Kind of stretches across one half of America.  Said to be the most expensive pad in Orange County.  Hey, John how much of a carbon footprint is given off to heat, light, and maintain that property?  And, BTW, you have got to love the clear cutting that he accomplished, loggers would be proud!

 CJ photo by Don Carrington

The 28,200-square-foot Edwards home in Orange County is expected to be valued at more than $6 million. (Link: http://carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=3848)

Incredible...

 The failure of Dimocrats to understand the stakes at hand in Iraq can not be more obvious than to listen to the testimony (http://www.nysun.com/article/47158) of General Michael Maples, head of Defense Intelligence Agency:

"Documents captured in a raid on an Al Qaeda in Iraq safe house in Iraq revealed AQI (ed: al Qaeda in Iraq) was planning terrorist operations in the U.S. The disrupted plots underscore both the accomplishments achieved in union with our partners in the war on terrorism and the continuing danger posed by Al Qaeda. Despite being forced to decentralize its network, Al Qaeda retains the ability to organize complex, mass casualty attacks and inspire others."

These foiled plans targeted cities in America and may have included chemical weapons.  The plan was to use 10 to 20 individuals to  attack various targets.  Some of the items found in the safe house included Google Earth images. 

Couple that with the underreported Annual Intelligence Report  (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/11/AR2007011101104.html) by John Negreponte and we face a very determined, while yet fractious, enemy.  The goal is to eliminate Israel and the US, and destroy Western civilization and bring the world, or the vast majority of it, under Sharia Law and the Caliphate.

Will it take another attack for Dimocrats and Republicans to join the fight in a meaningful way?  Our very existence is at stake.  President Bush has made this clear, very clear.  How many Dimocrats do you hear talking about the enemy and the stakes at hand?  If there are any, you probably could count them on one hand (Joe Lieberman?).

Some critics of the show 24 are going to town on the political incorrectness of again viewing radical Muslims as the enemy...guess what they are.  And, what is one of their stated goals?  Blow up an American city, inflict millions in casualties.  It's goal is to also inflict economic devastation.  Are we prepared for that?  No!

We are facing the greatest threat to Western Civilization ever.  We faced down the Nazi's, the Japanese, and Communist Russia.  We failed in Korea, and millions now live in utter despair in the North with starvation, a serious problem, and whacked out dictaor bent on nuclear bombs.  Hey, Senator Webb, any mention of that result from the withdrawal that you seek?  At least we contained that by having the DMZ and 10's of thousands of soldiers still stationed in South Korea.

Failure in Iraq is far more serious.  The region could then be cast into a maelstrom.  It is as Hugh Hewitt has pointed out, it's easy, it's what Reagan fought for and was so steadfast on: We Win They Lose.  Never a mention from a Dimocrat about winning, and they like to couch by saying they don't want failure, but there is no win-win, no status quo ante.  It will get worse before it gets better. 

Our leaders in the White House failed to see the looming danger.  The dismantling of the US Military is a direct result of the problems we face.  We do not have the forces and hardware to effectively "flood the zone."  Our military is too small.  A step in the right direction, 92,000 new troops.  We need far more to combat the problems.  The fight against Islamofascists is just a scratch of the surface.  Are we going to forget China.  If we are weakened enough, do you think that China might try something in Taiwan?  And further it's reach throughout the world?  Can we face a 2 or 3 front war?

Ugh.

I hit the "big time" yesterday.  I was featured on CBS.com with regard to my comments on the Nanny State, and the bloviating that comes out of Sacramento.

(Editors note: Townhall seems flukey today, I can't link the story, so copy and paste the link, sorry.  I also couldn't get in this morning to post...somethings up).

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/23/blogophile/main2388332.shtml

Story begins with Simon Cowell, but about halfway down Melissa McNamara has my comments under sub-heading Law Hits Home:

Others say it's not the state's role to regulate such matters. "Nanny state ... a swat on the butt could now be punishable with up to a year in jail! One has to wonder if all these legislators do is sit around and listen to the sound of their voices reverberating in the rotunda ..." Eric Jay writes at Neophyte Pundit.


Thanks Melissa I appreciate the bump!

My picks for tomorrow's games:

Saints over the Bears, 3 points

The Patriots beat the Colts by 8!  I can't stand the Mannings, and I will never root for a family that did what they did to the fans of San Diego...Archie Manning can always be frustrated by the fact that his son's can't win the big game...

 

If ever there was a rush to judgement it was in the case against the 3 Duke La Crosse players.  Politics makes strange bedfellows, and this one was by far the worst...Mike Nifong deserves to be impeached from his office (if that is the proper term for prosecutorial misconduct). 

As the story continues to unfold it stinks to high heaven.  I don't know how this guy looks himself in the mirror.  His actions were merely in self interest, to get reelected to a final term that would qualify him for his retirement, at least that is what a former staffer from his election campaign has alleged.  If that is so, not only should he be removed from office, but he should be denied any benefits from the state/county/city or whomever he represents.  In addition his law license should be revoked in North Carolina, and any other state that he might be able to practice law in.  Mike Nifong gives ambulance chasers a bad name, he is what is wrong with American politics.  It is all about getting elected, and not fairly representing the people.

The families of those involved should be in civil court trying to extract damages from Nifong.  The really sad thing is that based on the evidence he had this should never have seen the light of day, and it may well have hurt other rape victims in the future, as now the benefit of the doubt, which should always be on the side of the accuser, is now called into question. 

When it is all over and done for, good riddance to Mike Nifong, and I just wish those "boys" could get some semblence of normalcy back.  Hopefully they too have learned a lesson about staying away from questionable activities that involve partying that goes out of bounds by paying women for a "show."  Learn what it means to be gentleman.

Jimmy Carter's newest book has stirred a hornets nest of controversy.  So much so that now there have been 14 more resignations of people close to the Carter Center for human rights.  The book slams the Israelis and makes the claim that the Palestinians are nothing more than victims:



"You have clearly abandoned your historic role of broker in favor of becoming an advocate for one side," the departing members of the center's Board of Councilors told Carter in their letter of resignation.

Ouch...

Nice to know that there are those who put principle before pride.  Jimmy Carter has abandoned all sense of even handedness and thrown caution to the wind.  Now it seems that Carter is going for broke in defending his position.  Carter's defense of his indefensible book is that he is brave to take on Israel and the Jewish lobby in America.  The factual errors are easily countered, and Alan Dershowitz is willing to debate President Carter, alas Carter has said no.  No debate, because Jimmy knows he'll be easily defeated.

Now, even worse, others are really taking a closer look at the coziness between Carter and many in the Middle Eastern world.  His funding from the Saudi family goes all the way back to before he became president, and continued to the funding of the building of his Presidential Library:

Perhaps, the legacy of Jimmy Carter will be rewritten even more.  He was one of our worst presidents, overtaken by the events of the time.  Now, hopefully, he il be taken down a notch and not taken so seriously as a spokesperson.  While I will always be an admirer of his humanitarian work, and I mean that in the literal sense of the word, I hope that his credibility as a spokesman for all things on war and peace has taken a death blow.  Gee, I might go so far as to say maybe the Nobel Peace Prize should be taken away for the fact that he has had his palm greased by one side of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 

One has to wonder, for those who are so invested in the Palestinians realize that when Palestine is a state, side by side with Israel, the conflict will rage on.  The Palestinians will work with Syria and Iran (and others) to ensure that Israel is wiped from the face of the Earth.  Then when they are done there, Western Civilization is next...this is all intertwined...Palestine, Al Qaeda, the Global War on Terror.  And it took a dunce like GW Bush to see the global implications...

MEMRI has a post showing  "missiles" being loaded with "chemical weapons."  The terrorists are filmed wearing gas masks, pouring a dark liquid into a missile.  The claim is that these weapons were launched against US forces in Iraq, not clear where, and no report from the US military that there was such an attack...

 

There is a link to the video here.

Couple of thoughts:

• Chemicals cam from somewhere; Iraq, Iran, Syria?

• The "technology" had to be imported; Hamas, Hezbollah providing support?

• Awfully quiet in the MSM as to the claim; not surprising as this would truly escalate the war, which does not fit their worldview (weltanschauung)

• Following the announcement of the "surge" it seems inadequate to me to clear and hold; the use of Iraqi troops is the key, and Maliki has put the militia's on notice; surrender weapons or face the US military on your own (Moqtada al Sadr, specifically)

• If the Dimocrats have their way, and we pull out now, we can only wait to battle the terrorists here; Durbin, Reid, Pelosi, Kerry, Kennedy, all saying the president's plan is doomed to failure, and has been inept from day one.  No mention that this has to work, that we must win, only that this has been a failure.  ot exactly a prescription for success.  John Kerry just said on FOWNews that he supports a date certain, then when questioned about the withdrawal, he claims that he is not advocating a withdrawal...but then what is the date certain, not certain?  That's the problem with the DImocrats, they don't have a plan, other than to say that the president has failed...

 

We will never know exactly what Sandy "Bergler" Berger took from the National Archives.  His slap on the wrist  for the theft was a joke at the time, and now seems to be deficient for the damage to National Security that he may have done.  He took originals(?)!!!  What???!!! 

Richard Miniter at Pajama Media has more on the investigation.  Berger was the point man for the Clinton Administration to the 9/11 Commission.  The better question in addition to what it was he stole, but who directed him to risk his entire reputation and the security of the nation that he swore to protect?  What role did Bill Clinton play?  The whole thing stinks to high heaven.  The really sad thing is that we may never know.  Interesting how the Clinton's are always at arms length in stuff such as this...and Hillary may well turn out to be the nominee for the Dimocrats...more corruption, more obfuscation...just what this nation needs at this critical time in our history...

Sandy Bergler's memoirs should be a best seller, a tell all of the Clinton influence...will he tell it?  Will the truth be told?

In a society that seems more interested in what happened to Paris Hilton today than in asking how we can better protect America from attack Threats Watch brings the following to the table:
=====================================================================================

Main Street Fallujah

Michael

Iranian President Ahmadinejad "Imawhackjob"  is having impeachment proceedings called against him:

Iranian reformist lawmakers have started collecting signatures in Parliament to demand the impeachment of the country’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. So far, 38 signatures have been collected out of the 72 required to formally summon Ahmadinejad and request his impeachment…

Referring to a resolution of the UN Security Council unanimously approved on 23 December which imposes sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme, the MP said “it is the last straw which has made Iranians loose their patience.”…


How many of the 38 who signed the petition will end up "silenced" by the religous police?  And, how many hits will I get from the "Impeach President..." headline?

So, scientists may have found a source of stem cells that does not include embryos...is this front page on every liberal newspaper today?  I would think not.  The whole issue surrounding stem cells is that it is only the embryonic stem cells that deserve our attention, and most importantly, our federal dollars.   Aside from the issue of life begins at conception (my honest belief) the promise of adult stem cells hold greater promise for true treatments.  But, the liberal MSM and those who support embryonic stem cell research are also proving a point, that ultimately, abortion or the cloning and destruction of embryos is okay because life does not begin at conception.

Let's see if Michael J. Fox comes out says he will put millions of research dollars to work using amniotic stem cells...

Researchers Report Alternative Stem-Cell Source in Amniotic Fluid

Sunday, January 07, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO  —  Scientists reported Sunday they had found a plentiful source of stem cells in the fluid that cushions babies in the womb and produced a variety of tissue types from these cells — sidestepping the controversy over destroying embryos for research.

Researchers at Wake Forest University and Harvard University reported the stem cells they drew from amniotic fluid donated by pregnant women hold much the same promise as embryonic stem cells. They reported they were able to extract the stem cells without harm to mother or fetus and turn their discovery into several different tissue cell types, including brain, liver and bone.

"Our hope is that these cells will provide a valuable resource for tissue repair and for engineered organs as well," said Dr. Anthony Atala, head of Wake Forest's regenerative medicine institute and senior researcher on the project.

Seattle!

Cowboys @ Seahawks

Was that the most bizarre game, playoff game, ever?  I think that my heart is still in my stomach.  I didn't think that after the fumble in the end zone and the scramble there, that anything else could occur that would top that...

Then Romo botches the field goal for "automatica Gramatica!"  Incredible.  That's what football is all about, you just can't turn the game off...

still disappointed in the Chiefs, I figured all they needed to do was show up and watch Peyton collapse...they could have easily won that game...

My picks today: Philly over Giants (love to see Eli botch his game)...New England over the Jets...

I have the Chargers running the table to Miami!!!  And I would love to see my beloved Seahawks go all the way...(my dad is smiling from above!).

Anyone, anyone have anything to add...

The culmination of the 2006 election campaign ended today with the Dimocrats taking the reins in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.  Now talk must translate into action...

Here is the calendar for the House as presented by San Fran Nan:

    1) Increase the Minimum Wage- woohoo!  29 states have already passed the increase.  Not much here...
            What's worse- this makes the country no safer today.
    2) Enact 9/11 Commission Recommendations.  This is scary, as it seems that this is foolhardy.
             No real effort being put forth to ensure that the recommendations will work, or are cost effective.
            Creating new bureaucracies to throw money at without measuring success...not wise
    3) Allow Stem Cell Research- what?  Stem Cell research has never been banned, using Federal money
             For the destruction of embryos is the issue.  Private money can be used, so what's the beef?
    4) Negotiate for Lower Prescription Drugs- a lofty endeavor.  Remember, the government is the one that     
            Pays something like $1,000 for a toilet, so do we really want the Fed. Government negotiating for 
            Drug benefits?  The Canadian drug benefit is not likely to work in the US where the size of the market  
             Is something on the magnitude of 100 times the size...
    5) Cut Interest Rates on Student Loans-  heres a big issue that every American lies awake at night
            Worrying about...Osama is laughing!
    6) End Subsidies on Big Oil...who will pay if big oil is not receiving the subsidies?  Do you think that BP,
            Texaco are going to take less profit, or are they likely to pass it on in higher gas prices?  Yeah, hurt 
            the little guy...

These are mere window dressing.  I will make every effort to daily look to see what the Dimocrats have actually changed.  Will ethics really become a focal point, or only a focal point when it is a Republican that is caught.  Rep. Conyers should be tossed out on his ear for his use of his staff for personal reasons on the governments dime...

There is no substance to San Fran Nan.  Impeachment?  Lets see how we can improve the intelligence community.  Lets see how we can truly secure our border.  Lets secure Social Security.  Lets make every terrorist quake in their boots from fear that the United States stands united to destroy our enemies...Lets secure education, and take away power from the unions and give money to the real educators...

The Dimocrats, much to their chagrin, they barely won a majority...they need to keep that in mind, because it can be taken away just as easily.


   

We in the United States have faced and defeated the most heinous threats to freedom the world had to offer.  Nazism and facism were the single greatest threat to freedom and liberty in the world.  Now we face a growing and perhaps even greater threat in Islamofacism...

Until we face the fact that there is a world force that is bent on our destruction, and I mean not just the United States, but rather freedom and liberty.  Iraq is the battlefront in the War on Terror...

Iran is the single most dangerous enemy, along with some of our so called allies, are waging war against us while we are now facing a Congress that is more interested in political grandstanding than in protecting us.  I will be watching the next 100 Hours, and analyzing how the Dimocrats have made us safer from the growing threat that is out there.

Raising the minimum wage does not make us any safer...

Ou intelligence communities did not believe that Saddam Hussein could work with al Qaeda, and that the religious zealots could not work with the secular apostate.  We have now learned that the goal is more important and that the tactics will include cooperation where none would be believed to occur.

Iran is now funding both Sunni and Shia's in Iraq.  These are not good developments. 

Threats Watch:

Evidence: Iran Supporting al-Qaeda in Iraq

Steve