8/31/2005
Pastor Bill is the pastor of my church here in Denver. He has truly taken up the spirit of Hugh’s latest book “Blog”, updating his congregation and people world wide on things of interest in the world and in Denver. He writes from a Christian point of view with a passion not common to many. He is a friend, mentor, and a truly a leader of Christs church on earth. Mile High Rev is well worth a read every day. Check out his permanent link in the Daily Reading section.
Patterico Explores Paul Krugman’s Intellectual Dishonesty
Patterico has a great post from a couple of days ago, he explores one of Krugman’s columns where he asserts that the media recounts show that Al Gore should have won the 2000 election. Here’s a good summary of the post:
Tom Maguire’s valiant efforts notwithstanding, I have yet to see a scenario under which Krugman can be fairly said to have represented truthfully the results of the 2001 undervote recount. If Maguire has truly found the basis of Paul Krugman’s statement, it merely reveals another scenario under which Krugman is being dishonest. Indeed, this scenario involves multiple new layers of Krugman dishonesty. You can peel that onion all night long and never finish the job.
I have long known that Krugman was possible of twisting facts to the point that they are no longer recognizable as what they are. My question for Krugman and particularly the Public Editor is when will you all realize that with the exception of the koolaid drinking left, everyone knows what your up to and doesn’t appreciate it. Krugman has turned into a laughable characature of what a reporter ought to be. I think one oof Patterico’s commenters put it best when they said ” I still say that Krugman, with his consistent ideological dishonesty, has rendered himself irrelevent. Much like Maureen Dowd. No one reads either one anymore to become informed - just for the amusement. “
The next question is, what will the Public Editor do about it? Will he call Krugman into his no doubt plush corner office and tell him that he needs to straighten up and fly right and stop “twisting” his facts? Or, will he continue on in his red meat for the left / entertainment for the center-right and right “reporting”? My guess is that the latter is more likely than the former, but only time will tell.
8/28/2005
This is installment number four, and the last installment in my Box O’ Docs series. This time I will cover pages twenty one through thirty. At a glance, I don’ t think we’ll find anything more than what we’ve found in the other twenty.
Once again, not knowing these people and the circumstances that surrounded their nominations I can’t really see where this could hurt John Roberts. In fact, after further thought, I can’t see where any of this could hurt John Roberts. The left and the MSM will try though. That’s why I have put in as much detail as possible what these pages have in them. If you want to read them for yourself to satisfy some odd urge to read through bureaucratic memos and make work, here is the link to what I have been reading. As for me, this will be my last post on the Box O’ Docs, but it certainly won’t be my last post on the John Roberts Nomination.
8/27/2005
So far, in reviewing pages ten through twenty I’ve found a couple more of the troublesome B6 refusals. If you remember from my earlier post — Box O’ Docs II — FOIA reason code B6 is defined as “Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy[{b} {6} of the FOIA]” [Emphasis mine TR]. And, as I said in that post, this, so far is the only place where I can see the left and the MSM gaining a foot hold.
Why would they attack in this way? What would they want with personnel files from Regan era nominee’s to positions like the National Armed Forces Museum advisory board? What good could it possibly do them? Really, probably none, but, IT’S. THE. ONLY. THING. THEY. HAVE.
They’ve already tried — unsuccessfully — to portray him as a racist because he grew up in a predominately white neighborhood (as if he had any control over where he and his parents lived at a young age). They’re doing their best to try to prepare the country for a long drawn out filibuster battle. They know that won’t work either, for two reasons. Number one, the nuclear option, and, number two, it will show them for the obstructionists they really are despite what the gang of twelve managed to hide for the short term. So they go after the only thing they have left… these little whiney bits and pieces that really aren’t relevant to anything twenty some years later.
So, on to the rest of what I found in this group of ten pages (aside from the aforementioned B6 restrictions).
Once again, no real big surprises. Part of that is due to an admitted lack of knowledge as to who these people are. But, I suspect that even if I did know exactly who they were, the memo’s would still fall into the realm of routine and mundane office communications.
I hope to have part four of the Box O’ Docs series posted for you by Monday night.
8/25/2005
So far after going through nine pages of the thirty assigned to me, I have found routine press releases and internal memos. One in particular deals with the intention of the President — then Ronald Reagan — to nominate Richard Lee Armitage to the position of assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. All of these seem quite routine and I cannot see where the left or the MSM could gain any ground there.
One area that does concern me though is that there are several documents relating to personal interviews conducted by Mr. Roberts of nominee’s that are marked with a Government Freedom of Information Act code B6. According to the explanation at the bottom of the page “Release would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy[{b} {6} of the FOIA]” [Emphasis mine TR].
I can see how former nominees — particularly those that have nothing to do with the situation at hand — wouldn’t want their personal lives dug into and spread all over the WaPo, NYT, and alphabet networks. However, I think this also gives the left and the MSM just the crack they’re looking for. They can easily say now “why don’t we have all of the documents?” In fact according to a Washington Post story today, they already are crying foul about withheld documents.
After the release of about 60,000 documents detailing the work of Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts Jr., Democratic senators are setting their sights on what was not in the huge cache of papers: more than 2,100 memos and letters that have been withheld by government archivists working in concert with the Bush White House.
So far this is only a partial look into the documents I’ve received. I hope to have part III tomorrow evening for you. In the mean time, check out Radioblogger for information on the other boxes, several of which are being handled by my fellow Rocky Mountain Alliance members
At long last, the new laptop is here. I have been busy the last two days reloading cd’s, recreating Internet favorites, and rebuilding my email contacts list (ARRGHH, what a headache). So, now it’s back down to the business of researching, posting, and arguing for the confirmation of John Roberts. This is my focus right now, and is the focus of a great number of conservative bloggers. Stay tuned.
8/22/2005
I have been assigned a box of documents by the ever busy and helpful Hugh Hewitt Staff — specifically Box 2 JGR Appointee Clearances 4/15/83 - 5/2/83 — to go through from the Regan era when Supreme Court hopeful John Roberts was with the administration. Although I haven’t gotten far, all I’ve really seen is a bunch of cover pages. If the left tries to make something of that, then they’re more desperate than I thought. Radio Blogger (Generalissimo Duane) is Keeping track of assignments and progress on his blog.
Like I said, I still have a lot to go through, so there will be more as the situation develops.
8/19/2005
This statement is from Cindy “Moveon.org” Sheehan courtesy of the Drudge Report.
Cindy Sheehan Requests Privacy
Fri Aug 19 2005 10:49:39 ETStatement by Cindy Sheehan:
As you’ve probably heard by now, my sister and I left the other Gold Star mothers in Crawford last night, after our mother had a stroke. I plan on returning to Camp Casey very soon, but while I’m in Los Angeles please respect that my sister, brother and I are here focusing on our mother, while the moms in Crawford focus on Bush. The President is not off the hook.
More and more mothers come to Crawford daily with their stories of grief and hope, so we can prevent more moms from losing their children in a war based on lies.
Reports that I’ll be holding any kind of media events or talking to the press in LA are false.
My heart is so grateful for the outpouring of support and love from my other Gold Star moms in Crawford and Americans across the country who have sent their best wishes for my mother’s recovery.
What about the Presidents privacy while he’s on vacation?
She Doesn’t Speak For Everyone
Cindy Sheehan doesn’t speak for everyone. She doesn’t speak for 1,800 + parents and families who are grieving just the same as she. In yesterday’s Opinion Journal Online Ronald Griffin, who lost his son, gives his side of the story, and it is quite different. Mr. Griffin has also spoken with many other family members of fallen hero’s, they all seem to be in agreement; Mrs. Sheehan has a right to grieve, it’s a natural and expected process. She doesn’t however, have the right to dishonor others who have died or what they have died for.
Ann and Dale Hampton lost their only child, Capt. Kimberly Hampton, on Jan. 2, 2004, while she was flying her Kiowa helicopter. She was a member of the 82nd Airborne and the company commander. She had already served in Afghanistan before being deployed to Iraq. Ann Hampton wrote, “My grief sometimes seems unbearable, but I cannot add the additional baggage of anger. Mrs. Sheehan has every right to protest . . . but I cannot do that. I would be protesting the very thing that Kimberly believed in and died for.”
What kind of anger can possess a person that she is willing to dishonor her own son’s death, and what he died for? Is it really anger, or have the moon bats poisoned this poor grieving woman to the point on insanity. One thing is clear, Mrs. Sheehan is no more or less important than any of the other family members of the fallen. Says Mr. Griffins wife:
My wife, Robin, has a different take on Mrs. Sheehan. She told me, “I don’t care what she says or does. She is no more important than any other mother.”
Here’s a quote from Mr. Griffin:
Mrs. Sheehan has become the poster child for all the negativity surrounding the war in Iraq. In a way it heartens me to have all this attention paid to her, because that means others in her position now have the chance to be heard. Give equal time to other loved ones of fallen heroes. Feel the intensity of their love, their pride and the sorrow.
I think there is no better way to end this post than with Mr. Griffin’s own words regarding continuing in Iraq and honoring the fallen.
Thirty-five years ago, a president faced a similar dilemma in Vietnam. He gave in and we got “peace with honor.” To this day, I am still searching for that honor. Today, those who defend our freedom every day do so as volunteers with a clear and certain purpose. Today, they have in their commander in chief someone who will not allow us to sink into self-pity. I will not allow him to. The amazing part about talking to the people left behind is that I did not want them to stop. After speaking to so many I have come away with the certainty of their conviction that in a large measure it’s because of the deeds and sacrifices of their fallen heroes that this is a better and safer world we now live in.
Those who lost their lives believed in the mission. To honor their memory, and because it’s right, we must believe in the mission, too.
We refuse to allow Cindy Sheehan to speak for all of us. Instead, we ask you to learn the individual stories. They are glorious. Honor their memories.
Honor their service. Never dishonor them by giving in. They never did.
[emphasis mine TR]
8/18/2005
This will be kind of an add on to my last post regarding Mrs. Sheehan. The media and the fever swamp left should be ashamed of themselves for co-opting the grief of a mother who has lost her son.
Make no mistake about it, that’s what they have done. Mrs. Sheehan (I just found out today) met personally with the President in April of this year, and when she emerged from that meeting she said that he was warm, friendly, and truly sorry for her loss.
What’s happened between now and then? The Moveon.org/Michael Moore crowd has gotten a hold of her and brainwashed her into believing her son’s sacrifice was for nothing.
These people should be ashamed to call themselves compassionate humans, much less Americans considering what they have done to this mother.
***UPDATE***
Per National Review Online, the Sheehan vigil in Crawford is being sponsored by none other than the leftist group MoveOn.org, along with the liberal groups TrueMajority and Democracy for America.
8/15/2005
A Grieving Mother Or Anti-war Leftie
I cannot imagine the pain that Mrs. Sheehan is feeling right now. She lost her son in Iraq last year. To lose a child in any manor, whether it be through war or illness must be the worst feeling in the world.
Mrs. Sheehan has seemed to step over the line from grieving mother to anti-war protester. Now, please, don’t misunderstand me, I am not trying to diminish her grief and loss, but let’s take a look at a quote or two from a Time magazine article.
Sheehan is unflinching about why she’s here. She says George W. Bush killed her son. She demands that U.S. troops come home now, and she insists on telling that to Bush personally.
Mrs. Sheehan, President Bush didn’t kill your son, terrorists did. That’s why we’re there fighting them. They killed your son without regard just like they killed 3,000 + Americans on 9/11.
Even some of her family thinks she has gone too far:
Daughter Carly, 24, wrote a poem that begins, “Have you ever heard the sound of a mother screaming for her son?” Surviving son Andy, 21, supports his mother in principle but recently sent her a long e-mail imploring her “to come home because you need to support us at home,” he says. Casey’s aunt Cherie Quartarolo e-mailed a California radio station last week to rebuke Cindy, writing, “She appears to be promoting her own personal agenda at the expense of her son’s good name.”
Of course, the other side of the story is that there are many who support Sheehan in her efforts. Whether out of protest against the war or in sympathy for her loss.
But the people who did come made it seem different from other antiwar spasms. A retired postal worker drove from San Diego for 26 hours. A local soldier who had just returned from Iraq appeared with his mom. And a truck driver–a former Marine who had never been to an antiwar protest before–decided to pull his 18-wheeler full of frozen pizzas into Crawford just to shake Sheehan’s hand.
Young Andy enlisted in the Army in 2000. Rumors have circulated that he was to be in for 10 years. His original intent was to be a chaplains assistant. At the time of his enlistment Andy was old enough to make his own decisions whether or not to join. When you join the military the college and post enlistment benefits are certainly on your mind, but somewhere in the far recesses of your decision process has to be the question of “what if we get into a shooting war”? Somewhere, sometime, that had to go through Andy’s mind.
Reports of what happened to Andy in his last minutes portray him as a hero. One of many men and women we have in our armed services willing to stand in the gap and defend our country and it’s interests.
Casey Sheehan was killed in Sadr City on April 4, 2004, less than a month after he arrived in Iraq as a Humvee mechanic. He had gone out on a voluntary mission to rescue injured soldiers when his unit was ambushed. Six other soldiers died with him. Says his brother Andy: “He lived to help people, and he died helping people.” On the day he died, Cindy saw a burning Humvee on CNN and says she knew instinctively that her son was among the dead.
[emphasis added TR]
Why won’t the President meet with Mrs. Sheehan? I can’t say for sure, it’s his decision along with that of the Secret Service. Maybe he doesn’t want to be part of the circus she’s set up just two miles from his personal residence (while he’s on vacation). Maybe the Secret Service thinks it would be too dangerous for the President to go down and meet with her and her rent-a-mob. Maybe he just has more important things to deal with right now like protecting American citizens at home and abroad from the terrorist threat, the Israeli pull back in Gaza, the war in Iraq, the crisis developing in Iran, China, North Korea and their silly games, and God only knows what else that the general public isn’t privy to.
I do know this, if I could spend five minutes with Mrs. Sheehan, I would say “loose the mob, think about the choice your son made five years ago, grieve his loss and go on with life. I can’t imagine how bad your hurting right now, but blaming the President for your son’s honorable actions won’t bring him back or assuage your grief.
I never thought I would read something like this in Newsweek (even with the editorial comments). Our President, despite what the media and left want you to believe, does struggle with the human toll that the GWOT is taking on families across America.
The Newsweek article describes him in private meetings with families as ashen faced and sometimes choked up.
Before Bush left the meeting, he paused in the middle of the room and said to the families, “I will never feel the same level of pain and loss you do. I didn’t lose anyone close to me, a member of my family or someone that I love. But I want you to know that I didn’t go into this lightly. This was a decision that I struggle with every day.”
As he spoke, Ascione could see the grief rising through the president’s body. His shoulder slumped and his face turned ashen. He began to cry and his voice choked. He paused, tried to regain his composure and looked around the room. “I am sorry, I’m so sorry,” he said.
I cannot imagine the weight that rests on this mans shoulders every day.
8/14/2005
As many of you know, I have for the last three years faced serious and life threatening health problems. Many of you have been in constant prayer for both myself and my family, and I cannot tell you how much that means to us.
So… here’s what’s going on right now. Three weeks ago I went into a local hospital with difficulty breathing. Considering my previous history, the doctors were afraid that it was a blood clot in my lungs. I was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for tests and monitoring. Fortunately, there was no blood clot.
I was then transferred to my “regular” hospital (damn HMO’s). There, the pulmonologist (lung doctor) put a camera down my windpipe only to discover that it was 70% occluded with scar tissue from previous times on the breathing machine. That’s where surgery comes into play.
The Pulmonologist and surgeon both decided that something had to be done before I could leave the hospital. Friday the 29th of July, I went under the knife. Before the procedure could begin though, I began to have major problems. In fact, according to one nurse, I died on the table and they were able to revive me.
Due to the major problems at the beginning of the operation, the plan was changed drastically. The Surgeon decided to put in a permanent tracheotomy. In other words, I now breath through a hole in my neck.
After a few days of touch and go in the ICU, I was moved to the regular post surgical floor, and after another week there (and much fighting with the doctors) I was sent home.
It has been a daily struggle between pain management, and taking care of my “new friend” since I have gotten home. Thankfully I have the support of my family. I still have a strong interest in national politics, and hope to return to our regularly scheduled programming soon. I felt that I owed you all some answers though.
8/12/2005
Posting is going to be kinda strained over the next I don’t know how long. Just when I get out of the hospital and need my blogging fix the most, my laptop takes a long walk off a short pier. So, we are now a four person household with two working computers. One of which is dedicated to work. Arghhh. I promise to keep posting though. I just can’t promise that it will be everyday.
8/10/2005
I like and highly admire Captain Ed at Captains Quarters. I think he is a top notch blogger, clearly one of the best in the field. However, I must disagree with his final assessment of Stolberg’s hack piece against Judge Roberts in the Gray Lady this morning. In the end he labels it as:
The lack of context probably amounts to little more than a misunderstanding, but the failure of Stolberg to simply pick up the phone and ask seems very troubling, as does the rest of her reporting in this article.
Personally, I’d say that this is more of the same shoddy partisan reporting I’ve grown to expect from the NYT.
8/9/2005
I watched this tribute to a fallen Marine in tears this afternoon. It sure puts in stark contrast the honor, service, and sacrifice of our soldiers here at home and serving abroad, and those politicians who would use them and their sacrifice as a pawn in an expensive political game. It also shows the cold stark cowardice of the Michael Moore anti-war crowd.
To our service members; nothing could ever be enough to thank you!!!
To our politicians and the anti-war cowards on the left; shame on you!!!
Hat Tip: Black Five
I am proud to announce that our astronauts made a safe and successful landing this morning at Edwards AFB in California. The last attempted recovery of a Space Shuttle resulted in the tragic loss of all aboard, and the spread of debris from New Mexico to the gulf coast. It also heralded the beginning of all of my health problems.
Over all, our space program has been a very safe and successful one. One which has only meant the loss of two crews in the last twenty years or so. A pretty impressive record when you think about the materials (fuel) used to put the aircraft into orbit.
8/7/2005
I rarely post about myself, short of the many health issues of late. Even then I still try to focus on national politics, and media. Today, I found out about the death of one of my good friends and ex-runnin buddies. No Hugh, I don’t mean running as in using your legs and getting tired out…
Tom was a long haul truckdriver, like myself. We worked for the same companies a lot of the time, and even when we didn’t, we still seemed to end up in the same areas headed the same direction.
One of my favorite memories of Tom was him pulling into the same gravel parking lot I was in and pulling his tractor-trailer nose to nose with mine, turning on the brights, and letting loose with the air horn. I was dozing over the wheel, and of course, my first thought was that I had fallen asleep behind the wheel. It wasn’t that funny at the time, but boy it sure gave us something to talk about that night between Nashville,Tn and our eventual destination of Houston,Tx.
As friends who switch careers do (I did, he didn’t) we grew apart. I hadn’t heard from Tom in almost a year. Today, I met up with a mutual friend who told me that Tom passed away of Cancer last September.
I will always remember and hold a special place in my heart for those miles and hours we shared…. even if they did contain to many greasy cheeseburgers and coffee the consistency of motor oil.
A Truckers Prayer
Dear God above bless this truck I drive
And help me keep someone alive
Be my mortal sight this day
On streets where little children play
Bless my helper fast asleep
When the night is long and deep
And keep my cargo safe and soundThrough the hours big and round
Make my judgement sound as steel
And be my hands upon the wheel
Bless the traveler going past
And teach him not to go so fast
Give me the strength for every trip
So I may care for what they ship
And make me mindful every mile
That life is just a little whileAMEN
Good bye ol’ friend, God speed.
8/6/2005
I’m home. I don’t have a lot of physical or emotional energy to post much else right now so maybe more later. Thank you for the prayers and comments.
Jim TR