December 29, 2005

Matt, the tree guy, came over to give us an estimate on taking out some of the trees on our property. He hated to see me take out three older Dogwoods. After seeing that the re-grading of the yard had covered their root flares, he couldn't garantee they'd live much longer. From what I know about them, they only live about 45 years. These have to be about 30 aleady. Besides, we'll replant trees with a better chance of surviving construction and a better chance of having their own space.

Matt suggested if we planted maples to plant Sugar Maples. I'll look more into it later as we won't plant trees until late February or early March.

Vince and I settled on having about a third of the trees removed. A total of 11 trees will be cut and their stumps grinded to mulch. One particular tree beside the house Matt thought was a tree he called a "tree of Heaven," another invasive gift from China. The trees grow about 5 feet a year, and their sawdust is apparently so poisonous that it can cause cardiac arrest if inhaled. Matt may be right, but Mom and I looked up the tree on that Internets this morning and found the Black Locust matched the bean pods.

Our potted Queen Crimson and Lace Leaf Maples will hopefully arrive from Virginia next week without any significant damage.

Today, ChristianGrantham.com turns six years old!

December 23, 2005

If I knew what to do I would have pulled over and done it. It probably wouldn't have mattered anyway because I couldn't see how the side road even connected to the highway I was on. The cows were just standing in the middle of the road, chewing a cud or something. I imagine their owner would be along shortly and get them back onto their property.

When I got home, the washer, dryer and stove arived. It didn't take but a minute before the deliver guys were gone for Vince to start tossing pre-sorted piles of laundry into the front-load washer. As he sat and watched an entire load wash, I hung the last set of blinds. We're hungry as hell, but the doorbell just rang. It's my sister's family.

December 22, 2005

Contractors are coming and going putting small finishing touch-ups on the new house. Lots of deliveries are happening this week, and most of our stuff from PODS doesn't arive until close to the first of January. The internet is up, and Vince has already begun telecommuting to his Virginia-based employer.

The cats did not like being boarded for the week we had to wait before closing on the new house. I was really worried they would act out their behaviorial issues caused by the trip on the house and treat it like the world's largest scratching post, but after sitting with them for hours in the laundry room they eventually remembered each other, calmed down, and renegotiated who was the top kitty. I went to PetSmart and picked up a large cat scrathing tree. Luckily, they've not scratched the house once, but the furniture will arive tomorrow. That's when I let them know who they top kitty is, and that's non-negotiatable. If diplomacy fails, they will have told the world they prefer war.

Vince is setting up the computers later today, so I might have the webcam going then. We love the house! It was built by a home builder that constructed three other homes in the neighborhood. It's on the highest point in a neighborhood that is relatively flat throughout. We're about 5 miles either way to most of the stores and a major entrance to the interstate. We're situated on a 1/3 acre lot with a lot of landscaping potential. We're ripping through our budget to get things done, so posting will defintely be lite until we settle and twist the grass, sticks and gum foil until our Tennesee nest.

December 13, 2005

OK, I head out for Tennessee early in the morning with Vince following shortly after. Posts will be very light until I can find the Internets.

December 12, 2005

Let's see.

• The Bush Administration's Department of Justice ruled Tom Delay's redistricting scheme violated the Voting Rights Act, and now the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing the case.
  
• Tom Delay is in court defending himself against money laundering charges in a fundraising scheme to gain a Republican majority.
  
• Tom Delay was admonshied several times for ethics violations.
  
• Vice President Dick Cheney attends a fundraiser in Texas for Delay holding him up as the model Republican.

The Supreme Court said Monday it would consider the constitutionality of a Texas congressional map engineered by Rep. Tom DeLay that helped Republicans gain seats in Congress.

The 2003 boundaries helped Republicans win 21 of the state's 32 seats in Congress in the last election_ up from 15. They were approved amid a nasty battle between Republican leaders and Democrats and minority groups in Texas.

The contentiousness also reached Washington, where the Justice Department approved the plan although staff lawyers concluded that it diluted minority voting rights. Because of historic discrimination against minority voters, Texas is required to get Justice Department approval for any voting changes to ensure they don't undercut minority voting.

Justices will consider a constitutional challenge to the boundaries filed by various opponents. The court will hear two hours of arguments, likely in April, in four separate appeals.
[Supreme Court to Review Texas Redistricting - AP - 12-12-05]

December 12, 2005

Bush the Optimist

"I reject the pessimists in Washington who say we can't win this war."
[President Bush - Council On Foreign Relations - 12-07-05]

"I don't think you can win it," Bush said in the interview on NBC's Today show. "But I think you can create conditions so that those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world."
[Bush: 'I don't think you can win' war on terror - St. Petersberg Times - 08-31-04]

December 12, 2005

BK Joe and a bacon croissanwich, please.

• “No Earthly Idea”: Frist Continues To Mislead on Stock Sale - Think Progress - 12-11-05
  
• What Viveca Novak Told Fitzgerald - TIME - 12-11-05
  
• The Warner Stump - Hotline - 12-11-05
  
• Staff Opinions Banned In Voting Rights Cases - Washington Post - 12-10-05
  
• Man Apologizes After Fake Wikipedia Post - AP - 12-12-05
  

December 11, 2005

Posts will be very light through our move over the next few days.

December 10, 2005

Vince and I are packing up today in preparation for moving to Tennessee next week. I saw this over at GayPatriot this morning about he and his partner's move from the D.C. area to North Carolina.

John and I have only been in Charlotte for one week, and are only able to move into the new house this weekend. But we have experienced such a change of culture that it has been quite eyeopening. We have been treated more as real-life human beings — with courtesy, respect and genuine acceptance — in the past week than during the six entire years we lived in the DC metro area.

The people we have encountered in Charlotte are so kind and open that it has been such a pleasant change from living in the “what can you do for me” environment of the nation’s capital. I am so happy to have made the move down here that I wonder what took me so long to escape the self-absorbed mindset of DC.
[Relocation to Charlotte, Part II - GayPatriot - 12-09-05]

December 09, 2005

Merry Christmas, Israel!

During the broadcast, Wildmon stated that Anti-Defamation League (ADL) President Abraham H. Foxman "got himself kind of in a bind" by criticizing the religious right. "[T]he strongest supporters Israel has are members of the religious right -- the people he's fighting," Wildmon said. "[T]he more he says that 'you people are destroying this country,' you know, some people are going to begin to get fed up with this and say, 'Well, all right then. If that's the way you feel, then we just won't support Israel anymore.' "
[AFA's Don Wildmon: If ADL's Foxman criticizes religious right, some of them "won't support Israel anymore" - Media Maters - 12-08-05]

December 09, 2005

The way Sen. George Allen sees it, protecting gays will infringe on other people's right to hate them, and we don't want civil rights to apply to gays anyhow.

Republican U.S. Sen. George Allen will no longer support "hate crimes" legislation that includes "sexual orientation" as a protected status, even if the proposal is identical to a bill he voted for in 2004. The Virginia senator acknowledged Friday that such legislation could be used by federal courts to extend civil rights protections to homosexuals and to squelch free speech.

"Senator Allen is going to vote against adding 'sexual orientation' to federal 'hate crimes' laws," Mike Thomas, Allen's state director, told Cybercast News Service Friday.

Thomas said Allen has two serious concerns after monitoring how the federal courts have applied similar laws.

"The first is, he feels that those changes to hate crimes laws could have a chilling effect on First Amendment rights," Thomas said.

"Secondly - even though he doesn't feel that the legislation that was voted on in 2004, in and of itself, would elevate 'sexual orientation' to civil rights status - it's becoming clear that there are some courts that would use that as a building block toward civil rights status, which he is opposed to."
[Exclusive: Sen. Allen Withdraws 'Hate Crimes' Support - CNSnews - 12-09-05]

December 09, 2005

Moving is so much fun.

December 09, 2005

Who can read this and conclude Ford hates gays and must be boycotted? Americablog. As fruity as Americablog's conspiratorial conclusions are regarding Ford's business decisions, so too will be the results of their inane boycott this time next year.

''The decisions with regard to advertising was a business decision,'' Ford spokesman Mike Moran said. He said Ford's Volvo brand would continue advertising in gay publications. Ford has not advertised its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury brands in those publications.

Moran said Jaguar and Land Rover, which are part of Ford's money-losing Premier Automotive Group, have decided to cut back on their advertising everywhere. The Premier Automotive Group reported a pretax loss of $108 million in the third quarter.

''They feel pressure on their marketing budgets, so they decided to streamline marketing across the board,'' Moran said. ``They're not supporting as many publications and events as before in 2006.''
[Ford to end some ads in gay publications - Miami Herald - 12-07-05]

Could Ford's supposed hatred of gays be a larger factor in advertising cuts in gay publications than it's $2.2 billion loss over the past year? Americablog says, "You bet your black helicopters it does!"

"Ford will assure investors if their next announcement clearly signals that they have cut to a level that will ensure profitability until they can produce products that people are eager to buy,'' Brian Bruce, who helps manage $18 billion in equity, including the automaker's shares, for PanAgora Asset Management in Boston, said in an e-mail.

The company and General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, are struggling to sell cars and trucks in the U.S. as Asian rivals such as Toyota Motor Corp. win record market share. Ford had a third-quarter loss of $284 million, ending a streak of six consecutive profitable quarters, and has lost money in North America for four of the past five quarters.
[Ford, Readying Restructuring, Fires Contract Workers - Bloomberg - 12-09-05]

December 09, 2005

People are coming around. Ford's decision to withdraw ads from gay publications comes amidst $2.2 billion losses and failed marketing. Calls for a boycott of Ford by a loud minority that craves validation from corporate America desperately needs to believe Ford hates them.

The Malcontent

If I had to speculate (without pulling a Jon Aravosis and trying to figure out why it's all a malevolent right-wing plot), I'd say Ford made a marketing decision in light of their losses, knew they were going to be pulling two products from LGBT publications, and let the AFA know just to get them off their back. If they were going to be canceling marketing anyway, why not kill two birds with one stone?
[We're So Easy to Bait - The Malcontent - 12-08-05]

Christian Grantham has written a very sensible post which has made me change my mind on the whole Ford thing.
[To Boycott or Not - Gay Orbit - 12-08-05]

Jeffrey Montgomery, executive director of the Triangle Foundation, called Ford's "record of fairness ... an excellent model for other corporate entities to follow."

"Ford admits that it will cease advertising some brands, such as Jaguar and Land Rover, in 'gay' media, but will continue with others, like Volvo, but that those are business-driven decisions, not a response to the homophobes of the AFA," Montgomery said. "We are confident that Ford will continue to support the broad community of people who buy their products and look to them for leadership in fairness, diversity and equal treatment.
[Built Ford Tough? - Between The Lines - 12-09-05]

I'll keep my eye on Ford's profit reports throughout Americablog's boycott. I'll also take a look at what Americablog proposes to do about those gay publications Ford reapproaches with ad buys following a reassessed marketing strategy.

December 09, 2005

You might remember Dennis The Peasant from my earlier post introducing the cast of characters in the ongoing story of Pajamas Media. Take a look at his recent review of their content to date. (via Atrios)

I've received a whole lot of email since November 16 asking two simple, fundamental questions:

1) What is Pajamas Media supposed to be?

2) Why is Pajamas Media so bad?

The short answers are, in my opinion, as follows:

1) Interesting.

2) It isn’t interesting.
[On The Difference Between Having Something Of Interest And Being Interesting... - Dennis The Peasant - 12-08-05]

December 08, 2005

Jim Dean, Howard Dean's brother and head of Democracy For America, is disturbed.

"It is disturbing enough that Senator Lieberman remains one of the president's biggest cheerleaders. But his call for opponents of the president's failed policy to keep quiet is outrageous."
[Let Joe Know: Sign the Letter - Jim Dean email - 12-8-05]

Next week, Jim Dean is delivering a letter to Joe Lieberman with some DFA activists in Connecticut.

Senator Lieberman: As a member of the "world's greatest deliberative body," it's time you stopped trying to stifle debate and instead become part of the solution by joining the majority of Americans in questioning President Bush's foreign policy.
[Tell Sen. Joe Lieberman:Debate Is Patriotic - letter to Joe Lieberman - DFA]

Meanwhile ...

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is urging Democrats to limit their comments on the future of the Iraq war to areas where there is broad agreement within the party in an effort to quell increasing concerns both within the Democratic Caucus and the minds of the public that the ongoing conflict has caused deep intra-party divisions.
[Reid Seeks to Keep Caucus on Same Page - Roll Call - 12-08-05]

December 08, 2005

QUESTION: Will Senator Lieberman also be celebrating Christmas with the President and First Lady at the Western White House?

QUESTION: Secondly, have you seen Howard Dean's comments this morning? Do you see that as a clarification of what he said --

MR. McCLELLAN: As a clarification? What was his clarification, that his comments that we can't win in Iraq were taken a little out of context?

QUESTION: Yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think it highlights the problems within the Democratic Party. You have a lot of disarray and disagreement within the Democratic Party. You have some that are advocating like he is, to -- that we can't win and that we should cut and run and retreat. You have some that are trying to score political points off the situation on the ground or off media reports. And then you have a few within the Democratic Party, like Senator Lieberman, who understand the stakes that are involved in Iraq, and understand the importance of winning and know that we will win. They have great confidence in our troops, and they know that our troops will succeed.

And what the President is emphasizing is a plan for victory, and a way to get there. And what others are emphasizing is immediate withdrawal of troops, or artificial timetables. That's a plan for defeat.

QUESTION: Is Senator Lieberman getting a holiday invitation to the ranch by any chance? (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead.

QUESTION: Or to the Pentagon?
[White House Press Briefing - White House - 12-08-05]

December 08, 2005

Check out this amazing tool that helps visualize the web of corruption in Tom Delay's House of Representatives. Click the RX to see how today's HR 591 fits into the web.

December 08, 2005

Back in August of 2004, President Bush had a moment of clarity when speaking about the war on terror.

"I don't think you can win it," Bush said in the interview on NBC's Today show. "But I think you can create conditions so that those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world."
[Bush: 'I don't think you can win' war on terror - St. Petersberg Times - 08-31-04]

Sounds familiar.

"There is going to be no peace treaty on the battleship Missouri in the war on terrorism, but we can break its back so that it is a horrible nuisance and not a paralyzing influence on our societies," Scowcroft told the U.S. Institute of Peace.
[Bush, Kerry Campaign in West Before Debate - AP - 10-11-04]

Not a single Republican charged President Bush, or his father's advisor, with defeatism, but when Howard Dean recently repeated the assertion, Republicans went fruit loops.

"In predicting that America will lose the war in Iraq, Howard Dean is the latest national Democrat leader to embrace retreat and defeat in the central front in the War on Terror. His outrageous prediction sends the wrong message to our troops, the enemy, and the Iraqi people just 10 days before historic elections. Democrats across the nation should stand up and reject the pessimism of their chairman and strategy of defeat by their Congressional leaders."
[Ken Mehlman, RNC Chairman - Press Release - 12-05-05]

December 08, 2005

Another spectacular display on the House floor in the U.S. Congress just moments ago as the Clerk was interrupted several times reading H.R. 591, a privileged resolution denouncing the culture of corruption and directing the speaker to prevent further abuse. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's office is emailing the language to me now. I'll share it when it arrives. The vote in progress is on a Republican motion to table the resolution.

UPDATE 3:49pm: Here is the language. It was just tabled. Why is this important? It's a peek at the Democratic talking points in the coming battle over corruption charges in Congress.

Whereas the recurring practice of improperly holding votes open for the sole purpose of overturning the will of the majority, including bullying and threatening Members to vote against their conscience, has occurred eight times since 2003, and three times in the 109th Congress alone;

Whereas on November 22, 2003, the Republican Leadership held open the vote on H.R. 1, the Prescription Drug Conference Report, for nearly three hours, the longest period of time in the history of electronic voting in the U.S. House of Representatives;

Whereas the normal period of time for a recorded vote is 15 minutes, and the Speaker of the House has reiterated that policy on Opening Day of each Congress by saying, “The Chair announced, and then strictly enforced, a policy of closing electronic votes as soon as possible after the guaranteed period of 15 minutes”;

Whereas the sole purpose of holding the Prescription Drug vote open was to undermine the will of the House, and reverse the position that a majority of the House of Representatives had taken during the entire vote;

Whereas it was widely reported in the press that former Representative Nick Smith (R-MI) was bribed on the House floor, and the incident was described in Robert Novak’s column in the Chicago Sun-Times, November 27, 2003: “Nick Smith was told business interests would give his son $100,000 in return for his father’s vote. When he still declined, fellow Republican House members told him they would make sure Brad Smith never came to Congress. After (Rep.) Nick Smith voted no and the bill passed, (Rep.) Duke Cunningham of California and other Republicans taunted him that his son was dead meat”;

Whereas the cost of the Prescription Drug bill was a critical factor in determining the votes of many Members of Congress and Richard S. Foster, the chief actuary for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, conducted numerous estimates indicating the cost to be much higher, including a June 11, 2003 analysis of a similar plan in the Senate which would have cost $551 billion over ten years and Members were not made aware of this;

Whereas the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the cost of the Republican Prescription Drug bill to be $395 billion over ten years and, yet just two months after the vote in Congress, Joshua Bolten, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, disclosed that the Administration’s estimate of the cost was actually $534 billion;

Whereas Representative Bill Thomas, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and a key negotiator on the bill, told HHS Secretary Thompson on February 10, 2004 in a hearing before the Ways and Means Committee, “I know some people were surprised that your (HHS) number was higher. I personally was not…” (Hearing Transcript, February 10, 2004);

Whereas Representative Nancy Johnson, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee and a key negotiator on the bill, said she knew of the higher estimates and stated, “Absolutely, we knew about these numbers.” (The New York Times, March 18, 2004);

Whereas the Republican Leadership and the Committees of jurisdiction chose to ignore the warnings of higher cost estimates and intentionally misled Members of the House for the sole purpose of winning passage of an extremely controversial bill;

Whereas in a clear conflict of interest the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, former Representative Billy Tauzin (R-LA), was actively engaged in a job search with the pharmaceutical industry at the same time that he was a key negotiator on major provisions in the bill, and after its passage, he subsequently left Congress to take a highly-paid executive position with the head of the pharmaceutical lobby, and is reportedly making many times his congressional salary;

Whereas the Republican Leadership’s submissiveness to the influence of corporate interests, and their illegitimate efforts to overturn the will of the House to pass flawed legislation like the Prescription Drug bill, which was written to meet the needs of drug companies, call into question the legitimacy of the laws they enact and the agenda they pursue;

Whereas the culture of corruption has so permeated the Republican Leadership that they will violate their own Rules and the customs and decorum of the House to win votes on the floor of the House of Representatives;

Therefore, be it resolved that:

The House denounces the culture of corruption exhibited by the Republican Leadership, denounces the ongoing resort to illegitimate actions taken to pass legislation like the Prescription Drug bill under false pretenses, rejects the practice of improperly holding votes open beyond a reasonable period of time for the sole purpose of circumventing the will of the House, and directs the Speaker to take such steps as necessary to prevent any further abuse.
[Privileged Resolution on Culture of Corruption Surrounding Prescription Drug Bill - HR 591 - 12-08-05]

December 08, 2005

It looks like Italy's best hope "at a time of difficult economic conditions" is that an insatiable appetite for porn sweeps the countryside.

The tax is expected to raise about euro220 million (US$260 million) to help reduce the national deficit and to help fund government tax breaks to families.

"I believe the porn tax is important not for moralistic reasons, which don't concern me, but because I think that at a time of difficult economic conditions for families it is right to tax products that are not essential," lawmaker Daniela Santache was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency.
[Italian Lawmakers to Consider Porn Tax - AP - 12-08-05]

December 08, 2005

OK, maybe Bolton has a point. It is unfair not to focus on countries whose violations of human rights are more egregious than ours. But what does it say about America to find ourselves placed on the same list as those who torture? (via TMP and Andrew Sullivan)

John R. Bolton, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, criticized Arbour, calling it "inappropriate" for her to choose a Human Rights Day celebration to criticize the United States instead of such rights abusers as Burma, Cuba and Zimbabwe. He also warned that it would undercut his efforts to negotiate formation of a new human rights council that would exclude countries with bad rights records.

"Today is Human Rights Day. It would be appropriate, I think, for the U.N.'s high commissioner for human rights to talk about the serious human rights problems that exist in the world today," Bolton told reporters. "It is disappointing that she has chosen to talk about press commentary about alleged American conduct. I think the secretary of state has fully and completely addressed the substance of the allegations, so I won't go back into that again other than to reaffirm that the United States does not engage in torture."

He added: "I think it is inappropriate and illegitimate for an international civil servant to second-guess the conduct that we're engaged in in the war on terror, with nothing more as evidence than what she reads in the newspapers."
[U.N. Official Faults U.S. Detentions - Washignton Post - 12-08-05]

December 08, 2005

What an endorsement. (via Hotline)

"You are going to be one heck of a president," said former Gov. Jim Hodges, who lost his re-election bid to Republican Mark Sanford in 2002.

"I believe like the rest of you that we have a real winner here tonight," added former Democratic Gov. and U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings.

Dick Harpootlian, a former state party chairman and vocal Warner supporter, took one step further: "I think the people in this room heard the next president of the United States. He was inspiring."

This led political pundit Tom Schaller, who was on hand for the event, to one conclusion: "He just won the South Carolina primary."
[Virginia's Warner wows S.C. Democrats - Post and Courier - 12-08-05]

December 08, 2005

Eva Young received a clarifying statement from Dallas Ford dealer Jerry Reynolds, reportedly involved in discussions with AFA.

"No deal was made, no deal was brokered. Ford is cutting their advertising in ALL areas, especially when it comes to Jag and Rover, two divisions that continuously lose money. Volvo was a different deal...they are profitable and will continue to advertise in gay publications.

You can believe the press or you can believe me, whichever you choose. But there was NO DEAL made with the AFA, period."
[Dallas Ford Dealer Jerry Reynolds Responds - Lloydletta - 12-07-05]

Gays and lesbians threatening a boycott of Ford over their decision to withdraw ads from gay publications have a choice. 1) They can accept the fact that Ford has lost $2.2 billion over the past year and need to reassess their failed marketing strategy, or 2) they can toss Ford in bed with people who hate gays and play the victim.

Accepting Ford's decision amidst significant losses allows Ford the space they need to reassess their marketing strategy and come back to the gay community with something that works. Unfortunately, the choice of a loud minority segment of the gay community that desperately craves acknowledgement from corporate America is promoting a victim response that does nothing to help Ford or gay publications that advertise their products.

December 08, 2005

The Pods arrives today. We should be all packed up by sometime next week.

December 07, 2005

I was always suspicious of GayPatriot's claim that the leadership of the Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) was in bed with the liberal elites. Then, I visited their website calendar this evening to see what was coming up and saw a special "Holiday Gathering" in Denver, CO on the schedule! It appears that LCR has now joined the President, First Lady, Wal-Mart and the entire liberal secularist War On Christmas.

December 07, 2005

If you are regular reader here, you saw this coming 3 days before today's CBS/NYT poll.

There is good news and bad news in this poll for President George W. Bush. Americans have become more positive about the economy; more than half think the economy is in good shape, an 8-point increase since October.

The President’s overall approval rating has risen from 35 percent in October to 40 percent now, and his ratings on handling the economy and the war in Iraq have also improved.
[Poll: Bush's Ratings Bottom Out - CBSnews.com - 12-07-05]

December 07, 2005

On December 2, Bill O'Reilly escalated his call for a holy war on secularists and people of other faiths by pledging to "bring horror into the world of people" who do not "get own on their knees and thank Jesus for being born" in the name of Christmas. (via Atrios)

I am not going to let oppressive, totalitarian, anti-Christian forces in this country diminish and denigrate the holiday and the celebration. I am not going to let it happen. I'm gonna use all the power that I have on radio and television to bring horror into the world of people who are trying to do that.
[O'Reilly promised to "bring horror" to alleged "anti-Christian forces" who oppose Christmas - Media Matters transcript - 12-07-05]

December 07, 2005

When asked why President Bush invoked Santa Clause instead of Jesus in his speech on the meaning of Christmas, White House spokesman Scott McClellan urged us to think of the children as the War on Christmas rages on.

QUESTION: Scott, just one question today. At yesterday's briefing, the transcript records my quoting the President in his saying, "Each year we gather here to celebrate the season of hope and joy and to remember the story of one humble life that lifted the sights of humanity. Santa, thanks for coming." When I asked you WorldNet Daily's question, will the President apologize to Christians offended by his referring to Jesus as Santa, you responded, "The President meant exactly what he said, Les." But last night, I received an email which had your name on it, which said there were two separate -- (laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: Keep working on my emails, sending you things.

QUESTION: There were two separate thoughts --

MR. McCLELLAN: Must have been a little -- must have been a little elf. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Well, wait a minute, let me just tell you what was on the email --

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead. I want to give you the stage.

QUESTION: -- which it said, there were --

MR. McCLELLAN: I think I know where you're going with this.

QUESTION: -- two separate thoughts -- after he spoke about the meaning of Christmas, he then recognized Santa. And first of all, I want to ask, was that your email? And was it your final and conclusive answer rather than, the President meant --

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, it was my email. He wasn't, as you phrased it yesterday, comparing the two. Santa was at the event for the children that were there, and I don't think you want to take Santa away from all those children.
[White House Press Briefing - White House - 12-07-05]

December 07, 2005

So says Murtha today in response to President Bush's speech. Murtha is on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

MURTHA: Twenty years it’s going to take to settle this thing. The American people is not going to put up with it; can’t afford it. We have spent $277 billion. That’s what’s been appropriated for this operation. We have $50 billion sitting on the table right now in our supplemental, or bridge fund we call it, in the Appropriations Committee. They’re going to ask for another $100 billion next year.

…

QUESTION: Can we come back to the $100 billion? You said that you expect the military to ask for $100 billion. Where are you getting that figure?

MURTHA: Where I get all my figures: the military.
[BREAKING: Military Will Request $100B For Iraq Next Year, Murtha Reveals - Think Progress - 12-07-05]

Also read: Stakeholder (transcript - video)

December 07, 2005

During Virginia's statewide elections, which I worked on over the past year, Gov. Mark Warner kept his eye on Nov. 8, 2005 and helped deliver victory for Tim Kaine. Now, Warner's looking ahead.

Warner's new political-action committee, called Forward Together, collected more than $2.5 million during its first fundraiser, setting a record for Virginia politics.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jerry W. Kilgore set the modern standard when he brought in nearly $2.1 million at a Northern Virginia fundraiser featuring President Bush last summer.

"I have never seen this kind of enthusiasm for a potential presidential candidate," said former Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr., the committee's treasurer. "This is the kind of intensity we saw only after John Kerry got the nomination in 2004."
[Cash infusion for Gov. Warner - Times Dispatch - 12-07-05]

also read: RaisingKaine

December 07, 2005

The American Family Association (AFA) has a long history of failed boycotts. As Carpetbagger points out (via Kevin Drum), each company they boycotted saw increased revenues. The myth pushed by several blogs, including Carpetbagger's, is that Ford was the only company to give in to their demands.

The AFA launched a nine-year boycott of Disney, for example, during which time none of the group's demands were met and the company enjoyed a surge in profits. The AFA also launched boycotts against Crest toothpaste, Volkswagen, Tide detergent, Clorox bleach, Pampers, MTV, Abercrombie & Fitch, K-Mart, Burger King, the Carl's Jr. hamburger chain, Kraft Foods, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Old Navy stores, NutriSystem, and American Airlines. Late last year, the AFA went after the movie "Shark Tale," because the group believed the movie was designed to brainwash children into accepting gay rights. Then, it was American Girl dolls. Then it was Target for its lack of the word "Christmas" in its advertising. The whole thing is pretty embarrassing, but the AFA just keeps doing it.

So, in June, when the AFA went after Ford Motor Company for its support of the "homosexual agenda," the company was supposed to just blow it off. Instead, it's doing what the AFA demands.
[Ford, where backing down to nutcases is Job One - Carpetbagger - 12-06-05]

Ford is "doing what the AFA demands?" That doesn't account for one glaring factual ommision that sets Ford apart from the other companies boycotted by the AFA. Ford's "business decision" to no longer advertise in gay publications comes as Ford announced significant losses.

Over the past year, Ford's pretax profits in North America have fallen from almost $1.8 billion in the first nine months of 2004 to a loss of nearly $2.2 billion for the same period in 2005.
[Ford's fix-it plan - Detriot News - 12-07-05]

Most bloggers prefer to claim Ford is giving in to threats of boycott rather than reassessing their marketing plan. The fact is gays simply aren't buying their product with the supposed half a billion dollars they spend every year. The less room gays give Ford to reassess their marketting strategy on how to best win gay customers, the less likely it is Ford will resume advertising to a radioactive market trying to hold them hostage.

December 07, 2005

As you've probably read, there is a lot of blabber online about gays and lesbians boycotting Ford because they will no longer place their classy ads in gay publications.

I don't blame Ford. Gay newspapers are the wrong venue for a prestigious American company like Ford. Besides, I personally don't know a single gay or lesbian that drives a Ford. Not one. Do you? When Ford says it's a "business decision" to no longer advertise in gay publications, I look around at the cars my friends drive and easily conclude they are 100% correct. The return for their support looks flat lined.

But that doesn't stop some gays and lesbians from feeling betrayed, targeted and vengeful toward Ford.

Since Ford has apparently chosen to stop advertising in only gay publications, I — as well as other gay and lesbian (and other sympathetic) Americans — will choose not to a consider Ford when we shop for a new car.
[Another Reason Not To Buy A Ford - GayPatriot - 12-05-06]

That was posted under the title "Another Reason Not To Buy A Ford" over at GayPatriot. If you dig below what this title is really saying, you'd see there are already other reasons gays and lesbians wouldn't have bought a Ford in the first place. GayPatriotWest assures us he "will choose not to a consider Ford" the next time he shops for a car. What kind of car did he get the last time?

Over at the Ritalin-fueled Americablog, the attacks on Ford have been fast and frothing.

Use the links below to find your local dealer, and tell them to call Ford headquarters or you won't be shopping with them any time soon, nor will your friends or family.
[Contact your local Ford dealership - Americablog - 12-07-05]

You "won't be shopping with them any time soon, nor will your friends or family?" Give me a break! When was the last time John Aravosis ever stepped onto a Ford dealership's lot to consider buying a car? What kind of car was the last one he bought?

According to Witeck Combs, gays and lesbians are more likely to support companies that advertise to the community. That doesn't seem to have worked for Ford.

Nearly half (48%) of all GLB respondents say they find it most important or very important when considering products or services to see advertising that is clearly tailored to a gay audience with gay imagery, people or copy that speaks to them as a gay person and that appears in both mainstream publications and gay publications.
[National Survey Shows Gay-Specific Marketing Practices May Influence Brand Loyalty and Purchase Decisions of Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals - Witeck Combs - 02-04-05]

I would challenge my gay and lesbian friends to honestly look at the cars they drive and ask themselves if Ford's years of outreach has paid off. If it hasn't, give them a break.

December 07, 2005

Who is Catholic League President William Donohue calling "the worst elements in our culture?" It wouldn't be those faiths among the 1.4 million Americans who received the White House "holiday" card that aren't Christian would it?

This month, as in every December since he took office, President Bush sent out cards with a generic end-of-the-year message, wishing 1.4 million of his close friends and supporters a happy "holiday season."

Many people are thrilled to get a White House Christmas card, no matter what the greeting inside. But some conservative Christians are reacting as if Bush stuck coal in their stockings.

"This clearly demonstrates that the Bush administration has suffered a loss of will and that they have capitulated to the worst elements in our culture," said William A. Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.

Bush "claims to be a born-again, evangelical Christian. But he sure doesn't act like one," said Joseph Farah, editor of the conservative Web site WorldNetDaily.com. "I threw out my White House card as soon as I got it."
['Holiday' Cards Ring Hollow for Some on Bushes' List - Washington Post - 12-07-05]

December 06, 2005

If Saddam thinks trying to get a smoke in Baghdad is bad ...

Saddam, dressed in a dark suit and white shirt and clutching a Quran, complained that he and the seven other defendants were tired and had been deprived of opportunities to shower, have a change of clothes, exercise or go for a smoke.

"This is terrorism," he declared.
[Saddam Says He Won't Attend 'Unjust Court' - AP - 12-06-06]

... he'd hate the "terrorism" going on over at the Westin.

Westin Hotels & Resorts will announce today that it is snuffing out smoking in all rooms, restaurants, bars and public areas at its 77 U.S., Canadian and Caribbean properties starting in January. Guests may smoke only on balconies or in other outdoor areas.
[Westin hotels ban smoking - USA Today - 12-04-05]

December 06, 2005

Who can blame Ford for refusing to place their ads in publications saturated with content short of pornography?

The automaker, headed by Bill Ford Jr., denied that the ad switch had been made under pressure from conservative Christian groups. "The decision with regard to advertising was a business decision," a spokesman told The Associated Press. Ford's Premier Automotive Group, which includes the Jaguar and Land Rover brands, posted a pretax loss of $108 million for the third quarter. Ford (nyse: F - news - people ) declined to say how much it had spent on advertising in gay publications.

Last week, a conservative Christian group ended a plan to boycott Ford vehicles. The American Family Association had criticized Ford for being too gay-friendly. "We are ending the boycott of Ford," AFA Chairman Donald Wildmon said in a statement last week. "While we still have a few differences with Ford, we feel that our concerns are being addressed in good faith and will continue to be addressed in the future." In May, the AFA ended a largely ineffective nine-year boycott of The Walt Disney Co. (nyse: DIS - news - people ), launched over its decision to give same-sex couples benefits and to hold gay-related events at its theme parks.
[Ford's Jaguar, Land Rover Brands End Ads In Gay Media - Forbes - 12-06-06]

The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) co-founders Chance Mitchell and Justin Nelson fired off a nastygram.

"It is sad to realize when one of America’s cornerstone corporations plays party to homophobia put forward by those on the fringe. Your action undermines Ford Motor Company’s long history of supporting diverse communities and ignores the contributions we make to your corporate bottom line. If these actions are allowed to stand, we will ensure LGBT people are educated about this development and use it in the decision making process before purchasing their next vehicle," the letter states.
[NGLCC Calls Actions by Ford Motor Company Shameful - NGLCC - 12-06-06]

December 06, 2005

Nevermind whether Focus On The Family's new bank gives money to Jews or any other religion that violates the far more egregious Biblical offense of denying Jesus is Lord. About the closest bank they are going to find that meets their selectively pious purity test is James Dobson's mattress.

Focus on the Family is looking for a new bank, saying it's dumping Wells Fargo for its "pro-homosexual agenda."

The Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Christian group told its followers about the move Thursday. Focus on the Family said that a "pivotal reason" the San Francisco-based bank is getting the ax is that its logo was used in a fund-raising campaign for a "fight against the 'anti-gay industry' -- a group that pro-gay organizations have stated includes Focus on the Family."
[Wells Fargo dumped over gay 'agenda' - Seattle Post Intelligencer - 12-06-05]

December 06, 2005

Add the head of the European Publishers Council (EPC) to the growing list of ignorant industrial-aged publishers.

European publishers warned Tuesday that they cannot keep allowing Internet search engines such as Google Inc. to make money from their content. "The new models of Google and others reverse the traditional permission-based copyright model of content trading that we have built up over the years," said Francisco Pinto Balsemao, the head of the European Publishers Council, in prepared remarks for a speech at a Brussels conference.

His stance backs French news agency AFP, which is suing Google for pulling together photos and story excerpts from thousands of news Web sites.

"It is fascinating to see how these companies 'help themselves' to copyright-protected material, build up their own business models around what they have collected, and parasitically, earn advertising revenue off the back of other people's content," he said.
[Group: Online Content Cannot Remain Free - AP - 12-06-05]

Let's all do this together. Go to Google's news portal. You will clearly see thumbnails of photos and excerpts of copyrighted material the EPC views as theft. Now, marvel at your own behavior. What did you do next? If you enjoy news, you probably clicked on any story and went directly to the publisher's original work they themselves published online for the whole world to see. Very few require a subscription, but whose fault is that? Certainly not Google's.

What the hell is Francisco Pinto Balsemao's complaint here? It sounds like the same complaint Howard Kurtz has with all of us theiving readers and bloggers. Are publishers so ignorant that they can't figure out how to make money on the dramtic increase of customers showing up at their virtual door? It's no more Google's fault for directing millions of readers to a free story than it is the public library's. The EPC should be thanking Google for the traffic and hiring people that know what to do with it when it arrives.

December 06, 2005

Rush Limbaugh is in a dither over John Kerry.

RUSH: (laughing) Iraqis ought to be terrorizing Iraqi women and children! He (interruption). Yes he did. Yes he did just say it. Cue it back up, Mike. Yes, he did. He said, "...and there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of customs, the historical customs, religious customs, whether you like it or not. Iraqis ought to be doing that." Here, listen to it again. If you didn't believe it the first time you heard it, listen to it again.
[John Kerry Calls American Troops Terrorists - Rush Limaugh - 12-05-05]

What a pair Limbaugh and Kerry make. Yes, that's the same Rush Limbaugh who said last week that he "loves" the fact that an American hostage in Iraq may be executed in two days.

Yeah, all right. Now, let's take this at face value just for a moment. This could all be BS. I mean, we've never heard of the Swords of Righteousness Brigade. This could all be a stunt, but let's take it -- well, let's take it both ways. We'll take it face value at first, then we'll look at it as a stunt second. I said at the conclusion of previous hours -- part of me that likes this. And some of you might say, "Rush, that's horrible. Peace activists taken hostage." Well, here's why I like it. I like any time a bunch of leftist feel-good hand-wringers are shown reality.
[Rush Limbaugh - Media Matters Transcript - 11-29-05]

Yes he did. Yes he did just say it. Cue it back up, Mike. Yes, he did. He said, "here's why I like it. I like any time a bunch of leftist feel-good hand-wringers are shown reality." Maybe it was the Oxycontin talking, but Limbaugh just said there is a "part of me that likes this" whole American-hostage-getting-executed thingy in Iraq. Limbaugh said a good execution is the best dose of reality a leftist can get these days. Here, listen to it again. If you didn't believe it the first time you heard it, listen to it again. There is a part of Rush Limbaugh that REALLY gets a kick out of watching webcasts of American hostages getting their heads cut off. What a stunt!

December 06, 2005

There are two ways to appear moderate to the American people. 1) pick up the flag of a few issues of your opponent's base and run it up the nearest flag pole with zeal, or 2) have some good old American common sense in everything you do and hope people pay attention. It looks like Hillary Clinton has chosen the first option.

Clinton, D-N.Y., has agreed to co-sponsor a measure by Republican Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah, which has been written in hopes of surviving any constitutional challenge following a 2003 Supreme Court ruling on the subject. Her support of Bennett's bill follows her position in Congress last summer, when a constitutional ban on flag-burning was debated. Clinton said then she didn't support a constitutional ban, but did support federal legislation making it a crime to desecrate the flag.

In her public statements, she has compared the act of flag-burning to burning a cross, which can be considered a violation of federal civil rights law.
[Sen. Clinton co-sponsors anti-flag burning law - Newsday - 12-05-05]

I don't have any desire to burn an American flag, but I don't want pandering politicians placing asterisks in our nation's constitutional protection of civil liberties, especially free speech.

This is a democracy, not a totalitarian regime where the government can haul individuals before a court claiming the government is the victim and has been violated by an individual's speech.

Sen. Clinton opposed a previous attempt to amend the constitution to ban flag burning.

"I support federal legislation that would outlaw flag desecration, much like laws that currently prohibit the burning of crosses, but I don't believe a constitutional amendment is the answer," said Clinton. Her aides said there was no contradiction in being against the flag-burning amendment and for a flag-burning law.
[Flag amendment may lack votes to pass Senate - First Amendment Center - 06-13-05]

Here is what the "Flag Protection Act of 2005" says.

`(b) ACTIONS PROMOTING VIOLENCE- Any person who destroys or damages a flag of the United States with the primary purpose and intent to incite or produce imminent violence or a breach of the peace, and under circumstances in which the person knows that it is reasonably likely to produce imminent violence or a breach of the peace, shall be fined not more than $100,000, imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.

`(c) DAMAGING A FLAG BELONGING TO THE UNITED STATES- Any person who steals or knowingly converts to his or her use, or to the use of another, a flag of the United States belonging to the United States, and who intentionally destroys or damages that flag, shall be fined not more than $250,000, imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.

`(d) DAMAGING A FLAG OF ANOTHER ON FEDERAL LAND- Any person who, within any lands reserved for the use of the United States, or under the exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction of the United States, steals or knowingly converts to his or her use, or to the use of another, a flag of the United States belonging to another person, and who intentionally destroys or damages that flag, shall be fined not more than $250,000, imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
[S 1370 IS "Flag Protection Act of 2005"]

Sen. Clinton doesn't want you to burn a flag for the purpose of inciting violence. She's totally against people burning someone else's flag. And she doesn't want you to burn that stolen flag on federal property. The last I checked, inciting violence, theft and disposing stolen goods is already criminal. Is this attempt to remain constitutional a joke?

Take a look at the "Flag Protection Act of 1989" which the Supreme Court of the United States said was unconstitutional.

Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.
[Flag Protection Act of 1989]

December 06, 2005

The Supreme Court of the United States is hearing arguements on the Solomon Amendment. At issue is whether the federal government can condition the receipt of federal funds for education at universities and colleges on whether the schools allows the military to recruit. Chris Geidner (Law Dork) is watching.

To give an idea of how interesting this case is, one need only look at the fragile alliances formed by the amicus briefs in the case. The Christian Legal Society takes neither side in its brief, instead focusing on urging the Court to take note of the distinctions between public and private schools. The CATO Institute sides with the group of law schools and professors opposed to the law, taking the unsurprising position that government control over expressive associations is a very bad thing. In the most ironic twist, the Boy Scouts of America take the side of the government, arguing that the case allowing the Scouts to discriminate against gay scoutmasters, BSA v. Dale, does not give law schools the same associational freedoms.

In their brief, the Scouts argue that the situation in the Solomon case is "precisely analogous to public forum cases." BSA Amicus Brief, at 4. Parades (at issue in an earlier case, Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Group of Boston) and the Boy Scouts, the courts have found, are not public fora. In both of those cases, groups that did not take what I would term "strong anti-gay" positions were told by the courts that so long as they chose, at any moment, to exclude gay participants -- as a group and as leaders -- could feel free to do so. Here, where the law schools and faculties have taken a strong position against discrimination, the Boy Scouts maintain that associational interests are not implicated.
[Is It FAIR? - Law Dork - 12-05-05]

December 05, 2005

Doesn't the Boston Globe mean "holiday candle stick?"

In August, the Chabad Jewish Center in Westborough asked Shrewsbury for permission to erect a menorah on the lawn of Town Hall or on the town common for eight days starting Dec. 25, the first night of Hanukkah.

Officials at the time said they did not know how to handle the request; until then, the only requests had been for a holiday tree in the gazebo and Christmas caroling on the common.
[Menorah to light up common - Boston Globe - 12-01-05]

December 05, 2005

Tom Delay's redistricting plan was viewed as illegal by the Bush Administration's Department of Justice. He was admonished several times by the House of Representatives for ethics violations, saw colleagues indicted on felony charges, and faces money laundering charges.

DeLay and two Republican fundraisers, John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, are accused of illegally funneling $190,000 in corporate donations to 2002 Republican candidates for the Texas Legislature.

With DeLay's help, the GOP took control of the Texas House for the first time in 130 years, then pushed through a congressional redistricting plan engineered by DeLay that resulted in more Texas Republicans going to Congress.

Under Texas law, corporate money cannot be directly used for political campaigns, but it can be used for administrative purposes.
[Update 3: DeLay's Money Laundering Charges Upheld - AP - 12-05-05]

Despite all this, Vice President Dick Cheney still believes Tom Delay represents the very best today's Republican Party has to offer.

Vice President Dick Cheney heads to Houston today to help raise money for former U.S. House majority leader Tom Delay at the Westin Oaks Galleria.

Delay supporters will begin to arrive for a fundraiser around 4pm. Cheney's attendance is a clear sign that the White House is not distancing itself from the embattled former House majority leader, who is facing charges of breaking state campaign finance law.
[Dick Cheney to appear at fundraiser for Rep. Tom DeLay - ABCnews - 12-05-05]

UPDATE 8:25pm: New poll numbers from Tom Delay's district.

The survey found that 49 percent of registered voters questioned said they are more likely to vote for a Democratic challenger than for DeLay in 2006, and 36 percent said they would be more likey to vote for DeLay.

Former Democratic Rep. Nick Lampson is planning to challenge DeLay in the 2006 elections.

The survey also found that 55 percent of registered voters said that the charges that DeLay broke campaign finance laws are definitely or probably true, while 34 percent said they were probably or definitely not true.
[Update 11: DeLay's Money Laundering Charges Upheld - AP - 12-05-05]

December 05, 2005

Something tells me Bush's role as an elder statesman won't exactly follow his self-styled label as "the War President." There are a lot of things he can do, and today might be a glimpse at one possibility.

President Bush, tractor salesman.

While the President was at the Deere Hitachi plant in Kernersville, NC talking about the economy, the war president talked about plows. And he didn't so much just talk about them as much as he marketted them. Productive societies are John Deere societies. Interesting, It'n it?

"This company is a good example of how trade has transformed American businesses. In 1837, an Illinois blacksmith named John Deere fashioned a steel plow that let pioneer farmers cut through prairie soil. Today, the company that this guy started ships products, ships combines made in Illinois to Russia. Interesting, It'n it? A lot of the Deere business is done overseas because the product is good. People want the Deere product. People realize that their society can become more productive if they use products made by John Deere."
[President Bush speech on economy - Grantham transcript - 12-05-05]

I already want a John Deere!

December 05, 2005

Typically, anything I read that I spend some time researching I try to share. As the Internet goes these days, you can bet you haven't seen too much of that "research."

The case of 19th century journalist Victor Noir is an exception today, I guess. Cruising by Drudge this morning, I came across this sad story from over a year ago about the French shutting down public access to the tomb of Victor Noir due to inappropriate rubbing of the statue's large penis.

Officials concerned about damage to the icon's groin area have erected a fence around the grave, and a sign prohibiting indecent rubbing.

Noir - whose real name was Yvan Salman - was killed by Pierre Bonaparte, a great-nephew of the Emperor Napoleon, after bearing him a challenge to a duel.

According to the story, he was due to get married the day after he was killed.

The statue shows Noir in a frock coat and trousers lying flat on his back, with a distinct enlargement in the groin.
['Lewd rubbing' shuts Paris statue - BBC - 11-02-04]

Incase you come away from Drudge's link believing this tragedy continues, Wikipedia reports that the fence was torn down due to an outcry by angry, horny women.

December 05, 2005

It's the end of the world ... again. OK, so maybe they jumped the gun when they claimed the West would fall the day the "activist judges" ruled the Lovings were allowed to marry. They were right about one thing, though. If laws recognize marriage between blacks and whites, then it's a matter of time before we're all forced to let gays legally "support each other financially, even after the relationship ends."

Gay marriage is legal in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Canada. Britain has not gone that far, but civil partnership will be marriage in all but name, granting legal rights virtually identical to those enjoyed by married couples.

Gay couples who register as civil partners will take on the obligation to support each other financially, even after the relationship ends. To split, they will have to go through a "divorce" process, with the courts dividing up the assets regardless of ownership if they fail to reach a settlement. They will be exempt from inheritance tax when the first partner dies, and will have the same pension rights as married couples.
[Thousands prepare to tie the knot - Guardian - 12-05-05]

December 05, 2005

Appraisers, electricians and inspectors. Oh my! A lot of people coming and going today. We're using paper plates. Whoo hooooo!

December 04, 2005

The president is "very disturbed."

WALLACE: ... on that, sir? Excuse me. The president, as you say, talks about building democratic institutions. Does he view the U.S. military paying to plant stories in Iraqi newspapers as undermining a free and independent press?

HADLEY: The president was very disturbed about those reports. One of the reasons we are in Iraq is to help the Iraqis establish the institutions of democracy and freedom, and one of those, of course, is a free press and a free media. And so those reports are very troubling.

The Pentagon is looking into them. To the extent that kind of behavior is inconsistent with our policy, it will be stopped. Our policy is support a free media and get out truth, truth to Iraqis, truth to the American people about what is going on in Iraq.

WALLACE: So you're saying that there is going to be no more paying to plant stories in the Iraqi media.

HADLEY: They're investigating it. We need to know the facts. I've talked to Secretary Rumsfeld. He needs to know the facts. We don't at this point, but I think the policy of where we want to go -- the support for a free media, for truth about what's going on in Iraq -- that is the policy.

WALLACE: And does the president view these reports as inconsistent with that policy?

HADLEY: Yes. It's very troubling. And if it turns out to be true, I think you'll find that activity stopped.
[Transcript: National Security Adviser Hadley on 'FNS' - FOXnews - 12-04-05]

December 04, 2005

While you won't hear this declared in the mainstream media until these numbers begin to trend upward (rightfully so), a look at a few recent polls taken around the same time frame show an increase in the president's job approval.

December 04, 2005

Watch Foamy The Squirrel defend the baby Jesus from the liberal secularist attack on Christmas (via Instapundit). "T'is the season to shut the fuck up and stop being a little whiney bitch."

December 04, 2005

We've got Ninjas!

Members of the Rendition Group follow a simple but standard procedure: Dressed head to toe in black, including masks, they blindfold and cut the clothes off their new captives, then administer an enema and sleeping drugs. They outfit detainees in a diaper and jumpsuit for what can be a day-long trip. Their destinations: either a detention facility operated by cooperative countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, including Afghanistan, or one of the CIA's own covert prisons -- referred to in classified documents as "black sites," which at various times have been operated in eight countries, including several in Eastern Europe. [Wrongful Imprisonment: Anatomy of a CIA Mistake - Washington Post - 12-04-05]

December 03, 2005

The funny thing is, you don't even have to be President to have to take responsibility for our nation's war in Iraq. You can also be a Senator.

Clinton, who is running for re-election next year and is considered a possible presidential candidate in 2008, targeted the president's handling of the war for some of her sharpest criticism.

"The time has come for the administration to stop serving up platitudes and present a plan for finishing this war with success and honor," she said. "I reject a rigid timetable that the terrorists can exploit, and I reject an open timetable that has no ending attached to it.

"Instead, I think we need a plan for winning and concluding this war, and the president can begin by taking responsibilities for the false assurances, faulty evidence and mismanagement of this war."
[Clinton Tells Ky. Dems Bush Mismanaged War - Washington Post - 12-03-05]

December 03, 2005

The Pentagon has to pay Iraqi journalists to tell the story of those sacrificing their lives for Iraqi freedom? What an impression.

Lincoln Group officials would not discuss specifics of the contract. Laurie Adler, a spokeswoman for the company, said yesterday that Lincoln Group has been promoting truthful reporting across Iraq.

"We counter the lies, intimidation, and pure evil of terror with factual stories that highlight the heroism and sacrifice of the Iraqi people and their struggle for freedom and security," Adler said in a written statement. "We are encouraged by their sacrifice and proud to help them tell their side of the story."
[Military Says It Paid Iraq Papers for News - Washington Post - 12-03-05]

Sen. John Warner (R-VA) left the Pentagon Friday a "building" without all the facts o