Ding dong, the witch is dead!

Well folks, I'm sure you heard today that Dan Rather is gone from CBS early next year. I can't help but think that this means that the investigation into Rathergate didn't shape up well for His Folksyness. This is a victory for the New Media over the Old - that can't lie like dogs and expect to keep getting away with it. However, they probably will replace him with an even more transparently biased on-air personality. Another thing to watch is if the new anchor is also managing editor, as Rather was.

In other news, I love this story of Bush taking charge in Chile. The locals weren't going to let his security man, Mr. Trotta, into an event with him, so...

At least one Secret Service agent was shoved against a wall, the authorities said, as Mr. Trotta continued to push his way into the center. It was then that Mr. Bush responded, pushing into the crowd of angry security officials, pointing at Mr. Trotta and ordering that he be released. Mr. Bush finally reached over and grabbed the agent by the suit collar.

"He's with me," Mr. Bush said as he waded into the scuffle and pulled the agent through the crowd.

The authorities said the Chilean agents were shocked when they determined that the man pushing over them was Mr. Bush, who, they said, grabbed Mr. Trotta, adjusted his shirt cuffs and then winked at bystanders with the agent at his side.

Cue the Bond theme music (da-da-DAH-DAH!). I just think that whole straightening the cuffs thing and the wink was so cool. You go, Dubya.

RMR

More Obnoxious Bias From AP

Yes, it has happened...AGAIN. The AP can't seem to just report the news without including ridiculous and obvious bias, even after being basically a press organ for the Kerry campaign during the election. The latest is a report about a press conference Bush gave in Colombia yesterday. Apparently, the President DARED to limit a press conference to four questions. Here is a relevant clip:

Maybe he was just eager to get to his Texas ranch, where he planned to spend the Thanksgiving holiday. Or, maybe he just can't keep his dislike for question-and-answer sessions buttoned up abroad any more than he can at home.

Is it just me, or didn't the President give a really long press conference within the last couple of weeks? And isn't he at a conference of world leaders to, I don't know, CONFER, rather than give press conferences? Since when does the AP get to dictate how many questions he answers? The worst of all is the totally smart-alec tone of what is supposed to be a straight news piece. These guys need to retake journalism class if they think this is a straight story.

RMR

Bush Won 97 of the Nation's 100 Fastest Growing Counties

In a fascinating story in today's LA Times we find that of the 100 fastest growing counties in the US, Bush won 97. Of the three he didn't win, Kerry won one by five votes (this is being recounted as we speak), one was a heavily unionized county in the Las Vegas area, and one was Nantucket, MA.

These are the growth areas of young middle income families, in other words, the future. Bush won there by three times the margin of Bob Dole in 1996. Apparently, the brilliant guys and gals in the Bush campaign focused heavy volunteer efforts here and got big results (as the lines at my ex-urban voting center will attest). It is also interesting that, as these areas have grown, they have become more and more Republican in their voting.

This is good news as we all work to build a lasting Republican majority. Bush's and the Republicans resonance with this block of young voters bodes well for the future of the party and, more importantly, the values and agenda that it supports of limited government, lower taxes, and a strong defense. This should also be a big wake-up call to the Dems. If they hope to remain a viable party, they must have an agenda that speaks to these young married ex-urban voters with kids.

RMR

Kerry: "I Lost Because of Usama bin Laden"

Fox News exclusively reports today that Kerry blames Usama bin Laden for his loss, specifically the tape the elusive terrorist released days before the election.

"It was that Usama tape — it scared them [the American people]."

Uh...yeah, John, they were scared that you might actually end up being the guy responsible for protecting them, and they were scared that you wanted terrorism to go back to when "it was just a nuisance like gambling". Besides being about values, this election was precisely about Usama bin Laden and who Americans trust to protect us from him and others of his ilk, Senator.

(Hint: it's not you).

RMR

The Marine Shooting . . . probably what he was trained to do.

In the fall of 1968 I was privileged to participate in US Army Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. I was an enlistee. Since the Vietnam war was ongoing and many of the troops I trained with would go there, the Drill Instructors took seriously their task of teaching us ‘Young Troops’ how to stay alive.

I particularly remember one ‘class’ we had on handling prisoners. It was a demonstration. Two smallish men dressed in black pajamas were ‘captured’ by our instructor. By pushing and pointing with his M-16, he got them to assume the position – what the Army called ‘leaning at ease’ – the ‘up’ position of a push up, stacked up so that the head of one was over the behind of the other. He then proceeded to stand between the legs of the top most man and started to pat him down for hidden weapons. Just as he did, the other man leaped up and started to run away.

What did our instructor do?

Shoot the man running away? No.

Yell for him to stop? No…

He shot the man lying at his feet first and then turned his attention to the other man.

The lesson? When you are in a combat situation, dealing with enemy soldiers who may or may not be armed and are certainly dangerous, you shoot first and ask questions later. You protect yourself and your fellow soldiers. If the enemy gets killed in the process, even an ‘innocent’ enemy, that is the peril of war.

David

More from the party of inclusion and tolerance...

Here's how the Dems treat an intelligent woman who won't tow their line:



So I guess they are for diversity as long as you agree with them!

RMR

MSM wishful thinking.

MSM wishful thinking is a syndrome that often appears following a national election. How many times have we heard Limbaugh or talk radio in general pronounced dead after the 88', 92', 94', or 96' elections because either the candidate he opposed was elected (Bill Clinton), or his side won (Bush I and the Republican realignment)?

Today a new incarnation: Fox News is receiving a "backlash". You can read the AP story here.

The opening paragraphs give the wish:

Is it time to turn down the volume on TV news? A handful of developments this fall suggest a brewing backlash against opinionated news, most personified by those cable segments that set people up to argue political points, or outshout each other.

One event drew a lot of attention: Jon Stewart's public scolding of CNN's "Crossfire" hosts. Others received little notice, like ABC News President David Westin's impassioned defense of objective reporting in a speech delivered at Harvard University.

Well first, note the usual first weakness in any liberal argument - anecdotal evidence. There is no ratings evidence (despite ready availability) and no polling (which they could have taken). I wonder why that is? Instead of actual facts or information, as usual we get the Jon Stewart appearance on Crossfire which drew the scientifically noted "lot of attention." Please note that more people were watching Fox when that happened. Among the "others" that supposedly support the argument is that ABC News President's speech at Harvard which no one heard of except people at Harvard.

In his speech Westin "bets" that more people talk about the news today than report it. ok...Why not just report a statistic, Dave? Aren't you the president of a NEWS division? Couldn't assign someone to research the big speech at Harvard?

This is also interesting:

Fox News Channel dominates its industry due largely to an opinionated prime-time lineup that took its cue from the growth of talk radio in the 1990s. "Hardball" is MSNBC's most popular show.

Uh...Fox does dominate prime-time, but the only program that vaguely resembles a radio talk show is the O'Reilly factor, and that has interviews with newsmakers. In any case, how is Fox's format that much different, if at all? MSNBC has washed up sports guy Olbermann (sp?) doing the same schtick opposite O'Reilly (just ask the five people who watch) and CNN has Crossfire to Fox's Hannity and Colmes. It's not like Fox is doing a dramatically different kind of show. Yet, Fox receives better prime-time ratings than CNN and MSNBC combined. Another possibility is that more people prefer the quality of Fox's programming.

The article's point here is that discussion without "any real investigation" prevents the facts from getting out. My experience with debating is that usually the debaters bring up facts as support for their arguments. Most Fox shows even present a quote or statistic before a discussion happens. I read this and I hear "just shut up and let us tell you what to think." I think Mr. Hard News doesn't like getting questioned and misses the 70's.

The only actual fact presented is that 29% less print and TV stories this go-round were straight news on the campaign than in 2000. Interesting how most prime time talk wouldn't even fit into the category and probably wasn't counted in the percentage. When looking at print and most actual TV reports, I agree. Not enough real investigative work went into looking at actual information on a variety of campaign issues (and on either side). My partisan view is that part of this is the lack of scrutiny on Mr. Kerry (which has been documented by Mike Barone). Note that despite the Fox orientation of the piece, Fox couldn't possibly be responsible for the change in the statistics.

So, what backlash? Where's the beef?

RMR

On mandates and management...

...or "I got 60,000,000 votes and all i got was this lousy agenda!"

I have been paying attention to all this post election stuff and i think the most impressive thing so far is the fact that the President gets it. Here's is a little political dirty secret that he gets and most people don't .

All political victories are mandates. It is called VICTORY. That is how the system works. You have a campaign and set out an agenda (well most of the time you do...paging Mr. Kerry) and then if you win...SHOCKER...YOU ACTUALLY DO THAT STUFF. That is called leading.

The Republicans in Congress i hope realize this and go ahead full steam. They are the key to the next four years. THeir are some MAJOR things that could get fixed if they just don't act like wusses and push it through. The election is over and WE WON. It is time to act like it. Let's get stuff done.

This represents the most clear time for us to erase the whole "Democrats are better on the economy" garbage that the media spews. For all the Dem and MSM scare tactics, the Presidents agenda is one that everyone can get behind. If we can fix Social Security, get a handle on health care litigation, and simplify (i hope this is a code word for CUT) the tax code, we will have done amazing things.

Just remember IT IS NOT A MANDATE...IT'S A VICTORY!

Treat as such.

Thanks For the Help, Mr. Edwards

Interesting fact, Edwards not only failed to bring in a win in his home state, he couldn't even manage to win his own precint! Hat tip to Galley Slave, read on here.

RMR

Values

Peggy Noonan has an article in the WSJ today that sums up EXACTLY what I think voters meant when they named "values" as a reason to vote for President Bush.

The president won re-election by a relatively healthy margin because the American people judged him to be the better man. He seemed to have the better character of the two candidates. He'd tell you what he was going to do, and why, and then he'd do it. He'd been doing that for four years. He did it in the campaign, too. He was dependable, and he was predictable. It's nice to have a predictable president.

But read it all. It's wonderful.

David

Lurch Demonstrates Why He Lost

Kerry today revealed why he lost the presidency. The article is here but you can read the relevant excerpt below:

"Fifty-four plus million Americans voted for health care, they voted for energy independence, they voted for unity in America, they voted for stem-cell research, they voted for protecting Social Security (news - web sites)," the four-term senator from Massachusetts told reporters as he met with two top Democratic congressional leaders.

"We need to be unified," Kerry said in his first public comments since conceding defeat to President Bush (news - web sites) in last Tuesday's election. "We have a very clear agenda, and I'm going to be fighting for that agenda with all of the energy that I have and all of the passion I brought to the campaign," Kerry said.

Kerry claims to have had a "clear agenda", but I'm still not sure what it was. According to this latest list, the Kerry Agenda is:

1) "health care" - What was his plan other than some sort of attempt at nationalizing it? Where was the Big Idea? Did he repeat this on the stump and was it really the number one issue? (Hint - NO).

2) "energy independence" - How? Bush has a specific proposal on this and even a political geek like me can't tell you Kerry's plan except, like always, it's not Bush's EEEEEvil plan. Note also that this issue is SECOND on the list. This is the second most important issue?

3) "Unity in America" - as opposed to all those Bush voters who want disunity. I remember all those "Disunity NOW!" posters at the convention. THIS is number three on the list?

4) "Stem Cell Research" - ok, this was a campaign issue, but is it the economy, the war on terror, or education?

5) "Protecting Social Security" - which means what? Kerry's plan was the status quo - now that's bold leadership.I said this during the campaign and I say it again. You have to know where you are going to lead people there. Kerry's evolving laundry list is just the "bowl of mush" that Zell Miller was talking about at the Republican Convention. This is what the Dem's have to fix.

By the way - Bush's answer is this:

We will continue our economic progress. We'll reform our outdated tax code. We'll strengthen the Social Security for the next generation. We'll make public schools all they can be. And we will uphold our deepest values of family and faith. We'll help the emerging democracies of Iraq and Afghanistan ... so they can grow in strength and defend their freedom. And then our service men and women will come home with the honor they have earned.

This is his victory speech from last week. Naysayers will argue that there are no specifics, but hey, it's not a policy speech. The point is that the President has clear positions on every issue listed above (except faith and family but that one's pretty clear anyway) and Kerry's are fuzzy at best. Furthermore, Bush's list includes the most important issues facing our country - and they are issues he regularly discussed and campaigned on. In fact, before I went back for that quote I made my own list off the top of my head and it was exactly Bush's list.

Leadership, plain and simple.

RMR

Somebody Pinch Me

There is an article on CNN.com entitled:

"The Political Genius of George W. Bush"

Here is the opening paragraph:

Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or an independent, it is hard not to look at President Bush's re-election victory last week and conclude that he is probably one of the three or four most talented politicians of the last half of a century.

I have absolutely nothing to say.

In other news, cold drafts are reported in hell.

RMR

The Master's master plan

Amid all the recriminations and finger pointing of the Dem's total spanking last Tuesday, there is a great article in the Washington Post covering the Boy Genius, aka Karl Rove, and his winning plan for the Republicans this year. Read it here.

In other news, what is particularly encouraging are crazed rants by columnists like Dowd and Krughman. Encouraging, you ask? Well, of course. The less the bad guys learn from their mistakes the less they win and the lower the taxes, the safer the country, and the less government intrusion into our lives. So...keep it up, lefties! When you think that a bunch of loony Crrrraaaaaaazy Christians elected the president, you must be right!!!

RMR

Why the Left Loses

This excerpt from a guardian article by Blogger Markos Moulitsas (Daily Kos) is a perfect illustration:

We put together an unprecedented ground operation, but it was matched by the zealots on the right. We experienced an explosion in the blog world and started a nascent liberal radio network, but our message machine was far outmatched by the rightwing noise machine (Fox News, the Washington Times, Drudge Report, Talk Radio, etc.) We put forth quality candidates in races nationwide, only to see most outclassed and outgunned by a GOP which ran on three simple tenets: God, guns and gays.

The democrats "put together an unprecedented ground operation" only to be beat out by "zealots", democrats had their message machine "outmatched by the righwing noise machine." They saw their "quality candidates" "outclassed and outgunned". Sorry, but the truth is the "unprecedented ground operation" got BEAT by an even more unprecedented operation. In a year when almost all the major news outlets in the nation were constantly beating the drum for Kerry, it is ludicrous to say they were 'outmatched'. Of course while they had a 'message', the other side only had 'noise'. Unfortunately for them, their 'quality candidates' got BEAT by other quality candidates who talked about security, taxes, and yes values. That's what the political process is about - a battle of IDEAS.

Most of the time when you treat the opposition and their ideas with such contempt, you lose.

David

Bush's Acceptance Speech

Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. We had a long night ... and a great night. The voters turned out in record numbers and delivered an historic victory. Earlier today, Senator Kerry called with his congratulations. We had a really good phone call. He was very gracious. Senator Kerry waged a spirited campaign, and he and his supporters can be proud of their efforts. Laura and I wish Senator Kerry and Teresa and their whole family all our best wishes. America has spoken, and I'm humbled by the trust and the confidence of my fellow citizens. With that trust comes a duty to serve all Americans. And I will do my best to fulfill that duty every day as your president. There are many people to thank and my family comes first. Laura is the love of my life. I'm glad you love her too. I want to thank our daughters who joined their dad for his last campaign. I appreciate the hard work of my sister and brothers. I especially want to thank my parents for their loving support. I'm grateful to the vice president and Lynne and their daughters who have worked so hard and been such a vital part of our team. The vice president serves America with wisdom and honor and I'm proud to serve beside him. I want to thank my superb campaign team. I want to thank you all for your hard work. I was impressed every day by how hard and how skillful our team was. I want to thank Chairman Marc Racicot and the campaign manager, Ken Mehlman, the architect, Karl Rove. I want to thank Ed Gillespie for leading our party so well. I want to thank the thousands of our supporters across our country. I want to thank you for your hugs on the rope lines. I want thank you for your prayers on the rope lines. I want to thank you for your kind words on the rope lines. I want to thank you for everything you did to make the calls and to put up the signs, to talk to your neighbors and to get out the vote. And because you did the incredible work, we are celebrating today. There is an old saying: Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. In four historic years, America has been given great tasks and faced them with strength and courage. Our people have restored the vigor of this economy and shown resolve and patience in a new kind of war. Our military has brought justice to the enemy and honor to America. Our nation has defended itself and served the freedom of all mankind. I'm proud to lead such an amazing country, and I'm proud to lead it forward. Because we have done the hard work, we are entering a season of hope. We will continue our economic progress. We'll reform our outdated tax code. We'll strengthen the Social Security for the next generation. We'll make public schools all they can be. And we will uphold our deepest values of family and faith. We'll help the emerging democracies of Iraq and Afghanistan ... so they can grow in strength and defend their freedom. And then our service men and women will come home with the honor they have earned. With good allies at our side, we will fight this war on terror with every resource of our national power so our children can live in freedom and in peace. Reaching these goals will require the broad support of Americans. So today I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent. To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust. A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one Constitution, and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America. Let me close with a word for the people of the state of Texas. We have known each other the longest, and you started me on this journey. On the open plains of Texas, I first learned the character of our country: sturdy and honest, and as hopeful as the break of day. I will always be grateful to the good people of my state. And whatever the road that lies ahead, that road will take me home. The campaign has ended, and the United States of America goes forward with confidence and faith. I see a great day coming for our country and I am eager for the work ahead. God bless you and may God bless America.

How Sweet It Is...

That breeze you're feeling is a collective sigh of relief. Also, click here to hear Rush's Kerry theme song one last time.

RMR

Open Letter to NBC

Mrs. RightMakesRight wrote the following to NBC earlier today:

Today Katie Couric managed to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is no reporter. A reporter's job is to report the news. Normally, I would never watch the Today Show- but following the election coverage I found myself moving between all the news channels and came across the extremely sour face of Ms. Couric. How unprofessional to be on camera reporting the clear win of President Bush and looking so angry. The people of this country do not want to see reporters showing their personal feelings on camera, all we care about is that you report the events as they happen in an unbiased manner. Today, Ms. Couric has showed NBC viewers that she is neither unbiased nor capable of doing her job. Perhaps NBC should find someone who is.

You tell 'em, sweetheart.

RMR

It's Official

Kerry has conceded. Read more about it here.

RMR

Thank You, America

We will never know for sure just how important this victory for the President is, but there is no doubt that the nation and indeed the world will be a safer place over the next four years.

Now, can we please get over the 'selected, not elected' nonsense and get on with the serious business of making the world safe for civilization?

David

All over???

The guys on Fox have an 'It's over, Bush lost' attitude.

UPDATE: Looks now like the exit polls are consistently underestimating Bush's vote.

David

An Election-Day Reminder

The Lord reigns forever. Ultimately, God’s purposes will prevail—no doubt about it.


PSALM 146

Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Do not put your trust in princes,
in mortal men, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God,
the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them-
the LORD , who remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.

The LORD sets prisoners free,
the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the alien
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

The LORD reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD.


—Psalm 146, New International Version, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1978.

Hat tip to Chip Stam.

BREAKING NEWS! Kerry a "Liberal"!

Michael Moore said this a couple of weeks ago:

"There's a reason that [Republicans] are saying Kerry is the No. 1 liberal in the Senate. It's because he is the No. 1 liberal in the Senate."

Which is why he and all the hollywood lefties are supporting him and not Nader. Because there's not a lot of difference. And Kerry, unlike Nader, has at least a snowball's chance of actually winning.

RMR