An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Archive for October 2007
Morning Coffee 10/26/07
Iranian Guard ‘ready to defend revolution’
The leader of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard vowed Friday that the military group was ready to defend the Iranian revolution after the U.S. imposed sanctions against it amid simmering tensions over Tehran’s refusal to halt its nuclear program.
This is one of those countries that sanctions just don’t matter. The people will suffer, not the head nutbjobs, so why should they care? Make a few great big booms on their lavish palaces, the facilities in question, and just they might change their minds.
Daley defends Bridgeport land deal
Daley could not explain why the purchase price paid by the city was not based on the land’s industrial zoning designation at the time. Instead, the appraisal assumed that the land was zoned for residential use.
Mayoral press secretary Jacquelyn Heard said the land was appraised for $1.6 million, but purchased by the city for $400,000 less.
On Thursday, the mayor also sloughed off the controversy surrounding the latest city land deal involving his nephew, Robert Vanecko.
And yet, the people of Chicago keep electing him. Go figure.
Fire threat to homes diminishes
Stubborn fires continued to rage through wilderness areas of San Diego and Orange counties Thursday, and the toll rose with the grim discovery of six more bodies of people caught in the infernos. But the danger to homes and businesses subsided and many of those affected by Southern California’s latest natural disaster began taking the first steps toward a return to normalcy.
I think we should be grateful that there wasn’t more loss of life. I’d credit the firefighters for doing one hell of a job. Continued prayers.
Dallas police: Man in wheelchair disarms and kills invader
Dallas police said a disabled man shot and killed a person who broke into his apartment early Friday morning.
Police said the man was able to get out of his wheelchair, struggle with the invader, take his gun away and shoot him.
Not such an easy target after all, eh? 
The bill would expand income-tax breaks for the middle class while limiting deductions and adding taxes on high-end earners, increase the tax rate on “carried interest” fund managers earn on investments, and cut corporate tax rates. The Democratic plan also would repeal the alternative minimum tax (AMT), because it is set to penalize middle-income families this year.
There’s a much better idea. How ’bout we scrap the whole illegal IRS, and start from scratch, with a Fair Tax. Hell, even a flat tax would be better than the nonsense they’ve been pushing on us.
Obama Fails To Quell Row Over an Anti-Gay Singer
The incident reflects the need for Democratic candidates to juggle the often conflicting demands of their supporters. Mr. Obama stands accused of trying to win the support of socially conservative evangelical Christian African-Americans, who make up half of the registered Democratic voters in the early voting state of South Carolina, at the expense of gays.
If these people have the faith they claim to have, then what’s the problem. Homosexuality is a sin. Why should anyone back down from that? Kowtowing to groups trying to push their lifestyle makes me wonder if the candidate is strong enough to stand up to even greater threats. I would think, no, he’s not.
Madison officials confident Halloween bash will go smoothly
The mayor and police chief expressed confidence that this year’s infamous downtown Halloween party would go as smoothly as last year, when they instituted stricter restrictions and controls.
“Last year we made a quantum leap. We completely changed the tone,†Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said Thursday. “Our ultimate goal is to rebuild (the Halloween bash) to a point where Madison can be proud of it.â€
Oh yeah, that’s something to be proud of….a bunch of drunks acting like idjits. So, how much they charging this year?
Iraqis try to defuse tension with Turkey
Turkish officials have been frustrated by the failure of both U.S. forces in Iraq and Iraqi forces to stop the Kurdish attacks, which have claimed 42 lives in Turkey this month alone. If they do not act soon, Turkey says it will stage a unilateral cross-border incursion.
Since that area of Iraq has been relatively peaceful, and has done a great deal to improve conditions, I’m really surprised they have not been able to stop the PKK.
“The U.S. is at a point to make a decision: it will either act with its longtime ally or it won’t,” Toptan told private NTV television Friday.
Sounds like an ultimatum to me.
Father of Marine Killed in Iraq Sues Church for Cheering Death
“They turned this funeral into a media circus and they wanted to hurt my family,” Snyder testified. “They wanted their message heard and they didn’t care who they stepped over. My son should have been buried with dignity, not with a bunch of clowns outside.”
Snyder is suing the Westboro Baptist church, whose members have picketed the funerals of military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, claiming the deaths are punishment for the country’s tolerance of homosexuality. The York resident is seeking unspecified monetary damages in the case for invasion of privacy and intent to inflect emotional distress as a result of the Topeka, Kan., church’s protest at his son’s funeral in Westminster in March 2006.
These are NOT Christians. Their behavior in no way reflect true Christianity! And I honestly hope he wins his suit. I believe in free speech, but what they do is beyond reprehensible, and is should come with a price.
Prostitutes sew lips together in protest
Prostitutes in the Bolivian city of El Alto sewed their lips together Wednesday as part of a hunger strike to demand that the mayor reopen brothels and bars ordered closed after violent protests by residents last week.
“We are fighting for the right to work and for our families’ survival,” Lily Cortez, leader of the El Alto Association of Nighttime Workers, told local television.
Does anyone else find this idea a tad….umm…..ironic?
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Outrage!
Flag-folding recitations for vets banned because of religious content
RIVERSIDE,California - Complaints about religious content have led to a ban on flag-folding recitations by Veterans Administration employees and volunteers at all 125 national cemeteries. It all started because of one complaint about the ceremony at Riverside National Cemetery in California.
One person? Since when do we allow ONE person to dictate what is done in a national cemetary? Oh yeah, since we’ve been bowing down to the Madeline Murry O’Hare types.
During thousands of military burials, the volunteers have folded the American flag 13 times and recited the significance of every fold to survivors. For example, the 12th fold glorifies “God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost.”
The complaint revolved around the narration in the 11th fold, which celebrates Jewish war veterans and “glorifies the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”
So? Where’s the problem?
The National Cemetery Administration decided to ban the entire recital at all national cemeteries. Details of the complaint weren’t disclosed.
B.S.!! I want to know who made the complaint. I’d like to see folks in Riverside outside their door with large signs, protesting. I’d like to see veterans lining up to slap down this stupid ban!
Administration spokesman Mike Nacincik said the new policy outlined in a Sept. 27 memorandum is aimed at creating uniform services throughout the military graveyard system. He said the 13-fold recital is not part of the U.S. Flag Code and is not government-approved.
Not gubmint approved eh? Who gives a happy crap! We’ve allowed the government to take over way to much, and it’s time to snatch it back. This was a stupid idea, and should be rectified immediately. It’s a slap in the face to every soldier who gave their lives to protect “G-d and country”! An insult to the veterans that haven’t asked much in return, but deserve a great deal.
I’m so mad I could just…..
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Burma
UN Envoy Calls for More Dialogue in Burma
A U.N. envoy is hailing talks between Burma’s detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and a newly appointed Burmese official, but says the meeting is just the first step.
It’s not like they’ll actually DO anything.
Speaking in Tokyo Friday, U.N. envoy Ibrahim Gambari said he is hopeful the meeting will lead to the early resumption of dialogue on pro-democracy issues. He said much more is needed to produce tangible and concrete results.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years, met Thursday for one hour with Burma’s labor minister, Aung Kyi. Burma’s state-media showed pictures of the meeting, but released no specific details.
Ok, so where have the Useless Numnuts been for the last 12 years? Sucking up money from Saddam Hussein, bad mouthing the U.S. and Israel, and generally being, well, useless.
In an interview on Thursday with The Guardian newspaper, former U.S. President and Nobel Peace Laureate Jimmy Carter said he was willing to act as a mediator to Burma, which is facing mounting international pressure since its recent crackdown on protesters.
Please! For the love of all that is holy! Do NOT send that man anywhere he could do any more damage than he’s already done. Don’t they have a place to put crazy people?
Gambari has said he hopes to meet again with Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma’s top military leader, General Than Shwe, during his visit to Burma in early November.
So, how many have died in Burma over the last 12 years? How many died in Rawanda? How many have perished in Dafur? And the list goes on. The UN should be abolished. If not abolished, removed from U.S. soil. They are a mockery.
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Male Translations
“CAN I HELP WITH DINNER?”
Translated: “Why isn’t it already on the table?”
“UH HUH,” “SURE, HONEY,” OR “YES, DEAR”
Translated: Absolutely nothing. It’s a conditioned response.
“IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN”
Translated: “I have no idea how it works.”
“I WAS LISTENING TO YOU. IT’S JUST THAT I HAVE THINGS ON MY MIND.”
Translated: “That girl standing on the corner is a real babe.”
“TAKE A BREAK HONEY, YOU’RE WORKING TOO HARD.”
Translated: “I can’t hear the game over the vacuum cleaner.”
“I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT YOU, AND GOT YOU THESE ROSES.”
Translated: “The girl selling them on the corner was a real babe.”
“OH, DON’T FUSS - I JUST CUT MYSELF, IT’S NO BIG DEAL.”
Translated: “I have actually severed a limb, but will bleed to death before I admit that I’m hurt.”
“I CAN’T FIND IT.”
Translated: “It didn’t fall into my outstretched hands, so I’m completely clueless.”
“WHAT DID I DO THIS TIME?”
Translated: “What did you catch me at?”
“I HEARD YOU.”
Translated: “I haven’t the foggiest clue what you just said, and am hoping desperately that I can fake it well enough so that you don’t spend the next three days yelling at me.”
“YOU KNOW I COULD NEVER LOVE ANYONE ELSE.”
Translated: “I am used to the way you yell at me, and realize it could be worse.”
“YOU LOOK TERRIFIC.”
Translated: “Oh, God, please don’t try on one more outfit, I’m starving.”
“I’M NOT LOST. I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE.”
Translated: “No one will ever see us alive again.”
H/T: Brat via email
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Now, That’s a Cool T-Shirt!
Heh!
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Heh
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Ann On Islamo-Fascist
Have You Hugged An Islamo-Fascist Today?
College liberals are in a fit of pique because various speakers are coming to their campuses this week as part of David Horowitz’s Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week — not to be confused with Islamo-Fascism Appreciation Week, which I believe is in April.
Apparently liberals support Islamo-fascism. The Democratic leadership might want to have a powwow with their base because I believe their public position is to pretend to oppose Islamic fascism.
Elected Democrats at least make empty rhetorical gestures about opposing Islamic fascism. Of course, amidst their nonspecific condemnations of Islamic terrorism, they make very specific demands that we genuflect before Islam and perform exotic fetishes on the fascists.
Liberals believe in burning the American flag, urinating on crucifixes, and passing out birth control pills to 11-year-olds without telling their parents — but God forbid an infidel touch a Quran at Guantanamo.
College campuses across the nation are installing foot baths to accommodate Muslims’ daily bathing ritual, while surgically removing the Ten Commandments from every public space in America. Maybe the Ten Commandments could be printed on towels and kept next to the foot baths.
The National Council for Social Studies recommended a lesson plan after 9/11 that included a story titled “My Name Is Osama” about a nasty little white boy, “Todd,” who taunts a fine upstanding Iraqi immigrant named “Osama.” Go ahead, laugh it up — we’ll see who’s laughing when “My Name Is Osama” ends up on ABC’s prime-time lineup next year.
This story was proposed in response to an event in which Muslims with names like “Osama” committed the most massive hate crime in U.S. history against 3,000 innocent civilians with names like “Todd.”
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Issues!
For some reason, I could not get my blog to come up this morning. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I did get to read a few entries from other blogs while I was having a nervous breakdown. I’ve come to the conclusion there are some really odd people in this world. But then, you already knew that, didn’t you.
Now that it’s back, I’ve got to hit the road. Well, not in my usual sense. Just heading down to MS to see the doc. Hopefully, he’ll have some good news.Â
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The Nightmare Act
DREAM Act Won’t Spark More Illegal Immigration, Durbin Says
The Senate on Wednesday will consider the DREAM Act, a bill that would open a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who were brought into the United States as children and who prove themselves as productive members of society.
The bill has been derided by conservative critics. But its sponsor, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), said the bill has specific safeguards and will not spark “chain migration” of illegal immigrants into America.
Does the Turbin actually believe the crap that spews from his mouth?
The bill would grant legal status to illegal immigrants who were brought into the United States as children by their parents. Eligible immigrants must have been in the United States for at least five years before the bill’s signing date and must have been younger than 16 when they arrived here.
And how would they know the kid is telling the truth? We have no idea how many are actually here, as is, give more illegals an opening, and they aren’t going to take it? “SÃ, señor, he estado en los Estados Unidos por cinco años.”
“DREAM Act beneficiaries would have very limited abilities to sponsor family members,” Durbin said, adding that they “could not begin sponsoring parents or siblings for at least six years,” and illegal immigrants would have to move out of the country for 10 years before being eligible.
“This notion that somehow this will lead to chain migration is just wrong,” he said.
This is the same guy who called members of our military Nazis. Will my granddaughters get the same consideration for college as do the children of those who broke the law? BTW, didn’t Ronald Reagan give amnesty to 3 million, that was a magnate for another 20 million?
Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin wrote on her Web site Monday that the legislation was a “nightmare” and that even with the changes that have been made, “it remains a bad idea - providing instant amnesty, serving as a future illegal alien magnet, and perpetuating inequity.”
You can slap lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig. This is amnesty, just in a different package.
In a statement on its Web site, the group said that a 30-year-old illegal alien “could claim that he illegally entered the United States when he was 15, but there is no requirement that the alien prove that he entered the United States at the claimed time by providing particular documents.”
“The proposal would merely require him to ‘demonstrate’ that he is eligible, which in practice could mean simply making a sworn statement to that effect,” the group said. “Thus, it would be an invitation for just about every illegal alien 30 and under to fraudulently claim the amnesty.”
And of course, no one would ever lie, would they! (insert EXTREME sarcasm here)
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The Brilliance of Lance Burri
Let’s face it! The man is ’smarter than your average bear’.
What I Learned at the Taxpayer Rally
So I went to this taxpayer rally in Madison last week.
Depending on which estimate you saw, anywhere from 100 to 500 fine Americans came to Madison from all over Wisconsin, to rally for lower – or at least no higher - taxes. Also depending on the estimate, some two to three times that number of counter-protesters – government employees, mostly – tried (but failed) to shout the rally down.
The post-rally spin has taken two tacks: conservatives have focused on the boorish, rude, pubescent behavior of the union pro-taxers. Liberals have smeared the pro-taxpayers as pawns of “big oil.â€
One side remarks on what actually happened. The other side uses a vague connection to smear private citizens.
But that’s beside the point.
What exactly was accomplished by holding a “taxpayer rally?†Sure, we got a chance to rant and rave and rah, rah, rah. Got a little press for the cause. The crowd was small, but enthusiastic. It was fun.
Did it matter? Did it change any minds?
Maybe not. Probably not, but that’s not necessarily the point, either.
For several weeks AFSCME, the government employees’ union, has held small but almost daily “protests†in the State Capitol. Protests against Republican efforts to stick to Republican principles.
See, no matter how tight your own budget might be, no matter how many trade-offs you and your family have to make, you’d better pony up when government employees want more. If you don’t, you’re the jerk.
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