Deborah Howell Failed to Get Rid of Comments in WaPo Blog

UPDATE!: Go here first "WaPo turns blog back on" before reading the below blog.

It's really funny and somehow not so surprising about readers' response when WaPo did an article recently this Sunday about the Abramoff's money trail prompting angry cries from unhinged Liberals toward a left-leaning WaPo news media of all thing. Enough so to get the attention of the Drudge Report. Article writer Deborah Howell, Washington Post Ombudsman, wrote recently in response to angry readers where the WaPo blog had to shut off the comments.

I've heard from lots of angry readers about the remark in my column Sunday that lobbyist Jack Abramoff gave money to both parties. A better way to have said it would be that Abramoff "directed" contributions to both parties.

Jim Brady goes further trying to explain here rationale in erasing all of the comments. It's a Jim Brady thing here, I digress, but it was Howell who wrote about the Abramoff article. I think both parties went the wrong way with this thing by agreeing (together, I suppose) to shut it down and delete the whole thing.

But there are things that we said we would not allow, including personal attacks, the use of profanity and hate speech. Because a significant number of folks who have posted in this blog have refused to follow any of those relatively simple rules, we've decided not to allow comments for the time being. It's a shame that it's come to this. Transparency and reasoned debate are crucial parts of the Web culture, and it's a disappointment to us that we have not been able to maintain a civil conversation, especially about issues that people feel strongly (and differently) about.

With WaPo's very large reader base why did Deborah Howell or Jim Brady expect "civil conversations" from people with diverse backgrounds, beliefs, opinions, party affiliation and personalities? Especially from people who perceived that WaPo attacked their own Democrats and expect a "reasoned debate" thereafter? Either Deborah Howell or Jim Brady need to find the time to sit down and be the moderator or not and let it go like some blogs do, theoretically so.

Regardless, Liberals were up in arms when WaPo reported that both Democrats and Republicans received Abramoff's tainted money.

Lobbyists, seeking influence in Congress, often advise clients on campaign contributions. While Abramoff, a Republican, gave personal contributions only to Republicans, he directed his Indian tribal clients to make millions of dollars in campaign contributions to members of Congress from both parties.

Records from the Federal Elections Commission and the Center for Public Integrity show that Abramoff’s Indian clients contributed between 1999 and 2004 to 195 Republicans and 88 Democrats. The Post has copies of lists sent to tribes by Abramoff with specific directions on what members of Congress were to receive specific amounts.

The real killer to this whole thing? Abramoff's had lists sent to tribes telling them or directing them on what members of Congress were to receive specific amounts. WaPo even reported this back in 2004.

The fees and $2.9 million in federal political contributions Abramoff advised the tribes to make, two-thirds of it to Republicans, have led to battles in some tribes. Some tribe members question why their leaders approved such payments.

Abramoff also directed tribes to donate to several obscure foundations that appear to have no connection to Indian concerns, including a think tank in Rehoboth Beach, Del., set up by Scanlon.

The revelations led to Abramoff's ouster in March from Greenberg Traurig, the law firm where he led one of Washington's most successful lobbying groups. Greenberg Traurig said it acted after Abramoff "disclosed to the firm for the first time personal transactions and related conduct which are unacceptable to the firm."

And what did Liberal readers do in WaPo's comment area? Well, being extra nice was probably not quite the picture when it came to responding to WaPo's article and, assuming it was the case for Howell or Brady's motive, their weapons of mass deletion attempt. There are no definitive proofs since the ones in question (e.g. profanities) were deleted en masse, supposedly so. One commenter said:

Deleting comments changes nothing. Pay attention to your readers - we ultimately are the ones that keep The Post in business, and we would sincerely like to see our paper restored to its former glory.

And no wonder. WaPo had better take some lessons from the L.A. Times dropping share prices.

But wait! All is not lost. The remaining comments are not gone where Deborah Howell, Jim Brady and WaPo (as in "we" in Jim's letter) tried to blink them out of existence. Surprise, surprise, surprise! (Gomer style). They just went somewhere else where you have to dig to find them. You can now find those mass-deleted comments that are now cached in Yahoo search (January 17 th- 18th WaPo blog comments) while Democratic Underground has the January 19th comments archived here, and WaPo Lies have the January 15th - 16th comments archived. Those bots really do work fast. Deborah Howell simply didn't move fast enough. And funnier still, I don't really see any foul language post-WMDs. Just a lot of heavy criticisms lobbed in Howell's direction about the heavy deletion that would've been worthy to be left alone for posterity sake on the internet.

Now, forgive me since I didn't have the time to read all those hundreds of comments, literally so, but I've not found any profanities directed at Howell by using the find word search. Although a couple of "d" words were used for context purpose.

A lot of complaints were stemmed around about the weapons of mass deletion effort by Howell and/or Brady that went on and on and on for a few days. I counted 56 times the word "deleted" was mentioned, 15 times for "delete," and 22 times for the word "deleting." Most of them were about commenters' complaints of why their past comments were deleted. But as expected many went completely unhinged if you take the time to read the Yahoo cached comments (January 17 th- 18th WaPo blog comments archived) while Democratic Underground has the January 19th comments archived here, and WaPo Lies have the January 15th - 16th comments archived.

What's the deal Deborah Howell and/or Jim Brady? Why can't you just leave the comments up as a matter of record for your readers instead of trying to blink them out of existence? You can stop the comments by turning them off. Not by erasing them in the attempt to save face. Actually, you lost it now with the Yahoo cache now linked as well as other bloggers who have caputured WaPo's blog comments on various dates so we can see the fine examples of what happens when readers go unhinged. The Liberal ones, I mean.

UPDATE: Welcome Instapundit readers! Thank you for stopping by. Pass this around. Deborah Howell, Jim Brady and WaPo will need to do some more explaining now.

UPDATE II: Welcome The Political Teen readers!

Keith Wann - a CODA Comedian

Check out this comedy ASL clip of Keith Wann who is a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA). Keith is an acclaimed ASL performing artist who is beginning to get some serious attention after a few years of comedy travels. While you watch the clip a voice interpreter can be heard in the background for those in the audience who can hear. After you are done with that, check out his other clip. If you have a funny bone for ASL comedy, he's the guy to guffaw over with. Maybe share a few heaving throws off the starboard side of a Alaska cruise ship this July with him on his next scheduled comedy trip.

Who is this guy? Well, Keith was born hearing to Deaf parents in California where he grew up living in both the hearing and Deaf worlds that led to his own stylistic way on becoming a stand-up comedian catering to both deaf and hearing audience, at the same time. All done in ASL. And, of course, can't do without the traveling interpreter, too.

Hypocrite Hillary on War?

Hillary is taking a tough talking cowgirl stance about Iran last night in a very presidential-like demeanor (for 2008, that is):

"I believe that we lost critical time in dealing with Iran because the White House chose to downplay the threats and chose to outsource the negotiations," Clinton said.

But going back 2002 Hillary Clinton was urging every possible efforts to use the U.N. to avoid war.

When New York Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton voted to authorize war in 2002, she said that she wanted the U.N. to insist on unfettered weapons inspections in Iraq. "I will take the president at his word that he will try hard to pass a U.N. resolution [for unfettered inspections] and will seek to avoid war, if at all possible," Clinton said in the Senate during the prewar debate. She added she would vote to authorize war "because bipartisan support for this resolution makes success in the United Nations more likely, and therefore, war less likely."

Diplomacy, negotiation, sanctions, U.N. resolutions, and threats lasted 12 years with Iraq. Now, since diplomacy and negotiation have obviously failed, sanctions against Iran are the next step but therein lies a problem. The E.U. does not want to risk losing oil imports from Iran and China and Russia are adamant on making sure they don't lose that oil by not agreeing to the sanctions.

But two key U.N. Security Council members that carry veto powers — China and Russia — have multibillion-dollar oil and natural gas projects hanging in the balance, and China depends on Iran's imports to quench its oil thirst.

"I have a hard time seeing how oil investments could be targeted given the interests of Russia and China," said Julia Nanay, a senior director at PFC Energy in Washington.

Iran wants to sign a major oilfield deal to give China's Sinopec a stake in the giant Yadavaran oil field in southern Iran, which could require investment of at least $2 billion.

And Russia's Lukoil holds a minority stake in the Anaran field in western Iran near the Iraqi border.

China has blocked Security Council efforts to sanction countries like Sudan, where China has a huge oil deal. Sudan's Darfur region is beset by widespread violence between fractious rebel groups, government forces and a government-backed militia.

If Hillary insist on playing cowboy then she should listen to the moonbats' cries considering that we dealth with Iran only but a few years of diplomacy. Maybe Hillary should listen to her baying constituents and try diplomacy for another 4 years or so? President Bush is still keen as ever about the threat of Iran. The Bush pick of Undersecretary of State at the U.N. John R. Bolton made sure about the message of how serious Iran's threat is to the United States and the world. That is by no means "downplaying" the theat of Iran.

Hillary continues to lie, distort and pretend to be the tough talking cowgirl but at the same time wears the royal crown as the Queen of "Stuck on Stupid."

Hillary's Plantation Remark - Queen of "Stuck on Stupid"

Michelle Malkin has more on Hillary Clinton's recent "plantation" remark in her attempt to skewer the Republicans as much as possible can only be regarded this move as the supreme height of hypocrisy. Read Wayne Perryman's book "Unfounded Loyalty" and you'll see why this black minister ask this question "Why are most blacks in America Democrats?" and you'll begin to see why Hillary choose the "plantation" remark:

Why are most blacks in America Democrats?

You will have to answer that question yourself. After reading this book, you will understand that:

for over 150 years, blacks were victims of terrorist attacks by the Democrats and their Klan supporters, including lynching, beating, rapes and mutilations.

On the issue of slavery, the Democrats literally gave their lives to expand it; the Republicans gave their lives to ban it.

Many believed the Democrats had a change of heart and fell in love with blacks. To the contrary, history reveals the democrats didn't fall in love with black folks, they fell in love with the black vote knowing this would be their ticket into the white house.

Cox and Forkum's cartoon says it all. And I now officially dub thee Hillary Clinton the Queen of "Stuck on Stupid."

Well, I do declare!

LBGT Parents of Kids to Crash White House Lawn on Easter Day - claims "not political"

How odd, perhaps understandable in some ways but for a group to unequivocally state that this Easter Egg event for children on the White House lawn where a bunch of sniggering, line cutting, LBGT parents of children who want to overtake the whole White House lawn for themselves are calling this as not a "political protest." Ironic that they say this when they want to oust other parents with their children to be the first 1000 families allowed on the White House lawn.

Soulforce insists this will not be a political protest, only a gathering for families, its supporters will arrive with special "non-political" t-shirts to identify themselves as "LGBT."

I think that by crashing the White House lawn to be the first 1000 families as allowed in, staking the White House gate the night before, wearing special T-shirts, and have volunteers who will stand in line for "LGBT" parents who cannot do it themselves are in fact making a political protest, demonstration and a statement all at the same time. Protesting does not mean carrying signs when there are other kinds of protest, violent and passive ones. This is clearly a protest. Any idiot can see that whenever crashing a public function is involved.

Now, it's stupid to think that by releasing all this information to the public over the internet will guarantee that this will work. Not when the Drudge Report is reporting it. I'm sure the White House will get wind of this and institute some rules prior to the opening of the White House Easter Egg hunt.

The only victims I see here are the children who will have to witness all this travesty. Kind of like adolescent bullies running into a candy store and getting all of the free candies first and eat them up before other kids can. I can see it already. LGBT parents with their kids cutting in front of other kids saying "Sorry kiddo" when volunteers leave their place. And watch the fight begin. I think they secretly hope that some kind of violence or lots of shouting matches in front of the media will be the result in order to get greater exposure for this little pathetic stunt.

Robotic hand translates speech into sign language

From The Daily Yomiuri Online:

An 80-centimeter robotic hand that can covert spoken words and simple phrases into sign language has been developed in a town in Fukuoka Prefecture. The robotic hand was shown at a two-legged robot tournament held at the Fukuoka Prefecture Education Center in Sasagurimachi, where it won applause from appreciative spectators.

A microchip in the robot recognizes the 50-character hiragana syllabary and about 10 simple phrases such as "ohayo" (good morning) and sends the information to a central computer, which sends commands to 18 micromotors in the joints of the robotic hand, translating the sound it hears into sign language.

The aluminum robot was developed by a team led by the center's head instructor Keita Matsuo, 39, and Hirotsugu Sakai, 38, who is attending a long-term training program for school teachers.

The two men came up with the idea when they visited a school for the hearing-impaired and communicated with students through an interpreter who signed for them.

"We wondered if it would be possible to communicate with them via robots," Matsuo said.

They studied a book on sign language, and spent about two months creating the system, increasing the number of joints in the hand to 18 so that it could sign smoothly.

They added that in the future, hundreds of thousands of words could be programmed into the voice recognition unit and the robotic hand could function as a receptionist.

The robot was shown to teachers at the school in December to ensure that its sign language was understandable.

In addition to the signing robot, the event, attended by 160 students from middle school and technical high schools, featured a race among bipedal robots developed by six high school teachers.

Here is another research working on robotic hand sign language. See the robotic hand below. If you don't mind reading technical stuff click on the link.

Nagin Gone Wonky and the Chocolate Factory

Remember all those Oompah Loompahs and other characters giving out sage musical advice? Now, what were those lyrics? Something like any port in a storm? Rowing and rowing but going nowhere in a post-Katrina storm?

Round the world and home again

That's the sailor's way

Faster faster, faster faster

There's no earthly way of knowing

Which direction we are going

There's no knowing where we're rowing

Or which way the river's flowing

Is it raining, is it snowing

Is a hurricane a–blowing

Not a speck of light is showing

So the danger must be growing

Are the fires of Hell a–glowing

Is the grisly reaper mowing

Yes, the danger must be growing

For the rowers keep on rowing

And they're certainly not showing

Any signs that they are slowing

Yes, indeed. Nagin is constantly rowing and rowing with no signs that he's slowing with no earthly way of knowing which way he's going when the river starts overflowing. Maybe somebody ought to pull the plug out of the boat?

What I think what the correct blame is that God must be angry at Mayor Nagin and not the U.S. Why the U.S.? Didn't hurricane Katrina bore down on New Orleans? Where was Nagin?

But the funniest thing I've heard in a long time is the "chocolate" comment he made. You'd think he's talking about New Orleans needing a chocolate factory. Maybe with enough protests, marches and prayers, he'll probably think he will finally get the golden ticket to lift him and the city out of such a mess. Much of the mess is his to begin with.

I never thought my life could be

Anything but catastrophe

But suddenly I begin to see

A bit of good luck for me

'Cause I've got a golden ticket

I've got a golden twinkle in my eye

I never had a chance to shine

Never a happy song to sing

But suddenly half the world is mine

What an amazing thing

'Cause I've got a golden ticket

It's ours, Charlie!

I've got a golden sun up in the sky

I never thought I'd see the day

When I would face the world and say

Good morning, look at the sun

I never thought that I would be

Slap in the lap of luxury'

Cause I'd have said it couldn't be done

But it can be done

I never dreamed that I would climb

Over the moon in ecstasy

But nevertheless, it's there that I'm

Shortly about to be

'Cause I've got a golden ticket

I've got a golden chance to make my way

And with a golden ticket, it's a golden day

Good morning, look at the sun'

Cause I'd have said it couldn't be done

But it can be done

I never dreamed that I would climb

Over the moon in ecstasy

But nevertheless, it's there that I'm

Shortly about to be

'Cause I've got a golden ticket'

Cause I've got a golden ticket

I've got a golden chance to make my way

And with a golden ticket, it's a golden day

Strangely, those songs seem to fit Nagin's ongoing but surreal post-Katrina adventures and blame game. Remember those yellow school buses, Mayor Nagin?

Now, imagine a white governor of Lousiana saying those exact lines of Mayor Nagin's about a city or town will be "white chocolate" again someday. You can bet your buttinski that the ACLU will do something about it. Why, there will be so much outrage, the streets will be covered with a bunch of running hot, melted chocolates. But you know, white and dark chocolates are not much different when it comes down to ingredients. Just that the tastes are a bit different. One is sweet and one is bitter.

C'mon Mayor Nagin. Use some sense.

Any more bloggers with a Chocolate Factory story?
Mayor Nagin and the Chocolate Factory
Ray Nagin and the Chocolate Factory

CNN Irates Iranian President, Iran Bans CNN, CNN Intent on Kissing Butt to Makeup

Funny how NYTimes doles out disinformation seemingly on a daily basis but CNN gets banned from Iran for "mistranslating" a statement said by the president of Iran. CNN was quickly on hands and feet apologizing to the president of Iran for their grievious error and unthoughtful reporting by saying "nuclear weapons" instead of "nuclear energy." The horrors of unthoughtful reporting.

Maybe President Bush ought to do the same thing to certain reporters who are obviously still "stuck on stupid" at the White House's reporters' row who are intent on taking President Bush's words out of context? We know that Cheney did in fact barred NYTimes reporters on getting a seat on Air Force 2 where 10 seats were reserved for reporters. Yet, CNN had no compunction to kiss the butt of Iranian president and be on good terms so CNN can have access to Iran.

"Unexploded Ordinance" (Getty Images) vs "Remains of a Missile" (NYTimes) - Disinformation?

Go here first (which is now corrected some two hours later - amazing) and look at the picture (see Michelle's screen capture) and read the caption in reference about a story of a drone missle that decimated an Afghanis building and killing several occupants in the Bajur tribal zone near the Afghan border. Notice the word "missile" in the picture? Go here and see what the military experts have to say about it. Next, go to Getty Images and scroll 3/4 of the way down until you see the same picture. Click on that picture and you'll find a caption info about the picture that reads:

Bajur, PAKISTAN: Pakistani tribesmen stand by a unexploded ordinance at their house which was damaged in an alleged US air strike the day before in the Bajur tribal zone near the Afghan border, 14 January 2005. Thousands of tribesmen protested against an alleged US air strike targeting Al-Qaeda's second in command that killed 18 people near the Afghan border, witnesses said. AFP PHOTO/Thir KHAN (Photo credit should read THIR KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Now. Getty Images says "unexploded ordinance" in the while the NYTimes says "remains of a missile" in its caption.

Pakistani men with the remains of a missile fired at a house in the Bajur tribal zone near the Afghan border.

"Remains of a missile" and "unexploded ordinance" are entirely two different things. Now, is this unexploded ordinance that was found among the ruins or it was it exposed from the ground as it lay hidden for years but was recently uncovered as a result of a drone missile exploding near it? Now, if the unexploded ordinance was dug up or found among the ruins, does that mean that somebody tried to hide this very old unexploded ordinance where there might possibly be more in the area? Possibly use them as IEDs later on or are the Afghanis the typical pack rat picking up unexploded ordinances back from the days when Russia was hitting Afghanistan? That's a death wish trying to pick up unexploded ordinances with the fuse cap still on.

The NYTimes bought the photo from Getty Images and I'm sure if they had taken their time they would have seen the caption info in Getty Images about the image and would see the words plain as day "unexploded ordinance." The NYTimes' "professional journalism" failed to do their job. Maybe not failed but instead perhaps, without a doubt, attempted to purposely mislead readers in order to get their sympathy through false information.

Michelle Malkin and others, be sure to check out Getty Images.

UPDATE: Thomas Lifson makes an update on The American Thinker about the unexploded ordinance and makes a point about that Getty Images or the reporter who took the picture may have inadvertently shown the world that the village was keeping these things around to be used as possible IED.

Doug Hanson, our security affairs correspondent writes:
Not only did the NYT get caught in another lie, but they may have unintentionally revealed the village’s cache of IED ordnance. During the Intifada against Israel that started in September of 2000, terrorists in Gaza used unexploded artillery projectiles wired as command detonated landmines. Even the heaviest Merkava main battle tanks could be taken out with these devices. Of course, command detonated artillery projectiles are one of the preferred types of IEDs used in Iraq by enemy forces. And, in 2004, troopers from the US 1st Cavalry Division encountered an IED made with a binary Sarin nerve agent 155mm artillery chemical round.

This begs the question; did the NYT publish a photo of a villager showing off his latest acquisition to make an IED? Of course, it’s entirely possible that the round is simply part of his collection on the mantle, or is used for bartering purposes. Mr. Krulac notes that the blue color generally notes a training practice round, and it may very well be an inert projectile. But NATO markings do not apply to many other makers of 155mm ammunition including the French, who have been known to paint high explosive rounds of some of their ordnance blue.

Others speculate that the round is Russian, left over from the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Hmm, what did that photo uncover about that artillery shell?

UPDATE II: NYTimes issues a correction. Read the caption. I think that was the fastest correction ever.

Deaf Man with No Arms - how does he communicate?

Here's an interesting story about a deaf man with no arms in a video clip detailing (no sounds) the things he can do, including communicate to those around him, despite having no arms. Check out Deaf Newspaper to see the video clip.

In another area, here's a funny clip about deaf neighbors competing over each other. In one scene they compete on who gets to order a pizza the fastest using their own Video Phone relay. It's kind of funny if you ignore the brand plug touting the CSDVRS company.

The People of CISS, Deaflympics and the Pinchas Drama

If you're interested in the people of CISS, Deaflympics and the Pinchas (who is also deaf) squable then read Pinchas' website regarding the matter of several lawsuits against different individuals that are/were related to the CISS or Deaflympics organization. Not sure what all the brouhaha is about but looks interesting to read if you're into that sort of thing regarding courts and laws.

North America Deaf Strongman Games

Here is a copy posted in another blog:

Welcome North America Deaf Strongman Games readers! Who would've expected that my blogsite get linked by this website? Hmmm, interesting sports entertainment concept! Deaf Strongman Games. This will take some closer look. What more email surprises will I get next time?

A nice surprise, eh?

A Snoped Rattlesnake

UPDATE! There's a report (re) circulating in Facebook (as of Dec 2011) about a 15 ft rattlesnake captured in Florida.  Again, another example of an exaggeration running amok.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/15ftrattler.asp

========================================

For confirmation go here!

Today, I received an email about a supposedly 9 ft long rattlesnake that was captured in North Carolina saying it weighed 97lbs. This is the stuff of legends and the stuff of hoaxes, too. Even Snopes received that same picture and made some comments about it and how the snake closer to the camera looks bigger than the man holding it.

According to Rattlesnakes! one type of rattlesnake called the Eastern Diamondback can weigh as much as 15 pounds and 8 feet long.

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake; the most dangerous North American snake. Specimens have been captured as a large as 8-foot long and weighing 15 pounds. The snake's 3/4" fangs are capable of penetrating almost any boot. Fortunately this snake is relatively docile

Now, if the man in the picture seen below holding the snake up with his snake grabber would have undoubtedly a hard time trying to hold up a snake if it weighed 97lbs using the grabber alone while his picture was being taken. Have you ever lifted 97lbs? Have you ever lifted 97lbs using a grabber at one end? Have you ever lifted a club that weighed 97lbs like you would with a fishing pole? Unless you're a strongman you could probably do this. This guy here is no strongman and that snake does not weigh 97lbs.

Click to enlarge

I took the liberty of using the picture and zoomed to the end of the snake grabber. I assumed a width of 1.25 inches for the grabber part. I added hatch marks equidistant of each other based on the width's of the snake grabber's end. I ended up with a calculated length of 6 feet and 9 inches. Click on the picture to see the red hatch marks.

The snake is real. The length of 9 feet is not. It is without a doubt a rattlesnake between 6 and 7 feet long.

Here's a picture of a rattlesnake captured and reported by the Clay county free press. Here's another one, a captured 6 foot Eastern Diamondback. And here's the world's largest rattlesnake!

Want a BBQ recipe for a cooked rattlesnake?

Just watch where step out there.

Hillary Clinton Skeedaddle, Avoids Belafonte's Presence But Still Get Pictured

Hillary Clinton has dangerously set herself near a political cliff by being in the same room as Belafonte at a Children's Defense Fund gathering. Belafonte, days earlier, called President Bush "the greatest terrorist in the world." And because of that Hillary wouldn't come near 15 feet of Belafonte or even acknowledged his presence during lunch. And as soon as Belafonte went up to the mike, she bolted out of the room as an additional measure so that photographers won't get a chance to have both Hillary and Belafonte in the same picture. Apparently it worked. But not so here with Hillary and Belafonte side by side. Well, almost.

But here are the real photos of Hillary and Belafonte in the same picture while they pose chummily together for a picture with other well known black people that was taken at the Congressional Black Caucus 35th Annual Legislative Conference Town Hall meeting on September 22, 2005 at the Washington Convention Center.

Hillary and Belafonte 1
Hillary and Belafonte 2

File an Ethics Complaint Against Ted Kennedy

How brutal it was over the past three days by the Judiciary Committee of which Senator Biden, Kennedy, Feinstein, and few others who have made baseless but serious charges and attacks by implicating that Samual A. Alito has done things wrong in the past and have gotten so bad that Mrs. Alito ran out of the committee room crying according to latest the Drudge Report:

Judge Samuel A. Alito’s wife Martha left the confirmation hearing room in tears this evening, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) apologized to the Judge’s family for the behavior of his fellow committee members during the course of the last three days. Sen. Graham said: “Judge Alito, I am sorry that you’ve had to go through this. I am sorry that your family has had to sit here and listen to this.” Democrats on the Judiciary Committee have attacked Judge Samuel A. Alito over his membership in Concerned Alumni of Princeton and his involvement in the Vanguard case. One senior Republican in the hearing room said of the situation: “After three full days of attacks against her husband’s character, Mrs. Alito had enough. Democrat behavior during this hearing has not only been wrong, it’s been embarrassing. Ted Kennedy is nothing but a bully.”

Michelle Malkin has been covering this circus of Liberal clowns who are none other than pure, unadulterated character assassinators against Samuel A. Alito. Be sure to watch the 9.2 mb clip of Mr. Windbag (Sen. Kennedy) trying to outdo Sen. Arlen Specter (R), chairman of the Judiciary committee. And read the transcript, too, and see just how bad these Democrats have become.

Sen. Kennedy has been the most abrasive in his attempt to make false, though implied, charges and even outright lies about Alito in the attempt to derail and sabotage the whole nomination process and deny the full courtesy that both Mr. and Mrs. Alito deserve in this Judiciary hearing. This process is NOT A TRIAL!! Although Liberals are trying hard to make it look just like that and supplant any faint notions of guilt in the minds of Americans watching this farce. A circus run amok by Liberal clowns!

It's time that somebody need to file an ethics complaint against Sen. Kennedy for his abusive character assassination towards Samuel Alito. Senator Ted Kennedy (and Chuck Schumer) did his best yesterday to imply that Judge Alito was racist and sexist by linking Alito to some of his past going back as far as 30 years and took them completely out of context. Surely it is in Sen. Kennedy's interest to keep Mr. Alito out of the Supreme Court by impugning upon his reputation in a very visible and very public setting. Sen. Kennedy's antics have gone on for far too long as a Senator bully. It's time that this type of attitude among Liberals need to stop. Starting with Sen. Kennedy. Schumer may be next if he decides to inherit the idiocy from Kennedy.

UPDATE: The bashing continues! Unbelievable! Michelle Malkin keeps a hawkeye attention on these Liberal clowns impugning Mr. Alito's character on day four of the Judiciary committee hearing.

Deaf Nation Poker Tour

Do you like playing poker? Want to be a part of the atmosphere by playing against deaf and hard of hearing players? Then check out Deaf Nation's Poker Tour coming this year June 8 at Connecticut. Be sure to check their website for upcoming details. Poker tournaments among deaf and hard of hearing players have become the hottest entertainment competition. Check out this video.

I won't be going since the June date will be in the middle of the west coast's forest fire season. I have to stay behind since I'm expecting this year to be a bad one for the western states due to way below normal moisture over the past 4 months and warm temperatures.

But regardless, those who do go, be sure to have fun playing poker.

Democrats Who Gave Tainted Abramoff's Money Back to Charities

Seems like many Liberals are under-going massive denials such as Howard Dean who said with a straight face on CNN that no Democrats took Abramoff's money:

There are no Democrats who took money from Jack Abramoff, not one, not one single Democrat. Every person named in this scandal is a Republican. Every person under investigation is a Republican. Every person indicted is a Republican. This is a Republican finance scandal. There is no evidence that Jack Abramoff ever gave any Democrat any money. And we've looked through all of those FEC reports to make sure that's true.

One small problem. Many Democrats as of late have been announcing publicly the return of Abramoff's tainted money that was given to them (directly, indirectly, or what have yous under their names) by donating the tainted money to charities. Read below the list of Democrat names of those who returned all, some or none of it back the tainted money of Abramoff's. (note - I will add more URL links later on...errands to do for the moment. I have the links...just wait til I get back). Use the info I've collected so far and distribute them far and wide.

Now, a question to ya'll. Why are Democrats dumping money with the name Abramoff associated with it from their coffers with their names on them to charities? If true what Howard Dean says, then Democrats shouldn't be worried at all. But they are. Very much so. It's a hot potato time.

See the list of very worried Democrats with their Abramoff's hot potato money and see how they got rid of it or not. Or some of it.

Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT): returned about $19K in Abramoff-connected donations, including use of Abramoff's MCI Center skybox (AP, 12/19).

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) will donate $2K to a charity in NY. "To ensure that there is no question of any connection with Mr. Abramoff, Friends of Hillary will contribute the total of $2,000 to a New York charity," Clinton spokeswoman Ann Lewis said in a statement.

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND): donated $3.75K.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) will return $500

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR): returning tainted the $1500 money to charity (Corvallis Gazette Times)

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) returned $67K in Abramoff-connected tribal donations (Bismarck Tribune, 12/14).

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL): donating $11K from Abramoff-related money to two Chicago-area groups that serve Native Americans (MSNBC).

Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL): said he'd donate $2K he received from an Abramoff-connected tribe to the Community Caring Conf. of Rock Island (Salon)

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) will return $1K.

Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA) will return $1K. (AP, 1/5)

Holden expressed a similar sentiment, and noted the $1,000 he got from an Abramoff-associated tribe in 2002 equaled the amount his opponent got from a
different Abramoff-related tribe.

"I don't know anything about them, but to avoid any appearance of impropriety I'm going to give it to charity," Holden said in a telephone interview.

Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD): donating $8.25K to org. that "helps Native Americans" (AP 1/5).

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) will return $2K from tribes according to her spokesperson.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD): donated $5K to American Indian College Fund (AP, 1/5).

Rep Charles Rangel (D) - received $36,000, donates $2000 of it to the Boys Choir of Harlem - (NY Post)

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA): giving $17,000 in out-of-state tribal donations to an Indian charity. (Seattle Weekly 1/11/2006).

Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA): received $5K from the Abramoff-connected MS Band of Choctaw and Chitimacha Tribe of LA. Spokesperson Christine Hanson: "Jay did not know Abramoff. The money was not given to him by Abramoff. This had nothing to do with Abramoff -- none of it" (AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/5).

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) will not return the $42.5K "he took from tribes" repped by Abramoff. Kennedy's CoS: "He's proud to have their support. He's got direct personal relationships with tribes." (AP, 1/5)

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR): spokesperson said she had no dealings with Abramoff and "sees no need" to return her $2K from a MS tribe (Barton, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA): received over $40K in contributions from "out-of state Indian tribes" represented by Abramoff, but her spokesperson said she "had no intention of returning the money or donating it to charity." Murray "does not know" Abramoff. Spokesperson Alex Glass: "What we've seen throughout her career is she is a strong advocate for tribal sovereignty and tribal issues, and that's why tribes give to her" (AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/5).

Min Ldr Harry Reid(D-NV): said he has "no plans" to return about $61K in money from Abramoff's tribal clients. Spokesperson Tessa Hafen: "He's done nothing wrong and sees no reason why he owuld need to donate it" (Reno Gazette-Journal, 1/5).

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR): received $1K from Abramoff-connected Saginaw tribe, spokesperson said he "would not return the money" (AP/Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1/5).

Gay Islamic Terrorist Suicide Bombers?

If this is true as reported by the Sunday Mirror that al Qaeda has been recruiting Islamic suicide bombers who are infected with the HIV virus and use them as human biological bombs. Essentially becoming a walking WMD hoping to increase the kill rate by spreading deadly blood-borne pathogens such as the HIV and Hepatitis virus. Both generally known as Sexually Transmitted Diseases or STD. I wonder where they got those diseases in the first place? Their wives? Prostitutes? Male lovers? Girlfriends? Sisters? Mothers? Maybe throw in a bit of bestality to liven up their dull and sordid lives?

Experts have found that bones and other blood-spattered fragments from a suicide bomber could penetrate the skin of a victim 50 metres (160 ft) away and infect them.

Now, I'm asking. Are these suicide bombers who carry the HIV virus gay? Or are they heterosexual? Or are there both kinds to carry out the attacks? Maybe confused per chance?

This revelation sure does make you think on exactly what kind of company they keep over there. But I'm sure their terrorist leaders approve this with a nod and wink in their direction.

Updates...a reminder.

Folks, as a reminder, I often add updates to my previous blogging like this one, for example. Once in awhile check for updates in big red bold letters whenever you visit. Be sure to scroll down until you see them.

Lou Rawls Dies while Rawls' Mugshot Remains on The Smoking Gun Website

A few days ago the famous Lou Rawls dies of cancer at the age of 72 but his mugshot picture of him still remain on The Smoking Gun's main page. A good way for TSG to remember Lou Rawls, wouldn't you say? By remembering his arrest in 2003 rather than his history of Jazz, R&B and Blues singing? Couldn't the TSG be a bit more considerate and remove his picture from the main page when Lou Rawls just recently died? Isn't that a bit, uh, sleazy? Well, the TSG can be a bit of a sleazy but fascinating website but that's besides the point here. Respect is what I'm getting at.


Click to enlarge.

But should it change, here's the Google cache of the website's main page.

You can contact the TSG at:

E-mail: editor@thesmokinggun.com
The Smoking Gun
600 Third Avenue
16th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10016
(212) 692-7840 or (212) 692-7849

Proof that Saddam Actively Funded al Qaeda Terrorists Training Camps in Iraq

An important tip on the newest scoop about Saddam's funding of terrorist training camps in Iraq with already ample evidence. We know that the MSM press will NOT report this very important discovery.

But first a reminder of naysayers, here is what Sen. Ted Kennedy said about terrorism training in Iraq on October 16, 2003:

"Iraq was not a breeding ground for terrorism. Our invasion has made it one.”

Or the famous John Kerry's statement about terrorists in Iraq during a speech at Temple University, September 24, 2004 :

"Iraq was not a terrorist haven before the invasion."

Now, we have new evidence according to a new report in the Weekly Standard by Stephen Hayes, where new documents found in post-war Iraq confirm earlier reports (here and here) that Saddam Hussein actively funded and trained Islamic terrorists:

THE FORMER IRAQI REGIME OF Saddam Hussein trained thousands of radical Islamic terrorists from the region at camps in Iraq over the four years immediately preceding the U.S. invasion, according to documents and photographs recovered by the U.S. military in postwar Iraq. The existence and character of these documents has been confirmed to THE WEEKLY STANDARD by eleven U.S. government officials.

The secret training took place primarily at three camps--in Samarra, Ramadi, and Salman Pak--and was directed by elite Iraqi military units. Interviews by U.S. government interrogators with Iraqi regime officials and military leaders corroborate the documentary evidence. Many of the fighters were drawn from terrorist groups in northern Africa with close ties to al Qaeda, chief among them Algeria's GSPC and the Sudanese Islamic Army. Some 2,000 terrorists were trained at these Iraqi camps each year from 1999 to 2002, putting the total number at or above 8,000. Intelligence officials believe thatsome of these terrorists returned to Iraq and are responsible for attacks against Americans and Iraqis. According to three officials with knowledge of the intelligence on Iraqi training camps, White House and National Security Council officials were briefed on these findings in May 2005; senior Defense Department officials subsequently received the same briefing.

The photographs and documents on Iraqi training camps come from a collection of some 2 million "exploitable items" captured in postwar Iraq and Afghanistan. They include handwritten notes, typed documents, audiotapes, videotapes, compact discs, floppy discs, and computer hard drives. Taken together, this collection could give U.S.and policymakers an inside look at the activities of the former Iraqi regime in the months and years before the Iraq war.

The discovery of the information on jihadist training camps in Iraq would seem to have two major consequences: It exposes the flawed assumptions of the experts and U.S. intelligence officials who told us for years that a secularist like Saddam Hussein would never work with Islamic radicals, any more than such jihadists would work with an infidel like the Iraqi dictator. It also reminds us that valuable information remains buried in the mountain of documents recovered in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past four years.

Nearly three years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, only 50,000 of these 2 million "exploitable items" have been thoroughly examined. That's 2.5 percent. Despite the hard work of the individuals assigned to the "DOCEX" project, the process is not moving quickly enough, says Michael Tanji, a former Defense Intelligence Agency official who helped lead the document exploitation effort for 18 months. "At this rate," he says, "if we continue to approach DOCEX in a linear fashion, our great-grandchildren will still be sorting through this stuff."

This is the most damning evidence to date and all of it came from Iraqi documents found in Iraq and Afghanistan before, during and after the fall of Bagdad. Many of them already corroborated and verified as being true. But more good things are on the way to learn more about these information.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has convened several meetings in recent weeks to discuss the Pentagon's role in expediting the release of this information. According to several sources familiar with his thinking, Rumsfeld is pushing aggressively for a massive dump of the captured documents. "He has a sense that public vetting of this information is likely to be as good an astringent as any other process we could develop," says Pentagon spokesman Larry DiRita.

The main worry, says DiRita, is that the mainstream press might cherry-pick documents and mischaracterize their meaning. "There is always the concern that people would be chasing a lot of information good or bad, and when the Times or the Post splashes a headline about some sensational-sounding document that would seem to 'prove' that sanctions were working, or that Saddam was just a misunderstood patriot, or some other nonsense, we'd spend a lot of time chasing around after it."

This IS to be expected from the MSM press who WILL cherry pick and choose irrelevant information to feed the masses and dupe them some more. Or just ignore it as best as possible. Even liberal Juan Williams on Foxnews ridiculed Fred Barnes on his assertion that there were terrorist training camps, many with ties to al Qaeda, in Iraq back in November 2003.

However, bloggers from around the United States (and elsewhere ) are beginning to get ready for this massive dump of information. Powerline has more here and here.

We spoke with Steve Hayes of the Weekly Standard earlier this week; he told us that he was about to publish a bombshell: documents and photographs discovered in Iraq show that in the years leading up to the war, Saddam's regime trained thousands of international terrorists at several camps in Iraq.

Spread the word. Release the blogosphere!

The Hillary Scandal and More Thoughts

Hmm, guess which one of the three ought to be the biggest scandal of the year?
Read up on John Armor's article about the scandals of Abramoff, Sharpton and Hillary. It'll make you wonder what the heck is going on over there in D.C. land? John Armor makes really good and interesting points about those three guys.

Now, lest you think that the Hillary scandal is over. It's not. Just beginning:

After more than 5 years of denying any wrongdoing, the Clinton group refused to even contest the charges, and instead signed a "conciliation agreement" with the FEC. According to the agreement, the FEC found "there was probable cause to believe New York Senate 2000 and Andrew Grossman, in his official capacity as [the campaign's] treasurer violated 2 U.S.S Sec 434(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 and 11 D.F.R. Sec 102(c)(8)(i)(A)."

Hillary Clinton's fundraising group now has 30 days from the execution of the agreement (Dec. 13) to correct the false reports and pay the fine.

Obviously I'm not satisfied with a slap-on-the-wrist fine. Hillary Clinton and her campaign staff ought to be in jail for flouting campaign finance laws. But in looking at the big picture, this is a huge victory for Judicial Watch and its supporters. For five years we have doggedly pursued this scandal working hand-in-hand with the Justice Department and the FEC. Thanks to these efforts, a top Clinton aide, Hillary's National Finance Director, David Rosen, was indicted on charges he knowingly filed false campaign finance reports with the FEC. And now, Hillary Clinton's fundraising operation has been fined, and publicly shamed, for its transgressions. Hopefully the Senate Ethics Committee will follow the FEC's lead and take action on Judicial Watch's ethics complaint filed against Hillary for her personal role in the scandal.

Here's the FEC's "Notice of Rulemaking" in the attempt to revamp the internet on political issues.

Hooboy! And if you don't believe that Hillary Clinton hold grudges then you're sadly mistakened. Also, one tend to get really cold and embarrassed after when President Clinton was impeached and discovered that he lied about Lewinsky. Ever wonder why you don't see them both together nowadays?

Also, using a different set of guise, Senator Clinton is trying to act like she really cares about the military so when the 2008 election comes up she'll have something to crow about like her drive to save the "Purple Heart stamp." Noble, indeed, but a bit transparent.

I wonder what Senator Clinton will do with her $12,000 tainted cash that she took from Abramoff? Will she donate the tainted cash to some good charity? I believe she already did like so many others desperate to get rid of the tainted cash.

And we know that Hillary Clinton is a control freak. Her latest aim will be at controlling the internet's contents when it comes to politcs and free speech over the internet.

On Feb. 11, 1998, Hillary Clinton told reporters that the Internet needed an “editing” or “gatekeeping” function. The World Wide Web was out of control, she said. It needed to be reined in. Five years later, Hillary’s dream is on the verge of being realized.

The McCain-Feingold Act of 2002 empowers federal judges and Federal Election Commissioners to determine who is allowed to say what about political candidates in all electronic media. On Sept. 18, 2004, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered the FEC to extend its enforcement of McCain-Feingold to the Internet.

In the face of a massive outcry from bloggers, the FEC backed down from fully implementing Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s order. However, the order stands. Sooner or later, it will be enforced.

Proposals are already on the table to require bloggers to register with the government and to report to the FEC any election-related blogging they undertake as “political contributions” subject to campaign finance law.”

If that's the case, then there is nothing more chilling that to try and suppress free speech in the name of political suppression of ideas.

What more can come out of Sen. Hillary Clinton? What else is she hiding in her closet? More skeletons? Only time will tell.

Watch the First Ever Koko TV

Yes my friends. It's finally here. After many, many months it is finally ready. You can now watch the famous Koko TV and see the excellent signing fluency that will boggle your minds. Kokonut Pundits proudly presents Koko TV! Enjoy.

Mecca Collapses

Well, almost. But a building in Mecca collapsed killing at least 76 Muslims right at the start of the annual gathering of millions of Muslims in preparation for the hajj pilgrimage. Perhaps, allah willed it?

UPDATE: Apparently people do not read closely on the article in my link to it above but get their own panties in a wad about my "allah willed it" comment:

"What happened was a matter of fate and divine decree," Turkestani said.

Read the article in the link the next time, folks. There is a reason why I add links to my blogging. Some may require your brain to add two plus two to get my joke on where I got the "allah willed it" comment to the article's "divine decree" quote by a Muslim believer at Mecca. Boy, talk about being a pea-brain. Always have to spoon feed some of these guys who read my blog who just don't get it at times and give them the answers. Either that or retake English 90 again.

Congrats to Texas Longhorns...Hook 'em Horns!

Remember Wheaties? The "Breakfast of Champions"? Now, the Texas Longhorns team will grace the front box of Wheaties.

General Mills has announced plans to sell a commemorative Wheaties box featuring the Texas Longhorns.

The front of the box will feature a photo of coach Mack Brown and a Longhorns' helmet.

Texas beat Southern California in the Rose Bowl to win the national championship. The last time a college football team graced the front of a Wheaties box was 1997, when Nebraska won a share of the national title.

The Bush's send their regards to the Texas Longhorns.


Hook 'em Horns!

Jobless Claims Plunge to Five-Year Low

Jobless claims are better now than at one time when president Clinton was in office.

The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell to the lowest level in more than five years last week, providing strong evidence that the labor market is shaking off the effects of a string of devastating hurricanes.

The Labor Department reported Thursday that applications for unemployment benefits dropped by 35,000 to 291,000, the smallest number since Sept. 23, 2000, when the economy was in the concluding months of the longest economic expansion in history.

Remember, it's the economy stupid. And we keep bouncing right back with the econmy roaring ahead despite numerous disasters.

Dirty Hillary

Thanks for the hat tip Michelle. I've been watching this, too.

The report by Peter Paul came out yesterday regarding Hillary Clinton's falsely signed reports to the FEC in the attempt to hide his identity as her largest contributor of more than $1.2 million cash in-kind contributions to her 2000 Senate campaign. Peter Paul tells why she did this.

Why did the Clintons behave like this? Because they think they can get away with it. Now, Bill and Hillary must answer any upcoming depositions.

Hillary must now be compelled to explain why, as a candidate who was notified that false reports had been filed by her campaign relating to the largest contribution to her campaign and the identity of her largest donor, she refused to cause the false reports to be amended or footnoted, and why she allowed yet a third false report to be filed by Grossman weeks after she received various sworn pleadings and statements accompanied by checks and invoices.

This third false report, made in direct response to an inquiry by the FEC regarding earlier reports on Event 39- the Hollywood Farewell Gala Salute to President Clinton - was clearly an intentional false statement made with wanton disregard for its truthfulness, with the full knowledge, complicity and collusion of Hillary Clinton and her counsel, David Kendall. (This fact is confirmed by the affidavit of service of process of the civil suit Paul v Hillary R Clinton et al filed on June 18, 2001 and served on David Kendall on July 11, 2001).

Hillary will attempt to spin the finding by the FEC as an exoneration of her other Senate campaign committee and herself, because she was not found to be liable under FEC law. She will not refer to the fact that the FEC has no jurisdiction over Title 18 of the US Code. Her potential criminal liability based on Title 18, for aiding and abetting, conspiring, colluding with and misprisoning Mr Grossman's filing of material false statements to the FEC and the IRS, and then obstructing the federal investigation of those actions that led to the indictment and prosecution of her finance director, is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Justice Department.

Considering the accountability of others like Lewis Libby for misleading government investigators about a non-crime, the voters of New York should demand a further investigation into Hillary's own conduct in hiding the identity and the amount donated by her largest contributor from the voters before her election, and then from the government agencies after the election..

When the FEC publishes all the documents supporting their findings within 45 days, and when NY Senate 2000 is forced to finally amend its false FEC reports as provided in the Conciliation Agreement, the truth will be there for even the blind to see.

The landmark civil suit Paul v Clinton et al begins the discovery phase in early 2006, after the California Supreme Court denied David Kendall's appeals to dismiss the case against both Clintons. The testimony under oath by the multitude of witnesses to Hillary's misconduct wil challenge Hillary and Bill totell the truth in their own depositions or face the prospect of new perjury charges even more serious than those that emanated from Paula Jones' deposition of Bill.

This is going to get interesting. Isn't this all about accountability?

The Clintons' saga continues.

Shirley MacLain's Astrology Explains Michelle's Agreement with Daily Kos

According to Shirley MacLain's website on her daily astrology report, the alignment of Michelle Malkin, Kos and National Review coming together where all agree on one thing was probably due to "positive link of the Sun to Jupiter" where it "will assist you to feel and find your inner vision and be restored."

Wednesday, January 4, 2006
This is a powerful day. The Moon remains in Pisces with very good aspects to other planets, and the Sun forms a very beneficial angle to Jupiter.

The Earth is at perihelion today and so the Sun is closer to us. The planets life force as well as your own is linked to the Sun. You may want to utilize the good lunar energies with this perihelion to focus on how much you are feeling about life itself. Attune to your own energy and see if you need sustenance. The day is one in which you may be renewed. If you are low in energy or lack enthusiasm you may seek the Suns massive force to infuse you. If you are moving too fast and feel on over-load, then seek the energy of the Sun to help you to also bring balance by dissipating and burning off the excess. The positive link of the Sun to Jupiter will assist you to feel and find your inner vision and be restored. Replenishment of vitality is a flowing energy to you from these two aligned celestial bodies.

Maybe Shirely is onto something? Michelle, what do you think?

Schwarzenegger Says "No" to Deaf and Blind Death Row Inmate on Clemecy Hearing

Ok. I got your attention. Good. The guy wasn't born deaf and blind. Just late deafened and blind. Now, a death row inmate at 75 years old who is deaf, blind, uses a wheelchair and suffers from other medical conditions is a reason to get out from under an execution set for January 17, 2006? I don't think so.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Wednesday he will not hold a clemency hearing for death row inmate Clarence Allen, who is scheduled to be exeucted by lethal injection January 17 for three 1980 killings.

Last week, Schwarzenegger said he would not hold any public clemency hearings for Allen, then followed that decision Wednesday with word there would be no private hearing either.

Why should Arnold hold public clemecy hearings for a death row inmate who killed three innocent people back in 1980? This would be the 4th refusal for clemecy hearings for a total of four death row prisoners who have sought clemency since he took office two years ago. If this death row prisoner is suffering so much why put it off any longer the execution? That's 25 years of money down the drain.

Meet thy Maker, and join Tookie.

Ann Coulter Makes a Point on MSM Twisting of Facts on FISA

It's nothing new under the sun with those liberal over-reaching MSM reporting on NSA and FISA when it comes to getting warrants for request on searches by omitting several well meaning key facts:

The Treason Times reported FISA virtually rubber-stamps warrant requests all the time. As proof, the Times added this irrelevant statistic: In 2004, "1,754 warrants were approved." No one thought to ask how many requests were rejected.

Over and over we heard how the FISA court never turns down an application for a warrant. USA Today quoted liberal darling and author James Bamford saying: "The FISA court is as big a rubber stamp as you can possibly get within the federal judiciary." He "wondered why Bush sought the warrantless searches, since the FISA court rarely rejects search requests," said USA Today.

Put aside the question of why it's so vitally important to get a warrant from a rubber-stamp court if it's nothing but an empty formality anyway. After all the ballyhoo about how it was duck soup to get a warrant from FISA, I thought it was pretty big news when it later turned out that the FISA court had been denying warrant requests from the Bush administration like never before.

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the FISA court "modified more wiretap requests from the Bush administration than from the four previous presidential administrations combined."

In the 20 years preceding the attack of 9/11, the FISA court did not modify -- much less reject -- one single warrant request. But starting in 2001, the judges "modified 179 of the 5,645
requests for court ordered surveillance by the Bush administration." In the years 2003 and 2004, the court issued 173 "substantive modifications" to warrant requests and rejected or "deferred" six warrant requests outright.

What would a Democrat president have done at that point? Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack. Also, perhaps as a gesture of inclusion and tolerance, hold an Oval Office reception for the suspected al Qaeda operatives. After another terrorist attack, I'm sure a New York Times reporter could explain to the victims' families that, after all, the killer's
ties to al Qaeda were merely "dubious" and the FISA court had a very good reason for denying the warrant request.

Every once in a while the nation needs little reminder of why the Democrats can't be trusted with national security. This is today's lesson.

That's exactly what it sounds like on what Liberals would do. Sit back and wait for the next attack. And the next. And the next. Oh, wait. Clinton did do that and that he did nothing.

After the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which killed six and injured 1,000; President Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 1995 bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed five U.S. military personnel; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 and injured 200 U.S. military personnel; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 1998 bombing of U.S. embassies in Africa, which killed 224 and injured 5,000; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

After the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, which killed 17 and injured 39 U.S. sailors; Clinton promised that those responsible would be hunted down and punished.

Promises. Promises. Promises. What a sitting Liberal would do? At least al Qaeda terrorists made promises to attack America as much as possible. Get them on the Liberal team. Oh, I think they have already. They are with this NSA thing by agreeing to let terrorists make phone calls to other terrorists back home.

When Democrats Ride the Same Sinking Boat

List of Democrats who have taken Abrhamoff money
Abramoff Lobbying & Political Contributions to Democrats, per FEC Records

*Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) Received At Least – $22,500
* Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) Received At Least – $6,500
* Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) Received At Least – $1,250
* Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) Received At Least – $2,000
* Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Received At Least – $20,250
* Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Received At Least – $21,765
* Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) Received At Least – $7,500
* Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Received At Least – $12,950
* Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) Received At Least – $8,000
* Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) Received At Least – $7,500
* Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) Received At Least – $14,792
* Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Received At Least – $79,300
* Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) Received At Least – $14,000
* Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Received At Least – $2,000
* Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) Received At Least – $1,250
* Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) Received At Least – $45,750
* Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) Received At Least – $9,000
* Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT) Received At Least – $2,000
* Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) Received At Least – $14,250
* Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) Received At Least – $3,300
* Senator John Kerry (D-MA) Received At Least – $98,550
* Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) Received At Least – $28,000
* Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT) Received At Least – $4,000
* Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) Received At Least – $6,000
* Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) Received At Least – $29,830
* Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Received At Least – $14,891
* Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Received At Least – $10,550
* Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) Received At Least – $78,991
* Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) Received At Least – $20,168
* Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) Received At Least – $5,200
* Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) Received At Least – $7,500
* Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) Received At Least – $2,300
* Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) Received At Least – $3,500
* Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) Received At Least – $68,941
* Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV) Received At Least – $4,000
* Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) Received At Least – $4,500
* Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) Received At Least – $4,300
* Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Received At Least – $29,550
* Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Received At Least – $6,250
* Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) - Received At Least – $6,250

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte $423,480
Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte $354,700
Democratic National Cmte $65,720

Patrick J. Kennedy (D-RI) $42,500
Patty Murray (D-Wash) $40,980
Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) $36,000
Harry Reid (D-Nev) $30,500
Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND) $28,000
Tom Daschle (D-SD) $26,500
Democratic Party of Michigan $23,000
Brad R. Carson (D-Okla) $20,600
Dale E. Kildee (D-Mich) $19,000
Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md) $17,500
Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) $15,500
Democratic Party of Oklahoma $15,000
Chris John (D-La) $15,000
John Breaux (D-La) $13,750
Frank Pallone, Jr (D-NJ) $13,600
Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo) $12,000
Mary L. Landrieu (D-La) $11,500
Barney Frank (D-Mass) $11,100
Max Baucus (D-Mont) $11,000
Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) $10,000
Democratic Party of North Dakota $10,000
Nick Rahall (D-WVa) $10,000
Democratic Party of South Dakota $9,500
Democratic Party of Minnesota $9,000
Ron Kind (D-Wis) $9,000
Peter Deutsch (D-Fla) $8,500
Joe Baca (D-Calif) $8,000
Dick Durbin (D-Ill) $8,000
Xavier Becerra (D-Calif) $7,523
Tim Johnson (D-SD) $7,250
Democratic Party of New Mexico $6,250
Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) $6,000
David E. Bonior (D-Mich) $5,000
Jon S. Corzine (D-NJ) $5,000
Democratic Party of Montana $5,000
Fritz Hollings (D-SC) $5,000
Jay Inslee (D-Wash) $5,000
Thomas P. Keefe Jr. (D-Wash) $5,000
Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md) $5,000
Deborah Ann Stabenow (D-Mich) $5,000
Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) $4,500
Tom Carper (D-Del) $4,000
Kent Conrad (D-ND) $4,000
Jerry Kleczka (D-Wis) $4,000
Sander Levin (D-Mich) $4,000
Robert T. Matsui (D-Calif) $4,000
George Miller (D-Calif) $4,000
Kalyn Cherie Free (D-Okla) $3,500
James L. Oberstar (D-Minn) $3,500
Charles J. Melancon (D-La) $3,100
Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) $3,000
Cal Dooley (D-Calif) $3,000
John B. Larson (D-Conn) $3,000
David R. Obey (D-Wis) $3,000
Ed Pastor (D-Ariz) $3,000

Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif) $3,000 - "Culture of Corruption"

Richard M. Romero (D-NM) $3,000
Brad Sherman (D-Calif) $3,000
Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss) $3,000
Max Cleland (D-Ga) $2,500
Grace Napolitano (D-Calif) $2,500
Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif) $2,500
Bill Luther (D-Minn) $2,250
Gene Taylor (D-Miss) $2,250
Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii) $2,000
Ken Bentsen (D-Texas) $2,000
Dan Boren (D-Okla) $2,000
Rosa L. DeLauro (D-Conn) $2,000
John D. Dingell (D-Mich) $2,000
Doug Dodd (D-Okla) $2,000
Ned Doucet (D-La) $2,000
Lane Evans (D-Ill) $2,000
Sam Farr (D-Calif) $2,000
John Neely Kennedy (D-La) $2,000
Carl Levin (D-Mich) $2,000
Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark) $2,000
Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) $2,000
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) $2,000
Adam Schiff (D-Calif) $2,000
Ronnie Shows (D-Miss) $2,000
Adam Smith (D-Wash) $2,000
Ellen O. Tauscher (D-Calif) $2,000
Mike Thompson (D-Calif) $2,000
Maxine Waters (D-Calif) $2,000
Peter DeFazio (D-Ore) $1,500
Norm Dicks (D-Wash) $1,500
John Kerry (D-Mass) $1,400
Barbara Boxer (D-Calif) $1,000
Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif) $1,000
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) $1,000
Jim Costa (D-Calif) $1,000
Susan A. Davis (D-Calif) $1,000
Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) $1,000
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) $1,000
Tim Holden (D-Pa) $1,000
Patrick Leahy (D-Vt) $1,000
Joe Lieberman (D-Conn) $1,000
Jim Maloney (D-Conn) $1,000
David Phelps (D-Ill) $1,000
Charles S. Robb (D-Va) $1,000
Brian David Schweitzer (D-Mont) $1,000
Pete Stark (D-Calif) $1,000
Gloria Tristani (D-NM) $1,000
Derrick B. Watchman (D-Ariz) $1,000
Rick Weiland (D-SD) $1,000
Paul Wellstone (D-Minn) $1,000
Ron Wyden (D-Ore) $1,000
Bob Borski (D-Pa) $720
Shelley Berkley (D-Nev) $500
Howard L. Berman (D-Calif) $500
Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) $500
Democratic Party of Washington $500
Barbara Lee (D-Calif) $500
Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif) $500
Grand Total $1,541,673


Hardly makes it moot to attack Republicans when Democrats are in the same boat on taking money from Abramoff. Why the long list? Just to make a point here.

“It’s very odd that Democrats at the national and state levels have sought to exploit the Abramoff matter for political gain, while in the process throwing countless congressional Democrats under the bus,’ said Brian Nick, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).” (Charles Hurt, “Dorgan Returns Abramoff Money,” The Washington Times, December 14, 2005)

And of course, this one:

An NRSC Report Shows That Nearly 90 Percent Of Senate “Democrats Have Taken Abramoff-Related Money.” “The NRSC has begun circulating among fellow Republicans new reports showing that all but five of the chamber’s 44 Democrats have taken Abramoff-related money. In addition, the Democratic National Committee (or DEAN COUNTRY), the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have taken more than $1.2 million, according to records provided to The Washington Times.” (Charles Hurt, “Dorgan Returns Abramoff Money,” The Washington Times, December 14, 2005)

See also Campaing Finance Analysis Project

See what happens when Democrats shout "QUAGMIRE!!" and end up shooting their own feet? And in the process shoot numerous holes at the bottom floor of the boat.

If you're the sensitive liberal type do not click on this link.

Thanks, Chris Muir.

Thank you Chris Muir for linking my blog, Kokonut Pundits, to your list of conservative bloggers on your website. Check it folks and the cartoons, too. It's easy to install the Day by Day script cartoon on your blogsite. Try it and spice up your blogsite.

Rob McGovern and Chris Muir

*Read my recent UPDATEs to this story at bottom of page.

I'm repeating the story here about Rob McGovern since you might of come here through a Google or Technorati search on Rob McGovern. My story about him is seen below. But first a hearty thank you to Chris Muir of Day by Day. Thank you Chris for mentioning Rob McGovern in your strip today. Maybe people will finally look him up and see the things he has done.

Chris Muir of Day by Day cartoon seen above contacted me after I explained to him about Rob McGovern, one of the many deserving unsung heros on the war against terrorism, in one of my blog. It was nearly a week ago when Chris responded to my email and loved the story, and agreed to put Rob McGovern's name in the one of the cartoon's panel. I mentioned this hint yesterday and on December 31, 2005.

Here's my story:

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 four 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: Chris informed me that the Dan Rather cartoon inclusion in his Day by Day cartoon panel was a result of my yesterday's blog where I mentioned Dan Rather in "Roll over, Dan. Roll over" (scroll down near bottom of page). He thought I'd get a big kick out of it. I sure did after finding out why he put Dan Rather after reading his email. That cartoon panel is now preserved at the top of my blog.

And now, you know the rest of the story.

BTW, be sure to check Day by Day's links on conservative bloggers seen on the left column of his website. Something new will be added very, very soon.

Thanks Chris!

UPDATE II: Thanks for adding Kokonut Pundits to your links, Chris!