Jim Webb Responds

Random thoughts on the Dems' response to President Bush's State of the Union address:

I had trouble listening to Jim Webb’s response.

I kept thinking about his creepy novels and his weird altercation with President Bush.

For someone so explosive, I was surprised that Webb’s delivery was so dry.

It was odd the way he spoke in profile. It made him appear shifty. He had trouble looking directly into the camera.

It was awkward the way Webb pulled out the photo of his father. He pointed his dad out with all the smoothness of a clueless Weather Channel personality discussing a storm in the east while pointing at the Rockies.

For all of Webb’s blather, it was without substance.

He said that the Dems will not cooperate with Bush’s strategy for Iraq, but he didn’t say what they would do other than end the war.

Webb never uttered the word “victory.”
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Here's the transcript.
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Apparently, Webb played with the facts about the military in his response.

What did he think he was doing? Writing a novel?

Fiction.

The State of the Union

(AP Photo/Larry Downing, Pool)


Random (and superficial) observations on President Bush’s speech:

It was odd having the text of the speech in front of me as the President delivered it. Thank you, Drudge.

Was this the President’s State of the Union address or was this yet another event to honor the historic Madame – Nancy Pelosi? The cheers for her were decidedly louder than those that greeted the President.

For every one time Dick Cheney blinked, Pelosi batted her eyes at least twenty times. Was something in her eyes, dust or something irritating? Was it a BOTOX tick? And what was with all the licking of her lips? Get the woman some Carmex.

Charlie Rangel looked like a Cheshire cat.

Hillary Clinton was seated directly behind Barack Obama – a perfect camera shot. Hillary looked ticked off.

I’m not sure if Ted Kennedy was reading the speech or if he was dozing. He looked bloated and hung over.

I would say the Dems were boisterous. Pelosi kept popping out of her chair.

The Dems DO NOT want medical liability reform.

If I have trouble falling asleep tonight, I’m going to watch the tape of the speech and count how many times Pelosi blinked.

I saw John McCain wink at least three times. One wonders how many more times he did it when the camera didn’t catch it.

Pelosi was definitely quicker out of her chair for standing ovations than Cheney.

Was Pelosi chewing gum or was her Polident giving out?

Although they stood and applauded, I would say that Bush’s proposal to reduce oil consumption was met with a tepid response.

The Dems intend to block Bush’s judicial nominations.

Pelosi hesitated to stand when Bush said "that to win the war on terror we must take the fight to the enemy." Cheney beat her.

One of the most chilling passages of Bush’s speech:

Our success in this war is often measured by the things that did not happen. We cannot know the full extent of the attacks that we and our allies have prevented – but here is some of what we do know: We stopped an al Qaeda plot to fly a hijacked airplane into the tallest building on the West Coast. We broke up a Southeast Asian terrorist cell grooming operatives for attacks inside the United States. We uncovered an al Qaeda cell developing anthrax to be used in attacks against America. And just last August, British authorities uncovered a plot to blow up passenger planes bound for America over the Atlantic Ocean. For each life saved, we owe a debt of gratitude to the brave public servants who devote their lives to finding the terrorists and stopping them.

Barack Obama was propping his head up with his middle finger. (Same to you, Obama.)

If Jack Warner didn’t tilt his head, I would have thought he was a propped up corpse.

A great and telling passage:

Every one of us wishes that this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned, and our own security at risk. Ladies and gentlemen: On this day, at this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this battle. So let us find our resolve, and turn events toward victory.

Republicans stood and applauded for success in Iraq. Dems DID NOT.

In other words, the Dems have lost their resolve for victory, if they ever had it in the first place.

There was no applause from Pelosi when Bush spoke of increased troop levels in Iraq.

I liked this:

My fellow citizens, our military commanders and I have carefully weighed the options. We discussed every possible approach. In the end, I chose this course of action because it provides the best chance of success. Many in this chamber understand that America must not fail in Iraq – because you understand that the consequences of failure would be grievous and far reaching.

"Many" understand, NOT all. That would be the Dems.

Thank God I didn’t see Joe Biden’s hair plugs on high definition TV.


The Dems had to applaud this because ended the point with a "support the troops line."

This is where matters stand tonight, in the here and now. I have spoken with many of you in person. I respect you and the arguments you have made. We went into this largely united – in our assumptions, and in our convictions. And whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure. Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq – and I ask you to give it a chance to work. And I ask you to support our troops in the field – and those on their way.

Bush has done more to combat AIDS and malaria and poverty in Africa than Bill Clinton ever did.

NBA player Dikembe Mutombo sat next to the first lady. When he stood after being introduced by the President, he positively dwarfed Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Cheney. He's HUGE!

This was touching:

Three weeks ago, Wesley Autrey was waiting at a Harlem subway station with his two little girls, when he saw a man fall into the path of a train. With seconds to act, Wesley jumped onto the tracks ... pulled the man into a space between the rails ... and held him as the train passed right above their heads. He insists he’s not a hero. Wesley says: “We got guys and girls overseas dying for us to have our freedoms. We got to show each other some love.” There is something wonderful about a country that produces a brave and humble man like Wesley Autrey.

This must have made the troop-bashing John Kerry feel like an ass:

Tommy Rieman was a teenager pumping gas in Independence, Kentucky, when he enlisted in the United States Army. In December 2003, he was on a reconnaissance mission in Iraq when his team came under heavy enemy fire. From his Humvee, Sergeant Rieman returned fire – and used his body as a shield to protect his gunner. He was shot in the chest and arm, and received shrapnel wounds to his legs – yet he refused medical attention, and stayed in the fight. He helped to repel a second attack, firing grenades at the enemy’s position. For his exceptional courage, Sergeant Rieman was awarded the Silver Star. And like so many other Americans who have volunteered to defend us, he has earned the respect and gratitude of our whole country.

I liked the way President Bush ended the speech:

[T]he State of our Union is strong ... our cause in the world is right ... and tonight that cause goes on.

As the speech progressed, Bush gained strength. At the beginning, he seemed a bit tired and worn; but he was energized as he went along.

It wasn’t Bush at his most eloquent, but in a way, it was Bush at his most defiant.

Whatever the polls or politicians say, he’s the president.

Faisal Khetani Makes Amends

Update on the discount-mats.com controversy:

An Internet company based in West Allis is responding to an inflammatory email it sent to a US soldier.

...The web site belongs to Faisal Khetani, who lives in West Allis. He says he fired the employee who sent the email.

"Whatever person said was not fair. (That person) should never have said that," said Ramzan Khetani, Faisal's father.

Ramzan and his wife say that they support the troops. Khetani lives with his parents. Their address is listed as the company's address, and they've been receiving a flood of voice messages and e-mails. Some have included nasty language and threats.

"You terrorist-loving jihad (expletive), this is America, you (expletive)! You get the (expletive) out of this country," were the words on one voice-mail left about the e-mail.

What an idiot!

This voice-mailer is acting as disgracefully as the discount-mats employee did.

I'm glad that Khetani fired the guy. Had he done that immediately, he may have been spared some of the outrage being spewed from "overzealous" supporters of the troops.

Because he didn't axe him right away, it appeared that Khetani was covering for the worker. That certainly doesn't excuse any of the out of control expressions of anger at the business owner; but Khetani's hesitancy to get rid of the employee didn't help calm things.

While I don't doubt that there are hateful people capable of leaving such an offensive voice-mail, I don't rule out the possibility that it was a set-up.

There's no way of knowing whether or not that voice-mail was a real message. It could have been left by an anti-military, anti-war type looking to divert attention from the worker's "I don't support the troops" attitude.

Who knows?

I don't think Khetani should play the victim, even though he has been hurt by the actions of his employee. Surely, he's been the undeserving target of some very hateful stuff. Still, it's best to let that go.

Khetani did the right thing by firing the guy.

Now he needs to send those mats to our troops in Iraq.

Jim Webb's Rebuttal

Newly-elected Senator Jim Webb has been chosen by the Dems to give the Democratic response to President Bush's State of the Union address tonight.

Surprised?

I'm not.

From The Washington Times:

On the Virginia campaign trail last fall, someone close to Senate candidate James H. Webb Jr. suggested that the Democrat wants to be president.

The Virginian went on to unseat Sen. George Allen, a Republican, have a confrontation with President Bush in the White House over the Iraq war and be chosen by his party to deliver a rebuttal to Mr. Bush's State of the Union address tonight.

If Mr. Webb, 60, does have presidential ambitions, they are far from public knowledge. Still, the decorated Vietnam veteran has emerged as a leading voice on the Iraq war, especially since his own son is a lance corporal stationed in Ramadi.

The senator declined to speak about Lance Cpl. Jimmy Webb's service, but said his response will have an emphasis on Iraq.

"My speech will highlight areas where Democrats in Congress have different priorities," Mr. Webb said yesterday.

"I will be speaking for the Democratic Party ... but I do not intend to deliver a particularly partisan speech," he said. "That part of the campaign is over. Now is the time for governing."

Not partisan???

Isn't the point of the Dem response to be partisan, to give the party not occupying the executive branch a voice?

"I do not intend to deliver a particularly partisan speech. "

How lame!

No doubt, the main reason the Dems picked Webb to deliver the response is because he has what Maureen Dowd called "absolute moral authority." She was referring to Cindy Sheehan when she used the phrase.

Supposedly, because Sheehan's son died serving in Iraq, she spoke the truth and was not to be questioned or doubted.

Similarly, the Dems probably think Webb should command the same sort of authority because his son is a Marine serving in Iraq.

Typical nonsensical, touchy, feely Dem stuff.

It'll be interesting to see if Webb evokes his Marine son during his address. The guy refused to say even a few words about him to the President, insisting it was too personal. Remember?

Webb was so mad that he wanted to slug the President.

Do you think he'll be as tight-lipped about his son on national TV as he was privately with President Bush?

If he does use his son in his remarks, he'll certainly come off pretty hypocritical.

These rebuttals are always so boring.

If Webb wants to get the attention of Americans watching at home, he really should toss out the partisan politics and read from one of his novels.

Samples of Webb's writing can be found here.

Yikes!

Honorary Dem Ayman al-Zawahri

Once again, the talk of terrorists is basically indistinguishable from the Dems.

Wouldn't you think that would make them squirm? Just a little?

CAIRO, Egypt -- Al-Qaida's deputy leader mocked President Bush's plan to send 21,000 more troops to Iraq, challenging him to send "the entire army," according to a new al-Qaida videotape released Monday by a U.S. group that tracks terror messages.

Excerpts from the video were distributed by the Washington-based SITE Institute, which said it had intercepted the footage of Ayman al-Zawahri. The tape had not yet been posted on Islamic militant Web sites, where his messages are usually placed.

Al-Zawahri said the U.S. strategy for Iraq, outlined by Bush in a Jan. 9 speech, was doomed to fail.

"I ask him, why send 20,000 (troops) only — why not send 50 or 100 thousand? Aren't you aware that the dogs of Iraq are pining for your troops' dead bodies?" said al-Zawahri in the footage released by SITE, an independent group that researches and analyzes terror-related intelligence.

"So send your entire army to be annihilated at the hands of the mujahideen (holy warriors) to free the world from your evil," he said, "because Iraq, land of the Caliphate and Jihad, is able to bury ten armies like yours, with Allah's help and power."

...Al-Zawahri also contended that the al-Qaida and Taliban were regaining control in Afghanistan, denying claims that his terror group no longer has a safe haven there.

"Al-Qaida and the Taliban under the command of the commander of the faithful Mulla Muhammad Omar are the ones who have deprived America of safe haven in Afghanistan."

Al-Zawahri repeated a call he makes often in his messages, for Muslims to turn against secular and nationalist leaders and fight for Islam.

He said Muslims should try to free Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, an Egyptian militant cleric imprisoned in the United States after being convicted in a plot to attack New York landmarks. He also warned that "Americans must expect to pay the price for everything they have done to" detainees held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Except for the parts about urging Muslims to reject secular leaders and fight for Islam, al-Zawahri sounds like Ted Kennedy or Dick Durbin or Joe Biden or Russ Feingold.

I don't want to leave out that other honorary Dem, Chuck Hagel. He shares al-Zawahri's belief that the U.S. is sure to be defeated in Iraq. Hagel's against the surge.

With senators like these, who needs enemies?

March for Life

Participants in the March for Life outside the Supreme Court on Monday.
(Doug Mills/The New York Times)

January 22, 1973 was a dark day in America's history.

Thirty-four years ago, the Supreme Court handed down a death sentence to 45 million people when it handed down its decision on Roe v. Wade.

Think about it. Many of those babies, had their mothers allowed them to live, would have babies of their own.

From The Washington Post:

Tens of thousands of abortion opponents marched through melting snow on the Mall yesterday and vowed to work harder -- since Democrats have taken control of the Capitol -- to overturn the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in 1973.

TENS OF THOUSANDS.

Tens of thousands march on Washington to protest abortion and promote the sanctity of life and the story is page 10 news!

Demonstrators' hopes were buoyed a year ago at the annual March for Life by two new appointments to the Supreme Court. Now, with Democrats in power in both houses of Congress, abortion foes find themselves without allies in some key positions for the first time in more than a decade.

Yes, the lib Post manages to find a silver lining. The Dems control both houses of Congress. YIPPEE!

"Pro-lifers aren't going to pack up and go home because of the 2006 elections," said Karen Cross, political director of the National Right to Life Committee, at a news conference before the march. "Indeed, we will redouble our efforts and continue working until every unborn child is protected."

Democratic leaders have said they prefer what they consider a less combative approach in preparing legislation on the abortion issue. Several bills are circulating that would change the focus of the abortion debate to pregnancy prevention, through such measures as improved access to contraception.

Democrats say their goal is to find a political compromise, an approach echoed yesterday by some abortion rights advocates.

There really is no compromise when it comes to protecting life.

Sure, steps toward a Culture of Life may be small. Any progress is a step in the right direction.

But this talk by the Dems that they want to find common ground is going to be pretty difficult to do.

A gaping chasm separates partial birth abortion supporters and pro-lifers. Compromise is impossible.

You're for protecting the unborn or you aren't. You respect life in its earliest stages or you consider it expendable.

No common ground.

..."The pro-abortionists say you legally can kill an unborn child for any reason. We say the child should live. Where is the middle ground?" said Wanda Franz, president of the National Right to Life Committee.

Exactly.

Teenagers made up the majority of demonstrators yesterday who poured out of buses from across the country, wearing matching colored scarves or carrying posters with statements such as "Face It Abortion Kills."

"It's amazing!" said Annie Forsthoefel, 17, after an overnight trip with a church youth group from Cincinnati. She and her friends wore matching fleece headbands that said "PRO-LIFE." She said she had wanted to come to the march for the last three years. "How can you not love a baby? It seems unnatural," she said.

The young people joined older abortion opponents, some holding rosaries or draped in blankets depicting the Virgin Mary.

The age of the crowd has to scare the Dems. These young, energized pro-lifers will be voting for decades -- against the Dems' Culture of Death.

...The crowd on the Mall cheered when President Bush spoke to the protesters through a loudspeaker from Camp David, thanking those gathered for their help "to build a culture of life." Bush reminded demonstrators about progress his administration has made in the antiabortion movement, including supporting parental notification laws, funding crisis pregnancy centers and signing into law a ban on partial-birth abortions that the Supreme Court is expected to rule on this year.

NEWSFLASH:

Some Americans willing to cheer Bush can still be found!!!

...As the sun set in front of the Supreme Court at the end of the march, a group of women took to the microphone, one after another, holding black signs that said: "I regret my abortion."

Cindy Rose, 49, of Saginaw, Mich., told the lingering demonstrators about abortions she had in 1979 and 1981.

Rose said the guilt over her abortions killed her relationships and pushed her to alcohol and drugs. "One night I asked God to please forgive me," she said. "Abortion is a lie and not a solution."

As the women spoke, some in English and some in Spanish, their words were interrupted by about 100 abortion rights advocates linking arms and holding signs saying: "Trust women."

I agree.

"Trust women" to be responsible.

Trust them to love their children as gifts from God.

The New York Times' coverage of the rally was scant, ten brief paragraphs.

This is the first anti-abortion march here since the Democrats took control of Congress. The change is “challenging us to fight harder,” said Natalie Campbell, 18, who was at the rally with her father and their church group from Kokomo, Ind.

Joe Konopa, 19, who traveled here with more than 60 people from three churches in the Kokomo area, said, “They are picking up on the fact that more and more Americans, especially the young, are against abortion.”

Oooh. Scary.

Young people from churches.

Naturally, The Times doesn't emphasize the enormous numbers. Instead, the article ends with this downer from one of the marchers:

Gail Babalonis of Hooversville, Pa., said which party was in control did not matter.

“The last eight years have been pro-life, and the only thing they got accomplished is the ban on partial birth abortions,” Ms. Babalonis said.

Translation: Why bother voting for Republicans? They won't deliver. Vote for Dems!

The Times seems incapable of writing hard news. It's always campaigning and pushing its lib propaganda.

The lib media can report or not report whatever they want. They can spin, but it doesn't change the reality.

The fact remains that tens of thousands marched against abortion and in support of life.

discount-mats.jerk

Wisconsin is at the center of what The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel calls an “international incident.”

That’s being a little dramatic; but the grossly inappropriate e-mail from the discount-mats.com employee to a U.S. service member is garnering a lot of attention.

What’s a liberal rag like The JS to do when faced with a story that is clearly an affront to the American military?

It twists the story, shifting the focus from the disgusting actions of the employee to an admonishment of supporters of the military.

It’s akin to the post-9/11 reaction of the “blame America first” crowd.

The concern becomes anti-Muslim sentiment rather than anti-American, anti-military sentiment.

Annysa Johnson writes:

What began as a brief e-mail exchange between a U.S. soldier in Iraq and a Wisconsin-based online retailer has erupted into an international incident that has pitted military supporters against free speech advocates and threatens to shut down the local company.

Bargain Suppliers of West Allis said its discount-mats.com Web site had to be taken down Monday to address the thousands of e-mails it's received since news of the exchange - in which an employee voiced opposition to the war in Iraq - began circulating on the Internet last week.

Vice president Sajid Nasir said the employee is being "held accountable." But he said the incendiary and threatening nature of some of the e-mails - and voicemails left at the West Allis home that co-owner Faisal Khetani shares with his parents - have shaken the family.

"It's really getting out of control," said Nasir, who described the messages as "angry and vulgar."

Here’s another case that exhibits the power of the Internet. Amazing, when you think about it.

My opinion on the free speech issue is that the anti-military, anti-Iraq war Bargain Suppliers employee had the right to decide to get political when a potential customer wanted to do business. It was incredibly stupid, but he has the right to be incredibly stupid.

As I said before, free speech is not a one way street. It’s fair for consumers to voice their opinions on the employee’s actions.

However, it’s not necessary nor is it right for those expressions to be in any way threatening or vulgar. Such ugliness only compounds the original ugliness.

I can understand that co-owner Faisal Khetani and his family are troubled by the messages they’ve been getting. Threats are completely inappropriate. No question about it.

Perhaps it would be wise for Khetani to release a statement strongly condemning the employee. That might defuse the anger of the angry e-mailers.

…The controversy exploded last week when a soldier, identifying himself as Sgt. Jason Hess of the Army's 1st Cavalry Division, sent an e-mail to discount-mats.com asking if it ships to military addresses.

Someone on the other end answered no, but went on to add that "even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq."

A handful of Hess' friends got wind of the exchange, and soon it was ricocheting around the Internet - first on the Web site snopes.com, then on conservative and military forums and blogs - and has since made its way to talk radio.

Military supporters were outraged, calling it disrespectful and urging one another to flood the company with e-mails and calls.
Several posted Khetani's name, telephone number and address, which is also the business address, though Nasir insists it's for mailing purposes only.

Many of the messages invoked anti-Middle Eastern or anti-Muslim sentiment. (Khetani is Muslim, Nasir said.) Others vowed to shut the company down, and a few suggested they might make a personal visit.

Notice that the story is becoming about conservatives. They’re depicted as violent, hate-filled racists. It’s no longer about the disrespectful manner in which an employee treated a customer, a man serving in the U.S. military.

"I think it's disgraceful," said Sgt. Maj. Dennis Webster, executive director of the First Cavalry Association in Copperas Cove, Texas, who learned of the e-mail exchange from a reporter.

"He's certainly entitled to his opinion. That's what soldiers defend," Webster said. "But there's a matter of respect. A young soldier isn't making those decisions. He's following orders."

Eduardo Briones, a Milwaukee native and retired Army sergeant who lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., said: "All he needed to say was no."

"I personally think we screwed up in the war, but that's not the fault of the soldiers. That's the fault of the politicians," he said.

I’m surprised it took this long into the article for the reporter to get in a swipe at Bush.

…"This is a matter of free speech," said Julie Enslow, an organizer with Peace Action Wisconsin in Milwaukee. "It is totally irresponsible for radio stations and bloggers to attack a person for his personal political views."

Oh really? And is it totally irresponsible for Peace Action Wisconsin and Left-wing bloggers to level personal attacks at Bush or Cheney and their supporters?

If Enslow is like many other libs, conservative opinion is not tolerated. Conservatives' viewpoints aren't considered valid. Their opinions constitute hate speech.

When libs launch personal attacks, they're just being fair and honest.

Go figure.

Othman Atta, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, said he would fault the worker for his lack of tact but defended his right to speak his mind.

"If you look at the polls, his opinion is reflected by a majority of Americans now," Atta said. "In the United States, everyone one is free to speak their opinion."

Atta appeared concerned that the controversy might fuel anti-Muslim and anti-Middle Eastern sentiment.

"Some people will look for any excuse to target people from the Middle East," he said.

What a load!

First, discount-mats is going to go out of business if its employees “freely” insult customers. The worker displayed an utter lack of self-control. The business e-mail was not the time to be making political statements.

Second, what polls say is irrelevant. It makes no difference what a majority of Americans think. This was about a business transaction. The worker was completely out of line.

Atta’s remark that people will take any opportunity to target people from the Middle East is pure BS.

THE WORKER DISSED THE SERGEANT.

Would it be fair for me to say this in reaction to the employee's wrongdoing?

“Some Muslims will look for any excuse to target people serving in Iraq.”

I don’t think so.

West Allis police said Monday that they were aware of the controversy.

"We're monitoring the situation, in case somebody decides to retaliate," Capt. Tom Kukowski said.

"But we're hoping people use good judgment."

I hope so, too.

Peaceful protest is best. Take a cue from Jesse Jackson and boycott the business until a sincere apology is issued and it sends a few truckloads of mats to our troops in Iraq.

It’s funny that Kukowski is saying he hopes people use good judgment. It was the worker’s horrible judgment that started this all in the first place.