a small dose of reality

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A House office building reopened Friday afternoon after investigators determined a report of gunshots in a parking garage probably came from worker using an air hammer, according to sources.

The Rayburn House Office Building was locked down Friday morning after a congressman reported what he thought were gunshots in the building's garage, prompting armed police to conduct a room-by-room search of the complex.

It was unclear whether the report by Republican Rep. Jim Saxton of New Jersey, as related by his spokesman, was the only one Capitol Police received.

High-ranking law enforcement sources at the Capitol told law enforcement expert Mike Brooks the noises apparently were made by a mechanic using a pneumatic hammer on an elevator.

Woman earned just $18,000 over 19 years.

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (AP) -- A federal jury found a wealthy suburban couple guilty Friday of harboring an illegal immigrant and forcing her to work as their maid for 19 years.

The Filipino national testified during the eight-day trial that she felt like a prisoner in Jefferson and Elnora Calimlim's home.

The couple was found guilty of harboring an illegal immigrant for financial gain, conspiracy to harbor an illegal immigrant for financial gain, forced labor and attempted forced labor.

Their eldest son, 31-year-old Jefferson M. Calimlim, was found guilty of harboring an illegal immigrant, one of three charges against him.

Irma Martinez testified she worked 16 hour days for minimal pay for the couple, physicians who are legal residents of the United States but citizens of the Philippines.

The Calimlims face prison, fines, deportation and forfeiture of their $1.2 million home when sentenced September 15. Their U.S.-born son faces prison and fines.

Can you imagine a poor imprisoned maid having to clean the Kennedy compound with a toothbrush?

Hopefully Homeland Security is monitoring this traffic.  The technique involved is to cut and paste enough material over and over into a blog that no one would read and terrorist network members receive the embedded information.  It is a clever ploy but the Men in Black are watching and in a number of cases have already pounced quietly and are disseminating disinformation.

BOSTON (Reuters) - A man charged with murder in Massachusetts was so angry with his lawyer's performance he attacked the attorney in court, trying to strangle him as a shocked judge looked on, Boston radio reported on Wednesday.

"I think he just didn't like the way some of the rulings the judge was making was going yesterday morning," attorney Bruce Carroll told WBZ Radio of the Tuesday morning attack by defendant John Gomes in Boston's Suffolk Superior Court.

"He eventually stood up, started saying something and reached over and grabbed me by the throat," said Carroll.

Several officers intervened before the 6-foot (1.8-meter), 250-pound (113-kg) Gomes was separated from Carroll, the radio reported. Carroll had tried to withdraw from the case last week but the judge denied his request.

A key democratic target in November is Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.  The DNC has put a ton of bucks into this race already while Santorum only began to campaign slightly after the primaries.  This is a race to watch.  A Santorum victory is a huge stake in the heart (like it has a REAL one) of the DNC.

http://www.opednews.com

Campaign News: Bob Casey Jr's free fall just beginning according to latest poll"
The latest Keystone/Franklin & Marshall poll reveals that Senator Santorum is quickly closing the gap between him and his presumed opponent Bob Casey Jr. Casey's lead is now only six points. (Casey 47% and Santorum 41%). I have to admit that this was expected. I never thought Casey was a strong enough candidate to hold a double digit lead into the late summer/early fall campaign season. The graph below reveals that Casey has been in a steady decline since his peak in November. Furthermore, the sharp decline in recent months could be the beginning of a free fall.

It just seems like the more Pennsylvania voters become familiar with Casey the less likely they are willing to vote for him. Casey is simply not an inspirational/high energy type candidate. Casey's two primary debate flops confirm these perceived character flaws. In my opinion, Casey primary opponent Chuck Pennachio won both of the primary debates. Actually, Casey came in last in the Slippery Rock debate behind both Pennachio and Alan Sandals. PA democratic voters are probably wonder how Casey will ever defeat Senator Santorum in November if he can't even win a debate against two relatively unknown candidates in the primary. There goes party morale.

The inevitable Casey freefall encompasses more than just personality flaws. The truth is Casey and his campaign doesn't represent the views and passions of democratic voters. These are the same voters that are not willing to "sell out" party principles just to defeat Santorum in November. I personally don't blame them.

By PETER ROSENSTEIN
Thursday, May 25, 2006

I HAVE BEEN a Democratic Party activist since I was 12 and handed out fliers in my New York neighborhood for John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign. I have always supported Democrats because I believe they have stood up for workers, for the human and civil rights of all people, and for a set of values I share.

Howard Dean is eroding my belief — not in the Democratic Party but in the ability of the Democratic National Committee to speak for the party. I long ago stopped contributing to the DNC, way back when I worried some of my money might go the re-election of Sam Nunn, the former senator from Georgia who came up with “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

But I give as generously as I can to individual Democrats because I still believe that they are the best hope to see our nation lives up to its ideals.

I was not a Howard Dean supporter in the presidential primaries and didn’t support his candidacy for party chair either. I’ve always been suspicious of his pandering to gay voters when he thought he needed us. It is clear now that he thinks we are a burden on the Democratic Party, and he is moving away from us as fast as he thinks he can get away with it.

To do so is wrong strategically and a betrayal of the party’s ideals. People don’t want wishy-washy statements — they want clear position statements from their politicians and their parties. That is what wins supporters and elections.

So Howard Dean must go.

What a shocker.  The only shock is that it took so long for him to play the race card.  THIS IS YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE of who the real racists are.  This joker is playing the Cynthia McKinney script.  Isn't the infighting among the democrats fun to observe?

WASHINGTON — Louisiana Democratic Rep. William Jefferson said Wednesday that he won’t submit to calls for his resignation from a House panel while he is under investigation in a federal bribery case.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., sent Jefferson a letter asking him to step down from his seat on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

"In the interest of upholding the high ethical standard of the House Democratic Caucus, I am writing to request your immediate resignation from the Ways and Means Committee," Pelosi wrote.

Jefferson responded in a written statement, saying he will not resign. Jefferson has not been indicted and has denied wrongdoing.

"None of the matters reported to be under scrutiny involve issues under jurisdiction of the Ways and Means committee. Therefore, such a request would be even more perplexing and unreasonable. If I agreed, it would unfairly punish the people of the 2nd District and I will not stand for that," Jefferson said.

"Further, such a request would be discriminatory, in as much as no other member currently under federal investigation has been asked to step down from a relevant committee assignment. Therefore, I will not give up a committee assignment that is so vital to New Orleans at this crucial time for any uncertain, long-term political strategy," he added.

Jefferson then headed off to yet another taxpayer financed dinner at one of DC's fine restaurants.

I am constantly amazed with the hate speech my liberal friends throw around like it's all ok.  Check this out:

"F**k you. The neo-cons are no more, stop thinking that killing innocent people is cool and powerful. It is sick and self serving. What would JC say to you and the "Christian" Bushies when you het to heaven? "Going down!"

Invasion rocked, maybe Sci-Fi or Fx should pick it back up.

Comment by Furious from the left— 2006/05/24 @ 04:30 PM — (Reply)"

There is something inconsistent in that shall we say raging rant.  Could furious from the left be Howard Dean himself?

Please provide shipping information and I will send you a copy of this delightful book for FREE

This full-color illustrated book is a fun way for parents to teach young children the valuable lessons of conservatism. Written in simple text, readers can follow along with Tommy and Lou as they open a lemonade stand to earn money for a swing set. But when liberals start demanding that Tommy and Lou pay half their money in taxes, take down their picture of Jesus, and serve broccoli with every glass of lemonade, the young brothers experience the downside to living in Liberaland.

"Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed!" offers a witty alternative to the usual liberal fare, demonstrating the virtues of capitalism and true diversity of expression in words and pictures that both kids and adults can laugh along with.

With the nation’s libraries and classrooms filled with overtly liberal children’s books advocating everything from gay marriage to marijuana use, kids everywhere are being deluged with left-wing propaganda. "Help! Mom! There Are Liberals Under My Bed" is the book conservative parents have been seeking. This illustrated book — the first in the "Help! Mom!" series from Kids Ahead — is perfect for parents who seek to share their traditional values with their children, as well as adults who wish to give a humorous gift to a friend.

Hailed as "the answer to a baseball mom's prayers" by talk radio host Melanie Morgan, "Liberals Under My Bed" has already been the subject of coverage in The Wall Street Journal and Harper’s magazine. Written by a self-proclaimed "Security Mom for Bush" and featuring hilarious full-color illustrations by a Reuben Award winning artist, it is certain to be one of the most talked about children's books of the year.

Goering is only one of several prominent Nazi's that the administration has thawed out in the cryogenics lab to promote the evil Bush scheme of world domination.

"The way Hermann built and managed the Luftwaffe, we knew he was the only man who could successfully carry off the aerial portion of the September 11 plan", said Dick Cheney.

George Soros is a star investor, a superphilanthropist, a terrific tennis player and a dopey liberal. I learned all this and a lot more by reading the fascinating new book about him by Michael T. Kaufman, also by barging around in the spacious Web site at soros.org. In the latter venue is this credo: "One of the most promising developments … has been the formation of state-based, progressive coalitions. Around the country, labor, choice and civil rights groups, among others, have joined forces to work towards reform.… To ensure that money is spent in areas where it is needed, regional progressive allies must work together." Furthering all this progressivism have been Soros grants to left-liberal think tanks like the Economic Policy Institute (which also gets money from the AFL-CIO) and the Center for Law and Social Policy.

What makes so many smart billionaires gravitate to primitive liberal positions one would normally associate with, say, a Bennington freshman? Money guilt. Lew H.Rockwell, president of the Ludwig von Mises Institute, offered this explanation during last year's debate over repeal of the estate tax: "The rich have always supported the estate tax. Despite their wealth, they have imbibed the dominant culture's ethic of egalitarianism and decided to promote it as a means of expiating their alleged sins." My own preferred variant of this argument is that the rich promote it for much the same reason they build 60-room mansions: Both manifest Veblenesque "conspicuous consumption." Paying immense estate taxes with no sweat is a terrific way of advertising your financial invulnerability. Note that even a 99% estate tax would not be too painful for the fellow with $1 billion; there's still $10 million left to see his grandchildren through Yale.

Another possible explanation, arguably discernible in the estate tax arguments, is that some billionaires leave their brains behind when venturing into the political realm. The record of last year's debate seems to show that a number of extremely rich, extremely smart people publicly identified themselves as estate tax fans at the urging of a bunch of loony leftists calling themselves United for a Fair Economy (UFE). The organization supports the "living wage" (a kind of superminimum wage) and opposes globalization. Its members include many who have read and heeded the Global Activist's Manual, heavily promoted by the UFE.

News accounts at the time made it seem that the guiding spirit behind Save the Estate Tax was William Gates Sr., father of Bill Jr. But Bill Sr. was at all points surrounded by UFE stalwarts, who organized the petition drive to retain the tax, ultimately got 120 well-heeled signatories and gave the New York Times an exclusive on the story. Said the petition: "Repealing the estate tax would enrich the heirs of America's millionaires and billionaires while hurting families who struggle to make ends meet." The initial signatories included Soros, Gates Sr., Steven Rockefeller, David Rockefeller Jr., flour heiress Katharine Pillsbury and (naturally) Ben & Jerry's Ben Cohen.

But when the list got published in the Times, another 300 or so--including Julian Robertson of the Tiger Fund, Bill Joy of Sun Microsystems and (naturally) actor Paul Newman--hastened to add their names.

UFE is a strange animal. Its cofounder and project coordinator is a chap named Charles (Chuck) Collins, an Oscar Mayer heir who attained a certain fame in his mid-twenties when he renounced his hot dog inheritance and went to live in a commune. For giving away the loot, he received the "Robin Hood Award," bestowed by like-minded rich youngsters who despised their wealth. Somewhere along the way, he got the idea of using rich people to promote left-liberal causes, and in furtherance of this idea developed a dirigiste UFE subsidiary called Responsible Wealth, whose membership is limited to folks in the top 5% of income distribution.

Collins appears to be a free spirit and a public relations genius. During the 2000 political campaigns, he briefly had the media entranced with bold talk of organizing a Million Billionaire March (under the slogan "Inequality is not growing fast enough"), which, fortunately or otherwise, drew close to nobody.

Now in his early 40s, he is writing a book with William Gates Sr.

Early this year, the Book Review's editor, Sam Tanenhaus, sent out a short letter to a couple of hundred prominent writers, critics, editors and other literary sages, asking them to please identify "the single best work of American fiction published in the last 25 years." [Read A. O. Scott's essay. See a list of the judges.] Following are the results"

THE WINNER:

THE RUNNERS-UP:

THE FOLLOWING BOOKS ALSO RECEIVED MULTIPLE VOTES:

Senate Panel has no idea what to do when a nominee makes sense.  Here is a good example:

Four-Star General Michael Hayden, in confirmation hearings before the Senate, insisted that it’s time for the CIA “to get out of the news.” He went on to explain, “We’re supposed to be a secret outfit but between illegal disclosures of our members, hearings about how we’re handling things, and nominations, we don’t have any secret agents left.”

In response to his plea, the committee continued to grill him while a crowd of news photographers continued to snap pictures of him, which would no doubt appear on the front pages of newspapers around the world.

The General, continuing to make his case, pleaded, “How can you infiltrate a terror cell undetected when your face has been plastered all over the place?”

You call me "Whiteboy", "Cracker", "Honkey", "Whitey" and you think it's OK.

But when I call you, nigger, Kike, Towelhead, Sand-nigger, Camel Jockey, Beaner, Gook, or Chink you call me a racist.

You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you, so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?

Did you hear the one about the father of the Arab suicide bomber?

"I'm so proud of little Mahmoud," he said. "You know, it's funny about kids – they blow up so fast!"

It would be like having sex with a black widow spider.

I already have my order in to enclose in the Christmas Cards I send.

From the Designer
“I don't know what the morons in those BLUE STATES were thinking voting for that other guy. Let them know what you think of them with this fine item. BLUE STATES SUCK!”

Heritage Not Hate....The Confederate flag appears in many good places.

Marine Corps General Reinwald was interviewed on the radio
the other day and you have to read his reply to the lady who
interviewed him concerning guns and children. Regardless
of how you feel about gun laws you gotta love this!!!!

This is one of the best comeback lines of all time. It is a
portion of National Public Radio (NPR) interview between a
female broadcaster and US Marine Corps General Reinwald
who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop visiting his military
installation.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER: So, General Reinwald, what things are
you going to teach these young boys when they visit your base?

GENERAL REINWALD: We're going to teach them climbing,
canoeing, archery, and shooting.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Shooting! That's a bit irresponsible,
isn't it?

GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see why, they'll be properly
supervised on the rifle range.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER: Don't you admit that this is a terribly
dangerous activity to be teaching children?

GENERAL REINWALD: I don't see how. We will be teaching
them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a firearm.

FEMALE INTERVIEWER: But you're equipping them to become
violent killers.

GENERAL REINWALD: Well, Ma'am, you're equipped to be a
prostitute, but you're not one, are you?

NEW YORK—One of the most detailed comparisons yet of human and chimp DNA shows that the split between the two species was a long, messy affair that may even have featured an unusual evolutionary version of breakup sex.

Previous genetic research has shown that chimpanzees and humans are sister species, having split off from a common ancestor about 7 million years ago. The new study goes further by looking at approximately 800 times more DNA than earlier efforts.

"For the first time we're able to see the details written out in the DNA," said Eric Lander, one of the collaborators on the study. "What they tell us at the least is that the human-chimp speciation was very unusual."

Unusual, indeed. The researchers, from the Broad Institute of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, propose humans and chimpanzees first split up about 10 million years ago. Then, after evolving in different directions for 4 million years, they got back together for a brief fling that produced a third, hybrid population with characteristics of both lines. That genetic collaboration gave rise to two branches — one leading to humans and the other to chimps.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has for years predicted that a foreign army would attack the South American nation to snatch its vast oil reserves. A simulation conducted this week showed how it might happen.

A naval landing craft made landfall on the shores of Western Falcon state carrying troops and over a dozen camouflaged tanks.

The "invading" army then took over the massive Paraguana Refining Complex, a key asset of the world's No. 5 crude exporter.  The "occupation" is part of a military exercise to train troops and communities to repel a foreign invader.

ALGONA, Iowa -- While much of the world fumes over escalating fuel prices, a small company in north central Iowa is quietly hoping to make gasoline obsolete as an engine fuel.

Research at the Hydrogen Engine Center is done in an early 1900s red brick armory at the Kossuth County fairgrounds.

There, a clean six-cylinder engine that looks like it could have been pulled from a Ford pickup has been running for 110 hours, not quite half the 300 hours it must continuously run for certification. The company, led by a retired Ford Motor engineer, hopes to meet Environmental Protection Agency automotive 2007 emission standards.

All 81 parts are original Oxx Power, the brand name the company has given all its engines. The engine can run on a number of fuels including hydrogen, ethanol, natural gas, propane or digester gas from landfills.

Congressman Tancredo is one of the rare Americans serving the public who tells it like it is truthfully.  A Tancredo - Rice Presidential ticket would consistently protect the best interests of the United States.

Check out this interview:

John Hawkins: Do you think offering amnesty to illegal aliens currently in the United States would cause an explosion in the number of illegals coming to our country?

Tom Tancredo: Only if you believe that rewarding illegal behavior will increase illegal behavior, and of course it will. It has happened before, it's completely predictable. If you tell people they will be benefit from coming into the United States illegally, not by waiting in line like everybody else, they will come. And why would they not?

Of course, it's a terrible idea. It will not only encourage illegal immigration, but it will tell every single person who has done it the right way, who has waited in line, who has paid the fees, who has hired the lawyers, who has spent five or ten years trying to come in, it's telling them they're nothing but suckers. It's telling everyone else who's waiting in line to do it the right way that they're also suckers.

The rest of the story is HERE

Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills-McCartney have decided to separate because they've found it increasingly difficult to maintain a normal relationship in the glare of the public eye.

"Having tried exceptionally hard to make our relationship work given the daily pressures surrounding us, it is with sadness that we have decided to go our separate ways," they said in a joint statement. "Our parting is amicable and both of us still care about each other very much but have found it increasingly difficult to maintain a normal relationship with constant intrusion into our private lives, and we have actively tried to protect the privacy of our child."

Of the record Mills says, "I am sick of living with the lame geezer.  The old fart refuses to try viagra, cialis or levitra.  He has ne followed by bodyguards 24/7 so I can't even get any on the side."

"No I am not a golddigger.  Have you looked at me?  Only to a drunk would I qualify as a "babe"".

There is one interview Bonds gets along with ... himself.  I recommend watching his show.  I Tivo it here.  It's a riot.  Granted the guy has been a jerk over the years but with or without steroids, the man is a great baseball player and a sure Hall of Famer with or without steroids.

If Bonds would come forth and admit that he used steroids, do you think the hate would stop?  This would give more ammunition for those who hate him to use.  It is not about steroids.  It is about chasing Ruth.  Just ask Aaron if he received hate mail?  Aaron never used steroids.

Aaron was booed

Some people have short memory.  When Hank Aaron was chasing Ruth’s record, he was booed and his life was threatened.  No one has ever accused Aaron of using steroids.  Why are people pretending to like Aaron, when they hated him when he chased Ruth’s record?  

Will all the “Saints” stand who gave Astros pitcher Russ Springer a standing ovation for hitting Bonds?  Those who don’t think racism plays a role in the hate that Bonds receives are in denial.   

Racism is still alive and kicking

Those who don’t think racism is still alive in the country have been living in a cave or just too proud to own up to it. A racist does not like to be called a racist. When blacks bring racism to the forefront, racists call it “playing the race card.” The Klan does not like to be called racists. They wear a suit and tie now.   

Sure, blacks have made gains in the last 40-years through forced legislative actions and civil rights marches. But one thing legislation has not been able to do and that is legislate hate and prejudice. Laws have been enacted to prevent racial behavior, but not racial attitudes.  Racism has gotten very sophisticated since those early years of active racial behavior.

Some media promote hate

There are some in the media who play a big role in promoting racism.  If you read some sports pages and listen to some talk shows, you will see that some media promote fans to display racial behavior and attitudes.  Some media and fans choose their words with caution, but even Willy Foo Foo can read between the lines.

Plain and simple...Bonds is the greatest player of his generation and arguably ever.

Unlike Elizabeth Montgomery who used her powers for good and unable to find unearthly assistance elsewhere Hillary starts with using her evil powers to eliminate competition...for example how do you think Patrick Kennedy ended up in the Mayo Clinic Rehab?  As a Kennedy thhe whole thing could have been covered up but NO....the witch trashed his career.

Dick York is considering back to life to foil Hillary's evil plans.

I have to admit I had never heard of the International Space Hall of Fame before I ran across this story.

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — A former Nazi who was linked to experiments on prisoners in the infamous Dachau concentration camp in Germany has been ousted from the International Space Hall of Fame.

The New Mexico Museum of Space History's commission voted unanimously last week to remove German-born Hubertus Strughold from the hall. His name was removed Tuesday from a plaque near the museum's front door and will be removed from various areas throughout the museum by the end of the week, said spokeswoman Cathy Harper.

Strughold, who died in 1987, had been brought to the United States by the military after World War II to work on aerospace projects.

The museum had honored him in 1978 for his work in developing the spacesuit, space capsule and his contributions to space medicine.

NICOSIA (Reuters) - A raccoon suffered an 11,000 volt electric shock when it scampered up a pylon in Cyprus but escaped with burns.

The nocturnal mammal triggered a two-hour power outage at the town of Aradippou in southeast Cyprus after it scaled the pylon. It was eventually captured with a net and has been impounded by vets as an illegal import.

"It suffered some burns which we treated and is now recovering ... it certainly has the will to live," Charalambos Kakoyiannis of the island's veterinary department said on Thursday.

Raccoons, a native of the Americas, were introduced to Europe last century but are alien to Cyprus and authorities said the animal, whose owner was unknown, was smuggled onto the island.

While there's no clear, fool-proof way to decipher your feelings for someone, there are certain ways to make the distinction between love, lust and infatuation clearer for yourself.  Say for example you are Ted Kennedy.

LOVE

INFATUATION

LUST

In the latest effort to solve a mystery that began more than 30 years ago, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said today that it was following a "fairly credible lead" that the remains of James R. Hoffa, the former Teamsters president, could be buried on a horse farm northwest of Detroit.

Using cadaver dogs borrowed from Detroit police, and aided by students and professors from Michigan State University, F.B.I. agents said they were searching an 80-acre horse farm in Milford, Mich.

Daniel D. Roberts, the special agent in charge of the Detroit F.B.I. office, said the search could take weeks.

At a news conference this afternoon on a dirt road at the entrance to the Hidden Dreams Farm in Milford, Mr. Roberts said no trace of Mr. Hoffa had yet been discovered. Nor would he give details of the search warrant, which was sealed by a federal judge in Detroit.

But, Mr. Roberts said, "This is probably a fairly credible lead" in Mr. Hoffa's disappearance. Mr. Roberts, who has been in his position for the past two years, added that it was "the best lead I've seen come across in the Hoffa investigation."

The F.B.I. contacted Mr. Hoffa's daughter, Barbara Hoffa Crancer, a circuit court judge in St. Louis, on Wednesday night, people with direct knowledge of the conversation said today. Mr. Hoffa's son, James P. Hoffa, who is the current Teamsters president, was in Detroit today but had no immediate comment.

Yet, such leads have perennially failed to turn up the body of Mr. Hoffa, who disappeared July 31, 1975, after failing to return from a dinner meeting. Police, who had been contacted by his family, found his 1974 Pontiac the next day in the parking lot of the Machus Red Fox restaurant in Bloomfield Township, Mich.

The latest search is the third in the past two years by the F.B.I., and it follows one of a number of tips that have placed Mr. Hoffa's body everywhere from the Meadowlands in New Jersey to a house in Detroit.

 This is coming from ABC of all places.  Imagine what the real numbers are.  After viewing the poll numbers, Hillary Clinton demands immediate troop deployment.

An ABC/Post poll finds that three-quarters of Americans say the United States is not doing enough to keep illegal immigrants out of the country — and, given that view, the public broadly supports sending National Guard troops to patrol the border with Mexico.

Seventy-four percent support the idea of sending the Guard, which President Bush is expected to propose in a national address tonight. Twenty-five percent are opposed.

Support for the proposal peaks in Bush's political and ideological corner — 85 percent of Republicans like the idea, as do 86 percent of conservatives. But it also wins support from about three-quarters of independents and moderates, and two-thirds of Democrats. It falls shorter among liberals, with 51 percent in favor, 47 percent opposed.

In another sign of the extent of its appeal, the proposal is supported by 76 percent in the so-called red states that Bush won in the 2004 presidential election — and by about as many, 71 percent, in John Kerry's blue states.

Are you kidding me?  Mexico owes us big time.  Let the drilling frenzy begin.

WASHINGTON May 18, 2006 (AP)— The House on Thursday debated whether to end a quarter-century ban on offshore oil and gas development in coastal waters outside the western Gulf of Mexico, weighing arguments that new supplies are needed to lower energy prices.

The drilling ban was removed from a $25.9 billion Interior Department spending bill in committee as it applies to natural gas and an amendment, offered on the House floor on Thursday, would lift the moratoria on offshore oil drilling as well.

One of these days Hillary may have to take a position on something.  Wait until the democratic primaries start and her opponents unveil Hillary's lesbian dirty laundry.  "I did not have sex with that woman, Janet Reno."  "Anyone has the right to be gay not that there is anything the matter with that."

Backing away from her assertion that the current generation is lazy, Sen. Hillary Clinton said she simply wanted to “set the bar high” when she said last week that young people “think work is a four-letter word.” She said daughter Chelsea called to complain after hearing her mom’s remarks. Clinton: “She said, ‘Mom, I do work hard, and my friends work hard.’ And I said, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to convey the impression that you don’t work hard.’ ”

Political experts wonder whether the take-back has something to do with polls showing young people as her biggest base of support.

Also on the Hillary front: She has endorsed Sen. Joe Lieberman in his Connecticut primary fight with the anti-war Ned Lamont. Left-leaning bloggers are upset.  Do you think?  Is she a warmonger?  Is she warm and fuzzy?  Will she try anything to get elected?  Didn't she PROMISE New York citizens she would serve her FULL TERM if elected?

These women are trying anything to get the hell out of there.  More mail order bride websites start up every day.  Unfortunately a lot of the lookers are captured and kept by the sand dogs.   THIS MAN has been trying for years to lure some un-

suspecting innocent islamist muslim bride to the US to be his slave.  Unfortunately for him, every time he attempts to

snag one from HERE, he is rejected after he sends in his photo.

At least this nutjob stuck to the eastern hemisphere.  A common theme among these islamist terrorists is that is something is not they way they like it, it must be destroyed.  How many lessons will there need to be until the entire United States population "gets it"?

A gunman shouting "Allah is Great" struck at the heart of Turkey's secular establishment yesterday, killing a judge and wounding four others at the highest administrative court.

The attacker, a lawyer, used his ID to get past security at the Council of State in the capital, Ankara. Armed with a plastic-coated Glock pistol, he made his way to the eighth floor, where the second chamber was in session. He broke into the room and unloaded two clips from his pistol, shouting, "I am a soldier of Allah", witnesses said. Police caught him trying to flee using a back door. He was named by Turkish media as Alpaslan Aslan, 29.

The court is best known for its strict upholding of secular laws, in particular a ban on headscarves in universities and public offices which has become a rallying point for Islamists. The ban dates back to Turkey's founder Mustapha Kemal Ataturk, who abolished religious dress and adopted a Swiss-based legal code in 1923. Tension between secularists and Islamists has plagued Turkey ever since.

One of the injured judges, Mustafa Birden, made headlines earlier this year when he ruled that teachers, who are banned from wearing the Islamic headscarf at work, could not cover their heads even on their way to school. He has reportedly received death threats since then. One Islamist newspaper printed photographs of him and other judges from the court's second chamber, which deals with education issues.

(The following story was written by Lori Kimble, a 31 year old teacher and proud military wife. Mrs. Kimble, a California native, currently lives in Alabama.)

I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that
you find all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of
peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of
perky college kids racing around with longneck beers and sizzling
platters.

Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my
glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no
uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were
definitely "military:” clean shaven, cropped haircut, and
that "squared away" look that comes with pride.

Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my
husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in
this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle
East. That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids,
come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice
steak In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here,
thinking about him until he returned home.

I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where
he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any
better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered these
thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into
my thoughts.

"I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd
think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord.
What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he stole the election."

I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an
endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last
night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just
returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of
him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me
chills.

Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. "It is all about
oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the
oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Humph! I wonder how many
innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought. It's pure
greed, you know."

My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see
how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he
slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now.
Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains"
with a heavy bulletproof vest over it.

"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are
hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to
increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the
military budget at the expense of our social security and education.
And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-ll. I can't
say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it."

Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched
gathering outside our base. Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of
brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our
freedom? Do they even know what "freedom" is?

I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw
their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked at
each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking. "Well, I, for
one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, and I am certainly
sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby-killers we
call a military."

Professional baby-killers? I thought about what a wonderful father
my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our
children again.

That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride
in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had.
Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her
pride in our troops be known.

Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and
placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye level
with them, smilingly said, "I couldn't help overhearing your
conversation. You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner
alone. And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with
all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to
say rotten things about him. Yes, you have the right to your
opinion, and what you think is none of my business. However, what
you say in public is someth