Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Thoughts on a glum Wednesday

  • Some of the new red-state Dems ran as conservatives on immigration, defense, and other issues. What will they do on the important issues?

  • The GOP deserved to lose. They screwed up immigration reform, lost any semblance of fiscal responsibility, and basically suffered complete amnesia regarding the vision of Ronald Reagan.

  • Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker claims she will run the House in a bi-partisan fashion - if she tries to move the Democratic caucus sharply to the Left, she'll be a major target in 2008.

  • If the Democrats' primary thrusts are impeachment and cut-and-run in Iraq, they will also find a nasty surprise waiting for them in 2008. Hopefully, they can listen to the military on Iraq and continue the fight to establish a Democratic government in the region. If not, they will continue to deserve their label as "the Party of Weakness"... until the next terrorist attack on U.S. soil... or until they demonstrate a backbone on the critical issues of security confronting the country.

  • The mainstream media deserves much of the credit for this win: a constant drumbeat of anti-Bush stories (160 out of 160 New York Times op-eds by Dowd, Herbert, and Rich were anti-administration). Evan Thomas of Newsweek once claimed that the media was worth around "15 (percentage) points for the Democrats." Even if the figure is three or five points, control of the vast majority of channels in the large markets could swing an otherwise even election.

  • How much are the Democrats actually prepared to lead?

Monday, November 06, 2006

The origin of the Party Symbols


The elephant is the symbol of the Republican Party. During midterm election in 1874, Democrats attempted to frighten voters into believing that President Grant would attempt to unfairly seize power by running for an unprecedented third tirm. The first political cartoonist -- Thomas Nast of Harper's Weekly -- depicted a Democratic jackass unsuccessfully trying to frighten a Republican elephant. Both symbols stuck.


Change the word 'chaos' -- at the bottom of the drawing -- to 'quagmire' and we could syndicate the same cartoon today.

What's at Stake on Tuesday

A news story I hope never to read


Did the Democrats truly consider the consequences of dismantling the Patriot Act... or preventing the NSA from wiretapping international telephone calls... or obstructing data-mining on phone-call records? It may have started as simple hatred of George W. Bush. Or it could have been purely partisan obstructionism. Nonetheless, actions have consequences.

NYC ATOM ATTACK

Geostar 45 satellite captures detonation moments after attack
Islamic Group Claims Responsibility

(FLASH/AP) At approximately 5:15pm EST yesterday, terrorists associated with Ansar al Islam detonated a 15 kiloton atomic weapon in the harbor near Manhattan's battery. Radio reports indicated that the terrorists were operating a speedboat and that a pursuit by the United States Coast Guard was underway when the explosion occurred.

Three Nuclear Emergency Support Teams (NEST) were on the scene and initial casualty reports estimated as many as 125,000 dead and 500,000 wounded. Area hospitals were overwhelmed with cases of severe burns, radiation sickness, and major injuries. A triage facility was established at 103th street - Corona Plaza and all medical personnel were asked to report immediately to their respective facilities.

A shaken president Hillary Clinton addressed the nation via radio at 8 pm EST. "This dark day has tested the mettle of the American people," she stated, "our thoughts and prayers are with those who have died, and those who suffer. Time and time again we have risen to the challenge, defeating tyrants, extremists and dictators who would fight freedom. And this time, it will be no different. I ask all Americans to band together, to help your neighbors, to reassure one another in this dark hour. I can assure you that we will strike back. We will strike hard. And that justice will be done."

Clinton went on to issue a presidential directive reinstating the Patriot Act, which had been dismantled less than twelve months after her election. She also declared martial law in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, and Detroit, where National Guard troops were enforcing a curfew. There were unconfirmed reports of widespread looting and civil unrest in areas surrounding New York City.

Economic Impact Felt Worldwide

The New York Stock Exchange has suspended trading while operations are moved to a backup facility near Philadelphia. Redundant computer operations for most of Wall Street have ensured that account and trading information is intact.

Oil prices skyrocketed to over $120 a barrel immediately after the explosion and then plummeted to $65 as the economic impact of a potential worldwide recession loomed.

Gold shot overnight to 1800/oz. and the value of the dollar fell nearly a third in overnight trading.

The NASDAQ stock market intends to resume trading within the week, operating from its redundant Chicago facility.
Retaliation: Shock and Anger

Senior Pentagon officials tell the AP that war plans are underway and that a strategic nuclear response "is being contemplated".

Former CIA Analyst Robert Acres told CNN that NEST is capable of determining the source of the nuclear material used by the terrorists. "When that source is located, I can assure you that there will be hell to pay."

A CNN/Gallup Poll taken last night asked viewers which potential target would be struck first in a military response. Over 50% answered Iran, 25% North Korea, 10% Pakistan, 10% Mecca, and 5% all of the named targets.

There were unconfirmed reports from Norfolk, Virginia that Task Force 134, the US Pacific Fleet's Nuclear Submarine Group, had been ordered to the Indian Ocean.

Continuity of Government

Upon the first reports of the detonation, a Continuity of Government (COG) operation began moving the president, vice-president, cabinet, key congressional leaders, military and intelligence personnel to a secure facility in West Virginia. No further details were available at press time.

Claims of Responsibility

Within hours of the attack, a web site affiliated with the Al Jazeera network posted a claim of responsibility by Ansar al Islam reading "Praise be to God, we have the struck the enemy a shattering blow and we will strike again before it can recover. God is great, and thanks be unto God for delivering us this victory. We will fight the infidel crusaders wherever they may live, from this time forward, until they have been eradicated from the face of the earth."

Harsh Criticism of Policy

Hours after the attack, the president's critics were harshly reprimanding her reorganization of the CIA, NSA and the Department of Homeland Security. Her efforts to place shared responsibilities of defense and intelligence-gathering with the United Nations also came under fire.

Senate Minority Leader Mitt Romney (R-MA) stated, "At the end of the day, the Patriot Act was a good idea. The NSA's international wiretapping program was a good idea. And we must have these tools to be able to combat the scourge of global extremist terror."

Continued on Page A3.



Fresh reads:
Ace of Spades: Terrorists Endorse Democrats In Election; Media Silent (hat tip: Anchoress)
Anchoress: Speaking of John Kerry and the Press
Blue Crab Boulevard: Maybe the best analysis...
Captain's Quarters: WaPo Spins Republican Resurgence
GatewayPundit: Saddam verdict is announced
Hot Air: Sunday Shows Open Thread
Hugh Hewitt: GOTV from the comfort of your own home
JustOneMinute: How soon they forget
Mary Katherine Ham: What are you doing this weekend?
Michelle Malkin: Protesting
Outside the Beltway: 2006 Election Predictions
Rick Moran: C'mon Dean!
STACLU: Filibuster Pact and Big shift in generic polls
Strata-Sphere: Some early indicators
Wizbang: Election predictions
Wuzzadem: John Kerry: "Let Me (Not) Make This as Crystal (Un)clear as I Can(not)"

Saturday, November 04, 2006

The documents the New York Times just authenticated


The Times unleashed 'Operation Al-Qaqaa II' yesterday, but there was teeny tiny hitch in its execution.

In their zeal to deliver a death blow to newly resurgent Republicans, they accidentally destroyed the central thesis for attacking the Bush administration for lo these many years. You know: that Bush lied, misled, deceived, and otherwise tortured the English language, thereby hypnotizing the Democrats into believing that Saddam Hussein was a threat.

Now the Times reveals that, why yes, Saddam Hussein's Iraq had a mature nuclear weapons program -- and documented links to global extremist terror groups -- all along! Whoops!

What follows is an illustrated guide to some of the documents that the Times has authenticated (and a huge hat tip to the indefatigable Captain Ed, who has tirelessly analyzed and organized the FMSO documents).


Starting in 1994 -- and lasting at least until 1997, but probably longer -- Saddam Hussein's Intelligence Services had multiple, direct contacts with Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda.


And, just four days after 9/11, Hussein's Intelligence personnel issued written warnings that their connections to Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda might be discovered by the U.S.!


In 2003, an Iraqi government memo testified that a convoy of fifty (50) tractor-trailers entered Syria just before the invasion. What cargo would have been shipped into Iraq just before the invasion (for which each driver was paid $200, a very generous sum in 2003 Iraqi terms)?


Also in 2003, another official memo describes where chemical weapons and delivery systems (missiles) were hidden to prevent their destruction in the invasion.


In 2002, Hussein's government was actively manufacturing the bioweapon ricin.


Also in 2002, Iraqi Intelligence Forces were actively engaged in the design of bioweapon delivery schemes, including the use of airplanes to spread toxic materials.


In 2001, Hussein ordered mass grave sites to be tested for radiation. What exactly about these graves would require testing for radiation?


In 2001, Hussein's government actively recruited suicide bombers to attack American interests either in the U.S. or abroad.


In 1999, Uday Hussein ordered a series of assassinations in London, Iran, and Iraq.

* * *

And - there's more where those documents came from. The net result, though, is that the Times has confirmed several critical facts regarding Iraq:

Saddam's government had mature WMD programs just prior to the invasion (bioweapons, chemical, and nuclear).

Saddam was only months away from building an atomic weapon.

Saddam's government had multiple, operational ties to global terror groups, including Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda.

Thank you, New York Times!


On Tuesday, vote SRT. Straight. Republican. Ticket.



Update: Ray Robison writes to remind us that the Iraqi Intelligence Services and other officials of Saddam's government met with Al Qaeda and Taliban officials in 1999. Be sure and check out Ray's site, linked below!

Update II: Welcome, Confederate Yankee readers!

Oven-fresh good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress: NY Times' big scoop getting buried by mainstream media
Blue Crab Boulevard: Oopsie!
Captain's Quarters: So I guess the FMSO documents are legit
HotAir: Radioactive: more on the NYT nuke article
Hugh Hewitt: Righteous outrage: missing-in-action
J Veritas: Translating the Iraqi Docs
Ray Robison: New York Times on sensitive nuclear data on DOD website
STACLU: Kerry unapologizes for insult to Military
Strata Sphere: IAEA went to Times, not the US Government
Wizbang: The Grunts outclass the Patrician

Friday, November 03, 2006

Where's Nancy?


Nancy Pelosi has gone to ground. I'd be hiding too, if I had a voting record like Nancy's. While we're looking, here's a fun game for the entire family.


Neal Boortz: Where's Nancy? Hiding that is...

New York Times unleashes Al-Qaqaa II: shoots self in foot

Oh, and about those WMDs and terrorists: Iraq had 'em, according to the Times




Remember Al-Qaqaa? This was the explosives site that American forces supposedly failed to secure after the invasion of Iraq.


Over an eight-day period leading up to the 2004 Presidential election, the New York Times published 16 articles and seven letters attacking the Bush administration for "incompetence."


The trouble with the story was, of course, that it was completely fabricated. As it turned out, less than four hundred -- out of 400,000 -- tons were unaccounted for. Oh, and the weapons may have been removed before the invasion.


In fact, the story was truly so unimportant that, after November 1st, 2004, the Times didn't bother to run a single article concerning Al-Qaqaa.


Al-Qaqaa became synonymous with "just another Times hit-piece".


In another attempt at a "November Surprise," the Times reveals today that Saddam Hussein was 12 months away from acquiring an atomic weapon.


Let me repeat that: The New York Times is confirming that in 2002, Iraq was one year away from building an atomic bomb.


The entire "Bush lied" meme -- which was obviously and patently false based upon statements by Bill Clinton, Madeline Albright, John Kerry, et. al., -- has been utterly, completely obliterated by the Times.


Laughably, the Times hasn't yet quite recognized the damage it has done to the Democratic cause.


It over-analyzed the story, figuring the disclosure of Iraqi atomic- and terrorist secrets would aid the Democrats.


But instead it simply confirms the position of the Bush Administration on WMDs:


Hussein was both startlingly close to gaining access to an atomic weapon...


...and had documented, confirmed ties with global Islamofascist terrorist organizations!


Further, said disclosures pale in comparison with the litany of national security secrets disclosed by the Times that aided terrorists:


...it revealed a classified program that wiretapped international phone calls between suspected terrorist enclaves and the U.S....


...it revealed another classified program called SWIFT (an international bank reporting system that even the Times later admitted was perfectly legal)...


...and it leaked yet another classified data-mining program that analyzed phone-numbers called (which, again, no one has claimed was illegal)...


...and it released (while selectively censoring) the classified NIE report in order to damage the Bush administration.


Now the Times has provided the ultimate fuel for a GOP victory. It has bolstered the Bush administration's arguments and burnished President Bush's reputation for blatant honesty. The net result as revealed by the Times:


The invasion of Iraq prevented Hussein from gaining access to a nuke -- and providing it to his terrorist cronies.

Thank you, New York Times.


Vote Republican.



Oven-fresh good readin', just like Mama used to make:
7.62mm Justice: Times is worried about leaks
Anchoress: NY Times: Bush told truth! Saddam a threat! Yellowcake!
Blue Crab Boulevard: The November Surprise
Captain's Quarters: FSMO documents are legit!
Gateway Pundit: NYT: Saddam Was a Year Away from Building A-Bomb!
Fausta's Blog: Saddam was a year away from having a nuclear bomb
Flopping Aces: Grey Lady discovers Saddam had nuclear intentions
Hot Air: November Surprise!
Hugh Hewitt: Calling Rick Santorum, calling Pennsylvania and Grey Lady's November Surprise
Michelle Malkin: Suddenly, the Times is worried about disclosures
Q and O: Almost Nuclear Iraq
Rick Moran: Irony so thick you can bathe in it
STACLU: Saddam closer to a Bomb than anyone thought
Wizbang: Someone owes Dick Cheney an apology and Heads GOP wins, Tails Dems Lose

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

How electronic voting works


For those readers not familiar with the details, I thought I would describe how electronic voting works, why it's secure, and therefore why Democrats we can trust it implicitly.


Mister (or Ms.) voter shows up at the polls (and is promptly turned away if they don't have valid, legal identification).


The poll worker authorizes the voting machine, which can then be used by the voter to create an electronic "ballot."


Upon leaving the polling station, the voter obliges a request for an "exit poll" with answers that are completely opposite to the ballot he or she just cast. This is used to mislead Democrats, who believe they are winning right up until the moment they actually lose.


Meanwhile, the integrity and confidentiality of the electronic ballot is assured through a fool-proof series of steps called "Public-Key Infrastructure", which was invented in 1976 by a brilliant young scientist named Al Gore.


The encrypted ballot is routed to a central computer at the polling location where votes are tallied at the precinct (or "voter-disenfranchisement") level.


Using super-secure electronic communications lines -- with 100% uptime guaranteed by either Vonage, Skype, or France Telecom (the latter in Massachusetts) -- the precinct-level data is routed to a mainframe at each State Capitol.


At the Capitol, a bonded and licensed technician from Diebold removes the data from the mainframe and stores it on two Flash Drives for redundancy.


These flash drives, encrypted with a super-secure, 32-bit, hand-generated key, are then flown to Diebold World Headquarters in North Canton, Ohio.


Once at Diebold, the flash-drives are unencrypted (the accompanying picture is not of Diebold's offices, but some other complex that looks much more impressive than their real offices).


Using the data from the flash-drives, Diebold's bi-partisan review board hand-checks the results and passes them on to the review official.


The review official certifies the results and passes them on to the Diebold's appointed head of media relations.


The head of media relations vets the results and releases them to the electronic news wires for dissemination to the media.

* * *

Electronic voting: it really is just that simple.



Oven-fresh good readin', just like Mama used to make:
Anchoress: Kerry will take the fall if Dems fail
Captain's Quarters: Provocateur Ejected For Provoking
Hugh Hewitt: What did John Kerry do?
Rick Moran: John Kerry - as cold as they come
STACLU: Nat Hentoff: Battle for the ACLU
Wizbang: Defending John Kerry

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

John Kerry: the Men and Women of our Armed Forces are Idiots


You can't even make this stuff up. The following is an actual transcript of a speech given by John Kerry (hat tip: RWN).


You know, education, if you make the most of it...


...if you study hard and you do your homework...


...and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well...


If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.


But, remember, he supports the troops.