IT NEEDED TO BE POINTED OUT....

....and the Right Wing Nut House done went and did just that. When you're finished reading the post, go ahead and feel good about being a conservative. No, really, go ahead.

WE'RE TAKIN' NOTES

I know I shouldn't think this way, but sometimes I hope the Russians rebuild their military and make a move on Germany, again. Then let's see how smug these SOBs are. If memory serves me correctly, during one German crisis, we chose not to criticize, but, instead we pitched in and helped with a little operation called the Berlin Airlift. That only fed two-and-a-half million people for 11 months, though. Hardly worth mentioning. Or, for you younger Germans, how about the Berlin Candy Bomber, remember him? Assholes.

GULF COAST: GOING DOWNHILL FAST

I've been looking in on the cable outlets for the latest on the Gulf Coast. Sickening. Michelle Malkin is on top of this story with links galore. As with many of her stories, she's working overtime.

Also, Mrs. Media Matters posted a picture of looters picking up a few things at their local market. Nice.

And, Kitty Litter has the link for contributions to the American Red Cross. Good idea, Kitty. Thanks.

MILLION MOONBAT MARCH

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, it does. Next month, September 24th, two Bush-Hating roadshows, Hanoi Jane and Cindy Sheehan, will be arriving in Washington D.C. to show their asses, but not together.

No one knows if scheduling the two freak shows at the same time was by design or by accident. However, it will be entertaining to watch how it all shakes out. Who knows, they may decide to combine the two so they can establish a ground zero of hate. I'm figuring there will be plans in the works to counter this slime-fest, similar to that at Crawford by Move America Forward.

I know there must be many right-minded bloggers in the D.C. area, and I hope many of them attend this event to do some live blogging. You know the MSM is incapable of reporting a story like this without leaning it to one side, so we'll rely on the new media--bloggers.

Other things to keep your eye on: Who the speakers are. Which politicians attend (and speak.) Hollywood attendees, and will there be a RED carpet for them. Headlining entertainment. You could have some fun guessing who'll be playing for this crowd. My guess: Peter, Paul, and Mary. No doubt there will be several groups playing this gig, though, and I'm sure the same ass wipes that paid the tab at Crawford will be picking up this one, too.

I'll bet that Pam over at Blogmeister USA can't wait for the curtain to go up on this show. I know I can't.

PRESIDENTIAL? YOU BET!!

I don't make too many predictions, but when I do and I'm right, a little tooting of the horn is in order.

In an earlier post, I predicted Sheehan's Crawford sideshow was over because the media would pullout to cover Kratrina--Check. And I thought Bush would end his vacation early to be in DC to oversee FEMA's operations--Check.

In today's news:

"President Bush will cut short his vacation to return to Washington on Wednesday, two days earlier than planned, to help monitor federal efforts to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina, the White House said Tuesday."

Read the whole article here. Toot!! Toot!!

LIVING IN THE FAST LANE

The free food at Camp Casey must not have been to Al's liking, because it appears he couldn't wait to get the hell out of town.

One way or another Al was going to turn this trip to Crawford into a media bonanza. Don't be surprised if he plays the race card on this one.

Check the cable outlets this evening for this story.
Another story here.

WE INTERRUPT THIS BLOG....

....for your regularly scheduled...

"Period of Happiness"

So, sit back, relax, put your feet up, and enjoy the one you're with.

Regular programming will resume after this...

"Period of Happiness"

A PENNYWEIGHT FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

Care packages are arriving by the thousands in Iraq, but never one like this.

GOODNIGHT, HOWARD

Reverend Al was supposed to arrive in Crawford today so he can do his little song and dance in the "Cindy Show." I don't know if he actually arrived or not; I couldn't find anything on the news about it. Sharpton is the head of...ummm....well, you fill-in the church's name because I can't seem to find it anywhere. His church, if he has one, must be taking the day off. At any rate, let's just say Sharpton's a media whore and leave it at that. UPDATE: Sharpton arrived.

Sheehan's handlers brought in a museum relic like Joan Baez to fan the flames of outrage against Bush and the war, but they've done little to reclaim the glory days of the '60s campus protests. In fact, they're now having to share the stage with Move America Forward and the crowds that support them and the troops. MAF has generated equal, and in some cases bigger, crowds, but don't tell anyone.

In an earlier post, I mentioned how Sheehan could find herself standing by the road all alone with her son's cross if a bigger story popped up. Well, Sheehan's party is about to be crashed by some chick named Katrina. A perfect storm of sorts. Watch for two things to happen in the next days:

1. Media outlets pulling reporters and camera crews out of Crawford and re-deploying them in New Orleans. You know how news organizations love to stick their reporters outside in 100 mph winds.

2. Bush leaving Crawford early so he can be in DC to oversee FEMA efforts and reassure the public. Very presidential.

I know it may be premature to begin singing, but...."Turn out the lights, the party's over."

UPDATE FROM IRAQ

If you're a bad guy in Iraq, you don't want to see a Cobra Attack Helicopter in flight from the front. More than likely it will be the last thing you ever see, especially with Howdy and Hurl at the controls.

Recently, Howdy received orders to exit Iraq, and he indicates that he's now stuck in Kuwait. He'll keep us informed as to where he finally ends up.

Hurl, on the other hand, is still flying missions against the bad guys. One of Hurl's recent posts is about the other pilots serving in Iraq. They come from all walks of life and you'd be surprised at who they are and the jobs they hold back here in the States. Here's a sample:

"One is a real estate agent. One a high school biology teacher. One is the former CFO of one of the largest HMO’s in America. One is the CFO of a large municipality in Southern California. One a commercial building contractor. Some are engineers. Many are entrepreneurs and/or own their own businesses."

Last week I sent Hurl the link for Raquel Welch's interview with Neil Cavuto because I thought he'd enjoy seeing someone from Hollywood standing up and showing support for all the troops. He did enjoy it and took the time to send me an email thanking me. Next time you're surfin' around, stop by and see his blog.

STEP UP FOR LORIE BYRD

Lorie has contacted Edward Roberts and advised him to donate any money raised to charity. She related in an email that her kids already have a playhouse and that she feels that donating to a children's charity would be the best thing.

CAIR V. MARATHON PUNDIT

Michael Graham, WMAL's mid-day host, was given the boot for making comments on his show about radical Islam. CAIR pressured the Disney-owned station and they caved-in and fired Graham. This Washington Times Op-Ed piece on the 18th describes the situation and includes some of Graham's remarks. The piece was written just prior to his firing.

Since getting the boot, Graham has been a guest on many of the cable shows and he presents himself extremely well. He will have no problem finding a new job, trust me. Graham has talents that ABC and Disney don't deserve, and, in the end, they will find that they've done him him a favor. Graham could well be a new and rising media star because of his views about radical Islam, coupled with the talents he brings to the table. I'd hire this guy in a hot second.

CAIR has been a topic in the blogoshere many times, but none have been so good at highlighting the dangers of CAIR as MARATHON PUNDIT. The sooner the word gets out that CAIR is a danger to our nation, the better, and John Ruberry is on the front lines in this effort. I applaude him, and so should you.

CAIR, and the media, are clearly the enemies within. And, as MARATHON PUNDIT advises, be very careful if you decide to go up against this organization.

THE RETURN TRIP

My daytrip to Lake Tahoe was a good one. I'm of the thinking that it's near impossible to have a bad trip to Tahoe, though it has happened. Anyway, we arrived at the St. Pauli Inn right at opening, 11 am, and a few minutes later we were working on a couple of dark beers. We sat on the deck overlooking the American River. Life is good. We ordered lunch.





*****
Roast Pork Juicy, tender pork loin—Horseradish or gravy on request
15.95
Beef Stroganoff Our own recipe! Try it with spaetzle
10.95
(2) Dinkelacker Dark
3.95
*****
The trip was shared with a good friend of mine, John, and whenever we get together the conversation is stimulating, at the very least. John is a school teacher and a professional poker player. Here's where the stimulating part comes in: He was born and raised in Berkeley, graduated from Berkeley HS, and then went on to graduate from UC Davis. Yep, he's a liberal. However, he isn't a nut. He's able to discuss matters of politics and world affairs with a high degree of common sense. A rare trait in a liberal from the East Bay. His parents are the reason he's able to remain grounded in his thinking. Mom is a stockbroker and his Dad was involved in professional sports--both conservatives, and very rich. Though he's a lib from the womb of liberalism, he remains practical and lets common sense guide him. Because of that, you can engage in some great conversations with him. You can't do that with the "nutjob" brand of liberal. No way. Ain't happenin'. Most times we're able to learn something from each other. A good thing.

The casino portion of the trip began rough. The craps table took our money as fast as ever, as did a slot machine. So, I ambled up to a roulette wheel to get my dough back where it belongs: My pocket. After a slow start, I made a comeback and hit a few numbers straight-up with $1 on them, then pressed the action to $5 bets and hit a couple more. I left even-steven for the trip. They had their money, I had mine.

ON THE ROAD

I'll be in Lake Tahoe for most of the day. Going up with a friend, having lunch on the way at a great German restaurant, The St. Pauli Inn, then on to the casino.

The latest crap table reports are as follows:

FELT CONDITIONS ARE OPTIMAL

See ya!

PROTESTS IN SACRAMENTO NOW

Move America Forward, a Sacramento-based organization supporting our troops and our President, is planning to leave the studios of KFBK enroute to Crawford, Texas. Caravans are leaving from all over the US headed to Crawford, but here at KFBK they've been met by about 150 Pro-Cindy supporters. What a mess! Lots of shouting and waving of signs. When they all end up in Crawford together, look out. Fur will fly. Developing as I type. More later.

UPDATE: MAF reports on the radio, KFBK, that in SF this morning there wasn't ONE protester in sight. Surprising.

UPDATE II: The caravan stopped here in Sacramento to do the afternoon show with Mark Williams. The organizer of this leg of the caravan is on the show now. Streaming here. (1-4 pst)

UPDATE III: Here's the caravan's driving schedule to Crawford. There are several stops along the way, so if your town is one of them, expect protests there too.

THIS GUY NEEDS TO GO

As I was listening to Bush speaking to the VFW, John Kerry thought he'd drop a little email into my in-box. He wants me to sign a petition against Bush. Imagine that. Anyway, he mentioned the upcoming speech to the VFW and is asking that Bush begin answering questions that have gone unanswered. This guy just won't shut up:

"President Bush has a major opportunity today. He's leaving Crawford to speak to the Veterans of Foreign Wars' convention in Utah. When he does, he needs to leave behind the pep talks, the open-ended "things are looking better" claims and the empty rhetoric.

It's time for the President to stand and deliver.

That's why I am asking you to support an "America Demands Answers" petition to President Bush. Starting with today's VFW speech, we're going to keep the pressure on George W. Bush until he finally addresses questions that have gone unanswered for far too long."

Mr. Kerry is right about unanswered questions. Kerry could take this opportunity to lead by example and begin to clear up a few questions we have regarding his military records. You remember the partial release, don't ya?

Why the blogosphere let this nabob off the hook on this one is a mystery to me. Not a question was asked of Kerry by anyone in the media about specifics. Nothing. The blogosphere has been silent as well. Since I have about 5 people who read here, I can hardly start the effort but it would be easy for one of the big blogs to get the ball rolling again. One lousy post.

If Kerry was pressed to explain only one item in his file, that being the discharge date of 1978, the whole thing would bust wide open again. Kerry wouldn't be the only casualty in the matter, either; the media would go down with him too.

Somebody shut this guy up!!

THE PRICE OF GAS IS GOOD

"In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes."--Ben Franklin.

Add to that list a third certainty: Expensive gas.

We all knew the day would come when cheap gas was no longer a part of our lives; you knew it, the government knew it, and the rest of the world knew it. That day is here and you'd better get used to it.

For decades the government has spent millions, maybe billions, of dollars on public service messages encouraging the general public to change their driving habits and begin embracing such concepts as car-pooling or mass transit usage. The truth is, as long as gas is cheap, cities could offer free bus or subway rides (free beer and pizza) and we wouldn't take advantage of it. We'd still be on the road alone in our gas sucking vehicles.

If high prices at the pump is what it takes to get our attention, to get us to change our habits, then I say it's a good thing in the long run. For the short term, we'll suffer through the adjustment, some more than others, but it's not like we didn't know it was coming. There was an easy way and a hard way to deal with the looming, high price of oil; we just chose the hard way. But, as I said, breaking our dependency on oil, in the long run, will be a good thing. And, if the Government could do something to make gas cheap again, I don't think they would. The best motivator for conservation seems to be through our wallets and not PSAs. Watch and learn.

INTERESTING GAS PRICE INFO: Up to a 36 month look at the price of regular gas across the nation. Click here and plug-in your city's name.

If you'd like to see the rise and fall of prices from 1981 thru 2005, click here.

And for your information, I drive a Cadillac, Sedan De Ville. It tops off at $60 and change. No smiles here.

HERE AND THERE: FOLSOM JIHAD TO CRAWFORD

It's official, here in Folsom we're on Jihad watch. Not long ago a terror cell was exposed down the road in Lodi, but Folsom prison is just around the corner from me. Michelle Malkin says, "Keep an eye on this one." I agree, and I am. Later today I'll be talking to a friend who works at Folsom to see if I can get a little inside info.





Here's a pic of Some Soldier's Mom after pinning her son's new airborne wings on his chest. Service to country runs in her family and has for generations. Slide over to her site and take a read.






***NEWS ABOUT NEWS: Since I'm getting very sick of the pop-ups at Drudge's site, I've been spending more and more time scanning Power Line News. We might have a winner with this one. I like the stock ticker feature and how they highlight some of our favorite blogs. In the left margin they have links galore; in the middle is a map of the world with links to the major newspapers. And, no pop-ups !!

***A WORD ABOUT CINDY: Sacramento based Move America Forward is hitting the road next week for Camp Casey,Texas. If you think this's a circus now, wait 'til MAF pulls into town. It just keeps getting better and better. And, Cindy's husband thinks it's time for her to come home, too. (A must see video newscast about the caravan) Link at bottom.
UPDATE: Breaking news from Brainster...Cindy breaks camp.

***BTK: He's making his statement to the court as I type. Looks like the judge will be giving him about 175 years for his crimes. I disagree with that. I think the judge should set his sentence at "time served plus one day." Then announce that BTK will be released at noon on Friday from the steps of the court house. Justice would come swiftly.

***MRS. MEDIA MATTERS REFLECTS: When I started blogging I ran into the same problems she did, and I received tons of help from other bloggers. A big "thank you" is in order from me too.

***BITCH DOG?: You'll have to read this article to believe it. Hat tip: Ace of Spades

ONE OF HOLLYWOOD'S BEST

When Neil Cavuto landed an interview with Raquel Welch, he had no idea how good it would be. Good doesn't begin to describe this interview. Welch talks about her travels to Viet Nam with Bob Hope, supporting our troops, and she comments on Jane Fonda.

You can read the transcript or watch the video here. I suggest watching the video because it's refreshing to hear someone from Hollywood making this much sense about supporting our troops.

Hat tip to Ranting Right Wing Howler

IT'S TIME TO GO HOME, CINDY

I don't think anyone should bash this woman for what she feels she needs to do. It's her right to express herself regarding the death of her son, Casey, in any manner she wants.

However, as the sideshow goes into another day, it becomes increasingly clear, no matter which side of the political fence you stand on, that this woman is being used and manipulated. The focus of her actions have little to do with her son's death and more and more to do with bashing the president and his policies.

Instead of bashing her, pity her. Those around her pulling the strings are making an utter fool of this woman. They now have her pontificating about how to solve the middle east peace problem and terrorism in general. In all of her grief she's able to find the strength and time to spend on such issues. And now she's threatening to not pay her taxes.

Her plate is getting very full at this juncture with her family splitting up over political beliefs, a possible divorce, and future tax problems. Yes, pity this woman.

Her son would be embarrassed for his poor mother for the way she is acting; he would never have wanted this to take place on his behalf, I'm sure. His memory is being dishonored, his family is being dishonored, and his country is being dishonored.

What Cindy Sheehan doesn't realize is that she's one breaking news story away from being left by the roadside alone with her white cross in hand. As soon as something else comes along in the news, they will drop her in a hot second, and so will Michael Moore and his cohorts. Back to Vacaville it will be to pick up the pieces of what remains of her life and family.

After the seige at Crawford comes to a close, I figure her next 15 minutes of fame will be at the 2008 DNC. She'll no doubt be the one seated between Jimmy Carter and Michael Moore.

I agree that she deserves a private meeting with the president, and since he's already given her that meeting, it's time to go home, Cindy.

DAYS ARE NUMBERED

Jennifer Forsythe and George Hyatte are the current version of Bonnie and Clyde. Their getaway van was found not long ago and I'm sure their time is running out. When they're caught they won't be needing a lawyer, because there won't be a trial. I hope it ends something like this, or worse. (volume)

UPDATE: Caught without incident. Too bad.

AND THEN IT WAS OVER

Bock's Car, piloted by Charles Sweeney, carried "Fat Man" over its secondary target of Nagasaki early in the morning of August 9th, 1945. A few days after the detonation, Japan surrendered and WWII was over.










New York Times' headline, August 14th 1945. This is back when the Times was still operated by Americans.











In Tokyo Bay, aboard the USS Missouri, Japanese officials sign the instruments of surrender. It's finally over.

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT

STS-114 was waved-off twice last night due to unstable weather conditions in Florida. CMDR Eileen Collins could've brought the craft in on instruments, but since they get only one shot at it, Mission Control thought waiting another day was a better idea. I agree.

Collins, of Elmira, NY, (Kitty Litter land) has lots of experience flying the shuttle and has landed it at night before. NASA has set up three possible landing tracks for Edwards AFB, White Sands, and Florida. For the maps, click here.

For a cockpit view of Collins landing a shuttle at night, click here. Where the shuttle is now.

NOTHING TO SEE HERE

I was hoping to watch the Space Shuttle shoot across the sky as it crossed over the Sacramento area Monday morning. However, NASA thought it would be safer to avoid as much land as possible this time around. That's really too bad, because it may be a long time before you get to see another one re-enter. Coverage of the re-entry begins on most stations around 3 AM EST, and I'm sure millions will be tuned in for this one.

If you want to see where the Shuttle is now, click here. The site also shows where the Space Station and other objects are located, and this site is real time.

For the timeline of deorbit manuvers, click here.

Set your alarms for an early wake-up call. You won't want to miss this one.

THIS MORNING'S READS....UPDATED

George Galloway has Mr. Right a little pissed off. He's correct when he says they should lynch him, but I think they should cut his liver out first, then give Hanabel a call.

Brainster posted an informative look at the ratings of Air America. The good news is there's plenty of room for growth, plenty. He also posts about La Shawn Barber's comments regarding women and the White House. This is a good discussion and I'm sure the debate will continue for some time. I think Condi is a good fit for the VP slot next time around, and it's probably the best strategy for finally getting a woman in at 1600.

Funny how the LA Times finds the time and print space for this story but fails to mention that pesky loan problem over at Air America.

The NYT is wondering why it's harder to find heros.

Howdy, our Cobra pilot in Iraq, has received his orders to leave the country. I'm going to miss his blog entries detailing his missions.

***Here's a real-time look at the space shuttle's position.***

UPDATE: This post from Froggy Ruminations is simply too sweet not to share. Sweet, sweet, sweet.

A BIG DEBUT FOR "LITTLE BOY"

At 8:15, Japan Standard Time, 60 years ago today, Colonel Paul W. Tibbets piloted a B-29, the "Enola Gay," over Hiroshima and released the first atomic bomb. "Little Boy" was a 15 kiloton atomic warhead that changed the world forever.

***Hiroshima bomb stats here.

***Truman's announcement to the world here. (audio)

***Information about the Manhattan Project here.

***Photos of the aftermath here.

FDR's death put Truman in the position of having to make a decision that no man before him ever faced; he had the courage to make it and the courage to stand by it. One can only hope that today's leaders are able to find the same courage if faced with similar circumstances.

Tibbets was only 30 years old when he changed the world. What were you doing at 30?

LET'S HELP A FELLOW BLOGGER

The Captain's Quarters is appealing to all bloggers to help one of our own. Kate, of Electric Venon, had a biking accident and lost some of her front teeth. The resulting dental bills are daunting and she's forced to ask for donations so she can begin the necessary reconstruction of her mouth. Captain Ed says good things about her, trusts her, so I'm in.

Going to the dentist is a lot like going to a lawyer: it can be uncomfortable, expensive, and neither will do a thing before getting some greenbacks in hand. Kate's reconstruction bill is around 10 large and so far the blogging community has knocked that in half. If we all send a little something to her, I'm sure we can get this gal out in public and smiling again.

Get over to her site and use the Paypal donation link or send her something at: Kate Berry PO Box 544 Leavenworth, KS 66048

Venture over and leave a comment.

NOTE: Do not click this link.

AT HOME WITH MARTHA....

....for a little longer. John Gibson, of the FNC, has just reported that Martha has been sentenced to an extra 3 weeks of home detention, according to her lawyer.

This story falls into the "not-so-important" news of the day, but it becomes more interesting since they didn't say why she was given the extended sentence. I bet she got caught sneaking out of the house late at night to sip merlot and smoke cigarettes with the neighbor girls, or something just as sinister.

It's good to see law enforcement on the job, though. We have child molesters running around our streets, but by God you can sleep soundly tonight with the knowledge that Martha is being held at her estate for another 3 weeks.

***Here's the latest on why, and it's worse than I first thought!!

THEY COME IN "THREES"

The warning that airline crashes come in threes started decades ago, when it was not uncommon for planes to be falling out of the sky. Now that technology has eliminated many of the causes of plane crashes, specifically the "human error" type, flying is safer than ever and the "threes" concept doesn't apply in this day and age, since crashes are few and far between. However, people still refer to it when reporting on a particular crash, as was the case this morning when I heard a reporter mention it.

The fact that no one was killed or seriously injured in yesterday's crash at Toronto is a miracle, and it shows that airlines are doing something right when it comes to safety, at least at Air France. I don't fly much, but when I do I always try to get the seat next to the emergency door; there's lots of legroom and you're in the best position to escape in the event of an emergency.

After a crash like the one at Toronto, many passengers panic and this can lead to disaster. Here's a video taken by a passenger involved in the same type of crash and it shows what goes on in the cabin when passengers are trying to get out. Just click download and it will send you to the media player.

Other videos: Plane attempting to land in storm. Air France Airbus doing flyover. And because the MSM doesn't want you to see this too often, WTC on 9-11.
Transcripts of cockpit conversations and tower communications with the crew.

The picture at the top of this post is of a PSA flight, Sept 1978, and is one of the worst examples of "human error" in commercial flight. Everyone involved in this approach was at fault; the controller and the flight crew. There were 4 crewmembers in the PSA cockpit, pilot, co-pilot, Flight Eng., and a Captain deadheading to another airport. Read the transcript here.

BACK IN THE SADDLE----UPDATED

Remember Dick Durbin? Well, back when he took the Senate floor to attack our troops, Pam at Blogmeister USA wrote her Senator, Chris Dodd, a letter regarding Durbin's words. What she received from Dodd was verification that he's a politician's politician.



***Al Franken finally speaks about Air America's money woes. This story should get better with time. And The Right Place has a little fun with AA's troubles. Hat tip to Michelle Malkin.

***Juicin' Jose Canseco was made out to look like a dim wit, a liar, and an opportunist at the congressional hearings months back, but now his stock is on the rise. What say you, Raffy? And from the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Monday Aug 1st):

"Baltimore Orioles first basemen Rafael Palmeiro has been suspended for 10 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for steroids. He’s also a spokesperson for Viagra. So he’s on steroids and Viagra. You know what that means? He doesn’t need a bat anymore."

UPDATE: The second MLB suspension announced today. Probably another misunderstanding.

***Just where do you think terrorists in America would meet to make plans? A mosque maybe? Ya think? Here's the listing of Mosques in North America. Check for one near you.


Here's a great Ford commercial about a soldier coming home. Hat tip to Gateway Pundit.