New Insurgents Flip Zarqawi the Blue Finger!

In the news today western journalists have been disrupted and dealt a severe blow to their usual barrage of negative journalism by a new group of new insurgents. Only Al Jazeera seemed to have the stamina to stay the course finding as many negative elements to report on and were able to fight off the on slaught of this new "insurgency" which attacked treasured Iraqi traditions of the glory days of Saddam. The following is an accounting from an "embed" said to be close to the scene of this new disruptive force sweeping Iraq. Sources say that a cultish "blue stained" index finger may be the secret sign of this new conspiracy. Or, as the embed puts it, one of "tyranny's traitor's".

ScrappleFace: Iraqi Voting Disrupts News Reports of Bombings: "Iraqi Voting Disrupts News Reports of Bombings
by Scott Ott

(2005-01-30) -- News reports of terrorist bombings in Iraq were marred Sunday by shocking graphic images of Iraqi 'insurgents' voting by the millions in their first free democratic election.

Despite reporters' hopes that a well-orchestrated barrage of mortar attacks and suicide bombings would put down the so-called 'freedom insurgency', hastily-formed battalions of rebels swarmed polling places to cast their ballots -- shattering the status quo and striking fear into the hearts of the leaders of the existing terror regime.

Hopes for a return to the stability of tyranny waned as rank upon rank of Iraqi men and women filed out of precinct stations, each armed with the distinctive mark of the new freedom guerrillas -- an ink-stained index finger, which one former Ba'athist called 'the evidence of their betrayal of 50 years of Iraqi tradition.'

Journalists struggled to put a positive spin on the day's events, but the video images of tyranny's traitors choosing a future of freedom overwhelmed the official story of bloodshed and mayhem." - Scott Ott / ScrappleFace - on the scene - Baghdad

From the looks of it, one might say this new movement gives new meaning to "giving someone the finger". It has been rumored that the "blue finger" of insurgenye has been flipped openly and often at Zarqawi and not the ultra liberal cut and run brigades in the US and the EU. We are still investigating however as this story unfolds.

Hanging Chads ?

We wonder... Will we be seeing "Hanging Chads" or "Hanging Candidates" after this Iraqi election?

The Iraq Election

Tell us it's not so!!

BlogAzoo - Can Do!

Hey... Another new blog surfing service is in town !!! Just started up a few hours ago!
Less wait time!

ZardozZ's Xanga Site

ZardozZ's Xanga Site

We have set up a Xanga Site for the crazies over at Xanga. They need some love too !!!!

Target Practice

Jordan Will have Elections

It may not be a full democracy, but the King of Jordan, King Abd Allah is proposing a system for representative government at the local levels in his Kingdom.

Aljazeera.Net - Jordan plans local elections: "King Abd Allah of Jordan has announced plans to overhaul local government as part of his efforts to increase public participation in the kingdom's affairs.

The king on Wednesday said he wanted elected regional councils established to help set development priorities.

'Each region will have a local council directly elected by its people to work hand in hand with the elected municipal councils in the governorates to set priorities, and draw up plans and programmes related to their respective region,' he said."

Jordan has been an ally of the US and has generally played a mediating role in Middle Eastern politics. At the same time Lebanon passes a draft election law. Elections in Palestine, Iraq in a few days. Isn't this interesting. Elections yes... democracy? Well we are not so sure about that...

McCain Calls It like He Sees It

On the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., suggested Democrats are sore losers. Rice had enough votes to win confirmation, as even her Democratic critics acknowledge, McCain said.

?So I wonder why we are starting this new Congress with a protracted debate about a foregone conclusion,? McCain said. Since Rice is qualified for the job, he said, ?I can only conclude that we are doing this for no other reason than because of lingering bitterness over the outcome of the election.?

You have to hand it to Sen. McCain. If ever there was an estute observation, his comments today could have defined the concept understatement.

Voter's Remorse?

For thousands of Iraqi's this Sunday may be the most important moment of their lives. Literally. Insurgents seem to be keeping their powder dry in the days leading up to the election. The votes that Zarqawi will be casting may be the most powerful votes of all. In the end the entire world knows the elections will take place, the shiite's will win a majority. There will be outcries of election invalidity and although hanging chads are unlikely, rest assured expect to hear push back from EU nations in the UN during the weeks following the "election".

To Sin City and Back

Just back from Las Vegas. Yes, business... not much time for gambling or "pleasure". Vegas is a one of a kind place. The entire experiance causes extra sensory overload. If you have never experianced it well then you have something to look forward to in life.

The business meeting went smoothly, no surprises. Getting there on the other hand was the trip from hell to hell. Eight hours of flight delays, de icing, waiting on the tarmak. You name it. The kicker is... all for a 1 day meeting no less. It's so wonderful to be loved!

The Bellagio was awesome. Nuff said... Glad to be back!

DRUDGE REPORT: Fox News Kicks Some Ass

DRUDGE REPORT FLASH: "CNN LOSES 63% OF AUDIENCE OVER INAUGURATION 2001
Fri Jan 21 2005 23:52:24 2005

CNN hemorrhaged more than half their audience from the 2001 Inauguration, overnights show. The troubled news network only averaged 779,000 viewers during yesterday's Inauguration coverage from 10am-4pm with just 168,000 of those viewers landing in the coveted 25-54 demo.

Like CNN, MSNBC also suffered major losses, only averaging 438,000 viewers throughout yesterday's coverage (141,000 in 25-54), down a whopping 68% over 2001 and faring even worse in primetime with just 385,000 viewers.

In contrast, Fox News averaged 2,581,000 viewers from 10a-4p (up 30% over 2001) and their 25-54 demo average of 705,000 came close to CNN's total coverage ratings yesterday.

PRIMETIME:

FNC -- 2,439,000 (up 57% OVER '01)
CNN -- 1,353,000 (down 14% over '01)
MSNBC -- 385,000 (down 47% over '01)
"

Jenna Bush Devil Worship

Well, as could be expected. Europeans were stunned to see Jenna Bush and Dad saluting with the Texas Long Horn hand sign. Didn't they know across the pond that all those Heavy Metal bands are Texas Longhorn Fans ? ".... Hook'em Horns!!" Rock On Jenna! - zzb

Condi Rice Feeds the Sick

You have to hand it to Cox and Forkum. They sure know how to point out the obvious. Of course the Senate has the right to question the nominated Secretary of State. But the antics of these two just made them look like childish and distasteful spoiled brats. Was that a golden spoon falling out of Kerry's bowl we wonder?

Mr. Bush Goes to Washington - Jib Jabed Again

Jib Jab's Second Term It's only fitting that we give some press time to Jib Jab. Set to the tune of "She'll be comin' round the mountain", you will find this parody a hoot if you have not seen it already. Just click on "Second Term" in the link above.

Checking out the real thing on the major networks, it was astounding to watch and listen to the different slants being offered by the moderators. CNN made sure they went out of the way to air, un-cut, chants of F&*K Bush over and over again.

Yet all in all there was not much coverage of protestors and in fact, even though you could here some disturbances in the background audio, there was really little disruption to speak of and virtually no violence or criminal acts reported during the day.

So Hail to the Chief -- and, oh yes, Hail to Jib Jab :)

Who's the Head Viper ?

We will soon see which of these two heads are cut off before the other. That they can't co-exist for very long is without question. - zzb

ScrappleFace: Amber Alert: Dr. King's Legacy Reported Missing

Scott Ott over at ScrappleFace put pen to paper, or bits to bytes if you like, with a thought provoking satire on the "Missing Legacy of Dr. King". The following is an excerpt, which we view as an insightful jab at some of the leadership today that believe they are still carrying Martin Luther King's dream. The piece connects set elements of Dr. King's speeches against modern day politics and culture. The premise? His legacy has been stolen and counterfeited.

...ScrappleFace: Amber Alert: Dr. King's Legacy Reported Missing: "In Jonesboro, Georgia, authorities monitored a speech Sunday by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, after an informant said Mr. Jackson might be carrying the King legacy. However, during his speech it became clear that the legacy was no longer in Mr. Jackson's possession.

Police have released a description of the legacy in Dr. King's own words from a speech he delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963.

...the King legacy pitted the justice of God against the injustice of men and foresaw the day when God's victory would benefit Americans of every hue, faith and political stripe....

Analysis of the so-called 'I Have a Dream' speech shows that Dr. King was concerned primarily with freedom by means of equal rights and equal justice under the law for everyone.

Forensics experts have been unable to find a match for the King legacy among the words of any of the major American leaders who claim the King mantle."... More

Scott's style is to write in the context of pseudo reality in order to make his counterpoint more dramatic. He challenges Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton, regarding them as exploiters of Dr. King's dream and vision....

"The second most common measure employed by counterfeiters is to remove Dr. King's desire to unite the races," the source said. "The genuine legacy pictures Black and White holding hands, eating together, marching together as well as singing and praising God together. The counterfeiters inevitably portray civil rights as a struggle of innocent Black against malevolent White, or caring Democrat against selfish Republican. But the King legacy pitted the justice of God against the injustice of men and foresaw the day when God's victory would benefit Americans of every hue, faith and political stripe."

The most common counterfeits also lack what experts call the "backbone" of the King legacy -- trust in God.

...Meanwhile, as the search continues for the missing King legacy, Americans are left to struggle with what it all meant.

"The kids are out of school and I have the day off," said one suburban Philadelphia man, "so we're grateful for Dr. King's efforts to free all Americans from education and work. What a great dream!!"...

Dr. King allegedly rested his assertion of equal rights on the passage in the Declaration of Independence that says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

"Without a Creator," said the forensics expert, "the legacy of equal rights collapses into a vicious struggle where the strong prevail and no rights can reasonably be asserted. Dr. King knew there is no basis for equal rights without a loving and righteous creator God."...

not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred."

A review of the archival audio reveals that the biggest applause line in the 1,619-word speech was as follows: "The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny.

Amid the roar of applause, Dr. King added, "And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone."... More

Indeed, this is one of the best thought provoking satires to emanate from the satirical blogging master this year. The comments on the article at his site are interesting as well. Worth a read. - ZZB

LGF: Moore Wins Fiskie!

The polls have closed over at LGF [Little Green Football] and Michael Moore wins the FISKE award. And with distinction I might add!. Read some of the 235 comments at their sit. Regardless of your politics some of these are funny as hell. Seems like Kofi Annan will have to wait till next year ! - zzb

Sharon Cuts Ties With Abbas Over Militants

"JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has severed contacts with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas until he acts against militants, a Sharon spokesman said Friday." More...

Well it did not take long to see a test of the post and our comments...(See Sunday Jan 9th below) Anyone want to venture a guess how this stand off will end? - zzb

Review: BlogExplosion -- A New Concept in Link Exchange?

Did you arrived here from BlogExplosion? If you did we would like to know! Could you please take a minute and give us your feedback below for an article in BlogCritics? Also, see the quick poll in the upper right margin of our site! Thanks. - Scott


[Blog Services Review]: Has this happened to you ?

You spend all night setting up your very own blog, but in a short time you realize nobody is coming to read it. You jealously watch the biggest blogs out there getting tons of attention but how can your blog get noticed too? - [excerpt: BlogExplosion ]

That's the front line tag on the home page at one of the fastest growing blog traffic exposure exchange systems on the web right now, BlogExplosion. Since they are in a high growth phase at the moment, and hot within amateur blogging circles right now, we thought we would take a stab at a short critique. We also have a few sites monitoring the performance of the service's claims for us, and will provide feedback in a upcoming article along with results of our poll here at the ZZ NewsPortal. We are using it ourselves to assess the system's ROI. Return on Investment? Yes, ROI, but it is NOT a financial investment I am referring to. What's intriguing about BlogExplosion's business model is the investment is in your own personal surfing time rather than in your dollars paying for pop ups or banner serving. You CAN however pay for increased visibility time, and they are generating some revenue from other sponsors.

The system is really designed for BLOGGERS and the business model used seeks to capitalize on the frustrations of the many bloggers out there in search of increasing visitors who will comment on their posts. (For good or bad I might add) In fact their model is designed so that the more you surf in their "system", the more credits you accumulate which in turn can be apportioned to any number of sites a blogger may be maintaining. This translates to more exposure of your own site in proportion to the time you invest reading and surfing other blogs in the membership. Sort of a "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" philosophy. Pretty sweet. There are similar services out there, but this one seems to be on fire!

The principle behind this service, is a mutual exchange of surfing exposure monitored by a "timer" applet that ensures visitors don't just click and run. The visitor can read the site, rate the site on a crude scale of 1 - 10 based on their own personal preferences, (from It needs work to Great) or as is often the case, comment on the posts if they are interesting. The "timing" feature monitors the visit time with a visible count down of about 30 secs in a uniquely served gif file "surf bar" added to each site impressions. You are not directly on the visitor's site's url but instead are getting an indirect feed via BlogExplosion servers. This happens after registering your site, and after their screening process is completed to ensure your site IS a blog and not a commercial site. The "timer" coaches the surfer if they are surfing too fast interactively! 30 seconds is a long time to just be sitting on a random site, so the tendency is to, rate, comment or at least read. So with that "reward" in the back of your head, visitors are more inclined to comment in order to "pass the time". Psychologically, it is a very interesting experiance if you have not tried it. On causal inspection the comment rate on BlogExplosion sites seems higher than non Blog Explosion sites. The system has become quite appealing to their membership as there seems to be a growing sense of camaraderie, bonding and loyalty that in fact AMPLIFIES the exposure. The model also opens up opportunites to make blog surfing "fun"!


If you are looking for a new way to enhance Blog traffic, and have some fun in the process, you might want to check this out. The jury is still out, but so far we find it an interesting concept in mutual site exposure within the blogging community leveraging a new and interesting approach for folks with some time on their hands :)

The following are examples of the button and banners on the site:

A Shadow of Things to Come?

Palestinian interim leader Mahmoud Abbas yesterday called Israel the "Zionist enemy" after an Israeli tank killed seven Palestinians, four of them young brothers, in a northern Gaza strawberry field.

The violence and Abbas' increasingly harsh words raised questions on both sides about whether the presidential election on Sunday, which Abbas is widely expected to win, will lead to a resumption of peace talks. Abbas' image has been as a moderate peacemaker. - S.S. Nelson/KnightRidder

We will see if his rhetoric is only that of the campaign variety, or if in fact, groups like Hammas can take solice in his election. We find it interesting that there has not been much opposition or violence leading up to the expected victory. Could this be a sign that a sublte "wink" is in place for groups like Hammas and Hezbullah? - zzb

N.Korea: Out of the Car Longhair!

How is this for an oppressive society! North Korea's state government has launched an full scale assult on what they consider excessive "long hair" on men. The communist government is setting hair length standards for males.

BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | N Korea wages war on long hair: "North Korea has launched an intensive media assault on its latest arch enemy - the wrong haircut.

A campaign exhorting men to get a proper short-back-and-sides has been aired by state-run Pyongyang television.

The series is entitled Let us trim our hair in accordance with Socialist lifestyle.

While the campaign has been carried out primarily on television, reports have appeared in North Korean press and radio, urging tidy hairstyles and proper attire." More...

Congress Certifies Bush's Win - Jesse Protests

Congress certified President Bush's election yesterday amid some minor distrubances over the Ohio electoral vote. Someone should explain to Rev. Jackson that sour grapes do not make fine wine. We wonder if there would be any real traction to abolishing the electoral college? Rest assured if that did occur, albeit quite unlikely, the first election decided by a close popular vote would be recast in the light of the post election "what if'ers" arguing for Congress to restore it! There is no excuse in this day and age of modern technology to not have a fool proof, un-tamperable, state of the art voting tabulation system in place. Surely it could be established for 1/1000th of what it costs to wage a war in the Middle East.

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress on Thursday formally certified President Bush (news - web sites) as the victor of the November elections after two Democrats symbolically stalled the event in protest at alleged voting irregularities in Ohio."...

...About 200 protesters near the White House, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, beat drums and urged Congress not to certify the results because they said unreliable voting machines and partisan election officials had tilted the closely fought swing state of Ohio to Bush.

Tubbs-Jones and Boxer listed a number of problems in Ohio, including rejection of provisional ballots, long lines and inadequate numbers of voting machines in urban neighborhoods that tended to back Kerry.

But one of Ohio's senators, Republican Mike DeWine, called the complaints "wild, incoherent and completely unsubstantiated." Several lawmakers in both chambers noted that Ohio votes had been recounted and the results certified by bipartisan local election boards... More...

Peacful protest is a 1st Amendment right and should be respected. Even when the protesting smacks more of sour grapes, appears sophmorish and classless. Who was listening to the drum beating, and by the way, who cared? - zzb

Go Fetch!

Rather's "Integrity Malfunction"

[Satire] Scott Ott drills CBS and Dan Rather in a satirical piece that also reflects on Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction. [ZZ NewsPortal]

CBS Probe: Rather Suffered 'Integrity Malfunction'
by Scott Ott

(2005-01-07) -- An internal CBS News investigation released today cleared veteran newsman Dan Rather of intentional wrongdoing, and blamed his use of a forged document in a 60 Minutes news story on an "integrity malfunction," similar to the wardrobe malfunction suffered by Janet Jackson on CBS.

"The exhaustive, no-holds-barred probe found that Dan did not knowingly perpetrate the so-called 'memogate' hoax to drag down President Bush in the weeks leading up to the election," said Dick Thornburgh, the former U.S. Attorney General who helped lead the internal investigation. "The integrity malfunction was completely unintentional and Dan was as surprised as anyone to find himself lying to the nation...or to that small segment of the nation that still watches him."

Now that Mr. Rather has been cleared, he said he will devote his retirement years to searching for a cure for Journalistic Integrity Malfunction Syndrome -- a chronic, incurable condition which also afflicts many of his peers in the industry.

Scott underestimates the size and scope of the JIMS pandemic. Investigators say that it's origins may be traced to close encounters between Bush #1 and the ill striken jounalist.

Six Apart / Live Journal Merger ?

Rumors abound that Six Apart, makers of Movable Type, will be purchasing LiveJournal. If this occurs it will give SixApart a shot at keeping it's head above water. Blogger is still the most widespread blogging platform on the web while many feel MT has the cleanest look and is more sophisticated and professional looking. Dealing with server installations is MT's achille's heel -- Typepad is a stop gap solution. If SixApart pulls this off, it should really help boost both their product portfolio and design R&D. - zzb

Folks have been predicting a big year for mergers and acquisitions in 2005, and we are starting the year with a bang. I have learnt exclusively that Six Apart, the parent company behind hosted blogging service TypePad, and Moveable Type is about to acquire Live Journal, for an undisclosed amount. The deal is a mix of stock and cash, and could be announced sometime later this month, according to those close to the two companies. If the deal goes through, then Six Apart will become one of the largest weblog companies in the world, with nearly 6.5 million users. It also gives the company a very fighting chance against Google's Blogger and Microsoft's MSN Spaces. -- Om Malik On Broadband More...

ScrappleFace: Divided Congress to Use Separate Restrooms

ScrappleFace: Divided Congress to Use Separate Restrooms: "Divided Congress to Use Separate Restrooms
by Scott Ott

(2005-01-03) -- The 109th U.S. Congress, which convenes tomorrow, will be so deeply divided that Republicans and Democrats will use separate restrooms, according to Congressional sources.

Leaders in the House and Senate have already allocated funding for door signs designating men's and women's restrooms for each of the two major parties.

Debates in committee have centered the relative positions of facilities to the right or left of the House and Senate chambers.

Democrats said they'll fight any effort by the Republican majority to position them to the far left of the main halls. The threat of a Democrat restroom filibuster looms as Republicans exercise their growing political power.

Aides also report gathering momentum for a Republican effort to 'privatize' public restrooms, sparking some Democrats to wonder aloud if the facilities will be 'there for you when your time comes.'" [ Satire ]

DRUDGE REPORT FLASH

[UNCONFIRMED!!] DRUDGE REPORT FLASH: "URGENT: 'TARGET #1': al-Zarqawi reportedly arrested in Iraq
Tue Jan 04 2005 09:49:47 ET

DUBAI, January 4 (Itar-Tass) - Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi, whom the US occupation authorities declared to be the 'target number one' in Iraq, has been arrested in the city of Baakuba, the Emirate newspaper al-Bayane reported on Tuesday referring to Kurdish sources. Al-Zarqawi, leader of the terrorist group Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad, was recently appointed the director of the Al-Qaeda organisation in Iraq.

The newspaper's correspondent in Baghdad points out that a report on the seizure of the terrorist, on whom the US put a bounty of 10 million dollars, was also reported by Iraqi Kurdistan radio, which at one time had been the first to announce the arrest of Saddam Hussein.

There have been no official reports about the arrest of the terrorist. Al-Zarqawi, 38, a Jordanian, whose real name is Ahmad al-Khalayleh, aims to turn Iraq into a 'new Afghanistan'. According to Arab press data, Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad group has divided Iraq into several emirates. The group's independent subdivisions at a strength of 50 to 500 militants operate in the cities of Al-Falluja, Al-Qaim, Diala, and Samarra.

The personnel of the group is on the whole 1,500-strong and includes Iraqis and citizens of Arab and Islamic countries. There are demolition experts and missilemen among them.

The group has depots of weapons and explosives in various parts of the country. It intends to frustrate the upcoming parliamentary elections that are scheduled for the end of this month. Al-Tawhid Wa'al-Jihad threatens to do away with Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and members of the interim government.

Developing.."

CNN Sticks its Foot in Mouth

DRUDGE REPORT FLASH 2005?: "SHOCK AFTER CNN CHIEF 'FLOOD THE ZONE' COMMENT
Tue Jan 04 2005 12:17:58 ET

Industry insiders are aghast at new CNN chief Jonathan Klein's appalling lack of sensitivity to the tsunami disaster in his ongoing media tour today.

Klein told USATODAY that CNN was 'able to flood the zone immediately.'

'It's jarring,' said one news executive. 'This guy's obsessed with associating himself with the coverage of this tragedy and he royally sticks his foot in his mouth his first time out of the gate -- could there be a worse choice of words to use after 150,000 people just died in an epic flood of waves?'

Developing..."

Al-Sabah Newspaper - A Fresh Perspective

Want to get a better understanding of what is happening in Iraq that is not slanted by Al-Jazeera or the Western Media? Here is a source for news that is not just sensational violence. It provides a perspective on the progress being made by the Iraqi people to wrench back control of their own destiny to build a new future for their children and themselves. The following is from a column wrtten by Muhammed Abdul Jabbar al- Shabout / presumably a reporter or editor of the Al-Saabah Newspaper in Baghdad.

Those who plan and carry out military operations in Iraq are very clear in their acts, goals and activities, which is a crystal clear in their declarations and sayings backed by their practices.

Yesterday, Usama Bin Ladin appointed his colleague Abu Mus'ab al- Zarqawi as a leader of Mujahideen in Iraq as they practice jihad its nature and reality no more hidden for Iraqi individual . Bin Ladin's clarity is so reflected in his call for escalating military operations.

So the acts depicted practical reply for the call addressed by Imam of Jihad against Iraqis as 'Resistance heroes' launched a comprehensive, strategic and economic war against Iraqi oil. Over three days, they bombed Al- Dora and Basra oil refineries as well as strategic oil pipeline transporting oil near Mussayab and oil pipeline transporting oil from Kirkuk to Al- Dora besides main oil pipeline transporting oil to the north.

They impose oil blockade not only on Baghdad, where is the population make up more than six millions, but also on Iraq as a whole. Iraqi oil exports declined in the southern region only..." - Muhammed Abdul Jabbar al- Shabout More... (worth the read)

His english column is worth the read, and we hope the author can provide more in english over time. The paper and site are in Arabic, however there is one page authored by a staff writer with some written English skills. While the English is not perfect, it nevertheless gets the points home! The front page in Arabic with photos can be found at Al-Sabaah

Iraqis Will Vote Despite Violence

"Reader Haider Ajina emailed us the results of a poll published in the Iraqi Arabic newspaper Alsabaah, showing that the mujahideen have failed to dissuade Iraqis from voting:" - LGF

The poll was of 4974 Iraqis living in and around Baghdad.

The following is the translation of the poll and the results:

- Will the security problems cause you to?
Not come out and vote the day of elections = 18.3%
Come out and vote the day of elections = 78.3%
No opinion = 3.4%

- Do you support the Iraqi Government having its own official newspaper?
Yes = 67.7%
No = 30.9%
Do Not know = 1.4%?

- Do you support military action against the terrorists?
Yes = 87.7 %
No = 11.1%
Don't Know = 1.2%

Palestinian Ballot

Seems like there will be more than one mock democratic election in the Middle East this year...

AP News: "GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that he wants to shield Palestinian militants from Israel and indicated he has no plans to crack down on gunmen after upcoming presidential elections."

Don't count on a wave of "insurgents" entering Ramala to bring this election down! - zzb

The Ayn Rand Institute: U.S. Should Not Help Tsunami Victims

If you have been searching for the flip side of the tsunami disaster relief effort well then search no more. The Ayn Rand Institute has come to your rescue. This blog and article will provide you with all the counterpoint you have been looking for with respect to the relief aid for the tsunami victims. Especially designed for all you cynics out there:

The Ayn Rand Institute: U.S. Should Not Help Tsunami Victims: "Our money is not the government's to give.

As the death toll mounts in the areas hit by Sunday's tsunami in southern Asia, private organizations and individuals are scrambling to send out money and goods to help the victims. Such help may be entirely proper, especially considering that most of those affected by this tragedy are suffering through no fault of their own.

The United States government, however, should not give any money to help the tsunami victims. Why? Because the money is not the government's to give.

Every cent the government spends comes from taxation. Every dollar the government hands out as foreign aid has to be extorted from an American taxpayer first. Year after year, for decades, the government has forced American taxpayers to provide foreign aid to every type of natural or man-made disaster on the face of the earth: from the Marshall Plan to reconstruct a war-ravaged Europe to the $15 billion recently promised to fight AIDS in Africa to the countless amounts spent to help the victims of earthquakes, fires and floods--from South America to Asia. Even the enemies of the United States were given money extorted from American taxpayers: from the billions given away by Clinton to help the starving North Koreans to the billions given away by Bush to help the blood-thirsty Palestinians under Arafat's murderous regime..." - David Holcberg/Ayn Rand Institute More...

David Holcberg is a research associate at the Ayn Rand Institute in Irvine, Calif. The Institute promotes the philosophy of Ayn Rand, author of Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead.

John Kerry Talks with Newsweek

In an interesting interview with Newsweek, John Kerry finally speaks to the press. It was even referenced on Tim Russert's Meet the Press this morning as well. While there is no earth shattering news here, we could not help but remain astounded at Kerry's mis-understanding of himself and his campaign. He still doesn't seem to get it. He is NOT the best candidate the Democrats have to offer, or hope to offer in 2008. But to read the comments in the transcript published on MSNBC.COM, he still has it in his head that he would be his party's number one choice in 2008. Go figure. Here is an excerpt from the Newsweek summary by Evan Thomas.

...Despite, or because of, a somewhat stoical and severe New England upbringing, Kerry has a tendency to natter at his subordinates, to blame everyone but himself.

...He never quite came out and said it, but Kerry sounded very much like a man who was running for president again. He has a mailing list with 2.9 million names and an organization in every state. His moneymen have not backed away...

("Did he whine?" was the first question one senior Kerry aide asked of the NEWSWEEK reporter who had recently been to see Kerry.) On this damp November evening, he appeared alone in the house; he answered the door and showed his visitor into a cozy, book-lined drawing room. His face was deeply lined, his eyes drooped, he looked like he hadn't slept in about two years. But his manner was resolute, his mood seemed calm, even chipper.

Why did he lose? Kerry points to history and, in a somewhat inferential, roundabout way, to his own failure to connect to voters?a failure that kept him from erasing the Bush campaign's portrait of him as a flip-flopper. Kerry said that he was proud of his campaign, that he had nearly defeated a popular incumbent who had enjoyed a three-year head start on organizing and fund-raising. Sitting presidents are never defeated in wartime, he insisted (true, though two, LBJ and Harry Truman, chose not to run for another term during Vietnam and Korea). Kerry did not wish to be directly quoted touting himself, however; he did not wish to appear defensive or boastful.

He never quite came out and said it, but Kerry sounded very much like a man who was running for president again. He has a mailing list with 2.9 million names and an organization in every state. His moneymen have not backed away. By and large, Kerry has not been blamed for the defeat, at least not the way former vice president Al Gore was after the 2000 election. Some of Kerry's followers are already plotting how Kerry can defeat Hillary Clinton in the Iowa caucuses in 2008. The conventional wisdom, already congealing before Bush's second Inaugural, pictures Kerry and Clinton as the early Democratic front runners... - Evan Thomas/Newsweek

Kerry's people must be in a state of denial! We found the possibilites of a Clinton/Obama ticket actually much more plausible... or even include Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) in the mix. John McCain and Condi Rice on the other side of the aisle would be interesting as well :) Regardless, if Howard Dean does succeed in taking over DNC Campaign Chairmanship, we can be guaranteed another entertaining election campaign, with plenty of material for all blogging satirists out there. Either way, the Democratic party is in a mess and might do well to remove the rose colored glasses as quickly as possible. - zzb

Bitting the Hand That Feeds You!

We came across a comment in Tim Blair's blog we thought worth sharing. Especially with our EU friends. Yes, we do have friends. We suspect more and more Americans are beginning to feel this way. The anti-American rhetoric and crticism is beginning to take it's toll.

...Nothing we ever do is good enough, especially in the eyes of Europe. I have also noticed that the most self-centered ruthless unapologetic bastards around, China, get a free pass....

Eventually politians get voted into power that begin to support the sentiments of this commenter... it happens over time, but rest assured, it does happen and the body politic begins to change for the worse. This is becoming a typical common sentiment: - zzb

As an American, I dream (over and over) of the day the President goes on international television and announces that the US is officially closing it's wallet to any nation that is ungrateful for our benevolence, in other words almost all nations.

My dream is even better when America has pledged funds for a natural disaster, were called "stingy", and then back out of the pledge. Ideally, the President, in front of the Congress and on international television, would reiterate the amount money we had pledged, announce our withdrawal of the money, play the clip of Mr. "Morally Superior to You" [presumably Chirac?] saying what evil people Americans are [ or at least the present US leadership], and then cite Mr. Morally Superior as the reason the money will not be forthcoming. And, I want the President to do this again and again every time something bad happens and people feel they are entitled to our money, but then look our gift horse in the mouth.

During the last four years, Americans have had it beaten into our heads that the world hates us. We also have had it beaten into our heads that nothing we ever do or don't do will make the world stop hating us. Nothing we ever do is good enough, especially in the eyes of Europe. I have also noticed that the most self-centered ruthless unapologetic bastards around, China, get a free pass. After all when Bush came to Australia, the Parliament members wanted to shout and protest during his speech. When the Chinese Something-or-Other Minister came to deliver a speech to Australia's Parliament, all the MPs were given explicit instructions to sit down, shut up, and behave. Maybe we should recast our foreign policy to look more like China's?

We are running a massive deficit in the US. If Europe and the UN are going to complain and attack us when we are doing something nice, maybe our money could be better spent at home.

Posted by: EvilDave on Jan 01, 05 | 7:18 pm

EvilDave sorry you did not post a link. We suspect feedback would have been forthcoming!

Out with the Old; In with the New!