May 24, 2005 02:42 PM
Voinovich continues campaign against Bolton nomination
The Republican senator who snubbed the White House by opposing John Bolton's nomination for US ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday took the unusual move of asking his colleagues to vote against Mr Bolton. George Voinovich, an Ohio Republican, wrote a letter to his fellow senators, arguing that the appointment of Mr Bolton, the outgoing undersecretary of state for arms control, would hurt US efforts to improve relations with its allies.
"John Bolton's nomination sends a negative message to the world community," Mr Voinovich wrote
May 24, 2005 01:25 PM
Video
CNN: Novak says "Get the Hell Out" of Iraq Now
On the Saturday edition of CNN's Capitol Gang, Bob Novak admits that we must leave Iraq as soon as possible.
Is Bob suddenly seeing things the same as Ted Kennedy?
May 24, 2005 02:12 AM
...Of Cabbages and Kings
And we know where your children go to school
In this brave new electronic world, a new form of extortion has evolved: pay up or we’ll crash your site.
May 24, 2005
Let’s say you are running a lucrative web site, popping along raking in the dough when you get an email message. Either you pay $40,000 or we’ll block traffic to your site, the message says. What do you do? In most cases, the answer to this new kind of extortion is to pay the money and move on. This, of course, means that the extortionists will go on to someone else and do the same thing, or they’ll come back to get you again.
A man named Mickey Richardson, who runs one of the off-shore gaming sites, BetCris.com, that operate out of Costa Rica to avoid U.S. gambling laws, got such a message at the end of 2003. “Your site is under attack…. You can send us $40k, by Western Union and your site will be protected not just this weekend but for the next 12 months. If you chose not to pay…you will be under attack each weekend for the next 20 weeks, or until you close your doors.”
And sure enough, his site immediately crashed.
In a chilling story worthy of a novel, a website called CSOonline, which caters to computer network security people, reports what happened next.Click on the headline to read it.
",0] ); D(["ce"]); D(["ms","436f"] ); //--> Click on the headline to read it.
May 24, 2005 02:06 AM
Power line did again: Absolute Idiocy
A Veteran named Nate emailed me this item that infuriated him:
Rocketman is upset at Ted Koppel for giving a tribute to our fallen:
"Soldiers have been dying in the line of duty for a long time--even in peacetime, theirs is a dangerous profession. When did the left suddenly start caring? I'm afraid that's true. Soldiers have been dying in the line When did the left suddenly start caring?"
I know it pains you to hear all the names of our departed vets because you led the charge with the rest of the 101st fighting keyboard brigade to send them into battle. A soldier dying in or out of combat is a serious and painful matter that cuts between blue and red states, yet you only look to take yourself off the hook. Reading the names in honoring these brave people who are actually out in the battlefield, you evoke attacks on liberals because you really want to assail yourself.
You waste so much time trying to prove the validity of Intelligent design, (and I hate using the word intelligence in a post describing the one you just penned) you might have had the decency to make sure the evidence was sound, they were properly armed, had a thoughtful plan, and were fighting for more than a set of unproven ideals. The uniforms they wear contain living, breathing human beings (not chess pawns) just trying to survive in a world gone crazy.
May 23, 2005 08:20 PM
Dobson's Brigade responds
The flood of notes contained words like "gutless," "ridiculous" and "outraged." We thought you might enjoy sharing in some of those comments:
"I immediately emailed my senator, John Warner," wrote KM of Virginia. "I sent him a two word messsage: 'start packing.' " She continued, "Yes, this was a great disappointment and loss. 'Defeat,' however, seems too strong a word. We know God is sovereign and the earth is the Lord’s. I am praying for His will to be done on earth as in heaven."
Gary Bauer, president of American Values, called the agreement "a sad day for America." Bauer said, "it is now more likely that radical social change will continue to be forced on the American people by liberal courts committed to same-sex marriage, abortion on demand and hostility to religious expression."
Please share with C&L your feelings as well.
May 23, 2005 06:24 PM
Maxspeak
WHY TOM RIDGE IS UNFIT FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
From Sunday's very long Washinton Post article on Homeland Security insecurity, which features among other lapses contractors robbing the Federal government blind:
As chief of the Homeland Security Department, Ridge grew frustrated by the drumbeat of bad news contained in the audits, particularly from his department's own office of inspector general, according to Ervin. Twice last year, Ridge summoned the inspector general to his office to complain about his reports, according to Ervin.
Ridge was particularly upset with one report documenting problems with a visa-waiver program and another describing difficulties with terrorist watch lists, Ervin said.
"He said he regarded the reports as being unduly critical," said Ervin, whose political appointment expired in December and who now works at a District think tank. "He was trying to make his displeasure known."
Ridge said he never asked Ervin to "modify or mollify" his reports. But he objected to Ervin's methods.
"I said, 'Do you feel obligated to send every report to the Hill? Does everything you do have to end up in a press release?' " (WaPo link)
Laura Bush anti-gang initiative South Knox Bubba
Say, whatever happened to Laura Bush's $150 million anti-gang program that President Bush announced in his State of the Union address?
Apparently not much.
According to this report, the First Lady recently rolled up her sleeves and sat down with some former gang members in Los Angeles seeking answers.
The article doesn't say if she got any answers, but it does say she had to rush back to her posh Beverly Hills hotel for a TV interview and a wardrobe change before catching a limo to a local GOP fundraiser. It also mentions that she's helping transform government by firing the White House chef and looking for someone who can make barbecue.
Ridge said he never asked Ervin to "modify or mollify" his reports. But he objected to Ervin's methods.
"I said, 'Do you feel obligated to send every report to the Hill? Does everything you do have to end up in a press release?' " (WaPo link)
May 23, 2005 06:24 PM
Imagination May Conquer Harsh Reality Yet.
In 1860 a nation looked to a relative Illinois unknown to make a wrong world right. It is time to look to Illinois again. Like Lincoln, another unknown from Illinois, Barack Obama may be criticized for lack of experience in a real political world. Our world has had enough of the old, enough of division, of cruel hands that would pull our nation apart. Our nation must have better. Our nation needs a healing spirit where all are recognized for who they are and who they might best be. Our nation needs hands that put no one down and raise all of us up.
The Heretik Joe Ivory Mattingly sees that healing spirit and feels the power of those hands in the voice of Barack Obama of Illinois. I declare for Obama 2008.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Who will you be for in the election of 2008?
WHY TOM RIDGE IS UNFIT FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
From Sunday's very long Washinton Post article on Homeland Security insecurity, which features among other lapses contractors robbing the Federal government blind:
As chief of the Homeland Security Department, Ridge grew frustrated by the drumbeat of bad news contained in the audits, particularly from his department's own office of inspector general, according to Ervin. Twice last year, Ridge summoned the inspector general to his office to complain about his reports, according to Ervin.
Ridge was particularly upset with one report documenting problems with a visa-waiver program and another describing difficulties with terrorist watch lists, Ervin said.
"He said he regarded the reports as being unduly critical," said Ervin, whose political appointment expired in December and who now works at a District think tank. "He was trying to make his displeasure known."
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Who will you be for in the election of 2008?
May 23, 2005 06:08 PM
The Theocrats doing their part
The pastor of a small Baptist church has refused calls to take down a sign posted in front of his church reading "The Koran needs to be flushed," saying Tuesday he has nothing to apologize for.
"My creed is the Bible, which tells me I am supposed to stand up and defend my faith," said the Rev. Creighton Lovelace, pastor of the 55-member Danieltown Baptist Church in Forest City. "I don't hate Muslims, I just hate their false doctrines."
Hate is what hate does. Wait till this is broadcast around the world.
echidne says: What Would Jesus Do?
.
May 23, 2005 06:04 PM
Bill Maher Attacked by Rep. Spense Bachus
Bachus took exception to a remark Bill Maher made and wants his show cancelled.
It will be nice to hear Maher's response on this one.
Update-Commentor Jeremy found Bill's response in the Huffington Post
