All posts by Ross

2008 Election, Media, Politics, War On Terror

Top Terrorist In Iraq Captured

The leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq was captured on July 4. It was a good day. But the way James Tarranto puts it is much better.

“The U.S. command said Wednesday the highest-ranking Iraqi in the leadership of al-Qaida in Iraq has been arrested, adding that information from him indicates the group’s foreign-based leadership wields considerable influence over the Iraqi chapter,” the Associated Press reports.

That’s al Qaeda in Iraq or, as the New York Times calls it, al Qaeda Which Has Nothing to Do With Iraq in Mesopotamia Which Also Has Nothing to Do With Iraq Even Though It’s Another Name for Iraq Which Has Nothing to Do With al Qaeda, a Homegrown Iraqi Group That Has Nothing to Do With Iraq Even Though It Is Mostly Iraqi, Albeit With Some Foreign Involvement Which Has Nothing to Do With Iraq.

What do you think Harry Reid, should we let the guy go? Would you like to negotiate with him?

Politics

Hidden Earmarks Pick Our Pockets

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There are $7.5 billion in unclaimed earmarks. That is, money approved to be spent but has not yet been claimed by the senators that sponsored them.

As a proposal to require full disclosure of all Senate earmarks languishes, senators have not claimed responsibility for at least $7.5 billion worth of projects approved by the Appropriations Committee, according to an analysis by a budget watchdog group.

An earmark in one of the spending bills approved by congress is a $1 million to build a hippie museum about Woodstock. Remember the 60’s? The sponsors of that one are Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer. That one was tucked in the Fiscal Year 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. Details of the 1016 earmarks in this bill, amounting to $392 million, are available at the Americans for Prosperity website.

Remember the ‘transparency’ in budgeting we were promised by Speaker Pelosi? She’s apparently having trouble with that too. Says Steve Ellis, vice-president of programs for a budget watchdog group, Taxpayers for Common Sense. . .

“Part of the whole effort of transparency is to move the budget out of the shadows and into the light. The public deserves to know what Congress and the administration are doing with their tax dollars.”

Earmarks should not be a hidden piggy bank that our representatives can dip into. Can you say pick-pocket? Let the light shine in on earmarks.
Contact Your Representative to Stop Earmarks in Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations and everywhere else.

reference: Taxpayers for Common Sense

Media, Politics, United Nations

Biofuel, A Liberal Record Of Failure

We have the environmentalists to thank for an energy policy that promises not to use it, but to use biofuels instead. And of course we have wimpy politicians that enable them. The financial impact on this increase demand of corn for biofuel production has become oppressive on poor countries like Mexico and the rest of Central and South America who depend on corn as a staple food source.

There is another problem with relying on a food-based biofuel, such as corn ethanol, as the poor of Mexico can attest. In recent months, soaring corn prices, sparked by demand from ethanol plants, have doubled the price of tortillas, a staple food. Tens of thousands of Mexico City’s poor recently protested this “ethanol tax” in the street.

Now the United Nations is saying that the UN cannot afford to feed the world because of the increase in food cost as a result of this increased biofuel demand.

policymakers were becoming more concerned about the impact of biofuel demand on food prices and how the world would continue to feed its expanding population.

Like raising taxes to boost the economy doesn’t fly, trying to use biofuels to replace oil is not only not increasing our domestic oil supply, but it is contributing to a hunger problem in undeveloped and poor nations around the world. It’s like trying to win the war by quitting before we win. Another liberal solution proven to fail that you won’t see much of in the mainstream media. It definitely doesn’t fit the template.

reference: Washington Post, Financial Times

Politics, War On Terror

Direct Talks With Iran?

Since Iran has chosen to participate in the war on terror by providing weapons and training to the enemy we are fighting in Iraq, I agree. Says State Dept. spokesman Sean McCormack. . .

“We think that given the situation in Iraq and given Iran’s continued behavior that is leading to further instability in Iraq, that it would be appropriate to have another face-to-face meeting to directly convey to the Iranian authorities that if they wish to see a more stable, secure, peaceful Iraq, which is what they have said they would like to see, that they need to change their behavior.”

It is time for direct talks. In light of all the evidence that shows Iran’s support, it needs to be effective. In this case, something like “halt or I’ll shoot” is in order.

Immigration, Media, Politics

Geraldo Rivera’s Little Secret

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Geraldo Rivera has trouble discussing illegal immigration. His whole world revolves around championing law breaking when it comes to our borders. To him, there is no such thing as an illegal immigrant or an illegal migrant. That’s why he will label anyone who tries to support legal immigration as being anti-immigrant, like he did with Michelle Malkin.

There is one question that the pompous Geraldo Rivera, champion of Latino illegals everywhere, cannot and will not address. “What do you think about sanctuary cities?” Everybody he meets on and off the air should ask him that question until he gives us his answer. Until that happens, Geraldo who?

related link: The Question Geraldo Won’t Answer

update 8/27/07 : It finally happened. Geraldo spent a few minutes on H&C last week on the subject of sanctuary cities. He obviously supports the notion of sanctuary cities if you read the transcript of the show. Neither he nor Alan Colmes could grasp the argument that the murders of the three college students were preventable. Whereas all the other crimes that Geraldo and Colmes wanted to compare to in order to call the other side racists. The fact that they were illegal didn’t matter. But when it is preventable, it does matter.

Politics, United Nations, War On Terror

N. Korea’s Nuke Plant Shut Down

It looks like progress.

“Our inspectors are there. They verified the shutting down of the reactor yesterday,” said Mohamed ElBaradei, chief of the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency.

Of course we can expect that the IAEA can keep Kim Jong Il from exporting his technology and radioactive materials to anyone with cash.  Feel like you can sleep better now?

Uncategorized

Phillies Make Baseball History

The Philadelphia Phillies faced the inevitable tonight against the St. Louis Cardinals. After hFans hold up signs acknowledging the Phillies 10,000th loss, the most by any team in any sport.olding off the Cards for the last two games in the 3-game series, the Phils lost 10-2 that included 6 home runs from the Cardinals. The Phillies also win the distinction of being the first team in professional baseball to reach its 10,000th loss, at home.

From Connie Mack Stadium to the Vet and Citizens Bank Park, and at ballparks all over, the Phillies have cemented their place as the losingest team in professional sports. The franchise, born in 1883 as the Philadelphia Quakers and later called the Blue Jays in the mid-1940s, fell to 8,810-10,000.

They are the first, but won’t be the last. After all, it took them 124 years to lose 10,000 games.

related: Celebrate 10,000

Media, Politics, War On Terror

Iraqi Prime Minister To U.S., Be Careful What You Wish For

Yesterday Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said that Iraq will be ready to take over security from U.S. forces “any time” they decide to withdraw. The point I think he made that seems to be missed is that the U.S. forces are not being held in Iraq against their will. There are no chains on them that are keeping them from leaving. He is also letting the war critics know that they will pay the consequences in the long run if they were to leave before the Iraqi security forces are fully trained and equipped. The message to the left and other war critics is be careful what you wish for.

The choice is clear, leave and face the consequences of terrorism, genocide and the establishment of a terrorist state run by al-Qaeda, or stay as long as it takes to complete the task of creating positive change in Iraq and as an aside, throughout the Middle East, and face the consequences of freedom.