Kerry Maintains Rank

The Beltway Buzz has the National Journal's new rankings for the Senate and House. On the democrat side Senator John Kerry has maintained his rank as #1 most liberal democrat with a lifetime average composite liberal score of 85.7. Coming in at #2 would be that "moderate" Senator Hillary Clinton with a score of 80.7.

On the republican side you have as #1 Kansas Senator Sam Brownback with a lifetime average composite conservative score of 82.5. Rick Santorum came in #2 with 78.8.

So the two leading candidates for 2008 democratic presidential ticket are also the two most liberal in the senate. That isn't going to play well in the so called fly over states.

Most under-reported stories of 2004

World Net Daily has the most "spiked" stories for the year 2004. Not too many surprises there, but well worth the read.

Tip o' the hat to Michelle Malkin.

And He's in Congress

This has got to be one of the most absurd things I have seen since I started following politics many, many years ago.

How is it possible that this man can get enough votes to get elected? Look up "fever swamp liberal" and you will find a picture of Congressman Maurice Hinchey.

Hunter Thompson Dead

Hunter S. Thompson has apparently killed himself. Not being a fan of this over-hyped, over-sold drug addicted hack, it doesn't mean that much to me.

The drugs took hold for the last time.

Carter - ski

If the information in this new book on President Reagan is true, then President Carter could, and should have a lot to answer for.

Reagan's War: The Epic Story of His Forty-Year Struggle and Final Triumph Over Communism is a new book by Peter Schweizer a Hoover Institution research fellow. In it he tells of then former president Carter trying to enlist aid from the Soviet Union to defeat President Reagan in 1984.

Carter also allegedly sent businessman Armand Hammer to discuss expanding jewish emigration to make himself look better in the polls.

Jimmy Carter is clearly the worst president of the 20th century and quite possibly in the entire history of our nation. If this is true, wouldn't that make him the most treasonous as well?

Tip of the hat to Powerline.

Travesty of Justice

Bill O'Reilly posted a column on his website about a crime that took place 7 years ago in my own Atlanta. If this doesn't rouse your anger at our justice system, then I think I can safely say nothing will.

"She Can't Win"

According to Drudge, David Geffen, the multi gazillionaire who helped fund President Clinton's campaign said of Senator Clinton at a question and answer session at the 92nd street Y last night that "She can't win and she's an incredibly polarizing figure." The statement was greeted with "hearty applause".

And this is from her own adopted back yard in New York City. I'm sure she will be happy to have that splashed all over the media. On second thought, it probably won't make the news at all.

Is the Media Biased Part 2

There is a good article over at Real clear Politics by Thomas Sowell called tainted media. It basically goes over the MSM's bias in the George W. Bush National Guard "controversy" vs. their treatment, or lack there of, of John Kerry's ever changing war record and how they continue to cover for him.

Ultimately, the Mainstream media is going to have to face its demons and become more impartial or they will face continuing loss of market share, and the new media will continue to make gains.

Was it his left or right shoe?

New DNC chairman and Richard Perle, a former pentagon advisor under President Reagan, held a debate last night in Portland, Oregon. Boy, you would think that Perle would ask for a more neutral ground than that. I lived in Portland for a lot of years and it's not on the left coast for nothing.

The event itself was not very newsworthy. There were your typical Dean statements like "Defense is a lot broader than swaggering around saying you're going to kick Saddam's butt." And then there was the line left over from his oh-so-successful presidential campaign "We picked the low hanging fruit in Iraq and did nothing (about Iran and North Korea)".

Perle was predictable as well. He said that the war was justified by the intelligence we had at the time. "Sometimes the things we have to do are objectionable to others".

So basically it was just another boring debate....with the exception of flying shoes. Perle had barely opened his mouth at the beginning of the debate when a 52 year old lefty fever swamp protester threw his shoe at him and started screaming at the top of his lungs "liar, liar" until he was dragged out of the hall by security.

You can link to the AP story here.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that conservatives would act like that. And I'm certain that the MSM would never let us get away with it either. What is in the water that liberals drink that makes them act like a bunch of jerks? Hey buddy!! It's not the 60's anymore, the Vietnam war is over! Take a bath, get a job and go away.

"In the Hands of God"

The teenager accused of murdering his grandparents and then blaming his behavior on the prescription drug Zoloft, has been found guilty and sentenced to 30 years in jail according to the AP.

Christopher Pittman hung his head as the verdict was read after about six hours of deliberations. He spoke briefly to the court before the sentence was handed down.

"I know it's in the hands of God. Whatever he decides is what it's going to be," Pittman said quietly.

Mrs. Scar and I have differing opinions on this case, and I must say she followed it in more detail than I did.

Although I don't believe the Zoloft defense was the right way to go, and I'm no lawyer, I do believe that an anti-depressant that is made for adults could cause unwanted behavior in children (Pittman was 12 when he committed the crime).

The Food and Drug Administration seems to think so as well, forcing Zoloft and other anti-depressants to carry warnings of increased suicidal risks in children. Wouldn't it be fair to say that a drug powerful enough to cause increased suicidal risks could cause other disturbing reactions?

It's a very sad case and I'm not so sure that sending this boy to prison for the next 30 years is the right answer. Even under normal conditions a 12 year old, one who has experienced physical abuse, can make horrific decisions without having the mental capacity to appreciate the consequences as well as the deed itself.

On the other hand, all that I have been told is how calculating he was both during and after the killings. Again, I have not followed this case as closely as maybe I should have. Perhaps the punishment is just, but it sure doesn't seem like it from my limited vantage point.

Beltway Buzz

National Review Online has a new blog that started today called Beltway Buzz. Eric Pfeiffer, formerly of "The Hotline" will be reporting. It is, as you could have guessed, an inside look inside the beltway of D.C. I have enjoyed TKS and The Corner, as well as the articles on the main page, so I will check it out for a while.

I've Been Linked

I just noticed that I have been linked by Radio Blogger! I must say that I am honored. I consider his blog a daily must read.

Politics and the Blogosphere

Michael Barone has written an excellent column for U.S. News and World Report that shows the effects of the blogosphere on the political process. His report gives the point of view from the right sided blogs and from the dark, um, left side.

Barone accurately reports that the left leaning blogs seem to be full of vitriol and hatred (see my article on Wonkette) toward one George W. Bush as well as the republican party in general, while those on the right seem to be more interested in keeping the mainstream media honest.

Don't get me wrong. There are certainly filthy mouthed hate spreading right bloggers, but they don't appear to be as prevelant as their counterparts on the left.

By and large the article is a pretty fair assessment of the differences between the right and left bloggers. If the democratic party continues to follow the lead of the left leaning bloggers, then I think that Barone is right about the troubles that they face in the 2006 mid terms and the 2008 presidential elections. Time will tell.

Wonkette

I have never read Wonkette's blog before, and I wish that I haven't still. Apparently gaining popularity in the blogosphere (at least on the left) is a lot like being a stand up comic. The more you swear and insult the intelligence of your audience the more popular you become, or at least that appears to be her hope. I don't seem to recall Hugh Hewitt, Jim Geraghty, Glenn Reynolds et al having to resort to gutter language and insinuations to be considered relevant. Oh, that's right, they have talent.

What Wonkette appears to me to be is just a foul mouthed, vile, bitter woman of very limited talent. What a complete waste of space. I have linked her blog in the above paragraph, but I suggest you not waste your time.

Is the MSM biased?

According to an article in the New Yorker, they are just misunderstood. You be the judge.

Hate To See You Go, Terry

There was a tribute in Washington last night to bid farewell to DNC chair Terry McAuliffe. I for one hate to see him go. It has been a long time since republicans have been so successful in such a short amount of time. The only good news is that with Howard Dean taking over for him, our fortunes should prosper. Never has one democrat done so much for the republican party!

Byron York has a column on National Review Online that gives you a rundown on the festivities, but I find it interesting to note that the only democrat that spoke to the problems the party faces was none other than former president Bill Clinton.

First you had that comedian and talk show host wannabe Al Franken try out his cutting edge sense of humor on the crowd. "I'm probably the only democrat that was for the war but against the troops." Stop it! My side hurts, you're killing me! God only knows how this idiot has made a living as a comedic writer/actor.

John Kerry's battle cry was "This great party of ours doesn't need a makeover. This party is poised to win in the future." Clueless to the last (it's the only thing he has been consistent on).

Clinton knows that the party has to go more to the center to appeal to mainstream america. He said as much during his first campaign in 1992. Is it any wonder that we have been seeing Hillary moving more to the center on many of the issues today?

President Bush says that Karl Rove was the great architect of his campaign. It would be foolhardy to dismiss Bill Clinton in performing the same function for Hillary in 2008. This is not a time to be cocky. The Clinton's are very intelligent, politically savvy people and need to be watched over the next few years. We ignore them at our own risk.

Arthur Miller Dead

Playwrite Arthur Miller has Died. He was 89 years old. The story is here.

North Korea Demands Talks with U.S.

The North Korean government has come out today to damand that the United States hold bilateral talks with them.

North Korea has demanded bilateral talks with the United States to defuse the tension created by its announcement that it is a nuclear power, the communist state's U.N. envoy said in a South Korean newspaper Friday.

Han Sung Ryol, a senior diplomat from the U.N. delegation in New York, was the first North Korean official to speak to outside news media since Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry defied the United States and its allies by declaring Thursday it has nuclear weapons.

In the announcement - its first public disclosure that it has the weapons - North Korea said its arsenal is a deterrent against a U.S. invasion, and it does not intend to join six-nation disarmament talks anytime soon. The weapons claim could not be independently verified.

Gee, their demands aren't too lofty.

North Korea sees its nuclear programs as a way of ensuring the survival of leader Kim Jong Il's regime. In return for giving up its nuclear ambitions, it seeks massive aid, diplomatic recognition, an end to economic sanctions, and a nonaggression treaty with the United States.

North Korea's long-running strategy has been to try to engage the United States in bilateral talks, believing such meetings would boost the isolated country's international status and help it win bigger concessions.

There is probably a statue of former President Clinton in Pyongyang Square.

Former President Clinton forged a bilateral deal in 1994 obligating North Korea to freeze its nuclear activities in return for oil and other aid......North Korea flouted it by running a secret uranium-enrichment program.

If the United States gives in to bilateral talks with North Korea, it will have a cataclysmic effect not only with North Korea, but with Iran and every other nation with nuclear ambitions. The United States needs to keep its stranglehold on North Korea and Kim Jong Il's regime.

UPDATE: Apparently, the Bush administration has already given its answer.

The Bush administration said Friday that it wasn't interested in one-on-one talks with North Korea about its nuclear programs outside the six-party negotiations involving the communist nation's neighbors.

"It's not an issue between North Korea and the United States. It's a regional issue," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said. "And it's an issue that impacts all of its neighbors."

North Korea has plenty of opportunity to talk to the United States within six-party talks, McClellan said.

North Korea

So, North Korea now claims that they have nuclear weapons. I guess the Clinton/Albright foreign policy of "promise mommy and daddy you won't make any nasty nukes" didn't quite work. Did Clinton do anything during his 8 years in office? (Insert shameless lewinsky joke here.)

Franken Will Run

As I stated yesterday, it looks like Al Franken will run for Mark Dayton's soon to be empty senate seat.

I have seen Mr. Franken on CNN a few times, and what I found is that he is just another shrill, blame america first democrat supporter. He talks, yells and screaches over anyone who doesn't share his opinion. Unfortunately, I missed him on O'reilly. It must have been amusing watching them screaming over each other to see who could ultimately be heard.

Of course he will get the celebrity vote and quite possibly win in the primary, but Al Franken is going to make it much easier for the republicans to pick up this democratic stronghold senate seat. Then again, Minnesota did elect Jesse "the body" Ventura as governor.

UPDATE: I stand corrected. Stuart Sma.... um, Al Franken says he is not running so he can keep his commitment of two more years to his radio show. I'm sure that will make those 3 people very happy.

Dayton Calls it Quits?

A report over at TKS says that Senator Mark Dayton (D) Minnesota has decided not to run in the 2006 mid-term elections. Seeing how he tried to buy his way to the senate 3 or 4 times before he actually won, this is a pleasant surprise. His "bug out" of Washington over the holidays must have hurt him pretty bad to make him quit something he has been trying to get for over 20 years.

Also, the word is that Al Franken is going to run for the empty seat. Even if he gets all the listeners from his Air America audience, he is still going to need more than those 3 votes.

Rice for President?

According to an article in The Hill today, Dick Morris seems to think that Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice would be the perfect antidote to the Hillary 2008 democratic ticket. This is nothing new for Morris to pit the two women against each other in the presidential race, but it is interesting. Take a look at his case, I mean article. There are several good points made. Secretary Rice has a great deal more to offer than Sen. Clinton.....I am speaking of political experience by the way.

Validation

Not that I needed any of course. Fox News chief business analyst Neil Cavuto had as his common sence piece an article about how Social Security was meant to be utilized in its origins. It just happens to coincide with what I wrote yesterday.

Thanks Neil, for seeing things my way.

Welcome Back Peggy

In last weeks WSJ Online article, Peggy Noonan basically welcomed back President Bush from his sermon on the mount

Well I like Peggy, so I don't like to put her down or anything, but I think that she is the one who didn't quite get it. The president didn't say anything that was out of character for him during his inaugural speech. As a matter of fact, he didn't say anything that he hasn't said many times before.

So it is you, Peggy that I welcome back, and it is good to have you back!

Another Week Gone

I can't believe it has been another week since I last blogged. Things should settle down at work again pretty soon so I can get back to my regular schedule of daily blogging.

So lets talk social security today. Now I have not had a chance to read the whole proposal for personal accounts, but I think I have the gist of the idea.

There are those who believe that we are better off with the government maintaining the status quo and giving us a small return on our money. Then there are those who think that they can reap a greater return on their money if they chose to invest it themselves.

As for me, call me a little bit skepticle, but when I needed to buy a new toilet seat, I didn't spend hundreds of dollars to do so. Same thing when I went to buy a hammer. The point is that when it comes to my money, I would much rather take my chances with me than with the government. If I choose to invest in a personal account (and it is a choice, no one has to divert any money away from the current system) and it turns out that I haven't made the wisest investments, well then I have no one to blame but myself.

Before you tell me that I will just be a bigger burden on society and the government will have to come to my rescue, remember that this is just a portion of what will be paid out by SS. It will be what it was always meant to be. A supplement to my own retirement plan. That, my friends, is all social security was ever supposed to be.

For those of you who don't think that this bill will get through congress, Dick Morris has this article saying that you are wrong.

As for the affordability of setting up these accounts, I believe it is far more affordable now than in 13 years when we start paying out more than we are taking in.

State of The Union

It's about an hour and a half until the big speech. I will be commenting on it tomorrow (hopefully) and give you my opinion. Right now I need to spend some time with my beautiful wife, not to mention my two dogs Floyd and Leia.

So Little Time

It has just been a crazy two weeks. I can't seem to sit at the computer for more than a few minutes at a time.

With the little time that I have right now, I want to congratulate the Iraqi's for having the courage to weather death threats to show the world that they do want to be a free people. The Iraqi police and armed forces also came out to face death to protect their country men and women.

Americans and all the people from countries in the coalition should all feel proud for all the contributions and sacrifices they have made. It is still going to be a tough fight mopping up the terrorists that remain there, but the momentum is definately on our side.

Hasn't it been a little quiet on the left since the elections?

Since I've Been Gone....

Sorry for the lack of blogs lately. The day job has kept me pretty busy. So many things have happened over the last week or so. Where to start....Oh, I know! Lets start with Teddy.

The senior senator from Mass. was in the news recently in his typical hate America and Bash Bush rhetoric (it's getting a little old senator....speaking of which, haven't you reached retirement age yet?). The senator is demanding that President Bush pull our troops out of Iraq starting now, this of course was just days before the Iraqi elections. He also said that our troops were causing more harm than good. Blah, blah, freaking blah.

We really shouldn't be too surprised with Senator Kennedy. He is displaying his usual cut-and-run leadership that he has always shown.

He pulled a cut-and-run when he got caught cheating in law school.

He actually did a cut-and-swim-and-run while Mary Jo was gasping for her last breath.

Then there was the Cut-and-run in 1975 with Vietnam.

If you look at his checkered past, I'm sure you can come up with plenty more to add to the list.

In my opinion his remarks put our troops in more danger than before he made them. They were borderline treasonous, or Zell Miller says at least a first cousin to treason.

The senator has only his two dead brothers to thank for his lengthy career. If his last name wasn't Kennedy, even the liberal state of Massachusetts would have voted him out of office by now. But Ted Kennedy is not John or Bobby and I'm quite sure that they cringe in their graves every time their "little" brother opens his hateful mouth.