Olbermann Puff

This puff piece by the New York Times on Keith Olbermann is what DailyKos characterized as Fox "feeling the heat from Olbermann". Here's a snippet of the "heat":

...Mr. Olbermann has managed to climb past CNN into second place in the news channel competition at 8 p.m. among that 25-to-54 group. That qualifies as a feat for MSNBC, though Mr. Olbermann’s show remains little more than a dot in the rearview mirror of Fox News.

A little more than a dot and the KosKids are dancing in the streets. Oh well, I guess you take what you can get. I admit to watching a bit more of Olbermann these days than I ever did before. Not for anything substantive, but for the mere entertainment of the nutiness. I don't find him funny in the slightest, but the material he covers on his show is a rabid Bush haters dream. It's not for everybody, but if you want to crawl inside the head of a nutty left winger, this is a good start.

News AP & Al Reuters Style

AP and Reuters both report the same way on the video released of two soldiers tortured and murdered in Iraq. Here's the AP:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - An al-Qaida-linked group posted a Web video Tuesday purporting to show the mutilated bodies of two U.S. soldiers, claiming it killed them in revenge for the rape-slaying of a young Iraqi woman by American troops from the same unit.

And here's al-Reuters:

DUBAI (Reuters) - A group led by al Qaeda in Iraq released gruesome footage of two corpses it said were of U.S. soldiers killed in June, and dedicated the video to an Iraqi girl raped and shot dead by U.S. forces.

Obviously from this reporting the soldiers accused of rape and murder have already been found guilty by the AP and Reuters. To bad they don't give as much benifit of the doubt to our soldiers as they do to the terrorists. Oh yeah, to them one man's terrorist is another man freedom fighter.

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

You have got to be kidding me. According to this review from Libertas the new Superman stands for "truth, justice, and all that is good"!!!!!!! What the...? The rest of the review doesn't get any better. Bummer.

"New Direction" Is It?

Nancy Pelosi, in an interview with USA Today outlines the Democrats strategy to win back Congress this fall:

WASHINGTON — Democratic House and Senate leaders are planning to reduce the cost of student loans and prescription drugs, raise the minimum wage and launch an effort to develop alternative fuels if they win back control of Congress.

Hmmmm... Nothing about the war? Nothing about immigration? They do mention this as part of their platform:

The agenda also calls for enacting recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, formed after the 2001 terror attacks, to boost national security and funding for it, and for eliminating about $18 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for oil companies. Pelosi said savings would go to develop alternative fuels.

That's what we call playing defense -- it's a complete loser. It took then this long to come up with this brillant plan (they've been promising to unviel their strategy since last year)? It's looking more and more like the Republicans are going to have an easier time retaining their majorities than was believed just a short time ago.

Roved Cleared, Moonbats Mourn

A quick note about the reaction of the Moonbats to the news that Karl Rove will not be indicted. Here's a post from DailyKos today (via The Corner):

I don't think I've ever seen such a look of misery and dejection on the face of my daughter as I just did a moment ago. She just couldn't understand why the President would be going to Iraq when so many things are wrong in this country. "Doesn’t Mr. Bush care about us anymore?" she asked pitifully.

I sat down with her on the sofa and (as calmly as I could) tried to explain to her why the President seems to be abandoning his country. "Honey, I think his boss, Mr. Rove, sent Mr. Bush out of the country in order to keep himself out of the newspapers. You see, he wasn’t sure if he was going to be arrested today or not, and so he planned Mr. Bush’s trip ahead of time just in case...”

I tried to keep my voice steady, but it became increasingly difficult - the rage and feelings of helplessness were just too much. I think my daughter could tell something was wrong. I found myself at such a loss for words - nothing made any sense; nothing makes sense anymore. I finally had to admit, "Honey, I just don't know - I don't know what's going on in this country anymore..."

When I finished her lower lip started to tremble and her eyes began to fill with tears, "Daddy" she said, "why are the Republicans doing this to the country?" Well, that was it for me: I finally fell apart. She just fell into my arms and we both began sobbing for several minutes.

For once she had to comfort me and get me back on my feet. Sometimes I just think it's too much, but seeing the strength in my young daughter's voice helped me to get through.

Truly pathetic and hilarious at the same time.

After Long Hiatus

To my loyal readers (hi Jim and Jim), sorry about the long period without any post. I was in the Keys for a week and work has been hell since returning. My boss suffered a minor heart attack while I was gone and needless to say things were a bit hectic for a while.

He's back to work now and things are returning to normal, so hopefully I can begin to post regularly again. There has been a lot going on in the world of politics and I've got plenty to say, so stay tuned.

In the mean time, I'm going to live blog Tropical Storm Alberto. Here it goes:

It rained some yesterday, and today. The end.

BDS At Its Worst

Rep. John Murtha has become so infected with BDS that he is now accusing our Marines of killing innocent Iraqi women and children in cold blood. While the investigation into the incident is still ongoing, Murtha has already declared our Marines guilty and he blames Bush. What a disgrace. This man, a former Marine, is willing to believe the worst about our men and women in uniform and use it for political gain because of his hatred of Bush and his policies.

John Murtha: National Disgrace

UPDATE: Flopping Aces has a good run down of the details. This one is catching fire, expect to hear more about this.

Tony Snow Is The Man

I meant to link to this video from Hotair.com of Tony Snow dealing with Helen Thomas yesterday, but have been busy. This is what we've been waiting for, somebody who actually puts the old moonbat in her place. Why she is still in the front row of these press conferences is beyond me. She's officially retired as a journalist and is now a sydicated columnist, so she neither deserves nor belongs there. Anywho, this is exactly what I expected from Tony Snow; it's a beautiful sight to behold. If you get a chance to catch the entire press conference on C-SPAN, it's well worth watching.

God Bless, Tony.

Good For A Laugh

I missed this Screedblog from James Lileks earlier, and it's pretty funny. It's his version of what the letter from Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said. It begins:

Dear Infidel Crusader Zionist sock-puppet Saudi-lackey depoiler of Mesopotamia woman-touching pigdog fiendish (293 words excised) Shah-licking son of a toad’s offal: I trust this finds you well. I have much on my mind, and have taken the pen to unburden my breast. I have enclosed a self-addressed stamped envelope should you wish to reply.

Lileks is always good for some levity when it's needed.

BDS At Work

Some goofball adjuct professor from Boston College is resigning because Condoleezza Rice has been invited to give the commencement speech this year. He starts off by letting us know that he's not resigning in protest because he's against the Iraq War, it's something much deeper:

Many members of the faculty and student body already have voiced their objection to the invitation, arguing that Rice's actions as secretary of state are inconsistent with the broader humanistic values of the university and the Catholic and Jesuit traditions from which those values derive.

But I am not writing this letter simply because of an objection to the war against Iraq. My concern is more fundamental. Simply put, Rice is a liar.

He then he goes on to talk about... the Iraq War:

She has lied to the American people knowingly, repeatedly, often extravagantly over the past five years, in an effort to justify a pathologically misguided foreign policy.

The public record of her deceits is extensive. During the ramp-up to the Iraq war, she made 29 false or misleading public statements concerning Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and links to Al Qaeda, according to a congressional investigation by the House Committee on Government Reform.

He then rambles on about all of the supposed lying by the Secretary and finishes up with this:

Honestly, Father Leahy, what lessons do you expect her to impart to impressionable seniors?

That hard work in the corporate sector might gain them a spot on the board of Chevron? That they, too, might someday have an oil tanker named after them? That it is acceptable to lie to the American people for political gain? [...]

I would like to apologize to my students and prospective students. I would also urge them to investigate the words and actions of Rice, and to exercise their own First Amendment rights at her speech.

To have an oil tanker named after them? And they let this guy teach college students? If I went to BC, I'd want my money back. Also note how he exhorts his students to exercise their First Amendment rights at her speech, obviously inciting them to protest.

Hey professor, I have an idea. How about letting the mass majority of students and their families that are there to enjoy their graduation enjoy their graduation? A graduation ceremony is neither the time nor place to make it all about you and your politics. Grow up!

UPDATE: No sooner then I finished posting this I see that Michele Malkin has already posted about it as well (you'll have to scroll down.) I guess great minds DO think alike.

Just What The Doctor Ordered

I've said all along that Tony Snow would be a great White House Press Secretary, and if this is any indication of what's to come, he won't disappoint.

Go Tony Go!

Well, Duh

Howard Fineman writes today that Karl Rove (cue Darth Vader music) has a new strategy to help Republicans win election this fall, and it shocking, SHOCKING I TELL YOU: Fight Back.

The way I read the recent moves of Karl Rove & Co., they are preparing to wage war the only way open to them: not by touting George Bush, Lord knows, but by waging a national campaign to paint a nightmarish picture of what a Democratic Congress would look like, and to portray that possibility, in turn, as prelude to the even more nightmarish scenario: the return of a Democrat (Hillary) to the White House.

Rather than defend Bush, Rove will seek to rally the Republicans’ conservative grassroots by painting Democrats as the party of tax increases, gay marriage, secularism and military weakness. That’s where the national message money is going to be spent. [...]

Then there is the attention being paid — and it’s just starting — to obscure Democratic characters such as Rep. John Conyers of Michigan. As of now, only political junkies know that Conyers, an African-American and old-school liberal from Detroit, would become chairman of the Judiciary Committee if the Democrats regain control of the House. Few know that Conyers has expressed interest in holding hearings on the impeachment of the president.

But before this election season is over, Republican and conservative voters are going to know a lot about Conyers. To hear the GOP tell it, the impeachment of the president will be the number one priority if Conyers gets his say, which of course Rep. Nancy Pelosi will be only too happy to give him. The aim will be to rally The GOP Base with talk of a political Apocalypse.

I've written here in the past that despite Republicans short comings, a Democrat controlled Congress would be disasterous. They've made their agenda pretty clear that if they do win back control of Congress it will be nothing but two years of going after Bush with a vengence. They've also made it pretty clear that, well yes, they do want to raise taxes, push gay marriage, secularism, and bow at the mantel of the U.N. That Rove and Co. look to exploit this weakness is seen by Fineman as unseemly, apparently unlike the constant bashing the Dems pile upon Bush and the Republicans.

I don't believe you can win an election simply by not being the other guy, you have to have an agenda and some fresh ideas. There is still plenty of time for the Republicans to get their act together and show they've learned their lesson. Along with getting their act together and going forward with a positive agenda, there is absolutely nothing wrong with pointing out the inherent weakness of the oppositions "ideas." This is something Fineman fails to grasp.

Rummy Speaks

A fascinating interview by Hugh Hewitt with Donald Rumsfield (via Radioblogger.) First:

HH: Is the American media doing a good job of covering the war in all of its facets?

DR: Oh, goodness gracious. You know, I'm not a judge and a jury. That's up for the American people to decide, and you know where they rank the media.

HH: Well, transformation has been a watch word of your tenure. But has the Pentagon's focus on the information war that's aimed at the American public undergone a similar transformation?

DR: Well, it has to. I can't say that it has, but there's no question. This is the first war that's ever been conducted, in the 21st Century, in an era of these new media realities, where you have the internet and 24 hour talk radio and news and bloggers and video cameras and digital cameras and instant communications worldwide. And the enemy understands that they can't win a battle out on the battlefield in Iraq or Afghanistan. The only place they can win a battle is in Washington, D.C. So they have media committees, and they get up in the morning and figure out how they're going to manipulate the American media, and they do a very skillful job.

HH: Against that backdrop, that's really what I wanted to focus on. Are the pressers like the sort you just concluded, ten minute interviews and an occasional Sunday show, sufficient for you and the military to get across not only the good news, but the bad news, the challenges, the strategy? Are you using last war techniques in the new war?

DR: To a certain extent, we are still using the old 20th century techniques. And we're trying to figure them out and adjust them, and adapt them to the 21st Century. But it's painfully slow. People get set in their ways, and it's a difficult thing to do. We do provide, the Pentagon does, an enormous amount of information. There's someone briefing at the Pentagon, somewhere in the world, every day. And there are people providing information to people in a variety of different ways: through our website, through the Pentagon channel, through radio and television and print media. But it is still basically, I would guess, 80% 20th Century, and maybe 20% 21st Century.

HH: You've got people like Col. Austin Bay down in Austin, Texas, you've got Mudville Gazette, a bunch of bloggers, you've got Specialist Claude Flowers down at Centcom. They're all fighting the new media battle. Are any of those inside the E-ring, close to the control of actually the message machine?

DR: I don't know how to answer that. First of all, the truth is, and it's embarrassing to confess this, that I suppose I work about 13 hours a day. And I'll bet you that 12 1/2, or 12 3/4 of those 13 hours a day, I spend doing things instead of thinking about how I communicate, and what the message ought to be, and fighting the enemy on their level, against their media committees, and their active efforts at disinformation. And I probably ought to spend, and we here in the Department, ought to spend more time thinking about those messages, and how we can counteract the lies, because they are enormously successful. They can put out a lie, and then we're asked the question is that true. And we can know we think it's not true, but we have to be honest, and we have to be accurate. So we then have to spend two or three days trying to find out what the truth is, before we can rebut the lie. Well, the lie's been around the world 15 times by the time we even get our boots on.

And then this:

HH: Mr. Secretary, do you think that American can lose this war?

DR: Oh, sure. There's no way we can lose it on the battlefield. The only place we can lose it is if we lose our nerve, and if we decide that it's just too tough, and we're going to toss in the towel, that the dire consequences for the world, for the region, for the Iraqi people, for the Afghan people, and for the American people, are so serious, that the thought of it is just unacceptable.

In the first quote Rumsfield admits that we're not doing a good job of combating the terrorists in the media. Then, in the second quote he says the only way we can lose this war is here at home. That doesn't sound good to me.

If the only way we can lose this war is here at home, why isn't the Pentagon doing more on that front? Institutionalization? I like Rumsfield and think he has a very tough battle on his hands in trying to modernize the military to confront Islamofascism. However, this simply will not do. If the only battlefront on which we can lose is here at home I would suggest that the Secretary get busy fighting it.

Dick Morris Is All Wet

Dick Morris writes in The Hill that in order for Republicans to have any chance of remaining the Majority party this fall they must start to act like Democrats. This is complete nonsense. Here is a taste of the strategy Dick Morris suggests:

The only way for a Republican to survive in 2006 is to run like a Democrat. The GOP line on oil companies totally misses the fact that voters see a vast conspiracy by big oil companies to manipulate the price to feather their own nests. All talk of supply increase or demand decrease is quite beside the point for the average voter. The issue is whether or not you are part of the conspiracy to fix and raise prices.

The Republican position on climate change — that it isn’t happening or, if it is, it’s inevitable — also completely misses the views of the average voter who sees hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes and such as the consequence of years of air pollution.

The GOP wisdom on Iraq also fails to address the underlying isolationism that is catalyzing opposition to the war. Instead of searching for a decent way out, most voters are just disgusted with the party that landed us in this no-win situation.

Taken together, the only way for a Republican to survive 2006 is to shed himself of his party ideology and run like a Democrat, using the entire playing field — left, center and right — to address voter concerns.

This is absurd. The reason Republicans are supposedly (I'm not convinced yet) in danger of losing their Majority status is exactly because they have been acting like Democrats lately.

While Dick Morris may be a brilliant pollster, he's absolutely clueless about conservative Republicans. If the Republicans do the exact opposite of what Morris suggest, they should be okay come November.

UPDATE: John McIntyre of Real Clear Politics seems to be on the same wavelength as me.

Well, it looks like things are getting back to normal in New Orleans:

Man Shot Dead On Bourbon Street

(Via Drudge)

Welcome To The Party Pal

Richard Cohen of the Washington Post seems to have been caught off guard by the reaction to his recent column in which he criticized Steven Colbert's performance at the White House Correspondents' dinner. Cohen had the audacity to point out what many people believed to be obvious, that Colbert wasn't funny. I like Stephen Colbert and find him to be mildly humorous, but having watched his performance at the event live on C-SPAN and also found it wanting.

Cohen's criticism brought down the wrath of the left wing kooks upon his head and this seems to have taken him by surprise. I find it interesting that somebody such a Cohen could have been so insulated from the fact that the left-wing in the country has simply lost it's mind; infected, perhaps terminally, with BDS.

Well, to Richard Cohen I quote Bruce Willis from the movie Die Hard, "Welcome to the party pal."

Has Been For At Least 30 Years

Keith Richards near death that is.

Look Up

Attention all nerds! Tomorrow is Astronomy Day 2006. Take a few minutes tomorrow night to go outside and look up (even if you're not a nerd.) By 9pm EST Jupiter will be well into the southeast sky while Mars and Saturn will be setting in the west. Just have a look around, it's awfully pretty.

If you're more ambitious, here is a link to an article from Sky & Telescope which includes a search engine to locate an Astonomy Club or Planetarium in your area.

The Kennedy Saga Continues

A few thoughts about this have gone through my mind.

First and foremost is the police cover-up. I fear that in the story surrounding Patrick Kennedy's accident, Patrick Kennedy will become the story, and not the special treatment he recieved.

Second, why did he first give details about the night and then turn around and say he doesn’t remember anything? Doesn't make sense.

And third, I actually feel sympothic for the guy - he’s Ted Kenney’s son for crying out loud! If that didn’t drive you to booze, drugs, or depression, what would?

I Blame Bush

"New Storm on Jupiter Hints at Climate Change"

(Via Drudge)