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Is Senate Resolution for Defeat in Iraq Stalled?

Good news! Major Garret reports on Special Report with Brit Hume that the Biden resolution which opposes the surge of troops President Bush has ordered to Iraq is stalled and that it is likely that none of the resolutions (how many are there now?) will get any further action in the Senate this week.

Use the links below to contact the key GOP players in this fight against failure and defeat:

Senator McConnell: Phone: (202) 224-2541 Fax: (202) 224-2499 E-mail here:
Contact form.

Senator Lott: Phone: 202-224-6253 Fax: (202)-224-2262 E-mail here:
Contact.

Senator Kyl: Phone: (202) 224-4521 Fax: (202) 224-2207 E-mail here:
Contact.

Senator Ensign: Phone: (202)-224-6244 Fax: 202-228-2193. E-mail here:
Contact.

Senator McCain: Phone: (202)-224-2235 Fax (202)-228-2862. E-mail here:
Contact.

Senator Warner: Phone: (202) 224-2023 Fax: (202) 224-6295. E-mail here:
Contact.

Senator Cornyn: Phone:202-224-2934 Fax: 202-228-2856. E-mail here:
Contact.

Senator Smith: Phone: 202-224-3752 Fax: 202-228-3997. E-mail here:
Contact.

Senator Coleman: Phone: 202-224-5641 Fax: 202-224-1152.E-mail here:
Contact.

And just for the hell of it - send one to Arlen "Old One Bullet" Specter:
Contact.



Or modify this letter and email it to the Senators:


Dear Senator X,

I am writing this letter to express my deep concern over the forthcoming non-binding resolution proposed by Democrat Senators in opposition to President Bush's strategy to protect the fledgling Iraqi government and to secure a victory against Islamofascists bent on eviscerating Iraq and Western society.

In the past, the House and Senate expressed their intent for victory in Iraq by overwhelmingly voting in favor of non-binding resolutions supporting victory in Iraq and the war on terror. This year, the new Senate is poised at reversing this course, acquiesce to the demands of terrorists and approve a resolution dictating the terms of our surrender. In the State of the Nation Address, the President points out it is uncharacteristic of Americans to fail to keep our promises, abandon our friends and weaken our national security. Whatever you voted for regarding Iraq, you did not vote for failure.

Secretary Gates outlines the calamity that would "haunt our nation, impair our credibility, and endanger Americans for decades to come." Our nation has traveled down this road before and its repercussions lead to the events of 9/11/01. This is the peace that comes from appeasing terrorists.

Senators, like civilians, are no experts in counter-terrorist strategy and guerilla warfare. In order to form a balanced stance on the situation in Iraq, one must consider the opinion and advice of those who possess expert knowledge on the subject – namely those in the Iraq theatre. General Petraeus, in his statement before the Senate Armed Service Committee, reminds us of what is at risk by voting in support of the non-binding resolution:

"No matter how well-intentioned, a resolution being opposed to this new strategy is a vote of no confidence in you. No matter how well intentioned, the enemy will see it as a weakened resolve.”

Ayman Zawahri in a statement after the November 2006 elections claimed "the Mujahideen, the Muslim Ummah's vanguard in Afghanistan and Iraq, are the ones who one won this election." Atrocity and terror are not political weapons, yet this new Congress has allowed terrorists to use these bloody tactics to influence our policies. A vote in support of this non-binding resolution validates that claim and encourages the enemy to kill Americans in Iraq, Afghanistan and in the United States.

I need not remind you that rooting out terrorists wherever they may hide in this world is not just work…it is THE work of this government. It is the responsibility of our elected representatives to work with and not merely in opposition of the Executive branch. Thus far, the only thing resembling a "plan" from the Legislative branch is nothing short of surrender. This is absolutely unacceptable – the American people expect better from our elected representatives. I urge you to support a democratic Iraq and the strong desire of the American people for victory by voting against this non-binding resolution.


Information shamelessly borrowed from
Skye, and Mike.

Aesop's Fable Friday

The Rivers and the Sea

Once upon a time all the Rivers combined to protest against the action of the Sea in making their waters salty.

"When we come to you," they said to the Sea, "we are sweet and drinkable: but when once we have mingled with you, our waters become as briny and unpalatable as your own."

The Sea replied shortly, "Keep away from me and you'll remain sweet."

Moral of the story: Some people find fault even with the things that benefit them.

Wow! This thought can be applied to the situation in which we find ourselves today!

Nervous Nellie

Cub 1 - slapping ruler against the palm of her hand....

Mama - Stop now. It's making me nervous.

Cub 2 - Why does a ruler make you nervous?

Cub 1 - Yeah? Why?

Mama - It just does. I'm a Nervous Nellie. Tons of things make me nervous.

Cub 1 - Does a sink make you nervous?

Mama - Yes. Very.

Cub 2 - A SINK? Why would that make you nervous?

Mama - Oh gosh - I don't know. Maybe because it's either running too fast or running too slow. Draining too fast or draining to slow. Too hot or too cold...

Cub 1 - How about a cop? Does that make you nervous?

Mama - Yes! Very! They squeak when they walk - - it's all that leather. And it's a very authoritative uniform they have on.

Cub 2 - A cup squeaks?

Mama - A cup?

Cub 1 - No a cop.

Cub 2 - A cup!

Mama - Cups make me nervous, too.

Cub 2 - Why?

Cub 1 - Not a cup - a cop!

Cub 2 - No. A cup - not a cop.

Mama - Cups. Handles falling off. Chips - and God only knows, if they're made in China, just what kind of crappy material they're using...

Cub 1 - C.O.P.

Cub 2 - No! C.U.P.

Mama - Well, either or - they make me nervous.

Cub 1 - Do shoes make you nervous?

Mama - Oh! Exceedingly nervous!

Cub 2 - Shoes?! Why shoes?

Mama - Ties coming untied, being dragged through mud and God knows what else. Holes in the soles - - and THEN! That smelly trip to the cobbler....

Cub 1 - What's a cobbler?

Cub 2 - A person who repairs shoes.

Mama - Yes and I don't think either one of you has had the pleasure of smelling a cobbler's shop. P.U.!

Cub 2 - My elbow pit itches.

Mama - Elbow pit?

Cub 1 - Hahahahaha.

Cub 2 - Yes. (shows me the inside of her elbow..)

Mama - That's a good one. Elbow pit.

Cub 1 - My leg sleeves are too short.

Mama - Leg Sleeves?

Cub 2 - Hahahahaha.

Cub 1 - Yes. (shows me the length of her pajama pants..)

Mama - You just went through a growth spurt, didn't you? Leg sleeves. That's a good one, too!

Aesop's Fable Friday

The Boy and the Nettles

A Boy was gathering berries from a hedge when his hand was stung by a Nettle. Smarting with the pain, he ran to tell his mother, and said to her between his sobs, "I only touched it ever so lightly, mother."

"That is just why you got stung, my son," said she; "if you had grasped it firmly, it wouldn't have hurt you in the least."

Moral of the story: Hold strongly to what you want.

My alternate moral: Don't be a weenie when it comes to wresting what it is you need from life!

Her Excellency...

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Excellency Grizzly Mama the Sanguine of Lower Bumhampton Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Bathymetry Model and Moderate Islam That Aint.

We constructed a bathymetry model in a shoebox with homemade clay.
Of course, it isn't as pretty as some that I have seen. It's kind of cute though and it's drying until we can add dyed water to it tomorrow. A couple of neighbor kids will be in on the deal. The guyot kept falling over all afternoon but for now it is holding. The bathymetric data was taken from an area in the Atlantic ocean. (Yes - the guyot is a feature mainly of the Pacific but she just adores that word - guyot - and had to include it. Just for fun.) The Continental Shelf, Continental Slope and Abyssal Plain are all there in that shoebox. She even added a trench. The shoebox is plastic.

Onward and upward.
Our stiff upper lipped cousins across the pond have aired a special on mohammedism. Apparently a mosque that is billed as a 'mainstream' mosque is not anywhere near what would be considered moderate. Scary stuff. We must follow the example of our brave allies in Brittania, and we must display the same positively Churchillian courage and look at the nasty thing right in the face. Call it what it is. Islam is a death cult and it is dangerous. My opinion of it has evolved since 9/11 and I believe that even the most sane moslem in the world would have no problem with me paying the jizya. Neither would they flinch to see my voice given only half the consideration of a man's voice. Here are the links, courtesy Alison, who posted them on my fave Limey blog, A Tangled Web, where she is also one of the contributors.

Strap yourselves in - we're going to do this together!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

*UPDATE* URL's fixed (courtesy Always On Watch), and parts 4,5 and 6 are now here:

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6


God Bless America! God Save the Queen!

Tagged again.

I deserved this one, too. Tshsmom at Homeschooling Our Tourettes Kid has taken vengeance. It is right that she does so!

1. Players start by listing three things he/she got for Christmas.
a)A pretty ring that is actually big enough for my ham-hand fingers, and with it a beautiful jewelry box.
b)Gift certificate to Borders Books.
c)Gift certificate to LL Bean.

Love those gift certificates - - keep 'em coming!

2. Then they list three things he/she definitely did not want to get for Christmas.
(BTW - I didn't get anything that I didn't want so here are 3 things that I don't like getting for Christmas)
a)Cookie Jars.
b)Silver earrings.
c)Hors d'oeuvre trays.

3. Then he/she tags 3 friends and lists their names.
This section will remain mysteriously blank.


Happy MLK Day!

Aesop's Fable Friday

The Bull and the Calf

A full-grown Bull was struggling to force his huge bulk through the narrow entrance to a barn where his stall was, when a young Calf came up and said to him, "If you'll step aside a moment, I will show you the way to get through."

The Bull turned upon him with an amused look. "I knew that way," said he, "before you were born."

Moral of the story: Respect the wisdom of those who came before you.

Snot nosed little brat. Give the bull some credit for suffering the little one's foolishness. We were all young and foolish once.

Conquistadors

Yes - the conquistadors. What a bunch of bloodthirsty bastards. Gold - Gold - that's all it was for them. They slaughtered indians left and right - and if they didn't slaughter them they enslaved quite a few. Don't even talk to me about the smallpox.

No Gold was evident in what is now the American south, southwest and west. Back to the drawing board - tired of traipsing around the God forsaken land. They send in the priests.

They talk bad about the Puritans - HA! Those Spaniards were a bugger.

Aesop's Fable Friday

The Blind Man and the Cub

There was once a Blind Man who had so fine a sense of touch that, when any animal was put into his hands, he could tell what it was merely by the feel of it.

One day the Cub of a Wolf was put into his hands, and he was asked what it was.

He felt it for some time, and then said, "Indeed, I am not sure whether it is a Wolf's Cub or a Fox's: but this I know - - it would never do to trust it in a sheepfold."

Moral of the Story: Evil tendencies are early shown.

I'm beat. Everything finally got cleaned up and I have my house back to normal. Yippee!! We got through the first week back to school since the holidays and although it was not perfect it's done, too. Hope everyone is getting back into the swing of things.

Happy New Year!!!!

We did our usual - watch the ball drop in Times Square and then join our neighbors outside banging on pots, hollering, lighting fireworks and then inside for a glass of champagne. Another year safe and together, still alive and healthy and no matter what the worries over the past year - - we made it and we're okay.


I love watching the ball drop - I have done it for decades. I was thrilled when, in year 2000, the new ball designed by Waterford Crystal was dropped. Gorgeous!

According to the Waterford site: "The 1000 pound ball is approximately 6 feet in diameter and contains over 650 lights. It's outer surface is covered with 504 Waterford Crystal panels specially designed and cut to insure that they can survive the extraordinary extremes in temperature that exist at the top of One Times Square on New Year's Eve. 72 of the 504 panels are replaced each year with a new theme.

The Times Square 2007 theme for these new panels is Hope for Peace. For 2007, an additional 72 panels will be replaced with the Hope for Peace panels."

Well, sure. Why not? 'Hope for Peace' sounds nice.

I say, 'Hope for Peace - Be Ready for War!'

Happy New Year to all of you, God bless you and God bless America!