Free Republic

If you can't afford it, you can't afford it - that's unfortunate - although if you are willing to do the travel research and forego a few creature comforts, a week in Europe can be surprisingly inexpensive.

But, if the choice is between spending a few dollars in France, and paying homage to those that lay buried there.......... well. there is no choice. Is there?

Ronald Reagan is credited with bringing the Soviet Union to its knees and ending the Cold War. And quite right, too.

But we should never overlook (although we do) the contribution made by the Iron Lady and her unflagging support for America. The United States had not seen a friend the likes of her since Churchill himself.

On the wall of names at the American Cemetery outside Cambridge, honoring U.S.A.F. casualties in WWII, there is an inscription of Churchill's words which in part talks of Britain owing "a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid".

I would like to think that Margaret Thatcher, at very least, acknowledged the obligation.

To continue to attack the intelligence and enforcement agencies is to continue to weaken them.

Three decades ago they were the best in all of history. Today they are in a sorry state. There is plenty of blame to go around - but let's put it where it truly belongs. On our money grubbing, publicity addicted, lazy, worthless, gutless, incompetent politicians.

When crunch time comes, I'll still have more faith in the CIA and the FBI at their worst, than that bunch of Keystone Klowns in Congress.

One more point: Why do we accept anything written in the NYT as Gospel Truth? Why?

Truth is they want GWB's hide for newsprint and will do anything to get it. Forget it.

Why?

Because everyone wants a quick fix blame, and disposable solution. That'll be $7.46. Next! Its the fast food generation.

Did the CIA screw up? Probably. The NSC? Probably. The FBI. Almost certainly. The politicians? What? Never! Ever!!

The question really is "Why?" For the answers you probably need go back into medieval times and look at the record. At least to 1973 when Congress took advantage of the Nixon/Watergate hysteria to launch an all out assault on the CIA. Pulled its teeth. Did it good.

And then followed of over a quarter of a century of steady erosion of the intelligence services and law enforcement. From DC to LA, from the Church Commission to the O.J. circus the spies became spooks, the cops became pigs. Objects of scorn. Caricatures of evil.

Did Hollywood or TV ever show agents or cops in a good light? Did the pols ever praise them? Not on your nelly.

A quarter century of steady erosion - with maybe a few periods of status quo - until the two best agencies of their kind in the world, the CIA and the FBI, were reduced to the level of the Keystone Kops. Well........ maybe not quite that bad, but close. Is it any wonder why they're not on top of their game?

By all means lets affix some blame. Plenty of it. But let's take a little time, let's go back over the record, let's see what has happened to intelligence and law enforcement for the last few decades.

And then let's shine the blowtorch on Congress' large, collective butt.

In war-time, truth is so precious she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.

Winston S. Churchill

In war-time, truth is so precious she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.

Winston S. Churchill

I believe it was "they were offered a choice between shame and war, they chose shame, and they got war."

He was, I also believe, talking about certain European leaders, including the British appeasers. That is what I believe. If anyone knows for sure, knows the exact quote, and where it was writ or delivered,.......... I would be grateful.

To be read again, and again....... and again. A great post. Many thanks.

Self worshipping celebrities participating in a subliminal get-out-the vote event organized by the DNC.

And if you really want to understand why certain people hate the USA, look no further than that annual monument to wretched excess called The Academy Awards.

Israel sees this every day. Wake up America.

Exactly right. Pure evil does not come with a PG or R rating. We will see it ourselves every day soon enough - its coming.

Interesting. As an adolescent I wasn't exactly a Red but I was a little pink around the edges. 'Witness' was the book that turned the light on in my dim puberty stricken mind.

And I would have bet the farm I was the only one.

Not quite the same thing; but has anyone who's read it thought about LeCarre's 'The Little Drummer Girl' and its insight on the present Middle East situation? Fiction, but a great read.

He knows how to take good advice. That is what makes a good leader.

Not exactly but it doesn't hurt. Liberals have a disdain for Bush because he is not 'bright'. In reality he is very bright. Intellectually sophisticated? No. A scholar? No. An academician? No. But bright? Very.

Clinton they loved because he could see all eleven sides of every coin. Never got anything done, but could talk and lecture and pontificate and theorize until the proverbial cows came home - while getting his pole polished at the same time. A talker, not a doer, always with a plausible excuse for non-action. They loved him - their kind of incompetent top dog.

Bush, if you watch him closely, acts like an efficient and talented CEO of a major corporation. He looks after the stockholders interests. Surrounds himself with solid, productive people. No flash, no glamour, delegates well, works hard, makes the tough decisions. The buck stops with just plain George.

No intellectual but he's smart. Real smart. And when it comes to leadership I'll take smart over Mensa level I.Q. any day.

And a lot of Liberals are starting to get it. Finally.

Please someone tell me I am wrong on this........

You are wrong.

However, you do seem to know one of the words that generates a (left) knee jerk reaction; 'Vietnam'. You should extend your vocabulary to include others. 'Quagmire' and 'Woman's right to choose' come immediately to mind. 'Right wing christian extremist' is a good one' as is 'angry white male'. 'Racist' of course, is multi-purpose and can be used in virtually any context.

Have a nice cliche.

Because the Machine knew he will be in a tough fight in November no matter what. And since no other Dem. would have stood a chance anyway they wanted no opposition voiced, no distractions, no money spent on anything except attacking the Repubs.

He ain't much, but they're stuck with him. He can't get re-elected on his own with what he's got to show. The Machine has its work cut out, so the Machine is pulling the strings. Step one: no other primary candidates.

Watch for Simon to start painting himself in the image of Bush's "compassionate conservative" (maybe he already started with last night's acceptance speech).

It was almost unthinkable a few months ago, that a Republican, any Republican, would stand a tinker's chance to be Governor come November. Simon will have to run in the face of a hostile media, a big dollar negative campaign from Davis, and the usual shrilling from the special interest groups of the left.

But......... if he's smart, and he plays to the latino community and gets major support from not only Guiliani, but from Bush as well, he stands an excellent chance.

Davis is a worm. He has the Demo machine with all its power behind him, but he's vulnerable, not liked and not trusted. He can be bagged - Simon can do it.

Davis ads didn't make the difference

Another thing to remember - Riordan, as the campaign wore on, came across as a tired old man, gamely doddering along, but long past his bedtime.

Outside of the L.A. Area where he was known, he just couldn't sell himself.

If Republican State Senator Dick Monteith runs, he'll win comfortably. He's a great guy - highly regarded by just about everyone. His support crosses normal party lines. If Monteith does not run, then its Cardoza.

Run Dick run. Look at Dick run. Look at Dick win. Look at the Dems cry - they are so sad. Run Dick run.

I dunno what its got to do with FR either - but its a great thread. 'Core. 'Core.

Condit aside - Dick Monteith is a great guy. Solid as a rock .............. and honest. He'll make a first class Congressman.