Free Republic

Udall's other famous cousin is Sen. Gordon Smith, from Oregon. Though Mo and Stewart, along with their kids have remained Democrats, most of their 'kin in Arizona have long since become Republican faithful.

Perhaps the government could enact a loose policy that says Harvard Law graduates are less attractive than other school graduates for work as US Attorney's or Federal Judges or as Counsel for any of the US appelate courts or a Solicitor before the Supreme Court.

There should be consequences for those who choose to attend a school that precludes service in the military. Individuals are free to choose where they go to law school. Some schools just have less attractiveness to the Government.

I would imagine that Harvard, or any other elitist liberal school would quickly change their policy if they saw a little tit for tat like this.

El Gato,
Thanks for helping set the record straight.

Filipino's have a history of friendship with America. From about 1898 till 1941, America ruled the Philippines with a benevolant hand, preparing the Philippines to enter the world of Democratic Republics. That process was interuppted when Japan attacked and took over for a few brief years. I think the Philippines became independent in 1948.

For every American who died on Filipino soil during the Pacific War with Japan, 6 Filipinos died along side him, many while trying to save his life. It's estimated that 50000 Filipino men and women died on the infamous death march from Bataan to Tarlac. Many died trying to give Americans food or water.

As we contemplate opening our borders to immigrant workers, I would much rather have a Filipino receive that opportunity to work and immigrate here. They earned the right for at least a couple of generations.

Besides, they'd be able to use English. Because there are about 75 native Filipino dialects, English is taught very early to school children. It is almost as widely spoken in the Philippines as Tagalog, their national language. For those wanting to come here to work, we wouldn't have to print any special signs and documents, like we do for the illegals coming from south of us.

If we really have so much work Americans won't do, I say invite the sons and daughters of those who died fighting alongside our parents in World War II and in Vietnam. They'd make excellent citizens. Thousands already have.

Thanks so much for this post. I've bookmarked it so my Father in law can read it.

He was an engineer and the top-gunner on a B-17 whose pilot was the squadron leader. His plane's bombadier manned the Norton bombsight, which contolled the bombing mechanisms on all the planes in the squadron. That's why they tightened their formations for the bomb runs, because one plane targeted all the bombs being dropped.

The Dresden mission was the only mission he flew where two runs were made in a 36 hour period. They flew over the first time in one of the leading squadrons and dropped a certain type of Phosphorus bomb to start fires, and then flew another mission with another type of phosphorus bomb to keep the fires going, creating a firestorm. There was a continuous flow of bombers over the city for 36 to 40 hours. My father-in-law said that by the time they made their second run, the flames and air currents coming from the destruction made it almost impossible to maintain formation. The flames reached thousands of feet into the air and could be seen from many miles away.

Preceding the Dresden mission, General Hap Arnold helped train the B17 Squadrons. He flew on my father-in-law's plane many times, preparing for Dresden. I'm not sure if Dad said that Gen. Arnold actually flew on the Dresden mission or just watched it very closely. From the trial runs (over Britian and some islands in the North Sea), they had estimates of what the destruction would be like and how effective certain bomb loads and mixes were, but the actual Dresden bombings surpassed all expectations.

Later Hap Arnold planned and commanded the firestorming of Tokyo, having learned at Dresden how to pattern the squadrons and the mix of bombs to use, for the highest levels of destruction.

The firestorm bombing of Tokyo in July 1945 was as devasting to huge areas of that city and caused more destruction and killed more people than the combined atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

I don't know that I would judge too harshly the use of such tactics. Over 58000 B17 crewmen died during WWII, more killed in those flying coffins than were lost by the marines in the Pacific theater. The Germans were fighting to the death.

It was total war, with the goal "unconditional surrender". The entire world was at war, and had been for a number of years before Dresden. Only South America and the Southern half of Africa was unaffected. North America saw little destruction, but our engagement was total everywhere else.

The Germans had a lot to account for. Their cruelty in the early years in Poland and Russia, and other Eastern European states was profound and unimaginable.

Americans are slow to anger, but terrible when finally engaged in battle. A people whose tradition for warfare are the fields of Gettysburg, Antietem, and Fredricksburg, with brother against brother, to the death, know how to kill. One could even say that after a point, we are a bit uncivilized, killing till the measure of destruction is full and justice satisfied and sated. Before the Civil War, our national view of war was different. After the Civil War our collective psychie changed and we became ferocious and blood thirsty.

Maybe we've changed again in the new wars of the 21st Century. But we should not look through the filters of today's strategies and outcomes and judge too harshly the generations that preceded us.

My grandfather knew well veterans of the Civil War. He was past middle age during World War II. I was the fourth generation from the Civil War. Maybe the dictum of the Bible of "visiting destruction to the 3rd and 4th generation" has run its course in my generation. I hope that is the case

I know. I used to put up campaign signs with him.

Mahoney directed his campaign to take votes from Matt, not Janet.

Great conversation between you and Kstewskis.

Yes, I think some soccor Moms crossed over to Nappy, but it appears that Mahoney's 84,947 votes came mainly from Republicans and Liberarians (about 20K libertarian votes).

The difference between total Democrats voting for their Congressional Candidates vs Republicans voting for their Congressional Candidates was 209,785, in favor of the Republicans. There was no "independent" Congressional candidate in any of the 8 Congressional Districts, so it appears Republicans got the Independent vote in those elections.

Mahoney even pulled some Libertarian votes, with total Congressional Libertarian vote at 40,308, and total votes for Barry Hess at 20,356, or a crossover of abour 20,000 votes to Mahoney.

Salmon only lost by just under 12,000 votes of 1.227 Million cast for Governor. Had Mahoney not been there, raising the "Mormon" issue (Colorado City etc) Salmon would have won. No doubt in my mind.

Now that the Federal govt has said it will not change the name, Squaw Peak has two names.

In proper chronological order it is now:
Squaw Piestewa Peak. Somehow I don't think that is what Nappy wanted.

Exploitation at it worst.
A greedy politician, posed next to a military aircraft, wrapping himself in the cloak of "supporting our military".
How dare him use our military in such a shameful fashion. It's un-American and has no place in American politics.
To get your blood really boiling just click on this link.
http://leahy.senate.gov/vermont/guard.html

uh, uh, Is that Sen Leahy. Ooops, wrong picture.

The violation of the law and procedure rules took place at the Board hearing. Besides the five year rule, one of the bylaws violated was that if at least one Public member (private citizen)is not present for a vote, the board cannot vote on a naming matter. Both private members of the board were absent. Only employees of the State voted.

The amount of pressure put on these folks was phenonmenal. Rumors abound regarding threats of job loss if this particular issue didn't go the governor's way. That kind of pressure, if true, is also against the law. Nappy (the governor) appears to be testing the waters of being an Empress.

Because there is money needed to effect the signage effected by the name change, estimated at $1Million+, taxpayers have been impacted in this budget-crisis year.

I know of some mention of a court fight to review the process of the Board's decision. Having sat on a few boards myself, there were at least 2, maybe 3 violations of process which could invalidate the decision, if it went to court.

The reports of such nasty pressure, which appear credible, could even energize a recall movement. Nappy only won by 13000 votes out of some 2 Million cast. Many people are offended by such naked use of power. We'll see if the issue has "wheels" over the next few days. Talk radio, on both of the major stations, KFYI and KTAR is pretty hot. Surprisingly, the issue went 90-10 against the governor on KTAR in a straw poll. Those listeners are normally more supportive of her liberal agenda.

You've both mentioned the oddness of Ivan's comments.
I've followed many of her statements and articles. She is often misinformed, doesn't do her homework and just shoots from her substantial hip. It would have taken 30 seconds for her to find out that Blewster is gone, and has been for a full term.

Arizona has passed, rather solidly, a prohibition against same-sex marraige. Test legislation gets started every session to chip away at this, but a reversal won't happen in the foreseeable future. With the dismissal of the Archaic laws in 2001, which had a financial element, there aren't too many financial incentives for the gays to target outside of the big one, which is the marriage covenant and relationships. Ivan's misdirected shot may be the first of series of "issue" creation by the gay agenda folks.

Sorry for the delay in responding. The issue concerned Tucson's allowing Benefits being payed to gay Partners.
Here's one of a series of articles on the subject.


April 19, 2003 weekly newsletter
Arizona Benefits Battle Heats Up
Monday, 8 February 1999
PHOENIX, Az. -- The Arizona Republic reports a fierce debate over gay benefits and civil rights tore through the Arizona state legislature last week during a hearing on whether the state should continue to extend insurance benefits to same-sex couples.

The bitter exchange pitted Rep. Steve May, the only openly gay Republican elected to the Legislature, against Rep. Karen Johnson, a conservative hardliner known for her pitched battles against abortion and the rights of gay men and women.

At one point, Rep. May demanded to know why he should receive less protection under the law than Johnson, particularly when he has a single partner and Johnson has been married five times.

Rep. Johnson said homosexual lifestyles are "undermining the natural family" and threatening basic American freedoms. Another conservative activist, Rep. Barbara Blewster, compared homosexuality to "bestiality, human sacrifice and cannibalism" in a letter to a constituent.

The bill under consideration would prohibit the use of tax money to pay spousal benefits for unmarried straight and gay couples. Johnson was the first to speak at a committee hearing on the topic, but quickly descended into a diatribe against homosexuality, the Republic reports.

"It's critical to our national health and survival to restore social virtue and purity to our state and nation," Johnson said. "Is living together without the benefit of marriage good? Is homosexuality good? If cohabitating and homosexual behavior is detrimental to the individual and to society, besides breaking the law, then society has the responsibility to resist it."


May was not scheduled to speak on the bill, but erupted when Johnson was finished speaking. "I don't know if these lies are born of ignorance, or bigotry, or prejudice.... I am offended. I am disgusted. It is a lie." He later criticized her for being on a "medieval crusade" and for "spewing venom." He called her a tool of "radical-right, big-government theocrats."

Rep. Ken Cheuvront (D-central Phoenix) joined May in criticizing the bill and its sponsor. Cheuvront is also openly gay.

After the hearing, May pointed out that Johnson has been married five times. "My tax dollars are supporting her fifth relationship," he said. "She's been using my tax dollars to support five husbands. But she thinks it's wrong to spend tax money on my one partner."

Among other things, Johnson asserted that gay men suffer from a variety of illnesses, including AIDS, gonorrhea, anal carcinoma, and what she called "gay bowel disease." She repeated a roundly discredited statistic which estimates gay life expectancy for a homosexual man with AIDS is 39, while homosexuals who haven't contracted AIDS can expect live to 42.

May disputed those assertions as lies and accused her of "carrying water" for Christian conservatives such as Gary Bauer and James Dobson in an attempt to stir up support for conservative groups. "Today, their best fund-raising tool is railing against homosexuals. I resent being victimized for raising money for ... the Christian Coalition," May said.

"Many members, I guess, expected me to stay in my office quietly and don't understand why I would come out publicly and oppose this ridiculous legislation," May said. "But when you attack my family, and you steal my freedom, I will not sit quietly in my office. This Legislature takes my gay tax dollars, and my gay tax dollars spend the same as your straight tax dollars. If you're not going to treat me fairly, don't take my money." -- C. Barillas, Editor"

The legislation passed. I don't know if the governor signed it.

In 2001, Governer Hull signed into law, the abrogation of Arizona's "archaic" laws, which forbade homosexual relations (Sodomy, various other "unnatural sexual act"), making it possible for Gay couples to claim dependents on Federal tax forms. That bill was co-sponsored by May and Chevraunt, as well as another members of both parties. The big debate was the changing of House rules to allow a Committee of the Whole vote take legislation out of the hands of a committee Chair. Specifically it allowed the whole House to vote on the bill without having to go through the Rules Committee, of which Johnson was Chair. It pretty well eliminated that Chair's power. Early this year that power was restored to the Chair, where Johnson still resides.

I posted this elswhere earlier. I repost it here.
For the full article see this url. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2948.htm

"Lynch, 19, a supply clerk with the Army's 507th Maintenance Company, was captured March 23 when her unit made a wrong turn near Nasiriyah and was ambushed. Initial accounts reported how she was shot and stabbed and continued battling Iraqi fighters until she ran out of ammunition. But the doctors here who treated her said she suffered fractures to her arms and lower limbs and a "small skull wound," sustained when her vehicle overturned.

Lynch's U.S. doctors have said she suffered fractures in her upper right arm, upper left leg, lower left leg and right ankle and foot. Her father, Greg Lynch Sr., told reporters she had no penetration wounds.

"It was a road traffic accident," Gizzy said. "There was not a drop of blood. . . . There were no bullets or shrapnel or anything like that." At the hospital, he said, "She was given special care, more than the Iraqi patients."

The physician said Lynch was first treated at an Iraqi military hospital before being transferred to the Saddam public hospital. An intelligence agent was posted in the hallway to guard the prisoner of war's first-floor hospital room. An Iraqi man whose wife worked at the hospital noticed the guard, discovered Lynch was the patient and alerted U.S. military personnel. He was sent back to gather more information, and the rescue was carried out April 1."

We need to temper our desire to find heroes in this war, with the knowledge that some in the press will use that desire to deflate our patriotism and make us cynical.

I didn't watch it.
Did they mention how Lynch sustained her injuries?
An earlier Washington Post story quoted the Iraqi Doctor who treated her, saying that her injuries were caused by any overturning vehicle.

Was that mentioned or brought out?

So much for Molly Ivans credibility.
I am good friends with Karen Johnson.
She hasn't considered any Gay issues since 2000.

Steve May, also a Republican, and a self proclaimed homosexual, used to have hot debates with Karen.

He was very bright, but also very arrogant. During the 2002 primary he spent almost no time in Arizona, figuring he had the election nailed. He got beat.

Karen still serves from my District, having survived all of the controversies of the 1999-2000 legislative cycles.

Am I in a time warp? Barbara Blewster hasn't been in the Arizona Legislature since January 2001. She was defeated in the September 2000 Primary election.

Steve May was defeated in the Sept. Primary of 2002.
All of these debates took place in either 1999 or 2000.

Is Molly Ivans rehashing an old debate without regard to the facts of our current legislature, or is the article misdated?

Americans need to understand more clearly what a hero is. We confuse fame with heroism, cheapening both. Hero's are the ones who risk their lives in extraordinary circumstances; who act, as opposed to being acted upon.

Certain members of the press play us like fools, first directing our attention toward some incident, inflating its importance by that attention, cycling our reaction and emotion into more attention and emotion, including our patriotism, until a fever pitch is reached, and then deflating us, including our patriotism, by releasing some withheld or new piece of information that would have tempered our emotions had we known it at the first.

If we knew that Jessica Lynch's injuries were sustained as a result of an overturned vehicle, and she was out of the action from the first, would we be so ethusiastic regarding her fame?

The following is excepted from an article in the Washington Post, April 15th. It has not received to much attention, but should, including verifying the facts, and withholding our collective fervor toward Jessical Lynch, until all the facts are in.

For the full article see http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article2948.htm


The Washington Post
Tuesday April 15, 2003; 12:30 PM NASIRIYAH, Iraq — Accounts of the U.S. military’s dramatic rescue of Pfc. Jessica Lynch from Saddam Hospital here two weeks ago read like the stuff of a Hollywood script. For Iraqi doctors working in the hospital that night, it was exactly that — Hollywood dazzle, with little need for real action.
“They made a big show,” said Haitham Gizzy, a physician at the public hospital here who treated Lynch, a native of Wirt County, W.Va., for her injuries. “It was just a drama. A big, dramatic show.”
Gizzy and other doctors said no Iraqi soldiers or militiamen were at the hospital that night, April 1, when the U.S. Special Operations forces came in helicopters to carry out the midnight rescue. Most of the Saddam’s Fedayeen fighters, and the entire Baath Party leadership, including the governor of the province, had come to the hospital earlier in the day, changed into civilian clothes and fled, the doctors said ......
Lynch, 19, a supply clerk with the Army’s 507th Maintenance Company, was captured March 23 when her unit made a wrong turn near Nasiriyah and was ambushed. Initial accounts reported how she was shot and stabbed and continued battling Iraqi fighters until she ran out of ammunition. But the doctors here who treated her said she suffered fractures to her arms and lower limbs and a “small skull wound,” sustained when her vehicle overturned.
Lynch’s U.S. doctors have said she suffered fractures in her upper right arm, upper left leg, lower left leg and right ankle and foot. Her father, Greg Lynch Sr., told reporters she had no penetration wounds.
“It was a road traffic accident,” Gizzy said. “There was not a drop of blood. . . . There were no bullets or shrapnel or anything like that.”
At the hospital, he said, “She was given special care, more than the Iraqi patients.”
The physician said Lynch was first treated at an Iraqi military hospital before being transferred to the Saddam public hospital. An intelligence agent was posted in the hallway to guard the prisoner of war’s first-floor hospital room. An Iraqi man whose wife worked at the hospital noticed the guard, discovered Lynch was the patient and alerted U.S. military personnel. He was sent back to gather more information, and the rescue was carried out April 1.
.....
“We agreed to stay in one room, not to intervene,” Hassan said. The soldiers broke down several doors in the hospital before locating Lynch, and then went to the back of the hospital to recover the remains of nine U.S. soldiers buried in shallow graves. Eight of them, from Lynch’s unit, were killed in the same ambush.
“They took Jessica and recovered the cadavers from behind the hospital,” Hassan said. He said he believed the U.S. troops were on the hospital grounds for almost three hours.
....

I would say that there is an active group of Republican Guards, who disappeared from the battle lines into the general Iraqi population who are under orders to cover-up as much as possible, the sins of the Saddam regime.

It turns out, per some respectd reports, that battles didn't happen because of agreements between coalition commanders and Iraqi generals. Time and time again, those forces just melted away, saving a lot of causulties on both sides.

Now these loyal Saddamites have become the core of anti-US foment, manipulated as needed. The mullahs seem to be using them to stage Anti-American tirades and events.

As government buildings were looted, computers and papers were taken, or destroyed, under the guise of anti-Saddam outbursts. The real goal of such civil disobedience was to get to the sites before the Americans could, getting rid of intelligence or damning evidence.

The organized and specific looting at the Museum is just another great coverup of the prior misdeeds at the Museum, with America getting the international blame.

Expect a lot more such events, with the target being America's reputation and/or the de-stablization of any government set up by the US.

Isa. 5:20.... "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!...."

24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

25 Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets.

While reading your post and comments that followed, I had my TV tuned to our local PBS station, which was running a documentary on Illegal aliens in Texas, their rights, the expression of their needs in this country, how they are organizing, how unfair it is for them, and most importantly, how the borders of the U.S. are artificial and should be disregarded.

The propaganda we constanly receive from our naive liberal observers (press, professors, activists, Hollywood elite, PC crowd) is some variation of the above message. There is never a discussion of the basis of our wealth (the rule of law, a sense of social conscience, the rights of property ownership, and a free competition of ideas, skills and products).

If our liberal "friends" (who needs enemies) have their guilt ridden way, we could easily be seeing in Zimbabwe, the pattern of our own future destruction here in the U.S., all in the name of "fairness" for the oppressed people of our (European) colonial past. First you disregard the rule of law and property rights. It's all downhill from there.

The networks all seem to be using the same street views via three or four stationary cameras in Baghdad. Does anyone have an idea where in the city these cameras are located?

The cameras show rather placid street scenes, with car and foot traffic typical of any large city. Yet the voice-overs occasionally indicate some terrific action nearby.