Brandon

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Britain on Alert!

Reality Check: We ARE at War!

With the foiled attack in the heart of London and the flaming car driven into the airport in Glasgow, Scotland, our friends in the United Kingdom are on alert for more attempts to kill, main and sow terror.

In the London attempts, two vehicles filled with gasoline and propane with nails designed to shred anyone in range of the blast could have killed hundreds in London's nightclub district had the bombs gone off. (larger image here)

Bombs in London's Underground in July 2005 used hand carried devices which also contained nails for maximum carnage. (post here)

The Sin of Appeasement

It's a sad day for our friends in Britain and sadder still that the spirit of appeasement is still alive for some who prefer to blame anyone but the terrorists. The following comment from a story in the Evening Standard newspaper is proof that appeasement is not just a phenomenon of supporters of U.S. presidential candidate Ron Paul.

Comment at "This is London:"

This government is still involved in the biggest foreign policy disgrace ever and shows no sign of either admitting the error or apologising for the suffering they've caused. Iraq was based on lies and the conceipt of a few men (Bush, Cheney, Blair) all of whom are deeply religious nutcases who believe that all's well because God says so. 'We' need to understand that we've caused this blowback, which is based on a justified reaction to our actions, and as long as we deny this we'll be bombed in the streets of London, as thousands are in Iraq. Bush and Blair said this was 'war', what the hell did we expect?

- Bobby Smith, Surrey, London

Apparently Bobby Smith and the Islamist apologists and appeasers prefer to remain willfully ignorant of the number of terrorist attacks that Al Queda and related groups launched against innocent civilians long before the U.S. and our allies, including Britain, invaded Iraq.

Shortly after the 7/7 bombings in London in 2005 another key U.S. ally, Australian Prime Minster John Howard, paid a visit to British Prime Minster Tony Blair. In his remarks afterward, he ticked off a list of attacks against innocent civilians, citing especially the 88 Australians murdered in Bali, which occurred before we invaded Iraq.

Ron Paul and his cult of followers beg that we should "listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it." We have done so continually. Bin Laden's "Letter to the American People" in 2002 (again, BEFORE we invaded Iraq) made it clear that Al Queda felt justified in committing acts of terror against innocent civilians in ANY land where the population resisted domination by Muslims under the extreme version of Sharia Law.

At Mike's America we've constantly reminded readers of the Muslim attacks against Buddhists in Thailand. No sane individual would suggest that the peaceful Buddhists of Thailand have anything to do with the U.S. invasion of Iraq, or U.S. support of Israel.

Beheadings of Christian school girls in Indonesia (warning: graphic images) had nothing to do with Iraq. Nothing to do with the United States or Israel. Nor did the massacre of school children at Beslan in Russia (warning: graphic images). Appeasers and apologists should speak to this Russian man and explain why the infant in his arms was murdered because of U.S. or British foreign policy.

No evil self deception, delusion or willful ignorance will save countless innocent lives from the nightmare and horror that the Islamists would unleash. And those who continue to prefer their demented prejudices should be called to account for enabling this nightmare to continue rather than join in a stronger, more unified effort to defeat this evil.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

South Carolina's Senator: Jim DeMint

Thank you Senator DeMint!


People who do not live in South Carolina might be under the impression we only have one Senator. After all, they turn on their news and night after night they see Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on television grabbing one soundbite after another.

But the defeat of the hopelessly flawed Senate immigration bill gave people across the country the opportunity to see, perhaps for the first time, the strong leadership and political courage of Senator Jim DeMint.

Along with Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL)and others Senator DeMint has been steadfast in defeating the Senate bill which was conceived in secret, largely unread and put forward in a process that discouraged, if not prevented, the bill's contents from being amended, let alone read.

His speech on the Senate floor Wednesday (video here) may not be delivered with the eloquence of Daniel Webster, but there can be no doubt that Senator DeMint is directly and courageously representing the views of the people who elected him.

Many of us wonder if perhaps Senator Graham thinks he is representing Massachusetts. We have no such doubts about Senator DeMint. He's doing the job the way many of us would if one of us were in his place.

Senators, like Representatives in the House have a duty to do what is right and exercise leadership even for unpopular ideas. But the overwhelming condemnation of this immigration bill by the voters of South Carolina demanded nothing less than our Senators working to defeat this bill and return to the basics of achieving border security and immigration enforcement FIRST!

Thank you Senator DeMint! You've earned my vote!

Immigration Bill DEAD DEAD DEAD!

Ding Dong, it's DEAD! 46-53 against!

Enough was FINALLY enough for Senators who tried their best to get something approaching an immigration bill that made sense. A bill that didn't make the problem worse and made real, verifiable (trust but verify) steps to accomplish the long elusive goal of border security more difficult.

Senators who tried to get amendments to address the issue of border security and amnesty had finally had enough of a bill drafted in secret, the provisions of which had not even been read by members of the Senate.

This is the last nail in the coffin for a monstrous bill! Now, let the Senate get back to dealing with the problem piece by piece and in public, not behind closed doors. Border Security FIRST!

The roll call of votes by state is here. Thank your Senator if he or she voted "NO."

Immigration Fraud Ring Ready to Roll with New Amnesty

The Washington Times has this online report about an identity fraud ring that was set and ready to roll the minute the Senate immigration bill passed. Fraud in immigration is nothing new. According to the report, "a quarter of approved applications were later deemed fraudulent" from persons granted amnesty under the 1986 immigration bill which did nothing to stem the tide of illegals entering the United States.

While the fraud ring in the report above was broken up, who knows how many more are out there? No wonder the current Senate bill is in such trouble. No one believes that it will do anything to solve the problem.

The bill faces another 60 vote hurdle Thursday and news reports once again show it weakening.

What's in the Bill?

The latest version of the bill has become a "moving target" according to SC Senator Jim DeMint (R). In this video, taken from a speech he delivered on the Senate Floor Wednesday he described how the Senate was being asked to consider massive amendments, running to hundreds of pages that no Senator, other than perhaps the bill's authors, had actually read. Changes have been made that delete amendments that Senators had agreed on in the previous version of the bill.

Brian Darling at the Heritage Foundation described this bizzare Senate process this way: "Someone once said not to watch how sausage or legislation are made. Today especially I prefer to be at the sausage factory.As if the Senate floor situation could get any worse, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's staff is now rewriting the Clay Pigeon amendment behind closed doors. It is the intent of the Majority Leader to bring this new unread Amendment up without the Republicans seeing the language. Yesterday Senator Reid did not have his massive 373 page amendment ready when he started debate on it and mistakes were made in the initial drafting. This fact was not discovered until Republicans objected to waiving the reading of the bill, and the Senate Clerk had nothing to read."

"The American people have said loud and clear that this is an incredibly important issue to them. For the Senate to move ahead anyway using this process, railroading me and other critics of the bill and blocking our rights as senators to represent our constituents, is disgraceful," said Sen. David Vitter, R-La.

"I think this clay pigeon is becoming a dead duck," said Sen. Ben Nelson, Nebraska Democrat.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Blair Out, Brown In as U.K. Prime Minister

Thank you Tony for being a good friend of the U.S.

Tony Blair and his family pose for photographs moments before he leaves Number 10 Downing Street and resigns as Prime Minister.

The Blair family arriving at Number 10 after Blair's election victory in 1997.

The government of the United Kingdom changed hands today. Story with more photos here.
It's an odd feeling after seeing Blair in power for a decade to see him go. It's not easy being British Prime Minister and such a good friend of the United States. But Blair realized what Winston Churchill coined as the "Special Relationship" between our two countries was vital to Britain and to us as well.

We'll miss you Tony. I'm reminded of the song from "My Fair Lady" adapted by Betty Johnson (audio here) "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face."

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

News Teasers

Each of these news nuggets warrants a post in their own right.

  • CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Hugo Chavez urged soldiers on Sunday to prepare for a guerrilla-style war against the United States, saying that Washington is using psychological and economic warfare as part of an unconventional campaign aimed at derailing his government.
    Dressed in olive green fatigues and a red beret, Chavez spoke inside Tiuna Fort—Venezuela's military nerve-center—before hundreds of uniformed soldiers standing alongside armored vehicles and tanks decorated with banners reading: "Fatherland, Socialism, or Death! We will triumph!"
    "We must continue developing the resistance war, that's the anti- imperialist weapon. We must think and prepare for the resistance war everyday," said Chavez, who has repeatedly warned that American soldiers could invade Venezuela to seize control of the South American nation's immense oil reserves.

"Fatherland, Socialism or Death." Sound familiar?

And let's not forget the ties between Chavez and Iran. Two peas in a pod!

  • Mark Steyn reminds us that the war against Islamic fascism started with Iran. Steyn suggests that when we did little or nothing to oppose the "fatwa" against Salman Rushdie, we set the train in motion to where we are today.
    Mark Steyn: We've replaced Rushdie in hiding

    ...In 1989 Salman Rushdie went into hiding under the protection of the British police. A decade later he decided he did not wish to live his life like that and emerged from seclusion to live a more or less normal life. He learned the biggest lesson of all – how easy it is to be forced into the shadows. That's what's happening in the free world incrementally every day, with every itsy-bitsy nothing concession to groups who take offense at everything and demand the right to kill you for every offense. Across two decades, what happened to Rushdie has metastasized, in part because of the weak response in those first months. "Death is perhaps too easy"? Maybe. But slow societal suicide is easier still.
  • Following up on that theme, Christopher Hitchen's writes about how "Rage Boy" pictured below seems to show up whenever Muslims in Pakistan perceive some offense against Islam. In fact he's become quite famous for his outrage act.

    Hitchens makes the point so many of us have that we cannot appease these crazies. I'd go further and say we cannot appease them, but we can defeat them."Rage Boy" got his big break in the outrage industry with the publication of the Danish cartoons. It reminds us of this funny, offensive flash cartoon from YAFM. See it again to refresh your memory.
  • Or, see the latest contribution from the brave Danes who instead of burning a witch as the symbol of evil for their harvest rites burned Mohammed in effigy instead. The American Israeli Patriot brought it to our attention.

  • Translation of the text: Saint Hans’ Eve has always celebrated the tradition of burning away the evil, in earlier times symbolized by the witch, who was supposedly directly connected to Satan. And if the witch was not burned then the harvest could not be safely brought into the house.

    Now a new evil has arrived in Europe, an evil that lies and kills in the name of their so-called God. An evil that springs from the so-called Prophet Mohammed. Therefore, in our time, it is he who symbolizes evil and it is not just one harvest that will disappear, but all of Western Europe’s future that will vanish if this evil is not dispatched to Hekkenfeldt [i.e. Hell, literally the Hekla volcano in Iceland.

  • Following up on Mark Steyn's observation on Western weakness encouraging the Muzzies, The Sun (U.K.) reports that Iranians are ferrying soldiers into Iraq with helicopters. Iranian agents continue to kill British and American allies in Iraq.
  • None of Iran's acts would surprise Joshua Muravchik writing in Opinion Journal.Com. Muravchik goes right down the line from Iran, Syria, Hamas, Hezbollah and more describing how the weakened position of the U.S. in the Middle East (thanks to Democrats) has emboldened Iran to threaten a war outside the shadows of their usual proxy terrorists.
The clock is ticking folks! How much longer will we sit and watch as dangers gather?

Monday, June 25, 2007

Mike's America Live on Internet Radio Tuesday!

UPDATE: I had a great time speaking with Dee, aka "Little Miss Chatterbox" this morning on her radio program "Conservatism with Heart."

The show will re-air today, check the comments section here or Dee's web page for more info if you want to listen in.

We did have one caller, Matt, a supporter of presidential candidate Ron Paul. It sounded like Matt had seen my post: "Would Ron Paul Style Appeasement Work?" Matt echoed Ron Paul's words from the SC debate where Paul suggested "we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it."

But apparently Matt, like Ron Paul and his supporters, failed to take into account the full reasoning behind bin Laden's jihad. Bin Laden's letter to the American people in 2002 goes beyond demands that the U.S. abandon Israel and totally withdraw from the Middle East and ALL Muslim lands (basically that includes much of Europe too).

Binnies letter is absolutely clear. Until we abandon the freedoms and protections of the U.S. Constitution and submit to being ruled by Sharia Law the jihad will continue.

I realize that those who are in denial think that bin Laden's goal is a laughable threat forget that the attacks on September 11th killed nearly 3,000 American citizens and Al Queda has been trying hard to repeat those attacks.

I also pointed out to Matt, as I have a number of times here, that jihadis in Thailand have murdered hundreds of Buddhist Monks who also failed to submit to Sharia Law as the Islamic radicals define it. Last time I checked, Buddhist Monks in Thailand are not part of the Zionist/American Imperialist conspiracy.

Matt, if you're out there, appeasement doesn't work. It's only a sign of weakness that encourages evil men to grasp for more. Winston Churchill made it very clear that the appeasement of Hitler at Munich created the conditions which made the fall of France to the Nazis possible. The Czechs had a strong army which could have held enough German armed divisions in the East to even the odds in France.

Students of history recall how that appeasement worked out and are loathe to repeat that lesson.

Dee (aka Little Miss Chatterbox) has invited me to join her on the "Conservatism with Heart" radio program between 10:30 and 11AM on Tuesday.

We'll be discussing a range of topics and I also look forward to any Mike's America readers (even lefty moonbats) who want to call in.

Dial toll free: 1-877-864-4869 if you want to join the conversation.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Hollywood Liberal Shoves Genocidal Symbol in Face of Victims in Peru

Oh, but I'm sure she thought she was just being fashionable!

Cameron's bag raises a few eyebrows
Breitbart.com
Jun 23, 2007

Actress Cameron Diaz appears to have committed a major fashion crime in Peru.

The voice of Princess Fiona in the animated Shrek films may have inadvertently offended Peruvians.

They suffered decades of violence from a Maoist guerrilla insurgency by touring there on Friday with a bag emblazoned with one of Mao Zedong's favourite political slogans.

While she explored the Inca city of Machu Picchu high in Peru's Andes, Diaz wore over her shoulder an olive green messenger bag emblazoned with a red star and the words 'Serve the People' printed in Chinese on the flap, perhaps Chinese Communist leader Mao's most famous political slogan.

While the bags are marketed as trendy fashion accessories in some world capitals, the phrase has particular resonance in Peru.

The Maoist Shining Path insurgency took Peru to the edge of chaos in the 1980s and early 1990s with a campaign of massacres, assassinations and bombings.

Nearly 70,000 people were killed during the insurgency.

A prominent Peruvian human rights activist said the star of There's Something About Mary should have been a little more aware of local sensitivities when picking her accessories.

"It alludes to a concept that did so much damage to Peru, that brought about so many victims," said Pablo Rojas about the bag's slogan.

"I don't think she should have used that bag where the followers of that ideology" did so much damage.
What's the big deal? So Maoist guerrillas murdered 70,000 people in Peru. Mao murdered tens of millions in China. And as for fashion statements, brainwashed leftie robots think wearing Che Guevara t-shirts is cool. Do they even know or care what a cold blooded "killing machine" he was?

Diaz's fashion statement is the moral equivalent of wearing an "I Love Hitler" t-shirt on a tour of Israel. But what else should we expect from a bimbo who claimed during the 2004 Presidential election that rape would be "legal" if George Bush were re-elected.

Well Cammy dear rape is still illegal. But one wonders if perhaps Dizzy Diaz would like to make genocide by Marxists legal?

Friday, June 22, 2007

Immigration Bill Update

We had expected the Senate to revive the flawed bill which promised border security but delivered amnesty for illegal aliens to be brought to the floor again this week. However, the Senate took longer than expected to complete work on an energy bill that does nothing to increase the supply of energy and simply imposes more restrictions on Americans. Of course we were successful in defeating Democrat attempts to use that bill to raise the price of gasoline through a tax increase.

Immigration Bill Losing Support?

Perhaps another reason that Senator Harry Reid didn't bring the bill up this week is that the support for the measure continues to slip away. Senator Trent Lott, chief vote counter for the GOP in the Senate, hinted that he thought the 60 votes necessary to move the measure forward could be found. But as Lott also bit the hand the feeds him by offending talk radio listeners I'm less inclined to take his word for it.

In fact it would appear that some members of the Senate who previously supported the bill or were on the fence have decided to oppose the measure when the vote comes sometime next week. According to National Review both Georgia Senators, who previously backed the bill, are pledged to vote against ending debate on the measure which requires 60 votes. Fence sitter Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) has also moved into the NO column.

Senator McConnell, GOP Leader in the Senate, is also reported to be having reservations based on the same concerns with the "Z" visa that I expressed in my letter to Senator Graham.

National Review lists 12 Senators who may be leaning toward voting to end the debate (for cloture) which would mean the bill would pass by a simple majority vote. Those Senators are:

Bond (R-Mo.), Bingaman (D-N.M.), Burr (R-N.C.), Boxer (D-Calif.), Cochran (R-Miss.), Conrad (D-N.D.), Ensign (R-Nev.), Levin (D-Mich.), Gregg (R-N.H.), Nelson (D-Neb.), Hatch (R-Utah), Webb (D-Va.).

Peel off another 7 or 8 no votes and the current immigration bill is dead as a doornail in the Senate.

As expressed in my letter to Senator Graham, there are many good ideas in the current immigration bill. But the poison pill for most of us is another round of amnesty for illegals and no confidence that the government will follow through with vital border security and enforcement provisions.

Senator Inhofe (R-OK) would like to invite readers who share those concerns to sign a statement to the U.S. Senate: "I am one of the millions of Americans who believes our first priority as a nation should be to secure our borders by enforcing existing laws. Amnesty is not the solution."

As President Reagan was fond of saying: "trust but verify." When it comes to an immigration solution, verification of border security is necessary before we move forward.

"Muslims Against Jihad" on Fox News Saturday 9 PM EST

We've talked much over the years for the need for moderate Muslims to come forward and be heard as a counterpoint to the jihadi propaganda we're constantly seeing on "news" media and in the Muslim world.

Well, there's a film called "Islam vs. Islamists" that features the message of moderate Muslims in the United States. It was originally to air on the taxpayer supported Public Broadcasting System. You would think PBS would welcome the opportunity to have such moderate voices heard. But then, you would be wrong.

Our pal Wordsmith attended a screening of the film in Beverly Hills, CA a week ago and you can read his impressions here.

But you will also have the opportunity to see the sister production "Muslims against Jihad" this Saturday at 9 PM EST on the Fox News Channel.

It seems that like conservatives, moderate Muslims are not welcome on PBS. Do we need to demand equal time under the Fairness Doctrine?

UPDATE: Broadcast Pre-empted

Fox News devoted nearly their entire broadcast day to the tragic, but relatively unimportant story of the murdered pregnant woman in Ohio. Instead of giving us an insight into an issue that affects the lives of literally billions of people on the planet they went wall to wall with the Ohio story repeating over and over and over the statements of the Sheriff and individuals at the scene.

When will we have an all news channel that uses it's time and resources to dig deep into stories of national and international importance and keeps stories like this, or totally worthless news like Paris Hilton in a proper persective?

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Would You Like to Shake John Edwards' Hand?

If so, keep some hand sanitizer handy!

You HAVE to see this!

Senate Democrats Defeated in Bid to Raise Gas Prices!

Sometimes our GOP Senate team scores a point or two!

Senate Republicans today blocked a measure in the Senate Energy Bill which would have dramatically hiked taxes on oil companies. Taxes on oil companies has already increased from $32 billion in 2003 to $71 billion in 2005 (the last year such data was available. State and Federal taxes already make up at least one fifth the cost of each gallon of gas you buy.

The Democrats plan would RAISE gasoline prices up to $6.00 per gallon over the next ten years.

Is it any wonder that Americans confidence in a Congress run by Democrats has reached an all time low of just 14% in the latest Gallup poll?

And what's even more laughable is how the "news" media is spinning the story. The New York Times ran a story by David Stout: "Big Oil Companies Spared Tax Hikes." The NY Times owned International Herald Tribune ran the same story under the headline: "Supporters of Big Oil score a victory in U.S. Senate."

That headline should read: The American taxpayer won a victory today. And we can thank Senate Republicans!

Britain Observes 25th Anniversary of the Falklands War

In some ways it was Britain's last hurrah!

UK - 25th Anniversary of Falklands War Remembered
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Baroness Margaret Thatcher, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prime Minister Tony Blair and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend the Falklands Veterans Parade held to commemorate 25 years since the end of the Falklands War.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Oh NO! Now it's Global Cooling!

Oh Oh! Another scientist disputing global warming... But it's worse! Patterson's research suggests we may be headed for a period of global cooling?

Who will the lefties try and blame for that? One thing is for sure, they'll try and turn it into a political movement and blame the United States!

It's a long read, but you if you are interested in this issue, it's worth it. Here's an excerpt:

Read the sunspots
The mud at the bottom of B.C. fjords reveals that solar output drives climate change - and that we should prepare now for dangerous global cooling
R. TIMOTHY PATTERSON

Financial Post
June 20, 2007

Politicians and environmentalists these days convey the impression that climate-change research is an exceptionally dull field with little left to discover. We are assured by everyone from David Suzuki to Al Gore to Prime Minister Stephen Harper that "the science is settled." At the recent G8 summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel even attempted to convince world leaders to play God by restricting carbon-dioxide emissions to a level that would magically limit the rise in world temperatures to 2C.

The fact that science is many years away from properly understanding global climate doesn't seem to bother our leaders at all. Inviting testimony only from those who don't question political orthodoxy on the issue[.]
...
In a series of groundbreaking scientific papers starting in 2002, Veizer, Shaviv, Carslaw, and most recently Svensmark et al., have collectively demonstrated that as the output of the sun varies, and with it, our star's protective solar wind, varying amounts of galactic cosmic rays from deep space are able to enter our solar system and penetrate the Earth's atmosphere. These cosmic rays enhance cloud formation which, overall, has a cooling effect on the planet. When the sun's energy output is greater, not only does the Earth warm slightly due to direct solar heating, but the stronger solar wind generated during these "high sun" periods blocks many of the cosmic rays from entering our atmosphere. Cloud cover decreases and the Earth warms still more.

The opposite occurs when the sun is less bright. More cosmic rays are able to get through to Earth's atmosphere, more clouds form, and the planet cools more than would otherwise be the case due to direct solar effects alone. This is precisely what happened from the middle of the 17th century into the early 18th century, when the solar energy input to our atmosphere, as indicated by the number of sunspots, was at a minimum and the planet was stuck in the Little Ice Age. These new findings suggest that changes in the output of the sun caused the most recent climate change. By comparison, CO2 variations show little correlation with our planet's climate on long, medium and even short time scales.

In some fields the science is indeed "settled." For example, plate tectonics, once highly controversial, is now so well-established that we rarely see papers on the subject at all. But the science of global climate change is still in its infancy, with many thousands of papers published every year. In a 2003 poll conducted by German environmental researchers Dennis Bray and Hans von Storch, two-thirds of more than 530 climate scientists from 27 countries surveyed did not believe that "the current state of scientific knowledge is developed well enough to allow for a reasonable assessment of the effects of greenhouse gases." About half of those polled stated that the science of climate change was not sufficiently settled to pass the issue over to policymakers at all.

Solar scientists predict that, by 2020, the sun will be starting into its weakest Schwabe solar cycle of the past two centuries, likely leading to unusually cool conditions on Earth. Beginning to plan for adaptation to such a cool period, one which may continue well beyond one 11-year cycle, as did the Little Ice Age, should be a priority for governments. It is global cooling, not warming, that is the major climate threat to the world, especially Canada. As a country at the northern limit to agriculture in the world, it would take very little cooling to destroy much of our food crops, while a warming would only require that we adopt farming techniques practiced to the south of us.
Meantime, we need to continue research into this, the most complex field of science ever tackled, and immediately halt wasted expenditures on the King Canute-like task of "stopping climate change."

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Father of Scientific Climatology, Considers Global Warming a Bunch of Hooey.

We get about two or three articles just like this every month. How long before the EnviroNazis stop repeating the lie that all credible scientists agree with their view of global warming?

From the Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin)
By Samara Kalk Derby
6/18/2007

Reid Bryson, known as the father of scientific climatology, considers global warming a bunch of hooey.

The UW-Madison professor emeritus, who stands against the scientific consensus on this issue, is referred to as a global warming skeptic. But he is not skeptical that global warming exists, he is just doubtful that humans are the cause of it.

There is no question the earth has been warming. It is coming out of the "Little Ice Age," he said in an interview this week.

"However, there is no credible evidence that it is due to mankind and carbon dioxide. We've been coming out of a Little Ice Age for 300 years. We have not been making very much carbon dioxide for 300 years. It's been warming up for a long time," Bryson said.

The Little Ice Age was driven by volcanic activity. That settled down so it is getting warmer, he said.

Humans are polluting the air and adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, but the effect is tiny, Bryson said.

"It's like there is an elephant charging in and you worry about the fact that there is a fly sitting on its head. It's just a total misplacement of emphasis," he said. "It really isn't science because there's no really good scientific evidence."

Just because almost all of the scientific community believes in man-made global warming proves absolutely nothing, Bryson said. "Consensus doesn't prove anything, in science or anywhere else, except in democracy, maybe."

Bryson, 87, was the founding chairman of the department of meteorology at UW-Madison and of the Institute for Environmental Studies, now known as the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. He retired in 1985, but has gone into the office almost every day since. He does it without pay.

"I have now worked for zero dollars since I retired, long enough that I have paid back the people of Wisconsin every cent they paid me to give me a wonderful, wonderful career. So we are even now. And I feel good about that," said Bryson.

So, if global warming isn't such a burning issue, why are thousands of scientists so concerned about it?

"Why are so many thousands not concerned about it?" Bryson shot back.

"There is a lot of money to be made in this," he added. "If you want to be an eminent scientist you have to have a lot of grad students and a lot of grants. You can't get grants unless you say, 'Oh global warming, yes, yes, carbon dioxide.'"


Speaking out against global warming is like being a heretic, Bryson noted.

And it's not something that he does regularly.

"I can't waste my time on that, I have too many other things to do," he said.

But if somebody asks him for his opinion on global warming, he'll give it. "And I think I know about as much about it as anybody does."

Up against his students' students: Reporters will often call the meteorology building seeking the opinion of a scientist and some beginning graduate student will pick up the phone and say he or she is a meteorologist, Bryson said. "And that goes in the paper as 'scientists say.'"

The word of this young graduate student then trumps the views of someone like Bryson, who has been working in the field for more than 50 years, he said. "It is sort of a smear."

Bryson said he recently wrote something on the subject and two graduate students told him he was wrong, citing research done by one of their professors. That professor, Bryson noted, is probably the student of one of his students.

"Well, that professor happened to be wrong," he said.

"There is very little truth to what is being said and an awful lot of religion. It's almost a religion. Where you have to believe in anthropogenic (or man-made) global warming or else you are nuts."

While Bryson doesn't think that global warming is man-made, he said there is some evidence of an effect from mankind, but not an effect of carbon dioxide.

For example, in Wisconsin in the last 100 years the biggest heating has been around Madison, Milwaukee and in the Southeast, where the cities are. There was a slight change in the Green Bay area, he said. The rest of the state shows no warming at all.

"The growth of cities makes it hotter, but that was true back in the 1930s, too," Bryson said. "Big cities were hotter than the surrounding countryside because you concentrate the traffic and you concentrate the home heating. And you modify the surface, you pave a lot of it."

Bryson didn't see Al Gore's movie about global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth."

"Don't make me throw up," he said. "It is not science. It is not true."


There are plenty more scientists out there just like Bryson. But Bryson is retired and isn't going to be intimidated by people threatening to cut off grants and funding if he fails to toe the EnviroNazi line.

ACLU: No Separation of Mosque and State Required

But, the ACLU's communists still regard Christians as the real threat to civil liberties!

ACLU Changing Its Tune?
Special Report's Political Grapevine
June 19, 2007

The University of Michigan at Dearborn is planning to spend $25,000 to install two footbaths for Muslim students to use before prayers.

Muslim leaders had considered trying to raise funds to pay for the baths privately — until the American Civil Liberties Union said it would not oppose having the university pay for the project. The director of the Detroit ACLU called the footbaths a "reasonable accommodation" to resolve "safety and cleanliness issues."

The ACLU has a long history of opposing other activities associated with prayer and religion on public property. It sued a Louisiana school board over allowing a preacher to give out pizza at school during lunch periods, and it sued a west Texas school district over an optional Bible class.
The title of the piece asks if the ACLU is changing it's tune? Nope! The ACLU remains perfectly consistent. They only oppose the traditions which have made this country great.

Debbie Schlussel has been all over this story, just as she has the other news items which demonstrate the slow drip, drip, drip as we give in to more and more Muslim demands.

Speaking of Muslims... Debbie Schlussel also uncovered this nugget of news you won't read about in the most newspapers:

Al Queda Attack Plans for New York Revealed by London Investigation

Long before the U.S. invaded Iraq. Long before we invaded Afghanistan. Even before George W. Bush was inaugurated as President of the United States Al Queda was planning the September 11th attacks.

But they were also planning many more attacks in New York as this post by Debbie Schlussel describes.

The evidence was uncovered by Scotland Yard in Great Britain where the terror cell planning these attacks and other attacks in Britain was successfully prosecuted. Included are links to the actual surveillance videos that Al Queda made in New York.

The plots were busted in part by the information gleaned from captured Al Queda mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed, currently being held at the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Readers will no doubt recall that delusionist lefty fools like Rosie O'Donnell insisted that the information we got from KSM was false and that there was no threat.

What we have here is yet more proof of how successful President Bush's security policy has been. Cooperation with our allies and aggressive intelligence gathering have saved thousands of American lives!

Monday, June 18, 2007

Open Letter to SC Senator Graham

Immigration is setting up to be a hot topic later this week in the U.S. Senate. As readers may recall from my landmark post "The Myth of Immigrant Assimilation", immigration and the underlying problems of assimilation in order to fully participate in the American Dream are important issues.

In reviewing the bill which is likely to be resurrected this week I found several major points of concern which I share in the following letter to Senator Graham (R-SC) a key player in the immigration debate:


Mike's America
Hilton Head Island, SC

Senator Lindsey Graham
Washington, DC

Monday, June 18, 2007

Dear Senator Graham:

I write to express my concern for the many evident weaknesses which continue to plague a comprehensive solution to the immigration issue. The tireless and dedicated efforts of Senators like yourself who champion this important legislation are at risk due to an uncompromising stance by proponents when it comes to closing loopholes and strengthening enforcement of both border security and requirements for participation in programs like the "Z" visa.

I have read the talking points you posted on your web site regarding the issue. These led me to read sections of the bill myself, particularly Title VI dealing with the "Z" visa.

Your talking points repeatedly stress that immigrants under this program will be required to "meet accelerated English and civics requirements by set deadlines." I join you in wishing that immigrants would learn English and become acquainted with the basics of the American political process necessary to participate fully in the American Dream.

However, the substance of requirements and enforcement provisions for this key principle are decidedly weak and ambiguous. For the 1st renewal of the visa the applicant need only "demonstrate an attempt to gain an understanding of the English language and knowledge of United States civics by taking the naturalization [and] enrollment in or placement on a waiting list for English classes."

Nothing in that language requires that the applicant PASS these examinations, only show that they have made an attempt. Meanwhile, every applicant for a "Z" visa becomes legally entitled to work in the United States from the moment they apply, or even before, if they can show judge that they would be entitled to such benefits under the law when the Z visa is available.

While the provisions in the bill to assist in providing citizenship and English classes are generous, where are the enforcement provisions for those who fail to meet even these watered down standards for English and U.S. civic literacy?

Enforcement is at the heart of concerns shared by those who oppose this bill as it currently stands. How many years now have we talked about border security and yet many of us ask "Where's the Fence" required by previous legislation to protect our Southern border? If the Senate cannot show a seriousness for border security, which previously passed legislation requires, how can we put trust in promises made under this bill?

Calling opponents of this legislation "bigots", as you did recently, only makes the task more difficult. It's past time for you to begin working with Senator Demint and others like Senators in neighboring Georgia for a bill which does more than provide lip service when it comes to enforcement.

You've compromised enough with Senator Ted Kennedy. If I wanted to be represented by him I would move to Massachusetts. Get this bill done. But get it done RIGHT!

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Looters Raid Yasser Arafat's Home

A fitting tribute for a man whose legacy is one of violence and destruction!
Looters raid Arafat's home, steal his Nobel Peace Prize
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Jerusalem Post
June 16, 2007

Enraged Fatah leaders on Saturday accused Hamas militiamen of looting the home of former Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat in Gaza City.

"They stole almost everything inside the house, including Arafat's Nobel Peace Prize medal," said Ramallah-based Fatah spokesman Ahmed Abdel Rahman. "Hamas militiamen and gangsters blew up the main entrance to the house before storming it. They stole many of Arafat's documents and files, gifts he had received from world leaders and even his military outfits."

Abdel Rahman said the attackers also raided the second floor of the house and stole the personal belongings of his widow, Suha, and daughter, Zahwa. "They stole all the widow's clothes and shoes," he added. "They also took Arafat's pictures with his daughter."
...

"The Palestinian people will never forgive the Hamas gangs for looting the home of the Palestinian people's great leader, Yasser Arafat," Abdel Rahman said. "This crime will remain a stain of disgrace on the forehead of Hamas and its despicable gangs."
They're eating their own!

North Carolina Disbars Raleigh Prosecutor Mike NiFong

When will race baiting and liberal "lynch mobs" also face justice?


From the Associated Press: The committee, after deliberating for a little more than an hour, unanimously agreed with the bar on almost every charge - including the most serious allegations - that Nifong's actions involved "dishonesty, fraud, deceit and misrepresentation."

State Bar prosecutor Douglas Brocker told the committee that as Nifong investigated the allegations that a stripper was raped and beaten at a March 2006 party thrown by Duke's lacrosse team, he charged "forward toward condemnation and injustice," weaving a "web of deception that has continued up through this hearing."

"Mr. Nifong did not act as a minister of justice, but as a minister of injustice," Brocker said.

Nifong apologizes..... To an "extent."

The decision of the N.C. disciplinary committee came one day after Mike Nifong promised to resign as Raleigh/Durham Prosecutor in an emotional statement where he also apologized "To the extent my actions have caused pain to the Finnertys and the Seligmanns and the Evanses, I apologize." "To the extent?" You ruined the reputations of these innocent men, stirred up incredible racial hatred and that's your apology? That ranks right up there with another Democrat, Senator Dick Durbin (IL), who apologized halfheartedly after comparing our troops at Gitmo to Nazi and Soviet death camp guards!

Liberal Lynch Mob Unapologetic

Even after making this "apology" Nifong insisted that he believed "something happened in that bathroom." A statement which no doubt will be used by the other vile actors in this saga to avoid any accountability for their actions in fanning the flames of racial hatred.

Despite the fact that the North Carolina Attorney General made an absolute declaration that the Duke Lacrosse players were "Innocent" the lynch mob that feeds off of a culture of vicitimology refuses to let go. Shadee Malaklou, member of the Duke "Women's Center" wrote an op-ed suggesting that despite the outcome of the legal process the Duke Lacrosse players aren't so innocent because, she claims, "very rarely are the Duke Lacrosse players not drinking or partying."

If Shadee (sounds pretty SHADY to me) were just an isolated example that would be one thing. But the culture of victimology has been so successful in demonizing, not just those falsely accused in this case, but the entire white political establishment.

Shadee and others were urged on by radical faculty members to protest, even the point they demanded that the accused Duke players be castrated (photos here). And after the facts were known, one of this "Group of 88" which later became the "Concerned Duke Faculty" declared that "Regardless of the ‘truth’ established in whatever period of time about the incident at the house on N. Buchanan Blvd [Lacrosse players house]., the engine of outcry in this moment has been fueled by the difficult and mundane reality that pre-existed this incident.”

One wonders how much money the Group of 88 faculty (from mostly very liberal academic departments with a penchant for preaching victimhood) squeezed out of Duke University for their programs in racial and cultural political brainwashing? We'll see more such injustices as long as the purveyor's of victimology make such a good living at it.

Stain on Larger Civil Rights Movement

And what about the wider civil rights (victims) activist community? Still no apology from any of them. The damage they have done is extreme. Not just in furthering hatred along racial and class divides, but also to the very cause they claim to represent.

Just think what happens next time a black woman makes an accusation of rape by white men? Will her charge get the serious attention it deserves or will the stain from this monstrous injustice at Duke demean very real racial and sexual injustice?

It's time for those who would deny the ALL the Duke Lacrosse Players their right to the presumption of innocence to be held accountable for their actions. Further action against former Prosecutor Nifong is demanded. But also, require all those who protested against the Lacrosse players, and the faculty who urged them on, to attend mandatory sessions on the rights of accused in our judicial system. For good measure, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson should also attend, and in SILENCE!

Dividing America: One Minority At A Time!

Ever wonder why racial and ethnic divisions in our society seem to be getting worse?

Let the Segregation Commence
Separatist graduations proliferate at UCLA.
By John Leo
City Journal
13 June 2007

Commencement weekend is hard to plan at the University of California, Los Angeles. The university now has so many separate identity-group graduations that scheduling them not to conflict with one another is a challenge. The women’s studies graduation and the Chicana/Chicano studies graduation are both set for 10 AM Saturday. The broader Hispanic graduation, “Raza,” is in near-conflict with the black graduation, which starts just an hour later.

Planning was easier before a new crop of ethnic groups pushed for inclusion. Students of Asian heritage were once content with the Asian–Pacific Islanders ceremony. But now there are separate Filipino and Vietnamese commencements, and some talk of a Cambodian one in the future. Years ago, UCLA sponsored an Iranian graduation, but the school’s commencement office couldn’t tell me if the event was still around. The entire Middle East may yet be a fertile source for UCLA commencements.
...
But the core reason for separatist graduations is the obvious one: on campus, assimilation is a hostile force, the domestic version of American imperialism. On many campuses, identity-group training begins with separate freshman orientation programs for nonwhites, who arrive earlier and are encouraged to bond before the first Caucasian freshmen arrive. Some schools have separate orientations for gays as well. Administrations tend to foster separatism by arguing that bias is everywhere, justifying double standards that favor identity groups.
This example is just the tip of the iceberg.

Multiculturalism is the tool that the left is using to destroy the unity of American Society. And as they destroy that unity they complain about it's destruction and point the finger at those trying to prevent it.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Happy Flag Day!


Happy Flag Day!


Gazing at the Flag has a collection of her favorite flag images here.

Gazing inspired me to dig through the archives and find some of my favorite flag images. Here goes:

David Matthews of Pack 308 places a flag on a grave at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery May 26, 2007 in Louisville, Kentucky. Boy Scouts from the Seneca District and the Lincoln Heritage Council, which represents the Louisville area, participated in the flag placing. This was the 25th year that scouts have been placing flags on the graves at the cemetery. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)


AAACross1

In the aftermath of September 11th, rescue workers pray at Ground Zero beneath a Cross which appeared among the pile of twisted steel, debris and death.

firemen-flag-091201

Firemen raise the flag at Ground Zero after the September 11th attacks.

ReaganBand2

I took this photo of the girl holding the flag while the rest of her band (except fo they guy in sunglasses) listened to President Reagan when I arranged this visit to my hometown in Ohio in 1988.

RRNancyFlag64

Czech President: Environmentalists Threat to Freedom

Man made global warming is a trivial problem compared to the Socialist experiment environmentalists would unleash!

You might recall the warm welcome extended to President and Mrs. Bush by Czech President Vaclav Klaus (photo here). In the post recounting Bush's European trip I also pointed out the Czech President's previous outspoken opposition to global warming hysteria and the dangers extreme environmentalism holds for the progress of human freedom.

Well Klaus it at it again and!
Freedom, not climate, is at risk
By Vaclav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic
Financial Times
June 13 2007

We are living in strange times. One exceptionally warm winter is enough – irrespective of the fact that in the course of the 20th century the global temperature increased only by 0.6 per cent – for the environmentalists and their followers to suggest radical measures to do something about the weather, and to do it right now.

In the past year, Al Gore’s so-called “documentary” film was shown in cinemas worldwide, Britain’s – more or less Tony Blair’s – Stern report was published, the fourth report of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was put together and the Group of Eight summit announced ambitions to do something about the weather. Rational and freedom-loving people have to respond. The dictates of political correctness are strict and only one permitted truth, not for the first time in human history, is imposed on us. Everything else is denounced.

The author Michael Crichton stated it clearly: “the greatest challenge facing mankind is the challenge of distinguishing reality from fantasy, truth from propaganda”. I feel the same way, because global warming hysteria has become a prime example of the truth versus propaganda problem. It requires courage to oppose the “established” truth, although a lot of people – including top-class scientists – see the issue of climate change entirely differently. They protest against the arrogance of those who advocate the global warming hypothesis and relate it to human activities.

As someone who lived under communism for most of his life, I feel obliged to say that I see the biggest threat to freedom, democracy, the market economy and prosperity now in ambitious environmentalism, not in communism. This ideology wants to replace the free and spontaneous evolution of mankind by a sort of central (now global) planning.

The environmentalists ask for immediate political action because they do not believe in the long-term positive impact of economic growth and ignore both the technological progress that future generations will undoubtedly enjoy, and the proven fact that the higher the wealth of society, the higher is the quality of the environment. They are Malthusian pessimists.

The scientists should help us and take into consideration the political effects of their scientific opinions. They have an obligation to declare their political and value assumptions and how much they have affected their selection and interpretation of scientific evidence.

Does it make any sense to speak about warming of the Earth when we see it in the context of the evolution of our planet over hundreds of millions of years? Every child is taught at school about temperature variations, about the ice ages, about the much warmer climate in the Middle Ages. All of us have noticed that even during our life-time temperature changes occur (in both directions).

Due to advances in technology, increases in disposable wealth, the rationality of institutions and the ability of countries to organise themselves, the adaptability of human society has been radically increased. It will continue to increase and will solve any potential consequences of mild climate changes.

I agree with Professor Richard Lindzen from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who said: “future generations will wonder in bemused amazement that the early 21st century’s developed world went into hysterical panic over a globally averaged temperature increase of a few tenths of a degree, and, on the basis of gross exaggerations of highly uncertain computer projections combined into implausible chains of inference, proceeded to contemplate a roll-back of the industrial age”.

The issue of global warming is more about social than natural sciences and more about man and his freedom than about tenths of a degree Celsius changes in average global temperature.

As a witness to today’s worldwide debate on climate change, I suggest the following:
■Small climate changes do not demand far-reaching restrictive measures
■Any suppression of freedom and democracy should be avoided
■Instead of organising people from above, let us allow everyone to live as he wants
■Let us resist the politicisation of science and oppose the term “scientific consensus”, which is always achieved only by a loud minority, never by a silent majority
■Instead of speaking about “the environment”, let us be attentive to it in our personal behaviour
■Let us be humble but confident in the spontaneous evolution of human society. Let us trust its rationality and not try to slow it down or divert it in any direction
■Let us not scare ourselves with catastrophic forecasts, or use them to defend and promote irrational interventions in human lives.
Never mind that President Klaus is commenting here on mostly political issues; you can bet the global warming zealots will dismiss his views because "he's not a scientist."

Really? So where did Al Gore get his PhD?

At Mike's America we've been tracking the curious phenomenon of accomplished scientists whose credentials are dismissed by the zealots if they fail to worship at the altar of manmade global warming. But our meager efforts pale in comparison to the efforts of Lawrence Solomon writing in the Financial Post and brought to our attention in The City Troll:

They call this a consensus?
By Lawrence Solomon
Financial Post
June 02, 2007

"Only an insignificant fraction of scientists deny the global warming crisis. The time for debate is over. The science is settled."

So said Al Gore ... in 1992. Amazingly, he made his claims despite much evidence of their falsity. A Gallup poll at the time reported that 53% of scientists actively involved in global climate research did not believe global warming had occurred; 30% weren't sure; and only 17% believed global warming had begun. Even a Greenpeace poll showed 47% of climatologists didn't think a runaway greenhouse effect was imminent; only 36% thought it possible and a mere 13% thought it probable.

Today, Al Gore is making the same claims of a scientific consensus, as do the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and hundreds of government agencies and environmental groups around the world. But the claims of a scientific consensus remain unsubstantiated. They have only become louder and more frequent.

More than six months ago, I began writing this series, The Deniers. When I began, I accepted the prevailing view that scientists overwhelmingly believe that climate change threatens the planet. I doubted only claims that the dissenters were either kooks on the margins of science or sell-outs in the pockets of the oil companies.


National Post's Deniers series: Scientists who challenge the climate change debateThe series
Statistics needed -- The Deniers Part I
Warming is real -- and has benefits -- The Deniers Part II
The hurricane expert who stood up to UN junk science -- The Deniers Part III
Polar scientists on thin ice -- The Deniers Part IV
The original denier: into the cold -- The Deniers Part V
The sun moves climate change -- The Deniers Part VI
Will the sun cool us? -- The Deniers Part VII
The limits of predictability -- The Deniers Part VIII
Look to Mars for the truth on global warming -- The Deniers Part IX
Limited role for C02 -- the Deniers Part X
End the chill -- The Deniers Part XI
Clouded research -- The Deniers Part XII
Allegre's second thoughts -- The Deniers XIII
The heat's in the sun -- The Deniers XIV
Unsettled Science -- The Deniers XVBitten by the IPCC -- The Deniers XVI
Little ice age is still within us -- The Deniers XVII
Fighting climate 'fluff' -- The Deniers XVIII
Science, not politics -- The Deniers XIX
More on the environment

My series set out to profile the dissenters -- those who deny that the science is settled on climate change -- and to have their views heard. To demonstrate that dissent is credible, I chose high-ranking scientists at the world's premier scientific establishments. I considered stopping after writing six profiles, thinking I had made my point, but continued the series due to feedback from readers. I next planned to stop writing after 10 profiles, then 12, but the feedback increased. Now, after profiling more than 20 deniers, I do not know when I will stop -- the list of distinguished scientists who question the IPCC grows daily, as does the number of emails I receive, many from scientists who express gratitude for my series.

Somewhere along the way, I stopped believing that a scientific consensus exists on climate change. Certainly there is no consensus at the very top echelons of scientists -- the ranks from which I have been drawing my subjects -- and certainly there is no consensus among astrophysicists and other solar scientists, several of whom I have profiled. If anything, the majority view among these subsets of the scientific community may run in the opposite direction. Not only do most of my interviewees either discount or disparage the conventional wisdom as represented by the IPCC, many say their peers generally consider it to have little or no credibility. In one case, a top scientist told me that, to his knowledge, no respected scientist in his field accepts the IPCC position.

The Albanians who welcomed President Bush also have some first hand experience with socialist zealots! Who would want to relive that history?

Palestinian Civil War

This is the result of decades of preaching hate against Israel and the West. The animals in Palestine are once again revealing their true nature and killing each other with savagery!

Excerpts from:

Hamas Overruns Fatah Security Command
By DIAA HADID
Associated Press
Jun 14, 2007

GAZA CITY--Hamas fighters overran one of the rival Fatah movement's most important security installations in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, and witnesses said the victors dragged vanquished gunmen from the building and killed them in the street.
...
Fatah officials said seven of their fighters were shot to death in the street outside Preventive Security. A witness, Jihad Abu Ayad, said the men were being killed in front of their wives and children.

"They are executing them one by one," Abu Ayad said. "They are carrying one of them on their shoulders, putting him on a sand dune, turning him around and shooting."
...
Some 80 people, most of them militants, have been killed since a spike in violence Sunday sent Gaza into civil war. At least 15 people died on Thursday.

Hospitals were operating without water, electricity and blood. Even holed up inside their homes, Gazans weren't able to escape fighting that turned apartment buildings into battlefields.

Moean Hammad, 34, said life had become a nightmare at his high-rise building near the Preventive Security headquarters.

"We spent our night in the hallway outside the apartment because the building came under crossfire in 2002," Hammad said. "We haven't had electricity for two days, and all we can hear is shooting and powerful, earthshaking explosions.

"The world is watching us dying and doing nothing to help. God help us, we feel like we are in a real-life horror movie," he said.
Yes, and it's a horror movie that you people have been making for years. You revel in a culture of death and are surprised at the result?

More at the American Israeli Patriot:

When a pregnant mother of eight planned to become a suicide bomber you know you're dealing with an evil, barbaric society. How can there be peace with people like this?

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Albanian Bush Stamps

Need a stamp to send your postcards home from Albania?

Really says something when a formerly Stalinist nation honors President Bush by putting him on their mail!

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

From Vision to Reality: Reagan's Road to Freedom Celebrates Anniversaries

25 years since President Reagan laid out the freedom agenda that saw democracy, prosperity and freedom race around the world!

President Reagan addressing British Parliament in London, England. 6/8/82.
Larger image here.

25 years ago In an address to the British Parliament on June 8, 1982, President Reagan dared to call evil by it's name. In that famous speech he outlined his vision for a better world: "If history teaches anything it teaches self-delusion in the face of unpleasant facts is folly" he warned. But that was just the warm up. He went on to say "we see totalitarian forces in the world who seek subversion and conflict around the globe to further their barbarous assault on the human spirit" and "freedom is not the sole prerogative of a lucky few, but the inalienable and universal right of all human beings. " Sound familiar?

With that foundation of freedom as a universal right he came to the high point of the speech: "the march of freedom and democracy which will leave Marxism-Leninism on the ash-heap of history as it has left other tyrannies which stifle the freedom and muzzle the self-expression of the people."

President Reagan was broadly attacked by the left and the appeasers who cowered from the bristling Soviet nuclear arsenal and who protested across Europe and the United States against Reagan the warmonger. Interestingly, the left never protested against Soviet nuclear sabre rattling!

20 years ago today! "Tear Down This Wall!"

President Reagan refused to back down from his vision and determination to free the world of the threat posed by the Cold War. Five years after his speech in London he went to Berlin on June 12, 1987 and stood before the Berlin Wall. The speech he intended to give and the words he spoke were resisted by National Security officials in his own Administration. Drafts of the speech that were circulated to the staff came back to the President with a request he tone it down. Again, he refused.

He delivered the speech that best matched his vision and commitment to freedom. History has rightly judged the act as a supreme moment in the progress of freedom and peace.


An audio excerpt of the speech here:

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Click here if audio player fails to load.
A video excerpt here.
Full text with full audio link here.

Two years later the Wall fell at the hands of Germans who clambored over it, not with hammers and sickles, but hammers and chisels. The Wall fell and Germany was reunited in a Europe that was finally "whole and free." Now, the former captive nations are among the strongest allies of the United States, standing with us in NATO and also in Iraq and Afghanistan.

None of that would have been possible without the vision and leadership of the United States under President Reagan. It's a shining example of the great things we can do, which might seem impossible at the time, if only we are willing to overcome the fears and obstacles presented by current political process which always seeks short term political power over great achievement.

Remembering

Many events around the country will mark this anniversary. President Bush, following up on his speech in Prague where he cited the residue of communism which still afflicts people around the world spoke today at the dedication for the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The Reagan Ranch Center, run by the Young America's Foundation is hosting Michael Medved who will interview Peter Robinson, the White House speechwriter who worked with President Reagan and helped assure the famous line "tear down this wall" remained in the speech.
Medved will post the audio of this program here.

Let's not forget the lesson which both history and President Reagan taught us: Freedom is the objective of all mankind. And peace is the dividend of allowing that goal to be realized!

Harry Reid's Popularity Dropping Like a Stone!

Vice President Cheney has TWICE the favorability rating!

Rasmussen reports that Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid's popularity fell from 30% in February to 26% in May and plummeted to 19% in June.

It seems that the more Americans get to see and hear the new Senate Leader the less they like him.

And Dennis Miller just piles it on layer after layer in this must see slamfest that Flopping Aces found:

And let's not forget Reid's corrupt use of his office to enrich his family:

Click on the chart above and read about Reid's CLAN OF CORRUPTION

Two words of caution for you ole Har: TOM DASCHOLE!

Monday, June 11, 2007

Bush European Trip Gets Rave Reviews from Locals!

Nothing short of pure adulation from the Albanians!

Thousands took to the streets, not to protest, but to shower President Bush with a most emotional, heartfelt welcome.

President George W. Bush is covered with the hands of Albanians as he's greeted with an outpouring of welcome Sunday, June 10, 2007, during a stop in Fushe Kruje. The stop marked the first time a sitting U.S. president has visited the country. White House photo by Eric Draper



Courtyard Council of Ministers
Tirana, Albania
June 10, 2007

PRIME MINISTER BERISHA: (As translated.) Today is a beautiful day. Today is a great day, historic for all Albanians. Among us is the greatest and most distinguished guest we have ever had in all times, the President of the United States of America, the leading country of the free world, George W. Bush.; his lady, Mrs. Laura Bush, and their close aides. For me, it's a great honor, and a special pleasure to thank them with gratitude and extend the most heartfelt welcome, in this historic visit, the first visit ever of a United States President in Albania.

Thank you heartily, Mr. President, from the bottom of our hearts, fulfilling ardent and long-awaited wish of all Albanians to have a special guest in their home. Tungjatjeta -- an Albanian word, means "may you have a long life." This is a most traditional greeting of Albanians that I chose to greet you on their behalf, on behalf of Albanians. Welcome to Albania, President Bush.

Mr. President, you are, today, an honorable guest and friend of a nation whose gratefulness and friendship towards your great nation and your country have been deeply embodied in the historic memory and in the conscience of its citizens. No other nation in the region or in Europe has ever gone through so much suffering, ethnic cleansing, racism, partitions, occupations, and severe dictatorships as we Albanians have. History was unjust and very severe to us.

We have been blessed, however. We have won in all our efforts to defend our identity in Western oriented national vocation to emerge from the age of oppression to the age of dignity, from the age of darkness to the age of freedom. We have won because our just cause has always had the powerful support of the U.S.A., the greatest and the most precious friend of Albanian nation. God bless your great nation.

What's this? Don't those Albanians get CNN? Don't they know that according to John Kerry President Bush has made the U.S. an "international pariah?" And haven't they heard that according to Jimmy Carter President Bush is the "the worst in history" when it comes to international relations?

But unlike idiotic liberal elites in the United States, the Albanians know firsthand the evil of tyranny and the benefits of freedom. Their example is but one which President Bush highlighted on this European trip.

President Bush praised the religious freedom and tolerance of the Albanians, a predominately Muslim nation, and also thanked them for contributing a commando unit to coalition efforts in Iraq and also a deployment this summer to Afghanistan. It appears we're NOT going "unilateral" in Iraq after all. Who knew?


President George W. Bush stands with Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, left, of Croatia, Prime Minister Sali Berisha of Albania, and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of Macedonia, Sunday, June 10, 2007, following a lunch with the three leaders during a stop in Tirana, Albania. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

Bush Gives Pope The Stick!

Pope Benedict XVI smiles as he holds a walking stick presented to him by President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush Saturday, June 9, 2007, during their visit to the Holy See. The walking stick, created by a former homeless Texas man, is adorned with the Ten Commandments in multiple colors. White House photo by Eric Draper

Perhaps President Bush should have kept that stick to keep Congress in line!

Poland: Another former "captive nation" thankful for U.S. support.


President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush are greeted by Poland's President Lech Kaczynski and Mrs. Maria Kaczynska at the Gdansk Lech Walesa International Airport Friday, June 8, 2007, in Gdansk. White House photo by Chris Greenberg


Welcoming Remarks of President Kaczynski of Poland
Gdansk Lech Walesa International Airport
Gdansk, Poland
June 8, 2007

PRESIDENT KACZYNSKI: ...Certainly we talked about the issue of missile defense system. We talked about problems pertaining to the relations with our very important Russian partner. We talked about the situation in Iran a little; ...

I can tell you that as far as the missile defense system is concerned, the two parties fully agree. And this is in line with the obvious thing, that the system has no aggressive intentions. This is the plan which is to reenforce the protection of Europe against the dangers which result from the fact that not all the countries of the contemporary world are responsible -- we do not mean Russia here. It's about other states.
...

However, it is important that our Russian partner, with which Poland wants also to have as good relations as possible -- the United States has good relations with that country -- but that Russia should recognize that the world has changed for the last 18 years, and it concerns also Central and Eastern Europe, and in particular, it concerns our country.

No plans of the United States, as the U.S. President said, or Polish plans are directed against the interests of the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation can feel totally safe... the whole plan of the missile defense system is the plan which gives rights to more stability and defense, defense which is needed to guard against irresponsible actions, without any additional objectives here.
Bush Scores at G-8 Summit!

Apparently that message to Russian President Putin was delivered rather effectively by President Bush in the G-8 Summit meeting which preceded President Bush's trip to Poland. Putin, in a joint news conference with President Bush following their one on one meeting backed down from an earlier threat to target European nations participating in the Missile Defense program and made a number of suggestions whereby other former captive nations like Azerbaijan might also participate.


President George W. Bush shares a moment with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, after a photo opportunity with Outreach Representatives at the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, Germany. With them are Prime Minister Romano Prodi, left, of Italy, and Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom. White House photo by Eric Draper

A Bush Milestone: More Conservative, More Pro-American leaders than at any previous G-8!


Go right down that row! Most of these leaders have been elected or re-elected in the last few years on a platform of more conservative, more pro-American policies! That's quite an achievement!

Leaders of the G8 sit on a canopied bench after meeting with Junior G8 Student Leaders Thursday, June 7, 2007, in Heiligendamm, Germany. From left, and under their respective country flags, are: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan; Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada; President Nicolas Sarkozy of France; Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President George W. Bush of the United States; Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom; Prime Minister Romano Prodi of Italy, and Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission. White House photo by Eric Draper

A Warm Welcome from the Czechs!

President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush are welcomed by President Vaclav Klaus and his wife Livia Klausova to Prague Castle Tuesday, June 5, 2007. White House photo by Eric Draper

The Czechs also appreciate their relationship with the United States and have joined with us in development of a missile defense system. President Klaus has also been very vocal on the need to combat global warming hysteria; a message which President Bush successfully carried to the G-8 Summit when he convinced participants to study the issue more closely before making any economically damaging and environmentally inconsequential regulations.

But the real purpose of President Bush's Czech visit, which was also echoed at the later stops in Poland and Albania, was the advancement of freedom, particularly in the former captive nations, but also in those countries which are still held prisoner by totalitarian elites. Attending an International Conference on Democracy and Security President Bush touted his Administration's commitment to freedom. These are not just throwaway talking points, but the full measure of the moral commitment made by the United States to other people's around the world.

President Bush Discusses Freedom
Large Hall, Czernin Palace
Prague, Czech Republic
June 5, 2007

Fact Sheet: Advancing Freedom and Democracy Around the World

THE PRESIDENT:

...In this room are dissidents and democratic activists from 17 countries on five continents. You follow different traditions, you practice different faiths, and you face different challenges. But you are united by an unwavering conviction: that freedom is the non-negotiable right of every man, woman, and child, and that the path to lasting peace in our world is liberty. (Applause.)

This conference was conceived by three of the great advocates for freedom in our time: Jose Maria Aznar, Vaclav Havel, and Natan Sharansky. I thank them for the invitation to address this inspiring assembly, and for showing the world that an individual with moral clarity and courage can change the course of history.
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It is fitting that we meet in the Czech Republic -- a nation at the heart of Europe, and of the struggle for freedom on this continent. Nine decades ago, Tomas Masaryk proclaimed Czechoslovakia's independence based on the "ideals of modern democracy." That democracy was interrupted, first by the Nazis and then by the communists, who seized power in a shameful coup that left the Foreign Minister dead in the courtyard of this palace.

Through the long darkness of Soviet occupation, the true face of this nation was never in doubt. The world saw it in the reforms of the Prague Spring and the principled demands of Charter 77. Those efforts were met with tanks and truncheons and arrests by secret police. But the violent would not have the final word. In 1989, thousands gathered in Wenceslas Square to call for their freedom. Theaters like the Magic Lantern became headquarters for dissidents. Workers left their factories to support a strike. And within weeks, the regime crumbled. Vaclav Havel went from prisoner of state to head of state. And the people of Czechoslovakia brought down the Iron Curtain with a Velvet Revolution.

Across Europe, similar scenes were unfolding. In Poland, a movement that began in a single shipyard freed people across a nation. In Hungary, mourners gathered at Heroes Square to bury a slain reformer -- and bury their communist regime, too. In East Germany, families came together for prayer meetings -- and found the strength to tear down a wall. Soon, activists emerged from the attics and church basements to reclaim the streets of Bulgaria, and Romania, and Albania, and Latvia, and Lithuania, and Estonia. The Warsaw Pact was dissolved peacefully in this very room. And after seven decades of oppression, the Soviet Union ceased to exist.
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The United States is also using our influence to urge valued partners like Egypt and Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to move toward freedom. These nations have taken brave stands and strong action to confront extremists, along with some steps to expand liberty and transparency. Yet they have a great distance still to travel. The United States will continue to press nations like these to open up their political systems, and give greater voice to their people. Inevitably, this creates tension. But our relationships with these countries are broad enough and deep enough to bear it. As our relationships with South Korea and Taiwan during the Cold War prove, America can maintain a friendship and push a nation toward democracy at the same time. (Applause.)

We're also applying that lesson to our relationships with Russia and China. (Applause.) The United States has strong working relationships with these countries. Our friendship with them is complex. In the areas where we share mutual interests, we work together. In other areas, we have strong disagreements. China's leaders believe that they can continue to open the nation's economy without opening its political system. We disagree. (Applause.) In Russia, reforms that were once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development. Part of a good relationship is the ability to talk openly about our disagreements. So the United States will continue to build our relationships with these countries -- and we will do it without abandoning our principles or our values. (Applause.)

We appreciate that free societies take shape at different speeds in different places. One virtue of democracy is that it reflects local history and traditions. Yet there are fundamental elements that all democracies share -- freedom of speech, religion, press, and assembly; rule of law enforced by independent courts; private property rights; and political parties that compete in free and fair elections. (Applause.) These rights and institutions are the foundation of human dignity, and as countries find their own path to freedom, they must find a loyal partner in the United States of America.

Extending the reach of freedom is a mission that unites democracies around the world. Some of the greatest contributions are coming from nations with the freshest memories of tyranny. I appreciate the Czech Republic's support for human rights projects in Belarus and Burma and Cuba. I thank Germany, and Poland, and the Czech Republic, and Hungary, and Slovenia, and Georgia, Lithuania, Estonia, Croatia for contributing to the new United Nations Democracy Fund. I'm grateful for the commitment many new democracies in Central and Eastern Europe are making to Afghanistan and Iraq. I appreciate that these countries are willing to do the hard work necessary to enable people who want to be free to live in a free society.


What an astounding trip! And to think that Paris Hilton got more media coverage! For SHAME "news" media!
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