An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Morning Coffee 12/23/07
Olmert rules out truce with Hamas
Israeli PM Ehud Olmert has ruled out a ceasefire with Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas unless it recognises Israel and renounces violence.
He was speaking after two Israeli ministers said it should consider a truce after reports, denied by Hamas, that the group was exploring the idea.
But Mr Olmert said the Israeli army was involved in a “real war” in Gaza.
Hamas recognizing Israel? Renounce violence? Yeah, right! Pfft!
Black Man Found Guilty in Death of White Teen in Racially-Charged Case
A black man accused of killing a white teen during a racially charged confrontation outside his home was convicted of second-degree manslaughter Saturday despite his claims he feared a “lynch mob” had come to attack his family.
The ruling came on the fourth day of deliberations following an emotional three-week trial in which defense attorneys invoked the nation’s violent racist past in arguing the shooting was justified.
Dear Lord in Heaven. Why can’t we get past an ugly history, and move on. Why is a gang of kids going to someone’s home to confront, or ‘fight’ another kid? I’m fairly sure I’d have a gun in hand too. Although, the best course of action would have been to close the door, and call the cops, but in the real world…..
Iran Cited In Iraq’s Decline in Violence
The Iranian government has decided “at the most senior levels” to rein in the violent Shiite militias it supports in Iraq, a move reflected in a sharp decrease in sophisticated roadside bomb attacks over the past several months, according to the State Department’s top official on Iraq.
Tehran’s decision does not necessarily mean the flow of those weapons from Iran has stopped, but the decline in their use and in overall attacks “has to be attributed to an Iranian policy decision,” David M. Satterfield, Iraq coordinator and senior adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said in an interview.
Basically, we’ve been ‘at war’ with Iran since 1979. There hasn’t been a lot of obvious fighting, but it’s been there. In Iraq, it’s come more out in the open. So, all those folks saying we don’t need another war front haven’t really been paying attention. They are just waiting for us to tip toe off, leaving Iraq wide open for a take over.
Iowa’s ‘other Democrats’ soldier on
Forget about former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards’ “two Americas” theme. Right now there are two Democratic campaigns — the high-profile, celebrity-studded race being waged by Obama, Edwards and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and another, quieter race by Dodd, Delaware Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
I have no doubt if the media spent their time and energy focusing on Biden, he’d be the front runner, instead Sen. Shrilldebeast or B. Hussein. This is more and more obvious, a media run campaign. Sad. Very sad.
Rivals Huckabee Leans Left Like Clinton
To hear Mitt Romney tell it, Republican Mike Huckabee shares more with Democrat Bill Clinton than a hometown in Hope, Ark., and a stint as Arkansas governor.
Both men, Romney suggests, have left-leaning governing philosophies, particularly on taxes and spending.
“Governor Huckabee’s record is more liberal than our nation needs right now,” the former Massachusetts governor said in Iowa last week, seeking to link his GOP presidential rival to the former Democratic president who is loathed by many Republican loyalists.
Retorted Huckabee: “This nonsense about being a liberal is pure nonsense.”
I’m not so sure it’s ‘nonsense’. Raised taxes, paid speaking engagement for a drug company involved with embryonic stem cell research, letting bad guys out of prison so they can murder, using faith as a political tool? Hmmm…..
Taxes Are Reassessed in Housing Slump as Prices Drop
Home owners across the nation are looking to county governments to reassess the values of their homes in the face of flattening and falling prices that have befallen scores of markets. Downward assessments, done at the request of homeowners or pre-emptively by government, appear to be most pronounced in areas where the housing market was exploding just a few years ago, or where economic conditions are poorest.
Maybe they’ll actually start assessing homes for what they are REALLY worth, instead of what will bring the biggest tax dollar? Naw….too simple.
Ministry: 28 Arrested in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian police have arrested 28 men for allegedly planning to attack holy sites around Mecca and Medina during the recently finished Muslim hajj pilgrimage, the kingdom’s Interior Ministry said Sunday.
(…)
The ministry said 27 of the men were Saudi nationals and one was a foreign resident.“Thanks to God, the security forces managed to detain members of the deviated group who have links with elements outside (the kingdom) while planning to carry out criminal acts inside,” a statement by the Interior Ministry statement said.
Saudi authorities often use the term deviated group to describe terror suspects linked to al-Qaida.
Deviated. Interesting way of referring to murderous lunatics.
Iran to tender construction of 19 nuclear power plants
Iran will soon announce international tender for construction of 19 new 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plants, Rapporteur of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Kazem Jalali, said on Sunday.
Y’know, if that country wasn’t being run by raving lunatics, allied with other raving lunatics, I wouldn’t see a problem. And just why can’t WE have 19 nuclear power plants for OUR electricity needs?
Feds crack down on illegal immigration in Springfield
“My wife said there were some vans here,” Sneed said. “They weren’t concerned about anything we were doing. They were just concerned about someone that was renting downstairs.”
Talk about increased immigration enforcement began circulating through the city this month after allegations about hiring of illegal immigrants at Electrolux Home Products. Electrolux, which employs more than 3,000 people to manufacture electric and gas ranges, initiated a mass firing. Television news reports estimated 170 people were fired last week.
Every time I ever rented an apartment, or applied for a job, I had to undergo a serious background check. Are they not doing that anymore?
