What’s In Your Wallet?

Excerpt - Read more at politico.com:

What’s a paltry one million dollars to a member of Congress?

Well, apparently not enough to know if an organization about to receive that big block of cash actually exists.

Republican Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona, the fiscal crusader who’s never met an earmark he likes,  questioned Democratic Rep. Peter J. Visclosky of Indiana on the House floor Tuesday about whether the Center for Instrumented Critical Infrastructure actually exists - since, hey, it’s getting like a million bucks or something.

Visclosky, who chairs the spending subcommittee responsible for the project, had to admit that, well, he didn’t have a clue.

After a lengthy back-and-forth, Flake, complaining that his staff couldn’t find a website for the center, asked Visclosky, “Does the center currently exist?”

“At this time, I do not know,” the Indiana Democrat replied. “But if it does not exist, the monies could not go to it.”

And who could possibly be the sponsor of such an earmark? Yes, you guessed it, the man Republicans love to hate, Pennsylvania Democrat John P. Murtha.

Despite the money’s uncertain destination, the House rejected Flake’s measure to strike the funds, 326-98. And the Visclosky bill also sailed through, 312-112.

As I said, what’s one million dollars to a member of Congress?

UPDATE: I failed to report last night that a certificate filed with the requested funds says the money is actually earmarked to Concurrent Technologies Corporation, a nonprofit technological consulting firm. A brief search of campaign finance records shows CTC President and CEO Daniel R. DeVos, of alternately Central City and Johnstown, Pa. has contributed $7,000 to Murtha’s reelection campaign since April 2002.

Al Qaeda May Use Iraqi Network To Attack Homeland, Report Says

Excerpt - Read more at online.wsj.com:

The terrorist network al Qaeda will likely leverage its contacts and capabilities in Iraq to mount an attack on U.S. soil, according to a new National Intelligence Estimate on threats to the U.S. The declassified key findings, to be released publicly on Tuesday, were obtained in advance by the Associated Press. The report lays out a range of dangers — from al Qaeda to Lebanese Hezbollah to non-Muslim radical groups — that pose a “persistent and evolving threat” to the country over the next three years. As expected, however, the findings focus most of their attention on the gravest terror problem: Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network. The report makes clear that al Qaeda in Iraq, which has not yet posed a direct threat to U.S. soil, could become a problem here.

Dungeons and Douchebags

Full Bresnan Online article here:

RENO, Nev. (AP) - A couple who authorities say were so obsessed with the Internet and video games that they left their babies starving and suffering other health problems have pleaded guilty to child neglect. The children of Michael and Iana Straw, a boy age 22 months and a girl age 11 months, were severely malnourished and near death last month when doctors saw them after social workers took them to a hospital, authorities said. Both children are doing well and gaining weight in foster care, prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Michael Straw, 25, and Iana Straw, 23, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts each of child neglect. Each faces a maximum 12-year prison sentence.

Viloria said the Reno couple were too distracted by online video games, mainly the fantasy role-playing “Dungeons & Dragons” series, to give their children proper care.

“They had food; they just chose not to give it to their kids because they were too busy playing video games,” Viloria told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Police said hospital staff had to shave the head of the girl because her hair was matted with cat urine. The 10-pound girl also had a mouth infection, dry skin and severe dehydration.

Her brother had to be treated for starvation and a genital infection. His lack of muscle development caused him difficulty in walking, investigators said.

All In The Family

Warren Steed Jeffs is the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church is an “offshoot sect” which broke away from the Mormon church over the practice of polygamy. Jeffs practices what he preaches, and is now faces charges of sexual conduct with a minor and incest. 

According to CNN:

Polygamist sect leader Warren Steed Jeffs, who is awaiting trial in southern Utah, was charged with eight additional felony counts from Arizona in two separate cases, authorities said Thursday.

A grand jury indicted Jeffs May 10 on two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of incest for alleged incidents that occurred in 2002, according to a statement issued by Mohave County Attorney Matthew J. Smith.

On Thursday, another grand jury indicted him on two additional counts of sexual conduct with a minor and two additional counts of incest. Those offenses took place in Colorado City, Arizona, in 2003, according to the indictment.

Read this CNN article for a detailed account of Mr. Jeffs’ offenses. Oh yeah, have a look at this Casanova (eeeewww):

Al-Qaida Works to Plant U.S. Operatives

Original article here:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Al-Qaida is stepping up its efforts to sneak terror operatives into the United States and has acquired most of the capabilities it needs to strike here, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment, The Associated Press has learned. The draft National Intelligence Estimate is expected to paint an ever- more-worrisome portrait of al-Qaida’s ability to use its base along the Pakistan-Afghan border to launch and inspire attacks against the United States over the next several years.

PLFP Leader: ‘Arafat Died of AIDS’

Original Article, along with video:

Ahmad Jibril: When Abu Mazen came to Damascus with his team, I asked them: “What happened to the investigation into the death of Abu Ammar [Arafat]? The Israelis killed him. He was my colleague ever since 1965 and used to sleep at my home. He and I followed the same path.” Is it conceivable that when Rafiq Al-Hariri was killed, all hell broke loose, even though he was just a merchant in Saudi Arabia, who later entered politics, whereas the death of Yasser Arafat, who for 40 years had been carrying his gun from one place to another, is not investigate? Is this conceivable?

They were silent, and then one of them said to me: “To be honest, the French gave us the medical report, that stated that the cause of Abu Ammar’s death was AIDS.” I am not saying this, they did. Now they pretend that they miss Yasser Arafat, and complain that [Hamas] entered his house in [Gaza] and so on… I say to every honorable member of the Fatah movement that he should be happy that we got rid of the plague, which had been imposed upon them and upon the Palestinian people. The Fatah movement now has an opportunity to renew itself.

The Little Douchebag That Could

Just like the little engine from the children’s book that recited the mantra “I think I can… I think I can…” Douchebag judge Roy L. Pearson pursues his multi-million dollar lawsuit against a Washington, DC area dry cleaner — over a missing pair of paints. 

According to this Washington Post article:

He’s baaaa-ack: Roy Pearson, the D.C. administrative law judge who filed, fought and lost a $54 million lawsuit against the Korean immigrants who own his neighborhood dry cleaners, chose the Fourth of July holiday to make it clear that he will not be going away.

Despite a clear finding by D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff that Pearson’s case against Custom Cleaners had no merit and that the cleaners’ possible misplacing of a pair of Pearson’s pants was not worth a penny to the plaintiff, Pearson is back. He wrote to defense lawyer Christopher Manning this week to let the Chung family know that Pearson plans to file today a motion arguing that Bartnoff failed to address Pearson’s legal claims and asking the judge to reverse her verdict in the case.

Manning, who has said that the Chungs have already been wiped out financially by the need to defend themselves against Pearson’s two-year legal jihad, responded to Pearson by asking that he end the misery for the Chungs, who face legal bills of more than $100,000. Manning asked Pearson to consider moving on, for the Chungs’ sake and for his own.

The Douchebag Report has followed Pearson since day one, and has predicted his return following the previous judgment. Now it’s time for a reader call to arms — support the dry cleaners:

www.chungfundraiser.com - There is a fundraising event held on Tuesday, July 24th, which is co-hosted by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform and the American Tort Reform Association. The event will be held in the Washington DC area. If you are unable to attend, you can still support the Chungs.

Additionally, you can contribute to the Custom Cleaners Defense fund at this website — www.customcleanersdefensefund.com.

Lastly, fellow bloggers may show their support by displaying banner ads, which may be found here.

Live Earth Concert Footage

Washington Hypocrites Decry Libby Sentence

Download the PDF version of this Douchebag Report original editorial.

The Liberal outcry that stems from President Bush’s decision to commute former Vice Presidential Chief of Staff I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s federal prison sentence highlights – yet again – a deep double standard that flourishes in Washington. Bush’s controversial decision was rendered a few short hours after a federal court of appeals unanimously ruled that Libby could not delay his prison term while seeking an appellate judgment.

In this written statement, President Bush announced his decision:

“Mr. Libby was sentenced to thirty months of prison, two years of probation, and a $250,000 fine. In making the sentencing decision, the district court rejected the advice of the probation office, which recommended a lesser sentence and the consideration of factors that could have led to a sentence of home confinement or probation. I respect the jury’s verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby’s sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison.”

Immediately following the announcement, a fury of criticism from main stream media outlets and Liberal politicians ensues. CNN had the audacity to run the headline “Scooter Skates,” and ABC News dares to ask the question, “Is Libby above the law?” Note to main stream media: No, of course he’s not. In the Grant of Executive Clemency, Libby pays a fine of $250,000. Libby serves two years of supervised release. Moreover, Libby remains a felon. Bush acknowledges:

“My decision to commute his prison sentence leaves in place a harsh punishment for Mr. Libby. The reputation he gained through his years of public service and professional work in the legal community is forever damaged. His wife and young children have also suffered immensely. He will remain on probation. The significant fines imposed by the judge will remain in effect. The consequences of his felony conviction on his former life as a lawyer, public servant, and private citizen will be long-lasting.”

President Bush is absolutely correct in his assessment that after-effects of Libby’s conviction will haunt him for life. As Libby begins the arduous and painful process of rebuilding his reputation, the Liberals will continue to enforce their political double standards that remain incontrovertible, despite House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s mandate to “Restore Accountability to Washington.” Make no mistake that a double standard does indeed exist between Liberals and Conservatives in Washington, and this double standard is both pervasive and perverse. Regardless of party affiliation, American voters should be outraged that their “new congress” promotes unethical behavior and name-calling while insisting that reform is afoot. Whatever.

Now, take a hard look at presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton. While Sen. Clinton chides Libby’s actions as “reprehensible,” she proudly campaigns with husband, former President Bill Clinton, in an effort to attract voters. Oh, the hypocrisy! This hardly makes sense considering that Libby and Clinton were both convicted on charges of perjury. Double Standard? Wait, there’s more…

Hillary Clinton considers “Comprehensive Government Reform” as one of her directives, stating that “Americans are ready for a government that puts competency ahead of cronyism.” In light of the Libby sentence commutation, Clinton states, “what we saw today was elevating cronyism over the rule of law. And what we saw today was further evidence that this administration has no regard whatsoever for what needs to be held sacred.” Wow! What a bold position to maintain, considering former President Clinton’s laundry list of infamous pardons, which do little more than exemplify “cronyism” at its darkest. One needs only to look upon the United States Department of Justice for a stellar reminder of these dirty deeds.

In what is becoming a hypocrite homecoming, fellow Liberals are banding together to share similar sentiments. Our modern day Liberal reformers have collectively turned a blind eye to the skeletons in their closets, in trade for self-aggrandizing soundbites. Below are select quotes from said hypocrites, as reported by this Associated Press article:

Senator Dick Durbin, D-IL:

“When it comes to the law, there should not be two sets of rules - one for President Bush and Vice President Cheney and another for the rest of America. Even Paris Hilton had to go to jail. No one in this administration should be above the law.”

In and of itself, this seems to be a relatively harmless statement coming from Mr. Durbin. However, it is worth mentioning that Durbin has perjured himself on the Senate floor regarding the treatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. In a June 14, 2005 statement, Durbin Stated, “The Bush administration unilaterally decided to set aside [wartime treatment] treaties and create their own rules about the treatment of prisoners,” while also making mention of the “torture techniques” employed at such facilities.

Clearly, Dick Durbin was 100% on the money. In fact, detainee Majid Khan reveals his account of personal mistreatment in this Fox News story. Among the atrocities cited: reading a “newsletter full of crap, being forced to use unscented deodorant, and having to play sports with a ball that would not bounce.” Where are the atrocities?

Senators with misinformation and unfounded accusations are also subject to the same laws that apply to President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Mr. Libby. Where are the retractions, apologies, or perjury charges in lieu of these obviously inaccurate accusations made by Mr. Durbin?

Senator Patrick Leahy, D-VT:

“Accountability has been in short supply in the Bush administration, and this commutation fits that pattern.”

Unfortunately, Senator Leahy does not comprehend the term “accountability.” While serving as the Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee under President Reagan, Leahy repeatedly leaked privileged intelligence information to the public. As a result, Leahy was forced to resign his Intelligence Committee position. Accountability? No. Patrick “Leaky” Leahy presently ranks seventh in seniority in the Senate. Double standard? Absolutely. Where is the conviction resulting from these highly treasonous activities?

Senator Barack Obama, D-IL:

“This is exactly the kind of politics we must change so we can begin restoring the American people’s faith in a government that puts the country’s progress ahead of the bitter partisanship of recent years.”

Agreed. However, it is difficult to determine whether Obama believes his very own soundbite. According to this Sun Times article, he has engaged in the very “kind of politics” he appears to rail against:

“As a state senator, Barack Obama wrote letters to city and state officials supporting his political patron Tony Rezko’s successful bid to get more than $14 million from taxpayers to build apartments for senior citizens. . . Obama’s letters, written nearly nine years ago, for the first time show the Democratic presidential hopeful did a political favor for Rezko — a longtime friend, campaign fund-raiser and client of the law firm where Obama worked. . . The letters appear to contradict a statement last December from Obama, who told the Chicago Tribune that, in all the years he’s known Rezko, “I’ve never done any favors for him.”

Under a different light, this presidential hopeful’s statement against the Bush Administration simply degrades to another case of the pot (Obama) calling the kettle (Libby) black.

Former Senator John Edwards, D-NC:

“Only a president clinically incapable of understanding that mistakes have consequences could take the action he did today. President Bush has just sent exactly the wrong signal to the country and the world.”

“Wrong signal” is particularly harsh verbiage coming from a man who is arguably guilty of the very same criticism. For starters, what exactly is the wrong signal here? Is it the fact that Libby lied and didn’t have to serve a jail sentence, or that he was more severely punished than Bill Clinton – for the same crime. Moreover, was the right signal sent when Edwards received a $55,000 honorarium for speaking at taxpayer-funded UC Davis Campus on “Poverty, the great moral issue facing America.”

The real moral issue facing America is that a group of elite “limousine liberals” are clinically incapable of understanding that they are just like the citizenry they represent, while propagating a double standard that supports their lifestyle.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV:

“The Constitution gives President Bush the power to commute sentences, but history will judge him harshly for using that power to benefit his own vice president’s chief of staff who was convicted of such a serious violation of law.”

History will prove that the inefficacy of the current Democrat-led Congress will far overshadow that of the decision to commute Libby’s jail sentence. According to the Gallup News Service, “The percentage of Americans with a ‘great deal’ or ‘quite a lot’ of confidence in Congress is at 14%, the lowest in Gallup’s history of this measure – and the lowest of any of the 16 institutions tested in this year’s Confidence in Institutions survey.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA:

“The president said he would hold accountable anyone involved in the Valerie Plame leak case. By his action today, the president shows his word is not to be believed.”

In this quote, Speaker Pelosi choose to attack the accountability and credibility of the President. One must challenge Pelosi’s motives in making such an attack. If accountability were truly a concern, Pelosi most certainly would have investigated the multimillion dollar contracts that went to Senator Diane Feinstein’s husband. She may have chosen to hold Harry Reid accountable for payments made by corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff. She would also investigate the $25 million that she slipped into the Water Resources Development Act, which would make significant improvements to properties owned by her husband – all at taxpayer expense.

Pelosi has done nothing more than to prove that accountability is indeed selective and partisan.

Senator Joe Biden, D-DE:

“It is time for the American people to be heard - I call for all Americans to flood the White House with phone calls tomorrow expressing their outrage over this blatant disregard for the rule of law.”

According to Wikipedia, “The rule of law is the principle that governmental authority is exercized only in accordance with written, publicly disclosed laws adopted and enforced in accordance with established procedure. The principle is intended to be a safeguard against arbitrary governance.”

One cannot define Bush’s decision to commute Libby’s sentence as a “blatant disregard for the rule of law,” considering that Libby’s guilt was determined by a jury. The jury’s decision was not disregarded; Libby remains guilty. Libby remains a felon.

A true example of “blatant disregard for the rule of law” is exemplified in
Clinton’s pardon of Henry Cisneros. Under Bill Clinton, Cisneros served as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, a position higher than that of Libby. Investigations into Cisneros’ wrongdoing began in 1995 and came to a head in 1997, where he was indicted on 18 counts of conspiracy, providing false statements, and obstruction of justice. In September 1999, Cisneros negotiated an agreement, under which he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Cisneros was subsequently pardonded by President Bill Clinton in 2001 – No rule of law here.

As reported by the Bakersfield Californian, there is no rule of law here, either:

“Rep. Mel Reynolds, D-Ill., was sentenced in 1995 to five years in prison for having sex with an underage campaign worker. He resigned from Congress, then was sentenced in 1997 to 6 1/2 years for bank fraud and other violations. The second sentence, which was to run at the same time as the first, was commuted in 2001 by President Clinton.”“Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, D-Ill., pleaded guilty in 1996 to two felony mail fraud charges, lost re-election and served 15 months in prison. President Clinton pardoned him in 2000.”

Mr. Biden, we humbly request that you copy someone else’s silence. No one will ever accuse you of plagiarism for that.

Senator John Kerry, D-MA:

“President Bush’s 11th-hour commutation of Scooter Libby’s sentence makes a mockery of the justice system and betrays the idea that all Americans are expected to be held accountable for their actions, even close friends of Vice President Cheney.”

This is an interesting comment, coming from a man who shows no regard for the American justice system. An admitted war criminal would have you believe that someone trapped into telling different accounts of past incidents is committing a High Crime, while upon his own admission are a mere blemish:

…“Russert said to Kerry: “You committed atrocities.” Kerry said that the word “atrocities” is “a bad word” and “inappropriate.” Asked about using the phrase, “war criminals,” Kerry replied that the words “were honest but on the other hand, they were a little bit over the top.” He said he regretted them.Russert came back to this topic, saying, “But, Senator, when you testified before the Senate, you talked about some of the hearings you had observed at the winter soldiers meeting and you said that people had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and on and on. A lot of those stories have been discredited…” Kerry shot back, “Actually, a lot of them have been documented.” Russert said, “So you stand by that?” Kerry replied, “A lot of those stories have been documented.”

Kerry does not want to use the word “atrocities,” but still insists that stories of said “atrocities” have been documented. This is confusing to many. However, a fair reading of his comments demonstrates that he stands guilty – by his own admission – of committing and witnessing atrocities. Further, only Kerry reserves the right to use creative license in revising accounts of the documented past. This, unfortunately, is not a right that the Democrats would extend to Libby.

Representative Tom Lantos, D-CA:

“This decision sends the wrong message about the rule of law in the United States, just as the president is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. How can we hold the line against injustices in other countries when our own executive branch deliberately sets out to smear its critics, lies about it and then wriggles away without having to pay the price in prison?”

 Thanks for chiming in. Who are you, anyway?

The “outing” of Valeria Plame by her husband and windbag extraordinaire, Joe Wilson, was echoed into the press by Richard Armitage – a leading dove on the Iraq issues in the Republican State Department. Wilson, demanding that it was Karl Rove lead the main stream media, liberal bloggers, and the leading limousine liberals in the Senate and House to scream foul and eventually lead to a special prosecutor’s review of the incident. That prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, knew from the beginning who “leaked” Joe Wilson’s bragging about his wife’s job (he had to talk about hers – since he was unemployed) and set out to entrap any and all that he could.

Download the PDF version of this Douchebag Report original editorial.

Living Through Live Earth

Living Through Live Earth

National Review Online, by Mark Hemingway

Original Article

In case you’ve been living under a rock, you likely didn’t miss the media orgy that accompanied Al Gore’s Live Earth festivities this past weekend. With Live Earth’s seven concerts on all seven continents on 7.07.07 available on dozens of TV stations, both satellite radio networks, terrestrial radio, and streaming live on the web, the world rocked for global warming. Well, maybe not so much.

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