Bush’s address Friday at the annual Independence Day naturalization ceremony at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello was immediately interrupted by a handful of antiwar demonstrators, one of whom repeatedly shouted, “Impeach Bush!” Bush, apparently unfazed, offered a holiday-appropriate response.

“To my fellow citizens-to-be, we believe in free speech in the United States of America,” Bush said to hearty applause.

What should have been a proud day for these folks is marred by the juvenile antics of the self centered. Their disruption had nothing to do with Bush, or the ceremony, and everything to do with themselves.

Barack Obama now wears his patriotism on his lapel

He seldom goes out in public now without a flag pin stuck in his lapel. He devoted an entire speech to patriotism this week in Independence, Mo. Visually reinforcing the message, he stood in front of a quartet of large American flags.

None of this is an accident. Polling shows that on the threshold test any serious presidential candidate must pass, Obama has ground to cover.

It seems to me the ONLY reason he is wearing a pin now is for the photo ops. I can’t understand why he felt the need to make a speech about his patriotism. Gee, you’d think folks were doubting his, or some such thing.

Hamas freezes negotiations for Schalit

“It does not make any sense that we should open negotiations while Israel does not honor the truce,” Abu Marzuk said. “The issue will be postponed until the Egyptians invest the efforts together with the Israelis - in order to honor the truce agreement - open the crossings and prevent Muhammad Dahlan and Fatah from sabotaging the truce deal.”

Abu Marzuk did not specify what Israeli truce violations he was referring to.

Since it’s NOT Israel that is firing rockets, yeah, I’d say he’d have a hard time pinpointing any violations.

IDOL OF RIGHT IS DEAD

“Compromise, hell! . . . If freedom is right and tyranny is wrong, why should those who believe in freedom treat it as if it were a roll of bologna to be bartered a slice at a time?” Helms wrote in a 1959 editorial.

Idol? Hmmm… At any rate, great comment!

Imams, preachers urged to help fight extremism

“Some of our young people have taken to branding people, including religious leaders as heretics,” the minister said. “Their negative propaganda and undue criticism of religious leaders should be countered effectively. We should also protect our young people from the reach of the proponents of deviant ideologies before they are influenced by them.” The minister underlined the role of the society in countering extremism.

“The first responsibility lies with the family and then the imams at mosques,” he said. “It is the duty of the imams and preachers to revive the role of mosques in protecting the youth from deviant ideologies. The mosques should take up the task of neutralizing the extremist ideologies. Extremism is, undoubtedly, far removed from the teachings of Islam,” he said.

Now see, I thought it was the imams that encouraged the terrorism, even in Saudi Arabia.

FDA reports more cases of salmonella illnesses

There have been 943 reported cases nationwide, with at least 130 hospitalizations since mid-April after the first salmonella illnesses appeared, the Food and Drug Administration said Saturday. That compares with a total of 922 people about two days ago and 869 reported earlier in the past week.

On Tuesday, the government said it would test numerous other kinds of fresh produce while insisting that tomatoes remained the leading culprit. Investigators have kept quiet about exactly what other vegetables are getting tracked but said they are looking at items commonly served with fresh tomatoes.

Since I haven’t had any fresh produce lately, I’m fairly sure that’s not what is ailing me. I’m really surprised they haven’t found the source yet. They’re usually pretty good at tracking these things down in record time.

Man beaten after trying to stop abuse of puppy

Victor Esparza-Hernandez, 44, of Centralia was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for investigation of second-degree assault.

Brown said the puppy is all right and was returned to its owner, a friend of the arrested man.

What kind of sick SOB beats a puppy? And then attacks someone who is trying to protect the puppy? The little critters owner might want to choose his friends a lot more carefully in the future.

Iran defiant on right to nuclear power

World leaders, such as those from the West, the U.N. Security Council and Israel, have been suspicious that Iran is using its nuclear program to develop weaponry. Iran has consistently disputed that and said it plans to use nuclear power for energy.

Elham said “Iran’s stand on the issue has not changed” and that Iran “will not withdraw from legitimate rights of its people,” IRNA reported.

“Tehran’s stand is based on the legitimate rights of the Iranian nation as well as the international regulations. The Iranian nation will continue with the path determined by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei,” Elham said.

Perhaps if Iran wasn’t being run by murderous lunatics, I’d say they had a right to nuclear energy too. However, with the constant threats to Israel and the West? Not a real good idea.

Bush Faces Daunting Challenges at Final G-8 Summit

Atop the agenda is reaching a deal that would set targets for reducing the pollution that causes global warming. But few expect major headway or concessions from Bush. He insists on holding China and India, fast-growing economies and among the world’s biggest polluters, to the same emission-reduction standards as older, developed economies.

Even though the phony consensus was wrong, they continue to push the ‘global warming’ agenda. Yeah, clean up your pollution, but for the love of pete, lose the arrogance! We do NOT control the climate!

1 And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, “If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?”

She replied, “I’d give houses to all the homeless people.”

“Wow - what a worthy goal.” I told her, “You don’t have to wait until you’re President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow, weed eat, and sweep my yard, and I’ll pay you $50. Then I’ll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward a new house.”

She thought that over for a few seconds ’cause she’s only 6. And while her Mom glared at me, she looked me straight in the eye and asked, “Why doesn’t the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?”

And I said, “Welcome to the Republican Party.”

Her folks still aren’t talking to me. Oh well!

Courtesy of Sue H.

Swiped from Charlie Sykes.

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Police are searching for a convicted sex offender who is named in an arrest warrant for a sex offender violation.

Erin Griffith, 37, is thought to be homeless and is known to frequent the downtown area, according to Metro police. He was convicted in 2004 of child solicitation of a 6-year-old.

He has been arrested eight times since March on charges including public intoxication, disorderly conduct, trespassing and pedestrian soliciting, police said.

Anybody who has seen Griffith or knows where he is should contact the police department’s Sex Crimes Unit at 862-7540.

Now, I’m real glad the police are looking for this POS, but what is the thing that really stands out about this story?

How ’bout the fact that he’d been ARRESTED EIGHT FREAKIN’ TIMES IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS! Now, I’d really like to know why the guy was let go after the first arrest if he’s on parole, or probation? Better yet, why the hell is this garbage walking around free if he was convicted on a charge involving a child?

When I stopped for gas, I pulled in behind a couple of women in a Mercedes who were also getting gas. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but most places you have to prepay these days, so obviously the driver had stuck her credit card in and was filling her car, while her friend went inside.

Now, here’s where I get annoyed. There were cars waiting to get gas because this place was about 7 to 10 cents cheaper than the places close by. What does the woman do? She looks at the cars waiting, and walks into the store. Hmmm….

I finished pumping my gas, and had to back up to get out. The car waiting behind me had to back up so I could back up to get out. I went and parked in a parking place so I could go into the store to get something to drink. The Mercedes woman was just milling around, taking her time, looking at this, that and the other. Well, I realize she was waiting for her friend who was otherwise occupied, but was it necessary for her to just leave her car sitting there next to the pump, where no one else would be able to use it?

Now, the reason I bring this up is because it’s just an example of how self centered people have become in recent years. I’ve noticed such behavior in a lot of areas of general life. Young people shoving in front of older people to get in line to check out at the grocery store or getting a door closed in your face because the person who just walked through is oblivious to anyone around them. Well, you get the picture.

What I’d like to know is just when did it happen? When did we become so disgustingly self centered? What happened to please, thank you, after you, let me get that door for you?