Monday, 02 April 2007
 

Straight Talk Express Derailed--by straight talk
Contributed by 72nd TCS

On Sunday, Republican Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Indiana's Representative Mike Pence strolled through a Baghdad marketplace as a show of confidence in the improved security resulting from the "clear and hold" tactics introduced there by General Petraeus.  Afterwards, these members of Congress held a press conference at which McCain expressed cautious optimism about the progress made so far. The  AP account was picked up by some newspapers.  As with yesterday's story about the imminent exhaustion of funds to pursue the war, the Washington Post did not deem the press conference newsworthy. The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and others treated it in the lackluster fashion that customarily greets any favorable news or comment regarding  the war in Iraq. The citation that follows is taken from the major Phoenix outlet, The Arizona Republic:

Iraq strategy is working, McCain says
Senator visits Baghdad; 6 U.S. soldiers are killed

Associated Press
Apr. 2, 2007 12:00 AM

BAGHDAD - After a heavily guarded trip to a Baghdad market, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., insisted Sunday that a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown in the capital was working and said Americans lacked a "full picture" of the progress.

The U.S. military later reported that six soldiers were killed in roadside bombings.

McCain, a presidential hopeful, acknowledged that a difficult task lies ahead in Iraq but criticized the media for not giving Americans enough information about the recent drop in sectarian killings, the establishment of security posts and efforts against al-Qaida.

"These and other indicators are reason for cautious, very cautious optimism about the effects of the new strategy," McCain said.

This is typical of the objective reporting that one sees: a brief, flat, recital of the bare facts.  The New York Times, by contrast,, weighs in at the outset with a resounding "But," setting the story in the context of the daily horrors generated by the enemy’s all-too-effective media campaign:

4 G.I.’s Among Dead in Iraq; McCain Cites Progress
By KIRK SEMPLE

BAGHDAD, April 1 — Mortar attacks, suicide car bombs, roadside bombs, ambushes and gun battles killed at least two dozen people on Sunday, including four American soldiers, the authorities said.

The American military command said the soldiers were killed southwest of Baghdad just after midnight as they responded to an earlier bombing that had killed two other American soldiers. The insurgents have frequently tried to reap greater death tolls by carrying out attacks against rescue crews rushing to bomb sites.

The attacks coincided with a visit to Iraq by a Republican Congressional delegation led by Senator John McCain, who declared at a news conference that the new American security plan was “making progress” and that there was cause for “very cautious optimism.”

In sometimes testy comments to reporters in the heavily fortified Green Zone, Mr. McCain said the American public was not receiving “the full picture about what’s happening,” and he described the delegation’s visit to a downtown market where scores of people have died this year in multiple car bombings and other attacks. There, the members of Congress said, they strolled around, haggled with merchants and drank tea.

But the outing was far from carefree. The delegation traveled in a convoy of armored military vehicles and was accompanied by a large contingent of heavily armed soldiers. The politicians wore body armor while they shopped.

“We had protection today,” Mr. McCain acknowledged when pressed by reporters.

The technique is not the least bit subtle, but highly effective. The Newspaper of Record conveys the strong impression that Senator McCain and his colleagues are a bunch of fakers, donning body armor and surrounding themselves with an impenetrable military cordon in order to create an artificial impression of progress in Baghdad.

On the left-leaning side of the blogosphere, McCain’s remarks unleashed a storm of sneers, jeers, and vilification, with epithets such as Neverland, delusions and pandering [to wingnuts] rife in the telling. [Too many examples for links. Just GOOGLE "McCain Baghdad" and slog through the muck.]

The senator certainly knew what he was in for, and even invited it by taunting the media to their faces, as reported by CNN:

‘The American people are not getting the full picture of what’s happening here. They are not getting the full picture of the drop in murders, the establishment of security outposts throughout the city, the situation in Anbar, the deployment of additional Iraqi brigades who are performing well, and other signs of progress,’ he said.

No gift of prophecy is needed to foresee the end of the McCain-Media honeymoon.  In truth, it’s here. As a serious candidate for the presidency, he has chosen to speak his mind on the central and most controversial issue of our time. Whatever the impact on his ambitions may be, he has vouchsafed an admirable embrace of principle. He deserves our respect, whether or not he gets our vote.

Contributed by 72nd TCS on April 2, 2007 at 02:31 PM in 1st Amendment, Current Affairs, Iraq, John "72nd TCS" Werntz, John McCain, Media Perfidy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 13 December 2006
 

It was a good ol' 1st Amendment. May it rest in peace.
Contributed by Bill Faith

FEC Claws Further Into Your Mouth
Bruce Kesler

The Federal Election Commission (See here for details from the FEC) announced

“major settlements in ‘527’ cases involving Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the League of Conservation Voters and Moveon.org. Civil penalties to be paid by the respondents exceed $600,000 in the aggregate, with the largest amount paid by Swift Boat Veterans ($229,500). As in its recent settlement with the Sierra Club, the FEC has signaled an aggressive use of the “part b” or second prong of the express advocacy standard, which provides that it includes public communications “taken as a whole” that “could only be interpreted by a reasonable person as containing the advocacy of the election or defeat” of a federal candidate. 11 CFR 100.22(b). …

Read the whole thing if you think your blood pressure can take it. I need to find something else to think about and take my mind off of it.

Contributed by Bill Faith on December 13, 2006 at 04:52 PM in 1st Amendment, Bill Faith, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 22 November 2006
 

One Dog, One Voice.
Contributed by The Gray Dog

In response to “Thoughts and questions from an Aussie.”

I had not planned to post today.  Instead I had hoped to gather my thoughts in anticipation of doing my first ever radio interview.  Imagine, The Gray Dog being interviewed about blogging.  Sure it’s a small local station in Hartland, Wisconsin, but I felt honored to have the opportunity.  But that changed this morning when I awoke to discover what had been the top post at OWD. 

Martin Andrew’s description of Bill Clinton as a “larrikin (loveable rogue – think Paul Hogan),” and his endorsement of Bill, based solely on some humor he found in the Monica Lewinsky affair, left me stunned.  Not so much because he said it in a post at OWD, but because this has been a repetitive theme in his email communications to pack members since August.

My first reaction was that I would avoid commenting about OWD on the radio.  I had planned to be equitable regarding The Gray Dog and OWD.  Yet, how could I discuss conservative and military BLOGs while Martin’s post was at the top of OWD’s site.  I then had the brilliant idea to literally flood OWD with “Excerpt and Link” posts for the purpose of driving his article off the front page entirely. But, we’re both members of the same pack; One Dog, One Voice.

I can not speak for the rest of the dogs who post here.  I can only state without equivocation, that Mr. Andrew’s poor taste disguised as humor do not convey the attitude of this mutt.  I recently apologized to Mr. Andrew for harsh rebukes I made in emails to him about such comments he has made in the past.  I had thought, hoped, that would be the end of his randy obsession with the Clintons.  I was mistaken.

To anyone who has raised daughters, have younger sisters, or even a wife or mother, the documented abuses Bill Clinton has perpetrated upon women, his willingness to convert Arkansas State Troopers and other aides into pimps, and his general disregard to uphold the laws of this nation hardly qualify him as a “lovable rogue.”  Bill and Hillary together stand for nothing except Bill and Hillary.  They covet the spotlight and will stop at nothing to achieve power.  They both govern based upon polls and will squash anyone who gets in their way. 

The Clintons had hoped to be the next coming of the Kennedy’s.  The problem with Hillary is that she wanted to be John too.  Unfortunately, she has the grace and charm of Roseanne Barr mixed with the high intellect and reasoning of Rosie O’Donnell.  The fact that you could compare Hillary to anyone as a “babe” must be indicative of just how lonely it is in the Outback.

Your final line, “My thoughts anyway and all I can say for my final word is 'Incoming!’” convey the intent of your post.  It is a taunt, a grenade, a challenge for someone to respond.  Well I’ve wasted more angst and more good BLOG space than I should have to provide you with more fodder than you deserve.  I just hope you live up to your last line on this topic and that it is indeed your final word!  But then I’m just one dog, one voice.

Contributed by The Gray Dog on November 22, 2006 at 12:10 PM in 1st Amendment, Current Affairs, Open Posts, Politics, The Gray Dog | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Thursday, 19 October 2006
 

A Tale of Two Cities Americas
Contributed by The Gray Dog

Two years ago, Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards campaigned with the theme “Two Americas.”  It was typical liberal tripe that attempted to evoke a form of class warfare between the evil wealthy corporate Republicans and the poor starving children.  And while Edward’s characterization of two Americas was off mark, the core phrase has rung true to throughout America’s history.  Tories vs. Patriots, Union vs. Confederacy and White Sox vs. Cubs are but of the few rivalries that have threatened our nation’s existence.

Only forty years ago, Malcolm X advocated for the creation of a new black nation by having the U.S. cede to the Black Muslim leadership, five southern states for that purpose. Oh that “X,” what a joker.  It was a screwball idea that the X-man in later years publicly recanted, but I have begun to believe the idea of really creating two Americas is not without some charm.  After all, since the 2000 presidential election, we have become a nation of “Red” and “Blue” states.  So why not make it formal?   No civil war would be necessary.  Just treat it like a messy divorce. 

Property Settlement

Real and tangible property: Each state shall retain ownership and/or governance of all land, buildings, businesses, military bases and natural resources through the consent of its citizenry, as it exists within each state at the time of this decree. 

Washington D.C.: Like post-war Berlin, the District of Columbia will be partitioned. 

Capital Hill (Blue)
The Blue States shall receive the Capital Building where they may continue to populate the flatulence filled dome with the same bilious bastards that have been stinking up the place for decades. (The Red States shall have a new red barn constructed in central Iowa, where the elected representatives shall meet two weekends each year to conduct the governments business)

The U.S. Constitution (Red)
Since liberal judges have been ignoring this document for over a century, the Constitution with the original Bill of Rights is awarded to the Red States.  As a conciliatory measure, all additional unnecessary amendments are awarded to the Blue States.  By default, The Supreme Court Building also goes Red.

Continue reading "A Tale of Two Cities Amreicas"

Contributed by The Gray Dog on October 19, 2006 at 08:48 PM in 1st Amendment, 2nd Amendment, Caring about our troops, Current Affairs, Dem Dumbness, DisUnited Nations, G W Bush, Islamism Delenda Est, Jean Fraud Kerry, Music, Patriotism, Peacenik Stupidity, Politics, The Gray Dog | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Friday, 15 September 2006
 

All of the Turkeys Aren’t in Turkey
Contributed by The Gray Dog

As some of you already know, and the rest of you are discovering as you read this post, The Gray Dog’s web site was hacked by Turkish Islamic turkeys, assholes, fascists, computer geeks.  Of course it was inevitable that such a major force within the conservative blogosphere, a site visited daily by thousands, hundreds, dozens, my two kids and Jim Bartimus, should become the primary serendipitous target of a group of digital terrorists adolescent Allah wannabes.

After a thorough investigation quickly checking my Site Meter, I uncovered the sinister plot, obviously the result of months of planning.  I noticed someone in Turkey had come to my site the previous day after Googling “\nuke\modules.php?name=Search.”  Further investigation revealed, several probing incursions by this band of murderous computer conscripts four more Turkish visits to my site the day before they were to launch “Shock and Awe”  their online defacement upon a great Bastion of Blogospheric Wisdom my pitiful little site.

Armed now with the essential clues required for a probative investigation with a few IP addresses, I contacted the Department of Homeland Security my web host server.  The sheer horror of this vicious attack elicited a swift reaction of overwhelming force.  Several hours later a person from the helpdesk emailed back with the question, “What is the link to your nuke site?”  I knew we were hot on the trail of the culprits now. my expectations of assistance were futile now.  Thus, I began my own inspection of the program code on my site.  Utilizing my vast experience and training,  Clueless, I started looking through thousands a few lines of code before spotting their clever insidious hackery quitting in futility and frustration.  I was surprised by the skill my enemy displayed in thwarting all of my sites defensive measures not surprised by how easily one of the many vulnerabilities of PHP-Nuke was exploited by this foreign threat troika of turkeys.

Many hours later, I once again received an email from the help desk to inform me that using the valuable clues I had provided totally ignoring the IP addresses I had given them, that they had traced the time of incursion at 7:01 AM CST and it originated from an IP address that although familiar, was not among those I had provided.  I was also confounded by the time, since it was a time after I had noticed the problem and had sent my trouble ticket to them.  Well, no matter, I anxiously entered my site’s URL in hopes of finding it restored to the recognizable Brilliant Beacon of Truth, cute little Gray Dog logo my wife drew.  “Page Not Found”  Ummph!  Perhaps their server was down again, so I quickly entered the URL’s of several other business sites I host at the web server.  “Page Not Found”.  Now what?  After I checked the web server’s status page to only to discover that it was up and running, the light bulb lit up in my head.  I went back to the email from the help desk and re-read the offending IP address.  IT WAS MINE!  Quickly, I dashed off a series of invectives which questioned the intelligence and parentage of the help desk idiot a calm and reflective query to the professional service provider. 

Once again, with lightning speed several hours later, my IP address was unblocked from their servers, leaving me to ponder which threat was greatest, the hack from the gobblers abroad or the enemy within.

The Gray Dog site will return.  As I contemplate a new software platform and possibly a new web hosting service, I did want to express my gratitude to the fine folks at the hackers forum for showing me just how vulnerable we all are to a group of miscreants armed with a little computer knowledge and filled with malice.  As a visible expression of that gratitude, I invite you to visit The Gray Dog view this heartfelt tribute. 

I’ll be back!

Contributed by The Gray Dog on September 15, 2006 at 11:56 AM in 1st Amendment, Current Affairs, Islamism Delenda Est, Thank you, The Gray Dog, Turkey, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBack

Monday, 21 August 2006
 

A judicial hit piece
Contributed by Bill Faith

There is poor reasoning, and then there is head-spinningly, jaw-droppingly poor reasoning. U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor's angry 44-page ruling against NSA terrorism surveillance is the latter, and constitutes little more than a political stunt, with ever-so-helpful declarations like "There are no hereditary Kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution." The American Civil Liberties Union forum-shopped this lawsuit, handed it to a reliably left-liberal Jimmy Carter appointee in Detroit and got its desired result. It probably didn't count on the extreme intellectual embarrassment of Judge Diggs Taylor's opinion, however, which is now being noted by left and right alike.

[Read on.]

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 21, 2006 at 12:37 AM in 1st Amendment, 4th Amendment, Bill Faith, Islamism Delenda Est, Judicial Stupidity | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 19 July 2006
 

I stand with Rusty
Contributed by Bill Faith

Why The Jawa Report Was Banned in India and Why it Matters

India has banned a number of websites by domain, but has only singled out 17 websites by name, including this one. Among the American websites all are connected in some way to The Jawa Report.

Why did India ban this website? And what is the larger meaning of this action?

The short answer to the first question is that we offended Islamists and India is afraid of its own Muslim citizens. The short answer to the second question is that, sadly, it is increasingly becoming evident that liberty may not be able to exist wherever there is a large population of Muslims.

What, specifically, did we do to offend Islamists and their supporters in the Muslim world?

[...]

UPDATE: Who will stand in solidarity with The Jawa Report and the Band of the Banned?
Please, let us know if you stand with us and against India caving to Islamist threats by leaving a comment if you are a reader or linking this post if you are a blogger. Trackbacks are not working, so please e-mail me.

[Read the whole thing here. Hat tip: James Joyner]

I stand with Rusty.

***

MM: Blogger Backlash In India

Contributed by Bill Faith on July 19, 2006 at 11:55 PM in 1st Amendment, Bill Faith, Islamism Delenda Est | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Tuesday, 04 July 2006
 

"What Does YouTube Mean for Politics?"
Contributed by Bill Faith

Ryan Sager has thoughts here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on July 4, 2006 at 02:40 AM in 1st Amendment, Bill Faith | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

CQ: Court Grants Stay On San Diego Cross
Contributed by Bill Faith

Justice Anthony Kennedy has granted a temporary stay on the removal of a controversial war monument featuring a 29-foot cross atop Mount Soledad. This appears to indicate a renewed interest in the case on behalf of the Supreme Court, which refused to intervene three years ago:

The Supreme Court intervened Monday to stop, at least for now, the removal of a large cross from city property in southern California.

[...]

[Read on.]

Stop The ACLU has more here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on July 4, 2006 at 02:22 AM in 1st Amendment, Bill Faith | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack