Best Friends Forever - Mr Hobbs charged?

The father of one of the victims, the one that found the children's bodies, may be charged with the murders of the best friends, his own daughter and her friend. He was recently released from prison in Texas for aggravated assault. From WFLD Fox-Chicago:

"Jerry just got out of prison for aggravated assault and I think they're holding that against him," Hollabaugh said. "I don't think he did it." Hobbs has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1990 in Texas, including prior arrests for assault and resisting arrest, according to records kept by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Records also show Hobbs had a rocky relationship with Laura's mother, Sheila Hollabaugh. Hobbs had been arrested in 2001 after arguing with her, grabbing a chainsaw and chasing other residents around the trailer park where they lived, according to Wichita County Assistant District Attorney Rick Mahler. Someone eventually subdued Hobbs by hitting him in the back with a shovel, Mahler said. Hobbs was convicted of aggravated assault and sentenced to 10 years probation for the incident, but he failed to appear for his required meetings, so his probation was revoked in 2003 and he was imprisoned until his release on April 12, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Related: Best Friends Forever Best Friends Forever - Mr Hobbs Charged? Father is being charged in deaths of best friends Hobbs Confesses to Killing Best Friends

100 Days

As you can see by the "clock" above, it has been 100 days since Senator Kerry promised on national TV to sign his form 180. Blogs for Bush has all the information necessary to send a fax... Tim Russert, why aren't you pushing this? Kerry made the promise to you...

Best Friends Forever

Krystal Tobias (9) and Laura Hobbs (8) of Zion, Illinois, best of best friends, went for a bike ride together on Mothers' Day. They never came home. Sometime in the middle of the night, whoever had prevented them from going back to their mothers, repeatedly stabbed both of them and left them in a park near their homes. Laura's father and grandfather found them at dawn Monday. Laura and Krystal

	May they rest in peace. Our prayers go out to their families and friends.

Update: The Chicago Tribune has this:

Source: Charges to come in Zion slayings Tribune staff report Published May 10, 2005, 9:53 AM CDT An individual will be charged today in connection with the stabbing deaths of two young girls from north suburban Zion, police sources told the Tribune this morning. Details to come.

Related: Best Friends Forever Best Friends Forever - Mr Hobbs Charged? Father is being charged in deaths of best friends Hobbs Confesses to Killing Best Friends

Inside the Actor's Studio Questions

The Anchoress has answered some James Lipton, Inside the Actor's Studio type questions also answered by Greg at What Attitude Problem. So here are my answers:

1. What is your favorite word? Love.

2. What is your least favorite word? any of the 7 words you can't say on television

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? helping others

4. What turns you off? lack of taking responsibility for one's own actions

5. What is your favorite curse word? skboochie-dinkelflopper-dia-flappatoodas-superbyhumpdickle -elephantisimos (My great-grandmother made my great-grandfather put money in a jar every time he cursed, so he made up a new curse word to substitute so he wouldn't have to "contribute" to the jar. If something small happened, he'd use the first part, the worse the curse, the longer the curse though).

6. What sound or noise do you love? I love the sweet sound of the gentle snores my four year old makes when he finally falls asleep.

7. What sound or noise do you hate? rolling boom-boxes shaking the house

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? teaching

9. What profession would you not like to do? any kind of sales.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Welcome Home.

Happy Mothers' Day!

Canadian PM Joke

Found this at Canadian Comment via Angry in the Great White North. Funny. Update: To quote Homer Simpson: "he, he, he, it's funny cuz it's true." (Jeff)

Bill to keep illegals driving in California

I found this one over at Red State. Apparently there is a bill in the system to exempt illegals from having their vehicles impounded.

California State Sen. Gil Cedillo is sponsoring S.B. 591 to amend the CA Vehicle Code to prevent illegal aliens who are caught driving without a license from having their cars impounded:

...This bill would require a city or county to exempt a person from the impound period where the offense involves a person who has never been issued a driver's license due to an inability to meet the requirement that the applicant's presence in the United States is authorized under federal law...

Exempting a lawbreaker from the consequences of a law because the are breaking another law just by being in California... What will they think of next? Read the whole thing. This is also at Michelle Malkin's Immigration Blog (same post as at Red State).

Blogspotting at BusinessWeek

A few weeks ago we added Blogspotting, Business Week's newest Blog to the blogroll. This is a very interesting blog, dedicated to blogging in business, blogging as business and blogging and the media. Go check it out.

Social Security Reform

An outfit called ProtectYourCheck.org has bought airtime on Fox News recently. Their website says they are:

...a non-profit advocacy organization established to oppose the White House's effort to dismantle Social Security, the most successful retirement and anti-poverty program in our nation's history. ProtectYourCheck.org will educate Americans on the financial health of Social Security, promote policies to strengthen Social Security and encourage citizens to speak out about this issue to ensure that Congress doesn't pass legislation that weakens the Social Security Trust Fund.

They state that if private accounts are allowed benefits will be slashed by 45% and if the stock market tanks, then "Whoah". ProtectYourCheck.org wants you to contact your senators and representatives to vote against personal accounts because

Slot Machine Social Security. It's a guarantee you earned. Don't let them make it a gamble.

I recently received my Social Security Statement in the mail (everyone should receive one a couple of months before their birthday). ProtectYourCheck's ad states Social Security is a guarantee that you've earned. My Statement has this part: It says:

Your estimated benefits are based on current law. Congress has made changes to the law in the past and can do so any time. The law governing benefit amounts may change because, by 2042, the payroll taxes collected will be enough to pay only about 73 percent of scheduled benefits.

My youngest child will be 18 years old in 2018. I will be 62 in 2024. Under the current structure, if I die anytime between 2018 and 2024 we lose everything that I have "contributed" to social security, except for the special one time death benefit of $255 that my spouse or child may be eligible for. If I die before 2018, my youngest is eligible for payments only until he's 18. If I die after 2024, I get payments until I die then my spouse gets nothing from my contributions. He will continue to receive payments from his own account, but mine's gone (his payment will be larger than mine will be). Personally, I would far prefer to put some of my contributions into a personal account. ProtectYourCheck.org warns that if the stock market tanks, "Whoah". Except that your voluntary contributions would be put into a mutual fund similar to the Thrift Savings Plan fund choices that are available to your elected representatives! You would think that if it's good enough for them it would be good enough for their constituents. I agree with President Bush's suggestion that lower wage earners have a faster track to increases in payments (indexing on wages). The lower wage earners are either at jobs that don't offer a 401(k) or equivalent, or if they do, the lower wage earner needs every cent to pay the bills and can't afford to save for retirement. Personal accounts would allow the lower wage earner the opportunity to save on his/her own behalf for retirement. Higher wage earners benefits being indexed on inflation also makes sense. These workers have access to additional retirement savings plans. Where the cut-offs are, of course, subject to negotiation. The MSM and the Dems are playing this as a reduction in benefits. It's not a reduction in benefits, it's a reduction in the pace of increasing benefits for those who can afford a smaller increase while benefitting those who need the higher level of increases. Benefits that can be left to your children. Benefits that can be left to your spouse, even while your spouse is receiving benefits of his/her own. Michelle Malkin's Look Who's Defending the Rich Now has a round up of lefty blog spin and a round up of the MSM anti-Bush headline spin The Roar of MSM Demagogues

Yeah Judge Andrew!

A thirteen year old pregnant girl in DCF custody wants an abortion and Florida DCF won't let her. From the Fox News DaySide website:

Tuesday morning she was scheduled to have the abortion when the state intervened, citing Florida law that says "in no case shall DCF consent to a sterilization, abortion or termination of life support" on behalf of someone who's under DCF's care. Sounds pretty clear. But the girl's lawyers argue that, under the state's privacy law, minors have a right to decide for themselves whether to continue or abort a pregnancy.

Judge Andrew Napolitano on DaySide with Linda Vester today, said the following:

It's obvious that DCF can't control the people that it's charged with controlling, but it is following the statute which says that it can not consent to this procedure. That's why we have judges to evaluate what the law is and to make a call on it. Look, this is an abortion, it's not an appendectomy. This is a living being growing within her that has a right to live under Florida law and under normal principles of morality.(emphasis mine)

Good on you Judge Andrew! (btw - this statement drew a lot of applause from the audience).

The President and Polls

Last night, in President Bush's press conference, he was asked:

Is the poll troubling?

My first thought was, "Yes, if the polls were honest, but since they don't seem to be, no." President Bush's answer was far better.

Polls? You know, if a President tries to govern based on upon polls, you're kind of like a dog chasing your tail. I don't think you can make good, sound decisions based on polls. And I don't think the American people want a President who relies upon polls and focus groups to make decisions for the American people.

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Prenatal Testing

Jeanette at Oh How I Love Jesus in her post Aborting the Disabled points us to an article with the same name in Christianity Today. Senators Sam Brownback and Ted Kennedy are sponsoring legislation to require doctors to provide current medical information, treatment options and information about support services to parents of children that have been diagnosed with a disability based on prenatal testing. A study was done that showed that many parents felt "pressured" into aborting. I have a disabled daughter. She has epilepsy, moderate hearing and vision impairments and a developmental delay. Genetic testing was done when she was about a year old. She was found to have two chromosomal abnormalities; there are extra genes on her tenth chromosome pair and her nineteenth chomosome pair has a ring in a mosaic pattern. Each chromosome pair usually looks like a number eleven 11, hers have one that's in a ring, or circle configuration so they look like a 10 and the mosaic is every other pair. So her 19th chromosome looks like this: 11 10 11 10 11 10 11 10... When I became pregnant again, we decided to have an amniocentisis test done. We didn't know if our daughter's disabilities were a "fluke" or if they were the result of mixing the genetic material of her father and I. We were told that the odds were one in two humdred that anything untoward would happen. The procedure seemed to go just fine. We were asked what we would do if the test results showed the same genetic abnormalities. They asked if we would abort. The answer was a very loud NO. We wanted the testing so as to be prepared to deal with a disability. We didn't want to eliminate it. Unfortunately, I "hit the lottery" on that one in two hundred chance... Two days after the procedure, I got very sick, high fever and vomiting. We went to the hospital and they couldn't find a heart beat. The next evening, I went into labor and delivered a perfect tiny boy. From his butt to the top of his head, he fit on my hand from the heel to the fingertips. The hospital performed an autopsy. He died of a strep infection. Otherwise, he was perfect. I guess this goes with the parents feeling pressured into aborting. I didn't quite feel that, but the fact that I was even asked.... Welcome ByrdDroppings readers. Thank you Lorie.

South Park Conservatives - On O'Reilly

Brian Anderson, author of South Park Conservatives, was on the O'Reilly Factor last night in the impact segment. Here follows a transcript of that conversation: Bill O’Reilly: Thanks for staying with us, I’m Bill O’Reilly. In the impact segment tonight: the media war between conservatives and liberals is as intense as ever and today, the liberal Los Angeles Times ran an op-ed piece and said the liberal radio network Air America is failing. Since the print media has been very generous to Air America, that was unusual. The author of the op-ed is Brian Anderson who also has written a new book called South Park Conservatives: The Revolt against Liberal Media Bias. Wow. Mr. Anderson joins us now. See I’m in the middle of this war here you know and it’s vicious. Brian Anderson: Sure. O’Reilly: First of all let’s just walk through the whole thing. What’s a South Park Conservative? Anderson: Right. Well I use that phrase very loosely to refer to a new kind of anti-liberalism that we’re seeing in the culture. We’re seeing it in comedy, on Comedy Central, particularly with the show South Park, which just goes after the left viciously. It goes after the right too, but it’s something very new to see a program that makes fun of liberals. And I see a lot on college campuses. Both of these things I say in the book are growing out of a pretty big shift in our mass communications. Talk radio, cable news, and the blogosphere all of which are allowing views that have long been excluded from public debate to make their way right into that debate. Basically right of center views. O’Reilly: So a South Park Conservative would be somebody who, what? Anderson: Somebody who doesn’t necessarily go along with the right right across the board, but who looks at today’s left and its political correctness, its anti-Americanism, its elitism and says, “That’s not me.” O’Reilly: OK so a moderate conservative… Anderson: Yeah… O’Reilly: who’s turned off by the Michael Moores and the bomb throwers of the left. Anderson: Exactly. It’s more of an attitude than a kind of coherent political philosophy. O’Reilly: But your thesis is challenged right off the bat by the New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, the network news producers who say there is no liberal bias, it’s never existed. How do you answer that? Anderson: Well I think it’s just an absurd claim. My book has a pretty thick chapter on examples of liberal bias going back for years and years. A good one is two researchers from the American Enterprise Institute just did a look at newspaper headlines in the mainstream media and AP reports going back, I think to the early eighties, on how they reported economic data. And anytime there was a Republican President, the reports were much more negative whatever the underlying economic data actually were. So the Republicans… O’Reilly: You can also see something like this Air America, the New York Times has done ten stories on it…. Anderson: It’s incredible… O’Reilly: nine favorable. And the Radio Factor which has, ummm, nine times as many affiliates… no stories, which is fine with me. But there is no question that the major newspapers and the network news, CNN, tilts left, it just depends how far left. Anderson: That’s right. O’Reilly: Um, and you believe that now people have understood this because of Fox and the bloggers? Anderson: I think Fox, the bloggers and talk radio which I don’t think gets enough attention from elites, but in fact it’s an incredibly powerful medium. You have, I think, the numbers say about one in four Americans or at least one in five get their news primarily from political talk radio now. And the right has flourished there. This is why liberals are complaining so much and they launched Air America. O’Reilly: Why is Air America not succeeding? They have 50 affiliates after a year. They are losing about $8 million a year according to Ad Age. Anderson: No. It’s… they’re doing much worse than the mainstream media is actually reporting. They’ve received more free publicity than any network, any, any project I’ve seen… O’Reilly: Yeah, it’s amazing how much free publicity, and we’re giving them more right now. {crosstalk} Anderson: Look at the latest batch of ratings. Arbitron ratings in New York City. They are down to 24th in the ratings and that means… O’Reilly: They’re last… Anderson: They’re just about last, they may be last. They are doing worse than the all Caribbean format that used to be… O’Reilly: I heard a rumor they’re going to start to do the limbo while broadcasting to try to get that Caribbean back again. But there’s got to be a reason why, there’s got to be a reason that a Bill Bennett launches a conservative radio program and gets a hundred and fifty affiliates right off the bat… Anderson: A hundred and twenty-four it is, but same period of time. O’Reilly: Right, and they have fifty. What’s the reason? Anderson: I lay out several reasons in my chapter of South Park Conservatives on talk radio. The biggest, I think, is the existence of media bias elsewhere which liberals continue to deny, but a liberal, a left wing person can get up in the morning and look at the New York Times, he doesn’t need Air America. But there are other reasons too, one of which I think is the kind of negativism and anti-Americanism and lack of humor that has characterized… O’Reilly: But these people are all supposed to be funny… Anderson: They’re funny when they’re doing stand up comedy or writing for comedy shows. They, you know I’ve listened to a bit of Air America, painfully, I have to say, in researching this book and I… O’Reilly: I think it’s really simple. I just don’t think Americans whether they’re liberal, conservative, moderate want to hear that their country is terrible twenty-four hours a day. Anderson: Absolutely. O’Reilly: Which is what the message is, the country’s lousy, all the people running it are bad and how of that can you take? Anderson: It’s a relentlessly pessimistic message. O’Reilly: Yeah, and I think that’s the key, that’s the key to it. Now, in the right, on the right, you have a tremendous amount of negativism too, I mean if you listen to some of these far right guys, every liberal is to be scorned. Anderson: Yeah, sure, sure. There’s , I think if you at who’s really succeeding… O’Reilly: Are there South Park Liberals? Are there liberals…. Anderson: Sure, sure. There must be. You don’t see them very evident in the media these days. But, you know the show South Park itself goes after conservatives once in a while. But there’s a kind of humorlessness to today’s left an inability to laugh both at themselves and at the world as a whole. O’Reilly: I think you’re on to something. Limbaugh puts on a funny show, Ann Coulter, as far right as she is, is funny. ANDERSON: She’s an entertainer… O’Reilly: She’s trying to be, she’s entertaining. Anderson: Laura Ingraham is very funny on the air. O’Reilly: Right. She uses a lot of sound. I think you’re on to something there. The entertainment value is just better on the right. One last question for you… Anderson: Sure. O’Reilly: Why do the liberals want to kill the Fox News Channel when this is the only television network that gives a traditional point of view. Why? I mean you got seven to one. Why not let the one just exist without trying to kill it? Anderson: It’s incredible, really the rage directed at Fox which says that it’s having some kind of a cultural impact. I list a whole number of, you know, from Al Gore calling it a “fifth column” and right down the line. O’Reilly: Right. Anderson: I think the difference is that Fox arrived as a news organization, they just didn’t comment on the news, they could also decide what was newsworthy. So, for example, the fact that Richard Clarke had contradicted himself from when he was a Bush official and when he released his Bush bashing book… O’Reilly: We covered that story heavily. Anderson: They just covered it. O’Reilly: Well they hate us, that’s for sure. Very entertaining book, Mr. Anderson, South Park Conservatives, and we appreciate you helping us out. Anderson: Thank you very much. Welcome Polipundit and Ed Driscoll readers! Please look around!

Habemus Papum

New Pope! Joseph Ratzinger - Benedict XVI White Smoke, Bells of St. Peters. Lots of cheering people. More when known.

In the Mail (Friday)

On Friday we received copies of Brian Anderson's South Park Conservatives: The Revolt against Liberal Media Bias. Review to follow (when I get a little time away from !!algebra!!, which is my current college course with Algebra 2 to follow - lots of work - not enough time!). On another (similar) note, Brian Anderson was on Bill O'Reilly tonight and I have TiVo'd it and I will have a transcript sometime tomorrow (I have a little time for a transcript, not enough to read and write a review just yet).

Design A Stamp Contest at Blogs for Bush

Blogs for Bush is hosting a Design A Stamp contest to counter the Columbia College in Chicago's "art" exhibit of a "sheet of stamps" of President Bush with a gun to his head.

Here is my submission. Go to Blogs for Bush and see the other submissions and send in your own!

The Anchoress Has Moved

The Anchoress has moved from Blogger, please see her at her new address: http://www.theanchoressonline.com The Anchoress

Who Would Want to Live with Disabilities like These?

updated below That's what Beth Gaddy (36) said about her "Grandmamma" Mae Magouirk (85). The entire quote is as follows:

Grandmamma is old and I think it's time she went home to Jesus. She has glaucoma and now this heart problem, and who would want to live with disabilities like these?

I first heard about this story yesterday via my friend Jeanette at Oh How I Love Jesus. Today, I see that other bloggers have picked up on it, including Instapundit, Mover Mike, GOP Bloggers, Polipundit, and Junk Yard Blog. Mae Magouirk has signed a living will stating that she doesn't want feeding and hydration if she is terminal, in a coma or vegetative. Mae is not in any of these conditions. Her granddaughter, Beth Gaddy, moved her to the hospice telling them that she held a medical power of attorney for her grandmother and that she wanted food and water removed. Gaddy did not have a medical power of attorney for her grandmother. Other, closer, family members (Mae's brother and sister) are fighting for her life. Unlike Terri's case, there is clear direction given in a living will for care. This is being ignored by the granddaughter and the probate judge in Georgia who disregarded the living will and the lack of a durable medical power of attorney and gave guardianship to the granddaughter over the objections of closer relatives. At 36, Beth Gaddy might not want to "live with disabilities like these", but let her wait until she's 81, maybe with the same disabilities, or more disabilities or worse disabilities. How much will she "want to live" then? After Christopher Reeves' accident, many people said, "I wouldn't want to live like that." They said so as able-bodied people. Christopher Reeves probably said something along the same lines when he was younger and not disabled. Once the accident took place though, he wanted to live his life to the fullest that he could. No one wakes up one morning and says, "I want to have a disability that will effect my life forever." When it happens, though, you live with it. You make changes to accomodate the disability. You may not be able to do some things that you enjoy anymore, but that doesn't mean that you can't find something else to enjoy that you can do. I have a disabled daughter. She has epilepsy, a developmental delay and moderate hearing and vision losses. She doesn't speak much, or very clearly. What will happen to her after I'm gone? Will someone, somewhere ask, "who would want to live with disabilities like those?" Would someone, somewhere decide that her life is not worth living, or that resources expended on her would be better spent elsewhere? And then decide to "euthanize" her? Update: Dirty Harry says:

So, I await the outrage from the butchers who screamed for Terri Schiavo's head. After all wasn't their argument that we needed to respect Terri's wishes? Well, we have a living will here. Let's see if the death merchants are consistent and outraged that this woman's "wishes" are being violated. Wishes she put in writing. Wishes that are being ignored. Let's see if the death merchants fight to reinsert this feeding tube because all this really is about is what the patient wants, not getting rid of troublesome invalids. "Oh, no, not us."

Update 2: The Glenn Beck Show audio of the interview with Mae's nephew is here. Welcome Anchoress and Cathouse Chat readers, please look around.

Little Changes That Become Big Changes

John Kass of the Chicago Tribune had a column April 1st titled Beware of letting the unacceptable become the norm. He speaks about Terri Schindler Schiavo and wonders what is next...

I suppose that no matter which side of this you're on, you'll have questions. Those of you who think she should have died will wonder: When will people like me ever shut up about this? And those of us on the other side will wonder which disability will next be judged as not affording an adequate quality of life? Whose lives are worthy? But there is another question that won't let go of me: How did we get to this place, where we've come to accept what was done to Terri Schiavo? What was once horrible has now become acceptable, familiar the way a landscape becomes familiar. No matter how gruesome or spectacular, over time you become used to it. Eventually, you can walk through it without feeling any need to comment. And that's what's being urged now, a general consensus forming by those who don't want to hear complaints, that it's time to be silent about Schiavo, that we shouldn't give offense, that we should accept her death as inevitable, perhaps rationalize her death as a blessing.

When John heard the announcement on the radio he was reading a column by John Leo in US News and World Report who quoted Rev. Richard Neuhaus, editor of First Things. He says he will memorize this quote. I think I will too.

"Thousands of ethicists and bioethicists, as they are called, professionally guide the unthinkable on its passage through the debatable on its way to becoming the justifiable, until it is finally established as the unexceptional."

There was a day when the Playtex Cross Your Heart bra was advertised on television and the model wore the bra OVER a turtleneck sweater. Underwear, worn normally, was just not shown on television. Now Victoria's Secret advertises bras with a lot less coverage directly on the model. This change was accepted completely. There was a day when anti-perspirants and deodorants were advertised on television and the model demonstrated the product on the inside of the forearm. The brother of a friend of mine, when first using these products, put it on his armpits and on his forearms, because they did it on television. Armpits were just not shown in a television commercial. Now we see women applying the product correctly in television commercials. This change was accepted completely. We don't see men applying the product though. I guess a man's armpit still is just not shown on television. Rob and Laura Petrie of the Dick Van Dyke show had separate twin beds in their bedroom. Two characters of the opposite sex, even if married, were just not shown in the same bed on television. Then came NYPD Blue and we saw the naked backsides of two male characters. This change was accepted completely. These changes are insidious, they happen when we aren't looking and then become accepted. It becomes "well, we can do this, so why can't we do that? Remember the Golden Rule? "Do unto others what you would have them do unto you." That seems to have changed to "Do unto others whatever you can get away with, and if you get caught, put the blame on anything and anyone other than yourself."

Congress May Extend Daylight-Saving Time

Update: My husband thinks they should just "split the difference" and change the time a half hour year round. Congress is considering extending Daylight-Saving Time an additional two months to save more energy. The theory is, the more daylight, later in the day, the less energy used. They would start daylight-saving time on the first Sunday in March (instead of April, as it is now) and extend daylight-saving time to the last Sunday in November (instead of the current last Sunday in October). But not all parts of the United States switch to daylight-saving time. Arizona, Hawaii, parts of Indiana, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands don't change. If they do so, on Halloween it will be lighter, longer. I've always thought it should be extended until at least the first Sunday in November to enable that. Even if Halloween is on a Sunday, it's always darker an hour earlier. With the extension date being set to the last Sunday in November, there's a little more light for Thanksgiving Dinner, and a little more time to get those Christmas lights hung...

Kofi Annan has Homer Simpson Moment

The AP has the story. Apparently Kofi Annan has just realized that the UN Human Rights Commission needs to be replaced with a new, permanent body to prevent suffering around the world. D'oh!

"We have reached a point at which the commission's declining credibility has cast a shadow on the reputation of the United Nations system as a whole and where piecemeal reforms will not be enough," Annan told delegates.

The AARP and Social Security

AARP has a Social Security Blog! What's next? AARP's recent commercial compares tearing down the whole house because the sink is broken with reforming Social Security reform suggesting that reform would destroy Social Security and they also suggest that with a few small changes, Social Security can be guaranteed.

• Social Security is NOT guaranteed, Congress can change it any time, even eliminiate it completely.
• Their few small changes include raising the cap on "contributions" and would entail reducing benefits after 2041.
• The AARP membership consists of people aged 50 and older.
• President Bush has already stated that those 55 and older will not be affected by any changes to Social Security.
• Even if changes are voted in this session (109th Congress), effective dates will be sometime in the future.
• Most probably any current member of AARP will not be affected by changes to Social Security.

Tell me, please, why do they oppose private accounts so vehemently and why should we listen to them?

Social Security Reform

A Flash from Patrick Ruffini via Blogs for Bush: This communicates the poll results and the current state of the Social Security Debate:

Spring Ahead!

At 2:00 a.m. local time, Sunday, April 3rd, it's time to set the clocks ahead one hour unless you are in Hawaii, Arizona or parts of Indiana. Update: Reader newton notes in the comments: Or Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, BTW This is a good time to test your smoke detectors and change the batteries in them. This post will stay on top until after the time change.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Terri Schindler Schaivo Posts

Here's a listing of the Terri Schindler Schaivo posts we have written: 3/30 The Opinions 3/30 AP-Court Rejects Appeal 3/30 Felos Has Mind Powers 3/30 I Was Right 3/30 cBS Does it Again 3/30 11th Will Consider Schindler's Appeal 3/26 The Autopsy 3/26 Greer Rejects Again 3/26 The Misperception of Shiavo's "Due Process" 3/25 Schiavo: Perverse Standard Leads to Perverse Outcomes 3/25 Althouse and Instapundit Surprised at Us? 3/25 The Impending Shiavo Truth Crunch 3/24 Schiavio: Not About Choice 3/23 FL Dept of Children and Families Petitions to Intervene in Schiavo Case 3/23 Curiouser and Curiouser 3/23 More Nurses Coming Forward in Schiavo Case 3/23 Schiavo Appeal Rejected on 2-1 Decision 3/22 Property has more rights than Terri 3/22 "Expert" Concluded Schiavo in PVS after 45 minutes 3/22 He Wants a Stay on Replacing Feeding Tube... 3/22 Schiavo's Life and Liberty Interests Were Adequately Protected 3/22 Schiavo Breaking: Terri's Nurse Interviewed on Fox 3/22 Schiavo: Who Would You Believe? 3/22 Judge Denies Request to Feed Schiavo 3/21 Terri Schiavo's Burden, or Ours? 3/21 Hearing On Terri 3/21 Terri News 3/21 President's Statement 3/20 Bill Passed 3/20 Schiavo Vote Dems Not Cooperating 3/20 Michael Shiavo: My Wife Can't Shake Hands 3/19 Congress: Schiavo's Feeding to Resume 3/19 Where are the Schiavo Videos in the Media? 3/18 Schiavo, Terrorists & Lobsters 3/18 Reprieve 3/18 Prayer for Terri 3/16 The Schiavo Crime 2/25 Schiavo's Life a Mere Legal Issue 2/23 Terri Schiavo Update 2/22 Schiavo Story Cont'd 2/22 Terri Schiavo

Benediction

For Terri, the Pope, Prince Ranier, and the rest of the world: May The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Schindler Family Press Conference

Political Teen has the video

Prayer

Lord, Please hold Terri and her family in the comfort of your eternal embrace. Please hold Pope John Paul II and his Catholic family in the comfort of your eternal embrace. Please hold Prince Ranier and his family in the comfort of your eternal embrace. Amen

Rest In Peace Terri

Terri has died. Michael did NOT allow her family to be with her at the end. Rest In Peace, Terri. 9:03 a.m. EST

Schindler's Not Allowed in Room with Terri

Heard on Fox News: Brother Paul O'Donnell Randall Terry is stating that Michael Schiavo will NOT allow the Schindlers to be in the room with Terri as she dies. The Schindler's are pleading with Michael to allow them to be there with Terri, even if he is there too. He's refusing.

Tom Clancy's Red Rabbit

Tom Clancy's book Red Rabbit was awfully prescient. Today we learn that the premise of Red Rabbit, the KGB through a Turkish Agent hired by the Bulgarians, was responsible for the 1981 assassination attempt on the Pope. Hindustan Times has the story here.

New documents found in the files of the former East German intelligence services confirm the 1981 assassination attempt against Pope John Paul II was ordered by the Soviet KGB and assigned to Bulgarian agents, an Italian daily said on Wednesday.

Read the rest. Hat tip: The Anchoress

The Opinions

Judge Stanley F. Birch, Jr.:

Any further action by our court or the district court would be improper while the members of her family and the members of Congress have acted in a way that is both fervent and sincere, the time has come for dispassionate discharge of duty. ... In resolving the Schiavo controversy, it is my judgement that, despite sincere and altruistic motivation, the legislative and executive branches of government have acted in a manner demonstrably at odds with our Founding Father's blueprint for the governance of a free people - our Constitution. (emphasis mine)

Judges Gerald Tjoflat and Charles R. Wilson:

The relevant question here is whether a rational factfinder could have found by clear and convincing evidence that Mrs. Schiavo would have wanted nutrition and hydration to be withdrawn under these circumstances. The plaintiffs carry a heavy burden, but I do not believe that this question can be determined in this expedited fashion without a hearing on the merits.

So, Judge Birch is not quite saying the law that congress passed was unconstitutional, just that he thinks that the executive and legislative branches have overreached their purview? That the judicial branch doesn't need to listen to the other two branches? Judges Tjoflat and Wilson are correct and it would behoove the rest of the 11th to have listened to them. Source: My Way News

AP-Court Rejects Appeal

11th Circuit Court Rejects Schiavo Appeal

By RON WORD Associated Press Writer

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (AP) -- With time running out for Terri Schiavo, a federal appeals court Wednesday rejected her parents' latest attempt to get the brain-damaged woman's feeding tube reconnected.

The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to consider an emergency bid by Bob and Mary Schindler for a new hearing in their case, raising a flicker of hope for the parents after a series of setbacks in the case. But the court rejected the request 15 hours later.

Three times last week, the court also ruled against the Schindlers.

Felos Has Mind Powers

Whiskey over at Captain's Quarters points us to an NRO piece by Eric Pfieffer.

In his 2002 book Litigation as Spiritual Practice, Felos expresses his belief in the "cosmic law of cause and effect," in which the human mind is not limited by the constraints of reality. More specifically, if one wants a new car, one could make this dream car manifest "out of the ether."

The man can cause planes to crash just by thinking about it and can read the minds of those who can not speak, yet want to die...

He writes,

As Mrs. Browning lay motionless before my gaze, I suddenly heard a loud, deep moan and scream and wondered if the nursing home personnel heard it and would respond to the unfortunate resident. In the next moment, as this cry of pain and torment continued, I realized it was Mrs. Browning.

I felt the midsection of my body open and noticed a strange quality to the light in the room. I sensed her soul in agony. As she screamed I heard her say, in confusion, "Why am I still here ... Why am I here?" My soul touched hers and in some way I communicated that she was still locked in her body. I promised I would do everything in my power to gain the release her soul cried for. With that, the screaming immediately stopped. I felt like I was back in my head again, the room resumed its normal appearance, and Mrs. Browning, as she had throughout this experience, lay silent.

Go read the whole thing...

I Was Right

In an earlier post, I noted that Michael doesn't have any say in the autopsy, whether it is done at all, who does it, what is examined. Life News is reporting that the Pinellas County Medical Examiner, Jon Thogmartin, had decided to perform an autopsy well before Michael gave his "approval", "authorization", or whatever.

Yesterday, George Felos stood in front of dozens of reports and announced that Terri Schiavo's estranged husband Michael had changed his mind and would allow an autopsy to be conducted on Terri if she dies. The altruistic statement declared Michael wanted to exonerate himself on accusations he abused Terri and to show Terri is very severely brain damaged.

Yet, the decision to conduct an autopsy had already been made when Felos spoke with the media -- and not by Michael or Felos.

Jon Thogmartin, medical examiner for Pinellas and Pasco counties, tells the St. Petersburg Times newspaper he made the decision to conduct an autopsy if necessary and said it had nothing to do with Michael's change of heart.

"We have determined to be involved because of the statutes and because the people of the state of Florida say we are involved," Pellan said. "Not because Michael Schiavo wants us involved."

Read the rest. Related: Scared Monkeys

cBS Does it Again

Apparently cBS has prematurely published Terri Schaivo's obituary. Red at Scared Monkeys has the story....

11th Will Consider the Schindler's Appeal

AP:

The 11th Circuit will consider granting a hearing. They haven't said when they will decide if they will or not. Will it be too late? Is it already too late?

In its order late Tuesday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals didn't say when it would decide whether to grant the hearing. It was not clear what effect reconnecting Terri Schiavo's feeding tube would have on her, as she approached her 13th day without nourishment.

The order issued allowed Bob and Mary Schindler to file the appeal, even though the court had set a March 26 deadline for doing so.

Its one-sentence order said: "The Appellant's emergency motion for leave to file out of time is granted." Twice last week, the court ruled against the Schindlers.

In requesting a new hearing, the Schindlers argued that a federal judge in Tampa should have considered the entire state court record and not whether previous Florida court rulings met legal standards under state law. It also stated that the Atlanta federal appellate court didn't consider whether there was enough "clear and convincing" evidence that Terri Schiavo would have chosen to die in her current condition.

The Autopsy

Michael doesn't have to authorize an autopsy, Michael really doesn't have any choice in the matter and he can't refuse an autospy, the Medical Examiner needs to approve the request for a cremation before it happens. Yesterday, George Felos said "that the chief medical examiner for Pinellas County, Dr. John Thogmartin, had agreed to perform an autopsy.

He said her husband wants definitive proof showing the extent of her brain damage. Michael Schiavo contends his wife told him years ago she would not want to be kept alive artificially under such circumstances." (Via Fox News).

Michelle Malkin has some more links regarding this announcement and questions that have arisen regarding Terri's condition.

Last night on Greta Van Susteren, reporter Julie Banderas said that it's Florida law that an autopsy be performed on any body before cremation. This isn't precisely true, in the case of a natural death with no questions, the Medical Examiner can approve a cremation without an autopsy, but the Medical Examiner must give approval before a body can be cremated. At the Pinellas County Medical Examiners website here is the relevant statute: 406.11(1)(c)

A. All requests for cremation must be approved by the Medical Examiner prior to the actual cremation.

1.Before authorizing the irretrievable disposal of a body by cremation, the Medical Examiner must be assured that no future question will arise about the cause or circumstances of the death of the individual.

2. The death, if previously unreported to the Medical Examiner, must first be verified as a non-Medical Examiner case according to Florida Statutes, 406.11

Easter Sunday

Greer Rejects Again

Greer rejected the Schindler's appeals once again. Bob Schindler was just on, and said that Terri is doing remarkably well considering the circumstances. She is FIGHTING TO LIVE.... Can't they see this? Put the tube back, or at least allow oral water and food.

Maundy Thursday

Who will wash Terri's feet?

People and Livestock

Jeff asked me to post on this story: Cabot farmer serving reparative sentence for cow deaths From the Barre - Montpelier Times Argus in Vermont. Christian DeNeergaard, from Cabot, VT was convicted of not feeding or watering his 75 cows, allowing 11 of them to die as a result of this neglect. He was supposed to rectify the situation, but on a subsequent inspection, 15 more cows were found dead of starvation. PETA, of course, wanted him to go to jail. He was not sentenced to jail because of technical issues in the search of the property. Of course, this man's behavior is abhorrent and should be punished. But where are PETA now? There is a term "The Human Animal" isn't there? Get all up in arms for starved cows, but not for a starved human being? Maybe it's because the cows didn't tell the bull that they wanted to die. Anchoress has another story on starving cows: O Irony! FL rancher charged with starving cattle Welcome Polipundit readers. There is a list to the right of other Terri stories at this site.

Curiouser and Curiouser

According to Junk Yard Blog:

The Hapless Misadventures of the Pinellas County Court System keeps getting stinkier and stinkier and scarier and scarier. Michael Schiavo's attorney George Felos took his case and then filed the petition to introduce HB 2131 in 1999. Then the law in Tallahassee gets changed. Then the Schiavo case gets heard. In that order. In April 1999 - House Bill 2131 was introduced in the Florida legislature by the Florida Elder Affairs & Long-Term Care Committee to amend Section 765 (Civil Rights) of the Florida Statutes. The amendments to Section 765.101 were the legal definition of "life prolonging procedures" to add: "INCLUDING ARTIFICIALLY PROVIDED SUSTENENCE AND HYDRATION, WHICH SUSTAINS, RESTORES, OR SUPPLANTS A SPONTANEOUS VITAL FUNCTION". It becomes law on October 1, 1999.

Go read the rest. Need someone dead? Get a law passed that will assist you in your endeavor. Welcome Polipundit, Wizbang, & Myopic Zeal readers. There is a list to the right of other Terri stories at this site.

Milestone

We just reached 10,000 on our sitemeter. Thanks to all our visitors and referrers. Also just to put our growth in perspective, while we had 2000 hits last month, this month we're approaching 6,000. It's been great working with kimsch and we really appreciate all of our visitors and..........and.........there I go......I promised myself I wouldn't cry.................talk amongst yourselves. (Jeff)

Property has more rights than Terri

The American Spectator Where There's No Will By Clinton W. Taylor In Florida under the intestacy (dying without will) statute, everything goes to the spouse no matter what. Clinton Taylor states: "[T]he kind of testimony Michael Schiavo gave would not be sufficient (or even admissible) to affect the disposition of Terri's property -- but it is sufficient to end her life." Go read the rest. Via Patterico's Pontifications.

He Wants a Stay on Replacing Feeding Tube...

Just heard on Fox News: Reporter Julie Banderas:

Michael Schaivo, of course, hopes they [the 11th Circuit] reject that appeal. Sources tell us, this is what he plans to do next, he wants to take the additional step of asking the courts, if, and I repeat if, they rule in favor of the Schindlers' to include an 8 hour stay before putting that feeding tube back in Terri Schaivo, giving him time to file his appeal to the United States Supreme Court.

Time to make sure she dies.

Set Up Your Own Living Will

Matt Margolis had a post in February about Living Wills. Go read it. He links to this site for more information.

Hearing On Terri at 3 pm Eastern

The Federal Judge (James Whittemore) will hear the case at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. Via Fox News. Spelling of the Judge's name corrected.

Terri News

From Anchoress: So, Michael Schiavo says he doens't KNOW what Terri wants... Seems Michael told Larry King that he doesn't know what Terri wants, but knows what he wants. and Nurse's Affidavit Says Terri Can Swallow Normally Go read both posts. LaShawn Barber has more. Scroll Down for more on Terri and Check the March Archives too.

President's Statement

Via Reuters:

Today, I signed into law a bill that will allow federal courts to hear a claim by or on behalf of Terri Schiavo for violation of her rights relating to the withholding or withdrawal of food, fluids, or medical treatment necessary to sustain her life. In cases like this one, where there are serious questions and substantial doubts, our society, our laws, and our courts should have a presumption in favor of life. This presumption is especially critical for those like Terri Schiavo who live at the mercy of others.

The Bill PASSED!

The bill passed and is on it's way to the President for signature. More as I get it. Final Vote 203-58. UPDATE: Via Fox - W signed the bill.

Repreive

Terri's received a repreive for now. Judge Greer is unlocateable, to deal with the subpoenas, so another Judge has "stayed" the order again. Via Fox News.

Prayer For Terri

Dear Lord, Please let Your will be done for Terri Schindler-Schiavo. Please aid those who would help her and hinder those who would harm her. Amen

Good News on the Terri Front

Via Fight4Terri: THE US SENATE HAS THANKFULLY JUST PASSED THE BILL FOR TERRI. IT MUST RETURN NOW TO THE US HOUSE TO FIX THE LANGUAGE SO BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE MATCH! THIS IS WONDERFUL NEWS FOR THE MOMENT. PLEASE PRAY.....PLEASE..THAT THE HOUSE WILL FINISH WITH SUPPORT OF TERRI, A MOST BEAUTIFUL AND VIABLE HUMAN BEING. PLEASE!!! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! CHERYL

URGENT! Your Help is Needed!

Via Jeanette at Oh How I Love Jesus:

ACTION ITEM NEEDED NOW: This item is extremely important with how it is handled. Please call and email Governor Bush with one item only. Subject Line: Terri's tube MUST NOT be removed surgically on Friday. Her feeding tube can be safely capped off while the investigations are underway. It is invasive and risky to have Terri surgically undergo removal of the feeding tube when the same results can be achieved by placing a cap at the end of the tube. Feeding tube must NOT be surgically removed. Governor...please take ACTION to stop the surgical removal of Terri's feeding tube NOW! Call Jeb NOW! Gov. Jeb Bush 850-488-4441 850-487-0801 (fax) jeb.bush@myflorida.com, fl_governor@myflorida.com, jeb@jeb.org, jeb@myflorida.com Executive Office of Governor, Legal Team to Jeb *Ask to speak to the following individuals* Robert H. Fernandez (Deputy General Counsel to Governor) -> fernanr@eog.state.fl.us Raquel A. Rodriguez (General Counsel to Governor) -> raquel.rodriguez@myflorida.com Christa Calamas (Assistant General Counsel to Governor) -> calamac@eog.state.fl.us 850 / 488-3494 (voice) 850 / 488-9810 (fax) Section: 415:1051--- allows DCF through adult protective services to provide protective custody for the victim of alleged abuse, neglect and/or exploitation. This comes from http:// Fight4terri.blogspot.com This is of utmost importance that as many people as possible contact this office to get some positive action for Terri.

Culture of Death - Redux

Captain's Quarters has the story on the 5 month old child in Texas who was euthanized against his mother's express wishes. Part of their reasoning was that the mother said the baby's father was "the sun in the sky". The child had an extreme form of dwarfism that when it is fatal, usually causes the death of the child neo-natally, that is within hours or days of birth. This child was 5 months old, to me that is far past neo-natal. There is another case in the system, where a wife is fighting desperately for her husband's life. The hospital wants to end support. related: Culture of Death. (this link has links to other posts here at Musing Minds)

Eat An Animal For PETA Day

Today is Eat an Animal for PETA day. Last night we had some lovely lamb chops. I sprinkle them with garlic and oregano and olive oil and bake at 350 Fahrenheit until done. Served with green beans. Tonight I think we'll have what's pictured above: Impossibly Easy Cheeseburger Pie (Bisquick®) Get all the great taste of a cheeseburger magically baked in a pie. 1 pound lean ground beef 1 large onion, chopped (1 cup) 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces) 1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix 1 cup milk 2 eggs 1. Heat oven to 400°F. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Cook beef and onion until beef is brown; drain. Spread in pie plate; sprinkle with salt and cheese. 2. Stir in remaining ingredients until blended. Pour into pie plate. 3.Bake about 25 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. ©T.M. of General Mills,Inc This has not only ground beef, but eggs, cheese and milk! I often add a can of diced tomatoes to the onion/burger mix. I also don't add the teaspoon of salt. I use an 8" x 8" x 2" glass cake pan and grease it with some olive oil. Enjoy!

Culture of Death

David Limbaugh is calling for prayers for Terri Schindler-Schiavo. I will be praying and I hope you will be too. His article is a must read. (Via Ankle Biting Pundits). His penultimate paragraph:

I find it haunting that we live in a culture of death where the presumption seems to be against finding that a human being would want to go on living and the burden of proof is on those promoting life.

We have written on Terri here, here, here and here, and the Groningen Protocol and Suffering through Living before. David Limbaugh's sentence above really says it all. Update: Michelle Malkin has more on the Florida Legislature's efforts. California Medicine Man has an excellent post on the Groningen Protocol (via Hugh Hewitt)

Online Coalition for Free Speech

The Captain is an original signatory to the Online Coalition. From his post:

You can also sign onto the Online Coalition. Go to the website and register to add your voices in defense of the blogosphere and the First Amendment. We may be conservatives and liberals, centrists and radicals, but we're all Americans -- and no one tells us that we have to keep our mouths shut about politics. We'll be glad to have you on board.

Join the Coalition today! Sign the letter!

Uncle David

My Uncle David passed away this morning about 4 a.m. He passed peacefully into the Lord's arms. He had pancreatic cancer and was taken to the hospital Monday with pneumonia. He was surrounded by family and love. Uncle David was a wonderful man. He made my aunt the happiest she'd ever been. He was a loving father and grandfather. He will be missed. But we know he is in with the Lord. And he's probably playing on the heavenly back nine with Dad right now.

Ari on Helen and Jeff Gannon/James Guckert

Brit Hume interviewed Ari Fleischer on Special Report March 8, 2005. I have just finished transcribing it.

[Videotape]:

Helen Thomas: Why then is a family grudge included in official papers States Acquisition on war and peace?

Ari Fleischer: Helen, if you’re referring to, form, an attempt to assassinate a former United States President which Iraq tried to do when former President Bush went to Kuwait.

Helen Thomas: that’s why we’re killing thousands of people in Iraq?

Ari Fleischer: Helen I also think it’s why former President Clinton responded to that assassination attempt with four days of cruise missile strikes against Iraq.

Helen Thomas: People are acting like this is a conversion to democracy by the sword. How can you, I mean, are you going to kill all these people to get democracy?

[Live]:

Brit Hume: That is what daily press briefings were like in the first years of the Bush Administration and that’s pretty much what they’re like today. Briefers come and go, but the press, and some of its prominent members seem to be forever. Why is this? Well who better to ask than the man who, as you just saw endured the slings and arrows for most of President Bush’s first term, his former press secretary, Ari Fleischer, author of Taking Heat the new book about his experiences on the job. Ari, welcome.

Ari Fleischer: Thank you Brit.

Brit Hume: So what causes, in your judgment, the atmosphere, that intensely adversarial atmosphere which has existed for some time in the White House briefing room?

Ari Fleischer: Well part of it is the healthy way every democracy should be carried out with press holding the government accountable and asking the tough questions. But I also happen to think that in the modern media, particularly live TV coverage, it’s almost now become a performance in that briefing room, half by reporters, half by the press secretary, it’s just a new era.

Brit Hume: The briefing, the daily briefing wasn’t always on camera…

Ari Fleischer: And when it wasn’t on camera, even as recently as when Marlon Fitzwater was the press secretary, I think there was a serious conveyance of information, the questions were a little more answerable, and the answers could be given and were given more often. Now it’s often a sense of the press secretary on defense, the press on offense and its almost like there’s a standoff between the two.

Brit Hume: Why not go back to the days when you didn’t broadcast?

Ari Fleischer: That’s a…

Brit Hume: and didn’t allow them for live coverage. You could have made that choice couldn’t you?

Ari Fleischer: That’s an intriguing question. And Mike McCurry who made the decision to help the rolling cables in the nineties by allowing briefings to be covered and covered live. Mike believes that we shouldn’t go back to that era, he said that to me.

Brit Hume: What do you think?

Ari Fleischer: I’m not sure Brit, because on the one hand I think it would lower the tone and result in a more serious briefing. On the other hand, after September 11^th millions of Americans want to tune in to watch what their government is doing and the government should be responsive to that as well. It’s a very hard call.

Brit Hume: I’ve got to ask you about Helen. I sat next to Helen Thomas when I was a White House correspondent for eight years. She was indefatigable, dedicated, but as the questions we just showed from her to you indicated often highly tendentious in her questioning. She was given and has been given to making speeches. But in those days she was the senior wire service reporter for UPI, senior wire service reporter, and had, therefore, some standing to sit on the front row and get the first question in these news conferences and so on. Nowadays she’s not that. And she stopped being that while you were there if I’m not mistaken. She now is a columnist for the Hearst Newspapers.

Ari Fleischer: That’s correct.

Brit Hume: Why did you permit her to keep that front row seat which was almost always front row seats were reserved for people who were there every day, covering the place as a beat for big news organizations.

Ari Fleischer: And Hearst does have another seat in the room for its regular reporter. But Helen is unique, and I think it’s because, Brit, and certainly the way I did it, is because of everything she’s accomplished in her career. I wrote in the book that I think Helen is a legend. And therefore I think she should be and is entitled to that front row seat. That’s the way I treated her at my press briefings. I disagree with her politics vociferously. She disagrees with mine vociferously. And we would clash in that briefing room as you showed. So what. That’s the way it works. She gave her opinions, I gave mine and I never minded hearing her opinion.

Brit Hume: Well, let me ask you about that. Did you do that just to honor her, or did you do that because her behavior which many reporters would regard as out of bounds, expression of opinions, making statements, speeches, argumentation with the briefer as unprofessional. It wasn’t a problem for you?

Ari Fleischer: It wasn’t a problem. Take for example Helen’s position on the Middle East. Helen was very much, she would refer to Israeli occupation, a brutal occupation of the Middle East, of the West Bank by Israel. And President Bush had a very different opinion. So I never minded to state what the President’s opinion was after Helen stated hers. That was my job. But Helen again, she’s entitled to state her opinion and I think every reporter in that room knows that Helen is very opinionated and she’s different from all the other reporters who ask questions. She’s earned it at this point in her career.

Brit Hume: Would it be too much for me to say that she was, that her opinionated ways were in effect useful to you?

Ari Fleischer: I’d like to think that every time I got a question I tried to answer in a way that was useful to what the President was thinking and I would try to answer the questions that way, but Helen’s, Helen’s special. She’s a different case and I happen to like her personally, disagree with her entirely politically.

Brit Hume: What about this current controversy over access to the briefing room? What do you make of all that? I should note by the way for viewers who are not familiar with it, there’s this guy Jeff Gannon, real name Jeff [James] Guckert who works for a very pro conservative, [video clip] there’s a picture of him now posing a question, in a briefing he got a famous question of the President. He’s had a somewhat checkered background it seems. Wasn’t always a journalist, some argue he’s not now. Yet he was able to gain access by a series of day passes to that briefing room. What about that?

Ari Fleischer: Well, I think the whole thing was rather odd and also unique. And by that I mean I think that the White House has had a long tradition of having a relatively open process for who is defined as a reporter. Much more open than the House and Senate and as a result you’ve had a history of colorful characters left and right in that room. And in his instance, as long as he didn’t work for the political party and it turned out he did not work for the Republican party even though his newsletter, his web page was called GOP USA.

Brit Hume: It’s called Talon News but run by GOP USA.

Ari Fleischer: But the problem I’ve got, is once the White House press secretary, a government employee, starts defining who is and is not a journalist, where do you draw the line in that room. There are several liberal reporters in that room who work for talk radio, for other outlets. Helen, as we just talked about, she largely just gives her opinion these days and none really ask questions anymore. There are a couple identifiable conservatives. Should the White House press secretary have the right to kick them out because they’re ideological. I don’t think that’s healthy for government or for journalism. That’s why I say I think this is unique. I think this is a special case, with someone very odd. And certainly in terms of people’s private lives, it’s up to organizations, media organizations, if they don’t like the private lives of their employees, they should deal with it. The government shouldn’t be in the business of looking into the private lives of reporters in that room.

Brit Hume: Last question. How’s the book doing?

Ari Fleischer: Well apparently it’s doing great. That’s what my publisher tells me and it’s really, it’s a look inside the White House to let people know what President Bush is like, in private, behind the scenes in the West Wing. It’s also a real examination of the media, question of are they biased. What’s it like to be the press secretary standing at that podium as a human piñata every day.

Brit Hume: Ari Fleischer, pleasure to have you. Good luck with the book. Congratulations.

Ari Fleischer: Thank you.

Welcome PoliPundit Readers!

Dinosaur Blog

Non Sequitur 3/7/05 - This is just too funny... (Click link for bigger)

Happy Birthday Dad

Dad would have been 71 years old today. He died September 4, 2002 of esophageal cancer. We miss you Daddy. This photo of him was taken circa 1954.

National Geographic Channel - In The Womb

This is a photo of a seven month fetus, part of a National Geographic Channel Special In The Womb, to be shown Sunday evening at 8 pm Eastern/9 pm Pacific. How can anyone look at this and not see a baby? This is one photo of six they have at the site, as well as a preview of the show. I know what I'll be watching Sunday evening...

Large Mammals

We are now Large Mammals in the TTLB Ecosystem. This photo was found via Google Images here. UPDATE: I'm the one on the left. (Jeff) The idea came from Ann Althouse.

We Are Periodicals

In Declan McCullagh's interview with Bradley Smith at C-Net there is an editor's note (top of page 2): (Editor's note: federal law limits the press exemption to a "broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication." ) (emphasis mine) We are periodical publications. Sometimes we publish several times a day, sometimes just once a day, or once a week. Our "periods" aren't defined like the weekly publication of Newsweek, or the daily publication of the Chicago Tribune, but we do, indeed, publish "periodically". Bloggers should be covered under the Press Exemption. We are press. We self-publish with varied periods, that's all. Others on McCain/Feingold (with links to even more): Anchoress Michelle Malkin La Shawn Barber Pajama Hadin Say Anything See also the Captain's Open Letter below.

The Captain's Open Letter to the Senate

Ed Morrisey at Captain's Quarters has posted an open letter that he sent to all 100 Senators. Unfortunately, some got bounced back because some Senators only allow contact through a form on their website or only from their constituents. He's asking that we copy and paste his letter and with an introduction of our own, send it to both Senators from your home state. He's hoping that we will be able to reach all 100 Senators this way. Here is the letter:

To the honorable Senators McCain and Feingold, et al:

I have read with considerable dismay the effect that your recent lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission, upheld by Judge Colleen Kollar-Ketelly, will have on political speech on the Internet. I write a political media-watchdog blog, Captain's Quarters, which enjoys a not-insubstantial daily readership. No one pays me to do this; I operate my site and write on topics purely from personal convictions and a deep desire to improve the world around me and make the nation stronger. I can unequivocally say the same about my many colleagues in the "blogosphere", both liberal and conservative.

Now we understand from Bradley Smith, one of the FEC commissioners, that your lawsuit forcing them to regulate speech on the Internet will have the effect of turning our efforts into in-kind contributions, especially when we provide hyperlinks back to candidate sites for referencing their positions and excerpt text from their on-line documents. Hyperlinks allow our readers to check our references to ensure our accuracy and context, and perform the hygienic task of holding our politicians accountable for their campaign practices. All of this not only should fall under the protection of the First Amendment, but it should be the primary reason for the First Amendment -- to protect and encourage free political speech and foster genuine debate.

Your legislation and the accompanying lawsuit that forced the FEC to regulate Internet political speech threaten all of that. If my links to political sites such as Georgewbush.com and Johnkerry.com counted as contributions and I was forced to accept responsibility for the cash value that the FEC designated to them, I would have been charged with several misdemeanors and possibly felonies, as I provided many such links during the past election cycle. During this cycle, my blog published over 680 essays on the presidential election. In fact, I linked to Senator Kerry's site four times as often as President Bush's site, which would have meant to the FEC that I was a major contributor to his campaign -- when in fact I opposed Senator Kerry and supported President Bush. These regulations would have forced me to retain the services of a full-time accountant and retain an attorney to understand when and where I overcontributed. At the very least, the burden of proof would be on me to make the FEC believe that my blog does not constitute in-kind contributions subject to the limits imposed on both hard and soft money contributions.

The effect of this would have been to force me to shut down my blog, or convert it to something else. In fact, it would have caused me less legal heartache to convert my site to a porn blog and do nothing but post hard-core pictures all day long. In the twisted environment of the McCain-Feingold Act, that kind of website would enjoy greater First Amendment protection than my political speech, a result for which every single Senator should feel shame and outrage.

Each of you should read the Constitution you swore to uphold and defend, and reflect on the unequivocal language of our forefathers:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

We may debate about the effect of unregulated cash on our electoral system, but if this new FEC effort comes to pass, the only people debating will be the corporate-owned media and the politicians. The rest of us will have been effectively bound and gagged, unable to contribute in any way thanks to the efforts of those who fear their own constituents. You can be assured that none of us in the blogosphere will fail to recognize those who do not act to defend our rights to free and unfettered political speech, and regardless of political party, none of us will rest until those voices of repression are stripped of office by the voters they hold in such low regard.

I, for one, will not be daunted by your attempts to stifle us. My many friends and colleagues on both sides of the political aisle stand as ready as I to defend the Constitution. We demand a hearing on McCain-Feingold, with open testimony before the press and our colleagues, and we demand action to reform or repeal this dangerous and un-American muzzle on political speech.

We await your response, sirs.

Edward Morrissey Captain's Quarters

Mine have been sent. (Obama and Durbin). Update: I received an auto-reply from Barak Obama almost immediately. It thanked me for contacting him by email and suggested I go the the website and use the webform there. That is how I sent it in the first place.

Critics Say Utah Targeting Illegal Aliens Because They Are Foreigners

The AP reports that Utah has passed a bill requiring undocumented workers illegal aliens to turn in their drivers' licences for a "driving privilege" card. Activists are upset about this, and one "compared the legislation to the marking of Jews during the Holocaust."

The card, according to the bill passed Wednesday by the Legislature, could not be used as identification to board a plane, open a bank account or obtain a driver's license in another state. It would have to be renewed annually and would be a different color than Utah's regular blue driver's license and be printed with the words "FOR DRIVING PRIVILEGES ONLY - NOT VALID FOR IDENTIFICATION." ... Leo Bravo, of the Hispanic Center of Cache Valley in northern Utah, argues that the measure singles out undocumented workers because they are foreigners. ... "I thought he would be good for the community," said Bravo, who supported [Utah Governor Jon] Huntsman for office. "You remember the time of the Jews and Nazis? They were marked. I hope he doesn't betray me."

Mr. Bravo, the measure doesn't single out illegal aliens because they're foreigners (which, of course, they are), it singles them out because they're illegal.

Never Gray

USA Today has a new commercial out. Have you seen it? A man in a hotel, getting the newspaper from the hallway, locks himself out of his room. He is in a state of undress. He wraps the newspaper around himself and proceeds to the front desk, getting looks from everyone. During this USA Today prints on the screen: Never Dull Never Tedious Never Miss a Day Never Gray Sounds like a (not so) subtle dig at the NYT...

Dan Rather's "Greatest Hits"

Via Powerline: Media Research Center has a list of Dan Rather's "Notable Quotables", showing his liberal bias dating back to 1995... Here's the first:

“The new Republican majority in Congress took a big step today on its legislative agenda to demolish or damage government aid programs, many of them designed to help children and the poor.” — Leading off the March 16, 1995 CBS Evening News.

Now read the rest.

New Blogger On the Block

There's a new blogger on the block - OpiniPundit. Good stuff there. Check him out.

Get the Clock

PoliPundit has written code and made it available to all to get the clock posted at the top of this page. John Kerry told Tim Russert on Meet the Press that he would sign his Form 180. He still hasn't done it. We're waiting....

Helen Thomas

At the White House Press briefing today regarding the resignation of the Lebanese Government Helen Thomas goes waaayy off topic: (Q is Helen Thomas):

Q Has the President ever issued an order against torture of prisoners? And do we still send prisoners to Syria to be tortured?

MR. McCLELLAN: The President has stated publicly that we do not condone torture and that he would never authorize the use of torture. He has made that --

Q But has he issued an order?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- statement very publicly, and he's made it clear to everybody in the government that we do not torture.

Q Well, why do we still hear these stories then?

MR. McCLELLAN: If there are allegations of wrongdoing, then the President expects those allegations to be fully investigated and if there is actual wrongdoing that occurs, then people need to be held to account. The President has made that very clear.

Q Well, do you deny that we still send prisoners to other countries to be tortured? Is that a denial?

MR. McCLELLAN: Judge Gonzales testified previously that we have an obligation not to render people to countries that we know would torture them.

Q He did not rule out torture.

Transcript and link to video available here. Why is this woman still attending press briefings? And look at the second part of the first question... Did we ever "send prisoners to Syria to be tortured?" - Do you still beat your wife? Welcome Opinipundit readers. Welcome American Princess readers.

Lebanon Kicks Syria Out

Via Fox News: Lebanon's Prime Minister says whole government to resign. The Lebanese are rising against the Syrian forces. Prime Minister Omar Karami:

"I am keen that the government will not be a hurdle in front of those who want the good for this country. I declare the resignation of the government that I had the honor to head. May God preserve Lebanon,"

More from Reuter's:

"The people have won," main opposition leader Walid Jumblatt told LBC television after Karami announced the resignation of the cabinet to a parliament session debating Hariri's killing.

Ecstatic protesters, having got their wish for the government's resignation, chanted "Syria out" and "Freedom, sovereignty, independence." Syria has wielded political and military power in its smaller neighbor for decades.

They also chanted "Lahoud, your turn is next," in reference to pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud.

Martyrs Square, by Hariri's grave, was a sea of Lebanese flags -- red and white with a cedar tree in the center.

Thousands of protesters watched the debate live on large screens while loudspeakers blared patriotic songs.

Cheers and applause erupted when Karami resigned. In parliament, opposition MPs wearing the red-and-white scarves that have come to symbolize their movement, gave a standing ovation.

Light Posting from kimsch

I've been posting lightly because I received my new laptop on Friday and have been getting it up to speed with all my old software. I also have a paper due tomorrow for my current class, so posting on my part will still be fairly light. I have a brand new Dell Inspiron 6000 with a very nice 15-1/2 screen. It's like an HDTV screen wider than tall, so it's very nice for spreadsheet viewing. I'm getting used to the new Office 2003 software too.