What the Hell.. Complete VA database in some guy's HOUSE?


In the biggest idiocy of many involving federal bureaucracy, some VA 'data analyst' took home a full copy of a Veteran database to work on a project. His house was burgled.. and, yep, one of the things burglars go for first is the computer.

This means ALL of some 26 million veterans are now in risk of identity theft.

This guy should not only be fired, he and his supervisor should be brought up on charges of criminal negligence.

For some of you who dont understand the seriousness of this, this is the largest personal information security breach.. EVER!! At least that we know of.

If the burglars were pro's and not just opportunists... then they will know what they have is worth close to a million bucks in value. And there will be few traces of their comings and goings... unlike a hacking-into situation.

If the burglars are stupid, they WONT ditch all the loot, they'll try to sell it and may be caught... but if the other stuff all lands in a river after they copy the info onto a DVD, lots of folks are in for a rough time with their finances for YEARS.

I worked with test databases that were lot less valuable, but I ALWAYS did something that made them inert, such as scrambling the related data... and that is relatively easy to do.

Sometimes I wish I had gone through a pre-frontal lobotomy and worked as a Guvmint Emplodee!

While Illegals take a dump on our porch..

..meantime, back home, Mexican police are shooting striking miners who occupied company offices to protest inaction to remedy unsafe mine conditions.
- link is to Boing Boing

Please bear in mind that many of the Mexicans marching today want to 'take back' the US southwest. That would be interesting... in little more than a few decades under Mexican 'rule' it would probably turn into the just the same kind of shithole they came here to ecscape from.

I admire the courage of the Mexicans who come here to work, but wouldnt it be better if they challenged their own corrupt third world government to improve conditions at home instead of begging and stealing from their neighbors?

New political semantics...

Given Bush clueless recent Dubai Ports fiasco... and the fact that the Dem's are still trying to work out a 'slogan' and cant get it right, let alone what it is they actually believe in...

Let's think about the fact that, if our local and state politicos are our 'elected officials'... then our national figures must be out Elected Super-ficials!

If Progressives like Darwinism as social theory..

.. Then why dont they believe it applies to humans?

Answer: They do, they just pretend it doesn't so as not to offend.

Just yer average 'Thought of the Day'.

Bush Lied, Bush Lied, Bush Lied, Bush Lied!!!!

Yet more 'Bash-bush' from the media, this time by releasing incomplete transcripts and video's on the Katrina response.. now that enough time has gone by, the left is even casting Michael Brown as the 'scapegoat'.
That they parse it down to the fine edge by using Bush's rather lame: "No one could have predicted the levees would be breached." statement shows how desperate the left is to gain some purchase and show themselves in a relatively good light.

And in the Lefty blogs, the shouting for "Impeach Bush" will continue from now till 2008... it doesnt matter what the issue is, "He lied! Impeach him!" will be shouted over and over.

But it wont happen.. not unless Bush does something incredibly more stupid than even the ports deal.

And we know why. Because any impeachment on any of the issues they have whined about to this day will backfire on them and open testimony, under oath, will show the Democrats and Left for what they are... and they will finally have cut their own throats.

If I HAVE to point it out for you, you wouldnt understand anyway.

As the Lights go out, slowly, in Europe...

We see that some there are beginning to wake up to the chaos they have created, by dint of their social activism, over the last generation.
We should fear Holland’s silence

Holland — with its disproportionately high Muslim population — is the canary in the mine. Its once open society is closing, and Europe is closing slowly behind it. It looks, from Holland, like the twilight of liberalism — not the “liberalism” that is actually libertarianism, but the liberalism that is freedom. Not least freedom of expression.

All across Europe, debate on Islam is being stopped. Italy’s greatest living writer, Oriana Fallaci, soon comes up for trial in her home country, and in Britain the government seems intent on pushing through laws that would make truths about Islam and the conduct of its followers impossible to voice.
....
Europe is shuffling into darkness. It is proving incapable of standing up to its enemies, and in an effort to accommodate the peripheral rights of a minority is failing to protect the most basic rights of its own people.

The governments of Europe have been tricked into believing that criticism of a belief is the same thing as criticism of a race. And so it is becoming increasingly difficult and dangerous to criticise a growing and powerful ideology within our midst. It may soon, in addition, be made illegal.
...
As I left the Netherlands I once again felt terrible sorrow for a country that is slowly being lost. A society which should be carefree and inspiring has become dark and worried. The jihad in Europe is winning. And Holland, and our continent, takes one step further into a dark and menacing future.

It is the Liberals who have done this... and the Liberals who will cave in to self-muting, by way of fear. Sure, there are many in the 'progressive' camps who will finally stand up and fight the fascism of the Imams. But they will arrive at the party, late. Probably because they want to get all the use they can out of their "Hate-Speech" picket signs directed at their own governments.

How much blood will flow from their naive puristic idealism? We dont know.. but it definitely will be of 'biblical proportions'. And all we have to do is steel ourselves and read Revelations to see it coming.

Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Gore, Kerry and Dean..

Quick... what do they all have in common?

They all want the ear of Billy Joe Bob, the 'bubba'... Difference being the political ones only want him come election time. At which time they will talk down to him and think they're getting somewhere.

As in Kerry's "Kin I git me a huntin' License, here?" when he went photo-op hunting in Ohio in 2004.

They think the gum chewing, pick'em'up drivin', gun totin' yahoo's of the heartland dont understand nuance.
Well, they do... and the nuance they understand is "Someone wants to kill us..". And they ALSO understand when they are being made fun of.

Which they consider okay... if it's Larry or Jeff doing it... because they do it as one of them. But the hysterical Gore and Kerry and Kennedy bashing the guy they see as 'sorta one of us.. cuz he dont speak so good.." leaves 'em cold. And they might not even remember it until election time.

But then, when they try to figure out who to vote for and what matters most, that old common sense nuance is going to come back to them.

The latest histrionics on Cheney's hunting hilarity is gonna leave 'em cold, too. They'll laugh at Cheney and make fun of the incident but when it comes down to it, they've all been there, or close to it. And the more the beltway idjits harp on it, the better for Cheney.

And they'd vote for Larry or Foxworthy for Pres before they'd vote for those pitiful Eastern Dem elitists.

It would be even funnier if the Libs weren't so pathetic.

Steelers take it all!

I am so good! All the joy of the NFL season, as a Bengals fan, turned to dust for me on the second play of the first Cincinnati possession in the first playoff game they'd had in 15 miserable years.

For those of you who don't know the particulars... a Steeler defender was blocked down as he went for Carson Palmer, and Palmer went out with ACL and MCL tears. Our season was done.

Oh, Kitna is a good backup... perhaps, the best in the NFL.. but Carson is our GUY! And Kitna was rusty. Maybe, in looking back, it would have been better if the coaches had pretended it was nothing serious and that Carson might be able to come back in.. but, in reality, all the air went out of the Bengals' balloon in the second half. Well, we can't have a do-over on that. Life as a fan sux sometimes.

But after the Steelers took out the Colts, surely the best team in the AFC, and Denver beat the Pats, the second best team in the AFC, I began to think there was more afoot than just a team peaking at just the right time; there was a finger of fate in this.

Just as certain as I was that, with Carson at QB, the Bengals would have won that day.

So I picked Steelers to win the SB against Seattle... and posted the same on a fan forum on January 15. A lucky guess? Nope, no doubt in my mind they'd do it, it's just one of those things you KNOW! Now, on that same forum, there's a lot of Browns' fans... and I took stick...they hate the Steelers with a white-hot passion. But I'm a Bengals fan, I have had to be objective or I'd have off'd myself over it... well, not really.

Anyway, as the day of the game came around, I realized the Steelers would win by 10. I didnt know that before but it was clear to me the 4 point spread was at least 4 off.

Heh! So, if I was so certain, why didnt I lay some cash on it? Well, that part is the kicker..I found out some time ago that if I actually stood to gain anything by these 'hunches', they didnt work out. I could only bet my ego on it.

Oh, well.... I had a minister once, who was dead certain God was a football fan. Bet it was mainly so's he'd have an excuse to watch NFL on Sunday instead of doing calls except in emergency. But maybe there's something to it.. maybe Jerome Bettis really HAS been smiled on!

Never mind.. it'll be all that much sweeter next year, when Carson and the Cats eat the Steelers' lunch, both home and away!

You're on notice, OSHA and EPA, that 'new-car smell' is a deadly Plot!

Environmental group contends drivers, passengers are breathing dangerous chemicals found in car interiors; calls for new regs.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - A Michigan environmental group is charging that at least part of the so-called "new car smell" is toxic, and that the interior of an automobile has dangerous levels of various chemicals.

The report, "Toxic at any speed," comes from The Ecology Center, an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based group. It reports that PBDEs, used as fire retardants, and phthalates, used primarily to soften PVC plastics, are found in dangerous amounts in dust and windshield film samples.
It called for tougher regulations to phase out the use of the chemicals as well as voluntary moves by the auto manufacturers to stop using the products inside of new vehicles.
. .. .
The report was released Jan. 11 during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, but it received little attention outside of Michigan.

Ah... I love this stuff... I want a job as one of these reporters! In fact I want it so much I'm gonna write up the NEXT, follow-up article on it!

Here goes:

Next up....

A Michigan environmental group has issued a study report that claims up to 500,000 people, mostly middle class elderly, die from side-effects of "New Car Smell' each year.

"We have previously reported on the serious effects of chemical outgassing in these new cars... but these unfortunates were set in their ways of buying new if they could afford it." said Dudley Flora-Smith of the Michigan Anti-Plasticizerer and Tea Group society.

"But now they are dead, having paid the price for their materialistic profligacy. We are thinking of asking the ACLU to inquire into the possibility of filing a class-action suit on their estates' behalf"

"But it's not only the elderly that suffer," Flora-Smith continued "Exposing infants and newborn to the acrid atmosphere has its price, as well."

Citing the obvious increase in childhood asthma, he adds that "increased addiction to "foolers" - vinyl or latex nipple substitutes- on the part of infants, and the attraction of teens to 'huffing canned chemicals' also are related.

"The odor of the noxious gasses has its effects on the brain's pleasure centers and sets up susceptibility to various life-long addictions!"

Rumored to be considering joining the effort is the UAW, and the 'National Association of car detailers and dealer wash-boys'. Both on OSHA workplace safety grounds.

However the associated study into whether the inclusion of the odor is an intentional plot by automakers to create an addiction to buying new cars, may result in the former dropping out of the effort.

If that should happen, the Michigan Group intends to appeal to George Soros or MoveOn.org, as they imply it might be related, somehow, to a Bush Administration plot to kill off seniors, thus allowing reduction in funding for the recently passed Medicaid Prescription Bill.

Asked for comment on this, Howard Dean, DNC party chair said; "It wouldnt surprise me a bit... we've already uncovered the corrupt GOP plot to victimize poor Indians just trying to scrape up enough money from bingo parlours to fund their own schools, why not MORE tax cuts by killing off the elderly?"

Sen Ted Kennedy concurred in a separate statement: "Not only that, I can tell you that the smell itself clouds judgement, especially when combined with a glass or two of wine at dinner and might result in unforeseen romantic attraction and subsequent driving off a bridge, somewhere."

Sen John Kerry's office said he was awaiting the results of a poll on the subject prior to making a statement.

Neither Jack Abramoff or any of several K Street lobbyist groups returned our calls.

Researchers for this news desk have found that Fidel Castro anticipated this problem years ago, when he instituted his policy of recycling older cars rather than importing newer ones. His mention of that noxious new-car odor in one of his famous 4 hour speeches was previously thought to be 'just filler'!

There doesnt seem to be much in the way of international reaction, otherwise.
Though a UN source, who declined to be identified, said from Secretary General Kofi Annan's office, that "...it might explain what happened to that luxury car" bought by Annan's son Kojo and billed to the UN.
"Perhaps he was offended by that odor and had it buried somewhere so it wouldnt affect anyone else" the staffer speculated.

Lined up against the suit:
"National Association of Undertakers and Embalmers", who themselves have fallen under the scrutiny of that Michigan group for use of potentially hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

- This just in..the UK Liberal Party, who are writing up laws on how owners must treat and care for their pets are thinking of including a clause that classifies an owner who transport a pet in any auto less than two years old, might be subject to investigation by council 'pet police'.

-30-


Pretty good, huh? Huh?

Conspiracy? Rove's useful idiots!

My dad is getting on... he had a lot of ideas and views, when I was young, that started me thinking beyond the box.

But, a few days ago, a side comment about politics and the world situation led him to ask me if I believed in "that theory about 'three guys running the whole world'".

I knew, of course he meant the "Trilateral Commission theory" but I wasnt sure HOW to respond, but some events surely lead you to believe in SOMETHING like that.

The Alito and Roberts' hearings and the decision of John Kerry to try to mount a filibuster 'just on principle' make me wonder.
Appointing Dean as DNC chair, for him to promptly run the finances into near red-ink makes me wonder.

Hell, just letting Kerry open his mouth makes me wonder... never mind he has almost a clean slate of doing nothing in 20 years in the Senate.

Karl Rove couldn't orchestrate it to make Democrats look any more stupid. Or could he?

Hmmm.. have any of YOU ever seen Soros and Rove in the same place, together?

The Murtha Method: "Projecting strength through Strategic Retreat!"

The boards of several war colleges are rumored to be lining up Rep Murtha as a guest lecturer.

Already, though, the Rep has seen his strategic views employed yet again by the UN Peacekeeping Force in CongoU.N. Removes Peacekeepers After Slayings.

By ANJAN SUNDARAM, Associated Press Writer Tue Jan 24, 10:30 PM ET

KINSHASA, Congo - The
United Nations pulled its remaining peacekeepers out of the national park where eight Guatemalan peacekeepers were killed in an apparent gunbattle with Ugandan rebels, a U.N. spokesman said Tuesday.

Hans-Jakob Reichen, U.N. military spokesman for eastern Congo, said the peacekeepers were withdrawn because they had completed a two-week mission to clear Garamba National Park of rebel forces. "It was decided to pull peacekeepers out of the park since any suspected rebels had melted into the jungle," Reichen said.

It's expected that a Headquarters session of the council will ask Murtha how to expand on recent recent UN successes, such as that above.
And these...

Of note is the amazing effect UN had in Liberia's recent unrest...

In Liberia, the UN peacekeeping mission, UNMIL, was dispatched in record time to assist in the implementation of a comprehensive peace agreement. Even before UNMIL’s full authorized strength of 15,000 uniformed personnel was reached, the security situation in the country improved dramatically.Violence and ceasefire violations decreased, and UN peacekeepers paved the way for the provision of humanitarian assistance and for the demobilization, disarmament and reintegration of ex-combatants.

Of course the stationing of several US Navy ships with contingents of Marines aboard, outside Monrovia's harbor, had nothing to do with it.

Cronkite at Pearly Gates Court


Cronkite: Time for U.S. to Leave Iraq

From yer intrepid judgement day reporter on the scene:

Magistrate: "Ah, yes, the famous Mr Cronkhite! We've been waiting for you."

"Lessee what we have here... hmmm.. Personal life, not too bad, for a casual believer, a little excess here and there.. swearing, etc... lust , oh my! You had an active off camera life. Ah, well ... now, influence on others: Oh-oh, Oh my goodness LOOK at the BODY COUNT racked up against YOU!"

Walter: "But.. but.. I never killed ANYONE!"

Magistrate, peering over nose perched reading glasses: "My boy, you're no Hitler or Stalin, for sure... but you are right up there with Attila the Hun in the numbers."

Magistrate reading: "Deaths directly caused by influence of word or event: unnecessary battles - 78,925; Drownings or deaths at sea, civilians escaping oppression - 168,768; Executions or deaths in internment - 56,127....."

Walter, interrupting: "But I'm just a NEWS GUY!"

Magistrate: "Hey...I'm just a judge, here! That's what the book says and it's always proved out."

"Sez here in the border notes, you're the most trusted man in America... didnt you think of that?"

Walter: "Well, sure, but i just offer my opinion.."

Magistrate: "Opinions, like cross words spoken in heat of anger, have consequences, old boy!"

Walter: "But my intentions were good, I meant to save lives..."

Magistrate: "Well, you know what they say about the road to Hell... looks like you're gonna find out, first-hand."

Walter: "Wait.. wait.. don't tell me that Bush actually..."

Magistrate: "Bush.. what's he got to do with it? That's only about your Tet statement."

"Fortunately for you, the only one who's gonna get black marks for cuttin' and runnin' in Iraq, is Bush's daddy. Most people knew you were full of it when you blathered on about Iraq, so you get a pass on that"

Magistrate, to bailiff: "Take this one to the down-elevator waiting room. Next!"

Alito, lookback and summary..

Well, It's another case of the Dem's grabbing at straws instead of looking for lifeboats.

Kennedy's carping on CAP made him look even more stupid that he came across in 'Roberts' and now, all the Dems seem to want is to delay the vote until after Dubya's State of the Union.

Maybe they hope for an earthquake jarring open a 'closet' somewhere. The sole criticism remaining is that Alito seems to 'defer to the Executive too much'.

MAybe the key to that is the actual NAMES of the Government branches?!!! It's called the 'Executive' for a reason, dummies! As in "to execute!" or "put into action"!

While the framers put in safeguards against a 'monarchistic' system, they realized that ONE branch had to have the latitude to actually DO SOMETHING, rather than debate about it.
Of course such an idea has become foreign to the Dem concepts of governance. To them, talking about something IS 'action taken'!
All you have to do is read Madam Albright's comments on the Clinton Administration's foreign policy to understand that.

Maurice and LeBron... just one small step apart.


They came from the same places, they knew each other. But what a difference in how they ended up.

Both extremely gifted physically, and athletically. Both smart, to go along with it.

Both received extreme national attention. And advice from all quarters in how to deal with their gifts and talents.

Both accused of relatively small transgressions as they progressed into the national spotlight.

Whoever advised LeBron.. more importantly, the advice he TOOK... made the difference!

Note that Jim Brown advised Maurice..... or rather the sum of that advice ENABLED Maurice. Because he ONLY took the part of the Legend's advice that suited him.

Which is: Maurice had to deal with 'the MAN!' And the MAN was out to get him!

LeBron no doubt got the same advice. But hasnt he dealt with it differently?

Now we have Maurice wanted on a warrant for armed robbery, instead of looking forward to a breakout season as a Broncos running back.

And LeBron practically owning the Cav's franchise.
We can't know whether LeBron will finally succumb to the entitlement mentality that humbled the previous HS to Pro phenom, Kobi Bryant... who also started out well, but was brought down by 'the MAN'.

But now we know that Maurice isnt even going to get the chance... because he started out worrying about 'the MAN' rather than getting his own ducks lined up.

Which is a difference of just 'one small step or decision'.

And defines the meaning of the word 'entitlement', to say nothing of the exact identity of 'the MAN'!

Best Blogger, EVER, in my whole mind!

.. to put things in perspective, is this retired LA Cop blogger:

Brutality was what {Democratic} Mayor Tom Bradley encouraged from LA cops throughout the 1980s. At the time, we couldn?t understand why Bradley?s Police Commission required us to use metal pipes on psychotic arrestees; nor did we know why Bradley forced the LAPD to welcome incompetent applicants, gang members, and drug dealers into our ranks as police officers in the name of diversity. After a while, I found that the more LA cops were viewed as thugs and criminals, the wider the chasm grew between the LAPD and the community we served, and the stronger LA liberals became politically.

Hmmm... not that I REALLY believe in that whole conspiracy thing... oh, wait, that's what I've been saying for years!
- read the whole thing for other significant background

Then, there is This, On War...

Some years ago, my partner and I responded to a domestic violence call. When we met the battered and shaken woman, she described how she was beaten and choked as her adult son stole her money and jewelry. After stripping the wedding ring from her finger, he left her bloody, bruised, and crying on the kitchen floor.

As we completed our report, the son returned. When we tried to arrest him he began to struggle against us. Fueled by PCP and cocaine, the man was almost impossible to control. When my partner and I pulled him onto the living room floor the fight was ON with no rules, no help, and no recourse. We were alone with a deranged man who wanted to kill us.

We were at war.

Don?t hurt my son!

As we grappled and fought with the desperate man, his mother closed in and began to kick, pull, and tug at our arms. She was a nice lady who meant well. She didn?t like violence and didn?t want anyone to get hurt. But by interfering with our attempts to control her son, she endangered herself, her son, and those who had come to protect her.

As the woman screamed and fought, she emboldened her son to resist further. By interfering with those who had come to defend her, our victim had become our enemy. Had Democrats conducted a poll, 100% of the residents would have viewed us as occupiers.

Which brings us to this letter to Senator Pelosi on the GOP 'Bird-Flu Scheme'.

All the corporate greed and avarice, lamentable and outrageous as it is, cannot equal the harm done by the cynical manipulation and exploitation of the disadvantaged in order to gain and retain political power.

Because there are non-political checks on the abuse of corporate power.... there seem to be few on the Jesse Jacksons and Chuck Schumers of the world.

On rejoining the Flock..

After 25 years of non-attendance at any church, save for funerals or weddings, I am starting to look for a church to attend.

I thought I had found the perfect fit, years, ago when my family joined a fairly large Southern Baptist congregation in the larger town down the road. It had everything we were looking for.

It was basically made up of young families, was centered on the Gospel, the officers and pastors non-judgemental in matters of dress or lifestyle or income and emphasized the triumph of faith over the foibles of humanity.

Little or NO time was spent on the politics of the Bible, whether they be literal reading of events or prophecy or taking of chapter and verse meanings.
I think I had better illuminate that:
The ONE topic of continual discussion was submission of the wife to the husband, as the church submits to Jesus as the messenger of God. e.g; NOT equal partners.. but that is itself open to interpretation, as the wife may indeed be the bulwark of the relationship. I saw no reason to use that to deny deacon-ship to a woman member of the Church, for instance.

But here's where it fell down:

Meetings, beside Sunday School and Church on Sunday, on Sunday night, Wednesday night, then some set for Monday night, something else Tuesday evening.. Bible Study or group education in other forms of ministry. Then something specific for Thurday evening.

And often some activity set for Saturdays, be it door to door testimony, or some public service project.

Nothing wrong with all that, surely, yet it ultimately soured me. Why? Because of the constant 'encouragement' of other members and church lay-officers to participate in all these.
One surely can politely beg off.. yet the niggling little hook remains in the conscience. "Am I a good believer and practitioner?".

The good folks down the street and those in the meeting rooms didnt MEAN to do it, but the effect, in my mind, persisted as 'judgement'.

And finally, it became to much to bear and I, sadly, drifted away from all of it. First the midweek activities, then Sunday School.. and, finally, going to Services.

All of this NOT helped by the well-meaning greetings I got when I DID attend.

"We've missed you." is indeed a loaded statement under those conditions. Yeah, yeah.. I can analyse out of the motivation of those words, but still..

And something ELSE! It was at this time that the leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention was taken over by the conservative wing.

Though the best spin was put on intent, I could read between the lines; more literal interpretation of the Bible, emphasis on acts as testimony to faith, less tolerance of non-compliance within the community.

In other words, the newly joined member of my own Church who ran a bar which had been in her family for decades (imagine!) would be prodded to divest of it. Not left to do so of her own volition.
Now, the pastor HAD publicly rebuked her for serving another member who was an alcoholic, and I agreed with that, but it became clear that if you wanted to be a Southern Baptist, at all, you certainly would not drink or smoke.

Caffeine addiction, however, was still tolerated. {Those of you who've been to SBC churches will appreciate that: coffee = 'Baptist Beer')
:)
And the position on school prayer shifted.. the SBC had previously been notable for opposing teacher-led prayer in public schools, and had biblical grounds to do so.

At any rate; now I am looking, again.

And this is what I'm gonna be looking for:

Emphasis on the Gospel and WHY God sent his Son to us.

Proper interpretation of Jesus' sayings; e.g; "I tell you if any man looks at a woman with lust, he has committed adultery..."
- That cannot be used in one Sermon to emphasize the "Good News" over the 'Law', then in the next to cast guilt on fallen believers.

Acknowledge that we do not understand HOW God created us and the Earth. And that it doesnt MATTER, only matters that He DID. i.e.; God created Darwin, too.
Likewise it makes not a hill of beans difference how OLD the Earth is.. maybe God ALSO created carbon isotope decay.

I shouldnt even include this as it's obvious to any bible reader or one raised Protestant; but, anyway, Rome or Pilate did not kill Jesus, Jews didnt kill Jesus, it was WE, in the form of the POLITICAL 'CHURCH', that killed Jesus.

Why can't we recognize we are doing it, AGAIN!

And MOST important, Jesus was NOT a Socialist and DID NOT advocate for taking from the rich and giving to the poor.. I cannot find ONE reference of him preaching to his flock to lobby Rome for more social programs. He preached good works for the INDIVIDUAL and congregations.

Finally, the Church I select will have some form of Confession..Baptists use the method "Going up". Many mainline churches dropped this LONG ago.. but it is good for the soul to renounce your slips.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -
I suppose I will refine all the above and send it out in form of a letter to local churches, asking the pastor to have the ELDERS respond to it.

We'll see and I am looking forward to it.

And, while I've been thinking along these lines a long time, here's the guy that incented me to do this.

Peace in your heart, first.. at least try!

Murtha: When is it dared to compare?....

Jack Murtha has come out of nowhere in the last months as a spokesman for capitulation in Iraq.

He is given credence, and some respite from outright criticism, because of his record as a decorated Marine Officer. Yet his solution to Iraq is hardly in keeping with any military tactic taught anywhere, unless the strategy is to retreat to "Fortress America"
See 'Powerline' posting

I would like to remind everyone that Benedict Arnold was ALSO a higly regarded and decorated war veteran..

He just didnt think he'd gotten his proper rewards and recognition; and he thought the British would win out, in the end.

So I... this humble Joe-Blow in flyover country... will add Murtha's name to the list that is compared to Benedict Arnold and 'Quisling' in the ranks of those who submit for personal gain and politics.... oh, wait, they ARE the same, arent they!

Situation Planning in the White Flag fortress

"Yep, Jack.. we got them right where we want them. Running our sound bites, and the dumb schmucks in flyover are gonna think they're mean."

" Heh... we can always fall back on context and nuance!"

"Now, it's coming out that after the Iraqi elections, they're going to pull out about 20,000 troops."

"I know, the timing couldnt be better. Either the voter thinks we forced their hand.. or that Dubya's gotta limit his casualties.. either way, win-win."

"But Howard, didnt that General Casey announce that back in July?"

"Sure he did, Nancy.. please try to concentrate, dear... but our boys at the Times and Post and CNN downplayed that, the yokels will never remember it."

"Brilliant!"

"Uh-huh. Even if I do say so, myself. Another Guiness?"

"Brilliant!"

Bush lied, hundreds of thousands died...is, indeed,
true. I must admit it!

But it wasnt THIS Bush.. it was the elder who has to
bear that stigma.

For the history is fresh enough that we know the
withdrawal from boots on ground in Iraq was coupled with
incentives for southern Shia and Northeastern Kurds to
rise in rebellion against Saddam. With the implication
that the US would be supportive of that effort.

Just WHO it was made that promise is unclear, but it
doesnt matter, in the end. Because it was made, and
Saddam killed tens of thousands as a result.

Would the result have been any different if Saddam had
waited for Clinton to take office before invading
Kuwait? We cant know that either... but what we DO know
is that the US in forgoing the chance to take Baghdad,
then, was mindful of our 'allies' opinions' on the
matter. It was certainly Powell doctrine, after all.

We had air cover for those areas, yet Saddam was free to
go in and massacre whole villages. One would think the
CIA or NSA would have people on the ground in there..
certainly we had gained the local Iraqi trust.


But we cut and ran.

And today, there are voices howling for us to do exactly
the same.

The only debate among most of the center/left is:

1. Cut and Run now

2. Cut and run after we make and publish a timetable for
cutting and running.

We hear that Bush 'has no plan'. And evidently that is
so because there are no clearly established 'deliverable
dates'.

That's of note.. suppose our progress in Europe had been
predicate on meeting deadlines in the advance into
Germany?

We would have pulled back from the "Bulge" and,
possibly, we would have been forced to reload troops on
the beaches of Normandy and scuttle back to English
bases.

Plans cannot always be used in war, and certainly not
this war. Seems to me a good plan here would be to base
success on ability of the Iraqi's to defend themselves
against terrorist/insurgents.

Wait, isnt that what we are trying to do? Isnt that the
greatest FEAR of the insurgents?

Else why would they be bombing Police training
academies?

The ONLY thing the Dems are right about is that "WE"
cannot win this war.
But the Iraqi's can... and we can do everything in our
power to help them do it.

By 'staying the course'... which, to me, sounds like a
'plan'!

Hypocritonia II

Along with the previous notes, I am often amused by the ease in which the 'civilian' Liberal will slip into gay-bashing.

If the gay community is one of the staunchest supporter groups of Liberal causes, then why is it "That's just GAY!" is used so much?

Why is the suspicion that a politician of the right is 'gay' is so often pronounced by a lib commenter?

Because there's still a stigma in being gay... or because he's in the closet? I dont think so.. I think the key is in the use of expletives in particular the 'F' bomb.. while we ALL tend to use that too much, the word itself should only be used in tender moments when you really think about it.

Come to that.. I'm thinking there's too much sexual reference in all political discourse.. maybe hetero's should stay in the closet, as well.