THURSDAY 9/25/03

STUPID AMERICANS

Hey ... sorry to begin this rant with those words, but if they work, if they apply, why not use them?

This morning we learn from an NBC - Wall Street Journal poll that Bush's approval numbers are now down below 50%.  This can be blamed on three reasons:

1. That America is still in the middle of World War IV, the war against terrorism, and that war has by no means been won.  There are still thousands of Islamic Terrorist out there who want to make their mark by killing as many Americans as they can, and there are still terrorist/rogue regimes who are hell-bent on developing the weapons necessary to bring America to its knees.  For instance, can some of you rocket scientists out there tell me why the country with the second-largest oil reserves in the world (Iran) needs nuclear reactors? How can I say that Americans are stupid? Well ... how about:
2. Americans have bought into the Democratic Party onslaught against Bush ... believing the lies that he lied, and conveniently forgetting the fact that Bush said the same things that Clinton and various hot-shot Democrats had been saying long before he moved to the White House.
3. Americans have forgotten that (a) the economic recession began in March of 2000, under Bill Clinton, and (b) that the economy is now growing strongly with an expected third quarter growth rate of over four percent, and (b) jobs are always the last thing to come around when recovering from a recession.

Go ahead ... tell me that you want the Democrats to be in charge of fighting the war on terrorism.  Don't you remember what happened the last time the Demcorats were in control of American foreign policy? We had the decade of appeasement.  Islamic terrorists attack the World Trade Center in 1993.  Clinton spits in their general direction, and nothing more.  Hell, Clinton never even visits the site of the attack!  A tornado roars through Osceola County Florida and Clinton is there ... touring a trailer park.  Islamic terrorists attack New York City and Clinton is nowhere to be found.  The difference?  Clinton knows he could count of the votes of New York, so no need to go there to pander.  Florida?  A different story ... better get down there and do some grippin' and grinnin' with the tornado victims.

Then Osama attacks the Khobar Towers.  American servicemen die.  Clinton spits.  Then it's the USS Cole.  American servicemen die.  Clinton spits.  We even have that pathetic situation where American warplanes were on the tarmac, armed and fueled, and ready to carry out an attack on one of Osama's training camps.  They have to shut down and head back to their hangars because Clinton is too busy at some golf tournament to take a moment to give his military commanders the "go" order.  Now that's some attention to detail, isn't it?

Oh ... and then there was the time that Sudan wanted to simply hand Osama over to the United States.  Clinton said no, you folks just keep him.  Three thousand American lives lost that very minute.  Yeah ... these Democrats are the ones you want in charge of our national security, right?

Oh ... but you're worried about our economy.  That's why you are not satisfied with Bush.  Do you want to see our economy take a real hit?  Let those Islamic terrorists bring down just one commercial airliner with a ground-to-air missile.  Watch the airline industry literally shut down ... then you'll get an economic show you won't soon forget.  Or, much worse, let those Islamic terrorists get some of their chemical or biological weapons into a water supply or subway system.  Now that would generate quite an economic spectacle for you to wring your hands over. Then, of course, we have the possibility of a nuclear event in New York, Chicago or Los Angeles. Yeah, your job would be real safe then, wouldn't it.

You've heard of Job No. One, haven't you?  Well, right now America's Job Number One is to fight Islamic Terrorism.  The Islamic radicals have declared war on every man, woman and child in the United States.  They want to kill you.  We can either appease them, and then live in fear of a change of heart, or we can destroy them.  You know damn well which party is the party of appeasement, and which is the party dedicated to destroying the terrorist enemy and protecting American lives and property.  You have a choice to make, and it's not made on who "cares" more, it needs to be based on who will DO more.

POOR POOR PITIFUL PHONE SOLICITORS

First of all, they're not "telemarketers."  They're freakin' phone solicitors.  They're pests, vermin, slugs, roaches.  Don't glamorize their "jobs" by giving them a fancy high-tech "marketing" handle.  Those who suffer under the constant pestering of these creatures have been handed a temporary setback.  Some federal judge has ruled that the government doesn't have the authority to run that "do not call" list.  This will be fixed and these tele-pests will once again have to brush up their exemplary resumes in search of another way to pay for their beer, weed, rims and stereos. 

Oh ... so now you're going to send me one of those "you're no libertarian" e-mails?  Before you do, be clear that I'm not saying that the government should prohibit someone from making a phone call in an attempt to sell a product or service.  I am saying that a private individual should be able to post a "no trespassing" sign on their phone number just as they can on any other piece of property they own.  That's what the "do not call" list is, a giant "no trespassing" sign for the marginally employable who can find no other way to earn a living than to bother people who are trying to eat dinner, help their children with homework or just spend some quiet time with their family.

We keep hearing this nonsense about shipping jobs overseas.  The hell with the jobs, let's ship the phone solicitors overseas.

COMPUTER GLITCH MY POSTERIOR

Look ... it isn't always the computer's fault.

We have a story in the Atlanta Constitution this morning about a teenager who died after it took too long for EMS personnel to respond after a call to 911.  The response call didn't go to the nearest fire station which could have responded in 2 or 3 minutes.  Instead, it went to a station that took 12 minutes to respond.

Now ... let's be fair here.  At least one doctor has said that a quicker response might not have made any difference.  Having said that, we can all accept that the quicker, the better.

Atlanta officials are blaming this on a "computer glitch."  The interim chief says "There was a system failure.  I don't know why, but we have corrected it for that address."  System failure?  Is this a new way of saying that someone screwed up and entered the wrong response unit for a certain address?

Welcome to the age of blaming computers for human failings.  Nothing new about that, I guess.

THAT "ACTIVIST" WORD AGAIN

Yet another Atlanta Journal-Constitution story that catches my eye.  This time it's a fawning story about Jane Fonda and her fund-raising efforts for leftists and Democrats.  The story twice refers to Fonda as an "activist."  Could someone please tell me what the hell that means?  Just what is an "activist?"  Someone who is active?  Someone who actively supports a cause?  Does that make me an "activist" because I support the poor homeowners of Alabaster, Alabama who are about to have their homes stolen for a Wal-Mart?

Why can't the local rag refer to Fonda as a "socialist?"  That's what she is, and those are her words, not mine.  I still distinctly remember her "socialism, that's the only way" admonition years ago.  Her former husband, Ted Turner, has echoed Fonda's calls for a socialist United States. 

Come on, you objective journalists.  Call her what she is ... a socialist; an anti-capitalist, anti-individualist collectivist.  While you're at it you might want to add "traitor" to your definition.

A FEW READING ASSIGNMENTS

Here's your coverage of last night's absurd California candidate's debate.

They're looking for more Islamic traitors at Gitmo.  How long before the various American Islamic organizations start screaming about profiling?

When Governments compete with the private sector ... everybody loses. From trash collection to parking to education.

This story says that there are no WMDs in Iraq.  Careful, though.  The story is from the BBC ... and the BBC absolutely HATES George Bush and isn't afraid to twist things a bit to promote its anti-Bush agenda.  Also, this coverage from The New York Times.

This from The Godfather, Rush Limbaugh..  The Democrats are once again considering running an antiwar general for president, just as they did in 1864.  I wonder where those stalwart Democratic voters would be if the Democrats had won in 1864?

A former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff isn't particularly a fan of Wesley Clark ... citing "character and integrity" issues.  Hell, Clark is a Democrat, isn't he?  What's the big surprise there?

NEALZ LINKS FOR NUZE

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
World Net Daily
NewsMax
Wall Street Journal opinions
Washington Times
Washington Post
Real Clear Politics
Media Research Center
The Drudge Report
The Associated Press
SF Gate