UAE PORT SALE

Brushing aside objections from Republicans and Democrats alike, President Bush endorsed the takeover of shipping operations at six major U.S. seaports by a state-owned business in the United Arab Emirates. He pledged to veto any bill Congress might approve to block the agreement.

The President is right on this one, folks.  The sale of Oriental Steam Navigation Co to Dubai Ports World (DPW) should be approved by Congress.  Hysterical claims of our "selling of our ports" and "handing our security over to terrorists" is utter bull. The ports themselves are not being sold, only the management of these ports are. Dubai Ports World is NOT going to take charge of security and customs at these ports; that will continue to be the job of Customs, DHS and the Coast Guard.  Essentially, all Dubai Ports World will be doing is loading and unloading freight in our Ports.

The president on Tuesday defended his administration's earlier approval of the sale of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to Dubai Ports World, despite concerns in Congress it could increase the possibility of terrorism at American ports.

Excluding this company simply because of geography or race is a disasterous move. There is no tangible evidence of DPW supporting terrorism, the company has reportedly an outstanding record, with several Americans well known in the shipping industry in its senior leadership.  Fears of islamofascists using this company to gain greater access to sensitive port security information is unfounded.  Jihadi sympathisers could easily get a job with a British, German or American firm just as easily as with a UAE firm.  Consider this: Several of the 9/11 hijackers worked out of Hamburg, Germany prior to their move to the US. The Philadelphia port has a German shipbuilding company ,Kvaerner, which stepped in after the closure of the Philadelphia Naval base.  No one suggests closing Kvaerner's Philadelphia shipyard due to Germany's connection with the 9/11 terrorists.

"It sends a terrible signal to friends around the world that it's OK for a company from one country to manage the port, but not a country that plays by the rules and has got a good track record from another part of the world," Bush said.

 The UAE has been a staunch ally for the US, we should not be treating them as our enemy. This nation has allowed the US to base troops and planes on their soil, in additon to providing valuable information.  As far as I know, we are not at war with the UAE, so they are to be treated like anyone else, allowing them to bid on contracts. If they win, they win.  Let us not have our allies rethinking their committment of support in the War on Terror. Terrorists worldwide would appreciate the help!

WE WON!

THEY LOST (AGAIN)

ALITO IS CONFIRMED!

This blog almost makes me want to run out and buy the Sunday edition of the NY Slimes just to read the Wedding Announcements.

Veiled Conceit

Executive producer Ron Moore has created a sci fi series that grips your imagination and intelligence. The story deftly weaves an undercurrent of modern day political commentary into each episode, sometime subtly, sometimes blatently.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, Moore doesn't hide the fact that BSG was "embracing the memories and feelings of 9/11" in order to create a sci fi show that is relevant to our time.

Interesting.

The bad guys in this series are the Cylons; machines created by man who rebelled and virtually anhiliated the twelve colonies of man. A defacto genocide of the human race. The authors of this, or any, genocidal ramapage should be despised and brought to justice. Parallels between the cylons and al-qaeda are frequently pointed out online in blogs and message boards . In this interview for Rolling Stone magazine, Moore warns that they're not intended to be directly allegorical: "They have aspects of Al Qaeda, and they have aspects of the Catholic Church, and they have aspects of America."

 Does this mean Ron Moore considers al-queda to be on the same moral field as that of the Catholic Church? Should the audience despise America as much as it hates the cylons?

Why don't liberals stop hiding behind their television series and just openly admit what it is they hate. I'll give you a hint: It's not al-queda they blindly hate...

NRO BuzzCharts

Critics of the war in Iraq often complain about the "escalating cost of the war." Listening to

 them, you'd never know that the war is one of the least expensive in American history.
Robert Whaples, professor of economics at Wake Forest University, has measured the cost of each major American war up through the first Gulf War. We took these costs and compared them to the cost of the Iraq war and found that the Iraq experience has consumed a smaller percentage of GDP (just 2 percent of one year's wealth creation) than every other American war except the first Gulf War (which measured just 1 percent of GDP).

This stands in stark contrast to the Vietnam experience, which opponents have often attempted to liken to the Iraq war. Vietnam comprised a much heartier 12 percent of GDP at the time. Other conflicts, such as World War II, took a remarkable 130 percent of a year's GDP to see through to success.

The work is not done in Iraq, and the financial costs will grow beyond the $251 billion we have spent so far. The real cost, of course, is in human lives, manifested in the debate about whether it is worth losing a few thousand American lives in order to liberate 23 million people. But the data are clear; any attempt to discredit this war based on its effect on the U.S. economy is an unnecessary distraction.

An often-used phrase by the left to criticize the War on Terror states that "Peace is Priceless" which is usually accompanied by a flier that contains a dubious body count figure. I counter this statement and figure by simply asking: "If peace is priceless, why count the cost?" Thanks to Robert Whaples of Wake Forest University, the true costs of peace are illuminated, much to the chagrin of those whose oppose the WOT.

I have a wild and crazy idea.

George W. Bush's delivery of the State of the Union address will take place on Tuesday, January 31, a little more than a week from now. It is my strong belief that every single Democrat present in the House chamber for the speech should, at a predetermined moment, stand up and walk out. No yelling. No heated words. Every Democrat should simply stand silently and leave.

Crazy, I know. Crazy, and possibly the best idea ever put before a body of Democrats since the New Deal.

Understand this, congressional Democrats, and understand it well: you are not dealing merely with a body of political opponents in the GOP. You are dealing with a group of people that want you exterminated politically. The days of walking the halls of the Rayburn Building, sharing a bourbon with a colleague from the other side of the aisle, and hammering out a compromise are as dead as Julius Caesar. Collegiality is out. Mutual respect is out. They want you gone for good. Erased. Destroyed.

Surprisingly, I'm in agreement with this proposal from TruthOut . It is one of the best ideas I've heard this year from our liberal democrat friends. At  the very least it is an idea, not a very good one, yet what have the democrats done for us lately?  I hope this walkout occurs during the State of the Union Address, as it will  be a dramatic reminder for the American Public as to why they are the party that is out of power. 

With ideas like this, I predict very good outcomes for the Republican candidates during the fall election cycle.

HAPPY 300TH BIRTHDAY, BEN!!

Can you believe Ben is 300?? He doesn't look a day over 75! I wonder what is his secret to looking so spry at his age?

Today marks the 300th birthday of one of the most extraordinary human beings to have graced this planet.  A scholar, statesman, inventor, writer, musician, international celebrity...genius. Centuries later his wisdom resounds, as seen in this quote from one of my favorite writings by Franklin.

'Friends', says he, 'the taxes are, indeed, very heavy; and, if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more eaily dischard them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us, by allowing an abatement. However, let us harken to good advice and something may be done for us; 'God helps them that helps themselves', as Poor Richard says. ~ The Way to Wealth

Oh, did I mention he was also an incorrigible flirt, I adore this side of Franklin that is not often revealed:

"If that Lady likes to pass he Days with him, he inturn would like to pass his Nights with her; & as he already given her many of his days, though he has so few left to give, she appears ungrateful never to have given him a single one of her nights.

Ben Franklin to Madame Helvetius, September 19th, 1779

Season 2.5 of Battlestar Galactica FINALLY resumed last Friday night for US viewers.  The series ended last year with the two battlestars (Galactica and Pegasus) preparing to smack down each other.  The season opened with a dramatic scene with viper squadrons from each battlestar in a face off, weaving meanacingly around each other waiting for clearance to fire.  This scene set the tone for the rest of the episode.  Admiral Cain and Commander Adam spent the episode dancing around one another like prizefighters, each plotting the demise of the other.  The suspense was almost tangible!

In typical Ron Moore fashion, there was a not-so-subtle political undertone to the story line..  In one scene, Commander Adama personally apologizes to the cylon prisoner (Sharon) for the brutal treatment she suffered while in the custody of the Pegasus crewmembers. Adama states to the Cylon Sharon "It occured on my watch, therefore I am ultimately responsible".  No mention is made regarding the punishment of those directly involved in this attack on the cylon. Hmmm, shades of Abu-Gharib?

Half the fun of this show is watching for these commentaries on real life political situations worked into the BSG storyline. I have to say; the storyline itself is fantastically well written and acted. Putting politics aside, this show frakking rocks; I can't help my addiction to this show!

How can you not like a show that allows you to say 'Frak' with impunity :)

Live8 - Philadelphia - July 2, 2005.

Philly put on quite a show on July 2nd, and the city should be rightly proud of how well the concert went down that day. It was a perfect day to spend listening to good music, enjoying delicious food. Too bad the whole point of it was to make the audience feel guilty over African poverty.

Bob Geldolf and friends have proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that people will gather in mass quantities to attend a free concert featuring the world's hottest musical acts. Uniting music lovers worldwide is not the answer, let alone, cure for third world poverty. The answer lies squarely in the hands of the citizens of these  nations.

In keeping with the Musical 4th theme, Elton John was presented with one of Pennsylvania's top accolades: the Philadelphia City of Brotherly Love Award for his work aimed towards a cure for HIV/AIDS.  Elton's award ceremony took the place of the annual Philadelphia Liberty Medal Award. The 2005 award recipient: Ukrainian President  Viktor Yushchenko was unable to leave the Ukraine to accept this award in Philadelphia on July 4th .The Liberty Medal presentation was pushed back till September 17th.  I had tickets to watch the presentation and was a bit disappointed that Viktor was a no show.  Outside the Constitution Center, directly across from the award ceremony,  the C.A.V.E. people (Citizens Against Virtually Everything) were staging an anti-war protest using shoes to represent civilian casualities in Iraq. As I walked around this display, I asked "If peace is priceless, why are you counting its cost?"  Not surprisingly, I received no coherent answer to my simple question. This display only represented civilians in Iraq, not Afghanistan. Why is that? Again, I received no answer to a relatively simple question.

The summer rolled along, Casey Sheehan's 'mother' decided to spend her summer vacation hanging out at the President's ranch in Crawford, TX.  The meeting with the President demanded by this deranged activist  did not occur. Oh wait a minute..yes it did! I even have a picture of that event.  Looking closely at this picture, is that President Bush kissing the cheek of Casey Sheehan's 'mother'?  She looks happy to be in the company of the President, and her description of the meeting was most complimentary to the President.  Apparently she supported the WOT before she decided not to support the WOT. Talk about flip-flopping! I'd say it is safe to say she voted for Kerry in November 2004.

As Hurricane Katrina was brewing in the Carribean and Casey Sheehan's 'mother' was blowing out of steam, I was getting set for an adventure/vacation to Costa Rica. As I was treking through rainforests, hiking around volcanoes, exploring the Sarapiqui River, and spending quality time soaking in the Arenal Hot Springs. 

At times I felt like Eve in her Garden, eating fruit directly from a tree.  I mean that literally, not figuratively.  However, even in paradise, I managed to find a political opponent in the form of a German business executive who managed to calmly put forth his opinions without resorting to the standard line of Bush=Hitler.  In the end, we diplomatically agreed to disagree and spent the rest of the night on the dance floor!

I come home from paradise to find New Orleans is underwater and with sadness I read of the death of Chief Justice Rehnquist.  Liberals, being liberal, blamed President Bush for the ineptitude of the Mayor of NO and Governor of Louisiana. Kayne West proclaimed that "George Bush doesn't care about black people" during a televised hurricane relief fundraiser.  I'm waiting for Kayne to shout out "George Bush doesn't care about Miners" during a televised mining relief fundraiser. Oh...hold on... there isn't one planned. My bad.

The fall brought the nomination of Judge Roberts to the Supreme Court, the retirement of Justice O'Connor and the withdrawl of Harriet Miers as a Supreme Court nominee.  I plan on taping these hearings, hopefully they will be as entertaining as Condi's confirmation hearing.  I wonder if these hearings be nominated for an Academy Award?

For two weeks in November, my friends and I had the opportunity to participate in an English Immersion class sponsored by Pueblo Ingles in the beautiful mountain region of Gredos, located a few hours outside of Madrid.  Contrary to the popular liberal myth that all of europe ( i.e.THE WORLD) hates Americans. I found the Spaniards to be quite enamored with America and Americans, bearing us no ill-will. The only ones spouting the tired Bush=Hitler mantra were my fellow anglos.  I returned home with the knowledge that the US is NOT universally hated and a newly acquired love of dancing the Sevillana.  These memories will linger in my heart.

Christmas celebrations started early this year. Beginning with a wedding on the 3rd of December. The Bride was beautiful and the bridesmaids were simply breathtaking.  Despite the sad fact that I now have another liberal in the family, it was a fantabulous day!

The month became even brighter with the stunning turnout in the Iraqi elections. HELLO Democrats! Wake up and smell the Democracy! The people of Iraq have spoken and they chose freedom over the 'cut and run' option touted by our Democratic Leadership.  I sported a purple finger, did you?

The Christmas bling arrived when I scored tickets to ABC network's daytime talkshow, 'The View', during their "Twelve Days of Christmas" promotion. The audience received the gift of beauty, including an assortment of Elizabeth Arden 'Provactive' perfumes, products and gift certificates. 

At the close of the year: One question still remains which I hope will be answered in 2006:

Where are good liberals dead?

In the heart or in the head?