So Pres BO would rather lose the Brooklyn Bridge than waterboard a terrorist?

Just imagine this.

What would Dems be saying if we had lost The Brooklyn Bridge to a terrorist attack?

Or had a big hole in downtown LA?

Or had a dozen 747s blown up over the Pacific?

What would the Dems be saying if word got out that we had a terrorist under arrest who knew about these attacks?

What would the Dems be saying if we learned that the Bush administration refused to waterboard him for fear of being unpopular?

The Dems would say: Impeach Bush!

They would say: Why didn't Bush defend the country!

Thankfully, Pres Bush put country first.

Thankfully, we got information that prevented terrorist attacks.

As VP Cheney said: It's in the memos that Pres BO has selectively released.

Last night, Pres BO was asked a question about waterboarding. He refused to say that he would waterboard a terrorist in order to get information.

What's going on?

Is BO naive?

Or is he just telling the base what they want to hear?

Michael Goodwin saw the press conference and posted this:

"Asked about the widespread belief by some military leaders, Dick Cheney and former heads of the CIA, that waterboarding terrorists had yielded life-saving information, the President insisted, "We could have gotten the information in other ways, ways that are consistent with our values."

How can he be certain?

He can't be, but he has nonetheless built a policy banning the practice and justifying it with his genuine belief.

This is the kind of confidence that can kill."

Let's hope that BO was just telling the base what they wanted to hear.

He did it on Iraq and then implemented the Bush-McCain policy.

Why not just tell the ACLU and MoveOn.org what they want to hear on interrogation techniques?

Nevertheless, it really worries me that we have a president who doesn't see the seriousness of this war on terror.

We say it again: This is a fairy tale and it won't have a happy ending!

Pres BO will own the next attack and it won't be pretty!

Let Specter and the Dems own these deficits!

We have a great opportunity to define the political terrain.

Let's move on and play ball.

On one side, everybody who supported the so called stimulus plan and Obama-economics!

On the other side, those of us who believe that this won't work!

I'm confident that we are right.

Let us be the party that voted "no" on a bill that no one read. In fact, this is the same bill that approved the AIG bonus.

Let us be the party that voted "no" on a budget that included 9,000 earmarks and a provision that violated NAFTA.

How proud was Pres Obama of signing that budget? He didn't do it in public.

Don't let the "fairy tale" get to you.

Fairy tales are for children. Adults usually crash when they grab on to a fairy tale.

This is where we are on the economy.

We've created an economic situation that calls for federal budget deficits in excess of 10% of GDP for 2 years, and probably more.

Why is that important? We have never done that before, even in the depths of World War 2.

Sooner or later, someone is going to have to defend their votes on creating these deficits.

It will be a pleasure to say in 2010, and specially 2012, that we didn't do it. Instead, the Dems did it. (House passes budget plan endorsing Obama goals: "Not a single Republican voted for the measure; 17 Democrats, mostly from GOP-leaning districts, voted against it.")

Be patient Republicans.

We are on the right track. We will win again.

Don't let all of the "doom and gloom" get to you. We are headed in the right direction!

Dick Morris has a great post on Obama's first 100 days:

"Obama’s very activism these days arrogates to himself the blame for the success or failure of his policies.

Their outcome will determine his outcome, and there is no way it will be positive.

Why?

• You can’t borrow as much as he will need to without raising interest rates that hurt the economy;

• The massive amount of spending will trigger runaway inflation once the economy starts to recover;

• His overhaul of the tax code (still in the planning phases) and his intervention in corporate management will create such business uncertainty that nobody will invest in anything until they see the lay of the land;

• His bank program is designed to help banks, but not to catalyze consumer lending. And his proposal for securitization of consumer loans won’t work and is just what got us into this situation.

So Mr. Obama should enjoy his poll numbers while he may.'

Yes, enjoy the fairy tale. It won't have a happy ending for those who've created these deficits.

Rmember this: "....Obama's honeymoon, like all vacations from reality, will soon come to an end." (Obama's Vision Deficit)

Blaming Bush is getting very dishonest!

CALVIN WOODWARD of AP has a good post today about Pres BO blaming Pres Bush: FACT CHECK: Obama disowns deficit he helped shape!

It confirms what we posted before.

Pres BO was not an innocent bystander. Under Pres BO's policies, our federal budget deficit has gone from 3% of GDP to over 10% of GDP.

Let's look at some facts:

"Now, the deficit is nearly quadrupling to $1.75 trillion....."

As we have pointed out, Sen BO voted for everything that he "inherited", such as TARP.

After becoming Pres BO, he put through a $787 billion stimulus that added to the deficit.

BO has gotten away with the "I inherited" line because the media has not challenged him.

Perhaps, Calvin Woodward's article is the return of journalism. Wouldn't that be nice?

We were not attacked again and that's an impressive bottom line

Want to talk about torture? Let's remember the man who jumped to his death on 9-11? He was not alone. Nevertheless, it makes me furious every time that I see this picture.

Peter Wehner has a great post:

"You captured a high-value terrorist who, if you elicit information from him, might well provide you with details that are essential to preventing a future attack and mass death.

You are told enhanced interrogation techniques, if employed properly and under guidance, will work; and will probably save many thousands of innocent lives.

In that case many people would, I think, (reluctantly) give the green light to coercive techniques – which is exactly what Congress, including Democratic Members of Congress, did." (Morality and Enhanced Interrogation Techniques)

Wonder why there won't be any torture commission?

The public is against it. Also, the Dems don't want to get exposed as hypocrites for supporting all of the techniques back then.

P.S. By the way, did you watch Liz Cheney, the VP's daughter, on TV. She was outstanding:

Let the girls wear swimsuits and pretty dresses!

My mother and sister love beauty pageants. My wife likes them too.

During pageants, my mother and sister used to control TV and we were told to go out to eat.

My mother and sister took these pageants as seriously as we took the 7th game of the World Series or The Super Bowl.

In recent years, political correctness has invaded the beauty pageants. We expect these girls to talk about saving the world or some causes.

Forget it. It's a beauty pageant.

We are selecting a pretty young woman to serve as Miss USA, Miss Universe or Miss Venezuela.

What else are we doing?

This is about swim suits and long evening gowns.

Bring back the old fashioned beauty pageant. Drop all of these questions about saving the world.

The Dems got Arlen but do they really have 60 votes?

In the short run, it Specter's switch gives the Dems "the magical 60 votes" to run the US Senate.

In reality, Specter will be as much of a headache for Dems as he was for us.

Card check? No! How are heavy-union PA Dems going to react to having one of their own vote against Card Check?

Health care? Same as Card Check!

Beyond politics, it's amazing how Specter's cynicism compares with Lieberman's principled party switch in 2006.

Lieberman, the 2000 Dem VP candidate, did not buckle on his support for the Iraq War or Pres. Bush's war on terror.

He lost the primary to a well financed "Move on org" candidate.

Lieberman ran as an independent and won his seat back.

Don't expect that from Specter.

Why is Specter switching parties? Because he was trailing Pat Toomey, a younger conservative, by 20-30 points. (IBD: Self-Serving Switch)

Again, we had our differences with Specter over the years.

We loved how he went after Anita Hill during the Clarence Thomas hearings back in '91.

We did not like that he made Pres Obama's shameful Stimulus program possible.

Let's see how the political landscape looks in November 2010.

Let's see how things look after back to back years of federal deficits in excess of 10% of GDP!

P.S. By the way, the Dems now own Washington. The Republicans can not stop anything. This is their show now: The Liberal Hour!

Tuesday's show: A chat with Daniel about Venezuela

On Tuesday's show, we spoke with blogger Daniel from Venezuela.

We regret some of the technical problems in the first 10 minutes of the show. Please be patient and wait until we finally connect with Daniel.

Daniel's blog has been a wonderful vehicle to keep up with Venezuela News & Views!

We got an update on the situation, such as Peruvian exile for Rosales!

Click here for the show or go to the radio icon to the right.

Wonder how many New Yorkers were concerned about waterboarding terrorists yesterday?

On Tuesday, Air Force One and a couple of Air Force jets flew around New York City.

Who ordered it? We don't know. I am not going to speculate but it is a bit amazing that Pres Obama's security team did not tell him that one of the two jets was out for a ride!

What was the purpose of sending Air Force One to the New York skies?

Image? Image at $70,000 a minute? Image without giving Mayor Bloomberg early warning?

Beyond that, it caused an understandable panic in a city that still remembers the 9-11 tragedy.

According to news reports:

WHITE HOUSE CAUSES TERROR SCARE IN NYC...

WAS UPDATING FILE PHOTO OF AIR FORCE ONE...

Buildings evacuated in panic...

New Yorkers Run Through Streets...

Put City on Edge...

'We thought we were under attack again'...

Obviously, someone made a mistake here.

My question again: Wonder how many of those New Yorkers running in panic thought that waterboarding terrorists was an inhumane activity?

Perez Hilton at war with Miss California and TOTALLY silent about Pres Obama!

Back in 1996, or 13 years ago, BO was in favor of same sex marriage:

"In a survey conducted by the Windy City Times, Obama wrote, "I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages..."

Later, he switched to the "one man, one woman" arrangement.

Why doesn't Perez Hilton go after Pres Obama?

Why does he call Miss California a bad name? Why isn't he calling Pres BO a bad name too?

What's going on?

I love Andrew Breibart: We're here, we're queer and we're hypocrites!

Yes, I think that there is something wrong when people like Perez Hilton go after young women like Miss California.

Yes, it's called cowardice.

They go after Miss California and say nothing about the guy that cheerfully voted for!

P.S. Did you hear this:

"Miss California pageant organizers wanted her to remember her proper place — by renouncing her religious beliefs and apologizing..." (Captain Ed)

Pelosi is a disgrace

Like so many Dems, Nancy Pelosi is a poll reader.

In 2002, Pelosi did not object to anything. Today, she can't remember a thing!

Bret Stephens has a great column on Pelosi's convenient memory:

"The speaker and her partisans are the current beneficiaries of this politics of amnesia.

It won't be so forever.

And when the time comes to pay the price for their forgetfulness, it will not be small."

The Bush administration kept members of both parties incredibly informed about every feature of the anti-terror policies.

What's going on? Rep Pelosi doesn't have the courage to tell the Dem base that she knew, and strongly supported, everything that the Bush administration was doing.

Again, how can anybody vote for these fools?

POLITICO posted Pelosi playing defense on torture:

"Nancy Pelosi didn’t cry foul when the Bush administration briefed her on “enhanced interrogation” of terror suspects in 2002, but her team was locked and loaded to counter hypocrisy charges when the “torture” memos were released last week.

Many Republicans obliged, led by former CIA chief Porter Goss, who is accusing Democrats like Pelosi of “amnesia” for demanding investigations in 2009 after failing to raise objections seven years ago when she first learned of the legal basis for the program."

Not even Carlos Slim can save The NY Times!

The NY Times is in deep financial trouble.

It's only a matter of time before The NY Times joins Pontiac in the cemetery.

To be honest, I used to subscribe to The NY Times.

During my time in Mexico, I used to get The NY Times and The Wall Street Journal. It was my way of getting both sides.

Unfortunately, something happened to The NY Times. Something really bad happened to The NY Times during the GW Bush years.

It turned into a left wing pamphlet.

Bill O'Reilly has a good post on The NY Times:

"Why read an ideologically crazed paper when you can acquire a variety of information on your PC?"

Why read hate from Frank Rich, Maureen Dowd and Paul Krugman?

The end is near. Let's hope that new investors can take The NY Times' good journalists and regroup under a more responsible banner.

Let's hope that the new managers will tell Rich, Dowd and Krugman to find some San Francisco newspaper to write for.

We need a good liberal newspaper. We don't need a left wing pamphlet!

BO's 100 days equals trillions of spending

Let's ask again: Didn't these people run against Pres Bush's deficits?

As we celebrate Pres BO's 100 days, we are astonished with the level of spending and the deficits that we will be financing.

Albert Hunt, a pro BO pundit, wrote this:

"The context is a looming policy and fiscal clash: Obama’s economic, energy, health-care and education initiatives are expensive, and the U.S. faces trillion-dollar deficits as far as the eye can see.

The president can make a compelling case that these priorities are urgent and can help revive the economy.

Still, those initiatives, and a strong economy, may be unattainable without fiscal discipline elsewhere."

George Will reminds us of Carter:

"His budget calls for doubling the national debt in five years and almost tripling it in 10.

If the necessary government borrowing soon causes a surge in long-term interest rates, the result will be the 1970s redux—inflation and stagnation.

If so, the 44th president will be remembered not as the second iteration of the 32nd (Franklin Roosevelt) but of the 39th (Jimmy Carter)."

Another Carter presidency for the Democrats?

BO's 100 days have been:

1) style over substance, i.e. lots of teleprompter;

2) apologies all over but no Euro troops in Afghanistan; and,

3) budget deficits that will freak out the markets, i.e. 10% of GDP.

At some point, and it won't be long, the BO machine will hit some turbulence. Let's hope that the "yes we can screamers" brought their "Dramamine".

Does Pres BO have the spine to be president?

On FOX News Sunday, Mara Liasson (a quality reporter from NPR), and Brit Hume (FOX News) expressed concern about Pres BO standing up to the left.

Hume was great:

"Well, the base was not placated, and Obama -- boy, and it doesn't seem to take more than the slightest breeze from his left to get him to change his mind -- changed his mind.

This was weak."

Moral of the story: BO owes the left big time. BO owes the nomination to the left. He has to listen to them!

Moral of the story #2: BO has no history of standing up to anybody.

He sat in Rev Wright's church.

He stayed with Gov Blago despite obvious corruption. Can you believe that BO was one of Blago's strongest supporters as late as 2006? Didn't everybody in Illinois know that Blago was deep in corruption? Where was BO?

He buckled over Washington DC's schools for poor kids. He couldn't stand up to the unions! Juan Williams, an honest liberal, called it: Obama's sin against our kids!

Can you cite an example of BO standing up to anybody?

Michael Scheuer, the chief of the CIA's Osama bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999, is the author of "Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam After Iraq."

This is what he wrote about the memos and the witchhunt:

"Americans and their country's security will be the losers.

The Republicans do not have the votes to stop Obama, and the world will not be safer for America because the president abandons interrogations to please his party's left wing and the European pacifists it so admires.

Both are incorrigibly anti-American, oppose the use of force in America's defense and -- like Obama -- naively believe that the West's Islamist foes can be sweet-talked into a future alive with the sound of kumbaya.

So if the above worst-case scenario ever comes to pass, Americans will have at least two things from which to take solace, even after the loss of major cities and tens of thousands of countrymen.

First, they will know that their president believes that those losses are a small price to pay for stopping interrogations and making foreign peoples like us more.

And second, they will see Osama bin Laden's shy smile turn into a calm and beautiful God-is-Great grin."

Pres BO needs to tell the left to go fly a kite and stop being so hateful.

Byron York is right: In time of victory, why is the left so angry?

He needs to shut down the hateful left or he will own the next attack.

Wonder if Pres BO understands what that means?

It means that his presidency is over.

It means the Carter-ization of the Dems all over again. I think that most Dems know how that Carter episode turned out!

Fidel to BO: No hope and change here!

Let's hope that Pres BO learned a big lesson this month: Cuba won't change until the Castro brothers leave or are forced to leave.

The NY Post has a good editorial today:

"After Raul declared he was "willing" to discuss issues like human rights and political prisoners with Obama, Fidel responded with an essay on a state-controlled Web site that said, essentially, not so fast.

And, he predicted, Obama will wind up on the "path [to] sure failure, like all of his predecessors."

Thanks for nothing, in other words, for lifting restrictions on Cuban-Americans' ability to send their families cash.

That's more than Cuba has gotten from any US president since Dwight Eisenhower.

Which is just what Obama should have expected, after making those gestures without demanding anything of Castro.

He probably was heartened, though, by Fidel's having asked a group of bootlicking US House members what he could do to "help President Obama."

Fidel won this round.

Let's hope that Pres Obama will demand something the next time that he calls for a change in US policy.

Again, Cuba won't change until Castro brothers die or are removed by force.

What's the point of releasing those photos?

Can you imagine Pres Truman releasing photos of US planes bombing civilians in Japan or Germany?

I can't.

But Obama is no Truman and we will pay a huge price for that.

IBD has a great post today:

"We wonder, though, how we can defeat our enemies if we can't even bring ourselves to call them terrorists.

How we can win the global war on terror when we downgrade it rhetorically to merely an "overseas contingency operation"?

And how can we defeat them if we're on the verge of revealing dozens of photographs that purport to show U.S. military personnel mistreating captives in Afghanistan?"

It's great for us to play fair and by the rules. US soldiers have played by the rules. They have been a model of discipline and order in Iraq. They have fought in horrific conditions and shown immense professionalism.

What's the point of releasing some photos about the bad behavior of a few soldiers?

I don't get it.

I don't think that those guys headed to Afghanistan will get it either.

Pres BO needs to understand that he is asking US servicemen to fight a hard war in a difficult terrain.

Is it too much for these soldiers to see that their commander in chief cares about them?

The Cowboys pick Aggie QB Steve McGee

The Cowboys traded away their first round picks in 2009.

Therefore, no one expected a big name college player this year.

They did pick up Aggie Steve McGee in the 4th round.

McGee is not a threat to Tony Romo. He is probably going to be the #3 QB behind Romo and some veteran #2.

McGee did show lots of potential in college. He could be an adequate # 2 in a couple of years.

According to Scout.com:

"McGee is an athletic quarterback who has the skills to become a quality NFL starter.

He has prototypical size, excellent speed and good arm strength.

He throws with precision on intermediate routes, but lacks touch on deep throws.

He has good footwork and buys time in the pocket with his mobility.

He’s a threat to run with the ball and displays great toughness. He has to work on his mechanics."

Last, but not least, it never hurts to draft local players. McGee will help Mr. Jones sell some seats in that new stadium opening up this season.

BO's approval numbers are not extraordinary!

Despite the massive media campaign to make BO the most significant human being ever to walk on our earth, it may be a good idea to check his numbers.

It may surprise the "yes we can screamers" that Pres BO is doing no better than some recent presidents:

"George W. Bush scored 62 percent (despite Florida!);

Jimmy Carter 63 percent;

and Ronald Reagan 67 percent in the Gallup poll.

Among recent Presidents, the lowest-rated at this stage was Bill Clinton at 55 percent." (Power Line)

What do we call this?

We call it a presidential honeymoon.

In other words, most US citizens give their new president a chance to get their administration in place.

What happens after that?

Reality happens. Decisions are made. Foreign policy crisis happen. And so on!

This is why we agree with John of Power Line, a distinguished attorney and one of the nation's best bloggers:

"Three months into his first term, Ronald Reagan was popular because Americans saw that he had a bold and confident vision for America's future.

He remained popular for eight years and was re-elected in a landslide because his free-market and strong defense policies were resoundingly successful.

The same fate, I fear, is not in store for Barack Obama.

Or for America."

My money is that Obama will look a lot more like Carter than Reagan.

Keep an eye on inflation, stagnation and a foreign policy that promotes weakness.

P.S. Let me make a very slight correction to John's analysis. It's true that Reagan was popular over an 8 year period. However, he did have very low approval ratings in 1982-83 when he faced a horrible economic period.

Hillary to Iraq: Forget everything we said during the campaign!

Wonder how all of those anti-war "yes we can screamers" feel today?

What would have happened a year ago if candidates Obama and Clinton had said this:

"After the primaries.....

after we tell you what you want to hear about Iraq....

after we win this election.....we will implement the Bush-McCain plan in Iraq.......we will leave 30,000 troops in Iraq.....

we will send a Sec of State to Iraq to remind them that the US will never leave them alone...."

Why was Sec of State Clinton in Iraq this weekend?

The answer is that the Iraqi insurgents have been emboldened by "hope and change".

They think that dramatic bombings will break Pres Obama's spine. They think that they can drive us out just like they drove Spain out in the spring of 2004!

Terrorists are not impressed with "enlightened" Western leaders. Not at all. They see those kind of leaders as wimpy and easy to push around. Again, can you say PM Rod-Zapatero of Spain?

It's time for Pres Obama to stop talking about withdrawal and US past mistakes.

It's time to start talking about victory in the war on terror.

Waterboarding 3 terrorists or a big hole in LA?

We trust that Pres BO never has to make the kind of post 9-11 decisions that Pres Bush had to make.

Check out: The West Coast Plot: An "Inconvenient Truth" by Marc Thiessen.

We uncovered information about several plots, including one against LA.

Again, let's hope that Pres BO does not face a crisis like 9-11.

If he does, let's pray that he will defend the US rather than make the ACLU happy.

Let the hearings begin! Let's start with what Pelosi knew!

Frankly, I don't want a witch hunt or something called a "truth commission". It will divide the country, makes us vulnerable to another attack, break CIA morale, poison the water in Washington and never stop.

It will also hurt Pres Obama. What Obama lawyer is going to give him an opinion knowing that a future Republican president could charge him with war crimes?

Nevertheless, it is tempting to teach these Dems a lessons.

The "spineless Dems" were for torture and for the Iraq War when it was popular to do so.

This is the biggest collection of political cowards ever.

We understand that Dems were all for doing "whatever" was necessary to defend the country.

How can anyone vote for these convenient political cowards? I guess that meaningless "hope and change" can turn a lot of rational people into rather irrational "yes we can screamers".

So let's call their bluff.

Let's have hearings. Let's put everything on the table. Let's show for once and for all that this is the biggest collection of fools ever to make up a Congress.

Check out Porter Goss and the Democrats:

"Today, I am slack-jawed to read that members claim to have not understood that the techniques on which they were briefed were to actually be employed; or that specific techniques such as “waterboarding” were never mentioned.

It must be hard for most Americans of common sense to imagine how a member of Congress can forget being told about the interrogations of Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed.

In that case, though, perhaps it is not amnesia but political expedience.

Let me be clear. It is my recollection that:

– The chairs and the ranking minority members of the House and Senate intelligence committees, known as the Gang of Four, were briefed that the CIA was holding and interrogating high-value terrorists.

– We understood what the CIA was doing.

– We gave the CIA our bipartisan support.

– We gave the CIA funding to carry out its activities.

– On a bipartisan basis, we asked if the CIA needed more support from Congress to carry out its mission against al-Qaeda.

I do not recall a single objection from my colleagues.

They did not vote to stop authorizing CIA funding.

And for those who now reveal filed “memorandums for the record” suggesting concern, real concern should have been expressed immediately — to the committee chairs, the briefers, the House speaker or minority leader, the CIA director or the president’s national security adviser — and not quietly filed away in case the day came when the political winds shifted.

And shifted they have."

Again, this is the same crowd that ran to the microphones in March 2003 to express their support for the Iraq War.

This is the same crowd that said in 2006: "Vote for us and we will end the war".

Some of you did and they didn't have the guts to do anything.

Spineless jerks. That's all that they are.

After Nancy Pelosi and Jay Rockefeller are put under oath, let's have Pres Clinton and CIA Director Panetta explain the "rendition" jails that we kept overseas for captured terrorists.

Don't get me wrong. I support rendition jails for terrorists. What I don't like is spineless Dems who engage in massive hypocrisy.

P.S. Between going back and forth on investigating Bush officials and promoting unprecedented deficits, let's hope that someone at The White House is staying up to date on the situation in Pakistan.

They can start by reading Suddenly By Richard Fernandez.

Pres BO's new view of the world is going to be tested big time in Pakistan. Let's hope that this White House is ready because it will get very ugly in Pakistan.

Remembering Harry Nillson, one of my favorite songwriters!

I was reminded this week that Harry Nillson died 15 years ago. I guess that time flies.

As I recall, Nillson recorded "One" for Three Dog Night. After that, he released "Everybody's talkin", the soundtrack of The Point and "Without you", perhaps his biggest top 40 hit.

He was very creative.

My favorite song was "I guess the lord must be in New York City":

"I say goodbye to all my sorrows
And by tomorrow I'll be on my way
I guess the lord must be in New York City

I'm so tired of getting nowhere
Seein' my prayers going unanswered
I guess the lord must be in New York City

Well here I am Lord
Knocking on your back door
Ain't it wonderful to be
Where I've always wanted to be
For the first time I'll be free
In New York City

I say goodbye to all my sorrows
And by tomorrow I'll be on my way
I guess the lord must be in New York City

I'm so tired of getting nowhere
Seein' my prayers going unanswered
I guess the lord must be in New York City

Well here I am Lord
Knocking on your back door
Ain't it wonderful to be
Where I've always wanted to be
For the first time I'll be free
In New York City"

John and Paul sing about growing up in Liverpool!

John Lennon & Paul McCartney were an amazing songwriting team. They were the creative force that made The Beatles the greatest pop group of our generation.

They wrote some wonderful lyrics and beautiful melodies.

Today, we remember "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields forever", two songs about growing up in Liverpool.

They were released as the A and B-sides of a great single.

"Strawberry Fields Forever" was about Lennon's youth:

"Strawberry Field was a Salvation Army children's home in Woolton, a suburb of Liverpool, England."

John played at Strawberry Field when he was a little boy.

According to Rolling Stone, Strawberry Fields Forever is one of the top 500 songs of the rock era. In fact, it was # 76:

"Lennon often considered "Strawberry Fields Forever" his greatest accomplishment with the Beatles.

The song, a surreal kaleidoscope of sound, was the first track recorded for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (although it was subsequently released as a single instead).

The lyrics are a nostalgic look at Lennon's Liverpool childhood and an expression of his own pride.

Said Lennon, "The second line goes, 'No one I think is in my tree.'

Well, what I was trying to say in that line is, 'Nobody seems to be as hip as me, therefore I must be crazy or a genius.' "

"Penny Lane" was Paul doing the lead vocals.

The song is about a street in Liverpool:

"The song's title is derived from the name of a street in the band's hometown, Liverpool.

The area that surrounds its junction with Smithdown Road is also commonly called Penny Lane.

Locally the term "Penny Lane" was the name given to Allerton Road and Smithdown Road and its busy shopping area.

Penny Lane is named after James Penny, an 18th century slave trader."

I have loved the special trumpet on the background:

Dear Pres BO: Who is going to pay for this?

In 100 days, Pres BO has spent more money than any of his predecessors. This is from Stephen Clark:

"During the first 100 days of his presidency, Obama has signed a $787 billion stimulus bill into law, proposed an eye-popping $3.6 trillion budget for the next fiscal year, taken over a massive $700 billion Wall Street bailout program and created other billion-dollar programs to help grease the economic wheels.

Analysts call the spending spree "unprecedented" when the nation is not in a declared war, and they say the challenges that accompany it are a logical result.

"You take any organization in the world and you double its size in 90 days, it's going to have a hard time managing that transition," said William Gale, vice president and director of the economic studies program at Brookings Institute."

This is a spending spree.

It's a huge expansion of government.

Let's ask again: How can you double an organization size in 90 days without unintended consequences.

I don't like it!

Michael Young is one of the best clutch hitters in baseball

We've loved watching Michael Young since he came up with the Rangers in 2001.

We've loved his defense and those 200-hit seasons.

We've loved those two All Star game winning RBIs.

This week, Michael Young hit three 9th inning homeruns.

First, he hit a bottom of the 9th HR to beat KC.

Second, he ties the game with another 9th inning HR in Toronto.

Third, he hit a 2-run homer to put Texas ahead.

3 Ninth-inning homers in a week.

I have never seen that before.

Over the years, I've seen great clutch hitters like Brooks Robinson, Reggie Jackson and Derek Jeter. Let me add Michael Young to that list of great hitters.

We love Michael Young around here.

President "Brenda Lee" Obama!

The Obama apology, or more correctly "the don't fight back", tour has angered many conservatives.

What did Ortega, Chavez and Castro do a week after they met Pres BO?

Check them out: The Declaration of Cumaná: Capitalism 'threatens life on the planet'

Pat Buchanan has a great post:

"Thus the nation that won the Cold War, contained the cancer of Castroism in Cuba, liberated Grenada, blocked communist takeovers of Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, and poured scores of billions in aid into this region was left undefended by its own leaders at the Summit of the Americas.

Nor was this the only unanswered insult. Hugo Chavez, who has called Obama an “ignoramus” and Bush “El Diablo,” walked over to a seated U.S. president and handed him the anti-American tract Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent.

The book blames Latin America’s failures on white Europeans."

Where does Pres Obama stand on blaming every problem in the world on white Europeans, such as his mother and grandparents?

He continues to say: Don't blame me for something that happened before he was born.

Rich Lowry is right that BO is projecting weakness: WHERE WEAKNESS WILL GET BAM

Ortega's rant blamed Pres Kennedy, a Democrat and someone that BO tries to imitate.

Wonder what JFK would say of a US president who won't stand up for his country?

P.S. This is Brenda Lee's "I'm sorry". When will Pres BO sing this one at the next international meeting:



"I'm sorry, so sorry
That I was such a fool
I didn't know
Love could be so cruel
Oh, oh, oh, oh Uh-oh Oh, yes

You tell me mistakes
Are part of being young
But that don't right
The wrong that's been done

(I'm sorry) I'm sorry
(So sorry) So sorry
Please accept my apology
But love is blind
And I was to blind to see
Oh, oh, oh, oh Uh-oh Oh, yes

You tell me mistakes
Are part of being young
But that don't right
The wrong that's been done
Oh, oh, oh, oh Uh-oh Oh, yes

I'm sorry, so sorry
Please accept my apology
But love was blind
And I was too blind to see
(Sorry)"

One ugly Sunday in Cowboys' history!

As the Cowboys prepare for another college draft, there are still too many of us who have not recovered from the horrific defeat that ended the 2008 season.

We can't let go. So let's get it out of system.

The Philadelphia "blowout" was not the worst Sunday ever. Let's remember the ugliest Sunday in Cowboys' history.

The Dallas Cowboys have brought much joy to the area fans.......8 Super Bowls, 5 rings, and Coach Landry led the team to various post season appearances over 29 years.

However, there is that Sunday in San Francisco.

I remember watching this one on TV!

It took me days to recover from this defeat.

It was the 1982 NFC championship games, i.e. the winner goes to the Super Bowl!

In 1982, Dallas met Joe Montana and the young SF 49ers in the NFC title game. Dallas was winning with less than a minute. Then came "the catch":

The Joe Montana-Dwight Clark "super catch" put SF in the Super Bowl. It was their first of 4 SB victories with Montana as QB.

OK. I got it out of my system now! Let's get happy about next season!

Dear Dems: Be careful what you wish for....you may get it!

Let's follow up on our post about prosecuting Bush administration officials.

Peter Hoekstra, a Republican congressman from Michigan, has a few thoughts about the investigation:

"Members of Congress calling for an investigation of the enhanced interrogation program should remember that such an investigation can't be a selective review of information, or solely focus on the lawyers who wrote the memos, or the low-level employees who carried out this program.

I have asked Mr. Blair to provide me with a list of the dates, locations and names of all members of Congress who attended briefings on enhanced interrogation techniques."

Then we see this: Democrats hold back on second interrogations probe

Last, but not least, Ralph Peters nailed it again with PROSECUTING PATRIOTS :

"WITH the ugly sanctimony of those who never had to make hard decisions, the American left demands show trials of those who kept us safe after 9/11.

Wrapping themselves in repugnant self-righteousness, the MoveOn.org set wants political prosecutions.

Should President Obama acquiesce, he won't be furthering the rule of law, but dismantling it."

Again, be careful what you wish for......you may get blamed for dropping our guard and furthering another attack!

Can you believe that Lucy died 20 years ago?

A few days ago, I saw a note about Lucille Ball.

She died 20 years ago!

The US Post Office issued a stamp to remember "I love Lucy".

Wonder what other TV shows have had a US stamp? I still watch the reruns everytime that I can!

For my money, Lucille Ball is the funniest lady around.

Lucy and Desi gave us "I love Lucy", perhaps the greatest TV show ever.

According to Lucy-Desi 101, you can see the show in 77 countries and 22 languages. I guess that's universal!

This is a very funny video clip.

Lucy is arrested in Paris. She can't speak French. Ricky gets involved and the rest is one of the funniest comedy scenes ever:

In this second scene, Lucy is trying to communicate with Ricky's Cuban mother:

Dear Pres Obama: Do you understand that you will own the next terrorist attack?

Let's call Pres BO's bluff.

Let's have a public investigation.

My guess is that Pres BO is smart enough to know this:

1) This investigation will poison the political well;

2) It will hurt the CIA's morale. Just read How Obama's Decision Hurt the CIA By David Ignatius!

3) Information will be released that confirms that the tactics worked;

and worst of all,

4) Obama will own the next attack.

He will own it 100% and see his presidency reduced to counting down the days until January 2013.

We should add that memos confirm that Dems were present in the meeting.

I saw this on Gateway Pundit:

"According to The Politico, Senate Democrats were updated 30 different times on waterboarding and other interrogation techniques.Speaker Pelosi also was one of 4 members of Congress who were briefed on waterboarding and never complained once at the time:

The Washington Post reported that in 2002 four members of Congress were given a virtual tour of the CIA’s overseas detention sites and were briefed on interrogation techniques.

The bipartisan group, which included Pelosi, was specifically briefed on waterboarding.

None of the four complained, and one of them asked if the methods being used were tough enough.

The CIA gave key legislative overseers about 30 private briefings, including waterboarding and other interrogation techniques in 2002 and 2003.

It is curious that lawmakers who were repeatedly briefed and raised no objections should subsequently criticize those very same policies."

Again, I don't believe that Pres BO is stupid enough to go through with it. At the same time, he is under a lot of pressure from the people who got him nominated a year ago.

This is why we are supporting Mitt Romney in 2012!

It's too early to look ahead to 2012. There are too many variables and too much time.

Nevertheless, we continue to be very impressed with Mitt Romney.

Today, Romney wrote A Timid Advocate of Freedom:

"The leader of the free world has been a timid advocate of freedom at best.

And bold action to blunt the advances of tyrants has been wholly lacking.

We are still very early in the Obama years — the president will have ample opportunity to defend America and freedom, and to deter nuclear brinkmanship.

I am hoping for change."

Romney writes about the America's Summit. He reminds us that Pres BO looked weak.

Yes, he did look very weak indeed!

Que bueno: Some in Mexico are not following the Messiah's donkey!

The Messiah came.

The Messiah left.

And Mexicans are asking: "Que paso"?

Let me answer: "Nada"!

What did Mexicans think? Didn't this guy just signed into law a budget that includes a provision that violates NAFTA?

Joseph P. Duggan served in the Reagan State Department and as speechwriter to President George H.W. Bush.

During the 1970s he was assistant managing editor of The American Spectator.

Today, he is a visiting professor at Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico.

Mr. Duggan reviewed Pres BO's trip in Obama's Mexican Recipe: Failed Statism:

"His meetings with President Felipe Calderón were cordial but not very productive, according to Mexican observers.

Telling was the coverage in the influential daily El Universal, whose editorial line is considered nonpartisan and centrist.

The newspaper's Alejandro Páez Varela put an edgy English-language headline above the angry Spanish of his editorial column following Obama's visit:

"Yes we can…wait. Again."

Don't you love the headline. Let's do it again:

"Yes we can…wait. Again."

We are happy to see that some Mexicans have seen the truth.

Unfortunately, there are still too many here, and south of the border, caught up in the personality cult. They will end up like every other idiot who has gotten caught in personality cults. They will end up disappointed.

Dear Pres BO: Prove to us that VP Cheney is wrong!

What happens when you let left wing wackos push you around?

You get the "memo mess"! By the way, Pres BO should read today's WSJ editorial: A President can't placate the left and keep America safe!

Pres BO released some memos over the weekend. The memos tell an incomplete story.

VP Cheney went on TV and called on Pres BO to release the entire memos.

VP Cheney believes that the interrogation techniques saved US lives. Pres BO claims that they made us unpopular in Paris!

Let's see who is telling the truth and who is full of hot air.

We join Power Line in The Obama Administration Keeps A Secret:

"It's hard to think of any non-political answers to these questions.

The logical inference is that Obama wants to release information that he thinks will smear the Bush administration, but does not want the American public to be fully informed about the benefits that were gained from the Bush administration's policies--policies that he now proposes to abandon.

All the more reason to join in Dick Cheney's request that, if the administration is going to open the book on enhanced interrogation, the American people should be able to see the whole record."

VP Cheney's call is building momentum:

The CIA's Questioning Worked By Marc A. Thiessen is superb. It shows that they worked and US lives were saved.

This is from The AP:

"The Obama administration's top intelligence official privately told employees last week that "high value information" was obtained in interrogations that included harsh techniques approved by former President George W. Bush.

"A deeper understanding of the al-Qaida network" resulted, National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair said in the memo, in which he added, "I like to think I would not have approved those methods in the past." The Associated Press obtained a copy." (Breibart)

This is from The NY Times:

"“High value information came from interrogations in which those methods were used and provided a deeper understanding of the al Qa’ida organization that was attacking this country,” Adm. Dennis C. Blair, the intelligence director, wrote in a memo to his staff last Thursday. "

This is from Ed: "CIA: We stand behind our actions — and the results"

We have argued for some time that Pres Bush made incredibly tough decisions after 9-11.

Go back to 9-12-01!

Who didn't think that another attack was coming?

Who didn't anticipate an even bigger 9-11 with a dirty bomb?

The Dems did. In fact, the Dems were briefed and went along: Friendly Reminder: Pelosi Knew about Harsh Interrogations in 2002 and Didn't Object

Again, somebody is telling the truth and someone doesn't have a clue.

My money is on VP Cheney and that's why the memos won't be released.

We can say this: Obama now owns the next terrorist attack.

A word about Pres Nixon

Former Pres Nixon died 15 years ago today.

I can still recall hearing of Pres Nixon's death.

It was a Friday night. We were on our way to a ballgame. The pre-game show was interrupted with the flash that Pres Nixon had passed away in a NY hospital.

Nixon had suffered a stroke and was seriously ill.

Mrs. Nixon had died the year before. How can you think of Pres Nixon without thinking of the wonderful Pat Nixon? She is still one of my favorite First Ladies!

Between his resignation in 1974 and death in 1994, Richard Nixon became a great author and important voice on national security.

Nixon's 2 volume memoirs were so good that I couldn't put them down. It was a great book about the second half of the 20th century.

Nixon was in the middle of everything!

My favorite book was "Leaders". It should be read by every young person.

Another good one was "In the arena"! "No more Vietnams" was one of the best books ever about that war!

Nixon was a complex man. He was capable of "going to China" and engaging in petty politics.

I will always remember Pres. Nixon because he was the first candidate that I ever campaigned for!

P.S. This is a great video about Pres Nixon:

Tuesday's show: US-Cuba relations

On Tuesday, we spoke with Henry Louis Gomez, the Managing Director, of The Babalu Blog.

As we posted before, we love The Babalu Blog. It is one of the finest blogs of the new media.

Henry's latest post: A friendly reminder about Cuba’s raul castro

We spoke about Cuba, the embargo and the future.

By the way, Fidel Castro had this to say about Raul Castro's words over the weekend:

"Fidel Castro said Tuesday that President Barack Obama "misinterpreted" his brother Raul's sentiments toward the United States and bristled at any suggestion Cuba should free political prisoners or reduce official fees on money sent to the island from the U.S."

Click here for the show or go to the radio icon on the right.

My vote is for Miss California and not that thing pretending to be a judge!

With all due respect to our female readers, and specially my mother who reads each and everyone of these posts, I have to point out that this picture came from an article: Which One Is the Real Bitch?

Sorry "sweet mom" but it is the real title of the article. Beyond that, I have a funny feeling that my "mom" agrees with the title anyway! I am sure that my mom would have cracked a baseball bat on this creep's head for calling the young woman an ugly name.

Recently, Miss California was asked a question about "same sex marriage" at the beauty pageant.

She replied that marriage is between a man and a woman, which is what overwhelming majorities support in the US.

After that, the judge or the creep to the left in the picture, exploded and called Miss California a name that means female dog.

Why is pageant judge Perez Hilton so upset? They just had a vote in California and he lost:

"After all, she represented the state of California in the pageant, and we know for a fact that most Californians agree with her, as evidenced by the recent Proposition 8 vote."

Here are some questions:

What is a homosexual activist doing at a Miss USA pageant?

Is someone crazy or what?

After all, we are talking about the flagrantly homosexual Perez Hilton! This is a homosexual on a mission, on a mission to stick his view of marriage in your face. Also, he is not much of a "man" anyway for speaking that way about a very young man who is simply participating in a pageant.

My second point: Why was she asked that question anyway?

There is no national yearning for same sex marriage.

It has been defeated in every referendum or vote across the country.

Same sex marriage has succeeded when out of control judges impose it on voters.

Again, there is no national demand for same sex marriage, unless you march with Nancy Pelosi in the annual "homosexual pride parade" in San Francisco.

How relevant was the question?

It wasn't!

Same sex marriage is issue #250 of the top 250 issues in the country.

It is not relevant at all, unless you hold hands with Barney Franks at the Boston "homosexual" parade.

Same sex marriage is a topic of interest in left wing precincts.

In Texas, voters rejected same sex marriage 80-20% a few years ago.

Again, it has been rejected everywhere that voters, not out of control judges, decide.

Want serious opinions from Miss USA contestants?

Why wasn't she asked about Pres Obama's deficits? Pres BO's deficits will be four times bigger than those of Pres Bush!

What about candidate BO sitting in Rev Wright's church for 20 years and never hearing anything?

What about Pres BO reversing himself and implementing the Bush-McCain policy in Iraq?

Miss California did not make it. She lost to Miss North Carolina.

In all fairness, Miss NC looks very nice, too.

How do you decide between two lovely young women? I am glad that I don't have to cast those votes.

We fear, and others agree, that Miss California was denied the crown because she doesn't subscribe to same sex marriage.

It's a shame.

Why? Because most Americans agree with Miss California rather than the "out of control perverted thing" named Perez Hilton.

Pres BO missed a great opportunity to promote freedom and trade

It's a shame that Pres BO didn't see that Chavez, Ortega, Castro and Morales would use him!

Frankly, Latin America needs a US leader who stands for freedom and more trade. Unfortunately, our BO is too eager to sit back and shake hands.

Mary Anastasia O'Grady makes this point:

"If President Barack Obama's goal at the fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago this weekend was to be better liked by the region's dictators and left-wing populists than his predecessor George W. Bush, the White House can chalk up a win.

If, on the other hand, the commander in chief sought to advance American ideals, things didn't go well."

I guess that this is what happens when you don't believe in US exceptional ism.

Ortega, Castro, et al represent everything that is wrong with Lat America.

I understand that Chavez was elected. Does that make him more responsible? No.

We must promote freedom and free trade. This is what Lat Am needs now more than ever!

Back to Mrs. O'Grady. What if:

"Imagine if Mr. Obama asked for a show of hands to find out who believes Cubans are less deserving of freedom than, say, the black majority in South Africa under apartheid or Chileans during the Pinochet dictatorship."

As I posted before, everybody is obsessed with the Cuban Embargo. Nobody seems to care about the prisoners in the island.

They love BO now because he's not Bush. They will hate him later because BO is the president of the US!

What happens when we learn that he doesn't walk on water?

Stuart Rothenberg has a great post about Obama-mania:

"For the national media, Barack Obama isn't merely the president of the United States.

He's so much more than that.

Obama is a celebrity, and he and his family are covered that way.

That means there is a heavy focus on the personal, making Obama the first "Entertainment Tonight president."

Add to that the "yes we can" screamers, the most irrational group of people ever to follow a US presidential candidate.

What do you have?

You have a very dangerous thing, i.e. a coming disillusionment!

Jackson Diehl added a little common sense to Obama-mania in A World Of Trouble For Obama:

"Now comes the interesting part: when it starts to become evident that Bush did not create rogue states, terrorist movements, Middle Eastern blood feuds or Russian belligerence -- and that shake-ups in U.S. diplomacy, however enlightened, might not have much impact on them."

Yes, the hard part is just around the corner.

Let's see what happens then!

We have elected a man who thinks that he can move nations with his rhetoric or smile. Worse than that, millions actually believe it!

McCain looks better and better because he told the truth about Iraq and taxes!

On Sunday, Nov 2nd, we called on you to vote for John McCain: Vote McCain on Tuesday!

Today, Pres BO is dealing with the reality of taxes and McCain looks prophetic again.

McCain got it right on Iraq. We have already posted on how the Bush-McCain plan has been implemented in Iraq.

McCain got it right on taxes.

We said back then that "taxing the rich" usually translates into "taxing the middle class".

Pres Obama's vision will mean budget deficits of 10-12% of GDP in 2009 and 2010.

As we posted before: "the top 1% are already paying about 40% of the tax bill and the top 20% are paying about 70%." (Rubin)

McCain won't run again in 2012. He will be 76 and more interested in the Arizona sunshine than the Oval Office.

McCain will look real good as the current version of "hope and change" ends up like the first one, i.e. Carter!

P.S. We agree with Rick Moran:

"There is no free lunch. Middle Class Americans who elected Obama because he promised to lower their taxes and give them subsidized health insurance, low cost college loans, and a green paradise are about to get a very rude awakening."

The Rangers win one but they are not playing very well!

(Michael Young and those new red Rangers' jerseys)

Let's say a cheer for Michael Young. You can always count on Michael Young to drive in a key run or make a great play.

On Sunday, Young ended the game with a 9th inning home run. Unfortunately, the Rangers dropped 3 in Detroit and 4 of 6 at home.

Didn't I post a couple of weeks ago that the April schedule would favor the home team? Not yet but.....there are still another 10 games left this month.

The 5-7 Rangers are off to play the 10-4 Toronto Blue Jays.

What could go wrong in Toronto? Quite a bit! The Rangers do not play well up there. It must be astroturf.

The Blue Jays have underachieved for a couple of years. They have the best right hander in the AL in Halladay. He usually nails the Rangers and he will start the series on Tuesday!

The Rangers have gotten off to horrible starts in Ron Washington's first two years as manager.

My guess is that Washington won't survive another slow start.

So it's early and no one panics in April. However, the Rangers have not played the tough teams yet and they are underachieving.

Again, it's not Ron Washington's fault. However, someone has to get fired when a team doesn't play well.

In the meantime, we do love Michael Young's incredible ability to hit a home run when it matters most!

Dear Pres BO: Don't give away the embargo without something back

Peter Brookes is a Heritage Foundation senior fellow and a former deputy assistant secretary of defense. Today, he posted KEEP THE EMBARGO, O:

"Lifting the embargo won't normalize relations, but instead legitimize -- and wave the white flag to -- Fidel's 50-year fight against the Yanquis, further lionizing the dictator and encouraging the Latin American Left.

Because the economy is nationalized, trade will pour plenty of cash into the Cuban national coffers -- allowing Havana to suppress dissent at home and bolster its communist agenda abroad."

As we have written before, the Castro brothers are looking for a bailout.

Let's not bailout a corrupt dictatorship. Force them to make real "change", such as releasing political prisoners and putting the country on a path to multi-party elections.

P.S. Let's not forget what candidate Obama said in Florida during the election:

Does Pres BO understand how weak he looks?

We were told that the world would love us once "cowboy Bush" flew back to Texas.

We were told that "cooperation" would rise to the surface as nations felt more at ease with the new Obama sensitivity.

Let's take a look.

Where are we?

Let's start with Mexico where our new president has signed into law a provision that violates NAFTA.

How is Pres Obama going to show his new found respect for our Mexican friends?

He will violate NAFTA and permit Nancy Pelosi to escalate the trade war with Mexico. He also couldn't commit to anything tangible during his much publicized but very unsubstantial visit with Pres Calderon!

Let's go to Canada. They are a bit uncertain north of the border about those "Buy America" provisions in the stimulus and budgets approved by the Democrats.

Let's go to Europe where "adulation" got us "zero" troops in Afghanistan.

Let's to to the UN where "the new approach" has not gotten a tough resolution against North Korea or Iran.

What's going on? The world loves us but it's the same old world when it comes to doing hard things.

Let's not forget the just completed Americas Summit.

What happened?

Can you guess the headline? Here it goes: No consensus reached at summit...

So let's recommend Prof VD Hanson's latest post entitled Obamatopia--Does our president truly grasp why certain nations hate us — or does he really believe it's all Bush's fault?:

"Does he really believe that in the pre-Bush era we all got along (cf. his al Arabiya interview); then Bush’s strutting, unilateralism, and preemption, presto, caused anti-Americanism?"

Frankly, I don't know how much of Pres Obama is real or just "munchies" that he is throwing to the left that got him nominated.

Let's hope that Pres BO grows in the job and understands that Ortega and Chavez hated the US when Clinton was in the White House.

Let's hope so. Otherwise, I think that our enemies will be testing him in ways that we can't comprehend today.

I love this from Bill Katz:

"On the other hand, it's important that the White House ponders why these Latin American leaders, some of them world-class thugs, feel they can be so openly anti-American in Mr. Obama's presence, something they couldn't be in the presence of previous presidents.

That's right!

Can you picture John McCain or GW Bush sitting there for Ortega's 50-minute "Rev Wright-like anti-US rant"?

Torture memos? BO gives the left a few munchies!

We repeat it again: We were not attacked after 9-11.

Therefore, Pres Bush must have done something right.

It can't be luck!

Why weren't we attacked?

We don't know for sure but I think that Pres Bush's attitude had a lot to do with it.

Pres Bush drew the line and said never again. It worked!

Now, Pres Obama throws a few "munchies" to the left by releasing some memos that "embarrass the US" rather than make us safer.

Does any serous person believe that Al Qaeda is going to stop cutting heads off because we just released these memos?

Gen. Hayden was director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 2006 to 2009.

Mr. Mukasey was attorney general of the United States from 2007 to 2009.

They posted The President Ties His Own Hands on Terror :

"The release of these opinions was unnecessary as a legal matter, and is unsound as a matter of policy.

Its effect will be to invite the kind of institutional timidity and fear of recrimination that weakened intelligence gathering in the past, and that we came sorely to regret on Sept. 11, 2001."

What's wrong with Pres BO's decision?

First, he is playing politics with national security. Obama and the Dems were not responsible for defending the country after 9-11.

They didn't have to make those awful life and death decisions that presidents make.

In fact, the Dems were briefed and went along: Friendly Reminder: Pelosi Knew about Harsh Interrogations in 2002 and Didn't Object

Second, we are bringing the pre 9-11 mentality back! The 9-11 Commission was very critical. We fell asleep and that's why we got hit!

Let's hope that we are not attacked again.

If we are attacked, Pres BO will own it and he will regret that a lot! I agree with Con Coughlin: "All it is going to take is a massive terror attack to teach President Obama that there is a world of difference between the politics of the campaign trail and those of high office."

We agree with IBD: Inexcusable Lapse

P.S. Bill O'Reilly welcomed the release. I don't. However, I agree with much of what O'Reilly is saying, specially the left's nonsense that the US is a torture nation.

Here is the bottom line: Bush kept us safe. Let's see if Obama can keep the streak going:

# 3 son goes to prom!

Our # 3 son had his prom this weekend.

They rented a limo for about 10 couples and went out to a fancy restaurant.

Before dining, we joined the parents at a nearby spot to take pictures.

It was "prom night" in Dallas so there were kids all over. Can you believe how nice these girls look?

Congratulations to # 3 son & on his prom night! This is our 3rd and last prom!

A Barry Gibb post for our little sister Lidia!

(My sister, probably 18 years old....maybe 19...or maybe 20!)

Before she met Lee......and settled down as a wife and mother....

Before she had four lovely and beautiful daughters......no kidding, check out these four girls.....What a lucky uncle!

Before that, she was a happy teenager who loved Barry Gibb.

She had Barry's poster on the wall, along with Davey Jones, Paul McCartney and even Mark Spitz, the Olympian.

My brother and I understood the family rules.

Growing up Cuban means that you take care of your little sister.

You take her shopping......we had to get her a copy of "16", the teen magazine of that time! She had copies of "16" all over her room!

you fix her stereo or buy her a new needle for the turntable.....

you keep an eye on all of her admirers, and there were quite a few specially when she put on a swimsuit.

My sister was a huge fan of Barry Gibb. She used to like The Bee Gees.

So we dedicate this post to our little sister. Let's hope that she doesn't faint when she hears Barry sing "Words":

The Colombia FTA is a lot more important than bailing out Castro!

We understand that Pres BO met with Pres Uribe.

Let's hope that Speaker Pelosi will allow Pres BO to complete the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

BO's problem is that he made a lot of campaign promises against free trade:

"During a presidential debate in October, then-Sen. Obama said:

"The history in Colombia right now is that labor leaders have been targeted for assassination on a fairly consistent basis and there have not been prosecutions."

We understand that Colombia has suffered through a lot of violence lately. Unfortunately, too much of this violence was and is "drug related".

At the same time, Pres Uribe has stood up to the cartels and bad guys.

So are the Dems correct that Colombia is unsafe for labor leaders?

Not really.

This is not about the safety of labor leaders. This is another silly connection between labor leaders in the US and the protectionist Dems.

It's time for Pres BO to pay as much attention to Alvaro Uribe as he does Chavez and Castro. In the end, Colombian trade is a lot more important than giving the Castro brothers a lifeline.

Why didn't BO walk out during Ortega's speech?

When is Pres Obama going to stand up for the US?

When is he going to do it?

The so called summit has turned into an anti-US party: Latin American leaders rail against the USA...

Pres BO was told about every little crime ever committed by the US, and specially the Cuba embargo.

Everybody is deeply concerned about the embargo but no one seems to care about Castro's poltical prisoners.

Rick Moran has a good post:

"Once again, our president has gladly made himself a propaganda tool of an enemy.

But of course, in Obama's world, we have no "enemies" - only Facebook friends we haven't added yet."

John Hinderaker spoke for many of us: Obama Embarrasses Himself, and Us, Again

How is this playing back home? I don't know but it's time for some mature Dems to tell "hope and change" that the apology tour is over.

I had not heard a Marie Osmond song in a long time!

A few days ago, I heard Marie Osmond's "Paper Roses".

In the 1970's, Marie Osmond enjoyed a lot of success on the radio and TV.

Marie and Donnie Osmond recorded big hits.

After that, they had a very popular variety TV show.

We saw Marie grow up on TV. She started out as a girl and ended up as a young woman.

Anyway, I always did enjoy her songs.

Here is Marie Osmond singing "Paper Roses", a tune that has been recorded by several artists over the years:

Some great Lennon-McCartney songs!

Over the years, I've rejected most Beatles' covers. However, there are four exceptions.

First, this is Mary Hopkin's version of "In my life":

"There are places i'll remember

All my life though some have changed

Some forever not for better

Some have gone and some remain

All these places have their moments

With lovers and friends i still can recall

Some are dead and some are living

In my life i've loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers

There is no one compares with you

And these memories lose their meaning

When i think of love as something new

Though i know i'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know i'll often stop and think about them

In my life i love you more

Though i know i'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know i'll often stop and think about them

In my life i love you more

In my life i love you more"

The second is The Carpenters' "Ticket to ride".

Before they became international superstars, Karen Carpenter played drums. Karen was only 19 when they recorded this song. It was a year before they hit # 1 with "Close to you":

"I think i'm gonna be sad, I think it's today, yeah.

The girl that's driving me mad Is going away.

She's got a ticket to ride, She's got a ticket to ride,

She's got a ticket to ride, But she don't care.

She said that living with me Is bringing her down yeah.

For she would never be free When i was around.

She's got a ticket to ride, She's got a ticket to ride,

She's got a ticket to ride, But she don't care.

I don't know why she's ridin' so high,

She ought to think twice, She ought to do right by me.

Before she gets to saying goodbye,

She ought to think twice, She ought to do right by me.

I think i'm gonna be sad, I think it's today yeah.

The girl that's driving me mad Is going away, yeah.

She's got a ticket to ride, She's got a ticket to ride,

She's got a ticket to ride, But she don't care.

I don't know why she's ridin' so high, She ought to think twice,

She ought to do right by me.

Before she gets to saying goodbye,

She ought to think twice, She ought to do right by me.

She said that living with me, Is bringing her down, yeah.

For she would never be free When i was around.

Ah, she's got a ticket to ride, She's got a ticket to ride,

She's got a ticket to ride, But she don't care."

The next two songs are not technically covers. In other words, they were not recorded by The Beatles.

Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas released "From a window", a tune that Lennon-McCartney passed up for their first album:

"Late yesterday night, I saw a light shine from a window,

And as I looked again, Your face came into sight.

I couldn't walk on Until you'd gone from your window.

I had to make you mine, I knew you were the one.

Oh, I would be so glad Just to have a love like that,

Oh, I would be so true And I'd live my life for you.

So meet me tonight, Just where the light shines from a window,

And as I take your hand, Say that you'll be mine tonight.

Oh, I would be so glad Just to have a love like that,

Oh, I would be true And I'd give my life for you.

So meet me tonight, Just where the light shines from a window,

And as I take your hand,

Say that you'll be mine tonight."

Peter & Gordon were part of the original Beatles' invasion of the US charts. Peter was Jane's brother, the same Jane who was Paul McCartney's girlfriend at the time. This is "World without love":

"Please lock me away And don't allow the day

Here inside where I hide With my loneliness

I don't care what they say I won't stay

In a world without love

Birds sing out of tune And rain clouds hide the moon

I'm OK, here I'll stay With my loneliness

I don't care what they say I won't stay

In a world without love

So I wait and in a while I will see my true love's smile

She may come, I know not when

When she does I lose

So baby until then

Lock me away And don't allow the day

Here inside where I hide

With my loneliness

I don't care what they say I won't stay

In a world without love

So I wait and in a while I will see my true love's smile

She may come, I know not when

When she does I lose So baby until then

Lock me away And don't allow the day

Here inside where I hide

With my loneliness I don't care what they say I won't stay

In a world without love

I don't care what they say I won't stay

In a world without love"

Raul to BO: Bail me out and I promise not to be a dictator anymore!

This is where we are in the US-Cuba relationship:

Pres BO wants to change and the Castro brothers want to get bailed out.

Pres BO must resist the temptation to be popular. Instead, the US should support Cuban dissidents.

The WSJ's Now Open Cuba's Prisons gives Pres Obama an outline:

"We have long supported lifting the embargo as a way of accelerating that process.

But the demoralized Cuban people also need international solidarity.

Economically engaging the regime while ignoring the hundreds of political prisoners and millions trapped in squalor would betray the cause of Cuban liberty.

To that end, the most useful thing Mr. Obama can do at this weekend's Summit of the Americas is to call on other leaders to denounce the regime's human rights violations."

That's right.

Call on other Lat Am leaders to stand with the Cuban people rather than just take cheap shots at the US embargo.

As we have written before, the US Embargo did not create Cuba's economic problems.

Cuba's horrible economy is "Made by Castro".

The US should remind Lat Am countries that we all need to support the jailed Cuban dissidents!

Dear Pres BO: Go ahead and show the world that you won't stand up to bad guys!

This is what Pres Obama said yesterday:

"In an opening speech to the 34-nation gathering on Friday, the president promised a new agenda for the Americas, as well as a new style.

"We have at times been disengaged, and at times we sought to dictate our terms," Obama said to loud applause.

"But I pledge to you that we seek an equal partnership.

There is no senior partner and junior partner in our relations." (AP)

What's wrong with that statement?

It makes no sense. I agree with Captain Ed:

"Obama’s apologizing for being dictatorial … to Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, and the Castros.

As for “dictat[ing] our terms,” we used to call that defending American interests.

When negotiating, people try to get the best terms for themselves.

We didn’t send gunboats to Venezuela or Bolivia during the Bush administration, and the only people seizing assets over the last eight years have been the Venezuelans under Chavez."

Furthermore, what Navy has defended Lat Am coastlines for years?

What defense umbrella is Lat Am living under?

In other words, what country is going to shoot down an Iranian missile headed for a Lat Am city?

Where do millions of Latinos, legal and illegal, go to to find work? Where do they earn the "remesas" that keep their folks from starving?

Frankly, I'm tired of all of this apologizing!

Why is Lat Am poor?

It has nothing to do with the US. I don't care how many frustrated and angry leftists write books that blame the US.

It has to do with people like Hugo Chavez, who has wrecked Venezuela.

Or, the Castro brothers who destroyed what used to be the most prosperous country in Lat America.

Or, the guy in Bolivia who is making life miserable for investors.

Again, I am tired of BO's "apology tour".

I'm sure that Pres BO's remarks went over well with the anti-US crowd!

They probably didn't go very well with the jailed dissidents in Cuba or Venezuelans harassed by Chavez.

Now, let's look at this speech in the context of what the Obama administration is doing with Mexico.

Aren't we currently in violation of NAFTA?

How are we supposed to build "trust" with Lat Am leaders when Pres Obama signs into a law a provision that violates a free trade agreement?

Last, but not least, Pres Chavez offered Pres Obama a copy of a book: "Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent" by Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano.

It should remind BO of what Rev Wright used to say about the US!

For years, Lat Am leaders have avoided responsibility by blaming everything on the US.

I guess that Pres BO now agrees with them.

It won't solve any of Lat Am's problems.

However, it will make Pres BO popular in all of those precincts where they blame the US rather than address corruption, economic mismanagement and violations of basic rights!

Does Mexico really know where the guns are coming from?

Are guns made, or purchased in the US, going south?

Yes.

Are 90% of guns coming from the US?

No way!

Allan Wall has been following the Mexico scene for years.

We've had Allan on our radio show a couple of times. His website is located at www.allanwall.net.

This week, Allan posted Mexico is Awash with Weapons – Is the USA to Blame?:

"According to William Newell, an ATF Special Agent, during the period of 2007-2008 Mexico sent 11,000 guns to the ATF to be traced.

Of those 11,000 weapons, 6,000 were able to be traced. Of those 6,000, 90% were traced to the U.S.

But those 11,000 guns weren’t the only weapons confiscated in that time period.

In fact, from 2007-2008 Mexican authorities recovered 29,000 guns.

That means that during that time period (2007-2008) 83% of the recovered guns in Mexico were not traced to the U.S.A."

So what's going on?

I think that Mexico is blaming the US because it's easy.

What's the truth? Mexico does not know how all of these guns are getting into Mexico.

Is that scary? Yes it is!

P.S. FactCheck.org confirms Allan Wall's numbers:

"President Obama says 90 percent of Mexico's recovered crime guns come the U.S.

Not true."

Gov Palin speaks again!

We have not written much about Gov Sarah Palin.

She is not my first choice for 2012. I understand that she connects with the Republican base. However, I want a more mature and experienced candidate in 2012.

However, it's great to hear talk about her baby, life and abortion:

Friday's show: A chat with Barnard Thompson about Mexico!

Today, we spoke with Barnard Thompson, editor of MexiData.info.

Mr. Thompson has spent 50 years in Mexico and Latin America, providing multinational clients with actionable intelligence; country and political risk reporting and analysis; and business, lobbying, and problem resolution services.

His most recent article is: The Worldwide Expansion of Violent Mexican Drug Cartels

We discussed US-Mexico issues in light of Pres Obama's trip to Mexico! Click here for the show or the radio icon to the right!

Obama's trip: "No se puede" 4, "Si se puede" 0!

If Pres Obama's trip was a baseball game, this is what the box score would say:

Visitors 4, Home team 0!

"No se puede" 4, "Si se puede" 0!

The "si se puede" fairy tale ran into some rough waters in Mexico City.

"Hope and change" must feel like a lot of "hype and hot air" to Mexicans!

Wonder what Pres Calderon is saying in private? He can't be very happy with a visitor who can't commit to anything.

By the way, check out our interview with Barnard Thompson on the radio box to the right, "Pres Obama in Mexico"!

This is how The NY Times is reporting the event:

"President Obama, vowing to confront drug cartels that are “sowing chaos in our communities,” called Thursday for the Senate to ratify a long-stalled treaty aimed at curbing illegal arms trafficking.

But Mr. Obama also suggested that he would not press lawmakers to revive an expired ban on assault weapons."

It gets better, specially when Pres BO commits to revive a treaty that most Dems won't support or remember:

"He also said he was pressing the Senate to ratify the long-stalled inter-American arms treaty, which the United States had a major hand in negotiating through the Organization of American States."

Now, here is more from The NY Times article:

"“I will not pretend that this is Mexico’s responsibility alone,” he said.

“The demand for these drugs inside the United States is keeping these cartels in business.”

Let's take the issues one at a time.

Assault weapons ban: Pres Obama won't fight the Congress. He is afraid of the NRA. He doesn't want southern and rural Dems to jump ship over the ban.

By the way, Pres BO is going to run into the same problem when he tries to push immigration reform.

Southern and rural Dems won't support it! Most of them voted for the fence and will not support anything that smells like amnesty.

What about the treaty?

It sounds like a plan except that the US Senate didn't ratify it before. What makes you think that they will ratify it now?

What about the Merida plan? Rich Lowry on The Merida Plan:

"Last year, the U.S. government passed the Merida Initiative, $1.4 billion worth of aid over three years to help Mexico in its fight against the cartels.

A worthy effort, although the aid has been tied up in procurement disputes in the U.S. and has barely begun trickling into Mexico."

And, what about those trucks?

Unfortunately for Mexico, and Pres Calderon, Speaker Pelosi plans to escalate the "trade war" against Mexico.

Brian Faughnan has a good post on this: Obama's Mexico Visit Spotlights Division among Democrats!

Let's hope that our Mexican friends didn't get too invested in the "si se puede" fairy tale.

P.S. By the way, did Pres BO walk on Lake Chapultepec? I may have missed that part of the trip!

I will miss John Madden

We just learned that John Madden is retiring as an NFL TV analyst. Let's not forget that he was a great coach too. He won a Super Bowl with the Raiders!

I will miss him.

For years, the Summerall-Madden team was the best in NFL coverage. We got them on lots of Cowboys' games.

Our best wishes to Mr. Madden. We will miss him.

We recall this play from the 1983 NFC championship game.

Dallas was in Washington: The winner goes to the Super Bowl.

What happens next? It was crazy and painful to watch! Nevertheless, no one called a game, even a painful Cowboys' defeat, better than Madden:

What a night for Ian Kinsler!

Last year, Ian Kinsler was flirting with a batting title until he got hurt in August.

We don't expect Ian to get 6 hits everynight, or hit for the cycle often. (Kinsler hits for cycle, goes 6-for-6)

Nevertheless, I do expect Ian Kinsler to have an awesome year and get another All Star berth.

I think that Jackie Robinson in baseball heaven enjoyed this batting performance!

Wonder if Ian will ask Mr. Selig to wear # 42 more often?

Spain pulls back! That's a smart thing to do!

PM Rod-Zap is our candidate for the silliest leader in Europe.

Today, Spain decided to cancel the "prosecution" of the so-called "Bush Six"!

We are happy to hear that. We are happy to learn that "common sense" prevailed in Spain.

It's a stupid idea for countries to go after officials from other countries. It's even more stupid when it's inspired by left wing wackos dominating Spain. After all, why don't prosecute the Castro brothers for torturing Cubans?

We agree with Bill Katz: THE PAIN IN SPAIN IS CLEARLY ON THE WANE

Thursday's show: Tea parties in Texas!

Adryana Boyne and I reviewed "Tea Party Day" in Texas.

We spoke with Dianne Edmondson, Chairman of DENTON COUNTY REPUBLICANS, and Tom Washington, First Vice Chair for Political Affairs. They attended the tea parties.

Our primary guest was Professor Bonevac of The University of Texas.

He is also a blogger: The View from Alexandria

Professor Bonevac was present at the Austin Tea Party. We will get his reaction.

Also, Professor Bonevac will update us on "The 10th Amendment" movement: Governor Perry Defends Texas

Click here for the show!

Dear Pres Calderon: Are you meeting with Pres Pelosi, too?

According to The White House organization chart:

BO is president;

HRC is Sec of State; and,

Ron Kirk is US Trade Representative.

So why is Nancy Pelosi writing budgets and running our US-Mexico trade policy?

A week ago, Speaker Pelosi laid down the law:

""I don't see a change coming," Pelosi said Friday in a roundtable discussion with regional reporters.

"The president may have some other views, and we'll see what he has to say about it.

But I don't see any change."

So why is Pres BO afraid to remind Nancy Pelosi that she represents San Francisco not the US?

We don't care if Nancy Pelosi wants to march in the Mexico City "gay pride parade"! She does it in SF.

Let's make Nancy Pelosi "honorary chair-person" of Mexico's homosexual community.

We don't mind if Nancy Pelosi wants to endorse abortion and partial birth abortion in Mexico!

Let Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic grandmother, explain to Mexicans why they should legalize abortion and partial-birth abortions. Pelosi is one of our strongest voices in favor of abortion in the US!

Question: Should Pelosi be overriding Pres BO on trade policy?

Again, why is this woman running all over BO?

We don't know the answer.

We are a bit concerned that Pres BO is refusing to stand up to the protectionist wing of his party.

We agree with The San Antonio Express News: Obama must restore NAFTA truck program

Last, but not least, we remind Mexico that Pres Obama's words always come with an expiration date!

For example, can you say Iraq? Wonder how many "yes we can" screamers would have voted for candidate BO if he had said in October: McCain is right, we will leave 50,000 troops in Iraq indefinitely!

We agree with Ruben Navarrete:

"Calderón is engaged in a very serious battle with some very ruthless criminals.

Calderón needs a guarantee that Obama will live up to his word, and be there when the Mexican leader needs him.

And given the backsliding on immigration and trade, Calderón had better get it in writing."

Yes, get it in writing! Make sure that BO's promises have Pres Pelosi's initials!

Sarkozy took a look and saw an empty suit!

Let's say one cheer for Pres Sarkozy of France.

Based on press reports, we are learning that Pres Sarkozy, a man who got along very well with Pres Bush, is not too impressed with Pres BO:

"Mr Sarkozy is pouring cold water on President Obama's efforts to recast American leadership on the world stage, depicting them as unoriginal, unsubstantial and overrated." (Sarkozy)

Beyond that, Prof VD Hanson has a great post called President of the World:

"At present the world is watching, probing, and digesting the Obama presidency.

But it has already concluded that Obama is nourished by applause and will work to maintain it — not merely for personal gratification, but because he realizes that loud public endorsement is essential to his perpetual candidacy, given its absence of experience and sagacity."

It's one gigantic fairy tale, as Pres Clinton called it.

We are glad that Pres Sarkozy is not buying into it!

My guess is that others will see the fairy tale soon!

Dear Mexico: Can you ask Pres BO to explain what he said in Ohio and PA about your labor and environmental laws?

It was about a year ago.

Candidate BO flew into Ohio and PA with an anti-NAFTA message.

He told the "yes we can" screamers that NAFTA had to be renegotiated.

He is not saying that anymore.

So far, Pres BO has kept a distance from the "trucks" issue.

I guess that he is hoping that the controversy will go away or that Mexicans will forget.

Memo to BO: Mexicans are not going to forget! Pres Calderon is a "free trade guy" and he is 100% right on this controversy!

Memo to BO: Didn't you sign this anti-NAFTA provision into law?

Is this like one of those Rev Wright sermons that BO didn't hear?

Is Pres BO not reading what he signs?

I guess not!

He also signed the AIG bonuses into law as part of the infamous "stimulus" bill.

The "trucks issue" will be the background music for the Calderon-Obama talks. Pres Calderon and the Mexicans have every right to be furious about a US administration that "arrogantly" dismisses a free trade agreement with our 2nd largest trading partner.

Why has Mexico become such a punching bag for the Dems?

Because the Dems won't be able to give the labor unions what they want.

Michael Barone has a good column called WHAT DEMS WON'T GIVE THE UNIONS:

"Union money and union organizers did yeoman work for Democrats in the 2006 and 2008 elections, and union leaders plausibly claim much of the credit for the Democratic capture of both houses of Congress and the White House.

But the lever of political clout has been splintering in their hands."

Here is the problem.

The Dems won't be able to satisfy the unions on Card Check and bailing out the United Auto Workers.

Reality won't allow the Dems to keep their campaign promises to labor unions.

The Dems have majorities but not enough votes to pass Card Check and the auto industry bailout!

What's the next best thing?

Mexican trucks!

Yes, closing the border for Mexican trucks is the only thing that this Dem majority can do for the unions.

Beyond politics, the "trade war" with Mexico is hurting us.

In Mexico tariffs hurt California farmers, we learned this:

"The tariffs affect everything from toilet paper to Christmas trees as well as many perishable foods like fruits and vegetables.

Josh Rolph, a spokesman for the California Farm Bureau, a nonprofit farm organization that represents farmers in 56 counties, said it appears California has been "exclusively targeted" because 27 of the 89 agricultural products are grown in the state and represent $214 million in annual exports.

The full effect of the tariffs cannot be determined because many items have yet to enter their prime harvesting period.

California grape growers, facing a 45 percent tariff, will be among the hardest-hit producers in the United States.

Grapes are the only product listed with a tariff more than 20 percent.

More than half of California-grown grapes are shipped to Mexico, Rolph said.

The loss of a "mutually beneficial trade relationship" with Mexico, one of the state's top agricultural trading partners, could be devastating to state farmers who are already suffering, he said.

"With the recession, the water crisis in California and the drought, the tariffs are kind of the last straw," he said."

The tea parties were a success across the land

In Texas, we don't like an intrusive federal government.

We'd rather have a small government and a huge private sector.

Why? It works!

Texas is 15% of the US GDP. However, we've created about 50% of the new jobs in the US!

Why is Texas creating jobs and Michigan isn't?

Why is California struggling and Texas isn't?

The answer is taxes.

The answer is a state government that understands wealth creation rather than wealth distribution a la Obama!

On Wednesday, our tea parties drew thousands across the state: Thousands show up for Dallas 'tea party'

We will have more to say about the tea parties in Thursday's radio show.

P.S. Aren't you proud of Gov Perry? I love the way that he is standing for Texas and the US Constitution:

Baseball note: Everybody is wearing Jackie Robinson's number today!

A few years ago, I read a book about Branch Rickey. He was the Dodgers' GM and one of the most important baseball executives ever.

I was fascinated with the Jackie Robinson chapter.

Jackie was 28 when he broke "the color line" in 1947.

He played in Montreal (a Dodgers' minor league team) in 1946 before joining the Dodgers on opening Day 1947.

He was already an accomplished player in The Negro Leagues. Jackie was a young shortstop and played against Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige.

Mr. Rickey wanted a great baseball player. He wanted a strong man, a man with the character to face the abuse and pressure destined for the first black player.

Robinson turned out the be a Hall of Famer. He was also a great human being. After baseball, Jackie became a civil rights activist!

Today, we remember one of the best: Jackie Robinson of the Dodgers!

Pres BO and the First Puppy

Pres Obama has had his troubles finding Dems who pay their taxes.

Why should we have a simple tax code? Because even Dems can't understand it.

Anyway, enjoy this one about the new First Dog!

Go Gov Perry! We agree that it's time to enforce the 10th amendment!

It's about time: Gov Perry is right!

Yes, it's about time that a big state sends Pres Obama & Dems a clear message:

"Gov. Rick Perry today joined state Rep. Brandon Creighton and sponsors of House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) 50 in support of states’ rights under the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“I believe that our federal government has become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of our citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,” Gov. Perry said.

“That is why I am here today to express my unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states’ rights affirmed by the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

I believe that returning to the letter and spirit of the U.S. Constitution and its essential 10th Amendment will free our state from undue regulations, and ultimately strengthen our Union.”

Dear Pres Obama: Read the 10th amendment of the US Constitution!

We don't want to be a socialist republic! We want to continue leading the nation in job creation and prosperity!

Why is Texas the most prosperous state in the union?

No state income taxes! You keep your own money. It's your money not the government's!

Right to work laws! No Michigan or Ohio type labor restrictions on employers!

And a general pro-business (i.e. job creation) laws! We love NAFTA and free trade in general.

We salute Gov Perry & other Texan legislators.

P.S. Why do you see so many Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania license plates in Texas?

They can find work in Texas!

Pres BO's "class warfare" is killing the country!

As we pass another "tax day", we review Pres BO's class warfare rhetoric.

ARI FLEISCHER blows up the Obama class warfare nonsense in Everyone Should Pay Income Taxes:

"A very small number of taxpayers -- the 10% of the country that makes more than $92,400 a year -- pay 72.4% of the nation's income taxes.

They're the tip of the triangle that's supporting virtually everyone and everything.

Their burden keeps getting heavier.

As a result of the 2001 tax cuts enacted by a bipartisan Congress and signed by President George W. Bush, the share of taxes paid by the top 10% increased to 72.8% in 2005 from 67.8% in 2001, according to the latest data from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

Contrary to the myth that Mr. Bush cut taxes only for the wealthy, the 2001 tax cut reduced taxes for every income-tax payer in the country.

He reduced the bottom tax rate to 10% from 15% and increased the refundable child tax credit to $1,000 from $500 per child, both cuts that President Barack Obama says we should keep.

In so doing, millions of lower income taxpayers were removed from the tax rolls, shifting the remaining burden to those at the top, even after their taxes were cut."

Is it good to live in a country where half of the population does not pay taxes or a very small amount?

It depends.

If you are a taxpayer, i.e. people who work and create wealth, the answer is no.

If you are Pres Obama or Speaker Pelosi then the answer is yes, yes and yes!

Why?

The Dems want to create a "majority" that does not pay taxes. In other words, a voting bloc that will vote Dem over and over again.

Is this good for the country? Not at all!

Is it good for BO and Pelosi? Yes!

We should do everything possible to prevent this!

Yes, I want this part of Pres Obama's agenda to FAIL and FAIL big time!

Tax Day: It's the class warfare that makes me sick!

(Thanks to TaxProf Blog for the charts)

It's Tax Day. We will join The Dallas County Tax Rally. Millions will march in "tea parties" across the country.

Why?

Memo to Pres Obama: We don't want the US to look like Western Europe, i.e. high taxes, stagnant economies and no job creation.

It's a reminder that we are sick and tired of taxes.

The Wash Post has a good editorial called Who Pays Taxes:

"In 2006, the top 20 percent of earners paid 70 percent of all federal taxes.

On average, they paid 26 percent of their income to the government.

The very richest -- the top 1 percent of taxpayers, with household incomes of over $332,000 -- paid 28 percent of all taxes, with an effective tax rate of 31 percent.

The middle three quintiles paid rates of 10, 14 and 18 percent.

The lowest 20 percent of households paid only 0.8 percent of all federal taxes -- and the bottom 90 percent of households paid only 4.5 percent.

Based on these numbers, it would be hard to argue that the country doesn't already have a significantly progressive tax system."

That's right! We have a very progressive tax system. The top earners are clearly paying the bulk of taxes in the US.

Don't misunderstand. I'm OK with the rich paying a lot of taxes.

I just detest the ugly class warfare, specially the class warfare that comes from the Obama White House.

Perhaps, we can simplify our tax code.

I have always a favored a national sales tax and the elimination of our federal income tax.

We have a US$ 15 trillion GDP. I think that we can run our federal government with a national sales tax.

P.S. We've always enjoyed The Beatles' "Taxman", a rare George Harrison lead vocal and composition:

"One, two, three, four... Hrmm!

One, two, (one, two, three, four!)

Let me tell you how it will be;

There's one for you, nineteen for me.

'Cause I"m the taxman, Yeah, I"m the taxman.

Should five per cent appear too small,

Be thankful I don't take it all.

'Cause I"m the taxman, Yeah, I"m the taxman.

(if you drive a car, car;) - I"ll tax the street;

(if you try to sit, sit;) - I"ll tax your seat;

(if you get too cold, cold;) - I"ll tax the heat;

(if you take a walk, walk;) - I'll tax your feet. Taxman!

'Cause I"m the taxman, Yeah, I"m the taxman.

Don't ask me what I want it for, (ah-ah, mister Wilson)

If you don't want to pay some more. (ah-ah, mister Heath)

'Cause I"m the taxman, Yeah, I'm the taxman.

Now my advice for those who die, (taxman)

Declare the pennies on your eyes. (taxman)

'Cause I"m the taxman, Yeah, I"m the taxman.

And you're working for no one but me."

Hey guys: Are you looking for a cute girl with an anti-aircraft machine gun?

Let's file this one under the "very strange" category.

What's a nice girl doing with an anti-aircraft machine gun?

Let's hope that she is not angry with her boyfriend!

Poor guy! Did he forget to send her flowers for Valentine's Day?

Today, we learned this:

"A woman was arrested guarding an arsenal that included an anti-aircraft machine gun—the first weapon of its kind seized in Mexico, police said Tuesday.

The arsenal belonged to a group linked to the powerful Beltran Leyva drug cartel, federal police coordinator Gen. Rodolfo Cruz said. It also included ammunition, five rifles, a grenade and part of a grenade launcher.

Mexican drug cartels, battling a fierce crackdown by soldiers and federal police, have increasingly gotten hold of higher-powered weapons, even military-grade arms such as grenades and machine guns.

That has left police—particularly state and municipal forces—grossly outgunned, and many officers have quit following attacks."

Perhaps, this is an isolated event.

Let's hope so.

On the other hand, these weapons could change the entire conflict and put high ranking Mexican officials at risk.

It is dangerous indeed! How did this weapon get into Mexico anyway?

This is why we need to follow up with Merida Plan commitments. I have no idea why the Dems are holding up the money.

Again, anti-aircraft machine guns are lethal weapons. They are commonly used in battlefield combat.

You don't associate Mexico City with anti-aircraft guns!

April 14th in US history

On April 14, 1865, AP correspondent Lawrence A. Gobright filed a report that Pres Lincoln had been shot:

"During the third act, and while there was a temporary pause for the actors to enter, a sharp report of a pistol was heard, which merely attracted attention, but suggesting nothing serious, until a man rushed to the front of the President's box, waving a long dagger in his right hand, and exclaiming, "Sic semper tyrannis" and immediately leaped from the box, which was in the second tier, to the stage beneath, and ran across to the opposite side, making his escape, amid the bewilderment of the audience, from the rear of the theatre, and mounting a horse, fled."

Later, he reported that Pres Lincoln had died early in the morning of April 15th!

Mark Fidrych was a lot of fun!

He was a two year sensation.

In 1976-77, Mark Fidrych was a young pitcher with the Detroit Tigers.

He pitched very well. He also had a lot of style. He seemed destined for a wonderful pitching career.

Unfortunately, Fidrych couldn't overcome injuries and was out of baseball in 5 years.

Today, we learned that Mark Fidrych passed away at age 54. Our sympathies to his family.

And now the next move!

We congratulate Pres Obama and the US Navy for the excellent rescue and execution.

What happens next?

We believe that it's time to punch a few pirates around.

Rick Moran has a good post: OBAMA PULLS THE TRIGGER: NOW HOW ABOUT SOME FOLLOW THROUGH?

We know, or should know, that many of these pirates operate out of Somalia.

So let's take out a couple of "pirate camps"!

In the long run, we need an international effort to bring lots of military vessels into the area.

Will the world fight pirates? They haven't so far!

Keep an eye on Chicago and former Gov Blago!

Today, we learned this from the ongoing Blago investigation:

"Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s camp was told last year that U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) would raise up to $5 million in campaign cash for the ex-governor if he was appointed to President Obama’s U.S. Senate seat, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

The overture came from at least two members of the local Indian community who approached the Blagojevich fund-raising team last fall, sources say." (CST)

I could be wrong. Frankly, I hope that I am. We don't need any more scandal.

Nevertheless, we should keep an eye on Prosecutor Fitzgerald and the Chicago investigation.

I have a funny feeling that Blago will bring a few Dems down with him!

So sad to hear about Harry Kalas

During my time in Baltimore, I used to pick up Phillies' games out of York, PA.

It was fun to listen to the Phillies, specially when they were playing the Cubs in the afternoon. (The Cubs played daytime baseball until 1988!)

I recall hearing the last couple of innings of a division pennant clincher when the Phillies beat Montreal. I think that Mike Schmidt hit a home run in that game.

Today, we learned that Harry Kalas died at age 72.

That's a loss and a shock.

Kalas was one of baseball's premiere broadcasters and the voice of NFL Films.

I'm very sad to hear this!

P.S. This is Kalas when the Phillies the World Series:

The Obama deficits are out of control!

The federal deficit is out of control:

"The March deficit of 192.27 billion dollars was higher than the 160 billion dollars expected by most analysts, coming on the back of money poured by President Barack Obama’s administration to rescue financial institutions. . . .

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) forecast last month the budget deficit could hit 1.845 trillion dollars for the whole year based on Obama’s 3.5-trillion-dollar budget plan approved by Congress early this month.

The CBO said its budget deficit estimate for fiscal 2009, which ends on September 30, would be four times the 2008 record shortfall and amount to 13.1 percent of the country’s total economic output." (Briebart)

As you can see from the chart, Pres BO policies are taking us into "uncharted waters" with respect to the deficit. The key is the deficit relative to GDP, i.e. 13% of GDP is scary and unprecedented since the depths of WW2!

Pres BO supports the teachers' unions NOT the kids!

We didn't vote for BO. However, we gave him the benefit of the doubt on being a "new Democrat".

Some of us were hoping for a "Nixon to China" moment on public education.

After all, who denies that our inner city schools are a mess?

Who gets hurt? The answer is poor black and Hispanic kids!

What's partisan about giving poor kids a chance at a good education?

On education, I subscribe to whatever works rather than a left or right ideology.

It was very disappointing to hear this:

"Education Secretary Arne Duncan has decided not to admit any new students to the D.C. voucher program, which allows low-income children to attend private schools." (Rubin)

In the end, it was political considerations.

The teachers' unions don't like anything that messes up with their monopoly.

Shame on Pres Obama!

When is Pres BO going to stand up to a Dem interest group?

P.S. Paul Mirengoff nails this one: Congressional Dems and Obama bow to Teachers Unions, deal setback to Washington DC school children

"Useful idiots" is too kind a term for Barbara Lee & Bobby Rush!

Did the Obama White House approve of Barbara Lee and Bobby Rush travelling to Cuba?

My guess is no!

I can't think of a bigger collection of idiots than the ones who travelled down to Cuba this week.

It's a shame that the Black Congressional Caucus has sunk to a such of level of incompetence.

Where in the world was any concern for black Cubans? I guess that black Cubans don't count because they vote Republican in Florida!

Useful Idiots Caucus by Mona Charen is on target:

"Cubans who dare to oppose the regime pay a terrible price.

Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., who led this delegation and has been a Castro apologist for decades, should be deeply ashamed.

So should they all."

Bill Katz has a great post today on Barbara Lee and her history as a Castro-loving US legislator:

"A few days ago we reported on the trip to Cuba by members of the Congressional Black Caucus. (Indeed, these patriotic gems won our Pompous Fool Award at the Angel's Corner this week.)

The head of the CBC is Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California, the most left-leaning member of Congress, and the only member to vote against military action after the 9-11 attacks."

Is this a joke or a congressional extension of "the apology tour"?

P.S. A few more videos for Barbara Lee & Bobby Rush:

Happy Easter Sunday

Pope Benedict had a good message this season:

"'Jesus is humiliated in new ways even today when things that are most holy and profound in the faith are being trivialised, the sense of the sacred is allowed to erode.

'Values and norms that held societies together and drew people to higher ideals are laughed at and thrown overboard. Jesus continues to be ridiculed.'"

Easter Sunday may be a good day for all to rekindle those values!

Happy Easter!

Get the captain and then sink anything that looks like a pirate ship!

So far, the Obama administration is handling this crisis well. It's a good thing to check partisanship at times like these!

It's obviously important to get the captain out alive. I think that we will eventually.

After the captain is released, then we need to sink a few ships. I will go "partisan angry" if Pres BO doesn't sink a few pirate ships after this!

In fact, let's borrow a page from the Brits:

"If the navies of the world need some advice on ways to stop piracy off Somalia, they could look to Lord Palmerston, British Foreign Secretary in 1841.

"Taking a wasps' nest... is more effective than catching the wasps one by one," he remarked."

We will support Pres Obama if he unleashes a few missiles at ships or pirate camps.

We will support him even if he acts unilaterally because nobody wants to send ships or planes!

Dear "yes we can screamers": Welcome to the real world!

Pres BO said yesterday that the US can not do it alone.

Why is he saying that over here rather than over there?

It's the Euros who didn't follow Pres BO's advice.

We have over 40,000 troops in Afghanistan and 90,000 protecting Europe! Add troops in Korea and Iraq and we are clearly doing our part!

Worse than that, Democrats are now getting a taste of what Pres Bush had to deal with.

Welcome to the real world. It was a lot easier being a community organizer!

Bill O'Reilly got this one right:

"President Obama went to Europe to ask for more NATO combat troops in Afghanistan.

The crowds cheered when he spoke; the press wrote glowing things about him.

The president then came home with no more fighting capacity than when he left.

The European excuse used to be that they hated Bush, the Texas gunslinger.

That's why Germany, France and Spain wouldn't cooperate against villains.

What's the excuse now?"

Get ready for the Dems' ultimate nightmare: Unilateral action with little, if any, Euro support.

Actually, we saw this during the Clinton years:

Haiti: Pres Clinton goes in and changes a government;

Bosnia: Pres Clinton can not get a UN resolution and he just goes in under the NATO banner. Again, it's the US doing all of the heavy lifting;

and,

Iraq: Pres Clinton bombs Iraq and claims that the "cease fire" gives him the authority to take whatever action he deems necessary.

There you have it!

Those are 3 of our most recent unilateral uses of military power.

Unlike Pres Clinton, who acted without a UN or US Congress resolution, Pres Bush went to Congress and got votes to support the Afghan and Iraq wars.

Who is really unilateralist?

Don't get me wrong. I supported the last two.

Pres Clinton was right to go into Bosnia and stop ethnic cleansing.

Pres Clinton was right to bomb Iraq after Saddam Hussein kicked out the inspectors and gave the middle finger to the UN.

Why did Pres Clinton have to act unilaterally? Because no one else wants to fight!

Welcome to the real world! The world used Pres Bush as their excuse for not participating. I guess that soon you will see them blaming Pres BO.

It's the same old Euros.....the same ingrate Euros who have been protected by the US since WW2.

The "bow" was rather strange to me too!

Let's smack a couple of conspiracy theories up front:

1) I don't believe that BO is a Muslim.

We do have a few problems with Rev Wright's racist rants and BO's convenient "deafness". On one hand, BO said that he was at church every Sunday at 11am. On the other hand, he said that he never heard any of the controversial sermons!

Why didn't BO walk out on Rev Wright's outrageous anti-US sermons? How can any rational person sit and listen to what this man was saying? Why didn't he resign from the church until it became inconvenient to have Rev Wright as his pastor?

Will BO stand up to anybody? He didn't stand up to Rev Wright or the teachers' union who have wrecked Chicago public schools. I'm worried about that!

2) I don't believe that he was born in Kenya!

Let's drop this nonsense that BO is not eligible to serve as president. At the same time, it would help if BO would just release the birth certificate and get this issue over with.

Nevertheless, it is very strange to see Pres BO treat the Queen of England and the King of Saudi Arabia so differently.

It is also very interesting that the Obama White House is now in full "defense mode" saying that the president did not bow. (White House: Bow? What bow?)

What was he doing? It looks like a bow to me.

What was he thinking? I don't know but it may send the wrong message!

I like what Dr. Spencer said about this:

Is VP Biden already bored on the job?

We've always had mixed feelings about Joe Biden.

The good news