DEMS DEBATE IN PHILLY

>>>SPECIAL NOTE: "INTRODUCTION TO JINGOCONSERVATISM" CAN BE FOUND BELOW THE REVIEW OF LAST NIGHT'S DEMOCRAT DEBATE<<<


Seven Democrat candidates for President of the United States participated in an MSNBC debate Tuesday evening at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Brian Williams of NBC's Nightly News and Tim Russert of Meet The Press moderated the event. It was a two hour marathon that showed us nothing new and was essentially a forum for those trailing in the polls to bash Billary. Unfortunately, once again no one landed a solid blow despite all the wild swinging.
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The Dems are remarkable in their uniformity of rhetoric and approach to policy. They share an approach to problems that sees government as the solution to every problem under the sun. Health insurance, the airlines, education, energy, cancer, you name it, and the Dems want to fix it with a broad expansion of government involvement and bureaucracy. They all think Bush is a buffoon, an idiot, an incompetent, a distorter, and a liar. They all support drastically raising taxes to fund various federal programs of dubious effectiveness. They all think "diplomacy" is the cure for all that ails us abroad, and it was touted Tuesday night as just that. Their proposed solution to Iran all starts with diplomacy, none of which has been successful by any measure so far. They all think the United States actively seeking to prevent a nuclear Iran is "saber rattling". The Dems have spent these events arguing around the edges because there is very little actual difference among them on major issues. They argue about who is most experienced and who has taken money from whom instead.
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Each candidate had their moment. Billary successfully and surprisingly parried attacks against her recent vote to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organization by pointing out that the option of doing nothing is worse. Hussein Obama tried to attack Billary on several issues, but none of his attempts were huge splashes. Little Lord Fauntleroy John Edwards continued his ironic campaign for the poor. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson incomprehensibly jumped to Billary's defense, saying some of the attacks bordered on personal (oh, no!). Senator Joe Biden, in one of the most accurate statements of the entire evening, joked Rudy puts three things in a sentence: noun, verb, and 9/11. Senator Chris Dodd seemed reasonable, wrong, and a little lost. Crazy Dennis Kucinich admitted he thinks he saw a UFO and called for impeachment of Bush and Cheney. You can always count on Dennis bringing a little spice of insanity.
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The issue of drivers licenses for illegal immigrants came up late in the debate, and Billary attempted to soften her recent support for New York Governor Elliot Spitzer's plan to do that. She gave a fuzzy answer to the direct question twice, a nugget to demonstrate her doublespeak Edwards and Obama jumped on with both feet. Only Dodd came out in outright opposition to licenses, but none of them advocated what should be done with illegals: arrest and deportation. Republicans must sincerely hope the Democraps continue to support licenses for illegal immigrants. That could become a major national security issue in the general election. Brian Williams asked Obama directly about his experience for the office, and Hussein actually admitted to strictly legislative work only, but claimed he's good at "bringing people together".
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The only KUDOS of the evening goes to Senator Joe Biden for suporting a ban on toy and other imports from China. That's it.
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We learned nothing. The format involves too many candidates to be a true forum of ideas. The "lightning round" is really a "sound bite round" and limits candidates to generalized answers. The same can be said of the Republican debates so far. Debate organizers should establish a minimum standing in designated polls for participation. We all know Billary, Hussein, and Edwards should have been the only three involved. Only then would the potential exist to compare differences and differentiate between candidates espousing the same socialist approach.
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JINGOCON

INTRODUCTION TO JINGOCONSERVATISM

I. INTRODUCTION

A. "JINGO" WORD HISTORY: In 1878, Great Britain was gripped by anti-Russian sentiment. A popular song of the time contained the lyrics "We don't want to fight, but by Jingo if we do; We've got the ships, We've got the men, We've got the money too." By the turn of the century "jingoes" had become a somewhat derogatory term applied to anyone deemed too nationalistic or aggressive in foreign policy. Theodore Roosevelt spoke on the issue to the New York Times in 1895, dismissing the negative connotations of the phrase. The "we don't want to fight" part of the equation had been lost. Now the term is used like a swear word by the defeatist left. Defined in a post-9/11 context, it should refer to those supporting an aggressive and even belligerent war and foreign policy as the best means of securing America in the modern world. Modern American jingoists can point to multiple historical examples of a passive America inviting attack. Since 9/11 the equation has shifted in favor of "staying on offense" and high levels of American involvement abroad. The jingoist will rightly tell you America has no choice but to lean forward at all times, not just when under attack. The world is full of enemies and potential enemies, not butterflies and balloons.

B. MODERN AMERICAN CONSERVATISM: Largely sculpted by Ronald Reagan, conservatism in the sense used here centers around four basic ideas:

1. SMALLER GOVERNMENT: Government at all levels is too large, inefficient, and subject to fraud and abuse. Efforts to increase the size and scope of especially the federal government should be opposed.

2. LOWER TAXES: At least three times since World War 2 major federal tax cuts have spurred the economy and increased total government revenues due to faster growth. Government is also forced to be more frugal and less intrusive when taxes are kept low.

3. PRO-LIFE: Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and largely based on 1973 technology and medical evidence now known to be wrong. This matter is clearly not addressed by the Constitution, and thus should be left to the individual states.

4. PRO-2ND AMMENDMENT: The individual right to bear arms is a cornerstone of American freedom and is constitutionally guaranteed. Free citizens should not have to seek the permission of police or government agencies to trade or own arms for self-defense.

C. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: Combining the two root words gives us a specific and clear philosophy adhering to the four major conservative principles (lower taxes, smaller government, pro-life, pro-2nd Ammendment) and advocating an aggressive war and foreign policy. Jingocons believe America must adopt these policies or face moral and literal destruction.
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II. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF JINGOCONSERVATISM

1. The United States of America is the primary force for good in the modern world. Americans have shed more blood for the people of other lands than any nation in history.

2. The United States is and must remain the preeminent military force in the world.

3. The role of the President of the United States as Commander in Chief of the armed forces is sacrosanct and should not be infringed or impeded by the Supreme Court or Congress. The President should only take major military action with a Congressional declaration of war or authorization for use of force. The President is constitutionally obligated to take immediate military action without authorization in vital and immediate matters.
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4. The United States should maintain a forward leaning posture in all international affairs. Military action should be taken only when all deliberate peaceful means of resolution have been reasonably exhausted. Ground forces should be used only when accomplishment of the mission is not possible with air and naval forces alone.
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5. International organizations cannot guarantee American national security, and thus their permission is not needed or desired prior to taking military action vital to our defense. The United Nations should be dismantled if it refuses reform. The United States should not participate in or fund international agencies other than those whose members are democratic allies. International law should never be used as a basis or means of adjucating American domestic law.
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6. The United States must not allow threats to our security to fully materialize before taking appropriate action.
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7. The men and women of the United States military should always have the best training, equipment, leadership, and support than can possibly be provided. Pay and benefit levels for service members are woefully inadequate and should be drastically increased. The compensation for families of those killed in our service, and the compensation and health care benefits for wounded members and veterans should also be drastically increased. American veterans should receive priority in all federal, state, and local government contracts and hiring.
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8. The borders and ports of the United States should be secured through physical or electronic means as soon as possible. Those who have violated our sovereignty and entered the country illegally should be deported immediately. Employers who hire illegal immigrants should face exorbitantly heavy fines. Priority for legal immigration should be given to democratic allies.
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9. A clearly sufficient defense industry is vital to our national security. All weapons, equipment, and supplies utilized by the U.S. military should without exception be made in America.
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10. The United States should never under any circumstances tolerate the use of torture. The U.S. Congress should clearly and unequivocally define torture, including specific procedures that are not permissable.
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11. The spread of democracy around the globe greatly enhances but is not essential to American national security. All peaceful means of promoting and establish democratic governments should be encouraged and supported. The extent to which the United States should militarily support democratic movements should be commensurate with the desires of the foreign citizens involved and their own ability to assist.
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12. Energy is a national security issue. Every reasonable effort should be made to reduce or eliminate dependence on foreign energy sources and to develop successful alternative sources domestically. Increased domestic production and sensible conservation measures should be pursued in the short term to alleviate market pressures. An America free from dependence on foreign oil would both greatly increase our flexibility abroad and strengthen our economy.
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13. Ballistic missile defense programs are technologically feasible and should receive increased funding. Deployment of systems should only occur in requesting allied nations.
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14. It should at all times be clear to foreign powers that the United States of America is and will remain no better friend and no worse enemy.
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III. WHY THE "NEOCONS" WERE AND ARE WRONG: The group of supposed conservatives labeled "neocons" did not fit the name and had fatal misconceptions about military operations. These gentlemen were not new, in the sense that many of them had been in and out of government for years. They were, for the most part, not conservative in their desire to apply American military power to install democracy in a nation (Iraq) that had ancient tribal roots and no recent experience with any form of self-government. While our military will in fact succeed in this mission, it has been made far more bloody and difficult because of the poor judgement of the situation before the conflict began. The neocons usually consider the idea of America spreading democracy essential to our security. While it definitely improves our own security, it is also definitely not essential. Now this same group is hawkish on Iran, and that notion should be viewed with skepticism. Military action against Iran may indeed become necessary, but it remains the very last option and should be done only with detailed prior planning and without ground forces.
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IV. WHAT JINGOCONSERVATISM IS NOT: Jingocons recognize that an America that is aggressive and active on the international scene best secures our own nation and assists our allies and potential allies. It is not warmongering, it is not bloodthirsty, and does not seek to dominate any foreign land. American troops are always liberators and we do not "occupy" other nations. The United States is and must be the most powerful force for good ever known by man.

BRAZEN 26 OCT 07

"THE RELIGION OF PEACE": Hina Saleem, pictured above, will be remembered in a service in Northern Italy next month. The young Pakistani woman was killed by her father and other male relatives, who claim she "dishonored" their family. Hina's crimes? Wearing western clothing, working in a pizzaria, and living with her Italian boyfriend. She was found in the family garden with her throat cut. This is a typical case of Muslim abuse of women, something American women of all political stripes should be decrying. That doesn't happen because the left does not want to be seen supporting W, so the left is silent about honor killings like Hina's, widespread beatings of Muslim women for trivial causes, and genital mutilation. You may notice a new link on this page to "The Religion of Peace" website. I highly recommend this site as a source of the ugly truth about Islam.
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CODE PINK OUTRAGE: The pathetic anti-military group "Code Pink" has become a dangerous distraction on Capitol Hill. Secretary of State Condi Rice was confronted and nearly assaulted by a crazed woman with hands painted red on Wednesday before testimony to the House on U.S. foreign policy. This lunatic was able to get way too close to Secretary Rice, and the incident raises security concerns. "Code Pink" has been repeatedly disruptive on the Hill, and now some action must be taken. The group should be labeled a security risk and banned from Congressional access. The whole incident reminds us that you never have a flamethrower when you need one. "Code Pink" is an ally of Al Qaeda working to hamper the war effort, and should be treated accordingly. Dog cages at GITMO seem appropriate.
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BILLARY'S B-DAY: Slick Willie hosted a fundraiser in New York city last night for Billary, who is turning 60 years old. Billy Crystal and Elvis Costello (remember those names) were among the stars present. The event was held at the Beacon Theater and raised over $1.5M for Billary's campaign. In an apparent attempt to make everyone ill, Slick Willie said his wife was "looking, I think, very beautiful." Yuck.
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MONEY MATTERS: New figures for the estimated cost of the war are sending the left into a tizzy. As they have done in the past, the Dems will use the numbers to cry about social spending programs, as if there is any comparison. Frankly, discussing the costs of war is offensive. It's either worth doing or it's not. Americans won't need health care if they are killed by terrorists. The left is loathe to spend any money on the military at all (ever), so they'll use any means to pound the President. The Dems, as usual, have their priorities askew.
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THOMPSON PROPOSES IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN: Republican Presidential candidate Fred Thompson is calling out his rivals and proposing federal funds be denied to so-called "sanctuary cities". Properly claiming current immigration laws are not enforced, Thompson took direct aim at Guliani and Romney. Both gentlemen supported a policy of harboring illegals while in office and now falsely claim a sudden conversion to tougher policies. "Taxpayer money should not be provided to illegal immigrants," Thompson said.
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TELL 'EM: SECDEF Robert Gates, appearing before a European military conference, correctly questioned the commitment of NATO allies to the Afghan front. I can't say it any better than Gates: "If an alliance of the world's greatest democracies cannot summon the will to get the job done in a mission that we agree is morally just and vital to our security, then our citizens may begin to question both the worth of the mission and the utility of the 60-year-old trans-Atlantic security project itself." Amen, SECDEF.
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JINGOCON

AN APOLOGY TOO FAR

California Representative Pete Stark took to the House floor today and offered his pathetic apology for his traitorous remarks last week. Stark claimed last week that the United States is killing innocents in Iraq, and that troops are dying in Iraq "for the President's amusement." A motion proposing censure offered by Ohio Rep. John Boehner late today failed after receiving only five Democrat votes. That once again affirms that the Democrat Party indeed does not support any part of our war effort or the brave men and women fighting it. Only five Democraps in the House agreed with the Republicans that Rep. Stark's comments were highly inappropriate and beneath a serving member in time of war. And that's only the beginning of the problems with this Congress.
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The Nancy Pelosi-Harry Reid Congress has failed miserably by any measure. Claiming at the time they were elected in 2006 to end the war, they have caved in to Bush at every opportunity. The single arrow in their tiny little quiver is a nuke, the power of the purse. No matter how much stink they emit, Congress is constitutionally limited to either providing the funds necessary or not. The Dems are unwilling to fire that nuke for fear they too will be harmed by the fallout. Iraq might descend into chaos and genocide while the neighbors fight over a piece for themselves, launching a much wider war. Now that we are seeing some signs of success, they might look like they abandoned Iraq too soon. All that would then be on their head, and the Dems aren't politically brave enough to take that risk. As the situation currently stands, the Iraq front belongs to Bush and the Republicans, and the Dems would just as soon it stay that way until after November 2008.
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This Congress wastes time like no other. Every bit of crying about the war is a waste of the legislative calendar. They have, like previous Congress', failed to submit any major part of the FY2008 federal budget in a timely manner to the President for signature, and here it is almost November. Speaker Pelosi failed in her effort to override the President's veto of SCHIP. Apart from continuing to fund the war, this Congress has done precious little. Naming federal courthouses and raising the minimum wage are not considered major accomplishments. Both houses spend endless days debating a war over which they know full well they have very limited power. Meanwhile important business remains undone.
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Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid are worse than incomptent. They lead their party without clear direction or authority. The Democrat Party has been assimilated by the anti-military left and thus blows plenty of smoke about actions they never intend to take. They have allowed repeated treasonous statements by their members to pass without repercussion. Pete Stark is a disgrace, and no one with a memory thinks otherwise. He is just another in a long line of liberals who have insulted the men and women of our armed forces, feigned a half-hearted apology, and been allowed to continue serving. Not this time. Stark has made these sorts of remarks before outside of Congress, and his screed in a moment of intense debate reveals his true character. Having failed to censure Rep. Stark, the Republicans in the House should now shut down further business until an investigation of Stark is launched. There's no telling what sort of aid and comfort he has given to Al Qaeda. If Stark is willing to provide America's enemies valuable propaganda from the floor of Congress, his other activities should be intensely scrutinized. He has denigrated the CINC in time of war, insulted our troops, and aided the enemy.
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Apology NOT accepted, Pete. Report to GITMO 'til the war's over.
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JINGOCON

PETE STARK - CONGRESSIONAL TRAITOR

All Americans should be aware that Al Qaeda is listening very closely to what our leaders say. The terrorists will seize upon any evidence of division within our body politic as proof that their strategy is succeeding. Democraps are either ignorant of this fact or choose to ignore it, thereby providing propaganda for the enemy. The list of Dems who have made outrageous statements is endless: Harry Reid declaring the war lost, Dick Durbin comparing our troops to the German SS, John Kerry accusing our troops of "terrorizing" Iraqi women and children, Hussein Obama suggesting our strategy in Afghanistan is to bomb civilians. There has been no shortage of pro-Al Qaeda rants from the left. We should expect that from the party that is heavily invested in America's defeat. What was said yesterday on the floor of the U.S. House yesterday was more than a rant, and it demands immediate action.
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Things got a little heated yesterday as the Dems attempted and failed to override the President's veto of SCHIP. Then California Representative Fortney "Pete" Stark took to the floor. Stark has been one of the most vocal opponents of the President and the war, and his verbal abuse of colleagues is legendary. This is the guy who in 1995 called Republican Rep. Nancy Johnson of Connecticut a "whore" for the insurance industry and suggested her knowledge of healthcare came from "pillow talk" with her doctor husband. That should give you some idea of his character. But what he said yesterday demands way more than an apology. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lTUB5_l0Mg.
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The time has come for Republicans to stand against this sort of treachery. Stark has steadfastly refused to apologize, saying "I may have dishonored the commander in chief, but he's done pretty well to dishonor himself without any help from me." How long must we tolerate officials of the U.S. government aiding and abetting Al Qaeda? There is no other way to describe it. Rep. Stark is another in a long Democrap line rooting for the enemy, but this time the House Republicans should take immediate action. First, all Congressional business should be suspended until the Stark matter is addressed. Next, Republicans should bring a censure to the floor to nail down Dems. That censure should include the strongest condemnation language imaginable. But that's just the start. Republicans in Congress should make a defiant and lengthy stink about this to make sure voters see Stark is all his disloyal glory.
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The Department of Justice should immediately begin an investigation of Stark and all his activities. Who knows what other support he is providing our terrorist enemies. What Stark said yesterday is the ultimate yelling of "FIRE" in a movie theater. Our enemies are listening intently. He is pushing toward the definition of enemy combatant.
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Representative Stark has gone beyond free speech, beyond legitimate opposition, and beyond what should be tolerated. Like the rest of his pathetic party, Stark has morphed his rabid hatred for President Bush into attacks on our troops amounting to treason. Yeah, that's right, treason. Pete Stark is providing aid and comfort to the enemy, so I don't know what else it might be called. It's time for Republicans to put a stop to Al Qaeda sympathesizers. For my money, Stark should be in a cage at GITMO until the war is over. He is no better than anyone detained there, and perhaps even worse. He is a shining example of where the Democrat Party stands: with America's enemies. Pete Stark, SHUT UP HIPPY.
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JINGOCON

BRAZEN 17 OCT 07

FAILED SUICIDE BOMBERS: Recent days have seen two sad examples of fanatics who can't even successfully pull off a suicide bombing. A mother in southern Afghanistan triggered an explosion attempting to remove a suicide vest from her son. The blast killed the would-be bomber, his mother, a brother, and two sisters. Reports are the man had recently returned from studying in a madrassa in Pakistan (big surprise), and had given his family $3600 before he announced his intentions. Another man in Afghanistan's Paktika province blew himself up as he attempted to remove his vest. The bomber had told police he changed his mind after seeing people praying. Only the bomber was killed. These examples are part of the continuing pathetic story of Al Qaeda evil. There is no low too low for them or their Islamfascist cohorts the Taliban.
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FIX IT, MR. PRESIDENT: Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota National Guard, returned from Iraq earlier this year as on of the longest serving American units. The "Red Bulls" soon discovered some of them were being denied full educational benefits on the basis of a single day of service. Appeal after appeal have not solved the problem. Congress, especially the Minnesota delegations, have begun to get involved, and rightfully so. These soldiers deserve every benefit for which they are even remotely eligible and more. The President should seize this matter, issue an executive order fixing whatever bureaucratic snafu is causing the difficulty, and be done with it. Allowing Congress to get any more involved is an abdication of Presidential authority. President Bush can and should fix this immediately if not sooner. Leaving it unresolved leaves military matters in the hands of legislators, always a dangerous proposition.
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ANYONE NOTICE?: President Bush last Thursday announced the award of a posthumous Medal of Honor to Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy for his actions in Afghanistan in late June 2005. Murphy led a special four-man SEAL recon team trying to find a local Taliban leader as part of a plan to kill or capture local militia leadership near Asadabad. Local Taliban sympathizers informed on the SEAL team, and they were quickly under fire. and outnumbered. LT Murphy continued to fight even after being wounded, probably by a mortar round, and managed to crawl out into the open and make a radio call for air support. That call allowed the rescues of one wounded SEAL and the recovery of the bodies of LT Murphy and two of his men also killed. One helicopter that went to rescue the SEALs crashed, killing 16 American troops and resulting in the worst single-day loss of life for USN Special Ops since World War 2. Bush will present the medal to LT Murphy's parents in a ceremony October 22. This significant military event was completely ignored by the major liberal media. They spent endless hours last week trumpeting the nearly traitorous words of dictator-loving Jimmy Carter, but they had no time for a real American hero. Al Gore gets the Nobel Peace Prize for playing global warming Chicken Little, but it's men like LT Murphy who really insure the peace. The liberal media, and the American political left in general, has no regard for the United States military, and they have proven it for the umpteenth time.
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JINGOCON

SHUT UP HIPPY DOUBLE SHOT

The Shut Up Hippy ward is given to those who have distinguished themselves with traitorous and/or assanine political statements. Two fine gentlemen made it their business last week to step into the media spotlight and make absolutely ludicrous declarations. Unfortunately one of these men is a former military commander, and the other is a former chief executive. Both have proven themselves to be, as Rummy used to say, "uniformly unhelpful".

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Under normal circumstances, this award would never be directed at a former member of the United States armed forces. Retired LG Ricardo Sanchez, former U.S. military chief in Iraq, spoke this week in very harsh terms, criticizing American civilian leadership as incompetent and suggesting they would be court martialed if they were service members. He called Iraq "a nightmare with no end in sight." Just so we're clear, LG Sanchez was commander of forces in Iraq for about a year starting in mid-2003. He retired in the wake of the Abu Graib scandal, and while cleared of any wrongdoing, it happened on his watch and under his nose despite several visits to the prison. LG Sanchez's statements this week ignore his personal responsibility for all his complaints. Why, General, did you not speak out on any of these matters while you were commander? Why, sir, are you avoiding your own accountability? Management of the war does not rely solely on the civilian leaders. This President, for all his flaws, has always put a high priority on advice from the military. General Sanchez had nearly an entire year to improve conditions on the ground in Iraq. He failed. General Sanchez had nearly an entire year with an unlimited media platform and highest access to the President and SECDEF to speak out on his concerns. He did not. General Sanchez, as overall commander, is directly responsible for the abuses in Iraq, and is duty bound to prevent or prosecute any such cases. He failed, allowing an internal report to leak to the media months after he had received it and taken no action. He was allowed to waltz away into a cushy retirement when in fact he probably should have been the subject of a major investigation or court martial himself. The General has zero credibility, and likely is surfacing now in connection with a selling a book. Instead of criticizing the very leadership you were a part of and encouraging the America's enemies, General Ricardo Sanchez: SHUT UP HIPPY.

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Speaking of selling crappy books, The Peanut Man, aka former President Jimmy Carter, made a softball media tour this week, declaring Dick Cheney a "disaster" and accusing the United States of torture. Everytime Peanut Man writes another book wasting thousands of trees, he goes out and reminds us all how bad a CINC he really was. Carter should be an expert on torture: he tortured the American electorate for four long, painful years. His was an administration that presided over the weakening of America and the near decimation of our economy. Carter used the "Misery Index", the combined number of unemployment and inflation, as a cudgel to beat Ford in 1976. Using that standard, Peanut Man's reign was a massive failure, even when compared to the curent administration, which Carter called "the worst in history". When Carter left office the Misery Index stood at 20.2 percent. By comparison, today's Misery Index of 7.1 percent looks pretty darn good. Carter's response to the Arab oil embargo was to start wearing sweaters and telling the American people to turn down the thermostat to 68 degrees. His fanciful foreign policy based on "human rights" was another disastrous failure. His constant embracement of murderous dictators, which continues to this day, is repugnant. During his term in office, Peanut Man gutted the defense and intelligence budgets, axing the neutron bomb and attempting to axe the later rescued B1 bomber, moves that only emboldened the Soviet Union. By the end of the Carter administration the Soviets were advancing from Afghanistan to Grenada. Carter gave away strategic control of the Panama Canal. Jimmy Carter's military faced a crippling shortage of spare parts for aircraft and ships, as well as the trained crews to operate them. Carter stood weakly by for 444 days as Americans were held hostage in Iran and did absolutely nothing. His neglect of the military came home to roost when an attempted hostage rescue mission in Iran failed, resulting in the loss of eight aircraft, three Marines, and five Airmen. He was by any standard the worst CINC since, well, maybe ever. Carter is now even reminiscing about the safe and secure 1990s, conveniently forgetting the numerous terrorist attacks that Slick Willie failed to adequately address. For your completely twisted memory and inane screeds, Peanut Man, SHUT UP HIPPY.

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JINGOCON

BRAZEN 10 OCT 07

REPUBLICAN DEBATE FALLOUT: Fred Thompson made his debate debut with the other Republicans last night in Michigan. His answers were concise and conservative. Moderator Chris Matthews of Hardball tried to jam Fred up by asking him to name the Canadian Prime Minister. Thompson knew it (I didn't), but no other candidate was quizzed so specifically. The Washington chattering class acts as if Fred is supposed to come out with a song and dance act. He performed well, if you're looking for a solid, steady conservative in times of trouble. Count Chocula Mitt Romney and Yankee Rudy tried to make the entire debate about which of the two of them had cut taxes more. The question of Presidential authority to conduct military action against Iran without Congressional authorization tripped up Romney when he twice answered with responses saying he would first consult attorneys. Consulting lawyers when the security of the United States is at risk: ridiculous. Lawyers aren't elected to make defense calls, Presidents are. Rudy continues to play six degrees of 9/11 seperation at every opportunity. He also annoyingly mentions the New York Yankees at every turn. To me the Yankees are the example of what is wrong with professional baseball, so that personally gets under my skin. John McCain seemed steady, but he long ago alienated conservatives: distancing himself from the religious right in 2000, driving campaign finance reform, and cosponsoring the most recently rejected amnesty immigration bill. As voters become more aware of the liberal social views of Mitt and Rudy, their support will begin to peel away quickly. That will leave them nowhere to turn but Fred. All Mitt's millions and all Rudy's 9/11 hype will not be able to save them. And isn't it time to eliminate the fringe candidates? The debates could take on a more substantive tone if only four candidates were involved. The others basically have no chance of winning and are grandstanding and wasting everyone's time.
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BUSH SUPPORTING DEATH ROW IMMIGRANT: The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard oral arguments in the case of Jose Medellin, a Texas death row inmate convicted in the rape, beating, and murder of two women. It seems Mexican consulate officials were not informed of his arrest, a violation of the Vienna Treaty on the treatment of foreign nationals. Then the "International Court of Justice" ruled Jose and 51 other condemned Mexican nationals should have a hearing to determine whether the technicality affected their cases. Remember the ICJ is an arm of the United Nations. It is actually a ruse by the Mexican government to save convicted murderers. The state of Texas today properly argued that international bodies have no legal authority over the matter. Hero Justice Antonin Scalia also questioned that authority in today's arguments. " I'm rather jealous of that power, " Scalia said. "I don't know on what basis we can allow some international court to decide what is the responsibility of this court, which is the meaning of United States law." The Court should always reject attempts to incorporate "international law" into American jurisprudence. Neither the ICJ nor any other international body is authorized by the American Constitution, period. Our Republican President is arguing the ruling of the ICJ should be followed because the U.S. is a signatory to the Vienna Treaty. What he's missing is that any treaty attempting to supercede American authority is Constitutionally null and void, with or without consent of the Senate. The Supreme Court is it, there is none higher. We should never relenquish powers to foreign entities.
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JINGOCON

RUDY GULIANI MUST BE STOPPED

The Republican Party has been a pro-life party since 1980. All the nominees of the party since then (Reagan, Bush 41, Dole, Bush 43) have been at least committed to an essentially pro-life position. My how times have changed. The man leading most of the national polls for the Republican nomination currently is pro-abortion. That isn't his only major difference with the voters of the party. Rudy has shown himself to be pro-gun control and pro-gay marriage as well. His positions place him squarely as a moderate, whatever his view of the war happens to be. His campaign is a one trick pony centering on 9/11. Guliani must be stopped.

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The only elected official in the nation who has any measurable influence on the life issue is the President. Through his appointments to the federal judiciary and Supreme Court, the President can directly influence the character and views of those on the bench. The goal continues to be an overturning of the 1974 Roe v. Wade case that opened a flood of 30 million elective abortions. The case was wrongly decided and based on medical evidence we now know is terribly outdated and incorrect. Nominating and electing a candidate who threatens the gains that have been made so far on the Supreme Court is not helpful. Rudy's claims that he will nominate "strict constructionist" judges are insufficient. The Republican Party must have a nominee that believes Roe should be overturned. It is an essential plank in the platform.

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Rudy's history on gun control (already chronicled here previously) is extremely discouraging. He does not believe in an individual right to bear arms under the Second Ammendment, and has supported restrictions of varying degrees. Rudy thinks less guns equals less crime, and that is a dangerous notion.

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Guliani does not support a Constitutional ammendment banning gay marriage. Fred Thompson has at least suggested an ammendment that would leave the issue to governors and state legislatures, a road down which none will dare to tread. Rudy's open and eager support of gay marriage should be a giant red "X" for Republicans. Those voters concerned about the decline and corruption of our culture cannot look to Rudy for support: strike three to cultural conservatives.

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Rudy Guliani cannot be allowed to grab the Republican nomination for President under false pretenses. He is not a conservative and does not support any of the three issues central to many primary voters. Thinking Rudy can beat Hillary, and therefore must be nominated is wrong-headed. The Republican Party prospers when it espouses and sticks to conservative ideals, and gets burned when it strays. Nominating Rudy will result in the election of Billary, and none of us want to face that horrible prospect. Voters in the general election deserve a clear choice between Clinton's leftist socialism and good old American conservatism. Fred Thompson is the only man who can defeat Billary in the general with solid, conservative principles intact.

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JINGOCON

STOP RUDI PART ONE: WRONG ON GUNS

Rudi Guliani is not a conservative, and his record on guns and gun control, like many of his other positions, does not match his current rhetoric. The basic conservative principles of the Republican Party do not match Rudi on abortion, gay marriage, or guns. Perhaps these principles are lost in the frantic reaction to the potential election of Billary. Perhaps war policy has superseded all social policy. The party has suffered when it has strayed from other conservative dogma (lower taxes, smaller government, balanced budget). Republican primary voters should be very careful about abandoning traditional ethics as a plan for victory in 2008.

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Guliani has frequently claimed that gun control reduces crime. He supported federal gun licensing, an outrageous Second Ammendment violation, as little as six years ago. As mayor of New York, he started the maneuver of suing firearms manafacturers to recoup the cost of fightin big city crime. Rudi even broke with the Reagan administration he was serving at the time during Congressional testimony on a proposed gun control bill. Since the onset of his Presidential campaign, the language has suddenly changed. Now he promises to support "no new restrictions" on gun ownership. Can we trust a man who called NRA members "extremists" as late as 1995? Guliani should note the recent striking down of Washington, D.C.'s strict gun control ordinances. Judge Laurence Silberman made an overwhelming case in the decision for the Second Ammendment guarantee of the individual right to gun ownership.

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Both Rudi and former Massachussets Governor Mitt Romney have both suddenly became very conservative in the past several years. Voters should not be fooled by those without solid and long records of supporting conservative principles. What we don't need is another candidate speaking the language of the right, only to be left with a President who governs as a moderate or worse.

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SPECIAL SHUT UP HIPPY: It's sad that this award should ever go to a law enforcement officer, but this one is deserved. Philadelphia police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson, speaking to the media after an armored car robbery in which two retired officers were killed and another guard wounded, blamed the crime on the availability of handguns in his city and around the country. Oddly bemoaning the fact that gun control has not been a big issue in the Presidential campaign so far, Johnson mouthed the lines of the anti-gun left about inflated numbers of Americans shot or killed annually compared to countries with strict gun control. Certainly the armored car robber in question never could have acquired his gun illegally. Here is a ranking police official in a major U.S. city in 2007 who is ridiculously blaming inanimate objects for heinous criminal acts. While Commissioner Johnson's service is greatly respected, on gun control issues he'll have to SHUT UP HIPPY.

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BIG CONTRACT: Great Britain has selected Boeing and the British firm Thales to oversee a $122B contract to replace thousands of army vehicles beginning in 2012. Four vehicles in twenty-one variants are projected for uses ranging from reconnaissance to road clearing. It's good to see an American company getting fat defense contracts from other nations. Hopefully Boeing will pass much of the task on to American workers, strengthening our own defense industry.

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JINGOCON

BRAZEN 04 OCT 07

ARMY MEETS RECRUITMENT GOALS: The United States Army has met recruitment goals for fiscal year 2007, but will be faced with the challenge of adding 80,000 soldiers again next year. Army leaders announced last week that they will increase the size of the Army by 65,000 troops in four years instead of five. SECDEF Gates is also pressing for the Army to raise enlistment standards. About eighty percent of current recruits are high school grads, and Gates is pushing to raise that figure to ninety percent.

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GOOD POINT, JERI: Presidential candidate former Senator Fred Thompson appeared on Hannity last night with his wife, Jeri, and young daughter. Mrs. Thompson made the best point of the day when she wondered about why women's rights in the Middle East aren't a bigger issue. It's funny how the left, usually gung ho supporters of all human and women's rights issues, is completely silent on this matter. The abuse of women that occurs as part of Muslim culture on a daily basis in Middle Eastern countries is nothing more than ignorant cruelty, and goes largely uncovered by the major media. The shocking video of a young girl being stoned to death Iran that emerged this week is a rare example of coverage. The reality is that liberals can't speak out in this issue because it would partially vindicate the foreign policy of one George W. Bush. Fred or Jeri Thompson should grab this issue and run with it.

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ENOUGH DIANA: New pictures emerged from yet another British inquest into the death of Princess Diana. This whole mess has been long ago beaten into the ground. She's dead. Ten years have passed. Let the poor woman rest. All the inquests and investigations in the world will not bring her back. One would imagine Princes Willam and Harry are about tired of all the scandal over their mother's death.

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BUSH WHIPS OUT VETO PEN: President Bush has delivered on a promised veto of a bill that would have expanded S-CHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) by $35B over five years. I'm actually shocked anyone even remembers the bedrock conservative principle of opposing the expansion of the size and scope of the federal government, especially this President. This bill went way too far and was a thinly veiled attempt to partially socialize healthcare in America. The members of Congress who call themselves Republican and are opposing the veto should be ashamed. Gee, the federal government does such a good job with their first priorities of defending us and securing our ports and borders, we should just turn our healthcare system over to them as well. Bravo to W for opposing the expansion of government, at least this time.

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SENATE WASTES TIME: The United States Senate, in the midst of war and other far more pressing matters, is wasting time attempting to pass resolutions condemning Rush Limbaugh. The Demrats have taken a few of his words out of context and attempted to put them on par with their dastardly attack on General Petraeus. It's not even close. In the past several years we've heard Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid say the war is lost, Rep. John Murtha accusing U.S. Marines of an attrocity they were later cleared of, and Senator John Kerry accusing U.S. troops of "terrorizing" Iraqi women and children, just to name a few. Every major figure in the Democrap party has made traitorous and defeatist statements over the war, yet they attempt to crucify Rush. The whole scandal is made up by the left, and the United States Senate is irresponsible for wasting a second of time on it. The Dems are trying to regain ground they have already lost, and it won't work. We all know the left is simply defeatist and anti-military.

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JINGOCON

BRAZEN 03 SEP 07

PAKISTAN POLITICS: Pervez Musharraf is planning to grant amnesty to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto if reelected as expected in upcoming national elections. Bhutto, one of very few women ever to hold power in a Muslim nation, may be pardoned as early as today for bogus corruption charges that have kept her in self-imposed exile to avoid prosecution in London for the past eight years. Bhutto is planning a return to Pakistan as early as October 18, and has pledged to work with the United States to capture or kill Bin Laden. "I would hope to be able to take Osama Bin Laden myself without depending on the Americans. But if I couldn't do it, of course we are fighting this war together, and (I) would seek their cooperation in eliminating him," she said. It appears Musharraf will resign as head of the military to serve as president, appoint a trusted ally to replace him, and place Bhutto in the role of prime minister. I hope the plan is successful, but if hinges on reelection of Musharraf, and somehow that seems uncertain despite media projections. Wait and see. Pakistan is an important ally (for obvious reasons), and we must always be careful their nuclear weapons don't fall into terrorist hands. Bhutto's words are encouraging, but Al Qaeda will be looking to kill her at the first opportunity, as they have done several times in attempts to assassinate Musharraf.

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HUSSEIN OBAMA HALLUCINATING: In a speech at Depaul University in Chicago on Tuesday, Senator Emptysuit proposed the global elimination of nuclear weapons. Nice plan, totally workable: in a dream world. Claiming the U.S. nuclear deterrent is still focused on the former Soviet Union, Obama fails to mention the recent increase in bomber exercise by Russia in international airspace off the coastof Canada. NORAD announced just Monday that seven times this summer two to six Russian bombers were intercepted by Canadian jets in maneuvers reminiscent of the Cold War. In mid-September, British and Norwegain jets intercepted Russian bombers after they breached NATO airspace close to the United Kingdom and Finland. The Senator really should keep up with military events and realize those bombers aren't carrying good wishes and cotton candy. His campaign has been lackluster at best, and he has focused on policy detail to the betterment of Billary. Obama should focus his campaign totally on the emotion of feel good politics. If he continues to challenge Billary on detail, she will grind him into a greasy spot. Obama also needs to drag some of Billary's skeletons out of the closet for public display. And I hope he does it soon: Halloween is coming.

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AFGHAN FRONT: Thirteen people including a mother and two children aboard a police bus were killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul Tuesday. The terrorist managed to detonate his explosives despite being shot by a suspicious Afghan policeman (always go for a head shot on suiciders). Meanwhile in Kunar the Taliban attacked an Afghan police outpost, killing three cops. And in an ironic bit of cosmic justice, three terrorists apparently targeting NATO Troops were killed in Paktika when a suicide vest one of them was wearing exploded prematurely. "All the three died and were torn into pieces", deputy provincial police chief Farooq Sangari said in the best quote of the day.

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JINGOCON

BRAZEN 02 OCT 07

FRED THOMPSON FUNDRAISING: The fresh money figures for the Thompson campaign were released today, and they show the former Tennessee Senator and Law & Order star raising $200,000 a day. Fred raised $8.5 million for this reporting period, bringing his total to $11.5 million since June. His totals are nowhere near the money the Democraps are raising, but respectable none the less. Thompson is also promoting a federalist version of a constitutional ammendment banning gay marriage. Thompson's ammendment would ban judges from legalizing gay unions, but would leave the door open for state legislatures to do so. "It'll stop the process in its tracks because it's all judge-made," Thompson said. "No state legislature accompanied by a governor's signature has gone down that road."
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TYPICAL TALIBAN DIRTY DEEDS: The Taliban are the sort of folks who would use an IED shaped like a childs toy, and that's exactly what they did on Sunday. There is no denying the absolute evil of the Taliban. An explosive device shaped as a toy car blew up in Khost province, killing two children and wounding another five. Afghan police suspect the device was really aimed at the parents, suspected of working for the government. Not satisfied with that level of mayhem, the Taliban also hung a 15 year old boy found in possession of an American $5 bill, and shot dead an elderly man from Sangin who had asked for government assistance in building a water channel. Coalition forces, meanwhile, did not remain idle. More than twenty terrorists were killed in a Helmand province raid on a suspected hideout. In adjoing Urizgan province, "numerous insurgents" were killed in air attacks after about thirty of them attempted to ambush coalition troops, and were instead ambushed themselves from the air. The U.S. military also announced the launch of a wanted poster and reward program to aid in the hunt for the nasty little Taliban. Rewards range from 20 - 200,000 dollars per head.
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BILLARY BELLOWS: Those who missed Billary's appearance on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace need to make sure they see that tape. Her laugh at the end of the interview is the most contrived chortle you've ever heard. It's almost theatrical, like everything about her campaign. Just make sure you see it. It speaks for itself.
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NEW JCS CHAIRMAN TAKES CHARGE: Admiral Michael Mullen took over as JCS Chairman from Marine General Peter Pace today in a ceremony at Fort Myers. General Pace (GOOD MAN) was denied another term by the SECDEF, who admitted he allowed Congressional Democrats to make the call because he's afraid to fight them. So Pete Pace loses his job as a result of liberal grandstanding on Capitol Hill. Let's allow General Pace to say it: "What worries me is that in some instances right now we have individuals who are more interested in making someone look bad than they are in finding the right solution. They are more interested in letting their personal venom come forward....I just want everyone to understand that this dialogue is not about 'Can we vote our way out of a war?' We have an enemy who have declared war on us. We are in a war."
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FLORIDA ANNOUNCES TOUGHER SEX OFFENDER LAWS: A new law took effect in Florida today, tripling to 15 years the maximum sentence for soliciting children for sex or possessing child pornography. Big whoop. That's not going to prevent a single repeat offender. Once again the plan designated "tough" is a sham. Few will be sentenced to the maximum, and the pedophiles will be released back into the community to assault more children. The imposition the death penalty for sexual crimes against children for even the first offense is the only way to protect our communities. If we have to keep a public list of these sickos to protect kids, shouldn't they be hung or in prison.....forever?
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JINGOCON