How About That

A few days ago, the House of Representatives passed a bill called the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill for FY2007. It's got all sorts of wonderful new expendatures on it. For instance, we'll soon be giving 24 million dollars to aid production losses incurred by sugarbeet producers. All you sugarbeet fans are sighing in relief right now, aren't you? Thought so.

Before I get to what I really want to talk about in regard to this thing, let's do some math.


$24 million for funding for sugar beets.

$3 million for funding for sugar cane (goes to one Hawaiian co-op).

$20 million for insect infestation damage reimbursements in Nevada, Idaho, and Utah.

$2.1 billion for crop production losses.

$1.5 billion for livestock production losses.

$100 million for Dairy Production Losses.

$13 million for Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Program.

$32 million for Livestock Indemnity Program.

$40 million for the Tree Assistance Program.

$100 million for Small Agricultural Dependent Businesses.

$6 million for North Dakota flooded crop land.

$35 million for emergency conservation program.

$50 million for the emergency watershed program.

$115 million for the conservation security program.

$18 million for drought assistance in upper Great Plains/South West.

Provision that extends the availability by a year $3.5 million in funding for guided tours of the Capitol. Also a provision allows transfer of funds from holiday ornament sales in the Senate gift shop.

$165.9 million for fisheries disaster relief, funded through NOAA (including $60.4 million for salmon fisheries in the Klamath Basin region).

$12 million for forest service money (requested by the president in the non-emergency FY2008 budget).

$425 million for education grants for rural areas – (Secure Rural Schools program).

$640 million for LIHEAP.

$25 million for asbestos abatement at the Capitol Power Plant.

$388.9 million for funding for backlog of old Department of Transportation projects.

$22.8 million for geothermal research and development.

$500 million for wildland fire management.

$13 million for mine safety technology research.

$31 million for one month extension of Milk Income Loss Contract program (MILC)

$50 million for fisheries disaster mitigation fund.

$100 million for security at the Presidential Candidate Nominating Conventions

$2 million for the University of Vermont

Do you want to know what that adds up to? Here it is: 18.523 billion dollars.

Oh yeah, and they want the troops out by the end of March next year. This passed by a slim margin in the House. The Senate recently voted down an amendment to get rid of the whole "we're leaving Iraq in a year" part, 50-48. Looks like President Bush will use his veto power for what I believe (correct me if I'm wrong here) is the very first time. Good on him. Pelosi went around seducing congressmen-and-women with these supplements so they'd be able to pass this retreat garbage and satisfy the CodePinkAnarchistMoveOn.orgKosKidz segment of the Left. Oops. Backfire. Looks like they're pissed off because they want funds completely cut off, and our soldiers home NOW, not a year from now. And you know what? I kind of agree with them. If all that's going to happen is we spend a year talking about leaving Iraq, and then actually packing up and coming home, the Democrats will have to answer for every American serviceman killed between now and then. Because there's just no damn reason to still be there if the end result one year from now is that, no matter the situation, we just leave.

Bad Idea.

That's Kinda Fast...

In Addition

...to my post from a few weeks ago, I present this article as further evidence to vote Giuliani. Reading it made me feel a little better after hearing so much over the past few weeks about the present lack of a viable Republican candidate.

However.

I could get behind Fred Thompson. He hasn't yet announced his candidacy, but I hear it isn't off the table. Oh, and I apologize for the link to Wikipedia, but most people can't be bothered to do research beyond Wikipedia anyway. There are informative links at the bottom of the page.

I'll end with this, for your viewing pleasure. Is it really from Obama's camp? They say no. I tend to believe them -- but I've been wrong before.

Yeah, well...

Islamist Website Instructs Mujahideen in Using Popular U.S. Web Forums to Foster Anti-War Sentiment among Americans

In the past few months, Islamists engaged in "media jihad" have increased their efforts to expose as broad a Western audience as possible to their jihad films, which purport to document the growing success of the mujahideen in Iraq and Afghanistan. As part of this endeavor, they have posted jihad films on popular free video-sharing websites such as YouTube, LiveLeak, and Google Video, hoping that such films will tip public opinion in the West against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan - thus pressuring Western governments to withdraw their troops from these countries.

As part of the campaign to foster anti-war sentiment among Westerners, and more specifically among Americans, a member of the Al-Mohajroon Islamist website with the username Al-Wathiq Billah instructed mujahideen in how to infiltrate popular American forums and to use them to distribute jihad films and spread disinformation about the war.

The following are excerpts: [1]

"Raiding American Forums is Among the Most Important Means of Obtaining Victory in the Fierce Media War… and of Influencing the Views of the Weak-Minded American"

"There is no doubt, my brothers, that raiding American forums is among the most important means of obtaining victory in the fierce media war... and of influencing the views of the weak-minded American who pays his taxes so they will go to the infidel American army. This American is an idiot and does not [even] know where Iraq is... [It is therefore] mandatory for every electronic mujahid [to engage in this raiding]."

"It is better that you raid non-political forums such as music forums and trivia forums... which American people... favor... Define your target[ed forum]... and get to know it well... Post your contribution and do not get into... futile arguments..."

Indicate You Are an American

"Obviously, you have to register yourself using a purely American name... Choose an icon that indicates that you are an American, and place it next to your nickname [in the forum]."

"In my experience, the areas most visited in American forums... [are titled] 'Random Thoughts' and 'What's going on in your mind?'... [The former] takes priority in the American forums, and is highly popular. You should post your contribution there... This should include films of the mujahideen in Iraq, mujahideen publications in English, and images and films of the Americans' crimes, [such as] killing unarmed civilians in Iraq... etc."

"Invent Stories About American Soldiers You Have [Allegedly] Personally Known"

"Obviously, you should post your contribution... as an American... You should correspond with visitors to this forum, [bringing to their attention] the frustrating situation of their troops in Iraq... You should invent stories about American soldiers you have [allegedly] personally known (as classmates... or members in a club who played baseball and tennis with you) who were drafted to Iraq and then committed suicide while in service by hanging or shooting themselves..."

"Also, write using a sad tone, and tell them that you feel sorry for your [female] neighbor or co-worker who became addicted to alcohol or drugs... because her poor fiancé, a former soldier in Iraq, was paralyzed or [because] his legs were amputated... [Use any story] which will break their spirits, oh brave fighter for the sake of God..."

How to Make Americans Feel Frustrated With Their Government

"You should enter into debate or respond only if it is extremely necessary... Your concern should [only] be introducing topics which... will cause [them to feel] frustration and anger towards their government..., which will... render them hostile to Bush... and his Republican Party and make them feel they must vote ton bring the troops back from Iraq as soon as possible."

"Do not... discuss issues pertaining to Arabs or Muslims at all, whether negatively or positively... because this could be a trap for you... In addition, do not ask people to circulate the material [you have posted] in other forums... as these types of requests will expose you..."

---

[1] http://www.mohajroon.com/vb/showthread.php?t=48233

Nerdy Displays of Musical Prowess

Awesome.

http://www.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.php?id=48886

And

Click on "Brendan teaches you to play the theme"

Are You People NUTS?

H.R. 808 = To establish a Department of Peace and Nonviolence.

I haven't read George Orwell's 1984 yet, but you can be damn sure I will after I mentioned this bill to Mike and he said "That sounds like the Ministry of Peace from 1984." It's only in committee, and apparently most bills never make it out of there. Here's hoping.

Some of my favorite parts:

Congress finds the following:

(1) On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously declared the independence of the 13 colonies, and the achievement of peace was recognized as one of the highest duties of the new organization of free and independent States. [Gee, and here I thought it was all about throwing off the yoke of tyranny and such. Silly me.]

(4) The Constitution of the United States of America, in its Preamble, further sets forth the insurance of the cause of peace in stating: `We the People of the United States, in Order to Form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.' [What was that part about 'provide for the common defense?']

(c) Mission- The Department shall--

(3) strengthen nonmilitary means of peacemaking;

[Ooh, this whole next paragraph really gets me:]

SEC. 102. RESPONSIBILITIES AND POWERS.

(a) In General- The Secretary [head of the Dept] shall--

(1) work proactively and interactively with each branch of the Federal Government on all policy matters relating to conditions of peace;

(2) serve as a delegate to the National Security Council;

(3) call on the intellectual and spiritual wealth of the people of the United States and seek participation in its administration and in its development of policy from private, public, and nongovernmental organizations; and

(4) monitor and analyze causative principles of conflict and make policy recommendations for developing and maintaining peaceful conduct.

[That's a lotta stuff for one very peaceful dude to handle. I mean, he'd have to be the Peace-MASTER or something. Was anybody ever this peaceful? I dont think so. Jesus was never a delegate to the National Security Council. Woo PeaceGuy (or PeaceGirl)!

[Here we get to the real meat n' potatoes of this thing]

(5) analyze existing policies, employ successful, field-tested programs, and develop new approaches for dealing with the implements of violence, including gun-related violence and the overwhelming presence of handguns; [Bingo, we have a winner. Go ahead and toss out that 2nd Amendment, people. It's old news. Besides, who needs to defend themselves from a dictatorial government when its so darn PEACEFUL, man?]

(f) Educational Responsibilities- The Secretary shall--

(1) develop a peace education curriculum, which shall include studies of--

(A) the civil rights movement in the United States and throughout the world, with special emphasis on how individual endeavor and involvement have contributed to advancements in peace and justice; and

(B) peace agreements and circumstances in which peaceful intervention has worked to stop conflict;

(2) in cooperation with the Secretary of Education--

(A) commission the development of such curricula and make such curricula available to local school districts to enable the utilization of peace education objectives at all elementary and secondary schools in the United States; [You don't need P.E. anymore... You need Peace Classes... You are getting very sleeeeepy....]

[And here, the piece d'resistance]

(6) create and establish a Peace Academy, which shall--

(A) be modeled after the military service academies;

(B) provide a 4-year course of instruction in peace education, after which graduates will be required to serve 5 years in public service in programs dedicated to domestic or international nonviolent conflict resolution; [I can see it now: hundreds of weeping hippies rubbing their freshly shorn heads, having older, jaded hipsters yelling something about 'PLEBES...' Everyone saluting that neato COEXIST flag that used to be a bumpersticker...]


In conclusion, yes, here it comes: I, for one, welcome our new Peacful Overlords.