Bill's Bites -- 2006.09.13
Contributed by Bill Faith
The webmaster's blog-within-a-blog. Continuously updated and bumped, newest items at the top.
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Destitute Dog
Please read this and help if you can.
Just another political speech (H/T: John Werntz)
Tony Blankley
Dateline: London, June 18, 1940 — The following are the chamber remarks of the fictional Lord Harold Reid (whose fictional grandson in the 21st century would become leader of the fictional Democratic Party in the U.S. Senate).
"I regret to have to stand up tonight, on the day of defeat at the hands of the Germans of our French ally's armies at Sedan and on the Meuse River to observe that on this solemn occasion, Prime Minister Winston Churchill has chosen to politicize and cheapen the moment. Permit me to perform just a brief exegesis of his speech, which his right-wing Press Baron friend Lord Murdoch has quickly labeled 'The Finest Hour' speech in the London Times.
"Right out of the gate Churchill starts making political excuses when he says:" ...
- 20:42 -- Post-nap Roundup II
Fake Eunuchs? Black Magic?
“Fake eunuchs held for black magic scam in India” (Khaleej Times) MUMBAI (AFP) — Two men masquerading as eunuchs have been arrested after convincing Indian families to hand over money for ridding their homes of black magic, a report said on Wednesday.
Allen Apologizes (Again) for Racial Insensitivity
James Joyner
About three weeks ago, I offered some advice for Senator George Allen: “He’s going to have to open up and provide a convincing backstory to explain how a California boy grew up with such a fondness for the Confederacy and cowboy boots.” He is finally starting to do just that. Allen, 54, said he did not see racial overtones in the Confederate flag. He said he was a rebellious youth and viewed the banner as a “symbol against authority.” ...
Blame America Second
James Joyner
Jim Henley believes a recent post of mine was too dismissive of Andy Rooney’s foreign policy analysis.
Joyner: “Andy Rooney explains why the [9/11] tragedy was really our fault:” Americans are puzzled over why so many people in the world hate us. We seem so nice to ourselves. They do hate us though. We know that and we’re trying to protect ourselves with more weapons.
We have to do it I suppose but it might be better if we figured out how to behave as a nation in a way that wouldn’t make so many people in the world want to kill us.
Henley: ...
Path to 9/11 Sound Bite Discovered
After hearing that senior officials from the Clinton Administration had achieved some success in altering the content of the mini-series, The Path to 9/11 the OTB investigative staff went into high gear and was able to concoctacquire this audio sound bite ...
- 20:02 -- Post-nap Roundup
Video: Rosie Sez ‘radical Christianity’ is just as ‘threatening’ as radical Islam
Ian Schwartz
Rosie O’Donnell didn’t take long to break out of her shell and spew her liberal hate. On yesterday’s garrulous fem talk show “The View”, Meredith Viera’s replacement compared the “threat” of “radical” Christianity in America to radical Islam throughout the world. Yeah, because you know about those crazy Christians beheading terrorists and flying planes into buildings. ...
Audio: Pacifica Radio offers “Loose Change” as pledge drive gift
Allahpundit
It’s not like they had a lot of options. Once you’ve given out all the MLK tote bags and copies of “Walden,” what’s left? ...
Senate, House Agree On Final Spending Database Bill
Ed Morrissey
Senator Tom Coburn's office has announced that the Senate has just passed a new bill to replace the language of the original S.2590, which establishes an on-line searchable database for federal spending. This action will expedite the legislative process and may put the bill on President Bush's desk by tomorrow: ...
Don't miss the latest Beltway Traffic Jam
Neanderthals May Have Hung On Longer Than Thought
Neanderthals might have held out in isolated refuges for thousands of years longer than previously thought, a team of scientists reported in the Web site of the journal Nature on Wednesday. ...
Actually, they're still around today. Only now we call them "islamists."
"I will not submit" tees: They're here
Michelle Malkin
Get 'em while they're hot. T-shirts, hats, bumper stickers.
Take the 9/11 pledge. Wear it proud and say it out loud.
All proceeds will be donated to the Families of Freedom scholarship fund for children and spouses of those murdered on September 11.
Please use the link in this post to buy your "I will not submit" gear. Michelle's going to get her cut either way and if you use my link The Phoenix Project makes money too.
Harvard sits silent while Khatami defends executing gays
Allahpundit
A few lines from Yeats come to mind, but they don’t really work. It’s not really “the best” who lack all conviction here, is it?
Breaking: Air America to declare bankruptcy?
Allahpundit
They weren’t good enough, they weren’t smart enough, and gosh darn it, nobody liked them. ...
Bwu-ha-ha-ha-ha. Buncha dumbshits anyway. Bankrupt On All Other Levels,
Air America To Officially Go In To Financial Bankruptcy?
Randy
While Malkin doesn't have a post up on this yet, she has been following the failures of liberal radio network "Air America" since the beginning, so I'm sure she'll have something to say later. Anyway, hat tip to Malkin's associate AllahPundit for pointing me to this story/spin job by Think Progress. Bad boyz for life... can't stop, won't stop...
NRO mocks here: Wanting to make sure that no one thinks a bankruptcy declaration by Air America would be bad news, ThinkProgress adds: The right wing is sure to seize on Air America’s financial woes as a sign that progressive talk radio is unpopular. In fact, Air America succeeded at creating something that didn’t exist: the progressive talk radio format. That format is now established and strong and will continue with or without Air America. Indeed, many of the country’s most successful and widely-syndicated progressive talk hosts — Ed Schultz and Stephanie Miller, for instance — aren’t even associated with Air America. ...
*** Air America: The end
Michelle Malkin
So, Air America leaks word of its bankruptcy to liberal blog Think Progress in an attempt to avoid complete humiliation by all those evil right-wingers who were spreading such vicious rumors about its financial chaos.
May I just say: Bwahahahahahaha.
First question: Will the New York Times fiiiiinally get around to covering this story? Hmmm? ...
Air America: Bankrupt ... But, um, Strong?
Dan Riehl
As Air America declares bankruptcy, supporters suggest progressive radio is going strong.
That makes sense in Lib-speak, after all, you shouldn't have to earn your way, maybe the government will bail you out with a Fairness Doctrine if Dems prevail in the Fall. Liberals never survive without a dole. Other recent Air America news says Springer is out, along with a board member. I never even knew Springer was in. ...
Keep Your Grubby Mitts Off My Hard Drive
By Glenn Harlan Reynolds
I'm a big fan of Amazon.com -- as my credit card statements can attest -- and I've watched their gradual entry into the online video world with considerable enthusiasm. If anybody can make that work, I figured, it would be Amazon.
But now, it looks like they're dropping the ball. Amazon's new UnBox video service turns out to have some traits that are even more annoying than the impenetrable cellophane stickers they put on DVD cases.
TALIBAN GETS BURY LUCKY (H/T)
FURY AS NICEY-NICE BRASS CALL OFF STRIKE ON FUNERAL
September 13, 2006 -- WASHINGTON - Taliban terror leaders who had gathered for a funeral - and were secretly being watched by an eye-in-the-sky American drone - dodged assassination because U.S. rules of engagement bar attacks in cemeteries, according to a shocking report.
U.S. intelligence officers in Afghanistan are still fuming about the recent lost opportunity for an easy kill of Taliban honchos packed in tight formation for the burial, NBC News reported.
We don't even deserve to win any more U.S. military investigates leaked photo
looking into the unauthorized release of a photo purportedly taken by an American drone aircraft showing scores of Taliban militants at a funeral in Afghanistan.
NBC-TV claimed U.S. Army officers wanted to attack the ceremony with missiles carried by the Predator drone, but were prevented under rules of battlefield engagement that bar attacks on cemeteries.
*** 16:17 Gun-shy Army brass let Taliban get away
Allahpundit
Got an e-mail a little while ago from war correspondent extraordinaire Michael Yon, who pointed me towards his phenomenally depressing new column about Afghanistan with this pithy message attached: We are going to lose that war. We are not seriously trying to win it.
And right on cue comes today’s front-page story in the New York Post. ...
Sharia in the Netherlands
Michelle Malkin
I guess I'm not going to be sending the Dutch minister an "I will not submit" t-shirt: AMSTERDAM — Dutch Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner has provoked an angry response by stating it has to be possible for Sharia Law to be introduced in the Netherlands via democratic means.
The Christian Democrat (CDA) minister made the suggestion during an interview for the book 'Het land van haat en nijd' (the land of hate and malice) which was published on Wednesday.
Donner indicated he was not happy with the tone of the integration debate in the Netherlands.
Muslims, he said, just like Protestants and Roman Catholics, have a right to the perceptions of their religion, even if that included dissenting rules of behaviour such as imams refusing to shake hands with women.
He went on to say: ..
How The West Was Lost
Dan Riehl
While I may be as troubled as many by the Dutch Justice Minister writing that the Netherlands could eventually end up being governed by Sharia Law, unfortunately, it shouldn't be that hard to imagine in any democracy, including the United States. ...
“Ok..maybe the Americans weren’t so bad as we let on…”
Wordsmith
Recently, control of Abu Ghraib was returned back over to Iraqi authorities. ...
Republicans fight Bush on terror tactics
Bryan Preston
I’m trying to wrap my brain around this CNN article I’ve just read which, if even a shred of it is true, means the GOP caucus in Congress is led by fools who are ready to gut the president’s wartime powers and let terrorists attack us again before doing anything about it.
Here’s the scene. ...
As always, don't miss today's Vent. I can't listen to it -- my speakers are Murthad up and I can't afford new ones -- but it looks like a good one as always.
Sleeping Pill Ambien Cure for Persistent Vegetative State?
James Joyner
A story in yesterday’s Guardian would seem to provide hope that a simple sleeping pill can revive people from a persistent vegetative state. We have always been told there is no recovery from persistent vegetative state - doctors can only make a sufferer’s last days as painless as possible. But is that really the truth? Across three continents, severely brain-damaged patients are awake and talking after taking … a sleeping pill. And no one is more baffled than the GP who made the breakthrough. Steve Boggan witnesses these ’strange and wonderful’ rebirths.
Will Wikipedia Mean the End Of Traditional Encyclopedias?
James Joyner
WSJ publishes an interesting and surprisingly catty debate between Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales and Britannica editor in chief Dale Hoiberg on the topic “Will Wikipedia Mean the End Of Traditional Encyclopedias?”
Squandered The International Goodwill My Ass
Greg Tinti
In an excellent op-ed today, Anne Applebaum took on the liberal meme that President Bush "squandered the goodwill" created by 9/11--one which, you might remember, was prominently featured in John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign. Nevertheless, I think it's worth looking back at what people really felt on September 11, 2001, because not everyone felt the same, then or later. Certainly it's true that, five years ago, Tony Blair spoke of standing "shoulder to shoulder" with America, that Iain Duncan Smith (remember him?) echoed him, and that Jacques Chirac was on his way to Washington to say the same.
But it's also true that this initial wave of goodwill hardly outlasted the news cycle. ...
Tapegate in California
Michlle Malkin
This is a stunning story, and I'm sorry I haven't gotten to it sooner. Drudge and California media have been all over it and now the police are involved. Via AP: The campaign of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Democratic rival acknowledged Tuesday that it downloaded - and leaked to the media - a recording of a private meeting in which the governor described a Hispanic legislator as having a "very hot" personality. ...
More On Alleged Dirty Bomb Threat
Dan Riehl
See previous post for details and background of a possible on going al-Qaeda threat. It appears as though the news was carried in May in the Free Canadian Press, which also lists a new alias for al-Qaeda operative Adnan al-Shurrijumah. There’s a $5-million bounty on the head of El Shukrijumah, who is being sought by the FBI and CIA in connection with a plot to detonate a dirty bomb--a conventional explosive laced with radioactive material. El Shukrijumah has been described as "the next Mohammad Atta" by American authorities. ...
- 08:18 -- AM Roundup -- CQ
Sistani Kills Federalism Plan
In a move that belies earlier reports that Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani had withdrawn from Iraqi politics, the widely respected Shi'ite imam scotched a plan by Shi'ite political groups to transform Iraq into a loosely-knit federation of three autonomous states. The Shi'ite-controlled legislature will table the proposal indefinitely, and the third-ranking official in the government pronounced the plan dead:
NATO Chief: Members Not Pulling Their Weight
NATO's Secretary-General has publicly scolded member nations for reneging on their commitments to supporting the mission in Afghanistan, apparently despairing of getting the promised level of troops. The rebuke comes as a demonstration of a consistent refusal of Europe to fight the war on terror, even against the Taliban of Afghanistan, which most Europeans concede was a necessary step after 9/11: ...
Yes, Russell,
There Really Is A 1st Amendment Problem In The BCRA
In an editorial in yesterday's Examiner, former Federal Elections Commissioner Bradley Smith demolishes a recent assertion by Senator Russ Feingold that his Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act does not trample on First Amendment rights. Smith, who had a front-row seat to the implementation of McCain-Feingold, assures him that telling people when they can and cannot publicly criticize politicians is an egregious limitation on free speech: ...
Palestinians May Walk Away From Self-Government
The Washington Post reports that the newly-declared unity government might not last very long if its leaders cannot convince Israel and the West to lift economic sanctions imposed after Hamas took power earlier this year. More Palestinians believe that the Palestinian Authority should collapse if it cannot meet its payroll: ...
New Effort At Earmark Reform In House
The House will take up a new rule tomorrow regarding earmarks that will force earmarkers to identify themselves with their targeted appropriations. The new rule, which only requires a simple majority, will also require conference reports to list their "airdropped earmarks" -- those appropriations that got added to bills after their individual adoption by the House and Senate by the conference members. ...
US embassy:
Assad allows attack, offer "protection" and aim at confusion
Walid Phares
According to well informed Syrian sources, today's Terrorist attack against the US embassy in Damascus is one of the "Machiavellian" Assad operations. Let's remind ourselves that the Syrian regime's senior strategists and intelligence officers were trained by the sophisticated "intox" schools of the former Soviet's KGB. One of the main tactics of this old school, refined by Hafez Assad during his rule of Syria is based on the following concept: If the equation is to your disadvantage, create a new problem, offer to solve it, obtain recognition; and by that you'd change the equation. ...
Damascus Embassy Attack: Al Qaeda? Amateurs? Assad PsyOp?
James Joyner
Reacting to news that this morning’s attack on the American Embassy in Damascus, Syria was apparently carried out by an al-Qaeda offshoot group called Jund al-Sham, Steven Taylor wonders whether it’s even important anymore. ...
Sprint for Defeat!
Dafydd ab Hugh
The Democrats, after years of threatening, have finally enunciated their own defense/anti-terrorist policy; it appears to be modeled on a pell-mell dash towards the exits, overturning the ottoman and the teakettle in their mad rush: Mr. Reid and several colleagues offered what they called the “Real Security Act of 2006,” calling for the beginning of a phased withdrawal of American troops from Iraq by the end of this year, a heightened effort to enlist more countries to take part in building a new Iraq, the ouster of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, and a faster adoption of the recommendations of the independent commission that investigated the 9/11 attacks.
Karl the Anti-Spammer!
Dafydd ab Hugh
But if the accusation is true, does it hurt or help? Attorneys for a man accused of fraud say he was charged at the behest of presidential adviser Karl Rove in retaliation for a flood of spam e-mails sent to a campaign Web site. A federal prosecutor says the claim is "absurd." ...
Because We Trusted Bush... Yeah, That's the Ticket!
Dafydd ab Hugh
The story that Democrats are attacking President Bush over his magnificent, almost Churchillian speech last night is already being adequately covered by many other excellent bloggers. Oh, and also by those guys in the elite media, if anybody still reads them (besides us excellent bloggers, I mean). But I think we've found just a tiny hook that has not yet been exploited. (I was going to say "just a tiny nipple that has not yet been sucked," but I thought that unduly vivid.)
Check out this line from the Reuters story: ...
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