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My wife has been bugging me to do some landscaping to our yard. She wants to add in a few trees and some decorative plantings. So since everyone is taking advantage of guilt-ridden S.U.V. drivers, I thought I would too. So if you drive an S.U.V. and want to offset your carbon emissions, you can send me $40.00 and I'll promise to plant a tree or a shrub or a bush.....in my yard.
Trent
And yes, this is a joke!
From 2005 to 2030, the 65-and-over population will nearly double to 71 million; its share of the population will rise to 20 percent from 12 percent. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid—programs that serve older people—already exceed 40 percent of the $2.7 trillion federal budget. By 2030, their share could hit 75 percent of the present budget, projects the Congressional Budget Office.
Gordon Brown last night praised George Bush for leading the global war on terror — saying the world owed America a huge debt. The Prime Minister vowed to take Winston Churchill’s lead and make Britain’s ties with America even stronger.
WASHINGTON -- Sen. John McCain's media team has resigned, an indication that a campaign shake-up two weeks ago is continuing to backfire and further imperil the Arizona Republican's presidential candidacy.
This is actually pretty funny.
It looks as if the "John Doe provision" that had been killed only a few days ago has been revived and inserted into the Homeland Security Bill. The United States has Rep. King (R-NY) and Sen Lieberman (I-CT) to thank for breathing new life into this extremely important amendment.
The John Doe provision allows ordinary citizens to report suspicious activities to the authorities without fear of being sued. While the compromise reached is not completely fool-proof, this is probably the best language that all parties could agree upon. This is an important victory for the safety of this nation. Kudos to Rep. King and Sen Lieberman.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — The nation's largest Hispanic advocacy group says it must come up with a strategy to combat "a wave of hate" its leaders say came from talk radio's efforts to sink the Senate's immigration bill.
Andrew Wilkow returned today to Sirius Satellite Radio Patriot 144. He was off for a week enjoying his honeymoon with his new bride Brittany. Last week, he had guest hosts fill in for him. Monday saw Rep. Patrick McHenry. He did a great job and seemed comfortable behind the mic. Tom DeLay was there on Tuesday. He also had a great show wth many interesting guests. John Parnell Ph.D. from U.N.C. at Pembroke hosted the show on Wednesday. He was absolutely fascinating and the show was very educational. Thursday, to change things up, Andrew had Democrat Laura Schwartz fill in. I tried to listen. I really did. As a matter of fact, I tried a few times. Truth be told though, the show was horrible. As a conservative, I did what makes sense. I changed the channel. I didn't ask for the government to intervene with a fairness doctrine or anything of the sort. I simply changed the channel. Friday was a "best of" show.
I am happy to hear his voice on the air again today. Most of the fill ins were great, but there is only one Andrew Wilkow. Welcome back Andrew.
-Trent
WASHINGTON — A federal judge dismissed former CIA operative Valerie Plame's lawsuit against members of the Bush administration Thursday, eliminating one of the last courtroom remnants of the leak scandal.
Plame, the wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, had accused Vice President Dick Cheney and others of conspiring to leak her identity in 2003. Plame said that violated her privacy rights and was illegal retribution for her husband's criticism of the administration.
It was a simple amendment. Basically, it protected Americans who report suspicious activities to the authorities from lawsuits. We have been told since September 12, 2001 to report any suspicious activity. Many plots have been thwarted due to "ordinary" Americans reporting a situation that just didn't seem right. This amendment would ensure that Americans would be able to report strange activities without having to worry about losing their homes and their life savings in a lawsuit. However, the Democrats have killed the amendment. Who are they beholdent to? The trial lawyers? CAIR? What about the American people? The number one priority on the federal government is to protect the American people. The Democrats just made this country less safe.
-Trent
LAGUNA NIGUEL, California — Al Gore's son faces up to three years in prison if convicted on felony drug-possession charges and lesser offenses related to July 4 traffic stop in Orange County where he was found with 140 Vicodin pills, according to a report from the People.com Web site.
Ted Kennedy goes nuts on the floor of the Senate.
It seems as if Mr. Environment himself goofed when he served Chilean sea bass - one of the world's most threatened fish species - to about 75 guests at his daughter's wedding rehearsal dinner.
It might not look pretty but this Patagonian toothfish is extremely rare
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most U.S. voters think the country is on the wrong track and remain deeply unhappy with President George W. Bush and Congress, but still feel good about their finances and optimistic about the future, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.
An even bigger majority, 83 percent, say the Democratic-controlled Congress is doing only a fair or poor job -- the worst mark for Congress in a Zogby poll.
MORE
Elizabeth touts her husband's "unbelievable toughness" in a new campaign ad. Someone with unbelievable toughness doesn't spend $1200.00 on a haircut.
Hot Air's new public service announcement. This is a new campaign aimed at pressuring the government to deport criminal aliens now. Sign up to help at deportthemnow.com.
Jim Gilmore has officially ended his bid to receive the Republican nomination for the 2008 Presidential election. Gilmore's campaign issued a statement in which he said: "I have come to believe that it takes more than a positive vision for our nation's future to successfully compete for the presidency. I believe that it takes years of preparation to put in place both the political and financial infrastructure to contest what amounts to a one-day national primary in February."
He has stated that he may run for Governor of Virginia for a second time or he may run for the U.S. Senate seat if John Warner decides to retire. He has expressed interest in starting a political action committee to support Republicans running for the state senate and House of Delegate. We wish him well in his future endeavors.
It's amazing that the Democrats along with their friends in the media continue to play down the amazing economy of the United States. Bush's tax cuts are working. It is time to make the tax cuts permanent.
From the National Intelligence Estimate:
"We assess that al-Qa’ida will continue to enhance its capabilities to attack the Homeland through greater cooperation with regional terrorist groups. Of note, we assess that al-Qa’ida will probably seek to leverage the contacts and capabilities of al-Qa’ida in Iraq (AQI), its most visible and capable affiliate and the only one known to have expressed a desire to attack the Homeland. In addition, we assess that its association with AQI helps al-Qa’ida to energize the broader Sunni extremist community, raise resources, and to recruit and indoctrinate operatives, including for Homeland attacks."
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate this week will pull its first all-night debate on the Iraq war in advance of a vote on whether to bring home combat troops by next spring, Democrats said Monday.
The quote of the day on Monday was from Keith Ellison....the first muslim member of congress. The quote was as follows: "It's almost like the Reichstag fire, kind of reminds me of that. After the Reichstag was burned, they blamed the Communists for it and it put the leader of that country [Hitler] in a position where he could basically have authority to do whatever he wanted. The fact is that I'm not saying [Sept.11th] was a [U.S.]plan, or anything like that because, you know, that's how they put you in the nut-ball box -- dismiss you."
Here is the video of what he said just prior to the above quote.
Hillary Clinton and John Edwards were caught scheming on how to weed out the other candidates for the Democrat debates.
(AP) - The nation's budget deficit will drop to $205 billion in the fiscal year that ends in September, less than half of what it was at its peak in 2004, according to new White House estimates.
President Bush planned to discuss the figures in an afternoon appearance.
The new figure is considerably smaller than original estimates. In February, the White House predicted that this year's deficit would be $244 billion because of stronger-than-expected revenue collections. The deficit hit a peak of $413 billion in 2004 and was $248 billion last year.
"He became not just an uninvited guest in this country but a most unwelcome one: Chicago police records show Murithi was arrested 27 times from June 2003 until his arrest in connection with Schanna’s slaying on a Northwest Side school playground.
The charges weren’t horrible — mostly possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, obstruction of traffic, drinking alcohol on a public way and other offenses commonly associated with the career of drug-dealing gang-bangers. Police said four of the charges were felonies; the Cook County state’s attorney’s office said Murithi had two misdemeanor convictions, one of which resulted in 30 days in jail this spring.
But still. It’s disquieting that anyone with that kind of track record for trouble spent so little time behind bars. And it’s outrageous that Murithi was still in the United States June 25, more than four years after he became an illegal immigrant and began racking up arrests."
The newest T-shirt design in the ProudConservative.com collection is now available. Look for ANOTHER new design to be released later today.
It looks as if John McCain's presidential campaign is melting down. I'm sure it will be spun as "ordinary house-cleaning." The left will probably paint his failing campaign on his support of the Iraq war. Truth is, most conservatives want nothing to do with him and that is why his campaign is struggling.
"John McCain’s campaign manager and chief strategist are gone from their leadership roles, a major staff shake-up for the struggling Republican presidential candidate who is all but broke and trails in opinion polls.
In statements, Terry Nelson, a veteran of President Bush’s successful 2004 re-election effort, said he resigned as campaign manager effective immediately and John Weaver said he stepped down from his post of chief strategist on Tuesday. But other officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid discussing private conversations, said Nelson was fired."
Michael Moore and CNN's Wolf Blitzer engage in a little "conversation."
Sheehan Considers Challenge to Pelosi
CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - Cindy Sheehan, the soldier's mother who galvanized the anti-war movement, said Sunday that she plans to seek House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat unless she introduces articles of impeachment against President Bush in the next two weeks.
The Right Brothers recently sat down and answered a few questions for the readers of ProudConservative.com. Here's the interview.
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.
Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.
This class would not pray during the commencements ----- not by choice but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.
The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.
The speeches were nice, but they were routine......until the final speech received a standing ovation.
A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened. All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!!!
The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, " GOD BLESS YOU, each and every one of you!" And he walked off stage...
The audience exploded into applause. The graduating class found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.
Al Gore and his hypocrisy is on display for all to see. Who else would organize a series of concerts around the world to bring global warming issues to light? Hmmmm.....let's see. Let's get as many bands as we can to fly around the world in their private jets. When they land, let's tote them and their gear and their crew around in huge busses and semi-trailers. Let's use enormous amounts of energy to make the concerts possible.
"A Daily Mail investigation has revealed that far from saving the planet, the extravaganza will generate a huge fuel bill, acres of garbage, thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions, and a mileage total equal to the movement of an army.
The most conservative assessment of the flights being taken by its superstars is that they are flying an extraordinary 222,623.63 miles between them to get to the various concerts - nearly nine times the circumference of the world. The true environmental cost, as they transport their technicians, dancers and support staff, is likely to be far higher…
She found that a Wembley-sized football match generated an ‘ecological footprint’ of 3,000 global hectares - an area the size of 4,166 football pitches. This is the amount of bioproductive land required to absorb the C02 emissions produced by such an event."
Absolutely brilliant idea! Ahhhh the idiocy of the left....gotta love it!
What a moron. He is talking as if he even has a chance at being the Democrat's nominee. Here is what he had to say:
On President Bush: "This guy is brain dead. I know I’ll be quoted, I’ll be killed for that. This is a guy who is on the balls of his heels, here’s a guy who is lower off in the polls than any president in modern history and he goes ahead and he does something that just flies in the face of the sensibilities of the American people.”
On Rudy Giuliani: "I can hardly wait to debate Rudy Giuliani if he is their nominee, because I will eat his lunch. The next time I hear a Republican talk about us being tough on terror – give me a break!”
On Mitt Romney: "I found Romney’s statements yesterday profound – crazy — when he talked about going to war with Iran. Why are we talking about going to war with Iran?”
Give me a break!
It amazes me that we only hear the bad news coming from Afghanistan and Iraq. Why is it that our media is unwilling to report the good news stories from our efforts over there? Videos such as this one.
Former President Clinton criticized President Bush for commuting Scooter Libby's prison sentence.
In Iowa to promote the presidential candidacy of his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Mr. Clinton was asked by a radio host, David Yepsen, “You had some controversial pardons during your presidency; what’s your reaction to what President Bush did?”
“Yeah, but I think the facts were different,” Mr. Clinton said. “I think there are guidelines for what happens when somebody is convicted. You’ve got to understand, this is consistent with their philosophy; they believe that they should be able to do what they want to do, and that the law is a minor obstacle."
Here is a man who pardoned countless criminals and he has the nerve to judge Bush's actions? Let's take a look at some of Bill Clinton's pardons...
David Christopher Billmaier: Possession with intent to distribute amphetamines.
Thomas Peter Stathakis: Selling and delivering firearms to out-of-state resident and falsifying firearms records.
George Edward Maynes, Jr.: Distribution of cocaine.
Charles Patrick Murrin: Bank robbery.
Michael Ray Krukar: Unlawful distribution of marijuana.
Albert McMullen Cox: Bribery of a public official.
Marc Rich: Wire fraud, mail fraud, racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, criminal forfeiture, income tax evasion, and trading with Iran in violation of trade embargo.
Roger Clinton: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Distribution of cocaine.
These are just a few of Clinton's pardons. For a full list CLICK HERE.
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine
He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself. ~Thomas Paine
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis
The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation. ~Woodrow Wilson
Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have. ~Harry Emerson Fosdick
Let freedom never perish in your hands. ~Joseph Addison
You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck
Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower
In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
A statistician made a few calculations and discovered that since the birth of our nation more lives had been lost in celebrating independence than in winning it. ~Curtis Billings
That which distinguishes this day from all others is that then both orators and artillerymen shoot blank cartridges. ~John Burroughs, Journal
Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty. ~Louis D. Brandeis
Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better. ~Albert Camus
It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. ~Dick Cheney
Liberty is the breath of life to nations. ~George Bernard Shaw
America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact - the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality. ~Adlai Stevenson
May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country! ~Daniel Webster
We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls. ~Robert J. McCracken
If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace. ~Hamilton Fish
All we have of freedom, all we use or know - This our fathers bought for us long and long ago. ~Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899
Where liberty dwells, there is my country. ~Benjamin Franklin
Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. ~George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, "Maxims: Liberty and Equality," 1905
It is the love of country that has lighted and that keeps glowing the holy fire of patriotism. ~J. Horace McFarland
The winds that blow through the wide sky in these mounts, the winds that sweep from Canada to Mexico, from the Pacific to the Atlantic - have always blown on free men. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom. ~Simone de Beauvoir
The United States is the only country with a known birthday. ~James G. Blaine
Many politicians are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim. ~Thomas Macaulay
Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all!
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.
~John Dickinson
We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. ~William Faulkner
My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson
What is the essence of America? Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom "to" and freedom "from." ~Marilyn vos Savant, in Parade
How often we fail to realize our good fortune in living in a country where happiness is more than a lack of tragedy. ~Paul Sweeney
We need an America with the wisdom of experience. But we must not let America grow old in spirit. ~Hubert H. Humphrey
Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. ~Abraham Lincoln
Freedom is the oxygen of the soul. ~Moshe Dayan
It is sweet to serve one's country by deeds, and it is not absurd to serve her by words. ~Sallust
Freedom is not enough. ~Lyndon B. Johnson
We are free, truly free, when we don't need to rent our arms to anybody in order to be able to lift a piece of bread to our mouths. ~Ricardo Flores Magon, speech, 31 May 1914
While watching the immigration and amnesty bill debate over the past several weeks and months, one item struck me as odd. It was said that many of the Senators voting on the bill hadn't even read the entire bill. It was then that I learned that the bill, at one point, was over 800 pages long. Now, I understand it's Washington D.C. and all. But seriously, should it really take 800 pages of new legislation to tackle the issue? I know, I know, I'm no D.C. insider. I'm not a lawyer. I wouldn't understand how complicated this issue is. Maybe they are making the issue too complicated. So, I've decided to see how quickly I can write an immigration policy that works.
#1. Secure the border with a real wall, not a virtual wall. There is currently funding available for over 700 miles of border wall. Appropriate the necessary funds to build a border wall along the entire border. Using technology is great, but a virtual wall alone will do absolutely nothing. As Andrew Wilkow says, "You wouldn't take the front door off of your house in a high crime area just because you have motion sensors and an alarm." Hire additional border control agents. Stop the inflow of additional illegal aliens.
#2. Get rid of the politically correct terms such as "migrant worker" and "undocumented worker." I've even heard them referred to us "undocumented citizens!" Call them what they are. They are here illegally. They are illegal aliens.
#3. Strike down all of the current laws and guidelines that do not allow our law enforcement officials to ask the immigration status of anyone. It should not be illegal to ask someone if they are in this country legally. It should not be illegal to ask anyone to prove that they are here legally. I have to show my I.D. when asked. I have to provide my birth certificate at times. I am more than happy to do so.
#4. Amend Section 1. of the 14th amendment to the Constitution so that being born in the United States no longer makes you an instant citizen. If the parents are here illegally, so is the newborn baby. The newborn baby of an illegal alien born in the United States should also be considered an illegal alien.
#5. There should be no government funded programs of any kind for any illegal aliens. This includes, but is not limited to, public education, hospitals, welfare, section 8 housing, food stamps. Our public education system is overwhelmed with children of illegal aliens. This is a huge tax burden on the American people. The emergency rooms of many border state hospitals have become so overcrowded with illegal aliens who can't afford health care, that some hospitals have had to shut down or scale back their care. Unless, an illegal is gravely injured, they should not be given free health care of any kind. There should be no welfare checks given to anyone here illegally. There should be no housing assistance or food assistance of any type for anyone here illegally. Yes, this will make it difficult for the illegal aliens to live here. That is the point. We should not be encouraging law breaking by making life easy on those that come here unlawfully.
#6. When an illegal alien is caught, deport them. There should be no more "catch and release." If you are here illegally and you are caught, you will be sent back to your country in a timely manner.
#7. Fine the companies that are hiring the illegals to work for them. Make the fines substantial so that businesses will not be willing to take the chance of hiring an illegal. Set the fines outrageously high, so that employers won't even consider hiring someone here illegally. If they are supposedly coming here to work, dry up the job market for them and then they have no reason to come here illegally.
#8. Get rid of welfare for able-bodied Americans. There are approximately 12 - 20 million illegal aliens in this country. This represents approximately 5% of our population. The unemployment rate of our nation usually hovers around 5%. Quite a coincidence, don't you think?
#9. Begin enforcing the laws against illegally coming into this nation already on the books. There are countless laws already on the books to deal with the illegal immigrants. Enforce them.
#10. Make English the official language of the United States. Stop providing bi-lingual education in public schools. Stop providing government forms in 50 different languages. This will save money and encourage immigrants to assimilate into this nation. The truth is, life will be much easier for immigrants if they are forced to learn English.
#11. What should we do with the illegal aliens already here? If you enact the above 10 ideas, there will be no reason for the majority of illegals to stay. They will have no jobs. They will receive no government assistance. Unless, they have cash to pay for it, they will receive no health care. Their children will not be getting an education. There really will be no reason for them to stay here. They will migrate back to their own countries and then if they would like to make a life here in the United States, they will come here legally.
#12. Streamline the legal immigration policies. There is no reason that it should take 5 - 10 years for someone to migrate to this nation legally. This is a nation of immigrants. No one is against legal immigration. We welcome anyone who wants to come here to make a better life for themselves and their families in this nation. We just ask that they do it legally.
Well, how's that for a start? It took me about an hour or so to type this up. It could be printed up on less than 5 pages. It may not be written with large words, but it is written with common sense. Maybe common sense is what has been missing from the immigration debate.
Michelle Malkin takes on the Homeland Security chief who smeared conservatives and now isn’t asking for the $4.4 billion “emergency” spending to secure the border. CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO.
John Gibson announced that President Bush will commute Scooter Libby's sentence.
“My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby,” Bush said in a statement. “The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting.'’
The president’s action means that Libby’s conviction still stands and he is still required to pay the $250,000 fine ordered by a federal judge.
As you can imagine the libs are loosing it.
"As Independence Day nears, we’re reminded that one of the principles our forefathers fought for was equal justice under the law. This commutation completely tramples on that principle,” Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said through a spokesman.
