Sometimes you just have to let them talk. I really believe that these campus crazies are providing a service to us all. The more video they put out, the more obvious it is that they are just plain nuts.
I just stumbled upon this footage - shot by the wacko himself - of an October visit to the University of Texas by Bill Kristol.
This one is complete with 9/11 conspiracy garbage.
Here's the video we mentioned earlier today:
Did the Dems really think they'd go away after the election?
(FoxNews.com) "We didn't put you in power to work with the people that have been murdering hundreds of thousands of people since they have been in power," Sheehan said. "We put you in power to be opposition to them finally and we're the ones who put them in power."
Just a day after announcing his plans for 2008, Mitt Romney issued a press release touting a list of National Finance Co-chairs. The list of nine co-chairs included to high-powered FL fundraisers, Ambassador Mel Sembler and developer Mark Guzzetta.
Today's announcement makes clearer the print be placed on Romney's organization by former FL Gov. Jeb Bush.
Guzzetta has been a big fund-raiser for Bush, who was best man in Guzzetta's wedding. Sembler was a major cash source for Bush's successor, Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, in last fall's campaign. The pair have some company in the Romney camp, which has already drawn Sally Bradshaw, a former Bush campaign manager, Ann Herberger, Bush's finance director, and one-time Florida Republican Chairman Al Cardenas.This should be seen by Florida Republicans as a major move by Romney. With the movement toward an earlier primary for the Sunshine State in 2008, Florida's money men will certainly play a larger role in determining the eventual presidential nominee.
Gov. Charlie Crist is set to name Police Chief Walter McNeil to head the Dept. of Juvenile Justice. McNeil will become the second Democrat appointed to a high-level post under Crist.
From the Buzz:
Though we don't know much about McNeil's politics at this point - we're looking into that now - Democrats seem to be excited about the move. Check out the comments to the Buzz post. He seems to have done a pretty good job at TPD.He replaces Anthony Schembri, whose efforts to revamp the agency met various controversy, including the boot camp death of 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson. Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of the beating incident in Panama City.
“It’s very encouraging news,” said Anderson family attorney Ben Crump. “Walt McNeil is a person who cares deeply about people. I know him to be a good man.”
McNeil, 51, would be the second prominent Democrat in Crist's administration and the highest profile African American. He has been police chief since 1997 and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master's in criminal justice from St. Johns University in Louisiana. He is married and has three children, age 30 to 15.
McNeil had applied to become the head of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He takes a job that was aggressively sought by former state Rep. Gus Barreiro of Miami Beach, who lead the charge to close boot camps.
Rep. Vern Buchanan spoke his first words as a member of Congress today:
This doesn't mean the Christine Jennings has given up the fight:There's no turning back now. U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, (R-Longboat Key) is officially a member of Congress.
Sitting about four rows from the front of the chamber, Buchanan registered his first vote as a member of Congress.
Buchanan voted for Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) to be the Speaker of the House.
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) won the vote to be the speaker, but Buchanan joined with all Republicans in voting for Boehner.
Wearing a black suit and red tie, Buchanan rose to his feet and announced his vote: "Mr. John Boehner," his first words on the House floor.
Despite Jennings' refusal to step aside, it now looks as if this dispute is near its end.Jennings is keeping her fingers crossed that the courts will call for a re-vote, but (political analyst Lars) Hafner is not so sure.
"I think it’s highly unlikely at this point. As time goes on, people begin to want to move on," he said.
Rep. Rush Holt, a New Jersey Democrat, is expected to formally ask House leaders to recognize the court challenge against Buchanan. Jennings also hopes a House committee will launch an independent investigation.
Meanwhile, Vern Buchanan maintains the voting machines were working properly on Election Day.
In a statement sent to Tampa Bay's 10 News, Buchanan said: “I am ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address the concerns of my constituents.”
Still, for all the problems, experts are coming around to the idea that voting is one of those things — like the wooden baseball bat or the handwritten Post-it note — where the low-tech solution is the best. Yes, Democrats will still protest when they lose elections. But everyone will have more confidence when real, paper ballots determine the winner. Just ask Congressman Buchanan.I agree.
Nancy Pelosi took the gavel today as the new speaker of the House of Representatives. Now the real work of governing begins.
WASHINGTON - Jubilant Democrats on Thursday elected Rep. Nancy Pelosi (news, bio, voting record) as the first woman speaker of the House, the crowning celebration of newfound power the party won in the November electoral sweep.Though the day was marked by a spirit of compromise and cooperation, expect that to end just as soon as the legislation and debate start flying.
"I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship, and look forward to working with you on behalf of the American people," Pelosi said. "In this House, we may belong to different parties, but we serve one country." (read more)
Even as they prepared to take control of Congress, Democrats received a brusque reminder that they face pressure from the political left as well as resistance from Republicans.
At one point during the day, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, a member of the Democratic leadership, was addressing reporters when he was loudly interrupted by Cindy Sheehan and other anti-war activists. "De-escalate, investigate, troops home now!" they shouted, while he smiled gamely.
Boy, it sure is nice to see Wacky Cindy shouting at the other side. Check-out the Cindy video over at Hot Air.
President Bush took his message to the pages of the Wall Street Journal today. While it is a message that has been consistent over the last six years, the question remains over how much stands behind the words.
Bush used his article in the Journal to reach-out to Democrats in hopes of salvaging his legacy over the next two years. Justified or not, the President's legacy now rests on war in Iraq. Bush's problem is not with the consistency of his message, but with producing results.
Mr. G (over at Peer Review FL) is correct in challenging Bush on his record over his first term and a half. Though Peer Review takes a little harder stand against Bush than I will, his dismay over the President's desire to hold Democrats to his standards is on target. After all, Republicans managed to carry the party from the Republican Revolution of 1994 to the point of mimicking the big-spending Democratic liberals that collapsed in '94.
Bush is correct to ask for the line item veto, though he will never get it. But where was the veto pen over the last six years? Rather than waiting to lecture Democrats on the importance of principled leadership, Bush should have been demanding principled leadership from his own party over the last six years.
So, what should he do now?
Like Mr. G, I have appreciated the President's commitment to his tax cuts, and to the fight to make them permanent. From this he should not waver. His promise to deliver a plan to balance the federal budget is admirable, but long over due. Bush is right to demand the same commitment from the new Congress.
On Bush's call to tackle issues like immigration and health care, compromise with this Congress will mean abandoning conservative principles. He should not count on Democrats moving to the right on these issues. So principled leadership here will probably mean pulling out the veto pen.
My biggest problem with the President's article is that it's about two years too late. For now, we'll just have to wait and see if this is just all talk.
To read the President's entire WSJ piece click here.
Former NY mayor, and 2008 presidential hopeful, Rudolph Giuliani is accusing a campaign aide of just sworn-in Charlie Crist of stealing and leaking documents which outlined the former mayor's campaign plans.A White House strategy playbook belonging to Rudolph Giuliani vanished during a campaign swing and was leaked to the press – and Giuliani staffers suspect the leak was the work of an aide to new Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, according to the New York Post.
(NY Post) But the book was potentially damaging for Giuliani among political insiders and uncommitted donors, whom McCain has been moving to lock up on his side.For his part, McCain is claiming to know nothing about the source of the leak.
Gov. Crist said today he knew nothing about the matter (Giuliani's folks won't say whether or not the campaign plan disappeared while stumping for Crist), but of Giuiliani's leaked campaign plan he said, "I hope it's a good one." Per the Daily News, the plan called for recruiting Jeb Bush's fundraiser Ann Herberger to put her on retainer for $216,000. Herberger wound up jumping on board with Mitt Romney.One thing is for sure about the 2008 presidential race and the State of Florida: Both Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist are very popular among Florida Republicans, and whoever each chooses to support will come to the state with an advantage over the rest of the field. Right now Giulani doesn't have the support of either Bush or Crist (Bush has lined-up behind Mitt Romney).
Governor Charlie Crist delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 44th Governor of the State of Florida on the east portico of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida January 2, 2007.
Gov.-elect Charlie Crist became Gov. Charlie Crist at noon today on the steps of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee.
After a upbeat prayer breakfast at Florida A&M University - where gospel star Vicky Winans took center stage - events moved out to the Old Capitol on what turned out to be an overcast day. Despite the lack of sunlight, Gov. Crist focused on sunshine and optimism during his inaugural address.
Crist began by paying tribute to outgoing Gov. Jeb Bush:
"Ladies and gentlemen, for the last eight years this state has been led by a great governor; a man who in my opinion is the greatest governor in America. Gov. Jeb Bush showed us how government can pursue audacious goals with vision and integrity."
"After eight years, our taxes are lower, one million more people are earning paychecks in new jobs, and thousands more of our students are receiving a year’s worth of knowledge in a year’s worth of time.""Governor, your legacy will be those and other successes — not the least of which was your commitment to our safety. Through eight hurricanes in 15 months, you, my friend, were the beacon of light, our unparalleled leader when times were tough. On behalf of everyone who calls this state home, I thank you for your service. You will be missed, but you will never be forgotten — Gov. Jeb Bush."
Crist then placed Florida at the pinnacle of Reagan's "shining city upon a hill":
President Ronald Reagan described America as a shinning city on a hill. If that is true, and I know that it is, than Florida is the shinning state on the mountain top. Florida is a state more than any other that defines the breathtaking scope of our American experience. It was here that Europeans first ventured into the New World, and it was from here that genius and courage took mankind to the moon. It is Florida where America literally reaches for the stars. And yet, despite these past accomplishments, there is no greater time in our history than right now.
The governor next turned to the key issues facing Floridians: rising property insurance rates and property taxes. Crist pledged to work with the legislature in a special session this month to find a solution to the insurance crisis.
Two weeks from today the Legislature will convene in a special session to address the insurance crisis. I pledge the full resources of my office to work with the leaders of the House and the Senate along with our new chief financial officer to bring our people the relief that they need and deserve.
Crist promised to expand the reach of Florida commerce beginning with a trade mission to Israel.
Like Gov. Bush, Crist promised to make education a central theme of his administration:
But Florida cannot be an economic leader and a jobs producer unless every child is receiving a world-class education. And as a proud product of Florida’s public schools, I know that the essential ingredient in a first class education is our teachers. We must continue to recruit and retain the very best and brightest to teach our children, and we must pay them more.
We have no higher priority, no higher calling, than to make sure our children are prepared, not only to participate, but to lead in the highly competitive global economy. With the Internet, modern travel and transportation, the global economy is at our doorstep. Our children don’t have to look forward to greater opportunities, we need to give them every opportunity. We need to make sure that they’re ready. It is our highest calling, and our most important responsibility. We need to continue on a path of making Florida’s education the gold standard. We can and we will.
Crist wrapped-up his remarks by announcing the creation of the Office of Open Government, which he said will begin by executive order as soon as tomorrow. This has been a major theme of his transition team. Finally, Gov. Crist recalled his grandfather's immigrant beginnings and his rise to the state's highest office:
My grandfather Adam Christodoulos came to this country from his native Cypress as a penniless, 14-year-old boy. He could not speak the language, he didn’t know anyone, but he had a dream. He had a dream about coming to a place called America where he had heard that if you worked hard, lived by the rules, did what was right, that you could do better for yourself and for your family. When my grandfather Adam came here, he worked hard, he shined shoes for a living, he made $5 a month — not a lot but it was good honest work.
And while my grandfather is no longer here today, he is here, he’s in my heart. And
I know, because I believe in God, that he can see this moment and I’m sure he’s
proud that his grandson has just become the governor of the fourth largest state
in the greatest country on the face of the earth.
Now that the formalities of taking office are behind him, the real challenges of governing are before the new governor. If he can follow-up on the commitments enumerated in his inaugural address, Gov. Crist will certainly be off to a great start.
Read the complete text of Crist's inaugural address here.
Changing of the Guard
Alert: Tickets still available for inauguration events:
Crist's open-door inauguration signals shift in governing style (Palm
Beach Post)TALLAHASSEE — Charlie Crist, soon to become the 44th governor of the fourth-largest state in the nation, considers himself "just a regular guy."
" 'Cause that's kind of what I am," Crist said as he prepared for Tuesday's daylong inaugural fete culminating in a down-home barbecue on the mansion lawn complemented by strains of Florida folk music.
He nixed the fancy inaugural ball. He'll wear an old, off-the-rack suit to the swearing-in ceremony. He has done away with the receiving line at the mansion.
Crist hopes the breaks with tradition demonstrate he's the "people's governor" his campaign promised. (Read more)
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'Consensus builder' Crist takes office (Tallahassee Democrat)Florida's next governor has morphed from a tough guy they called ''Chain-gang Charlie'' into an easy-going executive who calls himself ''the people's governor.''
But while his personal image has changed, Charlie Crist's public demeanor has remained the same. If Gov. Jeb Bush has been the ''e-governor,'' which on different days has stood for ''electronics'' or ''education,'' Crist could probably make the letter stand for ''equanimity.'' (Read more)
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In and out of politics, friendship counts for Crist: The governor-elect values loyalty and trust (Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush frequently chose people with strong conservative credentials from out of state to lead state agencies. But Charlie Crist, set to be sworn in as the state's 44th governor on Tuesday, has shown that his affinity for a person is as important as any political litmus test. (Read more)
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Crist setting early bipartisan tone: As Florida prepares to swear in its 44th governor this week, Charlie Crist wants his first days in office to be remembered for a populist tone and bipartisan harmony. (Miami Herald)
Tallahassee - When he takes the oath of office on Tuesday, Charlie Crist will become the first Republican governor of Florida since 1874 to succeed a Republican, but he wants his first days on the job to be remembered for the way he treats Democrats -- and the public.
''Reaching across the aisle to work with people regardless of party -- that's the example I want to set and the tone -- because it's clear that's what the people want,'' said Crist, who has had 56 days since Election Day to prepare for his inauguration. (Read more)
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For Crist, power comes with problems: The new governor will have to make tough decisions -- and enemies, observers say. (Orlando Sentinel)
TALLAHASSEE -- Charlie Crist has spent most of his 14-year career in state politics making people happy.
Now he has to start making people mad.It's an inevitable fact of life for Crist, who Tuesday will be sworn in as the 44th governor of Florida.
As the state's chief executive, Crist will become the ultimate arbiter of disputes about education, insurance, taxes and more. He has to decide which laws to sign and which to veto. Amid a cooling economy, he must pick where to spend money and where to cut. (Read more)______________
Crist a 'people's governor' facing tough challenges (Daytona Beach News-Journal)
TALLAHASSEE -- As Charlie Crist campaigned for governor, he talked about carrying on Jeb Bush's legacy.
But when Crist is sworn into office Jan. 2, he likely will offer a leadership style that is far different from the outgoing governor.
Crist is a self-described populist who likes to call himself the "people's governor."
And while he and Bush agree on big-picture issues like cutting taxes, cracking down on crime and reforming public schools, Crist has already shown that he is more willing than his fellow Republican to work with Democrats and, at times, to challenge big business. (Read more)
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This is just a sampling of stories from around the state. We will be at tomorrow's events, and look forward to reporting on everything we see and hear.
Don't forget to check back for all the coverage.
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Schedule of events for Tuesday, January 2nd
____________________________**The 2007 Florida Inaugural Prayer Breakfast at Florida A&M University's Gaither Gymnasium, Tallahassee, Florida - 7:30 A.M. until 9:00 A.M - Free Ticketed Event – 2 per person
**The Official Swearing in Ceremony at The Old Capitol, East Portico, Tallahassee, Florida - 10:30 A.M. - Free Ticketed Event – 2 per person
**The 2007 Florida Inaugural Parade - Tallahassee, Florida - 1:30 P.M. - Free Event – No Tickets Required
**The Governor's Mansion "The People's House" Tour and Street Festival at The Governor's Mansion - 700 North Adams Street, Tallahassee, Florida - 2:30 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. - Free Event – No Tickets Required
Happy New Year fromUpdate:
NR's Best and Worst of 2006 - A Symposium
A bit of poetry from Bill Reilly - Ode to '06
Human Events: In and Out in 2006 and Top 10 Junk Sci Moments of '06
Times Watch - Top 10 Lowlights of the NY Times of '06
Toby Harnden, of the Telegraph, has posted his "Top 10 American Political Moments of 2006." Dick Cheney gets the top spot.
Here's the Top 5:
The Jawa Report has posted this video showing the execution of Saddam Hussein. Though it is a bit shaky - apparently shot with a camera phone - it takes you far beyond what you have seen in the MSM.
I do want to echo what Allah Pundit has said, "I don’t know whose bright idea it was to let three punks in leather jackets and balaclavas take care of business instead of the Iraqi army, but the more I watch it, the more it looks like a hit instead of a state execution."
AP also is correctly troubled by the following:
The room was quiet as everyone began to pray, including Mr. Hussein. “Prayers be upon Mohammed and his holy family.”
Two guards added, “Supporting his son Moktada, Moktada, Moktada.”
Mr. Hussein seemed a bit stunned, swinging his head in their direction.
They were talking about Moktada al-Sadr, the firebrand cleric whose militia is now committing some of the worst violence in the sectarian fighting; he is the son of a revered Shiite cleric, Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr, who many believe Mr. Hussein had murdered.
“Moktada?” he spat out, a mix between sarcasm and disbelief.
How do our friends on the left feel about the execution of Saddam? Here's the Kos take:
I have just read that Saddam Hussein is dead. Hung by the neck until dead – isn’t that the phrase they always use on television? And I feel an overwhelming sense of sadness. Everybody has to start by saying that it isn’t bad that Saddam Hussein is dead – he was an evil man. But what is evil? It is a religious denunciation, a way to set a person apart from humanity. We need to do this I suppose. And if we say that Saddam Hussein is an evil man, don’t we then have to say that other men are good? Who is good I wonder? Where do we find these men of goodness? To say Saddam Hussein was evil is too easy, it lets us off the hook. Saddam Hussein was a cruel man, a selfish man, a desperate man, a sad man. (hat tip LGF)
Mario Loyola of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (for NROnline) thinks so.
There’s plenty to be miserable about where Iraq is concerned these days. Few still think the sacrifices the U.S. and its partners have made during the war worthwhile; and the world watches in horror at the convulsed specter of Baghdad in flames. Of course, the good news does not get reported. But just as important is the fact that the American-led Coalition and its Iraqi partners have established a historic precedent: Dictators had better watch how they treat their people today. They may have to answer for it tomorrow. (Read more)
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In defeating Nazi Germany and imperial Japan, Allied Forces destroyed entire cities, while enemy leaders who started the conflict were safe until the final days. Military power was used to end a regime by breaking a nation. Today, we have the greater power to free a nation by breaking a dangerous and aggressive regime. With new tactics and precision weapons, we can achieve military objectives without directing violence against civilians. No device of man can remove the tragedy from war. Yet it is a great advance when the guilty have far more to fear from war than the innocent.
Sic semper tyrannis
"Now, he is in the garbage of history," said Jawad Abdul-Aziz, who lost his father, three brothers and 22 cousins in the reprisal killings that followed a botched 1982 assassination attempt against Saddam in the Shiite town of Dujail. (from AP)
Not all are happy about the execution. This from Human Rights Watch:
The execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein following a deeply flawed trial for crimes against humanity marks a significant step away from respect for human rights and the rule of law in Iraq, Human Rights Watch said today.
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The Times has a fitting obituary.
Saddam Hussein was a tyrant whose actions brought down unimaginable catastrophe on Iraq and its peoples. From an early age, he had enjoyed inflicted suffering on those around him and, when he came to positions of political power, those whom he could not force or corrupt into submitting to his will, he maimed, murdered or made to flee. (Read more)
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An eyewitness lets off some steam. Who could blame them:
“This son of a bitch is lying under my feet. … I can’t talk now because of all the cheers!” a witness said.
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Hot Air has a lengthy post with video.
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Here's the statement by President Bush from LA Times:
Today, Saddam Hussein was executed after receiving a fair trial -- the kind of justice he denied the victims of his brutal regime.
Fair trials were unimaginable under Saddam Hussein's tyrannical rule. It is a testament to the Iraqi people's resolve to move forward after decades of oppression that, despite his terrible crimes against his own people, Saddam Hussein received a fair trial. This would not have been possible without the Iraqi people's determination to create a society governed by the rule of law.Saddam Hussein's execution comes at the end of a difficult year for the Iraqi people and for our troops. Bringing Saddam Hussein to justice will not end the violence in Iraq, but it is an important milestone on Iraq's course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain, and defend itself, and be an ally in the War on Terror.
We are reminded today of how far the Iraqi people have come since the end of Saddam Hussein's rule - and that the progress they have made would not have been possible without the continued service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform.
Many difficult choices and further sacrifices lie ahead. Yet the safety and security of the American people require that we not relent in ensuring that Iraq's young democracy continues to progress.
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More later.
U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R) joined the list of American politicians that have made the pilgrimage to Damascus.
DAMASCUS,(SANA)-US Republican Senator Arlen Specter stressed on Tuesday that President Bashar al-Assad is interested in achieving peace, stability and prosperity in the region, calling US Administration to hold a dialogue with Syria as to realize these purposes.
In a press conference held before his departure at Damascus Airport after a two-day visit to Syria, the Senator called the US Administration "to conduct a dialogue with Syria to solve the problems in the region," emphasizing that nothing cannot be reached out without the dialogue with Syria.
He rejected US Administration's refusing stance to hold a dialogue with Syria, describing the current US policy towards Syria as" not successful."
Why do we have so many squishes in Washington eager to bow to the whims of Arab and Iranian dictators, while they do nothing but bash and smash the US and its allies in Israel, and often on the soil that the dictators themselves rule?
Townhall.com's Mary Katharine Ham gives us the things that "did not happen" in Durham.
Update: Jennings loses in FL court.
A judge ruled Friday that the Democrat who narrowly lost the race to succeed Rep. Katherine Harris cannot examine the programming code of the electronic voting machines used in the disputed election.Circuit Judge William Gary ruled that Christine Jennings' arguments about the possibility of lost votes were "conjecture" and did not warrant disclosing the trade secrets of the voting machine company, Election Systems & Software.
Rep. Rush Holt, a New Jersey Democrat who has pushed for better safeguards on electronic voting machines, said on Friday he would make a procedural point to establish the swearing-in of Florida Republican Vern Buchanan does not prejudice ongoing challenges by his Democratic opponent, Christine Jennings.
"This is a district, Sarasota area in Florida, where there's no way of knowing whether the result presented by Florida's secretary of state is valid. In fact, I think there is significant evidence that it is not," Holt told reporters._________________
Kevin Smith, a spokesman for House Republican leader John Boehner, said the matter was settled.
"Florida authorities conducted a thorough audit of the voting machines used in the district and found no system breakdowns or abnormalities." He added: "The election is over. Vern Buchanan won."
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Click the graphic, pick out a card, write a note, click "OK," and know that somewhere an American soldier in harm's way will get your card, courtesy of Xerox.
Say Thanks. It's the least we can do.
