I remember the original “The Man Show” and thought it was great! (Am I allowed to say that? Ima grrl! :-O ) Bill “The Fox” Foster (RiP) with his “Zicke, Zacke, Zicke, Zacke, Hoi, Hoi, Hoi!” cheer ‘n chug was taken from us too soon. I thought that first season was the best with Jimmy [...]
Author Archives: Mo K.
Quote of the Day
From James Taranto’s “Best of the Web”:
Fox News, meanwhile, reports on an effort to push nanny-statism even further: “Gov. Dan Malloy has declared Thursday ‘Diaper Need Awareness Day’ as part of a campaign by The Nutmeg State to pressure Washington into providing free diapers to low-income families.” Rep. Rosa DeLauro, like Malloy a Connecticut Democrat, is pushing legislation that “would allow Uncle Sam to . . . provide funding for diapers and diaper supplies.”
Maybe Obama should take it one step further and ask Congress to create a new cabinet-level Department of Infant Care to provide free diapers to all Americans. (Would that include the elderly? Depends.) It would certainly resonate with his 2008 campaign theme of “change.”
Well, at least this partially explains my absence from this blog
Not only the Sunday evening event, but just getting the house ready for sale since last fall. Since spring we’ve been super-busy with the listing of the house and packing up.
Anyway, on to the real subject of this post.
Chap Hop
Just for fun…
Courtesy of Wired, I’ve discovered a new genre of music–chap hop, which is hip hop reimagined as the pastime of bored English gentlemen. Here’s one of the original works, by Mr. B (aka the Gentleman Rhymer) with his send-up of NWA, “Straight Out of Surrey”:
And the response to it by Professor Elemental:
Carry on.
Analogy: Obama’s 10-Year Budget Plan
Neil Cavuto has put together a great analogy of Obama’s “10-year budget” plan.
Way too little and beyond too late, Obama.
What Really Happened In The Middle East
Mar 28
I can’t believe we’re coming up on 4 years since this 10 minute video has been posted and there are just shy of 50,000 views. Well, I guess part of me CAN believe it, since there are so many anti-Semites out there. This is a quick 10 minutes, and a good summation of the constant [...]
Revisionist History at the LA Times?
Mar 21
Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher died this weekend. May he rest in peace. I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, and this isn’t directed at Christopher, but the media. The lede in the LAT article says: Warren Christopher’s tenacity and decorum helped him secure the release of U.S. hostages from Iran for [...]
A Good Summary About What’s Going On In Libya
I don’t check Strategy Page as often as I should, but it’s definitely one of the top milblogs out there.
This recent post isn’t too long, and gives some good background into what the various players’ motivations are.
Not Evil Just Wrong: Irish Filmmaker Confronts Al Gore & Eco-Hypocrisy
Kudos to Ann McElhinney for taking on the hypocritical eco-weenies. Love this interview with Stephen Kruiser on PJTV.
Excerpt:
Q: Is high speed rail kind of like the “race card” for climate change hysteria, to shut off all debate?
A: … The car is in the DNA of Americans. … People get in their cars, have this feeling of the highway, and take off– I’m not waiting for the 405 from wherever– I not waiting for a train that leaves at 10:00 and hope to get to wherever I’m going. No, no…I get in my car and go off on my own.
Obama likes the idea of trains because trains “train” you to think collectively, cause you suddenly are in group think… you have to be timetabled and controlled.
The idea that you’re going to replace the car in America with a train is nonsense… Hands off the cars, there, Obama, you know? Enjoy it yourself…
Now that’s the fighting Irish spirit I’m talkin’ about.
GAO Details Billions in Federal Waste
Mar 1
Forgive me, but I feel like shoving this in front of everyone who chants the liberal “Faux News” mantra. There’s plenty of blame to go around about government waste, and FOX News isn’t afraid to report it, regardless of who was president at the time. As members of Congress fight over what to cut in [...]
Thirty Years After Ronald Reagan’s Inauguration
Some of you might have heard these before, but I thought it appropriate to post today as another example of Reagan’s overall gentlemanly self, great sense of humor, and ability to deliver a joke well.
http://www.liveleak.com/e/e24_1287541152
H/T: Received via email. www.theospark.net
Saturday Night Mashups
Now for something completely different….
Stayin’ Alive in the Wall (Pink Floyd vs the Bee Gees)
Knock Out Eileen (LL Cool J vs Dexy’s Midnight Runners)– though it was mostly a true mash-up during the first half.
And here’s creepy/funny mashup with Andy Griffith polishing his shotgun barrel to Beyoncé.
Come Sit On Satan’s Lap
One of my favorite guilty pleasures for years has been *V the K’s “Caption This!” blog.
Here’s his most recent post:
Ken Cuccinelli– A True Constitutional Conservative
I’ve never been prouder to be a Virginian than this December.
And he’s right. Liberals do NOT have a good sense of humor!
Austrian MP Takes Turkish Ambassador To Task
*applause*
We need more *Ewald Stadlers in elected office here in the USA. The closest I’ve seen in recent years is Gov. Chris Christie, who’s unafraid to tell it like it is.
And we have an inordinate amount of wusses in Congress.
H/T: Polipundit.
*That said, he may do well to up his PSD, as no doubt a fatwa will be issued against him.
“Coming this December: A Healthcare Ruling”
Lifted in its entirety, I thought some of you might be interested in my own Attorney General Cuccinelli’s “Compass” e-newsletter with an update on the battle with the feds over the new healthcare law.
Vote Republican for the Very First Time
Hey liberals, do you really care about minorities? If so, then why not support those who have recently won (and now more importantly are seeking) leadership positions?
And to minorities (Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, etc), do you honestly think the Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton types truly care whether you succeed or not?
Get real. Dependency is their game, largely because they make money off of it. Money from those they dupe.
And now back to the video. Wow. Star Parker? I didn’t know she was running for office! I’d vote for her in a nanosecond.
(Only criticism I have of the vid. is that Allen West’s name was misspelled. I’ll allow that small mistake.)
Words of wisdom from Dennis Prager
On the eve of Election Day 2010, I received this via email.
A Q & A in May at University of Denver. Question is “What is the single threat to the USA?”
I never tire of Prager. Listen also to his comments about the United States vs. the United Nations on increasing good on Earth, and electing Iran (of all countries) to the commission on the status of women.
Excerpt:
…This is not a presidential election, and is the most important election in modern American history. This November is a referendum on what we want America to be…. You can love America, and be an awful American. You can love your children and be an awful parent. (These things have to be spelled out to the left because they like to distort everything we say…) the issue is you have different values than America was founded on.
Folks, Abraham Lincoln said that the United States is the last best hope for Earth… for mankind. It will not be the last best hope for mankind if it becomes like western Europe. Nobody has ever said Norway is the last best hope for mankind. I know I’ll be attacked as anti-Norwegian because anything that we say is race-based. So with the risk of being considered anti-Scandinavian in my essence, may I say that nobody says Sweden, Norway or Denmark is the last best hope for mankind, nor have they said that since 1603 about France. And so it is only being said about the USA— this is the force for good on this Earth. It’s not peace activists that liberated Auschwitz. It’s military people who liberated Auschwitz…
Still confused about the Tea Party?
If you’re still not quite sure what the Tea Party movement is all about, you should check out this great *Bill Whittle video.
In a series called “What We Believe” he explains perfectly. It’s only about 10 minutes.
Ed Morrissey at Hot Air has a good summation in his “Heart of the Tea Party Movement” post.
H/T Rachel Lucas
Detect ANY shred of racism here? Quit believing the lies from the libs and progressives. To modify the more popular phrase, “It’s the ideology, stupid.”
*I’ve been reading Whittle for quite awhile, now. One of my favorite essays of his is “Seeing the Unseen”. He’s woefully under-exposed in my opinion.
Lateral FAIL: Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings
I saw this live yesterday and have been looking for the videoclip of this last desperate attempt ever since. I was surprised they not only didn’t show an instant replay, but they didn’t mention it on “The OT” show immediately following the game. I knew it contained at least six laterals, and was amazed that all but the last was caught.
But I did not remain disappointed for long, as someone finally posted it on YouTube, complete with the “Benny Hill” treatment it so richly deserved.
Breitbart Forces Obama’s Protesters To Fold Up Shop
Andrew Breitbart has brass ones to go out and confront that crowd alone. He’s a godsend and a true patriot.
On Saturday, September 18th, Glenn Beck and Andrew Breitbart headlined an event entitled “Right Nation 2010,” held just outside of Chicago, Illinois.
As you will see in our video report from the scene, when Andrew Breitbart arrived at the Sears Centre, he was met with an angry mob of protesters who were calling for an ‘end to hate’ while also hurling expletives and homophobic slurs toward the targets of their enmity.
In the following dramatic video, Breitbart brings the protest to a complete halt by cleverly asking sign holders to do the impossible: explain the placards they were carrying. In the end, the frustrated organizers abruptly end their protest and leave.
Read the whole thing, and watch all the videos.
…Is anyone else beginning to see a pattern developing here?
It’s getting more and more obvious every single day.
Mo’s Quote of the Day
Well, here’s a quote I read just last night, and it perfectly states why a patriot like me who loves his country and wants to do good cannot run for office and win in modern America:
The media’s interest on candidate’s private lives has already had at least one bad effect on society. A powerful alliance of the media and left-wing feminists and the religious right has ensured that fewer quality people will run for political office. Few great individuals are willing to have their lives dissected in ways that virtually guarantee undeserved personal and family suffering. A person’s desire for political office has to overwhelm a desire to protect one’s own and one’s family’s privacy, and such an individual is precisely not the type of person we want most to lead us.
~Dennis Prager, “Think A Second Time” p.1995
We’ve evolved a system that ensures the worst possible people–those who are smart, clever, devious, dishonest, and hungry for power will always rise to the top levels of government. That’s what’s got to change, or we’ve got to get used to being their slaves. Or at least their ATMs.
It Will Always Be Bush’s Fault, Redux
Here’s another post from Grouchy Old Cripple that will be sure to inflame the leftists who frequent this blog. I challenge you to argue his points.
Read the rest of this entry
Pat Condell: No Mosque At Ground Zero
I’m surprised this is from far back as early June. Condell is on top of it, as usual.
Now THIS is the kind of leadership we need
I’ve been a fan of Col. Allen West’s ever since I heard his CPAC speech earlier this year, and subsequent speeches/interviews.
He’s a plain-speaking (like Sarah Palin, I might add), no-nonsense common sense American. (I left out “conservative”, because I know how that offends some of you.)
He is infinitely qualified to serve as a congressman, governor, and eventually POTUS. Frankly, I’d trust him 100x more as POTUS than Obama, and some other Republican candidates for that matter.
West “gets” our Constitution and what it means to be an American.
If you agree, send him a donation for Florida’s 22nd district. With luck, we may see him for a long time to come.
The Race Card Is Maxed Out
I’m not a fan of Jon Stewart (but I think he’s less of a boor than Bill Maher and in general is more entertaining) but every now and then he surprises me with a satirical gem aimed at the left.
Heck, if Jon gets it (and more importantly brings attention to it), that can’t be good for the other team.
OK, yes… this may be over-the-top…
…. but Mr. Mo and I are planning on being well out of the D.C. Metro area by 2011, for several reasons.
What really bothers me is that I’m not the paranoid type, but I see the path this country is going down and unless we seriously reverse it, we’re headed for this.
Selfishly, I’d like to think it happens well after 2017.
Modnar stuff
Just some bizarreness that was emailed to me today, but may likely go viral. Well, the Giant Squirrel-riding Chewbacca shooting at Nazis (with a crossbow, don’t forget), anyway.
I need to make that my new wallpaper.
(Oh, lord. I sound like Mr. Mo.)
Plus, Jane Austin’s Fight Club.
Healthcare Rationing and Tyranny
After reading this, I’d like for someone to point out how this is NOT tyrannical, particularly because Berwick, who states a romantic love for Britain’s National Health Service, exempts himself and his wife, of course.
If you exceed the maximum dollar value that’s been pre-calculated, you really should just off yourself.
It’s best for the rest of society, you know. And why should you go through agonizing pain, anyway? I mean, really.
Footnote: Mr. Mo is a much better person than I. He is dealing with having just read this article and blood shooting out of his eyes by working out at the hotel’s gym which is where he is as I type this. I, on the other hand, just poured myself a relatively light drink. However, I’m tempted to go across the street to one of many bars right now and get a martini or three. But we’re on a budget.
Read the rest of this entry
Apropos Nothing
I was hesitant to post this, and maybe that was that little voice inside that says I shouldn’t, but 1) being without Internet connectivity for a week so I couldn’t contribute, and 2) seeing the explosion of posts during that time– y’all are on fire! 
It’s gonna take me awhile to read all of them, and 3) I’m out of ideas unless I post links to Betty White’s SNL appearance, which BTW, it you haven’t seen is worth your Saturday-Night-Live-haven’t-watched-them-anymore-since-they-used-to-be-funny boycott.
I haven’t been inspired by anything lately that y’all haven’t picked up on already, and more.
Plus I wanted to post before Independence Day, so as not to “soil” our revered day.
Bottom line, it’s silly but I hope most of you will laugh, at least starting half-way through. And it’s not for faint ears. Many “F” bombs dropped among other bad language, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.
100 Greatest Movie Insults of All Time (totally Not Safe For Work!)
P.S. I remembered a movie they missed and added a comment. Tame by comparison!
Also, Betty White… I found out that scene was from a 1999 movie “Lake Placid”.
Tribute to Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan died six years ago today.
I saw this tribute to him at the Ronald Reagan Award Gala that I had the pleasure of attending with Mr. Mo in 2005. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
Created by the very talented and accomplished Jason Wright, author of “Christmas Jars” (a wonderfully inspiring and uplifting story–as well as a quick read), among other publications… I wanted to share his beautiful tribute to a great leader and good man.
RIP.
File Under “Lyrics No Worse Than The Originals”
Being a teenager (still technically, at the time) I remember “The Safety Dance” being a big hit. It never made sense to me but was catchy as a tune. And I never did (thankfully, now that I look back) see the original video.
The fact that they did do a video, well… I think it goes better with the new lyrics.
“Obama Has Enraged the ‘Citizen Class’”
I hope Mr. Hill is right. I myself identify with his opinion piece. I just hope there are enough of us come November and beyond, and most importantly that we can find worthy representation.
Excerpts:
This is not to say that we are superior people, because we are U.S. citizens. This is, however, the greatest blessing of being a U.S. citizen. It is why so many of us in the citizen class think of our status as a “naturally born citizen” as being a God-given gift, and we celebrate those who legally earn American citizenship as well.
But along with the distinctiveness of being an American citizen, those of us among the citizen class also regard our nation’s sovereignty as something that must be safeguarded as well. Political philosophies, governmental structures, and economic systems are not morally neutral – some work far better than others. And the structures and institutions and governing philosophies of the United States have produced a far higher level of human flourishing and freedom than any others. For this reason, if for no other, our nation must always be regarded as separate and distinct.
Our nation is good, U.S. citizenship is distinct, and national sovereignty is non-negotiable. In a nutshell, this is the mindset, the worldview, of the citizen class. It has nothing to do with one’s ethnicity, or socioeconomic background, or sexual orientation, or gender. It has everything to do with one’s most deeply held beliefs…
…..Worse yet, our President not only allowed, but enabled Mexican President Felipe Calderon to publicly humiliate our fellow Americans of Arizona, while standing on the sacred grounds of the White House. And President Obama’s party – the ruling party in Congress – couldn’t rise to their feet quickly enough and offer thunderous applause, when Mr. Calderon publicly humiliated Arizona during an address to both the Senate and House last week.
Just WHO is crossing our southern border?
Not just “people who will do the work Americans don’t want to do”.
Is this part of the “change” our current administration promised us?
In the email I received….
We must have traitors and criminals associated with the Department of Homeland Security and at the White House level who wish to cause total chaos in order to turn this country into a police state under communist rule. Otherwise, one must ask the question why our government isn’t protecting our borders?
Check out these short reports.
Part 1:
http://www.wsbtv.com/video/23438021/
Part 2:
http://www.wsbtv.com/video/23438712/
Call me crazy, but I guess I’m just a tad concerned about this.
Critics Give U.N. Climate Researchers an ‘F’
“The IPCC deserves every stroke of its ‘F’ grade,” Miller told FoxNews.com. “Not only is the data used in the report flawed and suspect, but even more egregiously, the IPCC authors — very few of whom indeed are scientists — refused to consult with scientists who are skeptical of the IPCC’s defining hypothesis: that the Earth faces a crisis from rising global temperatures and that human activity played a significant role.”
“The authors’ closed minds are a trait typical of propagandists, not scientists,” he added.
Indeed. I’m hoping that more people will wake up to this hoax and let their congresscritters know of their disapproval of proposed legislation that’s going to serve nothing other than bankrupting the country and making the scammers rich.
Linky to full article.
Contrasts
Searchlight vs. L.A.: Rival Rallies Reveal Stark Right/Left Divide
Us: Smiling, literate, calm and focused, normal.
Them: Either glaring or hiding their faces, ignorant, all over the map. Freak show.
Not to mention there were ZERO arrests of TEA partiers.
Virtual Choir
My sis-in-law sent me this. She must have sensed I needed to take a breath for a moment, and she doesn’t even see my Facebook posts
I think it’s a beautiful blend of God-given talent and technology.
Tom Hanks’ Comments on “The Pacific”
I have long adored Tom Hanks for bucking the trend in Hollywood to be anti-American and leftist in attitudes about American history. His From the Earth to the Moon series was profoundly influential on me, and I revered Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. Which is why his recent comments about American racism towards the Japanese in World War II have had me scratching my head–they seem so different from what he would normally say about such a subject. Given his past performance, though, I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
In any case, here’s a masterful deconstruction of the attitudes behind the Pacific war by historian Victor Davis Hanson.
Is Tom Hanks Unhinged?
Much has been written of the recent Tom Hanks remarks to Douglas Brinkley in a Time Magazine interview about his upcoming HBO series on World War II in the Pacific. Here is the explosive excerpt that is making the rounds today.“Back in World War II, we viewed the Japanese as ‘yellow, slant-eyed dogs’ that believed in different gods. They were out to kill us because our way of living was different. We, in turn, wanted to annihilate them because they were different. Does that sound familiar, by any chance, to what’s going on today?”
Hanks may not have been quoted correctly; and his remarks may have been impromptu and poorly expressed; and we should give due consideration to the tremendous support Hanks has given in the past both to veterans and to commemoration of World War II; and his new HBO series could well be a fine bookend to Band of Brothers. All that said, Hanks’ comments were sadly infantile pop philosophizing offered by, well, an ignoramus.
Hanks thinks he is trying to explain the multifaceted Pacific theater in terms of a war brought on by and fought through racial animosity. That is ludicrous. Consider:
1) In earlier times, we had good relations with Japan (an ally during World War I, that played an important naval role in defeating imperial Germany at sea) and had stayed neutral in its disputes with Russia (Teddy Roosevelt won a 1906 Nobel peace Prize for his intermediary role). The crisis that led to Pearl Harbor was not innately with the Japanese people per se (tens of thousands of whom had emigrated to the United States on word of mouth reports of opportunity for Japanese immigrants), but with Japanese militarism and its creed of Bushido that had hijacked, violently so in many cases, the government and put an entire society on a fascistic footing. We no more wished to annihilate Japanese because of racial hatred than we wished to ally with their Chinese enemies because of racial affinity. In terms of geo-strategy, race was not the real catalyst for war other than its role among Japanese militarists in energizing expansive Japanese militarism.
Kevin Jackson – The Black Sphere
Y’all know how much I love AlfonZO Rachel. He’s been so popular that PJTV signed him up several months ago.
My new favorite conservative blogger who happens to be black is Kevin Jackson.
I totally agree with his take on this latest Rush Limbaugh – NFL smear.
Read the whole thing (not long)
Limbaugh represents all the things that the Left despises. First he is a Conservative and a Republican, so this by definition is a Capitalist. The Left hates Capitalists. You can further confirm that Limbaugh is a Capitalist, because he wants to BUY the Rams, and not have the government GIVE him the Rams, in the form of a bailout, reparations, or otherwise. He prefers to buy low and sell high, which implies improving the team.
A man who has built an empire, and arguably the most successful radio talk show network ever shows interest in your team, and the black players want to paint him as a racist—as if they could actually spot one. Limbaugh is a winner, pure and simple, and an Old School winner at that. Limbaugh has more in common with those black athletes than any owner for which they have played or the white racist Democrats who are always so ready to speak on behalf of blacks.
The black players in the league should take a page from The Dixie Chicks…shut up and play!
Netanyahu Speech to the United Nations
I’ve always admired Benjamin Netanyahu over the years.
I heard his speech to the U.N. live today, and my jaw dropped. This is what a past American president and a past British Prime Minister (or two, at least) sounded like.
The Fraudulent Federal Reserve System
I found this to be a disturbing read:
The Record of the Federal Reserve
Money quote:
In other words, the value of the dollar remained extremely stable for 150 years, the Fed was created in order to “stabilize the value of the dollar,” and the result has been a 95% devaluation of the dollar in less than 100 years following its creation.
“It Ain’t America No More”
This has my blood BOILING!
Easy for me to say, but he should have let himself be arrested, then sued the $#^! out of the police force for wrongful prosecution.
Penn and Teller — Patriotism
Surprised this is over two years old and I haven’t seen it till now.
Maybe it’s been posted on ConClub before, dunno. Haven’t been following y’all for that long
Seems as appropriate today as ever.
Thomas Sowell: Housing Boom and Bust
This week, Glenn Beck had a three-part interview with expert economist Dr. Thomas Sowell.
Anyone with an extensive mortgage industry background (which includes yours truly), knows this is the truth.
As is this “primer” from Mark Levin re economic disaster, and how we got here.
When Sowell speaks (or writes), people should pay attention. He is brilliant and has a “layman’s terms” style.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Mo’s Quote of the Day
From Mark Levin’s new book, “Liberty and Tyranny”
The Statist veils his pursuits in moral indignation, intoning in high dudgeon the injustices and inequities of liberty and life itself, for which only he can provide justice and bring a righteous resolution. And when the resolution proves elusive, as it undoubtedly does– whether the Marxist promise of ‘the workers’ paradise’ or the Great Society’s ‘war on poverty’ — the Statist demands ever more authority to wring out the imperfections of mankind’s existence. Unconstrained by constitutional prohibitions, what is left to limit the Statist’s ambitions but his own moral compass,which has already led him astray? He is never circumspect about his own shortcomings. Failure is not the product of his beliefs but merely want of power and resources. Thus are born endless rationalizations for seizing ever more governmental authority.
In the midst stands the individual, who was a predominate focus of the Founders. When living freely and pursuing his own legitimate interests, the individual displays qualities that are antithetical to the Statist’s — initiative, self-reliance, and independence. As the Statist is building a culture of conformity and dependency, where the ideal citizen takes on dronelike qualities in service to the state, the individual must be drained of uniqueness and self-worth, and deterred from independent thought or behavior. This is achieved through varying methods of economic punishment and political suppression.
The Statist also knows that despite his successful usurpations, enough citizens are still skeptical and even distrustful of politicians and gov’t that he cannot force his will all at once. Thus he marches in incremental steps, adjusting his pace as circumstances dictate. Today his pace is more rapid, for resistance has slowed. And at no time does the Statist do an about-face. But not so with some who claim the mantle of conservatism but are, in truth, neo-Statists [*cough* RiNOs *cough* -Mo], who would have the Conservative abandon the high ground of the founding principles for the quicksand of a soft tyranny.
Turning Tables…
…U.S. Troops Ambush Taliban With Swift and Lethal Results
From The New York Times:
By C. J. CHIVERS
KORANGAL OUTPOST, Afghanistan — Only the lead insurgents were disciplined as they walked along the ridge. They moved carefully, with weapons ready and at least five yards between each man, the soldiers who surprised them said.
Behind them, a knot of Taliban fighters walked in a denser group, some with rifles slung on their shoulders — “pretty much exactly the way we tell soldiers not to do it,” said Specialist Robert Soto, the radio operator for the American patrol.
If these insurgents came close enough, the soldiers knew, the patrol could kill them in a batch.
Fight by fight, the infantryman’s war in Afghanistan is often waged on the Taliban’s terms. Insurgents ambush convoys and patrols from high ridges or long ranges and slip away as the Americans, weighed down by equipment, return fire and call for air and artillery support. Last week a patrol from the First Infantry Division reversed the routine.
An American platoon surprised an armed Taliban column on a forested ridgeline at night, and killed at least 13 insurgents, and perhaps many more, with rifles, machine guns, Claymore mines, hand grenades and a knife.
The one-sided fight, fought on the slopes of the same mountain where a Navy Seal patrol was surrounded in 2005 and a helicopter with reinforcements was shot down, does not change the war. It was one of hundreds of firefights that have occurred in the Korangal Valley, an isolated region where local insurgents and the Americans have been locked in a bitter stalemate for more than three years.
But as accounts of the fight have spread, the ambush, on Good Friday, has become an emotional rallying point for soldiers in Kunar Province, who have seen it as a both a validation of their equipment and training and a welcome bit of score-settling in an area that in recent years has claimed more American lives than any other.
The patrol, 30 soldiers from the First Battalion, 26th Infantry, had left this outpost before noon on April 10, and spent much of the day climbing a ridge on the opposite side of the Korangal River, according to interviews with more than half the participants.
Once the soldiers reached the ridge’s crest, almost 6,000 feet above sea level on the side of a peak called Sautalu Sar, they found fresh footprints on the trails, and parapets of rock from where Taliban fighters often fire rifles and rocket-propelled grenades down onto this outpost.
The platoon leader, Second Lt. Justin Smith, selected a spot where trails intersected, and the platoon dug shallow fighting holes before dark. Claymore antipersonnel mines were set among the trees nearby.
At sunset, Lieutenant Smith called for a period of absolute silence, which lasted into darkness. Then he ordered three scouts to sit in a listening post about 100 yards away, 10 feet off the trail.
The scouts set in. Less than a half-minute later, a column of Taliban fighters appeared, walking briskly their way.
Sgt. Zachary R. Reese, a sniper, whispered into his radio. “We have eight enemy personnel coming down on our position really fast,” he said. He could say no more; the Taliban fighters were a few feet away.
“The Dirty Dozen: 12 New Policies That Undermine Civil Society”
The Dirty Dozen: 12 New Policies That Undermine Civil Society
by Jennifer A. Marshall and Katherine BradleyWithin the first quarter of 2009, the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress have advanced a number of policies that will undermine family and religious freedom in America. Together they show a serious disregard for parental rights, human dignity, freedom of conscience, and civil society in American life.
In these difficult economic times, policymakers should recognize and empower the vast resources of family, religious institutions, and civil society. Instead, Congress and the Administration have systematically promoted policies that debilitate the protective and problem-solving capacity of these fundamental institutions.
Undermining Family, Faith, and Freedom
Click the link above for the 12 policies and Heritage’s commentaries on each.
And here’s Political Derby’s “concise” version, with which I don’t disagree.
“A Message To The Rich”
Speaking of promoting bloggers/essayists, here is the latest entry by Bill Whittle. It’s not as long as some of his previous essays (which are always worth grabbing a cup of coffee or favorite beverage, and reading over a lunch hour) but is brilliant, as usual.
I’m quoting probably around half of it (almost exclusively the latter half) but read the whole thing, for full exposition.
The Washington Post ran a column a few days ago, in which a Mr. Joel Berg applauds the Obama Administration for reducing the amount of charitable deduction that The Rich are allowed to take when they write a check to charity…
We The People
I’ve watched several of this fellow’s videos over the past months, and this one would have made sense over the past decades, as well, in that the same principles apply.
Creepy
Living in the DC Metro area, this has been in the local news, and the subject of talk radio over the past few days.
“We thought this would be something fun for the students to do, especially since we’re getting close to the end of the semester,” Lisa Cunningham, the program coordinator for the Hoff Theater, told the paper. “We’re a college movie theater and we thought it would bring out the students.”
First reports were initially thought to be an April Fool’s joke. And then a couple days later it looked like university officials had canceled the screening under the threat of withholding of state funding.
Apparently, the fight is not over yet.
Neither side is prepared to lay down its sword.
University of Maryland students — protesting what they see as an intrusion by Big Brother — are planning to defy authority and screen a hard-core porn movie in the name of free speech and academic freedom.
“What we’re upset about is somebody is trying to control what goes on on campus. This is symbolic,” said Liz Ciavolino, a sophomore who is active in the group Feminism Without Borders.
In response, one conservative state legislator revived his threat: If the porn flick is shown on campus, the university might just kiss some state dollars goodbye…
The rest of WaPo article is here.
Arguments aside, it’s just creepy to show a hardcore porn movie at a venue such as a college student union building. I mean, who’s gonna really want to be seen watching it? My first thought without seeing any of the students who are pushing for it was, “Gawd, they must be nerds, and besides, why wouldn’t they just want to access whatever they can over the Internet?”
Just a few minutes ago on our 6:00 news they interviewed one of the spokespeople for the students. I didn’t catch his name, but not surprisingly he looked like the Anthony Michael Hall types in “Sixteen Candles” with the stereotypical thick-rimmed black plastic eyeglass frames.
You better make sure the theater is kept REAL dark and that there’re plenty of seats between you, who I’m guessing aren’t necessarily all really close friends, so to speak.
I mean, dudes (and dudettes).
Just… eww.
Don’t know about some of you, but *I* feel like a Browncoat these days.
Firefly — If Youre Going Through Hell –
My fave Joss Whedon TV series followed by the excellent movie, married with a relatively recent song. It was on YouTube for quite awhile early last year, but for now this is just about the only place you can find it.
Fart breaks up council meeting
Time for some levity. And who better to post this one than the female of the group.
You know how kids crack up when they hear a fart. Well, so do adults — at least they did at the Medina City Council meeting in Ohio earlier this week.
In fact, they just couldn’t keep it together, so they had to call a recess.Watch the video and see for yourself.
Yeah, so it’s likely from a cellphone/iPhone/whoopie cushion.
Whatever.
What Members of Congress Say When They Think You’re Not Around
Holy crap.
Here I was, beating myself up for dumping my stocks back in early October when we hit an “all time low” and losing “only” $80K [in real dollars] from my retirement fund. I moved it all to bonds (which I’m now placing “hope” upon the Chinese ;-/ ).
My plan in late 2008/early 2009 was to gradually invest back into stocks. I’m just not gonna do it, not until I see things turning around. I’ve always been an “aggressive” investor. This current upheaval totally turns me upside down.
I don’t mean this like it may sound, but in some ways I’m glad we decided not to have kids. I’m also glad that I can reassure my mom that she will never have to worry. She’s invested wisely, and while she’s lost $$ too, we will be there for her. She can stay with us indefinitely if she needs to.
I can’t believe we’re actually facing this phase in our country. I mean, yeah, it’s been talked about for awhile, but now it’s at the “tangible” stage.
Received this email from one of my friends tonight:
This Is What the Members of Congress Say When You’re Not Around
Maureen — I was sent the below by a friend of mine who is a lobbyist.
I was coming out of the Congressional Credit Union in Longworth (that’s one of the House office buildings) and 2 Members of Congress, who shall remain nameless were passing, one going in, one coming out. I am dying to say who they were because it REALLY adds weight to the whole story, but they shall remain nameless … I will say they were both Democrats and ones that even the least political among my friends would recognize.
Their salutation to each other was, “I am taking my money out before it’s all gone.” I’m sorry but I COULDN’T help myself … I looked at them both and said, “HEY isn’t it your job to make sure the money doesn’t disappear? The American public would be real assured to hear YOUR comments.” Talk about silence. And yes 1 of them was a SENIOR Member…
And Obama says to NOT put your money in a mattress, HA!
Goll damn.
Zo’s been CPACing
Dang, wish I could have gotten to DC for this event to shake his hand. It was fun being at CPAC a few years ago. I just generally dislike going into D.C. (too many people!) and usually avoid it if I can.
Rock on, Zo!
Glenn Beck Interviews Chair of the Communist Party, USA
This Wednesday, Glenn interviewed Sam Webb, Chairman of the Communist Party USA.
Love the water and Peeps analogies.
Chahlay Bet May — hiphop remix
There are so many parodies of it since the original post, but most of them are pretty lame.
Anyhoo…here’s a hiphop remix.
Oh, but if you are one of the few who haven’t seen the original, you must watch it first.
Spendulus Bill
Apparently, companies like Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig are losing money, as well. Where’s their bailout? Afterall, they’re doing the gummint’s bidding by trying to get the country slimmed down and healthy.
I guess they didn’t lobby enough.
From the latest “Imprimus” newsletter:
…Third, the New Deal divided and politicized the country in tragic ways. Those who lobbied most effectively won subsidies and bailouts even if their cause was weak. Others, who had greater needs, received nothing…
This “stimulus” bill is such a load of horse manure. Liberals don’t really give a damn about us. It’s about power, and growing government.
All you people who think that’s what conservatism is about need a serious paradigm shift.
I’m not going to quote the whole article “Do We Need a New New Deal?” by Burton W. Folsom, Jr., because anyone who gives a crap should read the whole thing which ends with,
If history is a guide, we have every reason to believe that if President Obama institutes a New New Deal, then universal health care, federal bailouts, and jobs stimulus programs will be costly, will be politicized, and will fail.
“Taking Chance” review
I watched the HBO film “Taking Chance” this past Saturday, and I completely agree with this review.
When they ran the opening credits, I was encouraged by the fact that LtC Strobl wrote the screenplay.
So, while I also looked for a left bent here and there, it never materialized, and I was very pleased to see that. I hope Strobl is not (nor will he become) another “Murtha”.
It was a very uplifting film. It is a bit of a slow pace (not too much so, because it’s not padded with filler) but only 75 minutes.
It is “scheduled” to be 90 mins. long but I’m glad it was actually shorter than that, because as it was wrapping up, I kept thinking, were they going to have an “epilogue” or something.
It ended right when you would expect it to.
Kevin Bacon’s performance was wonderful, and I highly recommend the film.
Edit: Tom Shales of WaPo actually gave a non-snarky review. Bravo!
Letters from war
This has been out since at least mid 2007? How did I miss it?
H/T: Kerri (again :^)
Happy Presidents’ Day
I remember seeing this at the Ronald Reagan Award Gala in 2005. I was fortunate enough to be invited by (who quickly thereafter became) a very dear friend.
Not a dry eye in the house.
(Didn’t realize Jason Wright produced it until now. BTW, “Christmas Jars” is an excellent short story.)
Sheeple
No other word for them. Just effing sheeple.
Listen to how they talk. Brain-dead followers, lemmings who will follow him right off the porkulus cliff. And all the way down to the sharp rocks at the bottom they’ll be grinning and patting themselves on the back for doing what their “leader” expects of them.
Just.. gag.
SchMo, Obamiconized
Just be glad I’m only “six degrees” teh Blonde. Seven would make me achieve that total blondishness that would not be good.
You can interpret that however you like.
Happy Birthday, Ronald Wilson Reagan!
Here is a collection of quotes by the Gipper.
May he forever rest in peace.
Little Belgian Boy Salutes Canadian Troops
Via Neanderpundit, I found this gem.
Made me shed a tear.
The “bankrupt” Bailout
Last week, Glenn Beck illustrated very well the “Inconvenient Debt” of the United States.
Frightening.
File Under “and Now for Something Completely Different”
My absolutely favorite “caption” blog in the Universe.
You probably have seen the version of the one with the economic downfall, etc., but this is the best parody of “The Bunker” with Anthony Hopkins as Hitler that I’ve seen. True, you need to be a bit “blog” savvy (e.g. recognize “Instapundit”) to fully appreciate the humor, and I realize that many of you have never heard of “Viking the Kitten”, but if you want to add some chuckles to your life, you should check him out.
And yeah…besides being very right-leaning, some of you moderates and lefties might like it, too.
Except if you like Andrew Sullivan.
Heh.
I never said I wasn’t a “sick twisted freak”. I listen to Glenn Beck, ya know 
Glenn Beck: America’s Newest Voice of Reason
I’ve listened to Beck’s radio show for years when I could.
I caught his TV show on Headline News a few times (but otherwise don’t tune in to CNN, so I often missed it), and was ecstatic when I learned the FOX News Channel picked him up.
He started a week ago Monday, and he’s been a breath of fresh air.
Finally! Someone who asks the tough questions and holds feet to the fire. Witness Part 1 of his interview of Gov. Blagojevich last night. (Part 2 was aired tonight. I’m sure the link will be available soon online.)
Beck has a genuine, honest, raw, funny, sarcastic, and disarming style that I’ve always admired. And it’s way too rare among TV personalities, especially conservatives.
If you agree, do likewise and contact FOX News to praise them for adding Beck to their lineup.
Keep up the great work, Glenn!
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