A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....11-29-07....JH2 ~ "I quote, you decide 2

JohnHuang2; Billie | November 29, 2007 | JohnHuang2

[Billie]

I quote, you decide 2 by JohnHuang2

Despite the fact that the surge is working, Democrats still see stunning progress being made by al-Qaeda in Iraq! That’s when they’re not too busy denying there’s an al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Democrats are so deep in denial, telling each other over and over that the surge has failed and our troops are on the run, the deniers even resorted to having their weekly radio address delivered by former Army Lt. Gen. Richardo Sanchez, the new pin-up who was fired for incompetence in Iraq. Ricky Richardo was top commander in Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004 — a period in which Democrats insisted al-Qaeda was winning, just like they’re insisting al-Qaeda’s winning today.

(President Bush thanked the troops in his Saturday radio address, so Democrats felt the need to offer a rebuttal!)

But — to be fair — below I list some of the recent developments in Iraq (technically known as ‘facts’) and attempts by the surge deniers to respond, in their own words.

• Fact: Iraqi civilian casualties are down 75 percent in Baghdad, 60 percent nationwide. Violence is down to the lowest levels in nearly 2 1/2 years. Right now, the only bombing appears to be De Palma’s war flick.
  
  
  
  “What I believe is that all this talk of casualty counts
  going down, that is wrong.” — Gov. Bill Richardson
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  
  
• Fact: The number of attacks have dropped over 55 percent since the surge began in February, down two-thirds since June. There were a total of 16 suicide bombings in October, a drop of 50 percent since the summer. Mortar rocket attacks in October dropped to the lowest level in nearly 20 months, improvised explosive device (IED) attacks have fallen about 80 percent.
  
  
  
  “It’s not getting better; it’s getting worse.” — Sen. Harry Reid
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  
  
• Fact: The Times of London reports that “Iraqi refugees are returning home in dramatic numbers, concluding that security in Baghdad has been transformed. Thousands have left their refuge in Syria in recent months” and “Saida Zaynab, the Damascus neighbourhoods once dominated by many of the 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, is almost completely deserted.” The Times quotes a U.N. spokesman admitting that “’there is a large movement of people going back to Iraq. We are doing rapid research on this.’”
  
  
  
  “Because the Pentagon says it, you believe it?!!!
  You believe what the Pentagon says?!! Huh?!!!
  After all the things that they have told us?!!! —
  Rep. John Murtha, yelling at reporters during a news conference.
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  
  
• Fact: The number of U.S. troop casualties dropped to levels not seen since February 2004 and U.S. combat deaths have also dropped, from 126 in May to 38 last month — lowest since March 2006. Attacks on U.S. soldiers have dropped to the lowest levels since before the February 2006 bombing of a Shiite shrine in Samarra, just before we “lost” the war.
  
  
  
  “This is not working, it’s a war without end,
  there is no light at the end of the tunnel,
  we must reverse it.” — House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  
  
• Fact: Iraqi security force casualties are down 40 percent in recent months and a surge of 20,000 Sunnis and Shiites have enlisted with the Iraq government to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq.
  
  
  
  “We need to stop refereeing their civil war and
  start getting out of it.” — Sen. Hillary Clinton
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  
  
• Fact: The Iraqi government now has full control of Basra, the second largest city in Iraq, after the recent British forces handover.
  
  
  
  “The Iraq War is a civil war [and I’m the only candidate
  who has offered] a comprehensive plan to end the war.”
  — Sen. Joe Biden
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  
  
• Fact: Oil is flowing at the highest levels in 5 years and, with over 70 percent of al-Qaeda’s ‘bombs-for-virgins’ and head-hacking cells destroyed, applications to start small to medium-sized businesses have skyrocketed — up 500 percent in Baghdad alone, according to a New York Post report.
  
  
  
  “The (American) occupation is fueling the insurgency . . .
  the troops should be brought home now . . . (we Democrats)
  should tell President Bush ‘we’re not going to give you another
  dime, we’re not putting another bill on the floor, bring them
  home now!’” — Rep. Dennis Kucinich

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Opening a crack in the Democrats’ huge dam of denial, even the Associated Press is starting to figure out that al-Qaeda has suffered massive defeat, especially in the capital, where “twilight brings traffic jams to the main shopping district of this once-affluent corner of Baghdad, and hundreds of people stroll past well-stocked vegetable stands, bakeries and butcher shops. To many in America, it seems little short of a miracle.”

Bush-Petraeus have blown a hole in the Democrats’ Iraq life boat, so it all seems like a nightmare to the poor little darlings. Even that recent pet market bombing in Baghdad — which libbies got really excited about, ‘AL-QAEDA IS BACK! YESSSSS!’ — turned out to be the work of some Iranian-backed group (”Special Groups”) trying to make it look like al-Qaeda did it so as to kick start the slumping shia militia business. Didn’t work.

Democrats still try to comfort themselves with the fantasy that al-Qaeda is winning since the Baghdad government hasn’t passed an oil law. Don’t need one — oil revenue is reaching the provinces anyway and the locals are using it to rebuild. Modified de-Baathification law? Don’t need one — the Sunnis already have joined the Great Satan in seeing off al-Qaeda.

Democrats in Congress argue that the surge that’s working isn’t really working since the Parliament is dysfunctional, can’t get work done, is mired in low approval ratings — a scenario known technically as Pot calls Kettle black.


With Democrats in free-fall, lacking an ‘exit strategy’, al-Qaeda on the run and Congress taking a beating in the polls, next November will be nothing short of a nightmare for the Traitorcratic Party.

Anyway, that’s...

My Two Cents...

03-27-07 ~ Hall of Fame #19 ~ Final

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 11-26,27-07 Military Tribute 11-28-07 Warm Fuzzy Wednesday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[Billie]

LOL! I just love the “drawwwwwwl” that the actors always give us Texans!

[Billie]

But, like you, before I was even finished dragging everything out, I was already dreading packing it all away. I keep thinking, each year, that I need to somehow simplify this by getting rid of some of the decorations. But I never do.

It's hard 'not' to put put lights and garlands on everything because it's always so rewarding once it's done, to sit and enjoy the lights and 'stuff'! But, honestly, I 'have' been leaving some of the tree ornaments in the box the last few years instead of putting them all on the tree. (I just can't toss any of them out though) That's not to say I don't have fewer ornaments though! I always buy several new ones each year and think it's foolish to put some of the old stuff on that always gets relegated to the back where it absolutely does not show, or the inside of the tree where it ends up not showing either after all the pretty outside stuff gets on. Some years I dread the undecorating more than others and that's usually when I tend not to put bows on every tree outside and garlands or wreaths on all the windows and doors. LOL! One year - gahhhhh! - I candycane-wrapped all the fence posts around the property. Key word - "one" year! Never again! :)

We do this to ourselves, Lori. LOL

[MEG33]

Another winner! Loved your presentation and pledge, Billie, and John nailed it again.

[luvie]

Oh, yeaaaahhhh...they jes’ make us soun’ lak hicks frum the sticks! EGAD!

[luvie]

Ooooo...there are some great restaurants there! That’s where
we all ate when a bunch of us “Canteeners” got together last
May....at Case Rio. Yum!

Have a wonderful time and enjoy Texas hospitality!

[Diver Dave]

Little off topic, but I was watching parts of the debate last night and in the background of one of the U-tubers was a drawing of Ronald Reagan. Sure looked like one of your drawings, Billie.

[DollyCali]

we are talking “rough” movie here.. not sure either of you would like it.. read rotten tomatoes & Imdb before making the choice.

I dont want you both POd at me

[Mama_Bear]

We do this to ourselves, Lori. LOL

Oh, don't I know it! LOL.

I can't weed out any of my ornaments and I also leave some in their boxes too. They just won't fit on the tree. I have many that are over twenty years old and most are Hallmark ornaments that I put on the "traditional" tree (I decorate three trees in the house - a formal tree, a traditional tree and a kitchen tree). It's always harder putting the ornaments away then it is getting them out because they all need to be matched up with their boxes. They all have special meaning; some were handmade by friends, some were gifts, some I bought during our travels here and there. I will never part with any of them. JK has a huge Santa collection too that I put out each year. But, you're right, it is worth it once they are all in place. :-)

[Aquamarine]

Great Post you two! I like that new edge you’re using on your pic’s, Billie.

[Aquamarine]

Thanks for the movie review Dolly. Have you seen Bella yet? Have heard that’s a good movie.

[Billie]

Hi, Meg thank you - and love that cartoon you posted. :)

[Billie]

Love the photos you found to go with the quotes, Billie.

LOL - they were easy - but easy because those expressions are pretty much their norm!

[Billie]

... in the background of one of the U-tubers was a drawing of Ronald Reagan. Sure looked like one of your drawings, Billie.

Hmmmm, really? Would like to have seen them, but we didn't see the debate last night.

[Billie]

we are talking “rough” movie here

You're right - I doubt I'd like it, Dolly. :)

[Billie]

I only decorate one main tree here, and a smaller one in the guest house. Decorating the rest of the house is what I enjoy doing the most, because I want Christmas in every room.

Gosh I'm ready to get started NOW!

[Mama_Bear]

LOL - they were easy - but easy because those expressions are pretty much their norm!

Yes, well.....when there is ugliness, anger and viciousness in the heart, it shows on the face, IMO.

[Billie]

Thanks, Aqua. I like using that edge, too, and find I choose it a lot, especially when I want something without a drop shadow. It’s really pretty on pictures that are wider than they are tall - like the panoramic pics I used in Kansas and Delaware state threads.

[Mama_Bear]

Gosh I'm ready to get started NOW!

Good! Make it fun. That's what I tried to do. :-)

I think I will sit down this evening with one of JK's Irish Coffees, light a fire in the fireplace and just enjoy my house. I have been wrapping gifts all day. I feel like I am WAY ahead of the program.....it's still November! LOL. Please don't hate me. ;-)

[Billie]

They are an ugly, petty and bitter party, and you’re right - it shows on their faces as much as in their actions.

[Billie]

I feel like I am WAY ahead of the program.....it's still November! LOL. Please don't hate me. ;-)

Gaaaah! Stop ! I can't stand it! I will be a demon this weekend, making Christmas beautiful all through the house! LOL

Love Irish coffee!!! And sitting in front of the fire, with a blankie and doggie in my lap. :)