What...No Civil War?

Remember about 2 weeks ago when the press was abuzz with rumors of a civil war in Iraq? I sure do...it was almost like they were hoping for it. Now before you accuse me of saying that the press and Democrats want an Iraqi Civil war, for the record, I dont think they all do. However, I do believe that some liberals and members of the media do want an all out civil conflict to break out just to rub it in Bush's face. Id never put it past those types of people. Luckily for all of us, the civil war never broke out, and the press seems to have dropped the whole matter. But what happened there that stopped the impending violence? The answer is quite simple; the Iraqis were constructive and they were able to stop the thing before it happened. Sure, it took a few calls from President Bush to each of the religious sects to get their butts in gear, but the fact is that it worked. The Iraqi Police and military did a very good job of keeping the country held together under curfews and the constant threat of violence. Many people did die during the short struggle, but countless lives were saved by the crucial steps taken by the unified Iraqi's. Even the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Peter Pace, complimented the Iraqi military and police forces for their work during those troubling time. The mainstream press is much less willing to explain or report the peace now that the conflict seems to have died. And today, Sen. Robert Byrd, a Democrat from West Virginia, harassed Don Rumsfeld about the civil war while the Sec. of Defense was there asking for more money to fund the troops. This just shows that while people in this country obsess over a civil war, the Iraqi's are working hard to ensure everyone that it wont happen. I know that might be disappointing to people like Sen. Byrd, the mainstream press, and some liberals, but sooner of later you will have to acknowledge the progress being made in Iraq...right?

-Brad

United Arab Emirates Gives up on Ports Deal

What a disaster. The United States Congress has forced one of our most crucial allies in the War on Terrorism to end its attempt to gain access to American ports through a fair deal. This whole thing is a result of initial panic on the part of the mainstream media when the story broke. This deal had been in the works since last fall, however it only has been public for about a month. The overreaction to this is just astounding, and really illustrates the power the media has over people in this country who are unwilling to look at the facts and just take what they're told at face value. Anyone who looked at the proposed deal by the UAE could clearly see that it was a good safe deal. The UAE helps us fight terrorism almost more than any other country in the world. But politics and hystaria caused us to loose all bearing on reality and, if anything, shows the Islamaphobia thats imbetted in our society. Do not let the Democrats fool you into believing they are now strong on national security, they arent. They used this as a political tool to hurt Republicans and the Bush Administration. Once again, by alienating the UAE, Democrats have weakened our efforts to fight terror with consequences that are still to come. Republicans are also to blame for this. Those GOP members in the House disgraced their party by passing that legislation against the ports deal. They even snuck it into an appropriations bill to fund the troops so that Bush could not veto it. Those Republicans were also brainwashed by people who are driven by politics and hate. George W. Bush is also at fault here. Once again, he has remained almost completely quiet on an issue that he probably could have won if he would have been proactive. The President has got to use his bully pulpit on these issues, or these next 3 years are gonna be deadly for the GOP. How long can he remain quiet on stuff like this? I just dont get that. The bottom line here is that Republicans must regroup from this mess and move on, or else the 2006 elections will be a massacre. This is not good.

Source Washington Post

-Brad

World Baseball Classic a Bust for U.S.?

First the USA basketball team loses a few games last year and doesnt win gold, now the USA baseball teams is on the verge of being eliminated in the World Baseball Classic after an 8-6 lose to Canada of all teams. Let me just say that if the USA does not win this thing, it is a complete disgrace. I mean they lost to the Canadians whose players combined had a salary of more that $60 million dollars less than the Americans in 2005. Maybe you can blame it on the fact that the Americans are rusty after the long off season, maybe starting Dontrelle Willis was a mistake, or maybe they are just a bunch of overpaid schmucks, you make the call. The fate of the US now relies on the game between Mexico and Canada. The way this thing works is very confusing, so here is how SI.com explains it:

The United States (1-1) must beat South Africa on Friday, when 43-year-old Roger Clemens starts for the Americans, or have Mexico lose one of its remaining games to stay alive in the 16-nation tournament.
If Mexico, Canada and the United States finish 2-1, the tie would be broken by fewest runs allowed per inning in competition involving only those three teams. In that case, the United States would advance if Mexico scores at least three runs against Canada on Thursday.

Basically the US must beat South Africa and hope that Mexico does not beat Canada by a score of 3-0 or less. Make sense? I didnt think so. :)
Anyway you cut it, this has already been an embarassment for the United States, but if we get eliminated from a world tournament that involves our national past-time, it will be utter humiliation.

-Brad

House Committee Blocks UAE Ports Deal

Today, the House Appropriations Committee voted 62-2 to block the deal that would allow the United Arab Emirates to run some US ports. The worst part is that the committee is run by Republicans. President Bush has threatened to veto any legislation passed to block the deal. Bush has never used his veto power, so doing it against the wishes of Republicans would be quite astounding. This whole port issue has become about politics, rather than looking at the deal intelligently and realizing it wont hurt us with security and also that $6.8 billion is pretty good economically. I am not being an apologist for Bush, I just honestly feel that the government would not allow this to happen if it was a national security threat. The UAE has been an ally since 9/11, and I think allowing them to run some ports would benefit both countries. Liberals always complain about our image around the world, however when the Bush Administration wants to work with allies like in this case, they complain until kingdom-come. Almost all of our ports are run by foreign countries, but nobody knew that until this whole situation arose, thats just the nature of the seaport game. Its an international industry. So Hillary Clinton, and almost every other person against this deal is against it only because the country is Arab, and if they tell you otherwise they are lying through their teeth. House Republicans just handed the mainstream media a well-wrapped gift, and you can bet they will beat this one to death.

Source CNN

-Brad

DeLay Gets Last Laugh

In a story that will surely make Democrats completely freak out, Rep. Tom DeLay won the GOP primary in his district yesterday. The Dems absolutely hate DeLay, so much so that I have heard there is a movie coming out soon about him to try and persuade his constituents to boot him from office. Well, DeLay is now one step closer to remaining in Congress.

The Associated Press projected Delay the winner of the GOP primary in the 22nd District, centered in the southeastern Houston suburbs.
The former House majority leader was carrying 64 percent of the vote against three GOP challengers, according to the Texas Secretary of State's Office. The total includes results from early voting, as well as reports from about 14 percent of the precincts.

I cant wait to see if Delay gets re-elected in November. I think he will, but you can bet its going to be one nasty election. Gotta love it.

Source CNN

-Brad

Patriot Act Ready for Bush's Desk

Thank God the Patriot Act was reauthorized in the House by a vote of 280-138. The bill will now be sent to President Bush for his John Hancock, then it will become law once again. The Senate overwhelmingly approved last week with a vote of89-10. All Republicans voted Yes. As I promised, here is the list of Senaters who voted against the Patriot Act and are obviously unwilling to protect us and our families from future terrorist attacks:

Russ Feingold (D)-Wisconsin
Robert Byrd (D)-West Virginia
Jim Jeffords (I)-Vermont
Daniel Akaka (D)-Hawaii
Jeff Bingaman (D)-New Mexico
Tom Harkin (D)-Iowa
Patrick Leahy(D)-Vermont
Carl Levin (D)-Michigan
Patty Murray (D)-Washington
Ron Wydon (D)-Oregon

Hmmm...mostly Democrats voting against the Patriot Act. Allow me to quote the great philosopher Gomer Pyle by saying "Surprise...Surprise...Surprise."

-Brad

Vermont Votes to Impeach Bush

Here's an idea, lets try to impeach the president during wartime...good thinkin moron's. Ill let the article explain this nonsense to you:

In a white-clapboard town hall, circa 1832, voters gathered Tuesday to conduct their community's business and to call for the impeachment of President Bush.
"In the U.S. presently there are only a few places where citizens can act in the fashion and have a say in our nation," said the select board member Dan DeWalt, who drafted the impeachment article that was placed on the warning--or official agenda--for the annual town meeting, a proud Yankee tradition in New England.
"It absolutely affects us locally," Dewalt said. "Its our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers, who are dying in the war in Iraq."
The article, approved 121-29 in balloting by paper, calls on Vermont's lone member of the House, independent Rep. Bernie Sanders, to file articles of impeachment against the president, alleging the Bush misled the nation into the Iraq war and engaged in illegal domestic spying.

This made me laugh:

Greg Record, a justice of the peace, said in an interview after the meeting that the town is made up of people from the "far-left," and he criticized the amount of time and attention such advisory votes get.

Way to be observant Greg. But seriously, things must be pretty boring in Vermont if these people are going to draft articles of impeachment against the president. Do they honestly have nothing better to do with their time? This from a state where they allowed a Judge to sentence a child rapist to 6 months in jail. Its obvious these people arent too bright considering they want to try to impeach Bush with both houses controlled by Republicans. If Bush gets impeached as a result of this little get together, I will personally vote for Hillary Clinton in 2008. Then seriously consider suicide.

Source

-Brad

Dana Reeve Dies of Lung Cancer

Dana Reeve, the widow of Christopher Reeve, died yesterday after battling lung cancer. She just announced she had cancer last August, when she said she would beat the disease. She was heard from little over that past 6 months as she, I guess, received treatment. The strangest and saddest part of the story is that supposedly she didnt even smoke. Veerry Scary. I just really feel bad for her poor kids who have lost both their parents in a year and a half. My heart really goes out to them.

What a damn shame.
God bless her and her family.

-Brad

Sheehan Arrested at U.N.

Anti-war activist and complete wack-job Cindi Sheehan was arrested along with three other women today at the United Nations trying to deliver a petition demanding the immediate withdrawl of US troops from Iraq. Sheehan was with the the group Women Say No to War. Here is more from Breitbart:

Richard Grenell, the spokesman for the U.S. Mission, said in response to Sheehan's arrest: "We invited her in to discuss her concerns with a U.S. Mission employee. She chose not to come in but to lay down in front of the building and block the entrance. It was clearly designed to be a media stunt, not aimed at rational discussion," Grenell said.

Oh boy. I think its time for Cindy to finally take a vacation to the looooooooooooney bin.

-Brad

Governor of South Dakota Signs Anti-Abortion Law

I have been reporting on this since the story broke that the South Dakota Legislature passed a bill that would ban abortion within its borders. Now, the Governor of that state, Republican Mike Rounds, has officially signed the bill into law. Rounds says this legislation is a "frontal assault" on Roe v. Wade. Here is how the law works:

The new law bans abortion in virtually all cases, punishing doctors who perform one with a $5,000 fine and five years in prison.
The measure bans abortion even in cases where a woman is pregnant as a result of rape or incest, or if giving birth would damage the health of the mother. It creates a narrow exemption in cases in which a physicians effort to save a pregnant woman's life results in the accidental death or injury of ther fetus.

Planned Parenthood has said that it will challenge this ruling in court--duh. Moreover, it will be interesting to see now if the state of Mississippi, whom also has recently passed similar legislation awaiting the governor's signature, will follow suit. Will there then be a domino effect of conservative states? I cant answer that, but you better believe that a showdown over the 33 year old Roe v. Wade decision is on a collision course with the Supreme Court, and it will be one of the biggest political fights of our lifetimes. Stay tuned.

-Brad