Bye Bye, Ahmadinejad (The Musical)

McQ at Q&O:

I have to say, this is an unexpected development.

In a rare attack on Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a hardline newspaper has accused him of behaving immorally towards his political rivals.

The Islamic Republic daily, close to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has said Mr Ahmadinejad’s behaviour is dangerous for Iran.

The publication is seen as a newspaper with impeccable Islamic credentials.

The attack would be difficult to imagine without at least tacit support from Ayatollah Khamenei.

In a hard-hitting editorial on Wednesday, the Tehran paper said the president’s treatment of his critics was immoral, illogical and illegal.

It was referring to a recent speech by Mr Ahmadinejad when he described people opposed to his nuclear programme as traitors and accused some senior former nuclear negotiators of spying for foreigners.

Everyone has been assuming that Mr. Ahmadinejad was operating with the advice and consent of the Mullahs. They are the guys running the show over there, whatever the results of their “elections” may be. But if Ayatollah K (or his close associates) says Mr. Ahmadinejad is a weasel, then you have to wonder how bright his political future will be.

In point of fact, he has none at all.

And, I disagree with Bruce on this point; it was not unexpected. As I said over there… True, Ahmadinejad was indeed working with the advice and consent of the Mullahs… who have just figured out how badly they have erred. The reality of Iran’s situation is now such that they need to dump Ahmadinejad to save face. Ahmadinejad’s going to be their sacrificial lamb. The Mullahs see dumping Ahmadinejad is the only way they will be able to stay in power, there. This will likely only take a month or two to complete this action, now that it has begun. Ahmadinejad will be gone about the first of the year.

One of their commenters pipes in:

I think this editorial is a clear indication of Patraeus’ success in quelling sectarian fighting in Iraq. Saber rattling and covert actions against the US led nation-building attempt aren’t working anymore. Add on top that Israel quietly, and without any major international opposition, took down what may have been a Syrian nuke site…

Yes, exactly so.

So much for the arguments of the usual suspects, who have been claiming that the Bush Foreign policy is ineffective. Clearly, it’s working and working well. As seems clear, now, the left would have negotiated and capitulated us into a war with Iran. What worked was a steadfast and some would say, militaristic approach.

The speed with which the Democrats switch from complaining about it, to ignoring it, will, I predict, be nearly as great as the transition from their meme of ‘Iraq is a failure” to the complete silence which greeted our vast successes there.

The Daily Mail

Heather Mills McCartney claimed she is being treated worse than a paedophile and murderer by the media.

She also insisted the wealthy elite are either snobs or stingy but maintained it was necessary to move in their circles to bring about change.

Ah, yes, the Vegans strike again. I’m firmly convinced that going Vegan is the next to last step along the road to total insanity. Heather Mills is an example. There are many others. It does something to their brains.
(Shrug) Their choice.

Since I’m such a great guy, I’m going to give just a word of advice, Heather, my dear…  If you’re going to mount an unpopular and ill-advised push for ‘change’, perhaps it’s best if you don’t insult the ones whose money you plan to use.  If you’re planning on having a friendly press spreading word of your golden vision, it’s perhaps best not to spend an hour and a half speech doing little but attacking them.

I now have a better idea why Paul backed out, don’t you?

MORON!

Discussion, Wesmirch 

Anyone have any idea why both the third world countries I just visited offered excellent airport baggage service, while JFK took over an hour to offload my bag?

Oh, come on, Megan…  

I mean, look, I’m a fan of your stuff, and I agree the management/union situation at our airports has made life there all but unbearable…  but you can’t possibly expect us to believe that the third world countries you are visiting have nearly the traffic of a JFK.  Sorry, I’m just not buying it.

Sent along by a reader, who says this was taken from the deck of the USS Ronald Reagan.

An amusing article, from Gene Lyons, which was reprinted in the Northwest Arkansas News this morning…

It’s no exaggeration to say that the establishment media’s initial response to the blogosphere was panic. The idea of mere citizens talking back to the press was unsettling to Washington media celebrities. Pundits who’d exhibited no qualms about the sordid imaginings of, say, American Spectator or The Wall Street Journal editorial page recoiled in horror at online mockery. It was laugh-out-loud funny to see a Washington Post reporter infamous for treating Kenneth Starr’s backstairs leaks like holy writ make a show of pretending that the now-defunct Web site mediawhoresonline. com had accused her of prostitution. How the system had always worked was this: They dished it out, everybody else had to take it. Now that many print and broadcast outlets feature Web logs—blogs—of their own, it’s no longer common to hear the word “blogger” pronounced with utter disdain. Even so, competition from the groundlings still provokes unease. The latest high-minded worrier is a University of Chicago law professor and sometime politico, Cass R. Sunstein.

A Justice Department official during the Carter and Reagan administrations, Sunstein has written a book called “Republic. com 2. 0,” essentially arguing that the Internet’s “echo chamber effect” is responsible for increased political polarization and declining civility. In an interview with salon. com, he said that social scientists find that when people talk only to those who agree with them, their views become more extreme.

I’m sure that’s what some steam would like us to think …but it’s not true.

I would suggest to you that the repeated election of Ronald Reagan prior to the vast majority of what has come to be known as talk radio, and prior certainly to the Internet age, is an indication that the polarization was already there… As was, not inconsequentially, leftist bias in the then existing media, which counseled us that the world was going to end in a nuclear holocaust were we to elect Ronald Reagan. Our continued existence would seem to provide evidence as to who was right and who was wrong on that score.

I submit that the avenues of communication that have opened up, (Blogs, talkradio, email groups, and so on) are not the proximate cause of the political polarization in America as Sunstein claims, but rather opened up as a response to it.  Technology is exactly that; technology.  It may induce minor alterations in the way people communicate.  But it does not induce change in what they think.  The process that Sunstein is describing is reinforcement, not creation.  To reinforce something, it must already exist.

It seems clear to me that Sunstein hasn’t really thought this matter through.  When this lack is held up against his politics, I would take it as evidence that he lacks the ability to do so.

More, Memeorandum

BBCT: Bob Wallace in the “We The People” mailgroup

Being a railfan this one caught my interest:

PARIS, Nov. 21 — As a national transit strike stretched into its second week, arsonists disrupted high-speed train service on four main routes on Wednesday. Government officials called the fires a “coordinated act of sabotage.”

The early morning outbreak of fires on the electrical lines supplying the T.G.V. high-speed trains happened hours before talks between transit union and government officials. The negotiators met for more than four hours and agreed to continue on Monday, while strike-weary travelers endured the eighth day of a walkout with no end in sight.

It doesn’t take a great deal of imagination to recognize that what’s going on here is union thugs are in full swing.  And would the Union thugs be acting in so desperate a manner, was Chriac in power, instead of the far more sane (and less bendable to union demands) Sarkozy? In the comparison between Chrirac and Sarkozy, I can’t help but be reminded of the air traffic controllers’ strike of some years ago, where president Ronald Reagan said “OK guys you wanna play that way, you’re fired”.

The fires raised the question of whether the striking unions were losing control of their most militant members.

Actually the question in my mind is more along the lines of did they ever had control over their more militant members.  That’s a question that may well be asked of any union. Perhaps the question that needs be asked, is who has the larger control over those union member… the unions, or the political parties?

Addendum:(Bit)

Glenn lays out what’s at stake:

SARKOZY PULLING A THATCHER? “If Sarkozy manages to face down the transport union, he’ll have really accomplished something–and I’d expect the other public-service unions to fall into line. The real problem, as in 1968, will be the student protestors. But I’ve seen these kids, and they aren’t the in the same league as their parents (grandparents!) from the Sixties. They’ll cave, too.”

Yep. So, the deal is, the list of possible culprits is not limited to the railway union, but would seem to cut across the whole of the labor movement.

Update: The New York Sun is reporting this morning:

 President Sarkozy of France is on the verge of a breakthrough in his ambitious plan to wean his country off the restrictive working practices he believes stand in the way of national prosperity.

Yesterday, the strike of rail and subway workers that has crippled France for nine days was clearly crumbling, as workers began returning to work in large numbers and union branches conceded that support for the dispute is collapsing.

“We think a dynamic of return to work has begun,” Julie Vion, a spokeswoman for France’s state-owned railroad network, SNCF, said.

Union leaders began to concede defeat yesterday. “We have to face reality. Since yesterday’s negotiations, things have changed. The strike is no longer the solution. The strike strategy is no longer winning,” a leader of the Sud union representing Paris underground railway workers, Philippe Touzet, said in an interview with Bloomberg News.

And, as I said yesterday, the rest of the unions fall into line, following this victory for Sarkozy.   Memeorandum is doing a fair job in tracking commentary on this one.

From Eliot Spitzer’s Never-Never Land:

Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) — The base fare for New York City’s subways and buses will stay at $2 through 2009 after the state authority that operates the network found $220 million in additional revenue

From the real world, Michael Tarm:

CHICAGO (AP) — As a civil engineer, Om Goel had faith that Chicago’s world-famous El, however old, rickety and perennially cash-strapped, was maintained well enough that the trains would at least stay on the tracks.

[…]

Transit officials say problems abound:

_New York City’s subway system, the nation’s largest, is chronically overcrowded even though the city has spent more than $50 billion since 1982 to rescue its mass-transit network.

“Most riders think the subway’s run by an angry, indifferent god,” said Gene Russianoff of the Straphangers Campaign, a transit advocacy group. “On some lines, I can’t believe how many people are crammed in. It’s like a Picasso painting — arms here, legs and shoes there.”

For those who recall how bad things used to be in New York, today’s system looks good, Russianoff said. For example, the transit agency says a train now breaks down about once every 150,000 miles versus once every 7,000 miles in 1982.

So get this, the New York City subway system is flushed with riders, but chronically short of cash.  The infrastructure is falling apart, yet the governor refuses to authorize a fare increase.

I suppose that when I-35 happens in NYC and scores die, the same Albany politicians will urge that the only fix will for me to pay yet more in taxes.

How long would you last in the real world if you run booming business but were constantly losing money.  It not the way to run a McDonalds and it not the way to run a transit system.  Then I quess Ronald McDonald is smarter than Eliot Spitzer.

I don’t see what Maggie is so surprised about. Europe is the continent that brought you papal infallibility, the divine right of kings, nationalism, fascism, communism, and so on and so on. Europe’s faith in big solutions by big institutions claiming unlimited power is nothing new. [link adeed]

Stephen Green, Vodka Pundit.

On this Thanksgiving Day, be thankful for living in the New World rather than the Old.

Caprice Hollins, is called, for some strange reason,  director of Equity, Race & Learning Support, for Seatttle schools.   Yet Hollins has some strange ideas about equality.   Hollins sent home with Seattlle’s students her ‘Myths of ‘The First Thanksgiving.'”‘  Yet the Seattle schools director of equality seems to think that bashing Europeans somehow constitutes equaliy.

Not one of Hollins’s eleven points is in the least bit supportive of the European immigrants.    In fact, Hollins is down right hostile to the immigrants.   Does Hollins need sensitivity training?

Her last point is that we should all be miserable.   That is Hollins’s  right and choice.   As for me, pass the mashed potatos and gravy.   I’ll pass on Hollins’ misery.  And you?

Hat Tips:   Fox News; Memeorandum.

Just some thoughts on this Thanksgiving day.

Perhaps some of you are unaware of the origins of this day being set aside as a national day of Thanksgiving.

Also, you may not know that Ol’ Ben Franklin wanted to make the Turkey the national bird, thinking the Eagle a bird of Bad moral character, a rank coward.

‘course now, the turkey Ben Franklin knew was brightly plumed, and a rather cunning bird… and one that wasn’t so darned fat he couldn’t fly. So, had Ben had his way, the turkey would be in the endagered species list, and we’d all be eating roast Eagle, with all the trimmings, I suppose.

Seriously, though… some of you wonder who we’re thanking, and for what. A look back will answer these questions, and possibly give you a new perspective on things.

Many of you, I’m sure don’t know that Thomas Jefferson wasn’t interested in a national day of Thanksgiving, apparently being conflicted about who we were to thank. However, some more open minded people prevailed. Like George Washington, for example… who said in part, in his Thanksgiving Day Proclamation;

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and affign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of thefe States to the fervice of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our fincere and humble thanksfor His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the fignal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpofitions of His providence in the courfe and conclufion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have fince enjoyed;- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to eftablish Conftitutions of government for our fafety and happinefs, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are bleffed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffufing useful knowledge;- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleafed to confer upon us.

In 1863, Lincoln had cause to be thankful, as well.

By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Of course Thanksgiving in it’s current context would be eventually declared unconstitutional, if we allow the courts to run things. And perhaps that’s something we ought to remember today, as well.. and be thankful that they’ve not gotten that kind of power from us. That, I am certainly thankful for. (May they NEVER have such power!) If original intent counts for anything in the realm of the Constitution, and I think it does, these proclaimations should end the argument about claims of seperation of church and state.. and the push toward the removal of the one we should be thankful to, today.

Johnathan Rothenburg said a few years ago, aptly,

While we can and should have debates within the political arena as to the correct role that religion should play in contemporary American society, that debate should be settled democratically by voters, not capriciously by judges. Liberals have often enjoyed success in the courts when they have failed at the ballot box, such as with broad interpretations of the Establishment Clause, these precedents set by our greatest Presidents demonstrate that America’s cultural underpinnings were never based on atheism.

Well, we know why they refuse to bring it to a vote; because they know which way it’ll fall out.

Ya know, a look back into history today is relevant as well.  Let’s go back to 2003, when Hillary Clinton visited Bagram AFB, to an NewsMax inside story:

“U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton forced U.S. troops stationed at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan to wait for their Thanksgiving dinner last Thursday while she and her entourage arrived late, then cut in line and were served first.”

Well, THAT figures, doesn’t it?
One point that comes up in this story more fully explains why Hitlery’s visit to Bagram wasn’t covered as heavily as one might expect:

People magazine was on hand to cover the event and wanted to interview the troops for reaction to Clinton’s visit.

“But they were getting declined left and right,” our source said. “People were actually telling the reporters, ‘You don’t want to print what I think about her and her visit.'”

After Clinton and her entourage departed, the only topics GIs wanted to talk about were “how great the food was and how fantastic they thought George Bush’s visit to Iraq was.”

I wonder what Hillary Clinton’s view of Thanksgiving is, huh?

Meanwhile, President Bush also showed up in the area.. in Iraq, specifically, and got a bit of a different response I said at the time:

What a brilliant bit of being president! What a fabulous story this is! Now, it didn’t take long at all for about everyone to see that this at least was going to mean a tremendous boost to Bush’s popularity numbers. Which of course means that Democrats and the leftist media were going to try and find a way to spin this against him. But a funny thing happened on the way to the microphones; The Democrat leadership couldn’t get their act together, and all came out looking like idiots. And the rank and file is getting rather desperate.

As soon as this story broke on Thanksgiving day, I jumped on the net and went over to Democraticunderground.com, where I found: (Warning; the language is about what you’d expect from someone of their mental capacity.)

I fear that this one gesture will be the tipping point past which * re-connects with wavering white males and so-called independents. The media is ga-ga over this farce of a visit. The messages from the whore centers will get much more syrupy and orgasmic as the weekend approaches cultminating in a literal ejactulation of praise and wonder on the sunday talk shows. Even Democratic senators will be stepping all over themselves to praise *’s holy visit as an act of courage and daring-do. It won’t be pretty and it won’t be easy to take.

I feel in my gut that this changes everything. The sheeple are just beginning to pay attention to the dawning political season and, for many, this stunt will be their initial waking image: “Our President is indeed a cool guy. Our President is indeed brave and true. Our President risked his life to visit our troops.” And yada yada yada yada …..

Counter that with Dashle, and Biden, and Zell Miller, and all the rest of the regular cast of mealy-mouthed spinless Dems who, mark my words, will end up praising the piss-ant poseur, and what do you have? You have the very real makings of a blowout landslide for fascism and all that is transparently un-american gaining unambiguous approval in November of 2004.

This is the worst I’ve felt in my entire life on this shithole of a planet in this shithole of a country. I can’t image what I’ll feel like in early November 2004. I can’t imagine feeling worse than I do right now but I’ve got to prepare myself for something I dread and fear to the very depth of my soul: The final and irrevokable loss of our democracy to fascism.

What the fuck have we become? In the final analysis it was all just so much sand sifting through our fingers. Just so much sand.

Amazing stuff. Rather reminds me of an aniumal having been backed into a corner. Another pipes up in the same thread:

This feels like it’s the beginning of the end for us.

He’s wrong, of course. The beginning of the end was accomplished quite a while ago…. as the first message demonstrates.

What perhaps put this even further into Mr Bush’s court, though was his remarks at the dinner: (bolds are my own)

“Thank you. I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere. Thank you for inviting me to dinner. General Sanchez, thank you, sir, for your kind invitation and your strong leadership. Ambassador Bremer, thank you for your steadfast belief in freedom and peace. I want to thank the members of the Governing Council who are here, pleased you are joining us on our nation’s great holiday, it’s a chance to give thanks to the Almighty for the many blessings we receive.

I’m particularly proud to be with the 1st Armored Division, the 2nd ACR, the 82nd Airborne. I can’t think of a finer group of folks to have Thanksgiving dinner with than you all. We’re proud of you. Today, Americans are gathering with their loved ones to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. And this year we are especially thankful for the courage and the sacrifice of those who defend us, the men and women of the United States military.

I bring a message on behalf of America: We thank you for your service, we’re proud of you, and America stands solidly behind you. Together, you and I have taken an oath to defend our country. You’re honoring that oath. The United States military is doing a fantastic job. You are defeating the terrorists here in Iraq, so that we don’t have to face them in our own country. You’re defeating Saddam’s henchmen, so that the people of Iraq can live in peace and freedom.

By helping the Iraqi people become free, you’re helping change a troubled and violent part of the world. By helping to build a peaceful and democratic country in the heart of the Middle East, you are defending the American people from danger and we are grateful.

You’re engaged in a difficult mission. Those who attack our coalition forces and kill innocent Iraqis are testing our will. They hope we will run. We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, pay a bitter cost in casualties, defeat a brutal dictator and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins.

We will prevail. We will win because our cause is just. We will win because we will stay on the offensive. And we will win because you’re part of the finest military ever assembled. And we will prevail because the Iraqis want their freedom.

Every day you see firsthand the commitment to sacrifice that the Iraqi people are making to secure their own freedom. I have a message for the Iraqi people: You have an opportunity to seize the moment and rebuild your great country, based on human dignity and freedom. The regime of Saddam Hussein is gone forever.

The United States and our coalition will help you, help you build a peaceful country so that your children can have a bright future. We’ll help you find and bring to justice the people who terrorized you for years and are still killing innocent Iraqis. We will stay until the job is done. I’m confident we will succeed, because you, the Iraqi people, will show the world that you’re not only courageous, but that you can govern yourself wisely and justly.

On this Thanksgiving, our nation remembers the men and women of our military, your friends and comrades 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.

Each one of you has 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. I bring greetings from America. May God bless you all.”

The response to his showing up was thunderous applause, both in the hall, and here at home. “It’s got to be a lonely moment for them,” said the President. “I thought it was important to send that message that we care for them (the troops) and we support them strongly, that we erase any doubts in their minds as to whether or not the people stand with them.”

He also said, correctly ” Having seen the reaction of those troops, you know it was the right thing to do.”

Given the response at home, it was the right thing to do on that score, as well. This trip did several things:

It got Michael Jackson off the front page, at least until the press figured out there was no way to spin this negative for the president.

Much as some in the press bicthewd and moaned about not being told about his trip, it showed clearly that most people here at home approve of the President not telling the press his every move. One could extrapolate that a bit and take the suggestion that the President has more trust in the end, than the press does.

It upstaged Hitlery’s trip, basically keeping her off the screens… given her trip, she couldn’t even bitch about Bush’s trip. It should not have, however. Look what she pulls: In what must have been a demoralizing message to U.S. soldiers she told them that Americans back home are growing increasingly skeptical of President Bush’s decision to send them into battle. What a moron.

It answered all those who figured we’re going to cut and run.

It made a rather clear demonstration of the differences between an administrator and a leader. Nobody since Reagan and to a lesser degree, Bush Sr., understood this difference. It’s clear by the polling data, however, that the American people, including his opposition, understand the difference.

And perhaps that’s where I ought to leave this. With the troops.
Among the many things I am thankful for this thanksgiving, is we have so many fine, brave people willing to give of their time, their talents, and possibly their lives, for something bigger.

They’re there because they know the job needs doing. But it’s a job they can’t do alone. I’d like you to consider saying a prayer for our fighting men and women, today. Doesn’t have to be fancy. Just thank God for them. Ask for his help in the Iraq mess being settled, so that as many as possible can come home.

Oh… one more thing, I think. Pay attention to those around the table with you this day. Give thanks for them while you have them. No relationship is forever, since we are all mortal.

Put aside what petty differences you have with these special people in your life, for special they are.  Alas!, that many of us find out how special they were only after they are gone from us. And celebrate that whatever else happens, you are together, this day.

I note Boortz, yesterday, looking at this Michael Vick business with his usual jaundiced eye:

Now .. here’s the laugh of the week. Vick’s attorney is Billy Martin.  Here’s what Martin had to say to the press after Vick disappeared behind the barbed wire:

“From the beginning, Mr. Vick has accepted responsibility for his actions, and his self-surrender further demonstrates that acceptance,”

I’m busting a gut here! Let’s see … Vick lied to Arthur Blank, the Falcon’s owner. He lied to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He lied to the fans .. and he only “accepted responsibility,” as his attorney phrases it, after his homies turned on him and started copping pleas.

There doesn’t seem to be much doubt that Michael Vick considers himself to be an upstanding kinda guy.   There also doesn’t seem to be much of a doubt that the guy is thoroughly full of thick brown goo.

As I have been saying for some months now.

My guess is that we will see this idiot in somebody’s NFL uniform, in the future.  Hey, NFL… do you begin to understand what an insult I’ve just laid on you?

The question is, repeatedly of late when Ron Paul was going to denounce the tinfoil crowd led by Master Troofer, Alex Jones.  The answer, apparently is “not very soon”.

Which is approximately the same time he’ll have my support. The screaming about this has been going on for weeks now, and frankly there is no longer any excuse whatsoever for him not to break that association.  On that basis there’s no reason for any sane individual to support him any longer.  Game over.

Lt Good has the details at the Jawa Report.

Rick Moran over at Pajamas Media discussing what went wrong with Fred Thompson’s campaign, as if it’s a post mortem. it’s a worthy read, which I commend to you.

Personally I am not quite so convinced that the whole situation is a flop.  As Rick himself points out, Fred Thompson has always been a strong finisher.  And, one doesn’t have to look very closely to see that there is no real advantage to coming out swinging, just now.  What with primaries edging ever earlier (New Hampshire , just this evening announced that it will be running its primary on January 3rd, of all things…) if actually there he is going to be some serious blow back from the voting public in the form of voter apathy.  You can only be pounded with this stuff for so long.

I’m thinking that Thompson is probably get as good a chance as any of them, if he plays the “I’m a fresh face on the scene” routine.  answer to the lake, the remainder of the Republican field as been doing its level best to shoot itself in the foot.  Perhaps that too, was part of the strategy.

Now, I’m not going to tell you that he’s going to rewrite from behind everybody at the last minute and take the nomination.  Candidly, I hope he does.   I’m not holding my breath, however.

That said, it must also be said that we have just under a year between us and election day.   Also, the convention isn’t until September 1st through the 4th, I believe, up in the Twins.  I’ve seen enough of these things to know that there’s an awful lot in the way of surprises that can occur between now and then, and I guarantee you that this one is going to be no different.  Given his track record, I would not be the least bit surprised if Fred Thompson was one of them.

After about 24 hours of watching the left trying to make something of a snippet of Scott McClellan’s new book… it turns out out that there wasn’t any ‘there’ there…

WASHINGTON -(AP)- Former White House spokesman Scott McClellan does not believe President Bush lied to him about the role of White House aides I. Lewis Scooter Libby or Karl Rove in the leak of CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity, according to McClellan’s publisher.

Peter Osnos, the founder and editor-in-chief of Public Affairs Books, which is publishing McClellan’s book in April, tells NBC from his Connecticut home that McCLellan, “Did not intend to suggest Bush lied to him.”

Osnos says when McClellan went before the White House press corps in 2003 to publicly exonerate Libby and Rove, the problem was that his statement was not true. Osnos said the president told McClellan what “he thought to be the case.” But, he says, McClellan believes, “the president didn’t know it was not true.”

In fact, it says as much in the book, whence, of course Osnos gets his information.

And so, once again, we see the leftards are desperate to get anything they can on George W Bush, leaping at every shadow… and the supposed mainstream media with them… and as soon as they both get a good head of steam going over some bit of minutiae, (Aha.. at last, we’ve got him!!!)  …the football disappears from view, and they’re looking at sky, and feeling the hard ground on their back, yet again.

Don’t you EVER learn, Charlie Brown?