Friday's show: Jonathan Henry on Iraq!

Jonathan Henry joined us to discuss recent developments in Iraq. You can see his website!

With respect to Iraq, see Al-Qaida's Emerging Defeat By Austin Bay.

Have we won? No.

Are we winning? Yes.

Furthermore, the US public is starting to turn on the war.

See Confidence in War on Terror Near Highest Level of Bush’s Second Term!

See Public Sees Progress in War Effort!

Perphaps, the turnaround in public opinion is due to reports from Michael Yon!

Click here for the show!

CNN goofed big time!

Let me ask you a simple question.

What if FOX News had allowed someone from, say Romney's steering committee, to ask a question at a Dems' debate?

What if FOX News had flown the questioner in, paid for his hotel and given him a front seat?

What would the liberals be saying today? What would the leftist blogs be saying?

Would Nancy Pelosi call for an investigation?

Back to CNN:

"Moderator Anderson Cooper acknowledged the error involving Kerr after Bill Bennett, the conservative author and radio host who is a network contributor, raised it during a post-debate discussion.

Bennett said yesterday that his radio producer e-mailed him information from a National Review blog. " (CNN Admits Holes in Screening of Questioners By Howard Kurtz)

What lessons have we learned?

First, journalists are sloppy, too.

Second, bloggers are our first line of defense against sloppy journalism. It took bloggers minutes to "google" the general's name and discover that he was a Hillary Clinton partisan. Why didn't CNN check this guy?

Third, and most important, stop these stupid YouTube debates!

The US economy makes fools of the "doom and gloomers" again!

By now, the "everything is going to hell" committee must be ready to drink rat poison and get it over with.

It must be very sad to hope and pray for a recession and not get one.

The "doom and gloomers" needs to dance under another cloud because this one is not bringing them any rain! (Economy Has Strong Showing in Summer)

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has a third quarter report on the US economy:

"Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States -- increased at an annual rate of 4.9 percent in the third quarter of 2007, according to preliminary estimates released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

In the second quarter, real GDP increased 3.8 percent.

The GDP estimates released today are based on more complete source data than were available for the advance estimates issued last month.

In the advance estimates, the increase in real GDP was 3.9 percent ...The increase in real GDP in the third quarter primarily reflected positive contributions from exports, personal consumption expenditures (PCE), private inventory investment, equipment and software, federal government spending, nonresidential structures, and state and local government spending that were partly offset by a negative contribution from residential fixed investment.

Imports, which are a subtraction in the calculation of GDP, increased." (About That Economy ....)

Click here and read the whole thing!

It is very informative! It sounds like a pretty good economy for everyone.

So cheer up and enjoy the upcoming holidays. We live in the most prosperous nation in the history of the world. We have never had a perfect economy but this one is pretty good!

In the US, you must speak English!

The disconnect between the Pelosi-Reid Democrat Congress and the US public on immigration continues.

Why are we having a debate about speaking English at work. Frankly, what's the big deal?

How can anyone object to speaking English in a job in the US? My parents didn't when they came here. In fact, I recall my dad studying English so that he could work in the US. Makes sense to me! It did to my dad!

Speaker Pelosi is apparently a bit confused on this issue.

My guess is that most Hispanics are not confused at all and understand that speaking English is just simple common sense:

"California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won plaudits when he said last June that one way to close the Latino learning divide was "to turn off the Spanish TV set. It's that simple. You've got to learn English."

Ruben Navarette, a columnist with the San Diego Union-Tribune, agreed, warning that "industries such as native language education or Spanish-language television [create] linguistic cocoons that offer the comfort of a warm bath when what English-learners really need is a cold shower." (English-Only Showdown)

Let me ask again: What other language did you expect to speak in the US?

Obviously, I have nothing against Spanish. It is my native tongue and I speak it often with family and friends. Yet, English is the language of the US!

Once again, we see that the public has a lot of common sense on this whole issue of immigration! (77% Say Employers Can Require English-Only on the Job)

I'm positive that some of those 77% include a lot of Hispanics who have a lot more common sense than the "way to left" Hispanic Caucus in the Pelosi-Reid Congress!

Don't blame some of us for scratching our heads!

After further review, it is obvious that CNN is either staffed with big idiots or lots of bigger idiots!

Frankly, how else do you explain mistakes like these?

See Michelle Malkin's post and check the background story of some of these people who mailed their questions!

My favorite was that sweet Mom concerned about Chinese toys. It turns out that she is LeeAnn Anderson, an activist for the John Edwards campaign. Frankly, the "mom" fooled me.

Let's do this. CNN should feature Rush Limbaugh at the next Dems' debate. He should be introduced to the panel as a concerned and undecided US voter.

Rep. Hyde was one of my favorite Republicans!

We just got the news that former Rep. Henry Hyde died in Illinois. He was one of my favorite members of Congress:

"Hyde retired from Congress at the end of the last session. Earlier this month, President Bush presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The White House praised Hyde, a leading foe of abortion, as a "powerful defender of life" and an advocate for a strong national defense." (Former Rep. Henry Hyde dies at 83)

Most people remember Rep. Hyde because of the Clinton impeachment proceedings. Yet, I recall his work against abortion and wonderful command of the English language.

We will miss Rep. Hyde!

No knockout punches but CNN needs help!

Mitt Romney was sharp and presidential. He won on points!

Mike Huckabee will be someone's VP. Huckabee will single handily deliver the southern states to the next nominee! Put Huckabee on ticket and the Republicans have 200 of the required 270 electoral votes in the bank!

Everybody else had good moments, such as John McCain standing up to Ron Paul's conspiracy theories.

Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson were OK. According to post game analysis, Thompson had the best line of the evening when he spoke about immigration and the rule of law!

Nobody made big mistakes. Giuliani was strong in the second half but off base when he attacked Romney over the illegals working on his yard. After all, Romney did not hire the illegals directly. He hired a firm that used illegal workers!

Romney and Huckabee stood out on my scorecard.

Romney-Huckabee?

It would be a good ticket specially if the election is about families, taxes and a strong foreign policy. What else could the election be about?

As for the format, let me say again that I want reporters asking questions. FOX News did a great job during their debate because they had "grown ups" asking real questions.

Bring back the professionals!

Last night, CNN tried the "You Tube" format and I don't like it.

After all, we are talking about electing the next president of the US.

This is not "dancing with the stars"!

This is not "ask Mick Jagger" night!

This is not a talent show for every "video producer" in the country trying to grab a little attention.

Last, but not least, CNN needs to get out of the debate business until someone gets fired for stupid behavior. My friend Rick Moran had the best analysis:

"Well, at least the candidates were probably all Republicans. As for the questioners, that’s a different story.

At least 4 of the questioners from last night’s CNN/YouTube Debate were Democratic party supporters and activists including one gay general who worked for John Kerry’s campaign and is on Hillary Clinton’s LGBT Steering Committee.

The information confirming these facts was ferreted out by Freepers and bloggers within minutes of the debate’s ending.

This raises several interesting questions, not the least of which is who at CNN is going to get fired over this rank stupidity?"

Yes, some heads need to roll over at CNN! The bloggers nailed them again! Can you say Dan Rather, Mary Mapes and CBS running a story based on forged documents!

We remember the Democrats in Arizona and the boos everytime that Obama criticized Clinton. Last night, CNN did not reveal that several of the people asking questions were actually working for Dem campaigns:

"CNN, as part of its Republican debate with YouTube, failed to mention that retired general Keith Kerr, who announced he was gay after his retirement from the Army, is a member of Hillary Clinton’s "LGBT Americans For Hillary Steering Committee."

Not only did General Kerr ask the question via a YouTube video, but he was also present in the audience, and got to ask the candidates for a "straight answer" (pardon the pun).

General Kerr’s, whose question came 47 minutes into the 9 pm Eastern hour the debate, is also part of the Servicemembers’ Legal Defense Network's advisory council, an organization "dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance" (CNN, Newsbusted, Sneaking a Hillary Clinton Supporter Into GOP Debate--Why Am I Not Surprised)

This is either:

a) very stupid ("heads must roll") or

b) very sloppy ("more heads should roll") or

c) CNN is in the tank for the Democrats!

I think that it's "a" or "b" so someone needs to get fired over at CNN!

Again, Romney won, Huckabee will be some one's VP and CNN needs to get out of the debate business until they check the people who ask questions! (CNN, Newsbusted, Sneaking a Hillary Clinton Supporter Into GOP …)

P. S. I should add that it was Pres. Clinton who signed the "don't tell" policy regarding homosexuals serving openly in the military.

The "homosexual activists" should be mad at Pres. Clinton not Gov. Romney or any other Republican on that stage.

During the '92 campaign, candidate Bill Clinton promised to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the military. It was "classic Clintonian pandering" for votes!

After the election, Pres. Clinton made a U-turn and signed the "don't tell" policy because the military commanders told him that it would be a threat to discipline for men to live in military quarters with openly homosexual men!

My point is this: Don't get at mad at Republicans because Bill Clinton lied to homosexuals in order to get their votes!

Wed's show: Allan Wall and a review of the situation in Mexico!

Today, we spoke with Allan Wall, our friend in Mexico and frequent guest. Allan writes for Mexicodata and gave us an update on the situation south of the border.

It does not make the world's front pages. No one calls it a war. Yet, the war to our south is deadly:

"The death toll continues to mount. The Mexican government estimated that 2,350 people have been died so far this year drug-related violence in Mexico. The majority of the dead have been killed in "turf wars" among drug cartels." (Getting Ready For War)

The article is from Stragegy Page, a web site devoted to security and military issues.

We also discussed Mexicans thinking twice about U.S. jobs, survey finds, an article that appeared on today's Dallas Morning News. It suggests that Mexicans are finding it more difficult to come over.

Click here for the show!

Romney is right about families

Gov. Romney has another great campaign ad about family issues. It builds on a persistent campaign message about putting families first. As the father of 3 sons, let me say that Gov. Romney and Mrs. Romney are on the right track talking about families:

'The work that goes on within the walls of a home is the most important work that is ever done in America. ... And if we want to strengthen America, we need to strengthen the American family.'" (Romney stresses family values)

Click and watch!

These two are made for each other!

Yesterday, Pres. Clinton decided to help his wife, Sen. Clinton.

On the surface, it's nice to see a husband go out and support his wife.

I do that all of the time! Don't you?

However, Pres. Clinton has a habit of reminding us why the word "Clintonian" is now part of our language:

"As only he can do, Bill Clinton packed campaign venues across eastern Iowa and awed Democratic voters with a compelling case for his wife's candidacy. He was unscripted, in-depth and generous. He also was long-winded, misleading and self-absorbed." ("Good Bill" vs "Bad Bill" by RON FOURNIER)

In other words, Pres. Clinton has a way of saying things today that contradict what he said before. Again, we don't call it "Clinton double talk" for no reason at all!

Our friend Captain Ed took us on a trip down memory lane with the former president and his words on the Iraq War. Read Why We Called It Clintonesque:

""So, you're sitting there as President, you're reeling in the aftermath of [September 11], so, yeah, you want to go get bin Laden and do Afghanistan and all that. But you also have to say, well, my first responsibility now is to try everything possible to make sure that this terrorist network and other terrorist networks cannot reach chemical and biological weapons or small amounts of fissile material. I've got to do that. That's why I supported the Iraq thing." ("His Side Of The Story," Time, 6/28/04)

"'Saddam is gone and good riddance,' former President Bill Clinton said yesterday. Clinton also said Bush should not be faulted if banned weapons of mass destruction aren't found. 'I don't think you can criticize the President for trying to act on the belief that they have a substantial amount of chemical and biological stock. ... That is what I was always told.'" (Joel Siegel, "W Fought A Good Fight, Clinton Says," [New York] Daily News, 4/16/03)

"I supported the president when he asked the Congress for authority to stand up against weapons of mass destruction in Iraq." (Former President Bill Clinton, Remarks At Tougaloo College Commencement, Jackson, MS, 5/18/03)"

This is so similar to how his wife, Senator Clinton, tackled the issue. First, you support the war. Then you don't. Then you call for a timetable and then you don't.

How in the world can anyone believe this couple? I don't know!

Some people must enjoy being misled and lied to! What else can you say?

The controversy over the NFL network!

On Thursday, the Packers and Cowboys will play the biggest game of the NFL season. (Sorry Colts and Patriots' fans but your teams are not in the same level of fan support!)

Unfortunately, many will not get to see it. It's hard to believe that the NFL is happy about this:

"When the Packers (10-1) visit the Cowboys (10-1) at Texas Stadium on Thursday night, the game will be available in only 35 million homes across the country. Most are satellite subscribers.

Throw in the home markets of Dallas-Fort Worth as well as Milwaukee and Green Bay, the only ones able to watch the game on local over-the-air TV stations, and that ups the total to about 38.7 million homes.

Put another way: the game will not be available in about 74.1 million of the country's 112.8 million homes with televisions.

With few exceptions, those 112.8 million homes would have had access to the game on Fox or NBC. Almost 97 million could have seen it on ESPN.

Cable homes in Cowboys-crazed markets across Texas such as San Antonio, Waco and Austin will be shut out. Same for Packers fans in Wisconsin who live outside Green Bay and Milwaukee.
Finger pointing "(Fans are losers in NFL Network impasse)

Don't get me wrong. I'm a free market guy.

I want the NFL, and everybody else in sports, to make as much money as the market will bring.

Yet, this is stupid and bad business.

This is the 8th time in NFL history that two 10-1 teams have played each other in the regular season.

The Cowboys and Packers have huge national appeal. After all, the Packers are Lombardi's team and the Cowboys have played in 7 Super Bowls!

Who messed up? Millions of NFL fans will be very unhappy on Thursday night!

I feel sorry for the girl answering the phones at the NFL offices. She may be looking for another job by 10am the next morning. I can't blame her!

War? What is it good for? Read and find out!

(This picture is from BlackFive)

Yesterday, I was directed to a great blog (BLACKFIVE) and post. See Anti-war films tank, left baffled! See the poster above!

It explains why anti-military movies, like "Redacted", are flopping big time.

It follows on this great editorial from IBD:

"Despite top star billings, big-foot directors, the best publicity money can buy and critical acclaim, the public just isn't biting. The problem is the content.

"Redacted," gave us the Christmasy theme of Iraqi rape starring U.S. troops as rapists.

It drew just $10,039 over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to BoxOfficeMojo, and $34,000 at its open.

Meanwhile "Rendition," which showed terrorists as pensive souls, bombed too.

"A Mighty Heart," depicting terrorists' war on the West as "understandable," was a dud.

"Syriana," portraying U.S. intelligence officers as crooks in bed with Big Oil, also fared poorly.

"Lions For Lambs," a long anti-war monologue, bored people out of the Cineplex."

These movies are failing because Hollywood liberals hate the military (part of the Vietnam "hippie" syndrome) but the public has a very high opinion of the armed forces. (71% Have Favorable Opinion of U.S. Military)

Most Americans know that US soldiers do not rape 14 year old girls. Why? Because these young men are our sons, our neighbors and the kids that we watched played football on Friday nights.

Hollywood struck out big time. They deserve every drop of red ink attached to the financial statements of these pathetic films!

What's war good for? Well, how about ending slavery, fascism, Hitler and communism. And soon we can add Islam extremists.

Good poster. Good message.

They call it "Flambée"

Again, we support Pres. Sarkozy. Yet, it's amazing what is happening in Paris:

"The poor, harmless misguided youth of unnamed ethnic origin in France are now peacefully demonstrating against oppression by…shooting at cops with hunting weapons." (Michelle Malkin)

Michelle's post has some incredible video and more links to the "flambee"!

Also, the so called "youths" are pretty serious with their tactics:

"More than 100 officers have been wounded, several of them seriously, according to the police. Thirty were hit with buckshot and pellets from shotguns, and one of the wounded was hit with a type of bullet used to kill large game, Patrice Ribeiro, a police spokesman, said in a telephone interview. One of the officers lost an eye; another’s shoulder was shattered by gunfire.

It is legal to own a shotgun in France — as long as the owner has a license — and police circles were swirling with rumors that the bands of youths were procuring more weapons.

"This is a real guerrilla war,” Mr. Ribeiro told RTL radio, warning that the police, who have struggled to avoid excessive force, will not be fired upon indefinitely without responding."(

In French Suburbs, Same Rage, but New Tactics )

Don't back down, Pres. Sarkozy. The world is watching how you stand up to these so-called "youths"! ("Youths" riot again in France)

2008 is all about the judiciary!

The justices won't be on the ballot next year. Yet, everybody knows that the future of the Supreme Court is on the line.

Pres. Bush made two great appointments in Mr. Alito and Mr. Roberts. It's possible that he could get another. Who knows? However, the next president will definitely get one or two.

What's at stake? It's easy to talk about abortion but there is a lot more, from states' rights to immigration reform.

This is why the next elections matters. Our 2008 vote will move the Supreme Court, and the rest of the judiciary:

"Ronald Reagan appointed 379 judges in his two terms, and George Bush 192 in his one term. Bill Clinton appointed 372 judges in eight years, and George W. Bush has named 292 in his almost seven years." (200 Reasons Why the Election Matters (The future of the federal judiciary is at stake on November 4, 2008) by Terry Eastland)

Unelected judges engaged in judicial activism are out of control. How do you end it? You vote for a president who will appoint justices and judges who understand their role.

2008 matters a lot. It's all about the judiciary!

We remember Brig. Gen. Tibbets!

A few days ago we got the news:

"Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr., the Army Air Forces pilot whose bombing run over Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945 introduced nuclear war, died Thursday at his home in Columbus, Ohio. He was 92." (Paul Tibbets, pilot who bombed Hiroshima, dies at 92)

60 years ago, Pres. Truman had the guts to make the right decision. The atomic bomb killed thousands but saved millions more.

Rest in peace Mr. Tibbets. Thank you for your service!

Jimmy Rollins, great MVP choice

I did not have a chance to express my joy at Jimmy Rollins winning the NL MVP. Rollins led the Phillies to a great comeback in the NL East!

Rollins is one of the best players in the game and a good guy!

Congratulations Jimmy Rollins!

My bet is on the dollar!

Yes, I hear all of the doom and gloom about the US dollar. However, I am putting my money on the dollar. I think that the dollar is the "long term bet" in this race:

"GaveKal, an international investment-research boutique with offices in the U.S., Hong Kong, Paris and Abu Dhabi, recently penned a report lauding the dollar's prospects against the euro.

In fact, in a telephone interview from Paris, firm founder Charles Gave terms the euro "grotesquely overvalued" at its current level. In the next couple of years, he maintains, the euro should fall to its "parity" value of $1.05 to $1.10.

Gave, whose firm's good track record has won it a large institutional following in the U.S. and Europe, points to several secular factors that bode well for the greenback versus the euro.

For example, rapidly aging populations in euroland figure to decimate working populations there and increase the governmental financial burden at a pace far faster than in the U.S. European countries such as France have far higher debt-to-GDP burdens than the U.S., especially when estimates of their unfunded pension liabilities for government employees are figured in.

Adding to this European fiscal burden is a trend that Gave, out of political correctness, hesitates even to verbalize -- Islamization.

Higher birth rates of Muslim populations that have been only imperfectly integrated into European economic and cultural life could pose big problems in the Old World over the next several decades.

For one thing, the trend could boost unemployment." (A Comeback for the Greenback)

Let me translate. The US has a better future than Europe! It's as simple as that!

The dollar will come back because Europe is facing a major economic slowdown with its overvalued euro. Over the weekend, I heard a radio report about European tourists buying like crazy in New York. Some even hinted at buying property here because it was such a good deal!

At some point, the Euro economies will feel the heat of excessive inventories and a drop in tourism. Eventually, countries will react and force a devaluation of the euro.

So don't save your euros. Bet on the US dollar! As I said before, there is a better future here. How do I know? Well, do you see Americans lining up to move to Europe?

The "how did this happen" Democrats?

This is another post about Democrats and Iraq. We continue to see success in Iraq and panic over at the Dems headquarters.

Michael J. Totten has another post from Iraq:

"Nobody was shot last night in Fallujah. No American has been shot anywhere in Fallujah since the 3rd Battalion 5th Marine Regiment rotated into the city two months ago. There have been no rocket or mortar attacks since the summer. Not a single of the 3/5 Marines has even been wounded." (An Edgy Calm in Fallujah)

It wasn't supposed to happen this way. But it did! We can thank US military for a good job. Also, let's thank the good people of Iraq who are now cooperating with us in huge numbers.

The recent success is due to the fact that Iraqis are fed up with Al Qaeda. Also, they are finally confident that we are not leaving them to get slaughtered by the bad guys!

No one is popping champagne but progress is underway!

We support Pres. Sarkozy

According to some newsreports, Paris is burning:

"Young residents of Villiers-le-Bel, a northern Paris suburb, vandalize an abandoned police car during clashes late Monday, Nov. 26, 2007. Rampaging youths threw Molotov cocktails and set fire to cars in a troubled neighborhood outside Paris on Monday, the second night of street violence after two local teens were killed in a crash with a police patrol car." (77 Police Officers Injured in Paris- Rioters Using Shotguns!)

We saw this a couple of years ago!

Go for it Pres. Sarkozy. Restore order and remind these "punks" that we live in a civilized society where you do not attack policemen or burn cars!

The border mess is real!

Over the weekend, we got the news that Al Qaeda operatives targeted a fort in the Southwest. Check out Islamists target Arizona base:

"Fort Huachuca, the nation's largest intelligence-training center, changed security measures in May after being warned that Islamist terrorists, with the aid of Mexican drug cartels, were planning an attack on the facility.

Fort officials changed security measures after sources warned that possibly 60 Afghan and Iraqi terrorists were to be smuggled into the U.S. through underground tunnels with high-powered weapons to attack the Arizona Army base, according to multiple confidential law enforcement documents obtained by The Washington Times."

To be fair, the US was never actually attacked. Also, we had good intelligence and stopped whoever was behind it! Furthermore, how successful can a band of terrorists be against a well armed garrison? Terrorists are usually more successful when they attack civilians who can't defend themselves.

What's the story here? First, it shows that Al Qaeda is committed to enter the US. Second, it shows how vulnerable Mexico is because of its unattended border.

Was the Mexican government aware of this? After all, does Pres. Calderon, who is already at war with well armed cartels, want to see an alliance between terrorists and cartels?

Perhaps, we can now sit down with Mexico and chat like adults about illegal immigration. Let's put aside all of the slogans about "persecution of Mexicans in the US" and talk honestly about our common problem.

Again, does Mexico really want to be a center for Al Qaeda and drug cartels?

My guess is that Pres. Calderon understands the risks associated with having Al Qaeda operatives paying "...Mexican drug lords $20,000 "or the equivalent in weapons" for the cartel's assistance in smuggling them and their weapons through tunnels along the border into the U.S."

I get it. I think that Felipe Calderon gets it.

However, I'm not sure that most of the Mexican political class has a clue.

It appears to me that most Mexican politicians are in some silly trance over Elvira Arellano, the latest in a long line of "victimas" of gringo policies!

According to the dictionary, a "trance" is "a half-conscious state, seemingly between sleeping and waking, in which ability to function voluntarily may be suspended." It sounds like a proper description of the Mexican political class vis-a-vis the border mess!

Wake up Mexico!

Monday's show: A chat with Cassy!

Today, we were joined by Cassy Fiano, a blogger with a lot of interest in the war on terror and the military in general. See her blog!

We spoke about presidential politics and current trends in Iraq. Also, we spoke about the fact that anti-war movies are flopping at the gate! Nobody is watching them! See 'Redacted' is Repulsive by Ross Kaminsky!

Click here for the show!

No diversity on the Dems' side!

Mark Steyn's latest post is right:

"Over on the Democratic side, meanwhile, they've got a woman, a black, a Hispanic, a preening metrosexual with an angled nape – and they all think exactly the same.

They remind me of "The Johnny Mathis Christmas Album," which Columbia used to re-release every year in a different sleeve: same old songs, new cover.

When your ideas are identical, there's not a lot to argue about except biography."

They all sound the same to me, too! The Christmas album analogy is perfect!

Look at the Republican field. There are differences on abortion and guns. Are there any on the Dems's side?

There are differences over Iraq? Are there any on the Dems' side?

The Dems represent the left wing base that took over the party in '72 and has led them to so many defeats. Who else is on that stage?

Diversity is not about being a woman, black or someone who conveniently remembers that he is Hispanic.

Diversity is in the message. There is no diversity in the Dems' side! There are no debates over big ideas because they all say the same thing.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a Dem like Lieberman on the war, or a Dem who is opposed to abortion, or other issues?

Why do they argue about stupid things? (Wife Or Child -- Which One Has The Best Foreign-Policy Experience?) Because no one is proposing big ideas on the Dems' side! It's a really a shame to see what the once mighty Dems have turned into!

What a great Thanksgiving weekend!

It was great Thanksgiving holiday!

My uncle and aunt celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. It was great to see cousins and friends.

The Aggies beat Texas! The Longhorns had a great comeback and got within a TD.

Iraq continues to look better and better:

"THE NEWS from Iraq has been so encouraging in recent months that last week even the mainstream media finally sat up and took notice. Can the Democratic Party be far behind?" (Let's hear it for good news from Iraq)

The shoppers went to the malls and shut up the doom and gloom experts:

"Malls and stores were jammed for pre-dawn discounts on everything from TVs to toys on the official start of Christmas shopping as consumers shrugged off worries about rising gas prices and falling home values." (Black Friday Euphoria Boosts Economic Hopes)

There is more good news:

"The nation's retailers had a robust start to the holiday shopping season, according to results announced Saturday by a national research group that tracks sales at retail outlets across the country.

According to ShopperTrak RCT Corp., which tracks sales at more than 50,000 retail outlets, total sales rose 8.3 percent to about $10.3 billion on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, compared with $9.5 billion on the same day a year ago.

ShopperTrak had expected an increase of no more than 4 percent to 5 percent." (Retailers Post Robust Start to Holidays)

It leads a rational person, like our friend Captain Ed, to ask the obvious question: Where is the coverage for the good news? (Bad Economy? Not So Far, Although Good Luck Reading About It)

After all, consumers did a good job of shopping and putting to rest all of the talk about the coming economic depression! The airports and highways were crowded with people travelling and spending money! So much for the coming Great Depression!

Let's save the best for last. Americans are not watching stupid anti-war movies:

"While the public is staying away in droves from “Rendition," “Lions for Lambs" and “In the Valley of Elah," audiences are really avoiding “Redacted," De Palma's picture about US soldiers who rape a 14-year-old Iraqi girl, then kill her and her family.

The message movie was produced by NBA Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who insisted on deleting grisly images of Iraqi war casualties from the montage at the film's end.

Cuban offered to sell the film back to De Palma at cost, but the director was too smart to go for that deal.

“Redacted" - which “could be the worst movie I've ever seen," said critic Michael Medved -took in just $25,628 in its opening weekend in 15 theaters, which means roughly 3,000 people saw it in the entire country." (DE PALMA IRAQ FLICK BOMBS)

It's really bad when Air America has a larger audience than De Palma's movie!

Moral of the story: Make a stupid movie about US soldiers raping a 14 year old girl and no one will show up.

Most Americans are smart enough to pick up on De Palma's anti-war point. This is not a movie. This is De Palma trying to get through Hollywood what his side can not win on the ballot box!

Want to fill the theatres like the malls? Make a movie that the country wants to watch, such as one that shows how US soldiers have built schools and done great things in Iraq. It's not about propaganda. It's about the truth!

So the malls were full. My uncle & aunt celebrated a wonderful anniversary. And De Palma is going to lose his shirt over a stupid movie!

It was indeed a great weekend! It does not get any better than that!

So what about that dollar and the US economy?

For weeks, the "everything has gone to hell since Gore couldn't win Tennessee" committee has been forecasting the end of the world over the value of the US dollar relative to the euro.

Is all of this "doom and gloom" justified? Not really, unless you are still angry at the 2000 election and must find the negative angle about everything.

Gerard Baker is a reasonable voice from the UK. The Brits had the common sense to keep their pound and not join the euro brigade.

Baker is also responsible for one of the year's best articles. In Oh George, what will we do when you’re gone? he takes the anti-Bushies to task:

"When President Bush goes into the Texas sunset, and especially if he is replaced by an enlightened, world-embracing Democrat, their one excuse, their sole explanation for all human suffering in the world will disappear too. And they may just find that the world is not as simple as they thought it was."

Can you say Clinton and Bosnia '95?

This week, Baker takes on the doom and gloom promoted by those who have to look for every negative angle in everything that is related to Bush.

Back to Baker. Read The dollar's in decline. Great news!:

"The pundits have finally run out of bad news to report from Iraq, where, unmolested by the morbid fascination of misery-seeking reporters, the locals actually seem to be belatedly enjoying the first fruits of their liberation.

So attention has turned again, as it has tended to do from time to time these past 50 years, to the inevitable collapse of the American economy."

I will put my money on Baker. By the way, Baker is right about Iraq. (As Democrats See Security Gains in Iraq, Tone Shifts )

I will bet on Lawrence Kudlow's analysis of our economy. He has been right over and over again:

"And with all these problems, economic growth in 2007 will probably come in around 2.8 percent, a pretty good year." (Three More Years of Goldilocks?)

I will bet that the US economy will be fine. By the way, the "doom and gloom" crowd got jolted some reality this weekend. The malls were full with shoppers! (Black Friday Euphoria Boosts Economic Hopes) How did that happen? Isn't everybody feeling dreadful about everything? The early results suggest an 8% increase over last year rather than the 4% predicted! What happened to the experts? They were wrong again! (Retailers Post Robust Start to Holidays)

Last, but not least, I will bet that Tennessee rejects another Democrat again in 2008!

The "doom and gloom" crowd should enjoy life and get over the 2000 election. They are living in the most prosperous nation in the history of the world. Enjoy it!

Required reading: Walter Williams on class warfare!

Over the years, I have come to love Walter Williams' articles. His latest one is timely, specially after watching the last Dems' debate:

"What about any suggestion the burden of taxes have been shifted to the poor?

The bottom 50 percent, earning $30,000 or less, paid 3 percent of total federal income taxes. In 1999, it paid 4 percent.

Members of Congress know all this, but they attempt to hoodwink the average American who doesn't." (Class warfare chicanery)

The entire Dems' economic platform is based on a lie. Tax the rich and you will destroy the middle class!

Beyond that, Dr. Williams's article is a warning for those who pay taxes and want to preserve our prosperity.

The incredible Naomi Wolf

Naomi Wolf is going around saying that Bush is a Hitler-fascist. She adds that Bush-Cheney have turned the US into some Nazi police state. (Fascist America, in 10 easy steps)

I should add that Naomi is part of a left wing movement totally out of control, from Leftist Brown Shirts Shut Down Horowitz Speech at Emory to The orange jumpsuit mob greets Al Gonzales! They are attacking conservative speakers and rushing the stage to keep people from saying what they don't want to hear!

By the way, Miss Wolf (or is it Ms Wolf) is not a political virgin. She was an adviser to Pres. Clinton's reelection and worked as a consultant to VP Gore's campaign. She is well known for allegedly advising VP Gore to look more "male", a reference to the electoral fact that men vote Republican in overwhelming numbers!

I guess that Naomi was concerned that VP Gore did not come across as an "alpha male" to all of those southern and mountain states' women who don't care for "wimpy" men!

My point is that Naomi is not some civil libertarian who woke up one morning and discovered that Bush is a fascist.

She is a partisan who conveniently overlooked what Pres. Clinton did and finds criticism in everything that Pres. Bush does! (Would Bush Derangement Syndrome diagnosed by Charles Krauthammer apply to this patient?)

Back to Naomi and the police state. What is Naomi putting in her coffee, tea or whatever else she drinks?

Where was Naomi when Pres. Clinton created secret prisons to hold terrorists? (Clinton Created Secret CIA Prisons)

Let me add that I supported Pres. Clinton on this. We have to keep terrorists in check. I'm just disappointed that the anti-Bushies have such short (or selective) memories when they get into "GITMO-mania"!

Where was Naomi when Pres. Clinton signed an executive order saying that FISA did not apply to him? (Clinton Claimed Authority to Order No-Warrant Searches: Does anyone remember that? by Byron York) Bush and Clinton had the same view of FISA but the anti-Bushies don't admit it! They kept their silence in the 1990s and blew their top when it was announced that Bush was authorizing the NSA to listen to the calls!

Again, Pres. Clinton was right. FISA and The War Powers Act were legislative intrusions on executive powers. The Constitution makes the president our commander in chief. We don't need legislative interventions on his responsibilities to defend the nation. Under Article 2, the president has the right, and duty, to listen to what our enemy is saying. Just read about Lincoln, Wilson, FDR and Truman!

Where was Naomi when Pres. Clinton sent troops unilaterally into Haiti or Bosnia? Just asking!

Where was Naomi when Pres. Clinton bombed Iraq because no one at the UN (except for PM Blair of the UK) cared that Saddam Hussein kicked out the inspectors in 1998? Again, I'm just asking and looking for some consistency!

Back in the 1990s, I supported Pres. Clinton on Bosnia and bombing Iraq. He had good reasons to do it. Again, I'm just a bit surprised that Naomi did not accuse Pres. Clinton of an unilateral foreign policy and not checking with our allies! Pres. Clinton did not check with our allies. Sometimes, you can't and defend your interests! Sometimes, the allies are not serious as Hillary Clinton told the anti-war protesters in March '03 days before the start of the Iraq War!

I guess that Naomi took a very partisan nap through the 1990s!

Frankly, where was Naomi when Pres. Clinton used our military without going to Congress?

Pres. Bush, like his father in 1990, went to Congress in Oct' 02 and got a resolution that was strongly supported by the likes of John Edwards and Hillary Clinton!

Last, but not least, where was feminist Naomi when Pres. Clinton used public resources to destroy Monica Lewsinski for saying that she had "whatever the two had" in the Oval Office? What would have happened to Monica if she had not saved her "blue dress"?

Again, Naomi slept through the 90s!

Back to the very partisan Naomi Wolf.

She gets to go from station to station to sell a book.

To my knowledge, she has not been detained and thrown in jail without a trial. On the contrary, Naomi is making money and getting to speak everywhere without any intervention by "Bush's secret police".

At some point, responsible liberals need to stand up and put down people like Naomi Wolf.

Yes, we can disagree. Making a connection between Hitler fascism, and any US president, is so insane that it makes me sick.

We are not losing our freedoms. In fact, it is people like David Horowitz and former AG Gonzalez who are losing their freedoms when leftist mobs rush the stage and do not allow them to speak.

Where is Naomi on those fascist tactics?

Naomi Wolf has not lost her freedom to write a book, go on TV and call Bush a Hitler! Again, her book has not been banned by evil Bush.

What a country! What a police state! (We're Becoming A Fascist Society? How Ridiculous)

For more, see Is Bush Hitler? I don't think so By Alex Beam:

"Just for context: Forget any debate about America resembling the Germany of 1934 or 1939. No one challenged Hitler's claim to power in Germany until the Red Army rolled into Berlin in 1945. Hitler sponsored an "election" in 1936 - the quote marks belong to historian Ian Kershaw - and received 99 percent of the vote.

How offensive, how ignorant is this?"

It is very offensive and ignorant, indeed! It is also very irritating for those of us who actually know what a real police state is.

Just ask Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet! He is sitting in one of Castro's prisons today not far from GITMO! (A real hero in Castro's prisons!) It's funny how Naomi talks about GITMO and Pinochet but does not say a word about Castro. Do I need to say anything about where Naomi is coming from?

For more on a real police state, check out Armando Valladares' story! Read Against All Hope: A Memoir of Life in Castro's Gulag!