KLT Blog

Infant found dead in Tennessee dorm

2007-02-28T11:04:00.001-08:00

Chattanooga authorities say a newborn child was found in a dormitory room at Tennessee Temple University. The infant was pronounced dead at the hospital later that day.

The infant was found where it had been placed under a blanket in a student's room yesterday at DeMoss hall. Paramedics performed CPR on the newborn but were not successful.

Police have not decided whether or not to pursue charges against the 19-year-old who gave birth.

The school is operated by a Baptist sect.

Woman accused of selling her child

2007-02-28T11:01:00.000-08:00

Woman accused of selling her child Pueblo police arrested a woman Tuesday after receiving a tip that she sold her 5-month-old son for money and a down payment on a used Dodge Intrepid.

Nicole Uribe-Lopez, 23, from Mexico, is jailed on a $50,000 bond.

Police say Juan and Irene Lerma bought the baby. They're being held on the same charges. Uribe-Lopez gave birth to her son in Pueblo County, making him a U.S. citizen.

Fake 'Jesus Tomb' may open to public

2007-02-27T13:52:00.000-08:00

Israeli officials say they might consider opening the fake tomb discovered by documentary filmmakers for viewing by the public.

Tammi Schneider (as quoted in the Daily Bulletin), a religion professor at Claremont Graduate University and vice president of American Schools of Oriental Research - an archeological association that studies people and cultures of the Near East - says Cameron's argument is circular.

She points out that religion requires a leap of faith and asking someone to believe that Jesus' bones were unearthed would go against the principles of faith.

"If you're going to take that leap of faith to believe, then you have to believe," Schneider said. "If you believe (the documentary), you haven't leapt far enough."

Clergymen in Israel have already been debunking the claims of the filmmakers. The concept behind the fake tomb contradicts the Christian belief that Jesus was resurrected and ascended to heaven. One casket bears the title "Judah, son of Jesus." The story hungry, anti-Christian media began hinting that because of this title, Jesus may have had a son. The documentary also makes this claim, however, the name "Jesus" (Hebrew: "Yeshua") was a popular name during the time, which is often translated as "Joshua".

Stephen Pfann of the University of the Holy Land in Jerusalem said he doubts "that Christians are going to buy into this."

Terrorist targets American base during Cheney visit

2007-02-27T13:38:00.000-08:00

In an attempted terrorist Taliban assassination, a suicide bomber attacked the largest American military base in Afghanistan during a visit by Vice President Dick Cheney on Tuesday, killing nearly two dozen people, including an American soldier and contractor, in a large explosion at the front gate.

The terrorist bomber never got close enough to the vice president, who heard a loud boom but said he never felt in any danger.

Today's Quote: Muslim terrorists - coming to a town near you

2007-02-27T11:43:00.001-08:00

"Muslim terrorists are obsessed with the idea of killing as many Americans as possible. They wake up thinking about it, they spend their days thinking about it, they go to bed thinking about it, and then they dream about it." (Paul Slansky)

Bias and sabotage: Wikipedia's middle name

2007-02-27T11:41:00.000-08:00

According to a report in the Boston Globe, "teachers and college professors are wondering whether they should allow students to cite Wikipedia as a source in term papers, which they are increasingly doing. Given its inherent nature as a work in progress, some wonder whether Wikipedia can ever be a reliable source of information."

The site is commonly known for its prejudicial misinformation, biased article entries by uneducated individuals, "basic juvenile toilet talk", and for its use as a resource for liberal educational institutes and American high schools, including Camden Central High in Benton County, Tennessee. Interviews with four teachers at Central High (who requested anonymity) revealed that they permit their students to quote freely from the inaccurate materials provided by Wikipedia and that some of their lesson plans are based on the site on a regular basis.

The Boston Globe says that questions have been raised about "an Internet phenomenon that some are acclaiming as the future of information. And the issues plaguing the site run deeper than political spin. Wikipedia touts itself as 'the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit,' and it is exactly that quality that is causing problems."

The Boston Globe says: "Two months after a highly publicized attack on the Wikipedia profile of a Tennessee newspaper editor -- in which a prankster falsely implicated him in the murders of President John F. and Senator Robert F. Kennedy -- the new disclosures sharpen a nagging question about Wikipedia: Can it stop sabotage and distortion without losing the freedom and openness that made the reference possible?"

"Wikipedia users don't have to give real names or addresses. Anyone with access to a computer can log in and do mischief. Wikipedia's articles are becoming battlegrounds, pitting writers with biased viewpoints and vandals trying to sabotage entries against a volunteer band of 'Wikipedians' who constantly seek to set the record straight. Aside from sabotage, for many people the big question about Wikipedia is accuracy."

"It's absolutely not trusted, from a faculty point of view," said Gregory Fried, chairman of the philosophy department of Suffolk University. "I don't doubt that it has good articles, but I don't know which are good and which are not."

Al Gore's personal energy use is his own "Inconvenient Truth"

2007-02-27T11:38:00.000-08:00

Nicole Williams, writing for News By Us, says: Gore's home uses more than 20 times the national average. Al Gore's global-warming documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, collected an Oscar for best documentary feature, but the Tennessee Center for Policy Research has found that Gore deserves a gold statue for hypocrisy.

Gore's mansion, located in the posh Belle Meade area of Nashville, consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year, according to the Nashville Electric Service (NES).

Pretending to care with muscle

2007-02-27T11:33:00.000-08:00

Arnold Schwarzenegger and four other western U.S. governors, signed a regional so-called "global warming accord" yesterday, inviting Canadian provinces to jump on board in opposition to the White House administration, pretending to start taking the lead on reducing what has been referred to as "greenhouse gas emissions".

This is just another example of the "Hollywood politics", bandwagon mentality prevalent in today's society. Stars are looking for that extra little lift of notoriety in anything they can get their hands on, even if it is based on misinformation such as the hoax that "global warming" is.

Today's Quote: Cause of atheism

2007-02-25T11:32:00.000-08:00

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. (Brennan Manning)

Terrorist Iran plans to continue nuclear program

2007-02-25T11:22:00.000-08:00

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday his country would move forward with its disputed nuclear program, comparing its nuclear drive to a train that has no breaks. - KLT

Today's Quote: A useless man

2007-02-24T11:24:00.000-08:00

"I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a disgrace, two are called a Law Firm, and three or more are called a Congress." (John Adams).

Read more quotes on Kentucky Lake Times

Wikipedia entry causes pro-golfer Fuzzy Zoeller to sue

2007-02-23T11:19:00.000-08:00

Prevented by law from suing Wikipedia, an encyclopedia that allows anyone with an internet access to edit bogus articles, pro-golfer Fuzzy Zoeller is suing the owner of an IP address from where allegedly defamatory remarks were posted onto Wikipedia alleging that he abused drugs, alcohol and his family in what could set a precedent for online defamation cases. - KLT

Real live jackass performs at circus - clowns embarrassed

2005-06-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

"Dem-witted" Dean bashes Republicans

Tennessee Republicans gave a warm welcome to John Edwards (2004 Vice Presidential candidate and former U.S. Senator, D-NC) to the Volunteer State this weekend. Edwards, who was chosen by the John Kerry presidential campaign to help win southern states, was in Nashville this weekend for the Democrats’ annual Jackson Day Dinner.

"John Edwards reminds us of the great strides the Republican Party made last year in Tennessee and across the south," said Bob Davis, chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party.

Davis pointed out that the Kerry/Edwards ticket lost Tennessee by 14 percentage points in 2004 and lost the vast majority of counties in the state as well. Davis said the Democrat Party has a lot of catching up to do in 2006.

"With John Edwards’ visit this weekend, we hope he will help Harold Ford Jr. and Phil Bredesen in 2006 as much as he aided John Kerry in Tennessee last year," said Davis.

Davis continued, "Edwards' record on defense, taxes, and family issues sounds much like Ford and Bredesen. Just like 2004, the Democrats have their work cut out for them."

Edwards, a trial lawyer, has been traveling across the country and has reportedly been tinkering around with the idea of running for the presidency in 2008. Edwards said he has not decided yet.

In the meantime, Howard Dean, in his dimwitted (read: dem) style, attempted to bash Republicans. Dems Joseph Biden and John Edwards say party chairman Dean's rhetorical attacks on Republicans have gone way too far this time.

Dean "doesn't speak for me with that kind of rhetoric and I don't think he speaks for the majority of Democrats," Biden, the top Dem on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Sunday on the liberal network ABC's "This Week."

While discussing working Americans standing in long lines to vote, Dean said Thursday, "Republicans, I guess, can do that because a lot of them have never made an honest living in their lives."

At a fund-raiser in Nashville Saturday, Edwards said that Dean "is not the spokesman for the party." Dean is "a voice. I don't agree with it."

Dean said later that his comments didn't refer to hard-working people, but to what he called a failure of Republican leaders to address working-class concerns.

It seems that Dean has quickly forgotten how several of his fellow Democrats were arrested in the FBI's sting in Nashville just recently. FBI charged several Democrats for taking bribes among numerous other criminal acts. The same thing "dem-witted" Dean has said about Republicans can be said about these crooked Democrats. But the difference is...it's all on camera and the Dems loose again.

Today's Quote: Guns & Abortion

2005-06-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

"Guns don't kill people, abortion clinics do that already." (Mark Hargrove)

A cancer grows in Europe

2005-06-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

Posted by Scott in Powerline: Last week the Wall Street Journal Europe ran Tom Gross's column on the verdict finding three authors of a column that had appeared in Le Monde and publisher of Le Monde guilty of "racist defamation" against Israel and the Jewish people.

The column tells an interesting story that I did not see reported elsewhere; I found the column on the Journal's online site for subscribers. I asked the Journal's Carl Bialik if he would make the column available for our readers. Here it is, with thanks to the Journal and to Carl Bialik: "J'accuse."

More tax increases for Nashville

2005-06-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

Nashville, TN - The Tennessean is reporting that Metro Council will now consider a wheel tax increase in addition to the sales and property tax increases they are already considering. Please call 862-6780 (or see the link at the end of this article) and find the name of your council member and please call them today. We will be invisible to Metro Council unless we call.

Always be polite but firm and leave them a message telling them NO NEW TAXES!! Remember, they are coming after your money and this is your government. Rest assured that all the folks that want to raise your taxes are already calling.

After you call your council member please call and email these at-large members who represent us all. Please act today. Time is running out. Thank you! - Ben Cunningham.

COUNCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE

Buck Dozier
buck.dozier@nashville.gov
624 Ronnie Road
Madison, TN 37115
H: (615) 868-4042

Diane Neighbors
diane.neighbors@nashville.gov
1311 Ordway Place
Nashville, TN 37206
H: (615) 262-2807

Carolyn Baldwin Tucker
carolyn.tucker@nashville.gov
1521 Naples Avenue
Nashville, TN 37207
H: (615) 868-4060

David Briley
david.briley@nashville.gov
1902 Boscobel Street
Nashville, TN 37206
W: (615) 238-6392
H: (615) 429-6533

Adam Dread
adam.dread@nashville.gov
P. O. Box 158891
Nashville, TN 37215
W: (615) 485-5683
H: (615) 665-2405

Today's Quote: ACLU

2005-06-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

"Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have." ... "I was pleased last year to proclaim 1983 the year of the Bible. But you know, a group called the ACLU severely criticized me for doing that. Well, I wear their indictment like a badge of honor." (Ronald Reagan)

Today's Quote: Terrorist Liberals

2005-06-04T12:42:00.000-07:00

"Even Islamic terrorists don't hate America like liberals do." (Ann Coulter)

Oh Danny Boy, will you ever learn?

2005-06-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

Dan Rather reiterated to CNN's Larry King on Thursday night that he believes the memos, in his National Guard hit piece on President Bush, were genuine. Rather emphasized how "the documents were part of a fairly wide array of information we had" and were "supported by all kind of things other than the documents."

When King wondered, "so, are you saying the story might be correct?", Rather replied: "Well, I'm saying a prudent person might take that view." Rather pointed out how the investigatory panel named by CBS said that "the story was not born of any personal or political bias." Rather soon scolded those who presume the memos as forged: "They often say, well, they dealt with fake documents or fraudulent documents. Let's just say gently that that's not known. That's not a fact."

Earlier, King asked: "Do you think the Republicans, the right-wing Republicans were after you?" Rather, who insisted he's "independent," ignored the substance of his bad reporting as he again saw a political agenda behind his critics: "Some people for their own partisan, political and ideological reasons want to jump on people that they perceive to be not with them." (http://www.mediaresearch.org)

Today's Quote: Leaders

2005-06-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

"Do not wait for leaders. Do it alone, person to person." (Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

Runaway Bride is stylin'

2005-06-02T12:39:00.000-07:00

Runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks, left, leaves the Gwinnett County courthouse with her attorney, Lydia Sartain, in Lawrenceville, Ga., Thursday, June 2, 2005. Wilbanks pleaded no contest Thursday to a felony charge and wept as she was sentenced to probation, community service and a fine. (AP Photo/Ric Feld)

Jennifer Wilbanks sporting those stylish jogging pants in court on the 2 of June. She must have taken her fashion tip from her attorney Lydia Sartain. Great blue suit Lydia. My grandmother used to have one just like it...in 1974!

Does Jennifer look like a little spoiled child or what?!? I think Lydia is enjoying all the attention. Lydia, don't let it go to your head. They are just trying to figure out why in the hell you chose that outfit today. Sheesh!

Ted Turner credits Castro for inspiring CNN International

2005-06-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

During an appearance Wednesday to celebrate CNN's 25th anniversary, CNN founder Ted Turner, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported, recalled that he was inspired to launch CNN International after Fidel Castro told him, "Ted, the whole world needs CNN. I watch it all the time and it's very important to me." Turner also, reporter Jill Vejnoska relayed, "credited his international Goodwill Games with helping end the Cold War." (Mediawatch)

"Irritating" Labeling Habits at the Times

2005-06-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

Times Watch reports that Thursday's front-page story by Pam Belluck features a couple who had a child from an embryo left over from a fertility clinic. But it gets off on the left foot with the headline "From Stem Cell Opponents, an Embryo Crusade."

MRC's Tim Graham argues that phrase is misleading: "Pro-lifers aren't even stem cell research opponents….They are embryo-destruction opponents, not 'stem cell opponents.' This isn't just a lingo dispute. This is an accuracy dispute."

Anti-War protest yips on page one

2005-06-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

TimesWatch reports that Friday's Page One gives huge play to reporter Damien Cave's "Growing Problem for Military Recruiters: Parents," which lays out the tactics anti-war parents are using against recruiters in high schools: "Rachel Rogers, a single mother of four in upstate New York, did not worry about the presence of National Guard recruiters at her son's high school until she learned that they taught students how to throw hand grenades, using baseballs as stand-ins. For the last month she has been insisting that administrators limit recruiters' access to children." ("Children" that are in some cases old enough to vote.)

His next concerned parent: "Meanwhile, Amy Hagopian, co-chairwoman of the Parent-Teacher-Student Association at Garfield High School in Seattle, has been fighting against a four-year-old federal law that requires public schools to give military recruiters the same access to students as college recruiters get, or lose federal funding. She also recently took a few hours off work to stand beside recruiters at Garfield High and display pictures of injured American soldiers from Iraq. 'We want to show the military that they are not welcome by the P.T.S.A. in this building,' she said."

Hagopian is a notorious anti-war activist who did more than "stand beside recruiters" at the high school. She tried to drive them out, telling Sgt. Melisa Porter, "Do you realize you aren't welcome here?" and telling a reporter for the Socialist Worker (who just happens to be her son) that military recruiting stations "are great targets for the antiwar movement; this could really be a new frontier of the antiwar movement."

Deeper into the story, Cave partially addresses Hagopian activism but doesn't provide the full flavor: "Many of the mothers and fathers most adamant about recruitment do have a history of opposition to Vietnam. Amy Hagopian, 49, a professor of public health at the University of Washington, and her husband, Stephen Ludwig, 57, a carpenter, said that they and many parents who contest recruiting at Garfield High in Seattle have a history of antiwar sentiment and see their efforts as an extension of their pacifism."

Cave writes: "Two years into the war in Iraq, as the Army and Marines struggle to refill their ranks, parents have become boulders of opposition that recruiters cannot move. Mothers and fathers around the country said they were terrified that their children would have to be killed -- or kill -- in a war that many see as unnecessary and without end."

Anchors gush over heroism of 'Deep Throat'

2005-06-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

In nearly every journalism school in America, students are taught the legend of Watergate, of how heroic reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein used the heroic anonymous source "Deep Throat" to defend the constitutional order. This legend, peddled commercially as the book and movie deals that produced All The President's Men, is almost never taught as how to take down a Republican President for political gain and personal profit.

A few years ago, the impeachment of Bill Clinton was routinely savaged by liberal reporters as a saga with "no heroes." (See box.) But Tuesday's Vanity Fair scoop naming Deep Throat as former FBI second banana Mark Felt made some TV news veterans giddy with the notion of heroism:

Dan Rather. On the CBS Evening News, reporter Jim Axelrod allowed former Richard Nixon aide Chuck Colson to say Felt was wrong to leak to the press, the rebuttal came from the Old Media. "I think he performed a public service," said disgraced anchorman Dan Rather. "Widespread criminal conspiracy led by the President of the United States. I, for one, think it would have succeeded had it not been for Woodward, Bernstein, Bradlee, and the source to whom they promised anonymity."

Small town county mayor in the hot seat

2005-05-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

Camden, TN - According to copies of a letter of complaint obtained by Kentucky Lake Times and sent to the office of Gus Radford, there are allegations that the County Mayor changed the rules of the order without authorization, authorized salaries that were not approved, ignored state mandates and objections, and several other violations of the Tennessee Code (TCA).
The letter also states that Commissioner Steinbuck acted with "improper authority".

The DA's office could not be reached for comment.

The text of the complaint can be read from this link.

Drawing the line!

2004-12-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

From the infamous attack, to the logical conclusions.

"We're determined to stand together; and, we're determined to take action." These were the words of British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, after the attack against our country on September 11TH, 2001. These words were echoed around the world in a mighty voice and Americans were truly united around a common goal.

We supported our president in mass when he declared; "Were not going to tolerate these attacks from outlaw states." Americans stood a little taller and bolstered our chests a little when we heard him say; "He counted on America to be passive; He counted wrong." The sentiments of the phrases "United We Stand" and "God Bless America" were heartfelt and sincere ones, not sentimental treachery.

"We will not tire, we will not falter and we will not fail." The words or our Commander! "Make no mistake about it; The US Military will defend freedom at any cost." We did not doubt his conviction when he said; "Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies; justice will be done." And we did, we took justice to our enemies when we destroyed the Taliban, killed & captured Al-Qaeda 's leaders and demolished the infrastructure of a rouge state in Afghanistan. Actually, in the process; we left a great gift with the Afghan people; we left freedom and liberty behind. Our mighty force of anger became one of compassion when, our mission turned from killing our enemies to helping the people they oppressed become a free state.

The lesson to our enemies; Old Glory still waves and lady liberty still has a back-bone. "The entire world has seen for it's self the state of our union and it is strong!" Said President George Walker Bush. He had the foresight to know that America, despite it's internal and external enemies' attacks against it, would hold stead-fast in it's conviction to lead the world on a new mission. One of justice, fueled by anger and compassion; which did not waiver in the face of resistance.

Logically, the president, with the aid and support of our congress made the decision that we will never allow ourselves to become an easy target again by ignoring our enemies. They decided, together, that we would hunt down and destroy those who want to kill Americans whenever and wherever they can, those who have made a career of attempting to devour freedom by instilling fear and hate... United, we determined that we will not be stopped in our struggle to be free. We determined that the best way to do this would be to spread freedom to a part of the world that has never known it, and the taste of freedom given to them would create a hunger that would be carnivorous against their oppressors and prevent other radical and maliciously controlled governments from forming.

When we made the decision to disrupt and destroy our enemies, wherever they hide, in any state that supported them; that's when we had to focus on a known enemy who was attempting to compile a military and arsenal of weapons to use against their neighbors and against the United States. Relentless in our efforts to be strong yet allegiant, we went back to the UN, obtained a new resolution with the authority to use force. Although, we did not need a new resolution because of the violations of the cease-fire agreement, we were attempting arouse the cooperation of our "allies" who overwhelmingly supported the move to war with Iraq. However, the proven corrupt governments of France, Russia and Germany threatened to veto any UN resolution that would effectively declare war on the country because of their financial interests in the "Oil for Food" program.

This was the break that the Liberal hide-outs in the US had been waiting for, a chance to break with their charade of patriotism and agreement. Because we had some corrupt opposition, they now thought it safe to perpetrate their great fraud on the citizens without being seen as unpatriotic or treasonous. These, the very people who supported a nuclear freeze while President Reagan was confronting Communism and evil in his time. We won the cold war; Despite the sabotage of the left and defeated the Evil Soviet Empire. Again, they were on the wrong side of history.

The Liberal talking points were instantly spread like wild-fire and the propaganda spread throughout the willingness of the press long controlled by the democratic party. It became a media battle of the "main-stream media" vs. "The Alternative Media". Thanks to talk radio, Fox News and the advent of political blogging, the Conservative voices were able to fight back and a fury erupted in the democratic party when Ann Coulter topped Hillary Clinton in the New York Times' Best Sellers List. When Sean Hannity emerged on that same list and succeeded in talk radio where Liberals have consistently failed to bring any following. Attacks leveled against people like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Neal Bortz and others though our congress and judicial process systematically failed. And we had the new-found support of the Internet which seemed to have kindled and spread around Matt Drudge (The Drudge Report) like talk radio did with Limbaugh.

Through these sources, the Conservatives were able to fight against the Liberal waged war of mis-information and distortion. The deceptive brainchild's of the Democratic Party like "Blood for Oil" & "Cheney's Halliburton" were targeted and exposed for the frauds that they were. Two major networks and several papers were exposed for their deceptive reporting and the major networks suffered drastic defeat by the Fox News Network in their ratings. While the democrats put forward anything that seemed to be politically expedient at the moment, the conservative movement held it's ground and maintained it's consistency in winning the minds of the American People.

Again, despite the left's attack against our country, we defeated the Iraqi Military, killed the terrorist Hussein brothers in a violent fire-fight and captured the Evil Dictator, Saddam. We toppled the insurgency of the radicalists in 4 days re-taking the city of Fallujah and continue to hunt down and kill the resistance forces who are in hiding. In the words of our leader, "Bring em' on!" we have taken the fight to our enemies so we haven't had to fight them in our cities any longer. The Majority of the resistance fighters in Iraq are foreign terrorists sent to attempt to disrupt the spread of liberty and hope throughout the region.

We fought a delicate war even though we maintained all of the power of total annihilation and control, we shed American blood on the ground of these countries to save the lives of their citizens as well as protect a way of life, and in doing so, we stopped mass genocide, closed the torture and rape chambers and ceased the beheading and impalement campaigns of the fallen regime. Still, the left supports the insurgencies that arise and demand that we be sensitive to the feelings of those who coined the terms "Imperialist puppets", "American Infidels", "Black-Hearted Pillagers" and "Religious zealots".

The Irony of it (the left loves this word)... we take months to fight a ground war to save the lives of some of our very enemies; that is the irony of this war! If our enemies had a fraction of our power, they would have annihilated all of us by now, we can't allow them to pursue this type of weaponry (WMD's). We finished the job that we had to do in order to repair the damage done by submission, ignorance and pacifism and to show the world, America will draw their line in the sand.

Of course, Conservatives won the war, In Afghanistan, Iraq and in America. They won the votes of the American People. Although, by an uncomfortable margin... After all of this, there are still the herds of mind-numb sheep lead by the "old media" and their puppet masters who follow the indoctrination of Liberal Government from their media and educators. Again, this is ironic because the vast majority of Americans do not live their lives as they will elect a politician to do it for them. People do not broadly believe in re-distribution of wealth and creating a welfare state. People do not believe in limiting their liberties, paying higher taxes and stifling the employers of the nation. They do not broadly believe in weakening our intelligence and defense and compounding government growth. But, they will elect someone who will do that for them, simply because Dan Rather and Professor Bliss say that these people are the visionaries of our time.

Our nation has been attacked from outside and from within, the enemies have attacked us on our turf and the attacks on our country from the extremist liberals in our country are as real as were the trade center attacks of 9/11. We are a peaceful nation who believes in a respect of opinions of mankind, we believe in our creator, we believe that we have certain unalienable rights, but we will not be defeated by radical Islamic's or liberals.

Why is it out of bounds to question the patriotism of liberals today? Today's democratic party has been infiltrated by the socialist-loving left who supported our enemies all along, and continue to do so, who instinctively hate America. In much the same manner in which Afghanistan was controlled by Al-Qaeda, pulling the strings of the Taliban, so are the strings of the democratic party pulled by the radicalist "Al-Franken's" of this country!

I don't believe that it is inappropriate to question the patriotism of the enemies of our country, especially those within. You know who they are, they run from the title "liberal" because they "don't want to be labeled". What happened to the real democrats, those like Joe Liberman and Zell Miller who stood proudly when they were called liberals. These are the true patriots who understand that the democratic party has left them, not the other way around.

I noticed, this fear of the label has gone far beyond politicians now, no one wants to be identified as a liberal anymore. Just the other night I was going into my office and I noticed by boss' wife coming in and she parked in front of the building, I took note of a "Kerry-Edwards" bumper sticker on the back of her Lexus SUV (yeah, you read that right!) and I decided to have a little fun with it. So when I went in, I commented to my boss, in front of several employees; "Hey, Man... I always thought you were a good man, but I just saw the Kerry sticker on your bumper." To which he instantly replied, "Oh, that's my wife's car!" she heard the conversation and turned very red, then replied; "It's yours too!". You see this is common with liberals, they want to elect people to mis-use your money and government, but never want to be identified for it.

On the other hand republicans stand with a certain pride and dignity when you call them "conservative", because they know who they are and what it means. There is a core belief system associated with that title that is missing with the title of liberal now. The undeniable truth is, in order to defeat evil in our time, as many generations before us had to do; we must defeat terrorism, socialism and liberalism as well as all of the institutions and states that support them.

The bottom line here is that just being a liberal does not make someone a bad person, for instance, you can work with them, play football with them, go to school with them, their kids can work with yours in the school play and you can even invite them over for a barbecue. You just don’t want them in charge of your government at times like these.

Steve Whitmore s.whitmore@kentuckylaketimes.com

Staff Political Commentator

Separation of church and state?

2004-11-29T12:30:00.000-08:00

No prayer in public schools. Down with the Ten Commandments in the Courthouse! No more religious public officials! SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!!

How many times do we hear these whiners every day? And most people believe it to be written into our constitution. I would venture to say that most American Citizens have never bothered to read our Constitution!

The First Amendment of our US Constitution, says; "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." This simply means that there will be no nationally mandated religion. In fact, the states can establish religions of their own as an official state religion as was done in our founding days.

The statement about a wall of separation between church and state was made in a letter on January 1, 1802, by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association, Jefferson wrote:

I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. (1)

There is no such thing as a pluralistic society. There will always be one predominant religion, otherwise it will shift our belief systems altogether. Therefore, to say Biblical practice and principal should not be allowed local government, schools and courtrooms is to ignore the historic intent of the founding fathers, or blatantly deny Christianity as a whole.

Our U.S. Constitution was founded on Biblical principles and it was the intention of the authors for this to be a Christian nation. The Constitution had 55 people work upon it, of which 52 were evangelical Christians.

Our founding fathers who formed the government also formed the educational system of the day. John Witherspoon did not attend the Constitutional Convention although he was President of New Jersey College in 1768 (known as Princeton since 1896) and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His influence on the Constitution was far ranging in that he taught nine of fifty-five original delegates. He fought firmly for religious freedom and said, "God grant that in America true religion and civil liberty may be inseparable and that unjust attempts to destroy the one may in the issue tend to the support and establishment of both."

In October 1961 the Supreme Court of the United States removed prayer from schools in a case called Engel v. Vitale. The case said that because the U.S. Constitution prohibits any law respecting an establishment of religion officials of public schools may not compose public prayer even if the prayer is denominationally neutral, and that pupils may choose to remain silent or be excused while the prayer is being recited. For 185 years prayer was allowed in public and the Constitutional Convention itself was opened with prayer. If the founding fathers didn't want prayer in government why did they pray publicly in official meetings?

The truth of the matter here is that this great nation was founded on Christian values and guided by the God fearing and firm hands of our founding fathers who shed blood, lost property, liberty and life to grant us what we now want to take away from everyone because it may offend someone else who worships a three eyed fish... This is the beauty of America, you can worship when and how you wish, but do not deny our history to extend a superficial liberty to others!

Steve Whitmore
Kentucky Lake Times/National Bulletin, Political Commentator
S.Whitmore@kentuckylaketimes.com

Ref: (1.) Thomas Jefferson, Jefferson Writings, Merrill D. Peterson, ed. (NY: Literary Classics of the United States, Inc., 1984), p. 510, January 1, 1802.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict for dummies

2004-11-18T12:29:00.000-08:00

After reading so much propaganda and misinformation on this issue, I thought it necessary to write this article to provide a clear background on the issue for those of you who may have fallen victim to the deceptive media coverage on the issue.

First, let me start by saying there is not now, nor has there ever been a "Palestine" or a "Palestinian State". There is no discernable "Palestinian" language or cultural history for the "Palestinians".

Yasser Arafat (the proclaimed leader of the Palestinian people) was in fact, an Egyptian himself. The people who call themselves "Palestinian", are simply a crafted group of Arabs with the sole purpose and intent to disrupt and destroy Jews.

That being said, let me clear up how all of this came to pass. The nation of Israel was formed in 1312 BC. Approximately 2,000 years before the rise of Islam. Then in 586 BC, ancient Israel was overrun and their temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, king of ancient Babylon. Remaining Jews and returning Jews eventually re-built their nation and temple upon the Temple Mount. This re-settlement took about 520 years.

Then in 70 AD (CE) the Roman Empire marched through and destroyed the second Jewish Temple, again, Jews rebuilt the Jewish Nation. The land was successively ruled by numerous empires and groups, however, the Jewish people were the only ones to establish a state.

In 636 AD (CE) the Arab marauders came in and slaughtered or uprooted even more Jews; however, they did not form any Arab or "Palestinian" nation there. They were Arabs who, as did all the others before them, moved into a geo-political area called "Palestine." Effectively stealing the land from Jews.

From 1517-1917, Turkey's Ottoman Empire controlled a vast Arab empire, a portion of which is today Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. During World War I (1914-1918), Turkey supported Germany. When Germany was defeated, so were the Turks. In 1916, control of the southern portion of their Ottoman Empire was "mandated" to France and Britain under the Sykes-Picot Agreement, which divided the Arab region into zones of influence. Lebanon and Syria were assigned (mandated) to France... and "Palestine" (today's Jordan, Israel and "West Bank") was mandated to Great Britain.

The British "looked favorably" upon the creation of a Jewish National Homeland throughout ALL of Palestine. Jews had already begun mass immigration into their ancient homeland in the 1880's in an effort to rid the land of swamps and malaria and prepare for the rebirth of Israel. This Jewish effort to revitalize the land attracted an equally large immigration of Arabs from neighboring areas who were drawn by employment opportunities and healthier living conditions. There was never any attempt to "rid" the area of what few Arabs there or those Arab masses that immigrated into this area along with Jews!

In 1923, the British divided the "Palestine" portion of the Ottoman Empire into two administrative districts. Jews would be permitted only west of the Jordan river. In effect, the British had "chopped off" 75% of the originally proposed Jewish homeland to form an Arab Palestinian nation called Trans-Jordan (meaning "across the Jordan River"). This territory east of the Jordan River was given to Emir Abdullah (from Hejaz, now Saudi Arabia) who was not even an Arab-"Palestinian!" This portion of Palestine was renamed Trans-Jordan. Trans-Jordan would again be renamed "Jordan" in 1946. In other words, the eastern 3/4 of Palestine would be renamed TWICE, in effect, erasing all connection to the name "Palestine!" However, the bottom line is that the Palestinian Arabs had THEIR "Arab Palestinian" homeland. The remaining 25% of Palestine (now WEST of the Jordan River) was to be the Jewish homeland. However, sharing was not part of the Arab psychological makeup then nor now.

Encouraged and incited by growing Arab nationalism throughout the Middle East, the Arabs of that small remaining Palestinian territory west of the Jordan River launched never-ending murderous attacks upon the Jewish people in an effort to drive them out. Most terrifying were the Hebron massacres of 1929 and later during the 1936-39 "Arab Revolt." The British at first tried to maintain order but soon (due to the large oil deposits being discovered throughout the Arab Middle East) turned a blind eye. It became painfully clear to the Jewish people that they must fight the Arabs AND drive out the British.

The Israelites, as they were often called, were forced to form an organized defense against the Arab Palestinians.... thus was formed the Hagana, the beginnings of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). There was also a Jewish underground called the Irgun led by Menachem Begin (who later became Prime Minister of Israel). Besides fighting the Arabs, the Irgun was instrumental in driving out the pro-Arab British. Finally in 1947 the British had enough and turned the Palestine matter over to the United Nations.

The 1947 U.N. Resolution 181 partition plan was to divide the remaining 25% of Palestine into a "Jewish Palestinian State" and a SECOND Arab Palestinian State (Trans-Jordan being the first) based upon population concentrations. The Jewish residents accepted... the Arab Palestinians rejected. The Arabs still wanted ALL of the land... both east AND west of the Jordan River.

Our Palestinian cousins started the '48 war, and in so doing released the warlike appetites of a nation of survivors, a people with no place to run, who had repressed their rage for millennia, and had now earned full title to it!

On May 14, 1948 the "Palestinian" Jews finally declared their own State of Israel and became "Israelis." On the next day, seven neighboring Arab armies... Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen... invaded Israel. Most of the Arabs living within the boundaries of the newly declared ISRAEL were encouraged to leave by the invading Arab armies to facilitate the slaughter of Jews and were promised to be given all Jewish property after the victorious Arab armies won the war.

The truth is that 70% of the Arab Palestinians who left in 1948 - perhaps 300,000 to 400,000 of them - never saw an Israeli soldier! They did not flee because they feared Jewish thugs, but because of a rational and reasonable calculus: Jews will be exterminated; we will get out of the way while that messy and dangerous business goes forward, and we will return afterwards to reclaim our homes, and to inherit those nice Jewish properties as well. They guessed wrong; and the Arab Palestinians are still tortured by the residual shame of their flight. Their shame is so great because in their eyes running from Jews was like running from women. So much for the blatant lie about Jews throwing out all the "Palestinian" Arabs!

The remaining 30% either (1) saw for themselves that these Jews would fight and die for their new nation and decided to pack up and leave or (2) were driven off the land as a normal consequence of war.

When the 19 month war ended, Israel survived despite a 1% loss of it's entire population! Those Arabs who did not flee became today's Israeli-Arab citizens. Those who fled became the seeds of the first wave of "Palestinian Arab refugees."

The Arab propagandists and apologists almost never mentioned that in 1948, five Arab countries launched a war against a one-day-old Israel. Instead they focus on the main consequence of that war: the creation of Arab refugees, stating that Israel "short of genocide" expelled 800,000 of them. This not only disagrees with UN estimates of a bit over 400,000 refugees but also ignores the fact that most of the Arabs/Palestinians were encouraged to leave by the Arab World itself!

The end result of the 1948-49 Israeli War of Independence was the creation of a Jewish State slightly larger than that which was proposed by the 1947 United Nations Resolution 181. What remained of that almost-created second Arab Palestinian State was gobbled up by (1) Egypt (occupying the Gaza Strip) and by (2) Trans-Jordan (occupying Judea-Samaria (a.k.a. the "West Bank" of the Jordan River) and Jerusalem.

In the next year (1950) Trans-Jordan formally merged this West Bank territory into itself and granted all those "Palestinian" Arabs living there Jordanian citizenship. Since Trans-Jordan was then no longer confined to one side of the Jordan River, it renamed itself simply "Jordan." In the final analysis, the Arabs of "Palestine" ended up with nearly 85% of the original territory of Palestine... called Jordan but in reality their ARAB "Palestinian state"! But that was still not 100% and thus the conflict between Arab and Jew for "Palestine" would continue through four more wars and continuous Arab terrorist attacks upon the Israeli citizenry. It continues to this very day.

From 1949-67 when all of Judea-Samaria (West Bank and Jerusalem) and Gaza .... were 100% under Arab (Jordanian and Egyptian) control, no effort was EVER made to create a second Palestinian State for the Arabs living there. Surely you do not expect Israel to now provide these same Arabs with their own country when their fellow Arabs failed to do so!

And isn't it curious how Arafat and his PLO (formed in 1964) discovered their "ancient" identity and a need for "self-determination" and "human dignity" on this very same West Bank ONLY AFTER Israel regained this territory (three years later in 1967) following Jordan's attempt to destroy Israel! Why was no request ever made upon King Hussein of Jordan by the Arabs living on the West Bank when he occupied it? Is it logical that the PLO was formed in 1964 to regain the lands they would lose three years later in 1967? This sort of logic makes sense only to those who have not learned that the PLO was formed to DESTROY Israel. And that is STILL their goal! A cosmetic name change from PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) to PA (Palestinian Authority) does not change the stripes on THIS tiger!

Throughout much of May 1967, the Egyptian, Jordanian and Syrian armies mobilized along Israel's narrow and seemingly indefensible borders in preparation for a massive invasion to eliminate the State of Israel. The battle cry heard throughout the Arab world was then, as it continues to be... "Slaughter the Jews" and "Throw the Jews into the Sea!" But the Jews of Israel, remembering 2,000 years of being butchered, gassed, burned and skinned (eg. The Crusades, The Spanish Inquisition, the Arab rampages of early Palestine and particularly the Holocaust), planned and executed a perfect pre-emptive strike against Egypt. Within two hours the Egyptian Air Force did not exist... most of its planes destroyed while still on the runways! Unaware that the Egyptians had no more air force, King Hussein of Jordan, launched his attack from the his West Bank into Israel's belly while Syrian troops prepared to descend down the Golan Heights high ground into northern Israel.

Occupied land?

Now for some facts about "occupation." Firstly, the Egyptians, Jordanians and Syrians lost Gaza, the West Bank and Golan Heights (respectively) by participating in a failed attempt at genocide against the Children of Israel. Had Israel lost this 1967 defensive war, the Arab-Palestinians and their Arab allies would have raped, butchered or driven out every Israeli they could get their hands on and gobbled up all of Israel.

Now, 35+ years later and despite the fact that Israel won a war BROUGHT UPON THEM, the Israelis are still willing to allow the Arab-Palestinians to have a state on much of the West Bank and Gaza if only they will stop sending their suicide/homicide bombers into the heart of Israel! (Talk about misplaced compassion!)

From 1948 to 1967, Egypt ruled Gaza, Syria ruled the Golan Heights, while Jordan ruled the West Bank. They could have set up independent Arab-Palestinian states in any or all of those territories, but they didn't even consider it. Instead, in 1967 they used the Golan Heights, Gaza and the West bank to launch a war that was unambiguously aimed at destroying Israel, which is how Israel came into possession of those territories in the first place.

After ONLY six days of air, sea and hand-to-hand ground warfare, Israel defeated all three Arab armies along three separate fronts, taking control of the entire Sinai Desert from Egypt, the 37mile x 12mile Golan Heights from Syria and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem and its Old City) from Jordan. The God of Israel was surely watching over His children! Most importantly was the return to Israel of its holy 3,000 year old Capitol City of Jerusalem along the western edge of the West Bank... the same Jerusalem from which all Jews had been denied access for the 19 years (1948-1967) following Jordan's seizure and control over it following the first Arab-Israeli War of 1948-9.

Unfortunately, the world saw things differently and considered Israel an "occupier" of this disputed "West Bank" and the Gaza Strip along with the 850,000 Palestinian Arabs living there. These Arabs would refer to themselves as "refugees" and joined the masses of refugees from the first Arab-Israeli war of 1948-9. Once again Israel was forced to fight a battle for survival and, sadly, once again Palestinian (in reality, Jordanian and Egyptian) Arabs becoming refugees by their own actions, the actions of their leaders and from the actions of fellow Arabs from neighboring states!

Israel makes some of its own mistakes

Israel was responsible for bringing about some of its own problems. The Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were packed and ready to leave following their 1967 defeat. Suddenly the victorious one-eyed IDF General Moshe Dayan persuaded them to stay. This singular act stunned no one more than the Arab enemy himself who could not believe such an incredible manifestation of Jewish madness! After all, the Arabs knew what THEY would have done to the Jewish people if they had won! Dayan's plan was to educate them, offer them modern medical treatment, provide them with employment both in the West Bank, Gaza AND inside Israel Proper itself .... living amongst each other in hopes of building bridges to the Arab world. Israel is now paying dearly for this typically naive "Leftist" gesture. That "bridge" led to two Intifadas and world-wide Arab-Palestinian terrorism. From a frightened and defeated enemy, these "Palestinian" Arabs under Israel's jurisdiction turned into a confident, hateful and dangerous enemy now on their way toward forming a terrorist state determined to destroy Israel!

Note: When people say Jordan (first called Trans-Jordan) is an Arab-"Palestinian" State, they are correct! Jordan accounts for 3/4 of Palestine's original land mass. Though they may call themselves "Jordanians," they are culturally, ethnically, historically and religiously no different than the Arab-"Palestinians" on the "West Bank." Even the flag of Jordan and the flag of the proposed 2nd Arab-Palestinian state on the West Bank / Gaza look almost identical. So, if the Arab-Palestinians and Jordanians think of themselves as one and the same, why should WE fall for the lie that the Arab Palestinians west of the Jordan River are any different from the Jordanian Arabs on its eastern shore?

Usually when one side starts a war and loses both the war AND some territory, no one on the planet would expect the winner to give back anything! This not only sounds preposterous, it IS preposterous! But the Israelis (I hate to admit) had such an insane obsession of wanting the world to love them that they were willing to give back the entire Sinai Desert (oil fields, air bases and endless miles of security buffer) to Egypt for a piece of paper. Thus, in 1982 Egypt regained Sinai and Israel lost a massive buffer against any future Egyptian aggression! Thus far, Egypt has not aggressed against Israel militarily; however, the basest, anti-Semitic vile to come out of Egypt is not unlike the worse of Nazi anti-Jewish propaganda! This 1982 Camp David Peace Accord has to be the coldest peace deal in history!

Israel still occupies Syria's Golan Heights which, prior to the 1967 war, had been by Syria used solely for terrorist incursions into and artillery bombardment upon Israel's northeastern settlements. The Golan should never be given back to Israel's most vicious enemy! And of course, Israel still "occupies" the West Bank with it's ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND and Gaza with its EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND "Palestinian" Arabs. Had Israel done to these Arabs what the Arabs would have done to Jews had THEY won, she would have expelled these hostile Arabs and made it officially part of a Greater Israel! But by remaining an "occupier," Israel set herself up for a campaign of vicious propaganda, the scope and intensity of which the world has never before seen!

Source for most of the material in this article from: masada2000.org

Steve Whitmore
Kentucky Lake Times/National Bulletin, Political Commentator
S.Whitmore@kentuckylaketimes.com

Blue States seceding from the Union

2004-11-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

It seems to have started as a light buzz from the left wingers of the blue states talking about seceding from the union into Canadian territory. They seem to think that they subsidize the red states who in turn take political control.

Again, I agree with my left wing counter-parts, let them secede from the union, we will have a brief civil war in which several blue states will turn red since most of the military control is in the red states anyway.

Since the blue states are the big spenders, this will work well in conjunction with the national healthcare program and a radical move toward a new socialist/communist state to our north and west. The state will fall rapidly as socialist societies tend to do. And since conservative states will limit government back to it's rightful size to provide basic infrastructure and defense, while privatizing most government jobs. We will run a more efficient and libertarian style government. The United States of America, will then come to the aid of the newly named "Nutty North" and it's failed economy (as we always have to do). We will then take back our territory, Canada and probably Mexico (I don't think Fox would object) as well.

This will help us control our borders and we can begin the daunting task of exporting any reaming liberals, socialists, and communists to France, Germany, Russia and anyone else who wants them.

I am growing ever fonder of your leftist ideas, but somehow, I think you will not have the backbone to follow through on your threats.

I will begin a collection for bus tickets, fences and citizenship revocation now, just say the word!

Steve Whitmore
Kentucky Lake Times/National Bulletin, Political Commentator
S.Whitmore@kentuckylaketimes.com

Our apologies to the world

2004-11-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

On November 2, 2004, by an overwhelming popular vote, the American citizens cast their votes in defiance of the world community's wish to remove George W. Bush from the White House. "It is apparent that Americans don't realize how their decision affects the world as a whole." Said one local democrat who was echoing the sentiments of prominent French journalists, last week. "The fact is, we owe the world an apology for not considering the positions of our world partners." He said.

I couldn't agree more; we do owe the world an apology! Let me be the first to say it... I am sorry that we ignored all of the UN resolutions to disarm Iraq. I am sorry that we let groups like the Taliban, Islamic Jihad, Al-Qaeda, and others lead Islamic nations to amass weapons and attack their neighbors. I would also like to apologize to Israel for not coming to their aid in helping them to destroy the radical Palestinian population. I am sorry we let corrupt officials from France, Germany, and Russia abuse the Oil for Food program to line their own pockets and allow innocent Iraqi's to starve to death in the process. I am sorry we left our own children in failing schools, we have weakened our military, and we have removed our religious-historical foundation of strength through morality from our government.

We are the greatest source of wealth and strength in the world today and it seems we are finally getting it right. We do not need to take an international poll to determine the leadership of our country; we need a brief history lesson. The left in this country has been on the wrong side of history from the cold war, when we defeated the evil empire to the weakening of our intelligence and defense to today and the war on terror. We need to take this history lesson, and remember that it is our job, to defeat evil in the world, to provide aid and comfort where we can, to be a strong and compassionate people. The key words here are Strong & Compassionate, it is meaningless to be compassionate without strength.

America is once again heeding the call of the world to step up, spend our money and our blood to protect the freedoms and liberties of those cowards who want us to apologize today to the French and Germans for not being inclusive and considerate to their feelings when we elected George W. Bush again.

It is clear that the Americans aren't apologizing, after giving greater control of the senate to the republicans. America is coming together (forgive the pun) to defeat the world's common enemies and strengthen the moral, ethical and God-fearing country we have always been.

Steve Whitmore
Kentucky Lake Times/National Bulletin, Political Commentator
S.Whitmore@kentuckylaketimes.com

County meeting turns into dental dispaly

2004-03-19T11:47:00.000-08:00

On Monday evening, March 15, 2003, at the Benton County (Tennessee) Commissioners meeting a video camera caught the County Mayor (Jimmy Thornton) stepping into a crowd of citizens, removing his teeth and stating "...hold my teeth in case I get hit."

The county mayor then returned to the crowd and replaced his pearly whites and addressed the crowd. Many citizens of Benton County have expressed their disqust with the county mayor's dental display.

Battle in the bayou

2002-12-07T12:25:00.000-08:00

The polls in Louisiana are open, and Republican Suzanne Haik Terrell and incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu are battling it out in a very tight race for the last seat of the U.S. Senate. Turnout seems low so far in New Orleans, a heavily Democratic area. If Terrell wins, she'll be the first GOP senator from Louisiana since Reconstruction. Stay tuned here to get the results as they come in later today. (cLog)

Mondale doesn't show at debate

2002-11-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

Jonathan A. Garthwaite writes in cLog that three days after Mr. Mondale agreed to replace Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone on the ballot, Mr. Mondale, the 1984 Democratic presidential nominee, still had not agreed to a time and place to debate his Republican opponent, former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman.

Follow the money

2002-11-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

Rich Tucker from cLog says: "This weekend, expect to see plenty of TV and newspaper stories complaining about big-spending candidates. Indeed, nationwide, almost 400 million dollars has been spent this season. However, the lion's share of that money went to: TV stations and newspapers to buy advertising. So the people who are complaining are actually having their salaries paid by the big-spending candidates."

Advertising throws Democrats into tizzy

2002-10-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

As reported by cLog, Dems are upset over ads being run by Americans for Job Security. As a nonpolitical trade association, AJS is not required to reveal where its money comes from.

Maryland's race for governor

2002-10-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

In the state's costliest race ever, Republican Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Democrat Kathleen Kennedy Townsend are locked in a statistical dead heat for the governor's mansion.

In this opinion-editorial, The Washington Times endorses Ehrlich. In their comments the editors compare the two candidates saying:

It is certainly true that Mrs. Townsend, who was annointed crime czar by Gov. Parris Glendening, has more administrative experience in state government than Mr. Ehrlich does. The problem is that her performance has left a lot to be desired. Both Republicans and Democrats have raised serious questions — never satisfactorily answered — about Mrs. Townsend's crime-fighting performance. Read more here. Source: cLog

Are Democrats in trouble?

2002-10-24T12:02:00.000-07:00

Several conservative groups are happily pointing out that the Democrats have quite a challenge before them. Citizens for a Sound Economy says the Democrats are reaching "for the 1992 election playbook" by returning to the economy issue. The Weekly Standard points out that this tactic is futile because the Democrats can't agree on an economic agenda. NCPA's Bruce Bartlett echoes this sentiment in a recent Townhall column.

In other piece, Bartlett claims that the Dems wrongly "assumed that they would do well in this year's elections because, historically, the party occupying the White House loses heavily in the first off-year elections after taking control." (cLog)