preserve order. Sometimes, however, in people's grief, they need to be a little disorderly.

Two - He had the police keep stupid white people from driving through and gawking. Yes, there are people who do go to watch things like that. I know that if someone wanted to cruise on through a wake I was attending, just to rubberneck, they'd get a smack. While I wouldn't have had the slightest problem with whatever calamity befell someone stupid enough to "go have a look" that night, it was better for all concerned that Kevin White didn't allow that to happen.

Three - The James Brown thing. Yes, it was better for the City that a whole bunch of people stayed home and watched James Brown "do his thing". That would not have been possible without Mayor White coming up with the 60K and arranging for the local PBS channel to air it live and repeat it immediately afterwards.

Another footnote that makes the 60 grand easier to swallow.........Kevin White didn't have that kind of money in the City coffers. So he went to the Vault, a group of business men who had formed to handle certain financial crises. Kevin didn't get $60,000 from them........he got $100,000 and used the rest for things like starting up "Summerthing"!!!! Plus, he got James Brown to kickback $2,500 to his Martin Luther King Trust Fund. LOL

I certainly wasn't there when White, Frank and Atkins discussed the James Brown concert, but I am certain of one thing that must have been said - "Sixty thousand dollars! Mothah A Gahhhhhd!" LOL anyone my age or older from Boston remembers that as the Mayor's response to several things.

Indianapolis, April 4, 1968

NPR's Morning Edition had this story about an incident that has been on my mind lately.

Robert Kennedy: Delivering News of King's Death
It was supposed to be a routine campaign stop. In a poor section of Indianapolis, 40 years ago Friday, a crowd had waited an hour to hear the presidential candidate speak. The candidate, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, had been warned not to go by the city's police chief.
As his car entered the neighborhood, his police escort left him. Once there, he stood in the back of a flatbed truck. He turned to an aide and asked, "Do they know about Martin Luther King?"
They didn't, and it was left to Kennedy to tell them that King had been shot and killed that night in Memphis, Tenn. The crowd gasped in horror.
Kennedy spoke of King's dedication to "love and to justice between fellow human beings," adding that "he died in the cause of that effort."
And Kennedy sought to heal the racial wounds that were certain to follow by referring to the death of his own brother, President John F. Kennedy.
"For those of you who are black and are tempted to ... be filled with hatred and mistrust of the injustice of such an act, against all white people, I would only say that I can also feel in my own heart the same kind of feeling," he said. "I had a member of my family killed, but he was killed by a white man."
"My favorite poem, my — my favorite poet was Aeschylus. And he once wrote:
Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forgetfalls drop by drop upon the heart,until, in our own despair,against our will,comes wisdomthrough the awful grace of God.
"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black."
Two months later, Robert Kennedy himself was felled by an assassin's bullet.
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You really should listen to the audio of both the Morning Edition story and of the speech itself. It is a mere five minutes and 20 seconds, however, forty years later listening to Bobby Kennedy speak moves me beyond words.

Well That's Just Great!

Vodka - Socially I drink Cape Codders. First off, I don't drink Stoli - It's Russian. Then I had to drop Grey Goose - It's French. Now I have to drop Absolut.H/T the Corner online

Damn It, John!

I am supposed to be at the gym, not in front of my computer crying.

Boy’s Wish Comes True at Fort Sam HoustonArmy Maj. Gen. Russell Czerw, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, installation commander, teaches 5-year-old Gavin Cox how to shoot an M-9 pistol at the ES 2000 weapons training facility. Gavin also trained on an M-16 rifle and walked away with a marksmanship badge. Photo by Ed Dixon

By Phil Reidinger Special to American Forces Press Service
FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, March 27, 2008 – Gavin Cox could have traveled to any exotic locale or tried any profession in the world, but this 5-year-old with leukemia had just one wish: to be a soldier.

His wish was granted March 18 when he became a soldier for the day here.

He could have chosen any activity during this break in his treatments, to include Disney World,” said Gavin’s father, Troy Heminger. “He wanted to be a soldier.” During a solemn ceremony in the Army Medical Department Center and School command conference room, the little boy stood proudly on the conference room table surrounded by soldiers of all ranks. Dressed in an Army combat uniform, Gavin was promoted to the honorary rank of sergeant in the Army Medical Department by the installation commander, Army Maj. Gen. Russell Czerw.

*********The whole article is here. Bring a tissue.

A resentful H/T to the Armorer for sending me to this website.

Bravo Zulu to Major General Russell Czerw and all the soldiers at Fort Sam Houston.

Why You Should Watch Fitna

Because of who doesn't want you to.

Geert Wilders' 'Fitna': Insightful and Inciteful
by Robert Spencer
Geert Wilders’ much-anticipated film on the Qur’an, Fitna, was released on LiveLeak.com on Thursday, pulled by LiveLeak on Friday after death threats, and by Saturday couldn’t be stopped: it had gone viral, having been posted in innumerable places all over the Internet. (You can watch it at my website Jihad Watch.)
But many, many people are still trying to make sure you don’t see it. Iran urged European leaders to block the film, and summoned the Slovenia representative in Tehran (Slovenia currently holds the EU presidency) to lodge an official protest, as Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini called it a “provocative and anti-Islamic movie,” revealing “continued enmity and deep hostility of such western nationals against Islam and Muslims.” The Pakistani government summoned the Dutch Ambassador in Islamabad to lodge a formal protest also. Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad called on Muslims to boycott Dutch products in retaliation for the movie.
******Read the whole article here****
And our final word goes to....Pat Condell

A Guilty Pleasure

First, if you are easily offended by bad language (really bad) and very, very unPC thoughts......STOP. Go read something else.

The Guy from Boston is a local celebrity. He started recording "rants" 22 months ago. He wanted to send a video over to his nephew who was serving in Iraq. It went viral and he started ranting on everything. My cousin Chrissie sent me this one on Global Warming last summer and I was hooked.

Since then Joe has made appearances on Neal Cavuto, Jay Leno and has a gig with the local Fox affiliate. It's PG, so you can safely click on all the videos there. They are equally funny.

There was a problem with his .com site.

Here is his new home. If the "F" word offends.....DO NOT CLICK THE LINK.

Remember, TheGuyFromBoston.NET

He Really Shouldn't Feed My Ego This Way!!!

In the post below, I needled Matt Sherman for not updating his blog. You know with all the spare time he has.....HA!

So, what does he do? He puts up some stuff for the first time in eight months!

Good job, baby! I will be insufferable (more so than usual) because of this.

Go check it out. There are cool pics of his latest adventure.

Iraq’s Sunni Time Bomb

Today's NYT Op-Ed "Iraq’s Sunni Time Bomb" is from Princess Crabby's favorite, Matt Sherman..................who never posts anything new for me in his blog (boo!).

Iraq’s Sunni Time Bomb
By MATT SHERMAN
Washington
WHILE the recent fighting in Basra and Baghdad has alerted many Americans to the danger that Shiite-on-Shiite violence poses to our goals in Iraq, it should not divert our focus from another looming threat: that the Sunni tribesmen who have sided with the American-led coalition may turn against us.
Perhaps the biggest reason for the drop in violence during the second half of 2007 was the coalition’s hiring of some 90,000 men, mostly Sunnis, to protect critical government properties like pipelines and to take part in neighborhood-watch systems. The decision to support these so-called Sons of Iraq — armed, many times, with the same AK-47’s that had been pointed at our troops just months earlier — was always viewed as risky, but few options were available to us at the time to reduce violence. So far, the gamble has paid off.
The Sons of Iraq program was at the heart of what the United States military called its “bottom-up reconciliation movement,” intended to get Iraqis to stop fighting the government and one another at the local neighborhood and village level. But use of the term “reconciliation” may be misleading. The word conjures images of forgiveness and repentance. That’s not what the Sons of Iraq idea was about — the coalition set out simply to neutralize a large swath of rogue fighters, often with money, with the hope of finding ways to reconcile in the future.
This is not to say that reconciliation is not possible; I believe it is. And by this I don’t mean reconciling Sunni and Shiite Islam — 1,300 years of history are unlikely to be resolved in a relative instant. What we can do is help shift the debate inside Iraq so that it doesn’t rest on how one sect relates to another but how individual Iraqis relate to their government.
While the Sons of Iraq movement has been a leading contributor toward the reduction of violence against American troops, it remains highly fragile. Some of its groupings are nationalist, some are Islamist, many are tribally rooted and some may, unfortunately, be composed of hard-line Sunnis intent on restoring their sect’s domination over Shiites. Thus, unsurprisingly, the group is viewed with great skepticism by many Shiites in the Baghdad government.
With each passing day, the amount of influence American officials have with the Iraqi government dwindles, while the list of objectives we wish to achieve grows. We need to pick our priorities now — and at the top of that list must be finding a productive future role for the Sons of Iraq.
First, we must take a look at who the Sons of Iraq are and what motivates them. They are not a monolith; members come from more than 125 political and tribal groups holding differing aspirations and influenced by numerous entities, some of which have goals contrary to those of the Americans and the government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki. Thus there is no single solution to all 90,000 potential problems.
The leading idea so far is to fold a fraction of them, about 20,000, into the Iraqi security forces. The remainder would be accommodated in civilian job-placement and training programs. But this will be far harder than it looks.
For political and sectarian reasons, the (mostly Shiite) ministers and officials who oversee the security forces are unenthusiastic about bringing in Sunnis. In addition, the government doesn’t have the bureaucratic efficiency to handle such a large influx of people easily. Aside from those problems, we’d need to come up with a way of deciding which men are qualified for security duty — a screening method to marginalize hard-liners and co-opt less ideologically driven members.
But the American leadership must press the Iraqis to overcome those obstacles. As we look to transform the Sons of Iraq, we are talking about more than just a venue to redirect insurgents from violence. This is also an opportunity to encourage engagement by Sunnis, many hailing from oft-ignored western Iraq and who have no real voice in the political system, in the new nation.
As for the American stake in this, the future drawing down of forces will be largely determined by the commitment of Iraqi factions to reach local political and security compromises. If we can’t help find a way to integrate the Sunnis into the state, many Sons of Iraq could revert to the insurgency. (This is another reason that it’s prudent to put a pause on further American troop reductions.)
By better understanding the objectives of this diverse group we can more efficiently create postwar employment, promote acceptance within the government, foster local security solutions and improve the chances of sustained success against the insurgents. Failure to find a new role for the Sons of Iraq, however, will result in the deterioration of government authority, an inability to draw down our own forces, and a return to militia rule for much of Iraq.
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Matt Sherman has spent more than three years as a civilian official in postwar Iraq, most recently in 2007 as the political adviser to the First Cavalry Division in Baghdad. He is a principal with SCI Consulting, a senior adviser with the Scowcroft Group and an adjunct with the RAND Corporation.

The Destroyermen

The Destroyermen has a new banner. Two thumbs up from Princess Crabby!

Like Mike says in the comments, "You can't go wrong with Arleigh Burke."

Dwelling On the Past

For some reason, I have been thinking about Patrick......

When I was in 8th grade and Patrick was in 7th, we had a rough time.....all my fault, I assure you. Patrick was, to put it simply, the ideal Charlestown "catch". He was good looking, a hockey star, funny, and from a popular family. And Patrick had a crush on Princess Crabby, who was, if you can imagine, even more difficult and hysterical back then.

He pursued me ardently and for some reason, I did not trust it. I couldn't relax and go with it. I couldn't just let things take their natural course. I tormented him. This went on for months. He was as nice as he could be. He tried everything. I was as difficult as I could be.

I have many happy memories of being with him, he was funny and charming. His friends were funny. It was exciting to be with him. Everyone knew him and admired him....hockey is a big deal in Charlestown. I loved to have him sit near me, although I would never say it to him. I loved to have him hold my hand, although I would pull my hand away. I can remember being breathless when he stood very close and looked in my eyes.

But even someone as self assured as Patrick could only take so much of my indecision and rejection and hysteria. Finally, he gave up.

Then I was sorry. But it was too late. I would have given anything to go back and do things differently.

We went off to different high schools and rarely saw each other. When we did see each other, he was understandably bitter. I saw him once as an adult. I was sitting in my car and he was leaning in the window. He smiled at me and I felt that same stomach drop.

Funny how these things work.

Fitna - Warning - Graphic

This isn't the whole 16 minutes and 48 seconds because I can't get that on YouTube, but on the other hand I can't figure out how to Embed the Google version from LiveLeak, so after you watch this, go here and watch the whole thing, or go straight away and watch the whole thing. Either way, watch it.

Memory

"...Her excellent memory could not limn her lover's features clearly; she had to reread his love letters to be sure that in truth he had existed, that they had loved one another and that the nights in the room of the armoires were not her invention." -- Isabel Allende, 'Daughter of Fortune'

Drowning In The Living Room

So last night was a blogger get together. Some local, conservative bloggers got together at casa de MissKelly for some pizza and some stimulating discourse.

Princess Crabby forgot her lifepreserver. LOL

I follow this sort of thing, but the stuff flying around last night was wayyyy over my head.

Still, I loved it. And I know so much more than I did yesterday.

Our main speakers were Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch and Andrew Bostom.

I got to pop into lots of interesting conversation with Jill (she of the evil cookies), Neo-Neocon, Squaring the Globe, and sisu. I didn't get the chance to speak with Libertarian Leanings or Kavanna, too bad for me! Richard Landes was fascinating and a fellow Monty Python fan. However, my favorites of the night were Hillel Stavis and the Archbishop (aka Mr. Sisu).

To get us all rolling Miss Kelly had prepared some entertainment. She made copies of this great parody of the Canterbury Tales by Iowahawk and had different people read.

From there, we got into a discussion of the actual news story of the actual story of the statements by the current Archbishop of Canterbury regarding sharia law. This naturally moved onto the topic of the night......Robert and Andrew and their thoughts on Jihad, islamists in Europe, the movie Fitna.

It was all terribly interesting and I was quite lost sometimes. LOL

Later as the evening wound down we discussed Al-Dura with Richard. I had read about this and seen some YouTube snippets, so I was riveted. It can be very frustrating to have to face how easily the MSM in America can be manipulated.

Lastly, I got no sympathy for my view that John Adams is not being fairly portrayed in the Tom Hank's HBO epic. I haven't said much about it here, but I guess I'll get around to it.

Solomonia is the force behind these get togethers and I am appreciative of his efforts and when I get the chance......his company.

ADD

I'm supposed to be writing a post about last night's blogger party and I got distracted.
It's not my fault, it's Teresa's.

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How Did This Make It Into The MSM?

The New York Times is reporting that "Stocks started the second quarter with a soaring rally on Tuesday that sent the Dow Jones industrial average up nearly 400 points, its best performance in two weeks,.." and "The rally on Tuesday was the best second-quarter opening day since 1938."

WTF? Didn't they get the memo? Don't they know that if we aren't in a recession or depression that McCain might win?

Hehehehe! The McCain girl is amused. Speaking of being amused....did you catch my bad boyfriend on Letterman? I didn't because of what's in the next post, but YouTube has it for me!

No, It's Not An April Fool's Day Joke

When Howie Carr first started talking about this story in the NYT, I thought it was a joke. But NO! It's real!! Thanks Lissa Muscatine and Melanne Verveer!! I can't believe that you are actually THIS STOOOOOOPID! This story was dying a natural death. I was bereft. I kept saying that it was too bad that this foolishness was happening so early. I want Obama and/or Hillary stepping on their crank in October or November, when it could yield the most benefit to my bad boyfriend. I thought it was too bad that it would be a forgotten memory in the fall.

Then THEY bring it back up! Thanks again Lissa & Melanne!

April 1, 2008
Op-Ed Contributor
Straight Shooting From Tuzla
By LISSA MUSCATINE and MELANNE VERVEER
Washington
AS staff members who traveled with the first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, to Bosnia in March 1996, we have followed with more than passing interest the extensive news coverage of her landing in Tuzla. Video footage clearly shows that Mrs. Clinton’s assertions that she landed “under fire” and that the arrival ceremony was canceled were wrong. She said so herself last week.
Yet even since she acknowledged her mistake, the commentary has continued unabated. Reports are now being embellished (to borrow the term du jour) to suggest that Bosnia was not really a danger zone. Her visiting American troops on a peacekeeping mission in a hostile environment is now being treated as if it were a trip to the beach. During a week of nonstop coverage, few journalists went beyond the irresistible video footage to ask what else happened on this trip and how Mrs. Clinton might have erred in the details about the landing in Tuzla. So here are some facts that provide context:
We flew in a C-17 cargo plane from Germany to Bosnia precisely because it was capable of steep descents and ascents into and out of areas of conflict. We were issued flak jackets on the plane before landing in Tuzla and were told the tarmac ceremony might be canceled or curtailed due to sniper fire from the surrounding hillsides. The first lady and Chelsea Clinton were moved to the armored cockpit for the landing. Armored vehicles were placed around the tarmac, and Apache helicopters hovered overhead.
In a recent e-mail message to a British blogger, Ejup Ganic, who was the acting president of Bosnia during Mrs. Clinton’s visit, wrote: “I remember that visit quite well. Although the NATO troops were in Tuzla, we still believed that some positions on the hills were occupied by radical Serbs, so I was worried about the overall safety.” The planned welcoming ceremony was shortened, he said, but it still lasted a bit longer than expected because a nongovernment group brought along a little girl to sing to the first lady.
Later, Mrs. Clinton flew from Tuzla to two military outposts by helicopter, escorted by Apache gunships.
As has been reported, Mrs. Clinton’s trip to Bosnia included a U.S.O. component with the comedian Sinbad and the singer Sheryl Crow. The helicopters that carried them to performances at American base camps zigzagged just above the trees to avoid potential ground fire, according to Carey Cavanaugh, who was then a State Department official traveling with Sinbad, and helicopters flew alongside to deal with the threat of anti-aircraft fire or snipers. These facts explain why many of us, including the first lady, believed that the conditions on the ground were precarious. We were worried about sniper fire and were prepared to rush off the tarmac when we landed.
In their single-minded focus on the landing in Tuzla, reporters and commentators have omitted any discussion of what Mrs. Clinton accomplished on her trip. In addition to showing support for our troops and for the peace accords in Bosnia, Mrs. Clinton met with Bosnian religious leaders, women and community activists and, when she returned to Washington, was able to give administration officials her firsthand assessment of the nascent reconstruction effort.
After leaving Bosnia, she met with leaders of Turkey and Greece and in those countries promoted efforts on behalf of international development and democracy. In Istanbul, five years before 9/11, Mrs. Clinton presciently convened representatives of some of the world’s major religions to advance a dialogue about religious reconciliation and ways to counter religious extremism.
The video of her arrival on the tarmac in Bosnia may be great theater and easy fodder for commentators, but it shouldn’t be allowed to obscure what else was happening on this important trip when the cameras weren’t rolling.
Lissa Muscatine was the chief speechwriter and Melanne Verveer was the chief of staff for Hillary Rodham Clinton when she was first lady. Ms. Muscatine is an adviser to Mrs. Clinton’s presidential campaign.
********Howie and Col. Hunt were once again.......en fuego!

Carl William Martin, 1926-2008

***I am stealing this whole from the Castle. I love it and it moved me and it's the reason I go there every day. Thank you John. Have I told you lately that I love you and Beth? I do.****
Carl William Martin, 1926-2008
Since today is the anniversary of the landings on Okinawa, this is apt.
They paid for this: Red Beach 2, Tarawa, 20 november, 1943...

John,
Your blog name is how I feel today. Here’s why.
Carl William Martin was born in March 1926 in Cumberland, Maryland. When we entered World War II, his father was given a choice: join the service or relocate to Pittsburgh (alone) to continue his work in the steel mills as an essential war industry; he relocated to stay close to his family of small children.
Carl, the oldest child, waited until his 17th birthday and then took his father’s place. He joined the Navy but was sent to boot camp at Parris Island and assigned to the Marine Corps' Second Assault Amphibian Battalion. The "Second Amphibian Tractor Battalion" was an organic unit of the 2nd Marine Division, composed of a Headquarters and Service Company and three letter companies, all equipped with the Landing Vehicle Tracked-1 (LVT-1). In 1942, the Battalion set sail from San Diego, CA with the First Marine Division and participated in assaults on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa. Carl was seriously wounded, but stayed with it until the Battalion was deactivated in November 1945 and he was discharged.
Carl came home, married his sweetheart, Margaret, and started a heating oil business. He was a bright guy and invented some controls for heating units that were patented and sold worldwide. He and his skills remained in high demand from businesses and residence owners for the rest of his life.
In 2001, Margaret contracted Alzheimer’s and quickly became totally uncommunicative. Carl moved her to a nursing home. For the next five years, until Margaret passed away, Carl went to the nursing home every single day, seven days a week and 52 weeks out of the year, to have lunch with Margaret and talk to her. He left her voice on the answering machine for his heating oil business, so whenever we called we heard her first. He would let her entire greeting play before he would pick up the phone.
Two years almost to the day after Margaret died, Carl passed away last Friday in Cumberland. He paid his dues to the nation and to his wife and family. Now he is back with Margaret in heaven – and probably wishing that he had gone to hell so that he could handle the heating controls down there. But in spite of his experience in the Pacific, he didn’t qualify for deployment to that hot spot.
Rest in Peace, Carl. I have lost a really great pal.
Jack

The sheepdogs walk among us all our lives, and we never notice them, until we need them. A whole generation of them are slipping by us now, even as you read this.

...so we could have this - Red Beach 2, Tarawa, today. Fair winds and a following sea, sailor. Now is the time at Castle Argghhh! when we dance: In Memoriam, for Carl Martin, US Navy, WWII, a friend of a friend of the Castle.
**********Princess Crabby can't put it any better - Fair winds and following sea, Sailor.

Happy April Fool's Day!

First, the Castle has a picture of John Kerry in the banner. Not funny, just icky.

Next Rachael leaves this on my desk with a note saying she thinks I should go.Yeah I know, my desk is a mess.Whatever. Is this silliness over yet?

SEAL to Get Medal of Honor

SEAL to Get Medal of Honor
April 01, 2008Associated Press

SAN DIEGO - A Navy SEAL who threw himself on top of a grenade in Iraq to save his comrades in 2006 will be posthumously awarded the nation's highest military tribute, a White House spokeswoman announced March 31.
The Medal of Honor will be awarded to Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael A. Monsoor. His family will receive the medal during a White House ceremony April 8.

Bravo Zulu, PO2 Monsoor!

Reminds me of this story which was pretty cool.

This Trip To The Dry Cleaners Went Better

than Saturday's!

I was on the cell phone as I walked through the door, so I paused just inside the doorway to wrap up my conversation. After disconnecting, I turned to the clerk and confessed I didn't have my ticket. It wasn't Saturday's girl, it was the regular girl who is very efficient. She smiles and says "$6.12 please." I am baffled. She gestures to the pick up rack. There is my new red silk blouse. LOL While I was on the phone, she went and got my blouse and rang me up.

Guess I didn't need the ticket!

BTW, I am wearing the new blouse tonight. To an undisclosed location. To meet with un-named persons. That's right - a blogger party! And I will look fabulous.