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President Bush said a number of embarrassing things when he was president. I got a kick out of most of them – especially the line about working hard to "put food on your family." So I was as delighted as any Democrat when the first Bushism books came out. Those days are gone, but I think we may have the pleasure of reading a book of Pelosisms soon. I say this because, on the 9th, Pelosi made the following statement at the National Association of Counties Conference: We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what...

I was tempted to write some scathing remarks about those who support Roman Polanski because they believe he is a great artist. But then I realized two things. One was that Dr. Blanchard had beaten me to the punch. The other was that those of us who are moviegoers or moviestayers (I am a huge fan of Netflix), are guilty of the same kind of support. Consider the case of Nicole Kidman. In 2004, she starred in the movie Birth, where she plays a widow who believes that a ten-year-old boy is her husband reincarnate. The movie features a bathtub...

President Bush was often criticized by his detractors for alienating America's allies. Yet Obama seems to be getting a pass for doing the same thing. In an earlier post, I mentioned Obama's poor treatment of the UK's Gordon Brown. Apparently, the UK is not the only ally that the president has chosen to snub. Today, on the anniversary of the soviet's attack on Poland, Obama announced his intention to scrap plans to build a missile shield based in Poland and the Czech Republic. According to Reuters writer Gabriela Baczynska, Obama means to shelve the plans in order to improve ties...

During his speech, President Obama told two heartwrenching stories of medical patients who had had their health insurance unfairly ripped away from them with devastating consequences. The first is as follows: One man from Illinois lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because his insurer found that he hadn't reported gallstones that he didn't even know about. They delayed his treatment, and he died because of it. This is infuriating, if true. But is it? Unless Obama is talking about a case other than that of Otto Raddatz, whose sister Peggy testified before Congress on his behalf, then, no....

One of the the ads that appeared above my G-mail Inbox told me I could ad my name to a list that was going to be aired on TV in support of a public option. So far, I have added Mautsi Tung, Joh Sephstalen and Muso Leahni. Who else might support the option?

“Boy, your winters are really dreary here,” my husband observed today as he looked out at the rain. “And it’s only September.” He is right. South Dakota has much drearier weather than a Californian is accustomed to. Here, we lack citrus trees and palms and we cannot take a day trip to the ocean side. And yet, in many ways, South Dakota is much less dreary than California. California is now bankrupt. The state is issuing IOUs to many of its creditors and employees. But according to The Wall Street Journal many banks will no longer accept them. Foreclosures are...

From the London Times: Gordon Brown was dragged into the centre of the row over the early release of the Lockerbie bomber last night after it emerged that a key decision that could have paved the way for the terrorist to serve his sentence in Libya was approved by Downing Street. A source close to Jack Straw told The Times that the move to include Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi in a prisoner transfer agreement in 2007 was a government decision and was not made at the sole discretion of the Justice Secretary. "It wasn't just Jack who decided this. It...

According to Susan Ferrechio of The Washington Examiner, there is bipartisan support for Vicki Kennedy to take over Ted Kennedy's office. Indeed, says Ferrechio, some think she would be "perfect for the job." Ferrechio quotes Orrin Hatch as saying that Kennedy is a "brilliant lawyer" and "a solid individual." She also quotes Chris Dodd as saying that if Kennedy wants the position, he will back her up. There are only two problems with this picture. 1. Kennedy has stated that she does not want the position 2. It's not legal for her to take it. But not to worry! The...

The sad state of the President Obama's healthcare reform project is illustrated neatly by two stories about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. First from the Politico: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Friday that he was not bound by a controversial deal negotiated between the White House and pharmaceutical companies, telling thousands of Nevada voters on a conference call that "I have not agreed with anybody to do that." The drug industry told the White House this summer that it would cut future drug costs by $80 billion in exchange for assurances that any health care legislation would prevent the...

The Wall Street Journal says that Charlie Rangel has “won the personal lottery.” Rangel, Chairman of the Ways and Means committee, is now being investigated for failing to report up to $780,000 in income and assets. Those who defend Rangel claim that this was an accident. But Larry Kudlow wants to know how it is possible that someone does not know he has a $500,000 checking account. It is, of course, possible that Rangel made a mistake (or rather, several mistakes). But even if that is all he did, his actions have serious implications for the healthcare debate. The Democrats...

It's one thing to argue that we shouldn't torture terrorists. It's rather another thing to let one go to a hero's welcome. In case anyone missed it, Kenny MacAskill, Justice Minister for Scotland, ordered the "compassionate release" of Abdel Baset Ali al-Megrahi. Al-Megrahi was one of the persons responsible for the bombing Pan Am 103, which came down on Lockerbie. Two hundred and seventy people died, including eleven on the ground. Al-Megrahi was apparently suffering from prostate cancer, and was said to have had less than three months to live. That three months is apparently key under Scottish "prison guidance,"...

By all means sup with Kim Jong Il. But use a long spoon—and don't spend the nightIF YOU don't entertain much, your guests may be unreasonably chuffed when you do ask them round. Kim Jong Il, the ruler of North Korea, must recall the euphoria he helped generate in South Korea seven years ago when he met its then president, Kim Dae-jung, for the first and only summit between the two countries. Having waited long enough for his invitation to regain its scarcity value, the tousle-haired dictator is at it again. As before, the outside world has nothing to lose...

A few weeks ago, I either read an article or heard on a talk show something about jewish women, who, after having been raped by nazis, refused abortions and carried their children to term. Does anyone know anything about this or can anyone give me a source for this information? Sorry for the vanity. -Sock

I just wanted to thank those of you who've prayed for my fiance's mother. She's gone through a number of chemo treatments and seems to be pulling through okay. Her spirits are up and it looks like she may be able to come home on Friday - which will make her much happier. :)

Thank you all for your continued prayer for my fiance's mom. She was taken to the hospital yesterday and is now there on oxygen. Her biopsy reports will come in tomorrow. Right now, her health seems to be getting worse rather than better, but her spirits have risen and she and my fiance have been able to spend some time together. The rest of the family will be with her today too, so I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who's been praying. We're still hoping the doctors will be able to find out what exactly is wrong...

My fiance's mother's doctors think that, judging from her scans, she probably has cancer. She has had trouble breathing lately, and there is something very wrong with her lungs, and the tests are showing that her lungs are not the only areas her problems have spread to. It could still turn out to be something else, but chances are that it is cancer. She will go in for more tests later this week. She is elderly, but we are hoping that she'll have enough time to be able to see her grandchildren. My fiance is a very strong man, but...

I think this poll's been DUmped. Might be time for a freepin'. Poll