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Thursday, January 29, 2004
Saddam Hussein Bribe Allegations Reach Jacques Chirac?
That is what the headline of a Washington Times article says in their reporting on the Iraqi Governing Council's investigation of Saddam's files. However, the article doesn't name Chirac directly:
Documents from Saddam Hussein's oil ministry reveal he used oil to bribe top French officials into opposing the imminent U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.Now while it would surprise few of us here at BlogsforBush.com, I think the headline is pre-mature since the article fails to name him specifically. They do name a number of other countries though:
The oil ministry papers, described by the independent Baghdad newspaper al-Mada, are apparently authentic and will become the basis of an official investigation by the new Iraqi Governing Council, the Independent reported Wednesday.
Such evidence would undermine the French position before the war when President Jacques Chirac sought to couch his opposition to the invasion on a moral high ground.
Al-Mada's list cites a total of 46 individuals, companies and organizations inside and outside Iraq as receiving Saddam's oil bribes, including officials in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Sudan, China, Austria and France, as well as the Russian Orthodox Church, the Russian Communist Party, India's Congress Party and the Palestine Liberation Organization.Is it any wonder these are the same people against our invasion? No, but remember these are the same countries the John Kerry's of the world want us to go back to "with humility" and ask to be allowed back in their club. I think not.
Slings and Arrows give an exhaustive rundown (naming names!) of many of the culprits reported by Al-Mada:
The Russian state itself received 1,366,000,000 barrels. The list also included the following:Some people have got some 'splaining to do!!!!
Companies belonging to the Liberal Democratic Party received 79.8 million barrels - the list notes the name of party president Vladimir Zhirinovsky. The Russian Communist Party received 1 million barrels. The Lukoil company received 63 million barrels. The Russneft company received 35.5 million barrels. Vladimir Putin's Peace and Unity Party received 34 million barrels - the list notes the name of party chairwoman Saji Umalatova. The Gazprom company received 26 million barrels. The Soyuzneftgaz company received 25.5 million barrels - the list notes the name Shafrannik. The Moscow Oil Company received 25.1 million barrels. The Onako company received 22.2 million barrels. The Sidanco company received 21.2 million barrels. The Russian Association for Solidarity with Iraq received 12.5 million barrels. The Ural Invest company received 8.5 million barrels. Russneft Gazexport received 12.5 million barrels. The Transneft company received 9 million barrels. The Sibneft company received 8.1 million barrels. The Stroyneftgaz company received 6 million barrels. The Russian Committee for Solidarity with the People of Iraq received 6.5 million barrels - the list notes the name of committee chairman Rudasev. The Russian Orthodox Church received 5 million barrels. The Moscow Science Academy received 3.5 million barrels. The Chechnya Administration received 2 million barrels. The National Democratic Party received 2 million barrels. The Nordwest group received 2 million barrels. The Yukos company received 2 million barrels. One Russian company which phonetically reads as Zarabsneft received 174.5 million barrels. Vouchers were also granted to the Russian foreign ministry, one under the name of Al-Fayko for 1 million barrels, and one to Yetumin for 30.1 million barrels. The Mashinoimport Company received 1 million barrels. The Slavneft Company received 1 million barrels. The Caspian Invest Company (Kalika) received 1 million barrels. The Tatneft Tatarstan company received 1 million barrels. The Surgutneft company received 1 million barrels. Siberia's oil and gas company received 1 million barrels.
In addition, the son of the former Russian Ambassador to Iraq received 19.7 million barrels. Nikolay Ryjkov, a former prime minister of the USSR, received 13 million barrels. The Russian President's office director received 5 million barrels....
The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) received 4 million barrels. The PLO Political Bureau received 5 million barrels. [Former PLFP front man] Abu Al-Abbas received 11.5 million barrels. Abdallah Al-Horani [who denies the holocaust] received 8 million barrels. The PFLP received 5 million barrels. Wafa Tawfiq Al-Sayegh received 4 million barrels.
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
It's Wictory Wednesday
Polipundit's lates post is a doosey. Here it is:
Here are just a few of the votes John Kerry has cast in his long, shockingly liberal US Senate career:Today is Wictory Wednesday. Every Wednesday, dozens of bloggers ask their readers to volunteer and/or donate to the Bush 2004 campaign.
Voted against funding our troops in Iraq, one of only twelve senators to do so.
Voted for at least seven major reductions in defense and military spending.
Voted repeatedly to slash the budgets of intelligence agencies by billions of dollars.
Voted for the largest tax increase ever.
Voted for the death tax.
Voted against a Balanced Budget Amendment at least five times.
Voted for a 50-percent increase in the gas tax.
Voted against a ban on partial-birth abortion at least three times.
Voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, one of only fourteen senators to do so.
Voted against requiring parental notification for minors' abortions.
Voted against mandatory sentences for drug dealers.
Voted to filibuster President Bush's judicial nominees.
Voted against the death penalty for terrorists and cop killers.
According to Americans for Democratic Action, the premier liberal rating group, Kerry's voting record is more liberal than Ted Kennedy's. In addition to the above votes, Kerry was a radical Vietnam war protester, has called for "almost eliminating CIA activity" and wanted US troops "dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United Nations."
This country cannot afford a Kerry presidency.
If you're a blogger, you can join Wictory Wednesdays simply by putting up a post like this one every Wednesday, asking your readers to volunteer and/or donate to the Bush campaign. And then e-mail wictory@blogsforbush.com so that you'll be added to the Wictory Wednesday blogroll, which will be part of the Wictory Wednesday post on all participating blogs:
Who Is John Kerry? Strong on Image, Light on Substance -- John Kerry's Post-Vietnam Record
With John Kerry showing he has the legs and momentum as frontrunner in the Democrats' nomination process, many of the news write-ups are noticing that people are voting for Kerry based on the outline of his resume rather than the substance of his positions. Namely, when you 'sketch' John Kerry, your initial reaction is quite impressive: educated at Yale and Boston College Law, war veteran who performed valiently (where he won three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star) and United States Senator from Massachucetts since 1984. That is damn good resume material. But it would appear his post-Vietnam transformation changed far more than his political views. When you dig a little deeper, you don't get the depth of respect you'd expect for someone with a resume as attractive as his.
Former Vietnam POW (1968 to 1973) and current Foreign Service officer, Michael Benge wrote a scathing column on John Kerry's war record:
When Mr. Kerry pontificated at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day, a group of veterans turned their backs on him and walked away. They remembered Mr. Kerry as the antiwar activist who testified before Congress during the war, accusing veterans of being war criminals. The dust jacket of Mr. Kerry's pro-Hanoi book, "The New Soldier," features a photograph of his ragged band of radicals mocking the US Marine Corps Memorial, which depicts the flag-raising on Iwo Jima, with an upside-down American flag. Retired Gen. George S. Patton III charged that Mr. Kerry's actions as an antiwar activist had "given aid and comfort to the enemy," as had the actions of Ramsey Clark and Jane Fonda. Also, Mr. Kerry lied when he threw what he claimed were his war medals over the White House fence; he later admitted they weren't his. Now they are displayed on his office wall.This has been covered by a lot of news services and at best John Kerry was very opportunistic with his misleading words and deeds regarding the tossing of his medals (just as he was regarding his assumed Irish heritage -- he's not).
But his service in the Senate isn't President material either. His Senatorial profile isn't exactly a reflection of American values as noted above by Polipundit. And he has not exactly revolutionized the Senate through championing landmark legislation evidenced in an internal Kerry memo, from former campaign chief, Jim Jordan:
8. You'll be tempted to ask the research shop to get you a memo on The Candidate's achievements in Congress. Save yourself some time and don't.And this from The Corner:
As the scrutiny of John Kerry's voting record begins, a friend of mine predicts that the Senator will be characterized as "Ted Kennedy on the Atkins Diet.Needless to say, John Kerry's resume is quite impressive, but the substance behind the resume is quite different to digest; leaving most astute followers wanting. By the time BC04 kicks into gear, the Democrats may have a lot of 'buyers-remorse.'
For the most comprehensive profile of John Kerry, check out the Boston Globe's exhaustive seven part profile of the Senator they have covered for decades: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7.
Update: Drudge is all over the rumors that Kerry had botox injections (or other image enhancing procedure) to improve his "looks" (complete with Kerry denial)
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
The Baby Boom Gave Way to the Reagan Boom
A generation ago, the youth of America (the Baby Boomers) were predominantly liberal Democrats in love with their self-importance and their perceived higher moral purpose. While we have all witnessed the 60s generation 'sell-out' their ideals for self-serving interests, we have also witnessed a change in the ideology of American youth. I like to think of it as the Reagan Boom. These are the boys and girls who grew up knowing it was "Morning in America" and we could all achieve to the best of our abilities. An MSNBC poll seems to confirm the ideological switch:
[A]mong the poll’s most surprising findings are data that suggest 18-29 year-olds may not be the Democratic boon Dean and others have hoped for. A majority of young voters (54 percent) say they approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president, virtually identical to the president’s approval rating among registered voters overall.Remember, I am not a member of "Generation X." That is what 'they' call me. I prefer to call myself a Child of the 80s.
Fifty-four percent of young voters say they approve of the president’s handling of economic issues (with 44 percent saying they disapprove) and 57 percent approve of his handling of foreign policy (42 percent disapprove). The approval ratings don’t necessarily translate into vote for Bush, however: 37 percent said they would definitely vote to reelect the president while 34% they would definitely vote to elect someone else.
Young voters who participated in the poll had a range of political affiliations with 47 percent identified as Democrats and 40 percent identified as Republican. A clear majority of young voters also seems to support the Bush administration’s policies in Iraq. Fully 60 percent say the White House made the right decision when it invaded Iraq and only 37 percent call the war a mistake.
Deadbeat Dean
Sounds like Howard Dean's fundraising coffers aren't as full as reported since apparently he can't (won't?) pay a $900 tab in Iowa:
[O]ne presidential candidate may have left a big bill for a small West Des Moines deli. The campaigns ate, drank and slept at dozens of places across town. For the most part they paid their bills.Maybe we should take up a collection to help out poor old Howard? . . . Naaaaahhhhh
This is how it's supposed to work inside the Brown Bag Deli. Owner Scott Hoffman makes you a turkey sandwich and then you pay for it.
Scott will tell you deliveries are a little different, especially one back on the 16th of this month. That was a big order for this small business of four employees. 200 brown bag specials...with turkey, roast beef, ham and veggie sandwiches. The total...$963.01...
He showed up at the customer's downtown office just in time for lunch. The Dean headquarters was utter chaos. But he couldn't find anyone who'd pay him. They said try the other building next door. Same answer next door, try the other building. Scott went back and forth for 20 minutes. Nobody would pay.
He just assumed they would pay in good faith. After all, Dick Gephardt's campaign paid its lunch bills on time. And Howard Dean has thousands of followers in Iowa. Can't one of them give Scott his money?
We tried all day to reach Howard Dean's people-- no comment from them yet. By the way, Scott Hoffman says he considered himself a possible Dean supporter before the incident. He's since changed his mind.
Update: Josh McClain has an update on the Dean Campaign's deadbeat antics . . . hehehe
Saturday, January 24, 2004
Here is a roundup of campaign news this week from across the country:
» Two articles report on campaign strategists shifting focus to Kerry from Howard Dean.
» President Bush tells Mayors to keep doing the job they were elected to do and announces trips to New Hampshire.
» On Tuesday, Campaign Chairman Marc Racicot was in Augusta, ME meeting with the caucus of Kennebec County Republicans.
» It turns out Vanderbilt faculty give money to Bush (maybe I should have gone to Vandy...).
» On Thursday, Dick Cheney spoke at the 31st annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
» Wall Street bankers give to Bush campaign (Who knew? . . . hehehe).
» Republicans go after 527 organizations (ie the Soros backed groups).
» Grassroots group counters Moveon.org's Bush=Hitler ads.
» College Republicans at UPenn kick-off political action in support of President Bush.
Checking in With Campaign Chairman Mark Racicot
Here is a nice write-up on Mark Racicot focusing on how President Bush is still determined to focus on the working as Commander-In-Chief rather than Campaigner-In-Chief:
Former Montana Gov. Marc Racicot, who took over the campaign in mid-2003, said Friday the strategy is to largely ignore criticism of Bush by the seven Democratic candidates until that party's nominee emerges from the primaries.Which contrasts the Boston Globe rehashing old info to claim the Bush team is shifting into campaign mode.
‘‘The president has told us very plainly that we were going to do that because, number one, he was going to focus on his job and was not going to engage in politics any sooner than was necessary,'' Racicot said in an interview Friday.
‘‘He thought that if we engaged with some of the allegations, we would provide credibility by responding to them,'' Racicot said. ‘‘Many of them are fairly angry and shallow on their surface.''
While Bush used his State of Union Address in part to respond to critics, he was careful not to attack them or mention any names, Racicot said.
Friday, January 23, 2004
It's Letters to the Editor Friday!
Join the hundreds of thousands of people who have already used this great tool to take back the local papers by writing a letter to the editor. Even if you have already done so, be sure to stay active in support of the President by continuing to write letters to the editor TODAY!
You know the drill, the topic of your letter is completely up to you . Here are some quick suggestions:
1) Economy: The Bush Boom continues, the recession looks like it started under Clinton and fiscal responsibility for the Federal Budget appears on the near horizon.
2) State of the Union speech: President threw down the gauntlet on tax cuts and defending America against terrorism. The Democrats staked out the opposite position. I think this is a battle we can win.
3) Or any of the disasters running for the Democrat's Nominee for President like Ketchup Kerry, John 'Ambulance Chaser' Edwards, Weasel Clark or "Mad How" Dean.
Topics are all over the blogosphere so simply type in your zip code below and find the news outlets in your areas!
If you're a blogger who wants to join this effort, just copy and paste the following ZIP-code lookup box so people can write letters directly from your site for Friday's festivities:
Let's show them what the Bush-blogosphere can do! If you support President Bush, write a letter to the editor today and every Friday!
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Outlook for "Bush Boom" Continues to Look Promising
Unfortunately for whomever is the frontrunner-of-the-week in the Democratic primary, the Bush tax cuts continue to lead this country out of the recession and economic malaise started before George Bush took office:
U.S. leading indicators point to 'strong growth' By Rex NuttingAnd these Democrats think the American public wants to repeal these tax cuts? Probably just about as much as a someone in the desert wants to give back a canteen of ice cold water ...
WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- Leading U.S. economic indicators rose 0.2 percent in December as expected, pointing to continued "strong growth," the Conference Board said Thursday. Seven of the 10 leading indicators increased in December, led by vender performance, stock prices and building permits. The money supply and manufacturing hours declined. "All indicators point to continued economic growth," said Ken Goldstein, economist for the board, who predicted stronger job growth, more consumer spending and healthy business investment in coming months.
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Who is Joh Kerry?
When Chris Matthews is fawning over him, he often says "He has a face from Mt. Rushmore" but the blogosphere has a different opinion. Jen Chung (whom I love despite her far-left political ideology) has a compare and contrast with Herman Munster:
Next we have "whatevs" who is typically quite funny (again from the Left), posting the compare and contrast to a severed head in Re-Animator:
I report, you decide . . .
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Make sure you check out Blogs for Bush. I am a regular contributor over there and they have some of the best posts coming out of the Iowa Primary. Check out Matt's post reagrding the "comments" on Dean for America (and another one here). Plus plenty more posts on why the Iowa results CAN'T be dismissed no matter what the pundits say. There will also be plaenty of coverage of the State-of-the-Union speech so check it out.
Monday, January 19, 2004
Senior Republicans Blog From Iowa!!!
All done of BC04's official blog:
Here is Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's post.
Here is Colorado Governor Bill Owens' post.
Here is Senator Rick Santorum's post.
Here is Congressman Rob Portman's post.
Here is Mayor Rudy Giuliani's post.
Here is Campaign Manager Ken Mehlman's post.
Howard Dean Finds Own Admissons Irresponsible and Fabricated?
Kathryn Jean Lopez over at The Corner has caught a typical gaffe by Howard Dean and his trouble with the truth, his temper and his inability to reconcile his own admissions:
Howard Dean this morning attacked Steve Doocy on Fox and friends for asking the former Vermont governor about a panic attack he supposedly had upon learning he was about to become governor of his state. Dean insisted no such thing had ever happened, that it was not discussed in the current People magazine interview with Dean and his wife, and that Doocy was downright irresponsible for saying such a thing--essentially making it up. It's right there, however, in the people magazine interview.It would appear he is losing that bet . . .Q: It sounds as if you had a little bit of an anxiety attack when you got the word that you were now governor.Is he claiming People made up the panic-attack conversation? Or was he just betting on no one calling him on his apparent lying?
Howard: I did. I hyperventilated and I started hyperventilating and I thought, You better stop that or you won't be much good to anybody.
Q: Has that happened since, or before?
Howard: No.
Q: Why was that such a —
Howard: To suddenly get told that you have responsibility for 600,000 people — it provokes a little anxiety.
Q: But now you're asking for responsibility for 250 million and then, the global reach of the U.S. presidency. That doesn't provoke a little anxiety? Howard: No. I mean, I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't — first of all, I think everybody has a little anxiety when they approach a job like that. But I think that over my life, I've made hard decisions about people who could die if I made the wrong decision. I've made decisions that have helped people to live who were about to die. I've seen a lot of people die, which nobody could do much about and for 11 years, I made decisions about all the things that presidents have to make decisions about — who gets what in the budget, things like security issues after 9/11, like my own security. So when you're used to making tough decisions, you know you have to make the tough decisions. The key to making tough decisions is to make it, not sit around and agonize about it.
Good Press from The New York Times?
The New York Times reports on the current strength of the Bush campaign:
By most measures prospects for George W. Bush's re-election look very good. No single indicator guarantees a second term, of course, but on balance the president's numbers are as good if not better than those of the three presidents who won second terms in recent times.Now the conspiratorialists among us will argue they are trying to lull us into complacency, so to counteract that do your part today and join the campaign!
From a political standpoint, Mr. Bush is strong. His approval ratings are relatively high, as is the percentage of Americans who think the country is on the right track, and alone among recent presidents he saw his party gain seats in the midterm elections.
The economic numbers are also positive. Consumer confidence is high, disposable income is rising and the unemployment rate is lower than that of the three presidents who lost bids for re-election.
UPDATE: Instapundit points out these were similar metrics for Al Gore in 2000 . . .
Friday, January 16, 2004
It's Letters to the Editor Friday!
Join the hundreds of thousands of people who have already used this great tool to take back the local papers by writing a letter to the editor. Even if you have already done so, be sure to stay active in support of the President by continuing to write letters to the editor TODAY!
You know the drill, the topic of your letter is completely up to you . Topics are allover this blog so simply type in your zip code below and find the news outlets in your areas!
If you're a blogger who wants to join this effort, just copy and paste the following ZIP-code lookup box so people can write letters directly from your site for Friday's festivities:
Let's show them what the Bush-blogosphere can do! If you support President Bush, write a letter to the editor today and every Friday!
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Who is Running for President in 2008?
The Dallas Morning News takes a look at senior party officials who are stumping in Iowa so Bush doesn't have to and speculates this is just a prelim to their possible campaign launches in 2008:
In the world of presidential politics, it's never too early to look ahead. So it's hardly surprising that the dozen top Republicans visiting Iowa to grab a share of the media spotlight include at least three potential 2008 candidates.Obviously some of these people are priming the pump for prospective bids, but isn't it great to see such high level talent united behind BC04?
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee will headline a GOP team in Des Moines, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be in Cedar Rapids, and Gov. Bill Owens of Colorado is going to Council Bluffs...
Among other high-level GOP visitors Monday: House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Sugar Land; Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman; campaign chairman Marc Racicot, the former Montana governor; former party official Mary Matalin; Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania; Rep. Rob Portman of Ohio; and campaign regional leaders Vin Weber, a former Minnesota congressman, and Ralph Reed, former director of the Christian Coalition.
What is Going on at the Bush-Cheney 2004 Offices?
The Chicago Sun-Times does a profile of the BC04 offices:
The national headquarters for the Bush-Cheney '04 re-election campaign is housed on two floors of a nondescript, midrise office building in a bland plaza in this close-in Washington suburb.No name dropping, though, which is disappoiting since I was looking for a few "friendly names . . . However, the two takeaways from this article is these guys are all business and neither W nor Cheney has been by which is more evidence that these guys are NOT "wholly absorbed" with the campaign as the NY Times alleged over the weekend.
For security reasons there are no signs or banners in the windows, usually standard in campaign offices. You would never know it's there. And that's fine with the Bush-Cheney team, which has been organizing and fund-raising for months even though the president has no primary.
Taking their cues from the White House, the youngish, dressed-for-success staffers toil away at campaign headquarters, working in a clutter-free environment in orderly cubicles, each labeled with their name.
There is the Bush-Cheney Web site cluster, followed by waves of cubicles filled with communications staffers. Other sections house people who work on fund-raising, strategy, polling and management of the enterprise, presided over by campaign manager Ken Mehlman.
Will the Democrats Ever Get the Joke? . . . I Hope Not
The headline of the New York Times article announcing Dennis Miller's new CNBC show reads: "The Joke Is on Liberals, Says Dennis Miller, Host of His Own Show Again." The piece goes on to call Miller a "conservative" and "esteemed figure on the Fox network." Normally these would be digs at someone the Times editorial board would dub "extreme". But take a look at this "conservative's" politics:
Mr. Miller is also not a traditional conservative. "I've always been a pragmatist," he said. "If two gay guys want to get married, it's none of my business. I could care less. More power to them. I'm happy when people fall in love. But if some idiot foreign terrorist wants to blow up their wedding to make a political statement, I would rather kill him before he can do it, or have my country kill him before he can do it, instead of having him do it and punishing him after the fact. If that makes me a right-wing fanatic, I will bask in that assignation."Now, few people's personal ideology ever match perfectly and many of us may disagree disagree with Mr. Miller's, but doesn't the Left find it odd that this social liberal is a leper in their party but embraced in our "intolerant" party? I guess the joke really is on them. And if you don't believe me, just look for the pro-Life speaker at the DNC's National Convention...
Mr. Miller said he remained socially liberal. "I think abortion's wrong, but it's none of my business to tell somebody what's wrong," he said. "So I'm pro-choice. I want to keep my nose out of other people's personal business. I guess I fall into conservative when it comes to protecting the United States in a world where a lot of people hate the United States."
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Howard Dean -- The Unilaterist in All of Us
It turns out unilateralism is a horrible way to manage foreign policy, unless of course, we think it's the right thing to do:
Democratic presidential contender Howard Dean, a strong critic of what he calls President Bush's unilateral approach to foreign policy, urged President Clinton to act unilaterally and enter the war in Bosnia in 1995. (Related item: Text of letter) "I have reluctantly concluded that the efforts of the United States and NATO in Bosnia are a complete failure," he wrote, citing reports of genocide during the Bosnian civil war. "If we ignore these behaviors ... our moral fiber as a people becomes weakened. ... We must take unilateral action."Is this one of the reasons he has his records sealed? I bet it is...
The July 19, 1995, letter, obtained by USA TODAY, was written on Dean's official stationery as Vermont governor. The language appears to contradict Dean's core complaint that President Bush has followed a unilateral foreign policy, instead of a multilateral approach that relies on consultation and joint action with allies. He has repeatedly attacked Bush's decision to invade Iraq.
It's Wictory Wednesday!!!!
And here is Polipundit's post:
Think President Howard Dean can't push through his massive tax hikes because of a Republican Congress? Think again. Most of the Bush tax cuts expire in 2006 and Dean will veto any attempt to extend them.
Here's a calculator that can help you find out just how much Howard Dean's massive tax hikes will cost you every year. Try it. Then ask yourself how much you would be willing to donate to prevent Dean from ever becoming president.
Today is Wictory Wednesday. Every Wednesday, dozens of bloggers ask their readers to volunteer and/or donate to the Bush 2004 campaign.
If you're a blogger, you can join Wictory Wednesdays simply by putting up a post like this one every Wednesday, asking your readers to volunteer and/or donate to the Bush campaign. And then e-mail wictory@blogsforbush.com so that you'll be added to the Wictory Wednesday blogroll, which will be part of the Wictory Wednesday post on all participating blogs:
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We Hate Him, We Hate Him, We Hate Him!!!! . . . So Vote For Us
It looks like the Democrats are taking their therapy sessions at Moveon.org's meetings:
RAW RAGE AT BUSH DURING MOVEON.ORG AWARDS; TRANSCRIPT REVEALEDWith supporters like those in the link above, how can the Democrats ever expect anyone to vote their way???
**Exclusive**
The stars were out in Gotham on Monday night for the latest Bush Bashing Ball.
Followers of MOVEON.ORG gathered to unveil the winner of the website's Bush in 30 Seconds Contest.
But it was the action off the computer screen and on the stage at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom that's caused excitement.
Celebrity activists unleashed a torrent of obscenity-laced insults and allegations against Republicans and the Bush Administration -- just a week after the site's founders apologized for posting two political messages on the Internet comparing President Bush to Hitler.
The DRUDGE REPORT can now present a partial transcript of the event, as provided by various DRUDGE sources.
Monday, January 12, 2004
Viking Pundit has a great post on one of my favorite topics: "Jews for the GOP". Apparently the AP takes a poll that shows Bush DOUBLING his support among Jews but headlines and leads the piece with 'Jews overwhelmingly support any Democratic candidate for President.' And people wonder why the Right doesn't trust the media?
The New York Sun provides a great editorial on the "scandal" of President Bush planning for the ouster of Saddam Hussein from the time 43 was elected:
[W]e have little doubt that this is why President Bush and his administration began planning, from the moment they entered the White House, for the overthrow of Saddam’s regime. It wasn’t some sneaky plot. It’s what the law required Mr. Bush — or any president — to do. That Mr. O’Neill finds this so scandalous is another matter. It suggests that when he went into the administration, he was either out of sync with the law or had an inadequate understanding of the constitutional oath, which imposes on the president an obligation to “faithfully execute” the laws the Congress passes. That the Congress was practically unanimous is but a detail.Be sure to read the whole thing.
Update: John Fund crushes Paul O'Neill (via Peter Robinson at The Corner)
Update II: Did Sec. O'Neill break the law in taking classified documents and giving them to 60 minutes? Maybe . . . (via Drudge)
Jacob M. Schlesinger of The Wall Journal (subscription required) has an exhaustive "must read" on showing what we have all known for years . . . that 43 ain't 41, their approaches to the economy were quite different and their re-elections will have equally different outcomes (and these are correlated).
The New York Times reports on small business owners supporting Bush's immigration policy -- cheap labor for them -- and Union's opposition -- free market threatening their abuse of power. Me? I am on the fence right now...
Update: The Washington Times reports on the friendly reaction in Texas.
Christie Whitman wants to remind us that we are the party of the Big Tent:
It doesn't seem to matter to conservatives that moderates share their views on the vast majority of those bedrock principles that have always been the foundation of Republicanism: smaller government, the power of free markets, a strong national defense. Because we disagree on a few issues, most notably a woman's right to choose, many conservatives act as if they wish we moderates would just disappear.Compromise goes two ways Governor...
The New York Times looks at President Bush and his bold initiatives and attitudes:
As last week proved again, this president has embraced not only "the vision thing" but the idea of a very big presidency: big ideas, big costs, big gambles. More than many presidents, historians say, Mr. Bush seems to understand how to use the powers of the office and to see the political benefits in risk.
Saturday, January 10, 2004
Bush Stumps for Inner-City Kids
Clearly doing far more than his father did, President Bush pounds the table in an attempt to put some teeth on his promise to help the education of inner-city kids who are trapped in abismally failing schools in the nation's capitol:
President Bush urged the Senate yesterday to approve a plan to send $14 million a year in taxpayer-funded tuition grants to D.C. families who want to send their children to private schools, calling the proposal "major reform" of national education policy.I hope Congress puts their money where their mouth is because the failed public school system in DC is a national disgrace.
Speaking to a group of Catholic educators in the East Room of the White House, Bush said the District voucher program would expand on the spirit of the No Child Left Behind Act, making public schools more accountable by expanding parents' choices.
"For the sake of educational excellence and for the sake of trusting parents to make the right decision for their children; for the sake, really, of helping to begin a change of education around the country . . . the Senate needs to pass this bill and make school choice in Washington, D.C., a reality," Bush told 250 members of the National Catholic Education Association who were in Washington to mark the group's 100th anniversary.
The comments marked the president's most forceful statement to date on behalf of the plan to send public dollars to students attending private schools.
The measure, which would send grants of up to $7,500 to at least 1,700 low-income District children, passed the House last month as part of a catchall federal spending bill. The Senate is scheduled to take up the bill when it returns from holiday recess Jan. 20.
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Who is the King (Politician) of the Internet???
Not Howard Dean!
Matt Drudge has an exclusive breaking Washington Post poll that shows the Deaniacs don't have as much clout as they think with Internet users (and non-Internet users for that matter):
Could the "anger" be wearing off and the Dean campaign beginning a slow fade??? Stay tuned...
WASHPOSTABCNEWS POLL: BUSH TOPS 'INTERNET CANDIDATE' DEAN -- AMONG INTERNET USERS
Thu Jan 08 2004 14:11:57 ET
Former Vermont governor Howard Dean's extensive use of the Internet to raise tons of money and drum up early support for the Dem presidential nomination led to his reputation as the favorite son among techies.
But his special appeal to higher-tech voters may be fading, according to the latest WASHPOSTABCNEWS poll.
Dean does no better against President Bush among Americans who say they get their political news from the Internet than those who don't, trailing Bush by 20 percentage points among both groups!
The WASHINGTON POST reports: And in the race for the Democratic nomination, Dean fares just as well among the Internet illiterate as he does among cyber-savvy Democrats.
A total of 1,001 randomly selected adults were interviewed Dec. 18-21 for the poll. Margin of sampling error for the overall results is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Developing...
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
Moveon.org Just Doesn't Know When to Quit
Matt Drudge is reporting on the latest and most crass ad from the coddlers of genocidal dictators, Moveon.org:
And the Democrats embrace these guys????
One of the finalists of the MoveOn.org ad contest is responsible for another heinous web video that compares Bush to Hitler, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
An ad by "Take Back the Media" is one of 15 Finalists in MoveOn.org's Bush in 30 Seconds Commercial Contest. Produced by Michael Stinson [SYMBOLMAN], The ARMY OF ONE flash animation has been chosen out of over 1000 submission by nearly 3 million votes online.
But currently streaming on the Take Back site with ARMY OF ONE is another shocking advert produced by Michael Stinson [SYMBOLMAN] -- alleging Bush/Nazi ties!
http://www.takebackthemedia.com/bushnonazi.html
OK, I'm a Redskins fan again. Dan Snyder is the one who turned me off...but Joe Gibbs overrides all of the animosity ... And to think of the historical record of the 'Skins during Republican Administrations versus Democrat Administrations this just about assures a rejuvenated Redskins and a Bush landslide in 2004!!!
It's Wictory Wednesday and George Bush is Rallying the Base
It seems only fitting on Wictory Wednesday to put together a post about the Bush campaign stirring up the grassroots across the country:
In the political ballfield of George W. Bush's presidential campaign, the Rev. James Merritt knows exactly where he's standing.Do your part today and volunteer and/or donate to the Bush 2004 re-election campaign.
"Home plate," the pastor said recently from his church office north of Atlanta.
"People like myself – meaning evangelical Christians, regular church-going people – that's his home plate. George Bush can lose with us, but he cannot win without us."
(AP) President Bush speaks at First Baptist Church in Landover, Md. Next to him is pastor John K. Jenkins
For the Bush re-election team, a key task in its calculus for keeping his job is securing and invigorating the president's conservative political base. And nowhere is that more solid than in that bright cluster of red states of the South.
Mr. Bush swept that region in 2000, winning even Democrat rival Al Gore's home state of Tennessee and earning a contested victory in Florida that gave him the White House by a razor-thin margin.
In early closed-door sessions in Texas, Georgia, Florida and other states, Bush campaign officials are telling supporters that the swing vote is dwindling – making it more important to identify reliable Bush voters and get them to the polls in November.
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Mahatma Gandhi Used to Run a Gas Station in St. Louis?
Apparently the junior Senator from New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton, thinks that is funny although racial insensitivity isn't:
The New York Democrat made the remark at a fund-raiser Saturday. During an event here for Senate candidate Nancy Farmer, Clinton introduced a quote from Gandhi by saying, "He ran a gas station down in St. Louis." . . .That type of stereotyping isn't acceptable . . . unless you are a Democrat, of course.
The director of a U.S. center devoted to Gandhi's teachings said the remarks amounted to stereotyping and were insensitive.
Peace is Breaking Out All Over
Now this is an interesting development for that 'miserable failure' on foreign policy:
The leaders of India and Pakistan agreed Tuesday to begin a formal "dialogue" to address all the issues that have divided the two nuclear powers for half a century.Of course, Bush Administration 'diplomacy' in this region has nothing to do with their decision to fight a peaceful solution . . .
A joint announcement, called "historic" by Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, said diplomats would begin discussions next month with the hope of normalizing relations and reaching a "peaceful settlement of of all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir."
The agreement is a major breakthrough for two countries. Since their simultaneous founding in 1947, they have fought three wars over the disputed Himalayan province of Kashmir. They almost fought a fourth in 2002, which was even more threatening since by then both countries had developed independent nuclear capacities.
2004 Battleground State: Missouri
President Bush visits the heartland with his first fundraiser of 2004:
Bush was staging his first fund-raiser of the election year at the America's Center convention hall, an event that Ann Wagner, of St. Louis County and the Republican national co-chairwoman, called significant for its timing, turnout and location.Despite winning this state in 2000, clearly this President is taking nothing for granted and showing the necessary attention to get Missouri votes.
"Missouri is still a swing state and it comes down to our ground game, and we are running that ground game in Missouri like we are running behind," Wagner said in an interview before the evening fund-raiser. "So it's huge that the president is coming to the state to lead a winning effort as 2004 begins."
Bush was to be introduced by three-term Sen. Kit Bond, who is seeking re-election. Also to join Bush on the St. Louis stage was Sen. Jim Talent and Missouri Secretary of State Matt Blunt, who is expected to formally announce his candidacy for governor next week...
Bush carried Missouri in 2000 by fewer than 79,000 votes. He has been working hard to keep the 11 electoral votes of Harry Truman's home state in the Republican column with his frequent visits, and Rep. Kenny Hulshof is taking on the high-profile role of Bush campaign's spokesman in the Show-Me State.
"It's absolutely a dog fight for Missouri in the general election and Bush's presence here shows it's nowhere near in the certain column for him," said Democratic strategist Roy Temple...
In contrast, Missouri Democrats haven't seen much of their party's nine presidential hopefuls in person...
Who is Don Evans?
The Washington Post's Mike Allen profiles Commerce Secretary Don Evans and his increasing influence in the Bush Adminstration:
Evans, one of President Bush's oldest and closest friends and chairman of his 2000 campaign, has used his post to develop a broad portfolio that includes occasional diplomatic assignments from national security adviser Condoleezza Rice...
Administration officials said that beginning this month, Evans will be among the first Cabinet members to switch into an overtly political mode as the reelection campaign heats up, with Evans planning to focus his appearances on, among other groups, Hispanic business audiences that the White House believes will be receptive to his efforts to promote trade throughout the hemisphere...
Evans led the fundraising for Bush's Texas campaigns and became national finance chairman of the 2000 campaign. But his role evolved from what Evans called being "the money guy," and he became campaign chairman. Toward the end of the race, Bush called daily from the plane to talk strategy, according to aides.
Monday, January 05, 2004
Bush/Cheney '04 Campaign held a rally at the Sugar Bowl to "Kick-off" the campaign to register voters and volunteers.
Has the "Quagmire" in Iraq Taken Too Long to Correct?
Nikita over at the command-post puts the Iraq 'quagmire' in perspective by comparing a few issues our short-memory friend's on the Left seem to forget:
It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation. In fact, it took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida!Indeed.
It took less time to find Saddam's sons in Iraq than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.
It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Teddy Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick.
Time has some great photo essays on Bush's holiday activities. Of course, there is one 'dubious' caption but isn't this a refreshing change from the attention seeking phoney-ness of Clinton and his Hollywood photo-ops in Martha's Vineyard and those Renaissance Weekends?
Zell Miller takes the Democratic Party to task today. Thankfully they didn't listen to him as a Senator and they won't listen to him now. Otherwise, we'd actually have to break a sweat this election cycle!
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Frontpage Magazine Names Col. Allen B. West, Man of the Year
A worthy choice for a great and couragous American:
FrontPage Magazine’s Man of the Year has shown true courage, compassion and heroism in the face of battle – and unlike the worthies named above, he has suffered for his good deeds rather than received commendation. He has been on the frontlines of the War on Terror in the heart of the Iraqi resistance. He undertook extraordinary measures to safeguard the lives of his men, to protect Americans under attack by bloodthirsty Islamist gangleaders. Yet instead of reward he has been tested by fire, having been dishonored by the very military he served so effectively for the last 20 years of his life. This irresponsible punishing of someone who should be awarded for his bravery and patriotism endangers the American people. For that reason, we seek to honor Col. Allen B. West.Be sure to read the whole thing.
Colonel West earned the disdain of leftist intellectuals and the rebuke of the United States armed forces for protecting the lives of his troops.
Transforming Rogue Regimes into Burgeoning Democracies
Another 'miserable failure' for the Bush Administration's foreign policy:
Afghan delegates agreed on a new constitution Sunday, overcoming weeks of division and mistrust to hammer out a historic compromise meant to bind together the war-ravaged nation's mosaic of ethnic groups.With failures like these it is no wonder the Donkey leftists had Bush so much. Just look at what he has done in the last 2 years (from Victor Davis Hanson):
Just a day after warning that the meeting, or loya jirga, was heading toward a humiliating failure, chairman Sibghatullah Mujaddedi announced that last-ditch diplomacy had secured a deal.
After the new draft was circulated, the 502 delegates gathered under a giant tent in the Afghan capital rose from their chairs, standing in silence for about 30 seconds to signal their support for the new charter.
In 24 months the United States defeated two of the most hideous regimes in modern memory. For all the sorrow involved, it has already made progress in the unthinkable: bringing consensual government into the heart of Middle Eastern autocracy, where there has been no political heritage other than tyranny, theocracy, and dictatorship.Links via Dan Drenzer guest blogging for Andrew Sullivan.
The Party of the Big Tent Continues to Expand II
Frequent e-mailer and occasional correspondent, Jonathan Rothenberg, writes up an incredibly important event he attended last month -- the Republican Jewish Coalitions first annual Hannuka party in New York City. He writes up numerous reason why this group is ripe for GOP votes:
The Republican Jewish Coalition finally opened a New York chapter to serve the tri-state region. At the first annual Hannuka party, the group hosted Minnesota Senator, and Brooklyn native, Norm Coleman. To an audience of 200-300 supporters, Sen. Coleman recounted the ways in which President Bush's actions in office have made him more attractive to Jewish voters than Republicans typically are.Be sure to read his entire post.
Most important is the President's character. He will not waver or flinch or falter in our epic struggle against radical Islamic terror. His vision is based on principle, not on fleeting trends or fads of the day. And he will not compromise on his principles. This is why he has admirably withstood international pressure to appease terrorist states and, through sheer force of will, is leading the global fight against terror.
With people like Jonathan fanning the flames of NYC Jewish Republicans and the continued efforts to maintain a clear message, this demographic should continue its trend towards the GOP.
The Party of the Big Tent Continues to Expand
A topic that I have followed closely (and blogged about previously) is the outreach the GOP has made towards African-Americans and legitimate possiblities of attracting this demographic:
In 2002 the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a liberal think tank, asked black respondents in its national survey to identify themselves as either Democrats, independents or Republicans. Although 63 percent claimed to be Democrats, the number was down from 74 percent in 2000. The decrease occurred in nearly every age group, including among respondents 65 and older (where the drop was from 82 percent to 75 percent). There was a significant increase in those calling themselves independents, especially between the ages of 26 and 35. Respondents identifying themselves as Republicans also increased: Between ages 26 and 35, the share tripled, going from 5 percent in 2000 to 15 percent in 2002.More and more data suggests this premise is correct.
Bush Boom rippling throughout world economies:
True to the old adage about rising tides, the U.S. recovery appears to be lifting economic boats worldwide. Indeed, stateside success, according to the International Monetary Fund, should spur the planet to enjoy over 4 percent growth in 2004, a rate not seen since before the 2001 recession. Morgan Stanley puts Asia, excluding Japan, at the head of this global charge, with growth forecast around 6 percent this year. But even the anemic euro zone and some struggling South American economies are poised to have happy new years. Argentina, for example, expects 4 percent growth in 2004 as it emerges from the crash that left 1 of every 5 citizens out of work.I had been reading about this for months (perks of working at the top Investment Bank on Wall Street!) but hadn't seen it gain traction in traditional media. Good to see this trend coming to fruition and proper credit being given where credit is due.
The Bush team begins eyeing the Bush-Dean match-up with a lot less arrogance than conventional wisdom would suggest.
