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Selected News For Week Apr 29 - May 5

This thread is for our readers to post news items that might not have gotten enough attention during the week. Articles that fit under the topic of a recent thread should be posted there.

Please don’t post pieces from popular sites like the Drudge Report. Also, avoid material from blogs and editorials unless they are truly newsworthy in their own right.

In order to make the articles as readable as possible, try to stick to the format described in the first of these weekly threads here.

As always, remember to excerpt heavily and to provide a link to the original source.

Related Articles:

This article was posted by Steve Gilbert on Sunday, April 29th, 2007 at 12:01 am. You can leave a response.

74 Responses to “Selected News For Week Apr 29 - May 5”

crosspatch
April 29th, 2007 at 1:11 am
Iraq tax revenues up 50% over last year in a further sign of economic rebound.
crosspatch
April 29th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
A gasoline tanker fire has absolutely destroyed the freeway interchange on the East side if the San Francisco Bay Bridge known as the “McArthur Maze”.

Article here

Check out the link to the pictures in the article. Amazing. I take that road several times a week and have co-workers who take it daily. What a mess!

Video here
Old Grouch
April 29th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Another thing they can take years to fix. How long were roads down after the last ‘quake?
DEZ
April 29th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
No way am I cleaning up that mess.
Has anybody shown this to Rosie the funnel, Look, Fire weakened the steel and concrete and the over pass collapsed. DOH!
crosspatch
April 29th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Not only that, nothing remains of the tanker itself. HotAir has a link to a really funny blog entry about it. Roads were down for a couple of years last time. Don’t know how long its going to take to clean this mess up. I am guessing they will get the 80/880 connector opened fairly quickly as that is built on the surface but the 580 flyover is going to take longer. Sucks too because I take that piece of road at least twice a week. Or used to.

Now one has to wonder if this was done to funnel people onto the subway in prep for a major BART attack. Looks like the driver was simply speeding, though. The major refinery for the area is not too far North of where that accident happened.
DEZ
April 29th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Missed the video link, Just watched it, WOW.
Sorry about the delays you may have to endure, I know how they feel.
The only good thing about this is from what I can gather is no one besides the driver was hurt,
A small miracle in itself.
Gila Monster
April 29th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Come on DEZ, everyone knows that fire can’t melt steel or damage concrete, (wink, wink).

This has to be a Bushie neocon plot to sway public opinion away from the 9/11 “truthers”. The truck had to be owned by Cheney or Halliburton don’t you know…;o)
1sttofight
April 29th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
All you neocons are drunk on B&BW. That is the only explaintion for yall’s denial that steel and concrete can not be melted by heat or flames.
(where the hell is that sarcasim off button)
DEZ
April 29th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
EEEEEK, 30 years as a journeyman tool and die maker shot to poop.
I know not a thing about metals.
SOO, Dat overpass was Da eeveel Boosh doieens hees haas used splosives.
Dah her Rosie is vight als along. zee heats is uzeless, zee boomz only melz meetals.
Whyz is mine right eyez zoing goofzy.
Meez tinzfoils hats iz meltzing.
AAAAAAAAAAHHHH.
Old Grouch
April 29th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
The fire had nothing to do with it. Rosie was just taking a stroll across the bridge.
DEZ
April 29th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
Oh, Damn.
Damn OG, You have the humor of an old friend, He is past but after reading your posts, I wonder. lol
Thanks for joining this crowd.
Gila Monster
April 29th, 2007 at 9:23 pm
More appeasement of Muslims, in Kansas City no less;

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/n.....E_ID=55417

The Kansas City International Airport has added several foot-washing basins in restrooms to accommodate a growing number of Muslim taxicab drivers who requested the facilities to prepare for daily Islamic prayer, WND has learned.

The move concerns airport police who worry about Middle Eastern men loitering inside the building. After 9/11, the airport beefed up its police force to help prevent terrorist attacks.

“Why are we constructing places of worship for them inside our airports?” said an airport official who requested anonymity. “Why are we catering to their rituals? We don’t do it for any other religion.”

Good point Mr.”Airport Official”. America continues to kowtow to CAIR and other Islamic pressure groups.
sheehanjihad
April 29th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Foot washing bins? I thought it was a new kind of urinal! No wonder that guy was howling at me……
DEZ
April 29th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
OOOOPS, I thought they were Bidets, Sorry about any kernels.
And damn that pork sausage.
BillK
April 30th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Aside from the fact that this shows metal and steel can indeed melt in a normal fuel fire, how many maniacs do you think are now trying to figure out how to get their hands on a fuel tanker?

However, I love the fact that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said this should be a “wake up call” when speaking to the California Democratic Convention when they’re the ones who believe 9/11 was no big deal and we shouldn’t be concerned about terrorism?

Meanwhile, other left wing wacko news:

Gore attacks some other country for once (must be to prove he’s “unbiased”):

Gore Calls Canada Climate Plan a ‘Fraud’

Al Gore condemned Canada’s new plan to reduce greenhouse gases, saying it was “a complete and total fraud” because it lacks specifics and gives industry a way to actually increase emissions.

Under the initiative announced Thursday, Canada aims to reduce the current level of greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020. But the government acknowledged it would not meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, which requires 35 industrialized countries to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

The country’s emissions are now 30 percent above 1990 levels.

The conservative government’s strategy focuses both on reducing emissions of gases blamed for global warming and improving air quality. But the plan failed to spell out what many of its regulations will look like.

Gore said the plan did not make clear how Canada would reach its 2020 emissions goal. He also criticized the plan for allowing industries to pollute more if they use emissions-cutting technologies while increasing production.

“In my opinion, it is a complete and total fraud,” Gore said Saturday. “It is designed to mislead the Canadian people.”

Elsewhere, of course we need to pull our troops out of a “civli war” in Iraq… and promptly insert them into a civil war in Darfur:

Music rolls, tears spill on Darfur anniversary
Rally calls for end to 4-year conflict in western Sudan

The music was playing — lilting Sudanese dance tunes — and the tears were flowing at a rally at San Francisco’s Civic Center on Sunday calling for an end to the genocide in Darfur.

The gathering drew a crowd of hundreds to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the conflict that erupted when the Arab-led Sudanese government struck back at the civilian population in the Darfur region of western Sudan after ethnic African tribes there staged a revolt.

The war has killed 200,000 to 400,000 civilians and driven more than 2.5 million from their homes.

[ … ]

Both called on the United States to act more decisively to end the killing in Darfur.

“If America doesn’t take action, nobody will,” Ibrahim said. “I’m proud to be a U.S. citizen. But I want my country to do the right thing.”
The rally also drew an appearance from New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who flew in en route from the California Democratic Convention in San Diego to a stop on his presidential campaign in Carson City, Nev.

“I care deeply about this issue,” said Richardson, who has been to Sudan three times visiting refugee camps and negotiating the release of American aid workers and journalists. “The United States should be paying more attention. We should be more forceful to build international support to pressure the government and the rebels to come to a peace.”

Organizers of the rally — one of 300 similar events across the country Sunday — called on the U.S. government to pressure Sudan to accept U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur; to implement economic sanctions on Sudan and call on other countries (like China, a big customer for Sudanese oil) to do the same; and to take the lead in pushing for diplomatic negotiation.

Gee, which country would those “UN Peacekeepers” come from?
Old Grouch
April 30th, 2007 at 11:17 am
These moonbats don’t seem to realize that if we went into Darfur, we would still be fighting Mooselim (sorry, Bullwinkle) extremists. Janjaweed, or whatever the h— they call themselves are trying to set up an islamic state, with the help of the Sudanese government. How long would it take the ragheads in Irag to fly west? And how many more would jump in from Libya, Algeria, Morocco, etc.? Maybe we’re just not supposed to go after folks who attack the U.S.?

I do not foresee any shortage of hypocrisy. And the price seems to be coming down. At least in the short term.
1sttofight
April 30th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Sweet Home Alabama.

Huntsville homeowner kills intruder
Posted by Marian Accardi April 30, 2007 7:46 AM

One man was shot and killed as he allegedly broke into a residence at 900 Julia Street just before 4 a.m. today.

According to Huntsville police reports, a man was startled by a loud banging at his front door, and he and his roommate armed themselves and went to investigate. They discovered someone kicking in the front door, and one of the offenders was shot and killed as he entered the residence with a pistol in his hands.

The other offender ran away.

The names of the victims and the person who was shot and killed were being withheld early today.

http://blog.al.com/breaking/20.....s_int.html

Bring it on perps. We have a new law on the books.
Voice of Reason
April 30th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
From last week…can’t find the link.

Semper Fi, Part Three
By INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Thursday, April 26, 2007 4:20 PM PT

Semper Fi, Part One
Semper Fi, Part Two

Military Justice: The case against the Haditha Marines unravels as murder charges are dropped against one and the court hearing of two others is postponed. Will we soon be hearing John Murtha’s apology?

The seemingly forgotten incident began as a Marine convoy of the Camp Pendleton-based Kilo Company, Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment, was passing through the town of Haditha in the contested Iraqi province of Anbar on Nov. 19, 2005. A roadside improvised explosive device (IED) went off, killing Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas, 20, of El Paso, Texas, who was on his second tour of duty.

After the initial attack, the Marines took small arms fire from nearby houses. They returned fire and went house to house searching for their attackers. For their efforts in responding to an insurgent ambush, four Marines were charged with murder, accused of engaging in a rampage of revenge for their fallen comrade.

Marines who were charged with murder include, from left, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt and Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz.
Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, 26, was charged with using his service rifle to murder 18 individuals while having “intent to kill or cause great bodily harm.”

Three squad mates — Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 22, Sgt. Sanick P. Dela Cruz, 24, and Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum, 25 — were charged with unlawfully killing three, five and six civilians, respectively. Others were charged with covering up the incident.

While the matter was still under investigation, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., decided it would be sentence first and trial later when he proclaimed that the Marines had “killed innocent civilians in cold blood.”

A March 27, 2006, Time magazine report published claims by an Iraqi civil rights group that the Marines then barged into nearby houses, throwing grenades and shooting civilians randomly as they cowered in fear. Liberals thought they had their Iraqi My Lai.

But now, as reported by Newsmax.com, all charges, including murder, are being dropped against Sgt. Dela Cruz, presumably in some sort of immunity deal to testify against the others. This comes after it was announced that Article 32 hearings against two of the others and Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, the battalion commander, have been postponed.

Is the case against the Haditha Marines falling apart?

According to Newsmax, a Marine who was the batallion’s intelligence officer has given an eight-hour-long taped deposition that will be available to the defense at Article 32 hearings in May.

The officer was said to be in possession of exculpatory evidence, including video, that provides a minute-by-minute picture of that day’s action, confirming the Marines’ story that they were merely doing what they were trained to do — responding to a perceived threat with overwhelming force.

The evidence includes all the radio traffic describing the ongoing action between the Marines and battalion headquarters.

It shows the Marines were aware that the insurgents were taping their ambush of Kilo Company for propaganda purposes. An edited version of the video wound up in the hands of an anti-war Time correspondent and helped spawn the murder investigation.

According to those who’ve seen the evidence, it clearly demonstrates that the incident was part of a planned ambush by insurgent forces, that they used the tragically killed civilians as human shields and that, despite the claims of Rep. Murtha, this was not murder but the tragic result of an ongoing firefight in which U.S. Marines were honorably defending themselves.

Robert Muise, the Thomas More Law Center attorney who questioned the officer, says his “testimony shows the complexity of the attack that day, the callousness of the terrorists toward the local civilians, whom they use to their advantage, and the error of viewing this incident in a vacuum.”

We wish the center well in its defense of the Haditha Marines. Its goal, according to the center’s president and chief counsel, Richard Thompson, is to prove their innocence and “to allow the facts of Nov. 19, 2005, and beyond to be presented to the investigating officer rather than the scurrilous and unfounded accusations from anti-war politicians and media who rely on insurgent sources for their stories about our decent and hard-fighting men in uniform.”

Semper Fi.
Old Grouch
April 30th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I’m not holding my breath waiting for Murtha to apologise. Semper Fi he ain’t.
sheehanjihad
April 30th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
John Murtha is a doddering old fool. A stupid moron with a title, a big mouth pandering to the left, and hoping to lick pelosi’s Pradas to gain favor and position in her insurgency.

….and you are most correct….Semper Fi he will never be. He is the stain in the underwear of our military.
Mr. Michael
May 1st, 2007 at 12:30 am
Another addition to the Democratic Halo effect provided by the AP:

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/07.....39c4226cef

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/07.....72642ff324

As a photographer, I’ve gotta give props for the shots. Oddly, I would have expected to see these coming from his campaign site, not AP via Yahoo… silly me.
SG
May 1st, 2007 at 12:51 am
Thanks, MM. I will squirrel them away in S&L’s collection — which is getting pretty large.

I’ll do another general update soon. Or maybe give them their own dedicated page.
BillK
May 1st, 2007 at 7:09 am
Hurrah - though chases are still explicitly against department policy in many jurisdictions, such as Los Angeles and Denver:

Supreme Court Rules to Protect Officers From Lawsuits in Speedy Car Chases

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday gave police officers protection from lawsuits that result from high-speed car chases, ruling against a Georgia teenager who was paralyzed after his car was run off the road.

In a case that turned on a video of the chase in suburban Atlanta, Justice Antonin Scalia said law enforcement officers do not have to call off pursuit of a fleeing motorist when they reasonably expect that other people could be hurt.

Rather, officers can take measures to stop the car without putting themselves at risk of civil rights lawsuits.

“A police officer’s attempt to terminate a dangerous high-speed car chase that threatens the lives of innocent bystanders does not violate the Fourth Amendment, even when it places the fleeing motorist at risk of serious injury or death,” Scalia said.

Of course this still leaves open the question of much more financially lucrative civil suits on other grounds…
Gila Monster
May 1st, 2007 at 9:50 am
The evil mega-corporation, Wal-Mart, is condemned once again by none other than those salubrious fellows at Human Rights Watch;

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/my.....geId=4.1.1

NEW YORK — Wal-Mart’s exploitation of weak U.S. labor laws interferes with workers’ rights to organize and violates the human rights of its employees, according to a report by Human Rights Watch, an independent nongovernment organization.

In a 210-page report released Monday, Human Rights Watch said Wal-Mart uses an arsenal of sophisticated tactics — some of which it says are illegal– aimed at thwarting union organization and creating a climate of fear for its 1.3 million U.S. workers.

The Human Rights Watch study was based on interviews with 41 current and former Wal-Mart workers and managers, as well as labor lawyers and union organizers, between 2004 and early 2007. The organization also said it analyzed cases against Wal-Mart charging the company with violating U.S. labor and employment laws.

Let me see if I have this right. You interview 41 out of 1.3 million workers and based on that huge percentage, you determine that Wal-Mart violates the rights of its workers..?? Must be the new math.

While Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is not alone in engaging in illegal anti-union tactics, the retailer “stands out for the extreme sophistication and aggressiveness of its anti-union strategies,” said Carol Pier, senior researcher on labor rights and trade for Human Rights Watch and author of the report.

Pier noted that while Human Rights Watch had been following reports on Wal-Mart’s anti-union efforts, what was missing from the debate was a “human rights analysis” and a road map to its systematic approach. With Wal-Mart being the largest private employer in the States, Pier noted that “the company’s treatment of its workers has significant impact in the U.S. and beyond.” She emphasized that the report was not funded by labor unions and the group is not an anti-Wal-Mart organization.

So 41 people out of 1.3 million give you a “human rights analysis” and a “road map to its systematic approach”..??
And oh yeah, HRW is not funded by labor unions and we are definitely not an anti-Wal-Mart organization..!!
But we are a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization dominated by moonbat liberals.
Old Grouch
May 1st, 2007 at 1:55 pm
kucharsk - I hope that immunity was for damages to the fleeing motorist. A neighbor’s kid was killed when a cop ran a red light and t-boned her. The officer said he was in pursuit (of someone else) and had his flashing lights on. Witnesses said otherwise. Paramedics came and took care of the officer, ignoring the kid.. They ticked the girl for obstructing police operations. She died a week later of complications. Lawsuit went nowhere after lots of other ‘witnessses’ showed up and testified in the officer’s favor.

99.9% of the police are good hardworking folks. Have several friends on the local force. But a small percentage need some serious restraint. Have to protect the citizens. As for the fleeing motorist? @#$% ‘em.
BillK
May 1st, 2007 at 2:36 pm
The immunity is indeed against claims by the person being chased, but we need to be able to give wide latitude to the Police.

In the case you cite, the officer was obviously at fault for not having his lights and siren going and should have been strung up. But if his lights and siren were on, deaths of innocent bystanders are regrettable but can, unfortunately occur.

IMHO it’s not unlike fighting a war to win; you shouldn’t blindly fire into a crowd, but once your rules of engagement are like those in Iraq, where the lives of bystanders must be spared at all costs, you might as well pack up and go home.

If there’s a high speed chase, innocent motorists may be injured as a result, it’s just basic physics. If, on the other hand, the protection of innocent motorists is paramount, you’ve just told all criminals that flooring the pedal is their key to a clean getaway.
Odie44
May 1st, 2007 at 9:05 pm
From Reuters via Yahoo News:

Arctic Ice Cap Melting 30 Years Ahead of Forecast

“WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Arctic ice cap is melting much faster than expected and is now about 30 years ahead of predictions made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a U.S. ice expert said on Tuesday…”

” He discounted the notion that the sharp warming trend in the Arctic might be due to natural climate cycles.

“There aren’t many periods in history that are this dramatic in terms of natural variability,” Scambos said. He said he had no doubt that this was caused in large part by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which he said was the only thing capable of changing Earth on such a large scale over so many latitudes…”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200.....5chJ7MWM0F

This is a fine example of “science” innuendo’s being sold as paranoid “man made global warming” aka the “consensus of scientists” whereas there “is no more debate”

Number 1 - the fact that it is sooner than so-called expected doesn’t cause fear in me, but instead another example of poor models being used. Deviation this wild isn’t a smoking gun - its proof “garbage in, garbage out” They believe because satellite images and pictures are more reliable. Yet, pictures do nothing to tell us what is happening tomorrow or in 10 years. I can take a picture of a thunderstorm outside my condo - can I summize it is the furture weather pattern on June 8th in Bangor Maine? Junk models (prooved wrong as a comparison, and justification of the absurd trend) with pictures.. complete nonsense.

Number 2 - To state “there aren’t many periods in history” is vague as a premise to make any factual conclusion. Perhaps we are in the natural cycle of one of those few periods, similiar to the Little Ice Age of Europe.

Number 3 - The “scientist” Scambos ( I can’t help but to laugh at that precarious name) claims nothing else in the atmosphere can cause such a change - except for greenhouse gases. Gee, that big shiny yellow thing called the sun, doesn’t reside in our atmosphere - and as the recent Mars warming prooves - has a great impact on Earth’s “global warming and cooling” As does magma - within the earth and as lava - in the atmosphere, covered next. Scambos cannot state its just greenhouse gases as proof, in order to proove its greenhouse gases only that cause global warming.

Number 4 - The scientist admits a volcano could cause a reversal. Gee, as in a naturally occurring part of earths cycle? A complete 180 from the premise of man made warming.

This is bogus, slight of hand “science”, sprinkled with pictures, some vague models and gross guesses and absolute assumptions - concluding in junk man made global warming.

Sorry if I am quotation happy…
BillK
May 2nd, 2007 at 2:16 am
I like the fact that in the footnotes the authors mentioned the same potential issues with the model that Dr. William Gray has given for the reasons they can’t be believed. What the authors have done is tweak their numbers to come up with the most alarming prediction possible, thus assuring them unending grants to further their “research.”

Once again:

The models used to predict global warming are of the same type as those used to predict the weather a week ore more out.

They do not use the models to predict short-term weather because the models would be shown to be horrifically wrong.

Bottom line, most people don’t believe the weather forecast more than three days out, yet they have no problem believing a model predicting the climate twenty or more years out?

Ask your friends and neighbors that one.
crosspatch
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:08 am
Not a single model I have seen takes water vapor into account. Water is earth’s giant refrigeration system. When winds blow across the ocean (trade winds), water evaporates cooling the ocean. This water vapor is then carried high up into the atmosphere where it condenses into clouds (well above the majority of the greenhouse gases) and releases the heat at high altitude where it is radiated into space.

The models take only CO2 into account and do not take into account how the water vapor system will react to that change. They assume a static behavior of the water vapor cooling system in the face of a change in temperature.
BillK
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:53 am
If you’re a fan of 24, you know this season’s quality is down a bit, as are ratings, but executive producer and writer Howard Gordon posits an additional theory: terrorism is now but a distant memory:

Is ‘24′ running out of time?

JACK BAUER, America’s favorite counter-terrorism agent with the violent code of honor and the weird sadomasochistic bent, is squaring off against a stealthy and unforgiving new enemy.

His fans.

After peaking in the ratings last year, Fox’s thriller “24″ has been getting dumped on by seemingly everyone in this, its sixth season. Critics and fans alike are aiming tomatoes at the stage, carping about the soapy and repetitive plotlines that unspool Jack’s unlikely familial past, tiresome romantic triangles in the security bureaucracy and endless bickering among Oval Office advisors.

Last week, with a fresh episode designed to lay the groundwork for what the creators promise will be a typically suspenseful finale next month, “24’s” ratings in the key young-adult category swooned to their lowest level in more than three years, with a total audience of just 10.4 million, according to figures from Nielsen Media Research.

More than one-third of viewers have bailed since the special four-hour season premiere that aired over two consecutive nights back in January. And if that wasn’t enough bad news for the series, last week “24″ was one of the prime-time shows that the Federal Communications Commission singled out in urging Congress to curb TV violence.

The vox populi protests have not escaped the attention of the show’s producers, who promise that some big changes are on the way for Jack (Kiefer Sutherland) and other regulars next season. There’s also speculation that something else might be at work in accounting for viewers’ tune-out this season, but more about that in a minute…

But Gordon said he and his writing staff were wondering if something else was afoot besides the normal cycles of storytelling and network scheduling.

Could it be that the vague but gnawing post-9/11 fears that helped turn “24″ into a hit are ebbing — the nightmares that envisioned great cities laid low by chemical weapons spilled into the water supply, say, or suitcase nukes wielded by shadowy assailants?

“It’s something we talked about at the beginning of the season,” Gordon said. “9/11 is becoming, quietly, a memory; the memory is starting to fade…. I do think that people are looking at the world differently, with less fear.”

I think Howard Gordon is quite correct, not just about 24 but rather about Americans in general. 9/11 is a distant memory (thanks to the press’ refusal to note it except as a spectacular failure of the Bush administration.) Americans believe terrorism is something that happened once, and isn’t a danger anymore. It shapes their electoral choices, it shapes their view of the war in Iraq, and it shapes their attitude towards the Department of Homeland Security and the TSA. It’s all tiring and oh so over and passé. If it didn’t happen last month, it’s ancient history, it’s over, what are Lindsay, Brad, Angelina and George up to this week?
Odie44
May 2nd, 2007 at 9:04 am
Kuchark and Crosspatch -

Clearly we are able to comprehend the ridiculousness of said “settled debate from scientists”. Richard Lindzen - MIT finally got some press, - due to Goreocals Congressionsl “testimony”. He essentially states “there are far too many factors that make up climate to assume a small fraction of quantitative data from slective models to conclude anything concerning man made influence.”

Notice the guarantees of last years hurricane season, by none other than Dr Grey, predicted 9-12 Cat 3’s would hit the gulf coast region - yet only 1 reached land - and dissepated to a Cat 1 within a few hours. Press widely covered the prediction and was mum on the failed accuracy. MSM, enviro alarmists and Dems couldnt possibly admit they are wrong.

Yet Dr Grey is the leading “expert” for 2007 predictions - and even better, thrown under the bus if and when he has deviated from the mantra, regardless of accuracy.
DW
May 2nd, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Wanna see what liberalism and socialism ultimately do to a nation?

From CNews:

Who’s the worst Canadian?

By JOYANNE PURSAGA, SUN MEDIA

The Beaver: Canada’s History Magazine launched a public promotion yesterday to determine the worst Canadian in our country’s history.

Its publisher said it aims to highlight the country’s “most foul, useless, maligning and destructive human forces.”

“History is not just about the celebratory stuff,” said Deborah Morrison, president of Canada’s National History Society, which publishes the magazine. “Sometimes the most important things we learn are from what doesn’t work well. Most people see it as a different way to think about history.”

Voters began weighing in at http://www.thebeaver.ca yesterday, chalking up more than 100 responses in the first three hours after the project became public. Nominations can be made at the site or e-mailed to WorstCanadian@HistorySociety.ca….

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Ca.....3-sun.html

“History is not just about the celebratory stuff,”

Yeah, no shit, eh. For two generations, the schools have done nothing but stuff kids’ heads full of every little detail of what we did wrong.

Military victories, scientific accomplishments, personal achievements, engineering feats, heroes? Either downplayed, outright ignored or vilified.

So what’s going to happen this July 1st (Canada Day -our version of July 4th)? The same thing that happens every year. All the papers and magazines will have kids writing in to explain what makes them proud to be Canadian. And they’ll all say the same damned thing (including many adults):

“because at least we aren’t Americans”

They won’t be saying that out of malice, but because THE POOR, STUPID, IGNORANT BASTARDS HAVE NEVER BEEN TAUGHT ANY BETTER.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

This started before my time and I’m 42. Let me assure you. there’s plenty of history to be proud of here -I’ve got bookcases crammed with volumes of interesting, wonderful accomplishments- but the schools won’t teach it. That might lead to patriotism and that’s a bad thing because it suggests that people might want to serve something greater than themselves which is counter to modern day liberalism.

Do take care that this doesn’t happen south of the border (my border). Your liberals seem to be trying the same thing. Small wonder so many people take pride in not taking pride in anything at all.
Gila Monster
May 2nd, 2007 at 3:29 pm
This is exactly what’s wrong with our current tort system;

Is somebody getting taken to the cleaners?

A $10 dry cleaning bill for a pair of trousers has ballooned into a $67 million civil lawsuit.

Plaintiff Roy Pearson, a judge in Washington, D.C., says in court papers that he’s been through the ringer over a lost pair of prized pants he wanted to wear on his first day on the bench.

He says in court papers that he has endured “mental suffering, inconvenience and discomfort.”

He says he was unable to wear that favorite suit on his first day of work.

He’s suing for 10 years of weekend car rentals so he can transport his dry cleaning to another store.

The lawsuit is based in large part on Pearson’s seemingly pained admission that he was taken in by the oldest and most insidious marketing tool in the dry cleaning industry arsenal.

“Satisfaction Guaranteed.”

Pearson did not return numerous calls from ABC News for comment.

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/S.....amp;page=1

Want some more outrage? The plaintiff is a DC Administrative Law judge..!!

http://oah.dc.gov/oah/cwp/view,A,3,Q,604474.asp

Simply ridiculous..!! What a friggin’ a**hat..!! This “judge” and his attorneys should be tossed out of court on their ears, disbarred and forced to pay restitution to the defendants.
DW
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Evidently, Sun Media decided I wasn’t pissed off enough by that first article I read there (and posted above) here’s the second -helping prove my point:

War museum says it won’t change exhibit that angered vets

OTTAWA (CP) - Officials from the Canadian War Museum say they won’t change an exhibit which has angered veterans of the Second World War bombing campaign against Germany.

The museum authorities say the display is fair and balanced in depicting that the morality and effectiveness of the campaign are still matters of controversy more than 60 years after the end of the war.

Veterans have complained to a Senate subcommittee that the tone of the exhibit is accusatory and suggests they committed war crimes when they bombed cities.

They want changes to the display panel in question, but museum historians say they are satisfied with what is there…
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Ca.....04-cp.html
*********************************************

Since the article doesn’t mention it, here’s what the plaque in question says:

“The value and morality of the strategic bomber offensive against Germany remains bitterly contested. Bomber command’s aim was to crush civilian morale and force Germany to surrender by destroying its cities and industrial installations.
“Although Bomber Command and American attacks left 600,000 Germans dead, and more than five million homeless, the raids resulted in only small reduction in German production until late in the war.”

To a man, the veterans of Bomber Command insist they were always given industrial/military targets -which invariably were in cities. They took over 60% casualties during the war.
And bear in mind, this is the taxpayer-funded National War Museum saying this. This is the third time in its two year history that the museum has outraged veterans because of anti-military displays and outright skewing of facts to reflect badly on our veterans.
That abortion of a museum (never guess who’s in charge of it…) could fill a couple of different threads on its own.

Ask your surviving relatives who served in B-17’s or B-25’s how they’d appreciate being accused of being ineffective at best, or -at worst- war criminals?

but at least we’re not Americans
I’d go puke, but the trough is lined up 6 deep with Canadian veterans.
DW
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:32 pm
OK, back to the USA. SJ, it’s a good thing I know what your real name is…

From the AP:

Florida man files suit to halt mosque construction

By MATT SEDENSKY

MIAMI (AP) - A man fighting the opening of a mosque in his suburban neighbourhood has filed a lawsuit to try and halt construction, a move derided by Arab leaders as anti-Muslim.

Rodney Wright, who is Christian, claims the relocation of the Islamic Center of South Florida to a new, larger building in his Pompano Beach neighbourhood “presents a substantial harm to the well-being, safety and health” of the community.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims the leader of the mosque, Imam Hassan Sabri, has repeatedly been associated with others who are tied to terrorist groups including Hamas, al-Qaida and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad…

…Larry Klayman, the lawyer for Wright, said the filing does not amount to an anti-Muslim action but maintained that the mosque sacrificed public safety.

“The mosque is radical, the imam is radical,” Klayman said. “We believe they will go out and recruit people in the African-American community to do their bidding.”…

…Klayman also has brought cases against Dick Cheney, Osama bin Laden, Fidel Castro and the Teamsters, as well as his own mother.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Wo.....99-ap.html

Gotta love the lawyer… his own mother???
1sttofight
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:39 pm
…Klayman also has brought cases against Dick Cheney, Osama bin Laden, Fidel Castro and the Teamsters, as well as his own mother.

The question is , Did he win even one of those lawsuits?
sheehanjihad
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:46 pm
This is a classic case for muslim vs radical muslim. If Islam wasnt the excuse used for butchers as they blow human children and women to bits indiscriminately, then mosques wouldnt be challenged, ever. However, Islam is the religion that will tolerate no other living being in it’s presence unless they are strict adherents to the laws of Islam….regardless of other people’s thoughts or sensibilities.

This guy isnt suing to rid his neighborhood of muslims, he is suing to keep potential terrorist recruitment centers from being the hub of activity in his back yard. No, it aint me, but I fully agree with his effort. And, in spite of CAIR calling him anti muslim, he is only anti death and destruction. Which is what you get with radical islam. Every time.
SG
May 2nd, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Larry Klayman is a notorious nutjob. Years ago he made a fortune by starting “Judicial Watch” and collecting donations from many conservatives with the promise he was going to go after the Clintons for their various scandals.

As 1st notes, his lawsuits never went anywhere.
1sttofight
May 2nd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
GREAT NEWS,
I finally got my 3 acre yard cut.
Friday The belt on the woods mower broke, took until yesterday to get a new belt, then the joy of putting the ********* on.

Then about half way through mowing, the left rear tire on the JD 1020 went flat.
Changing a tractor tire is nothing like an ordinary tire change.
Got it back on about 10 AM this morning and got everything back in the barn about an hour ago.

Pass me the Big Bottle of Bourbon.
mathews
May 2nd, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Joan Baez does not understand being banned from Walter Reed Hospital

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....inmentnews

Hmmm, Crawford Raunch and Cindy Sheehag, maybe??

Supporting the Troops, maybe a “traitor”?

or Vietnam?
http://www.rollingstone.com/ar.....ay_in_rock

or Brazil for anti-government, anti-nuke?
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/f.....A967948260

or 1968 anti war?
http://www.joanbaez.com/chronology.html

or 1978 Moscow gay rights?
http://www.joanbaez.com/chronology.html
1sttofight
May 2nd, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Maybe someone ought to pass the word to Joan that she will never be welcome where ever Patriotic Americans gather.
sheehanjihad
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:09 pm
I think joan just got the word…..now if jane fonda would understand the same thing, that would be great.
groovygrl
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Honestly guys, I think it’s cause Joan’s a little old for their demographic….or could be that she wanted to be included two days before and the paperwork couldn’t be processed in time for her entourage and her french fry smelling motorcade. I’m old enough to know who she is but don’t you think or wounded are a little younger…and are prefering Jennifer Lopez or Avril Levigne?
Odie44
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:33 pm
SJ - Based on Fonda’s last book tour and sales - I think its clear where she stands in the commie pecking order of influence.
DW
May 2nd, 2007 at 6:57 pm
groovygrl,
You make a very good point, she is way past her ‘best-before’ date.
But the first thing I think of -whenever I see names like hers, or Jane Fonda, or John Lennon or any other big anti-war name from the Vietnam era- is the bad old days of people spitting on returning servicemen.
Maybe she and her ilk didn’t encourage that, but they sure as hell didn’t discourage it either.
I never was personally spit on when I was in uniform (wrong country for one thing and a few years after the war, for another) though I knew a few guys who would have liked to because there was a real backlash against people in uniform long after the war ended. I suspect that the powers-that-be have very long memories of such things.
As they well should -it was a travesty. I’m sure the youngsters in uniform today know all about it and wouldn’t want anything to do with the treasonous old bag for that reason as well.
1sttofight
May 2nd, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Have yall heard about this crap?

Sounds to me like Dingy Harry did not like the response he was getting for his, “The war is lost” statement from the folks actually doing the fighting.

From Wired:

Army Squeezes Soldier Blogs, Maybe to Death

Noah Shachtman Email 05.02.07 | 2:00 AM

The U.S. Army has ordered soldiers to stop posting to blogs or sending personal e-mail messages, without first clearing the content with a superior officer, Wired News has learned. The directive, issued April 19, is the sharpest restriction on troops’ online activities since the start of the Iraq war. And it could mean the end of military blogs, observers say…

http://www.wired.com/politics/.....y_bloggers
Gila Monster
May 3rd, 2007 at 3:20 am
It may be that Army Command has observed “leakage” that is detrimental to the security of our forces. The original press release contains more details about security concerns;

http://www.army.mil/-news/2007.....egulation/

“The change includes Army Civilians and Contractors, who are not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice,” said Maj. Ray Ceralde, the Army OPSEC program manager and author of the revision. “The reason we included Contractors in the regulation is they’re more involved in operations today than ever before. If you have all your Soldiers and DA Civilians practicing OPSEC and your Contractors - who are an integral part of your operations - aren’t … well, you have a gaping hole in security that could affect everyone’s lives.”

Read the entire release. It appears to me that Command has become concerned about info that our enemies in Iraq have been gleaning from the electronic media.
I could be wrong but let us not jump to conclusions about the intent of this revised policy. It may be good for our guys in the long run and I don’t see the military cutting out mil-bloggers completely. Especially when you take into account the good they do given the abysmal coverage the war gets in the MSM.

One more thing to consider. This policy was released 13 days ago. Maybe the Dhimmi’s are making this an issue now in order to discredit the military? I wouldn’t put it past them, traitorous asshats they are.

Just sayin’.
artboyusa
May 3rd, 2007 at 4:27 am
Yesterday, 2 May, was the 50th anniversary of the death of Joe McCarthy. “Enjoy alcohol sensibly” the label said, but would he listen? Noooooo. I have mixed feelings about Joe but one question nags my mind: if he was as smart as Ann Coulter says, how come he never noticed that Roy Cohn was gay? Everybody else did, and Joe saw Roy every day for years, so what’s up with that?

“Good morning, Senator”.
“Good morning, Roy. How was your weekend? Get any? Hehehehe”.
“Why, yes I did, Senator”.
“That’s great, fella. Good for you. Well, let’s uncover some subversion. Have a seat”.
“Er. I think I’ll stand, Senator. If that’s okay”.
“Um…sure. Fine”.

Roy Cohn. What a guy. I remember how, even when he was half in his grave from AIDS, he was still denying everything.

“Roy! You look terrible. You’ve lost so much weight. And you’re coughing like anything. And that rash…”
“Shellfish allergy. I’ll be fine, Godfather (cough cough)”.
navycopjoe
May 3rd, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Good lord.
http://www.latimes.com/news/pr.....ory?page=1
Acccording to this, this guy works in army INTELLIGENCE!!! WTH! Why haven’t they pulled his clearance? And the other guys go to Berkley, go figure.
My support for the military is absolute and I respect their opinion since they were there but there is a line which can be crossed and these guys jumped over it.
Odie44
May 3rd, 2007 at 10:20 pm
Navy -

While I respect their freedom of speech and the fact they served in my opinion give them the right - heres the content of that speech and “mission statement” I take issue with:

“With an estimated 700 active members nationwide, the organization has a simple platform: the immediate withdrawal of all troops, improved treatment for soldiers upon their return and a national contribution to the reconstruction of postwar Iraq.”

The treatment of soldiers is a bit confusing. Is he talking about Walter Reed, other hospitals and Veterans benefits? Of which I agree. Or is he and the group talking about the treatment from Americans - in which the radical lefts are guilty of mistreatment? Or the fact that occcrred by radical lefts in Vietnam and is almost non existant today. I see troops every day returning - namely Hartsfield Jackson airport here in Atlanta - and more than 5 or 6 times - I have seen people say thank you, and twice a round of applause.

And a national contribution to Iraqi reconstruction, after number 1 - immediate withdraw is inane and toe the line “I support the troops but want them home” tripe. How the hell are we going to assist in reconstruction if we are not there and it resonates throughout Iraq and the Middle East as an American “defeat”? Kerryesque diplomacy? Lotto? Iraqi Peace Bonds?

Silly.
englishqueen01
May 3rd, 2007 at 11:10 pm
From Milwaukee, an appalling story that is in the same vein as the Imus fiasco.

There are two black radio hosts - Michael McGee Sr. and Michael McGee (Jackson) Jr. - in Milwaukee. Both of them are racist, homophobic, and vile and both are in Milwaukee politics.

Back in the 80’s McGee Sr. threatened to roll flaming tires down freeway ramps to keep white people from going to downtown Milwaukee and “stealing” jobs from black people.

McGee Jr. was in a boat load of hot water for getting into fisticuffs with the police for loitering at a Blockbuster Video store at midnight (in a neighborhood where robberies are prominent), was in court for threatening his pregnant mistress, and has TWO social security numbers in two different names (McGee and Jackson).

The McGees are both blatant homophobes, and use vile and degrading language to refer to gay people.

Last week, McGee Jr. was going to generate a task force to have kids throw bricks at cars to “combat speeders” in his district.

But today - believe it or not - they’ve crossed the line.

A local talk show host - Charlie Sykes - is a great conservative and I listen to him every day at work. On Tuesday afternoon, after his show went off the air, his 87-year-old mother died in a fire in her condo. They’re not sure if she died before the fire started or after (an autopsy is pending). Needless to say, this has to be a very difficult time for the Sykes family.

So what do those two idiots do? They get on the radio, and they not only celebrate the death of Sykes’ mother, they accuse Charlie of killing her for his inheritance and her condo.

It’s a joke. One local blogger has coverage on this: http://badgerblogger.com/?p=5259. Including the audio of McGee’s show. It’s difficult to listen to - not only because of the content, but because McGee talks like he’s got a load of marbles in his mouth.

I’m posting this under the Missed News Items because - just a month ago - we saw Don Imus’ career go down in flames for saying something that - when in a rap song - is perfectly acceptable when said by others.

And while it’s true that the McGees are not as famous and Don Imus, they need to be taken off the air and they need to garner the national shame for this blatant hate speech.

And the black leaders in this nation - Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, etc. - are probably going to remain silent on this.

To show you just how disgusting this was, many of the liberals I fight with in comboxes agree with me and the others who think this is disgusting.

Just thought I’d share. Milwaukee politics are a great microcosm of the problems with liberals in general and liberal politics in specific.
euroconservative
May 4th, 2007 at 7:45 am
EQ that is horrifying. What can WE do? Is there anything we can do? Is there a petition, etc? I love this site and log in every day. However I think most of us (and I’m probably one of the worst) are guilty of a “something should be done attitude”, or “if I was in charge I would…”I am sick to the teeth of common, decent people everywhere being walked all over and when I see things like this I do want to make a difference - but I don’t know how.

Folks - we need to more pro-active when we see something that pisses us off. Often it doesnt involve much effort - maybe start or sign a petition. I personnally dont support actors, musicians or other personalities who actively support policies that I disagree with - be it a democratic candidate, abortion, asylum for illegal immigrants, whatever. I have no problem with people having differing views, but I will not contribute my hard earned cash to their coffers so that they can use it to support something that I think is wrong.

Also, I only support local charities - I gave a sizable donation to the Red Cross at the time of the Tsunami - only to line the pockets of corrupt leaders - and I swore “never again”

Apologies - rant is officially over now.

:-)
artboyusa
May 4th, 2007 at 8:20 am
EQ and Eurocon - good posts and good points. Thanks.
artboyusa
May 4th, 2007 at 8:22 am
EQ and Eurocon - good posts and good points. Me and Mrs Artboy threw away money for tsunami relief too.
englishqueen01
May 4th, 2007 at 9:42 am
Unfortunately, the McGees get away with this because McGee Sr. - I’ve now learned - PAYS the station for his airtime. So the station manager, Jerrell Jones, is not going to let his cash cow go. And Jones is also the owner of the stations biggest advertiser - an auto dealership.

I don’t want this to draw sensationalized attention, but I want to do something and this idea is the best I’ve heard (and it’s not mine):

The station - WNOV - still has to be licensed with the FCC (regardless of how the McGees get air time).

When the station license is up for renewal, they have to advertise as such to solicit comments.

I’m sure other bloggers will do this, too, but I’m going to try and find out and then contact the FCC when the station license is up for renewal, citing that it’s not in the “public interest” that this station continue to operate. The blog I linked to above has done a lot of archving of the McGee show and that could easily be used as evidence.

Until that happens, I’m asking everyone to lay low and not get too riled up about it. True, we’re all ticked here in Milwaukee, but we also don’t wan to draw too much attention to it - the McGees love that sort of thing.

We need to conduct ourselves like the adults they aren’t, and find the most effective way to get them off the air.

I’ll post back when I hear about anything related to the station and the FCC.

Thanks.
mathews
May 4th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Oh the MSM forgot to mention the McGee’s (Jr. and Sr.) are proud members of the Democrat Party, even though they are sometimes mentioned in blogs as rascist, race baiters, …

More of the DNC party of Hate America.

DNC party of Hate will be out in 08.
BillK
May 4th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Thanks, eq - I was going to post that myself.

Funny how there won’t be a steady drumbeat to get McGee kicked off the air…
englishqueen01
May 4th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Although there’s the smallest sliver of hope something will happen:

We just reached WNOV CEO/President Jerrel Jones, and asked for a comment on the statements of Michael McGee, Sr. on his station.

McGee, as everybody who has paid any attention to the Wisconsin blogosphere knows, suggested that the death of the mother of Milwaukee radio talker Charlie Sykes was “the vengeance of God” and went further to suggest that Sykes may in fact have killed his mother.

Jones said that McGee’s comments were “absolutely across the line,” and further that “I will deal with it.”

Jones declined to go further and say how he expected to “deal with it.”

It is clear that any effective response to the outrageous behavior of McGee and his son, Michael McGee, Jr. will have to come from within the black community. As the recent recall attempt against McGee, Jr. shows, many in the Milwaukee black community are quite happy to thumb their noses at what white folks think.

But it may be revealing that one of the callers to McGee’s show, reacting to his comments yesterday, chastized him. A Christian, she took McGee (who claims to be a Christian) to task for his very un-Christian comments. Her name was Lois, she said that McGee’s comments are “totally out of order and God is not pleased with it.”

You can listen to the audio here, at the very end of the clip.

The McGees, both father and son, are a poison in the politics of the city. Perhaps the sensible people in the black community have now been pushed over the line.

[Update]

We reached Jones again at about 2:12, and he tells us that McGee will not be on the air Monday.

A decision will be made tomorrow as to whether he will be allowed back.

http://mu-warrior.blogspot.com.....cross.html
Odie44
May 4th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
English -

Thanks for the heads up - my sister and her family live in Oak Creek. From what I hear( correct me if I am wrong) Milwaukee is experiencing higher crime, while business and job creation is up.

The ole “duality” of a perception that blacks are being left out, perfect storm for racist black mouthpieces…
Odie44
May 4th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
On a lighter side -

Paris Hilton gets 45 days in jail. No furlough, no alternative jail, no appeal.

Ah, reminds me of good ole Lizzy “white trash” Grubman…
DEZ
May 4th, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Paris Hilton is a spoiled half witted slut.
Give her five more years and she will be found dead from a drug overdose.
Maybe ten.
Regardless, It will not be a big loss, An Idaho potato has more grey matter.
Every time I see her stupid mug I think of the old cartoon, Breath stupid breath, You forgot to breath.
englishqueen01
May 4th, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Odie44:

I can’t even begin to tell you what a joke Milwaukee has become. Heck, the whole state of Wisconsin.

Taxes - thanks to our gov. “Diamond” Jim Doyle are increasing by the BILLIONS, even though he promised during his campaign not to raise any taxes. The rental car tax is increasing by about 600% from $2 to $15 or something like that…to pay for the transportation fund Doyle raided during his last term in office to cover other deficits.

Jobs - Wisconsin was ranked about 136 on a list of best places to do business. In addition to the high taxes, the great trial lawyers (who have Doyle in their pockets) make it a very unfriendly business climate. Jobs don’t come here, factories don’t expand here, and college graduates don’t stay here because our median income is less than the national average while our taxes are far greater. I don’t think the job rate is that good.

Crime - Especially in Milwaukee. But, naturally, the MSM will dance around this statistic by saying MURDERS are down. When, in reality they are, but SHOOTINGS are up. Hoping criminals will have bad aim is not sound public safety policy. Cruising on weekends is a major problem, with streets literally PACKED with cars on Fridays and Saturdays and certain political groups crying that the city “has to” give these thugs something to do at 2 in the morning (ever hear of the notion of GOING HOME? Since when does a city have an obligation to entertain its citizens at ungodly hours?).

Meanwhile, our Mayor (”Milk Carton” Tom Barrett) and our outgoing Police Chief (Nan Hagerty) don’t think there’s a problem and scoffed at the idea of having the National Guard patrol the city this summer (when crime skyrockets). During the summer months, there are parts of the city where I won’t drive because criminals have no problem acting in broad daylight. A few months back, a pregnant woman was gunned down in the middle of a busy street in the afternoon. That’s how bad it is.

The Milwaukee Public School (MPS) system is equally screwed up. Schools have been on lock down because parents have shown up there looking to start fights with students, and the School Board repealed a decision to allow school safety aides to use plastic flexi-cuffs to restrain violent students because they were afraid of the “mental anguish” it would cause students. Keep in mind that the only other alternatives for school safety aides is to either 1) do nothing and let students have violent rampages or 2) sit on the student. All it’ll take is for one student to suffocate or have a cardiac episode and MPS will have NO recourse for discipline. And what this measure really says is the school board - and local leaders who denounced the flexi-cuff plan - don’t give a rat’s a$$ about a quality MPS education, students who want to learn, or attracting quality teachers.

Then they wonder why people - especially the few inner city families who care about education - worked so hard to keep the school choice program in place. Any rational, decent parent wouldn’t want to send their child to an MPS school. We aren’t. And our governor - with the teachers’ unions - almost nixed school choice; a decision that would have left several promising African American, Latino, and other minority students with no choice but to return to the cesspool that is MPS (with a paltry 45% graduation rate). Way to care about our kids, huh?

And then there are the McGees. People like them are constantly given a pass in Milwaukee media and with other politicians. It makes me sick. Although this time the pressure to get McGee off the air in light of his horrible comments went national pretty quickly - WISN 12 (the ABC affiliate) picked up the story, followed by TMJ-4 (the NBC affiliate), and stories were also posted on Michelle Malkin (who actually linked to MY blog) and Drudge Report. McGee Sr. was off the air today (McGee/Jackson Jr. filled in…oh, goody), and he’ll be off on Monday, too. A final decision will be made tomorrow about whether or not he’ll be back at all.

Anyway, that’s the update on how my beloved city (and state) is going to hell in a hand basket. About the only good things we have going for us are 1) Annette Ziegler won the Supreme Court race. She’s a conservative, which means it’s more than likely the same-sex marriage ban that was passed by a vast majority (which surprised me for a state as seemingly liberal as Wisconsin) won’t be overturned by an activist court, and 2) a concealed carry gun case might go to the Supreme Court, which could resolve the conceal carry ban once and for all.
navycopjoe
May 5th, 2007 at 1:43 am
i’m confused, this has too much spin.

From the AP:

NRA opposes bill to stop gun sales to terror suspects

May 4, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Rifle Association is urging the Bush administration to withdraw its support of a bill that would prohibit suspected terrorists from buying firearms.

Backed by the Justice Department, the measure would give the attorney general the discretion to block gun sales, licenses or permits to terror suspects.

In a letter this week to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, NRA executive director Chris Cox said the bill, offered last week by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey, “would allow arbitrary denial of Second Amendment rights based on mere ’suspicions’ of a terrorist threat.”

“As many of our friends in law enforcement have rightly pointed out, the word ’suspect’ has no legal meaning, particularly when it comes to denying constitutional liberties,” Cox wrote.

In a letter supporting the measure, Acting Assistant Attorney General Richard Hertling said the bill would not automatically prevent a gun sale to a suspected terrorist. In some cases, federal agents may want to let a sale go forward to avoid compromising an ongoing investigation.

Hertling also notes there is a process to challenge denial of a sale.

Current law requires gun dealers to conduct a criminal background check and deny sales if a gun purchaser falls under a specified prohibition, including a felony conviction, domestic abuse conviction or illegal immigration. There is no legal basis to deny a sale if a purchaser is on a terror watch list.

“When I tell people that you can be on a terrorist watch list and still be allowed to buy as many guns as you want, they are shocked,” said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which supports Lautenberg’s bill. (The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence Web site)

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/.....cnn_latest
Gila Monster
May 5th, 2007 at 5:19 am
The Snag rears her ugly puss infested head once again. Don’t expect logic because that is way beyond her realm. Over at the KosKids site, naturally;

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/5/4/9342/06995

The normal tag line accompanies her post and please, refrain from puking your guts out…;o)

Cindy Sheehan is the mother of Spc. Casey Sheehan who was killed in Bush’s war of terror on 04/04/04.

Perpetual mother snaggy whom “suffers” from BDS, alas, some things will never change…
BillK
May 5th, 2007 at 6:02 am
I can’t find an online link for this, so I’ll just type it in. I just can’t comment, because it’s just too sad and a reflection of the fact that in today’s society, the Rosies are thought to be the intellectuals, and the only news most people care about are details of Paris’ jail sentence:

Uncertainty over 9/11

MIAMI - Many potential jurors in the Jose Padilla terrorism-support case say they aren’t sure who directed the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks because they don’t trust reporters or the federal government.

“There are too many ifs, too many things going on,” one male juror said. “I don’t know the whole story.”

Others say they just don’t pay close enough attention to world events to be certain.

The doubts were noted by a significant portion of the more than 160 people who have been questioned individually since jury selection began April 16.

http://tinyurl.com/3y6m2q
BillK
May 5th, 2007 at 6:18 am
englishqueen01 and Odie44 - A friend of mine who lives in Milwaukee has mentioned a slogan he’s heard and seen more than once now - “Milwaukee: The New Detroit.”

The problems are legion and widespread, due in part because of a sometimes faltering economy as a rust belt city that has lost a lot of manufacturing jobs, historical tensions between the Black, White and Hispanic communities and the not inconsequential fact that Milwaukee has a long and proud history of liberal activism; Milwaukee unashamedly elected 12 Socialist mayors in a row (not just in policy, literally Socialists) and many say they need to revert to the policies of the last Socialist mayor, Frank Zeidler.

Add the fact that ultra far-left Madison controls the state’s policies as well and it’s not hard to see why things aren’t getting much better there.

Perhaps most symbolic of issues there is after many, many incidents of violence caused by rowdy youth, a larger regional shopping mall, Mayfair, recently instituted a policy where those 17 years of age and under are not permitted in the mall unaccompanied by a parent or guardian 21 or older after 2:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays; this has of course resulted in numerous cries of racism and the filing of assorted civil rights violation charges. Various rights groups are protesting, meanwhile, incidents are down and sales are up as shoppers are no longer afraid of going to the mall.
Odie44
May 5th, 2007 at 9:24 am
English and Kucharsk -

Wow, I didnt realize it was getting that bad. My sister works at Marquette, so knowing she is down on Wis Ave makes me a bit concerned, namely because she works until 10PM. I guess that explains the secured, camera, gated parking deck. I always knew Madison was the liberal bastion, but thought Milwaukee balanced it out with cons, wrong again I guess.

And these race baiting clowns and their supporters are dangerous mouthpieces that are certainly influencing a “suspect” element.

I haven’t been there in 2 years - and again she is in Oak Creek - so I hope and imagine they are immune to most of the rampant crime., though like most cities suburbs are always next, like here in Atlanta.

I do have one bright spot of news - I am good personal friends with the owner of Packy’s Irish Bar on S. Ellis (the airport road I believe) tell him “Juices brother” in Atlanta sent you. You will either get a free beer or thrown out, lol.

I should be there this summer - I loved the River Walk area - though during the day…
Odie44
May 5th, 2007 at 10:11 am
From AP Via Yahoo News -

20 Million Chickens Held Because of Feed

WASHINGTON - Federal officials on Friday placed a hold on 20 million chickens raised for market in several states because their feed was mixed with pet food containing an industrial chemical…

Which states have chicken producers affected by the hold will be announced later, Williams said. State agriculture officials as well as chicken manufacturers were being contacted as the agencies determine the extent of the problem, he said, adding that many farms in several states probably were involved…

http://tinyurl.com/2y3a93

Being the resident Food Safety guy here - as promised the other day - this debacle would eventually make its way into the human food chain.

A few from yesterday

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200....._recall_23
http://www.nationalledger.com/.....3137.shtml

Notice how the info is released: give a day to say maybe, then confirm. Next will be the actual level and how widespread it is.

Its all tied together, aggregated through monopolies throughout the world of a single source daisy chain from country to country - from animal to human.

And I can promise you - these 20M held are after millions of chickens have already been served on your dinner plate. Notice the comment “Which states have chicken producers affected by the hold will be announced later…” Later in the article - pork is mentioned from a few days back.

And they dont even know “if” it adversly effects humans. Take your time fellas…
Odie44
May 5th, 2007 at 10:39 am
From reuters via Yahoo:

Mexico Migrant Town Fears Fallout From U.S. Slowdown

BOYE, Mexico (Reuters) - A U.S. economic slowdown and tighter border security threaten a lifeline for millions of Mexicans who rely on money sent by relatives in the United States to pay for everything from food to town fiestas…

He fears an annual collection of money earned in the United States and given to the town hall and church will come up short this year, forcing the town to pave fewer roads and tone down traditional celebrations of its patron Saint Anthony of Padua in June…

The first sign of trouble came early last year with a slump in the U.S. housing industry. Most new construction jobs in the United States were filled in 2006 by foreign-born Latinos, according to a study by the Washington-based Pew Hispanic Center…

http://tinyurl.com/23a8fm

What a piece of garbage reporting. Let me get this straight , the “economic slowdown” of the US - is soley based on a cooling housing market? Have they not seen the rise, in March alone of new home sales? Are they aware the market is at an all time high, off another 140+ point week? Feds not raising or lowering rates?

And fiestas will be stymied? Paving their roads? 20% of some towns GDP’s?

My favorite quote is “Economists say less cash from immigrants in the United States would probably not hit Mexico’s economy as a whole that hard, instead hurting small towns like Boye, nestled in brown cornfields.” Can someone tell me how this statement is quantified, qualified?

What a useless, illegal immigration baiting tripe this piece of fiction is.

The fact is fences, increased border patrol and proactive border arrests by the National Guard (40% reduction in flow of illegal immigrants) is working. And the commie Reuters cannot and will not admit it, so they make up some sad story about the loss of work, a bogus assesment of the US Economy and the “suffering” mothers, churches and children… Wow.
SG
May 5th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Great articles as always everyone. But please try to remember to post the headline and a link to the original article you post. Thanks!
BillK
May 6th, 2007 at 5:05 am
Proving it’s not just Milwaukee malls:

14 year-old girl slashes 14 year-old girl in the stomach at Mall of America

A 14-year-old girl from Bloomington was in critical condition at Hennepin County Medical Center on Saturday after being slashed in the stomach by another teenage girl at the Mall of America, police said.

Jim Ryan, a commander in charge of investigations for the Bloomington Police Department, said the girl was expected to survive the attack, which occurred about 2:30 p.m. in a commons area on the mall’s third floor.

He said the assailant, a 14-year-old from Minneapolis, suffered minor injuries and was caught by police within 15 minutes of the attack just outside the mall on 24th Avenue S. Her injuries did not require hospitalization.

Ryan said the attack does not appear to be random. Investigators had not determined the relationship between the girls or what prompted the fight, he said, but they were investigating the possibility it might be gang related.

Ryan declined to identify the girls because they are juveniles.

“It wasn’t somebody lying in wait,” Ryan said. “And it doesn’t appear to be any type of robbery. … There is reason to believe the suspect and the victim knew each other.”

Ryan said the assailant slashed her victim with a razor blade from a utility knife. He said the victim suffered “deep lacerations” to her torso and abdomen that required emergency surgery.

[ … ]

Security at the Mall of America has been an issue since it opened in 1992. Over the years, mall officials have instituted a number of procedures to address problems, the most notable being a policy that requires anyone younger than 16 to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian over 21 after 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Dan Jasper, a mall spokesman, said about 40 million people visit the mall each year, and violent incidents are “very rare.”

“We really do take some pretty strong measures to make everyone is safe and secure,” he said. “And we are a very successful place because it is a safe place.”

Nevertheless, the mall has been the scene of a number of high-profile incidents.

In 1993, three people were wounded in a shooting at Camp Snoopy in a dispute over a jacket. Two years later, a man was stabbed in the hip in the fourth floor entertainment area.

In January 1999, two men were stabbed in the east rotunda after the mall bars closed. Several months later, a 23-year-old man stabbed and killed his former girlfriend in a hall on the mall’s west side.

And in April 2001, a 14-year-old boy was stabbed in a fight in Camp Snoopy.

Jasper said the stabbing Saturday is only the second violent incident at the mall in the past 18 months. The other involved a fight without weapons, he said.

“This just happened to be two people who knew each other,” he said. “It’s a safe place to be.”

Ryan said there was a heavy police presence at the mall Saturday in anticipation of a big day of business. He said that in addition to the mall’s security staff, there were four Bloomington police officers working inside and 11 more directing traffic outside.

“We had a lot of personnel on hand at the time,” he said, “so it worked out well for us.”

Ryan said mall security cameras helped police identify and find the assailant within minutes. He said investigators also were reviewing surveillance video to determine whether it had captured the assault.

By 4 p.m., the area where the stabbing occurred was still marked with crime-scene tape, but it didn’t seem to have much impact on shoppers.

Some who walked by did double takes and showed curiosity, but most were unaware of what had happened.

Ryan said Saturday night that the suspect will probably be charged with felony assault.
The Redneck
May 6th, 2007 at 11:13 am
The French Election is going well….

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20.....francevote

PARIS (AFP) - French voters turned out in force Sunday to choose a new president with rightwinger Nicolas Sarkozy the clear favourite against Socialist Segolene Royal in their duel to win a mandate for sweeping change.
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Extra police were moved into Paris and its high immigrant suburbs in case a Sarkozy victory sparks trouble, but there was more focus on the huge turnout for the deciding second round.

By noon, 34 percent of France’s 44.5 million eligible voters had cast ballots for a successor to
President Jacques Chirac who is stepping down after 12 years in office.

Maybe, just maybe, the French are going to grow some testicules after all….

Aurelie Legrand, a 21-year-old student from the French island of La Reunion, said she voted for Royal to try to block a Sarkozy victory. “People say that if he wins there will be more violence so naturally it makes you think,” she said.

Well, some of them.
Odie44
May 6th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
SG -

My bad, I didnt realize I left those out until after the edit function was gone.

Original Chicken article link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....oGYg7MWM0F

Mexico Town Link:
http://today.reuters.com/news/.....CO-USA.xml
Odie44
May 6th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Redneck -

Royal certainly tried a last ditch “fear” approach that did nothing but hurt her - and hurt her chances of winning.

21 year old liberal students are gullible, so her concerns are nothing more than ignorance begetting common sense. Not a surprise there.

Even in France - libs have a tough time selling their policy and approach and need a red herring or blame the “boogey man” as a desperate attempt at winning. I believe the majority of French people value their arrogance, history and high end lifestyle over the threat of Muslims “rioting”. And this election has prooved it…

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