Friday, June 29, 2007

The Mohammed-Burning Video

Gates of Vienna: Update on the Burning of Mohammed

Gates of Vienna: Update on the Burning of Mohammed:

"I reported on Saturday that a group in Denmark was planning to burn an effigy
of Mohammed — instead of a witch — at the traditional midsummer festival.

I have just heard from a reliable source in Denmark that the burning did
indeed occur, and that he (and the Danish media) are awaiting the video of the
event with great anticipation."


Sounds like a great idea.

Media Matters - Good Morning America 's Chris Cuomo interviews Coulter, promotes Godless

Media Matters - Good Morning America 's Chris Cuomo interviews Coulter, promotes Godless:

"COULTER: Oh yeah, I wouldn't insult gays by comparing them to John
Edwards. That would be mean, but about the same time -- you know -- Bill Maher
was not joking and saying he wished [Vice President] Dick Cheney had been killed
in a terrorist attack. So I've learned my lesson. If I'm going to say anything
about John Edwards in the future, I'll just wish he has been killed in a
terrorist assassination plot.


She has a good point here. What is good for the left is good for the right.

PoliPundit.com » McCain’s Campaign Over?

PoliPundit.com » McCain’s Campaign Over?:

"THE former presidential front-runner, John McCain, may drop out of the 2008
race by September if his fundraising dries up and his poll ratings continue to
drop, according to Republican insiders."


Could the support of the immigration bill by John McCain be the end of his run for the president.

The Strata-Sphere » Blog Archive » Al-Qaeda Left With The Gaza Strip

The Strata-Sphere » Blog Archive » Al-Qaeda Left With The Gaza Strip:

"Gaza is a hell hole of barren lands that requires massive, constant
humanitarian support. I would not call gaining Gaza a victory, except it does
allow for attacks to be launched against Isreal. It appears that Palestinian
President Abbas and his Fatah movement understand the implications of a
Palestinian war on Israel since they have now decided to take on Hamas and their
version of al-Qaeda’s Islamo Fascism. As the article notes the new front on
Terror will be Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. "


It looks like the conflict in Gaza, that erupted between Fatah and Gaza has given Al Qaeda an entrance to expand operations in Gaza. With increased co-operation between the Americans and Iraqis to drive them out of Iraq, they are seeking for a new base to operate from.

Smile! Lily Allen Arrested For Punching Photographer - The Hollywood Gossip

Smile! Lily Allen Arrested For Punching Photographer - The Hollywood Gossip:

"Loquacious, fresh-faced British songstress Lily Allen was arrested yesterday
for a not-so-sweet alleged attack on a photographer back in March.
Talented
but always brash and outspoken, Allen turned herself in to the authorities
yesterday in London, according to the Press Association.
The celebrity
gossip hater was charged with “allegation of assault,” and was let out on bail
very shortly thereafter."


Shame shame shame...

Mandy Moore - Gardenia

Ann Coulter is Losing It

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Iraq Sunnis to boycott government

BBC NEWS Middle East Iraq Sunnis to boycott government:

"Iraq's main Sunni Arab bloc has said it will boycott government meetings
because of legal steps being taken against one of its ministers.Iraq's main
Sunni Arab bloc has said it will boycott government meetings because of legal
steps being taken against one of its ministers."


This excuse has always reminded me of the kid who took his ball and went home because he wasn't winning, or didn't like the rules. Why not stay in the game, use the game to try and assert your ideas, and maybe work to change the rules you think are unfair. If you leave the game, you can do none of these things. What do you gain, you look silly and obstinate.

FOXNews.com - Romney Defends Strapping Dog in Kennel on Station Wagon in 1983 - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum

FOXNews.com - Romney Defends Strapping Dog in Kennel on Station Wagon in 1983 - Politics Republican Party Democratic Party Political Spectrum:

"Romney dismissed any outcry about the 24-year-old incident, saying the dog
enjoyed his rooftop perch.
'He scrambled up there every time we went on
trips,' Romney said at a campaign stop in Pittsburgh Thursday. 'He got it all by
himself and enjoyed it.'"


Why does this remind me of when Britney Spears said that her child was in the car seat backwards, because he liked to ride that way. Babies and dogs shouldn't either be the final judge on what is appropriate for them, nor scapegoats for bad choices made by others.

Half of Baghdad now under control - USATODAY.com

Half of Baghdad now under control - USATODAY.com:

"WASHINGTON — In the face of stiffening insurgent resistance, U.S. and Iraqi
security forces now control about half of Baghdad, the American commander
overseeing operations said Friday.
Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil, Jr., commander
of Multi-National Division Baghdad, told reporters at the Pentagon that progress
in securing the capital has been steady and that while he could use more U.S.
troops he believes he has enough — with the recent arrival of reinforcements —
to complete his mission."


Sounds to me like the surge is reaching the goal of attempting to secure the capital. No one believed it would be easy, but it looks like it is working. They fighting is going to get more intense, if only because the terrorists have less room to move, and are being boxed in. I think that if American and Iraqi troops can secure and hold the capital, the troops should start coming home soon after.

ALL-AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL FORUMS

Gov. B. Richardson






Sen. Chris Dodd






Sen. Mike Gravel





Sen. John Edwards





Sen. H. Clinton





Cong. D. Kucinich

Watching Those We Chose: Pelosi's " Greening of the Capitol" Plan Moves Forward

Watching Those We Chose: Pelosi's " Greening of the Capitol" Plan Moves Forward:

"Two key tenets of the initiative — purchasing credits to offset the Capitol’s
carbon-dioxide emissions and eliminating the use of coal to fuel the Capitol
power plant — are included in the spending bill.

Such changes will
ensure that the Capitol “will no longer be just a shining example of democracy
but a symbol of our commitment to the future,” Pelosi, D-Calif., said June 21
when she released details of the initiative. "


While there are clearly weaknesses to this plan, it is good to see it being discussed. Solutions to the big problems in life rarely come from the first attempt to work them out. It wasn't our first attempt to reach the stars that was a success. However it is the things we learn from our first steps in reaching a solution that enable us to reach better and better solutions in the future. This is an issue that is going to have to be addressed, either on a global warming basis, or a simple energy supply in a world of growing demand and shrinking supply model.

MotherJones.com | MoJoBlog - Social Issues and Political Commentary: Redoing the Primary System: Rotating Regionals?

MotherJones.com MoJoBlog - Social Issues and Political Commentary: Redoing the Primary System: Rotating Regionals?:

"Alexander said the model for federal legislation is based on a 1999 bill that
Lieberman co-wrote that would have created a regional primary system. That bill
would have created a system of four rotating regions, with a cluster of 13
mid-Atlantic and Northeast states voting on the first Tuesday of March, with a
southern group of states going the first Tuesday of April, a Midwest group the
first Tuesday of May and a Mountain West and far West group going last, the
first Tuesday of June.
The next election, the order would be rotated so that
no region would always go first. That bill, which was referred to the Senate
Rules and Administration Committee, went nowhere legislatively speaking."


Why is it that Americans can't change to the metric system, why is it that we can sit around all day and talk about how we know that something doesn't work and not fix it. The metric system has been around for years, and there is always talk about America changing over, at some point, but it doesn't. Why is it that when a good idea comes forward, we can't change our path from what it has been to what is clearly a better system. This rotating regional idea is the best idea I have ever seen for changing the primary system. The way it is now is just insane, to have to campaign for a primary in a state on the east coast and the west coast on the same day - of course you are going to have to focus on one more than the other.

There are so many ways that this could be better. Think about the fuel that could be saved, if candidates could focus on one region at a time, that region would get more attention and the candidates wouldn't have to fly back and forth across the country. In the time that each candidate has to appeal to each region, they can focus more on the needs of that region. If you are doing a national campaign, with a broken primary system like we have now, you are wasting your time by discussing ideas that have a regional appeal.

The final kicker for me is that it would rotate, what is driving the primaries earlier and earlier is the impression that those who have the early primaries get more attention. Rotating would mean that each election cycle would favor a different region.

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