Change of Course for Dems...

It truly amazes me how despite numerous positive reports from Iraq, the most notable from the New York Times of all places, Democrats still aim to put a negative spin on the war. The fact is most Democrats, including Senator’s Levin and Clinton, agree the surge has produced notable military results. There was even a report in the New York Times concluding that Iraq may be more winnable then most of us previously considered.

More importantly in the last few months, we have discovered key information that assisted us in revealing exactly what has been causing the problems in Iraq. The first bit came when we discovered that the notorious Al Qaeda division in Iraq was not an insurgent group, but rather a group of foreign fighters with the goal of creating a false civil war to stir up dissent. The second piece of info that Democrats fail to mention is that the main sectarian group helping General Petraeus dismantle Al Qaeda in an Iraq is in fact the Sunnis! That’s right, the very same Sunnis who are reportedly fighting in a civil war are helping rid Iraq of Al Qaeda by cooperating with U.S. troops. Granted if you watch MSNBC, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and maybe even Fox News at this point, etc. this is probably news to you.

Yet what is the main Democrat reaction to all the progress in Iraq? Simple change of tactics. Now that their attacks on the "lack of progress" are backfiring, the Democrats now look to focus all attention the political problems in Iraq. They allege that the Maliki Government is a failure because it has met only eight of the eighteen Benchmarks set forth. This is coming from a Democrat congress that set seven benchmarks for themselves; of which they have barely reached one. So that’s about 44% success for the Iraqi parliament and 14% success for those in Congress. Now, lets take into account that the Democrats are working in a system that has existed for over two hundred years while the Iraqis have had control of their country for four years. The sad fact is that in our efforts to maintain political strength, the Democrats ignore the truth and instead spew a big steaming pile of rhetoric for political gains.

So Democrats, its time you take a look at Iraq for what it is: A fledging nation that could use a big brother to help it along. That is what we are for these people: An example and a model for the future. What kind of example are we setting when half our political system spends its time whining about petty nonsense and getting nothing done? What message does this send to the enemies IN Iraq? Democrats my message is simple...Stop your whining. The Iraqi people are struggling to establish there own free society and they last thing they need in their way is a bunch of elitist ignoramuses complaining about “benchmarks."

NYT: Maliki Calls out the Democrats

A Letter from Senator Lieberman

The following is a letter from Joe Lieberman to my mother. She recently contacted his office (and a couple others) about her concern for our soldiers in the Middle East; she's obviously just worried about my upcoming entry into the US Army. While I do not agree with her BBC-fed views on the world, I respect her opinions. I am glad Joe continues to stick to his guns on this one:

Dear Mrs. (Carl's Mom):

Thank you for contacting me regarding U.S. military operations in Iraq.

Like you, I would like our troops to return safely from Iraq as soon as possible. However, I believe that any decision to draw down our forces must be based on conditions on the ground and the recommendations of our military commanders and diplomats, rather than arbitrary deadlines imposed by politicians in Washington.

I have never hesitated to criticize the many mistakes the Bush Administration has made in its prosecution of this war. However, I also believe that the consequences of an American defeat in Iraq would be catastrophic for Iraq, the Middle East, and our national security here at home.

Al Qaeda's own leaders have repeatedly told us that they consider Iraq the central front of their global war against us. Indeed, al Qaeda's strategy in Iraq is clear. It is perpetrating horrific suicide bombings against the Iraqi people, in the hope of radicalizing the country's population, sparking a civil war, and creating a failed state in the heart of the Middle East, which it can then use as a base.

Iran is also trying to drive America from Iraq. The Iranians are waging a proxy war against us in Iraq, providing weapons, training, and other forms of support to terrorists who are responsible for the murder of hundreds of American soldiers.

After pursuing the wrong approach in Iraq for far too long, the Bush Administration changed course earlier this year, appointing a new commander, General David Petraeus, who is implementing a new strategy in Iraq based on classic counterinsurgency principles.

There are encouraging signs that General Petraeus' new strategy is working. In Anbar province, which just a year ago was al Qaeda's main stronghold in Iraq, the security situation has dramatically reversed, and what was once one of Iraq's most dangerous places is now one of its safest. Elsewhere in Iraq as well, the Sunni Arabs who once formed the core of the insurgency are increasingly coming over to our side to fight against al Qaeda.

In Baghdad, as well, thanks to General Petraeus' strategy, security is improving, with the sectarian violence that paralyzed the city dramatically down. According to General Ray Odierno, the deputy commander of our forces in Iraq, total attacks are on a month-long decline and are at their lowest level since August 2006. Attacks against Iraqi civilians are also at a six-month low, and civilian murders in Baghdad are at their lowest level in more than 18 months.

Obviously, there are still major challenges remaining before us. Both al Qaeda and Iran are determined and ruthless enemies, and they are far from defeated. In addition, Iraq's national politicians continue to struggle to find consensus on a range of daunting and difficult issues.

In September 2007, General Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, will report to Congress on the situation in Iraq. I look forward to receiving their report and listening to their recommendations on the way forward.

For now, however, I believe that there is sufficient, compelling evidence of progress against al Qaeda and Iran on the battlefields of Iraq that Congress should allow General Petraeus and his troops to continue in their mission, rather than order them to retreat.

As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, I am closely following the situation in Iraq. I appreciate your taking the time to write me with your thoughts. I will keep your views in mind as we move forward.

To read more about the work I have done toward securing Iraq, please view this section of my web site. My official Senate web site is designed to be an on-line office that provides access to constituent services, Connecticut-specific information, and an abundance of information about what I am working on in the Senate on behalf of Connecticut and the nation. I am also pleased to let you know that I have launched an email news update service through my web site. You can sign up for that service by visiting http://lieberman.senate.gov and clicking on the "Subscribe Email News Updates" button at the bottom of the home page. I hope these are informative and useful.

Thank you again for letting me know your views and concerns. Please contact me if you have any additional questions or comments about our work in Congress.

Sincerely,

Joseph I. Lieberman
UNITED STATES SENATOR

One Soldier's Sense of Humor

I just thought this short video made by a US Army soldier in Iraq was hilarious.



By the way, for those of you who know me, my oral board for my entry into the US Army Officer Candidate School is coming up in September. Hopefully my contract will be signed soon and I can head out by October.

Out...and stay out

Elvira Arellano, an illegal immigrant, was deported this past weekend after she left the Chicago church she was hiding in for over a year and traveled to Los Angeles. She has already been deported once before, but was able to reenter, give birth to a child (he is now 8), then obtain fake Social Security documents so she could work at a Chicago airport cleaning planes.

ICE agents picked her up and escorted her to the border from LA and she is now in Tijuana speaking out against the "crimes" of the United States. "I cannot sit by now and watch the lives of mothers and fathers like me and children like Saulito be destroyed. I believe in my heart that the people of this nation do not in their hearts want to destroy our lives, our families, and our communities." Point: She chose to leave her son, Saul, in Chicago with a church group rather than bring him with (for some reason)...and last I checked, her "community" is in Mexico. Heres a clip:



According to her, the United States is to blame for this because we "allowed" her cross and pay taxes. Look Ms. Arellano, simply because a law is not being enforced as strongly as it should (we're working on that) does not mean it is OUR fault when YOU violate it. After all, we did send you home (twice now), which you should see as a sign of not allowing you to be here.

To me, the entire incident seems staged. This was intended to be nothing more than a publicity stunt to try and rally support for amnesty.

Anyone who says this is a perfect example of why we need to grant people like Ms. Arellano amnesty is a fool, plain and simple. This is a perfect example of why we should be stricter on illegals like Ms. Arellano. She breached national security by obtaining employment on airline planes with forged documents and simply violated the law by entering this country illegally several times.

Quick Note: Notice how dolled-up she is in the video compared to her other recent photos? On top of that, she smirks/smiles right before she claims that "for me, it has been very hard," while a Mexican politician provides "comfort" by placing a hand on her shoulder.

I also think its interesting that she was an activist for amnesty in the US for families that could be broken up by deportation...if she didn't want the family to be broken up she shouldn't have violated our laws to begin with.

Hollywood Endorses Democrats...

Shocking as it may seem, Hollywood movie makers appear to be launching an ad campaign for the Democrats in 2008 via new movie releases...the first of which comes from well known Hollywood crackpot, Robert Redford. In case you’re wondering where he stands on political matters, here are some quotes to help out.

· “The Bush administration’s energy policy to date - a military garrison in the Middle East and drilling for oil in the Arctic and other fragile habitats - is costly, dangerous and self-defeating.”

· "Because of pending Bush administration policies, we all need to pay attention and take action to protect what we have, including our health and safety. If this ad can call attention to the facts, I'm proud to be part of the project."

Sound familiar? Redford is a classic liberal: Bush is evil and everything he does destroys life and gives him and Dick Cheney more revenue from the Oil Companies they do not own. So I was far from shocked when I witnessed the trailer for Mr. Redford's new, Lions for Lambs. Check out the Trailer.

The other big anti-war flick coming out is Rendition. The movie is deals with the policy of "Rendition" which is where the CIA sends prisoners to countries where extreme interrogations are commonplace. Now of course, no one knows just how this program works for sure. But Film Director Gavin Hood seems to know all about it:

So there you have it. The government has dooped us all into this “war on terror” and we the people have done nothing to stop it (Lions for Lambs). On top of that, the CIA is taking away our loved ones based on phone calls and deporting them for a fun lineup of torture. In the end, Bush is at fault and needs to be taken care of…Oh, and don’t forget to check out all our great food in the lobby!

Leave to liberals hold the mindset that conservatives like myself are evil for not being “fair” on talk radio, however Robert Redford and Gavin Hood can charge me 10 bucks a pop to watch their versions of reality where conservatives, the CIA, FBI and politicians, are one step above serial killers and they could care less. If the Democrats want to bring "Fairness" to media they should look no further then Hollywood.

The Michael Vick Situation

I am sure many people are going to ask how this can be considered a political issue. What these same people forget is that any instance where the government steps in and takes action is considered political in nature.

Michael Vick (for those of you under a rock for the past several weeks) was indicted on dogfighting charges last month due to his association/ownership of "Bad Newz Kennel." The three accomplices in the crimes have already agreed to plea deals, leaving Vick alone to battle the courts. He will serve up to 1 year in prison and pay $250,000 in fines if he pleads guilty to a deal...but will look at up to 5 years if he sticks it out in court.

On top of that he is being barred from training camp by the NFL, the Falcons are looking to go after the $22 million in signing bonuses they granted him 4 years ago, and the NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, is conducting his own investigation that may land Vick out of the league indefinately.

"We're going to do what we always said we were going to do, which is rely on the facts," Goodell stated last week. "If there is some type of a plea agreement, then we will obviously take the time to understand what that plea is and we'll see how it fits into our personal conduct policy."

Most people will agree that whatever Michael was doing, it was wrong and should not be tolerated. With that, we should also agree that the government should have no say in this matter. Thats right, I am taking Vick's side on this one.

What someone chooses to do on their own land with legal items they paid for and own is their business. Dogs (in the eyes of the government) are simply property. What he decides to do with that property is no concern of the government. He wasn't unleashing that property onto others in a violent manner, nor was he using them as a tool for criminal acts.

Whether or not we should be viewing this as acceptable is a completely different matter, as is whatever the NFL decides to do since they are a private organization with their own set of rules and conduct. Vick should be subject to these expectations, but not the will of the government...his "accomplices" included.

I don't like or approve of what he did and believe that the NFL and rest of society should inflict an acceptable punishment in the form of bans and stigmas. If Vick chooses to sacrifice his standing in society over dogfighting, then that is his choice. My point stands, however, that it is not the governments place to rule over this issue. The line needs to be drawn.

Imus is Back

Don Imus is back in the news this week...for a few reasons.

Yesterday, he and CBS Radio reached a settlement, ending the dispute over Don's terminated contract and allowing him to return to radio on another show. Radio industry analysts are predicting that Imus will return to their airwaves soon.

However, new developments are entering the fold as Imus is now being hit with a lawsuit from one member of the Rutgers Women's Basketball team. Kia Vaughn is suing Don Imus, CBS and NBC for libel, slander and defamation and expects monetary compensation of an undisclosed amount. "This is a lawsuit in order to restore the good name and reputation of my client, Kia Vaughn," her attorney stated.

Imus back in the News
ABC News: Don Imus Sued

Do I even need to voice an opinion on this one? I look forward your input...

For those of you who forgot, here is the Imus story from April.

Its About Time

In reaction to decades of funding and assisting terrorist, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard will soon be officially labeled by the United States as a Terrorist Organization. This is a huge step in the right direction for the United States. For years Iran has been attempting to force Western Nations to live with their ambitions for nuclear weapons and the destruction of Israel. Iran has been known to sponsor Hezbollah as well as be a huge financier of Iraqi insurgents in there battle with the United States. For several months now the situation with Iran has died down. Yet it appears that the Bush Administration is prepared to take advantage of its ability to, trough the United Nations, impose sanctions on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

This action would effectively freeze the Iranian Revolutionary Guards bank assets, significantly damage there ability to wage a proxy war against both the United States and its allies as well as conduct its various terrorist related activities. The Bush Administration is making it clear to Iran that the United States still has the ability to due significant damage even without waging all out war. This action will most likely produce two very positive results. First off it will undoubtedly weaken Iran’s Ability to wage proxy war, trough Hezbollah, with Israel as they did last summer. It will also make the peace process in the Middle East more stable and less vulnerable to disruptions. The inability of the Iranian guard to wage war will help to expedite the rebuilding in Iraq. For the last year it has been clear that Iraqi insurgents were receiving both training and funding from Iran. Freezing the assets of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard could also help reduce Iran’s ability to affect the outcome in Iraq and allow the current Surge operation to take full effect with out being compromised by outside forces.

Despite falling approval numbers and a mere year and half left in office, President Bush is once again standing firm against America’s enemies. Love him or hate him, he has consistently stood tall against our enemies and kept the homeland terror free for almost 6 years now. His continued forceful actions in Iraq, and now Iran, may be just what this country needs to usher in a new era of peace through strength. It worked with Reagan in the 1980’s as he successfully brought down the Soviet Union, and now it appears we may be on our way to establishing the end of international terrorism.

America's Pastime and Taxes: Another Ridiculous Story

I love sports...especially baseball. It has been a childhood favorite of mine that has stuck with me throughout my growth. With that, the most recent headline in the world of Major League Baseball (as many of you know) is the new career home run record set by Barry Bonds last week.

What many do not know, however, is the story of Matt Murphy; the 21-year old who caught HR #756. "I won the lottery," Murphy claimed to the NY Daily News following the catch. Good for him...but he is also going to get hit with the hefty taxes of a lottery winner.

The estimated value of the ball is around $600,000. If it goes at auction for anywhere near the amount, he will be escalated into the highest income tax bracket, which comes with a tax rate of 35% (or about $210,000). Even if he doesn't sell the ball, he's still going to get hit with the tax because it is considered an asset gain Murphy came into possession of it (caught it). On top of that, Capital Gain taxes will be imposed on him as the ball increases in value over time.

Murphy said on television recently that he would like to keep the ball, but I just don't see how thats financially possible in this situation for a college kid from Queens, NY.

ESPN Story
Murphy might not sell 756 Ball

Man's Business evicted because he doesn't speak Spanish

Tom McKenna is a longtime business owner in Florida who is being forced out of his location because he does not speak Spanish. Details? The landlord, Ivan Munroe, stated that McKenna should consider another location because he wants to have "quality tenants serving the Spanish need in the area."

McKenna responded, "I guess I don't serve the 'Spanish need,' whatever that means..."

"I have plenty of Spanish-speaking workers come in here to buy water for their landscaping crews," he said. "And people in the neighborhood use the vending machines out front to fill their water bottles for their homes." McKenna estimates that it will cost him anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 to make the move...if he finds a new store. When asked why he would not attorney-up and fight this, he simply stated: "After this? I don't want to be here."

This is atrocious in my mind simply because this is just another form of accepted racism within our society. Try telling a Spanish-speaking business owner to move out and "relocate" because he does not serve the English (or American) need. Sad days, and a wrong direction for us. Someone needs to call out Mr. Munroe (but should also prepare to be called a racist).

Am I wrong here?

Here is the story from Florida.

Dem's Congress Failing

I remember talking to a former PolySci Professor of mine from college back before the November 2006 election on the radio. His prediction went as follows:

"The Democrats will easily take the House this November, but the Senate will be up for grabs. It will be very tight in the fight for control over that chamber, with Virginia most likely being one of the closest and most deciding states. Now even though the Democrats will likely have a very successful election this time around, it will ultimately produce long-term victories for Republicans."

His reasoning essentially was that the Democrats would not accomplish much on any front, nor would they be able to handle the war in a responsible fashion. This would result in people beginning to push away from a party of rhetoric, and towards one of answers. He was right on.

The newest poll from Zogby shows that while President Bush's approval for his handling of the war is at 24%, Congress's approval is at 3%. This poll also shows that a majority of people believe that leaving Iraq or setting timetables would constitute defeat and the numbers of those who oppose or support the War is at a near deadlock. The main link for the full poll recap is under our Headlines.

Essentially, I look forward to the report on our progress from General Petraeus in September. Should incite liberal politicians to finally place some footwear into certain orifices...

House Pushes "Troop Rest Guarantee"

You can find the story for this under our headlines today just because it shows how Democrats are working on multiple levels to tie President Bush's hands and pull back our forces in the War on Terror. Their plan is to enact policy requiring US soldiers spend equal amounts of time at home as in combat.

As someone entering the US Army soon, I will say that this idea initially seemed positive...initially. After some thought, however, I realized that this would only limit what our forces can achieve on the front lines in both theaters. Honestly, I believe we have reached a sad day when we elect representatives who find any and all political options to limit the potential of what has historically been the most successful, powerful and accomplished military on the planet. Sends a very clear message to our enemies, don't you think?

I will give the Liberals at the head of this one credit though. This is a creative measure that sounds like a good idea when presented generally. However, it is simply a sign of desperation in what has become a string of failures by the Democrats to limit our efforts.

A veto will be presented on this one, and without strong support they will have to visit the drawing board once again.

"Obese and Greedy"

Dr. Hamish Meldrum, the head of the British Medical Association says that obese people are simply greedy and should not be treated with pills. "People like to put fancy labels that suggest things are a medical problem. But [obesity] is not just a problem for GPs, it is societal...We are in danger of over-medicalising."

These remarks have apparently come under fire in the UK and are being considered "controversial." While I will not go out on a limb and say that his remarks are completely just, I will say that I agree with his belief that obesity is not a medical condition, but rather a societal condition. Obesity is no medical epidemic; it is a growing trend of lazy people and poor choices in lifestyle. These poor choices come with consequences that we should have to deal with.

Bottom line, when you watch what you eat, get regular exercise and go do something, you'll loose weight and become healthier. The effects would probably help out significantly in other aspects of social life as well (lets see if some of you are thinking what I am...).

The doctor finished up by saying, "I am not saying we should not look at how we can medically treat people who are very obese, but to me it is obviously an issue where prevention is better than cure."

Quick note: 31% of Americans are currently classified as obese, with an additional 33% overweight. The trends continue to begin at younger ages.