Mainstream

Today there's been a lot of comment from the democrats and the media about Judge Alito being out of the mainstream. But who is defining mainstream? The democrats and the media. Of course, their definition of mainstream is "whatever agrees with our worldview". Too bad they are out on a tributary and just don't know it...

Halloween

Today is the Right Place's first blogiversary! They are celebrating with a masquerade party! They've been taken over by Dr. Evil who has renamed them the RightEvil Place! Go see who's posting and try to figure out who they are under their "costumes".

Halloween a Day Early

Our village has trick-or-treating on the Sunday before Halloween from 1 pm to 5pm. We had a pretty big crowd this year, larger than last year, but today was a very nice day. Here's our little Batman just before he set out trick-or-treating with his daddy. The purchased costume included the mask and the cape. I took a plain black t-shirt and painted the bat signal on it. He was a very happy Batman who came home tired from a long walk with a bucket full of candy. Now it's time for Mom and Dad to pick out all the good stuff!

Fitzgerald on Subpoenaing Journalists

During the press conference this afternoon Patrick Fitzgerald was asked about Judy Miller's incarceration and the proposed journalist shield laws. This was the very best explanation I have heard for needing to subpoena Judy Miller even though she had never printed anything.

I think what people don't understand, I understand why it is that newspapers want sources. And I read newspapers. And I'm glad you have sources. This is different. This was a situation where the conversation between the official and the reporter may have been a crime itself. It wasn't someone saying, "Hey so-and-so is doing something really, really awful down the hall and I might get fired if I tell you." If you're transmitting classified information is the crime itself, but also, the reporter is the eye witness. And what I think people don't appreciate is that we interviewed lots of people, very high officials, before we ever went to the reporters. And if, as apparent, the grand jury is investigating to find out whether Mr. Libby lied under oath about his conversations with reporters, how could you ever resolve it without talking to a reporter? You couldn't walk in and responsibly charge someone for lying about a conversation when there are only two witnesses to it and you talk to one. That would be insane. On the other hand, if you walked away from it with a belief that that conversation may have been falsely described under oath, you are walking away from your responsibility. And that's why, when the subpoenas are challenged, we put forward what it is that we knew and we let judges pass on it. So I think people shouldn't read this exceptional case as being something more than it's not and I think there's a pendulum that shifts. I'm not recommending that reporters be subpoenaed to my colleagues, this is not, we have to maintain a balance. I think what people are recognizing is this was narrow grounds, that they were justified, followed the Attorney General guidelines, that the court found that we satisfied those guidelines, the court found that we met any bar, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals found unanimously, the Supreme Court denied certiorari. I think we need to step back, take a deep breath, and appreciate what the facts were here. That it was not the ordinary case before we rush into debates about balancing two very important things, the first amendment and national security. I don't take either lightly.

(emphasis mine) She wasn't subpoenaed to "give up her source", she was subpoenaed to be a witness to a conversation that she was one of two participants in. Political Teen has the video here and also has the video of Joe Wilson's attorney pleading "privacy" and the picture from Vanity Fair magazine... Welcome Political Teen readers! Please look around. Welcome GOPINION readers! Welcome Wide Awake Cafe readers! Please look around.

Waiting for the Horse's Mouth

Waiting for Patrick Fitzgerald's press conference due at 2 pm EDT today. Still waiting for that, but Fox News reports that I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was indicted on five counts, two false statement counts, two one obstruction of justice counts, and one two perjury counts. Fox also reports that Libby has resigned. Nothing yet Indictments are now available on Fitzgerald's website.

Two Kitties Looking For A New Home

Newton at Oh How I Love Jesus is fostering two sweet girls who need a home. They are mother and daughter.

PinotNoir (daughter)	Keyboard (mother)

If you are in or know someone in the South Texas area who would like to give these girls a home, click on the link above.

Ted Olson

I agree with the American Princess... The man is eminently qualified. Sandra Day O'Connor's replacement does not have to be "diverse"...

Harriet Miers Withdraws

Says it was the documents issue. Maybe we can all get over this and come together for the next nominee. In a letter to Bush released by the White House, Miers said she was concerned that the Senate confirmation process "presents a burden for the White House and our staff that is not in the best interest of the country." Update: Ann Althouse says:

Should I say something more about the Miers withdrawal? I keep thinking I should, but somehow I feel so calm about it all. I'm glad that the difficulties are over. But we shouldn't be complacent, because the new struggle is about to begin.

Go read the rest. Others (some happy, some sad) (updated with more reax): The American Princess - So You Wanted Someone Worse The Anchoress - Harriet, Bring the Cannoli! Ankle Biting Pundits - Miers Withdraws!!!! Ann Althouse - Miers Withdraws" Bench Memos - many posts Big Lizards - Miers Withdraws from Supreme Court Consideration Blogs for Bush - Miers Withdraws Captain's Quarters - The Krauthammer Option Wins Out Confirm Them - The Miers Withdrawal Danny Carlton alias Jack Lewis - Miers withdraws (finally) Gateway Pundit - Miers Withdraws Nomination GOP Bloggers - Miers Requests Withdrawal of Nomination LaShawn Barber - Blog Swarm Strikes Again: Harriet Miers Withdraws Nomination Mark In Mexico - Harriet Miers withdraws Michelle Malkin - Harriet Miers Withdraws: Relief Opinipundit - Meirs Withdraws!! Patterico - Breaking News: Miers Withdraws PoliPundit - several posts Powerline - Miers Withdraws Red State - several posts Right Wing News - Happy Harriet Miers Withdraws Day, Everyone Roger Simon says: Miers out! Is anyone surprised? Stop the ACLU - Miers Withdraws Wide Awake Cafe - Miers Withdrew Her Nomination Wizbang - Miers Withdraws SCOTUS Nomination A Large Regular - Miers Withdraws Name from Nomination A Lady's Ruminations - Success: Miers Withdraws Betsy's Page - Whoosh! Conservative Cat - Harriet Miers and the Cubs/Sox Rivalry Instapundit The Jawa Report - Miers Withdraws as Supreme Court Nominee Sigmund, Carl and Alfred - No Fair Hearing for Harriet Miers: A Jihadi Win Volokh - The Miers Withdrawal The Right Place - Miers Withdraws Publius Rendevous - The Final Chapter[?] Junk Yard Blog - Miers Withdraws Nashville Truth - Miers Does The Right Thing, Helps The "Coolest and Bestest" President Ever Save Face Basil's Blog - Miers Trackback Link Festival Don Surber - Miers Withdrawn Happy? GOP and the City - Icy Hot Judgaz Member Withdraws Nomination Oblogotory Anecdotes - Miers Withdraws!!! Daly Thoughts - Breaking: Miers Withdraws and Democrats Making a Strategic Error Right Now Kate at Electric Venom is "neither shocked nor awed" Oh How I Love Jesus - Miers Withdraws her Nomination Slobokan's Site O'Schtuff - Harriet Miers Withdraws Nomination RCP Blog - Miers Withdraws Stolen Thunder - Evil Triumphs Pundit Guy has another huge list

Peppermint Pigs for Christmas!

Buy Peppermint Pigs for Christmas. Peppermint Pigs are hard candy pigs (the hammer shown in the photo is to break them up). Saratoga Sweets is the Home of the Peppermint Pigs.

I have absolutely no connection to this company, I just like pigs.

No Plame Indictments Today

Hurricane Plame is hitting Washington D.C. and New York City hard. Rumors are flying everywhere! My personal prediction (wishful thinking): Joe Wilson gets indicted for outing his own wife. The weight-challenged lady hasn't yet begun to sing... she isn't even at the theater yet.

The Difference Between a (D) and an (R)

Sean Hannity was interviewing Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) on Hannity and Colmes last night. The following exchange ensued:

HANNITY: I'm listening to what you're saying. So you're saying when the President told the nation that Saddam's nuclear threats are a real grave danger to America and Saddam's WMDs are a threat to America, you're saying that George W. Bush purposely lied to America? Is that what you're saying? HINCHEY: I'm saying whoever wrote that speech gave false information to the Congress. Whether or not the President knew it when he gave the speech, I'm not sure. Whoever wrote that speech certainly did. HANNITY: The only problem is Congressman, the words I just said to you were John Kerry's words. John Kerry said that to America. You voted for John Kerry. Now I'll ask you, did John Kerry give false information to America? HINCHEY: John Kerry, I think, made a mistake and voted for the resolution — HANNITY: Oh, he made a mistake and Bush is a liar.(Via MediaBlog at NRO)

Just before Hannity's last line above I said to my husband. So, if President Bush had said it, it was a lie, but because Kerry (we still haven't seen your military records) said it, it was just a mistake. That's the difference between having a (D) after your name or having an (R) after your name. Remember though, that this is Maurice Hinchey. Back in February he was the one who said that Karl Rove was behind the documents that played such an important role in Ra^thergate. See our posts: Karl Rove - Evil Mastermind and Hinchey Sums it up for the Dems More at Blogs for Bush Welcome PoliPundit readers! Please look around...

And Now the Three Little Pigs too...

From the BBC via GOP Bloggers - The Three Little Pigs will no longer be read to under-seven-year-old students at Park Road Junior Infant and Nursery School in Batley

Somebody warn Glenn and Bear! Porkbusters will be next! Previously: Free Piglet and Now It's Piggy Banks Bryan Preston at Junk Yard Blog predicted a similar threat to Hogbusters (Energy Department Promotion) a week ago... Welcome Betsy's Page readers! Please look around.

Cindy Sheehan on Fox's Dayside

Cindy Sheehan was on the phone with Fox's Dayside today: Juliet Huddy: The official death toll for United States Military folk in Iraq has reached one thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine. Mike Jerrick: War protester Cindy Sheehan says she will tie herself to the White House fence, right there in front when the number reaches 2000, and she joins us on the phone from the front of the White House. Cindy, were you able to listen to the speech today? Cindy Sheehan: No, actually I wasn't. Mike Jerrick: Well let me play just one quick bite from it then. It's about how the President says, now that we've gotten rid of Saddam Hussien, if we leave now we'll probably just turn Iraq over to terrorists, basically is what he said. Here's specifically what he said: {videoclip} President Bush: Some observers also claim that America would be better off by cutting our losses and leaving Iraq now. This is a dangerous illusion refuted by a simple question. Would the United States and other free nations be more safe or less safe with Zarqawi and bin Ladin in control of Iraq, its people, and its resources? {end videoclip} Mike Jerrick: So, what do you think? As you can tell there, the President says that we can not leave now, the terrorists will take over. Cindy, what's your response to that? Cindy Sheehan: Well, um, I believe that, you know of course I believe that that's false. I, there are studies that show that most of the violence in Iraq are home grown insurgencies that are fighting against the occupation. And I believe that if we don't need our military presence there, we never did need our military presence there, Saddam was not responsible for 9/11. Osama is still free. It seems like they've forgotten that he was the one that planned attack on American soil and he's still running free. They, they're, um, devastating a country that was no threat to the United States of America. And I believe that our military presence is not needed there like it was never needed there. Juliet Huddy: Cindy, and it's comments like those that have made you, like it or not, a lightning rod for Americans. Here, we've got somebody in the audience who wants to ask you a question. Go ahead sir. Audience member: My question to you is, I was drafted into the Army and I served, I didn't want to go, but I went and I ended up fighting in combat in Korea. Your son volunteered. All of us thank God he did. I think what you're doing is denigrating your son's service. {Applause} Juliet Huddy: Cindy, I know you've addressed this before, but you know, today you're once again going to be out there and you've said you're going to chain yourself to the White House fence. What do you think your son would have thought about this? I know members of your family have come out in opposition of what you're doing. Cindy Sheehan: Actually, um, my son did volunteer to join, uh, the United States Army. My son was an honorable man. He was a brave man. And he was misused and abused by his commander in chief by attacking a country that was no threat to the United States of America. And he, and all of us, would gladly defend our country, but Iraq was nothing about defending our country. Mike Jerrick: So Cindy, real quickly. Your plans, when you say the death toll, when it gets to 2000 in Iraq, which, you know, sadly will probably be within the next week. You're going to chain yourself... Cindy Sheehan: It will probably be sometime today, sadly, tragically, and unnecessarily. Mike Jerrick: And your plan is to tie yourself to the fence there in front of the White House? Cindy Sheehan: Actually we've changed our plans a little bit. We're going to be, um, every, every night at 6:00 as many Americans who are working for peace and oppose this war as possible we are gonna ask them to lie down in a symbolic death. And we get, we get warnings, we get three warnings before we're arrested. So, um, you know people can get up during the warnings and not be arrested. But, the day after the 2000th death, I'm gonna lie down and not get up. Mike Jerrick: OK, ah, Cindy, if you don't mind hanging on the phone there real quickly we're going to bring in Bill Kristol the editor of the Weekly Standard. Bill, thank you very much. Just respond to Cindy's comments and the President as well. Bill Kristol: Well, I happen to agree with the President that it's a free country and Mrs. Sheehan's obviously entitled to demonstrate. I don't think she's entitled to claim to be speaking on behalf of the 2000 young men and women who have, did volunteer, and have died in Irag though. {applause} Juliet Huddy: In this, in this speech today Bill, did we hear anything new? I was listening with some people in the green room and there were comments both for and against. Saying, "It's the same old rhetoric." There was some encouraging, there were some encouraging words from his supporters. What do you have to say? Anything new, did you hear? Any new territory covered? Bill Kristol: Nothing fundamentally new. I mean, I think with the constitution passed, that was announced in this morning in Iraq and that's important. And the political process is moving ahead. There's been some military progress in the last, uh, couple of months I think. But, look, it's the same war, there's nothing, there's no new insight, just a matter of staying the course and winning, I think. Mike Jerrick: We still have some questions. In the control room, is Cindy still with us? So questions for either Bill or Cindy. Go ahead. Juliet Huddy: Go ahead ma'am. Audience member: I guess I would just like to say that as far as tying yourself to the fence, and laying down and staying there she is perfectly welcome to do that. Juliet Huddy: That's the great thing about America. Go ahead. Audience member: She's getting a chance to do what she's doing because we have freedom in this country. Her son fought and died for that freedom. She wants to deny it to people in Iraq. And she wants to overlook the freedom that we enjoy every day here in America. {applause} Juliet Huddy: Cindy, do you want to react to that? She is gone, I'm sorry. Sorry about that. So, Cindy's changing her plan. She's going to lie down and not get up. Is that a promise? Where will you lie down? Do you have a good supply of Depends Undergarments? Or a good bedpan? Don't you know it's dangerous to eat or drink while lying down? I thought all three audience members' comments were good, especially the first and last ones. Too bad Cindy didn't hear the last two. Welcome Back Country Conservative, Conservative Thinking, The Jawa Report, and Memeorandum Readers!

Rest In Peace Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks died this evening in Detroit. She was 92 years old. Cassandra Spratling from the Detroit Free Press starts her story this way:

When Rosa Parks refused to get up, an entire race of people began to stand up for their rights as human beings.

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.

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.