REMEMBER TO VOTE ON TUESDAY

A Friend Of Mine Sent Me This And I Wanted To Pass It On:

Probably by now you've seen the Democrats' latest campaign slogan:
"A New Direction For America -- Vote DEMOCRATIC!"*

Perhaps we should analyze this promise.

The stock market is at a new all-time high and America's 401K's are back.
A new direction from there means what?

Unemployment is at 25 year lows.
A new direction from there means what?

Oil prices are plummeting.
A new direction from there means what?

Taxes are at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means what?

Federal tax revenues are at all-time highs.
A new direction from there means what?

The Federal deficit is down almost 50%, just as predicted over last year.
A new direction from there means what?

Home valuations are up 200% over the past 3.5 years.
A new direction from there means what?

Inflation is in check, hovering at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means what?

Not a single terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11/01.
A new direction from there means what?

Osama bin Laden is living under a rock in a dark cave, having not
surfaced in years, if he's alive at all, while 95% of Al Queda's top dogs
are either dead or in custody, cooperating with US Intel.
A new direction from there means what?

Several major terrorist attacks already thwarted by US and British Intel,
including the recent planned attack involving 10 Jumbo Jets being
exploded in mid-air over major US cities in order to celebrate the
anniversary of the 9/11/01 attacks.
A new direction from there means what?

Just as President Bush foretold on a number of occasions, Iraq was
to be made "ground zero" for the war on terrorism -- and just as
President Bush said they would, terrorist cells from all over the region are
arriving from the shadows of their hiding places and flooding into Iraq in order to
get their faces blown off by US Marines rather than boarding planes and
heading to the United States to wage war on us here.
A new direction from there means what?

Moreover, bear in mind that all of the above occurred in the face of the
1999 tech crash, the epidemic of corporate scandals throughout the 90's,
and the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks on NYC years in the planning , which
collectively sucked 24 trillions dollars and 7.8 million jobs out of the
US economy even before G. W. Bush had time to unpack his suitcases in the
White House. It's easy to attempt to discredit, disgrace and defame our
commander in-chief, George W. Bush; what's not so easy to do is to refute irrefutable
facts, no matter how they might try.

Do yourself and this country of ours a favor and don't be bent on hate and blame-shifting simply in the name of hate and blame-shifting. Take heed of reality, use your head and cast your vote
wisely in the upcoming elections.

The stakes are far too high today, as America's very future,
and yes, even its very survival is now at stake!

Yes, I said even our very survival is at stake

SADDAM SENTENCED TO HANG

Well this puts Democrats in a bit of a bind, doesn't it? Here we are, the day before the mid-term elections....a day in which their party is expected to at least take over the House of Representatives....and they have a problem. The popularity of the Democrats right now hinges almost exclusively on the unpopularity of the war in Iraq. The idea that the Butcher of Baghdad might hang for his crimes could justify the war in Iraq in enough people's minds to cause them to pull the GOP lever tomorrow.

Some Democrats are being smart about it. New York Senator Chuck Schumer, for instance, came out and said yesterday that Saddam was a brutal, evil dictator that is getting what he deserves...but he doesn't think the conviction makes much of a difference in the election. This is in stark contrast to Howard Dean's comments that were made right after Saddam was captured 3 years ago. Remember that? Dean said America was not safer after Saddam's capture. He's since changed his tune, calling Saddam Hussein a war criminal who is getting what he deserves.

But this isn't what Democrats really want to say. They probably think that the trial's verdict was timed by the Bush Administration to coincide directly with the mid-term elections. A "November Surprise," if you will. What they really believe is that Iraq was better off under Saddam Hussein...and they're upset at the idea he might be executed. All of this proves one thing: Democrats are invested in American defeat in Iraq. Any positive development...any...they're going to downplay it. It's the only issue they have in this election and when something like this happens, they have nothing.

Will Saddam's verdict be enough to change public opinion about the war over the course of 2 days? Probably not. But you can definitely tell the left is worried.

THE SADDAM HUSSEIN VERDICT

By Michelle Malkin

Saddam Hussein, the tyrant who gassed and tortured his own people en masse, will be sentenced on Sunday. Instead of seeing the conclusion of the trial as an instrument of justice, Bush critics have put on their tinfoil hats to ply more nutball conspiracy theories:

A verdict in the first criminal case against Saddam Hussein is expected two days before a key US midterm vote that has become a referendum on the Iraq war -- but any benefit for President George W. Bush's Republican Party was unclear.

The verdict is to be presented on Sunday, just ahead of Tuesday's vote in which Bush's Republicans appeared poised to lose control of Congress...

... On the Internet, in US leftist discussion forums and among some bloggers, there is a strong suspicion that the date was chosen on purpose to benefit the Republicans.

"Given the Bush administration's history of timing national security-related actions to the political calendar, has the date for the verdict's release been set to provide maximum political benefit for the administration and congressional Republicans?" asked a blogger on the DemocraticUnderground.com discussion site.

Tom Engelhardt, writing in the leftist The Nation magazine, notes that the verdict comes "curiously enough, just two days before the midterm elections. It's the sort of the thing that -- you would think -- any reporter with knowledge of the US election cycle ... would at least note in an article. But no, you can search high and low without finding a reference to this in the mainstream media."

US Ambassador in Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad rejects the charges, insisting that the date was set by Iraqi judges and that Washington had no role in the decision.

THE POODLE'S EMPTY APOLOGY

Just as predicted, John Kerry strode to a microphone yesterday and attempted to apologize for saying those who didn't study hard and get an education would wind up in Iraq. Here is how he said it: "I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted to wrongly imply anything negative about those in uniform, and I personally apologize to any service member, family member or American who was offended. As a combat veteran, I want to make it clear to anyone in uniform and to their loved ones: My poorly stated joke at a rally was not about, and never intended to refer to any troop."

Now...to properly understand Kerry's apology, you will need an interpretation. Here is what he really means:

1. He regrets that his words were misinterpreted. What he really means here is that if anyone thought he was insulting our troops abroad, that means they're an idiot. Remember, no one is as smart as John Kerry...and if you don't know what John Kerry meant, then that means you're just not qualified to pass judgment on The Poodle. Only if and when you become as intelligent as The Kept Man will you ever know what he truly meant. Translation: it's all your fault.
   
2. As a combat veteran...his comment was never intended to refer to any troop. Translation: hey...John Kerry served in combat for a few months, milking it for several purple hearts and medals...ribbons? Ok, medals. By saying only dumb people wind up in Iraq, he didn't mean the troops. He meant....well, he's not sure. But it wasn't troops...because, hey...he's been there. Oh .. and his words must have also been "misinterpreted" last year when he talked about our troops "terrorizing women and children" and several years ago when he compared them to the rampaging hoards of Genghis Kahn.

At the end of the day, the basic thrust of Kerry's "apology" is that anyone who thinks he meant what he meant is not as smart as he is. Typical elitist, leftist condescension....and part of the reason he was blown out in the 2004 election.

JOHN KERRY WAS FOR THE BOTCHED JOKE BEFORE HE WAS AGAINST IT

Democratic Senator John Kerry had the courage on Monday to say what he really believes about the US soldier: they are stupid for serving in Iraq.

Here is his controversial statement to a group of Californian students:

TEXT:

“You know, education, if you make the most of it, if you study hard and you do your homework, and you make an effort to be smart, uh, you, you can do well. If you don’t, you get stuck in Iraq.”

Apparently it runs in the family. Remember the 2004 Presidential debate when Teresa Heinz-Kerry said about Laura Bush:

Well, you know, I don’t know Laura Bush. But she seems to be calm, and she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good. But I don’t know that she’s ever had a real job — I mean, since she’s been grown up. So her experience and her validation comes from important things, but different things. And I’m older, and my validation of what I do and what I believe and my experience is a little bit bigger — because I’m older, and I’ve had different experiences. And it’s not a criticism of her. It’s just, you know, what life is about.

Well! Laura Bush has only been a school teacher and mother. No real job there!

Kerry’s reply? Refusing to apologize to the troops and changing the subject. At his press conference (click on the photo below), he adds insult to injury to all military and their families with his offensive attack and inane ranting.. Must watch video of Kerry imploding and refusing to take responsibility for his comments:

Kerry is now insisting that this is the White House’s fault for taking the “botched joke” out of context. The real joke read, “If you get an education, you won’t wind up in Iraq. Just ask George Bush.” How exactly is that different? Beside the fact that George W. Bush’s GPA (grade point average) at Yale was higher than Kerry’s, he still states that if a student gets an education he can avoid going to Iraq. He can spin this anyway he wishes, but apparently everyone but Kerry knows what he really meant. He really dislikes the military. Period.

Remember these statements?

JOHN KERRY: But there is no excuse three and a half years later for American troops to be driving by IEDs and getting blown up. Are you telling me that they can’t drive a truck?

AND

And there is no reason, Bob, that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of the customs of the—of—the historical customs, religious customs. Iraqis should be doing that.

Military bashing aside, the idea that Kerry can so haphazardly insult the sitting Commander in Chief, which he admitted was his intent, is another example of his disrespect for America and the troops. No good soldier ridicules and mocks the Commander in Chief during wartime. But we all know this.

John Kerry is a man who volunteered for service in Vietnam to ensure a short tour, escaping a year or 2 tour that every other draftee or volunteer faced in the 70’s. He served in Vietnam from November 1968 to March of 1969 for a grand total of FOUR MONTHS. This is a man who who injured himself to avoid continuing service in Vietnam. This is a man who, once he returned to the US, bought medals from a military surplus store, which he lobbied laboriously to get, and threw them over the White House wall to show how much he distained his service and those awards.

John Kerry’s ‘Band of Brothers’

John Kerry is a man who claims to be a war hero but who virtually none of his men in Vietnam will support. The men on his swift boat said:

Though we come from different backgrounds and hold varying political opinions, we agree on one thing: John Kerry misrepresented his record and ours in Vietnam and therefore exhibits serious flaws in character and lacks the potential to lead.

We regret the need to do this. Most Swift boat veterans would like nothing better than to support one of our own for America’s highest office, regardless of whether he was running as a Democrat or a Republican. However, Kerry’s phony war crimes charges, his exaggerated claims about his own service in Vietnam, and his deliberate misrepresentation of the nature and effectiveness of Swift boat operations compel us to step forward.

Of course, all this discounts the fact that this is NOT Vietnam and that this all volunteer armed forces have answered the call to serve. All branches of the US military, Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, are consistently exceeding recruitment and re-enlistment (retention) expectations according to the Department of Defense.

RECRUITING:

Army: 104%
Navy: 100%
Marine Corps: 107%
Air Force: 100%

(Oct. 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006)

RETENTION:

Army: 104%
Navy: 100%
Marine Corps: 101%
Air Force: 100%

(Oct. 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006)

This confuses a man like John Kerry, who doesn’t understand patriotism and a sense of honor, duty and country. Yesterday I posted about a young enlisted man whose funeral I attended. He was 21 adn killed in Iraq. Both he and his father served in Iraq, volunteering for service knowing full well a deployment to either Afghanistan or Iraq is imminent. Are CPL or SGM Unger uneducated or stupid, or are they heroic? Apparently John Kerry believes the first.

There’s one Vietnam vet who deserved being spat upon. His name is John Kerry.

WHAT A SENSE OF HUMOR ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE

By Michelle Malkin

Attention, John Kerry: Here's a banner message from the troops "stuck in Iraq" that's spreading like wildfire across the 'Net. (Hat tip: Leonard and Anthony J.) Click for enlarged photo:

Laffing out lowd!

Update: Drudge just picked up on it. It's gone viral. Well done, troops.

***

President Bush on the Rush Limbaugh show this afternoon:

THE PRESIDENT: Let me say something about our troops, Rush. I am... I guess "amazed" is the proper word at how courageous our troops are, and I am amazed at the fact that they are so capable, and that they volunteer in the midst of this war to defend us, and these troops deserve all the support of the United States of America, and they understand as well as anybody that we are making progress in Iraq, and they know when their comrades are out there fighting that they're bringing enemies to justice. They see that firsthand. The enemy has got an advantage in that by killing innocent people it looks like they're winning, because it gets on our TV screens. We have taken a measured approach to talking about casualties, but I can assure your listeners: our troops are on the offense, and they're after an enemy. When they find the enemy and the enemy confronts, we win.

They can't beat us on the battlefield. The only way we can lose this is if we leave, and our troops are -- the other thing people say, "Well, you know, it's a long slug and therefore it's going to be hard to maintain morale in the military." One: it is going to be a tough fight, but I will tell you something. The morale in our military is high because these young men and women understand the stakes. Reenlistment rates are very high and recruitment rates are strong, which all says to me we've got an amazing country when we've got people who put on the uniform say, "Put me in. I want to go fight for this country."

RUSH: Yeah, and then they turn around and get insulted routinely. John Kerry is not the first. He's just the latest, Mr. President. We don't really have to focus on him. You've spoken about Senator Kerry. He's now trying to laugh this off by saying he was talking about you, but clearly he has a Vietnam era mind-set, back when we had a draft, that if you didn't have a college deferment you got drafted -- and that's his thinking on who comprises military members, that they're basically uneducated boobs, but it's not just Senator Kerry. We've got Senator Durbin who has impugned interrogators as Guantanamo Bay. Throughout this war effort some Democrats have done their best to impugn the people who are volunteering, offering their lives in sacrifice to defend this country. They have questioned their motives. They've questioned their backgrounds and so forth -- and frankly, Mr. President, the American people are outraged by this because John Kerry is just the latest. This is not the first.

THE PRESIDENT: Anybody who is in a position to serve this country ought to understand the consequences of words, and our troops deserve the full support of people in government. People here may not agree with my decision. I understand that. But what I don't understand is any diminution of their sacrifice. We've got incredible people in our military, and they deserve full praise and full support of this government. Secondly, what they deserve is a plan for victory, and we have a plan for victory. Our victory, as you know, is really to help the Iraqis win, to help the 12 million people, to help Iraq realize the dreams of 12 million people who voted. To help the political process and help the security process and help the economic process and we're doing just that. It's not easy work, because there's an enemy that still tries to derail the process. They're trying to foment sectarian violence, and on the other hand it's necessary work. My problem with many of the Democrat voices in Washington is they have no plan for victory.

This is an essential part of the war on terror, and I believe responsible leaders must come up with a plan for victory in order to achieve peace, and yet the only plan I hear is, one: let's get out of Iraq before the job is done -- which would be a disaster for a future generation of Americans. Getting out of Iraq, Rush, all that would do is embolden an enemy and dash the hopes of millions who count on the United States to help them secure freedom, and getting out of Iraq would make the country less secure. One of the interesting things about this war that is different from previous wars, is in previous wars you could leave the battlefield and the enemy would stay close to the battlefield. In this war, if you leave the battle, the enemy follows us home to America -- and that's one of the lessons of September the 11th, and that's one of the reasons why we will win in Iraq. I repeat: the only reason we could lose in Iraq is if we leave, and, therefore, we've got kids sacrificing in Iraq, and when they hear politicians say, "Get out before the job is done," that's discouraging to them, and it's discouraging to the Iraqis, and it's encouraging to the enemy. That's why my voice is so loud in saying to our troops: "What you're doing is noble and important and you're going to win and history will look back and thank you for your sacrifices."