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June 23, 2006
Yay for OLD U2, new U2 sucks. . .
I wonder if Bush has some old U2 on his iPod, you know, stuff from the Boy, October, War and Under a Blood Red Sky. Once U2 hit the Joshua Tree album, they started a long run downhill in my opinion.
Why do I even bother to cast judgements about the quality of old U2 versus new U2? Well, it's actually just a lead-in for this video:
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 10:37 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 19, 2006
Artur Davis issues a statement. . .
Background for this post -- Wow, look at what these "Congresspeople" actually voted AGAINST!
Over the weekend, Congressman Artur Davis (D-AL-7th) released a statement regarding his vote on the Iraq War Resolution from last week:
FROM THE OFFICE OF
Congressman Artur Davis
7th Congressional District of Alabama
208 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0107WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Artur Davis offered the following statement concerning today's vote on the Iraq resolution.
"There are parts of the Iraq resolution that I fully support; I certainly salute the valor of our soldiers and the Iraqi people. I continue to believe it is unwise to announce to the enemy a date for withdrawal. I also recognize our genuine successes in Iraq, from the capture of Saddam Hussein to the killing of murderers like Al-Zarqawi.
But I could not support a resolution whose main purpose is to endorse the Bush Administration's policy of a continuing commitment to a large-scale troop presence in Iraq. That policy has cost us approximately 2,500 American lives, while still failing to stop the violent insurgency that has killed tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians. Our military should begin the process of transferring the overwhelming load of our responsibilities to the Iraqi security forces, and our new emphasis should be on training and modernizing those forces as best as possible.
As much as we desire a better future for the Iraqi people, we have sacrificed too many of our young people for the dubious purpose of securing another country's political stability. Whether Iraq can emerge as a functioning democracy is a test for the Iraqi people and for the tolerance of their competing religious faiths. It is the Iraqi people, and not our soldiers, who will determine Iraq's destiny. "
I appreciate Representative Davis issuing the statement, even if I completely disagree with his suppositions and conclusions. The text of the resolution is here, and for the record, the roll call is here. If you read the Resolution, you'll see that it's extremely straightforward and simple. Representative Davis has chosen to read more into the Resolution than there is, he's also chosen to side with a national political party over his constitutents. Representative Davis' district is overwhelmingly supportive of the Global War on Terror and also the localized battle of the Mission in Iraq.
In his statement, Davis dances around, but in effect, by his vote, he has dismissed the sacrifices of our soldiers, shown a disdain for freedom and democracy taking hold in Iraq and Representative Davis has also contradicted what he sees at the "purpose" of the resolution. I could comment more, but I'll leave that to you to decide for yourself, read the Resolution, then read Davis' statement, the two don't seem to connect.
Representative Davis, you have placed your partisanship above our soldiers and our mission, I suggest that you are in effect a declared enemy of our troops and their mission. You sir, should be ashamed, and more importantly, your constituents should be ashamed of you.
--Jason
P.S. I reserve the right to revisit Davis' statement later, for now I just don't have the time. I'll end for now by suggesting that we all should be grateful that Davis and his like weren't in Congress for the rebuilding of Germany, Japan and Korea. Perhaps Davis just doesn't feel the Iraqis don't deserve the same protections and nurturing of their democracy as the Germans, Japanese, Koreans and even Afghans, I wonder why?
Posted by JasonColeman at 8:09 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 16, 2006
Wow, look at what these "Congresspeople" actually voted AGAINST. . .
The House just voted on HR 861 (Iraq War Resolution). As expected, the vote went largely along party lines. More Dems came out as opposing the Resolution than did Senators in a similar resolution yesterday.
So let's take a look quickly at what they actually voted against.
1. Honoring all those Americans who have taken an active part in the Global War on Terror, whether as first responders portecting the homeland, as servicememebers overseas, as diplomats and intelligence officers, or in other roles.
153 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTED AGAINST HONORING THESE AMERICANS!
2. Honoring the sacrifices of the United States Armed Forces and of partners in the Coalitiion, and of the Iraqis and Afghans who fight alongside them, especially those who have fallen or been wounded in the struggle, and honors as well the sacrifices of their families and of others who risk their lives to help defend freedom.
153 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTED AGAINST HONORING THE SACRIFICES OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES, THEIR COALITION PARTNERS, THE IRAQIS AND AFGHANIS, ESPECIALLY THE FALLEN, WOUNDED AND THEIR FAMILIES!
3. Declaring that it is not in the national security interest of the United States to set an arbitrary date for the withdrawal or redeployment of United States Armed Forces from Iraq
153 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS APPARENTLY FEEL THAT CUTTING AND RUNNING (AND ANNOUNCING IT IN ADVANCE SO THE ENEMY CAN PREPARE) IS IN THE INTERST OF THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES!
4. Declaring that the United States is committed to the completion of the mission to create a sovereign, free secure and united Iraq.
153 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE NOT COMMITTED TO COMPLETING THE MISSION, ARE NOT COMMITTED TO FREEDOM AND SECURITY FOR HUMAN BEINGS IN IRAQ!
5. Congratualtes Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and the Iraqi people on the courage they have shown by participating in increasing millions, in the elections of 2005 and on the formation of the first government under Iraq's new constitiution.
153 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS APPARENTLY FEEL THAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE VOTING IN FREE AND OPEN ELECTIONS ARE NOT TO BE CONGRATULATED OR FOR DOING SO IN THE FACE OF THE IMMINENT DANGER TO THEIR PERSONS! THESE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE TURNED LITERALLY AGAINST DEMOCRACY!
6. Calls upon the nation of the world to promote global peace and security by standing with the United States and other Coalition partners to support the efforts of the Iraqi and Afghan people to live in freedom.
153 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE GONE ON THE RECORD AS NOT SUPPORTING GLOBAL PEACE AND SECURITY AND HAVE VOTED AGAINST SUPPORTING FREEDOM FOR THE IRAQI AND AFGHAN PEOPLE!
7. Declares that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the noble struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary.
153 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE DECLARED THAT THE U.S. SHOULD FAIL IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR AND THAT THE STRUGGLE TO PROTECT FREEDOM FROM TERRORISTS IS IGNOBLE!
Can we question their patriotism NOW!!!!
The entire text of the resolution is here.
------------------------
These members of Congress have shown with this vote that they are in fact enemies of freedom, democracy and United States and her national security. Instead of siding for freedom, democracy and the United States, they have openly sided with the terrorists who wish to deny freedom, deny democracy and who align themselves against the United States.
I say that these 153 "members of congress" have infact declared themselves enemies of the United States and enemies of freedom and democracy.
I'll post the role call vote when it's released, so we all can know exactly who makes up the fifth column in the United States Congress.
Thank goodness these idiots weren't around for World War 2. Du weißt doch, dass.
--Jason
UPDATE: The roll call is here. Are any of these fifth columnists your represenative?
UPDATE 2: For a little local flavor, I decided to take a look at the votes of Alabama Representatives on this issue. All were in favor of the resolution except two. Artur Davis (D - 7th) voted against, and Spencer Bacchus (R - 6th) did not have a vote recorded. I've contacted Bacchus' office to inquire if A) the representative was in the District (and he is) and B) why was he not present for this vote? I'm awaiting a response from his office. Representative Davis's office in Birmingham was unaware of the Iraq War Resolution vote, they contacted the legislative aide in D.C. for me and responded that they do not have a statement at this time, however, they'll get back to me with an explanation of the Representative's vote against the resolution. A few short minutes later, someone from the Representative's office took a look at this post, I wonder if they'll still get back to me with an explanation of his vote.
I'll post any responses from Bacchus or Davis that I receive.
-JC
UPDATE 3: I just spoke with Representative Bacchus' Chief of Staff Larry Lavender who related that Bacchus was present for the majority of the debate on the Resolution but was unable to stay for the vote as he needed to travel back to Alabama to attend his former Marine son's wedding. The Congressman has drafted a statement of support for the Resolution and will have his support entered into the Congressional Record.
Still waiting for comment from Davis.
UPDATE 4: Representative Davis has issued a statement.
-JC
Posted by JasonColeman at 10:08 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 13, 2006
The media. . . better late than never. . .
Seems that the media is finally getting around to taking offense at the "Hodji Girl" (or "Hadji Girl") video I posted back in March.
Here's my original post with the video embedded, and here's a post about the pseudo-third-party death threat I recieved for posting it.
Dan Riehl has transcribed the lyrics, and as I said before, if this video pisses you off, GO AWAY!
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 9:30 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 8, 2006
Woo Hoo, Woo Freakin' Hoo. . .
Zarq is Dead (click for links via Instapundit).
Did I say "Woo Hoo" yet????
--Jason
Posted by JasonColeman at 8:07 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
