They gave us a hard time when we couldn't figure out who won in 2000. But now the shoe's on the other lederhosen, ja, Hans? Just hurry up and pick Hasselhoff. We know you want to.

UPDATE: Hasselhoff convenes a Black Power government? Ach du Lieber!

Posted by: seedubya at 05:57 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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Only a handful of people showed to today's talk. I worked two hours on that speech. The words of the wise Homer Simpson:

Kids, you tried your best, and you failed miserably. The lesson is: never try.

Posted by: Rusty at 05:22 PM | Comments (20) | Add Comment
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The ACLU surrenders to a town of 6,000 and an inanimate object.

Sweet.

Posted by: Vinnie at 02:15 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Yes Cindy says the NYC cops were so rough on me. Whaaa!!!

FOXNEWS:

I was speaking and someone grabbed my backpack and pulled me back pretty roughly," Sheehan said,

I bet you thought is was funny when your opposition got busted at your ralleys now the shoe is on the other foot Cindy.

Mediacrity has more. As does the alway on top of the issues Michelle Malkin.

Posted by: Howie at 01:25 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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Delegates to the Constitutional Convention gave their assent to the document on September 17th, 1787. Today, I'm scheduled to be the key-note speaker at our University's Constitution Day celebration. Here is the text of my speech. I think it might ruffle a few feathers. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 08:06 AM | Comments (24) | Add Comment
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1 The one that gives warmaking power to Congress.

Posted by: Downing Street Memo at September 20, 2005 08:09 AM (VhNDM)

2 Yup, Art. I, sec. 8.

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at September 20, 2005 08:31 AM (JQjhA)

3 I can hook you up with a couple adjunct classes here when you get fired.

Posted by: Leopold Stotch at September 20, 2005 09:19 AM (1DaBi)

4 Sweet. Do you think Nancy, the three kids, and me can crash at your house, too?

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at September 20, 2005 09:38 AM (JQjhA)

5 Just so IÂ’m clear on this: your not tenured right?

Posted by: Brad at September 20, 2005 09:38 AM (6mUkl)

6 Nope. You think this alters my chances?

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at September 20, 2005 09:39 AM (JQjhA)

7 I donÂ’t know man, If the PC police track you back to this blog, your dead. You might want to call your brother in law and make sure that fertilizer sales job is still open before you give this speech.

Posted by: Brad at September 20, 2005 09:54 AM (6mUkl)

8 Senator Byrd is talking about that "living" Constitution that says whatever in the hell the liberals want it to say.

Posted by: jesusland joe at September 20, 2005 10:18 AM (rUyw4)

9 Rusty, are you really going to give that speech on a college campus?

Posted by: jesusland joe at September 20, 2005 10:25 AM (rUyw4)

10 Have you forwarded this to Byrd? Oh, and I know of a small conservative liberal arts college in West Tennesse that might hire you.

Posted by: Razorgirl at September 20, 2005 10:29 AM (H+tJ8)

11 You also should mention somewhere the Preamble to the Bill of Rights: The Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution.

Posted by: IO ERROR at September 20, 2005 10:43 AM (+UctD)

12 "The Constitution is not a series of cases decided by the Supreme Court, it is a document written in 1787, ratified in 1789, and which has been amended exactly 27 times." That's brilliant. And it is a remarkably difficult notion to get across to people.

Posted by: Craig McCarthy at September 20, 2005 10:45 AM (WfwK9)

13 The idea of a living document in the shape of the Constitution is not stupid. What is stupid is not recognizing that the document itself is very specific about what that means. If your gonna go down, go down hard and add something about the commerce clause being the tool of the modern day tyrant.

Posted by: Defense Guy at September 20, 2005 10:53 AM (jPCiN)

14 Right DG. and what "privacy" is construed to mean. And what separation of church and state really means. We saw Newt Gingrich speak at UNF last night. Yes, in an academic environment no less. He was really very clear and concise. One strong point he brought up was this [I'll paraphrase, of course]: Stop this effort to drive God out of public life. 91% of the people are actually against the extreme measures being taken to do this and 8% are dictating to the 91%. He made the point that our forefathers acknowledged that our rights came from our creator. If the creator is driven out of our lives then who will our children grow up thinking our rights came from? "The State?" Not good. Not good at all.

Posted by: Oyster at September 20, 2005 01:03 PM (fl6E1)

15 Robert Byrd brains constitution is different from what the founding fathers wrote bobby byrds consits of big goverment and more regulation and uncontroled taxing and spending

Posted by: sandpiper at September 20, 2005 01:58 PM (r8sk+)

16 The dhimmis see the Constitution as either a stepping stool to get over the will of the people, or a stumbling block to thwart their plans, but they do not see it as inviolable.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at September 20, 2005 02:36 PM (0yYS2)

17 Outstanding.

Posted by: Jim at September 20, 2005 05:31 PM (iD0gu)

18 When the Left says that the US CONSTITUTION is a "living document" Of course, they really only mean the parts of they don't like! That things in it that they like - like the part where it guarantees a right to an abortion - (nevermind about looking for it; it's not in the US CONSTITUTION, not in any literal sense) - well that part is WRITTEN IN STONE. SO: to the Left, it not only means what they say it means, whatever they say it measn in NOT living, but permanent. God forbid Roe v. Wade should EVER be re-interpreted; no: you must SWEAR UNDER OATH that Roe v. Wade is SUPERDUPER-PRECEDNT, untouchable and writ in stone. SHEESH. What effin hypocrites! Not only are their policies crappy; the underlying "logic" they use is faulty. They have no consitent alues underlying their ideology EXCEPT belief that an elite knows better what's right then the individual does for himself, AND that the world would be better off if this elite made all the decisions. IOW: collectivism/socialsm/Leftism. They will use whatver meanx - employ any argument at any time (even if it is inconsistent with other arguments they make). But it gets worse: because they will often support policy "B" - like regime change in Iraq - if and only if it's promoted by a fellow traveller. BUT... if a conservative actually does something about it, well, then... the policy msut be bad! I think this is because post-WW2/post-modern Leftsist have have no transcendent universal values, and are relativists. The only wasy they have to measure success is momnetary outcomes. When the Iraq War has a bad day, then the war itself is bad. Which of course aids the enemy. Only a deep belief in transcendent universal values can actually enable a person to have the resolve toi get through tough struggles which are important, if nopt CRUCIAL - like the Iraq War. The pathetic thing is: FDR would be more supprting of Bush and the neocons, then the so-called his of his New Deal. In another light, though, perhaps there is some conection: FDR and Joe Kennedy were enemies. Joe supported the NAZIS. Perhaps Teddy is more like his isolationst father than he is like FDR or RFK or JFK? Perhaps the Left is now more like Alger Hiss than FDR? They are more allied to enforcing the social and economic outcomes they want - and the eltists organizations they control, then actually promoting policies which might actually have better/the best outcomes. They believe in the UN despite the fact that the UN is a useless cesspool of corruption. They believe in affirmative action even though it is astate-sponsored racism. They believe in gun control even though there is not one scintilla of proof that it lowers violent crime. They believe in progressive taxes even though there's evidence that a flat tax is better for growing economies -whcih is the BEST way to helkp poorer people become less poor. They believe in isolationism to protect jobs, even though trade is the BEST single engine to improve standards of living for everyone. OM AND ON. I have come believe these folks of the post-modern Left cannot really be argued with. I know: I was a leftist. Raised a leftis by card-carrying commies. It took the Fall of the Wall for me to admit Reagan was right. And it took seeing that Deng Tsao Ping had improved China by getting rid of Marx and Mao. I had to look reality in the eye, and blink. The problem is most Lefties TURN AWAY, and avert their eyes! They REFUSE to read or watch anything but their Leftist media: the NYTIMES and CNN. If it ain't in the NYTIMEs then it didn't happen to the Left. (They think I'm brainwashed because I read BOTH the NYTIMES and the Wash Times; they don't even realize that THEY are the limited/brainwashed party!) HOW DO WE GET THEM TO OPEN THEIR EYES? Results. Facts on the ground. Results so big even the media can't hide them. Bigger than LOW UNEMLOYMENT - which doesn't get reported much. Bigger than expanded drug benefits for seniors, or improving grades from kids in schools. Bigger than Qaddafy's renunciation of WMD. Bigger than getting Syria out of Lebanon. Bigger than ALL of Bush legislative successes - he's already accomplished more in 5 years than Clinton and his Pop did in 12! It will take withdrawal from a democratic self-sufficient Iraq. And maybe a revolution in Iran. And the toppling of Lil Kim in NOKO. Then maybe maybe MAYBE the Left MIGHT open one eye. Hang in there baby; KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT!

Posted by: reliapundit at September 20, 2005 05:57 PM (9OasS)

19 Whew. Barely any one showed up. I guess my tenure prospects weren't flushed down the tube. But, I did spend some time writing that dayum thing. Would've been nice to at least tick somebody off.......

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at September 20, 2005 07:12 PM (JQjhA)

20 Pfft, forget them - we enjoyed it. And that is the beauty of online documents; it will remain here to be read by all (pro or con). I can get mad if you want ... ? /TJ

Posted by: TJ at September 21, 2005 08:37 AM (/0bzs)

21 Yeah, but can you issue a fatwa against me?

Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at September 21, 2005 01:22 PM (JQjhA)

22 Rusty I know the pre amble. Got it from schoolhouse rock. want me to sing it for you?

Posted by: Howie at September 22, 2005 12:47 PM (D3+20)

23 We the people in order to from a more perfect union. (background howling of dogs and loud cube neighbor protests) Establish justice and insure domestic tranquility eeeahee Provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare ahhand Secure the blessings of a liberty to ourselves and our posterity (high screeching tone) Do ordain and establish this constitution... for the United Sstates of America... .... for the United States of America

Posted by: Howie at September 22, 2005 01:06 PM (D3+20)

24 The government we have today was shaped by Civil War, the Constitution is merely a fig leaf.

Posted by: DHR at September 28, 2005 05:05 PM (G2kLz)

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The British are feeling the pinch from Iran in Basra (h/t The Corner):

British officials are convinced that Iran is implicated in the upsurge in violence and suspect it may be connected to BritainÂ’s hardening position against TehranÂ’s nuclear programme. Britain has been working closely with Iran over the past two years to reach a compromise. But with the victory last month of the hawkish President Ahmadinejad, Iran has hardened its position.

Sadr's Mahdi Army has killed several British soldiers now, although their leader, a fellow named Fartusi, has been captured.

Rusty linked to an NRO article about Iran and Sadr a while back that predicted exactly this kind of pressure: if the Allies made any move toward Iran's nukes, Iran would unleash the Shiite insurgency against our troops in Iraq:

Sadr is accused of being a pawn of TehranÂ’s mullahs as well, helping them subvert the progress of Iraqi democracy. If military action is taken against IranÂ’s nuclear weapons program, SadrÂ’s Al-Mahdi militia could counterattack within Iraq.

Maybe just the threat of military action was enough to stir up Iran's insurgents. While it sounds like the arrest of this Fartusi is an important first step, Sadr himself is holding the Mahdi together. There are already warrants out for his arrest, as the article points out. Why are we waiting?

Posted by: seedubya at 06:58 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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Any prudent follower of history would know that North Korea regularly commits to agreements and then reneges. In fact, it's a trait of communist police states. Ronald Reagan even formalized a diplomatic skepticism in his "trust but verify" policy in negotiations with the communist Soviet Union. Consequently, it should come as no surprise that, less than a day after signing an agreement to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, North Korea has decided not to comply unless the U.S. ponies up some light-water civilian nuclear power plants.

From ABC Online:

A senior US official says North Korea's claim is not in line with the deal signed in Beijing.

"This was obviously not the agreement they signed and we will see what the coming weeks bring," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

US officials have declined to comment more broadly on Pyongyang's declarations, which appeared to undermine a much-feted set of principles agreed upon earlier in Beijing.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

Posted by: Mike Pechar at 06:07 AM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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Three reasons:

1) Katrina. I'm broke. Despite the crazy blog money rumors, I don't have any. So, I'm putting my time where my wallet can't help. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 08:00 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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As some of you know, I spent the weekend down in the Gulf helping victims of hurricane Katrina. The area I was in was about 45 miles inland from the coast, so I'm sure that I did not see the worst of it. But after seeing the devestation of the storm, I think I am now in a better position to comment on the grand-standing and finger-pointing of politicians and of pundits alike: you are all full of an enormous amount of bullshit.

The biggest bullshit coming from partisans on the Left, trying to blame the federal government, and partisans on the Right, trying to blame local governments, is that the response was somehow too slow. Let me briefly explain.

Nearly a hundred miles inland I began to see downed trees. By the time we approached about the sixty mile mark from the coast (we were driving from Jackson, Mississipi, towards the coast--so, say 20 miles outside of Hattiesburg) it became worse. Much worse.

Downed trees lined the road. I presume that the majority of them were blown across the highway during the hurricane. They had been roughly cut and then dragged to the side of the road, . Hundreds of them. No, thousands of them.

Each tree had to be moved just to let traffic flow. Every. Single. One. For mile upon mile upon mile. For hundreds of miles. In every direction. This takes time.

And as lanes were cleared and highways opened, trucks and supplies had to move into the zone at the same time as hundreds of thousands of people were trying to move out.

If getting people out of the zone of destruction was a logistical nightmare, getting relief in was an equally daunting task.

Now imagine that same task, and add on severe flooding. Also, you don't know how deep the water is between point A and point B. Difficult under any circumstances, nearly impossible when such a large area was affected.

I spent most of Saturday and Sunday cutting trees off of people's roofs, sheds, and dog pens. By the time we got to their houses most of the trees had been cut out of the roads and driveways, but this took some time depending on a lot of factors. more...

Posted by: Rusty at 07:53 PM | Comments (33) | Add Comment
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Ayman al-Zawahiri has released a new tape to Al-Jazeera.

Al-Qaida number two Ayman al-Zawahiri has dismissed the legitimacy of Afghanistan's parliamentary elections in a new tape broadcast by Aljazeera, saying the polls took place under the control of what he called "lords of war".

And you are what Mr. Zawahiri?

Also here on CNN.

"There is no reform except through jihad," he said in the video, broadcast on the Arabic-language TV network based in Qatar.

We got some reforming of our own to do Doc. We will find you.

Posted by: Howie at 06:17 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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I'll second Howie's rant here about Slick Willie's poor taste in lighting into Bush. The really pathetic part of it, though, is that he chooses to do so the very same day that North Korea announces it's giving up its nuclear program and turning over the stuff it's made already. Like Al Gore giving a speech about the urgency of global warming on the coldest day of the year, Bill's timing is hilariously lousy.

Of course, Jeff, I don't trust the Norks on this at all: I don't trust them to allow complete IAEA inspections--I suspect there will be a lot of Saddam-style peek-a-boo being played--nor do I trust them to turn over everything like they say. But if they turn over anything at all, well, that's one pile of plutonium or maybe even one completed warhead they're not going to sell to Zawahiri or Assad or anyone else. It'll join Khadaffi's naughty stuff up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. When it comes to yanking them out of circulation, any nukes is good nukes. What's more, this appears not to have affected our own bargaining position in the slightest.

Now: let us remember who let them get that far in the first place:

That is not Condi clinking the bubbly with The Indomitable Man from Mount Paektu! Yes, once again, Bush is cleaning up a Clinton-era problem. Much like we're now hunting down Osama--after Clinton bumbled along and wasted several shots to take him out, and while Gorelick and co. were busy building the wall between intel and law enforcement which helped shelter the Sept. 11 hiackers. Or much like Bush has deposed Saddam, after Billy Jeff looked the other way while oil-for-food corrupted the world and Iraqi children languished under sanctions, or tossed a few cruise missiles Baghdad-way after Saddam tried to take out G.H.W. Bush in 1993.

As Ace likes to say, I question the timing. And the question is, could Bill have screwed the timing up any worse if he'd planned to?

PS Cordial glasses for champagne? No flutes or saucers? Tacky, tacky, Lil' Kim. The sanctions were clearly having an effect.

UPDATE: Sorry, I'm just very curious about those cordial glasses in the picture. They look like these, which are 6.5" high and hold 2 oz.

I think this is a photo-op choice. Since Kim is like five-one with the poof, and Albright couldn't guard Smurfette in a pickup game, they chose tiny glasses for tiny people. Ordinary champagne glasses would have looked like goldfish bowls on these two. Can't have the dignitaries dwarfed by the stemware.

No, I'm happily married, one kid, why do you ask? more...

Posted by: seedubya at 03:38 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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Shaun at Bareknucckle Politics has it. Notice the terrible conditions 'Roy was kept in, how happy he seems, and listen at the end as he describes his hostage takers beating him so that he would cry during the earlier hostage video.

We're glad you are back Roy.

Posted by: Rusty at 12:23 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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FOXNEWS:

Ever wonder why a person would strap on a bomb and blow himself and civilians to bits, me too?

Mohammed Ali, who claimed to be Saudi-born and appeared to be in his 20s, Ali said insurgents kidnapped him from a field near his home earlier this month, then drugged and beat him. His story was similar to those recounted by other captured militants. The captives routinely claim they were either coerced or fooled by insurgent leaders who promised them a role in the holy war against the U.S. military, only to find themselves as would-be suicide bombers sent to attack civilians.

Next.

Musab Aqil al-Khayal, a 19-year-old Syrian, was shown on state television Saturday confessing to his aborted involvement in a bombing earlier in the week in which a companion exploded his car bomb in the midst of day laborers assembled to find work. "Those dogs fooled me," he told Iraqi interrogators.

Ah now I see, come on Zaqueery strap one on and put your money where your mouth is. Having seen some of Al-Zarqawi's methods I would not put it past him.

Posted by: Howie at 12:06 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Bill Clinton broke with tradition and has flamed President Bush for just about everything. Actually I've been waiting for this.

On the US budget, Clinton warned that the federal deficit may be coming untenable, driven by foreign wars, the post-hurricane recovery programme and tax cuts that benefitted just the richest one percent of the US population, himself included

Bullshit Bill. I may not agree with everything Bush has done the last six years but being upper lower or lower middle class I have gotten the best tax returns ever. I mean I get back more than I pay if I spend my bucks right. The idea that only the rich benefit from these cuts is just untrue. I got back about 2400 bucks last year and as a single income family of three 2400 bucks is good money for me. The bush tax policies are way better for me than yours ever were. If we want to raise taxes on the rich fine with me. But to reverse the tax cuts will cut my return from 2400 bucks to about 350 under Clinton. I have to ask myself am I better off than I was six years ago? Hell yes I am!!!!. Grrrrrrr.

In the right place has more. As does polipundit on WMD.

Posted by: Howie at 08:52 AM | Comments (48) | Add Comment
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1 More from slick willie whats this jackas trying to prove? just that he is still a liar and a crook as well

Posted by: sandpiper at September 19, 2005 09:19 AM (4v/PL)

2 He's trying to prove that he wants to be first in line when we start hanging traitors. I guess he thinks he's too good for a used rope. Whatever, it works for me.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at September 19, 2005 09:46 AM (0yYS2)

3 Bill Clinton's taxes made it impossible for me to continue a small business I had even as a sub-s corp. When all was said and done, I was paying out 42%+ on wages alone by the end of his term. Being that I was the only employee, that was pretty sad.

Posted by: Oyster at September 19, 2005 09:59 AM (fl6E1)

4 This is Bill Clinton, the consumate politian. My mother is from Arkansas, very close to where Clinton grew up(within 30 miles), and she always said that Clinton was the best politian the US has ever had, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln. He knows that Hillary is lining up for a run for the White House in '08, and he smells blood in the water. His problem, though, is that he is always attuned to polls, and doesn't take other factors into consideration. Leadership is the major value he lacks, therefore he is somewhat like a child in his temperament. That is why the women all love him so. He seems to be their baby boy the bully is picking on.

Posted by: jesusland joe at September 19, 2005 10:00 AM (rUyw4)

5 Will someone just ask him to go away? I assume all this BS from him is because of Tony Blair sticking a fork in the Kyoto BS and then Able Danger and Frontpage magazine highlighting his shortcoming with terrorists. He is just like a windup doll.

Posted by: From the Swamp at September 19, 2005 10:27 AM (7evkT)

6 All these rich people complaining about getting a tax cut should talk to their tax preparer and ask how to donate money to the government. The IRS webpages have instructions. Although, Bill should know this, being the former president and all. If they are all so pissed about getting a tax break, then they should put their refund where their mouth is and donate it back! (If paying taxes is so great, why are all the rich hiding their money overseas?)

Posted by: Fred Fry at September 19, 2005 10:36 AM (cQilN)

7 I'm sure that the Pres is pleased at his good judgment in allowing this POS to stand with him and his father in seeking Katrina relief, not to mention the Far East tsunami. I have never understood why Bush 43 gave Clinton the time of day. Perhaps he wonders why now too.

Posted by: Redhand at September 19, 2005 11:25 AM (TrmBs)

8 "wants to be first in line" ... yes. For the UN leadership job when the crooked leadership is tossed out on their ___'s. Also, this is the form of 'wag the dog' played by a former President. Divert attention from the truth thats coming out.

Posted by: Jonathan at September 19, 2005 12:20 PM (ywZa8)

9 That part of the left arguemnt about the tax cuts just pisses me off.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 01:26 PM (D3+20)

10 howie, you emailed me this link with the note that I wouldn't agree with it... not for nothing, but I have only posted a handful of political-type posts on my site and if you've read all of them you would have come to the conclusion that I vote for whomever I think will do the best job. I am neither right or left. so don't send me blatant blogwhoring emails in some lame attempt to get me to post a link to your site in hopes that you've riled me enough to do so. sorry, but THAT is where I disagree.

Posted by: gigglechick at September 19, 2005 04:34 PM (nRJLd)

11 Gee Erin thanks for the support. You could ignore them you did ask what the post was about. An no I was not blogwhoring for a link. If I wanted to post a link on yer site I would but you would ban me. So get off it.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 04:54 PM (D3+20)

12 Again you asked for the link.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:24 PM (D3+20)

13 gee howie- there you go assuming what my thoughts or next move would be... jumping to conclusions (much like any political blogger does) howabout we clarify something... the only reason I asked what the link that you'd emailed me was about was because I was in the middle of running to the train and wasn't able to pop onto this site to read the drivel... just to quench any desire for people to assume that I didn't understand your post. and why would you think that I would "support" you since you already attempted to put me on the defensive with your "you'll disagree" assumptions...? seriously... don't be a frigging jackass.

Posted by: gigglechick at September 19, 2005 05:24 PM (nRJLd)

14 That's like the pot calling the kettle black babe. You started ranting like a jackass former blog buddy.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:26 PM (D3+20)

15 again. no. I did not ever ask for the link... you wrote a cryptic creepy email to me and I asked what you were talking about. NEVER did I write "gee send me a link"... on second thought, tonight when I get home I will be sure to send some folks over to this site...

Posted by: gigglechick at September 19, 2005 05:27 PM (nRJLd)

16 It was not crypic nor creepy you are paranoid.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:29 PM (D3+20)

17 I link what pleases me. Now I see you were fishing for blog material.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:32 PM (D3+20)

18 Send em on we like hits here at Jawa.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:36 PM (D3+20)

19 funny you said you can't see I'm on the train and like two seconds later you are posting here. So were you lying or what?

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 05:43 PM (D3+20)

20 From: GigglechickHA@aol.com View Contact Details Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2005 08:34:41 EDT Subject: Re: NUTJOB To: mchlhwrd@yahoo.com Feel free to link me. Please. I have sporadic cell/web coverage in mtns. Killing me See Erin I asked permission and you gave it.

Posted by: Howie at September 19, 2005 06:00 PM (D3+20)

21 howie, you're frigging insane. get a fucking life instead of keeping emails for over 2 months (and then posting them out of context) i've been dealing with your emails to me for the past few months and have been quite creeped out by them... especially when you talk about yourself in the third person. as far as "lying" about not being able to see the page... jackhole, i wrote that i was in the middle of running to the train when i was checking my email on my phone and that i didn't view this effing site until i was on said train... you are seriously posting fucking emails from july 10th? god, you really DO have a frigging mental problem. i just never realized how fucked up you really are.

Posted by: gigglechick at September 19, 2005 07:37 PM (+YVLt)

22 Adjust your w-4 stupid, if for no other reason than you could be investing that money in your retirement instead of letting the govt have it. If you have 3 kids, 200 a month would go a long way towards college.

Posted by: Kstumpf at September 19, 2005 09:08 PM (gvpiY)

23 can the real blogwhore raise their hand...ERIN (gigglechick). not for nothing (one of many GC idiotic, overused expressions...) but come on Erin, if ANYONE is unstable, insane, or fucked up? ITS YOU. Delusional... All this bragging about the audition that you were 'specially selected' for? *cough* BULLSHIT *cough* Yea sure you are performing - congrats. But come on - be honest about how you got the spots.... those of us in the know are tired of your deluded view that you were selected based on talent....And like your mom says, HBO funny - you are not. Um, recall doing a website for improv? And the terms? Yea. At least be honest. MMM K?

Posted by: in the know... at September 19, 2005 09:55 PM (EqOvy)

24 Hey! What's all this squabbling? Ah...I check back in and nothing is different: Howie is offended and IM is measuring rope to hang people with. Anyway, I was wondering what you guys might think of this while you're talkin' about bubba ho-tep: George Stephanopoulos: On rolling back some of Bush's tax cuts to pay for Katrina: "I think it's very important that Americans understand, you know, tax cuts are always popular, but about half of these tax cuts since 2001 have gone to people in my income group, the top 1 percent. I've gotten four tax cuts. They're responsible for this big structural deficit, and they're not going away, the deficits aren't. Now, what Americans need to understand is that that means every single day of the year, our government goes into the market and borrows money from other countries to finance Iraq, Afghanistan, Katrina and our tax cuts. We have never done this before. Never in the history of our republic have we ever financed a conflict, military conflict, by borrowing money from somewhere else." On the Republicans' responsibility for problems involving poverty and race: "If you give your tax cuts to the rich and hope everything works out all right, and poverty goes up, and it disproportionately affects black and brown people, that's a consequence of the action made. That's what they did in the '80s; that's what they've done in this decade. In the middle, we had a different policy. We concentrated tax cuts on lower-income working people and benefits to low-income people that helped them move from welfare to work, and we moved 100 times as many people out of poverty. We know what works, and we had a program that was drastically reducing poverty, and they got rid of it. And they don't believe in it." On whether the United States has a strategy for winning in Iraq: "Well, if we do, it's not working right now, at least ... A lot of good Americans have given their lives; thousands of others have been horribly wounded. So I have been in a position where I wanted the strategy to work. Whether it will or not, I don't know. But the only thing I would sacrifice it to is if I thought we were going to lose in Afghanistan. We cannot lose in Afghanistan. We cannot let the Taliban come back. We cannot let [Hamid] Karzai fail. We cannot relax our efforts to try to keep undermining al-Qaida, because that's still by far a bigger threat to our security."

Posted by: osamabinhiding at September 19, 2005 11:54 PM (cKjAz)

25 what? the terms that i got paid $1000 for the improv website? hmmmm? are those the terms you are talking about "in the know" (which apparently you DON'T know anything.) gee, what "terms" exactly are you talking about? hmmmm? would love to be privy to your information... what about the details to theindustryroom.com? huh? howabout those? are you INTHEKNOW on those? would LOVE for you to come to the improv and see my show on the 27th - WOULD LOVE IT... feel free... YOU TOO, HOWIE... come on down, jackasses.

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 06:08 AM (+YVLt)

26 My W4 is Fine. Refundable credits you now. $01k stuff like that. Yeah she is trolling for a WTW one two three four Erin is a blog whore. See it's all fine and dandy when she is a linkwhore but seriously I've supoorted the whiney little turds work you knwo when she whined about not getting credit for that photoshop. When she whined about being a lardass. I thought we had a good kind of penpal thing going. I don't care about her political opinions. I did link the little man who beat himself to death on his keyboard. Stuff like that. Then yesterday out of the blue she goes all nutso on me. Hint Erin If you want to be a great comedian like say Phlyis Diller, Or Ruth Buzzy or Lilly Tomlin it might help if you get a sense of humor. Send yer trolls on cause at the jawa we have the best ones. So guys give Erin a taste of a troll she will ban you like after the first comment but hey you can add that to the list of sites you are banned from what fun blog games eh.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 08:40 AM (D3+20)

27 Osama, What pisses me off is the lie that lower income people get no benefit. It's just not true. George I have gotten tax cuts as well as refundable credits for investment education so on and so forth so I benefit greatly and I'm by no means a rich man. Ksumf: See I get a refundable credit for the investemnt in my 401k actually changing my W4 only gets me 80 bucks a month plus I would have to file another if the tax cuts expire. Oh yeah stumppeter why the name calling?

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 09:34 AM (D3+20)

28 Heya Howie... When you say it's not true, and refer to tax cuts...who do you think pays for those tax cuts? Then there's that pesky 16th amendment which has increasingly become hard to prove for the IRS! Funny thing is, properly ratifying personal income tax wouldn't be a huge deal. I think it's just that people seem to have a lack of literacy and awareness in our leadership...and for once, I'm not picking on Bush to that effect. Anyway, where are you at Howie? I was wondering about how people on Jawa were doing after the hurricane since I know for one that Gayrooster is near there. Did anyone in here get hit?

Posted by: osamabinhiding at September 20, 2005 12:34 PM (cKjAz)

29 I'm not sure I';ve not heard from the Rooster is all. I'm way too far inland to be affected. Hey go over to erins gigglechick and supoort my sorry ass.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 12:45 PM (D3+20)

30 We have people like you in Canada Howie ... They are French and live in Quebec. They think that they can do no wrong and believe everyone else should bend to their will. Unofficially, it has been discovered that it was a case of mass-insanity most likely caused by long-term inbreeding. The government of Quebec is quietly increasing immigration quotas, with preference to francophones, in an attempt to rectify the situation.

Posted by: Rick O at September 20, 2005 01:19 PM (/bCSM)

31 So Rick since when is Howard a French name?

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 01:32 PM (D3+20)

32 For the record I do not approve of erins site being hacked. Neither do I know how to do such stuff. Sorry erin I thought our arguement would get us both a lot of hits today. I'm sad to see it got out of hand. It was fun while it lasted I hope you are back up and running soon. Also I don't hate Erin I have no idea why she decided to go off on me thanks for all the support except the hacking that was a bit over the line as was Erins posting IP addresses.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 02:44 PM (D3+20)

33 aw... you think it was hacked? hah. no. sorry. don't think so, Howie..

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:02 PM (ZeupY)

34 Well whatver It's not working right and I think it was over the line.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:04 PM (D3+20)

35 what? the gaydemon.com site that you were redirected to? too bad.

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:07 PM (ZeupY)

36 No I got websensed. Still over the line and posting Ip addresses is too. We never do that not even to a terrorist.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:10 PM (D3+20)

37 oh well. too bad. you really ought not to comment with your IP address all vulnerable like that "Howie" --- or should i say "Greg" (your alter ego that you've been commenting and emailing with)

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:12 PM (ZeupY)

38 and you may want to think twice when you comment and email me with "don't fuck with jawas"

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:13 PM (ZeupY)

39 Gee Erin I assumed you had some scruples. Wrong again. Best of luck glad you were able to use the NOLA link and thanks again for letting me comment link the little dude beating himself on the keyboard greg was who it reminded me of. He has been banned here once twice three times out. So can we call it even and quit this foolish bullshit.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:17 PM (D3+20)

40 Nope not going to play anymore.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:25 PM (D3+20)

41 i'm sorry. the NOLA link? are you talking about nola.com? the site that i designed with my team back in 1997? yeah, thanks for giiving me aa heads up on that site, howie.

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:26 PM (ZeupY)

42 so you can stop hounding me via email now.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:27 PM (D3+20)

43 You do good work Erin the Improv site was cool.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:29 PM (D3+20)

44 thank you.

Posted by: erin at September 20, 2005 03:37 PM (ZeupY)

45 You are quite welcome Erin. I'm still pretty much a novice blogger and I'm still in awe of the power of it. I really don't care you flamed me heck I've been hanging here for quite a while. I've seen it all.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:39 PM (D3+20)

46 also Erin I'll remove you from my Yahoo page as well as all contacts. Thanks for the support you have given me and I'm sorry. Although you don't seem to have it in you to say that.

Posted by: Howie at September 20, 2005 03:43 PM (KE1Y+)

47 I haven't really looked around this site a ton but I thought I'd let you know that whatever gigglebitch is blaming you for is actually me (lol) but umm.. I suppose I'll let you continue taking whatever lukewarm heat she's trying to give off because getting something through her head requires power tools which isn't up my alley. Good luck s0ldier

Posted by: caustic lipstick at September 20, 2005 05:58 PM (cmkoZ)

48 Thanks she's a backstabbing nut. Not sense me being a sore winner.

Posted by: Howie at September 21, 2005 08:37 AM (D3+20)

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There has been a letter bombing at a British embassy in Croatia. The media coverage is detailed at Conservative Thinking.

As more reports come I'll be updating the coverage of the story there.

Posted by: Chris Short at 04:27 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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In an agreement that can be seen as a step back to the Clinton or an agreement to appease the North Korean government North Korea has decided to stop it's nuclear program in exchange for economic and energy benefits, an agreement to keep the NKs safe, and an open door to later start back up their program later.

North Korea Vows to Drop Nuclear Program (AP):

BEIJING (AP) -- North Korea pledged to drop its nuclear weapons development and rejoin international arms treaties in a unanimous agreement Monday with other countries at six-party arms talks. The joint statement was the first ever after more than two years of negotiations.

The North "promised to drop all nuclear weapons and current nuclear programs and to get back to the (Nuclear) Nonproliferation Treaty as soon as possible and to accept inspections" by the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to the agreement by the six countries at the talks.

"All six parties emphasized that to realize the inspectable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is the target of the six-party talks," the statement said.

The North and United States also pledged in the agreement to respect each other's sovereignty and right to peaceful coexistence, and also to take steps to normalize relations.

"The United States affirmed that it has no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula and has no intention to attack or invade (North Korea) with nuclear or conventional weapons," according to the statement, assurances echoed by South Korea.

Negotiators agreed to hold more talks in November, where they were expected to move on to concrete discussions about implementing the broad principles outlined in Monday's agreement. The main U.S. envoy, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, has warned that could still be a long process.

Putting aside the question for now, the joint statement said: "The other parties expressed their respect and agreed to discuss at an appropriate time the subject of the provision of light-water reactor" to North Korea.

Pyongyang has also refused to totally disarm without getting concessions along the way, while Washington has said it wants to see the weapons programs totally dismantled before granting rewards. The statement, however, says the sides agree to take steps to implement the agreement "in a phased manner in line with the principle of 'commitment for commitment, action for action.'"

he other countries at the talks said they were willing give energy assistance to the North, including a South Korean plan to deliver electricity across the heavily armed border dividing the peninsula.

While I'm okay with North Korea giving up its nuke program I'm not exactly sure that giving the Communist North what it needs to survive another ten to fifteen years is the best course of action. Let their economy fail and let their people overthrow the communists. A free North Korea is better than a communist one struggling to get what it needs from the rest of the world to survive.

Others Covering the Story:
In The Bullpen
The Moderate Voice

Originally Posted at

Posted by: Chris Short at 12:46 AM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
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A line from one of my favorite bands of the '60s that no one ever heard of: Bread. And it don't matter to the Western Media (according to Wretchard) just exactly who wins a conflict:

Of all the weapons of the insurgency, it is their ability to set the public terms of the debate that has proven the most powerful. Their model of fighting a combined media-arms campaign has created an alternative reality which Western opinion-makers unconsciously inhabit.

Posted by: Demosophist at 12:29 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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One of the most impressive people I know is Dr. Ann Kao. She is a brilliant doctor who recently got written up in the Wall Street Journal for having discovered a new disease (“Tsunami Lung”) in the aftermath of the Indonesian Tsunami.

Ann is also a Christian, an Ivy Leaguer, and (at least the last time I talked to her) quite sensible politically, too. SheÂ’s also cute and pleasant to talk to. Where do you go to meet women like this?

Rwanda, of course. SheÂ’s now on a fellowship doing refugee medicine there, saving babies from dysentery and staving off the onset of AIDS wherever she can. The conditions are primitive and sheÂ’s dreadfully undersupplied, but sheÂ’s doing her best. I expect theyÂ’re not paying her too well, either.

She has a blog, Letters Home, which she updates now and then from Kigali. Why not check it out, and leave some comments or send her an e-mail, and surprise her? Here's a sample of daily life for Ann:

“The anxiety comes from the moans emanating forth from the rear of the land cruiser – the contractions are coming faster and I hear grunts starting and I say “DON’T PUSH” really loud in English which makes everyone laugh. Then in a completely surreal moment where time seems to freeze the other two women in the Land Rover start singing piercingly beautifully and clearly – “It is a hymn” says Immanuel my driver the words he struggles to translate but says are praising God and creation – and the 19 yo in labor ceases her grunting and slows her breathing to listen to the song. It’s yet another truly indescribable moment – careening down a mountain in pitch black surrounded by banana groves with 3 refugee woman – one nearing delivery and the soundtrack is this beautiful wild song being sung by 2 of them. I think if I die at this very moment going down this mountain – there wouldn’t be any other way I’d rather go.”

But weÂ’d rather you stayed a while, Ann.

P.S. And donÂ’t even tell her where you heard about this. I donÂ’t want her figuring out who I am. Just tell her howdy, and let her know her work is appreciated.

Cross-Posted at Patterico's Pontifications.

Posted by: seedubya at 10:59 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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I went through a stage where I liked A Prairie Home Companion. I call it my "pretentious" phase. Now lefty PHC host Garrison Keillor has lowered the boom on a blogger. Seems this dude was cranking out some T-shirts that said "Prairie Ho Companion" (snicker) and Keillor's big bad lawyers sent him a cease and desist order.

How's that for some free speech? How's that for being hassled by The Man? How's that for humorless priggery?

"This is a great country, and it wasn't made so by angry people." Some liberal said that...some fair-minded wholesome Volvo-driving scribbler named...hmm...ah, yes, Garrison Keillor. --who also noted in the same unhinged rant, "Hypocrisies shine like cat turds in the moonlight!" Yep.

Posted by: seedubya at 07:49 AM | Comments (37) | Add Comment
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Many of you will recognize the name Dafydd ab Hugh from smart comments around the blogosphere. He's also been a co-guest-blogger with me at Patterico's Pontifications, and he has also guest-blogged at Captain's Quarters, and he gets mentioned at Powerline all the time. Oh, and he wrote a bunch of sci-fi novels, too.

Anyway, Daf Ab has fired up his own blog now--part of a bigger site called "Big Lizards" he's been working on for ages. It looks very promising--check out his post on why he doesn't write "Islamofascism" but insists on "militant Islamism". As he uses loaded and atmospheric words for a living, he knows what he's talking about.

(As an aside, I think the good thing tactically about "Islamofascism" is that A: it's somewhat accurate; after all, the Taliban and Baathism are fascist in character and B: it illustrates the odd cleavages in Western politics. Those romantic fools who jumped at the chance to fight Franco in the last century are swanning around with their thumb up their hindquarters in this one, and apologizing for a fanatically illiberal movement and the totalitarians who foster it. )

And now I'm the only person in America without my own blog.

Posted by: seedubya at 12:39 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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