Tomorrow’s the pick-up day for Joe Repya’s latest sign campaign:

Pick ’em up at Stephano’s in Eagan – the corner of Highway 13 and Cliff Road  – starting at noon, and going until 3 or until they run out, whichever comes first. 

I say that because they should run out fast – as in, possibly within the first hour or so. 

What to do with them?  From Colonel Joe Repya’s press release (I’ve added emphasis):

At noon on September 1, the anti-war crowd claims they’ll have upwards of 50,000 marching from the Minnesota Capitol Building to the Excel Energy Center where the Republican National Convention, at the Excel Energy Center in Saint Paul.

We are asking everyone who supports our men and women in uniform defending America in the War on Terror to line the streets from the Excel Center with our signs. It is our way of being “Minnesota Nice” and wishing these protesters a “nice day in Minnesota.” We encourage no discussion or verbal exchange with the demonstrators – only a pleasant “smile!

So show up!  So I’ll see you Tomorrow a Noon at Stephano’s!

Leave a comment here and/or at the Colonel’s blog if you plan on showing up.

When I saw the lefty blogs en phalanx crowing about the factoid that a survey of the military showed them giving to Obama by a 6:1 margin over Mac, I sat up.

Wow. Gotta check this out.

Zack Stephenson of MNPublius’ tone was a lot like all the rest of the leftyblogs that wrote on the subject (hmmm):

I thought the Republicans were supposed to be the party of the military:

According to an analysis of campaign contributions by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Democrat Barack Obama has received nearly six times as much money from troops deployed overseas at the time of their contributions than has Republican John McCain…

Wow. Given that Bush crushed Kerry in troop donations (and votes; 4:1 with active duty troops, 3:1 with reserves) four years ago, that’d be big news, if it’s entirely true.

Of course, that’s the “if” you always have to run down when it’s “news” spread simultaneously through the Sorosphere.

Allahpundit:

The left will happily run this up the flagpole, just as Ron Paul’s supporters did last year, despite the fact there are so many variables in play that no one’s quite sure what the actual significance of it is. Is it evidence that the troops favor withdrawal? Evidence that the military’s trending left? Evidence that Obama’s supporters are more enthusiastic than McCain’s? None of the above? All of the above?

To really know, we’d have to know a couple of things; a big one would be “sample size”, the number of troops and contributions being sampled in the “Study”.

And we don’t know that. Remember that fact. We’ll come back to it shortly.
We do know a couple of things. Back to Allahpundit:

But again — what is it, precisely, that we’re noting? The fact that Paul does disproportionately well among the same group probably means it’s a war thing; it may be that there’s a core group of troops who are passionately opposed to extending the occupation for whatever reason and they’re willing to donate to candidates to achieve that end. That group was likely too small in 2004 to help Kerry given how recent the invasion still was, but after five years it’s grown along with the rest of the anti-war tide among the electorate. Evidence, then, that most troops want out? Maybe! Except … the data doesn’t specify whether the donations came mostly from Iraq or were spread out around the globe, and interestingly, the one branch where McCain leads Obama in contributions is the one most likely to see the hardest action — the [US Marine] Corps. Beyond that, the would-be McCain soldier-donor has a hurdle to clear on his way to his checkbook that the Paul and Obama donor doesn’t. By kicking in to Maverick, he’s making it marginally more likely that he’ll continue to be deployed in the field and away from his family in the future. Even if he agrees with McCain’s foreign policy, thinks we ought to finish the job in Iraq, and is willing to continue serving bravely and well to that end, it’s asking a lot to ask him to pay for the privilege.

They got their anecdotes, we have ours.

Oh, wait. Remember when I said to remember the fact that we don’t know the sample size?

That’s not exactly true:

Of the hundreds of thousands of American soldiers, sailors and airmen currently deployed around the entire world, 134 — about the size of a company or a handful of platoons — have contributed to the Obama campaign. This is blockbuster news, folks.

Here, let me use the original sensational headline instead:

Troops Deployed Abroad Give 6:1 to Obama

Anecdotes, data…whatever. Obama Fever is obviously blitzkrieging through the ranks.

The Sorosphere: Distrust and Verify.

Gary Gross at LFR – fresh off his I-don’t-know-how-many-th Instalanche – covers the Parnell/Young race in Alaska, pitting a conservative against a RINO.

Gary’s leded: things are looking encouraging for Parnell, the conservative.

Farther down:

A new generation of politicians are climbing the ladder. Sarah Palin and Sean Parnell are prominent members of that new generation. Other members of this generation’s new leaders include Mike Pence, Jeb Hensarling, Eric Cantor and Michele Bachmann in the House, Tom Coburn, Jim DeMint and John Thune in the Senate, Gov. Palin in Alaska, Gov. Jindal in Louisiana and Gov. Pawlenty here in Minnesota.

It’s time for the GOP to start cleaning out the deadwood that’s accumulated in Washington, especially in the House. It’s time we started re-establishing the GOP brand. It’s long past time to start giving people reasons to trust us again.

Cleaning out the RINO deadwood in Washington and Saint Paul is vital, of course.

Even more important in the long term: getting more conservatives into offices at the bottom of the order; school boards, district councils, water boards and the like.

We’ve had some success: we’ve had Republicans elected to three community councils in Saint Paul, now (although two of them might not know it just yet). Expect more in the next round. Getting conservatives into the offices that might not get in the news, but do face people fairly regularly on pocketbook and community issues is a bet on the future; it shows people that the left’s cynical lies about conservatism and Republicans are just that; lies.

When the dust settles from the Presidential election, that’s going to have to be a big priority for conservatives.

I was a Fred Thompson supporter before I succumbed to the McCain train. I still like Thompson’s down home straight-talk style. He concurs that the situation in Georgia should give pause to those that would make Obama the leader of the free world.

While Obama might find the need now to visit Georgia for another celebrity world tour photo op, McCain has already been there; some time ago.

My mind goes back to August 2002 in Tbilisi, as I visited Georgia with John McCain. I remember it feeling rather dark and secretive, with the former-Soviet Union’s heavy hand still making its presence felt.

What has happened in Georgia since that time should not be surprising to anyone. Certainly Russia has tried to pretty itself up: it renamed the KGB and even gave its 21st century strongman Vladimir Putin a new title.

But for some time we’ve seen Russia sliding back to its authoritarian comfort zone. Murder, imprisonment and property confiscation are back in vogue for any perceived troublemaker. 

But the one thing we must not do is allow Russia to feel it can get away with (it)

All the while, in Eastern Europe some of America’s staunchest friends are watching to see what the reaction of the U.S. and the west will be to Russia’s latest gambit. The U.S. and others use the word “unacceptable,” undoubtedly with the same effect that we get when we use it with the Iranians.

But the one thing we must not do is allow Russia to feel it can get away with, let alone feel rewarded for, this invasion of a sovereign democratic nation that has also loyally supported coalition efforts in Iraq.

The world is devolving dangerously…and the Democrats are fueling the ambitions of those that would bring harm to the free world.

While this crisis plays out we should also note that these events give evidence of a larger reality: the next American President is going to face an international landscape that is more difficult and treacherous than we have ever faced.

Little help can be expected from our friends in Europe no matter how much it appears that their own interests are at stake.

So let’s recap: international terrorism; powerful nation states on a quest for hegemony, whether close to home or further afield and with a willingness to squelch freedom anytime the opportunity arises; less stable and no less dangerous countries with nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities; an alliance of democratic nations of questionable resolve and a debate at home over our future role in the world with a political party happy to create the impression of diminished resolve with little concern for the long term damage such an impression may cause.

McCain leads the way while Obama body surfs in Hawaii with 80 some days left until the election.

This is no time to elect a president whose international experience is limited to speaking to adoring European crowds who want to see the United States retreat from the world … until they require our help in the next crisis that threatens them.

It has been instructive for the country to see the candidates’ reaction to the equivalent of Hillary Clinton’s 3 a.m. phone call. While he was vacationing in Hawaii, Barack Obama’s advisors scrambled into action and initially came up with the expected liberal bromides which equated the actions of Russia and Georgia and only ratcheted up the rhetoric when they began to actually understand what was happening.

…long before this Georgian crisis, (McCain has) had the correct read on Russia, just as he’s had the right read on what we needed to do in Iraq.

This crisis half a world away confirms what I’ve been saying for a while: This election cycle, the traffic in the world is very heavy …and dangerous; it’s no time to give a kid with barely a learner’s permit the keys to the car.

McCain may be far from the perfect “conservative” candidate but he called the surge correctly and is exhibiting the leadership requisite for the times.

The Russian attack on Georgia is an unfortunate but illustrative trial run for those that would be President.

Obama is treading water.

McCain has revealed a clear, firm, but steady edict for the Russians; exactly what the world needs from America right now.

Hillary was right about one thing. We don’t want to be calling Obama at 3 a.m. or any other time.

Saint Paul party venues aren’t booking up as fast as other venues around the metro area:

Yet there are still a healthy number of parties being planned. According to an incomplete list compiled by one Washington, D.C., lobbying firm, there are at least 370 parties scheduled at the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

However, just 70 of those were in St. Paul.

“Is it as great as everyone’s expectations? I guess we’re going to have to wait and see,” [Randy] Kelly [son of the eponymous former St. Paul mayor] said.

Hm.  Why would Republicans be overlooking Saint Paul venues and going elsewhere in the metro?

Why, oh why indeed would that be? 

A guy walks into the Arkansas Democratic Party office and shoots the party chairman.

This is a ghastly crime; the shooter was killed by police in a shootout later in the day, which is probably what should have happened.

This blog condemns all shooting at people that isn’t in legal self-defense.

Of course, when something like this happens, you can count on the idiot fringe (which is the lower 80%) of the Twin Cities’ leftysphere to try to spin it.

From the Mississippifarian – yet another anonymous, unaccountable Twin Cities leftyblog obviously written by a deranged nutcase – we get this explanation:

Let me make a wild and irresponsible guess: this asshole is a dittohead. Nothing else about him will be noteworthy other than the fact that he’s obviously some kind of loser who takes Rush seriously when Rush jokes about killing liberals.

Oh, obviously!

Except, y’know, it’s pretty likely not true:

Police said they don’t know the motive for the 51-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released. However, they said moments after the shooting, he pointed a handgun at the building manager at the nearby the Arkansas Baptist headquarters. He told the manager “I lost my job,” said Dan Jordan, a Baptist convention official.

I don’t believe Rush Limbaugh has ever joked about killing Baptists, now, has he?

Oh, but since we’re talking about “climates of hate” caused by other people exercising their First Amendment rights, “he” might wanna have a word with some of the genuinely hateful people among or descending upon us. Presuming “Mississippifarian” isn’t more interested in painting those peoples’ toenails.

Twin Cities’ leftysphere: Yeah, ya got another winner. Keep up the great work.

And Mississippifarian, whoever you are? Seek help.

UPDATE:  To be fair, it’s not just gutless anonybloggers.

Paul Schmelzer at the Minnesoros “Independent” asks:

Which raises a question: If St. Paul police are still struggling to find enough officers to patrol the RNC, will there be enough cops to keep the peace in downtown Minneapolis, the myriad and likely far-flung RNC protests and neighborhoods, like North Minneapolis, that continue to grapple with summer crime?

Hm.  Good question.

Maybe if the Twin Cities’ left would do something to abjure and condemn the groups that are preparing to wreak mayhem in the Twin Cities, it’d be less of a problem?

Instead, say, of playing the coy peek-a-boo they’re playing with violent groups –  making solemn noises about wanting a peaceful week, but essentially doing anything possible to avoid condemning them?

Just a thought.

No – it’s…

…the MNPost?

Anyway – they’ve got posters and slogans for John “Silkypony”Edwards. had he won the nomination. And, for leftytooner humor, it’s almost funny.

There are Two Americas; people who joke about John Edwards, and John Edwards.

It’s parade season. 

Politicians love parades.

Parades love…well, entrants.  Because entrants have to pay fees to be included in the parade.  Which pays for the parade itself. 

It’s sure be a low blow if people tried to squeedge into parades without paying, wouldn’t it? 

Andy “Triple A” Aplikowski notes:

Oh look, Democrats don’t pay their fair share. Looks like Democrat El ‘Gas Tax’ Tinklenberg didn’t pay his dues to properly be in the Stillwater Parade.

Wow – I witnessed the same kind of ‘cheating’ at the Stillwater Lumberjack Days Parade. I wrote a letter to the editor, but of course NONE of the major papers would print it. Here it is:

I found it very interesting that DFL endorsed El Tinklenberg has already cheated the 6th District of Minnesota, the same district he is running to represent.

On Sunday, July 26th, at 12:45pm, Tinklenberg and about 6 of his followers walked the length of the Lumberjack Days Parade route, proudly showing off their campaign shirts “Tinklenberg for Congress”, while the candidate shook hands and spoke to hundreds of people lined up on sidewalks. The trouble is, the parade started at 1pm! All other candidates (including the person he is running against, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann), paid their $350 registration fee to Lumberjack Days for their exposure time. 

In the meantime, Steve Sarvi (or, as leftybloggers universally call him, “Veteran Steve Sarvi”) running against career Marine veteran John Kline (or, as leftyblogger call him, “Kline”) seems to have  a similar view on economizing, according to Janet at the Scholars:

At yesterday’s parade in Lonsdale, we checked the parade registrant list. Sarvi was not listed as a participant, yet he “doubled up” to walk with a local MN House representative. Is this the first time that Sarvi has ducked the parade registration fees while showing up to walk the parade route with several of his supporters, all wearing campaign T-shirts with his name on it? Probably not.

Stiffing local parade organizers over registration fees indicates irresponsibility on the part of a candidate. It raises the question: How many times this season has Mr. Sarvi just bummed a ride from some other candidate? Do we want to even consider someone who mooches like this to represent us in Congress?

No word yet on whether Ashwin Madia (or, as leftyblogger refer to him but never, ever to John Kline “Marine Veteran Ashwin Madia”) has been paying his parade fees. 

Anyone?

The ACLU and the St. Paul/Ramsey County authorities have duelling predictions about arrests at the RNC next month:

With thousands of protesters expected on the streets facing thousands of police officers, the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is predicting that 800 people will be arrested during the week of the Republican National Convention and will have 75 lawyers on call to defend them.

The St. Paul police forecast far fewer arrests, but Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher indicated this week that the ACLU’s numbers may be in the ballpark.

Hm. Why would the ACLU predict so many more arrests than the cops? Perhaps because they want a melee publicity bonanza?

Ramsey County Chief Judge Kathleen Gearin said this week that she had heard those kinds of estimates. “I really don’t believe that it is going to reach 1,800, with the information I have now,” she said. “It could be closer to 800 and maybe less.”

She said that during the 2004 Democratic convention in Boston, the number of people arrested was in the teens.

One reason for New York’s high arrest total was a decision by police to arrest a large number of people during one of the demonstrations. Most charges were later dropped. Gearin said she was hopeful that things will work differently here.

“The St. Paul police are telling us they will be doing things more thoughtfully than New York,” she said. “They are being trained to avoid some of the arrest situations.”

I am, if nothing else, generally confident in the Saint Paul Police.

Next Tuesday, with support from the ACLU, about three dozen lawyers will attend a continuing legal education course at the offices of Fredrikson & Byron law firm in Minneapolis for training on how to represent people arrested in demonstrations, said Charles Samuelson, executive director of the Minnesota ACLU.

Must be all the lawyers released from helping defend civil liberties in the Heller case.

(Cough cough).

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner said her office had developed a “tiered plan” to deal with arrested protesters. The first tier involves minimal felony arrests with only certain personnel assigned, she said.

“If the felony arrests go higher, we have a second tier approach, more volume and more attorneys,” she said.

Gaertner said that there is also “a third tier, where all heck breaks loose, with more lawyers involved in the charging.”

She added: “We are ready for everything.”

I see no mention of (checks list of leftybot paranoid predictions) Blackwater, attack dogs, water cannon or the military.

…Mr. The One.  If you do nothing else in your life, do this:

When [Senator Chuck Hagel [RINO, NE] accompanied Obama on his trip to Iraq and Afghanistan last month, speculation swirled anew that he was a possible vice presidential pick.

Plenty of people have suggested that Obama recruit Hagel, one of the Senate’s most outspoken opponents of the Iraq war. The Illinois senator would benefit from Hagel’s military experience in Vietnam, they say, and Hagel would help temper perceptions that Obama is too liberal. A bipartisan ticket would also support Obama’s call for breaking away from polarizing politics.

Please please please…

…but they may stand around a bit.

Mark your calendars; Saturday is the big sign giveaway at Stephano’s in Eagan.

Here’s why it matters; from Colonel Joe Repya’s press release (I’ve added emphasis):

At noon on September 1, the anti-war crowd claims they’ll have upwards of 50,000 marching from the Minnesota Capitol Building to the Excel Energy Center where the Republican National Convention, at the Excel Energy Center in Saint Paul.

We are asking everyone who supports our men and women in uniform defending America in the War on Terror to line the streets from the Excel Center with our signs. It is our way of being “Minnesota Nice” and wishing these protesters a “nice day in Minnesota.” We encourage no discussion or verbal exchange with the demonstrators – only a pleasant “smile!

So show up!

You can pick up a sign as long as the initial order lasts on Saturday, August 16th, in the parking lot of STEPHANO’S Restaurant, the corner of Highway 13 and Cliff Road (across from Walgreen’s) from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 PM. Please arrive early since we are printing a limited number. Your donations will be greatly appreciated and will allow us to print more signs.

So I’ll see you Saturday afternoon at Stephano’s.

Leave a comment here and/or at the Colonel’s blog if you plan on showing up.

As we approach primary season, the Override Six are back in the news – a little, anyway.

We’ve been following the Keith  Downey race on one side of Edina, against Ron Erhard; we’d love to see Keith prevail, there.

On the other side of Edina, First Ringer writes about his horse in the race – Jan Schneider:

Nearly six months later one might wonder if the value of the “Override Six” has been ridden hard and put away wet.  Several members are retiring.  Others were quietly endorsed.  One has switched parties.  Of the offending six, only one significant primary remains – that of endorsed Republican Jan Schneider and incumbent Neil Peterson.  Peterson has the traditional advantages of incumbency alongside a name recognition born out of a career in politics stretching back nearly 30 years as a Bloomington city councilmember and mayor.  And thanks to his transportation bill vote, Peterson’s coffers are also flush with special interest cash.

Schneider’s career trajectory has been quite different – taking place in business, not politics, where she’s worked as a senior business consultant for both start-ups and Fortune 500 companies.  Having spent 25 years helping companies cut waste, prioritize spending, and strategically plan from soup to nuts, Jan’s background seems more necessary than ever in a state that’s gone from a $2 billion surplus to a $1 billion deficit.  Jan is experienced, conservative and unlike the incumbent won’t be voting 52% of the time with the DFL.  In the words of blogger Gary Gross, “I wish we had a candidate of Jan Schneider’s quality running in each hotly contested district. If we did, we’d be in great shape.”

What Jan needs is money – and your support.

He’s right, of course; Peterson got a ton of swag out of betraying the Governor last spring, to say nothing of the usual fawning coverage from the “The Only Good Republican Is A RINO” media.

But Schneider is worth your support.  Count on hearing her on the NARN before the primary; she’s pretty sharp, and Edina could sure use her in office.

Hollywood and the left connected at the hip?  The hell you say!

Oscar-winner [George “Cloud of Smug”] Clooney, 47, is said to be helping the Democratic candidate to polish his image at home and abroad.

But he is also sharing with Obama his strong opinions on Iraq and the Middle East.

Sources say the actor has tried to hide the pair’s friendship for fear his Left-wing views and playboy image would hurt the Presidential hopeful’s bid for the White House.
But Democratic Party insiders have revealed that Clooney and Obama regularly send texts and emails to each other and speak by phone at least twice a week.
One [Obama advisor] said last night: ‘They are extremely close. A number of members of the Hollywood community, including Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, offered to help raise funds for Barack but it was with George that he struck up this amazing affinity.

‘George has been giving him advice on things such as presentation, public speaking and body language and he also emails him constantly about policy, especially the Middle East.

Not sure if Clooney’s given Obama one of those “Miami Vice (TM) Three Day Stubble” razors, though…

‘George is pushing him to be more “balanced” on issues such as US relations with Israel.
‘George is pro-Palestinian. And he is also urging Barack to withdraw unconditionally from Iraq if he wins.
‘It’s a very risky relationship. His hope of becoming America’s first black President depends heavily on winning over conservative voters and it would be suicidal for him to be perceived as a tool of a Hollywood Leftie, which is how they regard George.

Really?  Would it be “suicidal” if “undecided Middle America” were to read that the couple…

‘…text and email each other almost every day and speak on the phone at least a couple of times a week, often more.’

…or…

‘[Clooney] told me he feels Obama is a once-in-a-lifetime leader. He is doing everything he can behind the scenes to bolster support in Hollywood, not just with other celebrities but with the money men at the studios.’

Oooh, I bet.  Suicide is bad! Wouldn’t want that leaking out to Middle America!

The acquaintance added: ‘He has tried to keep the true extent of their involvement out of the Press because he is frightened of alienating voters.’

And I bet this story – in the London Daily Mail – never sees the light of day outside Variety Magazine.

Or this bit:

The star has never tried to hide his liberal views and last week announced he is making a £15million film about the lawyer who defended Osama Bin Laden’s former driver, Salim Hamdan, on terror charges.

Wow.

As America waits for the first film about the actual heroism of America’s fighting men and women in the past six years…

…anyway.  Good luck, Barack.  We’ll make sure word about your BFF the Hamas-hugging George “Cloud of Smug” Clooney stays safely under wraps.

You can count on me, Barry!

Yesterday, my blog partner JRoosh lit up a grossly dumb letter to the editor from the Strib.

But the gift of that letter just keeps on giving; the letter author – a Bill McGaughey of Minneapolis – isn’t just a crank letter-writer with deficient logical skills.

No. He’s also a Congressional candidate; he’s been endorsed to run for the US House of Representatives from the Fifth Congressional District.

And he had this to say last week on a Minnesota political discussion listserver:

While the world’s people want peace, world leaders have created a situation of persistent violence. The horrible, deranged act of a Chinese man against Minnesotan Todd Bachman and his wife in Beijing’s Drum Tower pales in comparison to the scale of violence that is now taking place in South Ossetia, a region caught in the crosshairs of a power struggle between U.S.-backed Georgia and Russia that is important to maintaining supplies of oil.

Pales. Also completely unrelated.

But what’s a little non-sequitur?

Oh, it gets better (emphasis added):

Now there is evidence that the United States Government is hell-bent on precipitating a crisis with Iran. Granted, the information that comes to me from the Internet may not be totally reliable, but there is enough evidence from many different sources to suggest that armed conflict is not a “last resort”, as is often claimed, but an active, urgent imperative for powerful persons and groups in the Bush administration, notably Vice President Cheney.

Consider this: “Seymour Hersh says Bush administration officials held a meeting recently in the Vice President’s office to discuss ways to provoke a war with Iran, Think Progress reports. During the meeting, an idea was considered to dress up Navy Seals as Iranians, put them on fake Iranian speedboats, and shoot at them … This idea, intended to provoke an Iran war, was ultimately rejected ‘because you can’t have Americans killing Americans,’ Hersh says.”

Look – there’s plenty of Iranian speedboats to shoot at. But hey, if Seymour Hersh (via “Think”Progress”) says so…

Now comes another report from the blog of the Earl of Stirling – Stirling Castle was home to Scottish royalty prior to Scotland’s political merger with England – regarding an American “armada” that had recently conducted war games in the north Atlantic and was heading to the Persian Gulf to impose a naval blockage.

Er, where does the “Earl of Stirling” think the US and British navies are supposed to train, whether they’re going to “impose” a “blockage” or just deploy to the Gulf…

….where they’ve been deploying pretty much constantly for the past three decades?

The blogging earl, who holds the title of Lord High Admiral of Nova Scotia, names many of the ships in this multinational armada. He writes: “The build up of naval forces in the Gulf will be one of the largest multi-national naval armadas since the First and Second Gulf Wars. The intent is to create a US/EU naval blockade (which is an Act of War under international law) around Iran (with supporting air and land elements) to prevent the shipment of benzene and certain other refined oil products headed to Iranian ports. Iran has limited domestic oil refining capacity and imports 40% of its benzene. Cutting off benzene and other key products would cripple the Iranian economy. The neo-cons are counting on such a blockade launching a war with Iran.”

Just a question, Mr. McGaughey; what do you call what Iran’s been doing for almost thirty years, now?  Kidnapping our diplomats?  Paying for anti-US terror around the world?  Arming and funding terror against US forces in Iraq?

Threatening to obliterate Israel and anyone who helps them?

In any event, we seem to be headed toward a wreck of colossal proportions. The question is what average U.S. citizens, such as you and I, can do about it. We can urge our members of Congress to impeach Bush and Cheney. While I have had some sympathy for the attitude of the Democratic leadership in Congress that we should wait it out until a new President is elected, now it appears that the Bush administration is poised to do major, irreparable damage before it leaves office; and John McCain, who supports the President’s war policies, has become a strong contender in the race with Barack Obama. But it is virtually impossible that the Administration leadership could be taken out by such means. So what do we do? I’ve run out of good ideas.

Here’s an idea:  Run for Congress!

Take it to Rep. Ellison!

I’m here for ya, Bill!

Lefties in the Fifth District; Bill McGaughey is the real soul of liberalism!

And Jesse Ventura – the only Independence Party candidate who will ever be has ever been elected to office –  the guy with the “9/11 was an inside job!” sticker on his Porsche, is the perfect leader for this movement.

So Democrats – write him i9n for Senate!

They are the soul of the left!

…when her daddy implored her to enter rehab, she stuck to her principles and replied

“No. No. No.”

You go girl!

Another great Letter of the Day

I admire Paris Hilton. While her life circumstances have been far from difficult, she has taken an identity that society despises and made something of it.

Profound. Where do you start with a statement so brimming with stupidity?

Paris Hilton didn’t take an identity that society despises. She doesn’t personify an identity that society despises. She is the identity that society despises. She invented it and the fact that it was by design, having nothing else to occupy her time, is hardly a station to be celebrated.

Paris was conceived where wealth and neglect meet. She is the product of the Cream of the Crap in America.

She did not turn to lawyers when the embarrassing sex tapes surfaced, but instead “went with the flow” of her notoriety and became one of the world’s foremost celebrities.

Of course she didn’t turn to lawyers. They were undoubtedly consulted, along with others, as to the best means, media and timing of their release. She profited by the strategic use of her genitalia (is it okay to say that here Mitch?).

It never ceases to amaze me how celebrity is oft equated with credibility in our culture.

She’s a “foremost celebrity.” Is that sort of like “wholesome feces?”

At its peril has the John McCain campaign learned to trifle with Paris. She’s back in the spotlight with a rebuttal to the TV ad and her energy plan, which is said to be superior in ways to those which the presidential candidates have presented.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Surely her rebuttal was a non-plus to the McCain campaign, who (I’m chuckling at the choice of words) trifled with Paris, but I am equally sure that Obama’s campaign suffered even further as the questions it begged of him were answered with…with…with…um…(sorry it escapes me).

Yes, she is, as she says of herself, “hot.” Not bad for a day’s work while soaking up the sun.

BILL MCGaughey, Minneapolis

Paris is a broken bat. You got no shot with Paris, Bill. Go back to your People magazine.

StarTribune’s Letter of the Day:

So John McCain is making money by mocking Barack Obama’s suggestion to save fuel by making sure our tires are properly inflated and getting regular tuneups. An Aug. 5 article said McCain’s presidential campaign is offering supporters tire gauges labeled “Obama Energy Plan” in exchange for a $25 donation.

A fairly brilliant campaign strategy, actually.

Obama’s gaffe revealed Obama’s energy policy is full of hot air. The reality is, the technology to replace our dependence on fossil fuel is years away and keeping our tires full of Obama’s rhetoric is no solution.

As a drivers education instructor, I used textbooks that teach important strategies on improving gas mileage in any vehicle. These strategies include properly inflating your tires, having regular tuneups and using your cruise control whenever possible.

Textbooks. Indeed. I was looking in the owner’s manual of my 2006 Chrysler 300C for “Tune-Ups”. Obama used to drive the same car until he parked it far away and put a Hybrid in his driveway for appearances sake.

It seems modern cars don’t require tune-ups. Haven’t for years.

Properly inflated tires can save between .06 and 2.25 percent depending on who you talk to. Last time I checked, fuel prices have increased a few magnitudes more than that.

It’s not that keeping your car in good working order, including keeping your tires inflated is not valid advice. It’s just that Obama was caught grabbing at straws while McCain took the high (or at least popular) ground on energy. Now Obama is slowly flopping over on drilling because it is needed, sooner than later, and the American people decidedly agree.

This tactic of making fun of tried and true research sounds eerily familiar. Remember how President Bush’s cronies distorted and discredited research on global warming? Look where that has gotten us. It seems rather than come up with effective, researched plans of their own, the conservative Republicans would rather make trivial attacks to win over voters.

Ah, yes. Global Warming. It’s Bush’s cronies? Conservatives are disgusted with Bush’s stance on Global Warming (same goes for McCain by the way).

How about the UN’s own IPCC stating that temperatures have been dropping of late. The UN is hardly a bastion of conservative thought.

Don’t hang your hat on Global Warming. The “science” behind the hysteria will soon prove to be as empty as Obama’s energy policies.

Wake up, voters! Don’t get duped again by Karl Rove and his surrogates’ tactics.

MARK VOSSEN, ST. MICHAEL

Here’s a little warm milk, Mr. Vossen. Time for your nap. Nighty night.

It’s just a week until the big sign giveaway at Stephano’s in Eagan.

We’re talking Col. Joe Repya’s signs.

From the Joe’s press release (I’ve added emphasis):

At noon on September 1, the anti-war crowd claims they’ll have upwards of 50,000 marching from the Minnesota Capitol Building to the Excel Energy Center where the Republican National Convention, at the Excel Energy Center in Saint Paul.

We are asking everyone who supports our men and women in uniform defending America in the War on Terror to line the streets from the Excel Center with our signs. It is our way of being “Minnesota Nice” and wishing these protesters a “nice day in Minnesota.” We encourage no discussion or verbal exchange with the demonstrators – only a pleasant “smile!

So show up!

You can pick up a sign as long as the initial order lasts on Saturday, August 16th, in the parking lot of STEPHANO’S Restaurant, the corner of Highway 13 and Cliff Road (across from Walgreen’s) from 12:00 Noon to 3:00 PM. Please arrive early since we are printing a limited number. Your donations will be greatly appreciated and will allow us to print more signs.

So I’ll see you one week from today at Stephano’s.

Leave a comment here and/or at the Colonel’s blog if you plan on showing up.

Hey – the event even got some play with MPR!

The Wall Stree Journal picks up where the New York Times left off:

Minnesota’s Vice Presidential Contender

Being on John McCain’s short list for vice president makes Tim Pawlenty a busy guy.

Pawlenty takes a shot at Obama. He’s not just a goalie after all. 

Following that, a side trip to Iowa where, as national co-chair for Sen. McCain’s presidential campaign, he passed out tire gauges as a way of poking fun at Barack Obama’s suggestion the energy crisis be addressed by having Americans better inflate their cars.

If there is such a thing as campaigning to become somebody’s vice president, Mr. Pawlenty is doing a good job in the auditions.

(more…)

With DNC in mind, city bans carrying urine, feces

Poo and pee dominated a public hearing Monday on a new law that prohibits people from carrying certain items if they intend to use them for nefarious purposes.

What other purpose might there be for carrying these “products”? I’d say monger away. This is a law whose time has come!

Representatives from some of the groups planning large-scale protests during the DNC this month said the ordinance was unnecessary and accused city officials of fear mongering.

No Pun intended? 

“The intent of this ordinance is to try to smear protesters and make them look as if they are somehow criminal or somehow going to engage in some kind of gross conduct,” said Glenn Spagnuolo, an organizer with the Re- create 68 Alliance.

The ordinance makes it illegal to carry certain items, such as chains, padlocks, carabiners and other locking devices. It also prohibits the possession of noxious substances. Two of the most frequently used examples of a noxious substance are a bucket of urine and a “feces bomb.”

Police have to prove that people carrying such items intend to use them to block public access or emergency equipment or to thwart crowd control measures.

“Our intent for this bill is not about suppressing or chilling First Amendment rights,” he said.

“Young man!”

“Yes Officer?

” Just exactly what do you intend to do with that shit?”

“Exercise my first ammendment rights?”

“Put down the poop son. Before I get pissed!”

If you happy about Obama, “O” your hands…:

Seriously.  It’s the sign you’re supposed to put above your head at Obama rallies if you really really double-dog love The One.

But…it looks familiar.

Where have we seen this before?

Oh, yeah:

Enh.  X, O – whatever.  Close enough for tic-tac-toe…