Scrappy Conservatives

Blackwell on Presumption of Stupidity

2008-09-11T12:52:00.001-04:00

[cross-posted at EQE]

Ohio's very own Mr. Sensible, Ken Blackwell, runs down the list of reasons why Obama thinks the voters are stupid pointing to his truth-challenged and contradictory remarks on such issues as abortion, gun control, Reverend Wright, Iraq, etc. My favorite part is in regards to the Bill Ayers connection which we've known about for some time:

Bill Ayers is another stunner. Mr. Ayers bombed a police station and the Pentagon, and recently said he wished he had done more. He is an unrepentant terrorist, but is popular among the ultra-left in Chicago. When Mr. Obama was asked about Mr. Ayers, he implied that he barely knew him.

But once again facts have surfaced. We now know that Mr. Ayers hosted a fundraiser for Mr. Obama. They served for years together on a board with only a few people, and they worked closely on financial matters during those years. Does that sound like someone he barely knows?

So I think that Obama is counting on the voters being stupid. Of course, maybe the voters will be stupid, they've been stupid before many, many times. Hopefully articles like this can serve as a kind of "crash course" to make folks give more serious consideration.

Requiescat In Pace George Carlin

2008-06-24T14:29:00.005-04:00

Last Sunday, George Carlin passed away at 71 years of age. A brilliant comic and commentator who did not need to go blue to be funny. Here are some of his bits from the Ed Sullivan show.

"The Indian Sergeant ("You wit' the beads... get outta line")
Stupid disc jockeys ("Wonderful WINO...") — "The Beatles' latest record, when played backwards at slow speed, says 'Dummy! You're playing it backwards at slow speed!'"
Al Sleet, the "hippie-dippie weatherman" — "Tonight's forecast: Dark. Continued dark throughout most of the evening, with some widely-scattered light towards morning."
Jon Carson — the "world never known, and never to be known"

Yes, his politics made Al Franken look like Dennis Miller but he was a talent. Just listen to this bit from his Album "Jammin in New York." It is called "The Planet is Fine."

http://www.jibjab.com/view/122257#login_popup

The perfect gift for your favorite "Crunchy Con" or Limousine Liberal.

Lawyer for Haditha Marine plans to sue Murtha

2008-06-18T21:54:00.004-04:00

In light of the fact that 7 of the 8 Marines accused of murdering 24 Iraqis in Haditha, Iraq have now been cleared of all charges; One of their lawyers plans to sue Congressman John "Abscam" Murtha.

http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=67434

Murtha as many of you know "fueled the case by declaring the men cold-blooded killer the lead attorney for Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani said he and his client will look into suing Murtha and the Time magazine reporter Tim McGuirk, who first published the accusations by Iraqi insurgents."

If anyone who needs to be sued it is Mr. Abscam. What do you think?

Haditha Marines Cleared: No Apologies from Murtha or MSM

2008-06-08T22:45:00.003-04:00

This week the 6th marine charged with committing mass murder in Haditha, Iraq was cleared today.Iraq War:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ibd/20080605/bs_ibd_ibd/20080605issues01

"1st Lt. Andrew Grayson stood up in a military court Wednesday to hear the words he's wanted to hear since 2006: not guilty. Sweet vindication for a man who was all but convicted by the media for a non-crime. Grayson was one of several U.S. soldiers who, according to Time Magazine, went on a shooting rampage in the Iraqi town of Haditha on Nov. 19, 2005, killing 24 civilians in retribution for the roadside bombing death of Marine Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas.
Six Marines so far have had charges dropped in the case. One, squad leader Frank Wuterich, had a murder charge changed to the lesser one of manslaughter, but has yet to be tried."

Given these events you would think people in the MSM would be apologizing for that story; but you would be wrong! The same can be said for the former Marine turned Congressman John Murtha. In fact, the odds of him apologizing are about the same as him apologizing for what he did in ABSCAM. That being said, please visit the following site to help "Redeploy" John Murtha.

http://www.bootmurtha.com/

Fitting end for ABSCAM's sole "Unindicted Co-Conspirator." What do you think?

Maher Slanders Pope Benedict

2008-04-14T16:40:00.003-04:00

On Friday's show of "Real Time with Bill Maher"; Maher proves once again that former Catholics are the worst Anti-Catholics.

http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1418

"Maher’s obsession with the Catholic Church continues, only this time there is not enough material for him to use as a club, so he literally makes things up. His lies include the following statement: ‘When the—when the current pope was in his previous Vatican job as John Paul’s Dick Cheney—he wrote a letter instructing every Catholic bishop to keep the sex abuse of minors secret until the statute of limitations ran out.’
“A similar lie was floated by an angry ex-Catholic bigot, Rosie O’Donnell. The fact is that before he was named pope, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger had absolutely nothing to do with policing allegations of sexual abuse until 2002, after the scandal erupted that January. And he certainly never counseled bishops to keep sexual abuse secret—this is a bald face lie. Indeed, a week before Pope John Paul II died, he addressed the scandal by saying, ‘How much filth there is in the church, even among those who, in the priesthood, should belong entirely’ to God.
“Maher also lied when he said the pope ‘used to be a Nazi.’ Like all young men in Germany at the time, he was conscripted into a German Youth organization (from which he fled as soon as he could). Every responsible Jewish leader has acknowledged this reality and has never sought to brand the pope a Nazi. That job falls to Maher."

What would happen if Maher did this to another religion or people of another race? HBO would have canned him immediately. Yet his vile crap is allowed to flow unchecked. It would be different if they allowed other people to oppose him; or allowed shows that showed religious people more positively. We are not deserving of that according to the schmucks who run HBO. I think we should email the man responsible for enabling Maher's tripe. That man is the HBO CEO Bill Nelson. His address is: bill.nelson@hbo.com

Priorities

2008-04-03T18:05:00.006-04:00

Is it me, or do most of you have questions about the priorities of one whose blog is entitled "Catholic and Enjoying It" ? For instance he posts his umpteenth post about Conservatives who condone flogging and torturing all these misunderstood Muslims. I especially like the post where he advertises selling a T-shirt entitled "I'd Rather be Water boarding."

http://www.markshea.blogspot.com/2008_04_01_archive.html#7654071739898583223

Also, if you would search his blog you will find many posts about those "Evil Conservatives" abusing noble Muslims who they accuse of being "Terrorists." This is in stark contrast to many examples of Anti-Catholicism. For instance. when a group called "Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War" disrupted the Easter services at Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral; do you know how many posts Mark had about it? None!! It should be noted these people sprayed fake blood on themselves and other parishioners. They also shouted aloud when Cardinal George was trying to give his homily.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/857299,holyname032308.article

There where also instances of Vandalism that happened in Houston's Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

http://2008remodel.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/the-statues-of-houston/

No words of Condemnation from Mr. "Catholic and Enjoying It." Just endless vile about "Hannitized Pseudo-Christianity Extends the Middle Finger to the Magisterium." What do you think?

Saddam paid for US Lawmakers Trips to Iraq

2008-03-26T20:50:00.003-04:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080326/ap_on_re_us/iraq_junket

"An indictment unsealed in Detroit accuses Muthanna Al-Hanooti, a member of a Michigan nonprofit group, of arranging for three members of Congress to travel to Iraq in October 2002 at the behest of Saddam's regime. Prosecutors say Iraqi intelligence officials paid for the trip through an intermediary.
At the time, the Bush administration was trying to persuade Congress to authorize military action against Iraq.
The lawmakers are not named in the indictment but the dates correspond to a trip by Democratic Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington, David Bonior of Michigan and Mike Thompson of California. None was charged and Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said investigators "have no information whatsoever" any of them knew the trip was underwritten by Saddam."

When I read this I am reminded of Lenin's famous quote "There are Idiots and then there are Useful Idiots; We will make use of the latter to destroy the former."

Requiescat In Pace Richard Widmark

2008-03-26T20:01:00.004-04:00

Today, Hollywood lost one of its legendary actors. Richard Widmark was 93. I loved him in Judgment at Nuremberg, Kiss of Death(Not the David Caruso remake) . The BBC has a nice obituary to him. What do you think?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7315451.stm

Military Recruiting Stations Attacked

2008-03-19T18:04:00.010-04:00

On the 5th anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, a Recruiting station was attacked in Milwaukee, Wisconsin causing extensive damage to it.

http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/16814511.html

That of course follows the treatment Marines receive in the People's Republic of Berkeley and the bombing of the Recruiting station in Times Square.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0307/p02s02-usmi.html

Yet where is the outrage from the media or the Conservatives who support the troops? Nowhere! We see phony conservatives like Rod Dreher (Press Secretary of Republicans for Obama) says "I believe we Americans have seen, and many of us (including you, Sen. Clinton) helped to bring about, the worst US foreign policy disaster in our history." That of course does not compare to his other comments.

"Having a strong military is no guarantee that you'll be a strong nation. America is much weaker than we think."

Yes it is true having a strong military will not guarantee you have a strong nation. However, how strong will it be if you do not support people who go into the military or see if you could send your sons into the military?

"Liberal democracy is not universally the best way to govern societies, especially Islamic ones."
I guess those Islamic countries need Caliphates or Juntas right, Rod?

http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2008/03/iraq-war-five-years-on.html

That does not beat what Marky-Mark Shea says when he said the Bush Administration is "Administration of War Criminals." As well as doing the 15,000th story about Abu Gharib.

http://markshea.blogspot.com/search/label/Salvation%20Through%20Leviathan%20By%20Any%20Means%20Necessary

What do you think?

Elliot Spitzer Involved in Prostitution Ring

2008-03-10T14:31:00.001-04:00

New York's Governor Elliot Spitzer is scheduled to hold a Press Conference and admit to his involvement with a high priced Prostitution Ring. This is from an article about it in the New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/nyregion/10cnd-spitzer.html?em&ex=1205294400&en=d0917c3b73427b6a&ei=5087%0A

"Mr. Spitzer, who was huddled with his top aides inside his Fifth Avenue apartment early this afternoon, had hours earlier abruptly canceled his scheduled public events for the day. He scheduled an announcement for 2:15 after inquiries from the Times. Mr. Spitzer, a first term Democrat who pledged to bring ethics reform an end the often seamy ways of Albany, is married with three children. Just last week, federal prosecutors arrested four people in connection with an expensive prostitution operation. Administration officials would not say that this was the ring with which the governor had become involved. But a person with knowledge of the governor’s role said that the person believes the governor is one of the men identified as clients in court papers."

Is it me or do the rest of you think we should stick a fork in him because he is done? What do you think?

Barack Obama and William Ayers

2008-02-27T17:25:00.010-05:00

Rather than devote hours and hours to discussing Barack Obama's middle name or whether or not he is a secret Muslim someone should ask him about his association with William Ayers.

I can remember being one of a small group of people who came to Bill Ayers’ house to learn that Alice Palmer was stepping down from the senate and running for Congress,” said Dr. Quentin Young, a prominent Chicago physician and advocate for single-payer health care, of the informal gathering at the home of Ayers and his wife, Dohrn. “[Palmer] identified Obama as her successor.” Obama and Palmer “were both there,” he said. Obama’s connections to Ayers and Dohrn have been noted in some fleeting news coverage in the past. But the visit by Obama to their home — part of a campaign courtship — reflects more extensive interaction than has been previously reported.

Neither Ayers nor the Obama campaign would describe the relationship between the two men. Dr. Young described Obama and Ayers as “friends,” but there’s no evidence their relationship is more than the casual friendship of two men who occupy overlapping Chicago political circles and who served together on the board of a Chicago foundation.

You might be asking, "What is it about Professor Ayers you find so troubling?" He was a Leader in the Weather Underground.

Ayers was an active participant in Weatherman's 1969 "Days of Rage" riots in Chicago, where nearly 300 members of the organization employed guerrilla-style tactics to viciously attack police officers and civilians alike, and to destroy massive amounts of property via vandalism and arson; their objective was to further spread their anti-war, anti-American message. Reminiscing on those riots, Ayers says pridefully: "We'd ... proven that it was possible -- we didn't all die, we were still there." A substantial portion of Ayers' book Fugitive Days discusses the author's penchant for building and deploying explosives. Ayers boasts that he "participated in the bombings of New York City Police Headquarters in 1970, of the Capitol building in 1971, and the Pentagon in 1972." Of the day he bombed the Pentagon, Ayers says, "Everything was absolutely ideal. ... The sky was blue. The birds were singing. And the bastards were finally going to get what was coming to them."On another occasion, Ayers stated: "There's something about a good bomb … Night after night, day after day, each majestic scene I witnessed was so terrible and so unexpected that no city would ever again stand innocently fixed in my mind. Big buildings and wide streets, cement and steel were no longer permanent. They, too, were fragile and destructible. A torch, a bomb, a strong enough wind, and they, too, would come undone or get knocked down." All told, Ayers and Weatherman were responsible for 30 bombings aimed at destroying the defense and security infrastructures of the U.S. "I don't regret setting bombs, said Ayers in 2001, "I feel we didn't do enough."

I think Senator Obama needs to explain his association with this Professor. What do you think?

Toledo Ohio's Mayor vs. Marines

2008-02-16T19:42:00.006-05:00

If you think the BS that Berkeley tried to do to Marines is something unique to the People's Republic of Berkeley read what has happened in the city of Toledo, Ohio.

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080215/NEWS16/802150360/0/NEWS28

"The so-called "Carty vs. Marines" controversy started Friday when 200 members of Company A, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, based in Grand Rapids, Mich., arrived to drill downtown but were instead turned away on the mayor's order. Mr. Finkbeiner has refused to apologize for canceling the training event and has defended his decision."

The city council did pass a resolution apologizing for Mayor Carty Finkbeiner's action; however nothing has moved this mayor. Let him know what you think. His email is

mayor.toledo@toledo.oh.gov

I have also listed the city phone and email directory where you can get in touch with other city officials.
http://www.ci.toledo.oh.us/Government/PhoneDirectory/tabid/332/Default.asp

Mexican Violence

2008-02-13T00:38:00.003-05:00

For those people who worry about the flow of immigrants across the Rio Grande and talk about "Enforcing the Laws;" pay attention to the following sites.

http://www.thelog.com/news/logNewsArticle.aspx?x=5254

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN08562036

If we do not pay attention to the increased violence these articles show, we will be dealing with these problems ad infinitum. I hear many people on the left and the right talk about what pulls immigrants to this country. How many have talked about what pushes them out of their country? This includes Mexico, Africa, Asia or anywhere you might think of. If we want to secure the areas we need to use solutions that are in everyones self interest. I do not mean building a wall or letting everyone in who can walk across. Given the violence documented the only logical choice is for some troops to be deployed on both sides of the border to keep the peace. What do you think?

"Crunchy Conservatism"

2008-02-11T23:13:00.002-05:00

For those of you who need further proof of Mr. Dreher's "Convservatism" read the following post from his paper The People's Morning News.
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/02/war-without-end.html

To respond to the points he made one might cite the following page.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article3346386.ece

Yet rather than show a modicum of respect for people who serve this country and people who disagree with him he used the previous picture to make his point. Yep, that is a real example of Conservatism. The kind that would make Cindy Sheehan and Code Pink ecstatic. What do you think?

UPDATE (Pauli): Rod's answer to the question of what he's looking at in the Tom Tomorrow photo that has him shocked: "Jim Schutze's rear end. Which, given how often he shows it in public, you'd think I'd be used to by now."

....so am I right or what?

Archbishop of Canterbury

2008-02-08T22:47:00.000-05:00

http://http//www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23436203-details/Church+backlash+as+Archbishop+of+Canterbury+calls+for+Sharia+law+in+Britain/article.do

In a move that must have his illustrious predecessors St. Thomas a' Becket and Thomas Cranmer doing 360s in their graves the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams proposed that the UK adopt some aspects of Muslim sharia law in the UK. This has drawn criticism from a wide array of papers including The London Times, and The Telegraph. It has also been criticized by various political leaders like Prime Minister Gordon Brown; not to mention members of the Anglican Synod. They also called for him to resign. Considering what Thomas a'Becket and Thomas Cranmer did as Archbishops of Canterbury, namely dying for their faiths; this seems the only course. What do you think?

John McCain

2008-02-02T17:48:00.000-05:00

Originally I was for Fred Thompson. However, since he dropped out I have switched to Senator John McCain. Initially I would not support him because of concerns I had about his health. No, I am not talking about what the Vietnamese did to him at the Hanoi Hilton; I am referring to the time he was stationed on the USS Forrestal in 1967. It was during this time the Forrestal suffered the deadliest fire in US Navy history. The consequence of being on board such a place would leave on exposed to a great deal of fumes and other things which would result in some long term health problems. However after receiving the following email from Gregory Freeman, I believe my concerns where unfounded. For those of you who do not know, Mr. Freeman is the author of the definitive book on the USS Forrestal fire: Sailors to the End.

"Mr. Carpenter

I am glad you enjoyed my book. Regarding John McCain's health issues after the fire, I think it is safe to conclude he was left with no lasting injuries or potential for illness. Though he was right in the middle of the initial fire, he managed to escape quickly and suffered no more than a superficial injury. For the remainder of the event, he was below decks in an area not directly affected by fire or smoke, and he was not engaged in firefighting.

Best Regards,

Gregory A Freeman

Given that, as well as the positions he holds I believe John McCain is the best choice for President. I like Gov. Huckabee, but what are the chances this country will elect a 2nd President from the same hometown as the 42nd President? None! Also, Gov. Romney does not have the experience and depth with foreign policy that Senator John McCain has. What do you think?

Rambo Movie Review

2008-01-24T17:17:00.000-05:00

The following site lists a review of Sylvester Stallone's latest entry into his Rambo franchise.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/08mv010.htm

It is pretty much dead on. However, it does omit the comedic value of one thing. That is of course seeing a 61 year old man act and do movies he did when he was in his early 40s. The HGH helps, I guess. What do you think?

Dallas Morning News names Illegal Immigrant "Texan of the Year"

2007-12-31T14:19:00.000-05:00

In an effort to show the DMN's "Non-Partisanship" and "courage" the Editorial Board has named the Illegal Immigrant as Texan of the Year. Yes, the same paper that displayed the courage to go after a Death Penalty that refuses to execute The Green River Killer, the BTK as well as Aldrich Aimes has shown its courage again by naming the Illegal Immigrant as its Texan of the Year.

If that does not beat all, it was written by their resident "Conservative" Mr. Crunchy-Con, Rod Dreher.

I have no problem with an Editorial Board encouraging debate on such an issue. however as Michelle Malkin pointed out in her response to this news.

"Why is it that the human face they want us to see belongs only to the law-breaker...and not the human face of those who have to enforce the law or bear the costs of lax enforcement?

Question: Why is the “illegal immigrant” the “Texan of the Year”–and not, say, the “Border Patrol agent?”

Question: Why is the “illegal immigrant” the “Texan of the Year”–and not, say, the victims of catch-and-release and failed deportation policies…like 15-year-old Dani Countryman of Kaufman, Texas–who was murdered in August by two illegal aliens with prior records who had entered the U.S. from Mexico illegally.

We’re also always lectured by many newsroom types about the “complexity” of the issue. But who’s guilty of oversimplification here?

There are non-violent, hard-working illegal aliens. There are violent, dangerous illegal aliens. There are moochers. There are militants. There are border-crossers. There are visa overstayers. There are earnest dishwashers. There are drug smugglers. There are jihadists. There are gangbangers. There are con artists. There are legitimate victims of bureaucratic screw-ups. To lump them all together under the “hard-working illegal immigrant” archetype and award them a “Texan of the Year” award strikes me as an unhelpfully reductionist and hackneyed approach. And a missed opportunity.

Instead of planting themselves safely in “middle ground,” wouldn’t the DMN’s readership be better served by an editorial board that could tell them where they stand on substantive policy questions facing communities across Texas–and across the country. Try these for starters:

- Should the government continue to provide funding to cities that adopt sanctuary policies or not?

- Should illegal alien ID cards issued by foreign consulates continue to be acceptable in the face of strong opposition from homeland security and law enforcement experts?

- Does the board support or oppose the expansion of the federal employer verification system being challenged by the ACLU?

- Would the board back efforts by sheriffs and police who want to participate in the 287(g) immigration enforcement training program?

- What exactly is the board’s position on the DREAM Act?"

Good points!! It is also why I subscribe to the Fort Worth Star Telegram. What do you think? Email me or post your comments to my blog.

Source

Heroic Woman Saves Lives at Colorado Church Shooting

2007-12-10T20:00:00.000-05:00

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14817480/detail.html

Jeanne Assam, a volunteer security guard at New Life Church is credited with shooting the gunman who killed 2 people at her church as well as shooting others at a missionary center. Thank God for Heroic women such as this. When will the media focus on the Anti-Christian bigotry that motivated this gunman to do what he did? How often we hear the media cautioning against Anti-Muslim bigotry. Yet, nothing about Anti-Christian bigotry in general or Anti-Catholicism in particular. How often do we see people in media make the basest characterizations of Christians. Characterizations that are as bigoted as those that produced Amos and Andy or Step'n Fetch it. We should never be afraid to call this what it is. We should always help all Christians regardless of their beliefs. If not we see more of this. What do you think?

Laissez-Faire Editing or Fisking an 800 pound gorilla

2007-10-24T16:20:00.000-04:00

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/10/the-beauchamp-c.html

The "800-pound gorilla of the blogosphere"Andrew Sullivan, a former editor of the New Republic reflected on the latest info regarding TNR'S "Baghdad Diarist."
The money quote:

"I find TNR's statement persuasive; we do not yet know what actually happened, and Beauchamp has not been given a chance to fully defend himself without pressure from the military; and the military itself has not interviewed every relevant party, and leaked information in a selective way to political actors that does not reflect well on them. Beauchamp never recanted his story, despite some headlines to that effect. From everything I've read Beauchamp does not appear to be a reliable character. But even unreliable characters deserve fair treatment. We have no proof of anything yet. I'd add also that the incidents at issue strike me as completely trivial."

Lets analyze this.

First: " I find TNR's statement persuasive; we do not yet know what actually happened, and Beauchamp has not been given a chance to fully defend himself without pressure from the military."

If TNR'S statement is so persuasive explain the following.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/24/AR2007102402687.html

The following is quoted from this article. "Beauchamp, with the Army's encouragement, had agreed to talk to The Washington Post and Newsweek on Sept. 6, but canceled the interviews at the last minute at Foer's urging."

What is New Republic trying to hide? Are Newsweek and The Washington Post apart of some right-wing media machine? I think they are afraid that their colleagues will find his stories to be works of fiction. If the Editors actually looked at the sources that Beauchamp used in his story they would have seen that there are more holes in it than in Swiss Cheese. When Walter Cronkite did his famous report from Vietnam he went in and saw for himself what was going on. He reported it as is with no embellishment. A talent that seems lost to today's journalists. Than again, what should you expect from a Magazine that in 1998 gave us Stephen Glass ? Finally, if Mr. Beauchamp was not given a chance to defend himself without pressure from the military than why does Mr. Foer have a conversation with Mr. Beauchamp without any superiors present where Foer urges him not to talk to Newsweek or The Washington Post? Things that make you go hmmm!

"The military itself has not interviewed every relevant party, and leaked information in a selective way to political actors that does not reflect well on them. Beauchamp never recanted his story, despite some headlines to that effect."

The Armed Liberal at: http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/009829.php
points out that while it is true that the Army did not interview every member of Beauchamp's unit, he makes an interesting observation.

"TNR, while you're demanding that the Army take time out from the war to interrogate every member of Beauchamp's battalion, why don't you take a moment or two and point the victim out to us? You want the Army to prove conclusively that something didn't happen; all you have to do to gain credibility in this is show us that it might have. I won't hold my breath."

I won't either. Let us say that Mr. Beauchamp was this unhappy soldier bringing bad pr to his unit. Certainly he would be allowed to go right? Again here is a quote from the Armed Liberal's blog

"LTC Glaze (Beauchamp's Brigade Commander) seemed protective of Beauchamp, despite how the young soldier had maligned his fellow soldiers. In fact, the commander said Beauchamp, having learned his lesson, was given the chance to leave or stay. ...He could have left the unit, but LTC Glaze told me that Beauchamp wanted to stay and make it right.
So are they locking Beauchamp down? Zip tying him to the 50-cal on his Bradley? Not likely:
It can be pretty tough over here. The soldiers in Beauchamp’s unit have seen a lot of combat. Often times soldiers are working in long stretches of urban guerrilla combat dogged by fatigue and sleep deprivation. This is likely one of the most stressful jobs in the world, especially when millions of people are screaming at you for failures that happened three years or more ago, and for decisions to invade Iraq that were made when you were still a teenager. Just as bad is the silence from the untold millions who have already written off your effort as hopeless. Add that to the fact that buddies are getting killed in front of you. (More than 70 killed in Beauchamp’s brigade.) I see what these young men and women go through, and the extraordinary professionalism they nearly always manage to exude awes me on a daily basis.
Again, ask yourself, as a commander - in an environment like that, you have an unhappy soldier who is bringing bad and unwanted publicity down on you, who is unwilling to support his buddies, and who really wants out. Where would he be?On a plane to freaking New York, that's where. With a golden passport to a writing career and a happy, loving wife."

I could not agree more. Than again, why would The New Republic let something like logic get in the way of a good story? In short, it is true Mr. Beauchamp never officially said "I Recant!"; it seems no one believes in much of what he wrote.

The Final quote "From everything I've read Beauchamp does not appear to be a reliable character. But even unreliable characters deserve fair treatment. We have no proof of anything yet. I'd add also that the incidents at issue strike me as completely trivial."

Andrew, if you and your colleagues at TNR believe this, wouldn't you have an idea of what Mr. Beauchamp based his stories on? Whenever I wrote a paper for school; I was required to provide end notes or footnotes to show I had not made up my paper's conclusions. Are reporters required to show some kind of notes these days? I thought Editors check this out? I guess the Editors at TNR only check spelling and punctuation. You wonder how Stephen Glass was able to fabricate stories out of thin air? Also, it seems that if TNR was so open to finding out what happened why would they prevent Mr. Beauchamp from speaking to Newsweek or the Washington Post? Finally, lets look at the "trivial incidents" Mr. Sullivan alludes to.

There were (basically) three significant stories told by Beauchamp:
1) He insulted a burned woman at lunch;

2) They found a mass grave and one of the soldiers played with human bones;

3) Bradley drivers deliberately damaged structures and ran over dogs;

Without rehashing the exhaustive posts various bloggers had on these charges, wouldn't you have the evidence that these occurred when you make them? When Seymour Hersh uncovered the My Lai Massacre did he hide his sources and shift locations of various incidents for dramatic effect? Of course not! He reported the story as is with all the evidence for everyone to see. Unlike the New Republic! What allows good magazines like TNR to publish as gospel truthwh a complete work of fiction? It is Laissez-Faire Editing that allows debacles like Scott Beauchamp's story and also enables frauds like Steven Glass! What also enables this fraud is when 800 pound gorilla's of the blogosphere defend their colleagues with tactics reminiscent of the New York Time's defense of their Stalinist, Walter Duranty. To paraphrase a statement from Mr. Sullivan's post it seems like "He punts this problem rather than deal with it."

Boycott Miller Beer!!

2007-10-15T21:01:00.001-04:00

After reading the following press release from the Catholic League, I have come to believe that we should boycott Miller Beer Products over their sponsorship of the Folsom Street Fair.

http://catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1346

The website showing what they sponsored is as follows:

http://www.catholic.org/adv/catholicleague/folsom1.php

FYI: THESE ARE VERY GRAPHIC. Finally contact Julian Green at Miller Brewing to tell him what you think. His address is

green.julian@mbco.com

What Kind of Reader are You Quiz

2007-10-14T19:07:00.000-04:00

http://www.gotoquiz.com/results/what_kind_of_reader_are_you

I took this quiz from gotoquiz.com and found out I was a Literate Good Citizen. Which type are you?

Navy Seal to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor

2007-10-12T20:40:00.000-04:00

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=32528

"The White House announced Oct. 11 that the family of U.S. Navy SEAL, Lt. Michael P. Murphy will be presented the U.S. Navy Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously, during a ceremony at the White House Oct. 22. The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Murphy’s father, Daniel, will accept the award on behalf of his son. Murphy will receive the award for his extraordinary, selfless heroism and steadfast courage while leading a four-man, special reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines east of Asadabad in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan June 27 to 28, 2005."

This operation is documented in the moving book by the sole survivor of Lt. Murphy's team, HM1 Marcuss Luttrel. The title of the book is "Lone Survivor." It is well worth the read.

http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Survivor-Eyewitness-Account-Operation/dp/0316067598/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-4039743-0748719?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192236352&sr=1-1

Why is it so hard for people in the MSM to show the heroism and sacrifice of these men and women? What do you think?

David E. Kelley Strikes Again

2007-10-10T20:11:00.000-04:00

http://catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1345

Just when you thought CBS had the lock on Anti-Catholic Bias, ABC displays it in David E. Kelley's show Boston Legal. Here is a quote from the release:

"The show featured a 15 year-old girl who is enrolled in an abstinence-only sex education program, contracts HIV and then sues her school, blaming it for her condition. At the trial, the school’s principal, the girl’s attorneys and the judge all tout the virtues of condoms, fingering Christian activists—who else?—for her irresponsibility.
“This is surreal. A half-century ago, sex education, condoms and sexually transmitted diseases were all uncommon. Since that time, students have learned the art of putting condoms on cucumbers, and have been introduced to sexual techniques that are as deviant as they are injurious. The results of which are illegitimacy and AIDS. But this is obviously over the head of ‘Boston Legal’ producer David E. Kelley, Tinseltown’s ace bigot.
“Kelley has long hated Catholicism. That is why he finished his number last night ridiculing a nun in habit (it’s always nuns in habit whom the Hollywood gang likes to slam). The nun is portrayed translating the words of a Mexican immigrant charged with cockfighting. Referring to the rooster as a ‘champion cock,’ she comments how ‘it would bring me such joy to hold him.’ Then, to the astonishment of the court, the sister says, ‘To hold that beautiful cock in my own two hands."

Mr. Kelley has shown this bias in all his shows from Picket Fences, Boston Public and of course The Practice. Another example of occured in the November 5, 2002 edition of the New York Times. He told their Entertainment Editor Bill Carter how he was this Devout Catholic using his show The Practice to express his anger over the scandals in the Boston Archdiocese. Upon further review from bloggers like Andrew Sullivan it was revealed he was no Catholic.
http://time-blog.com/daily_dish/index.php?dish_inc=archives/2002_12_01_dish_archive.html

This Caused the Times to issue the following correction.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E4DB1E39F936A15752C1A9649C8B63

Please contact Francie Calfo, Programming Executive Vice President at francie.calfo@abc.com