Bush Policy on Iraq: Success or Failure?

John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Howard Dean, Barbara Boxer, et al have told us over and over and over that the Bush policy on Iraq is a failure. The voters didn't believe them, thank God.

The President has never wavered from his belief that all people want to be free and that our policy on Iraq will enable Democracy throughout the Middle-East.

Because of the rapid developing events in Lebanon, I've been thinking about what has happened since the United States attacked Iraq. Here is a timeline and headlines of some major events. Do you think Bush's policy on Iraq is a failure?

March 20, 2003 - U.S. begins attack on Iraq

April 5, 2003 - U.S. troops enter Baghdad

Oct. 13, 2003 - Saudis announce first elections

December 20, 2003 - Libya Gives Up Nuclear and Chemical Weapons (They are stored in the USA now.)

January 31, 2005 - UN expert hails Iraq election success

Feb. 4, 2005 - The Democrat Response to Success

Feb. 28, 2005 - Syria's Assad Tells Newspaper That U.S. Might Attack

Feb. 28, 2005 - Syria Hands Saddam's Half Brother to Iraq

1 hour, 21 minutes ago - Lebanon (Pro Syrian) Govt. Quits, Pressure Mounts on Syria


A footnote - I can see parallels with the collapse of the Soviet Union when Ronald Reagan took a bold stand against the Soviets and told Gorbachev to "Take Down That Wall".

Several years later during George HW Bush's presidency, the Berlin Wall did fall along with the Soviet Empire.

In 1991, after Saddam invaded Kuwait, George HW Bush drove Saddam out of Kuwait. After 9/11, his son finally ended one of the most brutal regimes in the history of the world.

These Presidents will go down in history among the greatest.

Ashamed

Captain Ed of Captain's Quarters in his post titled La Shawn: Chris Rock "Ignorant And Vulgar" led me to the post by La Shawn Barber titled Triumph of Ignorance and Vulgarity. She comments on Chris Rock's behavior as MC of the Oscars last night

I am ashamed that I laughed at some of his jokes. Read La Shawn's comments; they are thought provoking.

That's the last thing I am saying about the 2005 Oscars. Today I'll go back to politics.

Blogging the Oscars - Million Dollar Ending

Clint Eastwood has done it. He won Best Director and Best Movie for Million Dollar Baby. There is no more to say.

That's the end of the 2005 Oscars.

Good Night!

Blogging the Oscars - Round Three...

One reason we're watching this is to find out what happens to Million Dollar Baby. We haven't seen it, but there was an article about it in our church newsletter. The editor mentioned that the Hilary Swank character was from Theodosia, Missouri and that the editor (a friend of ours) had vacationed there often.

We were shocked because we had actually lived in Theodosia for a couple of years when we had escaped from the corporate world. We found out that Theodosia (which means God's gift in Latin) was portrayed in a very bad light.

Theodosia has around 200 people and the vast majority are either retired or very, very poor. However, we found that most people were good God fearing people and made us northerners feel welcome.

I have mixed feelings about the Million Dollar Baby because while I admire Clint Eastwood, I am opposed to euthanasia and don't like the idea that it appears to be glorified in the movie.

Back to the show.... wow, as I'm blogging Hilary Swank just won Best Actress.

Blogging the Oscars - Round Two...

We're hanging on. One thing that amazes us is that the movie we saw the night before last, Sideways, has had several nomination and one Academy Award for something. My wife came close to walking out of the movie because of the bad language and crude behavior. I tried to explain to her it was just a portrayal of man's fallen condition, but that argument didn't wash.

Well, here comes Beyonce again, this time singing in English She's singing something from the Phantom of the Opera with Andrew Lloyd Webber on the piano. Very nice. Her voice seems better in English.

The Aviator has four Oscars so far and is leading the pack as of 9:27 PM. It was dumb luck for us that we saw that movie this year. It's the only top movie we saw.

Here are the winners so far. I'll post this and keep blogging.

Live Blogging the Oscars - Round One...

My wife and I are watching the Academy Awards right now so I will do some live blogging.

I was looking at Powerline and read Hindrocket's post which features a picture he found of Beyonce Knowles on Yahoo. He wasn't going to watch until he found that picture.

Hindrocket bailed after Chris Rock's not-so-funny rant against the George Bush. I'm not too happy about the anti-Bush jokes either, but I'm curious who will win and will hang on.

Well Beyonce just sang. I've seen pictures of her before but never heard her sing. I wasn't very impressed with her voice, although she was pretty. I don't know what the song was about because she sang in French.

Hmmm, Cate Blanchett and Morgan Freeman just won awards as supporting players.

This is still kind of boring. They could use some entertainment. I'm going to post this for what it is worth and post again a little later.

Tony Snow - One of the Good Guys

My wife and I are at our favorite coffee and bagel place, Panera, and I am wireless and it's free. I am listening via laptop to my favorite radio show - The Tony Snow Show.

If you haven't heard, Tony has colon cancer and will have surgery on Monday. Please pray for him. John Gibson is filling in for him today, but as I am blogging this, Tony just came in the studio. It's good to hear his voice again.

Tony plans to be back on the air full time ASAP and I recommend his show - it is not the typical talk show. Tony is one of the good guys. You can find stations near you who carry the show at his site or listen on the net. There is a link at his site for that.

You can also catch Tony's show from 9am - noon ET on XM Radio channel 165 and Sirius Radio channel 142.

Later...

Latest Information and Thoughts About Terri

Following is some information on Terri Schiavo that I found tonight.

There is a story in the Orlando Sentinel today reporting that the Florida Department of Children & Families has started an investigation of the Terri Schiavo case.

Jacob DiPietre, a spokesman for Governor Jeb Bush, would not comment on Bush's role in the investigation. However he did explain that the DCF has an obligation to "protect children and vulnerable adults and to respond to allegations of abuse or neglect...If there is an investigation, the only way it can be started is by a call to the [DCF] hotline".

Amber of Desperate Vision has excellent information on Terri's plight in her post Prayer Vigil. She also posted a wonderful prayer.

Catez of Allthings2all blogged about Terri in a very moving post titled Who Crushes a Butterfly With a Hammer. In one section of Catez's post, she draws a parallel between Terri's case and what happened under Hitler:

"Some years ago I watched the six part documentary series The Nazis: A Warning from History. One of the most striking things in the story of the progression of the Nazi system was how isolated events became widespread modes of operation. In particular, there was the case of the parents of a mentally retarded girl who wrote to Hitler asking that they be given permission to have their daughter euthanised. Hitler agreed and the the parents request was carried out. One girl. And one girl became a precedent, which a zealous underling undertook to build on to impress the Fuehrer. The precendent became a policy. The policy became a practice."

My thanks goes to Amy of Amy's Humble Musings who pointed to Catez for good information on the Blogosphere about Terri.

Terri's Death Sentence Stayed...breaking

The news headline is Judge Extends Stay in Right-To-Die Case. This is a lie. This is a right-to-life case.

There is still time to save Terri's life. Following is Gov. Jeb Bush's email address:

jeb.bush@myflorida.com

Please write to him and ask him to save Terri...and pray.

Terri to Be Starved Today

God help Terri Schiavo and God help us. Terri's starvation may start again today.

I can't understand why Terri's "husband" wants her to die. Maybe it's because he selfishly wants to get on with his life since Terri can't do much for him now.

Also, money is involved - and the lady he lives with and the children he bore with her.

Amy's six year old son of Amy's Humble Musings asked the right question:

Well, why did her husband marry her [if he doesn't want to take care of her]?

Amy blogged about Terri today. Take the time to read her post and the article in World Net Daily about Terri.

And..please pray. Jesus is weeping.

The Bush Tapes

Captain Ed of Captain’s Quarters in a post titled Judas Preacher commented on a New York Times article about conversations between preacher friend Doug Wead and then Governor George W. Bush.

Captain Ed rightfully so decried Wead's betrayal: "He's a disgusting piece of human slime."

While I agree that Doug Wead is a "slime" for betraying his friend, I was amazed reading through the conversations in a longer New York Times version posted on Drudge, of what George Bush did not say.

It seems that what the President says in private tracks with what he says in public for the most part. Bush, unlike Wead, is a good trustworthy man.

Unhappy Dems Push "Count Every Vote Act"

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. John Kerry and other Democrats, including Sen. Barbara Boxer on Thursday called for Election Day to be made a federal holiday and that ex-felons be allowed to vote.

Obviously unhappy that George Bush was reelected, Ms. Clinton said, "Once again we had a federal election that demonstrates we have a long way to go... I think it's also necessary to make sure our elections meet the highest national standards".

Kerry clarified that "this has nothing to do with me... It is not partisan, or shouldn't be."

Boxer chimed in that the bill "is meant to ensure the election debacle of 2000, and the serious election irregularities of 2004, never ever happen again."

It is obvious that there is one thing that Dems like these can never do - lose gracefully.

Changes Made to My Website

Sorry I haven't blogged lately. I have been working improving my website GettingElected.com. I've added valuable resouces and changed the look and organization of the site.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Where's the Love?

ASPEN, Colo. - A panel discussion on the demise of some cable debate shows like CNN's recently axed Crossfire ended in a shouting match. The irony is that the panel was discussing if debate shows where people shout, are on the way out. (Funny, I don't recall any Fox News debate/shouting shows being cancelled recently.)

I think the shouting itself is not the causative factor. CNN, Dems and liberals in general seem to be self-destructing because of their whining and shouting. The public is tired of hearing the same worn out negative mantra of liberals.

During the panel discussion, somewhat funny, kind of cute Janeane Garofalo whined "the Republican message dominate the public conversation, but that in my opinion, 90 percent of it is false."

Hmmm. A great majority of Americans must have been duped by those wiley, Karl Rove led Republicans, in the last presidential election with "false public conversation".

Garofalo, like most libs, believe that anyone who doesn't think or vote like them is unable to analyze complex issues without liberal interpretation. In other words, the further down south you live, especially where the cowboys roam, the sun must fry your brain and leave you vulnerable to Republican smooth talking.

Obviously a crisis of communication.

(Thanks to Lance for pointing me to this story.)

Roe v. Wade in Danger?

Amy of Amy's Humble Musings blogged today in a post titled Wanted and Unwanted about a court ruling in Cook County, Illinois. Her comments were well thought out and her analysis was excellent.

Her post was based on a Chicago Sun-Times article about a judge who found that a frozen embryo destroyed in a fertility clinic fire was a human being and that the parents could file a lawful death lawsuit.

Amy correctly points out that if the embryo is considered a human being, a cruel double standard is created:

"...if I want the embryo, it's now a baby, and I can sue for pretty much anything on her behalf. However, if I don't want the baby, I can murder her and just get on with my life."

Nevertheless, there might be good news here too. This ruling takes a quantum leap from Roe v. Wade by declaring a "pre-embryo" as a "human being". Under Roe, the Supreme Court concluded that a fetus is not a person as defined under the constitution.

Add this new ruling to Laci and Connor's Law (Which John Kerry voted against) and the pro-choice folks must be having fits. Could the foundations of Roe v. Wade be collapsing like the Walls of Jericho?

Eason Jordan - Out as CNN Head of News

Score another one for the truth and the bloggers who brought it out. Lead by Captain Ed of Captain's Quarter's and Power Line , CNN chief news executive Eason Jordan has resigned.

Jordan had reportedly said in a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum that he believed some journalists were targeted and killed by coalition forces.

A later Jordan apology didn't help"

"I never meant to imply U.S. forces acted with ill intent when U.S. forces accidentally killed journalists, and I apologize to anyone who thought I said or believed otherwise."

Demonization Up North

Mitch of Shot In The Dark tells of the political maneuvering going on in Minnesota by the liberals in his post Demonology.

He opines that there is a campaign by DFL (in Minnesota) to set up "strawmen" before the next election.

Mitch observes that this is being done because they have no real ideas to talk about.

This sounds familiar to the lack of ideas the Dems had at the national level in the presidential election. Hopefully with the same result.

So You Want to Be a Politician?

If you are not happy with the way things are going in our country, how about running for office yourself? Running for office may seem like a daunting task, but it's really not. It's like most things. Take baby steps at first; get organized; gain strength; and then get elected.

If you are not sure how to start, check out my website www.gettingelected.com. It's designed to help people who want to get elected get elected.

Email me at dan.england@gettingelected.com if you have any questions. I'd be glad to help.

Best Wishes and God Bless.

Blue "O" Blue Where Art Thou Going?

Minnesota's Sen. Dayton (D-MN) will not run for re-election according to a story in the Washington Post.com. The political winds are changing in the far North. Could it be Global Warming?

My bet would be that the light of truth is being focused on the political scene by the Bloggers like Minneapolis based Power Line.

Blue "O" Blue Where Art Thou Going?

Amy's Humble Musings

I Just found the blog Amy's Humble Musings which won the Evangelical Underground's award for "New Best Evangelical Blog". I added Amy's blog to my Blog Roll. It's worth reading.

Peace in the Taiwan Strait?

When I read in a January 28, 2005 article about the first China jetliner landing in Taiwan since the civil war in 1947, I was surprised. China has always considered Taiwan a renegade Province and has threatened many times to take back the island by force if needed. Why now is there an obvious sign of peace?

A little background. Prior to President Richard Nixon's historic visit to Mainland China on February 21, 1972, the United States recognized Taiwan as the official China. However, Nixon's trip changed all that.

After a joint meeting with the Mainland Chinese, both sides issued the Joint Communiqué in Shanghai (also known as the Shanghai Communiqué) on February 28, 1972. The agreement states in part:

"The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position. It reaffirms its interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves. With this prospect in mind, it affirms the ultimate objective of the withdrawal of all U.S. forces and military installations from Taiwan. In the meantime, it will progressively reduce its forces and military installations on Taiwan as the tension in the area diminishes."

However, the U.S. "One China" policy has always left the question unanswered if the United States would defend Taiwan if attacked by Mainland China.

Until George W. Bush that is.

April 25, 2001 President Bush said that the United States would do "whatever it took to help Taiwan defend herself" in the event of attack by China during a taped interview on ABC's "Good Morning America."

The interviewer asked the new President for more clarification of this apparent shift of policy by asking if the U.S. would use "the full force of the American military". Bush responded in simple terms: "Whatever it took to help Taiwan defend herself."

Several years later, the Taliban, Saddam and the UN found out what "whatever it took" meant.

Fast forward to January 2005 after George Bush was re-elected to the Presidency by a wide margin. Do you think there might be any connection between Bush's clarification of the "One China" policy years before and the peaceful landing of a Chinese jetliner in Taiwan? I do.

God Bless America and God Bless George Bush.

An Answer to the Question: "Why Are We in Iraq?"

Lenice of The Button-hole Journey wrote an excellent analysis titled Why Peace Failed in Iraq. It is worth reading.

Dems Running from Bush to Blue Canada

The International Herald Tribune reports that Americans are still voting with their feet in increasing numbers and moving out of the country because of the re-election of George Bush. Many are packing their bags and heading north to Canada where landscape is more blue.

However, there is no worry that the United States will soon be de-populated. According to the Tribune article, an immigration lawyer in Montreal estimates that the migration to Canada will be about 18,000 people this year - up from 6000 in 2003.

The Democrat Response to Success

The Wall Street Journal Opinion Journal in an article titled The 'Exit Strategy' Democrats hit the nail on the head about the Democratic leadership "response" to the Iraq election.

The first sentence of the article sums it up best about the Democrats

"The only thing they can't imagine is success in Iraq."

- or it seems about anything else positive happening in America. Sad!

President Bush at the National Prayer Breakfast

I just watched George Bush speak at the National Prayer Breakfast on Fox News. He alluded to Abraham Lincoln who in November 1864 called on Americans to pray by declaring:

"I would be the most shallow and self conceited blockhead on earth if I ever thought that I could do my job without the wisdom that comes from God and not from men."

George Bush, like Lincoln called on the American people to humble themselves before their Maker and to serve all those in need. He said that faith based institutions display the same spirit of called for by Lincoln every day. He mentioned faith-based institutions serving others in the tsunami-ravaged areas including Franklin Graham's Samaritan’s Purse and America Jewish World Service.

The President said that of people of faith has no corner on compassion, but people of faith need compassion and that "prayer means opening ourselves to God's priorities". (This was the statement I liked the best.)

The President called on Americans to "Love thy neighbor as thyself". As an example of this love, he told the moving story that was related to him by 20 year old Veronica Braewell from Liberia who at 13 witnessed men killing children. She was left for dead on the top of a pile bodies. After being rescued by her grandmother, she was was resettled in Pennsylvania by a Catholic Social agency. She is now working in a nursing home in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania while studying to be a CNA. She was loved, now she wants to give back that love.

The President's speech itself was a prayer - a prayer of hope.

The State of the Union and the Hug

In my opinion, George Bush gave another great speech in the State of the Union. He seems to get better each time he gives a speech

However, the moment that moved me most was the hug between the mother of the Marine who was killed in Fallujah and the daughter of an Iraqi man killed by Saddam who had just voted for the first time.

The President paused and his lips quivered as he watched the women embrace. Then the mother of the marine passed the dog tags of her son to the Iraqi woman.

Lorie Byrd in PoliPundit.com posted comments on this that are worth reading.

Professor Churchill Exposed

Babs in Girl in Right posted today about Professor Churchill and his outrageous statements about the victims of 9/11. I heard about this on Fox News, but thought that the media had probably picked out some of the prof's more inflammatory statements in their reporting. I was wrong.

I drilled down to the original text of what Churchill said and read until I got sick. This hate filled essay is worth reading - you make up your own mind.