Bin Laden Video

The first video of Bin Laden in over a year aired today on Al-Jazeera. It was apparently authenticated by US officials.

From what he said, I don't think there's any doubt as to who he would vote for.

This guy would probably vote the same way. In fact, it was a threat to vote against Bush or they would attack us again.

By the way...where did appeasement get the Spanish with these guys? More bomb plots.

Explosives Update

Explosives update:

1) The Pentagon released pictures showing trucks at the facility just before the war started.

2) The Russians deny involvement (although, the Russians are no strangers to denial).

3) Video shows some type of explosives there after the military arrived.

4) A 3rd ID Major says that they removed 250 tons of explosives, but they don't know if was the same reported by the IAEA.

Halloween Update

After much thought, I decided that I would be a Communist for Kerry for Halloween:

Let's give Communism another chance...vote for Kerry on Tuesday.

Russian Bombshell Update

Still nothing from the mainstream media. However, CBS is publishing a claim by a militant group that they have those missing explosives.

Bill Gertz (Washington Times) has the scoop and CBS publishes a story about some militant group that probably doesn't have anything. They've only been watching the media promote these claims, and they figure that they will say that they have the explosives to hurt Bush even more. Very nice.

Good job CBS. Too bad you guys couldn't hold on to the story until the last minute so it couldn't be discredited before the election.

And so...the old media takes another step toward being obsolete.

Update: MSNBC buries it beneath the militant story. Nice.

Update 2: Brett Bair of Fox News apparently reported on it last night (however, nothing is showing up online as of yet). Via Wizbang:

Brett Baier of Fox News is on a roll.

First, he is reporting that the Department of Defense has satellite imagery from BEFORE the war showing large trucks removing things from Al Qaa Qa. Some have suggested they may release the images.

The plot thickens. Maybe Cox and Forkum should update this cartoon to show the bomb rolling back on Kerry.

Russian Bombshell

11:25 PM - All of the major media outlets (along with a gleeful Kerry campaign) have been hammering away at Bush over the "missing explosives" in Iraq. It's pretty much the only thing that they could come up with to try to get at Bush in the final week before the election.

Well, if you bring up a story (especially an older story in an attempt to smear a sitting President), expect to cover it when the answers are finally revealed.

CNN - Nothing
CBS - Nothing
ABC - Nothing
NBC - Nothing
FOX - Nothing
NYTimes - Nothing

Washington Times:

Russian special forces troops moved many of Saddam Hussein's weapons and related goods out of Iraq and into Syria in the weeks before the March 2003 U.S. military operation, The Washington Times has learned.

John A. Shaw, the deputy undersecretary of defense for international technology security, said in an interview that he believes the Russian troops, working with Iraqi intelligence, "almost certainly" removed the high-explosive material that went missing from the Al-Qaqaa facility, south of Baghdad.

"The Russians brought in, just before the war got started, a whole series of military units," Mr. Shaw said. "Their main job was to shred all evidence of any of the contractual arrangements they had with the Iraqis. The others were transportation units."

You'd better read the ENTIRE article.

And some people thought it was crazy to think that countries like France..or Russia might have had something to hide. And weapons going to Syria? Impossible.

The other big media outlets will eventually pick this up...but only after those crazy people on the Internet force them to.

Now let's sit back and watch them scramble (including Kerry's campaign).

Update 10/28 7:00 AM: Still nothing from the major media outlets listed above. Some have, however, removed stories about the "missing explosives," but there have been no updates.

Update 2: Not only is this story blowing up in the media's (and Kerry's) face, the amount of explosives missing stolen moved by the Russians was overstated. Original claim - 377 tons. Correct claim - 3 tons. Story here. (via Instapundit)

The "Shiniest Bullet"

I haven't written much on the new law that will allow for the deduction of sales tax from the Federal Income Tax Return, but it's better late than never.

The Tennessean had an article about it this past weekend:

As he pushed his new $888 television set out of the showroom yesterday, Michael McGregor said he had no idea he could deduct $82 in sales taxes on the set from his federal income tax return next year.

The Nashville man is among the Tennessee taxpayers who qualify for the new tax break signed into law yesterday. People can get the break only if they itemize deductions on their tax returns, something that about one-fourth of the state's 2.5 million taxpayers have done in past years.

This is actually huge news for people who have been against an income tax being enacted in Tennessee. What's really great about this is seeing pro-income tax groups (such as the liberal Tennesseans for "Fair" Taxation (TFT)) come out against the deductibility of sale taxes. Why? The Nashville Scene spelled it out quite nicely when they lamented on the new law a couple of weeks ago:

Say Goodbye to Tax Reform

For years, Tennessee tax reform proponents have relied on a number of arguments to support their cause. They've said that the state sales tax, which accounts for most of our revenue, is subject to too many ups and downs. They've said that to have an equitable tax system, the pain should be spread across many different areas—income, property, sales, business. And they've said that the current system of taxing sales and not income has cost Tennesseans hundreds of millions of dollars. That's because, unlike a state income tax, state sales taxes can't be deducted from federal income taxes.

It's that final argument that has been the tax reformers' shiniest bullet. This week, Congress destroyed it.

Yes indeed...that "shiniest bullet" has been destroyed.

So, where has that left income tax supporters? Contradicting themselves...that's where. You would think they would be happy because one of the arguments they used against the sales tax was that it couldn't be deducted. Now that the sale tax is deductible (thanks to our representatives in the House and Senate in Washington), they decry the law because they think it's unfair!

Tennesseans for Fair Taxation (TFT) issued a statement opposing the sales tax deductability because it would only worsen an already unjust tax system by giving additional tax breaks to those who need it the least... in states that already have the most inequitable systems.

No, they don't oppose it because it's "unjust"...they opposed it because it would sink any future ideas of an income tax in Tennessee.

All I have to say to that is...too bad. Now have a coke and a smile.

Debate of the Century

Well...almost.

Bob Dole vs. Al Gore at Regent University in Virginia.

They need to get an updated picture of Al Gore though. They can find one here if they need it.

RTB Membership Additions

A big welcome to the new members of the Rocky Top Brigade. South Knox Bubba has the update here and here.

Also, welcome to the group fellow Nashvillian and Conservative blogger Nathan Moore along with his better half, Sarah, over at MooreThoughts.com.

Undercover Again (sort of)

The great thing about Nashville is that there is always some kind of good music playing somewhere most every night of the week (and I'm not just talking about country music either).

Believe it or not, this gun-loving, anti-liberal Conservative likes to listen to a lot of the same music that liberals listen to. While I have some very ecclectic tastes in music, one of my favorite stations in Nashville to listen to is Lightning 100. It's an "Adult Album Alternative" station (aka...Progressive Rock) which seems to attact tons of former Howard Dean supporters along with various liberal, anti-Bush activists.

The station also gives play time to several good local artists. One of my favorites is Matthew Ryan. If you like good, honest music, you should check him out. Of course, the fact that Ryan is a liberal doesn't make me dislike his music. I'm sure that he (like some of my other liberal friends) is a pretty decent guy that's just misguided in what he believes.

Yesterday I found out that Matthew Ryan would be playing at the Mercy Lounge, but there was one catch...it was a benefit for the Music Row Democrats. Considering that I have ventured into the belly of the dragon before, I thought I might as well head back in again. At least this time I might get to hear some good music. It couldn't be that bad.

At first sight of the front door, I had a feeling that this wouldn't be just an evening of good music. Kerry/Edwards posters adorned the entrance with young, misguided volunteers taking donations ($5 required donation to get in) and selling buttons.

Liberal: "You want a free Kerry sticker?
Me: "You have any Bush/Cheney stickers?"
Liberal (as others look): "You've come to the wrong place for that."

Indeed...I was there just to hear some good music.

There was some decent music for the first couple of hours. However, between every act, some representative from the Music Row Dems would get up on stage and proclaim what a great cause they were supporting in getting rid of Bush. In fact, the money that was donated would go to a commercial to be aired in Tennessee. I knew I felt bad about giving that $5. She also proclaimed that Tennessee could be won by Kerry (yeah right).

As for the band that I had come to see, they only did one of their own songs. After that, a big group of other anti-Bush muscians got up on stage to do cover songs...sometimes inserting anti-Bush messages into the lyrics. Needless to say, it was a bit of a disappointment...although not that surprising.

Earlier on in the evening, I found that there was a buzz in the air that Michael Stipe of R.E.M. would be there (it made sense since R.E.M. would be playing at the Ryman on Friday). I had a sneaking suspicion though that this might be a dirty, Democratic trick to attempt to hype the event up a little bit...by the end of the night, I had been proven right.

So, in the end, much like the entire Democratic party, the event was a huge letdown.

At lunch today, after my bad feelings for giving giving them a $5 "donation," I cleansed myself by going down to the Davidson County GOP headquarters making a $20 donation.

All is right with the world now.

Edit: Yes, there was at least once musician who used the phrase "In the spirit of socialism" while referring to something on stage.

Declare Victory Early

Well, it looks like Kerry will declare victory early and not retract even if there are questions as to whether he won or not.

Sen. John Kerry, bracing for a potential fight over election results, will not hesitate to declare victory Nov. 2 and defend it, advisers say. He also will be prepared to name a national security team before knowing whether he's secured the presidency.

In short, the Democratic presidential candidate has a simple strategy for Nov. 3 and beyond: Do not repeat Al Gore's mistakes.

Yes...yes...make yourself look like a fool if the recount doesn't go your way.

During the last gubernatorial election in Alabama, the former governor, Don Siegleman, made that same mistake. He declared victory, but the recount went the other way. His big speech spouting out "How sweet it is!" was the laugh of the year for that single reason.

"Right now, we have 10,000 lawyers out in the battleground states on Election Day, and that number is growing by the day," said Michael Whouley, a Kerry confidant who is running election operations at the Democratic National Committee.

While the lawyers litigate, political operatives will try to shape public perception. Their goal would be to persuade voters that Kerry has the best claim to the presidency and that Republicans are trying to steal it.

Democrats are already laying the public relations groundwork by pointing to every possible voting irregularity before the Nov. 2 election and accusing Republicans of wrongdoing.

Look, John. It doesn't matter what the public perception is as to who the winner may or may not be during a recount. What matters is who got the votes and where. Claiming irregularites even if there aren't any (which, by the way, all of the irregularities seem have been perpetuated by Democrats so far) only makes you look like a bunch of whining fools...which you are.

Hunting

How many times do we have to say...The Second Amendment wasn't intended to protect only hunters!

The Senator, presented with a hunting rifle at the weekend in an earlier swing through Ohio, also bought a hunting licence at a local store, said he supports the right to bear arms guaranteed under the US Constitution.

And he needs to learn how to carry his own goose!

His companions held four dead birds, and when asked by a reporter if he had bagged one of them Kerry answered.

"Everybody got one. Everybody got one."

When asked why he was not carrying a limp bird himself, Kerry joked: "Too lazy."

Kerry checks his manicure after the hunt.

Poll Roundup

If you love keeping up with the polls, this site is for you.

Currently, between all the major polls, Bush is up by 3 points.

Celsius 41.11

Ah...looks like Celsius 41.11 will be playing here in the Nashville area this Friday.

It's going to be shown at the Thoroughbred 20 in the Cool Springs area starting October 22. You'll have to call for showtimes: 615-778-0770.

The Blissfully Ignorant Electorate

Yesterday, over at Taegan Goddard's Political Wire, the question was asked, "Are Voters Stupid?" In citing an MTSU Poll, the following was concluded:

"A close look at five key domestic agenda items suggests that Tennesseans as a group hardly qualify as well-informed and ideologically consistent policy wonks. On four of the five issues, only about half of a given candidate’s supporters hold opinions consistent with those of the candidate."

I would go futher and say that it's not just Tennesseans who aren't well-informed. I believe that a large majority of Americans simply don't know and don't care about politics, and it has become a nationwide epidemic. Do you blame them though?

Simply turning on any cable news station you hear so much bickering that it's nauseating. Politicians make it worse by perpetuating corruption (from both sides of the aisle), baseless accusations, stupid political stunts, and downright lies. People are just simply tired of it all, and what do they do? They turn it all off preferring to live their lives in blissful ignorance.

In its blissful ignorance, an electorate ceases to keep up with the issues, remains uneducated on how its government works, and forgets the principles that its government was founded upon (specifically limited government, the meanings of liberty, etc.).

Jefferson forewarned of such ignorance:

"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." (as cited in Padover, 1939, p. 89)

". . . whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that, whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them right." (as cited in Padover, 1939, p. 88)

"Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories. And to render even them safe, their minds must be improved to a certain degree." (as cited in Padover, 1939, p. 87)

In effect, Democracy can not survive if the electorate doesn't keep up with the issues thus becoming apathetic to what its government is doing.

What we now have are politicians from each party promising things that the government was never intended to provide. The politician promising the most dollars with the biggest government programs gets the most attention. Why is this the case? Because the electorate, in their blissful ignorance, only care about what the government can do for them ("...ask not what your country can do for you: Ask what you can do for your country." -JFK),.

True conservatives who understand the ideals of limited government are now forced to choose between someone who is offering billions of dollars in new government programs and someone who is offering trillions of dollars in new government programs.

It's not socially acceptable to say this (screw social acceptability...full speed ahead), but if a voter doesn't understand the issues, isn't educated in the workings of our government, and doesn't grasp the nature of limited government, then they shouldn't be voting.

It comes down to education. What did we learn in our high school government classes? Well, let's see...we've got three branches of government, some guys a long time ago got together to write some document that runs the whole thing, and there may have been some ideas about checks and balances in there. I don't know about you, but I didn't get anything out of those classes. In order to understand how our government works I had to research that for myself. In doing that, a person can't help but see the reasoning and ideals that our founding fathers held. This type of thing is simply not taught in our schools, and if it is, it's glazed over and the kids simply don't care.

To answer the original question, voters aren't stupid. They simply don't care and prefer to remain blissfully ignorant while their rights are stripped away, the government grows, and the Constitution is trampled on.

Essentially, it's worse.

The Sanhedrin

Religiously and historically this is very interesting:

A unique ceremony - probably only the second of its kind in the past 1,600 years - is taking place in Tiberias today: The launching of a Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish-legal tribunal in the Land of Israel.

The Sanhedrin, a religious assembly that convened in one of the Holy Temple chambers in Jerusalem, comprised 71 sages and existed during the Tannaitic period, from several decades before the Common Era until roughly 425 C.E. Details of today's ceremony are still sketchy, but the organizers' announced their intention to convene 71 rabbis who have received special rabbinic ordination as specified by Maimonides.

Very interesting indeed.

(ht: La Shawn Barber)

Today in History

223 years ago today:

On October 19, 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, giving up almost 8000 men and any chance of winning the Revolutionary War. Cornwallis had marched his army into the Virginia port town earlier that summer expecting to meet British ships sent from New York. The ships never arrived.

In early October, some 17,000 American and French troops led by Generals George Washington and Jean-Baptiste Rochambeau surrounded British-occupied Yorktown. Off the coast, French Admiral François de Grasse strategically positioned his naval fleet to control access to the town via the Chesapeake Bay and the York River.

The Franco-American siege exhausted the British army's supplies of food and ammunition. With no hope for escape, Cornwallis agreed to the terms of Washington's Articles of Capitulation, signing the document at Moore House on October 19. Hours after the surrender, the general's defeated troops marched out of Yorktown to the tune "The World Turned Upside Down."

Let Freedom Ring!

More Benevolence

In regards to the previous post, there's nothing that really says anything to the fact that it's not even the government's job to provide for the benevolence of the people. For more thinking along this line, go back and read Walter Williams column "Could they be elected today?"

In 1792, Congress appropriated $15,000 to assist some French refugees. James Madison wrote disapprovingly, "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." Even though our Constitution hasn't been amended to authorize Congress to spend on the objects of benevolence, I can't imagine today's Americans electing a president who'd share Madison's view. Such a candidate would be labeled mean-spirited, racist, sexist and homophobic.

Today's politicians might argue that Madison, the acknowledged father of our Constitution, is all wrong. They'd say spending on the objects of benevolence (legalized theft) is authorized by the Constitution's "promote the general welfare" clause. James Madison spoke to that argument saying, "With respect to the words general welfare, I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers (enumerated in the Constitution) connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators."

Good stuff and right on the mark...be sure to read the entire thing.

The Price of Seduction

Medipundit does a good job of skewering Kerry's health insurance plan.

Just think...TennCare on a national scale. I think that says enough.

(ht: Bill Hobbs)

On Stewart

From MTV.com: Jon Stewart Bitchslaps CNN's 'Crossfire' Show

I finally got a chance to watch the clip from Crossfire. I think the term “Bitchslap” is a little skewed, but hey…the article was written by MTV…where good, non-biased reporting always comes from.

First, Stewart might have had some good criticisms…that is if he were on a normal news show, but he was on Crossfire of all places. Does anyone really get their news from Crossfire? You pretty much know what you’re going to get there. If Stewart doesn’t like it…then just turn it off (which pretty much everyone does if they don’t like it).

Something that bothered me about Stewart was that he always hides behind the “my show is just a comedy show” bit when he was questioned about the things on his show, but at the same time he wants to be taken seriously. Sorry…you can’t have it both ways there Johnny boy. He can’t be a “public officer” (as one friend of mine put it) if he hides behind the comedy veil every time someone questions him. If he wants to be taken seriously then he would be as much of a political hack as he claimed the Crossfire guys are, but he’s not because he’s just a comedian. Then, he can’t be taken seriously. But he wants to be, so that would mean he needs to not be such a suck-up, but then he’s just a comedian. No wonder he supports Kerry. lol

Ok…sure, he has good criticisms on the media…they’re all biased political hacks (all politicians are as well)…but so is he. That’s why his ratings are dropping.

TN State Penn

Was able to get a few pictures from the old Tennessee State Penitentiary the other day. You can find them all here in the photo album.

The old Tennessee State Penn was completed in 1898 and housed inmates up until 1992. Since it was closed down, it has been the site of several movies including "The Green Mile" and "The Last Castle."

Historic, artful, and menacing. They don't build them like they used to.

The fight for black voters

This is from October 12, but I think it needs to be posted anyway.

Star Parker does an excellent job of exposing the well-known exploitation of black voters:

The current ad campaign, financed by the pro-Kerry Media Fund, uses hip ghetto slang to attack Republicans, "wealthy white boys" (as if this doesn't describe Kerry and John Edwards), for causing every imaginable ill and misfortune in black America. The ads are essentially the voice of a field boss trying to scare folks from believing that life might actually be better off the plantation.

Blacks need to listen to these ads carefully. What is Kerry for? No one will ever find out listening to this ad campaign. There is not a single idea, a single proposal or single thought about what might be ailing blacks other than the fact that a Republican is in the White House. The Democrats are running a pure campaign of fear and smear in their message to a community desperately in need of real ideas.

Kerry has attacked Bush foreign policy by calling it "more of the same." This is, in fact, what Kerry offers black voters. More of the same government answers for everything, more of the same blame on everyone else for black problems.

It is time for black children to stop hearing that they can't make it, and this is exactly what they are hearing from Democrats.

Go read the entire thing.

Coming Home

Pat Buchanan is going back to the Republican party.

...in the contest between Bush and Kerry, I am compelled to endorse the president of the United States. Why? Because, while Bush and Kerry are both wrong on Iraq, Sharon, NAFTA, the WTO, open borders, affirmative action, amnesty, free trade, foreign aid, and Big Government, Bush is right on taxes, judges, sovereignty, and values. Kerry is right on nothing.

A good friend of Mr. Buchanan (and mine) told me the other day that this would be coming. Buchanan has tried the route of the third parties, and he's seen that there is no hope in them (at least not now). He feels that the only hope for *true* conservatism lies within the Republican party.

I, myself, don't completely agree with Bush on several issues (spending, immigration, etc), but I agree with Buchanan, that the only hope for true conservatism in this country is to unite fully behind the GOP.

As Barry Goldwater said in 1960, in urging conservatives to set aside their grievances and unite behind the establishment party of Eisenhower, Rockefeller, and Lodge, the Republican Party is our home. It is our only hope. If an authentic conservatism rooted in the values of faith, family, community, and country is ever again to become the guiding light of national policy, it will have to come through a Republican administration.

For those that would vote against Bush in protest of the war in Iraq, Buchanan offers the following:

The only compelling argument for endorsing Kerry is to punish Bush for Iraq. But why should Kerry be rewarded? He voted to hand Bush a blank check for war. Though he calls Iraq a “colossal” error, “the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he has said he would—even had he known Saddam had no role in 9/11 and no WMD—vote the same way today. This is the Richard Perle position.

It's no secret that Buchanan was not for the war in Iraq. I, personally, have been indifferent. However, if anyone offered a reason not to go to war in Iraq, it was Buchanan. While the liberal arguments were filled with conspiracy and hatred for Bush, Buchanan offered sound Constitutional arguments, but I digress.

If there were any true conservative that had reasons to not vote for Bush, it would be Buchanan. Yet, he supports Bush in the upcoming election because he knows what the alternative could be. A Kerry Presidency would, and could, do far more damage to the country than any supposed damages Bush might have done or will do.

The numbers

John Stewart’s numbers fall (even before going belligerant).

Bush’s numbers go up.

Oh…and Republicans have better sex.

It's looking to be a good week.

Picture

The picture that says a thousand words:

Nashville British Car Show

Well, it's that time of year for the Nashville British Car Club's annual British Car Show. This year's show will be held in Pinkerton Park down in Franklin, TN.

Last year there were well over 100 British cars of various types there. Alan Jackson even brought in his 1930's era LeMans style Bentley. From MG's to Austin Healeys to Jaguars to Rolls Royces to Triumphs...they'll all be there.

Unfortunately, yours truly isn't going to make it this year - for the first time since the all British show was revived here in Nashville a few years ago. I will be working starting tonight through tomorrow replacing a drive array on a group of servers...yes...good times indeed.

Anyway, if you are going to be in the Franklin, TN area tomorrow, be sure to stop by and see some of the cars - minus a nice 1960 MGA that is.

Ah well...there are still a couple of show around and about in the region that I will probably attend before the end of the year.

Those who complain the loudest...

Let me get this straight...Democrats are always whining and complaining that Republicans are going to steal elections, yet all of the instances of fraud that occur seem to benefit Democrats? That...um...makes sense...I think.

Bill Hobbs has a quick roundup of the rampant voter fraud that has been occurring leading up to the November election. See any of the fraud possibly benefiting Bush?

Let me be clear. Any and all voter fraud is completely unacceptable. If Republicans were taking part in concerted efforts of voter fraud, I'd call them out just as quickly. Of course, when Democrats are complaining about Republican voter fraud it always seems to be vague references to some "right-wing conspiracy" perpetuated by the likes of Karl Rove. On the other hand, there are plenty of specific instances of voter fraud being perpetuated by Democrats, and it isn't the little, willy-nilly "a-couple-of-votes-here-and-there" kind of fraud either.

Hobbs has been doing a brilliant job of pointing out many of those specific instance of voter fraud from around the nation...and for some reason it's always Democrats benefiting from it. Be sure to check out his entire category of Voter Fraud.

Regime Change

Another reason for regime change in the Tennessee State House:

In case you have not heard, Speaker verbally assaulted Micky Cannon, the wife of Dr. Jesse Cannon, at the Haywood County NAACP Annual Freedom Fund & Awards Banquet last Saturday night.

Before the event, Speqaker Naifeh arrived with Lois Deberry and Civil rights pioneer Dr. Benjamin Hooks. Speaker Naifeh walked up to Ms. Cannon and demanded that she “STOP LYING ABOUT ME. STOP LYING ABOUT MY RECORD.” Ms. Cannon ask him to stop speaking to her in that way…Naifeh kept on. Ms. Cannon told several people she was afraid she was going to be hit by Naifeh.

When asked to stop, his reply was, "I can do anything I want!" Typical of a man mad with power. It's this type of politician that the people of Tennessee DON'T need representing them. Perhaps "Il Duce" (aka Boss Hogg) could benefit from some anger management classes?

For those not in the know, Dr. Jesse Cannon looks to be successfully challenging Speaker Naifeh for his seat in the Tennessee House.

The Left's Hatred pt 2

Stanley Kurtz over at NRO has a column today regarding violence and downright intolerance by the anti-Bushites running up to the election. It falls right in line with the examples I gave yesterday.

Blogger Robert Musil suggests that a climate of fear has descended upon Republicans in at least some parts of the country. Based in Los Angeles, Musil says most Republicans he's spoken with are afraid to put Bush-Cheney bumper stickers on their cars, or signs on their lawns, for fear of physical retaliation from angry liberals. The problem is not symmetrical, says Musil. Stickers and signs for Kerry are widespread in Republican neighborhoods. Yet even in their own communities, Republicans are holding back. Intrigued by Musil's claim, I put up a post on NRO's blog, The Corner, asking for reader comment. I was quickly flooded with nearly 300 e-mails, almost all of them backing Musil. Here is the story they told.

Read the entire article (ht MooreThoughts).

Do those of the Left doing this type of thing sound like people of tolerance and diversity? As I said...they are showing their true colors.

I don't typically put bumper stickers on my car, but this type of behavior makes me want to. I think I'll be trying to find a good W sticker today.

Chavez

The Tennessean's Tim Chavez has a nice column on the vacationing Rev. Donald Sensing today: Sense of security vs. hatred of war: tough call for him.

Tim Chavez is also taking heat (from around the world) for a column he wrote last week on the situation in Iraq. Matt Pulle at The Nashville Scene lays it all out in his weekly Desperately Seeking the News column...ouch.

The Left's Hatred

Kevin over at The Smallest Minority wrote the following last month:

So, here's my prediction: When Bush wins the election with enough margin to prevent cheating on the part of the Dems, there are going to be riots. There will also be domestic terrorism by the moonbats.

The "Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party" has no place to go? They've been stirred up past the point of no return. They're going to go completely nuts.

He's now asking if the recent ransacking of a Bush/Cheney Headquarters in Orlando is only the beginning.

Well...there was also the shooting of a Bush/Cheney headquarters in Knoxville (South Knox Bubba thinks Karl Rove was involved...but anyway); a headquarters in Milwaukee was overrun with protestors; another shot was fired at a Bush/Cheney headquarters in Huntington; and a headquarters was burglarized in Washington. On a more humorous side, here in Nashville, four teens were arrested after shooting up some of the 71 Bush/Cheney yard signs they had stolen.

And who can forget this picture of a little girl crying after she had her Bush/Cheney sign ripped up by Kerry supporters?

The utter hatred that the Left has for Bush and the Right is unmistakable. Perhaps Kevin (of TSM) is right. Perhaps a Bush victory would push the "moonbats" completely over the edge.

So be it. It only shows the true face of the Left by exposing their intolerance for those that don't agree with them.

Oh yes, and my visit to The Smallest Minority reminded me of National Ammo Day. That's next month! Be sure to buy at least 100 rounds of ammunition.

Let's do that!

Credit Card Shotgun

A credit card-sized shotgun for $100?

In a new twist on the idea of concealed weapons, a local gun maker and gun shop are debuting a new type of firearm: one that could almost fit in your wallet.

It's a two-shot weapon made from a piece of metal the height and width of a standard credit card, and about a half-inch thick. Each barrel fires seven standard steel BBs. It will retail for $100.

Eh...if you want a tiny gun, save your money and spend $190 on a little .22 pocket revolver. More shots, easy to load, and is probably smaller than this credit card shotgun.

Rapist's Gun Turned on Him

South Africa has some of the toughest restrictions on gun ownership in the world...they also have some of the highest rates of crime in the world (which has risen since the citizens have been disarmed). Bandits and rapists are rampant throughout the country.

Not only are guns outlawed but apparently self-defense is as well.

A man is in a coma after a woman shot him in self-defence with his own gun when he rape her.

Sergeant Charles Nkosi said the woman was apparently walking home near Balfour in Mpumalanga on Monday when a man wearing a balaclava approached her.

He pushed her into bushes and raped her at gunpoint.

However, she managed to get hold of the firearm and shot her attacker in the back. She fled to a nearby clinic, from where police was informed.

Police took the man to hospital, where he was reportedly still in a coma.

Nkosi said police found a shifting spanner, a crowbar and a bush knife, believed to belong to the attacker, at the place where the woman was raped.

Nkosi said the man would be charged with rape. The woman might face attempted murder charges.

Emphasis mine.

The woman might face charges!?!?!?!? I really don't know what to say about such stupidity. I think it really just speaks for itself.

The Number 2's

Quote of the night:

VICE PRESIDENT RICHARD CHENEY: “Senator, frankly, you have a record in the Senate that's not very distinguished. You missed 33 out of 36 meetings in the Judiciary Committee. Almost 70% of the meetings of the Intelligence Committee. You've missed a lot of key votes on tax policy, on energy, on Medicare reform. Your hometown newspaper has taken to calling you Senator Gone. You've got one of the worst attendance records in the United States Senate. Now, in my capacity as Vice President I am the President of the Senate, the presiding officer. I'm up in the Senate most Tuesdays when they're in session. The first time I ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight.” (Vice President Richard Cheney, Vice Presidential Debate, Cleveland, OH, 10/5/04)

I think this sums up not only John Edwards but John Kerry as well. In his little time in the Senate, John Edwards has nothing to show for it. Kerry, despite his 19 years in the Senate, has nothing to show either.

Oh wait...Kerry did serve four months in Vietnam...I guess that all balances out somehow.

So, who won this debate? Just like the Presidential debate last week, I don't think there was a clear cut "winner" per se. I believe it was a good overall debate, and definitely more interesting to watch than the Presidential debate was. I will, though, give a slight edge to Cheney.

Prior to the debate I thought that Edwards' experience as a trial lawyer would help him, but it didn't. Cheney was able to stand toe-to-toe with him mainly because of experience. I was impressed with Cheney's knowledge which really comes as no surprise. Ultimately, to me, Edwards' came across as insincere. His delivery was too "coached" as I call it while Cheney seemed more off-the-cuff.

However, I don't think that the VP debate will matter much when it comes to the overall scheme of things. The next two Presidential debates, on the other hand, will.

Look for Bush to come on strong with the Town Hall style debate. He will come alive when he's dealing one-on-one with people while Kerry will try to be Clinton-esque...ultimately he will fail (or at least won't be able to match Bush's performance). The final debate probably will be close to being the same as the first debate, but I give Bush a slight edge in that one as he will have corrected the "problems" with the first debate by then.

So, four weeks to go. Any bets as to what the "October Surprise" will be?

Picking your battles

In a story of "Picking your Battles Wisely," the GOP Party of Michigan has chosen unwisely:

Republicans say filmmaker Michael Moore should be prosecuted for offering underwear, potato chips and Ramen noodles to college students in exchange for their promise to vote.

The Michigan Republican Party has asked four county prosecutors to file charges against Moore, charging that his get-out-the-vote stunt amounts to bribery.

Yes, technically it is illegal to offer items in exchange for votes, but it's Michael Moore. The more you talk about him the more press he gets. One thing that everyone should know by now is that Moore thrives off of press coverage.

Did anyone with the Michigan GOP think this through first?

Al Who?

And while the Presidential debates are taking the national spotlight, Al Gore is taking part in debates of his own.

Next year, I believe, John Kerry is scheduled to take Gore's place.

Partisan Divide

You can't make this stuff up:

Parents expressing outrage after a teacher is kicked out of her public school for hanging a picture of President Bush next to pictures of other presidents in her classroom.

Shiba Pillai-Diaz, Teacher: "It happened on a small bulletin board near the American flag and also with a poster of the Declaration of Independence."

This is Crossroads South Middle School in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey. On Thursday, there was a back-to-school night for parents of students. Veteran English teacher Shiba Pillai-Diaz says she was shocked when three parents confronted her. The three, insisting the teacher either add John Kerry's photo to the montage of presidents or remove the Bush photo. When Pillai-Diaz refused, she says the school's vice-principal threatened her job which is an act that has parents here fuming.

Let's see...it's a montage of Presidents. George W. Bush is the current President. Call me crazy, but I don't think John Kerry belongs.

Feminism Reversed

All I can say is that what goes around comes around:

More than a third of Wells College's all-female student body protested trustees' decision admit male students Sunday, sleeping in the lobby of the administration building or in the 15 tents set up on the lawn outside. About 170 students protested for a second day after Saturday's decision to admit men to the 400-student school beginning next year.

Students in this Finger Lakes village will continue to protest until the board reverses its decision, said sophomore Rachel Crosbie. Opponents say they want to preserve the college's 136-year tradition as a school for women, and worry men may dominate the classroom if they are admitted.

How can they think that men will dominate the classroom? Aren't men and women equal? I've always said that if you want women in all-male schools, then don't cry when men are allowed into all-female schools.

Cheat Sheet

Everyone was saying before the first debate that in order for Kerry to win, he would have to cheat. Did he?