THE CNN EXPERTS HAVE FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT

So now that CNN "experts" say that pulling out of Iraq is a bad idea. I wonder what their first clue was.

Sorry about the sarcasm ... but why does it take so long for some people to realize the obvious? For years the Commander in Chief of our armed forces has been telling us that pulling out of Iraq would invite disaster; bloodshed on an unimaginable scale. Now it takes a panel of CNN "experts" repeating what George Bush has been saying all along to make it a fact.

Here's a paragraph from the story:

"Sectarian violence could erupt on a scale never seen before in Iraq if coalition troops leave before Iraq's security forces are ready. Supporters of al Qaeda could develop an international hub of terror from which to threaten the West. And the likely civil war could draw countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran into a broader conflict."

It's clear: Iraqis still need our help to build the country they have been denied for so long. Pulling out now would undermine the legacy of every soldier and civilian life lost in Iraq. Defeatocrats are basically saying that those who died serving in Iraq did it for nothing, there will be no resolution worth dedicating to their sacrifice. Nice, real nice. Let's just spit in the eye of every person serving in Iraq. Liberals love this stuff. Me? Not so much.

We can all admit that this could have been handled better, but what's done is done. Can we put aside the partisan bullshit (I won't be able to say that on the air ... sad) and just come together to get the job done over there? Pulling out --- surrendering, if you like -- is the path to disaster. Accomplishing our stated goals can lead to huge dividends for peace.

REPUBLICAN DEBATE TONIGHT!

Tonight, Republican candidates are set to debate at 8pm on MSNBC. I'm sure it will be just as boring as uneventful as the Democrats last week (except I won't have to listen to Hillary's shrill voice). Those set to participate include Sam Brownback, Jim Gilmore, Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Tom Tancredo and Tommy Thompson. I know, get ready for another potential yawn fest, since all of the fun has been taken out of "debates." But hey, it's always good to be informed.

Do I sound a bit negative? How perceptive of you! I really don't expect anything exciting out of this gathering tonight. After all, can any of you name one item on the 2008 Republican agenda that is creating even the smallest amount of excitement in the electorate?

Face it .. these people need help. If the Republicans don't put something exciting on their plate soon it's going to be very ugly indeed in November of 2008.

OK .. this brings us to the next Republican presidential candidates debate .. the one in Columbia, South Carolina in under two weeks. On May 15th Fox News Channel will host this debate ... and we're having a little garden party just before the telecast. It's a FairTax Rally at the Carolina Coliseum on the campus of the University of South Carolina ... right across the parking lot from the debate location.

These Republican candidates are looking for something that they believe will bring voters to the polls. If we show up in huge numbers for this FairTax Rally, their search will be over. Columbia, though a wonderful city, isn't the center of the universe. If we have 10,000 people at the FairTax rally these candidates are going to notice, as will their handlers. If the FairTax can drive 10,000 people to Columbia late on a Tuesday afternoon, it can drive people to the polls. That is the message to be delivered. And let's face it ... every time you plan a rally like this you're taking a chance. If the crowd is small, the message is that people aren't all that excited about the idea ... and momentum is lost.

Click on the banner to the right ... get the details ... and let us know you're on the way!

So .. while we're on the FairTax, might I direct your attention to an article that appeared in SmallGovTimes.com? It's titled "The Few, the proud, the sponsors of the FairTax."

RESTRICTING SOLDIER'S BLOGS ---- CENSORSHIP?

Now this one is a toughie. A blog, for those of you who are as old as I am, is a journal-like website where you can link to stories and pictures. Many people, including soldiers in combat, find this is a great way to keep in contact with loved ones back home. While there are already restrictions on soldiers in war zones--forbidden to post classified or sensitive material--the Army now looks to regulate blogs once soldiers return from war. It was only a matter of time before this happened, and the Army is quick to realize the implications of changes in the personal use of technology.

This is a double-edged sword. The freedom of the Internet should be treated responsibly, but at the discretion of responsible citizens and not the government. The government cannot tell Johnny that he is forbidden to write blog posts about how much he misses the food in the mess hall. But make no mistake, nothing, absolutely nothing, should be allowed to jeopardize the safety of our military personnel. There is a clear and simple line to be drawn between material that jeopardizes operational security and material which does not. So long as the military maintains this line, then there may be no problem here. But there is always the danger to limit speech because of ideological differences; controlling the flow of information should not become a source of propaganda for the Army. If a soldier went to Afghanistan, he has the right to come back and write day in and day out about how much he hated it, or loved it. But disclosing security information is a crime, even if it appears on a silly little blog that is only read by your mother and her three cats.

MCGEEVEY --- A PRIEST?

U.S. Catholics are breathing a sigh of relief. Why? Because Jim McGreevey is what they call a "lapsed Catholic."

Oh come on now. You don't know this McGreevey guy? He's the former governor of New Jersey. He's the one who shocked the people of New Jersey, not to mention his wife, that he was a "Gay American." (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) So .. today we learn that McGreevey is going to become a priest. An Episcopal Priest. Here's your story.

REDNECK SCRAP BOOK

You might have redneck parents if...more in the Redneck Scrap Book.

READING ASSIGNMENTS

Curious about soldier blogs? Check out this well put together index of military blogs.

See! I told you that Cynthia Tucker gets one right every once in a while. Other than (ahem) myself, she is the only one out there who has correctly pinned the real blame for the death of a completely innocent elderly woman on our foolish war on drugs. Better be careful, Ms. Tucker. Someone is going to accuse you of listening to my show!

Oh those whacky Brits! At Oxford they recently had a debate. The topic: "Resolved, this House regrets the Founding of America." Jealously is such an ugly thing, don't you think?

Fred Thompson writes of the "myth of Cuban health care." Liberals should not read this article as it may cause distress.

Labor demands are steadily growing. For all you pessimists out there claiming the country is going to hell because of Bush.

OK ... so you're a big time thinker, a real brainiac. You're asked to come up with an idea to "save the world." Want to see some of the results? here's your link. I'm going to read this a few times so that I can come across as a deep thinker. Yeah .. that will work.

Public Broadcast Service remains controlled by the left who claim their approach is the "fair" and "balanced" approach. Right...

Rupert Murdoch to take over Dow Jones, including the Wall Street Journal? The media mogul is willing to shell out $5 billion. Shucks, that's peanuts!

Will Obama lead the anti-war movement? Dick Morris weighs in.

The French get down and dirty in their debate for the Presidency. One candidate, Segolene Royal, says it is immoral for her opponent to defend handicapped children...oh the French.

People will never get over the fact that Mitt Romney is a Mormon. Now, there is a movie coming out, "September Dawn," about a brutal Mormon-led massacre that happened 150 years ago. That's unfortunate for Mitt, who will have to do some explaining for something that has absolutely nothing to do with him being a running for president.

The Head Start education program was approved by the House yesterday. What's wrong with this description: "It increases enrollment, now about 900,000 children aged 3 to 5, boosts teacher and staff salaries and expands services for homeless, migrant and non-English-speaking children."

We have a couple of columns dealing with the 2008 elections and the chances the Republicans have to reclaim some power in Washington. George Will writes of "The Road to a GOP House," and Susan Page writes in USA Today about five reasons the Republicans face an uphill climb in 2008.

Daniel Henninger issues the call for no more witch burnings for PC offenses. Fat chance.

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