The Truth Laid Bear

That infamous New Zealand bear is wanting to know just what YOU think. So why not go right over and give him a piece of your mind. Give him a piece of mine while you are at it. He wants feedback from you on “The Truth Laid Bear“‘s first month of operation since its new launch of something or other. Ask him exactly what is “The Truth Laid Bear”? If it so “laid bear”, how come I can’t find the truth anywhere about how the system operates? Please don’t tell him that I sent you, as he has a habit of unevolving certain web logs on a whim, faster than a fundamentalist preacher can shout amen on a Sunday. A blog can be trudging along through the blogosphere one day as a fat and happy mammal and the next day, the webmaster awakens to find the bear has eaten it alive for a midnight snack. The webmaster can find nothing left of his precious site but a can of wiggly worms. And that is the honest-to-goodness Truth Laid Bear.

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Judith Miller, Source or Leaker?

Or Both? So today Arianna Huffington is just coming around to the realization of what I and others blogged about on July 12th, 2005. See my post Why Is Judith Miller In Jail? Here is Arianna’s bombshell:

This is why Miller doesn’t want to reveal her “source” at the White House — because she was the source. Sure, she first got the info from someone else, and the odds are she wasn’t the only one who clued in Libby and/or Rove (the State Dept. memo likely played a role too)… but, in this scenario, Miller certainly wasn’t an innocent writer caught up in the whirl of history. She had a starring role in it. This also explains why Miller never wrote a story about Plame, because her goal wasn’t to write a story, but to get out the story that cast doubts on Wilson’s motives. Which Novak did.

So what did we tell you Arianna? Meanwhile, according to Wizbang, the Washington Post has cleared Karl Rove. Bad news for the Democrats or good news, as Wizbang thinks?

[Kerfuffles] [CIA] [Valerie Plame] [Joseph Wilson] [Judith Miller] [Plame Affair]

Irish To Give Up Fighting

Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, And smile, smile, smile. There’s no more need to worrying – the I.R.A. is finished. With its “armed struggle” against British rule, that is. Oh sure, you say. Well … this time it may really be true, as I will explain. The New York Times is reporting that the Irish are giving up their fighting ways:

BELFAST, Northern Ireland, July 28 – The Irish Republican Army declared an end to its campaign of violence against Britain that claimed more than 3,500 lives over 36 years, saying there was “an alternative way to achieve” its goal of a United Ireland.

Now don’t let this “alternative way” to a United Ireland lull you into believing that those I.R.A. lads have voluntarily come to a change of heart. They haven’t. After the London bombings of 7/7, they finally realized that the Jets have moved in and taken over the territory that was once theirs. Not only have the Irish soldiers lost their exclusive right to terrorize, they have been “out-terroristed” by the Jets. Try as they may, they cannot convince any of their I.R.A. mates to go all the way and explode themselves while blowing up their hated British cousins. Killing an enemy during armed warfare is one thing, but according to the religion of the Irish terrorists, to kill one’s self is a mortal sin which sends one straight to Hell. Few Irish have heard of the 72 virgins awaiting in heaven for suicide bombers and those who have say they still would not commit a mortal sin unless there were 72 pints awaiting them. Whenever the I.R.A. soldiers do time in British prisons, the mullahs always try to convert them to Islam. All such attempts have been futile as the Paddies will not give up their traditional breakfast of whiskey, bacon and bangers. For the I.R.A. to continue with its terrorist exploits of the past would bring only humiliation to their world-wide reputation as Christendom’s own “fearsome stealth bombers”. Better to be remembered as the “Retired Fighting Irish” than to be lampooned all the way to Londonderry and home as the “Irish Army of Sissy-Lads”.

The statement by the I.R.A. said that its leadership had “formally ordered an end to the armed campaign,” as the organization calls its military activities, which are described by supporters as armed struggle and by adversaries as terrorism. The shift followed growing revulsion among its Catholic supporters, both here and in the United States, at the I.R.A.’s involvement in organized crime and, since Sept. 11, at global terrorism. (The New York Times)

The Jets have been nothing but troubles for the I.R.A. beginning with that September 11th mishap in New York City. The Irish-Catholic community got to witness first hand what the British had experienced for decades – the horrors of terrorism. Since that day they’ve not been quite so generous with their American dollars for I.R.A. bombs. The cash shortage is now so acute that the I.R.A. is sending its troops out to train as bank robbers, bandits and “stick-em-up” thugs, for even an army of terrorists marches on its stomach. Besides, it is much easier to justify murdering the innocent for money, rather than concoct some noble cause such as the “high and mighty” struggle against British oppression.

It is great news for the British people and for the non-fighting Irish. Could it be that capitalism has had such an impact on Ireland, that the Irish would rather be prosperous than united with their Irish brothers? Have they found it to be more rewarding to trade with the British than to bomb them? Or has the I.R.A. discovered that once an army turns to criminal activity, being Protestant or Catholic or even Irish, doesn’t seem to matter a lot?

Linked at basil’s blog Breakfast: 7/29/2005.

New News on Natalee

The Unending News on the Unending Story
If no body exists, no body can ever be found. With no body and no crime scene, how can anyone be charged with her disappearance? Will the tragic story ever end?

Well, at least not until they find the missing shoe. That’s right. Joran van der Sloot lost a sneaker somewhere on the island. Expect now a grand search for it, as well as for Natalee. This is beginning to sound like Cinderella, no? No! It’s OJ all over again! And here comes the story of the toothbrush. Wow, two brand new stories on one day! Somewhere, an impatient author is writing a soon-to-be best selling book. Unfortunately, he cannot publish until some of these missing pieces of evidence are found and some of the important questions answered. Such as whose DNA matches what? And will it matter? There are surely hundreds of people walking around Aruba with the same DNA as Joran. Afterall, they said there were thousands with the same DNA as OJ, didn’t they?

According to the Fox News’ Greta show [WMV VIDEO] investigative reporter Tito Lacle confirms the report of a toothbrush found. We also begin the saga of the missing shoe of Joran van der Sloot. The Political Teen has the Fox News Video.

Dan at Riehl World View says that there will have to be new DNA samples taken from the suspects, because the original procedure was flawed. Of course, it was flawed! It’s done in Aruba for gosh sakes.

Hyscience has Late Night Natalee Holloway Updates.

Stealing from the Poor

To Give to the RICH! And it’s NOT Republicans who do it! But it is certainly their fault! Did the liberal radio station “Air America” take money from poor kids and Alzheimer patients as was reported in the “New York Daily News“?

Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Bronx, Queens) said he was “totally shocked – shocked is an understatement” when news of the loss of funding first broke. In its initial announcement, the DOI [New York City’s Department of Investigation] said it was probing allegations that program officials “approved significant inappropriate transactions and falsified documents that were submitted to various city agencies.” According to published reports, the allegations involve Charles Rosen, the founder of Gloria Wise who has stepped down as executive director, investing city contract funds in Air America Radio, the liberal talk radio network. Evan Cohen, Air America’s former chairman, had served as Gloria Wise’s director of development.

Radio Equalizer and Michelle Malkin have followed the scandal, which really should have received national attention, considering that “Air America” is broadcast nationally. Although the Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Clubs receive considerable grants and city contracts, the charity almost had to close because of a shortfall in funds, caused by $500K in grant money having been loaned (and not returned) to –Al Franken’s “Air America”. Fortunately, other independent groups came to their rescue. According to the newspaper, none was named “Al Franken”. Wizbang covers the story today and Danny Carlton has other links.

If this outrageous, and seemingly criminal, diversion of funds earmarked for the poor and sufferers of Alzheimers be true, prepare for the Republicans to be blamed for having cut back so drastically on funds to Public Broadcasting stations, that the PBS cannot afford to bank roll the likes of “Air America”. It also demonstrates the liberal mind set being so accustomed to receiving public funds for the furtherance of their political agenda that they find nothing unseemly nor criminal with taking public funds wherever they be found. Tell me again, who is it that accuses others of starving children and feeding dog food to the elderly?

Linked at basil’s blog Lunch: 7/28/2005.

Holloway Blogs Boycott

There has been no really fresh news for sometime in the story of Natalee Holloway’s disappearance in Aruba. Those doing Internet searches of the MSM for news usually come up empty handed. Enter the bloggers of Blogland who can offer recycled news reports and also message boards. I can personally vouch that doing a post on Natalee Holloway can bring hordes of visitors to a blog. See my post about it: The Duct Tape Strangler.

The Comments sections of posts have been so populated with scenarios by readers, speculating about what really happened, that some blogsters have set up actual message boards so that there can be a real back and forth discussion of the teenager’s tragic disappearance. Holloway blogsters have uncovered little know, yet mysterious linkages in the case. For example, Riehl World View, found that some of the alums of a now closed Tennessee military academy, are linked together in the Natalee Holloway disappearance. There is Jug Twitty, Natalee’s stepfather. Someone named Serge Mansur who lives in Aruba and is now General Manager of Cigarette Factory. (Aruba manufactures cigarettes? Hmmm… Wonder where they hide the tobacco plantations?) Another Mansur, Luis M. Mansur who works for the newspaper “Diario” on the island and has reported on the Holloway case. And even Duane and Greg Allman, of the Allman Brothers rock band. Huh? I wonder how Duane Alman got involved with the Natalee case as he has been dead since 1971?

Now war has broken out in Blogland amongst bloggers who pinched (borrowed) each other’s news reports that had already been pinched (borrowed) from someplace else. Seems, some of these blogmasters have gone giddy with their soaring counter statistics. And why not! The New Zealand bear uses them to determine the pecking order of each and every blog in Blogland. In addition, the more visitors to a blog, the more click-throughs to that blogs’ own Google and Amazon piggy banks. The pennies, dimes and quarters come rolling in for the Holloway blogsters.

Where has all this Natalee Holloway ALL-THE-TIME led us? Nowhere, really. In fact, Natalee Holloway news has been so scarce that after the MSM reported on a similar disappearance five years ago in Jamaica, the Holloway bloggers immediately pounced upon it, scooping each other about Claudia Kirschoch who disappeared in 2000. Riehl World View recently wrote of Claudia’s disappearance.

However, today the Arubans are draining a lake near the Marriott Hotel. And almost two months after the young girl’s disappearance, new witnesses have come forth claiming to have seen something on that fateful night. It has been only a few hours, so the new witnesses haven’t had time yet to change their stories, as is customary in the paradise that is Aruba. Last week, the Alabama legislature requested that citizens no longer patronize the island for vacations. And just today, one Holloway blogster of Blogland is calling for a boycott of those Holloway blogs that have not been fair, as in “unethical”, with their Natalee Holloway All-The-Time news. Read all about it at Riehl World View.

If you want to participate in that Blog Boycott Fest you will have to boycott the “Scared Monkeys” (67,000 visits a day), but not “The Political Teen” (6,600 visits a day). I haven’t checked to see what the Monkeys think about all this. They may want everyone to boycott “The Political Teen” and “Riehl World View” (49,000 visits a day). I think I will just boycott them all and try and get news of the story from MSM. One thing I have found, when an Internet search is done for “Natalee Holloway” one must first eliminate a site named “Useless-Knowledge.com”, as they have locked up the Holloway Aruba story even tighter than Dan Riehl, the Teen and the Monkeys combined.

Ruffles and Flourishes to Wizbang Blog.

Brother Mitt

Perhaps the future is unfolding before my eyes. Could a man named Mitt be elected President of the United States? Could a governor of the liberal bastion of Massachusetts be elected to the Presidency? Could anyone from Massachusetts? It is the land of Ted Kenneddy, Barney Frank and John Kerry and none of them could do it. Now, wouldn’t that just upset the apple cart? Could a Mormon be elected? Lordy, Lordy, if the Irish Catholics of Massachusetts can tolerate a Mormon governor, surely the rest of the land would be able. And isn’t it about time that the Mormons got one of their own into high office? After all, Mormonism is the only true American religion. The faith was born and bred in the farm fields of New York. Other faiths were too, in the early years of the country’s existence. But Mormonism survived and the others died out. I think I could go for Brother Mitt. Robert Novak is writing Romney Ready for 2008 Run. Hillary (and Newt) – watch out! The Momons are coming.

Are We Ready for a Mormon President from The Boston Globe

Liberal Ignorance of Warfare

While blogging about the liberal reaction to the Purple Heart joke perpetrated by the Wedding Crashers web site, I came upon a quote by Atrios at Eschaton, which is the Number 11 ranked blog in all of the blogdom world, according to Bear’s Ecosystem. This would be considered a leader of liberal thought right up there with KOS. To show how out of touch these people are with the military and with military culture, here is what Atrios at Eschaton writes about a United States Marine officer, Hackett, and a Navy Captain, Minamayer, who both served in the Middle East during the War on Terror.

Wanker of the Day “Minamayer thinks he’s justified in questioning Hackett’s service because he was a Civil Affairs officer. You know, the guys who, like Hackett, have to go into Fallujah after we bomb the [expletive deleted] out of it and try to make nice with the local population. Surely not a dangerous or important job.”

Atrios continues the disparagement by quoting a statement from Eric Minamayer’s web site: “I fought the war on terrorism and now I will fight for you in Washington.” Atrios responds

“Minamayer in combat? Nope.”

I would like to ask, Mr. Atrios, just how many Navy captains he can name who served in combat during the War on Terror? When liberals try to discuss the military, they cannot help but display their illegal alien status. Truth be know, there likely are more senior Naval officers who served in combat in the Middle East during this war, then there are liberals who served.

How appropriate, that the same group of people who want to steal the valor of those who deservedly win Purple Hearts, would ridicule a Marine’s and a senior ranking naval officer’s service in a war zone. It would be absolutely useless and a waste of valuable time to even attempt to explain it all to them, as their minds are closed; sealed shut with the impenetrable cement of ignorance.

Wizbang has more information on this story. Linked at Outside the Beltway’s ‘Beltway Traffic Jam’ and Mudville Gazette’s ‘Hessians on the Rampage’.

It’s Justa Joke!

If You Were Offended – Tough. Get Over It.
According to The Associated Press, “Phony Purple Heart Taken Off Film Web Site, WASHINGTON – Following complaints from a congressman, the producers of Wedding Crashers on Monday yanked from the movie’s web site a printable Purple Heart advertised as a gimmick to pick up women and get free drinks.”

Yet the comments at liberal web sites show that they think the veterans were objecting to the film’s comic use of the Purple Heart medal, and were seeking to have the Bill of Rights rewritten. Apparently, they just read only each others’ blogs, never bothering to read the original news story from AP which explains that a printable image of a Purple Heart medal was voluntarily removed from the web site by the site’s owners, when they realized their phony Purple Heart joke was not funny, but instead offensive. There was no censoring of the film; neither did veterans demand that it be censored.

After reading the liberal thoughts about faking The Purple Heart medals, I was left wondering just what that great general, who came up with the novel idea of awarding a medal to not only officers, but to enlisted men who were wounded in battle, would say if he were still around. As always, the shocking comments from liberals get me to wondering how anyone who has family in the military, or has ever served his/her country thusly, or who is just grateful to freedom’s defenders, would want to be associated politically with the sort of people who write and contribute to the web sites linked below. I continue to be astonished.

It’s Justa Joke! Taking their lead from the blog Eschaton, they claim it was the Republicans who started this Purple Heart kerfuffle with their “Purple Heart Band-Aids” at the Republican Convention? After all, if one is blind as a moonbat, a Band-Aid, a fake paper medal or even a Boy Scout medal could easily be mistaken for a real Purple Heart. The Movie Quill “Rants Entertainment” is concerned that the First Amendment has been rescinded:

“Can we still write what we want to write, or do we need to kow-tow to the prevailing wind of blue-haired ultra-conservative bible-thumping moral MINORITY?”

Call Me Carol wrote:

Did the Veterans protesting the use of Purple Hearts in the movie “the Wedding Crasher”, also protest the 2004 Republican convention attendees when they wore a bandaid with a mock purple heart?

Armchair Generalist wants to know:

“where those veteran groups were during the Republican National Convention last year… Maybe they were too busy applauding Bush’s stateside military record to notice the RNC delegates handing out the “Purple Hearts” in an effort to mock Kerry’s Vietnam experience.”

The Movie Blog writes that the use of the Phony Purple Heart was a tribute to the real Purple Heart winners. It shows that getting “free booze” is more important “than being a millionaire, or famous, or attractive”.

On the official website, the fake Purple Heart image has the tagline with it “Carrying a Purple Heart in your jacket guarantees you attention, admiration and plenty of free booze”. Apparently American Military Vet groups are quite upset by the use of the image. … I think the gag show a HUGE amount of respect to the image of the Purple Heart. … At the core of the joke is the understanding that the Purple Heart is such an amazing, important and symbolic thing, that in the wedding crashers minds it “guarantees you attention, admiration and plenty of free booze.” In essence, what the gag says is that to have a Purple Heart is more important or significant than being a millionaire, or famous, or attractive. … the gag actually pays homage to the image of the Purple Heart …

Hmm. Why would “free booze” be better than being a millionaire? Adrants too thinks the film is being censored:

“The movie, which, remember, is a movie and not real life, … While no one wants to diminish the hard work and sacrifices the fine, upstanding people who serve and protect America provide, we might want to remember this is a joke … Animal Magazine Publisher Bucky Turco commented, ‘It could almost be construed as a type of offbeat homage to their bravery and the power of the uniform.'”

Xpionated too believes the objection is to the Purple Heart in the movie and his message for the offended Vets: Get over it!

“… yes we know the sacrifices of our military veterans … . We’re just tired of being reminded now. Also, maybe you like the movie, maybe you don’t …. But the fact is it’s art. Just because it’s not ‘Platoon’-like drama, you feel offended. It’s all good to talk about a purple heart in a movie until you use it in a comedy and then rah rah rah….. Vets who are offended can walk out of the movie. But please don’t take valuable internet space with this non-issue….this damn political correctness BS is getting ridiculously blown out of proportion…”

The lovely and gracious Kirstina, a commenter at Film Rotation, wrote after reading of veterans’ objections to the fake medal: “Boo [expletive deleted] hoo. Learn to take a joke, you military [expletive deleted]. People always will find a reason to meet their daily [expletive deleted] quotient.” Striker, another commenter responded: “lol Damn right!” The Phil Factor believes that it is all about the “sex factor” and then compares faking of the Purple Heart medal to faking of Boy Scout medals.

“… anyone old enough to be a veteran or a member of congress does not have a sense of humor and was predictably outraged by this display of disrespect. Either that, or they’re overly concerned about women sleeping with men they barely know.”

To The People also sees it as “all about sex”, however, those comments are too offensive to quote. He does admit though, that he is one of those who “falsely claims” to have earned a Purple Heart. I guess he participates in the soon to be illegal hoax just to con women, as he writes:

“Purple hearts aren’t that special anyway. Yeah, yeah, you got shot. You know why? Because you were in another country trying to kill their people. Did you think they wouldn’t shoot back? For all the ladies out there, I guess I should tell you that I have a purple heart before Congress makes it illegal to falsely claim I have one.”

Terri Pool claims to be a law student at UA-Fayetteville Law School in Arkansas, and if she really is, I send my sympathies to anyone hoping to get a decent education there. She writes in Moonbat-speak, manageing to relate it all to homosexuality, at Terri’s Law Blog:

“Recently, purple heart recipients … were offended by the characters’ of the film Wedding Crashers use of the purple heart … I just want to express my deep feeling of disgust in the fact that these [expletive deleted] were the best that the United States of America could enlist to defend its citizens and municipalities. These [expletive deleted] can take a bullet, but they can’t take a [expletive deleted] joke. Now remember folks, these “men” fought for the USA before the military’s technically illegal “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy (the government should hold itself to higher, not lower standards than other employers, regardless of the nature of the occupation – after all, it would be illegal if a security/bodyguard service or a local law enforcement agency refused to hire or fired a person for being openly homosexual). Hmm… Now, I’m not saying that they’re gay; I’m just saying that I know queens, pitchers and catchers alike, who are more butch and less sensative that those [expletive deleted]… “

Purple Hearts For All!
Some Give Some, Some Give All
Phony Purple Heart Joke

Phony Purple Heart Joke

It was a Hollywood joke, for Pete’s sake. However, some people were just too prudish to “get it”. Those Rubes down yonder in the United Red States cannot stand to see someone, somewhere having a bit of fun, especially when it is at the said Rubes’ expense. Where does the highly decorated war hero, Senator John McCain, stand on this particular kerfuffle?

Phony Purple Heart Taken Off Film Web Site: ‘If any movie-goers take the advice of the ‘Wedding Crashers’ and try to use fake Purple Hearts to get girls, they may wind up picking up an FBI agent instead,’ Congressman John Salazar warned. ‘I am pleased that New Line Cinema has agreed to take down offensive parts of the Web site. Our veterans and FBI agents are working hard to make sure that we honor our true heroes, no one should undermine their efforts.’

Thanks alot, Congressman KillJoy. So you get the “party pooper” vote. Will that be enough to get you reelected as a Democrat in Colorado? All because of you and your Red State Bubbas, the Wedding Crasher’s Web site had to remove the FREE ‘Crasher Kit’ with instructions on how to “use the medals to pick up women“. ‘Print your own Purple Heart,’ it invited. ‘To get one of these babies, some dudes have to prove their physical, mental and spiritual strength with great feats of bravery on the battlefield. All you need to do is press the button below.’ Now wannabe “dudes” will have to risk their lives to get one of “these babies”, instead of risking snips from a pair of scissors.

The Wedding Crashers‘ producers, New Line Cinema, decided it would be best to remove the FREE fake Purple Hearts, especially since it will soon become a federal crime to use them. ‘This is a comedy, and it’s intended to be funny,’ was the statement from their spokesman, Richard Socarides, speaking to The Washington Post. Mr. Socarides added, ‘It’s really not intended to offend anyone.’ Probably too, the producers were considering that any faux soldier “dudes” in jail, would not be able to purchase tickets to the ::”funny”::, R-rated flick.
(Yes, it’s satire, but all the quotes are real. Who could have made them up? )
The Genuine Purple Heart Medal

Linked at Colorado Political News.