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Ronald Reagan had about the same amount of foreign, Head of State experience from his time as Governor of California, as this Governor of Alaska. Executive Experience? A Governor of a state from this United States, makes decisions. A lot of them. A Governor executes a decision about avery 20 minutes that will, politically, either destroy them if it's the wrong thing to do, or if was the right decision, will give some swarmy legislator an opportunity to take credit! A Governor, even a small town Mayor, will make more executive decisions in 20 days than say, uh, some random...

Sean Hannity in Colorado Springs today in the "Rally for America" delivers a very elequant and knowledgable speech in the biggest RED county in America in front of 2000 Air Force and US Army personnel, Republicans, Christians, and a lot of sympathizers supporting Sarah Pilan and John McCain....very powerful. Thank GOD for these people...praying for them and you! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

The Democrat reaction to McCain's choice of Palin has revealed their vicious nature. Some of them have really lost it (Andrew Sullivan circulates a smear that she's a "bad mother," Ben Smith makes a tenuous, desperate allegation that Palin hates Jews, Far-lefties at Think "Progress" ridicules her for looks and having appeared in a beauty pageant). All this divisiveness and hate from the left has me thinking. If you're like me, you have been personally affected by the vicious, violent hate exhibited by the leftist partisans. (I saw one of them rip of my windshield wiper in 2005 because he...

This is why the Defense Department, and the US Army especially, is the most successful government institution in the US.Facing a decreasing pool of eligible recruits, the Army has started a learning program for dropouts to get up to speed before going to basic training. Hey, all you crabby leftists with smug bumper stickers wishing the DoD would have to hold bake sales to purchase their weapons take note: This is America's war machine picking up the education system's slack. Yeah, our teachers union dominated schools are failing, but don't worry, as usual, the Army's got our backs.What other government...

While on stage tour of Germany, Barack Hussein Obama specifically chose not to visit our wounded troops. Not only has Sarah Palin spent more time in Iraq than B.O., but she also has chosen the experience of visiting our wounded troops in Germany which he chose not to do! The patriots at FreeRepublic.com are proud of Sarah Palin as a fellow American patriot, which is something that can not be said about Barack Hussein Obama!

While Illinois' Senators, Obamis and Durbin, prepared for the party at Barackopolis; while Senator Obama's friend and mentors, Gover Rod Blagojevich and Emil Jones prepared for the party at the Barackopolis; state agencies in Illinois announce the layoff of ...

I had to share this one. There is a justified irony in John McCain's celebrity add that featured images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. Today, The New York Post learned that the set designer of the Barackopolis at Invesco is none other than the set designer for....Britney Spears. The stage, dubbed the Barackopolis by the GOP, was constructed under the supervision of ...

Citing the “increased threat from a traditional enemy,” Syrian President Bashar Assad is beseeching Moscow for new weapons to defend his country. The “increased threat” supposedly comes from the recent Polish-US agreement to install anti-missile defenses in Poland. With most observers having difficulty comprehending the connection, Assad explained his reasoning. “The threat to our country from Poland goes back six decades,” Assad asserted. “They had an opportunity to finish off their Jews. Instead, after the war, they allowed them to escape to Israel. Israel now poses a constant irritation to us. We are seeking Russian aid to help us eradicate...

Joe Biden seems to want to discuss Barack Obama's accomplishments in Illinois, but perhaps Joe Biden has failed to recognize the the fiscal and economic health of Illinois is far from perfect and in 'shambles' after years of control by the same Chicago Political Machine that produced Senator Obama. According to Biden, "Because Barack made that choice, 150,000 more children and parents have health care in Illinois. He fought to make that happen. And because Barack made that choice, working families in Illinois pay less taxes and more people have moved from welfare to the dignity of work. He got...

I made the mistake of watching the whole of Joe Biden's keynote DNC speech at the gym tonight. How underwhelming! Forgiving the inadvertent (and repeated) stumbling and bumbling, the substance of the speech itself was just painfully awkward. Here's my attempt at cataloging the awkward gaffes.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vice President to be, this convention, my fellow citizens of this great nation: With a deep awareness of the responsibility conferred by your trust, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States. I do so with deep gratitude, and I think also I might interject on behalf of all of us, our thanks to Detroit and the people of Michigan and to this city for the warm hospitality they have shown. And I thank you for your wholehearted response to my recommendation in regard to George Bush as a candidate for vice president. I...

...In the minutes following Clinton's speech, CNN which openly applauded and was relieved by her speech made the decision to interview some of Clinton's supporters on the floor. In the interview of an AA Clinton delegate, you could see the visible shock by CNN reporters when she stated that this speech only proved that Clinton should be the nominee; she reiterated that Obama was not experienced enough to be POTUS; that she would not vote for McCain; but for the first time in her life she would most likely not vote at all. CNN, of course, attempted to cut the...

Democrats have decided in their infinite wisdom that John McCain should not speak of his 5 1/2 years in captivity as a POW. It's as if they believe they have a right to decide when a man can talk about his own life. But it is his life -- and it is not their right to decide. Now some of John McCain's fellow POWS are speaking out on his behalf. Here is a video report about one of the men who went through the nightmare of captivity alongside John McCain - literally. Col. Orson Swindle shared a cell with McCain...

For the past two weeks we have listened to Obama surrogates and pundits tell us that this convention would highlight party unity and introduce Barack Obama to the millions of Americans who still don't know 'who he is'. Yet, after 17 months of campaigning and hours of free press from the 'in the tank' MSMs, I highly doubt this love-fest will accomplish this grand introduction. Obama's problem isn't that no one understands him; his problem is that his own supporters don't understand him and those who do understand his policies and beliefs oppose him. In an interview with Fox News...

With Friends Like US...? by: Daniel Smith, August 26, 2008 After the September 11, 2001 attacks upon the United States, President Bush warned of the consequence of such actions by America’s enemies. Unfortunately, America’s friends report their own set of hazards. Dr. Elizabeth Ferris, Senior Fellow at Brookings, commented on the history of Iraqi refugees and victims of “internal displacement” (ID). “Before U.S. intervention” in 2003, nearly 700,000 Iraqis had been displaced under the Saddam regime, 250,000 of which were Northern Kurds. Since the war, approximately 4 million additional Iraqis have been driven from their homes. Refugees – those forced...

There has been little discussion during this campaign of Obama surrogate and his admitted mentor Emil Jones. Jones is currently the Illinois Senate Majority Leader and responsible for first pushing Obama to run for office and then the US Senate. As Senate Majority Leader, Jones has proven to be one of the most divisive figures in Illinois Politics as a right-hand man of the unpopular Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. In recent weeks, while facing a backlash from his own party, Jones announced that he was retiring from politics; a move that well-received by the public who overwhelmingly did not approve...

In 1943 during WW2, an army Sgt., Ed Davis, was working in Iran near the Turkish border, in charge of locals hired by our army to build a road through Iran to the Soviet border, which would carry supplies to the Soviets instead of flying them in. In short, Ed did a tremendous favor for a little Kurdish village near Ararat. His workers were mostly Kurds and the chief of the village came to Ed and asked if he would like to see Noah's Ark. He said the summer on the mountain had been hottest in many years and the...

“Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of The Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian... this is a Christian nation”. United States Supreme Court, 1892 There are certain defining principles which dictate human behavior and determine the course of our lives. These principles will guide us and determine our future whether we adhere to them or choose to deny they exist. In this world of moral equivalency, we have all but lost...

Two Faces of China by: Irene Warren, August 25, 2008 As China hosted the 2008 Olympian competitors for this year’s games, in far Western Xinjiang a series of attacks have claimed the lives of 19 police officers and 15 civilians, and left a number of others with serious injuries, according to experts who spoke at the Heritage Foundation on August 21. Since the Olympic Games opened the Turkistan Islamic Party has taken responsibility for killing three civilians in two separate bus bombing incidents, and also fatally-wounding the 19 policemen and 15 civilians inside the Yunnan province. The Chinese Government still...

In the past few weeks the media has speculated as to how John McCain could possibly draw attention away from the Democratic Convention and maintain a presence in the headlines. Perhaps by a stroke a genius, the McCain campaign made the decision to shock pundits and Obama surrogates by not drawing attention to himself, but rather by highlighting Democratic Leadership that has blatantly ignored a large portion of their base and alienated over 50% of Hillary Clinton's supporters... But today's release of an ad featuring "Debra" will perhaps prove to be the most damaging to the DNC's Unity Fest. You...

Throughout July it had become apparent that energy would become a dominant issue in the upcoming election. With prices at the pump topping $4 a gallon and inflation showing a surge, Americans demanded action and instead got nothing. In mid-July the President did respond to public outcry by lifting the long-standing Executive Moratorium on offshore drilling. The results of his action followed by a Federal Reserve warning the next day caused oil prices to drop by over 10% in the following days. Prior to the President's lifting of the moratorium Oil prices were on a steady rise, but since the...

Clinton's plan would be paid for by rolling back $30 billion of tax breaks over a ten-year period, and her Windfall Profits Tax would raise $20 billion over a ten year period. At the time of the primaries this sounded like a large amount, but today it pales in comparison to Obama's suggestions. Obama's energy plan calls for a $500 immediate energy rebate costing (by his own figures) $75 billion dollars, plus a ten-year, $150 billion, investment into alternative energies. He would pay for the plan through a roll back of $30 billion in tax breaks over ten years, along...

On Saturday afternoon, Senator Obama will return to the capital of Illinois to give his first speech since announcing the 36 year congressional veteran, Joe Biden as his running mate. Being from the capital city, I can tell you that I was a little bit shocked to learn that Senator was re-visiting the hometown of one of the greatest Republican Presidents. Why?...

Turned back from Afghanistan (no separate facilities for women in Mehtar Lam) and turned back from Mosul (already have enough contract civilian mechanics, don't need GI mechs). Kept volunteering and is now headed for the Baghdad outskirts, like before, with her best friend from high school, like before, and looking to reenlist in the Guard while deployed in order to get the bonus tax-free. Dad don't mind her volunteering for deployment, but am asking her to think twice about six more years. Her life, though; she's gotta live it.

You would think that with the Demockocratic leadership and media doing everthing in their power to push the unity pony, Huffpo would be working to re-unite those bitter and clingy Clinton supporters with the party. Yet Huffpo, which is clearly more interested in pushing the fringe-left agenda of Obama, Pelosi and Reid has decided to continue their onslaught of attacks aimed at Clinton and her supporters. We have seen this behavior from the fring-left before, they claim to ...

There our many of us who take the time to understand our heritage, who are proud of this country and who refuse to buy into the notion's that America is to blame for all the world's woes and that the government is best suited to solve our individual problems; and then...there are those others. On the campaign trail Senator Obama will tell Americans that individuals like myself and my readers will try to scare them into voting for John McCain. Obama preaches undefined hope and change, but the best gauge of Obama's view of this nation can best be found...

From Dave and Pat Olofson: Hello everyone. Please feel free to pass this message to those who will care. I would like to pass on an update on David, as I see it has been more than four weeks since the last. He tells us he is doing fine, and we have been getting about one call a week, so it is good to hear from him. He is trying to help others when he is in the law library. I remind him not to let his guard down or become complacent, as I’m sure they will be looking for...

The worsening situation in Mexico, despite its barbarity, breadth of murder, kidnappings, and corruption, is not resonating in the American psyche (albiet, perhaps the border states). We agonize and scrutinize the security situation in Iraq, headlines about dozens of wounded and dead, and we have this raging debate on the way ahead there. We have more deaths in our inner-cities from drug related crime nationwide, let alone the horrific numbers climbing in our southern neighbor..yet it doesn’t appear to be a front burner concern...and the Mexican senior military leadership knows this. Expect to see “martial law” and Calderon will be...

I can't claim to have done anything as remarkable as Sen. McCain in the service of my country. I do, however, have tucked away in a drawer a medal awarded with a small bronze "V" attached. Also like Sen. McCain, I didn't ask to be put in a situation that would lead to such recognition, but when the situation arose I did the best to lead those that were looking to me for an example. The counsel I offer is simple. Don't let your surrogates empty your magazines at the beginning of the battle.

There is no doubt that on the morning following Barack Obama’s likely acceptance speech in Denver we will all wake up to headlines heralding the vast crowd and historical significance of Obama’s acceptance speech. News organizations around the world will not only taut Obama as the first African-American major party presidential nominee but will also highlight the scope of the crowd that will be present at Invesco Field. But beyond the obvious propaganda of holding the event at Invesco is the behind the scenes and more questionable reasons for the event... Forget about the feel good headlines of the day...

Just heard on my local tv news station. Texas Guard troops are training here in Oklahoma, Fort Sill I presume, but haven't been paid for, in some cases, up to THREE MONTHS! It is scandelous and I hope you folks in Texas will make this widely know. The explanation was that there was an accounting problem that they "thought" was fixed some time back, but now won't be fixed until the 28 of August. It was so sad to see those young families without funds and with day to day expenses mounting. In one case the poor woman was crying,...

Old Hugh Hewitt is apparently getting good intel (14 August FR Post "Military Coup in Mexico"). Powerful and influential senior Mexican General, General Segio Aponte Polito, was recently removed from his position as the 2nd Military District Commander (LA Times, 9 Aug). Unlike the US, Generals in Mexico don't get “resigned”..they play major roles in many power broker positions (and yes, until late, behind the scenes). The Mexican Military is fed up with not being able to control the spiraling arms race and increasing sophistication of the cartels. Expect to see Aponte in the future..and before the US election...Wait and...

Time constraints, absent celebrities hamper peaceniks' efforts. Millions of peace protesters say they've been too busy to protest Russia's invasion and occupation of Georgia. "I really had lots to do the past couple of weekends. I'm all booked up for this weekend, too," said Fawn Hallerback, liaison for the Altoona branch of Moms for Peace. "I have to get groceries, stain the porch, and meet with a couple of friends for drinks." While the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and continual aggression against Tibet normally draws crowds of angry peace protesters, the conflict in Georgia hasn't attracted any attention at...

Pro-Troop Demonstration brings Iraq / Afghanistan Vets and Military Families to Denver The American Victory Coalition brings a Pro-Victory/Pro-Troop message to Denver and the Democratic National ConventionWhere: Pioneer Monument, on the northwest corner of Colfax Avenue and Broadway When: Sunday, August 24th 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Invited participants include Families United for Our Troops and Their Mission, and Vets for Freedom. Americans from near and far will assemble in Denver, CO to show their support for our troops and their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. For details and updates: www.LookingAtTheLeft.com "One of the rally’s organizers recalls “One of my...

...For the Obama campaign whose perceived economic advantage is slipping and who is now overwhelmingly viewed as the weaker candidate on National Security, a focus on social issues is a welcome distraction. As long as we debate the stances and merits of the candidates Pro-Life or Pro-Choice policies, the Obama campaign does not have to deal with the real issues. Obama's gaffes of Saturday night, for which there were plenty, have been all but forgotten by the media because of this new focus on the abortion issue. There is a bigger reason, however, why the Obama campaign welcomes this new...

Nukes unlikely to be affected by Musharraf leaving By MATTHEW PENNINGTON, Associated Press Writer Tue Aug 19, 12:38 AM ET Pervez Musharraf's departure from the presidency is unlikely to have a significant impact on how Pakistan's nuclear weapons are controlled. Experts say a 10-member committee, and not just the president, makes decisions on how to use them and only a complete meltdown in governance — still a distant prospect in Pakistan — could put the atomic bomb in the hands of extremists. "Pakistan's nuclear assets are not one man's property," said Maria Sultan, a defense analyst and director at the...

Via Glenn Reynolds: "In order to Swift Boat John McCain you will need his fellow POWs to come out and say he is bloviating, etc. Swift Boating means someone who was there who knows you are full of hot air is on your tail. Not, I repeat not, what the left wants it to mean. The only way John McCain can be Swift Boated is if someone who was there with him causes McCain's campaign to scramble to answer the allegations. Otherwise, this is desperation by the left who sees their guaranteed win slipping away." It'll get uglier before it's...

Barack Obama has been hailed as a reformer, one who stands for change and hope, yet when given the opportunities to actually be part of reforming the corruption that is Chicago politics, Obama took a pass. A candidate who says he can reform Washington politics, Obama evidently didn't see a need for reform in Chicago, or he found Chicago's political machine too tough to take on. In the 2006 election for Cook County...

...Shortly after the end of the final Democratic Primary there was a rash of articles and reports flowing from left-wing organizations that openly attacked John McCain and his pro-life stance. These attacks, many of which were false and misleading, were designed simply to cloud the debate and values of Clinton supporters in an attempt to unite them around Obama. Once again, following Saturday's Saddleback forum, we find ourselves entrenched in the abortion debate and overlooking what should be highlighted as the fundamental difference between Barack Obama and John McCain. Our government and all nations' governments first and foremost function is...

Come back! We were just kidding! We don’t hate you, really! So will come the supplications from the once-proud democracies of Europe. Turns out America as the world’s lone superpower might not be so bad after all. As Russian fascism re-emerges, transmogrified into what one might euphemistically call a “Corporate State,” and China’s leaders show no signs of taking their boots off of their citizens’ faces, the brave soldiers for democracy of the traditional European states are ready once again to hide behind America’s broad back. Of course, the nascent republics that budded off of the USSR sought shelter with...

Interview made by phone on August 14, 2008 Audio excerpts and complete transcript linked above. Bill KRISTOL's opinion on Obama, McCain, a possible comeback of Hillary at the Denver convention, Iran, Iraq, Bush legacy, China.... ENJOY and give a feedback !

I have to admit that I was delightfully shocked when the Obama campaign released their fundraising figures for the month of July. Mine and perhaps everyone's first surprise is that Obama's fundraising once again fell far short of the lofty $100 million per month goal that his campaign set out in June when he withdrew from public financing. But the Obama campaign did not just miss their goal, the fell far short. In the month of July, the campaign claimed to have raised $51 million, or $1 million less than during the month of June. Although the Obama campaign claimed...

Here is video of an interview done by CNN's John King with Sen. John McCain, in which McCain describes his treatement as a Prisoner-of-War in Vietnam. He talks describes the prisons he was kept in, and is asked about what it was like to come to the breaking point physically. But as you watch and listen, you can see something of the kind of person McCain is - stoical, determined and not a quitter. . .

Okay, when you read this stuff, you realize two things: (1) The Russians aren't screwing around, and (2) It is time to cashier The Messiah. From The Times Online. Russia is considering arming its Baltic fleet with nuclear warheads for the first time since the cold war, senior military sources warned last night. The move, in response to American plans for a missile defence shield in Europe, would heighten tensions raised by the advance of Russian forces to within 20 miles of Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, yesterday. Under the Russian plans, nuclear warheads could be supplied to submarines, cruisers and...

Craig Williams has just returned from ANWR and will give us his trip report! This trip was planned well before the Texas Tea Party. Mr. Williams is running against a first term candidate who has taken money from CAIR. CAIR has yet to denounce terrorism!

A Russia / Georgia war scorecard from Strategy Page: August 17, 2008: Russian troops beat the Georgians on the ground, not so much because of superior numbers, but because the Russians had more troops with combat experience, and very recent experience in fighting this kind of war. The Russians got this way by fighting a successful campaign just across the border, in Chechnya ... The Georgians did better in the air and at sea, even though they were greatly outnumbered there as well. Georgian warplanes shot up the Russians pretty badly (killing the commander of Russian ground forces, for example)...

Unfortunately for the Democrats, a belligerent former KGB officer hell-bent on dominating Europe has showed up and started killing people and breaking things 11 weeks before the election. To be frank, they suck at handling guys like that. George Will agrees.

Following the popularity of the Channel Nine series Sea Patrol, which shows the hard working, intelligent, brave, heroic, compassionate Sailors of the Royal Australian Navy, the ABC, in association with the Australian Army is pleased to announce Meat Head, a new drama series about Australian Army Military Police. Episode 1: It's a Long Way to the Top* In the opening episode we follow Private Jim Loser who thinks a transfer to the MPs is an easy two stripes. See him become bitter and twisted when he realises that all he's achieved is to go from the bottom of one pile...

On the morning of August 8, 2008 Russian forces invaded the tiny Republic of Georgia in what Russia cynically characterized as an act of "preemptive defense". Thus once again this volatile region explodes in violence and increases the already escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington. According to the bleak assessment of one of our Fox News commentators, "with our military already stretched thin", we are now confronted with the possibility of "being dragged into yet another war, which we cannot afford". Indeed, we seem threatened on all sides, the martial rattling of our enemies' sabers grows louder and more...