How horrifying...

She was four years old. There are no words strong enough to describe how I feel after reading about this horrifying crime...

N.C. girl decapitated; police seek dad

RALEIGH, N.C. — A mother found her 4-year-old daughter decapitated in her home, and police issued an arrest warrant for the girl's father.

John Patrick Violette, 37, was last seen driving a Buick station wagon near his home Friday afternoon in Clayton, about 15 miles southeast of Raleigh, said Clayton Police Chief Glen Allen. Violette's wife, Amber Violette, called 911 that evening, saying she had found her daughter, Katlin, with her head severed from her body, he said.

"When senseless violence occurs, it's tragic enough. But when it includes a child, it's even more tragic for the community," Allen said.

An arrest warrant has been issued for the father, and police planned to charge him with murder, Allen said. The State Bureau of Investigation was aiding in the search.

defining terrorism

This caught my attention this morning-

Blast at U.S. embassy called 'terrorism'

Why is the superscript sign (') or an apostrophe sign being used around the word terrorism in this headline?

Does the AP believe that this is not really terrorism?

ATHENS (AP) — A rocket was fired at the U.S. embassy early Friday, striking the front of the building but causing no injuries. A senior police official said the blast was an act of terrorism.

If 50 people had been killed as a result of someone firing a rocket at a the US Embassy in Italy- would the media define this as terrorism?

Is the AP implying that because no one was killed, then it is not really terrorism?

The US Department of defense defines terrorism as-

"the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives."

It is a pretty safe bet that someone firing a rocket at the US Embassy is most definitely an act of terrorism.

I missed it all

I received an email earlier today asking why I had not yet commented on Bush's speech and the plan for Iraq.

Well, I had meeting last night and missed it all. I have not read Bush's speech or the Democratic response.

I am linking to a few websites for you folks interested is commenting about the speech-

Jessica McBride live blogged the speech

Boots and Sabers

The American Mind

Sliding oil prices worry investors???

Perhaps investors are really worried about sliding oil prices, however, I love it. I drive about 100 miles a day to getting to a from work.

I LOVE SLIDING OIL PRICES!

However, investors are worried-

Sliding oil prices worry investors

Stock investors who were thrilled with falling oil prices just a few months ago are getting nervous now that the slide is threatening to turn into a rout.

Wednesday, oil suffered its fifth drop in 2007's six trading days, falling $1.62 to $54.02 a barrel. That was an 18-month low and left oil down 11.5% for 2007 and 29.9% below its $77.03 record close last July 14.

continued...

WSJ's Best of the Web

You know, not only James Taranto observant, but he is also funny. Check this out from today's Best of the Web-

We were hoping the Angry Left blogs would have an interesting take on the Somalia strike, and we weren't disappointed. Here's a sampling:

"I don't have any facts or expertise, but it strikes me that the warmongers have pulled a fast one by escalating in Somalia instead of Iran or Syria. By tonight, Bush will be able to make a case that this has come up suddenly, that they have been ready for it, that it merely demonstrates what he has been saying about GWOT [global war on terror]."--"arper," DailyKos.com

"Well, Well Well.....it never fails. Bush is about to ask America to allow him to escalate the war in Iraq. But whenever he needs to do something like this, it seems like there's always a 'terror scare,' or some trumped up success, even if it's not our own, some days before."--"sephius1," DailyKos.com

"With Bush's umpteenth Iraqi war plan set for delivery today, was yesterday's cruise missile attack in Somalia supposed to change the subject, or score points elsewhere while the President was on the hot seat?"--Michael Shaw, PuffingtonHost.com

So now the war on terror is a distraction from Iraq?

This guy just cracks me up sometimes!

(By the way liberals- I don't believe the war on terror or the war in Iraq is funny- what is funny is when you own words get thrown back into your faces)

Is this our new fiscally responsible Congress?

Imagine for a moment- the family car is on the fritz and you either fix it or you purchase a new one. You spouse proceeds to go out to take care of the problem.

A few short hours later your spouse returns home with a brand new Ferrari F430 F1 Spider. It is a very cool car with everything a person could possible need.



Clearly, this solves the family car problem, right? After all, this car will get you around town in style!

After admiring this beautiful vehicle, the first question you ask your spouse is “How much?”

Your spouse responds, “I don’t know”.

Okay, you then ask “How are we going to pay for this?”

Your spouse responds, “I don’t know”.

So, you then ask your spouse, “Did we need this particular vehicle?”

Your spouse responds, “I don’t know”.

Next you ask “Did you sign anything showing that we have purchased this vehicle?”

Your spouse responds, “Yep”

Of course, your next natural response would be- “Of all the financially irresponsible, addle-brained, idiotic things to do…!”

You would be right to be outraged- how completely irresponsible is this?

Guess what folks? Our brand new “fiscally responsible” Congress did precisely this yesterday!

Yesterday, Congress passed a new anti-terror bill.

On the outside, this looks great, right?

From USA Today-

WASHINGTON (AP) — Anti-terror legislation sailed through the House on Tuesday, the first in a string of measures designed to fulfill campaign promises made by Democrats last fall.

Patterned on recommendations of the commission that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks, the far-reaching measure includes commitments for inspection of all cargo carried aboard passenger aircraft and on ships bound for the United States.

The vote was a bipartisan 299-128.

"Our first and highest duty as members of this Congress is to protect the American people, to defend our homeland and to strengthen our national security," said Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.

Certainly, anything that protects the American people from terrorists seems to be a great thing.

However, if you scratch the surface you begin to realize that there are some problems with the piece of legislation.

Democrats have pledged to make fiscal responsibility a priority in the new Congress, but they advanced the bill — their first of the year — without even a bare-bones accounting of the estimated cost. The funding will require follow-up legislation.

Now we begin to ask some questions-

After admiring this wonderful piece of legislation, the first question we ask is “How much?”

Congress responds, “I don’t know”.

Okay, we then ask “How are we going to pay for this?”

Congress responds, “I don’t know”.

So, we then ask, “Did we need this particular piece of legislation?” “Does it fix the problem?”

Congress responds, “I don’t know”.

Next we ask “Did you sign anything showing that we have purchased this piece of legislation?”

Congress responds, “Yep”

That is right folks!

We have now committed to implementing and financing a new anti-terror plan that may or may not help protect us.

We have no idea how much it costs.

We have no idea how we are going to pay for it.

We have no idea if this plan is the best plan for America and whether or not the plan will work.

Wow!

This is how our brand new “fiscally responsible” Congress plans on acting?

Of course on next natural response is “Of all the financially irresponsible, addle-brained, idiotic things to do…!”

Hang onto your wallet folks; it is going to be a bumpy and expensive ride with the new "fiscally responsible" Congress!

Congratulations Wisconsin

Last night the Badgers played a huge game against Ohio State. Our Badgers were victorious.

UW 72, Ohio State 69

Madison - Whew!

Was there anything else to say after the final buzzer sounded in the University of Wisconsin's 72-69 victory over fifth-ranked Ohio State on Tuesday night at the Kohl Center?

The third-ranked Badgers had a 10-point lead with 54 seconds left but saw it shrink to two points before a free throw by senior Kammron Taylor and a last-second three-point miss by Buckeyes junior Jamar Butler allowed Wisconsin to escape with its 12th straight victory.

Taylor finished with a season-high 25 points for the Badgers, who improved to 16-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten. The Badgers point guard overcame a couple of poor shooting days in practice to make five of eight shots, including three of six three-pointers.

continued...

I love it when I am right!

Okay, this is funny.

Last night, I posted this-

Somehow the Democrats attach ever single criminal Republican politician to George Bush, so is turnabout fair play?

Guess what showed up on Yahoo this morning?

Campaign photo shows Bush with Abramoff

Good grief!

Media malpractice

Michelle Malkin recalls another story of media malpractice-

All the Abortion Lies Fit to Print

It's official: The editors of The New York Times have no shame. Don't take my word for it. Listen to the Times' own ombudsman, Byron Calame.

On Sunday, Calame wrote a stunning column debunking an April 9 New York Times Magazine cover story on abortion in El Salvador. The sensational piece by freelance writer Jack Hitt alleged that women there had been thrown in prison for 30-year terms for having had abortions. Hitt described his visit to one of them, inmate Carmen Climaco. "She is now 26 years old, four years into her 30-year sentence" for aborting an 18-week-old fetus, Hitt reported.

The magazine featured heart-rending photos of Climaco's 11-year-old daughter, eyes filled with tears as she clutched a photo of her jailed mom. Cruel. Horrible. Outrageous. And utterly, demonstrably, false.

Climaco had actually been convicted of murder for strangling her newborn baby. This information was uncovered by pro-life groups. Lifesite.net obtained the court documents in Climaco's case and published them on their website in late November. Calame followed up and also independently obtained the documents easily -- records which Hitt didn't bother to try and get for himself to verify the propaganda being fed to him. Reported Calame:

"The care taken in the reporting and editing of this example didn't meet the magazine's normal standards. Although Sarah H. Smith, the magazine's editorial manager, told me that relevant court documents are 'normally' reviewed, Mr. Hitt never checked the 7,600-word ruling in the Climaco case while preparing his story. And Mr. Hitt told me that no editor or fact checker ever asked him if he had checked the court document containing the panel's decision."

Obtaining the public document was as easy as requesting that a stringer for the Times in El Salvador walk into the court building without making any prior arrangements. Which is exactly what Calame did. It took the stringer mere minutes to get the court ruling.

The facts did not fit with Hitt's pro-abortion narrative. Authorities found Climaco's dead baby hidden in a box wrapped in bags under the bed of Mrs. Climaco. Moreover, Lifesite reported, forensic examination showed that it was a full-term normal delivery. The child was breathing at the time of birth. The official cause of death was asphyxia by strangulation.

Hitt's main sources of info came from a pro-abortion group called Ipas. The group would profit from legalized abortion in El Salvador since it peddles abortion vacuum aspirators. Hitt's translator consulted for Ipas, which launched a fund-raising campaign to free Carmen Climaco and bring her to America. Pro-abortion groups recycled Climaco's story, citing the Times' bogus propaganda to scare up opposition to any abortion restrictions here.

The Times' pro-abortion poster child is a woman convicted of infanticide. But the Times, questioned by its own public editor, refuses to acknowledge Jack Hitt's false reporting.

There is "no reason to doubt the accuracy of the facts as reported," the editors imperiously told Calame. They refuse to issue a correction, publish an Editors' Note or inform their readers of the ready availability of the court decision that exposes Jack Hitt's deception about the Climaco case.

Calame concluded that "Accuracy and fairness were not pursued with the vigor Times readers have a right to expect." That's too polite. The Times slung bull and they refuse to clean it up. The Times' Climaco-gate, like the Associated Press' Jamil Hussein-gate and Reuters' fauxtography scandal and CBS's Rathergate, will go down in mainstream history as yet another case of textbook media malpractice.

The next time you hear a New York Times columnist defend the paper's commitment to accuracy, fairness and ethical standards, give them two words: Carmen Climaco. The next time journalism elites wonder why newspaper circulation is plunging, remember: Carmen Climaco. The next time MSM apologists deny liberal bias, ask them rhetorically -- "Atlas Shrugged"-style -- "Who is Carmen Climaco?"

Democrat Arenda Troutman, a Chicago Alderman, arrested for accepting a bribe

Tsk, tsk, tsk

More of the Democrat CULTURE OF CORRUPTION!

Criminal complaint: Alderman accepted bribe

Chicago Ald. Arenda Troutman (20th) accepted a bribe from a federal informant who claimed to be working with a developer wishing to do business in her ward during an undercover investigation, according to a criminal complaint unsealed today.

The complaint, which charges Troutman, 49, with one count of bribery, was filed Friday and unsealed today following her arrest, according to Gary Shapiro, first assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago.

Shapiro described the complaint as a "civics lesson" in how Troutman conducts business in the 20th Ward.

"You want the alderman's support, you pay your alderman. You pay Arenda Troutman," Shapiro said at a news conference following her initial court appearance at the Dirksen Building Courthouse.

Troutman appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael Mason in U.S. District Court.

She was being released on $10,000 bond, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Friday. If convicted, Troutman faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to a Justice Department news release.

continued...

Oh by the way, Troutman is a pristine Democrat. She even represented the state of Illinois as delegate to the 1996 Democratic National Convention-

In 1992, Alderman Troutman was elected to the unpaid political post of Democratic Committeeman of the 20th Ward. She has since been re-elected to that position twice. In 1996, she was an elected member of the Illinois delegation to the Democratic National Convention.

So because of Troutman's high connections in the Democratic party, does this means that all democrats are criminals?

I don't know.

Somehow the Democrats attach ever single criminal Republican politician to George Bush, so is turnabout fair play?

Since Troutman was a delegate at the 1996 convention, and clearly President Clinton and Hillary were the centerpieces for this convention, obviously the Clinton's were involved.

Sound ridiculous?

It is ridiculous!

By hey, the Democrats created the rules to this game so they have to live by them also.

I demand that the Clinton's be investigated by the FBI and President Bill Clinton should also be impeached!

(Oh wait a minute, look what I found House Brief for Impeachment Trial )

Okay, never mind. It's been done already.

MPS pushing one-sex schools

I have no idea of what the benefits or the drawbacks would be for creating one sex schools.

Perhaps someone cares to comment?

MPS pushing one-sex schools

An all-boys schools and an all-girls school could open as part of the Milwaukee Public Schools system by September.

In documents made available in advance of a School Board committee meeting Tuesday, MPS administrators said, "MPS strongly believes that parents should be given the opportunity to choose single-sex schools for their children if they believe that these schools will help their children."

Specific schools are not spelled out in the resolution to be considered Tuesday - in fact, it doesn't pinpoint whether the focus should be on high schools, middle schools or even elementary grades.

continued...

Well, I'll be jiggered!

Actually anyone paying attention to stem cell research these days already knew this . For some reason, liberals insist on destroying human embryos for stem cell research.

When conservatives fight back and attempt to protect human embryos- the liberals go crazy.

By the way, this statement in this article is a bald faced lie-

President Bush cut all federal funding for research into new human embryonic cell lines in 2001.

Not only has George Bush never cut federal funding for any type of stem cell research, but President Bush is the only President to every allow federal funding for stem cell research.

Now that the election is over, the media are actually talking about a new and successful source of stem cell research-


Stem cells extracted from amniotic fluid

Researchers have been able to derive human stem cells from the amniotic fluid surrounding babies in the womb, potentially providing a source of stem cells that is easily available and uncontroversial.

The amniotic stem cells grew readily into independent cell lines or colonies, doubling in just 36 hours, says the paper, published in Sunday's edition of the journal Nature Biotechnology.
The researchers at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C., were able to get the amniotic cells to differentiate into fat, bone, muscle, blood, nerve and liver cells.

Stem cells can develop into almost all cell types, serving as the repair system for the body.
Such cells created from early-stage human embryos, called embryonic stem cells, have shown the greatest potential for turning into any cell needed. But they are controversial because making them requires destroying the embryo. President Bush cut all federal funding for research into new human embryonic cell lines in 2001.

The amniotic cells are neither human embryonic stem cells nor adult stem cells, which are slightly less resilient, says lead researcher Anthony Atala, director of Wake Forest's Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering Institute.

"They're something in between," he says.

One advantage is that these cells, unlike embryonic stem cells, don't form tumors when implanted into mice.

continued...

Imagine that, and new and better form of stem cell research.

I wonder if we will see an apology for Michael J. Fox or Governor Doyle for the bald faced lies told during this last election?

Zing!

I like this editorial from the Detroit News-

Democrats can do lots of damage in 100 hours

Democrats took over Congress Thursday promising to march through their populist agenda like Sherman through Georgia. Their priority list has understandable appeal -- raise wages for the working poor, limit pork barrel spending, get a better drug deal for Medicare recipients, punish the oil companies. And do it all in 100 hours.

But if rushed into implementation at the speed the Democrats promise, and with only limited opportunity for Republicans to respond, as their new rules dictate, what Democrats are likely to deliver is a package of shallow bills that don't accomplish their goals, are filled with unintended consequences and beg for a presidential veto.

Government spending discipline

Start with spending. Democratic leaders promise to break the link between congressional spending and special interest lobbyists. More power to them, if they can get real reforms in place.

A more worrisome piece of the spending package is the proposed strengthening of pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules that require all new spending to be offset by cuts in other programs or tax increases. We like the principle of PAYGO, but some Democrats want to repeal rules requiring a three-fifths majority to raise taxes and banning retroactive taxes. If that happens, Americans can expect higher taxes in short order. Real reform would place caps on both spending and taxes, and would apply PAYGO to all spending, including emergency appropriations.

Negotiating drug prices

Democrats pledge to pass legislation allowing the government to directly negotiate Medicare drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies. That may sound like a no-brainer, but it's not likely to work, and it could restrict access to many drugs.

Private companies that administer the Medicaid Part D drug program have been remarkably effective in negotiating favorable prices with the drug makers and, in fact, have kept drug prices below what the government initially estimated.

Rather than negotiate, the government is more likely to engage in price fixing, which will greatly limit the range of medicines available to seniors.

Minimum wage

Raising the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour from $5.15 will placate the Democrats' union bosses, but won't do much to raise the quality of life for Americans.

First, the claim that minimum wage employees are mostly the working poor struggling to raise families is a myth. The average minimum wage worker lives in a household with an income above $50,000 a year, suggesting that most are teen-agers and college students. Fewer than 20 percent live below the poverty line.

And a minimum wage hike will restrict the number of entry-level jobs, as employers reduce the workforce to control payroll costs.

College student loans

Democrats want to cut in half the 6.8 percent interest rate on student loans. The theory is that cheaper loans will encourage college attendance. But federal spending on college financial aid has increased 400 percent since 2001 without a surge in college enrollment, according to the Heritage Foundation. The interest rate cut is not something a budget-conscious nation can afford.

Social Security restrictions

Democrats will also move to pre-emptively ban private Social Security accounts. These self-managed retirement funds are seen by Republicans as a way to head off the coming Social Security crisis.

Allowing workers to own and manage their own retirement funds will provide them with larger benefits and increase the personal wealth of all working Americans. Taking the option off the table makes it more likely that the Social Security solution will be benefit cuts and tax hikes.

Democrats promise to make the nation dizzy with their speed of action this week. We hope they don't make the nation nauseous as well.

Something to think about

Interesting article on ethanol-

Fuel for car may be food for trouble

I found the last paragragh to be interesting-

"But the grain it takes to fill a 25-gallon tank with ethanol just once would feed one person for a whole year. Converting the entire U.S. grain harvest to ethanol would satisfy only 16 percent of U.S. auto fuel needs."

So are we sacrificing too much of our fuel supply in order to drive our vehicles?

New name for terrorists

Wow! The media has now taken to calling terrorists "militiamen".

600 Islamic militiamen fight Somali and Ethiopian forces; U.S. cuts off escape route

A resident in Somolia recognizes that these people are not militiamen and calls them terrorists, however the American media is now calling them militiamen-

"The peacekeepers will be targets for terrorists," said Ali, 41. "They will have to face them."

Time to appeal

Things are moving so fast on the Michael McGee Jr. recall election, it is difficult to keep up.

MJS- McGee has until Jan. 12 to file appeal on recall

People are being called in to testify.

A judge ruled that the recall process could move forward.

The county election's commission also ruled the recall election could move forward.

Michael McGee Jr. now has few days to appeal the ruling.

McGee Sr. is threatening to shoot people again.

Check out Badger Blogger for all of the sordid details.

PS. Is it just me or is McGee's lawyer, Mike Maistelman, the same yahoo that contacted the Democratic State Election board members to have them vote against Mark Green's campaign funds?

It sure looks that way, but I could be wrong.

What is it about sleazy politicians and attorney Mike Maistelman?

From the MJS-

McGee attorney Mike Maistelman said he may appeal the commission's decision to the State Elections Board. McGee has until Jan. 12 to appeal.

Could someone keep an eye on this yahoo Mike Maistelman and make sure he is not prearranging the outcome of the recall appeal with the State election board members?

It would be nice, for once, to actually get a fair and just ruling from the State Elections board without any outside influence.

First act for Dems is ethics cleanup

This is what the Democrats are saying. However, if you look at the details, not a whole lot will change-

• Ban gifts and meals from lobbyists. Current rules set a $100 limit on gifts and meals from the same person in one year.
• Trips organized and paid for by lobbyists also would be limited. Lawmakers still could travel at expense of colleges and foundations that want to influence public policy, but the travel would have to be approved beforehand by the House ethics panel.
• Bar congressional travel on corporate jets.

That is it?

Labor deal makes sense(editorial by MJS)

Hmm- I actually agree with this MJS editorial.

Editorial: Labor deal makes sense

The last-minute deal struck by Milwaukee County and its largest employee union shows once again that the often-criticized collective bargaining process for public workers can work, even when both sides seem to have dug in their heels and the clock is about to strike 12. Once again, the public stands to gain.

As the editorial clearly points out, this issue did not move forward until County executive Scott Walker started the process of laying off county employees-

Differences over health care for county employees represented by AFSCME had been the chief stumbling block of the stalled negotiations. But the focus later changed when Walker, citing the county's legitimate financial problems, initiated efforts to lay off more than 100 county employees, many of them courthouse complex maintenance workers and parks laborers, by the end of 2006 and hire private contractors to take over some of those jobs.

What the editorial did not point out is that it is impossible to strike a deal when both sides are not at the table.

For over two years, the county board has been providing cover for the union and not forced them to the bargaining table. Instead county workers have been working without a contract for over two years.

Hmm... What a novel idea...

I have to say that I am stunned by the vote in Massachusetts today.

Massachusetts lawmakers approve gay marriage vote

Massachusetts lawmakers approved a measure on Tuesday that could give voters a chance next year to ban gay marriage in the only U.S. state where it is legal and overturn a historic ruling by the state's highest court.

What a novel idea- let the people decide. (sarcasm)

What has got me really stunned about today's vote in Massachusetts is that so many lawmakers actually voted against letting the people decide. The final vote was 61 yea's to 132 no's.

Although a majority in the Democratic-controlled state legislature voted against it, the measure needed only 50 votes to pass.

How can so many lawmakers actually vote against letting the people decide?

Whether you are for or against gay marriage- why would any lawmaker be against letting the people decide?

Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal- why would a single lawmaker vote against letting the people decide?

Really, this is why I am so stunned by the vote today. 132 lawmakers actually believe that the people do not have the right to decide on this very heated issue.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR THE DISTURBED

Someone sent this to me via email-

1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are

3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas

4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me

5. Manic - Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores andOffice and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.....

6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me

7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe
I'll Tell You Why

9. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy oooh look at the Froggy - can I have
a chocolate? Why is France so far away?

10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle Bells,Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle,Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells , Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells,