Spectre's Blog

The anti-war left confounds and exasperates me =/

Tonight I listened to a focus group from the Democratic debate.  One of the attendees said he was for Obama because he would immediately pull troops out of Iraq.  He further revealed that his brother-in-law served in Iraq and was back, but having some mental challenges.  So what if he had been in Afghanistan?  Because it’s a “legitimate” war would his brother-in-law not have the same (understandable) post-war problems?

No matter your feelings about Iraq, we’re there and we must prevail –period!  UBL himself gleefully played Iraq as the central battle ground for the WOT.  For months and months the Democrats tried to paint Iraq as a civil war and how it was unwinnable, (of course they didn’t mind our intervention into Darfur’s civil war).  Now that the surge is showing very good signs of success, the war is relegated to page A12, they’ve even shelved the ridiculous “death count” page now that they can’t stick this in our faces daily.  As I’ve blogged in the past, I’ve stood on the ramp at OIA and watched the honorable procession of a military escort of one of our area’s fallen heroes.  I’ve seen young widows, children, parents and siblings – with their sorrow overflowing.  It’s a sensation hard to describe as you feel their pain, but also the respect and honor for the ultimate sacrifice of a service member. 

In typical fashion, another focus group member spoke of her desire for a department of peace.  What a silly notion, we have that:  it’s called the Department of Defense!

Although its apparent both in the front pages of newspapers and the presidential election, the war in Iraq is not the focal-point (disaster?) they had hoped for….In a sense, one could argue that President Bush has been too successful in the WOT.  Hear me out – since we made Iraq and Afghanistan the central fronts for the war, being on offense has made the nation safer, (note the context).  Democrats want us to return to a September 10, 2001 sentiment.  They talk tough on terror, but drag their feet in funding the war effort, while diminishing our intelligence resources holding wasteful hearings and worrying about Geneva Convention violations of blood-thirsty killers that want to saw off our heads.  If you really want to understand the evil we face, it’s relatively easy to find Internet videos of such gruesome death.  Once you understand our enemy, their motivations and their desire to kill Americans, perhaps you will understand when wars are necessary.

Interestingly, with victory in sight, but not guaranteed, the Democrats, (lead by a powerful hard left element in America) are working hard to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. 

I hope I live long enough to see how history judges this period in America.

In this day and age with endless cameras, especially traffic CAMS, it will only be a matter of time before the horrific scene is shown on TV and/or the Internet.  In one respect, it will be useful for the forensic engineering analysis of the collapse, but I feel bad for the family & friends that will re-live the deaths of their loved ones, (reminiscent of 9/11).

Given this recent development at the U.N. (it’s about time); let me AX a question that has been nagging me for a long time.  The political Left in America has been urging the President to send troops to Darfur, (remember the commercials & Hollyweird crowd)?  I find this paradoxical given the fact that the Left is constantly whining that Iraq is a civil war, when clearly the situation in Darfur is a civil war.  Thoughts?

In the words of Foghorn-Leghorn, “Lookey-HE-AH.  I SAY in the months of May & June, all of the local weathercasts were “talking-up” the drought and fire index.  Now that we’ve had record rainfall for the month of July, there is a subtle hint of “rain-rain go-away” about the rainfall!  Speaking of rain, where are we in terms of our shortages, etc?  Again, in May/June nary any weathercast would be remiss without the rainfall “DEFAH-SIT” metrics.  Whuts up with dat?

Former Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong,  appears in superior court for a motions hearing in Durham, N.C., Thursday, July 26, 2007. Nifong acknowledged Thursday there is "no credible evidence" that three Duke lacrosse players committed any of the crimes he accused them of more than a year ago, offering for the first time a complete and unqualified apology. 

 Looks like disbarred former D.A. Mike Nifong has changed his looks, (colors?) and although this is clearly a face of contrition, frankly, “I’m saw-wee boyz” just doesn’t seem to cut-it!  Even O. J. Simpson was afforded the presumption of innocence!  From the beginning, the case was dubious at best, but Nifong used this travesty of justice to gain political capital in the Black community in his successful re-election campaign.  Remember the pompous, bathrobe-clad arrogance Nifong exhibited in the face of significant exculpatory evidence?  Where do the Duke Lacrosse players go to “get their good names back?”  I say in addition to disbarment, he joins the ranks of other criminals....behind bars!

This is why you shouldn't go to bed early!  Uh-oh, better get MAACO! Looks like Billy-the-Kid is reconsidering his move to the MAGIC. Works for me, now instead of being blue and I might be orange again too! What took you so long Billy??? I hope you have a good lawya! Sources: Donovan wants out of Magic deal Story Tools:  Print   Email   Blog This   Subscribe Jeff Goodman / FOXSports.com
Jeff Goodman."-->Posted: 2 minutes ago   --> Billy Donovan is having second thoughts.

BlogJam ...
What's going on in Gainesville? Looks like Billy Donovan wants to come back to the Gators. Is it a wise move? Weigh in with your thoughts.

Donovan agreed to a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Magic late last week, but has approached both sides about getting out of the deal.

Donovan has not yet signed the deal with Orlando.

According to one source, Donovan was forced to make a rash decision by the Magic management — and he regretted it shortly after agreeing to the contract.

Speculation centered on VCU coach and former Gators assistant Anthony Grant replacing Donovan quickly. In fact, Grant was slated to meet with Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley on Saturday morning.

However, shortly after landing in Virginia, Foley had to return due to an emergency. One source confirmed that the emergency was that Donovan contacted Foley about returning.

Grant addressed the situation in a statement released by VCU.

"Due to the amount of media speculation regarding my involvement with the University of Florida coaching vacancy, I felt it necessary to address the situation," Grant said in the statement. "I have been contacted by the University of Florida regarding the coaching vacancy.

"I have not had any in-person contact with any Florida representative, nor have I been offered the job," Grant continued. "At this point, I will have no further comment on the situation. All my focus is on my responsibilities at VCU."

Grant, 41, is considered the clear-cut favorite to take the place of Donovan. Grant coached alongside Donovan for a decade at Florida and two seasons at Marshall and led VCU to the second round of the NCAA tournament this past season after a first-round upset of Duke.

Donovan, 42, led the Gators to consecutive national titles over the past two seasons and was slated to sign a seven-year deal worth approximately $3.5 million annually. The deal was still in the process of being approved when he accepted the deal with the Magic.

Donovan was introduced by the Orlando Magic at a news conference on Friday.

If Donovan had a change of heart, it wouldn't be the first in college basketball.

Creighton coach Dana Altman was introduced as Arkansas' new basketball coach earlier this spring, then decided to return to Creighton two days later.

Altman's reversal was not without precedent. In 1993, Bobby Cremins accepted the South Carolina job, then reneged two days later and returned to Georgia Tech.

Well I guess John Edward's needs to reconsider his WOT Bumper Sticker statement.....I know, I know this is some type of "Bush" Administration ploy.......

Hmmm so far we have the Fort Dix SIx and now this!

Saturday, June 02, 2007

• E-MAIL STORY
• PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION

 FNC

Sketch of Russell Defreitas

NEW YORK —  Four Muslim men were foiled from carrying out a plot to destroy John F. Kennedy International Airport, kill thousands of people and trigger an economic catastrophe by blowing up a jet fuel artery that runs through populous residential neighborhoods, authorities said Saturday.

Three men were arrested and one was being sought in Trinidad on Saturday. In an indictment charging the four men, one of them is quoted as saying the plot would "cause greater destruction than in the Sept. 11 attacks."

Authorities said the four were motivated by a pattern of hatred toward the U.S., Israel and the West.

One of the suspects, Russell Defreitas, a U.S. citizen native to Guyana and retired JFK employee, said the airport was a symbol that would put "the whole country in mourning."

"Anytime you hit Kennedy, it is the most hurtful thing to the United States," he said on a recording made by a police informant. "They love John F. Kennedy like he's the man ... It's like you can kill the man twice."

The plot, which the men code-named "Chicken Farm," never got past the planning stages, authorities said.

• "The devastation that would be caused had this plot succeeded is just unthinkable," U.S. Attorney Roslynn R. Mauskopf said at a news conference, calling it "one of the most chilling plots imaginable."

The men tried to reach out to a Trinidadian radical Muslim group, Jamaat al Muslimeen, which launched an unsuccessful rebellion in 1990 that left 24 dead.

Defreitas, a 63-year-old Brooklyn resident, first hatched his plan more than a decade ago when he worked as a cargo handler for a service company, according to the indictment. He was recorded saying he "wanted to do something to get those bastards."

He was arraigned Saturday afternoon in federal court and was to be held pending a bail hearing scheduled for Wednesday, prosecutors said. He did not enter a plea at the arraignment, and a phone number for his lawyer could not be located.

Two other men, Abdul Kadir of Guyana and Kareem Ibrahim of Trinidad, were in custody in Trinidad. A fourth man, Abdel Nur of Guyana, was still being sought in Trinidad.

The suspects believed explosives could ignite the pipeline at JFK and destroy the airport and parts of Queens, where the line runs underground, according to the indictment. In

The pipeline, owned by Buckeye Pipeline Co., takes fuel from a facility in Linden, N.J., to the airport. Other lines service LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport.

Kadir, a former member of Parliament in Guyana, was arrested in Trinidad for attempting to secure money for "terrorist operations," according to a Guyanese police commander who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Kadir left his position in Parliament last year. Muslims make up about 9 percent of the former Dutch and British colony's 770,000 population, mostly from the Sunni sect.

Isha Kadir, the Guyanese suspect's wife, said her husband flew from Guyana to Trinidad on Thursday. She said he was arrested Friday as he was boarding a flight from Trinidad to Venezuela, where he planned to pick up a travel visa to attend an Islamic religious conference in Iran.

"We have no interest in blowing up anything in the U.S.," she said Saturday from the couple's home in Guyana. "We have relatives in the U.S."

Investigators received information about the plot in January 2006, according to the indictment.

Buckeye spokesman Roy Haase said the company, which moves petroleum through pipelines in a number of states, had been informed of the threat from the beginning, but he declined to detail the company's security measures.

"Given the nature of Buckeye business and the importance of this transportation network, we have an intense and ongoing communications relationship with the Port Authority, the New York City fire and police departments, the federal Department of Homeland Security and the FBI," he said.

JFK and the area's other airports remained at a heightened state of alert Saturday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.

Jeanie Mamo, a spokeswoman for the White House, said President Bush had been briefed and updated regularly as the investigation into the plot progressed.

The arrests mark the latest in a series of alleged homegrown terrorism plots targeting high-profile American landmarks.

A year ago, seven men were arrested in what officials called the early stages of a plot to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago and destroy FBI offices and other buildings.

A month later, authorities broke up a plot to bomb underwater New York City train tunnels to flood lower Manhattan.

And six people were arrested a month ago in an alleged plot to unleash a bloody rampage on Fort Dix in New Jersey.

..A culture of cronyism and incompetence has pervaded the federal government since President Bush took office, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton told the Monitor yesterday. In a speech scheduled to take place at St. Anselm College in Manchester this afternoon, Clinton will outline a series of proposals designed to restore voters' "faith in government." "There's been such a deterioration in our expectations about our government," Clinton, a New York senator, said in a telephone interview yesterday, on the eve of what her campaign is billing as a major policy address. "We cannot remain a strong leader in the world, nor can we tackle our challenges at home . . . if we don't have confidence that our government can actually perform." Clinton reeled off a litany of what she described as recent government failures: the handling of Hurricane Katrina, no-bid contracts going to private companies for work in Iraq and the outsourcing of work to expensive contractors. In the past six years, the number of private contractors working for the government has increased by 2.4 million, Clinton said....

This just an excerpt of the litany of complaints about the Bush Administration spouted by Shillary this past week, but I was particularly “riled” with her propagation of the lie about Haliburton (KBR) and no-bid contracts in Iraq. *** HYPOCRITE ALERT *** KBR has been a DOD contractor dating back decades, (BC – Before Cheney). Anyone remember Kosovo? It seems that another President’s administration used KBR with exclusive contracts for logistics and construction projects along the lines of their current role in Iraq…….Oh why can’t I remember his name?? It’s right at the tip-of-my-tongue! I think it starts with a C, yes that’s it: President Clinton! First and foremost, there is probably no other firm that can fulfill this mission, but there’s more to the story – read on!

And don't get me started on the Katrina lie...Take a look at Mississippi -- they're taking care of business, while Charlie in the Chocolate Factory (Nagin) and Guvnah Blanco blame each other & FEMA......It's going to be fun to watch Shrillary debate Bush during the election cycle!  (Shhh....don't tell her he's not running again)!

NYC Mayor Bloomberg “stings” then sues Virginia Gun Shops for straw man gun sales.

This story really caught my eye.  NYC’s Republican-In-Name-Only (RINO) Mayor Bloomberg literally conducted undercover operations against Virginia gun shops for their role in illegal guns in NYC.  Thankfully, Virginia is fighting back and the investigators that bought the guns in an attempt to highlight “straw man” sales, might have broken federal laws in their subterfuge.  More troubling is the fact that Bloomberg is targeting legally-sanctioned retailers.  I suspect that most of the illegal guns in NYC are from theft, smuggling rings and the mob, (just like in Puerto Rico).  I understand the equation, 8 million people versus 200,000 cops, but this is not the solution!

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070509/D8P0H7DG0.
html

Uh-oh, here we go again, another Democratic governor playing the Katrina card! Hours after the disaster that struck the quaint community of Greesburg, KS, the Governor, abdicated her role as a leader-in-crises to postulate on “equipment shortages” due to National Guard deployments in Iraq. Of course, Pat “Leaky” Lahey, (D-VT) had to get his “sound bite” for the 6PM newscasts about more concern for Iraqi’s than Americans. How pathetic!

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration and Kansas' governor started Tuesday pointing fingers at each other over the response to last week's devastating tornado. By lunchtime, both sides had backed down. With President Bush set to travel to now-razed Greensburg, Kan., on Wednesday to view the destruction wrought by Friday's 205 mph twister, Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said she planned to talk with him about her contention that National Guard deployments to Iraq hampered the disaster response. "I don't think there is any question if you are missing trucks, Humvees and helicopters that the response is going to be slower," she said Monday. "The real victims here will be the residents of Greensburg, because the recovery will be at a slower pace." Sebelius said that with other states facing similar limitations, "stuff that we would have borrowed is gone." (AP) Postal inspector Paul Mezzanotte, left, and MSGT Lawayne Smith, right, raise a flag over the... Full Image White House press secretary Tony Snow fought back aggressively. In an approach reminiscent of the blame game played by the White House with another Democratic governor, Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana, after the federal government's botched response to Hurricane Katrina, Snow at first said the fault for any slow response would be Sebelius'. He said she should have followed procedure by finding gaps and then asking the federal government to fill them - but didn't. "If you don't request it, you're not going to get it," he told reporters Tuesday morning. Snow said no one had asked for heavy equipment. "As far as we know, the only thing the governor has requested are FM radios," the spokesman said. Well, not exactly. At Snow's second, midday briefing with reporters, he offered that it turned out that the state had requested several items that the federal government supplied - those radios, and also a mobile command center and a mobile office building, an urban search and rescue team and coordination on extra Black Hawk helicopters. Snow recounted a phone conversation on Tuesday between Sebelius and Bush's White House-based homeland security adviser, Fran Townsend, in which the governor said she was pleased with the federal performance on the tornado and had everything she needed. About the same time, Sebelius was doing her own backpedal from across the country. Her spokeswoman, Nicole Corcoran, said the governor didn't mean to imply that the state was ill-equipped to deal with this storm. Sebelius' comments about National Guard equipment were, instead, meant as a warning about the state's inability to handle additional disasters, such as another tornado or severe flooding, she said. "We are doing absolutely fine right now," Corcoran said. "What the governor is talking about is down the road." Sebelius has long spoken out about the fallout from sending National Guard units and equipment overseas. She says the war in Iraq is damaging domestic disaster readiness, because needed manpower is drained from states and the Pentagon is not replacing equipment at a fast enough rate. Sebelius said she asked the Pentagon in December to replenish lost resources. She also said she spoke about the issue at great length with Bush when he was in Kansas in January 2006, and that Bush assured her that the money for replacements was in his budget. Snow said the president recognizes there is a need to relieve pressure on the National Guard, and that it is one of the main reasons Bush has called for expanding the overall size of the military. But he also said that, regardless, there still are sizable numbers of personnel and equipment around the country ready to respond to disasters. "If you take a look at the way the National Guard units are dispersed, you still have considerable strength in each state," he said. --- Associated Press writer John Milburn contributed to this story.

Hey central Florida, we all know about disasters!  Imagine a whole town flattened with little or no warning. 

 If you've seen the photos of this devestated community, it looks more like Hiroshima than a small Kansas town.

Take the time to donate to either the Red Cross or the Salvation Army 

Let's show our fellow Americans that charity begins @ home!

• My apologies if this has been posted before.  In the context of many of the blogs in this forum that lament what's happening in America, I could not articulate more eloqently the slow demise of our great nation.  Here's a Democrat I could support!

(Former Colorado Governor,  Richard Lamm)

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTIC
LE_ID=50997

I’m still smartin’ from little ‘ol Hurricane Charlie, a mere Category I hurricane.

It cost me a new roof and spoiled food.  Fool me once shame on you, fool me after [3 hurricanes] shame on me! 

Since Charlie, we’ve added a Chain Saw & a 5500 Watt Generator.  As I mentioned in a previous weather blog, I have a two-wheeled Rubber Maid-storage container for my “hurricane kit.”

 In the box, I have spare matches, candles, Ziploc bags, duct tape, tarps, canned goods and extra flashlights.  We drink tons of bottled water, so don’t forget the H₂O!

 I store batteries in a cool, dark location and I have my weather radio on stand-by 24/7.

 In addition to the above preparation items, I purchased storm panels for all of my exterior windows.  During Charlie, I had to use fencing and Tapcons – not a pretty sight.  I’ve just about completed pre-installing all of the panel fasteners.  From now on, all I have to do is slap on the panels and tighten the wing nuts!  I’m fortunate that my neighborhood is served by natural gas.  I purchased a conversion kit and now I can run Tri-fuels if necessary! I poured a concrete pad with tie-downs for securing and wired (within code) to my 200A panel. ß The only item left for me to purchase is a small room window A/C 

 Since most of us are now certified hurricane “vets” what are some of your “lessons learned” or suggestions for the rest of us?  (Note – Having the FEMA 800 number on speed-dial doesn’t count)!

 Take advantage of the “Hurricane Preparedness Tax-free Holiday.”

 Here’s another useful resource:  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtmla>