WHAT'S THE REAL STORY HERE?

OK ... so a rumor spread and for a few hours the relatives of those miners killed in that West Virginia mine explosion thought that their loved ones were alive. The erroneous information began with a transmission from rescuers in the mine to a command center on the surface. One theory is that a message "we have found 12 men and are looking for vital signs" was translated to "we've found 12 men with vital signs." From there it was a short distance in the rumor mill to "we've found 12 men alive."

So, what was the big story yesterday? Was the story that 12 men were killed in a mine explosion in West Virginia? Or was the story that the relatives of these miners thought, for a few hours, that they were alive due to an overactive rumor mill? In almost any journalism class in any reputable journalism school in the nation the consensus would be that the story was the death of the miners. Not so, however, in today's journalistic world. Twelve miners suffocating from carbon monoxide poisoning really isn't all that spectacular. It's happened many times before, and it will happen again. Deaths in mines are a sad fact in one of the most dangerous professions around. But .. families going from fear to elation to grief? Now that's a story! Let's concentrate on that one! Let's hammer the mine owners as to why they didn't go out and supplant one unsubstantiated story with another one! We'll make the media the story instead of the death of the miners! After all, it really is all about us, isn't it?

By the way, out of 250 major newspapers across the country, one-half of them had a headline saying that the miners were alive. It is interesting to note that not one major radio morning news program in the country was reporting that they were alive. This might be one of the reasons that more Americans get their morning news from the radio than from any other source.

IT WAS GEORGE BUSH'S FAULT

There was one absolute certainty yesterday as the tragic story of the West Virginia mine disaster unfolded. By the end of the day the disaster was going to be blamed on either (a) global warming or (b) George Bush.

Well, it didn't take long. Yesterday somebody named Jack Spadaro, who is the former head of something called the National Mine Safety and Health Academy, went on Hannity and Colmes. The topic was the mining disaster in West Virginia that claimed the lives of 12 miners and left one in critical condition. He was asked what he made of the safety violations at the mine. His response: "This mine should have been closed." Fair comment.

Asked why, he said "There were too many serious violations and the record is very clear." At this point, that's obvious. So far, so good. Just another run-of-mill interview with a mining expert...the kind of thing we've heard over and over the past couple days. Then he took that extra step...the one we were all waiting for.

Asked to elaborate on why he thought the mine stayed open despite the violations, Mr. Spadaro actually said this: "I think it's because of the current Bush administration's policies toward mine operators and their reluctance to take the strong enforcement action that's sometimes necessary." That's right....those miners died because of, you guessed it, President George W. Bush's lack of enforcement action on mine operators. The president killed the miners!

To the left, everything is George W. Bush's fault. It doesn't matter what wrong is committed anywhere in the world...there is nothing the president isn't responsible for. We'll hear more about this...and by the time it's all said and done, liberals will be accusing Bush of purposely blowing the mine shaft to take the news coverage off the Jack Abramoff scandal.

Apparently the explosion originated in a sealed mine shaft. Obviously the result of an administration plot. Where's Louis Farrakhan on this?

Oh ... before we leave this. How in the world could this be blamed on global warming? Well, let me help out the environmental moonbats on this one. There are reports of a serious thunderstorm at the time of the mine explosion. Some people are actually wondering if that lightning on the surface might have had anything to do with the explosion a few miles down. Well, if you can make that connection, then you can say that the thunderstorm was unusual this time of the year in the mountains of West Virginia, and that global warming gets the credit.

THE CLUELESS NANCY PELOSI

Amid reports that she may be on the way out of the House leadership, Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has once again opened her trap and commented on the War On Terror. Of course, every time she does this, George W. Bush's poll numbers increase, but that hasn't stopped her thus far. After Bush's speech at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Pelosi decided it was time to comment.

She said the White House had no plan for success in Iraq. Could there be a more tired and worn-out argument than this one? Plan for success? In four separate speeches in December George Bush put for just such a plan, and it's a plan that's being implemented every single day. For those who pay attention there are constant stories about Iraqi security units coming on line with the full capability to operate on their own in the field. Just yesterday I heard that about 12 of the bases formerly occupied by coalition troops in Iraq have been completely handed over to Iraqi troops. This was the plan ... and this is the plan that is being carried out. Then the aging San Francisco hippie says that George Bush has no plan for success in Iraq and the fawning media rushes to report that absurd utterance as "news."

So .. just what is Pelosi's plan for success? Easy. The Democratic plan is surrender. Cut and run. Just sign the deed to the place over to Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi. Osama Bin Laden, if he's still alive, just has to be smiling ... he's got members of Congress in his corner...and he doesn't even have to pay them anything.

Pelosi complained that the war in Iraq has taken the focus off of Afghanistan...and criticized the president for a lack of post-war planning. That's the new battle cry of the left...they're suddenly obsessed with the war in Afghanistan. Democrats say Iraq is not a front in the War On Terror. Excuse me? Is not the presence of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, being led by their buddy Zarqawi enough?

It's really too bad Pelosi may be getting the boot...she's such a source of entertainment.

AN INTERESTING STUDY

According to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, there finally is a solution for homeless alcoholics. The answer? Free booze! No, you heard that right ... the study actually looked into what happened if you gave your average urban outdoorsman alcohol. The results, according to them, were encouraging.

For several months 17 alcoholics in the study were offered a free glass of wine each hour from 7 in the morning to 10 at night at the Ottawa homeless shelter. The results? Three quit drinking. How about that! Three died from their alcoholism...oops. A bit of a setback there. Eleven others reported decreased drinking as a result of the study. So naturally the conclusion is that free alcohol is the answer to alcoholism. And to think people have been bothering with silly little programs like Alcoholics Anonymous all this time!

Where will this go? Will the government of Canada will offer free booze to the homeless? This is actually good for us. Perhaps if they offer it soon, all of the homeless people in the United States will head for the border. Talk about cleaning up the streets. Thanks Canada! Just watch out for the backup of shopping carts on I-75.

TROUBLE FOR THE LEFT

The American Bar Association, never a crowd to be associated with the right, has now given a unanimous "well qualified" rating to Samuel Alito, Bush's nominee to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court. This is the highest rating a nominee can receive. Bad news for sure for Ralph Neas and the other leftists who are opposing the nomination. Knowing that they don't have all that great a chance of taking control of either the House or the Senate in this year's election, the left must do all it can to keep from losing its advantage in the federal courts. The ABA didn't do the lefties any favors on this one.

SOME THINGS WE JUST NEED TO DO

My private email box is getting hit by spam again. I just don't believe that enough is being done to end this scourge. If you get an unsolicited fax trying to sell you something there are laws you can use to get money damages from the person who sent you that message. Perhaps you've noticed that you're getting fewer of those faxes lately. How about a similar law for unsolicited emails trying to sell you (probably fake) Viagra or new home loans. I think, though, I have the solution. Just one public execution of a spammer ought to do it. It would also help if nobody ever bought anything from these creeps.

OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM

Look, clowns. Just because I can't stand our National Anthem [listen here] doesn't mean I don't love Jesus and America. The Star Spangled Banner is, as melodies and songs go, an atrocity. Now we have some movement from music teachers in government schools to make sure that all of our precious little government school rugrats know the words to this un-singable song. Forget that. We need a movement to replace our current National Anthem with something that is actually pleasant to listen to and somewhat easy to sing. My first choice would be "God Bless America." [listen here] We all know, though, that the mere mention of God in that song would doom it. Then there's "America the Beautiful." I just love the words to that song .. but then we have that "God shed his grace on thee" line. Trouble. I also like "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" for two reasons. First, it's a beautiful song and easy to sing. It also acknowledges that this country is a republic and not a democracy. But again we have that God problem.

At the very least, can we please stop singing the National Anthem every time someone puts on a jock strap in this country? It was fine to sing the anthem before every sporting event while World War II was going on, and it would be fine to sing it at special events, like that Tampa Super Bowl in 1991. Where is it written that we have to sing the anthem at sporting events? Why not rock concerts and high school plays? Why not before every movie is shown?

I'll tell you one custom I do like. I lived much of my formative years on military bases. Back then, and I hope now, when you saw the American Flag being raised or lowered you would stop whatever you were doing and stand at attention. Driving a car, mowing the lawn, walking the dog ... you stop and show some respect. Wouldn't it be nice if people loved their country and their flag enough to do that in civilian life?

READING ASSIGNMENTS

So just who was the Bush administration wiretapping without a warrant?  Ann Coulter has an example...and says Democrats can't be trusted with our national security.  At least that much is true.

Now the New York Times is reporting that the National Security Agency acted on its own to expand the domestic wiretapping program -- without the approval of George W. Bush.  Perhaps a possible out for the president if things get ugly?  We'll see.

Dick Cheney gave a speech at the Heritage Foundation yesterday in which he defended the wiretapping in the United States without a court order.  Maybe not such a good idea to keep bringing it up.  Then he further enraged liberals by bringing up 9/11.

It looks like Nancy Pelosi may be on the way out...according to Robert Novak.  It seems some in the Democratic caucus have had enough and want to replace her with Steny Hoyer of Maryland.  She is the best thing that ever happened to the Republicans in the House since Bill Clinton.

Troubled times are head for the New York Times.  So says former New York Mayor Ed Koch...who the last time we checked, is still a liberal Democrat. 

Democrats are starting to see an opportunity to relive the the glory days of Watergate, and that means impeachment is on their mind.  Debra Saunders reports Barbara Boxer is looking into what it would take to impeach  George W. Bush.

Just as the Jack Abramoff scandal is about to completely blow up, Byron York says the Republican party has a plan to push lobbying reform.  Could be a little too late on that one.

Ever wonder if Tom Brokaw and Ted Koppel were liberals?  Larry Elder gives you all the evidence you need...he says both recently went on 'Meet The Press' and said health care was a right. 

Columnist Mike Adams is writing another letter to Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, this time to apologize for yesterday's open letter., which caused he governor's office to be barraged with phone calls. So what's all the fuss about? Read on.

So who is to blame for the high cost of housing in certain areas?  Thomas Sowell says homes are actually most affordable in most places...except where government drives up the price.

WHAT THE HECK ARE THOSE POINTY HAND THINGS?

These are links to each individual story on the Nuze, p-links for the geeks out there. Plus, they work today and they'll work tomorrow. Now you can easily discuss/debate/rip apart the Nuze without worrying about the links going bad. Enjoy!

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