Mike's America Year in Review: October, November, December 2005

October 2005: Bush on the Ropes

October started off well enough. President Bush gave one of the first in a series of speeches that only gained traction in late November and December. Pictured right, he addresses the National Endowment for Democracy in the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC.

The speech had the clarity of vision of later speeches, but lacked the direct response to the growing chorus of lies from Democrats invested in defeat.

Let Them Eat Cake: French in Fuss Over Sandwich

One of the most popular posts, or infamous if you are French, was "Let Them Eat Cake" regarding the Subway advertisement for it's new Cordon Bleu sandwich. Something about the phrase: "France and chicken. Somehow it just goes together" rubbed many Frogs the wrong way. Little did we know that only weeks later, it wouldn't be chicken cordon bleu, but BARBECUE that became popular in some areas of France.

I still notice a few French Fries coming over the internet on the basis of that post. Come on back in friends and tell us again how much more superior French culture and society is... We'd love to hear it!

Harriet Miers: Right Kicks Bush When He is Down

October also saw the nomination of White House Counsel Harriet Miers as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court hit a wall of opposition from within the conservative movement. Such an assault from the right came at a particularly bad time as the President sought to reclaim the high ground lost after a summer of Democrats lying about lies and the aftermath of Katrina.

I don't intend to re-air all the arguments in the case again. But suffice it to say that many of us who have worked in conservative politics for decades found the presumption that the majority of conservatives to be against Miers FLAT OUT WRONG. Miers was also rated as qualified by a greater percentage of poll respondents than had expressed the same view towards Clarence Thomas.

But of course this didn't matter to the vocal minority that insisted on a more certifiable conservative candidate. Miers bowed out and President Bush moved quickly to nominate Samuel Alito, who awaits confirmation in the New Year.

Family of Judge Alito poses in front of Clinton portrait at the White House during ceremony announcing Alito's nomination to the Supreme Court. I'm sure Alito will make a fine justice, even if the families choice in background is a bit odd.

I found it interesting that some on the right called me a "Republican in Name Only" or RINO for supporting President Bush's nomination of Miers. And all these decades little ole me working for and supporting the likes of Buckley, Goldwater, Reagan and Ashbrook, I thought I was a conservative.

Iraq's Constitutional Election: Further Vindication of the Bush Strategy

At every step along the historic path to Iraqi democracy and peace in the Middle East, the left have said it cannot be done,and claim that a civil war is just around the corner. But the Iraqis have proven them wrong every time. With the approval of the first freely chosen constitution in the Arab world, Iraqis know who to thank for it, and it is not Cindy Sheehan.

The trial of former dictator and butcher Saddam Hussein also began in October.

On the eve of the trial, little Jafar, sits on his father's lap and holds a photograph of memorial for his grandfather and uncles murdered by Saddam in Dujail, Iraq in 1982. Perhaps our lefty friends could explain to little Jafar or his father why war wasn't the answer... or that weapons inspections would somehow put an end to the genocide.

All throughout the Iraq conflict, the left has moaned and wailed about the deaths of civilians or the relatively few, yet tragic, deaths of our troops to liberate Iraq.

But the picture of little Jafar reminds us of a far worse tragedy, the continuing horror that Saddam inflicted for decades on the Iraqi people. Logic Times has an interesting analysis of the numbers which bring into question the real motivations of lefties who claim to care so much about the loss of life:

courtesy of Logic TimesMedia Storm Hype Exposed

In one of the funniest and most revealing moments of October, we have yet another clear example of the "fake but accurate" school of journalism. NBC reporter Michelle Kosinski was doing pretty well projecting the usual sky is falling routine regarding the tragedy du jour, the floods in New Jersey, until a couple of men waded by in the ankle deep water.

Another bit of fun in October came with the arrival of the Autorantic Virtual Moonbat, courtesy of Sean Gleeson.

Funny how this thing replicates the intelligence quotient of most moonbats to a tee!

Top Ten Al Queda Job Requirements:
10. Must be eager to work with a dynamic group of diverse suicidal maniacs
9. Must be a "self-starter;" also, a "self-detonator"
8. Must be a "people person"
7. Absolutely no prima donnas! Whether it's fetching coffee or sawing off the head of a female schoolteacher, there are no "small tasks" at Al Qaeda, only "small workers"
6. Must have a good "phone voice"
5. Must be willing to relocate to Paradise on 24 hours notice
4. Qualified candidates should have 3-5 years experience with Excel, Java, Quicken, and rocket-propelled grenades
3. Special consideration will be given to any candidate who can fit a complete stinger missile system up his ass (we promise-- no giggling!)
2. Must not have already registered with Kelly Temps...and the Number One Requirement for Employment With Al Qaeda...
1. Not a requirement but a perk: Every Friday is Hawaiian-Shirt-and-Crazy-Tie Day!!!

November: Bush Picks Up Steam, Democrats Clamor for Defeat!

November opened with a reminder of the great day in November 1980 that saw President Reagan elected to replace the defeatist "malaise" President Carter and restore the American spirit. Mike's America remembers that day here. Where were you?

Rocketing ahead to the November 2005 election, another victory for common sense with the little noticed defeat in Ohio of four state constitutional amendments designed by vengeful Democrats to seize control of the state's political process in future elections. Buckeye's say NO!

Democrat Platform for 2006:

In November, Democrats upped the ante with their campaign of defeat and negativity. First, the onslaught of "Bush lied" continued unabated until Republicans responded by reminding voters that Democrats, over a period of many years, expressed the same concerns about Iraq and particularly weapons of mass destruction shared by the Bush Administration.

"Is There a Cure for Amnesia?" has the video of Democrat statements on Iraq. It's a classic! To that was added:

Former Clinton Director For Defense Policy And Arms Control, National Security Council Staff, Peter Feaver:
"How Could Even The All-Powerful Neocons Have Manipulated The Intelligence Estimates Of The Clinton Administration, French Intelligence, British Intelligence, German Intelligence And All The Other 'Co-Conspirators' Who Concurred On The Fundamentals Of The Bush Assessment?"
(Peter D. Feaver, "The Fog Of WMD," The Washington Post, 1/28/04)

Apparently Democrats were counting on voters to forget they ever had any concerns regarding Iraq as a threat. They demanded that congress have yet another investigation into the intelligence regarding Iraq and how the Administration used it to make their case. But when Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee offered to conduct a blind study of statements on Iraq from both Republicans AND Democrats, Senate Democrats refused to participate. More proof that Democrats are more interested in politics than truth!

On Veterans Day, Bush Speaks for VICTORY!

Finally! After so many months of ignoring the blatant politicization of the Iraq war and defeatism offered by Democrats, President Bush took off the gloves in this Pennsylvania speech commemorating Veterans Day:

The stakes in the global war on terror are too high, and the national interest is too important, for politicians to throw out false charges. (Applause.) These baseless attacks send the wrong signal to our troops and to an enemy that is questioning America's will. As our troops fight a ruthless enemy determined to destroy our way of life, they deserve to know that their elected leaders who voted to send them to war continue to stand behind them. (Applause.) Our troops deserve to know that this support will remain firm when the going gets tough. (Applause.) And our troops deserve to know that whatever our differences in Washington, our will is strong, our nation is united, and we will settle for nothing less than victory. (Applause.)

During a similar speech by Vice President Cheney, the lamestream media gave us this Freudian slip insight into their objectivity:

Democrat Defeat Campaign Hits Snag with House Vote Against Withdrawal

In a vain attempt to blunt the power of President Bush's call to VICTORY, Democrats from top to bottom went even further into the well of pessimissm and defeat. First, President Clinton took the unprecedented step of calling the Iraq war a "mistake" while visiting in the Middle East. Such a departure from the traditional view that "politics stops at the water's edge" made headlines all over the world and no doubt encouraged the terrorists.

Next, Democrats trotted out Congressman Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania. Using the same "war hero" rhetoric that failed to win adherents to the defeatism of presidential candidate John Kerry, Mr. Murtha was touted as an undeniable source of authority when he made the false claim that "80% of Iraqis want us out" now, and demanded an immediate withdrawal from Iraq and a redeployment elsewhere.

The House of Represenatives responded by voting on a simple resolution calling for immediate withdrawal. It was defeated by a vote of 403 against and 3 voting for.

Liberals Deny Free Speech to Republicans

November also gave reminders of how the lovers of tolerance and diversity regard the free speech rights of those who disagree. After putting up the poster below along with an invitation to a speech by a veteran of Iraq Rebecca Beach, a student at Warren Community College in New Jersey was viciously attacked in an email by a Professor at the school (later resigned- YEAH!) who threatened "I will continue to expose your right-wing, anti-people politics until groups like your won't dare show their face on a college campus. Real freedom will come when soldiers in Iraq turn their guns on their superiors."

By some measures of lefty intimidation and assault on the rights of others the Professors statement above is mild. I'm reminded of this photo from the 2004 election campaign:

Union Thugs for Kerry...Three year old Sophie Parlock cries after IUPAT thug, left ripped the Bush Cheney sign from her hands and tore it up before handing a portion back. He still holds a piece of the sign as he taunts the child and her father who dared to show up at a Kerry airport rally in West Virginia. Notice other thug, rear right shouting at the girl. And they call Bush a Nazi? Full story here. Lest anyone think that is an isolated incident, this site lists more stories of brownshirt Democrat behavior, including numerous reports of shots fired into GOP headquarters, organized union invasions of election headquarters and vandalism.

Yes, we sure did learn a thing or two about tolerance and free speech from Democrats!

Our Troops: Terrorists or a Helping Hand?

A good news story: US troops in Ethiopia rescue these poor abused Cheetah cubs and take them to the safety of a wildlife refuge. The one on the right was blinded by poachers and both would receive veterinary care.

December 2005: Bush VICTORY Strategy Vindicated!

Saddam's trial continued and no doubt leftists turned a deaf ear to the witnesses who described REAL torture and horror:

Men and women were tortured for days and babies left to die in an interrogation facility which featured a meat grinder for human flesh...A woman told a guard that her infant baby needed milk or he would die."He died and the guard threw him from the window," Hassan told the court. "Pregnant women gave birth in the prison. Their babies died."

Meanwhile, teachers in Wisconsin forced 8 year old students to write letters to elected officials demanding "peace." To the Iraqis that endured decades of horror at the hands of Saddam, the only "peace" they knew was the peace of the grave.

In what must be a rebuke to his defeatist colleagues Senator Lieberman speaks against defeat with this reminder of the duty and responsibility required of elected officials:

Vandenburg stated, that politics must stop at the water's edge, is altogether relevant to our current circumstances:
"To me, bipartisan foreign policy means a mutual effort under our indispensable two-party system, to unite our official voice at the water's edge so that America speaks with maximum authority against those who would divide and conquer us and the free world."
...
It is time for Democrats who distrust President Bush to acknowledge that he will be Commander-in-Chief for three more critical years, and that in matters of war we undermine Presidential credibility at our nation's peril.

And the good news from Iraq continued to go under-reported with most headlines grabbed by those who insist we are losing. An ABC News poll of Iraqis released just before the December 15th election found most Iraqis optimistic and encouraged about their future. And in case you hadn't heard "Roughly the other half says coalition forces should remain until security is restored."

Third Time is the Charm: Election is Great VICTORY for Freedom!

This quote from and Iraqi expatriate voter says it all: "Anybody who doesn't appreciate what America has done, and President Bush, let them go to hell!" The video is here.

Even Sunnis, who voted in large numbers want America to stay and support the Bush VICTORY strategy

From "What Election in Iraq?":Burns reports that even Sunnis unhappy with the American presence favor only a "gradual drawdown," and only if Iraq has achieved a sufficient level of security and stability. "Let's have stability, and then the Americans can go home," one Iraqi store owner told Burns. Informed that President Bush was saying exactly the same thing, this man replied: "Then Bush has said it correctly".

Michael Churchill, a Mike's America reader serving in the U.S. military during the election wrote:

Mike, the referendum was a pretty quiet day here in Baghdad, but the election on Thursday even trumped that day.

There was a higher voter turnout percentage here in Iraq than the United States had for the 2004 Presidential Election.

Another thing that will quiet all those opposed to our presence in Iraq...

If Iraqis wanted us out of their country so badly, then why not a single one of the sixty political parties in Iraq represented for parliament elections push the agenda of immediate Coalition withdraw?

I am proud to have served in Iraq, and to see democracy through its infancy.

Democracy is a beautiful thing, and I am sure those 11 million voters will agree.

A vote taken in the U.S. House expressing a commitment to our troops AND the mission of VICTORY passed overwhelmingly. But 108 Democrats and one Independent (Socialist) voted AGAINST VICTORY!

But that story, as well as the Iraqi election went largely unnoticed after a media firestorm started on the leak of a highly classified program to spy on people receiving phone calls in the United States from Al Queda operatives overseas. Never mind that every President claimed the same right to conduct such operations. Never mind that this program helped nab a terrorist plotting to destroy the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. The thought that the President would use his constitutional authority, or DUTY, to protect U.S. citizens was viewed as an opening by political opportunists with no sense of duty.

President Bush Speaks from Oval Office:

I also want to speak to those of you who did not support my decision to send troops to Iraq: I have heard your disagreement, and I know how deeply it is felt. Yet now there are only two options before our country -- victory or defeat. And the need for victory is larger than any president or political party, because the security of our people is in the balance. I don't expect you to support everything I do, but tonight I have a request: Do not give in to despair, and do not give up on this fight for freedom.