My Year End Thought for 2005

It was a great year for me, my family and my friends who are hearing, hard of hearing and deaf both in the internet and real world. The year 2005 was my first full year as a blogger as I intrepidly moved into the world of blogging where my blogsite is slowly becoming a growing and nationally known premier blogsite maintained by a hard of hearing owner.

People from around the world, even from the depths of a tyrannical and theological country, Iran, came to read my blog. Numerous well known bloggers that generate tens of thousands of hits a day such as Michelle Malkin (here, here and here), Blogs for Bush, Iowa Voice, Captain's Quarters, and Betsy's Page have linked to my blogging as an additional resource of information that I have reported on. Plus numerous other lesser known blogsites such as the up and coming common sense political bloggers Rhymes with Right and Generation Why? who have linked to my blogged articles. Even getting a call from a reporter from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (scroll down a ways, Blogger.com is experiencing a software glitch offsetting some of my blogs by moving it towards the bottom) about Simich Jr. was a surprise for me where the reporter wanted my opinion for her paper about the double homicides that shook the Deaf community. Maybe someday my blogsite will get mentioned in a conservative cartoon? Wouldn't that make my day. The list of bloggers that connect to my site will hopefully continue to grow in 2006.

My goal and aim, as always, are to reach both hearing and deaf readers and bloggers from around the world regarding different aspects of what a deaf/hh person can do such as wildland fire fighting, strongman competition, deaf aikido on martial art, or even keeping an interest on a newly soon-to-be-developed-one-of-a-kind commercial spaceport in New Mexico because of my interest on space and technology, and being so close to it, too, counts alot. Even when hurricane Katrina hit the deaf/hh community hard I was there to try and help them, and many responded to me in emails of their appreciations when I set up my Deaf Survivors blog. Michelle Malkin promptly recognized my new blog to help deaf and hard of hearing survivors of killer hurricane Katrina that have killed several hundred people and stranded millions. Even then I got criticized by a few in the Deaf community for trying to help. Incredible.

I consider my Kokonut Pundits blog to be one of the most unique blog among all other deaf/hh bloggers and it should only get better with time, barring unforeseen events. My realm isn't limited to things only about deaf people or the community but about what deaf/hh people can do and that they can, too, be just as successful as the next hearing person such as Jason Curry of sComm.

Bloggers of political "savvyness" and knowledge value my blogsite where my opinion is worthy of a link. I am humbled. Honored. And get ecstatic when that happens. This is my badge of honor. My reward. A recognizance from outside of the "deaf bubble." A rare feat indeed it seems to be the case here among all other deaf/hh bloggers. Even getting a nod from Michelle Malkin one day did in fact help generate my best traffic ever of over 1300+ hits in a day on my blogsite. Probably the best response ever among deaf/hh bloggers. No lie.


For those who are not familiar with Michelle Malkin's blogsite, her blogsite generates on average almost 70,000 hits a day. A nod from her in her blog article to somebody else's blogsite will generate a tsunami in that direction. This is true from any reputable blogger that has an extremely large reader base. But the question is, how big will a nod get you? That depends on the subject or topic of discussion being thrown your way. Mine was a small one but enough to help generate 1300+ hits in a day. And that was just from a simple nod from Michelle Malkin's direction! Boy, talk about blogging power. A nod there. Poof! Instant traffic spike.

I have earned my place through legitimate, dedicated hard work in the blogging community where other bloggers, deaf and hearing, will continue to read, recognize and link my bloggings or my blogsite. Calling me a liar in that respect about my blogging connections or traffic hits is a sign of utter jealousy with a defeatist attitude. Deaf militancy is not a place in this world. If you can't stand my talking about politics and religion (or anything else I discuss) then don't read my blogsite! Attack the arguments rather than the person by calling him every name in the book. Not a very productive move. Is this is what the deaf community famous for? I hope not. And, oh, please, stop with the incessant whining about my blogsite or tell me how to do my bloggings or how I handle commenters who won't abide by my rules by keeping the comments clean here. It is just embarrassing to see such mindless rants. I certainly do not do those things about your blogsites or tell you what you should write or not write. Why should I? It's your blogsite and you're entitled to say whatever you want. But if you continue to remain clueless and whine some more about the person doing the blogging, I'll make sure I get my jollies knowing that this is the case.

Having said that, it's also sad to witness others in the Deaf/deaf community react violently to my bloggings (see here and here for explanations) and how many of them choose to bash me (rather than challenge my arguments which I would rather see) for making my political opinions or arguments known about mostly liberal (ie. extreme leftwing Democrats rather than the moderate Democrats) and RINO politicians for the most part, and even some comments on issues within the Deaf/deaf community. I bash about these politicians rather than some specific bloggers. I do not call these bloggers names and attack them with such hate, vigor and vile. It simply goes against my style, taste, sense of humour and common sense. Sure, between the line comments I'll make but that's for you to find out. That isn't bashing, that's being subtle.

Outright bashing of bloggers is the typical mindset of how some people behave when they cannot come up with a definitive argument to counter my arguments thinking a swear word or two will surely make the case. Hardly so. I truly hope that bloggers within the deaf community (and those in the hearing community, too) are much more sophisticated than that when it comes to debating in 2006. Just keeping my fingers crossed here that somebody will learn something this time, especially in politics and the rule of engagement.

The year 2006 will yield lots of surprises for readers of Kokonut Pundits. I've only just begun. Love it or hate it, I cannot possibly please everybody with my blogging. If you're trying to change my style of blogging just to accomdate or please your taste, you're out of luck. Don't even bother. But at least readers keep coming back, even from Iran of all places. That's a sign of progress in my book.

Thank you all for visiting, linking and commenting on my blogsite. I hope your 2006 will be an even better year than 2005. Prosperity and health to all. A happy New Year.

When A Communist Country Tried to Ban Christmas

Despite the continual ban (or the attempts) on Christmas in many places in the United States (such as here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here) on the good news about Jesus Christ's birth, Christmas will never go away. This was true during the darkest days of communist Russia where Christmas of any kind was banned. It was an attempt to secularize Christmas and sanitize any reference to Jesus Christ's birth or the life, death and life of our Savior.

As we head into 2006, people will continue to try and ban any references to Christmas, even to the ridiculous point of banning colors (red and green) from schools during the Christmas season.

As always, Jesus is the reason for the season and not about pagan rituals whenever December 25 arrives each year. That's the reality.

Happy New Year! 2006

Well, it's 6 hours away but I might as well ring in the new year right now. I just might not make it to midnight tonight. Whatever for? Anyways, ever wonder what other people's New Year's resolution are for 2006? Or mine? Perhaps make a New Year's resolution on abstinence? Weight loss? A New Year's resolution to exercise more? Gain weight? Become more flexible where you can bend over and touch your toes to the delight of others in a bar? Or will your New Year's resolution be not to make any resolutions at all which is probably the easiest thing to do and continue on your path to destruction?

Can anybody name some of the weirdest resolutions made? What are your resolutions for 2006?

Rob McGovern - spread the word of good deeds

Once again, for those who are not familiar with Rob McGovern, former NFL player, has done a tireless job in prosecuting Sgt. Akbar for the fragging deaths of two officers in Kuwait just days before the Iraq war and hard work done in Iraq on prosecuting terrorists. Read more about this amazing story of Rob McGovern. Spread the word and let the Nation know about one of the many unsung heros on the war on terrorism.

Bill and Hillary, Together Again.

Here's a story about how history textbooks are being skimpy in details about President Clinton's impeachment and why it took place. But that's not what I'm blogging about, although, not a surprise that history textbooks are like that. What I want to get your attention is the before and after when the "before" screencapture of Hillary's face in the story while the "after" does not even though it was through a Google ad that changes. Kind of funny seeing the article story and have a big smiling picture of Hillary right in the middle of it but hours later after going back several times the picture disappears in a different ad and hasn't been seen since, so far. Let me know if you see a picture of Hillary again in the same article story about Clinton's impeachment and the saucy details with Monica Lewinsky.

Before....



After.......

History of Kwanzaa - anti-white holiday, anti-God, anti-American

Let's revisit Kwanzaa and see what it's really about. It's nothing religious or hardly even cultural but many people are trying to do just that. Last year I wrote a piece on Kwanzaa where I questioned it's legitimacy. It's not what you think and you'd be surprised on the history of this so-called "holiday," a political correctness run amok. Of course, whenever you have pure hate and disdain for other people by making your own "holiday." Pretty much in the same vein of a certain Deaf fellow who is trying to do the same thing on weblog awards. Michelle Malkin makes a friendly reminder not to say "Happy Kwanzaa" to La Shawn Barber. La Shawn isn't exactly white.

Map of America's Liberal and Conservative Connections to Canada

UPDATE: Captain's Quarters, please go here for my blog update on the Canadian election, and what President Bush said in his Radio Address TWO DAYS BEFORE the election. Coincidence? Check it out.

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Michelle Malkin has the story of how tolerant some of the Canadian liberals are when one high-ranking official within the Liberal Party of Canada made disparaging comments on his blog about NDP Leader Jack Layton and his wife, NDP candidate Olivia Chow.

Now, remember the blue and red state political map consisting of Democrat and Republican strongholds? Canada has a similar one except there are 4 different political leanings throughout on the Canada map.



Source.

The colors are different in Canada where the colors are opposite than that of the United States. That is, blue is red, red is blue when it comes to Liberals/Democrats and Conservatives/Republicans in Canada in relation to the United States political map makeup. The orange colors are the NDP folks equivalent to "pinko socialists" in American terms. Now, look at the New England area or the "blue" people that sits next to Quebec. The color is neither "blue" nor "red", but French Blue (light blue color on the Canadian map). This is probably due to the historical and political connection they had ever since America was discovered.

Quebec politics--even radical independentism--is marked by liberal social democracy rooted originally in Christian humanity and social justice. As one historian observed recently, "The apple has not fallen far from the tree."

However, in and around the city of Vancouver, you can see a small patch of red in Canada and blue in the USA. Once you cross the Fraser River through Vancouver, things turn Canadian Blue (American Red - Conservative/Republican values). Once you get beyond that point it's all blue in Canada (American red).

Now, do you notice the seemingly seemless border connections between the two countries in terms of political similarities? From looking at the two maps we can actually see the physical connections with our Canadian political kin such as between Minnesota and Washington states with our northern Conservative friends seen as blue (or the equivalent of the American red for us) and the American blue with Canada's red around the Great Lakes area. Also, beyond that there seem to be a thin connection between NY and Ontario and one between Detroit and Windsor where the a thin connection seems to exist via bridges.

So, in terms of influencing our neighbors with our ideology, borders do not stop the flow of ideas and political persuasions. There's a strong tie between the two countries based on our historical and political connections.

Hat tip: Harry from British Columbia, Canada.

UPDATE: Welcome Daily Kos readers. Don't be gun shy. And please, please. show a measure of decorum around here if you plan to post a comment. It's not totally impossible, ya know?

UPDATE II: With the latest Canadian election (Jan 23, 2006), looks like the map will have to be redrawn to include more "blue" Conservatives this time. A great victory for Canada!

What's Your New Year's Resolution?

I have never bothered with a New Year's resolution. My resolution began 6 months ago and I'm on track. But you can tell the readers of Kokonut Pundits on what your 2006 New Year's resolution will be. Me? Well, all you have to do is look here and you'll quickly find out.

Reason for the Season

More on the reason for the season. Are people forgetting why we have Christmas?

"I Tried to Draft Bill Richardson and His Fastball" - lost pro scout reveals truth

Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico made a claim that he was almost drafted for pro-baseball back when he was younger. After much hullabaloo from the press that pressured the governor to change his mind saying he wasn't sure. Numerous media press captured his moment of trite humility in confessing that he wasn't drafted by the A's:

After being notified of the situation and after researching the matter.. I came to the conclusion that I was not drafted by the A,s," he said.

Now, Bill Richard was a young man back then where his father probably had to deal with these things. This revelation came from an Op-Ed page of the Albuquerque Journal newspaper (December 21, 2005 page A13 - "I Tried To Draft Richardson and His Fast Ball"). A former scout wrote to the "Letters to the Editor" that Bill Richardson was indeed a favorite pitcher prospect by professional baseball scouters despite articles challenging his biographical information. The letter reads:

A recent edition of the Boston Globe carried a wire service article that challenged some of Gov. Bill richardson's biographical information. Specifically, the author questioned whether he had actually be drafted by the Athletics as a pro-baseball prospect.

The piece went on to say that all the scouts who could have decided the truth of the matter had passed away. Thus, some doubt was planted in the reader's mind.

Well, I.....am very much alive, and I have quite vivid recollections - as a scout for Houston - of seeing Richardson pitch at the Middlesex School in Concord, Mass.Richardson, a right, had a very loose, live arm, a fluid delivery and showed an exceptional moving fast ball. At this level he completely overpowered the opposition.

A supervisory scout came in to see Richard and agreed that he was a definite prospect. I was authorized to offer a signing bonus in the amount of $25,000 - a substantial amount at that time...and I had at least two conversations with his Dad.

He finally conveyed to me that his son's baseball career should be placed on hold until Richardson completed college.

I know that young Richardson went to Tufts University after Middlesex and became intensely scout by a number of major league teamsI retired from baseball in 1994, and my player records and notes are long since gone. But my memory of outstanding players is strong, and for me Richardson was one heck of a big league prospect and thus was undoubtedly drafted by some club, only not mine.

Hope this letter answers any doubting Thomases.

Jack Johnston
Arlington, Mass.



Seems like Gov. Bill Richardson's baseball "draft" story was indeed true when he was a young man. He wasn't drafted by the Kansas City A's but he was certainly approached by the Houston Astros scout according to the Letters to the Editor. Perhaps it was the Houston "A's" that got him confused with Kansas City "A's" that he was indeed given a draft opportunity to play professional baseball before he had the opportunity to go to college first.

So far the Albuquerque Journal has not corrected their error nor made any reference about the correction by Jack Johnston in the "Letters to the Editor" when the Journal created doubts that Richardson was ever approached by a pro-scout and offered to play pro-baseball.

Happy Holy Day and Merry Christmas

Happy Holy Day and Merry Christmas! I am writing this ahead of time just in case. Now, everytime you say "holiday" it's actually derived from the words "holy day." Just that the "y" was droped and made into one word. So, what people are saying everytime they mention the words "happy holidays" is that they are wishing you happy holy days. The holy days are actually Hanukah (or Chanukah) and Christmas. No, not Ramadan, sorry, not part of the package here of the original Christmas spirit. So, instead say it in the singular sense, "Happy Holy Day!" or "Happy Holy Days" in the plural sense to include those with the Christmas spirit.

Remember, it is pronounced differently for those who do not have the phonetic capability or hear. "Holy" is pronouced like "holey" as in holes. While "holi" is pronouced like "holly" as in jolly, folly, Stuart Smalley, ah, er...you get the idea.

If you get accused for spreading religious good tidings from people who are not religious, kindly remind them that they are, too, spreading religious good tidings everytime they mention the words "Happy Holidays!"

So, be of good Christmas cheer and say and write to everyone a "Happy Holy Day."

New York Times Defies Common Sense, Stock Plunges!

Less and less people are taking stock of the New York Times, liteally so. Michelle Malkin has a graph of the plunging value of the NY Times company's stock performance. It has been plunging all year long. Why? The factors could be many.

I made an earlier blog response to the NYT's declining moral value where they continue to undermine the Iraq war effort by giving the enemy the tools to fight us and our U.S. soldiers by not reporting adequately and truthfully, violate National security (see NYT's story here), falsified or misrepresented people's quotes - especially U.S. soldiers, have a political agenda to attack Conservatives or Republicans at every possible means - even if it means lying or twisting the facts or putting words into people mouths just to make them look bad, and they continue to ignore journalistic common sense approach that earned them one of the most liberal lefty media organization in one recent objective study by researchers of UCLA. Why are we not surprised??

It is funny to watch many screaming, frothing liberal lefties complain and accuse the Drudge Report of being a right winger website when in fact is was judged to be left of center soley because Drudge reports on news (not write them) that tend to be more on left of center. Blame that on the media tilt to the left, not Drudge.

Let's hope that the NYT's stock market continues it's monthly plunge and maybe they'll finally understand that the sort of irresponsible journalistic behaviors are not what people want. Let the NYT deal with their own true to life financial quagmire.

Any Deaf or Hard of Hearing Strongman/Woman Out There?

Just wondering. Are there any deaf or hard of hearing strongman or strongwoman who works out with weights to prepare for strongman competitions? I'm not looking for powerlifters or bodybuilders but actual strongman competitors.

Nowadays these strongman games are becoming very popular in the United States and have grown considerably. They do have separate weight categories for those who are lighter in weight, that is "light" like 200lbs, and those who are heavier or even the super-heavyweight who'll make you look small even if you weigh 200lbs.

More people are starting to know about my training so I let you guys know, too. I have been training to get ready to compete in my first strongman competition this upcoming May 2006 called "High Desert Challenge II" in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I've worked out with weights for 21 years and decided to try my hands on a strongman competition. I think it'd be a blast. You can watch my progess in my personal journal and make comments over there (note: not a place for politics or disparagements!!). If you don't understand or have questions about bodybuilding, powerlifting or even strongman games, go to my strongman journal blogsite and ask.

Now, if you know anybody (besides Andy Medak) who is deaf or hard of hearing and does (or will train in for) these strongman competitions, let me know. I will thank you for that.

Enjoy my other blog. It ain't easy moving big weights.

When a Black Organization Combats Racism Practices Racism Themselves

Interesting story that's not getting attention at the national media level. A white man was discriminated by an organization called the "National Association of Black Social Workers" whose purpose is to help combat racisms and "address important social issues that effect the health and welfare of the Black community" but allows only blacks to attend their conferences and seminars. An obvious double standard there.

Brian Parnell who was discriminated because the organization would not let him in for professional training offered by the National Association of Black Social Workers is leading a lawsuit against the organization. Because they accepted federal monies for, obviously now, black federal employees to attend trainings, it would become the basis of his lawsuit and should fall under the juridiction of the federal government to help pursue this case. This would be the IRS but they seem to be dragging their feet on this issue. Regardless, their tax-exempt status under the “501(c)3” entity which is a government code for charitable groups. Federal rules do not allow tax-exempt status for an organization that practice racism. This is clearly a case of one.

Read more about this little known discrimination lawsuit of a little old white man against a powerfully big black organization of 37 years who say that racism is wrong...wrong....wrong. Sorry little white man, you can come to their trainings because you are white.

Go figure.

Hat tip: Dale.

UPDATE: Michelle talks about Bush bashing by a black charity. Not the same thing here but at least is it not almost on the same subject level of a reverse racist attitude coming from a large black organization?

Navy Chaplain Fired for Praying in Jesus' Name,

This is incredible. Does President Bush know about this? What will he do? Now, this is not in Iraq but in the United States and on the properties of the United States.

"I am a Navy chaplain being fired because I pray in Jesus' name," said Navy Lt. Gordon Klingenschmitt, who will be holding 6 p.m. prayer vigils daily in Lafayette Park.

The hunger strike is intended to persuade President Bush to issue an executive order allowing military chaplains to pray according to their individual faith traditions. The American Center for Law and Justice has gathered 173,000 signatures on a petition seeking an executive order.

How silly is this? Most troops are religious in one way or another.

Seventy-three members of Congress have joined the request, saying in an Oct. 25 letter to the president, "In all branches of the military, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Christian chaplains to use the name of Jesus when praying."

About 80 percent of U.S. troops are Christian, the legislators wrote, adding that military "censorship" of chaplains' prayers disenfranchises "hundreds of thousands of Christian soldiers in the military who look to their chaplains for comfort, inspiration and support."

In time of war, soldiers with religious beliefs will want some comfort from their chaplains before going into battle not knowing if one will live or die that day. It's all about supporting the troops moral as well. But not only are Christian chaplains told not to utter the name of, of all political correctness here in the Armed Forces, Jesus Christ. But supposedly this wrongful ban also extends to Muslim, Jewish and Roman Catholic chaplains who are also told not to pray in the name of Allah, in Hebrew or in the name of the Trinity, however.

"No Islamic chaplain has been refused to pray in the name of Allah, as far as we know. Neither has a rabbi been rebuked for making references to Hanukkah, and no Catholic priest has been rebuked for referring to the Blessed Virgin Mary."

Talk about double standards, hypocrisy, political correctness, and the miracle attempt to try and walk on fractured egg shells so no one would get offended with the words, "Jesus Christ." It's not just about Christianity but the fight for other military soldiers' religious rights.

Lt. Klingenschmitt also has fought at other times for the religious rights of non-Christians, having backed a Jewish sailor's bid to get kosher meals and sought to include a Muslim seaman in the rotation of sailors offering the ship's nightly closing prayer.

And there's more.

Mr. Baugham said the 350 chaplains he oversees are concerned about a new set of guidelines issued in August after complaints about Christian evangelism at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The Air Force guidelines allow "a brief, nonsectarian prayer" during military ceremonies "to add a heightened sense of seriousness or solemnity, not to advance specific religious beliefs."

"So, to what deity do you address your prayer to?" Mr. Baugham asked. "No one knows. And who gets to write the prayers? Once the government becomes the approving authority, the poor chaplain is forced to be an agent of the state."

And in Iraq, we're hearing the same thing.

Mr. Baugham said he had "just got a call from an Army chaplain in Iraq who says he'd be hammered if he used Jesus' name. Chaplains are scared to death. They must clear their prayers with their commanders, they can mention Jesus' name at chapel services, but not outside that context.

Don't want to upset the Iraqi natives over there.

Nice to hear all of this right before Christmas, too. Will the Navy accept a "Have a merry Christmas" from me? Political correctness gone wild.

Pass this one around folks.

Economy Grows at Fastest Pace in 1 1/2 Years

Oh, woe is the economy! Disastorous and expensive hurricanes! Raging gas prices! The impending housing bubble burst! The expensive war on Iraq! I tell ya. A quagmire! A quagmire! Do you hear me! A quagmire of an economy where everything is going to shot!

The U.S. economy turned in a remarkably strong performance in the summer despite surging energy prices and the battering the Gulf Coast states took from hurricanes, although business growth was slightly lower than the government previously estimated. The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that the gross domestic product, the nation's total output of goods and services, rose at an annual rate of 4.1 percent in the July-September quarter. It was the fastest pace of growth in 1 1/2 years.

No. Don't you dare read that news. It's the evil creation of Karl Rove. Eeeeeeeeeeeeevil Karl Rove, I tell ya! The economy's broken just like last year. A quagmire! Don't you see? Look, look here, see how my finger turns purple? (shows finger to photogs, and smiles for his 2006 preparation) It's a personal barometer for the U.S. economy. Purple is bad! Purple means circulation is cut off. Bad! Purple is bad! We don't want purple. We want pink!! Pink fingers everybody! Stretch out your pink fingers up to the Kyoto blue, clean sky!

Galactic Virgin and New Mexico Spaceport - an historic event

Check out Virgin Galactic newsletter of how Richard Branson describes the new $225 million dollars spaceport within the 27 square miles of New Mexico desert.

New Mexico’s proposed Spaceport will offer potential astronauts pre-flight training, g-force acclimatization and a truly positive and dynamic experience. Plans are also in place to create a 5 star resort/destination to accommodate not only the pre-flight astronauts but their families and other space enthusiasts.

An historic day was ushered in with that announcement for the first ever commercial spaceport for the space tourism industry in the United States. Check out the New Mexico Spaceport blogsite and see pictures of the desert of where this historic spaceport will be built starting in 2006. If you live in New Mexico or nearby and need directions to get to the location of the New Mexico spaceport click here.

Anybody interested in coming with me to witness this historic occasion on the building of the spaceport?

Democrats' Secret Weapon on the ANWR Alaskan Oil Drilling Debate - The Environmental Impact Statement

Michelle Malkin has the update on the continuing battle on the ANWR drilling. There is this possibility that this drilling bill, after it is passed, could go on for years using a little known not-so-secret weapon, the Environmental Impact Statement or EIS. This is something I'm familiar with in my line of work. If the bill gets passed and the go ahead for oil drilling is given the ok, the next step Democrats would take is to challenge the last EIS that was done in 1987. This old EIS would undoubtedly require another EIS study, and not to mention a host of other possible roadblocks that Democrats will try to the detriment and security of our nation who is at war.

Now, how bad could another EIS study be? EIS is labor-intensive. And, for one, it'll take years to get it done. For a typical highway EIS study it typically takes about 4 years to get it done. But this ANWR is not your average highway project, nor is it a highway project at all. In any EIS, which is a major large scale study, it provides alternatives on how work to be done. But this is subject to appeals and lawsuits to no end.

Other NEPA critics point to prolonged disputes over EISs as hampering the act's effectiveness. H. Sterling Burnett, a senior fellow with the National Center for Policy Analysis, says that groups or individuals displeased with a NEPA environmental impact analysis can challenge it in court indefinitely. "The law ... makes it almost impossible for projects to go forward," he says.

George Albright, chief of the Environmental Analysis and Liaison Section of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, agrees with this assertion. "It is an element of the decision-making process that is ripe for misuse," he says.

Also, there is another problem. Courts do not like science and they are not environmental experts. That's one of the biggest problems in NEPA EIS court cases. Courts are not willing to say an agency is making the wrong scientific judgment.

An EIS study really studies just about everything under the sun. Not just a biological study but economic and social impacts as well. If a particular study is missing that's pertinent, back to square one to include that study, too. Therein lies the problem of an EIS getting dragged on for years in this unique battle over the ANWR drilling.

And then we have the timeline criterion for getting an EIS completed where it shouldn't take longer than 5 years. There are horror stories where an EIS seems to drag on and waste time, energy, money and resources just to comply.

Study determined that frequently NEPA takes too long and costs too much,
agencies make decisions before hearing from the public, documents are too long and technical for many people to use, and training for agency officials, particulary senior leadership, is inadequate.

According to many federal agency NEPA liaisons, the EIS process is still frequently viewed as merely a compliance requirement rather than as a tool to effect better decision-making. Because of this, millions of dollars, years of time, and tons of paper have been spent on documents that have little effect on decision-making

This is why a NEPA-EIS would be the Democrats' next "secret" weapon. They can still win the game even if the ANWR drilling bill gets passed. So, don't get smug when this legislature gets passed before Congress. Even if it does allow oil companies to skirt some existing environmental safeguards, EIS is still numero uno when it comes to delaying oil drilling for years on end. If you thought getting through Congress was hard, wait til the Democrats and Enviros get their hands on the EIS legal process.

A Free Pass on Kokonut Pundits

Ok. Folks on the right, left and innnn the middle, I thought we have a little fun here. I'm granting ya'll a one time free pass to make a "no holds barred" comment on this post on any subject, even if its about me, my blog, other people, your new years resolution, talk about the presidents, questions about me, other people, or what-have-yous. Anything positive. Any negative. No holds barred. This includes profanities.

But remember the words, "You are what you eat."

Warning. This free pass is only good for in "A Free Pass on Kokonut Pundits" blog. Profanities found elsewhere in another comment section will get deleted. Simple. If you want to make your case known, do it here. Anybody who is currently banned (only a couple of Deaf people are currently banned) will have to somehow pass their comments to my blog comment through their friends or whatever.

This will be good til the end of the year.

Anything after December 31, 2005 will get deleted. The year 2006 may require some cleaning. So, don't do any crying afterwards if I have done something to your comments.

Tis fair to y'all.

Specialized High Explosive Bombs Taken from Storage Facility in New Mexico

Be on the lookout for these stolen highly energetic, military-style explosives that are not commonly used in commercial industry that was recently stolen this Sunday. Especially notable are the "plastic explosive sheets" which means exactly what they are. Sheets. Sheets that can be inserted between pages of a book or in a letter and are undetectable by metal detectors.

Albuquerque police and state police in the hunt for hundreds of pounds of plastic explosives stolen Sunday at a secure Albuquerque storage facility.

Also missing are 2,500 blasting caps, 250 pounds of deta sheets and an undetermined length of explosive detonation cords.

Deta sheets are especially dangerous. They can be hidden in books or letters and cannot be spotted by a metal detector.

Engineers use them for detonation.

The director of the federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Agency in New Mexico, Wayne Dixie, said the materials are highly explosive.

In the hands of those who know how to use it, there is enough explosive material to level a building, Dixie said.

Authorities are offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that helps them recover the stolen goods, which burglars cut through steel bars to get to.

What's especially worrisome is the plastic explosive sheets. That's 250 lbs of them, in sheets. What a terrorist wouldn't love to have that.

Maybe It's Time for Mexico to Stop the Illegal Entrances into the U.S.?

Oh, please! Mexico is throwing a hissy fit because the United States is making plans to extend a wall along the Mexico-US border to keep out illegal entrances into the United States.

The House bill, passed on a 239-182 vote, would also enlist military and local law enforcement to help stop illegal entrants and require employers to verify the legal status of their workers.

Mexicans are outraged by the proposed measures, especially the extension of the border wall, which many liken to the Berlin Wall. Some are urging their government to fight it fiercely.

"Our president should oppose that wall and make them stop it, at all costs," said Martin Vazquez, 26, at the Mexico City airport as he returned from his job as a hotel worker in Las Vegas. "More than just insulting, it's terrible."

Berlin Wall? Oh, please. Mexicans are free to come into the United States. Just do so legally. Why is that concept so hard when they do the same thing to us entering their country?

It's about time. This is a national security issue. If Mexico has a problem with that then tough guano. Just enter the gates like every other immigrants who want to take a chance in the United States. After, it is the American dream.

Papers and ID, please.

A New Daily High Hit

Thank you Michelle Malkin, The Dusty Attic, and Betsy's Page for the links. Yesterday's hit was a KP's record of 1300+ hits in one day. I believe this may be a high record among deaf/hh bloggers in our neck of the woods. Thank you all for stopping by. Come back again, y'all.

UPDATE: Again, thanks for visiting!

UPDATE II: I never got around to it but I finally added a Site Meter graphic result of that day's high hit with a screen capture this morning. Each month I continue to improve on the number of hits. Just a record proof of my high hit where others just talk about it and no proof. Just click on it to expand.



Again, thank you all for visiting my blog and linking it my blogsite.

Merry Christmas! And a happy holy day.

Gov. Bill Richardson - Tourette Syndrome?

I read Betsy's piece about Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson (New Mexico) and his odd habits of touching, poking, pinching, rubbing, and general touching (on odd areas) of people whenever he meets them, or so it seems according to the article Betsy referred to. If that's the case, then it certainly sounds like a type of Tourette Syndrome where Bill Richardson seems he cannot help himself doing those things. Here are some of the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome:

Transient tic disorders often begin during the early school years and can occur in up to 18% of all children. Common tics include eye blinking, nose puckering, grimacing and squinting. Transient vocalizations are less common and include various throat sounds, humming or other noises. Childhood tics may be bizarre - palm licking, poking and/or pinching the genitals are examples. Transient tics last only a few weeks or months and are usually not associated with specific behavioral or school problems. They are especially noticeable during times of heightened excitement or fatigue. As with all tic syndromes, boys are three to four times more often affected than girls. While transient tics by definition do not persist for more than a year, it is not uncommon for a child to have recurrent episodes of transient tics over the course of several years.

Complex motor tics can be virtually any type of movement that the body can produce including gyrating, hopping, clapping, tensing arm or neck muscles, touching people or things and obscene gesturing.

At some point in the continuum of complex motor tics, the term "compulsion" seems appropriate for capturing the organized, ritualistic character of the actions. The need to do and then redo or undo the same action a certain number of times (e.g., to stretch out an arm ten times before writing, to "even up," or to stand up and push a chair into "just the right position") is compulsive in quality and accompanied by considerable internal discomfort. Complex motor tics may greatly impair school work, e.g., when a child must stab at a workbook with a pencil or must go over the same letter so many times that the paper is worn thin. Self-destructive behaviors, such as head banging, eye poking and lip biting also may occur. The distinction between complex tics and compulsions may be a difficult one for the physician to make and some "complex tics" may be alleviated by medications used for obsessive-compulsive
disorder.

The symptoms of TS can be characterized as mild, moderate or severe by their frequency, their complexity and the degree to which they cause impairment or disruption of the patient's ongoing activities and daily life. For example, extremely frequent tics that occur 20-30 times a minute, such as blinking, nodding or arm flexion, may be less disruptive than an infrequent tic that occurs several times an hour, such as loud barking, coprolalic utterance or touching tics. The premonitory sensory urges tend to be present by 9 to 10 years of age. They are most commonly reported in the shoulder girdle, hands, throat and abdomen.

Although some of the symptoms were described for children but it can persist into adulthood. It does describes "touching people" as one of the symptoms. But perhaps Gov. Bill Richardson has a mild enough form of Tourette Syndrome that comes and goes to the point that's barely manageable, much to the staff's irritation? If his behaviors of touching, licking his fingers to smear his glasses lens, poking people and such are enough to irratate his own staff to no end, then it's a sort of compulsion rather than the "I'm just joking." Perhaps a cover-up to disquise Gov. Richardson's unique kind of "tic" that manifest itself as constantly touching people but calls it "joking" or "joshing" around. What sane governor would do this?

Makes you think, doesn't it. I'm no doctor but if it's this bad and its being reported in the news media. Well, it certainly sounds like a type of "tic" which is an uncontrolled obsessive-compulsive behavior and he's trying to deal with it secretly. It may not be the Tourette Syndrome but it does sound like a barely controlled obsessive-compulsive behavior.

I live in New Mexico and so I'll be especially alert to observe Gov. Bill Richardson's behaviors around people whenever the local news makes a story about him on television.

But if he does have a condition or a "tic" then he should just acknowledge it publicly. Can't imagine him being the president of the United States and meet world leaders by pinching and touching them on odd places. The old "Aw, I'm just joking" won't work over there.

Thank You Rob McGovern for Prosecuting Akbar and Terrorists in Iraq

I was incredulous when my mother called me one day saying that a cousin of mine that I never knew I had who was a few years older than me was killed in Kuwait by Sgt. Hasan Akbar in a planned fragging attack at Camp Pennsylvania. I never knew I had a cousin who was going to be a part of the war in Iraq and was from Idaho. But sadly, I had to learn such gross violation that day that marked the first Idaho casulty of the Iraq war whose enemy fired the first shot of the war that came from a traitorous convert from within.

My family has a solid tradition of having relatives and siblings who are a part of the Armed Forces history and they all have the firm belief that freedom comes with a cost. Everyone of them knows that when signing up they knew the risks and wanting, even more, to give something back to the United States because so much was given to them that no other country ever experienced or understood the true value of...freedom. Even when my great uncle while in the Army during WWII was killed by a Japanese sniper on one of the small Pacific islands while his small band of men scouted ahead on the island before the arrival of an Army battalion.

Sgt. Akbar changed his allegiance back in 1993 that directly and ultimately led to the fragging deaths of two officers at Camp Pennsylvania according to Rob McGovern who was interviewed by the Kansas City Star in a newspaper last week for his tireless prosecution work that all started with 9/11.

His time in Afghanistan ended. He came home and thought about going back to the Manhattan office. And that’s when he was given the case of his life.

On March 22, 2003, in the middle of the night, Army Sgt. Hasan Akbar rolled grenades into tents and fired at fellow soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division. His stunning attack killed two and injured 14, and Akbar became the first American soldier since Vietnam to be prosecuted for killing Americans.

Rob McGovern was one of the three prosecutors.

“I know more about Hasan Akbar than I want to know,” he says.

McGovern interviewed people who had known Akbar going back to grammar school. He read 13 years of diary entries and said that was what sealed his fate.

In a 1993 entry, Akbar wrote about wanting to destroy America. “That’s fairly damning,” McGovern says.

He worked on the case for almost two years. He says he hardly slept, lost a lot of weight, obsessed over Akbar. In the courtroom, in his closing argument, McGovern cocked the M-4 rifle Akbar had used in the attack.

“Sgt. Akbar executed that attack with a cool mind,” he told the jury. “He sought maximum carnage.”

In April, Akbar was found guilty and sentenced to death.

“This was the ultimate opportunity to contribute to the war,” McGovern says. “This is a man who killed his fellow soldiers on the eve of battle. I can’t think of anything more damaging. I got a chance to stand up for the guys. I could not imagine doing anything bigger for my country.”

Yet, Rob McGovern did not stop after getting Hasan Akbar convicted but went to Iraq to convict many more terrrorists using old Iraqi laws against them that was signed in 1969 by, ironically so, Saddam Hussein.

Few people know that every day, American JAG officers work in Iraqi courtrooms with Iraqi judges. They prosecute insurgents. McGovern did not know. But after the Akbar case, he was sent to Iraq to do just that. He would charge insurgents with murder and attempted murder. If he did not have quite enough evidence to get them on those charges, he would bring them up on illegal border crossings.

He would argue his case using Iraqi laws signed in 1969 by Saddam Hussein.

In five months, he worked with more than 400 cases and had a 90 percent conviction rate. He often sat close to those insurgents everyone hears about on the evening news.

Rob McGovern, thank you for your tireless work to see that justice gets done and see that terrorists get convicted. Thank you for seeing that the death sentence get passed on to Hasan Akbar for his murderous role at Camp Pennsylvania murdering two officers and wounding so many others that night.

Rob McGovern was recently recognized and honored two weeks ago on December 4th before the Chiefs-Broncos game because he used to play in the NFL.


Other past blogs on Majory Gregory Stone:

Trial for Murder of Maj. Gregory Stone
The Plannned Murder of AF Maj. Gregory Stone and His Troop
Justice for Maj. Gregory Stone
Please visit Hero Bracelet
The Murder of Maj. Gregory Stone
In tribute of Maj. Gregory Stone

UPDATE: Welcome Betsy's Page readers. Take your time and read my blogs. Be sure to pass this around and let people know about Rob McGovern. He deserve our praise and respect. For those who don't know Betsy, she blogs for Michelle Malkin from time to time when she is in absentia (e.g. vacation time). Those two gals think alike, you'd swear they're sisters.

UPDATE II: Welcome The Dusty Attic readers. Thank you Dusty for helping spread the word to say "Thank you, Rob McGovern."

UPDATE III: Thank you Random Jottings for spreading the word to say "Thank you" to Rob McGovern.

President Bush Live News Conference with "Stuck on Stupids"

Still going on but I must say that President Bush is really hammering those reporters and their questions. Even a few instances of really dejecting a reporter's question when he said the no-no words..."Unchecked powers.." President Bush was forceful in telling that reporter to hold on and to tell him he resented the implication that powers go unchecked. The camera pans to the reporter as he sat down, you could almost see the blood drain from his face. What utter embarrassment for the reporter to ask such a "stuck on stupid" question.

It's unbelievable. There are a whole roomfull of "Stuck on Stupid" reporters where the media continue to ask sensitive information thinking President Bush will give an answer. He actually cuts off one woman reporter before she could complete her question by saying that he's not going to answer her question because such an answer will aid the enemy by giving out sensitive information. The media still doesn't get it. We are at war.

I'm still watching it. President Bush is red hot now, to the point of pratically shaking his finger at the media sitting in front of him with a strong and forceful voice almost if he's saying that you, the MSM kooks, are responsible for making this war on terror harder to fight by increasing the danger to America and her people by helping the enemy with important information.

Can't wait to see the full transcript afte the live show.

UPDATE: Ankle Biting Pundit live blogged the president news conference. Close enough for a full transcript. Lots of interesting commentaries by the blogger. Check out Michelle Malkin, too.

UPDATE II: Welcome Michelle Malkin readers! Peruse and take your time reading here. Be sure to visit the Ankle Biting Pundit. Lots of good commentaries.

UPDATE III: Here's the transcript. Read below the "Stuck on Stupid" reporter asking (more like insulting) president Bush about "uncheck power."

Q Thank you, Mr. President. I wonder if you can tell us today, sir, what, if any, limits you believe there are or should be on the powers of a President during a war, at wartime? And if the global war on terror is going to last for decades, as has been forecast, does that mean that we're going to see, therefore, a more or less permanent expansion of the unchecked power of the executive in American society?

THE PRESIDENT: First of all, I disagree with your assertion of "unchecked power."

Q Well --

THE PRESIDENT: Hold on a second, please. There is the check of people being sworn to uphold the law, for starters. There is oversight. We're talking to Congress all the time, and on this program, to suggest there's unchecked power is not listening to what I'm telling you. I'm telling you, we have briefed the United States Congress on this program a dozen times. This is an awesome responsibility to make decisions on behalf of the American people, and I understand that, Peter. And we'll continue to work with the Congress, as well as people within our own administration, to constantly monitor programs such as the one I described to you, to make sure that we're protecting the civil liberties of the United States. To say "unchecked power" basically is ascribing some kind of dictatorial position to the President, which I strongly reject.

Q What limits do you --

THE PRESIDENT: I just described limits on this particular program, Peter. And that's what's important for the American people to understand. I am doing what you expect me to do, and at the same time, safeguarding the civil liberties of the country.

For a courteous president, president Bush laid it on rather thick that dunderhead reporter's question. If only you could've seen the reporter's face with the camera panned over to him when he sat down after the question with the look of a kid whose hand got caught in the kookie jar.

Way to go president Bush!

President Bush Speech on the War in Iraq

Check out Captain's Quarters live blogging of President Bush' speech on the war in Iraq. A very good speech, indeed. We shouldn't have to listen to these defeatist attitudes of the Democrats while in the midst of a war that we're already winning.

Ok, you naysayers and defeatists, leave your comments here.

When Crab Theory Runs Amok

Now, what is this "Crab Theory"? According to the Orange County Deaf Advocacy Center they describe it in an analogy as a:

...bucket of live crabs: whenever one crab attempts to escape the bucket by climbing out of it, the others reach up and pull it back down. The result, of course, is that no crab succeeds in escaping the bucket. Crab theory is more widespread in the deaf communities than any other minority groups.

Why is it that?

Now, I applaud any person, Deaf, deaf or hard of hearing who have successfully worked hard to get where he or she is today. Whenever hard work, discipline, and sweat equity pays off, then that person has every right to feel good about him or herself. Whether it's exercising to lose weight and eat more healthier foods, studying hard to get good grades and go to college or graduate school, successfully work in a dangerous occupation, running a blogsite or website, or even a discussion forum, to become skilled and adept with musical instruments, or to work hard to help the less fortunate people. The list goes on and on. Successes are yours and yours alone. But with "Crab Theory" these people simply try and drag you down simply because of either who you are, what you do or how you do things.

Right now, there are a few blogsites where "Crab Theory" is running amok. And it's sad to see these things happen. It is disheartening to see how some Deaf/deaf people who are willing to give deaf communities a bad name by constantly and continously perpetuate the myths that they do not want to see successes in other deaf or hard of hearing people. Hence, the "Crab Theory" problem.

Now, I applaud creativity, hard work, discipline and successes of deaf and hard of hearing people. I would like nothing more than to see deaf people succeed. It's not about Deaf culture but about overcoming adversity and become more independent than ever. Successes are harder to come by for those who must deal with their hearing losses while going head to head with the hearing world. It ain't easy. It's a dog eat dog world. Technology has given us so much to overcome these barriers allowing us great accomplishments. We will still see much more accomplishments in the future while at the same time deaf people gain greater and greater independence requiring no human intervention. Accomplishments should be noted rather than disparaged and mocked, especially within the deaf communities. But unfortunately it still all goes back to this "Crab Theory" problem. Seems like there are people who simply do not like achievers and yet refuse to see all the hard work or the long hours they had to do in order to get where they are today and make a few extra notches in this world. Those who practice "Crab Theory" would rather succumb or fall into a trap by following the leads of others who make snide and cruel remarks than to publicly acknowledge those who have worked hard to get where they are, and applaud them for that effort.

Now, recently I have found out that my blogsite, Kokonut Pundits, was nominated for this so-called "Deaf Weblog Awards" in the politics category that was recently set up. I am flattered by those who choose to nominate my blogsite for best politics blog. I have not nominated myself but people who read my blogs have nominated my blogsite on their own iniatives. It was their decision to nominate me. Not mine. However, I seriously question the legitimacy of this "Deaf Weblog Awards" blogsite simply because of how the author conducts himself by continuing to disparage and hurl names at those who nominates their favorite blogsites. This is not keeping up with the spirit weblog awards. There is no neutral or unbiased setting of a Weblog Award if the author is free to bash those he disagrees with and uses such language and attitude towards those he despises in their attempt to nominate their favorite deaf/hh blogsites. The author failed to hold any sense of professional decorum in the attempt to pass off a Weblog Awards blogsite as a legitimate one. In my opinion, it is not a legitimat weblog awards blogsite. If an author cannot keep his/her own politics and hate out of his/her own Weblog Awards, then how can you expect an honest result? Something akin in letting a fox in a hen house to count the chickens. Only time will tell. Honesty is in the balance here.

I sincerely hope great success to those who do set up these types of weblog awards. However, if any authors of Weblog Awards who attempt to interject their own harsh and uncalled for opinions against people who nominate their favorite blogs will seriously jeopardize the legitimacy and sincerity of his/her own Weblog Awards blogsite/website.

It doesn't matter whether I get this "award" or not. I enjoy what I do here and that's to blog. I enjoy the fact that there are people out there, Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing and hearing people, who appreciate and enjoy reading my blogs. This is what counts the most. However, I do appreciate those who have nominated my blogsite but considering what I have seen so far I wish to have no affiliation with any awards coming from this author's blogsite. If I win, I win which is like winning an award from Scientology and not feeling very Tom Cruise-like. If not, then so be it. "Crab Theory" is an ugly process to observe even when it comes down to awarding best deaf weblogs, unfortunately.

Whether I get the award or not is not my concern here. People can continue to nominate my blogsite if they wish. But my only concern is how I can continue to do my blogging and enjoy it. And how other people recognizes my blogs by linking to them. Such a case like Michelle Malkin's who linked to my blogsite, again, netting over 600 hits in one day. Things like that offer proof that people do value and enjoy my blogs. No need for a weblog award to tell me this. Especially coming from that is not a legitimate one. But if deaf people want to run Deaf Weblog Awards, they are more than welcomed to do so. Just need to be careful how to go about it.

Thank you Kevin McCaul for being the first person to nominate my blogsite in the politics category. Thank you to the many others who have stopped by to nominate my blogsite. It is clear that the people have spoken.

A Jib Jab on President Bush

Finally, they are adding caption to the Jib Jab songs. I've emailed them a few times saying that there are 28 million people with various types and amount of hearing loss and that many of them would have a hard time understanding the words in the animated comedy musical skit. While others cannot hear the words at all but at least they get to read the scrolling caption and see the funny Jib Jib action on President Bush. At least they got my emails this time.

Take a look at the newest Jib Jab on President Bush year in 2005. A FYI, if you don't have high speed connection, don't bother.

Jib Jab is an equal opportunity jabbing on presidents or political officials.

Smiling Senator Joe Biden and His Purple Ink-Stained Finger in Iraq

Well, what do you know? Senator Joe Biden went to Iraq to see the historical election process and, like every Iraqi who voted, got his finger stained and smiled for photogs. Michelle Malkins makes a note of Gateway Pundit about Senator Joe Biden's surprise visit. However, Sen. Joe Biden in his attempt to decide things for President Bush for 2006 in a transcript on World News Tonight:

ELIZABETH VARGAS: You came here, you observed some polling sites in Hilla. What were your impressions?

SEN. JOE BIDEN: Very well organized. People voting, people anxious to vote, and I thought it was extremely well run.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM: I saw a lot of people who were excited about the opportunity to pick your own leaders, but we asked enough questions to know that this election is not the end of it for the American presence here. It's really just beginning for the Iraqi people, but today is a good day. We witnessed a well run election. People were very brave to go vote, and every American should appreciate the opportunity to vote because people here do.

VARGAS: In fact, at great risk.

GRAHAM: Joe and I started the morning as a Republican and Democrat with a rocket going off about 300 meters from where we were being housed. So to vote here, you really got to want to vote.

VARGAS: How does what you saw today affect your idea of the time table? Does it make you more optimistic or less optimistic that Americans could be coming home soon?

GRAHAM: We could stay here a 100 years and not solve the problem without a political solution — where the Iraqi people chart their own destiny. But if we leave anytime soon, that political solution will fail because they don't have the infrastructure or the capacity yet to govern themselves. There's no banking system. Can you imagine living in a country without a banking system? The mail doesn't work. Less than three to four years ago, people lived under the iron fist of a dictator. The police force has a long way to go before it really is able to protect people and their property.

BIDEN: But the bottom line is we're going to have a significant draw down of American troops in '06 no matter what happens. We're either going to be leaving here with Iraq having traded a dictator for chaos, or leaving here having traded a dictator for some stability. And that will be done in the next six months.

VARGAS: I know Gen. [George] Casey [the highest-ranking military commander in Iraq] told me last night that leaving prematurely would be in his words "catastrophic."

BIDEN: Well I'm not talking about leaving prematurely. They either are going to get a political solution through their constitution by this June … If they get it, we're going to be well on our way to drawing down. If they don't get it, in my view, all the king's horses and all the king's men will not be able to hold Iraq together in the midst of a civil war.

So, Joe Biden is telling Bush what to do by stating that in 06 we'll have significant drawdown in Iraq no matter what we happens? I think that is a bit premature. Even Rumsfeld on Foxnews with O'Reilly last night think a drawdown from 160,000 to around 137, 000 in 06 would be significant enough to begin with. But coming from Biden he's still the naysayer.

What's more, I think Biden has just set a precedence in his sudden surprise visit in Iraq, and throughout all the past two years have never supported President Bush with all the disparagement he lobbed at him and the troops will Biden take the opportunity to claim victory in Iraq once victory is complete. I think there will be a significant shift from Democrats to claim victory in Iraq once they realize just how victorious it has become. Biden sounds like the first one with his smiling face while holding up a purple ink-stained finger for photogs.

Believe me. Victory won't belong to anybody who have never supported the troops, President Bush, the Iraqis and/or the coalition troops. Just watch. Victory is concept, not a trick here. They'll soon claim victory as their own doing when it was the opposite by trying to undermine the war effort all the way through.

It's not a far-fetched thought here. Something Democrats will want to have for their 2006 dinner plate, as well as for 2008 should Iraq become stupendously successful and victorious.

Taum Sauk Lake Dam Breach - not your typical dam.

Look at the shocking photo of Taum Sauk lake of southeast Missouri. It is not your typical dam which is currently breached because of the recent heavy rains. The earthened hydrolectric dam's water breached walls is now flooding Black River. This is a rare breaching of any large earthened dam. But it is not the typical lake or dam you'd expect.

Taum Sauk lake is a 200-acre reservoir located on the East Fork of the Black River north of Lesterville in Reynolds County. This reservoir is owned by AmerenUE. This is a two lake pump-storage hydroelectric plant with the upper reservoir located on Proffit Mountain, approximately 800 feet higher than the lower reservoir. When electrical demands peak the water's energy is collected from the upper reservoir as it flows to the lower reservoir. During low electrical demands the water is pumped to the upper reservoir for gravity energy storage.

Read more about how this dam was created. It's not your typical dam as you would expect but a dam where the top of Proffit Mountain was lopped off to create a single above ground earthened dam. Besides Profitt and Church Mountains, there are at least five other nearby sites that might house a hydroelectric plant modeled after the existing Taum Sauk plant. And now, it's already breached.

Welcome Michelle Malkin readers. Shocking, isn't it? Enough to do a double take on the picture. Never expected to see a different type of dam like that. Live and learn as they say.

UPDATE: Thank you readers. Yesterday's visits netted 600+ hits. Ya'll come back.

UPDATE II: Gateway Pundit has much more details, updates and pictures of the dam break. I wonder how Church Mountain is fairing since it's similar to Profitt mountain that contained Taum Sauk lake?

UPDATE III: A reader brought to my attention that the reservoir size is less than 200 acres. The reservoir actually covers an area of 55 acres, is 90 feet deep and holds 1.5 billion gallons of water. The 200 acres is, I believe, the size of the park and not the reservoir itself alone. Check out the cached page (orginal page is no longer) of how part of the Taum Sauk reservoir was built. Some interesting info of how a geosynthetic linings were laid out inside the reservoir in 2004 because

"Since it's construction in the 1960's, cracks had formed in the 1.3 to 1 side slopes, resulting in two feet of water loss from the upper reservoir every day."

Interesting.

Democracy Success in Iraq Means Success for America

A poll was taken in Iraq that shows 9 out 10 Iraqis want to vote in the upcoming December 15 national election.

The intent to vote is strong across ethnic and religious lines. The Kurds have the highest percentage, with 95 percent telling pollsters that they want to vote. Sunni Arabs have the lowest percentage, but that is still pegged at 87 percent. A total of 91 percent of Shiite Arabs, the largest religious group in the country, said they will vote.

The ideology on the spread of democracy can help produce more stable countries as evidenced from the many countries after World War II who have embraced the ideals of democracy.

230,000 Iraqi Soldiers and Police to Provide Election Security

Check it out. 230, 000 Iraqi soldiers and police are to provide security for the upcoming December 15th election where voters will choose members of the first permanent democratic government in Iraq's history. It has been more than 50 years since the last free election in Iraq. More than 3,800 people are running for office. The expectation is that more voters will come out to vote than the Constitutional Referendum vote that was held recently in October. This whole democracy process is the surest sign of victory and success in Iraq. A sign of U.S. success on the war in Iraq to help Iraqi gain their freedom from tyranny.

Once the Iraqi soldiers and police are able to take greater and greater role in protecting and serving their country and ensure stable democratic process, then certainly there will be less and less U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Until they can stand up, we stand down.

Quagmire it is not. Are you listening liberals? Keep talking Howard Dean.

Michelle Malkin has more.

When Liberals Support the DNC's "Retreat and Defeat" Policy

Well, if Howard Dean is the DNC party chairman and he's up there touting all kinds of defeatist messages about Iraq, then I guess the Democratic party is mostly the "Retreat and Defeat" kind of party. No? Check out the video.

Check out Michelle Malkins on Howard Dean's proud display of his "retreatism" and "defeatism" attitudes.

So easily do many Liberals lose their backbones when they try to do the talk but never the walk. They're not the chickenhawks but more like the chickensh*ts they are. They would love nothing better than to forget President Clinton's (fake) marching orders. Remember these famous quotes about Iraq before President Bush?

"One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line."- President Clinton, Feb. 4, 1998

"If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program."- President Clinton, Feb. 17, 1998"

Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."- Madeline Albright, Feb 18, 1998

"He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983."- Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Adviser, Feb, 18, 1998

"We urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs."- Letter to President Clinton, signed by Sens. Carl Levin (D-MI), Tom Daschle (D-SD), John Kerry ( D - MA), and others Oct. 9, 1998

"Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."- Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA), Dec. 16, 1998

"Hussein has ... chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies."- Madeline Albright, Clinton Secretary of State, Nov. 10, 1999

Michelle, hoping you get better from that hacking cough. Cough up a phlegm or two for Howard Dean.

When Liberals Flip-Flop on the Up/Down Vote for Judgeship

It's amazing, isn't it? Liberals like Edward Kennedy, Charles Schumer, Patrick Leahy, Richard Durbin, Joseph Biden, Russell Feingold, Ken Salazar , Joseph Lieberman, Barbara Boxer, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, and Dianne Feinstein who were for the simple Up and Down vote for judgeship are now putting their full weight on filibustering against a nominee, such as in this case of whomever President Bush nominates.

Hat tip: Dale

Die Santa, Die!

Is this a "bah-humbug" spirit about Christmas or did somebody recognized that Santa Claus isn't what the real Christmas is all about? Now, neighbors are upset saying that their kids are upset, supposedly so, with the bondage and blindfold of a near life-size Santa figure hung in a noose up in a tree as a display reminscent of a public hanging. Now, certainly this Santa hanging is not the same kind of hanging as this one where an effigy of a soldier actually disrespect US soldiers everywhere and a show of anti-American and unpatriotric show of support.




Check out Channel 6's story on this.

You do know that Santa Claus isn't real folks? Right?

A Day That Will Live in Infamy

A day that will live in infamy. On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese that sealed the Japanese and German's fate by forcing the United States into war with two different countries at the same time. The Herald Tribune has a good article on the "Two dates which will live in infamy."

Never forget December 7, 1941.

Never forget September 11, 2001.

Foxy Rapper Has Hearing Loss

Rapper Foxy Brown is almost totally deaf, her lawyer said Monday. Tsk. Tsk. I wonder why? Maybe the loud music was just too much for her ears to bear? Perhaps she'll be the first rapper to have a cochlear implant?

Maybe her next song will be "Read My Lips."

Don't care for rap songs. Bleh.

Say "You Suck!" and Get Arrested by the Clinton's SS Troop

Yeah, it really happened back in 1996. But let's recap on today's news when Senator Hillary Clinton was in Chicago speaking at a crowd where several profesional liberal hecklers tried to interrupt her speech by shouting her down. See the video and my own transcript below of that video.

HILLARY: You know, I have to say that I appreciate the passion --

PROTESTORS: Troops out now!

HILLARY -- and the intensity that you feel about Iraq.

PROTESTORS: Troops out now!

HILLARY: I share it, and you're here expressing your opinion, but let's make sure that people have a chance to be part of a dialogue, and I do not believe that they want to hear from you at this moment.

Oh, such a demand from her! She says that people don't want to hear those hecklers at the moment. But remember this one that took place on April 28th, 2003, in the Southington, Connecticut, where Hillary spoke at the Democrats' annual Jefferson Jackson Bailey dinner?

HILLARY (screaming): I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration, somehow you're not patriotic, and we should stand up and say, "We are Americans, and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration!"

Of course, as James Taranto said, "...no one has actually called Democrats unpatriotic for simply disagreeing with the president."

But if you ever, ever diss the Clintons while in their presence you'll get arrested. On July 1996, in the public record, Patricia Mendoza was arrested in Chicago for shouting "You suck, and those boys died!" (in reference to the bombing of the Khobar Towers in June 1996) at Bill Clinton in July, 1996. Probably a premonition of things to come (ie "You suck"). But the Clinton's SS troops claimed it was a death threat. Yeah, right. Can't even express a dislike in front of the president's face. This was reported by NewsMax.com (Carl Limbacher, "Letterman Secret Service `Threat' Not a First for Hillary," January 13, 2000) and the Daily Republican.

After their arrest, the Mendozas spent 14 hours in a Cook County lock-up. Though the Secret Service eventually dropped all charges, the couple, who ran a small electronics business, was soon audited by the Clinton IRS.

But the funny thing is how the Secret Service responded about the arrest:

Ralph Grayson, special agent in charge of the Secret Service's Chicago office, said his agency has an "ongoing investigation" into the matter.The Secret Service said Mrs. Mendoza made a "threatening statement" to the president.

If they said that Mrs. Mendoza made a "threatening statement" does that mean what she said was true since a statement means it is a fact? Which ones? The "You suck" or the "those boys died"?

And now, Senator Hillary Clinton is telling those liberal anti-freedom hecklers that nobody want to hear them? Don't you dare diss Senator Hillary Clinton, even if it means if you end up losing your freedom of speech to her. People are not allowed to disagree with her publicly. Now, whoever allowed these anti-war people in are probably fired by now. These things are not suppose to happen at a Clinton event. No dissent. No disagreements allowed. People with opposing views at a public speaking engagement ever get into these things. Normally you would get arrested but since this was supposed to be a Hillary Clinton friendly crowd, she was forced to let this one go, I suppose.

Is she practicing her loving der Schlick's stealthy tactics in the attempt to silence critics, even from her own brood?