ONEILL SAYS INVASION OF IRAQ WAS PLANNED IN THE FIRST DAYS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION

This looks like the beginnings of a calculated attack.

The "Real" National Champions

My friend Brad expresses the feelings of most LSU fans who are sick and tired of being ignored by the bi-coastal media:

I recently logged on to si.com to subscribe to Sports Illustrated as a means of getting my hands on the LSU National Championship goodies. First, I saw the you were offering TWO National Championship packages. OK, I can live with that. You gotta make a buck. Then I came across an article declaring USC to be the "true" champs. I'm sorry, but the lack of respect that LSU has received from the national press is just staggering. They have done everything that the system, which USC also agreed to, requires. The Tigers won the National Championship game, not USC. If the roles had been reversed, there would be no gnashing of teeth over how poor LSU was truly the most deserving. It is unfortunate that LSU and USC did not meet in the National Championship game. I believe it would have been a great game and a stronger challenge for both teams. But if "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts, then we'd all have a merry Christmas. The Tigers are the National Champions and they have the crystal football to prove it. If you can't recognize that, then I don't want your magazine after all. Geaux Tigers!
--
Brad Growden
Mandeville, LA

I did get my hands on the SI dedicated to LSU. It's a great issue. Brad is right, however. Just like John Zogby's poll shows two "nations" in the United States, there's a national champ for the elites in the big cities, then there's LSU the champ in that vast expanse of land between New York and Los Angeles that we call America.

Democrats' Forced Conversion

What more needs to be said but...Her's the latest from Ann Coulter:

"Democrats never talk about believing in something; they talk about simulating belief in something. Americans believe in this crazy God crap that we don't, so how do we hoodwink them into believing we believe in God? It's part of the casual contempt Democrats have for the views of normal people.

What is arresting is the Democrats' fantastic habit of openly talking about how they plan to fake out the American people. The Democrats candidly say: How do we make sure the Americans don't know what we're really thinking? Let's get a Southerner, let's talk about Jesus, let's talk about NASCAR – white Southern guys seem to like that. Let's see ... If we could get a general on the ticket, Americans will forget how much we hate the military and long to see America humiliated.

Never has a major political party talked so openly about their plans to fool the voters. It's the damnedest thing I've ever seen. They seem not to realize the people they are talking about are listening and might not be fooled."

She's not only hot, she's right on target.

Wesley Clark Backs Abortion Until Birth, Won't Pick Pro-Life Judges

What an audacious statement: "'Life begins with the mother's decision."

Jay Nordlinger, continued

As the media embraces Howatrd Dean, the nutty statements of Wesley Clark go unreported. Nordlinger:

"The general has told us, 'I'm one of those people who doesn't believe in occupying countries to extract their natural resources. I think you buy them on the world market.' Because, as you all know, the United States is in Iraq to extract their oil, and not buy it on the world market. You did know that, didn't you? Haven't you read your Noam Chomsky, or the speeches of Wesley Clark?

Clark is almost never 'credited' with being as flaky and offensive as he is. He repeatedly charges President Bush with personal culpability in the death of 3,000 people on September 11. He completely exonerates the Clinton administration, saying that it had no time to do anything about al Qaeda (seriously). He claims that the Iraq war was a great diversion from our alleged failures against al Qaeda, and that this diversion was the trick of 'neocons.' (The general has gotten with the lingo.)

Check out Clark: 'I suspect [Bush's] advisers said, 'Now, Mr. President, you know, there's no guarantee we could ever get [bin Laden]. You know, it's, you know, you ought to go somewhere, you know, go somewhere easy, do something easy like taking care of Saddam Hussein, and he's probably connected . . .''

Wait a second: Saddam was supposed to be easy? What happened to quagmire?"

Personally, I thought Wes Clark was an okay guy more fish out of water than anything. These statements tell a different story. Either he's as nutty as General Jack D. Ripper in Dr. Strangelove or he's willing to say anything the Clintonistas are feeding him. Possibly both.

Jay Nordlinger's Impromptus on National Review Online:

Before there were bloggers, there was Jay Nordlinger. Today he writes in his "Impromptus" column:

"Word is that Donald Rumsfeld asked not to be Time's Person of the Year, preferring that the honor go to the American serviceman. Personally, I could never imagine Rumsfeld as Person of the Year — Man of the Year, yes."

The Dean Disappointment

Why can't all women, or all people for that matter, be as clear thinking yet as eloquent as Peggy Noonan? Not only is she right all of the time, she says it so beautifully that one has to sit back and marvel.

"...the Republican Party is never at its best when faced with a lame challenger. When faced with a tough and scrappy competitor like Bill Clinton, they came up with the Contract with America. When faced with Michael Dukakis they came up with flag-burning amendments. They need to be in a serious fight before they fight seriously."

Americans deeply split over politics

This article makes me sad. The survey is by Zogby so I know its true.

Rummy declined honor as 'Person of the Year'

On a similar note, to us conservatives its results that matter, not platitudes from the press.

The Making of the Money Shot

Rush Limbaugh and crew hilairiously dissect the Bill Bradley endorsement announcement and how the 5'8" Dr. No and the 6'5" Bradley were made to look as if they were the same height.

Remember, to the Dems image is everything.

Kucinich Shows Pie Chart on Radio Debate

BWAH-ha-ha-ha!

"As Kucinich challenged Democratic front-runner Howard Dean for refusing to acknowledge that the Pentagon budget needs to be cut, debate moderator Neal Conan of NPR interrupted.

"'Congressman Kucinich is holding up a pie chart, which is not truly effective on radio,'" Conan told his listeners."

Nice to hear the snooty NPR reporter use sarcasm on a liberal, a refreshing change of pace to be certain.

PETA Takes on Playboy

This abuse talk is stupid: with five girlfriends, Hef has no reason to spank his money!

You Really Got Me

To think that Ray Davies, one of the great songwriters of rock music, was almost done in by a New Orleans THUG most likely looking for quick crack money. It makes my blood boil. New Orleans was my home for years and it was where I was born, but sometimes it is a jungle, in real need of martial law.

Challenges for the Fact-Challenged

With less than a week left in his administration, I'll offer my thoughts on Mike Foster. I think he's been lazy, lousy, liberal and most obviously a liar. I am happy to say I never voted for this man: I voted for Roemer in the primary in 1995 and was so reviled that didn't vote in the runoff. The same is true four years later, as I was out of town (Sue me. 90% of the electorate doesn't have a perfect voting record. I voted for Bob Dole and George W. Bush, so that counts.) About the only thing that Foster did right was Republican Renewal, rescuing the party from religious right extremists. Yet for a guy who has been pro-business, he has certainly betrayed his LABI support.

C.B. Forgotston crystallizes my thoughts completely:

"On Friday an AP story (here), Big Daddy said in criticizing Kathleen Blanco:

'You never saw me say, this person should be president of the Senate, or speaker of the House....' (emphasis mine)

Translation

Big Daddy picked the lege leadership clandestinely. Kathleen Blanco is doing it publicly.

The Facts

Foster's recollection is somewhat contradicted by his actions shortly after his election to a second term in 1999. He issued a public statement declaring he wanted former House Speaker Hunt Downer fired and replaced with current House Speaker Charlie DeWitt.

'"Four years earlier, when he first won election, Foster publicly backed Downer for the House post and then-Sen. Randy Ewing for Senate president. They both won the posts." The Sunday Advocate, 12/14/03.'"

Memo to Terry McAwful

Don't give 'em hell...give 'em Zell!

Gays Funded Howard Dean's Early Campaign

"...every fundraiser Dean attended outside Vermont in 2002 was organized by gays and lesbians."

And I bet they were FABULOUS!

Geraldo, Estrich: Limbaugh Probe 'Stinks'

Geraldo Rivera and Susan Estrich are hardly conservatives but I've always felt they've had a sense of fair play in their analysis. Saturday, they stood up for Rush Limbaugh. Good for them. In this day and age, where political discourse is defined by Hitler ads on moveon.org, these two partisans prove that sometimes right is right and wrong is wrong.

ADL Says Hitler Ad Should Never Have Appeared on MoveOn.org:

"Abraham H. Foxman, ADL national director and author of "Never Again: The Threat of the New Anti-Semitism," issued the following statement:

"'It is shocking that a mainstream political group like MoveOn.org not only allowed this vile and outrageous comparison of the American President to Adolf Hitler to be entered into its 'Bush in 30 Seconds' contest in the first place, but that they even went so far as to make it available to the public on the Internet. Those responsible for this contest at MoveOn.org should have immediately identified this advertisement as one going far beyond legitimate criticism and rejected it out of hand. Instead, they made an irresponsible decision that has given legitimacy to the exploitative manipulation of images in a campaign season.'"

Mr Foxman is on target except for one thing: Moveon.org is not a mainstream group.

Conservatives simmer as spending mushrooms under Bush

What's disturbing is that President Bush is being criticized by people who are normally receptive to the Republican message. I too am disappointed in this, and I can truthfully say its the one area that this administration has been deficient. Yet my W'04 bumper sticker will remain on my vehicle and my support for this president remains resolute. I just pray he tightens up a bit.

Best Cities For a Date

I've seen this before, I may have even shared this with you before but it amazes me every time I see it:

Hey, guys, where are the ladies? According to Men's Health magazine, they're in five cities you would least expect. It's not New York. It's not L.A. It's not Miami.

1. Baton Rouge
2. Baltimore
3. Memphis
4. Fresno
5. Oklahoma City

LSU looked better than USC, but . . .

From the San Jose Mercury News and columnist Skip Bayless:

"I believe LSU would be too fast and physical for USC. Ditto, OU. But I can't know for sure. Neither can you, USC fans.

...how fair is it for LSU to be penalized in the public's eye for winning the national title game endorsed by the sport's coaches? For getting lost all season in Louisiana's swamp fog instead of playing in the nation's hype capital as USC did? For losing the publicity game because too many in the media failed to recognize how powerful this team is?

I was guilty, too. Until a month ago, I knew LSU only from a few highlights -- none captivating or convincing. So before the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference championship games, I called three NFL scouts who had evaluated USC and LSU for the draft and asked which would be the better test for Oklahoma.

At that point, of course, OU appeared invincible at 12-0 and was projected to be a seven-point favorite over USC in the Sugar Bowl. Yet all three scouts said LSU undoubtedly would match up better with OU.

You're kidding.

Mike Hagen, an Atlanta Falcons scout who had spent time at USC and LSU practices, said: 'LSU has better overall team speed than USC, especially its running backs. LSU has a better secondary. And LSU plays in a more physical conference.'

That's what I saw Sunday night."

In other words, the media who are supposed to be all-knowing and all-omniscient missed this sleeper cinderella story. What an admission.

VOTE VOTE VOTE!

In this ESPN.com poll...and GEAUX TIGERS!

2nd Bush-Hitler ad posted

When you hear people talk about hatred, consider the source. The left is absolutely bananas and continue to prove it. Republicans and people of good will are indeed influenced by these types of ads, but not in the way Moveon would like. These attacks only strengthen our resolve and support for President Bush. You can have All the rhetoric, money and passion in the world and still be political neophytes.

Fans without tickets pack Bourbon Street

You mean there's a football game going on? :)

For USC Fans Only

"There are those who insist that Southern Cal is the people's champion because it won the popular vote of the writers and the coaches. Ask Al Gore what the popular vote gets you."

Amen, brother!

TIGERS WIN!!!

Time to party like its 1958....TIGERS ARE THE 2003 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!!

Big drop seen in music downloads

This is a positive development, but the legal tactics of the RIAA cannot take sole credit. Oh sure, it makes for a hell of a scare tactic when a 12 year old girl and an 83 year old grandma are served with papers. College stuidents notice big broad moves like that. Yet in the grand scheme of things, other factors are playing a role.

Apples iTunes Store is Most likely having an impact. They've sold over 25 Million Songs at a dollar a pop. Until recently, all sales were restricted to Mac users exclusively. Competing services like Buy.com and Napster 2.0 are doing well, but certainly Apple did it first, did it better and will reap the rewards of sprinting out of the gate.

The landscape of the music industry is changing. Record companies are slowly realizing that post-college aged consumers need to be targeted more because this group is more proned to buy CD's and much less likely to steal music online. The recent format-focus shifts of heritage alternative rock stations KNDD in Seattle and WNNX in Atlanta back towards the sounds of yesteryear - Nirvana, Depeche Mode, et al - reflect this new spirit (for the first time in eons, I heard the Ramones on X-104, a sister station to the one I'm currently working for. I was startled to say the least.) Makes sense: market to a group that actually spends money for music as oppossed to a demo which prefers to steal it.

from People.com:

Key quote: "Says someone close to Spears: 'I don't know what's going through her mind.' "

Nothing, absolutely nothing.

Britney's Marriage License

One would think that when they were asked to provide names of their parents and other vital statistics that one of them would have said, "whoa, hold on."

How is this guy ever going to live this down? Will Britney ever be able to show her face in Kentwood again? Tune in tomorrow...

Roll in the hay

Jason Allen Alexander may have lost Britney as a wife, but if this picture is any indication, he has parlayed the expsoure into a regular spot on the all-new version of Hee-Haw.

Shrinkage!

Researcher Links Obesity, Food Portions

You don't say! (sarcasm)

Juvenile a Child Support Delinquent

Behind in payments? That's ironic considering he's a Cash Money Millionaire. (smirk)

Let's take a look at other ways in which this erudite wit, laureate and wordsmith of the underprivileged has distinguished himself:

...Juve ran into numerous legal snafus--including several misdemeanor charges for an incident involving his chasing several strippers down a street with an ice pick in 2000. He also pleaded guilty to battery charges after a Miami bar fight in 2001 and was sentenced to 75 hours of community service.

But wait, there's more...

Earlier this year, the rapper was rung up on cocaine and marijuana possession charges after drugs were found in a car in which he was a passenger.

And if that wasn't enough:

He was also accused of beating up a barber who he apparently believed had been bootlegging and selling copies of his music. The rapper and two buddies reportedly pummeled the barber and made off with $200 in cash.

Finally, an incident that calls his "genius" into question:

In May, a New Orleans federal court ruled that the rapper was not guilty of swiping his signature hit from fellow rapper Jubilee, who had penned a suspiciously similar track titled "Back That Ass Up."

I could understand a rap sheet (pun intended) if this was Oscar Wilde or even William S. Burroughs, but Juvenile's contribution to the advancement of Western Civilization is negligible at best, destructive at its worst. He gives nothing to the community, and takes money from the idiots in the general public who give it to him. No matter how many copies of his "music" are sold, or most likely stolen, the majority of Americans don't know who this guy is, and as such he's the big shot he thinks he is. Either way, a record of crimes this long deserves retribution from our justice system whether the offender was a bored middle-class prep school kid or worst street gang member.

Rush Guitarist Says Arrest Was Unfair

Unfair? How about having to hear "Tom Sawyer" umpteen million times on the radio! That's unfair to anyone who isn't deaf!

Astronomers identify possible cradle of alien life

Yeah, this sounds like a big deal but can you really trust the findings of a research institution named Lineweaver and Swinburne University of Technology?

Tall and tan and young and lovely

By the looks of it, Brazil seems like the place to be this time of year.

Detroit Eclipses Houston As Fattest City

Hey, where's New Orleans? Since I moved back to BR, the city's average is slipping. Or perhaps the high-pitched whine of Mackie Shilstone has hypnotized listeners into joining a gym.

MOVEON.ORG FEATURES AD COMPARING BUSH TO HITLER

Same old leftist tactics. Let's start callingthem what they are, which is Communist!

Peaking Tigers to topple Sooners in Sugar Bowl

What a headline! Let's hope that NBC's Joey Johnston's ESP is working right, because he picked LSU to lose to Georgia. Twice.

Britney Annuls Marriage Day After Wedding

Wasn't this an episode of Friends?

Jersey's brave new world

The irony of this is that there's no one in New Jersey worth cloning.

Bush to Seek Immigrant Benefit Protection

My opposition to the concept of worker benefits for non-Americans knows no bounds. I challenge any good fiscal conservative to formulate a defense of this idea. Chances are I'll be waiting a long time.

The President's desire to court hispanic voters is making for bad policy.

'Man, That Dude Can Dance':

Covering Renaissance Weekend in Charleston, S.C., Eleanor Clift assumes the position she is most comfortable with, as the Democratic Party Media Whore:

"What the Dean people saw in Charleston was not the angry, vein-popping politician they see on television, and many came away impressed. One longtime Renaissance-goer pronounced Dean 'Clintonesque,' the highest compliment that can be paid in this crowd. In response to a question testing his youth-culture awareness, Dean did a brief takeoff of a song by Outkast, the hot hip-hop group. 'He knows the lyrics to Outkast songs and, man, can that dude dance,' enthused a 16-year-old."

Yeah, that's important when choosing someone to lead our nation. What a bunch of complete idiots.