Video: Louis Farrakhan Calls Obama the "Messiah"

More Obama the Messiah Talk
This time from Louis Farrakhan




Louis Farrakhan, Saviors Day 2008:

"You are the instruments that God is gonna use to bring about universal change. And that is why Barack has captured the youth."

Louis Farrakhan is pretty clear who he thinks that is.





"That's a sign: when the Messiah speaks, the youth will hear."

Geesh.

Looks like we'll have to order a new Bible.


by Mondo
image: reuters

Rudy Giuliani Quotes: Ten Zingers from Giuliani's RNC Speech

Rudy Giuliani's RNC Speech
Republican National Convention
St. Paul, MN - September 3, 2008

"Tough times require strong leadership, and this is no time for on-the-job training."





"And he will keep us on offense against terrorism at home and abroad. For four days in Denver and for the past 18 months, Democrats have been afraid to use the words "Islamic terrorism." During their convention, the Democrats rarely mentioned the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. They are in a state of denial about the threat that faces us now and in the future."

"...you have a resume from a gifted man with an Ivy League education. He worked as a community organizer and immersed himself in Chicago machine politics. Then he ran for the state Legislature — where nearly 130 times he was unable to make a decision yes or no. He simply voted "present."

As mayor of New York City, I never got a chance to vote "present." And you know, when you're president of the United States, you can't just vote "present." You must make decisions."

"Almost exactly one year ago during a Republican presidential debate in Durham, N.H., I said that if I weren't running for president myself, I'd be supporting John McCain. Well, I'm not, and I do."


"We the people" — the citizens of the United States — get to decide our next president, not the media, not Hollywood celebrities, not anyone else.

"...he ran for the U.S. Senate. He won and has spent most of his time as a "celebrity senator." No leadership or major legislation to speak of. His rise is remarkable in its own right — it's the kind of thing that could happen only in America. But he's never run a city, never run a state, never run a business.

He's never had to lead people in crisis. This is not a personal attack ... it's a statement of fact — Barack Obama has never led anything.

Nothing. Nada."

"So, our opponents want to reframe the debate. They would have you believe that this election is about "change versus more of the same." But that's really a false choice. Because "change" is not a destination, just as "hope" is not a strategy."

"In the single biggest policy decision of this election, John McCain got it right and Barack Obama got it wrong. If Barack Obama had been president, there would have been no troop surge and our troops would have been withdrawn in defeat.

Sen. McCain was the candidate most associated with the surge. And it was unpopular.

What do you think most other candidates would have done in that situation? They would have acted in their own self-interest by changing their position. How many times have we seen Barack Obama do that?

Obama was going to take public financing for his campaign, until he didn't. Obama was against wiretapping before he voted for it. When speaking to a pro-Israel group, Obama favored an undivided Jerusalem, until the very next day when he changed his mind.

I hope for his sake, Joe Biden got that VP thing in writing."

"And as a former U.S. attorney, I am impressed by her success in combating corruption — when she found unethical and illegal behavior among the power brokers of her own party, she did not hesitate — she acted courageously and independently. That's the kind of reformer we need — she shook up Alaska. She'll shake up Washington."

When Russia rolled over Georgia, John McCain knew exactly how to respond.

Having been to that part of the world many times and having developed a clear worldview over many years, John knew where he stood. Within hours, he established a very strong, informed position that let the world know exactly how he'll respond as president. At exactly the right time, John McCain said, "We're all Georgians."

Obama's first instinct was to create a moral equivalency — that "both sides" should "show restraint." The same moral equivalency that he has displayed in discussing the Palestinian Authority and the State of Israel.

Later, after discussing it with his 300 foreign policy advisers, he changed his position and suggested that the "the U.N. Security Council" could find a solution. Apparently, none of his 300 advisers told him that Russia has a veto on any U.N. action. Finally Obama put out a statement that looked ... well, it looked a lot like John McCain's.

Here's some free advice: Sen. Obama, next time just call John McCain.

compiled by Mondoreb
image: donkeydish
Source: Giuliani speaks at Republican National Convention

Video: Sarah Palin's RNC Speech, Minneapolis, MN, Sept 3, 2008

Part 1 - Sarah Palin's RNC Speech





Part 2 - Sarah Palin's RNC Speech




Sarah Palin's RNC Speech Video: Parts 3 & 4


by Mondoreb
image: Heidi from Pittsburgh for DBKP

Sarah Palin Quotes: 25 Memorable Quotes from Her RNC Speech

"The difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick."
--Sarah Palin, RNC Speech







* A writer observed: "We grow good people in our small towns, with honesty, sincerity, and dignity." I know just the kind of people that writer had in mind when he praised Harry Truman.

I grew up with those people. They are the ones who do some of the hardest work in America ... who grow our food, run our factories, and fight our wars. They love their country, in good times and bad, and they're always proud of America. I had the privilege of living most of my life in a small town.

* I'm not a member of the permanent political establishment. And I've learned quickly, these past few days, that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone.

But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion — I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country. Americans expect us to go to Washington for the right reasons, and not just to mingle with the right people.

* My fellow citizens, the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of "personal discovery." This world of threats and dangers is not just a community, and it doesn't just need an organizer.

* Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems — as if we all didn't know that already. But the fact that drilling won't solve every problem is no excuse to do nothing at all.

* Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown.
And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involves. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a "community organizer," except that you have actual responsibilities.

* To confront the threat that Iran might seek to cut off nearly a fifth of world energy supplies ... or that terrorists might strike again at the Abqaiq facility in Saudi Arabia ... or that Venezuela might shut off its oil deliveries ... we Americans need to produce more of our own oil and gas. And take it from a gal who knows the North Slope of Alaska: we've got lots of both.

* ...there is much to like and admire about our opponent.

But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state Senate.

* In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change.

* And though both Senator Obama and Senator Biden have been going on lately about how they are always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely.

There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you ... in places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is John McCain.

* I might add that in small towns, we don't quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they are listening, and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren't listening. We tend to prefer candidates who don't talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.

- - - - -

* I came to office promising major ethics reform, to end the culture of self-dealing. And today, that ethics reform is the law.

While I was at it, I got rid of a few things in the governor's office that I didn't believe our citizens should have to pay for. That luxury jet was over the top. I put it on eBay. I also drive myself to work.

And I thought we could muddle through without the governor's personal chef — although I've got to admit that sometimes my kids sure miss her. I came to office promising to control spending — by request if possible and by veto if necessary.

* It was just a year ago when all the experts in Washington counted out our nominee because he refused to hedge his commitment to the security of the country he loves.

With their usual certitude, they told us that all was lost — there was no hope for this candidate who said that he would rather lose an election than see his country lose a war. But the pollsters and pundits overlooked just one thing when they wrote him off. They overlooked the caliber of the man himself — the determination, resolve, and sheer guts of Senator John McCain. The voters knew better.

* And in April, my husband Todd and I welcomed our littlest one into the world, a perfectly beautiful baby boy named Trig. From the inside, no family ever seems typical.

That's how it is with us. Our family has the same ups and downs as any other ... the same challenges and the same joys.

* I pledge to all Americans that I will carry myself in this spirit as vice president of the United States. This was the spirit that brought me to the governor's office, when I took on the old politics as usual in Juneau ... when I stood up to the special interests, the lobbyists, big oil companies, and the good ol' boys network.

* Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge. And children with special needs inspire a special love.

To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House.

* Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to lay more pipelines ... build more new-clear plants ... create jobs with clean coal ... and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal and other alternative sources.

We need American energy resources, brought to you by American ingenuity, and produced by American workers.

* My Mom and Dad both worked at the elementary school in our small town. And among the many things I owe them is one simple lesson: that this is America, and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity. My parents are here tonight, and I am so proud to be the daughter of Chuck and Sally Heath.

* This is a man [Barack Obama] who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting, and never use the word "victory" except when he's talking about his own campaign. But when the cloud of rhetoric has passed ... when the roar of the crowd fades away ... when the stadium lights go out, and those Styrofoam Greek columns are hauled back to some studio lot - what exactly is our opponent's plan? What does he actually seek to accomplish, after he's done turning back the waters and healing the planet? The answer is to make government bigger ... take more of your money ... give you more orders from Washington ... and to reduce the strength of America in a dangerous world. America needs more energy ... our opponent is against producing it.

* ...I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending: nearly half a billion dollars in vetoes. I suspended the state fuel tax, and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress.

I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves. When oil and gas prices went up dramatically, and filled up the state treasury, I sent a large share of that revenue back where it belonged — directly to the people of Alaska.

* Victory in Iraq is finally in sight ... he wants to forfeit. Terrorist states are seeking new-clear weapons without delay ... he wants to meet them without preconditions.

Al-Qaida terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm on America ... he's worried that someone won't read them their rights? Government is too big ... he wants to grow it.

Congress spends too much ... he promises more. Taxes are too high ... he wants to raise them.

- - - - -

* The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes ... raise payroll taxes ... raise investment income taxes ... raise the death tax ... raise business taxes ... and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars. My sister Heather and her husband have just built a service station that's now opened for business — like millions of others who run small businesses.

How are they going to be any better off if taxes go up? Or maybe you're trying to keep your job at a plant in Michigan or Ohio ... or create jobs with clean coal from Pennsylvania or West Virginia ... or keep a small farm in the family right here in Minnesota.

* Harry Reid, the Majority Leader of the current do-nothing Senate, not long ago summed up his feelings about our nominee.

He said, quote, "I can't stand John McCain." Ladies and gentlemen, perhaps no accolade we hear this week is better proof that we've chosen the right man. Clearly what the Majority Leader was driving at is that he can't stand up to John McCain. That is only one more reason to take the maverick of the Senate and put him in the White House.

* A fellow prisoner of war, a man named Tom Moe of Lancaster, Ohio, recalls looking through a pinhole in his cell door as Lieutenant Commander John McCain was led down the hallway, by the guards, day after day.

As the story is told, "When McCain shuffled back from torturous interrogations, he would turn toward Moe's door and flash a grin and thumbs up" — as if to say, "We're going to pull through this." My fellow Americans, that is the kind of man America needs to see us through these next four years.

For a season, a gifted speaker can inspire with his words. For a lifetime, John McCain has inspired with his deeds.

* Sudden and relentless reform never sits well with entrenched interests and power brokers. That's why true reform is so hard to achieve. But with the support of the citizens of Alaska, we shook things up. And in short order we put the government of our state back on the side of the people.

compiled by Mondoreb
image: Heidi from Pittsburgh for DBKP

Original "Yes We Can" Speech by Ronald Reagan

The original "Yes, We Can!" speech given by Ronald Reagan.



Barack Obama is a mere shadow.

Four minutes that will make you realize the difference that 28 years makes in serving up presidential candidates.

by Mondoreb
Source: Ronald Reagan: The Original "Yes We Can" Speech
image: student britannica


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Bush Will Resist Defeatist Democrats

In 2003, the U.S. invaded Iraq.

Five years later, President Bush strongly signaled Wednesday that he won't order troop withdrawals beyond what's already been planned.

The president refuses to "jeopardize the hard-fought gains" of the past year.

As anti-war activists demonstrated around downtown Washington, the president spoke at the Pentagon to mark the anniversary of a war that has cost nearly 4,000 U.S. lives and roughly $500 billion. The president's address was part of a series of events the White House planned around the anniversary and next month's report from the top U.S. figures in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. That report will be the basis for Bush's first troop-level decision in seven months.

"The battle in Iraq has been longer and harder and more costly than we anticipated," Bush said.

What did Bush have to say to those who "still call for retreat"?

Read rest of "Bush Speech: Will Resist Democrats Who Call for Retreat".

by Mondoreb
image: RidesAPaleHorse
Source: Bush Speech: Will Resist Democrats Who Call for Retreat
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Obama Speech: The Wright Stuff?

We shall see if Obama's speech on March 18 had the desired effect. The results won't be clear for days, at best, but from what I have seen and heard so far, much of the speech itself, plus TV commentary, it was too little, too late.

Gloria Borger expressed the opinion yesterday that for the speech to be effective, Obama had to talk directly to the voters at a real world level and, for a change, not address worshipful devotees, from the stratosphere There was some earthiness in Obama's address, but it was pretty much true to form, poetic and rhapsodic and rhetorical. Personally, I could muster some sympathy, but it was not convincing.

What would be convincing ?

A black political expert featured on Fox TV may provide the best answer. Sorry I can't report his name, but he is very astute and realistic, a "pol" who knows his stuff. He also is a Democrat sympathetic to Obama --and he wasn't convinced, either.

What it would take is for Obama to meet with Rev Wright, behind closed doors , and when the get together was over for Wright to emerge with the message that he , the pastor, regretted his controversial views, had experienced a change of heart, and now seeks to not only undo damages he has caused , but has determined to turn a new leaf and henceforth preach a message that, in effect, reflects the outlook of MLK. And this would need to be done, added a women news anchor, in such a way that it could only be seen as sincere and not cynical opportunism.

What are the chances of this ? For the immediate future, slim to none. Apparently the pastor has been located in Africa, and at the least is nowhere to be found. But even if he could be contacted in the next day or two, he has now been so publicly vilified that in all probability he is in no mood for anything but defensiveness.

Down the road may be another matter. And with the Pennsylvania primary still 5 weeks away, Obama has some time, maybe enough time, to "stop the bleeding." But the more time that elapses, the worse his predicament becomes. His poll numbers have begun to fall and Hillary's lead in Pennsylvania,as of this AM, has increased from 6% to 12%.
Not that we can trust Gallup with our life, and other polls have been less than trustworthy this year, but here is one indication that major damages loom ahead for Obama. Rasmusson is the first tracking poll to show nationwide effects from the "pastorgate" mess, Obama down 5 points in 3 days.

The speech may have the effect to applying a tourniquet to a serious wound, maybe those numbers will stabilize, but clearly the speech was not enough. The best that can be said is that it gave some measure of reassurance to Obama's most ardent supporters who, because of it, still have a "reason for faith." The problem concerns his "soft support, " people who like him and like the idea of voting for him, but who are realists, not "true believers." How large their numbers are in Obama's "camp" I cannot say, but surely a substantial part of the ensemble, and maybe a majority. These are the people who could "peel away" in the days and weeks ahead.

What are the goals of Obama's strategists?

Read the rest of "Obama Speech: The Wright Stuff".

By: Billy Rojas

[Billy Rojas is a former college teacher of the Social Sciences, History, and Comparative Religion , at Phoenix college, Alice Lloyd College, Lower Columbia College, and the City Colleges of Chicago. He was formerly assigned to the US Navy as an instructor with the USS Enterprise. His previous article, "Obama and Culture Shock" appeared at DBKP on March 2 2008.]
image: DBKP file; democratic underground
Source: Obama Speech: The Wright Stuff?
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DBKP Today in Weird History: February 25, 2008

WAR, TERRORISM, DISASTER, LEVIATHAN, BUSINESS, PATENTS, COMMIES, ACTIVIST COURT, SPORTS, RUN, SPEECH, EXECUTED, GUILLOTINED, LYNCHED, EXCOMMUNICATION, MONKEYS, E PLURIBUS PLURIBUS, RECORDS, GREENBACKS, CONDEMNED, DALI LAMA, TAXES, INFLATION, NAZIS, JEWS, MOONIES, SERIAL KILLERS, BICYCLES, AH ONE AND AH TWO, FAST, TV BREAKDOWNS, HOOKERS, WHEN HE'S DOWN, BORN, BIRTHDAYS, DEATH

LEVIATHAN

1913 the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving Congress the power to levy and collect income taxes, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Philander Chase Knox.

WAR!

1779 American forces led by George Rogers Clark routed the British from Fort Sackville in the Revolutionary War Battle of Vincennes in present-day Indiana.

1991 During the Persian Gulf War, 28 Americans were killed when an Iraqi Scud missile hit a U.S. barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

2003 Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix said Iraq was showing new signs of real cooperation, but President Bush was dismissive, predicting Saddam Hussein would try to "fool the world one more time."

TERRORISM

1995 Bomb attack on train in Assam India (27 soldiers killed).

1995 Moslem fundamentalists shoot 20 Shiite mosque goers dead.

2007 A female suicide bomber triggered a ball bearing-packed charge, killing at least 41 people at a mostly Shiite college in Baghdad.

DISASTERS

1977 Oil tanker explosion west of Honolulu spills 31 million gallons.

1984 Oil fire in Cubatao Brazil kills 500.

1994 Peruvian Yak-40 crashes into mountain near Tingo Maria, kills 31.

MONKEYS

1751 1st performing monkey exhibited in America, NYC (admission 1¢).

RECORDS

1838 London pedestrian walks 20 miles backward then forward in 8 hours.

CONDEMNED

1885 US Congress condemns barbed wire around government grounds.

PATENTS

1836 inventor Samuel Colt patented his revolver.

TV BREAKDOWNS

1990 On a BBC taped interview, rock star Stevie Nicks breaks down, saying that she will never have children & no man can stand her for long.

DALI LAMA

1910 Dali Lama flees Tibet from Chinese troop to British-Indies.

WHEN HE'S DOWN

1995 British heavyweight Nigel Benn hits Gerard McClellan in hospital.

HOOKERS

1998 Switzerland's 1st legal brothel opens in Zurich.

INFLATION

1923 Bread in Berlin rises to 2,000 mark.

AH ONE AND AH TWO

1982 Final episode of "The Lawrence Welk Show" airs.

GUILLOTINED

1922 Henri-Désiré Landru French sex murderer, guillotined at 52.

TAXES

1919 Oregon is 1st state to tax gasoline (1¢ per gallon).

GREENBACKS

1862 Paper currency (greenbacks) introduced in US by President Abraham Lincoln.

EXCOMMUNICATION

1570 Pius V excommunicates Elizabeth, absolves her subjects from allegiance.

NAZIS

1932 Immigrant Adolf Hitler gets German citizenship.

CHOKED

1983 Tennessee Williams writer (Streetcar Named Desire), reportedly chokes to death on a bottle cap at 71.

SERIAL KILLERS

1973 Juan Corona sentenced to 25 life sentences for 25 murders.

E PLURIBUS PLURIBUS

1803 1,800 sovereign German states unite into 60 states.

LYNCHED

1994 Baruch Goldstein physician/murderer (53 in mosque), lynched at 42.

BICYCLES

1974 Veronica & Colin Scargill (England) begin tandem bicycle ride a record 18,020 miles around the world, completed on August 27, 1975.

FAST

1982 Record speed for a snowmobile (239 kph).

BUSINESS

1901 U.S. Steel Corp. was incorporated by J.P. Morgan.

JEWS

1941 February strike against persecution of Jews, in Amsterdam.

MOONIES

1968 430 Unification Church couples wed in Korea.

COMMIES

1948 Communists seized power in Czechoslovakia.

ACTIVIST COURT

1957 The Supreme Court, in Butler v. Michigan, overturned a Michigan statute making it a misdemeanor to sell books containing obscene language that would tend to corrupt "the morals of youth."

SPEECH

2007 In Detroit, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan stressed religious unity during what was billed as his final major speech, saying the world was at war because Christians and Muslims were divided.

EXECUTED

1601 Robert Devereux Earl of Essex, executed for treason against Elizabeth.

SPORTS

1964 Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali), a 7-1 underdog, became world heavyweight boxing champion by defeating Sonny Liston in Miami Beach, Fla.

1989 Dallas Cowboys fire coach Tom Landry after a 29-year career.

RUN!

In 1986, President Ferdinand Marcos fled the Philippines after 20 years of rule in the wake of a tainted election; Corazon Aquino assumed the presidency.

BORN

1841 Pierre Auguste Renoir Limoges France, Impressionist painter/sculptor.

1901 [Herbert] Zeppo Marx New York NY, comedian/actor (Marx Brothers).

1906 Domingo Ortega Spanish bullfighter.

BIRTHDAYS

Country singer Ralph Stanley is 81. TV writer-producer Larry Gelbart is 80. Actor Tom Courtenay is 71. CBS newsman Bob Schieffer is 71. Actress Diane Baker is 70. Actress Karen Grassle is 64. Movie director Neil Jordan is 58. Rock musician Dennis Diken (The Smithereens) is 51. Rock singer-musician Mike Peters (The Alarm) is 49. Actress Veronica Webb is 43. Actor Alexis Denisof is 42. Actress Tea Leoni is 42. Comedian Carrot Top is 41. Actress Lesley Boone is 40. Actor Sean Astin is 37. Singer Daniel Powter is 37. Latin singer Julio Iglesias Jr. is 35. Rhythm-and-blues singer Justin Jeffre is 35. Rock musician Richard Liles is 35. Actor Anson Mount is 35. Actress Rashida Jones is 32. Actor Justin Berfield is 22. Actors Oliver and James Phelps ("Harry Potter" movies) are 22.

DEATH

1994 Jersey Joe Walcott boxer, dies at 80.

February 25, the 56th day of 2008. There are 310 days left in the year.

compiled by Mondoreb
image: history
Sources:
* Today in History
* Today in History



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Ron Paul in WV: Unveils New Idea in War on Terror

UPDATED: Another Backroom Deal?
Paul Secures Three Delegates
Ron Paul Comes To WV
"Personal Liberty" and a Few New Ideas
A Completely New Idea in the War on Terror

The scene outside the Charleston Civic Center
Romney, Paul, and a few McCain signs sprouted
In the morning; No Huckabee signs were apparent, however.


Ron Paul brought his campaign to West Virginia this morning to speak to the 1200 delegates of the WV Republican Party convention.

While speaking about personal liberty and limited government, he also unveiled a new idea for fighting the War on Terror.

It had many delegates talking after he spoke.

Held in Charleston, the state capital, this is the first year for the GOP event, which awards the winner 18 of the state's 30 GOP delegates to the Republican National Convention.

The other 12 delegates go to the winner of the state's May 5 Republican primary.

Before addressing the convention's delegates, Ron Paul met delegates
and other well-wishers in the "Ron Paul Meet-the-Candidate Room".
The room was very full with between 100-150 people present.

Ron Paul did the autograph and pictures with babies thing and before long, it was time to move into the convention hall to address the convention's 1200 delegates.

The crowd then broke out in loud chants of "Ron Paul Revolution! Give us back our Constitution!"

Dr. Paul addresses delegates, members of the media and
well-wishers before the convention started.

The Texas Congressman stopped outside the meeting room and delivered a brief 2 minute highlight of what his platform consisted of: cutting back the size of the federal government.

Paul received particularly large cheers for the following.

"We are trying to do too much and it's hurting our currency and the American people."

"It's time we took care of the people here at home and forgot about trying to take care of the rest of the world."

The opening ceremonies

Ron Paul was the first candidate to address the convention. Mitt Romney would follow and then Mike Huckabee. John McCain did not attend.

It's doubtful many in the Mountain State were familiar with Dr. Paul, highlighting his campaign's biggest hurdle since he entered the GOP race: name recognition.

Still, the Paul forces turned out and were easily the most enthusiastic of the delegates at the convention, creating a lot of noise for their candidate and also the impression that they might be the largest delegation (based on noise) in the convention hall.

The Ron Paul supporters were ready when their candidate took the stage.
There were many supporters there who were not delegates.
People who just showed up to hear Paul speak.

One mother was juggling a small child and clapping at the same time. Jayme Metzger, was a delegate of Jefferson County, in WV's eastern panhandle, outside of Washington, DC, was definitely an enthusiastic Paul supporter.

When asked if how long she had been a Paul supporter, she said that when she learned of the Texas Congressman's stand on abortion (Paul is an ardent foe of abortion), she wanted to become a delegate for him.

"I have four young daughters and they all follow Ron Paul whenever he's on TV."

"The oldest is six."

Ron Paul was the first candidate to speak at the WV GOP Convention

Most of the delegates had never heard the Texas Congressman speak, so his reception was polite at the beginning--except for his supporters.

But after only about 5 minutes, he not only picked up steam, but also applause from other candidate delegations.

Dr. Paul spoke for approximately 20 minutes and was interrupted many times in his speech for applause. Of course, his supporters were cheering, but it appeared that as he went on, he also picked up loud cheers from the Romney and Huckabee sections.

By the end of his time, his hammering on libertarian and conservative ideals had most of the people in the convention hall clapping and cheering.

This was something that was unexpected.



Of course, he attacked the bloated federal government and the deficit.

"When the federal government runs out of gold and don't have anymore to spend, the government borrows and when the government can't borrow, it runs the printing presses, and when they do that, the value of the currency goes down."

"The founding fathers had it right: they told us to use gold and not paper money."

"That's what I believe in."

"Great countries do not fall because they have a weak military. Great countries fall because they have weak economies and currencies."

He used the Soviet Union as an example.

"The Soviets didn't fall because they had a weak military. When they fell, they had over 40000 nuclear warheads. They fell because their economic system was weak and falling apart."


He said, "You can sum up my program as personal liberty, limited government and following the Constitution."

"People ask me what do I stand for, and I say I simply stand for a return to the Constitution."




Paul had several interesting ideas that were new to many of the delegates in the room.

One, in particular, might have drawn his loudest applause of the morning.

"I believe in the sanctity of life. I have sponsored a Sanctity of Life Bill."

"We can try and appoint judges and amendments, but if my bill passes the Congress, the states can pass their own laws on abortion, without the interference of the court system."



He addressed the War on Terror, a new Paul topic for some present.

"Some people may believe that I don't think Al-Qaida is dangerous. That is simply not true."

"I strongly supported going after Al-Qaida after 911. I supported the money for it, and that's a rarity for me. (Paul has voted against every tax increase since he came to Congress.)

It was then that he mentioned an idea that had many delegates talking about later. It had to do with a truly unique idea on fighting the War on Terror.

It involved Letters of Marque.

Letters of marque are a document issued by a nation allowing a private citizen to seize citizens or goods of another nation. They can also be a document issued by a nation allowing a private citizen to equip a ship with arms in order to attack enemy ships.

"Letters of Marque have been used at various times in history and it's one avenue that I'd like to see explored in the War on Terror and stop this wasteful spending overseas."

One example: the English against the Spanish during the 1500s and 1600s. Letters of marque were granted to Sir Francis Drake, for one, and he terrorizes Spanish shipping, to the benefit of England. Of course, Drake was branded a pirate by the Spanish; to the English, he was a hero.

England did not pay Drake, per se, but allowed him to keep a large percentage of all he could take from the Spanish treasure ships.

Paul seemed to suggest that the United States could set prices on the heads of various Al Qaida members and let individuals and private groups hunt them down and pay them for their successes.

Also, any assets seized by a US citizen--or group of citizens--holding a letter of marque from the US government would receive a percentage of any assets seized by them from an Al-Qaida member.

This is a novel idea in the War on Terror.

"These terrorists are dangerous. I'd like to see Letters of Marque granted to anyone willing to go after and hunt down Al Qaida."

"It is one way that we could cut down on our spending."

Paul ended his time on stage with an appeal for the delegates to consider him and vote for his conservative ideas.

"West Virginia is a small state, but you have a chance to send a large message."

Ron Paul was born in neighboring Pennsylvania.



One visitor who was applauding the loudest wasn't a delegate.

In fact, he wasn't even a Republican.

Rodney Parsons, of Pt. Pleasant, WV is an ex-policeman and life-long Democrat. He was snapping pictures during the entire Paul speech. When asked what he was doing at a Republican convention, he was very frank.

"I don't think in my 32 years I have ever been surrounded by so many arrogant people in my entire life. I was looking for a few Kodak moments, or in my case Canon moments with the losers of this years Presidential Election."

"A few things were said today that I found quite odd. The oddest things most likely came out of Ron Paul's mouth. Odd because I wasn't expecting the truth. I wasn't expecting a politician to get in front of his peers and spit the truth no matter if they liked it or not."

"He makes more sense than any of them."

When asked about what he thought about the other candidates, Parsons really opened up.

"Whoever the idiot was that introduced Mike HuggieBear said something to the effect that he wants to repeat what the state accomplished in the last presidential election, to put a Republican in the White House."

"As a Disabled Veteran, I'm here to tell ya brother that probably won't win over the other 95% of the Population in West Virginia who are looking either at a Black Man or a Woman as the next President of the United States.

"It's West Virginia... Most people outside of this state have no idea that we even wear suits and ties?

"We are known for hard work, we are known for removing mountain tops and raping the land so the rest of the country can thrive while we get shat upon on a daily basis."

"We are known for Don Knotts? [NOTE: Don Knotts, who played 'Barnie Fife' in the old Andy Griffith Show, was born in Morgantown, WV.] We don't need a "Big Business" President.. we already have one. We don't need someone to be our Preacher and tell us how to live our lives... We don't need to be in Iraq for another 100 years."

"if Ron Paul was better looking and fighting for the other team he may have a shot..."

Parsons closed with a "win one for the team" sentiment.

"America is fixin to speak. The Donkey is Back my friends.. the donkey is back!"

Parsons was likely the only one holding to that particular idea in the convention hall, outside the NBC cameraman who said that "This is the worst stop on the tour, so far."

Political party registration is over 60% registered Democrats statewide.

Of course, before the Great Depression, West Virginia was a reliably Republican state; being born as it was, out of the chaos of the Civil War, when it split off from the slave-holding counties of Virginia.

As one person was leaving the hall, Parsons opined that maybe "OPRAH will win this election!"

Ron Paul couldn't be reached for comment on that remark.

THE RESULTS: During the first round voting, of the 1100-1200 delegates, Ron Paul received about 114 votes. Because he was fourth, he was dropped from consideration for the next round of voting.

Mitt Romney had about 430 votes, Huckabee approximately 320 votes and John McCain had somewhere around 137 votes. There were some uncommitted votes. (These totals are not official and are preliminary amounts.)

During the second round, McCain's campaign threw their delegates to Huckabee and with a few uncommitted changing, along with a few Paul delegates, the former governor from Arkansas got over the 50% mark.

And got the 18 delegates up for grabs.

But it can be said that Ron Paul's speech left an impression on many in the hall. He received cheers and applause way beyond the amount of delegates he had in the convention hall.

His themes of personal liberty, limited government, sanctity of life and sound money brought cheers from the delegates already committed to other candidates.

AND, his new idea--that of the US government issuing 'letters of marque' against Terror organizations--is one that won't make the United Nations or the European Union happy.

To go after Al-Qaida like they go after others--in small groups and acting as individuals not a part of a particular country--was one that had delegates talking afterwards.

UPDATE: According to local TV station WSAZ, after Ron Paul was eliminated from the voting after the first round, his delegates threw their support to Huckabee, putting Huckabee over the top and making him the winner. In return, Ron Paul received 3 delegates to the GOP National Convention, while Huckabee retained 15. The other 12 WV delegates will go to the winner of the May 5 WV Republican primary.

RON PAUL Library of DBKP stories and videos. --Over 40 DBKP stories on the presidential campaign of Texas Congressman, Ron Paul.

by Mondoreb
Source:
* Interviews
* Letter of Marque
* Ron Paul Secures 3 delegates at WV GOP Convention
images:
* [3,5,6,7, 8, 9,10--courtesy: Rodney Parsons]
* [1,2,4 - DBKP]



* This same story at DBKP.com-- Ron Paul in WV: Unveils New Idea in War on Terror

DBKP.com - Bigger, Better!.
Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Where's the Liberal Love? Pope Comes Out in Favor of Science

Benedict calls for science, not dogmatic hysteria

Pope Benedict XVI called for more science and less dogma.

Normally, corks would be popping off champagne bottles wherever "Christian" and "science" are are seen as mutually exclusive terms.

Maybe next time.

Pope Benedict XVI has launched a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom, warning them that any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not on dubious ideology.

The leader of more than a billion Roman Catholics suggested that fears over man-made emissions melting the ice caps and causing a wave of unprecedented disasters were nothing more than scare-mongering.

The German-born Pontiff said that while some concerns may be valid it was vital that the international community based its policies on science rather than the dogma of the environmentalist movement.[1]

Sounds reasonable.

Reaction from a rival faith, Worldwide Church of Man-made Climate Disasters, is expected to answer the Pope's call for more science with calls for more dogma--their own.

One adherent of WCMCD thought, Oliver Willis, said one factor in the climate change debate not often mentioned, was child rapists.

Conservatives are trumpeting this attack on climate science from Pope Benedict saying we should slow down on dealing with the problem. The Pope is free to say what he wishes, but people like myself are also free to note that the Pope also thought the Catholic church should slow down on rooting out child rapists. So, there's that.[2]

More from the Pope.

"Humanity today is rightly concerned about the ecological balance of tomorrow," he said in the message entitled "The Human Family, A Community of Peace".

"It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently, in dialogue with experts and people of wisdom, uninhibited by ideological pressure to draw hasty conclusions, and above all with the aim of reaching agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances.

"If the protection of the environment involves costs, they should be justly distributed, taking due account of the different levels of development of various countries and the need for solidarity with future generations.

"Prudence does not mean failing to accept responsibilities and postponing decisions; it means being committed to making joint decisions after pondering responsibly the road to be taken."

Efforts to protect the environment should seek "agreement on a model of sustainable development capable of ensuring the well-being of all while respecting environmental balances", the Pope said.

He added that to further the cause of world peace it was sensible for nations to "choose the path of dialogue rather than the path of unilateral decisions" in how to cooperate responsibly on conserving the planet.[1]

The Pope isn't the only official in the Catholic Church to notice the missionary zeal of the WCMCD.

In October, the Australian Cardinal George Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, caused an outcry when he noted that the atmospheric temperature of Mars had risen by 0.5 degrees celsius.

"The industrial-military complex up on Mars can't be blamed for that," he said in a criticism of Australian scientists who had claimed that carbon emissions would force temperatures on earth to rise by almost five degrees by 2070 unless drastic solutions were enforced.

Reaction from white trash skeptics was succinct.

Jebediah Murphy at Pirates Cove: "Well, I reckon the Pope is correct. It does need to based on science, rather then hysteria, hypocrisy, junk science, and a need create a world wide socialist paradise. Oh, and let’s not forget getting lots and lots of moola out of gullible climahysterics."

"Why else promote carbon offsets rather then just, ya know, advocating stopping the problem? I reckon we can’t say that all liberals are idiots, since a few, such as Michael Moore and The Goracle, know how to siphon money out of moonbat pockets."[2]

No More Mr. Nice Blog was even-handed about the papal assessment, questioning the Daily Mail's interpretation of what the Pope actually said.

A Reuters story on this papal message bears the headline "Pope Urges Prudence in Environmental Decisions." That's accurate. AFP's story is called "Environmental Policies Must Respect Needs of the Poor: Pope." That's accurate as well -- he does say that. But the Daily Mail has a vested interest in making you think that the Pope is an environmental skeptic. So it lied about his message.[4]

The Pope cautions against hysteria.

Expect more hysterical reactions to follow.

by Mondoreb
[image:dailymail]
Sources:
1-The Pope Condemns the Climate Change Prophets
2-The Pope's Judgement
3-WTW: The Pope Now a Climate Change Denier
4-Why is Britain's Daily Mail Lying about what the Pope's Environmentalism?



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Abizaid: Middle East Conflict Will Take Another 25-50 Years

Former commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East, Army General John Abizaid, says the U.S. conflict in the Middle East could take up to 25-50 years to resolve and that America's been lucky not to have had another 9/11 incident.

The AP quotes Abizaid, speaking to students at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh:

"It's going to be hard, it's going to be long, it's going to be arduous, dangerous, bloody and expensive," Abizaid said Wednesday. "But, on the other hand, I do believe it's workable, provided that we have conversations like this and understand the dynamics that are at play out there.

"And it's not so one-dimensional as to be all-Iraq all the time," he said.

Abizaid also spoke about U.S. interests--and the number one U.S. interest in the Persian Gulf area is oil.

"I'm not saying this is a war for oil, but I am saying that oil fuels an awful lot of geopolitical moves that political powers may have there," Abizaid said. "And it is absolutely essential that we in the United States of America figure out how, in the long run, to lessen our dependency on foreign energy."

It's not hard to see that this story will be another brick in the wall by the owners of Trendy Left shops selling "No Blood for Oil" T-shirts. John Abisaid is a general; the general said "oil". The lightbulb will go off and another T-shirt, bearing the likeness of the general and a slogan such as, "I need a fill-up--Kill another kid", will be born.

The fact remains that unless Americans wants to park their cars or spend $15 for a gallon of gasoline, oil is an important component of the U.S. economy and to its way of life. And the Middle East does have plenty of oil. It may be their only exportable commodity--outside of hate and extremists bent on avenging the ills of the 12th Century.

by Mondoreb
& Little Baby Ginn



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Tony Blair Accuses Iran Of Backing Terrorism

[image:RidesAPaleHorse]
by Mondoreb & Little Baby Ginn

Iran interested in backing terrorism and destabilizing countries? Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair says it's unfortunately so. An interesting story from Iran Mania:

UK ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair has accused Iran of backing terrorism and warned the world faces a situation akin to "rising fascism in the 1920s", BBC reported.

Mr Blair told a charity event in New York that Iran was prepared to destabilise peaceful countries.

In his first major speech since leaving office, Mr Blair again defended the decision to go to war in Iraq.

He urged continued vigilance by the United States, Britain and their allies in combating the threat of extremism.

Mr Blair - now an envoy for the Middle East Quartet - warned against being "forced into retreat" as the world faced a situation similar to "rising fascism in the 1920s".

Before World War II there were voices who warned us of the threats that were building, the "winds of war." Tony Blair is one such voice. Will anyone listen?

Hitler wasn't coy about his intents in the build-up to WWII; neither is Ahmadinejad. The Times of London throughout the 1930's gave no voice whatsoever to those warning of Germany and Hitler's intents. It's much like that today at the New York Times with Iran and Ahmadinejad. Little ink is wasted at the Times on the Iranian threat; plenty is expended on the voices Ahmadinejad apologists, however.

One can almost hear the keyboards on the Left now. "Blair Lies and Bush Lies!" and "Iran: bad, but US is worse!" is their answer to any news of an enemy attacking an American interest. Or in the case of Iran shipping IEDs into Iraq, attacking American troops. The countdown to the Left's first attempt to discredit what Blair's saying begins now.



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