This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Bloggers

  • Eagles & Freepers rally for the troops

    While the IVAW, Veterans for Peace and all of the assorted anti-war groups were in Silver Spring, Maryland, Gathering of Eagles, Eagles UP, Move America Forward and other pro-troop organizations assembled on the National Mall in the shadow of the Washington Monument to support the troops – and to celebrate the first anniversary of their founding event against the March on the Pentagon – also the most successful day of this blog to date.

    I’d been told that the rally would start at 17th and Constitution at 10 o’clock, so you can imagine my disappointment when I arrived at about 11 and found the corner empty. But I turned my head about 45 degrees east and saw a multitude of American flags snapping in the breeze near the Washington Monument and I knew I’d found them;

    Their numbers were still a bit anemic, but a chilly wind was still blowing out of the north and it was a few hours until the march, I was pretty sure numbers would grow. Meanwhile I wandered around and found I’m sort of popular these days since my live blogging yesterday and my visit to the Freepers and Eagles yesterday.

    I also bumped into readers/commenters Dinky Dau, 509th Bob and Streetsweeper as well as fellow bloggers Skye and Rurick. It was a regular This Ain’t Hell reunion. It was a great experience after being cooped up with the other side yesterday. Much better people;

    As the morning wore on, the numbers swelled;

    Dinky Dau expressed regret that there were fewer people than he expected, but I told him to remember that before a year ago, it would have been impossible to assemble even a tenth of the number that were there. Ask Free Republic – I remember when they’d have rallies of ten or fifteen people.

    By the time the march started, I guess there were probably 500 people there – and they picked up another 25 people who joined the march as they passed – but I’ll get to that in a moment.

    We opened the event with the Star Spangled Banner and the Pledge of Allegiance, then we were addressed by Melanie Morgan of Move America Forward;

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    Her main concern is protection of our military recruiters. We’ve seen protests become more violent against recruiters in recent days. That’s why I plan on following the ANSWER crowds around on Wednesday when they plan to disrupt recruiting activities in DC

    Some of you may remember Debbie Lee from her address to the Berkeley City Council. She was there to represent Gold Star families;

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    A Marine recently returned from Iraq thanked the group;

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    As well as a recently returned Airman;

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    It’s my understanding that they were in DC on leave and just happened to pass by and joined in the rally. I thought that was pretty cool.

    Then Laura Youngblood, a Gold Star wife, lent her support

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    After a prayer, it was time to begin the march.

    In case anyone doubts my estimate of the crowd, here’s a video of the entire parade passing by;

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    Bystanders joined in the march as we passed the crowds at the museums along Constitution Avenue – like I said probably about twenty of them including this girl who had been walking her puppy – which turned into a puppy-carry because of the excitement;

    Lucky for Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, we turned before we got to the Capitol.

    As I said it was quite a bit different than being among the opposition yesterday. Instead of a bunch of people trying to act like they had PTSD, it was a group made up largely of veterans (oh, and the were a goodly number of people who weren’t veterans at the WSII thing, too, in case someone wants to debate the “Never Served” argument again) who were exhilarated by their successes over the last year and looking at a bright future for our nation.

    Like I said yesterday about the protest against WSII, I was amazed at the number of people who honked their horns in support of the Eagles, et al., and the folks who applauded as the march passed them. Maybe we really are making a difference.

    As I mentioned, Skye from Midnight Blue was at the rally, too, and she has pictures up now Marooned in Marin was there, too. It looks like we missed each other by a gnat’s wing.

    Thanks to Jammie Wearing Fool, Illusion or Reality and Gateway Pundit for the links. Welcome to new Blogrollee True North.

    UPDATE: Here’s a video I spiced together from some reactions of the crowd who lined the street as the march passed;

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    Editor’s Note: If I made a mistake with names or organizations please let me know – I’m terrible with names.

  • Live blogging Winter Soldier II (Part I)

    There’s a blow-by-blow and more in depth profiles of the testimony at The Sniper by my battle buddy on this operation Thus Spake Ortner.

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    Clifton Hicks and Stephen Casing ; buildings bulldozed is a crime? “I know of people who took advantage of the “free fire zone”, “collateral damage”, “I heard…” “I know for a fact that (700-800 casualties) were civilians because they were on the other side of the road”, “damaged city square is evidence of civilian casualties”. “I know there were no insugents” “Some insurgents engaged with mortar fire from the buildings.”

    Thus Spake Ortner says he saw Dennis Kucinich here.

    Hicks; “A packed Hummvee (82d ABN) engaged insugents after an IED attack – couldn’t find insurgents, kicked in door of house (source of fire) found a wedding party (old Grampa, et al.) troops shot up wedding after receiving fire from house. Found six-year-old dead after paratroopers were done shooting up the party. Not soldiers fault, illustrates carelessness over civilian casualties of the command structure – told to charlie mike.”

    Gerry Kiley (about 60 years old) just jumped up and shouted “Kerry lied, good men died” and was manhandled from the room by security. Here’s a video I found at YouTube of Kiley’s arrest;

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    Stephen Casing; Video of busting up a suspected insurgent house – only occupied by “a little old lady”. The “old lady, we can’t see because of the video quality speaks real good (I mean REAL GOOD) English. Supposed frightened she shouts – “My children! My children! Help me!”

    Mortillo: “Hard to tell who’s the enemy – makes you mad”

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    Jesse (); Iraqis (security forces) don’t show restraint firing their weapons. “I never saw civilians getting killed by these actions” “Pretentious of us to change their culture – Iraq is a lost cause because the Iraqis are so primitive” “it’s their culture – let them do what they want”

    Adam Kokesh; Now claims he was against the war before he went the first time (he’s claimed the opposite at varying times)

    Read aloud the Rules of Engagement (“Isnt that classified?” asked TSO)

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    Unit unofficial motto; “We care so you don’t have to” “So Paul Bremer, Dick Cheney, George Bush doesn’t have to care. SO you can go to the Mall and not think about what we’re doing in Iraq.” Admits that interrogators were punished for abusing captured Iraqis.

    Jason Hurd (medic 2ID) complains that a fifty cal. gunner unloaded 200 hundred rounds returning fire – never shecked the building for casualties so he doesn’t know. He just knows that a fifty cal fired at a building. Appalled that soldiers joked about their exploits “Did you see that car I fired up?”.

    Claims he almost (but didn’t) shoot an 80-year-old woman because she wouldn’t stop for him. Does the Army use medics (noncomabtants) to stop traffic? “If a foreign occupation force took over the US…blah…blah…blah” Enthusiastic applause from crowd.

    Time for a break.

  • Busy week planned

    If you don’t normally read this blog on weekends, you’re going to miss a lot of stuff this weekend. Today I’ll be attending Winter Soldier II with my buddy Thus Spake Ortner from The Sniper. We’ll be live-blogging today’s theater while sitting back-to-back starting at about 9 Am until the whole thing ends tonight. In a conversation with one of the event organizers last night I was told some of the other folks who’d planned on covering the event dropped out because of the drama in the earlier part of the week as covered by Michele Malkin. I was assured that we’ll have a security detail assigned to us and that our safety is guaranteed, though.

    Other bloggers to watch today are my buddy Robin at Chickenhawk Express and Denis Keohane at Obiter Dictum, who has done a fabulous job prepping the rest of us on background of Winter Soldier I and the IVAW testimony up until this point. Another blog to watch for the latest is Blackfive.

    I’ll do my best to get photos and videos of the counterprotesters from Gathering of Eagles and Eagles UP who plan on being outside the National Labor College on New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Springs, Maryland (where Winter Soldier II is being conducted) to let Americans know that there are some of us who are still fairly rational.

    Tomorrow, I’ll be at the rally for the troops on the National Mall to be sponsored by Gathering of Eagles, Eagles Up and several other organizations who’ve come into DC last night to counter IVAW’s presence and I’ll have narrative, pictures and videos of that event up sometime late Saturday. I also hope to meet some of the readers of this blog who’ve emailed me that they’ll be there.

    Wednesday, is ANSWER’s “Day of Action” here in DC starting at about 7:30 AM (they say). ANSWER plans to block recruiting stations, traffic, and just generally pester people trying to make a living in the K Street area all to mark the five year anniversary of the invasion of Hussein’s Iraq. As usual, I’ll be there and document as much of it as I can and that’ll probably be up Wednesday afternoon.

    So you’ll want to keep one eye on this blog over the next week (mostly because the Left has trouble telling time and starting events when they’re scheduled). I’ll cover as much of the action as one guy can and it’ll all be here on the blog.

  • So what?

    OK, Spitzer’s gone (on Monday) – that’s all we needed was to get rid of the hypocrit and now we can move on. Well, apparently not. Now that our bloodhound media has discovered pictures, websites and My Space links (provided by bloggers, I’m sure) we’re bombarded on every website, every print media, every news program with this girl’s picture. Why?

    On top of that, Tuesday we were treated to “expert” guests in legitimate news media like Heidi Fleiss who does an interview with Newsweek and Fox News. Newsweek for pete’s sake!

    The local Fox station here in DC interviewed the “DC Madam” you can see the worthless interview here with the lead in; “The “DC Madam” Deborah Palfrey weighed in, spilling the insider secrets in a Fox 5 Exclusive. Fox 5’s Tom Fitzgerald has details.” So?

    Was she in the room with Spitzer and this slut (yes, dear, you’re a slut – you may feel like a star right now – but you’re a slut, just like Heidi Fleiss and Deborah Palfrey)? What possible information could she have that sheds light on the case? Why are we subjected to this regurgitation of old news – and recycling of old (skanky) newsmakers? Because Drudge told us it’s important? How dare the media try to act like bloggers?

    I saw her picture yesterday – although she’s a comely lass, she ain’t worth $4300 and a governorship (and possibly a marriage and fatherhood). I don’t think I’d pay $50 for four hours and give up my job for her.

    The only interest I had in the whole dust up was that we wipe that smarmy smile off of Spitzer’s mug. Having accomplished that, I think we’re done here.

  • Saturday night must-reads

    I’ve got two cats sleeping on my lap and so all you get is links tonight;

    First, stop by and take at look at the Gathering of Eagles who were rewarded for braving the weather to support the military recruiters in Times Square by a visit from Pamela Gellar from Atlas Shrugs.

    If Baldilocks says he’s dead, then he’s dead as far as I’m concerned.

    Big Dog defends John McCain in the Boeing contract kerfuffle.

    The American Pundit catches the media lying about McCain’s position on waterboarding.

    Bloodthirsty Liberal examines Arab techniques of border control.

    Gaius at Blue Crab Boulevard writes on the absurdity of Hillary’s statement that she ended the hundreds of years of Britain’s war with the Irish.

    Jammie Wearing Fool writes about an idiot judge who disagrees with the war against terror, so she keeps a foster kid from enlisting. I’d always thought judges were supposed to lay aside their own bias when they rule – I must be wrong.

    The Liberty Pundit ties in yesterday’s job report to the only legislation the Democrats passed last year – the minimum wage.

    Gateway Pundit rounds up news on the death of the latest FARC leader found in pieces several miles apart.

    Bob Parks at Outside the Wire dissects the Obama sucker factor and reports that Obama doesn’t have a plan to withdraw from Iraq. Bob Owens at Confederate Yankee explains what that means. Meanwhile, Flopping Aces writes that Hillary’s military advisor says she won’t pull troops out of Iraq. I’m beginning to see a pattern here.

    Wild Thing explains in detail the history of the Weather Underground buddies of Barak Obama.

    Crotchety Old Bastard compares Michele Obama’s speeches to Che Guevara’s “New Man” speech.

    Pam at Right Voices reports on a stunning archaeological find.

    The Hatemonger’s Quarterly has the exclusive report on several fictional TV characters and who they support in the Presidential campaign.

    Moonbattery‘s Van Helsing warns that environmentalists are coming for your X-Box.

    Jay at Stop the ACLU explains why he’s voting for John McCain.

    GI Jane at The Foxhole tears up the Washington Post for their self-flagellating over their treatment of Muslims.

    Weasel Zippers writes on the Hamas admission that they’re supported by Iran – and I feign surprise.

    Dean Barnett at The Weekly Standard Blog writes that the New York Times will take a swipe at Barak’s Iraq policy tomorrow.

  • Bush/McCain lunch today

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    Photo from Associated Press

    From Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire;

    Perino said Bush thanked the former candidates for setting a good tone for the race and raising interest in the Republican field. She said Bush has a “very favorable view” of McCain and plans to campaign on his behalf. “President Bush has never forgotten how hard Sen. McCain worked to re-elect him in 2004,” Perino said.

    Still, the men fought bitterly for the Republican nomination in 2000 and have disagreed on a number of high-profile issues, including the administration’s 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, climate change and interrogation tactics used in the war on terror.

    “I’m not going to argue that they haven’t had their disagreements,” Perino said, noting that they agree on basic national security principles and the need for “pro-growth” economic policies.

    We all remember the bitter Bush vs. McCain campaigns in 2000. John McCain lost me as a supporter when in South Carolina he called the proposed Bush tax-cuts “tax cuts for the rich”. True to his character, John McCain continued to oppose President George W. Bush’s tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. But John McCain stood by the President in the 2004 campaign against John Kerry and he’s stood by the President on nearly every aspect of the war against terror.

    John McCain has disappointed nearly every Conservative at some point in his career, as I’ve written already, I include myself in that number. I’ve read through out the Conservative blogs how “we’re screwed” because John McCain is our candidate. Some have said that they’ll support Hillary or Obama before they’d vote for McCain. Many people I otherwise respect and admire have declared that they’ll stay home before they vote for John McCain – I probably said the same thing about your candidate at some point, too.

    Well, that’s just silly, actually. It’s called cutting off your nose to spite your face. No candidate can be completely everything every voter wants. John McCain has an 80% conservative rating compared to two candidates that have 98% leftist ratings. Four years or even two years of Democrats on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue could impact this country in ways that we’ll never be able to repair.

    Jimmy Carter walked the length of Pennsylvania Avenue as every President before him had – after four years of Jimmy Carter’s weak-kneed foreign policy, no President has been able to make that one-mile walk safely since.

    We have an extraordinary advantage here. Given that we’re battling against the media as well as the Democrats here, we need every advantage we can grasp. While Clinton and Obama are still battering each other with verbal sledgehammers and dirty politics (as illustrated by Invincible Armor), John McCain can stay above it all and get his message out – our message.

    To borrow a quote from my battle buddy Crotchety Old Bastard; I love my country more than I dislike John McCain.

    If President Bush and Senator McCain can set aside their differences for the party and the country, so should we.

    Back to the Washington Wire;

    Awaiting McCain, who was scheduled to arrive at noon, Bush walked out on the White House’s North Portico at around 11:35 a.m. After joking with reporters and performing an impromptu dance similar to his footwork in Ghana last month, the president returned to the White House only to reappear a moment later as McCain’s Cadillac pulled into the driveway.

  • No Mas FARC (Updated 3x)

    The same folks who organized the “No Mas FARC” protest last month sent me an email yesterday asking that I get the word out that they ask everyone to step outside their homes tonight at 6 PM (Colombian time – apparently it’s also Eastern Time) and light a candle for “a Latin America without FARC” then post a picture if you can on your blog, in Facebook or some other electronic medium.

    UPDATE: There’s a spontaneous rally at 17th and Constitution (in front of the Organization of American States) in DC at 5:30 pm today.

    UPDATE: Kate sends a link to pictures of the rally at the OAS, 3-4-08, and a narrative at her blog.

    Kate at A Colombo-Americana’s Perspective has posted the Spanish language email, I just translated the gist of it for you, though.

    Speaking of FARC, Gateway Pundit writes that the computer that Colombia liberated from the pieces of Raul Reyes this last weekend shows evidence that FARC is in the process of making “dirty bomb”;

    Colombian officials on Tuesday said that FARC rebels are working on a radioactive bomb and that they had purchased 50 kilograms of uranium this month. The information was discovered after Colombian forces ambushed a FARC base and captured a top terrorist’s computer this weekend.
    Reuters reported:

    Colombia said on Tuesday that FARC rebels had been planning to make a “dirty bomb” with radioactive material, threatening the entire Latin American region.

    The charges by Vice-President Francisco Santos, at the United Nations-sponsored Conference on Disarmament, marked a dramatic turn in a regional crisis that has seen Venezuela and Ecuador cut diplomatic ties with Colombia.

    Bogota has already accused Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez of funding the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas, after Colombian forces crossed into Ecuador and killed a senior rebel commander on Saturday, sparking troop movements and warnings of war.

    I find it hard to believe that FARC can continue this facade of being an Army of Liberation when the news of this dirty bomb gets around. A dirty bomb is purely a weapon of mass casualties, there is virtually no strategic use for it – except to deny an enemy use of a couple of city blocks for a few hundred years.

    When the evidence of this gets out, Ortiz, Chavez and Correa have some explaining to do. I’ve noticed that Evo Morales, the Moe character of Los Tres Chiflados of South America, has kept out of it so far.

    UPDATE: Babalu Blog writes that Colombia’s President Uribe has decided to take Chavez to The Hague on charges of genocide. But OAS, weak sisters that they are, are busy deciding what to do about Colombia violating Ecuador’s sovereignty.

  • Blogger under attack from AP

    The blogs are aflame over Snapped Shot going dark because of a lawsuit from Associated Press for using their photos. I first heard of it from Ace of Spades, then I got an email from Lamplighter. Little Green Footballs has a post up as well as Confederate Yankee , The Jawa Report and Gateway Pundit.

    I use a lot of AP pictures, too, but not in the same way that Snapped Shot used them but I always attribute and link back the photos to AP and the photographer if I have the information. It appears that AP is just trying to squelch criticism of their journalistic integrity.

    I guess it’s easy to file a lawsuit against a poor cottage-industry blogger that can’t afford the same legal battle that a giant like AP can engage.

    I know we’ve a got lawyer or two that read this blog – if you can give Mr Ledbetter some advice or help, please contact him.