live from the guillotine

About Politics

I haven't written about politics lately because I am so furious with my fellow Americans I have a very hard time being civil.   There have been a million news stories in the last year filled with sound and fury, signifying nothing.  I'm incredibly embarrassed for the American people, who have allowed themselves to take their eye off the ball, aided by hysterical politicians and left-wing shills in the news media.

We have one bumbling, fumbling party of Republicans who manage to stumble their way, occasionally, to the right choices.  They happen to be the only party even aware that there is a war on and whatever their faults, they plan to try and win.  They are at least trying to save us.

We have another party, the Democrats, that are more concerned with bashing Bush and winning the congress in 2006, than winning the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.  They don't even seem to understand there is something deeply, grossly flawed in their inability to forsake partisan politics for the good of the nation.  Worse, they don't even seem to comprehend the seriousness of the threat we are facing due to international terrorism.  If elected, they are going to get people killed.

Nothing in the news cycle of 2006 changes any of the above.  The Republicans have fumbled the ball in the 1st quarter and are currently in the huddle planning the new drive.  The Democrats missed the kickoff entirely, still aren't suited up for the game, and indeed, are mostly insistent that there is no game in progress.

The choice in 2006 couldn't be more clear.  I'm voting for those Republicans who want to move the ball down the field to victory, however badly they may screw up their scoring drive in the 2nd inning.  At least they're planning to field a team!

And for all of those who signed on to fight this war, cheered for it enthusiastically,  and have subsequently backed out, gotten cold feet, and begun bashing the war when it got hard, nasty, brutish, and deadly,  I have a message for you.   War is hard, nasty, brutish, and people die.  How dare you drag out the pom-poms early on without realizing this central truth and be prepared to endure the setbacks, surprises, and heartaches with the same initial will to finish this fight.

Pack up your picnic baskets, your lawn chairs, your keyboards, and your bad attitude and move right on over to the other side of the field with the rest of the pansies.  It's where you belong.  You were summer soldiers and sunshine patriots, and if media reporting and liberal gloom could sway you from your "convictions", God help us all for listening to any of you in the first place.

Vote Republican in 2006.  At the very least, they're cognizant of an actual war taking place, with very real and far reaching consequences,  and they want to win. 

O.K. Maybe things are better than I think

Posted by Wilma

O.K.  I'm a pessimist when it comes to Conservatives today.   I was encouraged when Fran from Eternity Road scolded Lana on her negative attitude about the war, the Moussaoui verdict and our resolve... Fran is an optimist and I appreciated his words.

Then Hugh Hewitt had this to say:

Timing Is Everything: Painting the Map Red

by Hugh Hewitt

May  6, 2006 04:06 AM PST

From AP, courtesy of MSNBC:  Angry conservatives are driving the approval ratings of President Bush and the GOP-led Congress to dismal new lows, according to an AP-Ipsos poll that underscores why Republicans fear an Election Day massacre.

Six months out, the intensity of opposition to Bush and Congress has risen sharply, along with the percentage of Americans who believe the nation is on the wrong track.

According to Hugh:  MSM is, once again, about three months behind the curve.  The prospects of the GOP Painting the Map Red have increased dramatically in just the past month. 

Go read his interview with Larry Kudlow 

This will encourage all pessimist including me!!!

Moussaoui Life Sentence

I was appalled by this, but today I read a quote that really sums up my feelings, not only on the Moussaoui verdict, but on the frightening lack of will and resolve I see here in America.  From The Corner on National Review here's John Derbyshire:

Thank God the Moussaoui trial is over.  I have never been so embarrassed for my country.  The low point of the thing — and a low point for our nation in its accelerating slide to oblivion — was when that U.S. Navy Lieutenenat sniveled and blubbed on the witness stand while Moussaoui jeered at her — quite rightly, in my opinion.  I expected Jimmy Carter or Oprah to show up at any minute.  An American officer, in uniform, weeping IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY!  She should be court-martialed.  Instead, I feel sure she will get promoted.  ("If you emote, we must promote.")  The trial transcripts must have been translated into Arabic, Farsi & Pushtu by now, and are being passed around among the terrorists as morale boosters, with much hilarity and Moussaoui-style jeering.

Judge Brinkema's closing remarks were typical of the whole sorry performance, and gave Moussaoui yet another opportunity to play the man — the only man in the courtroom.  Does anyone, DOES ANYONE, think we're going to defeat Islamofascism by squirting clouds of this multicultural mush at it?  The terrorists sure as hell don't.  Does anyone think the enemy gives a fig for our determination not to "focus on hatred, bigotry, and irrationality" (Judge Brinkema).  I wonder if you can win a war without deploying hatred.  Homer didn't think so.

The New York Post described Judge Brinkema's closing remarks as "a tongue lashing."  I would say that's about right.  They have suicide bombers — and, any day now, nukes which they will use.  We have wet tongues.

"When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, naturally they will favor the strong horse."—-Osama bin Laden.  Yes, they will.  We are doomed, doomed.

If we don't wake up I'm very afraid he's right.

Well, Isn't This Special?

Not completely underwhelmed by Homeland Security?  Let me help:

Fire departments are using Homeland Security grants to buy gym equipment, sponsor puppet and clown shows, and turn first responders into fitness trainers.   The spending choices are allowable under the guidelines of the Assistance to Firefighters grant administered by the Homeland Security Department, which has awarded nearly 250 grants since February totaling more than $25 million out of the current spending pot of $545 million.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff vowed to redirect grant spending based on risk of a terrorist attack, but Congress has ignored his pleas, federal officials say.

And speaking of clowns, remember those high profile raids, earlier in the week, on employers hiring illegal aliens ?  Turns out the vast, vast majority are being released.  Some in as little as 5 hours. (h/t The Corner)

If the Republicans would like to know why their poll numbers are swirling down the toilet, this is Exhibit A.  A lovely combination of ridiculous spending coupled with complete lack of seriousness about national security.  For a thorough analysis of the suicidal tendencies of both Republicans and Democrats, look no further than Francis W. Porretto's excellent piece.

Honestly, if the Republicans and Bush keep this up, how many people are going to show up at the polls to admit, "I'm With Stupid"!

Got Truth?

Michael Yon's latest dispatch about the war is up today and absolutely must reading.  Here's a bit:

It is that same gut feeling that tells me can win in Iraq, but I am not going stretch that far out on the limb as to say that we will win. I certainly hope we do. I was correct about the civil war more than a year ahead of the academic and media pack. I was right about Mosul. But I am not sure about Iraq as a whole. The fine points of emerging governments are abstractions to people who cannot worship without a very real fear that their holy places are no longer safe havens. Having been beaten in Mosul, and pushed out of Tal Afar, and long since driven from the Kurdish strongholds in the North, the enemy is clearly concentrating efforts in the capital city area.

We are not getting the truth through our media, or our civilian leadership. Yes, Iraq is in civil war, but there is no doubt in my mind, not the slightest doubt, that the new Iraqi security forces are becoming stronger all the time. It’s not certain if they are strong enough to hold back the enemy on their own or if we need to increase the efforts of our military in a coordinated measure. But the fact that an American general recently invited me to see that progress is an indicator that our top military leaders are confident.

He's also unhappy with the media and those who only look for reporting that proves their own preconceived notions, not to mention an American public that has largely tuned both out and forgotten our soldiers in the field.  Again, do read it all. 

Play Ball with Immigration

Willard's baseball team has a pre-season tournament this week and weekend.  We played one game Tuesday night and it was a good game.  Willard's team squeaked it out 8-7.  Given the current battle across the nation over illegal immigration, one might assume there would be tension in the ball parks in Texas, a border state, but I saw nothing of the kind. 

In our town, baseball is a pretty diverse affair.  On Willard's team, for example,  the pitcher and catcher are corn fed white boys and the rest of the infield spots are taken by corn tortilla fed brown boys.  At the ball park it never occurs to me which kids might or might not be children of illegal aliens unless they hit a fly ball to 3rd or the short stop overthrows 1st base. 

Then I'll question their parentage, but not for ethnic reasons. 

Baseball aside, the illegal immigration debate has simmered in the background of the country for many years, with conservatives pointing out the lack of enforcement that invites people to break the law, coupled with the drain on our social services for legal Americans.  Indeed, illegal immigration is breaking the bank for many border states and they are rightly concerned.

Additionally, we worry about assimilation, because the schools are not teaching the value of American ideals, awe for this shining city on the hill that beckons those who yearn for a better life, and the appreciation and pride that should be a simple given in this awesome land of opportunity. 

All of that would be a kinder, gentler conversation to have about illegal immigration if we had nothing but a baseball game or a marshmallow roast to contend with, but not to put too fine a point on it, Bush 41 is retired.  9/11 happened and W is nuts on this issue.  What has happened in this country when our government officials are oblivious to the idea of terrorists sneaking across our wide open borders.  9/11 happened in 2001.  This is 2006, fer crying out loud. 

I really couldn't care less if Mexicans, legal or not, across the nation have their shorts in a wad over conservative plans for border security.  When the dirty bomb or biological weapon crosses the Mexico/California border and blows up half the recent LA protesters,  won't they be proud their rallies aided border insecurity?  When they hold their dead children and family members in their arms, if they still have a pair, will they give a flying flip about Chicano pride and reconquista?  Death and destruction brought to California or Texas or Arizona by Mexican pride protests and a spineless, craven congress more concerned with flirting with the Latino vote than with protecting all Americans will kill without thought to race or party.  People, American people, will be just as dead.

There is nothing I can do about any of this, of course, but I will remember and I will bring it up when, not if, tragedy strikes.  Perhaps the protesters, the liberals, and the congress are willing to carelessly risk all these lives, but it is sheer, navel-gazing folly on all their parts.  May their sanctimonious pride, their self-importance, their faux sympathetic mantle of sheer stupidity comfort them when the wolf comes calling. 

Or as Ricky Ricardo used to say, "You've made your sheets and blankets.  Now go to bed."

Sex Will Save Our Way of Life In the United States!

How do we save this country and bring it back to common sense values, limited government, and the work ethic that has made us the premiere economic and benevolent powerhouse of the 20th century? Sure, everyone is writing and calling their representatives, voting, but the surest way to a better future is sex and lots of it.

Patriotic, common sense, hard-working folks tired of the way this country is headed need to step up to the plate and start populating this country like rabbits with like minded children. Overwhelming numbers is the sure way to win in the long run.

The Muslims are trying to take over Europe this way, so why can't we beat them at their own game? I say every God fearing, liberty minded couple of child-bearing age has a patriotic duty to have at least 5-6 children and raise them with solid American values. Demographics will do the rest.

Well, why are you still reading this? Turn your computer off and get busy!! Our way of life and our values are at stake, people, and this is one fight Americans can win.

(I'm sure older readers may say, dang, I can't be a part of this excellent plan any longer. Not to worry! Encourage all your children to make a difference in this effort, offer to take the grandkids often in order to help mold their young minds, and consider offering to take the liberal's kids next door fishing or to the library as well. They'll need to rebel over something later when they're teenagers and what better way to plant a conservative seed?)

Blog Stuff

You know it's getting bad when friends call and ask when you're going to update your blog!  As I mentioned to deck, I'm certainly glad everyone who reads this blog doesn't have my phone number.  Especially the person who keeps searching google for "wild guillotine girls" and clicking here.  Go away, little freak!

Sorry.  Nothing exciting, funny, or of burning interest has happened in the last few days with the exception of the release of Abdul Rahman, the Afghani who was on trial for the crime of converting to Christianity.  I ran across this article (via Insty) that was incredibly interesting and hopeful:

An Afghan Christian leader in the U.S. has welcomed reports that criminal charges may be dropped against an Afghan convert who was threatened with execution for refusing to return to Islam. The case has prompted strong international condemnation.

Hussain Andaryas said the publicity surrounding the Abdul Rahman case had resulted in a surge of interest in Christianity among Afghans, strong concern for the plight of Afghanistan's underground Christians -- and an antagonistic response from Muslims.

Read the whole article.  It's full of gloom and hope all at the same time, much like the rest of the human condition, needless to say.

Yeah, yeah.  There's also a big immigration debate supposedly going on.  In my opinion, if this country's politicians didn't get serious about illegal immigration and the Mexican border after 9/11, they ain't gonna get serious about it now.  It will be much noise signifying nothing.  It's interesting that John McCain teamed up with Teddy Kennedy to push an immigration plan.  Presumably McCain realized the majority of the Republican party was hopelessly out of touch with it's base and he didn't want to miss out on the bad press?

Is this man seriously thinking of running in the Republican presidential primary touting his amnesty plan and nonpartisan cooperation with Kennedy?  He must be deluded into thinking the Washington press corps will be voting red state in 2008.  Rather than wait for Republicans to say "don't let the door hit ya in the rear on the way out", he beat us to the punch and let himself out the back. 

I'm notorious for making wildly inaccurate predictions, so let me offer up another.  John McCain, fresh from this across the aisle cooperation and his Gang of 14 compromise, has sniffed out what he believes is the middle of the country.  Seduced by his own press releases, he runs as an independent who will rescue the country from the clutches of the religious right and the moonbat left.

Outrageous!

Michelle Malkin has a must read column today on the case of Abdul Rahman.  He's someone you should know.  Says Malkin: 

Abdul Rahman is a man of faith. "I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in Christ. And I am a Christian," he declared this week.

Unfortunately for Rahman, he was originally born a Muslim in Afghanistan -- and he has been forced to defend his religious conversion in his home country's court, where he now faces the death penalty for turning to Jesus. Despite the defeat of the totalitarian Taliban and the existence of a U.S.-backed "moderate" democratic government, it is a capital crime for Afghanis to openly embrace any religion other than Islam. Sharia law, embedded in the Afghan constitution, overrides its human rights provisions.

::snip::

Tony Perkins at the Family Research Council raises the unpleasant question Bush evaded and no one in the White House press corps bothered to ask: "How can we congratulate ourselves for liberating Afghanistan from the rule of jihadists only to be ruled by Islamists who kill Christians? . . . President Bush should immediately send Vice President Cheney or Secretary Rice to Kabul to read [Afghan President] Hamid Karzai's government the riot act. Americans will not give their blood and treasure to prop up new Islamic fundamentalist regimes. Democracy is more than purple thumbs." (emphasis mine)

No, we most certainly won't.  This is not what we were promised and this is not what we supported when President Bush lead the invasion of Afghanistan.  As Charles Colson notes:

The irony is inescapable: This is the country that we rid of the Taliban because of its religious oppression. This is the country in which we have spent at least $70 billion to establish a free democratic government. This is the country whose freedom cost us three hundred American lives and eight hundred casualties. And this is the country that is preparing to execute a man for becoming a Christian after he witnessed other Christians caring for his countrymen.

Is this the fruit of democracy? Is this why we have shed American blood and invested American treasure to set a people free? What have we accomplished for overthrowing the Taliban? This is the kind of thing we would expect from the Taliban, not from President Karzai and his freely elected democratic government.

I have supported the Bush administration's foreign policy because I came to believe that the best way to stop Islamo-fascism was by promoting democracy. But if we can't guarantee fundamental religious freedoms in the countries where we establish democratic reforms, then the whole credibility of our foreign policy is thrown into serious question.(emphasis mine)

And mark my words, it is just these types of incidents that will cause the American public to fully turn it's back on the democratization hopes and plans of the Bush Administration.  This is the result of not enough force and way too much diplomacy.  It will not result in our retreat in the face of threat nor will it cause reluctance in using military force; it will merely remove goodwill and consideration from our war calculations.

Once that happens, forget the hearts and minds campaign.  Instead, look for a return to the cold and ruthless strategy more reminiscent of Sherman's fiery, deadly march to the sea. (thanks to reader, Trish, who sent the Colson link.)

Update:  Andrew C. McCarthy spells out in ringing terms exactly why this has happened and lays the blame directly at the feet of our current policy:

You reap what you sow. What is happening in Afghanistan (and in Iraq) is precisely what we bought on to when we actively participated in the drafting of constitutions which — in a manner antithetical to the development of true democracy — ignored the imperative to insulate the civil authority from the religious authority, installed Islam as the state religion, made sharia a dominant force in law, and expressly required that judges be trained in Islamic jurisprudence. To have done all those things makes outrage at today’s natural consequences ring hollow.

We can pull our heads up from the sand now and say, “No, no, no! We’re nice people. We didn’t mean it that way. That’s too uncivilized to contemplate.” But the inescapable truth is: the United States made a calculated decision that it wasn’t worth our while to fight over Islamic law (indeed, we encouraged it as part of the political solution). People who objected (like moi) were told that we just didn’t grasp the cultural dynamic at work. I beg to differ — we understood it only too well.

Islamic law does not consider conviction, imprisonment, or death for apostasy to be an affront to civilization. That’s the way it is.

Given the debate over this issue among conservatives, there looks to be a vocal and rowdy argument heating up.  Good.

Yes!

The Washington Times is reporting today that Iran's elites may be turning on President Nutjob:

TEHRAN -- Iran's clerical and business establishments, deeply concerned by what they see as reckless spending and needlessly aggressive foreign policies, are increasingly turning against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

    Within this context, many see the president's long-running confrontation with the United States and Europe over Tehran's nuclear program as an attempt to demonize the West and distract the Iranian public from pressing domestic problems.

    A relatively small group of extremists "at the top of the government around the president" are seeking to benefit from a crisis with the West, because "that way they will be able once again to blame the West for all of their problems," said Mousa Ghaninejad, the editor of Iran's best-selling economics daily newspaper, Dunya Al-Eqtisad.

Somewhere today, Micheal Ledeen's eyes lit up and he whispered gleefully, "Faster, please."