Drudge’s breaking news is the headline “DEMS ANNOUNCE PLAN TO WIN BACK CONGRESS.”

It’s a few years late – better late than never, right? – but the Democrats are finally ready to state what they think are the most important issues facing us and what they intend to do about them if they gain control of Congress in November.

I clicked the link and after waiting a while for the crush on the Dem’s servers to ease, read the plan.

And I’m stunned. Here is what comprises their plan for “A NEW DIRECTION FOR AMERICA":

• Make Health Care More Affordable: Fix the prescription drug program by putting people ahead of drug companies and HMO’s…
• Lower Gas Prices and Achieve Energy Independence: Crack down on price gouging…
• Help Working Families: Raise the minimum wage…
• Cut College Costs: Make college tuition deductible from taxes….
• Ensure Dignified Retirement: Prevent the privatization of Social Security…
• Require Fiscal Responsibility: Restore the budget discipline of the 1990s…

Very good plan…for a pre-9/11 election! What the heck is wrong with the Dem leadership that they ignored the Global War on Terror?

They do know there’s a war on because today 149 Democrats voted against a resolution “Declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary.”

The resolution passed anyway of course, because Republicans don’t have to appease a crazy anti-war fringe, so they can assert that the U.S. will win the GWoT without fearing a backlash from their base.

On the same day as that shameful vote, the Dem leadership releases “A New Direction for America” that doesn’t even mention the GWoT or conflict in Iraq. Forget “stuck on stupid” the Democrats are “intent on immolation!”

I predicted months ago, back when things looked black for the GOP, that the Republicans wouldn’t lose control of Congress this election cycle, but what with the continuing displays of incompetence by Pelosi and Reid when it comes to national security issues, it doesn’t look like such a risky bet now.

You know, sometimes never is better than late!

 

Tags: blog | weblog | politics | democrats | republicans | the left | liberals | conservatives | gop

 

 

Three weeks after Memorial Day, here are my impressions and some photos of what turned out to be a rare combination of gorgeous weather, uncrowded monuments, and surprise appearances by President Bush in his motorcade and by 600 servicemen and women freshly returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.

I arrived at the Federal Center SW Metro Station at 10am intending to quickly tour the U.S. Botanic Garden, Library of Congress, and Supreme Court building, and then sprint five blocks to see the Memorial Day Parade which was starting at noon. While heading to the Botanic Garden, I was passed by a convoy carrying troops to the parade, which reinforced my desire to hurry so I could watch it from the beginning and see the jet flyover.

Did I mention that it was hot? Ninety degrees but with a deceptively cooling breeze that made you forget you were frying inside. In my rush to get to started in the morning, I’d forgotten to bring bottled water and a hat. Actually, I remembered both as I was driving away but – because I’m half hispanic and tan quickly and partly because I grew up in the scorching Los Angeles summers – decided they wouldn’t be needed. A mistake I paid for later.

As I approached the Botanic Garden’s Conservatory, I could see the ceiling fans turning lazily and the term “greenhouse effect” came to mind. I had no desire to swelter in a muggy super-sized terrarium so I gave it a miss. Definitely better to visit it in the Fall. I did get some pics of the Bartholdi Park grounds across the street from the Conservatory, however. The Bartholdi Fountain (designed by the same chap who sculpted the Statue of Liberty) was one of the first monuments in the city of Washington to be brightly illuminated at night.

The next stop was the Library of Congress, which was closed. So I took pics of the gilded (23 1/2 carat gold leaf) Torch of Learning and the Neptune Fountain on the west front of the library as I moved on to the Supreme Court building.

The court building was closed too, but that turned out to be a lucky break. The ornate bronze doors at the west entrance which depict historic scenes in the development of the law are recessed into the walls when the court is open, which makes it difficult to get photos.

Sixteen marble columns support the portico and on the architrave above is incised, “Equal Justice Under Law. I’m a sucker for marble columns (my favorite building is the Parthenon) so I took lots of pics.

On my way out, I noticed a few protesters setting up at the foot of the steps. They were pro-life (anti-abortion?) activists who had taped their mouths shut with red strips of tape upon which the word “LIFE” was written. (While they stood mutely facing the main entrance waiting for the media to notice them, at least one was listening to an iPod.)

As I was snapping pictures of them, one lad obligingly raised his arms, assuming a dramatic pose of renunciation. Totally staged shot, he must have thought I worked for the mainstream media.

Walking away, I saw the protest organizer (his mouth wasn’t taped shut) being interviewed by a local TV reporter, so I guess the taped-mouth-to-get-attention ploy worked as planned. Personally, I wish all protesters used the same strategy…it would make for a much quieter world.

A lot more time had passed than expected and drums were rumbling in the distance as I got to the Capitol. I had maybe 15 minutes to get to the parade or I’d miss the flyover.

Command decision: I would pass on the parade and head to the Washington Monument after seeing the Capitol Building. On my way, I’d swing by the parade route and see what I could. It was disappointing because I’d miss seeing the troops welcomed home.

The Capitol was under construction as were most of the attractions I’d hoped to visit (The Mall, Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, grounds around The White House, and the Supreme Court building all had construction barriers erected).

Took a bunch of photos and was heading toward The Mall when I noticed soldiers and sailors forming up a block away. I sauntered over and sure enough, it was the troops from Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom staging for their part in the parade!

I hung around taking photos of them as they waited for their cue to join the parade. Since the press wasn’t there to publicize the event, I took more than a hundred pics thinking that someone who couldn’t get to the parade might view the images on flickr and see a loved one in the ranks.

After the parade, I hustled down The Mall (stopping to buy bottles of Gatorade and water) to the Washington Monument, The White House and Lincoln Memorial.

If you look closely at the pics of The White House, you’ll notice a bunch of SUVs lined up in front. I figured President Bush was going traveling but didn’t have time to wait for him to leave. Minutes later as I was waiting to cross the street to the Lincoln Memorial, the president’s motorcade came barreling down the street so fast I just managed to snap a couple shots.

Thence to the Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War II Veterans Memorials.

The Vietnam Memorial was thronged with people reading the names inscribed on the black panels, leaving mementos, and having pencil rubbings made.

At the Korean War Memorial, two buglers played “Taps.” The first trumpeter rendered it flawlessly, the second player was so overcome with emotion that he barely finished the bugle call. It was a beautifully solemn ceremony.

I also visited the World War I memorial, which – tucked in behind trees as it is and being much smaller than the ornate WWII memorial – must be the loneliest monument on The Mall.

It was getting late in the day so I headed back up The Mall to the Smithsonian Metro Station. On the way, I started feeling lightheaded and had to sit down for a while. I’m pretty sure it was incipient sunstroke from not drinking enough and walking around bareheaded all day.

It was a perfect way to spend Memorial Day, but I regret not getting to Arlington Cemetery. Next year for sure.

 

Tags: blog | weblog | memorial day | patriotism | armed_forces

 

What a difference three years make!

In 2003, as many as 500,000 Londoners protested the war in Iraq. Last Sunday, police estimated the crowd was about 15,000 people. The numbers fell drastically at other locations as well, Gateway Pundit has the details.

The declining numbers of protesters may prove disastrous for Democrat chances to score gains in the House and Senate in November. If Dems can’t keep their radical, anti-war base fired-up enough to go out and protest, it’s unlikely they can motivate them to vote.

I have to mention this Scottsdale Republic article on the two anti-war protesters that picketed U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth’s Scottsdale, Arizona office.

It was a very small army that protested the Iraq war Friday outside the Scottsdale offices of U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth.

Only two peace activists stood near Raintree Drive and Northsight Boulevard, holding anti-war posters for passing cars to see.

The protest, part of a national campaign to call attention to the human cost of the war, urged Hayworth, R-Ariz., to support legislation reducing the U.S. troop presence in Iraq.

“The ways of peace are not bombings and breaking into houses and scaring little children and families,” said Judy Whitehouse, 63, of Phoenix, adding that pulling troops out of Iraq would force Iraqis to work together in building a society.

Must have been a really slow news day.

And check out Michelle Malkin’s photos of peace protesters who can’t get a Peace symbol right, but nonetheless feel they’re qualified to tell us how to fight a war.

 

Tags: blog | weblog | anti war | iraq | politics | protests | protest | politics

Only it’s not President Bush this time, it’s John Caffery, a resident of Beaumont, Texas, who last Sunday afternoon erected a large sign that had one of the controversial Mohammed cartoons on it. The sign also carries a message about the subsequent rioting throughout the world caused by the publishing of the cartoons in a Danish newspaper.

From The Beaumont Enterprise:

John Caffery called it an act of cowardice by U.S. newspapers for not publishing controversial Muslim-based cartoons, so the local resident decided to take matters into his own hands.

Caffery couldn’t understand why American newspapers opted to omit the cartoons but write about the rioting. He said newspapers were not giving the public all of the information they needed to understand.

So he decided to be a source of information, he said, because it’s a matter of free speech. At the very least, he can let his local community know the rioting, violence and denouncement of the United States is over a cartoon.

“It’s cowardly for (a) newspaper giving in to the pressure from the Muslims for these so-called offending cartoons,” Caffery said. “Most of the cartoons are pretty silly. The one out there on the sign is probably one of the least offending cartoons.”

The sign is four feet by eight feet, according to Caffery’s estimation, and was made as “large as it feasibly” could be made, he said. A cartoon of Muhammad’s head shaped like a lit bomb is depicted to the left and a statement on the right reads “For this cartoon in Danish and Norwegian newspapers, Muslims worldwide have rioted and killed, and now offer $11 million reward to kill the cartoonist.”

Read the whole article [hat tip: Fark.com] and be sure to check out the cartoons and this update on the cartoon kerfuffle at Michelle Malkin’s site.

[Update] I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that of these newspapers and TV stations that have carried the Caffery story:

• The Beaumont Enterprise

• Channel 10 KTEN

• Channel 4 KGBT

• Dallas Morning News (registration required)

• The Associated Press via ABC 13

Not one of them had a picture of Caffery’s sign! Our pusillanimous mainstream media!

Does anyone know if the media’s cowardly behavior during the cartoon controversy can be held against them when it’s license renewal time? It should be easy to argue that they haven’t been acting in the public interest.

[Update] I came up empty on searches for John Caffery’s email address. I was hoping he could send me a photo of his sign so I could post it here – if you read this and know John, please forward my request on to him.

 

Tags: blog | weblog | politics | war on terror | bush | islamofascists | cartoons | mohammed

 

I complain a lot about reporters in the mainstream media not being supportive of the Global War on Terrorism, so I wanted to make sure and recognize David Martin of CBS for doing the right thing in spiking a story on the war because it could have endangered the troops:

This week I killed a story about the battle against Improvised Explosive Devices after a senior military officer told me it contained information that would be helpful to the enemy. I didn’t find his argument about how it would help the enemy very persuasive, but because there’s a war on I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. I’ve done that a number of times over the years, and each time it’s turned out that going with the story wouldn’t have caused any harm. It’s always a difficult decision, made more difficult by the fact that it always seems to happen late in the day when you’re under deadline pressure. When I killed the story on Thursday, it was 5:30 – an hour to air – and I left the Evening News broadcast without a lead story which they had been counting on all day. Not a good career move.

Read the whole article. Looks like responsible reporters aren’t as scarce as hen’s teeth after all…Oh, wait…

 

Tags: blog | weblog | politics | news media | global war on terror

 

BBC News has announced results from a survey measuring which countries have the most optimistic people when it comes to their economic future.

Surprise! Afghanistan and Iraq, two countries that recently suffered wars and are hosting U.S. and allied forces, are among the most optimistic!

Afghanistan, with 57 percent saying their country’s economy is improving and 70 percent saying their own circumstances are improving, and Iraq, where 56 percent say their country’s economy is improving and 65 percent saying their own conditions are getting better. It may be that war creates a “year zero” experience of collectively starting over, that has a positive core.

Can we just once give credit to the United States for how it treats defeated countries? Iraq was freed from Baathist tyranny, Afghanistan from the Taliban. Now both countries have the first democratically elected governments in their history. It’s no wonder that Iraqis and Afghanis look to the future with optimism.

World opinion on the media was also polled. No surprises here:

No country was more negative about the news media than the United States. Sixty-four percent of Americans felt the media was a negative influence; only 28 percent saw it as positive.

Hat tip: InstaPundit for the original link.

 

Tags: war on terror | polling | news | war | politics | blog | weblog | iraq war | iraq | afghanistan | economics | media