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November 2003

The Democrat Debate Tonight

Yeah, I am probably the only one who watched the debate tonight on MSNBC. Well, me and little Blackfive were trying to put a few puzzles together and watch it at the same time. He even sighed when I did when one of them said something assinine...he's a bit of a pistol. I seem to be digressing here.

Okay, the one thing that stood out was that I kept getting the impression that Wesley Clark kept insinuating that President Bush was responsible for 9/11. Anyone else get that impression?

I will have to read the transcript. If I wasn't letting my historical dislike for the man get in the way of being impartial, then he has a lot of gall to insinuate something like that. I would use harsher language except it's Sunday...

Why do I have historical dislike for General Clark?

Because he ruined the careers of two officers that I knew when they worked for him at the National Training Center. Both officers, Noah and Jeffrey, were not good friends of mine. I had gone through ROTC with them and they were definitely too starchy for me - meaning that they took the rules very, very seriously. But that was their problem with Clark. They refused to throw war games when they were "fighting" as the enemy against one of Clark's buddies (another General) from West Point. He wanted them to make his buddy look good by losing to his division. They refused. He fired them over it - I believe one of them was relieved of command and the other encouraged to resign. That pretty much kills your military career. A lot of officers in the Army knew to try to avoid working for Clark. Noah ended up getting a JD and going back in the Army as a JAG Officer.

I haven't liked Clark since 1990.

My first Clark post is here...


Weekend Blogging

Since Saturday's postings are a bit sparse on the Blogosphere, why don't you take a spin through my blogrolls, visit MilBlogs - Free Speech From Those Who Help Make It Possible , or checkout the New Blog Showcase

You should also check out some of these great sites:

Trying To Grok

TechnoChitlins

Random Fate

The Calico Cat

The Fat Guy

All-Encompassingly

Man Sized Target

The Oriental Redneck

Taco Flavored Kisses

Rantings of a Homicidal Maniak

Cavalier Attitude

Civilization Calls

The View from the Right

Candy Universe

News From The Fridge

views of the northeast

Tom's Nap Room

Also, you have an opportunity to explore the more 'racier' side of the Blogosphere: Madfish Willie is starting a LinkLoveFest called: Tales from The Champagne Room [Remember, there is no sex in The Champagne Room].

Madfish will be taking your links to all the erotic tales (real or imagined), dirty jokes, risque post titles, cartoons, suggestive pics, and just generally nasty stuff in the blogosphere.

To get a better idea of what Madfish is doing, go read the posts listed here.

Send your links to [email protected] by Saturday, 12:00 noon to be included in the weekly round-up posted on Sunday afternoons! Any details or story set-up sent with links will be posted. Remember, people, this is a bar not a Sunday School class.

Although it probably won't happen, Madfish Willie reserves the right to story edit set-ups.


If You Support Our Military...

...Then you only a have a few more days to send a positive message to our troops or their families in time for Christmas. Here are some details on how YOU can make a difference with just a few dollars.

You can support our military families (some even qualify for food stamps) by participating in the Gift of Groceries campaign or the Operation Helping Hands campaign.

You can donate frequent flier miles to help reunite military members with their families through Operation Hero Miles.

Here is something that I have contributed to a few times already: Operation Phone Home - where your donation allows a soldier overseas to call loved ones back home. I'll never forget when AT&T gave us tons of free time to call home during Desert Shield and Storm.

I get quite a few emails from people who say that they never served in the military and want to know what they can do to support our troops. Donating to any of the above operations will make a huge difference in their morale and lives.

Last, military reservists, retirees, and families can go to this link to find a blood donation center where your blood donation will go directly to the military.


Friday Foray

I expect today to be a bit slow. Let's see what out there:

Holy Sh-t! Bill Whittle has a post today!

Mr. Green says that James Lileks is dead wrong. I have to agree with him. Lileks has really gone off the deep end here, and I am not sure if he can ever win my respect back again...

Don Watkins has an interesting post on what he is thankful for, and, no, it's not supposed to be funny.

Pardon My English has a great post about Hilary Clinton's trip to Afghanistan.

Setting the World to Rights has the latest Carnival of the Vanities. Check out the best of the blogosphere.

Donnie at Ain't Done It! has an interesting post about computer terms and racism...I find this utterly ridiculous.


Our President

So, by now, everyone knows the President flew to Iraq on a secret mission to spend Thanksgiving with the military in Baghdad. Damn am I proud of our cowboy president.

I'll echo some of the sentiments of Misha, Jennifer Martinez, Baldilocks, Sarah at Trying to Grok, and the Patriette. All have a slightly different take on the events - read them all.

Since a jet was hit by a surface-to-air missle a few days ago, this was quite a risk for the President to take. The utmost secrecy had to be employed. For instance, the President's own father and mother flew to Crawford for Thanksgiving with their son and had no clue he was going to Iraq. I'll bet that George H.W. Bush was very proud of his son that day.

It was obvious that the troops loved our President's visit. One Private was in tears saying how the President took time away from his own family to be with them.

This synopsis via CNN:

As Bremer prepared to read a presidential proclamation to the troops, he said, "Let's see if we've got anybody more senior here who can read the president's Thanksgiving speech. Is there anybody back there who's more senior than I?"

Bush then emerged, misty-eyed and wearing a U.S. Army exercise jacket, to a roaring ovation.

The stunned and elated soldiers jumped to their feet, pumped their fists in the air, roared with delight and grabbed their cameras to snap photographs.

"I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere," Bush joked, and added: "I can't think of a finer group of folks to have dinner with."

Then the commander-in-chief got serious.

"You are defending the American people from danger and we are grateful. You are defeating the terrorists here in Iraq."

The insurgents in the country are "testing our will. They hope we will run," he said.

But, he said, "we did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, pay a bitter cost of casualties, defeat a ruthless dictator and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins."

That line prompted a standing ovation.

More via the Department of Defense, Defend America web site:

...Turning back to the troops, the president said the nation remembered its military on Thanksgiving Day, especially those "who paid the ultimate price for our security and freedom. We ask for God's blessings on their families, their loved ones and their friends, and we pray for your safety and your strength, as you continue to defend America and to spread freedom."

Bush said each service member had answered "a great call, participating in an historic moment in world history. You live by a code of honor, of service to your nation, with the safety and the security of your fellow citizens. Our military is full of the finest people on the face of the earth.

"I'm proud to be your commander in chief," Bush concluded. "I bring greetings from America. May God bless you all."

If this isn't a reason to join Blogs for Bush, I don't know what is...

I am waiting for the cries that it was a giant photo-op.

Update: Here's one - Spoons believes it was a photo-op.

Update: John of Argghhh! spanks a few moonbats over at Dean's blog decrying the Iraq visit.


Thanksgiving

I won't be blogging on Thanksgiving unless something out of the ordinary occurs.

Tomorrow, my family will gather around the dinner table and say grace, holding hands as we say it. Here is what I’ll be thinking about:

I am thankful for a lot of things this year. Some things may surprise you, some may not.

First, I am thankful for the nurses and doctors at Children’s Memorial Hospital here in Chicago. Last April, when my son ended up in the Emergency Room and had to have surgery, he had some of the most outstanding doctors and nurses in world help him get better. They are simply incredible human beings. I don’t how someone could work everyday in an environment where they deal with sick or injured children and babies. It’s almost incomprehensible to me how they stay so positive. To me, they are saints – every single one of them. I wrote a letter to the Chicago Sun Times thanking the newspaper for financially supporting CMH. They published it on Father’s Day.

I am thankful for a beautiful wife to have as a best friend and partner. She is someone that, after seven years, still makes me a better man every day just for knowing her.

I will think about my friends who’ve stood by me throughout the years. They are more like extended family than friends. I am also thankful for having the best In-Laws a guy could have. My mother-in-law treats me like a son and a father-in-law that treats me like a best friend.

I will be thankful for the men and women in the military. These people chose a profession where the pay is low and the risks are high. I will be wondering what they are doing right at that moment. I will pray for their safety and success.

I will be thinking about and praying for the families of our fallen soldiers...especially, one in particular.

I am thankful for having the leadership that we have today in this country.

I am thankful to live in a country where I can voice my opinion (even via a blog) – thankful that I live in a free country.

But most of all, I am thankful to be alive. Almost 13 years ago I came very close to losing my life, and, since then, have been one of those kind of people that live like it’s your last day on earth. I am thankful for second chances, for every breath, for the love of a good woman, for my son, for life, for America, for God.

Have a great Thanksgiving and be sure to pray for our men and women serving their country in some remote or god-forsaken land. They need our support as much as we need them.


The Case for LTC West - Part 5

This statement from LTC West's lawyer, via the World Net Daily: Congress members
back Lt. Col. West - Heads of armed services panels appeal to Army secretary

...In a statement provided to WorldNetDaily, Puckett noted several witnesses at the hearing testified about West's high-profile role in civil military operations.

West was helping Iraqis rebuild their towns, re-establish public services and utilities and begin the transformation to a democratic process for governance, Puckett said.

West spoke often in front of community leaders and sheiks at meetings in the town of Saba al Boor "and earned their trust by delivering the assistance he promised."

"In return," said Puckett, "the sheiks told an interpreter that they were protecting the Americans from attacks because of their respect for and trust in Lt. Col. West."

The Case For LTC West: Part 8, Part 7, Update 6, Part 5, Part 4, Part 3, Part 2, Part 1.


News Today

File this story under abso-freaking-lutley ridiculous! My alma matter is going a bit too far to consider this proposal: U. of C. activists want bathrooms without gender

Transgender, gay and feminist groups at the University of Chicago are asking officials to consider creating more gender-neutral bathrooms, saying some people aren't comfortable selecting a gender-specific facility.

"Persons who are not easily legible as male or female often experience various forms of intimidation in these places. If a woman in a women's-only restroom is assumed to be a man, there may be real threats to her comfort and even safety," warns the Coalition for a Queer Safe Campus, a student group comprised of various organizations supporting equality on campus. "Students have faced gay-baiting comments in our university's sex-segregated bathrooms."...

This story is a bit scary to parents: Four Children in Colorado Die From Flu
A 2-year-old and a 21-month-old died at the Children's Hospital in Denver in the past week, hospital officials said Tuesday. They did not release any other details. In Larimer County, health officials said an 8-year-old boy died of the flu.

...Colorado has had 3,399 confirmed cases of the flu this season, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said Tuesday. That included more than 1,100 cases reported between Thursday and Monday, the most dramatic surge in the virus in at least five years.

"It's crazy," said Denver pediatrician Dean Prina, who saw 40 children Monday. "It started earlier this year and seems more intense. It's among the worst flu seasons I've seen in my 23 years."

I don't know about you, but I think Arab News Stations are full of crap: Arab News Stations Deny Tape Cooperation

The popular Arab news stations Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya on Wednesday denied U.S. accusations that they have cooperated with Iraqi militants in taping attacks on coalition troops.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and the head of the joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Richard Myers, said Tuesday they had evidence the two networks were invited by insurgents to witness and videotape attacks on American troops as part of a psychological warfare campaign by remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Both satellite stations denied the allegations to The Associated Press...

I saw some of the footage this morning on the news and it sure looked like cooperation to me when you have a film crew taping an ambush as it happens. More from Fox...