HILLARY ON FOX NEWS

First, I have to say that if we had seen THIS Hillary Rodham Clinton (a woman I still do not like at all) on the campaign trail all along, Barack Obama would already be out of the race - she was that good. Maybe it has been a BIG mistake for her to avoid some tougher questioners. She appeared to be spontaneous, humorous and smart. How much of that was artifice isn't for me to say, although I suspect she was well prepped.

Second, props to O'Reilly for softballing his questions enough that she didn't feel driven into a corner, and yet he did manage to elicit some sponaneous reactions from her. I was especially impressed by the exchange involving taxes for the highest earners in our society in which both seemed to be actually speaking the same language - in a manner of speaking.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is a socialist, pure and simple and that's my opinion based on a lot of observations over a lot of time. But she came across as human in this interview, more than any I have seen her give.

And although Dick Morris can almost always be counted on to get it wrong, it very well may be that Bill is telling Hillary to stay in, be gracious when Barack Obama gets the nomination, sit back and let John McCain win the presidency and spend the next 4 years positioning herself for 2012. While I would greatly prefer that she just go away, that may be the scenario that plays out. Drat!

SO HERE’S WHAT I’M THINKING . . . !

The Democrats seem to be quite willing to betray their own loyalists – hence the nonsensical rejection of both Florida and Michigan primary results. The initial strong arm tactics against the Democratic primary planners in both states were ludicrous, as was the pressure on the various campaigns to eschew participation in these two primaries. Once everyone but Hillary (who will take any vote she can get, wherever she can get it) had declined to participate, the primary was held anyway and the Democratic powers-that-be are adamant that they will not recognize the results. Nice empowerment of your base, Dems! I know absolute morons who can think things through better than you can. But then, with Howard Dean, a man to whom temperate temperament seems to be a foreign concept, as the party’s chairman, what else did they expect? Seriously, the man is the embodiment (along with James Carville) of rage-filled political speech. Dean also is a petty tyrant who keeps barking out orders to both campaigns as if he has the right to do so. What’s up with that crap?

The left-leaning media (which arguably is 95% of it) has been having wet dreams over Barack Hussein Obama for the past year and now that his feet of clay are starting to become apparent, many Dem strategists seem quite willing – excited really – to hurl Senator Obama overboard, just as they did with Hillary when she started to actually be seen as who and what she is - not a very nice human being. Unfortunately, the Dems have two potential nominees who have (whatever you might think of them) waged hard fought and energetic primary season campaigns and both have legitimate claims to present to the Party’s convention. And down to the wire, neither of them has been able to “close the deal”.

It hasn’t helped Senator Obama even a little bit that, in large part due to the lengthy primary season, too many of his questionable associations (Wright, Ayers, Rezko) seem to be surfacing and his wife has been injudiciously running her mouth too. And just in time to make Democratic voters think three or four times about him as potential president! The Democratic primary voters appear to have given some seriously negative thought to Senator Clinton’s potential problems as commander-in-chief of a military she has given every evidence of despising! Or (and I honestly think this is the case) the woman just isn’t really very likable.

Bottom line folks: This is nothing more nor less than a job interview for the most important job in the world. So any notion that WE the people have no right to ask seriously probing questions of ANYONE seeking the job is absolutely asinine. Of course we have the right. Character counts. And on that score, I am finding both Democratic frontrunners lacking. Completely.

Hillary Clinton never met a lie she didn’t love and Barack Obama is a transparently unqualified buffoon with nice manners and not one sincere bone in his body. Neither is even remotely qualified for the very tough and demanding job they seek.

The Republicans haven’t done much better in the candidate department; we just got the whole painful thing over with much more quickly than the Dems have been able to do. We’ve got Senator John McCain and, given the potential opponents, he looks like Tiffany in comparison to the Dollar Store junk jewelry being offered by the other party. The other side has already floated a couple of trial balloons in opposition to Senator McCain but they haven’t really made a dent. The chattering classes seem to be distracted by the on-going demolition derby going on in the Democratic Party. In the meantime, both Obama and Clinton have raised so doggone much money during the course of this campaign, any odds as to what money will be left for them to use for the general election? If any?

All this augers well for Republicans retaining control of the Presidency. Now if Republican could just achieve a backbone transplant for all the RINOs in the House and the Senate, we might be good to go. As it stands, however, I doubt very much that a Republican president will be anything more than a counterweight to the Democratic lunacy being fomented over in the House of Representatives, where la Pelosi reigns, or the utterly lunatic bunch over in the Senate with Slick Harry Reid in ascendency.

My feeling is that if “none of the above” were on the ballots nationwide, “none of the above” would win every seat up for grabs in a landslide!

UPDATE #1: Opinions are floating on the Web that Rev. Wright's sudden volubility is being encouraged by skullduggery perpetrated by the Clinton campaign. Wouldn't surprise me and it is the kind of devious, rotten, brilliant move the Clintons have been known to pull!

UPDATE #2: William Kristol weighs in with some interesting thoughts on the campaign here:

Sen. Obama is ducking Sen. Clinton because his last debate performance was an unspeakable disaster and no doubt contributed to his drubbing at the hands of Sen. Clinton in the Pennsylvania primary.

But what does it say about this allegedly messianic figure whose speech “elevates” and sends thrills up the legs of the big foot media that he is now afraid to field questions in front of a national audience? What does it say about those who still worship him?

HOW DANGEROUS IS SENATOR OBAMA?

Rev. Wright?
Senator Obama attended the church where Rev. Wright was pastor for 20 years. And in all that time he never ever heard any of Rev. Wright's "more extreme" views? Excuse me if I find that hard to believe.

The Ayers Connection?
Michelle Obama has served on boards with this man, as has Senator Obama. How likely is it that Senator Obama was unaware of Ayers former and current radical mindset, which has in the past led to such things as bombing the Pentagon? Either the Senator is lying or he is entirely too hopelessly naive to be president.

Proposed Meeting with Terrorist Nations Like Iran with no preconditions?

Senator Obama is either "in the pocket" of Muslim extremism or he is such a naif that again, he is supremely unqualified for the presidency.

I'd say that Senator Obama is too dangerous for prime time!


UPDATE: Rev. Wright is now opining that anyone who criticizes his (Rev. Wright's) sermons is racist. The reverse is true. Rev. Wright IS the racist. In addition, he is a lunatic, anti-American, race baiting buffoon. Expressing an opinion of hate speech such as Rev. Wright's is one of the most patriotic things an American can do!

TIME FOR SOME SERIOUS UNEMPLOYMENT!

Let’s begin our long overdue project alphabetically with Abercrombie, Neil , 1st HI and end it 435 members later with Young, Don , At Large AK – alphabetical order is always fair! They are ALL on the chopping block, my friends.

Under her majesty, the Botox Queen Pelosi, this 2 year session has accomplished practically nothing, and what little was accomplished was detrimental to the preservation, protection and defense of the United States of America and its citizens.

Only 1/3 of the members of the Senate are up for re-election. My feelings – throw the bums out! Those seeking reelection have not in any way, shape or form earned that privilege. Since the day after the 2006 election, a significant number of their motley group have been busily running for higher office, whilst neglecting entirely the one they now are damned lucky to have. Heaven knows that most of them are unfit for any other occupation! We must bear in mind that Shrillery failed the D.C. Bar exam after all. So she is qualified to practice law in Arkansas. Period. And her horndog consort can’t practice law anywhere (it’s not nice to lie to a Grand Jury, Bill). No wonder they’ve been living off the public trough for 30 years! And surely there is nothing left in West Virginia to be named after Senator Byrd.

Did you ever consider that if the choice of “none of the above” was on our ballots, “none of the above” might occupy the House of Representatives and the White House? Just a thought.

OBAMA'S NEW STRATEGY?

Have a nice weekend, all y'all! This is the most fascinating campaign I can remember!

REMINDER TO JAMES EARL CARTER, JR.

If he so wishes, the current (and competent) President, George W. Bush, could direct the Attorney General and the Justice Department to prosecute you under the following:

THE LOGAN ACT

§ 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments.

Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply himself, or his agent, to any foreign government, or the agents thereof, for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.
18 U.S.C. § 953 (2004).

The assumption would, of course, be that as a former [albeit failed] President, you ought to know this law and that if you don't, your ignorance of the law is no excuse.

NOW will you shut the hell up?!

IS THIS DINGBAT SERIOUS?!

NEW YORK (AP) - The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, former pastor to Barack Obama, said that publicizing sound bites of sermons in which he condemned U.S. policies was "unfair" and "devious," and done by people who know nothing about his church, according to excerpts of a PBS interview released Thursday.

"It's unfair!" That is such unadulterated manure! It’s the kind of thing you hear from whiney children on a playground – not from a so-called adult who not only should know better, but who also has had the responsibility of ministering to people’s spiritual well-being for many years.

I can only conclude that Rev. Wright really hates being found out to be the America-hating bigot that he is. And why is he so filled with hatred? He grew up in the middle class so he cannot claim an impoverished childhood. Did the poor little asshat have to wait too long for his $10 million mansion in Chicago? That this piece of excrement is a man that Barack Hussein Obama professes to admire is the first, best and really only reason needed to prevent anyone sane from voting for him for the Democratic nomination. Like his Pastor, Obama is spiritually bankrupt.

OH CANADA!

Sometimes your smarter angel is sitting on your shoulder and in your web-wanderings you discover a pearl of great price, as I have here.

I must admit that my very favorite pair skaters from the past 10 years are Hongbo Zhao and Xue Shen of China. But closely following them, so closely that it is a virtual tie, are Jamie Sale and David Pelletier of Canada. And this performance, featuring as it does the superlative singing of Andrea Boccelli and Hayley Westenra, is sublime.

The thing about Sale and Pelletier is that you feel secure watching them skate. They are immaculate technicians who have perfected their technique to the point that they can put it on automatic pilot and concentrate on interpretation. They are – and it’s obvious – wildly in love with each other (they married after the 2002 Olympics and have an infant son) and their skating reflects that connection. Their skating is impeccably smooth and always enchanting.

JAMES EARL CARTER, JR. – Chutpah BY a Cracker!

James Earl Carter, Jr. says that the Secretary of State is not telling the truth and that nobody "told him" not to meet with Hamas. Oh really?! How about common sense? How about the newspapers (even the mainstream sycophantic drive-by media)?

When one considers the vast number of untruths contained in James Earl Carter, Jr.’s most recent book, the following statements are both astonishing and ludicrous!

Carter says Secretary Rice "not telling truth"

By Matthew Bigg - 1 hour, 20 minutes ago

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Wednesday accused Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of not telling the truth about warnings she said her department gave Carter not to speak to Hamas before a Middle East trip.

The State Department has said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch, the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, issued the warning before Carter, a veteran of Middle East diplomacy, went on his trip last week.

Rice said in Kuwait on Tuesday: "We counseled President Carter against going to the region and particularly against having contact with Hamas."

"President Carter has the greatest respect for ... Rice and believes her to be a truthful person. However, perhaps inadvertently, she is continuing to make a statement that is not true," a statement issued by the Carter center in Atlanta said on Wednesday.

"No one in the State Department or any other department of the U.S. government ever asked him (Carter) to refrain from his recent visit to the Middle East or even suggested that he not meet with Syrian President (Bashar) Assad or leaders of Hamas," it said."

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy – you were the worst president of the 20^th Century against some pretty tough competition and, in a political party that venerates to the truth-challenged you are a standout. And you have the brass cojones to call the Secretary of State of the United States of America a liar? Have you no shame? (All right – that was a dumb question – of course he has no shame! If he did, he’d keep his vicious and lying trap shut!)

TIME FOR AL GORE’S NONSENSE TO END!

I think that former Vice President Albert Gore, Jr. has milked this “global warming” fantasy of his about as far as anyone can expect. He should quietly meander off into the silence of obscurity (taking another lunatic, James Earl Carter, Jr., with him) and spend his remaining years cuddled up with his Nobel prize and his Oscar. The “global warming” boondoggle is over, fella! And, as I have said all along, physicists have gone back to predicting a new ice age!

As reported over the past few days, food prices are rising (and shortages are beginning to manifest themselves), because nobody seems to be "getting" that diverting 30% of the corn crop to bio-fuels is having a major effect all over the world. Cows eat corn - thus the precipitous rise in prices of milk, cheese and beef. In Mexico they are really hurting because of course CORN is a huge component of their diet (actually of mine as well). Poultry eats corn too, thus the price of eggs and chicken and so forth is also elevated. I completely agree that we need to limit our dependence on outside fuel sources but we have major oil reserves in this country that need to be utilized. And while you're at it - leave my sharp cheddar alone!

Speaking of unintended consequences: most of the so-called “green” vehicles utilize rather powerful batteries. How long are they built to last, how (and where) are they to be disposed of when they fail and what will be the cost of replacing them? It’s an important consideration. Our landfills don’t need the extra business.

Look, I’m all for conservation of natural resources but I’m also against jumping willy-nilly on bandwagons before consequences are able to be determined. For example, some 25 years ago, I explored the world of “green” products for laundry and cleaning of my home. First I discovered they didn’t work very well and second I discovered that I was allergic to them.

HEAD ON OVER TO WALT'S BLOG

There you can read about the latest attempt to smear John McCain. I freely admit that he wasn't my first choice for the nomination, but likewise I cannot believe the depths to which the minions of the despicable chattering classes have sunk. Despicable, disgusting and wholly offensive. I don't care if you supported another Republican candidate or whether you support one of the Democratic candidates. John McCain's disability pension is well deserved and a non-issue and should remain that way!

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA CONTINUES TO REVEAL HIMSELF AS UNSUITED FOR ANY PUBLIC OFFICE – LET ALONE THE PRESIDENCY!

This is presidential? Hardly.

From American Thinker today:

Thanks to American Thinker's Rick Moran and his analysis of a video from an LA Times blog, even better displayed in another camera angle posted by the Baltimore Sun, it's clear that Senator Obama delivered a common obscene gesture in Senator Clinton's direction as he spoke to a crowd of his loyal followers in North Carolina the day after the Philadelphia debate. He shot Hillary the bird, only slightly surreptitiously. Visit the links above to see it happen.

Obama's explanation of how the debate questions represented "Washington" playing "gotcha politics" is telling by itself. Whining does not become anyone who aspires to be the President of the United States of America, as Obama likes to voice the complete title of the job he wants. And his assurances that he was unfazed by the perceived attacks he received from the ABC moderators resemble the braggadocio of the boxer who climbs up from the canvas on a nine count, nose bleeding with one eye swollen shut, saying "Hey, he never laid a glove on me." We could read Obama's body language in the debate. We saw him take heavy leather. So what is this video all about, and what does it tell us about Barack Obama?

When I first saw the video, I really hoped that it was just an optical illusion of some sort, somewhat akin to the reflection in Dick Cheney’s sunglasses that surfaced last week. After watching the video a few more times, the ugly truth became apparent – a candidate running for the office of President actually was juvenile and idiotic enough to make an obscene gesture to another presidential candidate.

I have never thought that Barack Hussein Obama had the credentials for the presidency. From his plans to tax us into personal bankruptcy to his clear inability to understand the threats posed by Muslim fascist behavior, his totally ignorant plans for NASA, his arrogant and condescending attitude toward the very people who could put him into the Oval Office and his clear moral bankruptcy as evidenced by both his ties to that hate-filled pastor of his and his wife’s completely arrogant belief in her own superiority – let’s not even get into his clear lack of understanding of what it takes to protect our nation from enemies both foreign and domestic – this is a man of great charisma and absolutely zero substance! And let’s face it, anyone who can makes Hillary Rodham Clinton look statesmanlike by comparison is pretty doggone flawed!

John McCain, warts and all, is a far better choice.

OBAMA ENDORSED BY HAMAS!

Well actually, by Jimmy Carter, but one has to wonder if those two aren't one and the same.

"Carter strongly hints he supports Obama
50 minutes ago

JERUSALEM (AFP) — Former US President Jimmy Carter declined to endorse either candidate on the eve of Pennsylvania's Democratic primary but strongly hinted that he supported Illinois Senator Barak Obama.

"As a superdelegate, I think I ought to stay as flexible as I can, but I obviously observe what goes on around me," Carter told reporters in Jerusalem as he wrapped up a Middle East tour in which he drew fire from Washington and Israel for meeting with leaders of the Islamist Hamas movement.

"My little town of Plains voted for Obama, and as you know my state of Georgia voted for Obama, and all of my children, all of my grandchildren, and all of their spouses are for Obama... That's as far as I've gone."

Carter said he has already made his decision but would not announce it until at least June 3, after the last primaries have been held."

Sounds like the nail just got driven in Obama's coffin. McCain for President, y'all!

THERE IS NOTHING “INTERIM” ABOUT THIS POPE!

From Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. until 8:45 this morning, Washington, D.C. was blessed with the presence of the Holy Father, the extraordinary Pope Benedict XVI.

President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush and daughter Jenna Bush were at Andrews Air Force Base to greet our beloved Pontiff, the first time the President has so honored a visitor to our country. Through the duration of the Pope’s visit and whenever he was in public, there were enthusiastic and vocal welcomes extended to him. On Wednesday, the Pope met with President Bush at the White House and was treated to 2 enthusiastic renditions of “Happy Birthday”, one planned and one spontaneous. He was also given a 21-gun salute – that salute was clearly audible from my office, since we are in an office building with windows that still open (and it was a beautiful Spring day so a lot of the attorneys were taking advantage of that pleasant bonus) just 2 blocks from the White House. I discovered first hand that a 21-gun salute is LOUD! I mean I knew that in theory – but Wednesday I experienced it in real time!

I will be the first one to proclaim loud and clear that for the three days of the Pope’s visit, this holy man blessed this sometimes extremely unholy city with his charm, his humility, his humanity and kindness, together with a demonstrable deep faith in God. Yesterday I was working on a brief all day for my boss, but the nature of this project was that I could keep the Pope's Mass playing in the background throughout its duration. When one round of edits was complete, I could bring the Mass to the foreground and watch and listen to a remarkable event, frequently with moist eyes. The Pope's homily was profoundly moving.

We had heard dire predictions of terrible traffic problems in the weeks leading to the Papal Visit. They really didn’t materialize. In fact, traffic was less snarled than it had been in the prior few weeks when the Cherry Blossom Festival was going on. And there was a sense of joy in Washington, D.C. that I haven’t really noticed before. I know that really listening to the Pope’s words generated in me a sense of rediscovered spiritual lightness.

All the above being said, the one fly in the ointment was, per usual, the chattering classes of the mainstream media beginning with the appalling Katie Couric and continuing through numerous commentators who displayed their complete ignorance of Catholicism and, worse, seemed to be proud of their stupidity!

So I will reiterate what I have said multiple times over the past few weeks when non-Catholics have had the effrontery to tell me what changes the Catholic Church must make in order to satisfy their (non-Catholic) sensibilities! It isn't going to happen. We are who we are. Deal.

Each time someone would reference some Catholic Church doctrine that they felt should be changed, usually a doctrine that I both understand and approve, I had to remind myself of something that Dennis Miller said this week. He opined that it’s okay to insult Catholics because it’s a safe bet that Catholics don’t riot in the streets and kill people when they’re insulted. I guess that means WE are civilized. And I guess we know who isn’t!

God bless, everyone, and have a great weekend. I’m heading into this weekend with a little Papal Energy Boost which hopefully will translate into an immaculate house and lots of clean laundry by Monday morning. And none of this will interfere with my quality time with the remarkable Sam, my 26 pound cat (yes, he's lost a bit of pudge folks) because after all, our beloved Pontiff, Papa Ratzi, loves cats! And Mozart!

NOTE: I am reposting this diatribe now because clearly James Earl Carter, Jr. isn't improving with age. No fine wine is he! And his current antics are reprehensible, dangerous and - in my view - utterly insane! So here's an oldie but a goodie. And you wonder why I'm cranky!

JIMMY CARTER - AN INCREDIBLE INTERVIEW!

Within the modern Democratic Party, there are many utterly incompetent foreign policy thinkers. But standing head and shoulders below the worst of the worst within the modern Democratic Party – one man stands alone, the worst American president during the 20th century: James Earl Carter, Jr.! And when you consider President Carter’s competition (Harding and Clinton come to mind.), that’s some feat.

In an interview published on 8/15/06 in DerSpiegel Online, President Carter opined that administrations prior to George W. Bush had a “commitment to peace instead of preemptive war. Our country always had a policy of not going to war unless our own security was directly threatened and now we have a new policy of going to war on a preemptive basis.” Yes, folks, he really did say that! Apparently his short term memory doesn’t include 9/11/01!

Further on in the interview, Mr. Carter chatters mindlessly about the Lebanon/Israel/Hezbollah situation. He states: “. . .the concerns I exposed have gotten even worse now with the United States supporting and encouraging Israel in its unjustified attack on Lebanon.” [emphasis mine] HUH?

President Carter, I realize you are far from the brightest bulb in the chandelier but perhaps you have noticed over the years that there have been never-ending, violent and utterly unprovoked attacks on the Nation of Israel since the date of its founding in 1948 and it may have come to your notice that Hezbollah and Iran have both LOUDLY (and recently) proclaimed their intention to drive the Israelis from their land and into the sea. They aren’t keeping this any big secret. Even you, President Carter, mired as you are in a sea of hopeless confusion, should have heard some inkling.

Mr. Carter believes that President George W. Bush poses a threat to American values and expresses some sympathy for the ailing Fidel Castro! Mr. Carter is also most approving of the peace proposals set forth by the President of Lebanon and claims that they are “quite reasonable”. James Earl Carter, Jr. is, in my opinion, a doddering nincompoop. But here is the truly incredible part of the interview. And I am quoting:

"The fundamentalists believe they have a unique relationship with God, and that they and their ideas are God's ideas and God's premises on the particular issue. Therefore, by definition since they are speaking for God anyone who disagrees with them is inherently wrong. And the next step is: Those who disagree with them are inherently inferior, and in extreme cases -- as is the case with some fundamentalists around the world -- it makes your opponents sub-humans, so that their lives are not significant. Another thing is that a fundamentalist can't bring himself or herself to negotiate with people who disagree with them because the negotiating process itself is an indication of implied equality."

Mr. Carter is NOT, as you might suspect, speaking of Hezbollah, or the Islamofascist scum - no, he's talking about US, the Christians who are the overwhelming majority of American citizens. It is simply incredible. Mr. Carter, this nation is very fortunate that you are NOT the president of the United States in these perilous and dangerous times and that a man with REAL values, REAL courage and a steadfast determination to protect the United States of America occupies that office.

Mr. Carter's ineffectual lack of action at the time that the Iranian students (one of whom is now PRESIDENT OF IRAN) took American Embassy personnel hostage for 444 days, is a direct precurser to our present peril. His completely incompetent conduct of American foreign policy during his failed four year presidency sowed the seeds for our present War on Terror. Mr. Carter, your reputation will improve in direct proportion to the time we do NOT need to hear your ill-founded and puerile opinions. Please do not believe that your completely undeserved Nobel prize qualifies you for anything except being recognized as being anti-American. But respected as a great thinker. It isn't going to happen, sir, not now and not ever! History will judge you, Mr. Carter, and it will not be kind. Trust me on that.

FINAL NOTE: When, oh when, is this senile old fart (my opinion and I'll stick with it) going to be prosecuted under the Logan Act? It is long overdue.

THE MAN IS CLEARLY DEMENTED, PROBABLY SENILE AND ALTOGETHER DESPICABLE – WHO, EXACTLY, ELECTED HIM PRESIDENT?

Clearly, he was elected by the same idiots who are so madly in love with Barack Hussein Obama, the most unqualified candidate for the presidency ever to run for that office!

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Former President Jimmy Carter embraced a leading Hamas figure Tuesday, according to participants in a meeting that infuriated Israeli officials already upset by Carter's freelance Mideast peace mission.

Carter also laid a wreath at the grave of Yasser Arafat, whom the Bush administration and many Israelis blame for the breakdown of peace talks seven years ago and the violence that followed.

At a reception in the West Bank town of Ramallah organized by Carter's office, the former president hugged Nasser Shaer, a senior Hamas politician, meeting participants said. Embraces between men are a common custom in Arab culture.

"He gave me a hug. We hugged each other, and it was a warm reception," Shaer told The Associated Press. "Carter asked what he can do to achieve peace between the Palestinians and Israel ... and I told him the possibility for peace is high."

Note to Jimmy Carter – just shut up you seditious old fart!

ANKLE BITING PUNDITS IS ON THE CASE!

“Obama, asked last Sunday why it was so hard for him to reach blue-collar voters, said that many had been overlooked economically and that "it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti- immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton pounced on the comment over the weekend, calling it "elitist and divisive."”

My take? Just plain stupid elitist nonsense from an intellectually stunted, self-involved, empty suit who is married to an empty dress! Do you really want that snarky Michelle Obama as first lady? Representing the U.S. to the world? For the love of God!

WHY IS IT?

When unemployment was around 5.4% in 1996, celebrations were ubiquitous because that was considered to be the equivalent of full employment?

Right now unemployment is sitting at 5.1% and the gloom and doom purveyors of the mainstream "useful idiot" media are blathering on about a recession?

Am I the only person who thinks there's something really rotten going on?

AND SO THEY BEGIN . . .!

The liberal attacks on Senator John McCain (R. - Ariz.), the presumptive Republican nominee for the presidency have begun. And of course, there's one thing that you can count on - reality has nothing whatsoever to do with the allegations:

" . . . in The Real McCain, scheduled to be released May 1, Schecter, citing unnamed sources, also relates two previously unreported incidents of McCain's allegedly losing his cool. He alleges that in 2006, McCain came to blows with fellow Arizona lawmaker Rep. Rick Renzi during a strategy meeting. The fight was precipitated, according to Schecter's two sources, when Renzi ordered McCain to stop calling him "boy." (McCain ultimately became friendly with Renzi, who has since been indicted on federal corruption charges.)"

Here's the problem with this allegation, Mr. Schecter. Due to the serious injuries suffered by John McCain when he was imprisoned for over five years by the North Vietnamese (something no liberal could survive, I suspect), he cannot raise his arms beyond a certain point. In fact, he is unable to comb his own hair. So "coming to blows" with anyone is both unlikely and ludicrous.

If you're going to lie about someone, at least do a little research first, folks! Or better, yet, quit the freaking character assassination. Senator John McCain is not my first, or even second, choice for the Republican nomination, but he is both more qualified and less frightening than either Senator Barack Hussein Obama or Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Both the possible Democratic nominees are both unqualified and terrifyingly leftwing.

JIMMY CARTER TO MEET WITH THE HEAD OF HAMAS - IN SYRIA!

That means he'll be leaving the country - let's not let him back in, okay? The man is nasty, probably senile and definitely a detriment to this country and this administration. In point of fact, I would say this proposed meeting qualifies as treason and is in clear violation of the Logan Act!

Someone needs to put Krazy Glue in this old fart's lip balm! Frequently!

SPEAKING OF UNHINGED!

Howard Dean, the head of the Democratic Party in this country, has opined thus:

On John McCain

"I don't think Senator McCain would be a good president either in terms of defense or certainly in terms of national policy where he's deeply out of touch with almost everything that Americans believe. We need to change this country. The country wants to be changed." [ABC This Week, 4/6/08]

We don't need that much change, Dr. Dean. Never that much! Real Americans are not unhinged (like you) or cowardly like most leftwing liberals (most of your constituency). Americans would be a whole lot better off if idiots such as yourself stopped mouthing so much anti-American claptrap and started actually telling the truth about most of the things currently in the DNC "list of lies to tell" playbook!

ORAL SURGERY AND OTHER PLEASURES

Well, I finally went ahead and found myself a dentist in Fredericksburg, Virginia (where I live) and went in yesterday morning at 7:30 a.m. (this is something more dentists should do) and got the tooth that's been messing up my life removed. It was actually a rather simple procedure and I was home by 9 a.m.

Now here's the thing. When this tooth first started kicking up a fuss last month and the right side of my face was swollen up (there's a look in which to go to work), I went to a dentist in D.C. who proceeded to quote me, please be sitting down when you read this, $1,775.00 to remove this tooth. Included in this exorbitant quotation were a drain in my right cheek, bone grafts and general anesthetic. When she realized I didn't have that kind of money, she suggested I go to the Howard University Dental School and have the tooth removed. But they were too busy to take me and if they'd had time, some time, the cost would have been over $200 for a student to remove my tooth.

Dr. Expensive had given me a prescription for antibiotics, so I filled that prescription and one she'd given me for pain pills and lo and behold, the swelling in my cheek started to go down almost immediately and by the next day, it was completely gone. I took the antibiotics
as directed and by the time I was done, my mouth felt fine. However, not being a complete idiot, I decided to find a dentist in my home area to get this and future dental procedures taken care of.

The Internet came through for me again and I now have a fantastic dentist, 20 minutes from home, who doesn't charge an arm and a leg - an important consideration since I haven't yet received my dental insurance card. Out of pocket for yesterday? $215.00. And the procedure was performed by a real dentist, not a student. To my mind, the $20.00 additional is money well spent!

Here's the thing: there really isn't a true health care crisis per se but there is a laziness crisis. At least that's my opinion. If you look around, ask lots of questions and show some common sense, that $1,775.00 procedure can be had for $215.00 without compromising professional care. Shop around, I'm just saying.

A Special Lady

R.I.P. Sue Miller, Age 83


I feel like the final link to my happy childhood has departed my life with the passing of my Aunt Sue Miller. She has been afflicted with Alzheimer’s for the past 6 years, experiencing the steady downward progression typical of the illness. My cousin Stuart took her to live in Mexico several years ago where the medical care for people with her illness is both more affordable and kinder. Until the past year he was easily able to afford 24-hour caretakers and when that was no longer a viable option due to her declining health, Aunt Sue was cared for with affection and gentleness in an excellent Mexican nursing home where she was visited weekly by a physician. She died peacefully after a short [physical] illness.

My earliest childhood memories revolve around the 10 acre “farm” on which we lived during WWII. We were very popular with all our family, due in no small degree to the 1 acre of garden we grew which supplied everyone in our extended family with fresh, delicious produce. In addition, we had about 40 chickens and everyone got plenty of fresh eggs every week. We also had a cow who provided a great deal of fresh milk and cheese, again to many family members. And of course, due to the amazing quantity and quality available at our small farm, we had lots of visitors. I mean, a lot of visitors! My Aunt Sue and Uncle Herb were newlyweds, both still finishing up their college degrees at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio. But I remember how much fun I had with Aunt Sue when they came to visit. My mother was then in her “demon housekeeper from the bowels of you-know-where” phase of life so there were times she simply didn’t have the patience to deal with me.

Aunt Sue, for whatever reason, elected to be my buddy whenever she and Uncle Herb would visit. And Uncle Herb had the unique quality of talking on a child’s level, without talking “down” to the child. In my childish reckonings, that made them VERY special visitors.

Over the years I have so enjoyed both long and short talks with Aunt Sue and felt blessed when I had an opportunity to visit with her a great deal back in 2002 before her mental decline had reached any kind of crescendo.

She loved her family, she loved her Christian prison outreach, she loved the birds who filled her Vienna, Virginia back yard. And I loved her a great deal.

The picture accompanying this quiet remembrance is of her after the move to Mexico, with our family friend, the extraordinary Fred Reed. As you can see, although she wasn’t always sure who she was or where she was, these final years were happy ones for this extraordinary and beloved lady.

Rest in peace, Aunt Sue.

REMEMBERING REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

This morning on the television news (a must see for those of us who commute the 50 miles from Fredericksburg, Virginia into the District for work 5 days per week – the weather and the traffic reports are crucial) there was a great deal of (justified) attention being paid to this, the 40^th anniversary of the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sadly, no attention was paid to another anniversary today, the death 5 years ago of the superlative journalist Michael Kelly who was embedded with a combat unit in Iraq when he died. So to correct the oversight, Michael Kelly you are still greatly missed for your intelligence, kindness and great humor.

But I digress (as usual).

During our commute this morning, we listened while one of the radio stations played the “I have a dream” speech and it dawned on me that Barack Hussein Obama is not attempting to channel the exceptional oratorical style of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, but rather the style of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Regardless of whose oratory Senator Obama is attempting to mimic, the sad (for Obama) truth is that he is not succeeding.

The difference between the locutions of Senator Barack Hussein Obama and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. or President John Fitzgerald Kennedy is that their brilliant speeches actually said something, while Senator Obama’s speeches say absolutely nothing! And no matter how well you may deliver your non-message, that’s all it remains: non-sense!

To speechify in an exceptional manner takes nothing more nor less than rudimentary training over a reasonable amount of time, much as one would train a dog to say “mama” on demand or to train a parrot to say “There’s no there there”.

To make a speech that is actually meaningful and worth the listener’s time, whether or not one agrees with the content of the speech, requires the speaker to have actual thought processes. And this is where Senator Obama fails each and every time. To paraphrase another politician’s rather snarky remark: “Senator, I knew fill in the blank and you aren’t him!”

For me, someone who came to adulthood before the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy and thus was able to put those legendary public figures into perspective, I cannot condemn the effort of Senator Obama to raise the level of public oration in this time when the lowest common denominator is all too often the standard (for some reason the rantings of Randi Rhodes come to mind), but I can point out that while he talks real pretty, his content is nil and thus is a waste of breath.

ONCE AGAIN SPEAKER PELOSI PROVES SHE IS A ONE-TERM WONDER!

As always she is trying really, really hard to sabotage a Democratic victory in the general election this Fall, an aim against which I cannot argue. Nancy Pelosi, just had to run her ignorant and disrespectful mouth, presuming to tell General Petraeus, in advance, what his testimony will be before Congress next week and how she won't like it - - once again her imagination is outrunning her ability to think in a coherent fashion. And for a change, the Republican minority leader Boehner of Ohio slapped her down and did it expeditiously and thoroughly.

Nancy, I hate to tell you this but you would never make it for 10 seconds in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or Marines (and for sure you wouldn't survive the nuns who taught me in high school back in the day) because you are an effete, cowardly, San Francisco values (which means no values whatsoever) cretin whose few remaining brain cells have been calcified by excessive use of Botox!

My scant comfort is that between abortion-on-demand and excessive birth control, there will be very few of these leftist louts left within another generation or so!

UPDATE: I knew I was on to something!

"Botox May Move From Face to Brain, Study in Rats Says (Update1)

By Elizabeth Lopatto

April 1 (Bloomberg) -- Botulinum neurotoxin type A, sold as Allergan Inc.'s Botox remedy for wrinkles, can move from its injection site to the brain, a study shows."

Clinton antics will make Bill and Hil
the next American Idles

The title of this article, written by self-confessed Bill Clinton (and Hillary) fan Stanley Crouch, says it all. The protection of the MSM has been withdrawn, irrevocably to all appearances, from Hillary Rodham Clinton.