A New Low

A good friend from the great state of Alaska sent me this tidbit:

FROM: Sgt. Smith David Fitte,

Important Message,
Good day,
My name is David Smith Fitte, I am an American soldier, I am serving in the military of the 1st Armored Division in Iraq , as you know we are being attacked by insurgents everyday and car bombs. We managed to move funds belonging to Saddam Hussein’s family in 2003. The total amount is US$25 Million dollars in cash, mostly 100 dollar bills, this money has been kept somewhere outside Baghdad for sometime but with the proposed troop in increase by president Bush, we are afraid that the money will be discovered hence we want to move this money to you for safe keeping pending the completion of our assignment here. You can go to this web link to read about events that took place there:
(Link removed)
We are ready to compensate you with good percentage of the funds, No strings attached, just for you to help us move it out of Iraq. Iraq is a war zone, so we plan on using diplomatic means to shipping the money out as military cargo, using diplomatic immunity. If you are interested I will send you the full details, my job is to find a good partner that we can trust and that will assist us. Can I trust you? When you receive this letter, kindly send me an e-mail signifying your interest including your most confidential telephone numbers for quick communication also your contact details.
This is risk free.
With regards from,
Sgt. David Smith Fitte.

This is just a new low. It's a variation on the theme of the famous "Nigerian" e-mail. And to imply that our troops are involved in this? Oh come on... What's worse? Just as the Nigerian e-mails keep coming because somebody replies to them, so will someone read this, believe it, and it will keep going.

Disgusting.

Just a Thought on Security

This passing thought occurred to me the other day.. Are we TOO secure?

Now, before you start ranting back with, "No, you fool! Don't you know the _____ are about to attack us ANY minute?! They could even already be here," let me explain.

At work, there's a sign listing our various threat conditions. There's FPCON ALPHA, THREATCON ORANGE, INFO ALERT LEVEL ONE, and HOMELAND SECURITY LEVEL ELEVATED.

I'm sure up at the Pentagon, there's still the DefCon.

And who knows what other threat scales are out there.

To send an email (once I've already logged on to our super-secure system, though the level of its neediness leads me to believe that it's a super-insecure system) requires THREE separate security checks. And that's just to forward the latest ha-ha that someone else sent to me.

To get onto base, we have very diligent guards carefully checking each ID. But, I also saw some Jehovah's Witnesses seeking some converts (even on a military base, I guess it never hurts to try to make a convert or two), so how tight can it be, even after the Fort Dix incident (and others I won't discuss here)?

Part of the problem is that there are so many threat scales. Is a condition of "Three" good or bad? Well, if it's on a scale of one to four, maybe not, but who's to say the scale doesn't go to twenty? Usually just the current status is displayed, not the whole scale. And is a "One" high or low?

If someone ran into the office saying, "They've just upped the InfoCon level to Bravo!" what do I do? Should I start burning important documents or maybe just not surf to the CNN.com website? Oh my!

Is Orange a good color or a bad one? And we've been at it for so long... What are the other colors like? I think a nice paisley alert level could be fun.

Oh, and when you fly (wait for it... I'm not going to go into the charade that we call Screening Security )... Want to amuse yourself? Often posted on clip-on signs above the "Wait-Here-in-This-Ridicuously-Long-Line-That-Has-Osama-Laughing-As-We-Pat-Down-Elderly-Wheelchairbound-Ladies" meandering maze of belts, you'll find warnings. Warnings! You may be flying out of Podunk International Airport, but the Director of Homeland Security, and the TSA, would blike to warn you that the airport in Kuala Lampur does not meet their standards of security.

Oh my! I quickly will point this out to the one hundred and fifty people behind me in line, in case their plans had them going there. Of course, it's more likely that they're going to another US airport, which recent news reports say have security that does NOT meet the standards of the Director of Homeland Security, and the TSA. (For those who aren't familiar, recent tests of security showed that the lil' ol' ladies, and possibly others from their bridge(bombing) clubs, were able to smuggle plenty of suspicious bomb parts past our crack security forces. And we worry about Kuala Lampur.)

Ok, so what's my point?

We, as a whole, make a big show about doing SOMETHING for security, but in the process, we end up doing nothing.

You can imagine the meetings, can't you? The Commander or Director goes around the table and asks, "In two weeks, I want to know what your departments are doing about security."

And two weeks later, they all come back. "Sir, we've instituted this Five-Level scale to let us know what our threat level is!" "Excellent work, Smith!"

And lo and behold, not to be out-done, the others ALSO develop scales in their departments. "Sir! Our scale is more nuanced... It has Six levels." "Ours uses colors so people can easily understand the threat.." (Because if there's anything more confusing than colors, it's the numbers one through five or the letters of the alphabet!)

So, we have all these systems to show just how hard we're working on security. Just like standing in that long line at the airport, it's a big show.

No one truly seems to understand our threats (pretty colors and letters aside) because we've become too focused on the show instead of the substance.

Let's put and end to this nonsense. Either we can ditch all this acting and admit what the enemy already knows (and deep down, so do we) - that it's a show OR we can come up with a coherent approach and really be serious about our security.

Otherwise, we're just inevitably making it easier for them by tangling ourselves in multicolored knots.

Support Our Troops

We continually here about how everyone "supports the troops". Right.

The "troops" need money. The Democrats are again playing with the funding bills trying to forestall them getting the money in hopes of convincing President Bush to pull them out.

He's said he has no intention of doing so.

They've made over one hundred attempts, all of which have failed.

And the troops still don't have their money.

But, they support the troops.

So, Senator Reid, while you're doing your political maneuvering to keep the Senate in session over Thanksgiving break (so the President doesn't sneak a recess appointment by you), how about PASSING THE APPROPRIATION BILLS?

Before the troops start running out of money.

Idle threat? Yeah, there are bottomless funds. Read here.

Support the troops. Put the money where your mouths are.

Kudos to Restaurant Manager

Yes, yes, I know... he's against the children.

But, he's also right.

When a mother could not quiet her screaming child (and possible allegations of her being disruptive as well), he asked her to leave the restaurant.

Yes!

Way to go.

And I say that as a single father. It's not always easy to get out. BUT, my enjoyment does not come at the expense of other's. All part of the joys of parenting. Sometimes, you don't get to eat out. Not with your kids.

If you're in the Louisville, KY, area, please patronize this restaurant.

And maybe, it wouldn't hurt to drop by www.ocharleys.com and let them know you support this manager!

With Soldiers Like These...

I know I am honored... and believe we ALL should be honored, to count Specialist Hoyt as one of our Army Strong Soldiers.

Don't know who he is?

Not surprised. I did a search for him on CNN.com. Nada.

So, maybe you'll need to mosey over to FoxNews to read about him.

Specialist Hoyt was injured in an IED blast on 13 November while he was on foot patrol. Five feet away from him, one of his comrades was killed by the blast.

What was his reaction?

Specialist Hoyt told his officers his job wasn't finished, and then... RE-ENLISTED!

Like I said... we should all be honored.

2nd Amendment Up for Review

The Supreme Court has agreed to review a case about the District of Columbia's personal handgun ban.

For the past 31 years, DC has banned private ownership of handguns. In CNN's story, Police Chief Cathy Lanier is quoted as saying, "I see the results of gun violence every day. The weakening of the district's gun law will inevitably lead to an increase in injury, and worse, death."

So, here's my question.

If guns are banned in DC, then... how are those gun deaths occurring? You mean, people are breaking the law??? What are those people called.... oh yes, Criminals. So apparently, the people using guns are the ones who are already predisposed to breaking the law. And the law-abiding ones aren't using guns.

And can't defend themselves.

Is the gun ban working?

I invite you to take a look at these statistics. DC is a small area. Very small. Look at all those murders, and other crimes. Rapes (last thing a woman needs when she's being raped is a handgun...), burglaries (can you imagine how relieved burglars are to know that the homeowners have NO defense?), etc...

It'll be interesting to see how the SCOTUS rules on this case. We can only hope that they don't parse "the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"... those of us out in the hinterland, even those educated at government indoctrination centers, can understand the simplicity of those words.

Previous postings on this subject: "Gun Control" and "I Mourn".

Mike Huckabee's First TV Ad

Mike Huckabee, Republican Candidate for President of the United States, has distributed his first TV ad.

It's different. A candidate with a sense of humor.

I like it.

Not your typical ad.



And when you're done, please wander over to his official website.

You Have GOT to be KIDDING Me!

The Associated Press is reporting that the mother and step-father of Tawana Brawley are wanting the State of New York to re-open the investigations into the `incident'.

"New York State owes my daughter. They owe her the truth," said Glenda Brawley. She reiterated her stance that her daughter was indeed raped by a group of white men who smeared her with feces and scrawled racial epithets on her body.

The truth.

If I recall, an investigation was thoroughly done. No evidence of any sexual assault was found.

In fact, subsequent allegations went a long way to disprove her allegations. To the point that legal liabilities were found against the Brawleys and Rev. Sharpton.

But now, the State of New York owes her. What, pray tell, will come forward twenty years later that wasn't discovered during the INTENSE media scrutiny twenty years ago?

She's even changed her name - to escape, no doubt, the stigma that has become associated with this case and how it's gone down in history. Yes, back in 1988, she was given a new, "beautiful" Muslim name.

By whom?

Louis Farrakhan. He did get a fairly good quote in the article...

Mr. Farrakhan, who had invited Miss Brawley to the convention, told an audience of 10,000 on Sunday that he also rejected the grand jury's findings, and he vowed vengeance on those who, he said, had attacked the girl. ''You raped my daughter and I will kill you and dismember your body and feed it to the fowl of the air,'' he said.

How very special. Once again, the Religion of Peace shines through.

Perhaps, just perhaps, it's she, and her family, who owe the state, and owe something to The Truth.

Until then, we're just wasting time.

Civilized Religion

Some people write better than I... one of those is Orson Scott Card. Want to pleasure your perusing palate? Take a peek.

Thoughts on Warren Buffett

On my other blog, I posted a quote by Warren Buffett, the ultra-rich uber-billionaire.

Recently, he testified before the Senate Finance Committee. He asked them not to eliminate the estate tax, saying, "I think we need to ... take a little more out of the hides of guys like me."

Mr. Buffett, may I make a suggestion? If you feel you have too much money, you could certainly help your country by writing a check (feel free to throw in a few extra zeroes) and mail it to:

Attn Dept G
Bureau Of the Public Debt
P. O. Box 2188
Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188

The government requests you write "Gift to Reduce the Debt Held By the Public" in the memo space.

And since you don't think you pay enough, feel free to put extra stamps on the envelope, too.

But to arrogantly suggest how the government should tax those who make far less than you... well, that's spending other people's money. Speak for yourself. Write a check. It'll increase your credibility score.

Politician Wastes Words - Citizens Protest

Perhaps you've heard. The Southeast is suffering an extreme drought. Georgia is particularly anxious as they watch their lakes and rivers dip lower and lower.

The Governor of Georgia, Sonny Perdue (You can't make names like that up, can you?), has tried numerous efforts to alleviate the crisis. Encouraging water rationing, conservation... even negotiating with the Army Corps of Engineers to reduce the flow of water to other states.

And there's not water water everywhere... perhaps soon, not enough to drink.

So, what's a Governor to do?

Governor Perdue decided to pray for rain. Apparently, it's not just a cliche.

And atheists are staging a protest.

Now, here's my question. Atheists don't believe in God. Or any god for that matter. So, therefore, in their mind and belief, Governor Perdue is... wasting his breath. Talking to thin air. Perhaps, at worst, offering a salve to his believing constituents.

So, if the Governor is merely talking, and not really praying, since there's no deity to which to pray, what's the fuss?

Heaven, er... God, er... hmmm, John Doe forbid that a politician ever give an empty, pointless speech... which to an atheist, is just what praying for rain would be, right?

This Threat Doesn't Seem to be Going Away

The topic is being raised, again. What topic?

Why, what I, and apparently Doug Ross, think would be one of the most devastating attacks upon our country. And also, a quite likely one.

The children.

Previously, I wrote both here and here.

Please, take a look... and keep an eye out.

Global Warming

“It is the greatest scam in history. I am amazed, appalled and highly offended by it. Global Warming; It is a SCAM. Some dastardly scientists with environmental and political motives manipulated long term scientific data to create in allusion of rapid global warming. Other scientists of the same environmental whacko type jumped into the circle to support and broaden the ‘research’ to further enhance the totally slanted, bogus global warming claims. Their friends in government steered huge research grants their way to keep the movement going. Soon they claimed to be a consensus... I do not oppose environmentalism. I do not oppose the political positions of either party. However, Global Warming, ie Climate Change, is not about environmentalism or politics. It is not a religion. It is not something you ‘believe in.’ It is science; the science of meteorology. This is my field of life-long expertise. And I am telling you Global Warming is a non-event, a manufactured crisis and a total scam. I say this knowing you probably won’t believe a me, a mere TV weatherman, challenging a Nobel Prize, Academy Award and Emmy Award winning former Vice President of United States. So be it... There is no run away climate change. The impact of humans on climate is not catastrophic. Our planet is not in peril... In time, a decade or two, the outrageous scam will be obvious. As the temperature rises, polar ice cap melting, coastal flooding and super storm pattern all fail to occur as predicted everyone will come to realize we have been duped. The sky is not falling.” —John Coleman, founder of the Weather Channel

We Always Hate to Know You're Faking It

News reports today (I'll add links later) detail that Mrs. Clinton's campaign has admitted planting questions at a news conference.

Stupid.

First, wasn't anyone on her staff paying attention when a few weeks prior, FEMA staff had the genius idea of faking a whole news conference? Apparently so, yet instead of taking the expected Democrat outlook (expected because FEMA is currently under a Republican administration, or more exactly the most evil doer of all, Bush) that this was a colossal error to be focused upon and made fun of... No, someone took notes thinking, "What a GREAT idea!"

Did I mention stupid?

This is actually simple. There are some truths (dare I use the word?) that Americans rely on. One is that the news is REAL (isn't that correct, Mr Rather?) . We do not like the idea of it being faked or created (Dateline got in trouble awhile back for gas tanks falsely exploding).

It is also true that we expect our politicians to lie. It wouldn't be such an enduring punch line if it weren't true. We certainly expect anyone with the surname 'Clinton' to do it. The catch is... You're expected to at least not be obvious about it ("I did not have sex with that woman"... Ohhh, THAT woman, then yes).

We dumped the FEMA guy who oversaw faking the news conference. Does the Clinton campaign expect a different standard be upheld?

It comes down to this, and if I may be so crass, since Mrs. Clinton is playing the gender card, she SHOULD know this... If you're going to fake it, and we'd like to believe you're not, be convincing and don't get caught. Few things bruise a man, or a voter's ego, such as discovering that it was all an act.

From Another Time, Another Era

Sent by a good friend and angel:

I'd like to say I have something to add, but... it really speaks for itself.

Please, go take a peek over here.

New Videos to Peruse

As I've said in a previous post, my political views lean more Libertarian.

One of my favorite actor/comedians is Drew Carey. He also classifies himself as Libertarian.

Recently, he's begun to film a series of film spots for Reason TV.

Here are the first two:

Drew Carey Discusses Traffic and Gridlock



Drew Carey Discusses Medicinal Marijuana



More as they become available. I hope these are both entertaining and educational.

She Raises a Good Question

I've wondered this myself, but Michelle Malkin says it a bit better.

Forget for a second whether you adore or loathe her...

We hear, repeatedly, how you can be against the war and support the troops. So, here is a perfect opportunity - non-partisan, pure support the troops effort. No statements about the war being made.

And even better, you can host it on your blog without even having to donate yourself (though, I would recommend doing so.)

Sure, you are asked to join a "team" that represents a military service, and so if you don't have a fondness for the military, that can be a bit hard to swallow... but still, it's an opportunity to support the troops. And if you're ardently against the war, this is a bonus, as it's for the troops who've been savagely used by the em Bush Administration in their vicious, private war to secure outrageous oil profits for their friends in Texas (did I get that right?).

So, where are the blogs from the liberal side of the field?

The silence, as they say, is not only deafening, but it's speaking volumes.