Election Projection - The Blogging Caesar, Scott Elliot, is back and prognosticating. Based on his recent numbers Bush is in the lead again. If Kerry continues to show the voters who he really is Bush should be the clear winner in November.

Flower Power?- It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. So what does this picture have to say? Hugh Hewitt writes, "Just the man to instill fear in the hearts of our enemies." I wonder what that flower hanging from Mr. Kerry's vest says to Al-Qaeda. Especially after the article today about the interrogation of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and his comments that Al-Qaeda was going to attack the Library Tower in Los Angeles and the Sears Tower in Chicago on the heels of the September 11, 2001, terror strikes. Those plans were aborted mainly because of the decisive U.S. response to the New York and Washington attacks. Al-Qaeda is probably hoping the Kerry will get voted into office and Clinton administration lack of response to terrorist attacks will be ushered back in with his possible election.

Thanks for Hindrocket of Powerline for the picture post.

Review-Superman/Batman #8 - The Supergirl from Krypton.Wow! After perusing the issue several times I continue to be impressed. Jeph Loeb is an incredible writer, and the new story arc looks like it will shape up to be an excellent one. While Batman is searching Gotham Harbor to find Kryptonite he finds something even more significant, a ship with Kryptonian inscriptions. Meanwhile, a girl emerges from the harbor speaking gibberish and exhibiting all the powers of Superman. Being in a strange, new world, she can't communicate with anyone and inadvertently goes on a destructive rampage. After using green Kryptonite to disable her, Batman takes her back to The Cave. When she comes to she is not happy. Enter Superman, who understands her language. It is his cousin from Krypton. Go figure! Michael Turner (Aspen Studios) is an awesome artist. The art style is definitely Turner's (Fathom), but he uses it well in this book. Batman and Superman are jacked!!! I am looking forward to the rest of the run by Turner.

9/11 Commission - Great article by Peggy Noonan on what the 9/11 commission isn't accomplishing. Instead of being occupied with taking out the terror networks that are at this moment plotting their next attack, Washington is wrapped up in a useless, finger-pointing hearing that is all about what should of happened versus what did. What I find ridiculous is the accusations that the Bush Administration did nothing about Al Qaeda in its first 8 months. What did the Clinton Administration do in 8 years? What needs to happen is for this commission to go away and for Washington to start focusing on the future rather than the past. Instead of worrying about how they didn't prevent 9/11, they need to worry about how they are going to prevent the next 9/11 level of terrorist attack on our country and abroad.

Gay Marriage - Check out Hugh Hewitt's article on gay marriage at WeeklyStandard.com. Also check out his comments regarding his article at HughHewitt.com.

The Changing World - Victor Davis Hanson on how the world is different now compared to when he was a youth.

Would you take a bullet for this guy? - Hugh Hewitt says the unscripted moments tell you the most about a candidate. While John Kerry was snowboarding a Secret Service agent inadvertantly collided with him and knocked him to the ground. Now, here is an accident (I think some of us wish the Secret Service agent did this on purpose), and instead of calmly brushing off the incident, Kerry throws a fit. The New York Times account: "When asked about the mishap a moment later, he said sharply 'I don't fall down,' then used an expletive to describe the agent who 'knocked me over.'"

What kind of gratitude is this to show a man who is supposed to take a bullet for you, Mr. Kerry?

Richard Clarke - Powerline's Hindrocket takes aim at Richard Clarke and the Clinton administration, who did little or nothing as Al Qaeda grew and plotted.

Lileks - Lileks is hot today. Read his rant about those traitorous peace activists.

Missionary Memorial Fund - Larry and Jean Elliott were missionaries to the Iraqi people and were killed in an ambush by insurgents. They willingly risked their lives to serve God by serving people.

Larry and Jean's son, Scott, runs Election Projection. A memorial fund has been set up to continue the work that Larry and Jean Elliott devoted their lives to and gave their lives for. If you are one who would like to contribute, you can send a check made out to "The International Mission Board" with the designation, "Larry and Jean Elliott Memorial Fund" or simply "Elliott Fund" somewhere on the check to:

The Larry and Jean Elliott Memorial Fund
c/o The International Mission Board
P.O. Box 6767
Richmond, VA 23230

Please pray that God would comfort Scott and his family during their time
of grief and to find encouragement in his parent's love for Christ, their
willingness to serve, and that they are with Him now.

Cheney on Kerry - OpinionJournal.com is featuring the text of V.P. Cheney's speech that he gave at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in California. It is nice to see the President's campaign going on the offensive and attacking John Kerry's record, which despite any of Kerry's claims speaks clearly for itself.

John Kerry and America - Hugh Hewitt on why John Kerry is going to have a hard time connecting with ordinary Americans.

Fan of the Game? - Most of the time I agree with the editorials I read at OpinionJournal.com, but today I have found one that I really have to disagree with. Of course, the writer is entitled to his opinion, and here is mine.

As I watched the NHL on ABC this weekend there was a round table discussion by ESPN NHL commentators on Todd Bertuzzi’s despicable act, but also that of the not so informed “pundits” that have attacked the NHL for its “violence”, calling for the end of fighting and a switch to European style play. Apparently, Allen Barra is one of these people that are going to attack the NHL at a low point. I had not read or seen these attacks before Bill Clement of ESPN brought them to light, but here is my first, and I must admit I muttered a few rather unsavory things while reading Mr. Barra’s piece. Fighting has been a part of the game for years, and is an intregal part of the game. What Todd Bertuzzi did was a despicable, cowardly act, not a fight. A quote from the editorial:

”Mr. Campbell's job appears not to be discipline but spin-doctoring. Mr. Bertuzzi’s punch, Mr. Campbell took pains to explain, was not the result of a fight, as Mr. Moore was attacked from behind. One sees the distinction immediately; a fight is when two people (or, as if often the case in the NHL, more) face one another and begin, well, fighting. According to the league's unwritten code of behavior, then, it would have been OK for Mr. Bertuzzi to skate up to Mr. Moore, look him in the eye, and then break his neck."

“Look him in the eye, and then break his neck.” What kind of bozo statement is that? This is how it would have gone down if Betruzzi had not been such a coward. Bertuzzi would have skated up to Moore and confronted him face to face, Moore would have seen the punch coming, protected himself, and someone like Peter Worrell would have gone over, dropped the gloves and fought Bertuzzi, and then Bertuzzi would get the message that he can’t go around attacking players like Mr. Moore.

The next quote from Mr. Barra illustrates that he is just attacking the game when it is down.

“One needn't go to other sports for comparison. It isn't hockey that is excessively violent--it's North American hockey. NHL-style violence isn't condoned in Europe, where the game is just as rough but not half so dirty. Olympic hockey is almost alien to the kind of thuggery one sees regularly in the NHL, even though the same players are involved. The reason is that the Olympic committee simply doesn't permit it.”

Here I am going to defer to Barry Melrose, former NHL player, coach, and ESPN NHL analyst. This quote is from Barry Melrose, originally posted on ESPN.com and now via an article by Gary Baines at the DailyCamera.com:

"Others will be calling for an end to fighting and a move to European rules, but they likely don't watch a lot of overseas hockey," Melrose wrote on ESPN.com. "If they did, they'd see that the European game is the dirtiest in the world. Players over there engage in all kinds of stick work — slashing, spearing, high-sticking — and the physical play involves kicking and the like. There is no accountability or retribution, so a dirty player can run rampant all game long without having to face justice."

Allen Barra or Barry Melrose. I think I will side with Barry and the NHL.

Superman/Batman - Superman/Batman #8 is on sale today featuring the writing talents of Jeph Loeb and the art talent of Michael Turner. Loeb's writing is phenomenal and if the cover is any indication, Turner's art should be awesome. More to come on this issue later.

Terror and Democracy - Here is a couple of articles on the recent tragedy in Spain and the election that directly followed it.

Al Qaeda’s Electoral Victory by Joel Mowbray
Terror and Democracy at Opinion Journal

Hugh Hewitt weighs in on this topic at his website. You can check it out here. Hugh writes:

“Spain voted yesterday and the government that allied itself with America in the war on terror fell. It is being reported as a major defeat in the war on terror, but it is no more a defeat than when the British electorate tossed out Winston Churchill just after the war in Europe had been successfully concluded and the war in the Pacific was on the verge of victory. Free peoples are free to do whatever they want when regularly scheduled elections roll around. There will be no stunning reversals of political fortune in the Arab world in the foreseeable future, except perhaps in Iraq, where Spain has helped plant freedom. Whatever Spain does in the next year will not erase the fact that it stood with the nations with enough courage to act in March, 2003. It is a traumatized country, but a valued ally in the past, the present and the future.”

It saddens me to see the Socialists come into power and everything that the Popular Party has done for Spain come to a quick halt. A great ally withdraws its support. It is a blow against those fighting the global war on terrorism and democracy. What does pulling out Spain’s troops achieve? Does the Socialists and their supporters think that if they bury their heads deep enough in the sand that the terrorists will ignore them? It is not a matter of "if" another attack will come but "when". By pulling out their troops and hiding in a hole they send a message to the terrorists that not only can they influence democracy with violence but with increased attacks stop the campaign against terror. Who will be next? Britain’s rail system seems a likely target. Mowbray writes in his article how vulnerable our rail system is here in America. Will Al Qaeda attempt to influence our elections by killing innocents come November? I hope not but at this moment, it seems likely. The Socialists in Spain used the terrorist attacks to their advantage, but in doing so dealt a blow to those who fight against terror, and sent a message to terrorists to keep up the fight.

Unbelievable - Rich Lowry on John Kerry. Here is the first line of the article:

“John Kerry doesn’t mean what he says.”

What a great way to start an article, and very true.

In Memoriam - A tribute to Rachel Corrie. The writer certainly does not pull any punches here. This article appears in the Jerusalem Post. After doing a Google search on Rachel Corrie I found an (article) by Dennis Prager at TownHall.com, written almost a year ago that also looks at the death of this girl. She was a “Peace Activist”. Prager has some good points about how misdirected these “peace activists” are and how morally fraudulent. They don’t protest against true evil, namely Islamic extremists, Chinese Communism, and the like, they protest against the people the confront true evil.

“Thicker than Oil” - A great article by Victor Davis Hanson on putting to rest the Left’s Iraqi deception. Why are we paying on a national average over $2.00 a gallon for gas if the War in Iraq was about grabbing up oil? If the war was for the U.S. to take away Iraq’s most precious commodity then the black gold should be pouring freely from the heavens…but it isn’t. The Iraqis are in complete control of their natural resources. This, like other claims, is a result of the left trying to deceive you and I.

From the Front Lines- Hugh Hewitt on the rise of “Milblogs”. As the networks lose interest in the war in Iraq, “Military Blogs”, weblogs from those on the frontlines, are going to be the new news outlet, an alternative to our current biased media. I am adding a few milblogs to my blog list. Enjoy.

Citizen Smash
MudvilleGazette
Blackfive
Evangilical Outpost

Betruzzi Suspended - Todd Betruzzi received at least a 17 game suspension, and possibly could get more depending on the NHL at the start of training camp. Good. He should get more. I love the game of hockey, and nothing is better than a heavy hit in the corner, a clean, open ice hit, or a couple of enforcers slugging it out, but what Todd Betruzzi did was just wrong. He broke the guy’s neck. Moore had no idea what was about to happen and had no chance to defend himself. Quoting a mournful Betruzzi:

“These comments are for Steve. I had no intention of hurting you.”

You sucker punched him and then fell on him. Of course you intended to hurt him. If you did not intend to hurt him then you would have kept your hands on your hockey stick and skated away from him. Mr. Betruzzi is lucky, in my opinion, for the suspension he received. I believe he should be suspended for the rest of this season, this post season, and the entire season next year. Thoughtless actions like Betruzzi’s need to have a harsh consequence.

Move On Peaceful Tomorrows - This group that is crying foul over the President’s use of images from September 11th has aligned itself with MoveOn.org. You know MoveOn.org right, the extremely liberal group that was brandishing ads on their web site equating President Bush with Hitler. Peaceful Tomorrows, with the help of MoveOn.org, held a press conference warning all politicians to “keep your hands off Ground Zero”. But why? The members of Peaceful Tomorrows that are up in arms over the President’s ad only represent anti-war activists from 100 families out of 3000 victims. What the media doesn’t tell you is that many of the Peaceful Tomorrows families have no problem with the Bush spots and even support them. 9-11 belongs to everyone in this nation. I didn’t lose a loved one or family member in the tragedy, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t mourn the loss of life, stare in shock and disbelief as people threw themselves from the upper stories of the buildings, or feel a sense of rage at the cowardice of such an attack and want revenge. September 11th was a defining moment in our nation’s history but also a defining moment in President Bush’s administration. Why shouldn’t he be able to use the images from this terrible day in his ad? It belongs to all us. As Debra Saunders writes:

Sept. 11 belongs neither to one political group nor to Bush, but to America. It was a nation-shaping moment and thus belongs to even American politics, all of American politics.

Alliances and Iraq - The United States and France have put aside their differences to quell the mass unrest in Haiti. Are old alliances truly dead or can they again be revived for the common good of the world? They obviously can despite liberal claims. Howard Dean, John Kerry, and the New York Times claim that the Bush administration has “shredded” America’s relationships with its allies because of our “unilateral” policy in Iraq. Apparently, we haven’t. 49 countries stand with us in Iraq and 70 nations have joined with the United States to battle terrorism. But should it matter who stands with us or against us? The last time I checked our good standing with our fellow nations was not the benchmark by which we decided whether military intervention was necessary, but our measuring stick is that where there are people being threatened and oppressed we are there. An article I read by Victor Davis Hanson (Weapons of Mass Hysteria) said that we were 100,000 corpses too late when we decided to act in Iraq. The people there lived in fear of a fell, despotical ruler. Is that not enough justification for our country to act? I believe it is. As long as America fights for what is just and for those who are oppressed, we will always have the support of other nations. In a letter to Patrick Henry, George Washington wrote:

"I want an American character, that the powers of Europe may be convinced we act for ourselves and not for others; this, in my judgment, is the only way to be respected abroad and happy at home."

Good advice, Mr. President. Very good advice indeed.

As Left as You Can Get - John Kerry was voted the "No. 1 Senate liberal in 2003". He is as left as you can get and no one can surpass him. The National Journal, a non-partisan Washington weekly, gave him a score of 97 out of 100. And that on only 25 votes. He missed 37 votes on the campaign trail. Only three more points to get a perfect "liberal" score. Kerry's campaign spokesman Chad Clanton told the New York Post, "Anyone that knows John Kerry knows that this label doesn't fit." Sure it does, and Kerry's voting record cinches the deal. He voted against the 2004 budget that would have given Americans, including the middle class, $550 billion in tax relief. He voted to send troops to Iraq and then killed their funding for equipment and advance Iraqi stability. Murdock appropriately ends his article with this:

"John Kerry, the Democrats' presumptive presidential nominee is a 194-proof liberal dream come true. His election next November would commence a long, national nightmare."

A Tale of Two Kerrys - What does John Kerry stand for? Wait a minute and it will change. We say that about the weather here in Maine but it also applies to Mr. Kerry. Diana West at TownHall.com also asks "What does John Kerry stand for?" Her answer is, "What doesn't John Kerry stand for?" The man flip-flops on the issues every day. Here is a perfect example from the West piece:

More amazing than the policy shifts that occur a month or days apart are the shifts that are little more than a jot of punctuation. Last fall, Kerry explained his decision to oppose the president's plan to fund the post-liberation reconstruction of Iraq: "I voted against that $87 billion in Washington yesterday," Kerry said. "But let me make it clear, I am for winning the war in Iraq." Translation: I don't want to support the stabilization and rebuilding of Iraq, but I want to stabilize and rebuild Iraq.


This is a dangerous man to put in the presidency. He will cripple our nation rather than strengthen it.

"The Passion of the Liberal" - Ann Coulter takes on the New York Times panic-stricken articles about "The Passion of the Christ" and why the liberals just don't get it.

Silly and Serious - Hugh Hewitt on The Real Two Americas.

A Letter to Mr. Kerry - Jay Bryant publishes a letter from retired Army Col. Glenn Lackey, who served in Vietnam, in response to Kerry's public record on Vietnam. You can read the article here, but I am going to post the letter in its entirety.

Dear Mr. Kerry;

After spending only four months in the country of Vietnam, you testified before Congress in 1971 with these exact words about incidents you say you witnessed: "They personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blew up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Viet Nam."

Spread that on a farmer's field where it will do some good. I spent a year there in 1968-69 in a combat arms unit. I was a Field Artillery Forward Observer in an Infantry company and I saw combat every day until I was wounded. When I returned from the hospital, I was assigned to an artillery battery. I saw brave men fight and die; I saw brave, good men pass out all their rations to hungry kids, build churches and schools, donate to orphanages, cry silently at the sight of villagers slaughtered by North Vietnamese, but I never saw anything approaching the war crimes that you happened to witness as your boat sped by villages on the river bank. If you witnessed atrocities and did not report them, you are guilty of aiding and abetting. If you lied, you are simply unfit for leadership at any level. The most serious incident I witnessed was a young sergeant who grabbed the arm of a Vietnamese woman during a village search. An older, more experienced noncommissioned officer knocked the sergeant to the ground and told him, somewhat forcefully, that that woman was someone's mother and would be treated with respect. That's it, Kerry, that's my confession - I didn't report the incident.

I have children, and my children have children. They will, perhaps, stumble upon your words, much as one might stumble upon a pile of dog droppings. I do not relish the thought of having to explain that your "experiences" are either a bald-faced lie, or you belong to that less-than-1% of Viet Nam veterans who committed war crimes/atrocities. Either way, your words do great harm to the institution of the Senate, my home state of Massachusetts, the Armed Services in which I proudly served for 27 years, and the very country that you aspire to lead.

Is it true that you single-handedly prevented a vote on a Senate version of H.R. 2833, the Viet Nam Human Rights Act of 2001 - a bill that passed the House by a vote of 410-1? There are many who believe that our failure to speak decisively on that issue cost the lives of thousands of Montagnard tribesman in Viet Nam. Where do you stand on H.R. 1587, the Viet Nam Human Rights Act of 2003? Will you support a parallel bill in the Senate? Is it true that you served as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on MIA/POW Affairs and in that role you fought hard to limit the expenditure of funds to investigate sightings or search for remains? You have, I believe, been a steadfast, staunch and vocal advocate for normalizing relations with Viet Nam. Could it be that your beloved first cousin, Mr. Forbes, CEO of Colliers International, recently signed a contract with Hanoi worth billions of dollars? Any truth to the rumor that you didn't really fling your "hard-earned" military medals over the White House fence in a juvenile fit of pique as you say you did, but rather, you threw your roommate's medals instead?

I know dozens of retired military professionals. None of them support you - there is a reason for that. They all served honorably and well, and they all believe that you did not. I know war heroes, and your, sir, are no war hero.

-- Glenn Lackey

Lowdown - Get the lowdown on what John Kerry really stands for and his voting record here.

Democratic Obfuscation - David Limbaugh points out what political campaigns ought to be about, that is helping the voters determine what a candidate's position is, and that the Democrats are using their campaign to obscure rather than clarify the issues. With President Bush you know exactly where he stands on an issue whether you support his view or not. With Kerry you don't know where he stands on any issue. Limbaugh writes:

"John Kerry simply will not make his positions clear. Do you think there is any chance he will proudly proclaim to the general electorate the recent finding of the National Journal that he was the most liberal senator in 2003? And Kerry calls Bush extreme? Based on Kerry's various statements and past record, a reasonable person with considerable intelligence would have difficulty determining his positions on: the propriety of making a candidate's military service, especially in Vietnam, an issue; states' rights concerning gay marriage; attacking Iraq; helping to rebuild and facilitate democracy in Iraq; free trade; deficit spending; No Child Left Behind; "special interest influence;" the Patriot Act; capital punishment for terrorists; and even his commitment to his faith."

Hopefully this, dear reader, gives some clarification to the Kerry campaign.

Spy vs. Spy - Ion Mihae Pacepa, who defected 26 years ago from the then Soviet satellite Romania to join the CIA, believes it is dangerous for there to be such public scrutiny of the organization and I agree. The spy business is very dangerous, and attacks by politicians seeking publicity can endager our sources and operatives. Scrutiny of the organizations actions should be internal and not aired in public. Quoting Pacepa:

"The CIA should not be trashed just to satisfy the ambitions of politicians seeking publicity. What other country in the world washes its dirty intelligence laundry in public? America is a wonderful country in its willingness to scrutinize, and to correct swiftly, its mistakes. But we also need to understand that no spy service is perfect. Mistakes in a human-oriented business are inevitable. It would be safer if these mistakes were not exaggerated and sensationalized in the media for partisan purposes. In this area, mistakes are best corrected in-house."

Leave the CIA to wash its own dirty laundry and let it go about its business to the best its humanly possible. Read the entire article here.

Sweep - The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won a record tying 11 awards last night at the Academy Awards, winning every single category it was nominated in. Return of the Kings is one of the best movies ever made (Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers are the other two rounding out my best ever list) and I am thrilled to see Tolkien's masterpiece come to life on the big screen and be the first fantasy movie to receive the best picture award. On a side note, I am sorry to see that Bill Murray's Oscar for best actor went to Sean Penn. In their piece on the Oscars, Fox News refers to Mr. Penn as a rebel:

Being true to his image as a rebel, Penn made one of the few political comments of the night during his acceptance speech.

"If there's one thing that actors know, other than there weren't any WMDs, it's that there is no such thing as best in acting," he said, referring to weapons of mass destruction. "And that's proven by these great actors that I was nominated with."


I didn't realize the Mr. Penn was winning an Oscar for his starring role in Rebel Without a Cause...