America Supports You: Virginia Guard Family Gets Extreme Dream Home

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 18, 2007 – Army National Guard Spc. Michael Lucas received an extra-special homecoming during his mid-tour leave from Iraq recently when he and his family discovered they had been selected for a total home renovation, courtesy of the ABC reality television show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

A lifelong history buff, Lucas had begun construction on a house near Rice, Va., on the site of the Civil War’s Battle of High Ridge. But he was deployed before he could finish the home, and the family moved into a rental property in Cullen, Va. Jean home-schools both of her children, and the nomination for the home makeover came through members of the home school cooperative where she is a member.

National Guard soldiers were quick to lend a helping hand. About 50 soldiers volunteered their time to help build a home for a fellow soldier.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48445

NBC Refuses to Run Support the Troops Ads During Holidays

A conservative organization known as Freedom's Watch has had its advertisements rejected by NBC. As reported moments ago by the Associated Press (emphasis added):

NBC has rejected a TV ad by Freedom's Watch, a conservative group that supports administration policy in Iraq, that asks viewers to remember and thank U.S. troops during the holiday season.

NBC said it declined to air the ad because it refers to the group's Web site, which the network said was too political, not because of the ad's message.

[think about that - and this outfit based in New York]

http://www.freedomswatch.org/Edit/PressReleases/tabid/45/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/42/Default.aspx

Reform of Islam is Necessary for Civilization

The greatest [physical] danger mankind faces is the smuggling of a nuclear weapon by an Islamic Terrorist into a major western city killing millions in the name of God. If the hateful teachings of the Koran are not removed from Islam this is the disaster that will destroy civilization as we know it. It will dramatically change human history forever. The stakes are that high.
[snip]
Nobody cares if Islam is a religion in which people pray 5 times a day, wash their feet, fast for one month, do not use alcohol etc. That would be wonderful. But it is not.. Islam is a declaration of war against infidels. Islam is an ideology of war and the Koran is a book of war. This war is permanent until all the infidels have converted, or paid a submission tax or have been murdered. This is the Law of God as set down in the Koran.
[snip]
How is it possible that such an evil ideology (not religion) invented by an evil man (Muhammad) who, raped slaves, beheaded prisoners, sold women and children into slavery and raped a child – be posing such a grave threat worldwide to democracy and freedom. Any normal person reading the Koran immediately realizes that the hate, terror, violence pouring from the pages is not the word of God but that of a mad man which needs to be expunged from civil societies.
[snip]
The biggest problem we face in our struggle is that the political, media, intellectual and political elites are making criticism of Islam off limits by labeling such criticism Islamophobia. These elites are contributing this crazy and insane situation...

http://www.globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=3910&cid=11&sid=109

Lakota Indians Announce Secession from United States

A group claiming to represent the Lakota (aka Teton, Tetonwan) people, part of the Sioux, announces via press release their independence from the United States. A Lakota delegation on Monday delivered a statement of "unilateral withdrawal" from the United States to the U.S. State Department in Washington.

"We are now a free country and independent of the United States of America," Means said in a telephone interview. "This is all completely legal." Means said anyone could live in the Lakota Nation, tax free, as long as they renounced their U.S. citizenship. The nation would issue drivers licenses and passports, but each community would be independent. "It will be the epitome of individual liberty, with community control," Means said.

To make his case, Means cited a recent nonbinding U.N. resolution on the rights of indigenous people. He thinks there will be international pressure. "If the U.S. violates the law, the whole world will know it," Means said.

It doesn't take a lot of imagination to see harmonic convergence looming in the fantasies of the international left. Their publicity campaign is coming. It deserves to be laughed away - but won't be. There is a vast industry of activist groups, NGOs, financial interests and governments which will love this "cause." Imagine the potential for "solidarity"! The nation state is the primary rival of the forces of supranational organizations like the EU, UN, and others of 'world governance'.

The news was picked up eagerly overseas (e.g., Radio Netherlands, U.K. Telegraph, AFP and Malaysia Sun ) faster than at home, although USA Today and local/regional media like the Rapid City Journal had coverage that went beyond PR transcription.

http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=31054&cat=0

Gore: Scientists Disagreeing with Climate Alarmism Tied to Big Oil

As NewsBusters reported Thursday, over 400 scientists in 2007 "voiced significant objections to major aspects of the so-called ‘consensus' on man-made global warming." Predictably, Nobel Laureate Al Gore dismissed this historic Senate report by stating through a representative that some of these esteemed scientists from around the world have connections to Big Oil, and, therefore, their opinions should be ignored.

Pretty amazing coming from a man that has made what some estimate is $100 million in the past seven years selling this canard 'consensus' to the public.

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.SenateReport

Fatal alliance

A recent article in The Washington Times by Sara A. Carter show the frightening importance of the alliance between Arabic terrorists and Mexican drug cartels. It documents how well known this dangerous situation has been for several years, for which no effective action had been taken by the Department of Homeland Security or local officials.

As an old drug-policy hand, I thought I had heard everything about it. But parts of the story were news to me and terribly disturbing. One example was the report that "approximately 20 Arab persons a week were utilizing the Travis County Court in Austin to change their names and driver's licenses from Arabic to Hispanic surnames." I do not claim that this horrendous problem is easy to deal with; it is not.

However, I do claim that some obvious first steps come to mind. . .

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070820/EDITORIAL/108200006/1013/editorial

From bad to worse for deficit

California

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's finance officials are estimating a California budget deficit next year of $14 billion, significantly larger than the $6.8 billion gap previously forecast by a state budget analyst, according to two sources who have spoken to the governor. The growing estimate increases pressure on Schwarzenegger and lawmakers to cut spending, increase taxes and possibly sell off public assets to close the budget hole.

[All the while continuing to pursue taxpayer funded 'free' health care.]

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/560995.html

Time's Selective Sense of Humor: Top Cartoons Target Only Conservatives

What do you know? Time magazine ran a list of the Top Ten Editorial Cartoons of 2007, and the only American political figures coming in for lampooning were . . . conservatives. Four of the cartoons were not explicitly political, but of those that satirized political figures, all were Republicans or conservatives:
[snip]
Even Mahmoud Ahmadinejad got better treatment at Time's hands than did conservatives. The only bad news that upsets the Iranian regarding his trip to NYC is his inability to get tickets to The Lion King. Aww. As for Democrats, not a cartoon in sight.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1690170_1690363,00.html

When Will They Ever Learn?

California

An agreement is rumored to be near for adoption of a $9 billion general obligation water bond. The bond will cost the general fund roughly $18 billion, including interest (or $600 million a year EVERY year for the next 30 years) and is being pushed at a time when the state is running an unprecedented deficit due to unsustainable increases in spending.

The measure is being touted as a response to increasingly tight water supplies, although only $3 billion – at most – will be used for surface water storage. This despite SIX other bond acts over the last 11 years that have totaled $17 billion, ALL promising to solve our water shortages.

Two other notes. First, nearly HALF of our water is now being used to meet various environmental mandates. Although additional facilities are certainly needed, our current "crisis" is largely the product of environmental extremism. And second, $7.1 billion from the two water bonds approved by voters last November still has not been appropriated.

http://www.carepublic.com/blog.html?blog_id=204&frompage=latestblog&domain=tom_mcclintock

UK chooses 'most ludicrous laws'
A little-known law which prohibits people dying while in the Houses of Parliament has been voted the UK's most ludicrous piece of legislation. The most absurd international law was judged to be in the US state of Ohio, where it is illegal to get fish drunk. (Snip) the list included legislation against naming a pig Napoleon in France, driving while wearing a blindfold in Alabama and unmarried women parachuting on a Sunday.
[methinks that last may have something to do with the wearing of skirts back in the day - note that it was evidently A-OK on Saturdays!]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7081038.stm

Baghdad-Area Surge Operations Garner More Success

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2007 – Ongoing U.S. military efforts to disrupt insurgent operations in and around Baghdad are garnering continued success, a senior military officer posted in Iraq said today. “It is just evident that the surge was the right thing to do,” Grigsby said. Overall attacks in Baghdad have decreased dramatically since the surge took hold, he said.

“We are continuing to kick the insurgents’ butt each day,” Grigsby said.

Related operations to date have resulted in the killing of 128 insurgents and the capture of almost 500 suspected extremists, Grigsby said, 25 of whom are considered to possess high informational value. The operations also disabled 119 roadside bombs and seized 43 weapons caches the colonel said.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48410

Active, Reserve Components Meet November Recruiting Goals

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2007 – All military components met their recruiting goals in November, Defense Department officials said here yesterday. It was the sixth month in a row that all services made their recruiting goals, officials said.
[snip]
On the active-duty side, the Marine Corps made 108 percent of its recruiting goal, accessing 2,444 recruits against a goal of 2,263. [] The Navy made 100 percent of its goal of 2,732 recruits, and the Air Force met its goal of 1,836. [] The Air National Guard and Army National Guard easily made their November goals at 133 percent and 116 percent, respectively. [] The Air Force Reserve made 100 percent of its enlistment quota of 558; the Navy Reserve made 100 percent of its goal of 895; and the Marine Corps Reserve made its goal of 572.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=48381

The War on Zionism

Post Annapolis, the Palestinian Authority made it crystal clear that it will never recognize Israel as a "Jewish state". Furthermore, it made it crystal clear that it will not compromise on Jerusalem by making it a capital offense to do so. Yet negotiations continue. [?] Either Olmert doesn't believe the PA or what is more likely, he will still cut a deal where Israel is denied that recognition and will divide Jerusalem according to Arab demands.

Do not think for a moment that these entrenched Arab positions are negotiable. They aren't and never have been...

[i.e., any plan for peace requires parties - plural - who desire it]

http://www.globalpolitician.com/articledes.asp?ID=3900&cid=2&sid=1

UN Moving to Derail Fraud Investigations

The UN bureaucracy has once again acted to insulate itself from punishment for engaging in fraud that has cost the UN (and America, since America by far is the largest contributor to the United Nations) hundreds of millions of dollars. .
[snip]
The General Assembly is preparing to put an early end to an in-house panel that has exposed more than $600 million in tainted United Nations contracts and is currently investigating an additional $1 billion in suspect agreements.

The effort to scuttle the panel is not a budget matter so much as a political one, and it represents the continuing suspicion developing countries have about international intervention in their affairs.
[snip]
In its effort to curtail the task force’s work, Singapore succeeded in winning over the powerful Group of 77, an assemblage representing the developing world that has grown over the years to 130 nations. [each of which get as influential a vote in the general assembly as any nation, regardless of size or contribution to the UN's budget - and as a block of 130, they're nigh unstoppable.]

"The investigations will obviously cease,” Mr. Appleton said Thursday, noting that the United Nations currently had no other unit “to address these matters.”

[The organization is UNsalvageable]
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/world/asia/21nations.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Senate Report: Over 400 Scientists Dispute Manmade Global Warming

According to a report just published at the United States Senate Committee on Environment, over 400 prominent scientists from more than two dozen countries recently voiced significant objections to major aspects of the so-called "consensus" on man-made global warming. These scientists, many of whom are current and former participants in the UN IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), criticized the climate claims made by the UN IPCC.
[snip]
Even some in the establishment media now appear to be taking notice of the growing number of skeptical scientists. In October, the Washington Post Staff Writer Juliet Eilperin conceded the obvious, writing that climate skeptics "appear to be expanding rather than shrinking." Many scientists from around the world have dubbed 2007 as the year man-made global warming fears "bite the dust." (LINK)
[snip]
This report lists the scientists by name, country of residence, and academic/institutional affiliation. It also features their own words, biographies, and weblinks to their peer reviewed studies and original source materials as gathered from public statements, various news outlets, and websites in 2007. Many of the scientists featured in this report consistently stated that numerous colleagues shared their views, but they will not speak out publicly for fear of retribution.

Though lengthy, readers are strongly encouraged to review this entire document to learn the truth about what real scientists - those not receiving Oscars, Emmys, and Nobel Peace Prizes [or grants]- think about this controversial issue.

[reminder: alarmists are in a hurry to get their laws on the books because time will increasingly prove prior predictions and scientific methods false - hence they're becoming shriller and shriller in demanding legislation now-right-now, for as we all know, a law that brings the government money and power once enacted is forever...]

http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.SenateReport

Moscow Suspends Cold War Weapons Treaty

Moscow officially ended its adherence to a key Cold War treaty that sets limits on the number of soldiers and weapons stationed in Europe. Officials in Moscow said on Wednesday, Dec. 12, that there are no plans to build up their military forces after they suspended participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty but added the move was necessary to protect Russia's national security.

[So how many years will need to pass before it's politically acceptable to admit the cold war is back on? How many more after that before we react to counter it?]

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3000904,00.html