The commercials. I'm glad they get advertising, but the cattle-auction rapid fire delivery of stupid pitches for dubious products just turns me off. In fact it turns me off so much, I rarely listen to talk radio, even shows I otherwise like. They're not even memorably bad, just annoying. It's like all your e-mail spam about refinancing being screamed at you.

Talk show hosts and producers, listen to your shows, including the commercial breaks, and see what I mean. Insist on some production values, some modulation in the script reading, because if an ad (or series of ads) drives away listeners it's a loser for you in the long run.

I guess I could listen to Air America, where they don't have any advertisers, but apparently they suck.

Oh, and THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BUY GOLD!

Yeah, just like you've been saying since 1992. Schmucks.

UPDATE: Kathryn Jean Lopez just had a similar thought. Cialis? Geez, it really is like somebody shouting your junk mail box at you.

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The Army of Ansar al-Sunnah has released a video in which they claim they are testing explosive devices in Sweden. They also threaten to use the 'high explosive' device. The video may be downloaded here (hat tip: Doubletap). Images from the video posted below.

While the video proports to be from Ansar al-Sunnah, it bears the markings of an Islamic Army in Iraq (IAI) production. The IAI uses a free version of Elecard for its video productions. However, the two groups are both affiliated with al Qaeda and have been known to collaborate in the past.

Sweden has a sizeable Kurdish and Arab immigrant population. While most Kurds are very pro-American, a very small minority supports the establishment of a Taliban-like state. The Army of Ansar al-Sunnah is an offshoot of now defunct Kurdish Army of Ansar al-Islam, and may also include Arab elements.

The Army of Ansar al-Sunnah is notorious for murdering hostages in Iraq. The group recently released a propaganda video showing the remains of Marine sniper Jeffrey A. Boskovich. For more information on the evil deeds of The Army of Ansar al-Sunna, I suggest doing a Jawa search for 'ansar'.

Was this video really produced by violent jihadis living in Sweden as it claims? It remains a distinct possibility. I have a feeling this post will be updated in the coming days. more...

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Australia may follow the Brits example and ban all groups advocating jihad and the establishment of the Caliphate. CNS:

Australia may follow Britain's lead in banning an Islamist organization that claims to repudiate violence while openly campaigning for the re-establishment of a single Muslim state or caliphate.

If the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) finds Hizb ut-Tahrir to be a terrorist threat, the group will be outlawed in the country, Prime Minister John Howard said on Monday....

Hizb ut-Tahrir is already restricted in Germany, Russia and in parts of the Middle East and Central Asia. It is not, however, on the U.S. State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations....

Australian Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman Wassim Doureihi told the country's Nine Network television station his party supported the anti-coalition violence in Iraq.

"If we talk about occupied land then we have to expect the people to resist the occupation," he said....

Hat tip: Drew from the Paul Revere Society.

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The next time you have a right-wing friend who goes off in a hissy over immigration, please show them these pictures. Yes, there are many ill consequences to the massive influx of illegal immigrants. But there is also something profoundly moving to know that your country has the capacity to draw people from around the world who are willing to risk their lives for a place and a people which are not their own. Welcome to America's finest new citizens. Yahoo News

US soldiers attend a swearing-in ceremony for citizenship, at Camp Victory in Baghdad. One hundred and forty seven foreign-born US military personnel serving in Iraq gathered inside one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces to take the oath of US citizenship.

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1 We have a guy here where I work from Malasia. His son is in Afghanistan right now on a one year tour.

Posted by: Howie at August 08, 2005 04:47 PM (D3+20)

2 Here's one more GREAT immigrant worth noting... A Russian immagrant who has done so much for this country and it's fighting force, yet very few know his name.... http://www.wa3key.com/fisher.html

Posted by: Karl B at August 08, 2005 10:59 PM (jobvB)

3 http://www.fisherhouse.org/ http://www.intrepidmuseum.org http://www.fisherhouse.org/programs/heroMiles.shtml http://www.fisherhouse.org/programs/scholarships.shtml http://www.fisherhouse.org/programs/newmans.shtml

Posted by: Karl B at August 08, 2005 11:02 PM (jobvB)

4 Michael Yon did a good piece on one of those ceremonies also with photos. http://michaelyon.blogspot.com

Posted by: Dave S at August 08, 2005 11:25 PM (hQnpx)

5 My husband is Italian. He too served in the US Army in Korea. He is a good man who abides by our laws, works hard and pays his taxes. Lots of taxes. He loves this country. Not all immigrants are bad.

Posted by: Oyster at August 09, 2005 06:20 AM (YudAC)

6 The Italians are #1 in my book. Friendly, intelligent, attractive, and steeped in centuries of beautiul culture.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at August 09, 2005 09:14 AM (x+5JB)

7 In all of the time I have been reading Oysters words, it never occured to me that she was a woman. I am sure this says something bad about me.

Posted by: Defense Guy at August 09, 2005 09:21 AM (jPCiN)

8 Defense GuY: Don't feel bad I called her sir one day only to realize weeks later she's a girl. Sorry Oyster. YBP

Posted by: Howie at August 09, 2005 09:42 AM (D3+20)

9 da Oyster is a chick? I had no idear either. But relax guys, she's married. Yeah, I know what is on your minds.........

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at August 09, 2005 09:46 AM (JQjhA)

10 hahahaha! I've tried to hint in the past, but no one got it.

Posted by: Oyster at August 09, 2005 02:03 PM (fl6E1)

11 We'd best watch our language, henceforth.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at August 10, 2005 10:13 AM (x+5JB)

12 YBP: I'm a big girl ;-) You can't shock me and my presence should not determine how one wishes to express themselves. Swear away.

Posted by: Oyster at August 10, 2005 11:33 AM (fl6E1)

13 Oyster: Thanks! #$**&^%!$%^*(?~!!*%$#!

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at August 11, 2005 11:48 AM (x+5JB)

14 The only thing I found wrong with the Italians when I went there was that only a very small handful spoke any English. They all were speaking Italian. Whats up with that? But I was visiting a girlfriend up in the Trento area. The view from up in the mountains were so beautiful. But then again, I think that is partly because of where I am from. Texans tend to think oceans and mountains are beautiful. Maybe because Texas is mostly flat and dry.

Posted by: Butch at August 11, 2005 04:51 PM (Gqhi9)

15 Oyster: #1 I did to catch on. #2 I don't believe anyone means all immigrants are bad. We refer to the ones who come here and then bab mouth the United States. Many immigrants become Americans almost overnight. Joining, enjoying and basking in this great society. You obviously married the right immigrant. Others never seem to fit in. Particularly the ones from the near east. They never become real Americans regardless of the paper someone gives them. You get my meaning. We have some who have been here for generations and are not Americans. It is easy to pick them out. Their own mouths tell where their hearts are. As a consequence, they seldom advance in this great country. Then they come with the excuses. Which in reality is simply jealousy caused by their own failure.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 12, 2005 10:49 PM (CBNGy)

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Caption this photo of a Hiroshima protest gone terribly wrong.*

Winners picked arbitrarily by me, Admiral Rusty Shackleford:

D. Carter: Japan and the U.S. share many interests: a healthy private sector, baseball, and a lethal distate for mimes.

Romeo Delta: Upon hearing that Tom Cruise's "War Of The Worlds" would soon make its Tokyo premiere, thousands of Japanese viewers of "The Last Samurai" commit seppuku.

Graeme: Reluctantly, Andrew Lloyd Webber, after many protests by patrons and theatre critics waving "No more Hiroshima" signs, decided to cancel further performances of his much maligned new musical, The Phantom of Hiroshima.

Special mention to KG for gratuitous Futurama references: No one really worships the atomic bomb anymore, it's mainly a Christmas and Easter thing, really. more...

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Good news. A previously unidentified hostage in Iraq has been released. His name is Victor Tawfiq Girgis, and he is a Christian Copt from Egypt. The terrorists behind these acts seem to have found that their audience does not approve of the murder of hostages. Notice in the story, reprinted below, that our allies the Egyptians say he was delivering supplies to the US Army of occupation. Who needs enemies with friends like these? more...

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Mustafa Abdul-Rassul Hussein was kidnapped Friday. Apparently, his kidnappers are after money. This reminded me that several Americans are still being held hostage in Iraq. Keep them in your prayers.

They are:
Roy Hallums Nov 1 2004
Radim Sadiq (aka, Dean Sadik) Nov 2 2004
Jeffrey Ake April 11 2005
Tim Bell April 9 2004 more...

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Harry Belafonte Calls Black Republicans 'Tyrants'

Day-O, Daayyyy-O Daylight come and it's time to blow smoke.....

Atlanta (CNSNews.com) -

Celebrity activist Harry Belafonte referred to prominent African-American officials in the Bush administration as "black tyrants" at a weekend march, and he also compared the administration to Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany.

Belafonte, a featured speaker at Saturday's march in Atlanta commemorating the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act, previously ignited a political controversy in 2002 when he likened then-Secretary of State Colin Powell to a "house slave."

At Saturday's civil rights march, Belafonte said the Bush administration has been "rather dismal" for the lives of black Americans. The march, which featured prominent civil rights groups and labor union representatives, was intended to drum up support for extending and strengthening the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Belafonte used a Hitler analogy when asked about what impact prominent blacks such as former Secretary of State Powell and current Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had on the Bush administration's relations with minorities."

Hitler had a lot of Jews high up in the hierarchy of the Third Reich. Color does not necessarily denote quality, content or value," Belafonte said in an exclusive interview with Cybercast News Service.

Companion OpiniPundit

UPDATE BY RS: Jews? In the hierarchy of the Third Reich? Talk about retarded.

Be sure to check out the response from other black Republicans Mike King, La Shawn Barber, and Dane Bramage. And check out what the other moonbats at the rally said over at Michelle Malkin's place.

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Bird escapes cage to rejoin flock? Tim from Opinion Bug e-mails me this from the BBC:

A controversial Islamic cleric has left the UK for the Middle East amid speculation he would be investigated for treason, said his spokesman.

Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed - former head of radical group Al Muhajiroun - left on Saturday for Lebanon, his colleague Anjem Choudary told the BBC....

Mr Choudary said the cleric believed "Britain had declared war on Muslims".

UPDATE: Good discussion by Megan McArdle on this over at he-who-will-not-be-named's blog and by Gene Volokh. I would only add that speech laws must be context oriented. What one can say in a time of peace must be different than in a time of war. Those that think otherwise must share a different value system than myself. Personally, I think human life is much more valuable than speech. If killing the enemy is legitimate, then stifling his speech must also be.

UPDATE II: From the vast Jawa archives comes this quote from Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed. Traitor? You be the judge:

If an Iraqi Muslim carried out an attack like that in Britain, it would be justified because Britain has carried out acts of terrorism in Iraq.

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A new video produced by Iraqi terrorists shows children preparing to join the jihad. The video may be downloaded here or here. (via Doubletap at Vlad's forum). Images from the video are below.

At first I thought the video might be something like jihadi porn. A girl is shown in a burka with slow-motion close-ups of her exposed hands. That'll get your every day camel-humping jihadi terrorist hot and bothered. Show some skin baby!

But then, if you listen to the girls voice, you realize she is just a child. Perhaps in her early teens at best. Ok, so maybe it's just a young sounding shahid on her way to inherit her 72 grapes from the Lord of Moons.

Later in the video, though, another child joins the scene. This one is very young. Definitely a child. Both now carry pistols, praise Allah, and cry for vengance.

Disgusting. I often hear from the Left that the War in Iraq has left thousands of children dead and millions more with no hope. However, what kind of society that would be created if we were to give up and pull out? Just one more reason we must win in Iraq. It's for the children. more...

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A man on the FBI's terror watch list was arrested in Maryland last night. WSTM:

TOWSON, Md. Baltimore County police say they arrested a man whose name appears on the national Terror Watch List late last night on the Baltimore beltway.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Baltimore field office spokeswoman Tia Ford identified the man as 27-year-old Muhammad Asif Haider of New York City. She says the Pakistani man was indicted last week in New York on immigration fraud charges.

Baltimore County Police say an officer made a routine check of the watch list when he pulled Haider over near the Reisterstown Road exit of the Beltway and his name was a match. County police are holding Haider until federal officials can interview him.

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As As you may or may not have noticed by the headline, I'm rather perturbed. It seems that the illustrious James Dobson has been called down by Jews for referring to the destruction of embryonic stem cells in comparison to the Jews killed in the Nazi holocaust.

Dr. Dobson is a good man. I'm sure his heart's in the right place. And I agree with him about the fetal stem cells, albeit not necessarily for the same reasons. But I do have a problem here. Everyone is referring to everyone else as a Nazi. Or they're referring to something as being as horrible as the holocaust. And maybe they're right. Certainly killing millions of children every year is a horrendous tragedy. What is currently happening in Dafur is an atrocity. The things that Hussein did are nearly universally accepted to be horrible.

But we have GOT to start laying off the whole Nazi/holocaust comparison. Jewish people are still fairly sensitive to it (with good reason), and the ONLY thing it does in this day and age is cause backlash against whatever cause you're trying to potray as NOT being Nazis. You mention the Nazis, and suddenly EVERYONE'S up in arms against you. Nothing good comes out of it when you refer to someone else as a Nazi.

So, people on the right AND people on the left, please listen to my plea and stop calling each other Nazis. Stop referring to Auschwitz unless you are talking about your history paper. Stop comparing how many of your people were killed to how many of the Jews were killed. And then, maybe we can get over being offended and start moving in the right direction.

Oh, and as a final note, from the way they run their blogs, I suspect the following people of being Nazis:

Glenn Reynolds
Ace
Rusty Shackleford
Bill Indrolino
Hugh Hewitt
The Entire Staff at Wizbang Blog

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Today's visual is brought to you by Emperor Misha I. If he gets a fatwa before me there will be hell to pay!

Today's thought: Are you a victim of propaganda? Ask yourself this question: Who did we fight in WWII? If you answered the Nazis, you are a victim of propaganda. Remember, there were no Nazi armies. There were German armies. By distinguishing between good German soldiers and bad Nazis, Americans were able to reconcile themselves with our new found West German allies in the midst of the Cold War imperitive. Discuss amongst yourselves.

Tatooine:
It looks like the Board of Directors of The al-Qaeda Organization in The Land of Two Rivers, Inc., might be looking to replace current CEO and Chief Head Chopper, Abu Musab al Zarqawi. (Hat tip: Flopping Aces)

Wait, you mean there might be a Saudi connection to the London bombings? I find that awfully hard to believe. Probably a Zionist disinformation plot.

*Shocking* news: Al Qaeda magazine published openly in Turkey.

London conspirators indicted and extradited. Do they have bitches in British prisons?

Q: What qualifications do you need to run a ministry in a corrupt Gulf country?
A: See here.

Who needs to nuke Mecca when the Saudis seem intent on destroying it themselves?

Netanyahu quits over Gaza Pullout. I thought pulling out was only a sin in Catholocism, but not Judaism?

Are oppressed Iranian bloggers trying to take out oppressive Iranian judges? Now this is the kind of vigilantiasm I can support.

Dhimmis:
George Galloway, jackass? Yeah, but traitor is a more accurate word.

The Savior Sect issues fatwa saying it's o.k. for terrorists to be welfare recipients.

Treason? Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Bitches! From today's news it seems we may have to remove the UK from our list of dhimmi countires.

The French are not as dhimmifide as they act. The French may have actually found the winning strategy. I'm not kidding. They act like dhimmis in public, but domestically crack down on Islamists in such a way that would make the ACLU cringe. And remember, the French equivelant of the CIA has a domestic arm and police power.

Domestic Dhimmis & Stuff:
Peter Jennings is dead, and Mike King scooped the MSM by more than a day. Too many links to keep track of. Let me just say this on behalf of Jennings: Born Canadian, died American.

Stop the ACLU notes that the Florida Supreme Court has a scheme for taxpayer support of the ACLU.

Mmmmm, fried chicken tastes better at a PETA protest.

Since I'm 1/16th Native-American, I can't be racist. Right? PS-I'm not Cherokee, but I wish I was.

Blog Propaganda:
Althouse & McArdle I can understand, but not you Totten. Say it isn't so? Sellout. (super-secret message to Totten: Babe-pics + Puppy-blender = Mucho-grande linkage)

Blogfather Charles Johnson vs. former University of Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman. Charles wins in first round.

Hawkins is late to figure out that Hot Chicks (even fictional ones) + Pics + Blogging = Hits. On a related note, Witty Sex Kitten has retired from blogging, but Alexa, the vixen behind A New York City Escort's Confessions is back, er, blogging that is. (hat tip: Rob Port)

This weeks RINO sightings are up at Searchlight Crusade.

Gaijin Biker has a new site and now has trackbacks and other useful thingies. Remember, if you are a blogger you need trackbacks. Trackbacks get you attention and tie you into the community. Unless you are a hot chick that blogs naked they are essential tool for succesful blogging.

Q: What do Bea Arthur, Luke Skywalker, and Phin have in common?
A: Llama Butchers.

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It's not known by many, and never mentioned by Hiroshima/Nagasaki "peace activists", but Imperial Japan had its own version of the American Manhattan Project. In fact, the History Channel will air a documentary on August 16 making the case that a nuclear device was tested on an island off Korea on August 12, 1945 - six days after "Little Boy" devastated Hiroshima. Professor Robert Wilcox of Bowling Green State University will present evidence of a Japanese atomic test, while his colleague, Dr. Walter Grunden, will argue the opposing view.

BOWLING GREEN, O.—In his 1985 book, “Japan’s Secret War,” Robert Wilcox contends Japan successfully tested a nuclear device on Aug. 12, 1945—six days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and three days after the attack on Nagasaki.

Cross-posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto. more...

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From the Associated Press

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, Russia - All seven people aboard the Russian mini-submarine pulled to the surface Sunday are alive, Russian naval officials said.

Naval spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo said the crew appeared to be in satisfactory condition and were being examined by ship medics. The sub was raised after becoming stranded in 600 feet of water off the Pacific Coast on Thursday.

Cross-posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto.

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I don't care whether you're pro-life or pro-choice, this is unacceptable political discourse. Drowning your ideological opposition in garbage cans, beheading them, and blowing them up are the bread and butter of Islamic terrorism, not of American political debate.

As Dawn notes, your tax dollars are paying for this.

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1 Why not? They're just the American Taliban anyway, right?

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at August 06, 2005 05:32 PM (JQjhA)

2 Yet more evidence that the threat to free speech today is coming from the Left.

Posted by: Carlos at August 06, 2005 06:09 PM (8e/V4)

3 The liberals have no credibility at all. They decry hate yet they are the worst haters of all. They disgust me. And a.n.g.e.r. me!

Posted by: jesusland joe at August 07, 2005 02:48 PM (DDXXI)

4 The whole idea of abstinence scares the crap out of them. If people actually practice it, they become irrelevant. So they mock morality by equating it with religious fundamentalism and encourage hate and violence. Nice.

Posted by: Oyster at August 08, 2005 07:14 AM (YudAC)

5 If anyone is an American Taliban, it would be the ridiculous right wing, who wants to force every woman to their way of thinking. They are ridiculous for believing that everyone will really proscribe to abstinence. I would guess that they only reason most (over 50%) teenage boys are abstinence is because they can’t find a girl to do it with. (Not counting high school teachers. ) Now I admit the cartoon from the link was a little stupid, but the message that PPH is sending is legit. “ “IF” you are going to engage in non marital sex, then protect yourself and your partner with condoms." As for the beheading and drowning of the Pro Lifer, and please correct me if I am wrong, but I have never heard of a Pro Choicer killing a Pro Lifer in real life. But the same can not be said for the reverse. It would be better for all if the Pro lifer would worry about themselves instead of butting into others people’s business.

Posted by: Butch at August 08, 2005 10:18 AM (Gqhi9)

6 Yes, we shouldn't force the thousands of years old belief that life is sacred on anyone. Let's just scuttle all laws, because you can't legislate morality. Dumbasses. As I've stated before, Joesph Mengeles would have heartily endorsed the evil that is Planned Parenthood.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at August 08, 2005 10:31 AM (x+5JB)

7 The cognotive dissonance that comes from being anti-abortion yet pro-death panalty must be the reason peoples brains have become jelly.

Posted by: Max at August 08, 2005 10:36 AM (HFKAk)

8 The inability to differentiate between an earned death (penalty) and an unearned one (abortion) is too much for some I suppose. One of those instances where nuance goes out the window for the left I suppose. Great site update by the way. Looks good.

Posted by: Defense Guy at August 08, 2005 10:43 AM (jPCiN)

9 But in order to have a death, one must be born first. Abortions have never killed a "Living and Breathing being." And Pro Choices are not abandoning the "thousand year old beliefs" that life is sacred. We are just defining when life begins. Also, I believe that the PPH gives out better advice then the Papacy. With all the diseases going around now adays, it is much better to wrap up then go all natural. But if you do wrap up, then you wont have 6 or 8 kids, you will be most like poor and un educated, and can be more easily brained washed by one of Joesph Mengeles fellow Germans now sitting in Rome. YBP, shame shame, you down sliding into name calling.

Posted by: Butch at August 08, 2005 10:56 AM (Gqhi9)

10 We are just defining when life begins. Based on what exactly?

Posted by: Defense Guy at August 08, 2005 11:04 AM (jPCiN)

11 Aborting is a terrible terrible option. Personally it's a medical fact that fertilized eggs fail to implant all the time. Also I'm not sure that taking a skin cell and a donated egg to get stem cells is all that bad. But for sure abourting once a woman is pregnant is not a good thing. The only worse thing I can think of is some girl having made that descision which she will regret 20 years later is for her to have the procedure done by some butcher in a back alley. Two wrongs don't make a right. It's between he, Her and Her God. What the government should have to do with it I don't know. A fetus is vaible pretty early these days. Just becuase it has not breathed yet does not mean it's not alive and can not breath if it needed too. We should work to reduce not outlaw abortion. To outlaw it won't stop it. In India midwives do it with pressure applied to the outside of the body. It will exist anyway.

Posted by: Howie at August 08, 2005 11:09 AM (D3+20)

12 "With all the diseases going around now adays, it is much better to wrap up then go all natural." No, I'd say it's much better to be in a monogamous relationship with one person (i.e., one's spouse). Yes, Benedict XVI indeed espouses such Nazi-like concepts like respect for life. They were always going on about that, remember, you historians? Best to pledge allegiance to PPH and the Religion of Social Engeneering.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at August 08, 2005 11:21 AM (x+5JB)

13 Howie: "To outlaw it won't stop it." True, but like any law, making an act illegal will greatly reduce its prevalence. Plus, it makes a statement the act is wrong.

Posted by: Young Bourbon Professional at August 08, 2005 11:30 AM (x+5JB)

14 "We are just defining when life begins." How noble of you. Bear in mind, Butch is the one who defines abortion as: "...abortion (the removing of a parasitic growth that has the "potential" of becoming a living breathing person.)" He has convinced himself that right up until the very moment a child takes a breath they are fair game and can be killed without compunction. Personally, I find that repugnant.

Posted by: Oyster at August 08, 2005 11:51 AM (fl6E1)

15 Your are correct Oyster, that is my definition about abortion. But you are wrong about "until the very moment a child takes a breath" because I don't see a child, but "a parasitic growth that has the "potential" of becoming a living breathing person". And it is perfectly okay for you to feel repugnant. That is your choice. But how would you feel if the government came down and told you that to feel repugnant is against the law. If they catch you, off you go to the slammer. Not so good, hum. I do feel that Howie has the right of it all. That the decision of abortion is really between God, the woman, (and my opinion) the doctor performing it. If a woman gets abortion in Texas, is this going to effect anyone in NY, or CA. No. What about even in her same city. No. Will it bring about the down fall of Civilization, I don't think so. Defense guy, what I am basing life on is the lowest common denominator. I believe, (and this is my opinion), that everyone in the world would consider a breathing entity, (person, cat, dog, ect) as alive. I think I can say no one will debate that point. But pre birth, there has been much debate. Is it alive at conception, or 1st trimester, 2nd, or 3rd?

Posted by: Butch at August 08, 2005 12:18 PM (Gqhi9)

16 Yes Butch, and to answer that question, whether or not it is a "life" by giving it an arbitrary definition yourself with absolutely no empirical evidence, could very well mean that a crime is being committed if you're wrong. So those who rely on such decisions in such a manner only wish to clear their conscience. Nothing more. Our laws are not infallible. No one knows when "life" begins. When one becomes a human worthy of the right to live. All I've ever wanted to hear is for one pro-choice person to admit they could be wrong and that erring on the side of caution would be the most prudent approach, but that would be inconvenient, wouldn't it? Your question of how I would feel if the government told me my repugnance is against the law has absolutely no bearing on the argument at hand. You gave your opinion and I gave mine. That's it. The government came down on your side of the argument so your statement is moot anyway. The current argument, however, is not about abortion, but it's what we teach our kids about sex. The argument so many are simply trying to make is that abstinence MUST be part of the education. It is not - and Planned Parenthood fights that all the way even though religion has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with it. Some, even me, are very cautious supporters of abortion, in cases of health risks for mother or child. Discussing abstinence should be part of the program. To eliminate it from education is irresponsible. Planned Parenthood is engaging in the worst form of misinformation with that cartoon video. And that is the ommission of the only sure fire way to prevent pregnancy or disease and demonizing those who who advocate it. To equate the common sense of abstinence to religious fundamentalism is ridiculous. It's a lame excuse to say that one is pushing their morals or religious beliefs on others. They certainly aren't being taught ALL the options in school amidst all the bananas and diagrams. They're being taught safe sex, they're even being encouraged, but not being taught consequence when that fails.

Posted by: Oyster at August 08, 2005 03:59 PM (fl6E1)

17 Simple Max: One group deserves it and the other doesn't.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 08, 2005 09:59 PM (CBNGy)

18 The law has already defined this issue. The Lacy Peterson case is an example of a person begin charged and convicted of murdering a child still in the womb. Not breathing. Not human? I quess all people on a mechanical lung are not really human. Just parasites. Parasite. Something that lives off another. I suspect American society has more parasites outside the womb than inside.

Posted by: greyrooster at August 08, 2005 10:11 PM (CBNGy)

19 Oyster, I agree, that abstinence should be taught along side safe sex. That both should be taught together. And for those who want to live a life of abstinence, that is all good. But for those who don't, then lets educated them as much as possible in order for them to have safe sex. And part of the education would be to point out the consequence. Also as I stated, the cartoon was stupid in my opinion, but the pro lifer have committed worst crimes then this, (blowing up clinics). And just to make your day, I, a pro choicer, will admit that I could be wrong about when life begins. But since we do not have 100% or even 51% proof positive that life begins pre birth, I choose to err on the side of the life that is currently in no doubt, the woman. And Rooster, I stated that life begins when one takes a breath. That does not mean they stop living if placed on a machine. They are already alive. As for the Peterson case, I believe, (my opinion), that Scott is a murderer, but not a serial killer. The only thing I am trying to get across is abortion should not be outlawed, and that every woman will need to make her own choice on having one or not. And every doctor will have to make the choice to perform one or not. As for sex education, I feel both abstinence and safe sex should be taught together. And that neither should be promoted more then the other. But I believe that each individual should have a choice in which they want to follow.

Posted by: Butch at August 09, 2005 08:47 AM (Gqhi9)

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Apparently, the California Constitution guarantees the right of people to not be called names.

From the SacBee:

About 20 gay inmates were forced to remove their clothes in a busy hallway July 19 at the Men's Central Jail while being called names and taunted with vulgar sexual language by some deputies, the ACLU said in a letter to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, citing inmates' claims.

"Such behavior by staff demonstrates a level of immaturity, lack of professionalism, and sadism, which tarnishes the reputation of the entire department," wrote Ricardo Garcia and Jody Kent, who monitor jailhouse issues for the ACLU of Southern California.

The ACLU wanted anti-discrimination training for all deputies.

Posted by: Mike Pechar at 03:56 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Is it just me, or is Eleanor Clift retarded? So let me get this straight: every single candidate that Markos 'Screw Them' Zuniga raises money for, including Paul Hackett, has lost, yet Eleanor Clift thinks that Kos is somehow an effective Democratic strategist?

Ok, maybe she's not retarded, but at a minimum she is the poster child of the partisan Washington media. Note in this Newsweek article, written by Clift, that the Washington Post sent no less than three reporters to swoon over Kos at a left-wing blogger forum (hat tip: Meme Random). That's right, three reporters! And to cover what? The fact that Kos endorsed a candidate that almost won in an off-year low-turnout election? The last time I checked, almost didn't count in politics. Hand grenades and horse-shoes, yes. Politics, no.

Here's how Clift describes serial loser Kos:

Leading the charge was Markos Moulitsas, founder of the progressive Daily Kos, which attracts hundreds of thousands of daily visits and is considered one of the most popular political blogs on the Internet. For Democrats desperate to find their way back to a winning coalition, Moulitsas, 33, has emerged as one of the most creative thinkers and activists in the progressive ranks. The Post team, along with reporters from other national publications and scores of political operatives, had come to get a glimpse of the future.

Moulitsas is opposed to the Iraq war but says that isnÂ’t what drew him to Hackett.

“It’s not about ideology, pro-war, antiwar, it makes no difference,” he insisted. “In the online world, we need Democrats to stand up, not be afraid of Republicans, not be afraid of the right-wing noise machine … We don’t care about ideology. We care that you stand up for the party and don’t run scared.”

I get the feeling it took every ounce of self-restraint Eleanor had to keep herself from throwing her panties on to the stage at Markos.

The boyishly slight Moulitsas responded with an engaging smile, saying that he wished he could claim he was a grand visionary and that his blog was part of a master plan to take over the world. He had no idea it would take off the way it has. It was his way of dealing with the angst he felt as an Army veteran who opposed the Iraq war at a time when any disagreement with President Bush was thought to be almost treasonous. Moulitsas is no stranger to war. He had spent part of his youth in El Salvador, his mother’s native land, during that country’s brutal civil war. Back home in Chicago, he enlisted in the Army at age 17 and spent two and a half years with an artillery unit in Germany. After college and law school, he ended up designing Web pages in San Francisco. He supported the bombing in Afghanistan but was so viscerally opposed to the invasion of Iraq that he was driving his wife and boss and cubicle mate crazy, he recalls. “It was either start a blog and just vent or lose my entire social circle,” he said. Pretty soon he had 100 online visitors, more than he could accommodate in his house, he remembers thinking. When he hit 1,000, he thought to himself, “I’m done,” but he kept going--and now he’s Moses leading Democrats to the promised land.

Hell, Benedict Arnold was a national hero. He was just 'anti-war' not 'anti-American'. He just wanted the war to end so that American soldiers could go back to their farms and not die for the neo-con vision of an American empire. Hell, George Washington didn't even supply his troops with enough shoes to last the winter. And that chickenhawk Thomas Jefferson didn't even volunteer his own sons for the war!

Rick Moran over at Right Wing Nuthouse notes that on the Markos has a reality quotient of 0.4. But who's more out of touch with reality: Kos or the left-wing Washington press corps fawning over him?

Others: Talk Left thinks the article is inspiring. Me too. I'm inspired to go out and buy a Tom Jones album.

MyDD plays down Kos role. Aw shucks, don't give me credit for Hacket losing.

Iowa Voice--right on the money. Bill Quick, too.

Posted by: Rusty at 03:33 PM | Comments (30) | Add Comment
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Gosh, there are all kinds of new concepts suggesting themselves to me lately, from The First Counterwar to Totalitarianism 3.0. But juxtaposing Jeff Goldstein's observations about the use of the Western Left's rhetoric by the jihadists with the "Perfidious George's" poetic use of jihadist rhetoric (together with his prototypical neo-fascist smirk at the funny way Sharon says "terrorrrrrrize") to incite the "Arab Street," suggests that all three strains of Counter-enlightenment illiberalism (Marxism, Nazism and Islamism) have finally begun to merge. If the rhetoric has become one, will not actions soon follow?

[Note to people who still use the term "liberalism" to refer to the Left, or socialism: Get over it. The US together with the Scots invented liberalism in the 17th and 18th centuries, and it's about time we became its standard-bearers again. It's time we put a stop to the corruption of the term.]

(Cross-posted by Demosophist to Demosophia, Anticipatory Retaliation and The Jawa Report)

Posted by: Demosophist at 03:12 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Confidential government sources tell the New York Times that the threat of an al Qaeda attack against the U.S. remains substantial and that the mode of attack will likely be a suicide attack. In sum, terrorists continue to target the United States and wish to inflict mass casualties resulting in a psychological victory. All of the targets and methods mentioned in the article have been tried elsewhere by the global jihadi network.

Target: mass transit systems
Method: bombs, derailment, or crashing truck carrying flammable material into trains
Precedent: London, Madrid, Moscow

Target 2: high rise apartments
Method: natural gas explosions from rented apartement
Precedent: Moscow

Report suspicious activity to local authorities. It is far better to be overly cautious and wrong then to be oblivious to the threat and too late.

UPDATE: If you are a Muslim you have an even greater responsibility to report suspicious activities to the authorities. We hope law enforcement will take you more seriously than they did in the U.K.

Posted by: Rusty at 02:41 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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