Archive for February, 2006

Ollie has a good take on the current situation with White House communications. Aside from the lack of honesty or decorum by the White House press, Scott McClellan is ineffective. I think Scott always has an apologetic and wavering demeanor. Personally, for me, it’s painful to watch McClellan being eaten alive by the vulchers called the White House Press Corp. Please give us back Ari Fleischer.

Some thoughts from Ollie:

“Forget the facts. The Bush administration is so bad at ’spin control’ the White House has banned Frisbees.” That’s the assessment of a seasoned Washington reporter earlier this week when “Port-Gate” blew up in the President’s face. According to this sage, the “bi-partisan explosion” over the sale of operations at six U.S. ports to a company owned by the United Arab Emirates has left “George Bush more badly wounded than Dick Cheney’s hunting partner.” Great laugh lines. Everyone in the elevator got a big chuckle.

Unfortunately it’s all true — it just isn’t funny. In Washington today, the facts really don’t matter. And no one — friend or foe — has any doubt that the Bush administration has an appalling record when it comes to getting its message out and keeping Congress “in the loop.”

Misunderestimated

Why is it that unionized government workers can’t be set up on a merit pay system? It’s the same thing you hear from teacher unions. The rational used is that internal politics would play into who would benefit from the merit system. Today instead of merit pay the favored worker (this doesn’t necessarily represent the deserved worker) would get moved into a higher grade level to receive the increased pay. So, wouldn’t a merit system improve the likihood that someone who had really earned the merit pay would receive it?

Whenever I try to talk about this with one of my sisters (who’s in the teacher’s union) about a merit pay the response is usually that it won’t work because there’s too much cronyism. Like there isn’t cronyism or favortism in corporate America? Eventually the cream will rise and earn their merit pay, you don’t need a union pay grade system. All the union system does is protect those workers who don’t perform.

And I’d also like to understand just how a Federal Judge has the power to deny a change approved by the Congress (tongue n cheek here).

A federal judge Monday blocked the Defense Department from putting in place a merit pay system, saying it would erode bargaining rights for 650,000 employees.

U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said the proposed workplace rules also would make it unfairly hard for employees to appeal unfavorable personnel decisions. The suit was filed in November by the American Federation of Government Employees and nine other federal employee unions.

Another federal judge last year barred a similar plan from taking effect at the Homeland Security Department.

Considering the genesis of unions comes out of a communist ideology this is contrary to the tenets of the democratic republic created by our Bill of Rights and Consitution. Especially when it comes to government workers. Just think of that number 650,000 government workers. That’s just with the Federal government. In Minnesota the largest employer is the government of which all the workers are unionized!

FOXNews.com – Politics News – Judge Blocks Merit Pay at Pentagon

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, take to the Euphrates River to combat terrorism on the water. Staff Sgt. Jason Simmons, scout, and Spc. Daniel Meyer, scout, both of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 67th AR, scan the banks of the Euphrates looking for terrorist activity. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Michael Molinaro, 2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.)

Islands are a clever place for terrorists to hide improvised explosive devices and other weapons used against Coalition and Iraqi security forces, said Jones. Having a presence on the rivers to prevent terrorists from getting to those islands only makes sense. Soldiers probe the islands and search for weapons and other material terrorists use to do harm.

“It’s a nice change-of-pace to be on the river after patrolling the roads all of the time,” said Spc. Michael Komaromy, also a Co. E combat engineer. “There are bad guys on the water, so we need to get them too.”

Soldiers from Co. E never trained for water operations before deploying late last year, Jones said. Since arriving in Iraq, and the introduction of the mission, it has been on-the-job training for these medics, scouts and other Soldiers tasked with keeping the water routes free from terrorists.

“We had two or three days of getting familiar with the boats: knowing where everything is and going over man-overboard drills,” said Komaromy, “but the reactions to contact are just about the same as in a vehicle.”

The river operations have been effective, Jones said. IED emplacement was more prevalent in the area prior to 1st Bn., 67th AR’s operations. Now, with checkpoints set up and a presence on the water, terrorists are finding fewer places to hide.

Military News – Blackanthem.com

Isn’t it bad enough that pro-illegal immigrant groups are supported by Federal and State tax dollars, but then for this group to threaten members of the Minutemen children is absolutely absurd.

This has been allowed to happen because the Fed’s have continually denigrated the Minutement group. With President Bush calling the Minutemen “vigilantes” validates the actions of this absurdly taxpayer funded pro-illegal immigration group.

The delusion of this group is always to frame the subject as “Immigration” and not “Illegal Immigration”.

“Casa de Maryland, a taxpayer funded group that assists illegal immigrants, has made a public threat to the children of the grassroots Minuteman Civil Defense Corps that have made headlines since last fall monitoring day labor centers in the Washington DC area. An article published yesterday by the Sean Sands of Maryland Community Newspapers Online quoted Casa de Maryland?s Executive Director Gustavo Torres saying ‘We are going to picket their houses, and the schools of their kids and go to their work. If they are going to do this to us, we are going to respond in the same way, to let people know their neighbors are extremists, that they are anti-immigrant. They are going to hear from us,’? Human Events Online reports. “In response to the threats, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps President Chris Simcox said, ‘Threatening children like this is outrageous. Casa de Maryland?s funding should be pulled and its contracts cancelled. It is beyond belief that taxpayer dollars are funding this thuggish behavior.’”

DAN STEIN // STEIN REPORT 2006® : Taxpayer Funded Group Threatens to Picket Minutemen Kids’ Schools

This has been a production of the Guard the Borders Blogburst. It was started by Euphoric Reality, and serves to keep immigration issues in the forefront of our minds as we’re going about our daily lives and continuing to fight the war on terror. If you are concerned with the trend of illegal immigration facing our country, join our blogburst! Just send an email with your blog name and url to euphoricrealitynet at gmail dot com.

Blogs already on board:

Powerline has a posting on the uselessness of the United Nations. The UN is not only useless it’s harmful in the validation of dictators and the worst of the worst human-rights violators.

Ultimately, the United Nations must be replaced or abolished, with an arrangement made for its service organizations that do some good. At the least, the United States should take its leave from it. Let us recall the immortal words of former UN Ambassador Jeanne Kirkpatrick’s deputy Charles Lichenstein. Shortly after the Soviet Union shot down KAL 007 murdering its passengers, legislatures in New York and New Jersey denied Soviet aircraft landing rights. Some at the UN raised the question of whether that body should remove from the United States. And Lichenstein, fed up and in no mood for “diplomacy,” said, “We will put no impediment in your way. The members of the US mission to the United Nations will be down at the dockside waving you a fond farewell as you sail off into the sunset.”

The United Nations is an absurd house of horrors serving the interests of the enemies of peace and freedom. Witness its current Human Rights Commission and its proposed Human Rights Council.

Go to the State Department - here – to send a message to Secretary Rice.

Power Line: Renaming rights

It will only take you a minute to do this, it’s your civic duty to speak out.

Along with the satirical humor Dateline D. C. had me saying yup, that’s it. Even so, the thing to remember with the Clintons is to never underestimate the need for power and authority. The anarchists motto is whatever it takes to succeed. And just in case you all need a reminder, here’s my favorite picture of Hillary:

The picture shows that this soldier has been thru Survival School and learned his lessons well. He’s giving the sign of “coercion” with his left hand. These hand signs are taught in survival school to be used by POW’s as a method of posing messages back to our intelligence services who may view the photo or video.

At the obsequies for Mrs. King, Sen. Clinton was in the company of President Bush, three of his predecessors and scores of notables. There was no follow-up to “Send me” from Mrs. Clinton. But we can be sure that the response has been planned by our new “Bollyqueen.”

New York’s Bollyqueen can, but won’t, say, “If you send me, I have a wonderful, experienced campaign organization. In 2005, I raised $33 million in donations and have $17 million in the bank; I am central to issues such as abortion and gun control. I travel the world — Morocco, Iraq and India — to meet leaders and my jet-set friends. I have refused donations from Wal-Mart; and I trust my husband — at least while I can see him.”

So, “Send me!”

To which Hillary might add that she knows many of the secrets of the White House — exactly how to micromanage the unexpected scandals and ignore the voters, the “little people,” in favor of the headline-making celebrities.

There’s lots of great little snarkical bits with this column.

Can Hillary change her stripes? – PittsburghLIVE.com

I just heard about this group today.

Mission Statement:
The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.

We don’t care what you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a “hawk” or a “dove”. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what your income is. You don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.

2. Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.

This group for one thing blocks the view of the Phelps gang of idiots at military funerals. They have State Captains and Rider Captains but need more volunteers.

Thanks to Mudville Gazette Open Posting

Bob Carlisle has a new patriotic song he’s written. You can see the video and listen to the song “Keep The Light On” here.

Here’s a solicitation I got via email:

Please read this! It is an opportunity that you can’t afford to pass up!

Have you ever thought that you would be given the chance to become part-owner of a quarter horse? Well, this is your chance! Think of it…. you with your name on the title of ownership to a thoroughbred horse!

Do you know anyone who even owns a horse, much less one that comes from a championship line? I’m sure the answer is no, because there are very few such people.

But, you could be one of them!

Can you imagine the envy of your friends? Can you imagine being the subject of conversation at your local Country Club?

If you are the kind of person I think you are, please examine the picture of this fine animal below, and, after assuring yourself of the quality of this prize horse, rush me your e-mail response so we can make this dream come true for you!

P.S. If you are not interested in part ownership, would you consider being our jockey?

The last one had trouble staying in the saddle, so we had to let him go….

Medienkritik does a comparison of Spiegel’s interview with Karen Hughes between the English version and the German version. The German version uses the word Fuher. The amount of ellipsing in this interview surpasses Maureen Dowd. Plus, whole sentences are dropped to further distort Hughes response.

This tone of superiority by Spiegel is in alignment though with the American media elite. Those of the Democrat stripe should be happy with Spiegel, it’s like a campaign donation. I’m sure it wouldn’t bother the Democrats how Spiegel’s bias and distortion hurts America and turns Germans against America. Course, I know that the Anti-American sentiment has been diligently fostered with anti-war rhetoric. What the German publication doesn’t realize is that along with fostering this hate of America within Germany this sentiment is carried to middle America where the reaction is screw Europe. They aren’t our friends, why does the US even have any troops in Germany or anywhere in Europe. Germans/Europeans seem to forget that 53% of Americans voted for Republican George Bush. Europe is so myopic they think John Kerry and Cindy Sheehan represent America and this is far from the truth.

Yes the US still has a major military hospital in Germany with Landstuhl but if the US can close Walter Reed then Landstuhl could easily be gone. With the shifting of alliances and dangers in the world Germany might want to watch the abusive rhetoric towards the United States.

Just a side note on this, could Karen Hughes just stop with anything foreign? The appeasing tone of Hughes’ responses in the interview verge on sickening. Even the French diplomats have a sharper and more direct tongue than Hughes. The foreign media can eat Hughes for a midday snack. Her conciliatory tone is just that and evokes weakness.

Davids Medienkritik: SPIEGEL’s Karen Hughes Translation Nightmare: Bush “A Wonderful Führer”