An open letter to the Democrats in power in Washington D.C.

November 2, 2010 — the most important election in my lifetime!

“I’m trying to save the planet; I’m trying to save the planet” Nancy Pelosi gives her planet-savin’ rhetoric a rest, at least in private, at least when it’s politically expedient to do so — so much for the we-gotta-save-Gaia-NOW alarmism, huh? Maybe she needs to just flip a coin. From Politico:

California Democrat Nancy Pelosi may be trying to save the planet — but the rank and file in her party increasingly are just trying to save their political hides when it comes to gas prices as Republicans apply more and more rhetorical muscle.

But what looks like intraparty tension on the surface is part of an intentional strategy in which Pelosi takes the heat on energy policy, while behind the scenes she’s encouraging vulnerable Democrats to express their independence if it helps them politically, according to Democratic aides on and off Capitol Hill.

The Dems are smellin’ a killin’ in Congress and plan on picking up veto and filibuster proof majorities in both houses. If that happens and Obama wins, look out for that $12 a gallon gas much sooner than later.

They don’t care if you can fill up your tank. They don’t care if you can heat your house. They don’t care . . . period. All they want is a win in November — damn the cost, and damn your hide.

Technorati Tags: Nancy Pelosi

[Updated:] Welcome! While you’re here, be sure and see what Bozo the Clown, Spongebob Squarepants and ol’ Barack Obama have in common.

[h/t: The Anchoress]

Dems turn out the lights but GOP won’t go home Part II — From Politico’s The Crypt:

Here are the latest updates on the continuing GOP protest on the House floor:

The House adjourned about three hours ago, but GOP lawmakers — outraged that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats went home for five weeks without allowing a vote on offshore drilling — have refused to leave the floor. Even though C-SPAN can’t show you what’s going on (C-SPAN is prevented from showing what’s happening on the floor when the House is out of session), Republicans are holding an unprecedented session on the House floor. They have brought in dozens of their members, who are walking up and down the aisles making speeches. They have packed the floors and galleries with staffers. When Capitol Police tried to remove reporters from the gallery, Republicans stopped it from happening. The crowd has repeatedly broken out in chants of “Vote, vote, vote!” There are several dozen Cub Scouts sitting on the House floor in seats normally occupied by members.

Update: A GOP staffer just informed me that post-adjournment protests by the minority party are not unprecedented. The Democrats did it back in 1995, when the Republicans were in control. Democrats placed a big photo in the speaker’s chair of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) wearing a diaper. Republicans note they are being more respectful this time.

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), who was on a plane headed home, went back to the Capitol, walking on to the floor dragging his luggage. He got a standing ovation.

Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) called it a “new Boston Tea Party!”

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said he was “not leaving until we call this Congress back into session and vote for energy independence.”

Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the dimly lit chamber is a “vision of the future by the Democrat Party: The lights are out, there’s no power, and the air conditioning is gonna go off soon.”

Keep checking in – this could get to be real good!

[Update:]

Evidently the party had to end when the Capital Police came in and escorted those representatives and visitors that hadn’t left out of the building right at 5PM. As one commentor at Hot Air puts it:

So, if the Capitol Police had strict orders to vacate the place, is this the police state that the libs said the GOP would bring? looks like Nancy done brought it.

[Update #2:] Michelle Malkin reports that Examiner editorial page editor Mark Tapscott is saying:

“Why aren’t all House GOPers on the floor? Here they have a golden media moment to frame the energy issue and capture the public’s attention in an unexpected way. We should be carrying kerosene lamps to them for lighting, getting video cameras to them and they should be demanding that Democrats come back.”

Also, looks like there are calls for Bush to convene a special session of Congress over the drilling issue. The Pres can’t make ‘em do anything while they are there, but he can interrupt their little 5 weeks of vacation (sheesh, even in France they don’t get that!) and make them come back to the D.C. Go get ‘em, “W”!

Technorati Tags: GOP protest on the House floor, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Kevin Brady, Rep. John Shadegg, Rep. Mike Pence, Rep. Tom Cole

Were it that all debates could go this way . . .

I spend a lot of time dreading this fall’s elections, mostly because I see so much hand wringing on the GOP side as they look with trepidation at almost definite losses in the House and Senate races. It’s frustrating, and according to Dafydd over at Big Lizards fixable, if the Grand Old Party would get together and actually stand for something again, like for a real, sparkling, accept-no-excuses American Future.

Boldness is what we need now: Instead of accepting our political dhimmitude at the hands of Majority Leader Harry “Pinky” Reid (D-Caesar’s Palace, 85%) and Squeaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Haight-Ashbury, 93%, not counting missed votes), we must risk everything on a real campaign to take back the Congress.

The GOP needs a new national strategy, similar in some ways to the Contract With America in 1994; but that contract was entirely procedural and inside-baseball. What we need today is a substantive national strategy.

Obama has his “American Moment” speech; fine. But for those of us who want America to last more than a moment, let’s have a strategy based around the theme, Vote For an American Future:

1 – Vote for American energy for America and our friends

America is an energy nation: We use a lot, but we have a lot more reserves than we’re allowed by law to tap.

We need to drill for oil everywhere on American territory where oil is to be found, as well as in international waters; but we’ll use American high-technology to drill in an environmentally safe and sound way.

{…}

2 – Vote for an economy of wealth, not illth

A simple rule that applies universally: You cannot tax yourself into prosperity. We need some form of taxation to pay for things we need; but we don’t need taxes to “level the playing field” by crippling successful people so that life’s losers don’t feel so bad.

{…}

3 – Vote for security, not surrender

We stand at a tipping point of history: We have it in our power to destroy the Iran/al-Qaeda axis and secure not just America but the West for decades. But we need to mobilize more than just our military, brilliant as it is. This existential struggle cannot be won by bullets and bombs alone.

We need to bring together defense, diplomacy, intelligence, and the ideology of freedom in this world-wide conflict. Americans instinctively distrust “nation building;” but that makes us ideal stewards to help failed states in the “non-integrated gap” to rebuild their own nations — with our support and know-how.

We must completely rebuild our intelligence agencies from the ground up.

{…}

4 – Vote for the ownership society

So-called “entitlements” are bleeding us dry. Out of the $3 trillion budget, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security alone account for nearly 50% of spending. This is completely unsustainable; either we find a long-term solution to out of control entitlement programs, or else we give up on America.

The problem is right in the name: “Entitlement” programs are services and money that we’ve told citizens they’re “entitled” to extract from the government, no matter how fiscally catastrophic that is. The amount we pay each recipient increases by more than inflation every year, while the number of recipients grow as we all live longer, due to better medical care, and lead healthier lives. Add those together, and you have a prescription for disaster.

{…}

5 – Vote for Capitalism, not crony liberalism and corruption

Earmarks are the corruption of ruling elite; they’re personal budget items stuffed into legislation in the dead of night, often without any other senator or representative even seeing them. They pour money into the pockets of special interests, to the tune of hundreds of thousands, millions, and sometimes even tens of millions of dollars.

The recipient then kicks back some of that money to the reelection campaign of the member who pushed through the earmark. Earmarks as close as you can get to out and out bribery without being arrested.

{…}

E pluribus unum

Democrats have controlled Congress for the past two years, and they had significant veto power even before the 2006 elections.

{…}

The only plan the Democrats have for growing the economy is to tax us all to death.
It shouldn’t be too hard to show voters that we Republicans have a better plan than “taxicide.”

Sure sounds better than sitting in the corner doin’ the lip diddle and thinkin’ “Woe is me!” — which is what I see far too much of going on with our GOP “leaders”.

As I often say, there’s lot’s o’ good thinkin’ within those ellipses — so get, go and read it all!

Technorati Tags: American Moment

As usual, The Anchoress is saying it better than I would:

Especially now that Nancy Pelosi – as incompetent a House Speaker as has ever held the post – has decided that Congress does not even have to send the president whole and complete bills (staggering arrogance!), if the GOP does not find the gumption to first DEMAND a revote and then do a 180 and represent the will of the people over their own fat, they deserve to lose everything, for the foreseeable future.
{…}
I really believe in my heart that Americans are dying for someone – anyone -to stop accepting media storylines, PC framings and a status-quo of illusion, mediocrity and feckless double-talk, and just be straight and firm on these issues.
{…}
When the congress is out of control – and it seems not only out of control but out of its mind – do not the other two branches of government have a basis to step in? I’m no scholar, so it’s a serious question.

There’s lots o’ good stuff inside those ellipses — go and read it all.

What got her so hot and bothered was the machinations of the Pelosi folks, who managed to send the farm bill to President Bush for signing, but conveniently left out parts of it. Gee, that’s real open and honest democratic government for ya! Ed Morrissey at Hot Air was the spark:

The balance of power in American government counts on an open process on legislation between Congress and the executive branch. That requires Congress to provide the President with a complete copy of bills to determine whether to sign or veto them. Any hidden provisions not submitted to the executive should render the entire legislation invalid.

Democrats had Republicans in trouble with their base for their votes on this bill. Instead of just taking their time and letting the GOP twist in the wind, they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with underhanded and potentially unconstitutional maneuvering.

Gotta luv them Dems — they sure like to step in their own mess. The Anchoress is right though — time for the Republicans in Congress to grow some hair!

Technorati Tags: Nancy Pelosi, Congress

Over at Mitch McConnell’s site there’s an online “thank you” card where you can show your support for General David Petraeus as he makes his report to Congress this week. The last time, the wacky Left, led by MoveOn.org ads made fools of themselves and attacked the General. This time around he deserves much better.

Sign the card!

Technorati Tags: General David Petraeus

Blogging will be even lighter than it has been the last few days as we have family and hospital issues to deal with. However, a few items of note.

If you want a good chuckle over the latest way Nancy Pelosi is impacting the Congress, check out SeeDubya’s take on her revamp of the “the once dreary congressional cafeterias“. Oh my . . .

Mitt won in Michigan, so we got ourselves a horse race big time on the GOP side. Check out my buddies over at Article VI Blog and their comments on the decline of religious-identity politics in this hotly-contested GOP race — finally!

Just in case you think the Right is the fascist element of thought control in the world, (Okie readers wouldn’t think that!), think again. The Anchoress points us to this LGF post featuring videos of the hearings in Canada as a Canadian publisher is persecuted for “Mindcrime”. What did he do that is so very wrong? Published the Danish anti-Islamic cartoons of course. How could he?

And finally for now, to go along with his penchant for clemency, the Huckster puts his big foot in it during his closing arguments in Michigan with this statement:

“[Some of my opponents] do not want to change the Constitution, but I believe it’s a lot easier to change the constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God, and that’s what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards rather than try to change God’s standards[.]“

Hey — I agree with him about being pro-life and pro-traditional-marriage, but come on dude, “amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards” is some scary language. If you want to see what talk like that could mean some day, read Robert Ferrigno‘s novel Prayers for the Assassin. Adjusting our founding/governing document to reflect the standards of anyone’s God isn’t what this country was all about. It is there, in subtext and intent of the Founders — however, it’s up to us via public discourse and persuasion to keep that intent alive and well. It has to be in us, the people, ’cause if you try to do it via legislation or the courts, it will become perverted and would eventually entirely disappear. That’s the nature of man throughout time. We aren’t a different species — we just have been lucky enough to have had a brace of extremely brilliant individuals, (shall we dare say it . . . MEN), that had the foresight to pattern a form of government that allows for an extraordinary level of diversity among its governed, via the wants, wishes and needs of said governed — up to a point.

Let’s not screw this up people! We’re voting for a political leader, not a nanny or a pastor-in-chief . . .

Technorati Tags: Nancy Pelosi, congressional cafeterias, Robert Ferrigno, Prayers for the Assassin

Let’s see, — losers, defeatists, Democrats? — as Monty Python was always saying, “Run away!”

[h/t to Paul over at Prying 1 blog]

Heh!

There’s a title that would already have prejudiced a Lefty from even being able to read, not to mention comprehend, what ever came after that. Obviously, if you have anything to do with the “energy” industry, your opinion about the Global Warming hysteria is suspect, if not downright dangerous and/or criminal. If you also happen to be the CEO of an industry company, you must be shilling for that industry. If your company is in the “coal” business, you’re the lowest of the low. Coal is EVIL, don’t ya know? So, what’s up with Bob Murray, founder and CEO of Murray Energy Corporation, who recently spoke at the 94th annual banquet and meeting of the New York Coal Trade Association in NYC? Alicia Colon at the New York Sun has the skinny.

One of the guest speakers was Bob Murray, founder and CEO of Murray Energy Corporation and probably one of the few CEOs brave enough to challenge the militant climate control movement that threatens the future of America’s economy. In his speech, he dared to say that he regards Al Gore as the shaman of global doom and gloom. He is not joking when he says, “He is more dangerous than his global warming.”

Unlike many heads of corporations who are taking their companies on that long green mile and caving in to the demands of environmental militants, Mr. Murray is fighting tooth and nail for what he says is, “the little guy that nobody cares about.”

“Some wealthy elitists in our country,” he told the audience, “who cannot tell fact from fiction, can afford an Olympian detachment from the impacts of draconian climate change policy. For them, the jobs and dreams destroyed as a result will be nothing more than statistics and the cares of other people. These consequences are abstractions to them, but they are not to me, as I can name many of the thousands of the American citizens whose lives will be destroyed by these elitists’ ill-conceived ‘global goofiness’ campaigns.”

She goes on to tell that Murray was a coal miner himself, survived two mining accidents, and scraped up the money to buy a mining company that now employees 3,000. Still going into the mines, he also works to try and stop the environmentalists and government concerns from strangling coal out of existence here in the U.S. — not an easy job, that!

Mr. Murray told me that he had seen the effect of the drastic reductions in coal production, and the wrenching impact on hundreds of communities, as a result of that legislation. In Ohio alone, from 1990 to 2005, about 118 mines were shut down, costing more than 36,000 primary and secondary jobs. These impacted areas have spent years recovering, and some never will. He spoke of the families that broke up, many lost homes, and some were impoverished, because of legislation that the environmentalists call a “success.”

And, just in case you have the proclivity to believe that the Democrats that now control Congress are at all interested in hearing both sides of this issue, consider this.

Mr. Murray told me that the Democrats had tried to stop his scheduled testimony on March 20 before the House Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, titled “Toward a Clean Energy Future: Energy Policy and Climate Change on Public Lands.” But after Mr. Murray was interviewed by Bloomberg News and by the Wall Street Journal, they relented. The chairman refused to hear his testimony and left Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Democrat of Rhode Island, in charge.

“The chairman refused to hear his testimony[.]” Telling. Kinda like putting hands over ears and caterwauling, “La la la la, I can’t hear you!” Juvenile. Stupid. Democrats. At the hearings, Murray explained the benefits of coal in helping reduce our dependence upon the energy resources in hostile parts of the globe. Coupled with the FACT that the developing world, including CHINA!!! is not gonna go along with any of the Kyoto Treaty provisions (they’re undeveloped, but not STUPID!), our self-denial of the usage of our most abundant source of energy doesn’t make a whole lot of sense — unless you actually have bought into the “We’re All Gonna Die From Global Warming” nonsense. Colon wraps with:

The irony is that these caps and controls will do little to affect climate. Timothy Ball, a renowned environmental consultant, testified before the committee that global warming is more likely to be caused by sun spots rather than human activity. Mr. Murray’s passion for saving the “little guy” is truly admirable. Too bad that fervor is completely absent in Congress.

No kidding, it’s too, freakin’ bad, that’s for sure. BTW — the LA Times is one of those entities that has bought into the “We’re All Gonna Die From Global Warming” nonsense. For the last two days they have misconstrued the Supreme Courts ruling earlier this week with these two articles: Justices push EPA to act on car emissions and Bush agrees with greenhouse gas ruling, sort of. In both they assert that the Supreme Court has mandated “that the Environmental Protection Agency must regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles as pollution.”

I don’t think so. What the Court did was say that “greenhouse gas emissions” should be considered as pollutants and that CO2 (carbon dioxide) is a suspected agent of man-caused climate change and that regulation of CO2 “does” come under the authority of the EPA and that the EPA is obligated either to set standards to control CO2 emissions or provide the rationale for not doing so if it believes that CO2 is not harmful.

“Under the clear terms of the [law], EPA can avoid taking further action only if it determines that greenhouse gases do not contribute to climate change or it provides some reasonable explanation” why regulations are not needed, Stevens said.

Arguing against CO2 regulations is a tough order in this hysterical climate of the Global Warming screaming meemies. One wonders what the Liberal members of the Court think about “water vapor”, which is the most abundant of the greenhouse gases? Maybe they think that the EPA should be working to eliminate “clouds” in the atmosphere? How about posterior-mounted catalytic converters for cows to control bovine flatulence, a renowned source of greenhouse gas? How about some of them for the Democrats in Congress? In that application you might need one on both ends, though.

Making the economic case against draconian global warming legislation and regulation will fall on deaf ears in the new Democrat Congress. The leadership, committed Lefties all, see benefit in strangling our domestic businesses — and that benefit is all theirs in the opportunities to regulate, regulate, regulate and tax, tax, tax! The only GREEN that really means anything is “your” GREEN going into the national coffers so that they can spend, spend spend!

Tax & spend — a Democrat’s wet dream. If they have to scare the bejesus out of ya with the Global Warming horror show to convince you to give them a whole lot more of your hard earned moolah, hey, why not? After all, they know what’s good for ya, they know better how to spend your money — after all, you might just invest it in something that would benefit the nation’s economy — like a coal mine for instance. Can’t have that now, can we?

Last week the House GOP’s Protect John Doe provision passed on a 304 to 121 vote, with all 121 nays cast by the Democrats. Figures. According to Michelle Malkin‘ post today, the new head of the Homeland Security Committee, D-Miss Bennie Thompson was on the floor railing against the provision.

Finally, a member of the leadership realized how this would look to Americans watching on C-SPAN: Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) was seen staring at Thompson and repeatedly drawing his hand across his throat – an urgent signal to get off the floor.

With Democrats realizing they couldn’t argue against King’s measure, it went to a vote, and passed, 304 to 121.

Every one of those 121 votes aimed at defeating protection for “John Does” was a Democrat – indeed, more than half of all Democrats present voted “nay.”

And, with the exception of Rep. Anthony Weiner (Brooklyn), Democrats from the New York-New Jersey metro area led the way in voting against it.

That last graph is shocking. The reps from to non-governmental whistle-blowers concerned about suspicious activities going on around them. No, better to just let another terrorist attack happen, better to just lay down an die — can’t even begin to possibly hurt the “feelings” of a suspicious individual.

Might. Just. Scar. Them. For. Life.

Please, grow some hair people. This isn’t kindergarten — it’s real life, in real time, with real dangers and real, scary folk that want to separate your head from your body, or blow you to itty-bitty bits! I told you about Michelle’s John Doe Manifesto last week. Apparently it’s got the nutroots in a real tizzy. Caution: If you follow any of the following links, the language gets rough, quickly! A few select comments from the Huffington Post item that she links to:

Holy crap. Michelle Malkin has always been one of my least favorite conservative mouths, but this really takes the cake. The really sad thing is that reasonable vigilance is a good idea in the age of terrorism, and this bee-atch is subverting it for her own agenda of hate.

—

I’m not so much frightened by terrorists following us here as I am people like Malkin who seem to have taken leave of their senses and seem to be so frightened themselves that they appear to see boogie men in every closet. Where vigilance by all is definitely a fact of daily life; there is a loss of all reason in this kind of Malkinthink…

—

Pay attention to the fact that Michelle Malkin’s site is supported by advertsing by Amazon.com, Netflix and Equifax (which is really scary given all the private information they have in their databases). Writing campaign anyone? Let’s shut Michelle down (if not up) the good old fashioned capitalistic way — withdraw her economic support.
(You gotta love this last one — we disagree with her so let’s stop her from voicing her opinion — just another oxymoron from “tolerant” “progressives”.)

—

Well, I don’t know about you but, I’m signing up. The first names onmy “they hate America” list are…Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck, and Bush, we have a duty to report those that would destroy our country.

I will say that there are a few comments that express reason instead of lunacy. Even here, at Little Blue Girl in a Red State, some sanity comes forth from the comments after the LBG goes on a hateful anti-Michelle rant:

If your newspaper carries this hateful bitch – this self-loathing immigrant – contact the editorial board. We got Ann Coulter and Linda Bowles banished from the op-eds in this town – can we get the Star to come to their senses about this idiot child, too?

I like this one:

Schratboy said…

Change your handle to small-minded, racist, liberal dumbass chic living in Missouri.
April 2, 2007 11:13 AM

Enough already! Just remember, the next time you see something “suspicious” and feel like reporting it, only the Republicans in the House of Representatives believe that you should have the ability to do just that without possibly suffering legal reprisals from the suspicious person. The Dems think that you should just look the other way and let the bastard kill ya! Can’t risk hurting the poor slob’s feelings — I mean, hey! He’s got rights too, ya know?

Technorati Tags: Cox & Forkum, Protect John Doe, Michelle Malkin, Bennie Thompson

I guess ol’ Nancy got back in time, ’cause her Democrat-controlled House of Representatives voted today on a timetable for our troops to be out of Iraq — all gone be the fall of ’08. Just in time for the election — as the Church Lady always said, “Isn’t that special.” From Brietbart:

A sharply divided House voted Friday to order President Bush to bring combat troops home from Iraq next year, a victory for Democrats in an epic war-powers struggle and Congress’ boldest challenge yet to the administration’s policy.

Ignoring a White House veto threat, lawmakers voted 218-212, mostly along party lines, for a binding war spending bill requiring that combat operations cease before September 2008, or earlier if the Iraqi government does not meet certain requirements. Democrats said it was time to heed the mandate of their election sweep last November, which gave them control of Congress.

“The American people have lost faith in the president’s conduct of this war,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. “The American people see the reality of the war, the president does not.”

The vote, echoing clashes between lawmakers and the White House over the Vietnam War four decades ago, pushed the Democratic-led Congress a step closer to a constitutional collision with the wartime commander in chief. Bush has insisted that lawmakers allow more time for his strategy of sending nearly 30,000 additional troops to Iraq to work.

So much for all the promises earlier this year that the Dems would NEVER cut off funding for the war. Bush will veto this mess of course. But, now the big question is where are the funds going to come from to keep our efforts going if a supplemental funding bill isn’t drawn up that Bush is willing to sign?

Six votes that say we all are ready to tuck tail and retreat. Don’t you just know that Al-Qaeda is having a victory celebration and a half over this one . . . Pathetic!

Technorati Tags: House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi

It’s the evening before a historic vote in the House of Representatives on whether or not to continue funding the Iraq war effort, and it’s not at all certain that either side has the votes to stop it, or to keep it going forward. You’re Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House — so, where would you be? Hangin’ out late in the Speaker’s office burning up the phone, getting your votes in line? Well . . . not exactly.

So then, “where’s Nancy?”

The Victory Caucus has the answer.

Pelosi skips town for big ticket fundraiser while Iraq vote looms

“$28,500 – per – couple” — cheap at half the price!

Heh!

Technorati Tags: House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House

Read that headline again, real slowly — sounds like an oxymoron, huh? If only that were all that it was, a word game — but, it’s not. It is a deadly serious, nation-crippling possibility that looks more likely each and every day. Consider the following since this last Friday.

On Friday the House of Representatives voted to approve a non-binding resolution “against” President Bush’s new strategy know as the “troop surge”. House Speaker Nancy (I need a bigger plane, dammit) Pelosi vowed to support (D) John Murtha’s proposal to strangle Bush’s ability to prosecute the war via limiting or controlling future funding.

Saturday, the Senate was called into a rare Saturday session to vote on its own version of a non-binding resolution for exactly the same thing. This time, due to how the Senate had always functioned, the Dems did not get the 60 votes needed to force cloture and allow the resolution to come to a vote of the full Senate, but unlike the last time this resolution came up, five more Republicans joined the previous two, giving the Dems seven GOP votes. Not enough to get to 60, but gettin’ way too close. Some more round-heeled GOPers that may not have a good election next time.

Today, the Senate Dems announced that they will be looking at ways to amend the ’02 measure that allowed the President to go to war against Saddam Hussein, although the GOP leadership is vowing to stop that, too.

And then there’s Hillary. Not to be outdone by her Senate colleagues and to “fix” her lean to the center the last couple of years, she is now calling for the pullout in Iraq to start in 90 days! If you think that Barrack Obama and his one-year-pullout-plan ain’t havin’ some effect on Hillary’s campaign, think again. (Jeez, can’t we all just give Bill some benefit of the doubt here, ’cause he sure doesn’t want to hear that awful screeching anymore — do we really have to listen to it for 4 or 8 years? Arrrrgh!)

Hugh Hewitt blogs today about how the Democrats are almost totally impotent when it comes to the war against Radical Islam. He cites today’s LA Times column by Jonathan Chait as an example of this. Being non-serious about the most serious threat to Western Civilization is silly, and suicidal. Do we really want silly-suicidal folk running our country? In Nov. ’06 the answer to that seems to have been a yes. In his post Hugh remarks:

Chait’s subject is Rudy Giuliani, but he uses the war as a way to enhance the snark about the presidential candidate whose popularity obviously concerns him. Chait is serious about beginning the effort to diminish Rudy, just as others from the MSM have been busy attempting to diminish Mitt Romney with the “Mormon flip-flopper” meme. But he isn’t serious about the war at all. Almost no one on the left is anymore.

Chait is a younger version of William Odom: Unconcerned with the facts of life under Saddam, oblivious to the consequences for Iraq and the region if the U.S. were to withdraw, and indifferent to the consequences for Americans of defeat.

There is a vast divide between the serious and the silly. A divide that is easy to see, impossible to deny, and certain to lead to disaster if the silly are other than a source of amusement or an object of scorn.

Hugh also brings up today’s Chicago Sun-Times column by Mark Steyn — Why the Iraq war is turning into America’s defeat. This one is worth a full read, but here are a couple of excerpts of Steyn on the War in Iraq.

The Iranians don’t care who kills whom as long as every night when Americans turn on the evening news there’s smoke over Baghdad. As I say in my book, if you happen to live in Ramadi or Basra, Iraq is about Iraq; if you live in Tehran, or Cairo, or Bei-jing, Moscow, Pyongyang or Brussels, Iraq is about America. American will. American purpose. American credibility.

And then, after describing the Murtha plan to block/limit/control funding for the war Steyn concludes:

“Undermining”? Why not? To the Slow-Bleed Democrats, it’s the Republicans’ war. To an increasing number of what my radio pal Hugh Hewitt calls the White-Flag Republicans, it’s Bush’s war. To everyone else on the planet, it’s America’s war. And it will be America’s defeat.

I’m so sick of driving around West LA and seeing bumper stickers decrying “Bush’s War”, “Buck Fush”, “War is Not the Answer”, “No War For Oil” et. all. We have troops on the ground on foreign soil — all fighting, some bleeding, some dying. The Democrats’ defeatist position is untenable, reprehensible, and yes — unpatriotic! Consider these words by the late 2nd LT Mark Daily — “I genuinely believe the United States Army is a force of good in this world.” Over at Michelle Malkin’s blog you can read these and the other words that Mark wrote at MySpace including the following.

Don’t forget that human beings have a responsibility to one another and that Americans have a responsibility to the oppressed. Assisting a formerly oppressed population in converting their torn society into a plural, democratic one is dangerous and difficult business, especially when being attacked and sabotaged from literally every direction.

So if you have anything to say to me at the end of this reading, let it at least include “Good Luck.”

Mark didn’t live long enough to have to endure his own country’s Congress not only NOT wishing him good luck, but working hard to wish him, and his brothers and sisters in arms something else entirely. As an Op-Ed piece at the website for Investors Business Daily points out:

We find it scary that the Democratic and terrorist game plans are indistinguishable.
(…)
We’d have to go back to Benedict Arnold to find Americans as eager as Murtha & Co. to see an American defeat on the battlefield.

They are working on the game plan of al-Qaida’s No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahiri. In October 2005, Zawahiri outlined al-Qaida’s plan in a letter to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, late head of al-Qaida in Iraq:

“The first stage: Expel the Americans from Iraq. The second stage: Establish an Islamic authority . . . over as much territory as you can spread its power in Iraq . . . in order to fill the void stemming from the departure of the Americans.”

John Murtha and his perfidious friends are working on creating that void and completing Zawahiri’s first stage. They are the appeasers Churchill warned about who hope that by feeding the Islamofascist tiger, it will eat us last.

I vote that we don’t let the “Islamofascist tiger” eat us at all! I say support the troops, really support them! Let your congressman and Senator know that retreat & defeat is not a strategy for success or victory — only the last pathetic whimpering of Baby Boomer narcissists more interested in their own navels, and their own re-elections, than in their country’s, and its warriors’, best interest. (db)

Technorati Tags: Mark Steyn, Jonathan Chait, House Anti-war Resolution, U.S. Senate, Nancy Pelosi, John Murtha

Yesterday the House of Representatives sent a strong message to the world — that the people of the United States that they represent are not up to the task of bringing stability to Baghdad, that we are just not willing to pay the cost. A good bet that ours will never be called by future Americans one of The Greatest Generations. More likely The Most Childish Generation, we are the Baby Boomers after all, and the moniker sticks like super glue. We’ll be caterwauling to the grave, no doubt. Over at the Victory Caucus they put yesterday’s vote into this perspective:

So the House vote is over , and the Democrats have had their day and their defeatist, non-binding resolution. So what do we do now?

We begin organizing in earnest to ensure that in November 2008, voters will have a slate of strong candidates who believe in Victory.

This will be a long and serious effort, but it starts now. We have established a team within the site that will focus on identifying strong candidates — veterans, ideally — as well as teams devoted to identifying White Flag Republicans and their antimatter opposites, the Blue Dog Democrats. These three groups will be at the forefront of our efforts to identify the districts where we can do the most good: whether that is to replace a defeatist Democrat with a new Republican victory candidate — or to help a Blue Dog Democrat who is strong on the war take down a White Flag Republican. Here, party comes second: victory — and country — come first.

So today the Senate meets in a rare Saturday session, (playin’ havoc with their golf I’m sure), and Democrat Senate leader Harry (never met a shady land deal or a filibuster that he didn’t like) Reid is demanding that there be an up-or-down vote on the Senate’s Democrat non-binding (useless) resolution against the troop “surge”. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell thinks that Reid’s dreams of cloture are a bit premature.

Republicans wanted senators to be able to vote on a proposal by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., that would promise not to cut off funds for troops in combat.

“That remains a demand of Senate Republicans,” said Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “We think it’s fundamentally fair and totally relevant to the issue at hand.”

So, on and on it goes in D.C. A lot of bluster and bullsh_t accomplishing absolutely nothin’ — nothin’ that is except for the demoralization of our troops in wartime. That’s somethin’ that the Dems, the Progressives and the anti-war nutroots are real proud of. It’s a cryin’ shame — actually, it’s just shame, period.

17 Republicans shamed themselves yesterday and are now probably looking at their LAST two years in office. Two Democrats honored themselves and those serving to protect the freedoms that they enjoy. Go to the caucus and see what you can do to support the war effort — to support the concept of and help to ensure “Victory” in our war against Radical Islam. (db)

Technorati Tags: Victory Caucus, House of Representatives, Senate, Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell

There’s so much despicable stuff goin’ on right now it’s hard to know where to start, but Congress is like a kid wavin’ its hand and yelling, “Me! Me!”, so here we go. Reuters reports that the House of Representatives is gonna pass its non-binding resolution that condemns the “surge” of new military personnel into Iraq.

The Democratic-controlled House was set to vote late on Friday on a symbolic resolution supporting U.S. forces in Iraq but opposing the Republican president’s decision to send another 21,500 troops.

“Congress has a right to express its views,” White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said. Bush was holding his fire, prepared to fight any subsequent effort by lawmakers to cut funding for the war.

While the resolution would not force Bush to act, its supporters hope to pressure him to reverse course and start bringing U.S. forces home from the unpopular war in which more than 3,100 American troops have died.

“No more blank checks for President Bush on Iraq,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared. She warned the White House that the measure would be only the first of a raft of legislation on the war coming to the House floor.

Not even to get into a discussion of what a big waste of time these “non-binding” resolutions are, I guess you could say that they let the gas bags in Congress blow off some steam, come to think of it, that probably contributes to Global Warming — if you buy into that crock — but we’ll get back to that in a sec. Regardless of what the Democrats say about “supporting the troops”, letting the troops know that the Democrat-controlled Congress believes that their newly defined mission, drafted and to be run by General Patreus, is doomed to failure — Is. Not. A. Way. To. Support. Our. Troops!!! But all you have to do is click up C-Span and watch either feed and you know without doubt that the Dems have tail-stuck-firmly-between-legs and are already runnin’ in place ready to retreat faster than Speedy Gonzales on a cheese run.

And, many statements to the contrary, now that these retreat-oriented lawmakers are on a roll, “binding” resolutions to cut off funding will be coming out of Congress — according to the Washington Post that could happen soon!

After a vote today on a resolution condemning the new deployments to Iraq, House Democratic leaders will serve notice that they intend to attach conditions to the coming spending bill on the war that could arguably encroach on the president’s constitutional powers as commander in chief to control tactics and operations.

These include riders that would prevent Bush from sending units to Iraq unless they are certified as combat-ready and that would require Army troops be given a year at home before an additional deployment to Iraq.

Democrats have described these conditions as part of a slow strategy to stop the war without cutting funding completely, which most parties agree would be legally permissible — but politically difficult.

If you believe, as I do, that Western Civilization is in a war-to-the-death with Radical Islam, and that the Iraq War is only one battle in that far larger world-wide conflict, the Democrats’ actions are not good news. With hand-in-hand assistance of the Mainstream Media, they are successfully turning the hearts and minds of the majority of Americans against President Bush and against the war. For whatever the many reasons, and a lot of them have to do with the pathetic level of communications coming out of the White House since the war turned ugly and hard, the popular vote in ’08 looks headed to deliver a Democrat for President — take your pick, Obama or Hillary. Neither of those two will stand up to the terrorists in Iraq, Iran or Hezbollah. There’ll be lots of talk, and talk, and more talk — the military will once again be gutted (we won’t need them anymore ’cause with an “articulate” leader we can “talk” our way out of mortal danger, don’t ya know?)

Besides, we’ll be far too busy being distracted by the new super-necessary war against Global Warming, even if climate realities aren’t measuring up the the Global Warming hysteria-driven models that the news medial constantly rams down our throats. Good ol’ Al is gonna have a series of rock Climate Concerts supporting his “Inconvenient Truth”. Even Republican Senator/Presidential candidate John McCain is jumping on the G.W. bandwagon and sponsoring legislation with Joe Lieberman — another reason to ditch this dude in the primaries.

If you believe in this war, and you think that Congress is gonna just jerk off for the next two years and leave our troops high-and-dry, then you should check out and join the Victory Caucus and make your voice heard in D.C. Evidently some of the White Flag Republicans are getting a wakeup call and are a bit shocked. Good. Shock ‘em again and again, until they understand that the base is not gonna support defeatists, Leftist anti-war appeasers and those that are so weak that they value their own political hides over victory in a war that must be won!

As far as I can tell, someone’s really ticked off an ol’ Chinese guy, ’cause it sure looks like we’re “living in interesting times.” Yeah, that’s the ticket — blame it all on the Year of the Pig! Kinda appropriate ain’t it? (db)

Technorati Tags: House Anti-Iraq War Resolution, Victory Caucus, Global Warming, Porkbusters.org

Doesn’t seat quite as many as she asked for, but should do the trick — This you just gotta see!!! (heh)

Technorati Tags: Nancy Pelosi

Following the link from Hugh Hewitt’s blog I was stunned to read the following over at The Politico:

To the surprise of the Bush administration, the House Intelligence Committee voted unanimously Wednesday night to allow all 435 House members to see the classified version of the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq sent to the White House last week. The report is classified in part because it contains information about sources and methods used in intelligence-gathering.

The document will provide fuel for a House debate, scheduled to begin Tuesday, on a resolution of disapproval of President Bush’s plan to boost U.S. troop strength in Iraq. Remarkably, each House member will be given five minutes to speak.

“[A]ll 435 House members”? What the bloody-blazes are they thinking? Well, obviously not very-damn much.

In announcing the vote to allow all members access to the classified portion of the NIE, the committee said those examining it “will be required to review the document in the Committee’s secure offices in the Capitol and sign a secrecy oath.” The members will not be allowed to leave with notes, congressional sources said.

Guess they don’t expect any up and coming Sandy Bergers in this crowd. So, instead of working from notes, they’ll have to leak from “memory”. That’s comforting.

The decision raised fears among some Republicans that members not used to dealing with classified information might play fast and loose with what they saw.

Ya think? How many anti-war Lefty loons are in the House anyways? I know that there must be plenty of them from out here in La-La Land, and the San Fran contingent must be a real stellar bunch of patriots — wanting nothing but the best for our men and women in service. Not!

Hugh puts it like this in a memo to our intelligence resources in Iraq:

(…) Of course we have always assumed the classified versions of the NIE would be well protected, so in the past we have been expansive in the discussions to assure we wouldn’t get blamed for cherry-picking again. Hard luck, I know. I can’t tell you what’s in there, but someone in Congress almost certainly will. Keep in mind some of these folks were never a threat to win the spelling bee.

If you had thought of coming over our way, we’d still like to have you on our side, which is the side that remains opposed to blowing up innocents with car bombs. But we have to retract our pledges to you of secrecy and concern for your life and the lives of your families. There’s a new gang in charge of the Congress, and even thoughthey can’t be expected to know the difference between Sunni and Shia as that would involve reading, we are also now certain they can’t be expected to give a lick about your lives.

Utterly pathetic! You get what you vote for . . . (db)

Technorati Tags: NIE Report, House of Representatives, National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq

If you can’t win your fight to have a resolution that would urge us on to retreat & defeat in Iraq, what can you do? The Democrats were true to form today and are running away from the issue. Hugh Hewitt puts it like this on his blog:

Congrats to Mitch McConnell and the Republican caucus which stuck to its demands for fairness, and forced the Democrats to flee from the prospect of voting on the Gregg resolution. The whole sorry circus has now pulled up stakes and left town, and NRSC Pledge signers are free to resume contributions to the NRSC though, I suspect, they will wait a while to see if the new signs of spine in the Republicans on the Hill carry over until March, April, and beyond.

Spineless. Character-deficient. Dems. Nice to know that the Republicans are vertebrates after all . . . nuff said! (db)

Technorati Tags: Iraq War Resolution

I haven’t yet had the opportunity to finish watching the President’s State of the Union speech from last night — still need to view the last 20 minutes, so until that happens later today, (this pm?) I can’t personally comment on the most important part — his reflections and proposals on the Iraq War. But, from what I have read and heard of the pre-speech coverage, and from the last 5-7 minutes of the Democrats’ response along with most of Hannity & Colmes, which I heard via FoxNews on XM as I was driving home from my meeting in east Anaheim, our President asked the Congress, and us, the country, to give him time — not forever mind you, just some time, to implement his new strategy of a small increase in troop level combined with modified Rules of Engagement that would allow our troops to really go after — and kill — the bad guys in the most dangerous areas of Iraq.

Fueled by their core hatred of all things Bush, emboldened by the slim electoral majorities won in November, and comforted by dredging up analogies of the Vietnam War, these children of the ’60s that are now in control of the Congress are determined to undermine anything and everything that our President will try to accomplish over the remainder of his next two years in office. Hugh Hewitt lays it out on his blog this AM.

This deep derangement of a major political party is unique in American history –not even the southern Democrats of 1860 acted out of Lincoln-hatred when they split the Union, but out of a deeply misguided political theory and the desperation that economic and cultural attachment to slavery had bred.

This modern Democratic Party is almost all fury, a fury fueled by a collective though suppressed understanding that the holocaust of southeast Asia in the late ’70s and the vulnerability of America on 9/11 are both burdens at their party’s door. Watching their replay of the Vietnam-era tape means that there will be no “debate” on the war, simply the choosing of sides. Republicans who side with the Democrats on this the most important issue of the day should lose the support of their party.

Case in point — VA Senator Jim Webb gave the Democratic response, which wrapped up with this statement on the Iraq War.

“Not one step back from the war against international terrorism. Not a precipitous withdrawal that ignores the possibility of further chaos,” said Webb. “But an immediate shift toward strong regionally based diplomacy, a policy that takes our soldiers off the streets of Iraq’s cities and a formula that will in short order allow our combat forces to leave Iraq.”

Read that over a couple of times: “Not gonna step back! — Gotta get out NOW!”

Huh?

The Democrats continued with more statements like the following:

“We hope to begin working with him to move our country in a new direction,” Reid and Pelosi said in their statement.

“If he does, we will join him,” Webb said. “If he does not, we will be showing him the way.”

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will be voting on a non-binding resolution today, authored by Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., along with Sens. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and Carl Levin, D-Mich., that will say to our troops, and to our enemies in Iraq and elsewhere, that the Senate believes that the increase in troops that President Bush plans to implement in not in our national interest. That should get ‘em to lay down their arms and come to the big pow-wow for a chat. Oh ya betcha!

Now, with all this in mind, care to speculate what all those concerned Democrats think about this?

North Korea is helping Iran to prepare an underground nuclear test similar to the one Pyongyang carried out last year.

Under the terms of a new understanding between the two countries, the North Koreans have agreed to share all the data and information they received from their successful test last October with Teheran’s nuclear scientists.

And, considering that last bit o’ info, what would our wonderful Dems think of this?

Israel and the United States will soon be destroyed, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday during a meeting with Syria’s foreign minister, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) website said in a report.

“Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad… assured that the United States and the Zionist regime of Israel will soon come to the end of their lives,” the Iranian president was quoted as saying.

Well, Joe Biden, co-author of today’s Senate resolution, thinks that we can talk with this guy. Sure Joe, let’s all sit around the nuclear campfire and sing Cum-ba-ya. At least we can all get a nice tan — won’t last long though . . . (db)

Technorati Tags: State of the Union Speech, President Bush, Senate Resolution, Iraq War