Drake Nation / Specific Sports Topic Forums / Smack Talk Lounge

St. Louis U.

LurkingDog — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:26:41 GMT

I hereby retract any suggestion I ever made that SLU should join the Missouri Valley Conference. They have to clean up their act first.

Linkiken

BTW, they did a terrible job of describing what a "train" is. No imagery at all.

Watching Iowa State sweat...

DU1978nowSF — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:26:39 GMT

I gotta admit it was fun watching the cyclone fans sweat last week last week nervous
that they would be downgraded to a "mid-major" conference....

Tiger woods VS Porn Star

Big Bull — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 12:59:32 GMT

Does anyone in their right mind really think that Gloria Allred and her porn star client only want an apology from Tiger Woods? Only if it comes with his signature and 7 figures.

Can you say Palomony?

Never saw this on the news ....

Mc Bulldog — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:40:15 GMT

Where were all the arschluck networks when this should have been the headline?

link

Guess Who's Been Sober For Almost 90 days???

Mc Bulldog — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:40:43 GMT

Guess Who's Been Sober For Almost 90 days???/
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Just a little bit more government

Mc Bulldog — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:27:12 GMT

I do not know if this is for real, but if it is, it is scary. If you know of someone who needs a job, here are some opportunities.

New Federal Bureaucracies Created in Pelosi Health Care Bill

November 2, 2009

The House Republican Conference has compiled a list of all the new
boards, bureaucracies, commissions, and programs created in H.R. 3962,
Speaker Pelosi's government takeover of health care:

1. Retiree Reserve Trust Fund (Section 111(d), p. 61)
2. Grant program for wellness programs to small employers (Section 112,
p. 62)
3. Grant program for State health access programs (Section 114, p. 72)
4. Program of administrative simplification (Section 115, p. 76)
5. Health Benefits Advisory Committee (Section 223, p. 111)
6. Health Choices Administration (Section 241, p. 131)
7. Qualified Health Benefits Plan Ombudsman (Section 244, p. 138)
8. Health Insurance Exchange (Section 201, p. 155)
9. Program for technical assistance to employees of small businesses
buying Exchange coverage (Section 305(h), p. 191)
10. Mechanism for insurance risk pooling to be established by Health
Choices Commissioner (Section 306(b), p. 194)
11. Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund (Section 307, p. 195)
12. State-based Health Insurance Exchanges (Section 308, p. 197)
13. Grant program for health insurance cooperatives (Section 310, p. 206)
14. "Public Health Insurance Option" (Section 321, p. 211)
15. Ombudsman for "Public Health Insurance Option" (Section 321(d), p. 213)
16. Account for receipts and disbursements for "Public Health Insurance
Option" (Section 322(b), p. 215)
17. Telehealth Advisory Committee (Section 1191 (b), p. 589)
18. Demonstration program providing reimbursement for "culturally and
linguistically appropriate services" (Section 1222, p. 617)
19. Demonstration program for shared decision making using patient
decision aids (Section 1236, p. 648)
20. Accountable Care Organization pilot program under Medicare (Section
1301, p. 653)
21. Independent patient-centered medical home pilot program under
Medicare (Section 1302, p. 672)
22. Community-based medical home pilot program under Medicare (Section
1302(d), p. 681)
23. Independence at home demonstration program (Section 1312, p. 718)
24. Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research (Section 1401(a), p. 734)
25. Comparative Effectiveness Research Commission (Section 1401(a), p. 738)
26. Patient ombudsman for comparative effectiveness research (Section
1401(a), p. 753)
27. Quality assurance and performance improvement program for skilled
nursing facilities (Section 1412(b)(1), p. 784)
28. Quality assurance and performance improvement program for nursing
facilities (Section 1412 (b)(2), p. 786)
29. Special focus facility program for skilled nursing facilities
(Section 1413(a)(3), p. 796)
30. Special focus facility program for nursing facilities (Section
1413(b)(3), p. 804)
31. National independent monitor pilot program for skilled nursing
facilities and nursing facilities (Section 1422, p. 859)
32. Demonstration program for approved teaching health centers with
respect to Medicare GME (Section 1502(d), p. 933)
33. Pilot program to develop anti-fraud compliance systems for Medicare
providers (Section 1635, p. 978)
34. Special Inspector General for the Health Insurance Exchange (Section
1647, p. 1000)
35. Medical home pilot program under Medicaid (Section 1722, p. 1058)
36. Accountable Care Organization pilot program under Medicaid (Section
1730A, p. 1073)
37. Nursing facility supplemental payment program (Section 1745, p. 1106)
38. Demonstration program for Medicaid coverage to stabilize emergency
medical conditions in institutions for mental diseases (Section 1787, p.
1149)
39. Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund (Section 1802, p. 1162)
40. "Identifiable office or program" within CMS to "provide for improved
coordination between Medicare and Medicaid in the case of dual
eligibles" (Section 1905, p. 1191)
41. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (Section 1907, p. 1198)
42. Public Health Investment Fund (Section 2002, p. 1214)
43. Scholarships for service in health professional needs areas (Section
2211, p. 1224)
44. Program for training medical residents in community-based settings
(Section 2214, p. 1236)
45. Grant program for training in dentistry programs (Section 2215, p. 1240)
46. Public Health Workforce Corps (Section 2231, p. 1253)
47. Public health workforce scholarship program (Section 2231, p. 1254)
48. Public health workforce loan forgiveness program (Section 2231, p. 1258)
49. Grant program for innovations in interdisciplinary care (Section
2252, p. 1272)
50. Advisory Committee on Health Workforce Evaluation and Assessment
(Section 2261, p. 1275)
51. Prevention and Wellness Trust (Section 2301, p. 1286)
52. Clinical Prevention Stakeholders Board (Section 2301, p. 1295)
53. Community Prevention Stakeholders Board (Section 2301, p. 1301)
54. Grant program for community prevention and wellness research
(Section 2301, p. 1305)
55. Grant program for research and demonstration projects related to
wellness incentives (Section 2301, p. 1305)
56. Grant program for community prevention and wellness services
(Section 2301, p. 1308)
57. Grant program for public health infrastructure (Section 2301, p. 1313)
58. Center for Quality Improvement (Section 2401, p. 1322)
59. Assistant Secretary for Health Information (Section 2402, p. 1330)
60. Grant program to support the operation of school-based health
clinics (Section 2511, p. 1352)
61. Grant program for nurse-managed health centers (Section 2512, p. 1361)
62. Grants for labor-management programs for nursing training (Section
2521, p. 1372)
63. Grant program for interdisciplinary mental and behavioral health
training (Section 2522, p. 1382)
64. "No Child Left Unimmunized Against Influenza" demonstration grant
program (Section 2524, p. 1391)
65. Healthy Teen Initiative grant program regarding teen pregnancy
(Section 2526, p. 1398)
66. Grant program for interdisciplinary training, education, and
services for individuals with autism (Section 2527(a), p. 1402)
67. University centers for excellence in developmental disabilities
education (Section 2527(b), p. 1410)
68. Grant program to implement medication therapy management services
(Section 2528, p. 1412)
69. Grant program to promote positive health behaviors in underserved
communities (Section 2530, p. 1422)
70. Grant program for State alternative medical liability laws (Section
2531, p. 1431)
71. Grant program to develop infant mortality programs (Section 2532, p.
1433)
72. Grant program to prepare secondary school students for careers in
health professions (Section 2533, p. 1437)
73. Grant program for community-based collaborative care (Section 2534,
p. 1440)
74. Grant program for community-based overweight and obesity prevention
(Section 2535, p. 1457)
75. Grant program for reducing the student-to-school nurse ratio in
primary and secondary schools (Section 2536, p. 1462)
76. Demonstration project of grants to medical-legal partnerships
(Section 2537, p. 1464)
77. Center for Emergency Care under the Assistant Secretary for
Preparedness and Response (Section 2552, p. 1478)
78. Council for Emergency Care (Section 2552, p 1479)
79. Grant program to support demonstration programs that design and
implement regionalized emergency care systems (Section 2553, p. 1480)
80. Grant program to assist veterans who wish to become emergency
medical technicians upon discharge (Section 2554, p. 1487)
81. Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee (Section 2562, p. 1494)
82. National Medical Device Registry (Section 2571, p. 1501)
83. CLASS Independence Fund (Section 2581, p. 1597)
84. CLASS Independence Fund Board of Trustees (Section 2581, p. 1598)
85. CLASS Independence Advisory Council (Section 2581, p. 1602)
86. Health and Human Services Coordinating Committee on Women's Health
(Section 2588, p. 1610)
87. National Women's Health Information Center (Section 2588, p. 1611)
88. Centers for Disease Control Office of Women's Health (Section 2588,
p. 1614)
89. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Office of Women's Health
and Gender-Based Research (Section 2588, p. 1617)
90. Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Women's
Health (Section 2588, p. 1618)
91. Food and Drug Administration Office of Women's Health (Section 2588,
p. 1621)
92. Personal Care Attendant Workforce Advisory Panel (Section
2589(a)(2), p. 1624)
93. Grant program for national health workforce online training (Section
2591, p. 1629)
94. Grant program to disseminate best practices on implementing health
workforce investment programs (Section 2591, p. 1632)
95. Demonstration program for chronic shortages of health professionals
(Section 3101, p. 1717)
96. Demonstration program for substance abuse counselor educational
curricula (Section 3101, p. 1719)
97. Program of Indian community education on mental illness (Section
3101, p. 1722)
98. Intergovernmental Task Force on Indian environmental and nuclear
hazards (Section 3101, p. 1754)
99. Office of Indian Men's Health (Section 3101, p. 1765)
100. Indian Health facilities appropriation advisory board (Section
3101, p. 1774)
101. Indian Health facilities needs assessment workgroup (Section 3101,
p. 1775)
102. Indian Health Service tribal facilities joint venture demonstration
projects (Section 3101, p. 1809)
103. Urban youth treatment center demonstration project (Section 3101,
p. 1873)
104. Grants to Urban Indian Organizations for diabetes prevention
(Section 3101, p. 1874)
105. Grants to Urban Indian Organizations for health IT adoption
(Section 3101, p. 1877)
106. Mental health technician training program (Section 3101, p. 1898)
107. Indian youth telemental health demonstration project (Section 3101,
p. 1909)
108. Program for treatment of child sexual abuse victims and
perpetrators (Section 3101, p. 1925)
109. Program for treatment of domestic violence and sexual abuse
(Section 3101, p. 1927)
110. Native American Health and Wellness Foundation (Section 3103, p. 1966)
111. Committee for the Establishment of the Native American Health and
Wellness Foundation (Section 3103, p. 1968)

Anyone know where Blue Jay Cafe went?

DU1978nowSF — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:36:04 GMT

It was interesting hearing how much they hated our beloved school. And to tell you the truth.... most times incomprehensible.

Instructional Video for usmg dog

Dawg_tired — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:43:14 GMT

You'll find this extremely helpful.

Helpforamarine

Powerball / Hot Lotto

Mc Bulldog — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:14:59 GMT

I've got this feeling .... I'm going to win one or both tonight!

Picture of DawgTired ...

Mc Bulldog — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:06:04 GMT

- Just so everyone knows what the guy looks like behind his posts .....

As always, being from Iowa makes me proud.

DU1978nowSF — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:26:50 GMT

I think after todays ruling I can say no more.

Peter Schiff Was Right 2006 - 2007

Mc Bulldog — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:07:56 GMT

-
linkage

Its about 48 Hours from the Polls Closing

DU1978nowSF — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:20:36 GMT

I have put alot of stuff up on Drake Nation regarding the race but I want everyone to know that whoever wins that person will be my President.

In the end we are all Americans and only want the best for our Nation.

At this hour there is only on thing to say:

God Bless America

Is This The Epitome of Hopeless?

Mc Bulldog — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:13:14 GMT

Democracies Die When Liberty Gives Way to Dependence

Terry Paulson
Sunday, November 02, 2008

McCain has Joe the Plummer. Obama has Peggy Joseph. Interviewed after an Obama campaign event in Sarasota, Florida, Peggy emotionally summarized what it means to her for Barack Obama to be president: "It was the most memorable time of my life. It was a touching moment, because I never thought this day would happen. I won't have to worry about putting gas in my car. I won't have to worry about paying my mortgage. You know, if I, if I help him [Barack], he’s gonna help me!"

If that doesn’t send fears down your spine, ponder the words of the Scottish jurist and historian, Sir Alexander Fraser Tytler. Over 200 years ago, he provided a chilling observation on the fall of theAthenian Republic. America has been a beacon of liberty and hope for our citizens and the world for over 230 years. But Tytler warned of the natural rise and fall of every democracy: "A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over a loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been two hundred years. These nations have progressed through this sequence; from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; from dependency back again into bondage."

Our next president will set America's course for the next decade. We’re running deficits in Washington and most of our major states. The growing costs for Medicare, employee pensions, and social security are out of control, and there's no political consensus or will to deal with these runaway entitlements. We vote to approve bonds that don’t raise taxes now but pass more debt on to future generations.

In America today, it's hard to win elections by talking about cutting government spending—saying "no" to anything or anyone at election time is a sure way of losing votes. As a result, too many Americans are becoming addicted to government saving them from their own failure to live within their means. Democrats play the enabler! Capitalizing on that addiction, Democrats promise more if Americans just give them full control in Washington.

Starting during President Johnson's term, our country tried spending our way to becoming a very compassionate country. Over three decades, our government invested 5.4 trillion dollars in welfare payments in our "War on Poverty." The investment would have been worth it, if it had worked, but it didn't eliminate poverty.

In fact, the results of this type of government-run compassion have been devastating, creating a debilitating dependence on the very programs that were designed to help. Ronald Reagan said it well: "Welfare's purpose should be to eliminate, as far as possible, the need for its own existence."

Compassion should be measured by how many people no longer need government programs instead of by how many are served by them. We need a safety net, not a hammock. As our first Republican President Abraham Lincoln said, "The worst thing you can do for those you love is the thing they could and should do for themselves."

We've gone from protecting the unfortunate to supporting the irresponsible. In fact, many liberal politicians seem to want to keep citizens dependent on government. They hate poverty so much that they reward it! Unfortunately, whatever you reward you get more of! So if my response to your entry-level job is to raise your minimum wage beyond its market value, you're more likely to stay in that dead-end job. Why go to college or learn a new skill if you can get enough money settling for a job with minimum skills?

Republicans support economic tough love that challenges all citizens to better themselves. A free-market economy rewards achievement and not anything less. Is that mean-spirited? We loved our son enough to teach him early that in a competitive world you don’t get everything you want just because you want it. We showed him our love, but we also let him know that he would experience the consequences for his own choices. If he didn't save his money, he wouldn't have money to spend. If he got in trouble in school, he'd be accountable not excused.

In America, all citizens are guaranteed "the pursuit of happiness," not happiness given to them by a controlling government. Democrats would have you believe that every American is entitled to full healthcare, welfare, and high wages whether they've earned it or not. And, of course, who is supposed to pay for all these entitlements, those greedy, "wealthy" Americans who already pay most of the taxes! Will Rogers said it years ago, "I remember back when a liberal was someone who was generous with his own money."

Gerald Ford summed it up well, "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have." Socialism is not new. It's failed wherever it has been tried. It won’t help you achieve your dreams; it will only punish and stifle your success! Obama believes you can't live the American Dream without taking your neighbor's money to give you another entitlement. That's not the American Dream; that's a nightmare.

On Becoming Expatriates ...

Mc Bulldog — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:03:17 GMT

This morning, a friend suggested we all head for Australia. I say we lay-over at Bora Bora.

He also included a good joke to help ease the reality. We actually had idiot neighbors who shot off fireworks until 1:00 am.

joke -

After 20 years of marriage, a couple was lying in bed one evening, when the wife felt her husband begin to fondle her in ways he hadn't in quite some time.
It almost tickled as his fingers started at her neck, and then began moving down past the small of her back.
He then caressed her shoulders and neck, slowly worked his hand down over her breasts, stopping just over her lower stomach.
He then proceeded to place his hand on her left inner arm, caressed past the side of her breast again, working down her side, passed gently over
her buttock and down her leg to her calf. Then, he proceeded up her inner thigh, stopping just at the uppermost portion of her leg. He continued in the same manner on her right side, then suddenly stopped, rolled over and started to watch the tv.

As she had become quite aroused by this caressing, she asked in a loving voice,

'That was wonderful. Why did you stop?'

He said, 'I found the remote'

How Much Change Can You Stand?

Mc Bulldog — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:00:05 GMT

How Much Change Can You Stand

Stick this on your bulletin board. George Bush has been in office for 7½ years. The first six the economy was fine. A little over one year ago:

1. Consumer confidence stood at a 2½ year high;

2. Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;

3. The unemployment rate was 4.5%.

4. The Dow Jones hit a record high14,000

5. Americans were buying new cars, taking cruises, vacationing overseas, living large!

But Americans wanted change! So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress and yeswe got CHANGE all right. In the past year:

1. Consumer confidence has plummeted ;

2. Gasoline is now over $3.75 a gallon, and it had hit well over $4 a gallon;

3. Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase);

4. Americans have seen their home equity drop by $12 TRILLION dollars, with prices still dropping;

5. 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.

6. As I write, the Dow is probing another low~~ $2.5 TRILLION dollars have evaporated from Americans’ stocks, bonds and mutual funds investment portfolios.

Yes, in 2006, America voted for change ... and we sure got it! Remember, the President has no control over any of these issues - only Congress. And what has Congress done in the last two years? Absolutely nothing! They certainly haven’t improved the situation. They’ve made it much worse.

Stop and think about that for a moment. Now the Democratic candidate for President claims he is going to really give us change along with a Democratic Congress!

Just how much more change do you think you can stand?

Joe the Plumber ...

Mc Bulldog — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:26:03 GMT

Barack Obama discovers a leak under his sink, so he calls Joe the Plumber to come and fix it.

Joe drives to Obama's house, which is located in a very nice neighborhood and where it's clear that all the residents make more than $250,000 (I think its down to $100,000 now) per year.

Joe arrives and takes his tools into the house. Joe is led to the room that contains the leaky pipe under a sink. Joe assesses the problem and
tells Obama, who is standing near the door, that it's an easy repair that will take less than 10 minutes.

Obama asks Joe how much it will cost.

Joe immediately says, '$9,500.'

'$9,500?' Obama asks, stunned. 'But you said it's an easy repair!'

'Yes, but what I do is charge a lot more to my clients who make more than $250,000 per year so I can fix the plumbing of everybody who makes
less than that for free,' explains Joe. 'It's always been my philosophy. As a matter of fact, I lobbied government to pass this philosophy as
law, and it did pass earlier this year, so now all plumbers have to do business this way. It's known as 'Joe's Fair Plumbing Act of 2008.'
Surprised you haven't heard of it, senator.'

In spite of that, Obama tells Joe there's no way he's paying that much for a small plumbing repair, so Joe leaves.

Obama spends the next hour flipping through the phone book looking for another plumber, but he finds that all other plumbing businesses listed
have gone out of business. Not wanting to pay Joe's price, Obama does nothing.

The leak under Obama's sink goes unrepaired for the next several days.

A week later the leak is so bad that Obama has had to put a bucket under the sink. The bucket fills up quickly and has to be emptied every hour, and there's a risk that the room will flood, so Obama calls Joe and pleads with him to return.

Joe goes back to Obama's house, looks at the leaky pipe, and says 'Let's see - this will cost you about $21,000.'

'A few days ago you told me it would cost $9,500!' Obama quickly fires back.

Joe explains the reason for the dramatic increase. 'Well, because of the 'Joe's Fair Plumbing Act,' a lot of rich people are learning how to fix their own plumbing, so there are fewer of you paying for all the free plumbing I'm doing for the people who make less than $250,000. As a
result, the rate I have to charge my wealthy paying customers rises every day.

'Not only that, but for some reason the demand for plumbing work from the group of people who get it for free has skyrocketed, and there's a
long waiting list of those who need repairs. This has put a lot of my fellow plumbers out of business, and they're not being replaced - nobody
is going into the plumbing business because they know they won't make any money. I'm hurting now too - all thanks to greedy rich people like
you who won't pay their fair share.'

Obama tries to straighten out the plumber: 'Of course you're hurting, Joe! Don't you get it? If all the rich people learn how to fix their own
plumbing and you refuse to charge the poorer people for your services, you'll be broke, and then what will you do?'

Joe immediately replies, 'Run for president, apparently.'

USSA ...

Mc Bulldog — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:11:18 GMT

Lot's of smoke -- how much fire? Some stretch here but if half of this happens we are in trouble. Worth thinking about.

USSA......actually frightening ...a must read...

Scary stuff. Can't believe there are so many sheep out there on the way to their slaughter, and they don't even know it. I dare you Obama supporters to read this.

Be very careful about this next election because it could be the last in which you'll be allowed to vote your choice. The end of America could be near if we don't get this one right.

A must see...Unpleasant, but a must see. You can pause and play it as they go though the points.

LINK!!!

another must see -

SPOOKY LINK!

The Perfect Stranger by Charles Krauthammer

Mc Bulldog — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:06:15 GMT

Charles Krauthammer is a political writer. You can watch him on FOX News almost every weekday in the 6 PM -7 PM slot; he's on in the Commentary' section from 6:30-7 PM. And in case you are saying - oh, well then... he's just one of those right-wingers....one of those right-wing nut cases...However, he was involved with Mondale and also Carter - both in the White House. He's a practicing psychiatrist with Mass. General. His syndicate column appears in the Washington Post.

Here's his resume: Krauthammer was born in New York City to parents of the Jewish religion whose citizenship was French. He was raised in Montreal, Canada where he attended McGill University and obtained an honors degree in political science and economics in 1970. From 1970 to 1971, he was a Commonwealth Scholar in politics at Balliol College, Oxford. He later moved to the United States, where he attended Harvard Medical School. In his first year there in 1972, Krauthammer was paralyzed in a serious diving accident. Continuing medical studies during his year-long hospitalization, he graduated with his class, earning an M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1975, and then began working as a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital. In October 1984, he became board certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. From 1975-1978, Krauthammer was a Resident and then a Chief Resident in Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dur ing this time he and a colleague identified a form of mania (a part of bipolar disorder) which they named "secondary mania" and published a second important paper on the epidemiology of manic illness. The standard textbook for bipolar disease ("Manic Depressive Illness" by Goodwin and Jamison) contains twelve references to his work. In 1978,Krauthammer quit medical practice to direct planning in psychiatric research for the Jimmy Carter administration, and began contributing to The New Republic magazine. During the presidential campaign of 1980, Krauthammer served as a speech writer to Vice President Walter Mondale. In 1981, following the defeat of the Carter/Mondale ticket, Krauthammer began his journalistic career, joining The New Republic as a writer and editor. His New Republic writings won the 1984 "National Magazine Award for Essays and Criticism." In 1983, he began writing essays for Time magazine. In 1985, he began a weekly column for the Washington Post for which he won th e 1987 Pulitzer Prize for commentary.

In 2006, the Financial Times named Krauthammer the most influential commentator in America,[10] saying "Krauthammer has influenced US foreign policy for more than two decades. He coined and developed `The Reagan Doctrine' in 1985 and he defined the US role as sole superpower in his essay, `The Unipolar Moment', published shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Krauthammer's 2004 speech `Democratic Realism' set out a framework for tackling the post 9/11 world, focusing on the promotion of democracy in the Middle East."

Without being malicious or mean spirited, Charles simply tells it like it is ... a master at provoking thoughtful insight by the written word...so read what he has to say and check your own instincts...

********************

'The Perfect Stranger' By Charles Krauthammer

WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama is an immensely talented man whose talents have been largely devoted to crafting, and chronicling, his own life.. Not things. Not ideas. Not institutions. But himself.

Nothing wrong or even terribly odd about that, except that he is laying claim to the job of crafting the coming history of the United States. A leap of such audacity is odd. The air of unease at the Democratic convention this week was not just a result of the Clinton psychodrama. The deeper anxiety was that the party was nominating a man of many gifts but precious few accomplishments -- bearing even fewer witnesses.

When John Kerry was introduced at his convention four years ago, an honor guard of a dozen mates from his Vietnam days surrounded him on the podium attesting to his character and readiness to lead. Such personal testimonials are the norm. The roster of fellow soldiers or fellow senators who could from personal experience vouch for John McCain is rather long. At a less partisan date in the calendar, that roster might even include Democrats Russ Feingold and Edward Kennedy, with whom John McCain has worked to fashion important legislation.

Eerily missing at the Democratic convention this year were people of stature who were seriously involved at some point in Obama's life standing up to say: "I know Barack Obama. I've been with Barack Obama. We've toiled/endured together. You can trust him. I do."

Hillary Clinton could have said something like that. She and Obama had, after all, engaged in a historic, utterly compelling contest for the nomination. During her convention speech, you kept waiting for her to offer just one line of testimony: I have come to know this man, to admire this man, to see his character, his courage, his wisdom, his judgment. Whatever.. Anything.

Instead, nothing. She of course endorsed him. But the endorsement was entirely programmatic: We're all Democrats. He's a Democrat. He believes what you believe. So we must elect him -- I am currently unavailable -- to get Democratic things done. God bless America .

Clinton's withholding the, 'I've come to know this man' was vindictive and supremely self-serving -- but jarring, too, because you realize that if she didn't do it, no one else would. Not because of any inherent deficiency in Obama's character. But simply as a reflection of a young life with a biography remarkably thin by the standard of presidential candidates.

Who was there to speak about the real Barack Obama? His wife. She could tell you about Barack the father, the husband, the family man in a winning and perfectly sincere way. But that only takes you so far. It doesn't take you to the public man, the national leader.

Who is to testify to that? Hillary's husband on night three did aver that Obama is 'ready to lead.' However, he offered not a shred of evidence, let alone personal experience with Obama. And although he pulled it off charmingly, everyone knew that, having been suggesting precisely the opposite for months, he meant not a word of it.

Obama's vice presidential selection, Joe Biden, naturally advertised his patron's virtues, such as the fact that he had 'reached across party lines to ... keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists.' But securing loose nukes is as bipartisan as motherhood and as uncontroversial as apple pie. The measure was so minimal that it passed by voice vote and received near zero media coverage.

Assume John McCain had retired from politics. Would he have testified to Obama's political courage in reaching across the aisle to work with him on ethics reform, a collaboration Obama boasted about in the Saddleback debate? 'In fact,' reports the Annenberg Political Fact Check, 'the two worked together for barely a week, after which McCain accused Obama of 'partisan posturing'' -- and launched a volcanic missive charging him with double cross.

So where are the colleagues? The buddies? The political or spiritual soul mates? His most important spiritual adviser and mentor was Jeremiah Wright. But he's out. Then there's William Ayers, with whom he served on a board. He's out. Where are the others?

The oddity of this convention is that its central figure is the ultimate self-made man, a dazzling mysterious Gatsby. The palpable apprehension is that the anointed is a stranger -- a deeply engaging, elegant, brilliant stranger with whom the Democrats had a torrid affair. Having slowly woken up, they see the ring and wonder who exactly they married last night.

10 Reasons Conservatives Should Vote for Obama

The Man — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:51:39 GMT

[url=http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/the-top-ten-rea.html][/url]

.

A Harvard Trial Lawyer for McCain

Mc Bulldog — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:29:21 GMT

A Harvard Trial Lawyer for McCain
By William A. Jacobson

I would seem to fit the profile of a Barack Obama supporter. For over 20 years I represented investors against brokerage firms. Now I teach at an Ivy League law school. And I went to Harvard Law School. Yet I wholeheartedly support John McCain.
Why would a Harvard-educated, Ivy League-teaching, plaintiff-representing trial lawyer support John McCain? What follows will not make me popular at my upcoming 25th law school reunion, but some things need to be said.
Electing a President is a hiring decision, where the stakes are who will best preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. We forget that our legal system does not exist in a vacuum. Our constitutional and political rights can exist only if this nation is safe. Whether I agree with John McCain on each and every issue makes no difference to me. John McCain gets my vote as the person who will keep this country safe, so that we have the luxury of arguing with one another.
First and foremost, John McCain is the real thing. He reminds me of many of the most effective lawyers I have dealt with in my career. He's not polished. His ties don't quite fit. He is smart, but he didn't have good grades because he couldn't sit still in class. His clients don't have a lot of money. And sometimes his syntax is not quite right.
But John McCain is a scrappy fighter. He's the opponent who just won't quit even when things look bleak. The guy who runs circles around the Harvard lawyers, who takes the seemingly impossible case, and through sheer determination brings home the verdict. He is the guy you want on your side in good times, and more importantly, in bad times. If I were on trial for my life, I would hire John McCain as my lawyer.
And John McCain sticks around long enough to make a difference. He had a distinguished 22-year career in the Navy. He could have left the Hanoi Hilton early, but he didn't. I don't know if I would have had the strength to say no to early release from a prisoner of war camp, but John McCain did have that strength.
John McCain carried his fight to the United States Senate, where for over two decades he has fought battle after battle with both political parties on some of the hardest issues confronting the nation. John McCain put country before career in supporting the surge in Iraq. On some of these issues I have agreed with John McCain, and on others not. But what is important to me is that John McCain has proven over time that he is his own man. What you see is what you get, and he will be there for the long haul.
Barack Obama also reminds me of many lawyers I have dealt with in my career. He's the smooth talking lawyer on TV who will get you "the settlement you deserve." But he has no credibility where it counts because he hasn't beaten the insurance companies at trial. He is a paper lawyer who fools only his own clients. So Barack Obama can promise "tough diplomacy" with the likes of Iran, but he hasn't fought the tough fights that would cause dictators and tyrants to take him seriously.
Barack Obama also is the deep thinker who ponders great things. And the thing that Barack Obama seems to ponder most is his own greatness. He doesn't write biographies, he writes only autobiographies. He gives speeches which he declares to be historic. He recognizes his place in history long before he has created history. This nation is but a stage upon which Barack Obama creates his life story, and it's all about him.
Yet Barack Obama has never been in one place long enough to make a real difference, or to fight the hard fights. He was a community activist for a few years, then a law student, then in private practice for not too long, then a state senator for not too long, then a United States Senator for not too long. The paint was barely dry in his Senate office when he began running for President. Barack Obama's career is a series of not-too-long positions, each one more grand than the one before it.
Yet what great achievement has Barack Obama obtained other than his own political advancement? What historic law did he author, what historic court case did he argue, what historic battle did he fight, what cause greater than himself warranted more than a passing interest in his historic life? If my life were on the line, I wouldn't hire Barack Obama as my lawyer. I'd be concerned that he'd be up late at night working on a draft of his book about how my case affected his life.
Barack Obama loves this country, in his own words, because nowhere else could his story be possible. John McCain loves this country just because. And that's why I'll vote for John McCain.
William A. Jacobson is Associate Clinical Professor of Law at Cornell Law School in Ithaca, NY, and author of the Legal Insurrection Blog.

Modern Medicine

Mc Bulldog — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:47:09 GMT

A Japanese doctor says, 'Medicine in my country is so advanced that we can
take a kidney out of one man, put it in another, and have him out looking
for work in 6 weeks.'

A German doctor says, 'That is nothing. We can take a lung out of one
person, put it in another, and have him out looking for work in four
weeks.'

A British doctor says, 'In my country, medicine is so advanced that we can
take half a heart out of one person, put it in another and have both of
them out looking for work in two weeks.'

The American doctor, not to be outdone, interjected, 'You guys are way
behind. We're about to take a muslim with no brains, put him in the
White House, and then half the country will be out looking for work in one
week.'

Here you go ...

Mc Bulldog — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:01:05 GMT

Obama Bombshell Redistribution of Wealth Audio Uncovered -

Whoever wants this man to be the next president is just plain ... not very smart - linkage

small business owners ....

Mc Bulldog — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:40:29 GMT

Dear Fellow Business Owners -

As a business owner who employs 36 people, I have resigned myself to the fact that Barack Obama will be our next president, and that my taxes and fees will go up in a BIG way.

To compensate for these increases, I figure that the Customer will have to see an increase in my fees to them of about 8-10%. I will also have to lay off 8 of my employees.

This really bothered me as I believe we are family here and didn't know how to choose who will have to go. So, this is what I did.

I strolled thru the parking lot and found ten Obama bumper stickers on my employees cars. I have decided these folks will be the first to be laid off. I can't think of another fair way to approach this problem.

Bill Lear .. ya know- Lear Jets

Mc Bulldog — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 08:59:00 GMT

Most Americans are aware of Bill Lear because of his Lear Jet business; however, he has accomplished much more as you can see at this link: William P. Lear -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia. His opinions are worth a read:

A Humble Plea to McCain and Obama Supporters:

Dear friends,

I am truly astonished by the ignorance Obama supporters have displayed in their quest to get someone - ANYONE - into the White House. Now, wait a minute. I can well understand your dislike or even hatred of our clown, GWB, but he is not the root cause of all of our problems. Our Congress is. And a change there would be welcomed by all. You ain't gonna get it done with Obama. You gotta fire the whole damnable crooked Congress. (Read my book, 'Bernie's War!').

Perhaps I'm looking at all of this from a different perspective than you because my life experiences have been so different from yours. I'm 80-years old and have traveled the world where I've seen a great deal. I spent five years on active duty as a fighter pilot in the USAF and another seven years flying with the Air National Guard in California and Texas as well as a few years flying in the USAF Reserve. I spent three years on active duty in Germany flying Czech border patrol with 'cold guns' in aircraft inferior to the MIG during the Korean 'Police Action' when it was thought that Korea was a diversion for a Soviet invasion of Western Europe.

I lived abroad for a total of 28 years. Three years in Germany, twenty years in Switzerland and five years in Great Britain where I was based doing 'spook' work for the U.S. behind the Iron Curtain before it fell. During that era of the Cold War I ventured to Moscow, Prague, Warsaw, Bucharest, Peshawar, Pakistan and Bulgaria posing as a Swiss French-speaking arms dealer purchasing weapons we surreptitiously supplied to the Afghani Mujahedeen in their successful fight against the Soviets all of which came back to haunt us.

I've been there and done that and have had close associations with top government people in Germany, the Netherlands and Great Britain. I've had more foreign affair experience than Obama could ever dream of and yet wouldn't have the temerity to deign myself 'Presidential' material; although I feel eminently more qualified to judge who would NOT be best for our country. My long-time world experience should count for something in my plea to you to abandon this miscreant flake. You will only be doing yourself and our country an enormous disservice if you persist in your support of this flash-in-the-pan opportunist. On this, you MUST trust me.

I've associated closely with European royalty and African politicians. I've traveled to the Far East to observe their cultures. My point is that Obama, although formally well educated and a brilliant orator is a neophyte when it comes to understanding the world and is uniquely unqualified for the job as President of these great United States. His knowledge of economics is nil and his tax proposals absurd and life-threatening to the U.S. not only in economic terms but in preserving our national security as well.

I don't want a 'citizen of the world' to be President. I want a citizen of the good old USA to be President. Screw the rest of the world as they have well and truly screwed us. The time has come for us to awaken and start looking after ourselves. Now THAT would be CHANGE if that's what you're looking for.

While McCain has abstained from playing 'the race-card', Obama is playing it to the hilt even though he's technically not an African-American. To qualify for this distinction one must be at least one-sixth black. Obama is only one-eighth. His father would be, as he was one-sixth. No, Obama is more Muslim than black yet he trades on his blackness.

The larger question I have about him is that we really don't know much about him other than what HE tells us, what we read on blogs and from some serious non-partisan investigators whose factual reports are, unfortunately, generally ignored and which receive precious little media exposure.

I, as a registered Independent, a military veteran and a patriot, beseech you to put aside party considerations and vote for the lesser of the two evils. Yes, I am NOT a McCain supporter, but he is, at least, not a flake, doesn't carry Muslim baggage and is a PROVEN hero and patriot WITH experience. It's not a party issue. It's all about electing the best we can trust with what we've got to work with. Mr. Obama is NOT that guy.

Please, please rethink your voting position.

Thanks for reading my innermost thoughts. I care about all of you, but I care more about our country. Please help me to do both.

William P. (Bill) Lear, Jr. lear@cfl.rr.com (386) 763-5051

Greetings from South Fkorida

DU1978nowSF — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:07:00 GMT

Down here to make this beautiful state a big, bright Drake Blue on election night.

I know you all want details but I am spnding way too much time to go into that till after election day.

I know you will understand

Two heartbeats away

Mc Bulldog — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:14:23 GMT

Two heartbeats away :

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's home district includes San Francisco.

Star-Kist Tuna's headquarters are in San Francisco, Pelosi's home district.

Star-Kist is owned by Del Monte Foods and is a major contributor to Pelosi.

Star-Kist is the major employer in American Samoa employing 75% of the
Samoan workforce.

Paul Pelosi, Nancy's husband, owns $17 million dollars of Del Monte stock.

In January, 2007 when the minimum wage was increased from $5.15 to $7.25,
Pelosi had American Samoa exempted from the increase so Del Monte would not
have to pay the higher wage. This would make Del Monte products less
expensive than their competition's.

Last week when the huge bailout bill was passed, Pelosi added an earmark to
the final bill adding $33 million dollars for an "economic development
credit in American Samoa".

Pelosi has called the Bush Administration "corrupt"...............

She should know.

Most Secretive Democratic Candidate Ever

Mc Bulldog — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:46:50 GMT

Obama: Most Secretive Democratic Candidate Ever

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

By: David A. Patten

Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign says his campaign will bring a new level of honesty and transparency to the White House. Obama proudly touts that he and Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla, passed a law requiring more transparency via a public database of all federal spending.

But when it comes to offering the public documents about his own public and private activities, Obama’s record for openness gets an "F" grade.

During the heated Democratic primary, Obama complained of the Bush White House being “one of the most secretive administrations in our history” and chided Sen. Hillary Clinton for not releasing her White House schedules.

Ironically, Obama, just days away from possibly being elected president, continues to stonewall a growing chorus of information requests for documents about his legislative, personal health, education, financing, and background -- leaving many voters to cast ballots based on incomplete information.

And serious questions about his past continue to swirl as Election Day looms, fueled in part by his own campaign’s refusal to make relevant documents available.

And the press, usually banging at the door for candidates to make “full disclosure” is strangely quiet about Obama’s stonewalling.

A Newsmax survey of key Obama aspects of Obama’s public and private life continued to be shielded from the public.

Among the examples:

Obama has released just one brief document detailing his personal health. McCain, on the other hands, released what he said was his complete medical file totaling more than 1500 pages. After criticism on the matter, last week the Obama campaign also released some routine lab-test results and electrocardiograms for Obama. All test results appeared normal, but many details about his health remain a mystery.

Obama has refused to offer his official papers as a state legislator in Illinois, and has been unable to produce correspondence, such as letters from lobbyists and other correspondence from his days in the Illinois state senate. There are also no appointment calendars available of his official activities. “It could have been thrown out,” Obama said while on the campaign trail during the Democratic primary. “I haven’t been in the state Senate now for quite some time.”

Obama has not released his client list as an attorney or his billing records. Obama has maintained that he only performed a few hours of legal work for a nonprofit organization with ties to Tony Rezko, the Chicago businessman convicted of fraud in June. But he has not released billing records that would prove this assertion.

Obama won’t release his college records from Occidental College where he studied for two years before transferring to Columbia.

Obama’s campaign refuses to give Columbia University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in political science, permission to release his transcripts. Such transcripts would list the courses Obama took, and his grades. President George W. Bush, and presidential contenders Al Gore and John Kerry, all released their college transcripts. (McCain has refused to release his Naval Academy transcript.)

Obama’s college dissertation has simply disappeared from Columbia Universities archives. In July, in response to a flurry of requests to review Obama’s senior thesis at the Ivy League school, reportedly titled “Soviet Nuclear Disarmament,” Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt told NBC News “We do not have a copy of the course paper you requested and neither does Columbia University.”

The senator has not agreed to the release of his application to the Illinois state bar, which would clear up intermittent allegations that his application to the bar may have been inaccurate.

Jim Geraghty of the National Review has written extensively about Obama’s unwillingness to release records related to clients he represented while he was an attorney with the Chicago law firm of Davis, Miner, Barnhill, and Gallard. Obama was required to list his clients during his years in the Illinois senate. “Obama listed every client of the firm,” Geraghty reported, making it impossible to discern which clients he represented.

Obama has never released records from his time at Harvard Law School.

Obama also has not disclosed the names of small donors giving $200 or less to his campaign. An exception to the finance-reporting laws exempts the campaign from reporting those who donate less than $200, but that law never envisioned the more than $300 million that has been raised by Obama in small amounts. The Republican National Committee has released its small donors, as well as McCain’s, on a public database.

On several occasions, the Obama campaign has offered to provide additional information to reporters if they have specific questions or issues. And in some cases, it has done so.

When Internet rumors began to fly that perhaps Obama was born outside the United States, for example, the campaign released images of a birth certificate that verified his birthplace as Honolulu, Hawaii. When that led to suggestions the birth certificate had been altered, the campaign again responded, allowing reporters to examine the actual birth certificate, complete with raised seal. (In late July, according to FactCheck.org, a researcher uncovered an announcement of Obama’s birth in the August 13, 1961 edition of the Honolulu Advertiser).

Such instances of cooperation pale, however, compared to the many unanswered questions surrounding Obama, such as the financing of his education, and requests for the complete release of all donors to his campaign.

Of course, candidates are often reticent to disclose any information that opposition researchers could use against them.

But Politico.com notes that the Obama’s failure to share documents is “part of his campaign’s broader pattern of rarely volunteering information or documents about the candidate, even when relatively innocuous.”

The hue and cry from the media for disclosure usually forces candidates to release sought after documents. But the press has largely acquiesced to Obama’s stonewalling.

link

A question about the State of Iowa...

DU1978nowSF — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:32:13 GMT

You all have pointed out that I live out here in in California.....

So I have to ask. On election day will the state of Iowa be Drake Blue?

Or Bradley Red?

Thanks to McBulldog....

DU1978nowSF — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 17:00:31 GMT

You have inspired me. Living in a solid blue state I realized that to do something significant I had to travel. So from tomorrow on (October 19) the SF in my name will take on a new meaning. ..

SOUTH FLORIDA.

I will be in Martin County(Stuart) working on the Democratic party get-out-the-vote effort.

I mailed my absentee ballot here in California.

And for the next 10 days I will be working every day in swing state to ensure the election of Barack Obama.

Thanks to those who inspired me on this site.

So from now until election day I will be...

DU1978nowSouthFlorida

**ALERT: CATO INSTITUTE GIVES GOVERNOR CULVER AN “F” FOR FISCAL MANAGEMENT

Mc Bulldog — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:02:18 GMT

**ALERT: CATO INSTITUTE GIVES GOVERNOR CULVER AN “F” FOR FISCAL MANAGEMENT

The Cato Institute released the 2008 Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors, giving Iowa’s Governor Chet Culver an “F” for fiscal management. The Cato Institute is non-profit public research foundation based in Washington, D.C.

The fiscal policy report card rates governors on their tax and spending actions back to their first year in office after 2003. Governors were graded on fiscal performance. Those receiving an “A” cut taxes and spending the most and those receiving an “F” raised taxes and spending the most. Governor Culver was one of only eight governors to receive the lowest grade possible. He received a score of 31 out of a possible 100.

The report mentions Culver’s substantial proposed tax increases on individuals and businesses. Cato cites his drive for a tax increase on cigarettes and a corporate tax increase. The state’s cigarette tax alone takes $140 million annually from Iowans. Culver’s two years in office have both seen large spending increases.

The tax and spending data used in the report came from the National Association of State Budget Officers, the National Conference of State Legislators, the Tax foundation, the budget agencies of particular states, and news articles in State Tax Notes and www.stateline.org.

For the full report click here.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

linkage to more info.

Will the US go bankrupt?

Mc Bulldog — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:52:42 GMT

Mark Faber for real or is he full of it?

link 10-13-2008

link part 1

link part 2

Last One Turn Out the Lights

Mc Bulldog — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:22:31 GMT

I know that this is long, but please take the time to read this. The American Troops have done so much for not only us, but for Iraq. Isn't it funny that the Media can't/won't report things like this and the accomplishments of the U.S. Military in Iraq? Please keep them in your thoughts and Prayers. God Bless America, and God Bless our Military!!!!!!

Last One Turn Out the Lights: Marines Quietly Begin Leaving Bases in Iraqi Cities
Friday , October 17, 2008
By Jennifer Griffin
WASHINGTON —
When Marine Maj. Gen. John Kelly deployed to Iraq in February, the violence had fallen so low in Anbar province that he began figuring out how to start closing bases and prepare to go home.

In the last 10 months the Marines in Fallujah have done what was unthinkable before the surge began — they have quietly transferred out of one of Anbar province's largest cities. FOX News has learned in an exclusive interview with Kelly from Fallujah that 80 percent of the move is complete. In February there were 8,000 Marines living at Fallujah base. Now there are about 3,000 left. By Nov. 14 there will be none.

"We will shut down the command function here and I will move; my staff has already started to move," Kelly, the commander of Multinational Force-West, told FOX News in an exclusive interview via satellite. "We will turn the lights off here."

They will hand the Fallujah base over to their Iraqi counterparts on Nov. 14, having relocated themselves and thousands of combat vehicles to the desert base of Al Asad to the west. Marines will no longer be seen in city centers such as Fallujah — a major step toward leaving Iraq, and one step closer to Iraq's goal of having U.S. troops out of its population centers by mid-2009 — one of the key points enshrined in the Status of Forces Agreement being reviewed on Capitol Hill today.

On Wednesday, to little fanfare, the Marines quietly closed down Al Qaim base near the Syrian border. Now it is run by Iraqis.

In Fallujah, where the U.S. Marines once had three large mess halls to feed troops, they are now down to one. The Marines have quietly disassembled the entire infrastructure of the base.

"We probably had several thousand of those large metal containers — tractor-trailer containers," Kelly said. "I bet we don't have 200 of them here now."

Of the thousands of vehicles once parked at the base, now there are only 300 left. Their transfer occurred at night, between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., over the past 10 months so as not to disturb Iraqi drivers and clog the roads.

They dubbed it "Operation Rudy Giuliani" because they were cleaning the streets up and returning Fallujah to normalcy — taking down barbed wire and tearing down checkpoints and Jersey walls that made Anbar look like a war zone.

"There is almost no barbed wire left anywhere in Fallujah," Kelly said. An Iraqi no longer sees barbed wire when traveling in and around the city.

Between 300 and 400 concrete barriers that divided the city were removed by Navy Seabees.
One of the big changes Kelly made when he took command in Anbar was to remove fixed checkpoints, and Iraqi vehicles no longer had to pull off to the side when a military convoy was on the road. His troops risked car bombs, but the gamble paid off in what had once been Iraq's most dangerous province. The new road rules instantly lowered the tension between military and locals. Soon he transitioned to moving military convoys only at night, so they would not encounter locals. This also stymied many of the insurgents laying IEDs or roadside bombs, which they often had done at night.

Another change for the better since Kelly arrived in February: He pushed the central government to provide more fuel to the people of Anbar, so the mostly Sunni population is now happier. In February, Anbaris were receiving only 8 percent of their allocation of fuel from the central government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Now it's 90 percent — eliminating one of their main gripes.

But perhaps the biggest sign that the situation has changed for the better for Sunnis living in Anbar: With the help of the Marines and the Iraqi police, nearly 100 percent of the eligible voting population were registered a month ago to vote in upcoming provincial elections.

"They seem to add another political party every day," Kelly said. "We didn't have a single security violation of any kind. They're at least going to give the electoral process a shot … at least going to give democracy a chance."

The Sunnis, who fueled a large part of Iraq's insurgency, boycotted the last election for Parliament with only 3 percent of Sunnis participating. Now they feel they have a stake in the government.

"This is an amazing indicator as to where this province is," Kelly said.
He and the Marines no longer use violence as an indicator of how much progress they have made. Two years ago they had 400 attacks — roadside bombs or shootings — at U.S. forces every week. In February it was down to 30 attacks per week. Now it is down to under 12 attacks per week. There hasn't been a Marine death in a few months.

Troop numbers have dropped, as well — down by 40 percent since February. About 26,000 Marines still serve in Anbar.
"In Anbar there is no longer an insurgency," Kelly said. "Unless someone does something stupid (for instance, if the Coalition were to accidentally kill a large number of civilians), this place will not go back to the way it was."

In football terms, Kelly says, the Marines are "in the last 10 yards of this fight."
"Could it go back? I don't think so," he said firmly. "We are winning this thing."

Maj James Sobien
S-4 Officer, MAG 29
DSN 752-6767
Comm (910) 449-6767

If Hillary had won the nomination, ...

Mc Bulldog — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:45:49 GMT

If Hillary had won the nomination, would Colin Powell have endorsed her? .... and feed him beans.

LINK - Chicagoans Against Obama

A question for the people of California

Dawg_tired — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:13:36 GMT

Is it true that the best nuts are grown in California?

New AOL Poll ...

Mc Bulldog — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 11:58:40 GMT

AOL has now buried their poll link in the AOL site but here it is again.

link to poll

Lee Iacocca: he's back and he is mad

Mc Bulldog — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:55:07 GMT

The two party system????

Remember Lee Iacocca, the VP at Ford credited with the birth of the Mustang, the man who rescued Chrysler, Corporation from their death throes, and the owner of the famous quote 'Lead, follow, or get out of the way'? Well, he's back! He has a new book, and here are some excerpts.

Lee Iacocca writes:

'Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course'

Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned 'Titanic' I'll give you a sound bite: 'Throw all the bums out!'

You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.

The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the ' America ' my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?

I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patr iot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have.

The Biggest 'C' is Crisis !

Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down. George Bush, Dick Chaney and who is this Bozo coming up next? One of the most Liberal Idiots in the U. S. Senate and he is talking about disarming America . I can't believe the American people are seeing what he is about to do to this country. May God have mercy on us all.

On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A Hell of a Mess. So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia , while our once-great Companies are all moving offshore. We're getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are the worst in the world. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed ! every which way. These are times that cry out for leadership and we are getting ready to put the most Liberal Senator in the U. S. Senate in as our next President because we want to be fair and elect someone just because of his race. We don't have time to be fair, we need a strong leader.

But when you look around, you've got to ask: 'Where have all the leaders gone?' Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense? I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I hope you get the point.

Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.

Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm. Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Well guess what people? We are having more floods right now. What are we doing to help these people out. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time. Why are we allowing people to build in flood plains anyway? If you build in a flood area, expect to be flooded and deal with it. Don't expect the Government to bail you out.

Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. All they seem to be thinking now-days is getting themselves bigger salaries and bonuses. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when 'The Big Three' referred to Japanese car companies? How did this ! happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it? likely nothing!

Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress and the Senate. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change? I honestly don't think any of you have one!

Had Enough?

Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope; I believe in America ... In my lifetime I've had the privilege of living through some of America's greatest moments I've also experienced some of our worst crises: the 'Great Depression', 'World War II', the 'Korean War', the 'Kennedy Assassination', the 'Vietnam War', the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11. If I've learned one thing, it's this:

'You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to 'Action' for people who, like me, believe in America . It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had 'enough.'

Make a 'real contribution' by sending this to everyone you know and care about......our future is at stake!'

Very Interesting ...

Mc Bulldog — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:45:20 GMT

I could hardly believe this, please take the time to listen to this and you will hear the mentality of at least three Obama voters.
This is really scary!!!!!

You might dislike Howard Stern but you have to listen to this. If this doesn’t get to the very heart of the “issue” concerning this presidential race…..nothing does! Listen to this………unbelievable!!!!

This 'Man on the Street' interview with Saul: Click below:

linkola

AOL Poll .. McCain winning by a large margin ...

Mc Bulldog — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:26:56 GMT

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McCain!

Inflation Nation?

Mc Bulldog — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 23:06:53 GMT

- ture story linkage