Now It's Piggy Banks

From DhimmiWatch via Lone Star Times comes this story about banks in England banning piggy banks given to customers as a promotional item (AAP):

British banks are banning piggy banks because they may offend some Muslims. Halifax and NatWest banks have led the move to scrap the time-honoured symbol of saving from being given to children or used in their advertising, the Daily Express/Daily Star group reports here.... Salim Mulla, secretary of the Lancashire Council of Mosques, backed the bank move. "This is a sensitive issue and I think the banks are simply being courteous to their customers," he said. However, the move brought accusations of political correctness gone mad from critics. "The next thing we will be banning Christmas trees and cribs and the logical result of that process is a bland uniformity," the Dean of Blackburn, Reverend Christopher Armstrong, said. "We should learn to celebrate our difference, not be fearful of them." Khalid Mahmoud, the Labour MP for a Birmingham seat and one of four Muslim MPs in Britain, also criticised the piggy-bank ban. "We live in a multicultural society and the traditions and symbols of one community should not be obliterated just to accommodate another," Mr Mahmoud said. "I doubt many Muslims would be seriously offended by piggy banks."

Muslims are not supposed to eat pork and consider pigs unclean, but these banks are porcelain or plastic pigs. As with the situation in Dudley, West Midlands, UK a live pig in the office, or giving away a side of bacon or pork chops could, maybe, be construed as "insensitive". Forcing actual, live pigs or pork on people, any people, would be unacceptable, but this just takes the cake. Repeat after me: There. Is. No. Right. To. Not. Be. Offended. Many different groups have food prohibitions. With Hindus it's beef. We should close all the McDonalds, Burger Kings, and Ruth's Chris steakhouses. Jews can not eat pork or shellfish. Close all the Red Lobsters and Joe's Crab Shacks. Everything on this planet is bound to offend someone, somewhere. Also covering this: Little Green Footballs, The Jawa Report, OpiniPundit, Say Anything, Gates of Vienna, Gut Rumbles, Momentary Lapses of Insanity, Daimnation, Hyscience, The American Princess, Civitatensis, Lost Budgie Blog, Welcome Anchoress readers! Welcome Junk Yard Blog readers! More: And Now The Three Little Pigs Too

Delay's Statement

I have committed no wrong doing. I know that, and more importantly, Ronnie Earle knows that. You may be surprised to hear this from me today, but I find this is a very good day. For the first time in over three years, I was provided the opportunity to go before a court and refute these baseless charges that are the result of a political vendetta being acted out by Ronnie Earle. Now, unfortunately for Ronnie Earle, the facts and the law are on my side. The only reason I had to be in that courtroom today was because Ronnie Earle has abused his prosecutorial power and he's pursued these contrived and baseless charges. Because of actions that I took through the democratic process to rid this very legislature of years of unfair gerrymandering by Texas democrats, I became a target for Ronnie Earle. Because I was successful in exercising my right to be involved in a political process that elected more republicans, I became a target of Ronnie Earle. And because Ronnie Earle and the democrat party could not beat me at the ballot box, and could not beat me on the floor of the House of Representatives, they are now desperately trying to challenge me in a courtroom. In short, I have been charged for defeating democrats. I have been charged for advocating constitutional representation. And I have been charged for advancing the republican agenda. Ronnie Earle and the democrat campaign behind will be unsuccessful. I will fight this prosecutor's abuse of the legal system and I will be absolutely exonerated. I will not, I will not let a prosecutor who pursues his political enemies by abusing the law and manufacturing baseless charges wreck our justice system. Grand Jury shopping and "make the law up as you go" injustice by the district attorney will not rule the day. The facts and the law will rule the day. A fair trial, with an impartial jury, will look at the facts and they will understand that without a doubt, I committed no wrongdoing whatsoever. I look forward to presenting those facts and putting my faith in the law and order to welcome my inevitable exoneration. Thank you once again for this opportunity to talk to y'all. Have a nice day.

What A Mug Shot

Found at The Smoking Gun Via Lorie at PoliPundit: Very nice picture Mr. Delay.

Prayer Request

Jeanette received a phone call that she's been dreading. Please lift her, her cousin and his daughter up in your prayers.

ACLU Sign Meme

I've been tagged by Lady Jane at A Lady's Ruminations who was tagged by William Teach at Pirates Cove who was tagged by THM's Bacon Bits who was tagged by Third World County who started it off: If you could hang a sign on the ACLU building to draw attention to it, what would you put on your sign?

ALL CRIMINAL LIBERTIES UNION We Believe in Rights for Criminals - Not for Victims!

I'm going to tag Christopher K. Leavitt at Leavworld and Real Teen at Right on the Right

The Carnival of True Civil Liberties III

is up at Stop The ACLU.

Getting Your Christmas Cactus To Bloom

It's October 15th and time to ready your Christmas Cactus for Christmas blooms. A Christmas Cactus needs 12-14 hours of darkness each night in order to form blooms. You can put it in a closet every night, or just leave it there for about two weeks until the small buds form.

That's what I will be doing. I'm putting the Christmas Cactus on the top shelf of the linen closet until Halloween.

Watch for small buds on the top edges of the leaves. When you see a few about the size of a beaded pin head on the leaves, it's time to put the plant back where you had it. At Christmas your cactus will be full of beautiful blooms. A Christmas Cactus is a tropical succulent, not a desert one. Water when the top inch or so of soil is dry to the touch.

Free Piglet

You may have noticed the Free Piglet graphic at the top of the sidebar. Others have written about this before, now it's my turn. Pigs of any kind have been banned from the Dudley Council office in the West Midlands in England. This includes ceramic pigs, pigs on calendars and even cartoon pigs such as Porky Pig and Pooh's best friend Piglet. The pigs have been banned because they might offend Muslims, who do not eat pork and consider pigs unclean. Piglet's crime is his presence on a tissue box at one woman's desk.

Councillor Mahbubur Rahman, a practising Muslim, backed the ban. He said: "It's a tolerance of people'’s beliefs."

This isn't tolerance of people's beliefs, this is subjucation. Where did this "right to not be offended" come from? I'm offended by a lot of things. Since I am offended by rap music, let's ban it. I'm offended. I'm offended by the gratuitous use of foul language that I can be subject to when out at the mall. By all means, let's ban the use of any foul language. I'm offended by Cindy Sheehan, let's ban her. I'm offended by the liberal slant of the old media. Ban them! Ban them now! The ACLU most especially offends me. They offend me by insisting that the non-existent "right to not be offended" be enforced for one person, totally trumping everyone else. Zion, IL was incorporated in 1902 as a Christian Utopia.

Named after the mountain upon which Jerusalem was built, Zion City was to be communitarian and theocratic, a place of Christian cooperation, racial harmony, and strict fundamentalist morals.

In 1987, a man decided that he was offended by the city sticker that he was required to place on the windshield of his vehicle. The city sticker had the seal of the city printed on it. The seal contained a cross. The cross was part of the seal for 85 years before [the ACLU and]

the Illinois chapter of American Atheists filed suit against Zion City, citing that its city seal, which contained a cross, a dove, and the phrase "“God Reigns,"” was unconstitutional. In 1992 the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision that the city seal violated the principle of separation of church and state and that the Christian symbolism must be removed. Ironically, Zion City officials succeeded in incorporating the words "“In God We Trust"” on the new city seal, because the phrase was deemed acceptable religious language in the public arena.

The Supreme Court was wrong on this. Congress made no law. It offends me that the ACLU defends groups such as NAMBLA (North American Man Boy Love Association). It offends me that the ACLU defends live sex shows in Oregon. It offends me that the word God seems to be unacceptable anywhere in public. I remember a story where someone was offended that a CHURCH had "God Bless You" on their sign. It offends me that I may not see a Navity scene in any public space at Christmas. He is the reason for the season. I can choose not to listen to a radio station that plays rap music. I can walk away from foul mouthed teenagers in a mall. I can choose not to watch or read old media. If something offends me, I can avert my eyes or ears. So can you. If we continue on this track, no one will be able to anything, anywhere, anytime. Welcome Carnival of True Civil Liberties readers! Please look around... Jeff has a story on how The MSM Was/Is Wrong about Iraq I have a story on how to get your Christmas Cactus to Bloom The Anchoress has a post at CBS' Public Eye and Jeff talks about Knowing the Other Side's Offence

The Anchoress at Public Eye

The Anchoress was asked by CBS's Public Eye Outside Voices

to comment on CBS News, or the media in general. Previous contributors include The Weekly Standard’s Jonathan Last, PressThink’s Jay Rosen, Tom Rosenstiel and author Craig Crawford, so when the crew over there extended an invitation to me I was appropriately flattered to included be in such good company, and quickly agreed because - as you know - I can never write enough.

Their intro** is as follows:

Outside Voices – The Anchoress Speaks Each week we invite someone from the outside to weigh in with their thoughts about CBS News and the media at large. This week, we invited The Anchoress, one of the blogosphere's most mysterious and interesting voices who this week turned on her TV once again to check in on the CBS "Evening News." As always, the opinions expressed in “Outside Voices” are those of the author, not ours and we seek a wide variety of voices. Now, The Anchoress:

Go read both. BTW - Who has the time to watch the network evening news anymore? With commutes taking so long, is anyone even home from work by the time the network news comes on? Here in the central time zone, the network news is on at 5:30 pm. With work hours of 8-5 and average commutes of 45 minutes to an hour who's home? **Fixed permalink to Anchoress' post at Public Eye (2:33 pm)

Paul Mirengoff on The O'Reilly Factor

Here's the transcript: O'Reilly: In the Impact segment tonight, as you know Dan Rather left the CBS evening news over a story that questioned President Bush's National Guard Service. The source of that story proved to be bogus and the producer, Mary Mapes, now says a right wing conspiracy caused the entire fracas which Mapes has written a book about. It'll be out in November. Joining us now from Washington is Paul Mirengoff, a member of Powerline.com which was involved in this situation. To be fair to Mary Mapes, we would like get on and interview when the book comes out. I think this is a very small part of her book, but she does believe that an organized conservative cabal zeroed in on her story and tore it to pieces and she resents it. What say you sir? Mirengoff: Well I just think it's unfortunate that she can't admit that the story was a mistake and move on. This matter should have been put to rest months ago when the Thornburg panel issued it's findings. The Thornburg panel was commissioned by CBS, Miss Mapes' employer, to try to figure out what had happened. It was headed by Richard Thornburgh, the former Attorney General of the United States. He's hardly a member of some right wing conspiracy. He found that the story was indefensible. He said that they, uh, quoted, they used selective quotes from interviews, to distort the picture. He said they misrepresented findings of their own document examiner to their viewers and that really should have been the end of it. To blame this on the right wing conspiracy is ludicrous and pretty sad. O'Reilly: OK, but both Rather, Dan Rather and Mapes are still saying the story was correct, even though we got hoodwinked by our primary source which turned out to be bogus. And I don't think you're going to blow them out of that. But as you say, I mean, the internal investigation at CBS said, look this isn't up to our standards, we don't put this on the air. Now, Powerline, do you go after everybody, or do you just look at liberals, or are you trying to promote a conservative agenda? What exactly are you trying to do? Mirengoff: Well, we're conservative, and most, we do a lot of opining - hopefully opining, not bloviating - O'Reilly: Umhmm. Mirengoff: Along conservative lines. And when we report facts, we link to our facts, so the reader can go and check our sources and see whether we've gotten it right. And if we make a mistake, and it does happen, blogs do operate very fast, we make a mistake we get the correction... O'Reilly: But say you got a tip that said Tom Delay was doing something wrong or a conservative politician, anybody. Would you pursue that, or would you just dump it in the wastebasket? Mirengoff: No, if we had solid information we would go with that. We were highly, no one read us, it was years ago and no one was reading us at the time, but we were highly critical of Trent Lott, when that story broke with respect to Senator Thurmond and his comment. So, you know, we are conservative, but we don't shield anybody. O'Reilly: OK. Alright. So you say that you're in business to get the truth out to the folks. That's what your businesses do. Mirengoff: Yes, and to present conservative opinions. O'Reilly: Opinion. Alright. Now some of these other smear websites on the left, I mean all they do is follow people around and tape them and try to, you know, get little things that they say and take them out of context. So if you say a joke they present it as serious. Do you do that as well? Do you try to denigrate the other side? Mirengoff: No. We try to treat the other side with respect. O'Reilly: Nothing more to say on that? You don't use defamatory tactics, you don't go after anybody and try to destroy them because you disagree with them? Mirengoff: No. I mean on the Rather story for instance, if you look at our lengthy posts on that, you won't even find the name Dan Rather. We were focused on the story trying to determine whether it was true or false, not on the individual. O'Reilly: Alright. So you didn't bad mouth Rather, you didn't a history of his "Ratherisms" or try to make him look like some kind of ideological fool? Mirengoff: No, not at, later on, we linked to some, his history became relevant when he continued denying, denying the story, we linked to some people who did that. But the far focus was on the story not on Dan Rather. O'Reilly: OK. Now Powerline has become very successful and it's you and a couple of other lawyers running it. Correct? Mirengoff: Correct. O'Reilly: Now George Soros on the left, has bought his way into a number of these websites and uses them to obviously try to hurt people with whom he disagrees. You have silent funding from right wingers? Mirengoff: No. We don't get a penny from anybody. We, our goal is to say what we think and we don't want to be constrained, we don't want to bought and paid for, or doing anyone's bidding. O'Reilly: So no, no Melanskafe[sp?] or any of these guys kick you money and... Mirengoff: No, no absolutely not. Not a penny. We have a little advertising revenue now, but that's it. O'Reilly: So you're basically above-board? Conservative, but not looking to destroy anybody. Mirengoff: No. We're not out to destroy anybody. We try to be about ideas and we call them as we see them and because we're not funded we have the freedom to that. O'Reilly: Alright Mr. Mirengoff. And Mary Mapes is absolutely welcome anytime to come on this program to say whatever she wants to say. We appreciate your taking your time. Mirengoff: Thank you. Welcome Powerline readers! Please look around.

Very Interesting...

Earlier someone googled aclu "las cruces" weinbaum and this post was at the top of page 2 (of 4 pages). The interesting thing was in positions 2 and 3 on that google result page: a book review by a Lisa M. Weinbaum of Las Cruces, NM (scroll down a few). The Book is Why the Religious Right Is Wrong: About Separation of Church & State (Paperback) by Rob Boston The review reads:

The Battle Handbook for the Defense of the First Amendment, April 10, 2003 Reviewer: Lisa M. Weinbaum (Las Cruces, New Mexico USA) - See all my reviews This contents of this book helps prepare the citizen-soldier for the defense of every citizens' religious rights from the fanatical fundamentalist religious groups in America who want total control. If one can read this book without getting sick themselves, they will see how repulsive the individuals and groups are that proclaim their religious beliefs to be the only true religious beliefs; how the reader should obey their teachings; how the U. S. Government should be based on their religious beliefs. When religious groups want to control the government and the people from inside the womb to after the grave a serious battle must occur, not just light skirmishes. This book helps the citizen-soldier get through the light skirmishes while girding themselves for the inevitable battle for personal religious rights, free from government, of all Americans.

Very interesting. The date of the review is April 10, 2003. Looks like a lot of time went by before the citizen-soldiers of Las Cruces filed their lawsuit... Linked to Stop the ACLU Open Trackback

Coalition of the Chillin'

I have taken my time yesterday and today and have read a whole lot on the Miers nomination. I have decided that I have to join the Coalition of the Chillin'. The voices on all sides are deafening. Differing voices: Thomas Lifson Hugh Hewitt Beldar Michelle Malkin Patterico PoliPundit Blogs For Bush The Anchoress Stop the ACLU OpiniPundit and many, many more - links to some of those others can be found at some of the links above. I think that quite a few people were looking for a fillibuster battle and they are more disappointed that they don't think they'll get one than they are with the actual nomination. Ted Frank at Point Of Law had an interesting post Some wishful Miers thinking:

Here's the sinister conspiracy theory behind the Miers nomination: 1. Bush nominates Miers. 2. Conservatives howl with outrage. 3. Democrats, sensing an opportunity to deal a defeat to Bush, decide to oppose the nomination. 4. The Democrats seize the best reed available to them: Miers is under-experienced, doesn't have an intellectual background, and is a Bush crony. 5. Brownback and a number of Republicans express their opposition. 6. With the nomination looking doomed, Miers withdraws her name. 7. Bush now nominates Michael McConnell—and the Democrats can't possibly filibuster, because they just demanded Bush nominate based on quality rather than on political considerations.

It's time to chill out and see what happens.

Today's Presidential Press Conference

The transcript is here.

Paul Mirengoff of Powerline on O'Reilly Tonight

John at Powerline reports that Paul will be a guest on The O'Reilly Factor tonight. I'll have a transcript as soon as I can post interview. UPDATE: from the Powerline post referenced above:

UPDATE by PAUL: I won't be appearing on the Factor after all. They've decided to take the segment in a different direction.

Cats in Sinks

What is it with kittens and sinks? This is Duncan, he's almost 7 months old.

The Carnival of True Civil Liberties Volume 1

Visit the premiere Carnival of True Civil Liberties at Stop the ACLU. Jay will be hosting this month and then the Carnival of True Civil Liberties will start traveling... Ground rules are here. Our contribution is here.

Phone Solicitors

I had two calls today asking me to give money to one of those police organizations. I told them I am not currently working and can't give anything right now. The first one said, "Well, thank you anyway." and politely ended the call. The second (for a different organization) said, "Well, we're not asking for a lot. $25 could make a big difference for our cause." I told him that $25 makes a big difference in my grocery budget too. Then I thanked him and hung up. Don't know why I thanked him. By the way, if you want to give a donation that you can guarantee will be 100% used by your local police or fire department, give it directly to your local police or fire department. Mail it or bring it in.

Speaking English

Yesterday afternoon I took my almost five-year-old son in for preschool screening. It was set up in the gym at a local elementary school. Near the door was the check-in table, then there were several stations set up for testing communication skills, cognitive skills and motor skills. Each child was sent through with an aide. Mom or Dad just waited. My area has a large Hispanic population and bilingual classes, so there were plenty of bilingual aides available. There were three parents and children ahead of me in line. The first needed a bilingual aide. The second was asked if she needed a bilingual aide. She said that they spoke English, but her child also spoke Spanish at home. She was given a bilingual aide anyway (I don't think she was really happy with that, but accepted it). This is where the story gets good: The lady at the desk, hearing an accent from mother number 3, asked if she needed a bilingual aide. Mom said, "We speak English. We are from Romania." Our area also has a good sized population of Former Soviet Bloc and Indian immigrants too. There aren't any bilingual aides for those immigrants. I just think it's telling. Oh, by the way, the little guy did extremely well with his testing. The expected scores were 10, 12 and 12. I'm not sure which score went with each test though. His scores were 18, 23 and 22. They told me that he's "more than ready" for school. He's gifted and there's no gifted programs in the district. The cut-off date for kindergarden is September 1st (you have to be five by that date). His birthday is in November. He can't go to kindergarden until next school year. Now what do I do?

The WTC

I posted this late last night and I have some more thoughts about it now. Right after 9/11, shots of the World Trade Center, shot before the attacks, were deleted from many movies. The one that comes to mind immediately was a scene, shown in the original trailer, from Spiderman. The scene showed a helicopter caught in a giant web strung between the Towers. This scene was deleted from the movie. I thought, perhaps, they'd include it as a deleted scene on the DVD, but they didn't. Wikipedia has a list of movies and and some TV shows that were affected by 9/11 here. In some movies the Towers were digitally removed from scenes. This has always bothered me. Why remove them? The Towers stood until a group of religious zealots, out to take over the world, destroyed them and thousands of people inside. Removing the Towers from the films made it seem as if they had never existed. That just wasn't right. That was why I was so glad to see the Towers in the Lost Episode. How do you feel about this? Please leave comments, I'm really very interested in other's opinions on this subject.

Casey's Insurance Money is Running Out

Cindy Sheehan has signed up with a speaker's bureau to get speaker's fees. She sure needs the money. She lost her job because she was spending too much time away from it. She told Cybercast News Service the other day:

'cause Casey's insurance money's going to run out pretty soon.

Not only is this woman denigrating her adult son's memory and service to this country (which is worth fighting for by the way) she's using the proceeds from his very sacrifice to do it. Mrs. Sheehan, I'm sorry for your loss. I'm so glad you are not my mother. See Angry in the Great White North and The Anchoress for more.

I Missed My Blogiversary

It was yesterday. One year blogging. I started this out on my own, then February 11th Jeff joined me here. So we have another blogiversary coming up... One Year, over 50,000 visitors. Large Mammal in the TTLB Ecosystem. Thanks to Chris at A Large Regular (owner of blogshares in this blog), Lorie at PoliPundit and Byrd Droppings, Betsy Newmark, Michelle Malkin, Rusty Shackleford at The Jawa Report, Ideazione (The Right Nation), The Anchoress, Jeanette and Newton at Oh How I Love Jesus, Matt Margolis at Blogs for Bush, Lady Jane at A Lady's Ruminations, Laura Lee at The Wide Awake Cafe, Hugh Hewitt, LaShawn Barber, Mover Mike, and all the others who have linked to us.

Lost

Notice anything about this picture? It's a screen shot from tonight's episode of Lost. Just a few seconds, but there. Yes, that's the World Trade Center you can see out of the window. This is a flashback scene that takes place prior to 9/11/01. Thank you Lost. Welcome Byrd Droppings Readers! Thanks Lorie. More thoughts here.

The Memorial Has Been Taken Back!

Via Ankle Biting Pundits The International Freedom Center has been ousted from the 9/11 Memorial site. Governor Pataki said:

"Freedom should unify us. This center has not," Pataki said. "Today there remains too much opposition, too much controversy over the programming of the IFC and we must move forward with our first priority, the creation of an inspiring memorial to pay tribute to our lost loved ones and tell their stories to the world." Pataki said the Freedom Center could not occupy space in a cultural building located near the proposed trade center memorial, but left open the possibility that the center could find a home elsewhere on the 16-acre site. The governor said he would direct the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. -- the agency he created to rebuild the site -- to explore alternate locations for the center.

The Freedom Center said:

"We are deeply disappointed that the will could not be found to continue the development of the International Freedom Center at this hallowed site," the Freedom Center said in a statement. "We do not believe there is a viable alternative place for the IFC at the World Trade Center site." "We consider our work, therefore, to have been brought to an end."

Translation: If we can't play with the toys we want, we don't want to play at all. Congratulations to Debra Burlingame and the Take Back The Memorial Foundation! Welcome PoliPundit and Anchoress Readers! Please look around if you haven't already...

GOP Bloggers

has a new look... I like it, I like it.

Carnival of True Civil Liberties

Stop the ACLU is starting a new Carnival of True Civil Liberties Here’s the ground rules.

• #1. Post must be original material, no crosspost copy and paste stuff. It must be anti-ACLU in nature, or having to do with our civil liberties that are being stripped away via judicial activism.

• #2. All posts must be submitted. You submit the URL of your post, the trackback URL, the name of your blog, and the title of your post. You can submit them by emailing them to carnival.submissions@stoptheaclu.com or using Conservative Cat’s Submission Form.

• #3. All submissions will be due on Friday by 9 p.m. and the carnival will be hosted on Mondays each week.

• #4. The usual, no profanity or invocation of violence. All submissions will be subject to the discretion of the hosting blog.

• #5. It is highly encouraged for the blogs that participate to make a post pointing to the host of the carnival on the day of the carnival.

Submit something or just peruse...

Lawsuit to Remove Crosses from City Logo

There's a town in New Mexico that has crosses in their logo. A federal lawsuit has been filed to get the crosses removed from the logo because, "The crosses serve no purpose other than to disenfranchise and discredit non-Christian citizens." From Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Main Entry: dis·fran·chise Pronunciation: (")dis-'fran-"chIz Function: transitive verb : to deprive of a franchise, of a legal right, or of some privilege or immunity; especially : to deprive of the right to vote Main Entry: ¹dis·cred·it Pronunciation: (")dis-'kre-d&t Function: transitive verb 1 : to refuse to accept as true or accurate : DISBELIEVE 2 : to cause disbelief in the accuracy or authority of 3 : to deprive of good repute : DISGRACE Yep, those crosses serve no purpose other than to disenfranchise and discredit non-Christians...

The lawsuit alleges city officials are violating the First Amendment by placing religious symbols on public property and by spending public money to promote religion. The lawsuit also accuses the city of violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by requiring prospective employees to sign job applications that include a religious symbol. Weinbaum and Boyd accuse the city of invading the privacy of their homes with government-sponsored proselytizing. Weinbaum and Boyd said they have been made to feel excluded from public participation in government activities. “This symbol serves no governmental purpose other than to be divisive, to alienate, and disenfranchise Weinbaum, his minor daughter and Boyd,” the lawsuit says.

The name of the town is Las Cruces. The Crosses. The city of Las Cruces is going to fight this, and rightly so. Why is it that just the sight of a cross is so offensive to the non-religious? Non-religious is the right term here, not non-believers. I grew up in a town that was mostly Christian and Jewish. The Jews were not offended by any Christian religious symbols and the Christians were not offended by any Jewish religious symbols. In the public school system we all sang both Channukah and Christmas songs. That two week break encompassing Christmas and New Year's was called Christmas break and there wasn't any big to-do over changing it to Channukah break. The high school's auditorium was often used to hold Yom Kippur and Rosh HaShanah services. Those days, the Jewish kids got off and the Christian kids didn't. Oh well. Big deal. People of faith, any faith, are secure in their faith. The sight of a religious symbol of another faith doesn't cause them to lose their faith. People of no faith, on the other hand, seem to be insecure in their non-faith. This makes every religious symbol (especially a Christian religious symbol) a threat to that non-faith. Main Entry: pros·e·ly·tize Pronunciation: 'prä-s(&-)l&-"tIz Function: verb Inflected Form(s): -tized; -tiz·ing intransitive senses 1 : to induce someone to convert to one's faith 2 : to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause transitive senses : to recruit or convert especially to a new faith, institution, or cause Now, how exactly is a cross an inducement to convert to one's faith? Only if you are so insecure in your non-faith that the presence of a relgious symbol poses a threat. Welcome Carnival Readers. Please take a look around while you're here.

And So Is Keeping the Focus...

when a Hurricane hits on your "big day"... Angry has more today... Cindy Sheehan: Taken to the Woodshed. Cindy's been crying about the coverage of Hurricane Rita, seems it's taking away her coverage... And the Daily Kos'ers have been telling her off...

13-5

Senators Kohl and Feingold of Wisconsin and Senator Leahy of Vermont joined all ten Republicans on the Judiciary Committee in recommending that Judge John Roberts be appointed to Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court.

Get the ACLU Off the Taxpayers Dole

On 1, Oct. 19, 1976 Congress passed an amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which gave the Courts the power to award attorney's fees in civil rights cases to the prevailing party. 'The Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Awards Act of 1976' was passed with high hopes, and the good intentions that it would help provide relief for individuals that might not otherwise be able to afford the expenses of defending their civil liberties if they were violated. The ACLU, and other judicial activitist have completely turned the intentions of this amendment on its head. Whenever the ACLU fights voluntary prayer in school, a war memorial because it's in the shape of a cross, ten commandment displays, or keeping the boyscouts from military sponsorship, and they win, you pay for their attorney's fees. What was intended to protect people from having their civil rights violated has been twisted by the ACLU to use as leverage when they threaten small schools and communities that can't afford to defend themselves from the well funded, and well staffed ACLU bully. Yes, legislation intended to protect civil liberties is often used to supress religious expression by the likes of the ACLU. There is currently legislation in the House introduced by Representive Hostettler that hopes to remedy its abuse. It is an amendment that limits the attorney fees in Establishment Clause cases to injuctive relief only. In other words, if the ACLU wants to pick a fight over someone praying in public, or a ten commandments display that offends one sensitive athiest, they'll have to dig into their own deep pockets, and it will not come from yours. We want your voice to be heard in D.C. supporting this legislation. It's really simple, all we need is your autograph. SIGN THE PETITION TO GET THE ACLU OFF THE TAXPAYER'S DOLE This was a production of Stop The ACLU blogburst. If you would like to join our efforts to fight the ACLU, it's very simple. Just register at our portal. We will add you to our mailing list, and send you the info you will need. Over 100 blogs already on board. Join us! Crossposted at Stop the ACLU

Harry Corrects Himself

Letter to the Editor of the Washington Post from Harry Reid (D): Deference to the President Thursday, September 22, 2005; Page A24

The Post's Sept. 21 editorial "Words That Will Haunt" made a fair point in criticizing one sentence of my floor statement on the nomination of Judge John G. Roberts Jr. to be chief justice of the United States. I said, "The president is not entitled to very much deference in staffing the third branch of government, the judiciary." What I should have said is that the president is entitled to less deference in staffing the judiciary than in staffing the executive branch. Of course, I agree that the president is entitled to a measure of deference in judicial nominations. After all, the Senate has confirmed more than 200 of President Bush's nominees to the bench, including many who have a judicial philosophy with which Democrats disagree. But when the president nominates someone to serve as chief justice, deference does not entitle the nominee to a free pass. Senators have a constitutional duty to subject a nomination with such far-reaching consequences to heightened scrutiny. HARRY M. REID Senate Minority Leader (D-Nev.) Washington

I'm sure that Mr. Reid would concede a lot more deference in choosing members of the judiciary if said President had a (D) after his name... Via Bench Memos

Post slams Reid

The Washington Post slams Harry Reid over a comment he made yesterday while announcing that he will not vote for Judge John Roberts.

The president is not entitled to very much deference in staffing the third branch of government, the judiciary.

Excuse me, but the Constitution itself confers that very deference upon the office of President of the United States. The Post says:

Leave aside the merits of the Roberts nomination, which we support; if Mr. Reid regards Judge Roberts as unworthy, he is duty-bound to vote against him. But these are dangerous words that Democrats will come to regret.

Go read the rest. Via Bench Memos

Tagged - I'm It

Don Singleton tagged The Anchoress who tagged newton and Jeanette who tagged me. This is for you Jeanette. Ten years ago: I moved back to Illinois from Vermont. I sent my daughter (oldest) off on a bus by herself. My son (middle) turned 1 and learned to walk. Five years ago: My second son was born the day before his sister's tenth birthday. My grandmother passed away a few weeks after her 94th birthday which was the day after my daughter's birthday. My daughter had surgery to have a vagus nerve implant implanted. One year ago: I transferred from the local community college to a four year university - doing it online. I should be done in another year. I started this blog (anniversary date coming up next week) I followed the "61^st Minute" closely. I followed the election closely. I celebrated the results. One day ago: I went to the library to pick up book 2 of Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series Bearing an Hourglass (second time around). The littlest one checked some books out with "my berry own liberry card!" I spoke with the insurance company about a little accident we had in a parking lot last Thursday. The other car was uninsured and backed into me while I was backing out. No injuries, just a little damage to the bumper. One hour ago: The insurance guy came by to take pictures and give me an estimate for the bumper replacement. Five favorite snacks: Mounds bars Goldfish fresh fruit cheese cottage cheese with a tomato (diced), olive oil, and raspberry vinegar. Five songs I know the words to: The theme song from Gilligan's Island The theme song from Green Acres We will Rock You by Queen O Holy Night Amazing Grace What would I do with $5 million dollars: Buy a bigger house, invest, give to charity and the church. Five places I would escape to for a while: Back to Ireland Get to Scotland and see more of England The Atlantis Resort Try a cruise Find a place for some "mommy" time. Five things I would not wear a thong (I'm with newton on that one) those really low jeans, so low that your hip bones (or even more) show. a tattoo a piece of pierced jewelry that goes anywhere but on my ears high heels Five favorite TV programs Lost The Closer Arrested Development Battlestar Galactica Blue Collar TV Five Greatest Joys my faith my husband my children my friends my two dogs and three cats Five Favorite Toys Darth Potato (I still have to get me one of them) my computer power tools dvd burner a Blackberry sounds like it'd be cool. Five people you'll tag I don't have five people to tag so I'll tag Lady Jane at A Lady's Ruminations - she's always worth checking out.

Best Quote

Bill O'Reilly asked Condi Rice if she was hurt by Bush haters calling her a shill. She said: "Why would I worry about that? The fact of the matter is, Bill, I've been black all my life, nobody needs to tell me how to be black." Welcome Michelle Malkin readers! Please look around. Welcome Anchoress readers! Please look around. Welcome Polipundit readers! Please look around. Ian Schwartz has the video

DirecTV Channel 100 - Katrina Channel

DirecTV has designated channel 100 for Hurricane Katrina. This will be a channel for news, information and messages. To post a message, send an email to katrina@directv.com or send a text message from your text message capable cell phone to 48433.

Information available on the Hurricane Katrina Information channel includes: • Transportation infrastructure – road closures throughout the Gulf Coast region • Counties/parishes in the Gulf Coast region that are able to assist evacuees • Special needs shelters – the location and phone numbers of special needs shelters in Louisiana • Shelter openings throughout the Gulf Coast region • Relief agency contact information, including phone numbers for the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and Feed the Children • Insurance company contact information

Good for you DirecTV!

Mike Brown Resigns as Head of FEMA

Fox News just reported an AP wire report that says that Mike Brown has resigned as Head of FEMA. He is making the move in the "best interests of the agency and the best interests of the President". (Via Shep Smith, Fox News)

Baby Susan is in Heaven with her mother

From the Susan M. Torres Fund website comes this very sad news:

With great sadness, we are asking for your prayers for the repose of the soul of 5 week old baby Susan Ann Torres. She passed away last night after surgery for a perforated intestine. Please include in your prayers a request for the peace and comfort of her family, especially Jason Torres, who has had a very difficult past several months.

Via Michelle Malkin Our prayers are with the family. Baby Susan and Mommy Susan are now together in heaven.

I don't make decisions based upon polls

President Bush's Remarks During Tour of New Orleans Just a snippet - but I thought these remarks were worth it. Reporter1: Mr. President, we, there is a belief here after two weeks on the ground that FEMA let the people here on the ground down and perhaps in turn people could get evidence of what it's done to your popularity and perhaps FEMA. Do you think that your management style {couldn't hear} in this particular scenario let you down... President Bush: Look there'll be plenty of time to play the blame game. That's what you're trying to do. Reporter1: No, I'm trying to... President Bush: You're trying to say somebody's at fault. Look. And I want to know. I want to know exactly what went on and how it went on. And we'll continually assess inside my administration. I sent Mike Chertoff down here to make an assessment of how best to do the job. He made a decision. I accepted his decision. But we're moving on. We're going to solve these problems and there'll be ample time for people to take a look back and see the facts. Now, as far as my own personal popularity goes, I don't make decisions based upon polls. I hope the American people appreciate that. You can't make difficult decisions if you have to take a poll. It's been my style ever since I've been the President. And of course I rely upon good people. Course, you've got to as the President of the United States. You set the space, you set the strategy, you hold people to account. But, yeah, I'm relying upon good people. That's why Admiral Allen is here. He's a good man, he can do the job. That's why General Honore is here. And so when I come into a briefing I don't tell them what to do, they tell me the facts on the ground and my question to them is, 'Do you have what you need?' Reporter2: Did they misinform you when you said that no one anticipated the breach of the levies? President Bush: No, what I was referring to was this: When that storm came by, a lot of people said we dodged a bullet. When that storm came through at first people said 'Whew.' There's a sense of relaxation. That's what I was referring to. I, myself, thought that we had dodged a bullet. You know why? Because I was listening to people, probably over the airwaves, that said the bullet has been dodged. That's what I was referring to. Of course there were plans in case a levee had been breached. There was a sense of relaxation at a moment, a critical moment. Thank you for giving me a chance to clarify that. The President was then asked about where he was when he learned of the breaches. President Bush went to say that he had signed the emergency orders prior to the storm hitting.

Never Forget

The America Attacked Slide Show

7 meg file, broadband is best for viewing. Music - Enya, Only Time grab a box of kleenex - this is as powerful now as it was when it was made. America Attacked

Mike Brown Relieved of Katrina Relief Duties

Per the AP, Mike Brown has been relieved of his Katrina Relief duties but is still the head of Fema. According to Fox News, Vice Admiral Thad Allen of the US Coast Guard has been put in charge of Katrina Relief efforts.

Crescent of Embrace?

Updated When I first heard about the planned memorial for the heroes of Flight 93 it sounded wonderful, windchimes for each person killed in the terrorist hijacking of the plane. But at the time, there wasn't a picture of what it would like. Now there is: How could anyone choose this particular design? Don't they realize what the crescent means as a religious symbol? Didn't they think about what the terrorists were representing when they committed their heinious acts? Why does it look like they are honoring the terrorists? Update: Make it a circle. A circle is all encompassing. A circle is never-ending. The symbology of a circle will better memorialize the Heroes of Flight 93. For more see: Michelle Malkin Little Green Footballs Captain's Quarters JunkYardBlog Zombie Contact addresses here The Waterglass Save the GOP Thinklings Sensible Mom Real Clear Politics picture with Islamic State flags for comparison

It's a Girl!

Mrs. 1999 has successfully delivered a beautiful baby girl! and a big one too, 8-1/2 pounds! Mother and Child are doing very well. Jeff will have more to post later. Congratulations on the latest addition to the 1999 family!

Thousands of Desperate Columnists...

Via Blogs for Bush comes this link to Slugger O'Toole's Ill wind may not blow to the Whitehousereprint of an Irish Times column by Newton Emerson. It begins:

As the full horror of Hurricane Katrina sinks in, thousands of desperate columnists are asking if this is the end of George Bush's presidency. The answer is almost certainly yes, provided that every copy of the US Constitution was destroyed in the storm. Otherwise President Bush will remain in office until noon on January 20th, 2009, as required by the 20th Amendment, after which he is barred from seeking a third term anyway under the 22nd Amendment.

Go read the rest.

Parental Consent for Abortion - Legal

An Ohio law requiring parental consent for abortions for girls under 18 years old, passed seven years ago, but held in limbo due to court challenges, has been affirmed as constitutional and enforceable by the US District Court in Cincinnati. There is an exception, where a judge can give the consent in lieu of a parent. The law also requires women to meet with a doctor 24 hours prior to an abortion so the doctor can tell the woman about the procedure, the risks and alternatives available. The ACLU filed suit to stop the law one month before it was due to go into effect. According to the AP:

"Plaintiffs' evidence does not demonstrate that H.B. 421 imposes undue burdens on the abortion right even when viewed in a highly deferential manner," said the opinion by Judge Sandra Beckwith, though she said the law might prevent some women or girls from getting abortions. The ACLU has not yet decided if it will appeal, attorney Carrie Davis said. Most states have laws requiring either parental consent or notice. In Ohio, minors had already been required by state law to notify their parents but they had not been required to obtain a parent's consent. The federal court ruling means the new law is now in effect unless a higher court orders it suspended during an appeal, said Kim Norris, spokeswoman for Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro.

As a parent, I have to give my consent for my daughter to be given an acetominophen tablet at school. I should certainly have to give my consent for a surgical procedure.

No Jail Time for Sandy Bergler

Sandy Berger was sentenced today to 100 hours community service and two years probation. He will also pay $6,905 to cover the administrative costs associated with his probation. (CNN) In addition Sandy Berger must give up access to classified government materials for a three year period and pay a fine five times more than what prosecutors asked for. Judge Deborah Robinson set the fine at $50,000 saying:

The court finds the fine is inadequate because it doesn't reflect the seriousness of the offense.

(FOX News) Please read both news stories. Note that CNN mentions nothing about the increase in the fine or why it was increased... Welcome Blogs for Bush readers! Please look around...

Yesterday's Presser with Mike Brown

I don't have a transcript (anyone know where one might be?) but there were a couple questions yesterday from the press that seemed a little, well, off... One reporter asked Mike Brown what he had to say about Nancy Pelosi's call for his resignation and/or firing. He said that it was up to the President. A second reporter asked if he had submitted his resignation. He said that he serves at the pleasure of the President of the United States. Then we get to what was really off: A reporter asked him why Operation Blessing was on the FEMA list of approved charities on their website. Mr. Brown said that apparently, one of his staffers had checked it out and added it. The reporter then went on to say (paraphrase) : Operation Blessing is run by Pat Robertson, do you think it should be there? It seems to me that the reporter was "suggesting" that because of Pat Robertson's admittedly stupid remarks about Hugo Chavez, the charity, Operation Blessing, (on whose board Pat Robertson sits) should not be approved to assist in the relief effort. In the words of General Honore, "That's B.S." Pat Robertson is on the Board. That's it. One member. That doesn't disqualify the charity. The About Us section (first graf):

Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation (OBI) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) humanitarian organization based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. Since 1978, Operation Blessing International has touched the lives of more than 179.7 million people in 96 countries and all 50 states, providing goods and services valued at more than $1.1 billion. Operation Blessing is governed by a national board of directors that includes founder M.G. "Pat" Robertson.

Is Nothing Sacred?

Greed in the face of adversity is a post I just found at the Jawa Report. Planned Parenthood has a link on their main page that says "Help those affected by hurricane" but when you click the link, the page it takes you has the disclaimer:

Support Planned Parenthood and their patients during this time of great need. By clicking here, 100% of your tax-deductible contribution will go directly to helping Planned Parenthood affiliates and health centers in this region serve women and families who have nowhere else to turn.

(bold mine) Further down it says "Click here to donate to Planned Parenthood's Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. And you can send a check to Hurricane Katrina Relief, PPFA etc, etc. Although their disclaimer is pretty prominent, Hurricane Relief should apply to everyone affected. They seem more interested in getting their clinics set back up instead of helping people get their lives set back up.

A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Via One Big Swede

Katrina Aid

Hurricane Katrina: Blog for Relief Weekend Thursday, September 1 - Monday, September 5 $ 1,175,554 in contributions so far American Red Cross, 1111 Contributors $ 258,005 Contributed Please continue to contribute The American Red Cross. Clicking the Donate Now button will bring you right to the Red Cross site. If you do donate, please go here and log your donation at the Truth Laid Bear. Thank you.

Katrina Find

Here's new site set up just today by Deacon Dan (found in a comment at Blogs for Bush):

New site I'm trying to promote - www.katrinafinder.us. I built it today as a way, I hope, to help folks find loved ones in the disaster area. My sister was in Gulfport, Mississippi, when Katrina hit, and we haven't heard from her. We're hoping, but I needed to do something more, and that site was built today over my lunch hour. I'd appreciate it if you could include a word about it when you're out n' about and blogging. And if you have any suggestions or want to help with the code, I'd gladly give out the "keys to the kingdom" to the FTP part of the site, and you can help me jimmy the code so it works better. Or if you run across people who want to help, point 'em my way, and we'll get it set up. I'm going to also put out some press releases tonight, and noise it about on the blogs, so hopefully people will find it useful. Thanks, folks!

Dan, our prayers are with you and your family. Thank you for setting this up. If anyone can help out, please do. Trackback to Basil's Blog Covered Dish Supper. Another new Katrina Aid site: Hurricaid.com set up by Kevin Aylward at Wizbang

Dish Network's New Ad Campaign

Dish Network's new ad campaign consists of people whose T.V. "sucks". Their T.V.'s act like vacuums, things fly, and stick, to the T.V. set. The guest says something like, "What's going on?", the homeowner says, "My T.V. sucks, doesn't yours?" The guest says, "No, I have Dish Network, it doesn't suck." Now my four year old is asking if things suck. I really don't need my four year old doing that, or using that word. In my opinion, the new Dish Network ad campaign sucks.

Gas Prices

On Sunday, a local gas station was charging $2.689 per gallon for regular unleaded. Today it's $2.899. Another station nearby was also at $2.899. Around the corner and down the street a station had regular unleaded at $3.299. Down the street from there (at a place that is usually higher than the rest) regular unleaded was being sold for $2.799. There was actually someone pumping gas at the $3.299 place! Today, Chuck Schumer once again called for draining the Strategic Oil Reserves.

"If there was ever a time for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to be tapped, it would be now," he said.

(Source) As if this will do anything at all. There isn't a problem with the supply of crude (which, of course, the Strategic Oil Reserve contains). The problem is with refining the oil we do have. 8-10% of America's refining capacity is temporarily unavailable. It doesn't matter how much crude you have if you don't have the capacity to refine it. More oil isn't the problem. Turning it into gas (with all those "boutique" mixtures), diesel and heating oil is the problem and has been for quite some time. After Hurricane Ivan, pipelines and platforms which produce and deliver crude were most affected. Now it's the refineries. Refineries are currently running at near 100% capacity, more oil isn't the answer, more refineries are. More on this topic at Blogs for Bush.

40,000

Our 40,000^th visitor just came from Taiwan.

Just One Question

Lady Jane over at A Lady's Ruminations has just one question... Will any other country come to our aid over Katrina? She has the transcript of a radio address by Gordon Sinclair (a Canadian broadcaster) from June 5, 1973...

The Americans The United States dollar took another pounding on German, French and British exchanges this morning, hitting the lowest point ever known in West Germany. It has declined there by 41% since 1971 and this Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least-appreciated people in all the earth. As long as sixty years ago, when I first started to read newspapers, I read of floods on the Yellow River and the Yangtse. Who rushed in with men and money to help? The Americans did. They have helped control floods on the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges and the Niger. Today, the rich bottom land of the Misssissippi is under water and no foreign land has sent a dollar to help. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy, were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of those countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

Go read the rest of the address and the rest of the story of why Gordon felt he needed to do this.

Our Children's Safety

The other day on Fox news, they had an attorney for a convicted sex offender and Marc Klass on to discuss the 2500 foot "barrier" around schools that dictates where a convicted sex offender can and can not live. The attorney was saying that we are a mobile society and keeping a convicted sex offender from living in that 2500 foot radius makes no sense, as the convicted sex offender can still get in his/her car and go to a school. He also said that the half mile radius was too large and, in an urban area, would just push the convicted sex offender further out, into the suburbs, causing the same problems there. Marc Klass was agreeing with him on this point. Is it just me, or isn't the point of the 2500 foot radius to keep our children from walking past the convicted sex offender's home on their way to and from school? Generally, (at least in my town) if you are within a half mile of a school there is no bus service and the children must walk to school. I don't want my children walking past a convicted sex offender's house twice a day, every school day. Consider that this rule is to the benefit of both the children and the convicted sex offender. For the children, they don't have to be so afraid to walk to school. I would think that the sight of many children walking past the house each and every day would pose a great temptation. By removing the convicted sex offender from the path the children walk to school, this temptation just isn't there. Without this rule, a convicted sex offender could wait for a child to come by by him/herself and get them into the privacy of their own home quickly, with a much better chance of getting away with it. With the rule, the convicted sex offender must look for victims where it will be harder to do so. I think our children are far safer with this rule in place, than they are without it. Welcome Basil's Blog readers! Please look around.

Coming Soon - The Grand Old Portal

Launching August 29th - The Grand Old Portal From the press release:

The Grand Old Portal is a human-edited search engine of Republican websites on the World Wide Web. This search engine is different from other search engines as it only lists sites that support the Republican Party. Each site that is submitted is reviewed by an editor who then determines if the site will be listed in the search engine. Webmasters who run websites that support the Republican Party are invited to visit http://www.GrandOldPortal.com and submit their website for inclusion in the search engine. Even though the website will not be launched until the 29th of August, webmasters are still encouraged to submit their websites now for inclusion.

Via GOPBloggers

Angry In The Great White North has Moved

Angry's new address is http://agwnblog.com and his new email is agwnblog at gmail dot com. This change has been made in our blogroll.

The MuNu server is down - UPDATED

MuNu is back up! Rusty Shackleford is at his backup site http://mypetjawa.blogspot.com/ The MuNu emergency site is http://munuemergency.blogspot.com/

Immigration on the Big Story

John Gibson had two guests today talking about immigration, Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO)and Jim Gilchrist, co-founder of the Minuteman Project. The transcript follows: Gibson: A week after Arizona declared a state of emergency along its border with Mexico, the Feds have finally stepped up and responded. The Homeland Security has promised to help the state fight illegal immigration, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and the violence that comes along with those activities. So what does this promise really mean? Congressman Tom Tancredo joins us now. The Colorado Republican is Chairman of the House Immigration Reform Caucus. Congressman, Governor Napolitano in Arizona put on a lot of pressure and the Feds have said OK we’ll come help. What kind of help can she realistically expect? Tancredo: Well that’s a great question. I don’t know what help has been promised and I don’t know what they’re actually going to do because, of course, everyone in America has been begging them to go down on the borders and do something about the fact that we have an invasion. And so far they’ve ignored it. Now I am happy that both Governor Napolitano and Governor Richardson have done a U-turn, a political U-turn on this issue. You know you do wonder I have to tell you when those two folks look in the mirror in the morning how many faces do they see? {laughs} Because, honestly, it’s just incredible to me that you can be so pro-open borders, work so hard for the ah you know to placate the immigration crowd and then the next day when you decide it’s politically, the thing to do, popular, make a big turnaround. Gibson: But Congressman, who wouldn’t take this shot? I mean the Bush Administration, and you, yourself have been criticizing the Bush Administration for not doing enough. If you’re a Democratic governor of a border state, this is a lay-up, it’s a freebie, it’s a gimme. You’d have to be… Tancredo: John, it’s still hard, it’s still hard to see after knowing what these people have done, signing bills to give illegal aliens driver’s licenses, higher education benefits, making sanctuary cities, allowing sanctuary cities to exist in their states. I mean these things are incredible, to then go all of a sudden, oh, you know what? Oh it’s the federal government’s fault. I tell you they share some of the blame John, they do. Because they are enticing people to come. Sanctuary cities, providing benefits, only entices illegal immigrants. They share some of the blame. {crosstalk} Gibson: Alright, are you blaming Governor Richardson in the same way that you’re blaming Governor Napolitano? By the way, we have asked Governor Napolitano many times to come on here, she’s ducking us, she knows we’re going to laud her for her efforts in this regard right now, I wasn’t going to criticize her like you are, but she refuses to come on here. One can only assume she’s afraid to come on FOX for some reason. But what about Governor Richardson? He says he gives them driver’s licenses because he wants to know where they are. Tancredo: Well, you give them driver’s licenses because it makes life easy for them. You do not do things that improve the way, that make it easy for people to live in your state or your city if they’re here illegally. That only encourages them of course. It makes it an attractive place to come. And if they really wanted to do something John, if either one of them come on your show or on FOX, here’s what I’d like you to ask them. If you are really serious about trying to stop illegal immigration in your state, then why don’t you use your power as the governor to actually put the National Guard troops on the line. Or build a fence. You could actually do it. Both of them could do these things without the federal government because they could say they have walked away from us, the federal government is AWOL, they can complain all they want to and I’d be with them because they are right. But I also would tell you that if they really wanted to do something they have some options that they could take that I don’t think they are going to do. Because I don’t think they are for real. They’re just looking for a way to make a little political hay here. That’s okay, but I wish they’d do something about it. Gibson: Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado, Congressman, thanks a lot. For more on the Fed’s response to the border crisis, we’re joined now by Jim Gilchrist, he is the cofounder of the Minuteman Project which organizes civilian patrols along the border. Jim is also running for congress in California. So Jim, you just heard Congressman Tancredo do you slap around Governor Napolitano and Governor Richardson the same way Congressman Tancredo does? Gilchrist: Almost as avidly. John, I commend Governor Richardson and Governor Napolitano for finally stepping out and at least addressing this problem with their borders. I’m waiting for California Governor Schwarzenegger and Texas Governor Perry to do the same. I’ve been to the border several times. The California border, in my opinion, is even worse than the Arizona border. At least where I was on the California border we literally took gunfire, fired at us from south of the border, only 100 feet south of that border, among other challenges to our physical safety while we were down there for three weeks. What they did is a good thing, but also I was told yesterday that Governor Richardson vetoed a state police initiative to allow state police to help the border patrol. He vetoed that just eight weeks ago. Why would he do that? Gibson: Congress… I call you Congressman already, you are running for Congress. Evidently there is political hay to be made on the border issue. Napolitano and Richardson have turned around and taken a position that’s normally thought of as the Republican or conservative position on the border crisis. You seem to think that you might be able to be elected to Congress out of it. Why do think this is the border issue has become a political springboard? Gilchrist: John, because it’s more than just one issue. It’s not a case of someone stepping into someone else’s private property. This is when only 200 or 2,000 people are coming across that border and occupying U.S. Territory annually it’s not a big deal. When four million per year and going up do that, that’s more than the entire Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines Corps combined. We have certainly a serious problem with porous borders. We have an open invitation to anyone, any terrorist who wants to come in here, anyone with a criminal mentality, and I want to protect my country the way I protect my community and certainly my family. Mr. Tancredo is actually was an inspiration for me starting the Minuteman Project. He’s been a long time pioneer. As far as the rest of the politicians joining on this crusade, I want to know where they were, do they have any visible, historical, established, proactive support of immigration law? I don’t see that. And if they don’t have that, I’m suspect. Gibson: But even if they don’t, I mean, anybody can have a late awakening, I mean they could wake up one morning and look at what’s going on. You don’t fault them for that do you? Gilchrist: No, I can’t. I actually I do commend Richardson and Napolitano for coming out, but I think with less than $2 million to put for this project, to help defend the borders, it’s not very much, it’s only pennies that are needed compared to the entire budget. I think border patrol and Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement need at least a 500 percent increase in their working budgets to provide capital, manpower and equipment and resources to literally enforce the laws for which they are responsible. Gibson: Jim Gilchrist, one of the founders of the Minutemen and running for Congress in California. Mr. Gilchrist, thank you.

Right Nation now in English

The Right Nation a wonderful Italian Blog who has linked to us in the past ( South Park Conservatives Roundup and Piccoli maccartisti digitali crescono ) Now has an all English version of their website for those of us who don't speak Italian... The Right Nation Via Brian Maloney's Linkfest at Michelle Malkin

Cindy Sheehan Leaving Crawford

Just heard on Fox News: Cindy Sheehan is leaving the anti-war protest in Crawford because her mother has had a stroke. Our prayers are with her mother.

Rader Gets 10 Life Sentences

The BTK Killer was sentenced to 10 life sentences today. Fox News has the story:

WICHITA, Kan. — BTK serial killer Dennis Rader (search) was sentenced Thursday to life in prison, with no chance of ever going free.

Rader, 60, who terrorized the Wichita area and taunted police during a 17-year murder spree from 1974 to 1991, received 10 consecutive life sentences — one for each of his victims — for a minimum of 175 years behind bars without the chance of parole.

It was the longest possible sentence Judge Gregory Waller could deliver. Kansas had no death penalty at the time the killings were committed.

He has a life to live, unlike his victims, whose lives were cut so tragically short. Hopefully, he'll use the time to reflect on his crimes, but I don't think he will...

90 Days

It has been 90 days since John Kerry said he signed the Form 180 to release his military records. So far, we have learned that his college grades were slightly lower than George W. Bush's. Have we seen the actual form 180 yet? Have we seen any more from the Globe? Have they posted the documents? As Blackfive says:

This SF180 issue will never be cleared up until he signs an SF180 and lists the recipient as an independent journalist or committee, etc.

See also the clock at the top of the page.

Definite Must Read

Via Blogs for Bush. Countercolumn has written an open letter to the New York Times, castigating them for their paltry coverage of positive stories. An excellent fisking with details of stories the Times hasn't covered and listing those news outlets that have covered the same stories. Go read it...

KidSafe Playhouses

We previously wrote about Edward's KidSafe Playhouses here. Here are a couple of pictures of one of his latest: Note: it is only 4 feet from the ground to the top of the stairs. From Edward himself (in the comments)

Not to cause confusion but it is 4 ft to the last open step near the corner post of the playhouse. The playhouse itself is elevated about 6 feet. The whole structure is 8 feet, 4 inches wide and 9 feet, 2 inches long.

Email Edward for more information.

Blinkin Christmas (ACLU)

Stop the ACLU has a link to a new video re Christmas and the ACLU. Go take a look!

Oh, If Only "Vapoorize" Really Existed!

In the Ben Stiller/Jack Black movie Envy the character Nick Vanderpark (Black) invents an aerosol spray that instantly vaporizes doggy doo-doo. Oh how I wish that product were real! I just spent an hour clearing out the "landmines" that my Siberian, Nikita, left in the backyard. It's been a while since that particular task was carried out. There were pounds and pounds of the nasty stuff. I do know that I could avoid this by cleaning up right after Nikita places his landmines, but when they are fresh they can be especially nasty - after a few days they dry up and aren't as aromatic. Maybe someone could invent a "roomba" type machine that will search out and destroy canine landmines...

Help Requested - bumped to top

Bump to top. After TWO days, not ten, the Click for Cathy Campaign has been completed! Click again and again to help out Chris Muir's sister Cathy. See Day by Day for the particulars and click and click again. When my Dad had cancer this was something that we looked into, but his cancer wouldn't have responded to it. Sadly, he passed away almost three years ago, September 4th, 2002.

Relatives of Casey Sheehan Don't Agree With Cindy

From Angry in the Great White North :

In response to questions regarding the Cindy Sheehan/Crawford Texas issue: Sheehan Family Statement: The Sheehan Family lost our beloved Casey in the Iraq War and we have been silently, respectfully grieving. We do not agree with the political motivations and publicity tactics of Cindy Sheehan. She now appears to be promoting her own personal agenda and notoriety at the the expense of her son's good name and reputation. The rest of the Sheehan Family supports the troops, our country, and our President, silently, with prayer and respect.

Sincerely,

Casey Sheehan's grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins.

Angry in T.O. has checked the statement out and emailed one of the aunts for confirmation. Confirmation was received.

So Much for Personal Responsibility...

BobG at Sweet Spirits of Ammonia brings our attention to another lack of personal responsibility story and the lawyers who help them. A couple in South Carolina were stopped by the police and given tickets for improper plates, driving on a suspended license and driving without insurance. The driver, Tony Gainey, admits, "I shouldn't been driving. I am guilty of that, but the stop never would have taken place if they wouldn't have violated our rights" Tony Gainey says his rights were violated because he believes that the police in Greer, SC stopped him because he has a some bumper stickers on his car. One bumper sticker reads: "It's a Druid Thing." The ACLU has jumped on the bandwagon demanding that the charges against Gainey be dropped and that an apology be made to the Gaineys. Religious persecution. Yep, that's exactly what this is. And never mind that the charges are perfectly valid, since the tickets were apparently given based on that darn bumper sticker, they aren't valid anymore... But think about it, one of the charges is improper plates. Doesn't it stand to reason that during a routine plate check, finding out that the plates were improper would give sufficient cause to stop the vehicle? But nooooo, the Gainey's feel that the plates were checked because of one of many bumper stickers on their car said "It's a Druid Thing". Remember to visit Stop the ACLU

Groups Join NARAL in Denouncing Roberts

The National Abortion Federation and the Feminist Majority Foundation haved joined with NARAL in their false accusations against John Roberts. Via Blogs for Bush, we find that FactCheck.org has posted NARAL Falsely Accuses Supreme Court Nominee Roberts. Reuter's story Abortion-rights groups demand documents on Roberts states:

The groups, which largely oppose Roberts because of his intervention in the abortion clinic case, also said senators must press Roberts on the brief he co-authored that contended that harassment aimed at women seeking abortion services did not constitute discrimination.

This is covered in full at FactCheck.org in their rebuttal to the NARAL ad. From FactCheck.org:

The brief that Roberts signed, and on which the NARAL ad is based, is from another matter entirely. It is dated April 11, 1991. Furthermore, it is from a civil lawsuit brought by abortion clinics against protesters who were blockading the clinics. Bombing was not an issue. Supporting Anti-abortion Groups? The ad contends that Roberts "filed court briefs supporting violent fringe groups and a convicted clinic bomber." Indeed, Roberts' name appears on the "friend of the court" brief in Bray v. Alexandria Women's Health Clinic that the ad shows. But what Roberts was supporting wasn't violence or bombing or even the behavior that was the subject of the lawsuit - blockades of clinics. In fact, Roberts went out of his way to say that the blockaders were trespassing, which is a violation of state law. What Roberts argued was that a federal anti-discrimination law couldn't be used against abortion blockaders because they weren't discriminating against women – they were blockading men, too.

These things are easy to check and we bloggers check them. Welcome Blogs for Bush readers! Please look around. Welcome Jack Lewis.net readers!

PETA Once Again Going Too Far

Via Michelle Malkin: The New Haven Register reports that a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) display "Are Animals the New Slaves" which was "showing" at the Green in New Haven, CT has caused much consternation. The display, which is on a national tour, shows large photos of minorities being beaten, lynched or killed alongside photos of animals in "similar" circumstances.

One man demanded that the NAACP get involved immediately. Five minutes later, Scot X. Esdaile, president of the state and Greater New Haven chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, arrived at the scene, surveyed the photos and blasted the organizers. "Once again, black people are being pimped. You used us. You have used us enough," Esdaile said. "Take it down immediately." "I am a black man! I can’t compare the suffering of these black human beings to the suffering of this cow," said Michael Perkins, 47, of New Haven. He stood in front of a photo of butchered livestock hung next to the photo of two lynched black men dangling before a white mob. "You can’t compare me to a freaking cow," shouted John Darryl Thompson, 46, of New Haven, inches from Carr’s face. "We don’t care about PETA. You are playing a dangerous game." Paul Tomaselli, 46, of North Branford took exception to an exhibit that included a photo of a black man being beaten to the ground by a white man with a stick while a white mob gathers. Next to that photo was one of a man chasing a seal across the snow with a club.

PETA is definitely in the wrong here.

Go read Stop the ACLU - lots of good stuff

Stop the ACLU

Juan Williams: Legitimate ID Is a Good Thing

Welcome Michelle Malkin Readers! (Thanks Betsy). Please look around. Georgia Rally – O’Reilly/Williams Talking Points Memo:

Over the weekend thousands of people showed up for a Jesse Jackson-sponsored event that brought attention to the Voting Rights Act and protested Georgia's requiring a picture ID before allowing someone to vote. Talking Points admires the Voting Rights Act and wants the act extended forever - on this we agree with Jackson and his supporters. But Jackson and others are objecting to voters having to produce picture IDs in Georgia. This is an anti-fraud measure, and the state says it will actually come to your house and give you an ID if you don't already have one. Sounds reasonable, but far left pundits such as Cynthia Tucker, editorial page boss of the Atlanta Constitution, say asking for IDs will disenfranchise some minorities. The truth is this - valid picture IDs will cut down on fraud. Elderly and sick people can easily acquire them, and the whole issue is a fraud. But it serves the purpose of ideologues like Jesse Jackson and Cynthia Tucker, and that's what this is really all about.

Ian at the Political Teen has the video of the remarks made during the march. Bill O’Reilly spoke with Juan Williams last night regarding the Voting Rights Rally in Georgia O’Reilly: Joining us from Washington, Fox News Analyst Juan Williams. I had to slow down because we had all this fancy gadgetry and I wanted people to see you and not the graphic… Now look Juan, we disagree on a lot of things, respectfully always, you know you’re one of our favorite guests here. But you’ve gotta agree with me on this, this is simply bogus, this is nonsense and Belafonte and Mathis and Tucker should be ashamed of themselves. Williams: Without a doubt. I was stunned at what you just played. I have such respect for especially Cynthia Tucker I just, I don’t know what’s going on there. This is clearly a case, where it seems to me, you have people reenacting things that happened forty years ago, but they’re reacting to devils that have been slain forty years ago. Nobody is saying that you shouldn’t have the voting right. In fact, the Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, has said that he thinks he’s going to support the continuation/extension of the provisions 2 5 and 203 that expire in 2007. So what you have here is exactly what you just said, Bill, which is an opportunity for them to bash President Bush, to go after republicans, to make it out as if republicans don’t want black people to vote. This is, you know given what’s going on here with Ken Mehlman, the chairman of the Republican Party having extensive outreach to black voters, I think they’re out of step and out of date. O’Reilly: But it’s more than that, it’s dishonest. That’s what, that, you see, look. We expect Harry Belafonte to say dopey stuff. Alright? He’s Fidel Castro’s biggest fan. Alright? Judge Mathis, I don’t know who this is, I don’t know what he does, he has some little TV show. I don’t know what he’s talking about, I don’t really care. But the editorial director of the Atlanta Constitution, the largest newspaper in the south, to be as blatantly dishonest as she was, and the Cox newspaper chain, it’s gotta be embarrassing. But this whole thing is contrived as you said to make an issue that doesn’t even exist. Everybody wants the voting rights act… Williams: Exactly. O’Reilly: …extended and the ID’s for voting in every state, I have to show my ID on Long Island, I gotta show it. That’s so people can’t show up, sign somebody’s name who’s been given money and vote five times. Everybody knows that. Williams: This is good stuff. And you know what, here’s the thing, people forget that you flip the scenario here and these kinds of fraudulent tactics, you know dead people voting, were used against minorities and to keep minorities out of political office and away from the polls for years. The idea that you would have legitimate identification is a good thing. Now the contrary position coming from a lot of these people who were in the march, you know who are, I mean they’re clearly democrats, they don’t have any illusions about that. Their argument is if you go back to Florida in 2000 there were people who were wrongly pushed off polls because they were identified as felons, people who were asked for ID and didn’t have ID. But I’m telling you ID is a good thing. We want a credible electoral process in this country for everybody. O’Reilly: And look. And this is the thing that I want everybody to understand. We’re not coming at this from an ideological point of view. The republicans have done bad things in elections, but so have the democrats. The St. Louis polls stayed open for three hours past polling times so they could ram in everybody they could ram in in the last election. Duval county in Jacksonville in the 2000 election, they had vote buying and selling there like crazy. These are documented. On the record. So we want everybody to stop and run honest elections and one way you do that is to know who is voting. And this bogus stuff about there’s an old guy, somewhere in… And I’m not a big fan of Sonny Purdue, the governor of Georgia, which stems back to my trying to get those, I don’t know whether you remember this Juan, these high school proms where they were having them segregated. Williams: Oh yeah, yeah. That was ridiculous. O’Reilly: And I said, no that’s unacceptable, we can’t have this. Williams: It is unacceptable. O’Reilly: It is. And Sonny said “I’m not going to do anything about it.” Thank God we don’t have those anymore in Georgia that we know of. But anyway, I’m not a big Sonny Perdue fan. But Sonny actually said look if you don’t have and ID and you live in Skunkwat, Georgia somewhere, we’ll come to your house and give you one. Yet they still are pulling this game about disenfranchisement. Williams: Well here’s what they’re saying Bill. They’re saying that, in fact, if you look at minority communities, especially poor, black communities, there are fewer driver’s licenses, fewer of these kinds of IDs. There are only going to be six kinds now accepted as opposed to the 17 previously accepted in the state of Georgia and therefore, they’re saying, it will have a discriminatory impact. You know what… O’Reilly: {laughs} You know, they’re coming to your house, Juan, and they’re giving it to you. It doesn’t get any easier than that. Williams: But the record actually backs them up. There are fewer drivers licenses, fewer of these kinds… But I’m telling you in service to having no-fraud elections, I think you can say to people go and get a legitimate ID, go register to vote. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. O’Reilly: If you’re 96 and have emphysema you can’t really do that, but again, Georgia will go to your house. Williams: They’ll come to you. O’Reilly: Juan, thanks very much, we appreciate it. Williams: You’re welcome Bill. Welcome Anchoress Readers!

Happy Birthday Susan Anne Catherine Torres! UPDATED

From the Susan M. Torres Fund site:

The Torres and Rollin families are proud to announce that Mrs. Susan Torres gave birth at 8:18 am on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 to Susan Anne Catherine Torres. The baby weighs 1 pound 13 ounces and measures 13 ½ inches long. There were no complications during delivery. The baby is doing well and is being monitored in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Virginia Hospital Center. The Torres family will hold a press conference tomorrow, August 3, 2005, at 1:00 p.m. eastern time at Virginia Hospital Center. Further details will be available at that time.

Congratulations! Our prayers are with you. UPDATE: This afternoon, the ventilator was turned off and Susan M. Torres is now with the Lord. To the Torres/Rollin families: Our prayers are with you all.

Sorry About the Light Posting

We've been very busy lately. I've been working full time as well as going to school full time and I know Jeff has been very busy too. We will post as we can. Thanks for hanging in there!

Update on Susan Torres

Susan Torres is the woman who the day before Mother's Day collapsed. She has been diagnosed with Melanoma. She is brain dead and pregnant. On June 28th the doctors determined that they think the baby is a girl. Both are doing well as of today. The doctors think the baby is a little small and have now pushed back the earliest birthdate to July 18th from July 11th. Please visit the Susan Torres Fund site for more information. And please, remember them in your prayers. Previously at this site: Brain Dead Woman's Pregnancy Maintained

Happy Birthday!

To both George W. Bush and Nancy Reagan! We wish many more to both of you!