Misleading Liberal Studies Find Rich-Poor Income Gap Growing

By MARK JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer
Fri Jan 27, 2:29 AM ET

ALBANY, N.Y. - The disparity between rich and poor is growing in America as the federal minimum wage has remained flat for years, union membership has declined and industries have faced global competition, according to a study released Thursday.

The report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute, both liberal-leaning think tanks, found the incomes of the poorest 20 percent of families nationally grew by an average of $2,660, or 19 percent, over the past 20 years. Meanwhile, the incomes of the richest fifth of families grew by $45,100, or nearly 59 percent, the study by the Washington-based groups said.

Families in the middle fifth saw their incomes rise 28 percent, or $10,218.

The figures, based on U.S. Census data, compare the average growth from 1980-82 to 2001-03, after adjusting for inflation.

The poorest one-fifth of families, the report said, had an average income of $16,780 from 2000-03, while the top fifth of families had an average income of $122,150 — more than seven times as much. Middle-income families' average income was $46,875.

So, this Associated Press Writer calls on two liberal think tanks and pro-union activist Trudi Renwick. Isn't he clever? I'm not sure what is sloppier/dishonest work, the liberal studies or Mark's reporting. Let's just call it a tie and get on with the important work of telling the truth. It took me less than ten minutes to find this alternate view from Robert Rector and Rea Hederman, Jr. over at The Heritage Foundation. I'm posting the conclusion only so click here for the entire article.

Conclusion
The Census income distribution figures are the foundation of most class-warfare rhetoric. On the surface, these figures show a high level of inequality: The top fifth of households have $14.30 of income for every $1.00 at the bottom.

However, these figures are flawed by the exclusion of taxes and social safety net spending and by the fact that the "fifths" do not contain equal numbers of people. Adjustment for these factors radically alters the picture of income distribution: The top fifth of the population has $4.21 of income for every $1.00 at the bottom.

The remaining inequality in society is heavily influenced by the lack of work at the bottom. If working-age adults in the lower quintiles worked as much as their higher-income counterparts, the income disparity of the top to the bottom quintiles would fall to $2.91 to $1.00.

Still, the top fifth of U.S. households (with incomes above $84,000) remain perennial targets of class-warfare enmity. These families, however, perform a third of all labor in the economy. They contain the best educated and most productive workers, and they provide a disproportionate share of the investment needed to create jobs and spur economic growth. Nearly all are married-couple families, many with two or more earners. Far from shirking the tax burden, these families pay 82.5 percent of total federal income taxes and two-thirds of federal taxes overall. By contrast, the bottom quintile pays 1.1 percent of total federal taxes.12

In one sense, John Edwards is correct: There is one America that works a lot and pays a lot in taxes, and there is another America that works less and pays little. However, the reality is the opposite of what Edwards suggests. It is the higher-income families who work a lot and pay nearly all the taxes. Raising taxes even higher on hard-working families would be unfair and, by reducing future investments, would reduce economic growth, harming all Americans in the long run.

Just Do It

Hat Tip: Dr. Phat Tony's

Click on the photo or following link to visit Centcom.mil.



Click here to learn exactly why you should be visiting Centcom.mil regularly.

Where Have I Been All My Life?

Saturday Update: No, I'm not in a major "me phase". This was supposed to be my Friday post but not only did I work all night and injure my toe while acting like a foo (and with a sports injury of the same foot already acting up), I was also hit with a fever so now I'm all "I want my mommy!" and never did get around to posting. Amazing what sleep, a bath, and drugs does for a body so here is my magnificent Friday post. Oh and speaking of working all night, why not help me out and tell me if you think this trial underwater background I created in photoshop is natural and real looking. Please. :)


Friday:

Hat Tip: 45-Caliber Justice

(Ok, the map had to go, messing with my game here.)

check out these Google Hacks.

I wanted to travel the entire United States and stopped in some of these states to live a few (2-4) years. As you can clearly see, after Kansas (there over 3 years) I backtracked my way home, but not before stopping to live in Kentucky awhile (about 4 years, I think, I lost track at that point).

And that's it for me, I may travel some more but I do believe I'll reside in North Carolina from here on out (although resisting the urge to stop and live in Tennessee on the way here was difficult, very pretty!). I consider myself a North Carolinian and have lived in this beautiful state more than anywhere else but am not a native North Carolinian. I pretty much decided to call it home when I was only 8 or 9 while just driving through with my parents on our way to South Carolina, which was to become our home for awhile. I begged my dad to stop and live here then but he just drove faster. *g*

The sights of NC from my back seat window were truly impressive and I knew I'd some day call it home. I think it's kind of neat that I not only remembered and did just that but have my family here as well. I've moved here and there since first arriving (I think at about age 16), but I keep coming back and finally for good now. It helps that my parents, my brother and his son don't appear to be going anywhere (although I suspect my dad would prefer to be further south I'm betting on my mom this time).

I surely prefer they all stay, though I will remain whether they do or not.

And this is why:

The park in spring.



The rainbow to the left of my house.



Roses in October.





And roses in November.



That poor rose bush that I dug up and toted from state to state for 7 years, now thriving by the front porch (inspiring mucho art photography).



"Gather the rose of love whilst yet is time." -Edmund Spenser

Ok, ok. Stop gagging. Moving on...

Butterflies in my back yard.



Frogs in the pond.



Ok, so it's not actually in the pond there. And it's more like a huge mud hole the frogs use for down and dirty mating purposes, I'm not taking photos of that. Just say no to froggy pron!

Ahem...moving on to beautiful sunsets.



This last photo was taken by the uber-teen and one of her first really impressive efforts so "ooo...ahh" appropriately. ;)

And last but not least there are the awesome lakes full of photogenic ducks.



Wait. Those ducks were totally dissin' me. Here are the polite photogenic ducks.



What's not to love? Now don't you just want to vacation in North Carolina? (All your vacation monies are belong to us! bwahaha)

So, that concludes today's episode of 'I really have no post because I worked all night and stubbed my toe while acting like a foo'.

Hey, maybe you'd prefer I cat blog every weekend? haha


Ok, I'm out.

Hope everyone has a schweet weekend.

As for me I'll be cuddling up with a bottle of water, favorite snuggler (who has mucho seniority), the TV remote and a bottle of advil.

Yay. Oo

Teh Funny

These protesters are holding a sign with a Ben Franklin quote. As reported by Michelle Malkin, among others I'm sure, they've got the quote and Ben Franklin all wrong. Franklin said:

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Malkin continues with other examples of just how wrong they've got it but my personal favorite from one of her readers is this:

The misquotation of Franklin in the argument about "domestic wiretapping" strikes me as particularly amusing in light of Franklin's role as one of the premier intelligence agents during the Revolutionary War. The CIA has a nice summary of the intelligence activities undertaken in that war, and no one is so prominent as Franklin, including in covert activities. More to the point here, Franklin was a member of the original committee, appointed by the Continental Congress, to review and publish intercepted communications from England. Hmm, Benjamin Franklin: Domestic Spy!

But what does the wacky liberal Daily Kos have to say on this topic? Read on.


"The protesters that stood up backwards to Alberto Gonzales deserve to hear our strong strong support for what they did.

Like how a Washington Post Maryland comment page was randomly selected for messages to Deborah Howell, and it worked, messages of support to the Georgetown University Law Center protesters should go here.

Go there and send your love. They will hear it. Make it big."




The left will not improve behavior with this attitude. They not only allow these young people to continue to look silly and reflect that upon their political party but encourage it, becoming complicit in the foolish behavior.

Ah well. They only hurt themselves in the end.

I'm at a loss on what could possibly be said that would cause them to appear any more foolish and hateful than they do already, all on their own, but it is a shame that these young people are left without adequate role models. Dissent is one thing, this total lack of honesty and intelligence by radical liberals high on hatred is quite another.

They could take a lesson or two from Forrest Gump on the subject of what love is. Hint: It's not letting a friend walk around in public with their fly down, toilet paper stuck to their shoes, spinach between their teeth, or encouraging dastardly (not to mention embarrassingly wrong) public behavior on C-SPAN for all to see (although pretty funny to watch).



It wouldn't surprise me if Georgetown University was purposely chosen for this very reason. The rabid little liberals have become so very predictable.

Criminals Turned Stars, Controversial Soup And One Manipulative Bitch

New Bollywood Film To Star Real Criminals

NEW DELHI - "Little-known director Nabh Kumar Raju says he's making a mafia-themed film with an entire cast of criminals or people who say they've at least attempted a crime, The Times of India newspaper reported Monday.

About 3,000 hopefuls turned up for the audition. The paper did not say when it was held.

The paper said Raju asked all the wannabe actors only one question before their auditions: "Have you ever attempted any crime?"

The six people chosen include a sharpshooter, a local mafia boss facing trial, a man involved in past kidnappings and a thief, the report said."

Sounds like something we should do in America to draw out terrorists. It's not so far fetched that terrorists might believe that Hollywood would want to honor them by making them stars, is it?



Pork Soup Becomes Political in France

In Strasbourg, France, pork soup was banned this month after officials deemed it could disrupt public order.

"Schemes with racial subtexts must be denounced," said a statement by Strasbourg Mayor Fabienne Keller.

A leading anti-racism group has urged Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy to ban pork soup giveaways [for the homeless] throughout all of France.

I've never before considered soup to be capable of so much. Who knew?

More interesting news of the day, my dog, Shadow (who thinks she's a cat), has been in bed shivering under a baby blanket for more than 24 hours (but only when she thinks I'm looking) because I clipped almost all of her hair and gave her a bath. She's totally milking it...



...for treats of forbidden kitty chow.



Yum.

Yeah I know I'm being played here, but she's just so darn cute!

More On Iran

Israel is preparing to defend against Iran:

'Remember what happened to our previous enemies'

"Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz fired off a warning to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Saturday night saying that Israel would not accept a nuclear Iran under any circumstance and is preparing for the possibility that diplomacy to stop Tehran's nuclear aspirations would fail."

Softer Iran draft needed to win over Russia

BERLIN, Jan 21 (Reuters) - "Russia is unlikely to support a draft resolution that refers Iran to the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear programme unless it is softened, a European diplomat said on Saturday."

Assad: Israel assassinated Arafat

"Syrian president charges Israel was behind former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death, says world failed to intervene. Assad makes statement in wake of talks with Iran's president in which Syria voiced support in Iran's right to obtain nuclear capabilities."

Missing from the accusation is evidence. And sanity.


Iran funded, Syria planned terror attack:

"Defense officials have gathered solid evidence in the hours following Thursday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv to show the attack was a direct result of cooperation between Iran, Syria, and Palestinian terrorists."

Israel is to present the damning information to Americans, Europeans, and Egypt.

"The attack was funded by Iran, planned by Syria, and executed by the Palestinians," Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz charged during a meeting with top security officials in Tel Aviv following the bombing."

Opp group says Iran moving towards uranium enrichment

* Accuses Tehran of smuggling centrifuges from China and Dubai
* Group urges UNSC to impose sanctions against the country

BRUSSELS: "An exiled Iranian opposition group said on Tuesday it had information that Iran would soon start its nuclear uranium enrichment programme and called for further UN inspections into allegations that Tehran was smuggling material from China.

Ali Safavi, from the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, said Tehran was building the first phase of 5,000 centrifuges to extract bomb-grade uranium.

“The first phase involves the manufacture of 5,000 machines. Some two-thirds have been manufactured, tested and ready to be installed,” Safavi told reporters. He did not indicate the source of his information."

Yeah, evidence (even a small amount if protecting a source) would be most helpful.

I also accidentally stumbled upon an older article (I missed during the rush of the holiday) while researching current events on Iran today. So here that is, for your amusement (or disgust, whatever).

Back in December Senate Democrats Softened Iran Resolution

December 23, 2005

WASHINGTON - "A Senate resolution condemning the president of Iran for anti-Semitic comments he made earlier this month is riling its Republican sponsors on Capitol Hill. They claim Senate Democrats forced them to strip language from the document expressing support for self-determination and a national referendum in the country.

Senator Santorum, a Republican of Pennsylvania, drafted the resolution after a December 14 speech in which Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called the Holocaust a "myth" and suggested Israel be relocated to Europe, Canada, or Alaska. In its original form, the statement condemned the remarks, demanded an apology, and supported efforts by "the people of Iran to exercise self-determination" and hold a national referendum with oversight by international observers.

When Mr. Santorum moved to introduce the resolution last Friday, Senator Wyden, a Democrat of Oregon, registered an unusual objection. According to the Congressional Record, Mr. Wyden told Mr. Santorum on the Senate floor that he was objecting to the resolution because his Democratic colleagues in the Senate had asked him too. Mr. Wyden did not say who asked him to issue the objection.

"While I personally am vehemently opposed to the statements that have been made by the president of Iran," Mr. Wyden said, "I have been asked by the members on this side of the aisle to object, and I do so object."

See also-

"Senator Clinton, a Democrat of New York, last week criticized the Secretary of State Rice, for not issuing a formal response."

"Ms. Rice denounced Mr. Ahmadinejad's comments in a radio interview on the "Sean Hannity Show" the day they were made."

Europe softens stance on Iran

January 19, 2006
LONDON: Britain and its European allies have backed away from threatening economic sanctions against Iran if the nation is referred to the UN Security Council over its nuclear program.

As Britain, France and Germany began drafting a resolution before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to refer Iran to the UN, a senior official at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said Britain favoured a gradual, sustained build-up to force Tehran to comply with its international obligations.

"We do not see this leading straight into sanctions," the official said.

"We see a gradual build-up of moves that will take place over time. We are not going to (the UN Security Council in) New York to introduce punitive sanctions against Iran. That is not our approach.

The Security Council has weight and authority on the issues."

"A country cannot ignore the calls and requirements of the Security Council without cost. It brings together major players acting in concert. It can issue political calls which will have weight."

British, French and German diplomats had begun drafting the referral resolution before the IAEA. Diplomats said the referral called on Iran to "extend full and prompt co-operation to the agency" and called for "additional transparency measures". But it made no reference to the threat of sanctions.

The softening of the European position seemed to be aimed at wooing Moscow and Beijing, which have strong commercial links with Iran and are deeply opposed to any measures that might harm them.



So nice to know where their priorities are.

A Question For The Wise

OP-ED by The Uber-Conservative
19 January 2006


"Anyone even beginning a sentence with "Enlist European" should serve a minimum sentence of ten years as a McDonald's fry boy/girl!"






Over at The Internet Party (where voting is fun!), there be a poll concerning Iran's nuclear program.

To be more exact, the poll question is:

Iran has revived its nuclear program. What is the single most important step the U.S. should take to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons?

The optional answers-

1: Deploy U.S. military jets/missiles to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities
2: Impose further unilateral economic sanctions against Iran
3: Work through the U.N.'s Security Council to stop the program
4: Enlist European support for military action
5: Enlist European support for diplomatic action
6: Enlist Russia and China to stop the program
7: Secretly enlist Israel's military to take out nuclear facilities in Iran
8: Other
9: Don't Know

The responses to optional answers from 74 Americans (I assume) of mixed political ideology (I'm certain)-

18% Deploy U.S. military jets/missiles to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities
17% Impose further unilateral economic sanctions against Iran
11% Work through the U.N.'s Security Council to stop the program
5% Enlist European support for military action
7% Enlist European support for diplomatic action
19% Enlist Russia and China to stop the program
11% Secretly enlist Israel's military to take out nuclear facilities in Iran
18% Other
5% Don't Know

The comments concerning this topic clearly shows that much more than a mere 5% simply "Don't Know" what the U.S. should do to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons.

My first thoughts on the topic were "Well for the love of God let's all hope the UN Security council sends a Strongly Worded Letter. That'll teach 'em." but after reading a post from the so obviously open minded and lefty leaning Davey practically begging for a more detailed response ("So, Roee, instead of just criticizing other people's views, what do you propose we do in concrete terms?"), I decided to share some more detailed uber-conservative bits of wisdom to which Davey responded with unabashed criticism (and not one alternative suggestion, much less "concrete") which you should know by now got a good laugh out of me.

I thought I'd post these bits of uber-conservative wisdom here for your amusement (and I'm stumped on post material today).

"Though Iran's leaders are clearly fanatics, I do not think that military action is warranted and would lead to positive results." --Davey


If fanatics with nuclear weapons and the will to use them doesn't warrant military action, then I'd like to know what does.

* "Don't Know" doesn't help anyone so I'm putting you people over in the corner with a fourth of the Democrats.

* "Other" is only helpful if we know what that other is so I'll put you people in the other corner with another fourth of the Democrats.

* "Secretly Enlisting Israel's Military" is not bright because they'd be needing Iraq's air space with our insistence (hence we'd still get credit for it so not so secret after all) which would just fuel tensions and Zionist Christian/Jew conspiracy theories which many love to use as bed time stories for children in the middle east to create more terrorists so that one's out.

* "Enlist Russia and China to stop the program" would require we be high on crack and I assume we are not so that one's out.

* Anyone even beginning a sentence with "Enlist European" should serve a minimum sentence of ten years as a McDonald's fry boy/girl so that just won't do.

* "Work through the U.N.'s Security Council" to encourage the annexing of Israel or steal money for themselves, that's all they're good for so off to the corner with you to sit with another fourth of the democrats.

* "Imposing unilateral economic sanctions against Iran" hasn't worked and will serve no purpose though I suppose we could, just for our own amusement if that makes people feel good.

This leaves the only rational choice.

* Deploy U.S. military jets/missiles to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities.

Anyone too shy or silly to admit this should go sit in the corner with the remainder of Democrats who are pretending Iran isn't a threat at all and think about the fact that this is why a majority of Americans trust Republicans the most when it comes to their safety and national security. :)

As any good southern girl, I even remembered to smile sweetly after insulting and ridiculing democrats. My ma would be so proud. ;)

Anyhow, since Davey thinks "wise words from fools sound foolish to the wise" (is this some of that Zen crap or what?), pray tell me, oh wise bloggers...

What is the single most important step the U.S. should take to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons?


Bonus wisdom from Mark over at Blogs for Bush:

"The whip hand is with us - but we do have a lot of hand-wringing bed-wetters who take Iranian bluster at face value. Fortunately, in President Bush we have a man who understands the difference between appearance and reality - and he has pledged, repeatedly, that Iran shall not have nuclear weapons. A crisis is coming, but it is a crisis we'll emerge from triumphant, as long as we don't lose our nerve, and don't give in to the siren song of defeatism."

Nothing Says "I love You" Like a Molotov Cocktail

If You Love Someone, Set Them Ablaze from WSJ.com's Best of the Web.

"Officials are asking the public for information about a firebombing and a later blaze at the same house last weekend," reports the Sacramento Bee:

At least two men threw four Molotov cocktails at a house in the 4300 block of Burgess Drive in the Robla area about 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

Two adults and two children were asleep in the house but were uninjured. The homemade bombs did little damage, said police spokesman Sgt. Terrell Marshall. . . .

The incidents don't appear to be hate crimes, Marshall said.

In California, they have a funny way of saying "I love you."

So let's get this straight. If I were to go on a killing spree, choosing my victims based on color would be less loving than choosing them based on the "If they *&%#ing breath near me, they're toast!" method?

Boehner, Blunt or Shadegg?

As reported by The Anti-Hippy and the signitories of The Appeal from Center-Right Bloggers, there's much interest in what Shadegg has to offer the Republican Party.

Stephen Moore takes a closer look at Boehner, Blunt and Shadegg.

Monday, January 16, 2006 12:01 a.m. EST

"We're going to find out whether Republicans have an appetite for a substantial reform agenda against pork spending, out-of-control budgets and deal-making politics as usual in this town." Those were the words that conservative Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona used when he announced his 11th-hour candidacy for the House Republican leader's slot vacated by Tom DeLay. Mr. Shadegg's entry means that conservatives and disgruntled moderates will have a horse in the leadership race after all. Said one House conservative, "John's like Burt Reynolds in 'The Longest Yard.' He's throwing caution into the wind, buckling his football helmet chin strap, and rushing on to the field in the fourth quarter to try to save the GOP team from an ugly defeat in the elections this November."

To be sure, Mr. Shadegg has the look of a decided underdog. He will take on party heavyweights John Boehner of Ohio and the acting leader, Roy Blunt of Missouri. But for many of the new-generation, reform-minded House Republicans, Mr. Blunt is seen as too shackled to the K Street/DeLay money machine to clean up the abuses of power that taint the party. He's an unapologetic supporter of earmarks (at least he's honest!) and was the whip who strong-armed a handful of conservatives to vote for the Medicare prescription drug bill with its multitrillion-dollar price tag. Mr. Blunt has sprinted into the early lead with a pitch that is pure horse-trading power politics--of the kind that Republicans once denounced and that, thankfully, still repels some in the caucus. If he wins, the leadership team will be composed of the DeLay machine, minus only Mr. DeLay. Where the policy vision and voice for political reform will come from is anyone's guess."

Read more.

Book Review And Other Linky-Stuff

Hoodwinked: How Intellectual Hucksters Have Hijacked American Culture


"America has been in the midstm of a culture war for sometime now. Progressive Liberals have had the advantage in that conflict for at least the last century. When considering this, one asks the obvious question: how have progressive intellectuals been able to commandeer the American cultural establishment? This is the theme of Jack Cashill’s Hoodwinked: How Intellectual Hucksters Have Hijacked American Culture. Using factual information combined with thoughtful and bold analysis, the author explores the impact that progressive intellectuals have had on American culture. The author’s primary argument takes the following form: progressive liberal intellectuals have been fabricating “facts” in order to shape the way Americans think about sex, abortion, guns, corporations, history and the American legal system."

"Hoodwinked is a definite must read for those Americans who value honesty above all else. More than just a shot across the bow of the progressive establishment, Jack Cashill has brought to the American public the unadulterated truth. While his critics may be able to fault him because of his ideology, they will not be able to fault his arguments and the evidence that supports them. More important, however, is the fact that Cashill has made this information readily available for public consumption, and this availability is what will prove to be the book’s greatest contribution to American culture."

Read the entire review.

Buy the book.




Monday, Jan. 16, 2006 10:44 a.m. EST

Hillary Clinton Confidante Hanging with Harry Belafonte
"2008 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reportedly took great pains to avoid being photographed with wild-eyed Bush-basher Harry Belafonte, when the two attended the same Children's Defense Fund luncheon last Thursday.

But Mrs. Clinton made up for her snub having one her closest friends and advisors make nice to the bellicose baritone - who had called President Bush "the world's greatest terrorist" only days earlier - while she pretended not to know him."

I wonder just how many of the left will she have to pretend she doesn't know in her quest to be president again? Life is going to be getting terribly lonely for Hillary.

Monday, Jan. 16, 2006 10:40 a.m. EST

Bolton Threatens U.N. over Israel Bashing

American ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton has sent a sharply worded letter to Secretary-General Kofi Annan, threatening to cut U.S. funding to the U.N. if the world body continues to promote anti-Israel events.

Bolton's January 3 letter came in response to an event at the U.N. celebrating the annual "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People." At the event, which was attended by Annan and other top diplomats, speakers stood before a map of the Middle East that did not show the state of Israel.

Gee, why don't they tell us how they really feel about Israel? This reinforces the opinion that Bolten was not only the best person for the job but the only person for the job. These things have been allowed to go too far for way too long.


N.Y. Times: Alito Can't Be Stopped

"After Alito’s testimony, Democrats still dislike him but can’t stop him.”

That’s the Friday morning headline in the New York Times as even the liberal Gray Lady concedes that Samuel Alito will be confirmed as the newest member of the Supreme Court.

While Democrats signaled on Thursday that they would not support Alito, "they saw little chance of blocking his confirmation, even with a filibuster,” the Times reports."

Democrats, red state Democrats up for reelection to be more exact, can't afford to filibuster or I don't doubt for a moment that they would do just that.

An Appeal from Center-Right Bloggers

We are bloggers with boatloads of opinions, and none of us come close to agreeing with any other one of us all of the time. But we do agree on this: The new leadership in the House of Representatives needs to be thoroughly and transparently free of the taint of the Jack Abramoff scandals, and beyond that, of undue influence of K Street.

We are not naive about lobbying, and we know it can and has in fact advanced crucial issues and has often served to inform rather than simply influence Members.

But we are certain that the public is disgusted with excess and with privilege. We hope the Hastert-Dreier effort leads to sweeping reforms including the end of subsidized travel and other obvious influence operations. Just as importantly, we call for major changes to increase openness, transparency and accountability in Congressional operations and in the appropriations process.

As for the Republican leadership elections, we hope to see more candidates who will support these goals, and we therefore welcome the entry of Congressman John Shadegg to the race for Majority Leader. We hope every Congressman who is committed to ethical and transparent conduct supports a reform agenda and a reform candidate. And we hope all would-be members of the leadership make themselves available to new media to answer questions now and on a regular basis in the future.


Signed,

N.Z. Bear, The Truth Laid Bear
Hugh Hewitt, HughHewitt.com
Glenn Reynolds, Instapundit.com
Kevin Aylward, Wizbang!
La Shawn Barber, La Shawn Barber's Corner
Lorie Byrd / DJ Drummond, Polipundit
Beth Cleaver, MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
Jeff Goldstein, Protein Wisdom
Stephen Green, Vodkapundit
John Hawkins, Right Wing News
John Hinderaker, Power Line
Jon Henke / McQ / Dale Franks, QandO
James Joyner, Outside The Beltway
Mike Krempasky, Redstate.org
Michelle Malkin, MichelleMalkin.com
Ed Morrissey, Captain's Quarters
Scott Ott, Scrappleface
The Anchoress, The Anchoress
John Donovan / Bill Tuttle, Castle Argghhh!!!

If you would like to support this statement as well, simply visit The Truth Laid Bear and add yourself to the list.

Alito- To Be, Or...uh...To Be? That Is The Question!

OP-ED by The Uber-Conservative
13 January 2006


"Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."






Ok, so I know I said I wasn't sleeping on the job but I watched as much of "The Inquisition" as was possible, read no less than 30 editorials covering the confirmation process, poured over some transcripts and I've still no inclination to write anything of substance on this very important subject.

Good thing there are those out there who have already and will continue to do so. As for me, I just have one question and an analogy.

My question is- If liberals speak and nobody cares, do we still hear it? Oops, I mean why. Why do we still hear it?!


My analogy of the liberals showing their ignorance of constitutional law while attempting to use the confirmation process to garner attention for themselves (I'm being generous here because lots of it was just rambly junk that didn't have anything to do with anything whatsoever and the rest was repetitive ignorance) which was largely ignored by the general public and turned out to be a good thing for democrats (you know exactly what I'm saying if you watched/read about even a little of that mess)-

I once had a looong coversation with my cat on the topics of fur balls, bird hunting and grooming. He (being the expert on such things) opened one eye, yawned, and went back to sleep to the sound of my ever droning voice.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz. With a capital z.

Wait, maybe I should have used the "neutered cat" analogy (one guess as to who the cat is in that analogy).

Hm.

Oh well, either way...Alito will be confirmed (as he should be) and if the liberal goal here was to risk appearing more foolish that usual (if such is even possible) in order to excite the Soros crowd into giving them more money, I suggest they go the "porn/booze route" next time. They want a little entertainment for their $ so take it off, Teddy baby, take it off!

Oddly enough, that thought isn't much more sickening than actually listening to him speak.

Ok, maybe a little.

In all seriousness, liberals have succeeded, in my opinion.

In proving beyond a doubt just how much John Q. Public has in common with our fellow furry friends.

No So Lame Blogger Excuses And Idle Threats

Posting has been rather non-existent as of late an even then somewhat lame...except the vote for IMAO post...totally not lame. And I can tell many of you haven't voted yet (because I checked) so I am once again forced to idle threats of physical violence. You go vote IMAO or I will have to HURT you! Got it?

Good. :)

Anyhow, as is probably well known by now, my grammy resides with me and has since last spring. What is not well known is that she was in the first stages of Alzheimer's disease, on the threshold of the second stage and had been residing with my mom for a few years before. My mom assisted my grams in caring for my grandpa after his stroke and throughout his remaining years before that. My mom rocks and totally deserved a break from caring for others. She still helps plenty but she now has an element of emotional and physical freedom that she's not had in a very long time. She's even gone back to school recently (yay!).

Back to my point. Thanks to the drug Aricept, the progress of the disease has been drastically slowed. We have had some bad phases though, and with each bad phase it seems that a little more ground is lost although the bad phase doesn't last more than a week or two. Until most recently, that is. After visiting the doctor last week, who should be well informed on the subject of Alzheimer's, no intelligent help or advice was available. He basically said "This is to be expected" repeatedly, although he should know that Aricept is best for one year only, she's been on the drug for more than two years, and there are other medications available.

After waiting for 4 months for this appointment I expected him to explore choices, not say "Well, this is to be expected" so I'm thinking that a second opinion is in order. Perhaps we'll discover that a new doctor is in order because the goal here is to at least try to slow the progress of the disease to a point that a nursing home will not ever be necessary. My grammy had the worst fear of nursing homes and while she didn't foresee Alzheimer's and would not have held that choice against any of us if there's absolutely no other choice, seeing to it that her wishes are met if at all possible is essential. The goal is also to not allow personal emotions to either get us to that point sooner than necessary or refuse to admit it if that point is reached.

Wish me luck because the latter may be a problem in the future, I don't give in easily and neither does she.

For now, we are experiencing what is either an extra long bad phase or perhaps a permanent change. So the blogging has taken a back seat to other household projects I'd planned for spring but am doing now so my grammy will assist (read: pick on and laugh at me) and have something to focus on besides the confusion (and sadness) the disease inspires. I mean, imagine having to be told and living through the sense of loss each and every day, sometimes more than once, that your spouse and son among other loved ones have passed away; This is Alzheimers. Staying really busy is better than good so I'm entertaining her with my mad redecorating and home improvement skillz. Stuff falls on me lots and apparently this makes her really happy. haha

On a brighter note, we're very lucky that she's reached her current age without the disease having taken over completely. Anyone who knows anything about Alzheimer's will know that it is amazing that someone (even without Alzheimers at the age of 83) is still able to do so much for themselves, strive to be polite, and keep the ole sense of humor alive. I find myself laughing with her about certain things that one might not expect either of us to laugh about at all. Many times it is my trying to care for her that we are laughing at. We have lots of "Oh crap, if the young and sane one loses it then where will we be?!" moments, which prove to be pretty danged funny indeed. I thought by caring for her I'd learn a whole lot about what I'm made of, and I am, but I'm learning more about what tuff stuff this terrific lady is made of.

So, don't think for a second that I'm sleeping on the job while those pesky liberals harass our beloved Alito and make fools of themselves! I'm just juggling things from time to time with the peace of mind that you guys won't let them by with the b.s. without (well deserved) ridicule for even a second.

I'll be back to blogging (and ridiculing pesky liberals) real soon so remember, vote IMAO. Or I'll HURT you! ;)

Cat (and frog-dog) Bloggin' Yay!

Other than cuddling up with a significant other to watch a movie, going out with friends on a Friday night, or working, what could be more fun than cat bloggin'?

Nothing, I say!

Meet my cat, Logi. :)




Of course he's all grown up and way bigger than that now but this is possibly the cutest photo I've ever taken of any of my many cats.

He just crawled right in the dogs water bowl, which had been demoted and was for storing cheese before that, and went to sleep.

Connect the dots. I think he may be a little "Frenchy", if you know what I mean. haha

Logi is the son of Biddy (Iddy-Biddy, get it?) and brother of Loki, who I've blogged about before.

Biddy-




I discovered Biddy had been abandoned in the house of my dreams while house hunting over a year ago (by some people who moved back to Michigan and just left her there to die). Since she was a bag of bones and nursing kittens, and there was some type of black mold growing on the massive rock upon which the house was sitting, I didn't buy the house but scored a cat and her kittens. A home was easily found for Biddy once she was fattened up and her hair came back. She was a great guard cat, chasing people and dogs alike away from her territory (and a couple of them lived here). I miss her. *sigh* But, can't keep them all.

Her other kitten is Hara, who has also been found a home but had one fabulous Christmas with me before that.



Then there's Mr. Frog.



Mr. Frog is not a cat but is an extraordinary animal (for a frog, that is) who came to live in the little pond that I dug myself (read: huge mud hole, yeah it's not finished yet ok?!) and lets me take his photo just whenever I like (until he gets bored and hops away, anyhow). And yes, it has occurred to me that it's a different frog every single time so shuddup with all of that.


Here's a cross between Mr. Frog and my mom's dog, Prancer.



This was a "Cross Any Two Animals" photoshop contest hosted by a bunch of liberals in which there were no winners due to the fact that they think having losers damages people's self-esteem. Not giving a prize to the winner damages self-esteem if you ask me! And it's stupid. All this occurred to me only a few minutes in photoshop with this project so that's why it's not completely finished, I never did enter. No winners or prizes? Geez. It's kind of a creepy mix though, huh?

And this concludes this week's cat (and frog-dog) bloggin' because there's just nowhere to go from here but down.

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Can Anyone Guess What Time It Is?

No, it's not time for that.

It's time to vote for the IMAO Podcast on PodcastAlley.com.

Hooray, voting is fun!

Since nobody gives an intro like that funny spacemonkey, click on over to IMAO.

That's an order! :)

When Teh Funny Never Ends

This is quite possibly the best blonde joke ever, via Dr. Phat Tony's. Pee yourself funny, I tells ya. The only blonde joke that even competes with that blonde joke would be this blonde joke, which is suspiciously similar.

You be the judge!

A Must Read

Will The Post Print This? over at Crazy Politico's Rantings.

I don't know whether they will or not. I do hope Mr. Stokely, father of
SGT Michael James Stokely (KIA Operation Iraqi Freedom Aug 16, 2005), knows just how many admire his son so very much.

Product Review

The liberal friend and I were both on a quest for the perfect massage at home (and at will) so we made a date to check out all the different products that are out there now.

Since yelling "Go away, I'm dead!" didn't work...I was drug from the warm bed at an ungodly hour to have my hair done, too. Belated Christmas gift...yay.

The gay hair stylist who is pretty difficult to get an appointment with (I hear) was brought right to my house. I woke up a few times to say "Ouch!" and we were finished.

Actually, it was more like-
Ouch. Do you want me to turn? No. Ouch. Should I turn or something? No. Ouch. Are you certain this wouldn't be better if I turned? No! Just shut up about turning already! If I want you to turn I'll turn you! Wow, this isn't a bit like those fun happy gay stylist on TV giving makeovers. Well you aren't on TV, now are you?

Touché.

My hair turned out fabulous (yay!) and then we were off to get all massaged and destressified (throwing the sadistic hair stylist out along the way...bwahahaha). And by massaged I mean taken to the mall and strapped into four different massage chairs for 15 minute free trials and by destressified I mean not.

The sales lady from hell gave the liberal the remote and walked away every single time I found myself being shoved into yet another super expensive homicidal recliner so I was turned upside down and beaten up pretty badly by the 4, 5 and 2 thousand dollar chairs. "Full body massage" sounds good but really just means you'll be squished, pinched and tortured from your head to your toes to your fingertips.

At one point, nobody was paying attention to my woes and the most expensive chair of all layed back until my back was arched. Then after pushing my knees up/folding my legs as well (I'm pretty sure I almost got a date out of that position but I don't make a habit of paying much attention to men who attempt to chat me up while having their booty massaged) it proceeded to punch up and down the length of my back. Hard, and my hands and feet were trapped.

Yeah, they come running real fast when you struggle to free a hand and go for the boot knife to stab the pretty leather chair into submission.

Anywho, the liberal and I are in full agreement (for once), the Homedics Shiatsu Masseur (that's going for 100 smackeroos at Hechts) won, hands down. And not just because there was no crazy huge price tag (but that helps), no strapping me into a death trap, or sales lady at all (much less from hell) but because it was simply the best massage. Ever. (I went back for s'more to undo the damage done by all the other "trials".)

So, if you're interested in a little heaven in your chair after a long day's work (or watching TV, whatever) here it is. :)

Terrorize...Rescue. It's All the Same, Right?

Wrong.

(Hat Tip: First With Flair)

ATLANTA — "An Iraqi infant with severe birth defects is "engaging and interactive" as she awaits a lifesaving operation, her doctor said Monday.

Dr. Roger Hudgins, a pediatric neurosurgeon who agreed to operate on the three-month-old baby with spina bifida, told ABC's "Good Morning America" that Baby Noor al-Zahra could have some paralysis or weakness in her legs after the operation.

"Quality of life is very important but if we don't get rid of this defect it will eventually take her life as well," he said.

The child left Baghdad in a military transport plane Friday, accompanied by her grandmother and father.

U.S. troops discovered the baby three weeks ago during a raid of a house in Abu Ghraib, a poverty-stricken district west of Baghdad. The soldiers noticed paralysis in the baby's legs and what the thought was a tumor on her back.

They later learned the 3-month-old child had spina bifida, a birth defect in which the backbone and spinal cord do not close before birth. The "tumor" on the baby's back was actually a fluid-filled sac containing part of the spinal cord and membranes that are supposed to cover the spinal cord.


Read more.

Now what was that John Kerry said again? Oh yeah.



"And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children..."

(The Political Teen has the "John Kerry Said What?!" video)


Someone should let Kerry in on the little secret that actions speak louder than words.

Democrats: Are They Trying...

to lose their asses?




"Democrats on Capitol Hill are drafting a strategy to attack the Bush administration and Republicans as having little regard for the privacy of Americans.
"We will initiate at the beginning of this year one of the most serious debates and discussions on Capitol Hill in our history about individual rights and liberties," Minority Whip Richard J. Durbin said just before Christmas.

The topic will be a major focus of the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of federal Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. as privacy rights -- the political code phrase for abortion rights -- already has become a major issue, Mr. Durbin said.

Democratic leaders then plan to keep the issue alive as they continue their opposition to key parts of the USA Patriot Act, which is set to expire in early February unless extended.

But the real payoff, Democrats say, will be the hearings into President Bush's authorization of warrantless spying on terror suspects. Already, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, said he wants to hold hearings on the matter."

"Voters, Republicans say, will agree with Mr. Bush's decision to use extraordinary efforts to thwart terrorist plots and already support the Patriot Act as an effective tool in the fight against terrorists.
"Essentially, Democratic leaders themselves have exposed the weak underbelly of the Democratic platform," said Mr. Madden, noting that key Democrats such as Mrs. Pelosi have advocated an immediate withdrawal from Iraq.
"At a time when our military is fighting a war in Iraq against terrorists, while the law-enforcement community is trying to track them down is an effort to prevent attacks here at home, Democrats are advocating retreat on the battlefield while seeking to restrict law enforcement's pursuit of terror suspects already amongst us," he said.
Senate Republicans say the strategy reminds them of the Democrats -- such as former Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia -- who opposed the creation of the Homeland Security Department after the 2001 terrorist attacks.
One Republican aide said he looks forward to posting pictures of Mr. Cleland around the Capitol during the Patriot Act debate as a warning to Democrats that they will face a similar political demise."

I've come to the conclusion that many Democrats fit into the category of those who actually enjoy having their asses handed to them on a regular basis.

Not that there's anything wrong with that...