February 03, 2005

SOTU Follow-up: One picture says a thousand words

First lady Laura Bush, right, applauds as Safia Taleb al-Suhail, leader of the Iraqi Women's Political Council, back to camera, hugs Janet Norwood of Pflugerville, Texas, on Capitol Hill last night during President Bush's State of the Union address. Mrs. Norwood's son Sgt. Byron Norwood was killed in Iraq last November.

I'm not the only one who picked this as the money shot from the speech. Kevin at Wizbang beat me to the punch.

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February 02, 2005

SOTU Follow-up: Did Bush snub McKinney?

President Bush knocked it out of the ballpark tonight.

Others are doing some major-league live-blogging, so I'll leave the bulk of the commentary to them, but one thing did strike me.

President Bush appeared to have completely ignored "aisle-bird" Congresscritter Cynthia McKinney (Tin Foil-GA).

McKinney generally parks her ample butt along the center aisle hours prior to the State of the Union, or any other joint session of Congress where the President is slated to speak. She parks there in order to be certain to get her pearly whites on television while she shakes the President's hand.

Watching the President make his way down the aisle prior to the speech as well as back up the aisle afterward, I could see him stop to shake hands with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee (Moonbat-TX), but it looked like he completely ignored McKinney's presence.

I guess her "smile in your face, then stab you in the back" routine finally got old. It's about time.

(Live bloggers include LaShawn Barber, PowerLine, VodkaPundit, GOPBloggers, OTB, Michelle Malkin & Captain Ed, among others)

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UPN/Paramount finally kills off Star Trek Enterprise

The low-rated fifth series in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek Enterprise will come to an end in May.

UPN and Viacom announced the decision today.

A number of changes had been made in the series ahead of this, the fourth season of the series, but the one thing that didn't change was the low ratings the series earned.

"Star Trek has been an important part of UPN's history, and Enterprise has carried on the tradition of its predecessors with great distinction," UPN Entertainment president Dawn Ostroff said. "We'd like to thank Rick Berman, Brannon Braga and an incredibly talented cast for creating an engaging, new dimension to the Star Trek universe on UPN, and we look forward to working with them, and our partners at Paramount Network Television, on a send-off that salutes its contributions to The Network and satisfies its loyal viewers."

Paramount Network Television president David Stapf added, "The creators, stars and crew of Star Trek: Enterprise ambitiously and proudly upheld the fine traditions of the Star Trek franchise. We are grateful for their contributions to the legacy of Trek and commend them on completing nearly 100 exciting, dramatic and visually stunning episodes. All of us at Paramount warmly bid goodbye to Enterprise, and we all look forward to a new chapter of this enduring franchise in the future."

TrekToday sources report that CBS president Les Moonves himself yesterday reached the decision to pull the plug on Enterprise. Most Enterprise crew members only found out about their show's cancellation this morning.

The as-yet-untitled series finale (to be written by series killers creators Rick Berman and Brannon Braga) will air on May 13.

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CNN honcho enjoys the taste of shoe leather

Eason Jordan, "head honcho what be's in charge" down inside the monolith known as CNN Center, suffered from major foot-in-mouth disease late last week, when he charged that US military forces in Iraq were purposefully targeting US journalists.

Jordan claimed that he personally knew of 12 journalists who had not only been killed by US troops in Iraq, but in fact had been targeted.

During one of the discussions about the number of journalists killed in the Iraq War, Eason Jordan asserted that he knew of 12 journalists who had not only been killed by US troops in Iraq, but they had in fact been targeted. He repeated the assertion a few times, which seemed to win favor in parts of the audience (the anti-US crowd) and cause great strain on others.

Due to the nature of the forum, I was able to directly challenge Eason, asking if he had any objective and clear evidence to backup these claims, because if what he said was true, it would make Abu Ghraib look like a walk in the park. David Gergen was also clearly disturbed and shocked by the allegation that the U.S. would target journalists, foreign or U.S. He had always seen the U.S. military as the providers of safety and rescue for all reporters.

Eason seemed to backpedal quickly, but his initial statements were backed by other members of the audience (one in particular who represented a worldwide journalist group). The ensuing debate was (for lack of better words) a real "sh--storm". What intensified the problem was the fact that the session was a public forum being taped on camera, in front of an international crowd. The other looming shadow on what was going on was the presence of a U.S. Congressman and a U.S. Senator in the middle of some very serious accusations about the U.S. military.

Here's where it gets really bizarre -- the person who finally told Jordan to put up or shut up during the ensuing verbal maelstrom was none other than -- get this -- Congresscritter Barney Frank (Boystown-MA)!

Of course the $64,000 question at this point is whether Jordan will be allowed to stay with CNN or not.

Considering that he has personal relationships with officials across the Middle East, and has been involved in making sure that CNN was front and center, head and shoulders above the other networks in the region in terms of trying to cover the news there, I wouldn't hold my breath.

But in any event, consider this more proof of the downfall of the traditional mainstream media, and more evidence of the rise of the new media. Because without blogs and the internet, this story would be quickly covered up and never see the light of day.

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Blue-stained GOP fingers at the State of the Union?

Neal Boortz began his talk show this morning by extolling the virtues of a caller's suggestion: that the Republicans in the House Chamber all dip their fingers in blue ink, and show said ink-stained fingers in a "V For Victory" sign to President Bush during the SOTU speech tonight.

Neal indicated that he had called the office of Speaker of the House Denny Hastert and placed the suggestion in the hands of the powers that be on Capitol Hill.

This afternoon, Wizbang has word that other like-minded folk are thinking in the same vein (or inkwell, as the case may be).

Rep. Bobby Jindal is planning to demonstrate solidarity with Iraqi voters by dipping a finger in purple ink before President Bush (news - web sites)'s State of the Union speech Wednesday.

In a letter to be circulated Wednesday among fellow lawmakers, Jindal, R-La., said he would have ink available for anyone attending the speech who wanted to make a gesture of support for Iraqis and "people throughout the world who seek freedom."

I wouldn't look for Ted "Jabba The Drunk" Kennedy, John "Ketchup Boy" Kerry, Nancy "Cruella DeVil" Pelosi or Barbara "Cryin' Woman" Boxer to have ink-stained fingers tonight.

But given her flip-flopping to the point of making herself physically ill this week, don't be surprised if Hillary "The Wicked Witch of Westchester" Clinton tried it. After all, she is still working on her transformation into a "more moderate" Presidential Candidate.

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February 01, 2005

Crazy Al joining PETA to boycott KFC

Al Sharpton has made an eight-minute video for PETA, and is calling for a boycott of KFC restaurants in conjunction with the animal rights group.

Mr. Sharpton is joining forces with the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to urge a boycott of KFC, which is owned by Yum Brands of Louisville, Ky. Mr. Sharpton and PETA want the fast food chain to require its chicken suppliers to put in place new standards for the treatment of the 750 million chickens they process for KFC every year in the United States. The rap mogul Russell Simmons is also joining the Sharpton campaign.

"If we give our money to KFC, we're paying for a life of misery for some of God's most helpless creatures," says Mr. Sharpton in an eight-minute video that will be shown outside KFC's around the country.

The organization was eager to enlist Mr. Sharpton because KFC has many stores in largely black neighborhoods and in late 2003 KFC executives told investors they were making an increased effort to market to blacks.

I wonder just how much they're paying Crazy Al not to eat at KFC (and to try to get the rest of us not to eat there).

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Cynthia 'Jihad Cindy' McKinney plans to get aisle seat for State of the Union

US Congresscritter Cynthia McKinney (Tin-Foil Wearing Moonbat-GA) plans to park her silly grin along the center aisle of the House chamber hours before Wednesday night's State of the Union speech, as she has each year she's been in Congress.

This year she returns to the aisle after an absence of two years, thanks to her defeat by Denise Majette in 2002. Majette chose not to run for the 4th District seat, instead opting for a shot at the US Senate seat vacated by Zell Miller (Majette lost).

McKinney breaks her neck to get on that aisle so that she can be seen cheesing and kissing the President as he enters. Of course, that won't stop her from making idiotic statements, like the one in 2002 when she charged that President Bush knew about the 9/11 attacks in advance.

When President Bush walks through the doors of the House chamber Wednesday night to deliver the State of the Union address, the congresswoman again plans to be standing in his path, ready to shake his hand and smile for the cameras.

"I don't know that it's anything that's going to change public policy, but it certainly does make the constituents feel good to know I'm there and they can see me participate," McKinney, D-Ga., said Tuesday in an interview with The Associated Press.

At past Bush speeches, the exchange has been relatively playful, but this will be McKinney's first State of the Union since her radio comments in 2002 that the administration profited by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and may have known ahead of time. Some interpreted the comments to indicate she thought Bush let the attacks happen so his friends could profit, but McKinney later insisted that wasn't the case.

She's an idiot. She's full of used food.

Doesn't look like anything's changed.

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US GI hostage story and photo faked; MSM falls for it--again

Looks like this was a fake, now that we've seen the photo, and kudos are due to A Small Victory, Wizbang and Free Republic for calling it.

It looks like this was a GI Joe-type doll on sale on the internet. Note the face, plus the gun and the fact that you don't see anyone's hands in the photo.

In addition, the Pentagon has verified that no soldiers are missing presently.

Score another one for the new media, as the MSM gets scammed again.

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Iraqi terrorists claim to have US GI hostage, threaten beheading

A posting on a jihadist website claims that an Iraqi terrorist group is holding a US soldier captive, and is threatening to decapitate him if male and female prisioners held in Iraq are not freed within 72 hours.

The posting, on a Web site that frequently carried militants' statements, included a photo of what appeared to be an American soldier in desert fatigues seated with his hands tied behind his back. A gun barrel was pointed at his head, and he is seated in front of a black banner emblazoned with the Islamic profession of faith, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is His prophet."

A statement posted with the picture suggested the group was holding other soldiers.

"Our mujahadeen heroes of Iraq's Jihadi Battalion were able to capture American military man John Adam after killing a number of his comrades and capturing the rest," said the statement, signed by the "Mujahedeen Brigades."

"God willing, we will behead him if our female and male prisoners are not released from U.S. prisons within the maximum period of 72 hours from the time this statement has been released," the statement said.

The claim has not been formally verified yet.

UPDATE - 3P ET The Pentagon insists that no soldiers are missing, though this image, supposedly of a US soldier would otherwise disproove that notion.

I'll post video as soon as it's available.

UPDATE: I've got a link to the "fake GI" story here.

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P21: "Profiles of Empowerment"

A new Project 21 piece by Virgil Beato points out the successes of blacks today who do not wave the "Soul Patrol flag of whining" around like a badge of honor.

It points to successful blacks like Dr. Ben Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Ann Marie Fudge, who is the president of ad firm Young & Rubicam, American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault, who helped the firm weather major losses of both life and property during 9/11, and former US Senate candidate and former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain.

These modern-day heroes also share strong family values. While the American Enterprise Institute estimates close to 70 percent of black children are now born to single mothers, these people have enjoyed long marriages and raised or are raising their children in stable homes with both parents present.

These modern heroes also give back to their community. Cain, for example, an alumnus of the historically black Morehouse College, now serves on the school's board. Chenault serves on the board of CASA, a drug-use prevention group. Carson started the Carson Scholars Fund, Inc. to help Third-World schoolchildren stay academically competitive. Fudge is involved with the Partnership for a Drug Free America and the United Way.

Many high-profile black "leaders" such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson seem to regard capitalism as unfair to African-Americans. People such as Cain, Carson, Chenault, and Fudge show the American Dream can work for anyone with enough faith and determination.

But to the Jackson-Sharpton cabal, people like these are not worthy of acclaim, because they aren't on bended knee, whining about the state of black America. They have the "audacity" (I call it courage) to do something about it.

They are truly the leaders that black youth need to know about and seek to emulate.

The full P21 piece is available for your perusal below the fold...

more...

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January 31, 2005

Red States v. Blue States: Iraq style

Barking Moonbat has a new Red State/Blue State map that brings home the importance of this past weekend's elections in Iraq.

Take that, Jabba the Drunk Kennedy...

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NAACP refuses to cooperate with IRS request

The NAACP has formally notified the Internal Revenue Service that it will not be cooperating with an IRS investigation regarding activities that might cost the civil rights organization their tax exempt status. The NAACP insists that the timing of the investigation is politically motivated.

In a letter to the IRS dated this past Thursday, the NAACP attorneys said they would not hand over documents the IRS has requested, and countered with charges that the IRS had not followed proper procedure by launching their investigation prior to the filing of the organization's 2004 tax return.

The letter said the tax examiners aimed to influence the group's activities just before the November presidential election.

"We must conclude that the intention was to chill appropriate voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts, whether conducted by the NAACP or by other organizations that are targeted by similar examinations in the program," they wrote.

The NAACP said the IRS challenged as improper campaign intervention a Bond speech this summer because it condemned the president's policies on education, the economy and the war in Iraq.

The IRS has indicated that they are looking at 60 different non-profit organizations and churches to determine if they had violated federal rules prohibiting them from political campaign activity.

Bond had made speeches (including a major speech before the NAACP's National Convention last summer) that implied an endorsement of Democratic candidates over the Bush Administration. Bond has also made speeches denouncing the President and the Administration.

I made the statement nearly two years ago on MSNBC that Bond's statements and speeches had opened the door, and that it could potentially be bad for the organization. I'll repeat that here and now -- Bond's foot-in-mouth disease is what brought this on, and may cause the downfall of the entire organization. Unfortunately, if that does happen, I'll look for Bond and the rest of the Soul Patrol to immediately cry racism and try to blame conservatives in general and the Bush Administration in particular for this series of events.

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January 30, 2005

Freedom rings in Iraq, too...

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January 28, 2005

Put Michael Jackson out of our misery! Please!

The circus that is the Michael Jackson child molestation trial gets underway with jury selection Monday morning. According to published reports, MJ has been ordered to be in court for the trial, which, undoubtedly will go on for months. It should provide plenty of fodder for CourtTV, Entertainment Tonight and the myriad of television analysts out there for the forseeable future.

CourtTV's Diane Dimond has found out some of the details regarding items confiscated from Jackson's Neverland Ranch during warranted searches.

One of the books confiscated from Jackson's home in 1993 is entitled "The Boy: A Photographic Essay." According to child erotica connoisseurs on the Internet, this rare book is considered to be "a homoerotic classic." The book, published in 1964, contains dozens of photographs of nude prepubescent boys, many in suggestive poses. There are nude boys captured outdoors, nude boys who appear to be posing for the camera, and boys displaying full frontal nudity.In addition to the book, CTV's I-Unit can confirm that investigators from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department also confiscated loads of pornographic material from various locations in Jackson's home.

Porn movies with titles like "Barely Legal" and "Pimp Up, Ho's Down" were taken from the entertainer's master bedroom. Pornographic materials were found in Jackson's master bathroom, his den and in a second-floor closet, as well.

Child porn. Plain and simple.

I have to echo my blog-sister Ambra.

For the love of the Lord crying out in the night...CONVICT Michael Jackson! Does God need to come down from the heavenlies in a burning bush and write it in neon letters for us all?

They found child erotica? CHILD EROTICA?! It still amazes me that despite mounting evidence to the contrary, researchers in this country refuse to draw any type of correlation between pornography and child molestation.

Michael Jackson is obviously every bit the scum and predator that everyone is finally starting to see him as.

The thousands of screaming, crying fans are insisting that there is a gigantic conspiracy against him, but for what!?

Michael Jackson is an eccentric on the order of Howard Hughes, which means he's got more money than the rest of us. That should not exempt him from the law, and especially if his actions endanger children in any way, shape or form.

What do we need, a heavenly bolt of lightning to strike him down in the middle of our television screens? For the love of God, put this man away where he won't see the light of day!

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Press knocks Cheney over warm dress for Auschwitz ceremony

See! The press WANTS the Vice-President to catch something and keel over!

Vice President Dick Cheney's utilitarian hooded parka and boots stood out amid the solemn formality of a ceremony commemorating the liberation of Nazi death camps, raising eyebrows among the fashion-conscious.

Washington Post fashion writer Robin Givhan described Cheney's look at the deeply moving 60th anniversary service as "the kind of attire one typically wears to operate a snow blower."

I don't know about you, but I'd rather be warm and healthy in awful weather than look good and be 'bout ready to keel over.

20 people on The Dead Pool think Cheney will keel over anyway.

(Also posted at The Dead Pool)

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Budweiser's ad deemed too hot for the Super Bowl

Budweiser has pulled a Bud Light ad from their Super Bowl lineup that would have spoofed last year's halftime "wardrobe malfunction" by Janet Jackson.

The ad featured a technician backstage who [spoiler deleted].

Anheuser-Busch (Research) pulled the ad after consultation with both the National Football League, which denounced last year's halftime show, and Fox, which is broadcasting this year's game Feb. 6.

"Why take the risk? All you need is one person to be offended," Bob Lachky, an Anheuser-Busch vice president, told the newspaper. "Some people don't want to be reminded of the incident."

Still, Budweiser hasn't stepped away from the commercial altogether. It has it posted on its Web site, under the heading "Exclusive, watch the ad you won't see during the big game."

Want to see the ad?

Take a look here:

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(Courtesy Wizbang)

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NYC actress smarts off at thug, gets killed

Logic dictates that you shouldn't argue -- let alone make a smart-assed crack - to a perp holding a gun on you, lest he shoot you for the hell of it.

Nicole DuFresne, of Brooklyn, had just left a trendy bar with her fiancé and another couple when they were confronted at about 3:15 a.m. by four muggers — two men and two women — at the corner of Clinton and Rivington streets, police said.

One of the thugs, who was carrying a gun, demanded money.

DuFresne's fiancé, Jeffrey Sparks, 28, not seeing the mugger had a gun and not taking the request seriously, tried to push past the man.

"At that point, using both hands, he hit me in the face with the gun," Sparks said.

The grieving fiancé said he and his friend, Scott Nath, started walking away, thinking the trouble would pass.

But as they did, the man tried to grab the purse of DuFresne's friend, actress and playwright Mary Jane Gibson. That's when DuFresne protested, telling the thug, "What are you trying to do? What are you going to do, shoot us?"

Ten seconds later, a shot rang out.

Sad. Senseless. Stupid.

The perp got away. 28 year-old DuFresne was prounounced dead at Manhattan's Beth Israel Hospital.

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January 27, 2005

Friend of Ronnie's? Yep. But not so "closeted"

Ned Rice at NRO suggests that Republicans and conservatives trying to remain closeted refer to themselves as "Friends of Ronnie," as in former President Ronald Reagan.

It occurs to me that we Hollywood Republicans could save ourselves a lot of trouble by agreeing on some term with which to discreetly identify ourselves in public, much the same way gay men describe themselves as "Friends of Dorothy," or AA members call themselves "Friends of Bill W." I hereby propose that closeted conservatives, whether in Los Angeles or elsewhere, agree to refer to one another whenever discretion is necessary as "Friends of Ronnie," in honor of our 40th president.

Imagine the wasted time and bad bean dip we could spare ourselves with a simple "Friend of Ronnie?" in place of the usual 45-minute dance around the buffet table trying to work "Milton Friedman" or "trust, but verify" into a remark about the weather. Not to mention the countless looks of horror from those who take our political beliefs to be not simply misguided, but actual evidence that we're evil. You know, the tolerant crowd.

Then, again, you can say f--- it, and sport one of my bumper stickers that say "Unapologetically Conservative," or "Black & Unapologetically Conservative."

And if you want one, you can go to my online shop (yes, this is a shameless plug).

I've got coffee mugs & t-shirts there as well. I'm looking at some other products over the next week or two to add to the shop, so if there's something you would like to see, let me know.

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Life on the inside as an "Embed"

Houston radio talk show host Edd Hendee (from KSEV/AM 700) is an "embed" with the US Marines in Iraq.

His tales are being chronicled on the excellent (and new member of my blogroll) Lone Star Times.

At 4:14 am my friend Baraka shook me awake – “We have casualties.” was his grim statement.

Baraka is a reporter for WABC-7 New York. We met a week ago in Al Asad the first day in country and had become friends pretty fast. “I’ll meet you up on level 10.” he said as he rushed out of the room.

I threw on my clothes and grabbed my Bible – and began to pray for these fine men.

The hospital is right up on the roof – about 100 yds. from the helo pad. The area outside the doors was filled with quiet Marines listening to the Navy Corpsmen inside shouting instructions as they prepared the wounded for transport. One look at their faces told the story – this wasn’t routine.

I knelt to pray outside the door for these guys and their families. The thump-thump-thump of the inbound Blackhawk Med Evac helo was a comfort and promise of the best medical support in the world. But it was also a signal to immediately get ready to transport.

Tuesday had been an amazing day. We did 3 hours of broadcast beginning with a 6am Texas time (1500 Iraq) broadcast to KMSR in Dallas and then 2 hours back to Houston. We lined up Marines from their respective cities and hooked up phone calls to their loved ones at home. Sons talked to moms and dads, husbands to wives and their children. They were at ease in these responses yet they all stated again and again their conviction to be here and the importance of their mission. They make you so proud to be an American.

Edd's journey continues at Lone Star Times. It will show you what the MSM refuses to show you: the courage and true sacrifice of the men and women on the front lines.

Go read it. Now. It's that important, and that moving.

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Just the commercials, ma'am...

Don't want to watch the Super Bowl next week, but you're interested in the commercials? Well you're in luck.

NFL Network has announced Super Bowl XXXIX Commercials, which will air immediately after the game concludes next Sunday night (2/6), roughly around 10P ET/9P CT.

The special will also air the next night (Monday 2/7) at 6:30P ET/5:30P CT, and twice on that Tuesday (2/8, times to be announced).

The half-hour long NFL Network special will present all the commercials that aired during the Super Bowl XXXIX telecast on Fox.

NFL Network is available on DirecTV and on many digital cable systems.

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