Today's Mosque-a-Rama

Read Thomas Sowell's column: "Can anyone in his right mind believe that this was intended to show solidarity with Americans, rather than solidarity with those who attacked America? Does anyone imagine that the Middle East nations, including Iran, from whom financial contributions will be solicited, want to promote reconciliation between Americans and Muslims? That the President of the United States has joined the chorus of those calling the Ground Zero mosque a religious freedom issue tells us a lot about the moral dry rot that is undermining this country from within."

From American Spectator's Peter Hannaford: "Mayor Bloomberg and President Obama missed the point of Cordoba House entirely. It is not a matter of religious freedom or property rights. It is a matter of appropriateness."

Off To A Great Start

This is sure reassuring: "Palestinian gunman kills 4 Israelis on eve of peace talks".

Speaking of "peace", Jay Nordlinger offers these observations from Austria: "Daniel Barenboim is ever political — and, naturally, Salzburg has invited him to give a speech: not just to conduct an orchestra or play the piano, but give a speech. Barenboim is the type to give a speech anyway. He says in Salzburg, “Music is anything but an ivory tower.” What he means is, 'I’m going to mouth off, and you’re going to listen — just because I was born with musical talent, though I may not have a political brain in my head.' According to a paper, Barenboim tells the crowd, 'If Israel honestly wants peace — a real, lasting peace and not just a superficial one which creates a platform for vague negotiations — then, in order to move towards Palestine, it will have to acknowledge all the factions that exist there.' I guess he means Hamas. Oh, Israel acknowledges Hamas, all right: acknowledges that Hamas is dedicated to killing as many Israelis as it can, before it destroys the entire state. Sometimes clarity of thought means that you recognize when a person or group is unappeasable.
Would you like a definition of 'safe'? I offer one: 'Knocking Israel to an audience in Austria.'"

Watcher's Council Winners

Soccer Dad has a list of the latest Watcher's Council winners.

Haveil Havalim Time

Haveil Havalim #282 is up at Izgad, "a wide ranging blog dealing with issues from Judaism, Asperger syndrome, to medieval and early modern history with regular side trips to the world of science fiction and fantasy."

Man-Caused Disaster

(Cartoon by Chip Bok)

New Word of the Day

Did you hear about the new phobia Roger L. Simon has? "But I propose a new term for something I suffer from much more acutely — Islamophobiaphobia. It’s an irrational fear of ideological nitwits."

Remembering September 11

It's taken a disgracefully long time, but finally there's life at the Ground Zero Memorial: "The trees come from Washington DC, New York and Pennsylvania, to symbolize the three places the planes hit. They were grown in Millstone Township, N.J." And tomorrow, the Arlington County (Virginia) Fire Department will receive a gift of World Trade Center steel to thank the firefighters for their efforts at the Pentagon on September 11. We need to cover more stories about September 11 so that the 9th anniversary isn't overshadowed by that mosque.

The Redemption of George W. Bush

Told you so! People don't appreciate what they have until it's gone. This Daily News editorial says: "As President Obama's approval numbers slide, people are starting to see the man they once laughed at and loathed isn't looking so bad." Take a look at these reader comments at Lucianne.com.

August's Ridiculous Lawsuits

It's time for the Most Ridiculous Lawsuit of the Month Poll from the U.S.Chamber Institute for Legal Reform. I voted for the one about the burglar suing the men who captured him.

September 11 Video

In their lead up to this video showing the events of September 11, the New York Times writes: "But even as the 9/11 conspiracy blogs seem to have moved on, the narrative of 9/11 — and especially the question of who is ultimately blameworthy and what retribution and prevention would or should look like — is still contested, as the recent debates over a proposed Islamic center near the site of the attacks in Manhattan make clear." We already know "who is ultimately blameworthy", and it's certainly not the United States. We were the victims here! Why must we continue to explain this obvious fact?

Happy Insensitive Birthday To You!

Doesn't this sound like satire? Unfortunately, it's not. As Neal Boortz writes: "The wussification of American continues .. a government elementary school in Missouri had banned the singing of 'Happy Birthday' because of the 'sensitivity of all student beliefs.'" Check out the full idiotic story here.

Watcher's Council

Here are the latest Watcher's Council winners, courtesy of Soccer Dad.

Today's Mosque-a-Rama

Michael Goodwin writes that that idiot Mayor Bloomberg still doesn't get it. And The American Muslim website posts what the mosque's iman should say: "“I particularly recognize with humility such emotions coming from the families of the 9/11 victims. Although the loved ones of many of those who perished in the attacks support us, I believe that if the center at this location brings anguish to the family of a single 9/11 victim, it is one family too many. I, therefore, have decided not to build the center at 45-51 Park Place, two blocks north of ground zero. My associates and I are confident we can work something out with the city of New York to move it farther away from ground zero." We can only hope that happens.

Anne Frank's Tree

Here's why it meant so much.

Message of Peace

What a perfect editorial cartoon!

Betsy's Page Revamped

Wow! Check out the great new look of Betsy's Page!

Ground Zero

Here are some photos from Ground Zero, courtesy of the Ground Zero Museum. Look at these images and continue to insist that a mosque be built close by.

Grand Rounds

Laughter is the best medicine when you read Grand Rounds, Volume 6 Number 48: The "Funny" Edition at A Cartoon Guide to Becoming a Doctor.

Lowlives of the Day

How can you not despise people who think like this? "Israel wins Paralympic gold as Iranians refuse to swim in same pool". Yep, that's the religion of peace, all right.

Bad for the Jews

The NY Times' Charles Blow asks, "Is President Obama good for the Jews? For more and more Jewish-Americans, the answer is no." They're just figuring this out now? What's taken so long?

Must-See TV

I'll be watching "Giuliani's 9/11" September 6 at 9 pm on the National Geographic Channel. I think this documentary, and the film "102 Minutes", ought to be shown as to explain why the mosque should never be built near Ground Zero.

Perfect!

Today's Mosque-a-Rama

Phil Mushnik is absolutely right: "For nearly 10 years, the 3,000 victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center have been classified in the vaguest, open-to-interpretation words. The 3,000 have been described as having been 'lost' or 'killed' in the attacks, and as having 'perished' or 'died' in the attacks. But collectively they weren’t simply 'fatalities' And individually they weren’t merely lost or killed, and they didn’t merely perish or die. They were MURDERED." Exactly! But it's been considered politically incorrect to mention that fact, in case we offend their murderers!

Here's an account of today's protest against the mosque. I was simply floored by the results of this Daily News poll.

The Name Game

Greg Crosby has some baseball musings regarding the names of stadiums and teams.

Miss Him Yet?

I certainly do, and so does Rick at Wizbang:

"But as we continue to hear about the number of golf rounds played, the number of vacations taken, the number of Muslims bowed to, the number of times Israel has been disrespected, the number of times America's enemies have been embraced, the number of taxes that are being and will be raised, the death panels that are sure to come, the health care that is sure to be rationed, the defense cuts that are being promoted, the social programs that are being buttressed, the redefining of terms, the dismissal of American exceptionalism, the aristocracy of those currently in charge, the racism being charged wrongly against those in opposition, the racism being ignored by the Department of Justice, the stimulus dollars that are nothing more than a slush fund for allies, the corruption in high places, the appointment of radical cronies to positions of influence, the apology tour, the incompetence during the BP oil disaster, the lack of transparency despite all the promises and more... and I'm sure there's more but this is what has rattled quickly off the fingerprints... the more I miss W."

Haveil Havalim Time

Jack has announced that it's time for Haveil Havalim #281: The Summer's End Edition, at Ki Yachol Nuchal! (Unfortunately, it doesn't feel as if summer is ever going to end here, but I'll take her word for it!)

Today's Mosque-a-Rama

This speaker doesn't mince words. And why haven't we already built a Ground Zero memorial and preempted this travesty?
I said this in May: "What's really disgraceful is that the Muslims will have their mosque built more quickly than we've been able to rebuild at Ground Zero! As a commenter says, 'Excuses, excuses. The original twin towers were built in 5 years. The Empire State Building was built in - wait for it - 13 months'"

Jack Foley Horkheimer: Star Gazer

I always enjoyed his enthusiastic episodes of "Star Gazer" -- as well as the theme music!

Today's Mosque-a-Rama

In his latest column, Charles Krauthammer refers to the supporters of the mosque as having "moral myopia". Meanwhile, construction workers are refusing to work on the mosque -- good for them!

George Will on Israel

Here's a great column about Israel by George Will, who writes

"Israelis younger than 50 have no memory of their nation within the 1967 borders set by the 1949 armistice that ended the War of Independence. The rest of the world seems to have no memory at all concerning the intersecting histories of Palestine and the Jewish people.
The creation of Israel did not involve the destruction of a Palestinian state, there having been no such state since the Romans arrived. And if the Jewish percentage of the world's population were today what it was when the Romans ruled Palestine, there would be 200 million Jews. After a uniquely hazardous passage through two millennia without a homeland, there are 13 million Jews.
In the 62 years since this homeland was founded on one-sixth of 1 percent of the land of what is carelessly and inaccurately called 'the Arab world,' Israelis have never known an hour of real peace. Patronizing American lectures on the reality of risks and the desirableness of peace, which once were merely fatuous, are now obscene."

Ground Zero Mosque: A Zionist Conspiracy

But of course! Why didn't WE think of that?

Good News From Israel

How's this for poetic justice?

Pelosi Pablum

This mosque travesty gets more surreal by the day. Now Pelosi wants to investigate the funding of mosque critics. Why are these people taking what should be an open and shut case of decency vs. tastelessness and turning it into a witchhunt?

Are You Out of Your Mind(set)?

Whenever I see the Beloit College Mindset List, I'm relieved to have been born in the 50's! (via Interesting Pile)

"Basically a Good Mom"!

I knew they'd be making excuses for this Susan Smith-like piece of garbage, but what the idiot sheriff said takes the cake: "The mom has been basically a good mom," the sheriff said. "For whatever reason, this was her weakest moment." If this is "a good mom", I'd hate to know what his definition of a bad mom is.

Incredibly Nervy Lawsuit of the Day

This headline tells you everything: "Montana Teen Charged With Deliberate Homicide Sues Slain Woman's Family". What kind of cold-blooded teen is this, and what kind of lawyer?

Grand Rounds

Grand Rounds Volume 6 Number 47 is now underway at the office of Dr. Pullen.

Not Cheaper by the Dozen

The only benefit the U.K. should pay to these people is
for free sterilization!

If...You Must for 8/16/10

Soccer Dad offers some good reading to start off your work week. Also, he has the latest Watcher's Council winners.

Freedom of Religion, My Eye!

I am getting more and more incensed over this mosque. It's also outrageous that as we approach the 9th anniversary of September 11, the mosque is receiving all the attention. This aerial photo should leave no doubt about the true purpose of the mosque: it's a slap in the face of America.

There ought to also be a "before" photo along with the aerial "after" view, in case some people need reminding:

Tough for Tiger

I agree completely with this column critical of Tiger Woods and of the fans who continue to blindly root for and excuse him. Even before the accident that began his public downfall, I had never liked him, and I have had no respect for the media who have fawned over him -- the way they fawn over Obama. The British press has been critical of him for years, and it's good to see that finally ours is starting to open their eyes. I also don't think he deserves to be named to the Ryder Cup team, but that's another story.

Haveil Havalim Time

It's great to see Soccer Dad hosting Haveil Havalim again! Enjoy reading Haveil Havalim #280.

Moolah for Mosques

At American Digest, you can find some great ideas for corporate sponsorship of the Obamosque. And in a radio discussion on what can be done with the buildings on either side, a caller suggested that a giant sole of a shoe be painted on the building directly across the street.

Secrets of Sobibor

Reader's Digest reveals "The Secrets of Sobibor".

You Can Count On Charles

You can always count on Charles Krauthammer to get to the heart of the matter:

"A place is made sacred by a widespread belief that it was visited by the miraculous or the transcendent (Lourdes, the Temple Mount), by the presence there once of great nobility and sacrifice (Gettysburg), or by the blood of martyrs and the indescribable suffering of the innocent (Auschwitz). When we speak of Ground Zero as hallowed ground, what we mean is that it belongs to those who suffered and died there -- and that such ownership obliges us, the living, to preserve the dignity and memory of the place, never allowing it to be forgotten, trivialized or misappropriated.... No commercial tower over Gettysburg, no convent at Auschwitz -- and no mosque at Ground Zero. Build it anywhere but there."

It's All About Me, Me, Me!

This movie review title says it all. (Via Lucianne.com).
I attempted to read the book but found it so insufferable I gave up after forcing myself through the first 70 pages.

Victory Over Japan

Tomorrow is V-J Day, and you can see a short pictorial history here of the War in the Pacific. Remember our troops and the sacrifices they made.

If...You Must, for 8/13/10

It's a lucky Friday the 13th when there's another installment of Soccer Dad's series If...You Must!

The Minds of Jewish Liberals

Here's a question without a good answer: "What possesses the minds of Jewish liberals that they defend their worst enemies?"

I Miss President Bush!

So I was very happy to see this article and photos over at Lucianne.com today. Obviously, our troops miss him, too.

Wrong Sign of the Times

I strongly disagree with the sign in this picture. Wall Street isn't destroying America; Obama is destroying America! Also, I'm sorry, but you can't have 99 weeks of unemployment forever. Where does it end?

Chances Are...

... that you didn't know these things about Johnny Mathis. What a nice article!

Pol Poll

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Can't someone stand up to him and say, "This has nothing whatsoever to do with freedom of religion. It has everything to do with freedom from terrorism, and common decency."?

Grand Rounds

Paging all readers! Grand Rounds Vol. 6 No. 46: The Power of Listening is up at Dispatch from Second Base. It's a blog about breast cancer, gratitude, humor and life.

Call Us Irresponsible

Boy, is this ever true! But irresponsibility seems to be encouraged rather than discouraged, so it will never end.

Reenacting Lizzie

I hope this didn't include having to eat the spoiled mutton.

September 11 Censorship

This is simply unbelievable! In this ad opposing the Ground Zero mosque, the images of the jet about to crash into the south tower; the smoke; and the flames were all removed for politically correct reasons! See the 'before' and 'after" ads, and you'll agree that this is truly insane, when you remember (as the video reminds you) what happened that day.

Parents of the Day

As we do every summer, we have the usual so-called parents who leave their kids in hot cars. Now they want the car manufacturers to install some sort of alarm that will tell you if you left your child in the car! And in South Carolina, there's this creature. There's simply not enough outrage towards these people.

August 6, 1945

Truman did the right thing -- and thankfully there was no political correctness back then.

Ashamed

Bloomberg is an idiot: "Mayor Bloomberg says Ground Zero mosque opponents should be 'ashamed' of themselves." Sorry, but the only one I'm ashamed of is him!

Friends of Israel

Read this excerpt of a speech by Andrew Roberts: "No people in history have needed the right to self-defence and legitimacy more than the Jews of Israel, and that is what we in the Friends of Israel Initiative demand here today." We need all the friends we can get!

Description of Democrats

I spotted this today at Lucianne.com: "Democrats startlingly silent on 'ground zero mosque'. Dems don't speak up if there's a chance someone might not like them."

Racist McCarthyism

I am so sick and tired of "racism" being used as the excuse for everything, including this horrific mass killing in Connecticut. Instead of accepting blame and accepting responsibility for your own actions, it's easier to smear others with the "racist" label. We need people with spine to ignore political correctness and stand up to these race-baiters once and for all.

If...You Must for 8/5/10

Get ready for another chapter of "If...You Must" by Soccer Dad.

Iranian Nazis

Tongue Tied links to this powerful editorial on antisemitism in Iran from the Sydney Morning Herald:

"We are witnessing the toxic convergence of the advocacy of the most horrific of crimes, genocide, embedded in the most virulent of hatreds, anti-Semitism. It is dramatised by the parading in Tehran streets of a Shihab-3 missile draped in the words 'Israel must be wiped off the map' while the assembled thousands are exhorted to chants of 'death to Israel'.Ahmadinejad's Iran is increasingly resorting to incendiary and demonising language, including epidemiological metaphors reminiscent of Nazi incitement. Ahmadinejad and other officials characterise Israel as a 'filthy germ', a 'stain of disgrace' and 'a stinking corpse', while referring to Israelis as 'the true manifestation of Satan' and 'blood-thirsty barbarians', as a prologue to - and justification for - a Middle East genocide, while at the same time denying the Nazi one."

Meshuga for Silly Bandz

I think the Silly Bandz craze is ridiculous -- but I confess that when I read this article, I had to order a pack for myself!

Where Are The Parents?

Amen to this!: "If this country is going to get serious about childhood obesity, we need to detangle food and the public schools and get back to better parenting — basic parenting. Government doesn’t do anything well, least of all cooking. Michelle Obama has missed a golden opportunity to encourage parents to get back to the basics and pack their kid a lunch." As I always wonder, where are the parents? Don't they have any responsibilities any more?

Grand Rounds

Life in the Fast Lane has some 'killer posts' at Grand Rounds Vol. 6 No. 45.

If...You Must for 8/3/10

How nice! Soccer Dad regales us with another great installment of If...You Must. It's good reading on a hot evening.

Hear, Hear!

Ugh! Now this is one contraption that will certainly make the rest of us deaf in no time (in addition to giving us an additional excuse for phone rage)!

"Why There", Indeed?

I think this slogan is perfect.

Watcher's Council Winners

You can see a list of the latest Watcher's Council winners here at Soccer Dad.

The United States of Apathy

At Lucianne.com, I came across this editorial about the traitor Bradley Manning, and again I wondered why Americans are so apathetic regarding harm done to our country. Political correctness is part of it, but so is this "touch-feely" mentality where there are excuses for every sort of wrong behavior, and where everyone's a victim. This attitude can also be seen when it comes to the Ground Zero mosque. Why shouldn't we be against it? After all, they're the ones who attacked us on September 11, remember? I would hope that if Muslims had flown jets into the Eiffel Tower or into Buckingham Palace, The French and the British would be equally appalled at the thought of mosque on their hallowed ground. When will we ever be able to stop explaining the obvious?

The Warsaw Uprising

Ordinary people were so incredibly brave in those days!

My Crime of Town, Chicago Is

Instapundit linked to this outrageous story: "Chicago: Where Criminals No Longer Fear the Police. What level of depravity has a city reached when a uniformed police officer is no safer from a street robbery than anyone else?" and "Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has announced the formation of a new Anti-Violence Commission, the very thought of which will surely cause even the most debased Chicago hoodlum to change his ways and start attending novenas down at Holy Name Cathedral. Pity the good people of Chicago. The thugs give them dead bodies, the governor gives them commissions." Is it now politically incorrect to go after criminals? What are they afraid of?

Cruising With Betsy

Betsy's Page has been cruising the web and has come up with these interesting tidbits.