United 93: Review Round Up

After searching blogs for reviews of United 93, I was stunned by all the different viewpoints. Nearly all of them were positive, some talked about how they didn't want to feel depressed by watching the film. The exreme leftists went on their usual rants about conspiracy's and their fear of patriotism. Those posts weren't really about the movie, but their hatred of Bush, so they won't be included here. Each link below is coupled with a short sample of the bloggers post. So, after skimming over 23 search pages worth, here's the round up...


Debbie Schlussel When previews for "United 93" were shown in New York City movie houses, the crowd whined, "Too soon!" But "United 93" is not arriving in theaters too soon. If anything, it is arriving too late.It has been almost five years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and most Americans have fallen back to sleep. They've forgotten who our enemy is: extremist Islam...

American DigestA COUPLE OF FRIENDS asked me to go with them to see "United 93," but I declined both offers saying I wasn't sure that I needed any reminders other than what I saw in New York on that day. In the end, though, I went to it as I went to the funerals, alone...

Captains QuartersMost CQ readers know that I love films, and I often see provocative movies for the purpose of evaluating them. Munich was one such film that I probably would not have bothered to see otherwise, at least not in the theaters. Oddly, I felt the same trepidation with United 93, but for completely different reasons. I had no real fear that the movie had been politically skewed; I just wasn't eager to relive the attacks of 9/11. Nevertheless, this afternoon the First Mate and I both attended the matinee at our local theater, and while we both were glad to have seen it, we also won't see it again soon...

MoonbatteryIf you haven't seen United 93 yet, please do so at your earliest convenience. This sober depiction of the events of 9/11 is a fitting tribute to the heroes who brought United Airlines Flight 93 down in a Pennsylvania field before the Muslims who had hijacked it could crash it into the Capitol. Without injecting any opinionating, the movie makes it crystal clear why we must aggressively confront Islamic terrorism...

Clarity and ResolveThis is—or should be—the movie of our time. This is the honest look at the evil that came to America almost five years ago to steal our loved ones, to strike terror into our hearts, and to challenge all the good that we exemplify. Well written, superbly acted, and exquisitely filmed, United 93 is a fine movie. But these qualities cause the film to transcend the fact that it is a film, and this leaves the viewer alone with the raw human emotion of considering what it must have been like for our fellow human beings—our countrymen—to go through such horror, just like it did on that awful day...

Damianation!It looks like United 93 will open in third place at the box office this weekend, with around $10-11 million. The new releases RV and Stick It were first and second, respectively, on Friday night. But note the films' respective per-screen averages: RV opened in over twice as many theatres as United 93, but didn't make that much more money...

Junkyard Blog’ve little to add to the discussion of United 93. My thoughts have largely been too personal and not sufficiently interesting to anyone else write down here. It is nonetheless one of those movies you can’t help but talk about, so I can’t help making a few notes. For the best review of the film I’ve seen so far, go read Dave at Garfield Ridge. I’ll agree with almost everything Dave says, including his analysis of the film as a tragedy of complex systems (note that the hijacking was an atrocity; but the film is a tragedy) and his conclusion that “United 93 is the best movie of 2006 so far, and I can’t fathom how any film this year can be more powerful than this one.” If you want more reviews and more discussion, Allahpundit at Hot Air has an authoritative roundup...

PeaktalkFor some obscure reason I always find myself going through the morning of 9/11 step by step, minute by minute, hijacked plane by hijacked plane. Even now there are days when I try to relive it and bring some order into that chaotic morning. If you go and see United 93 – which I did yesterday – you will go through exactly the same, an almost real-time experience of reliving of what happened that morning. And order you need to create as the movie reveals the chaos and confusion that governed the various flight control centers, something brought home poignantly by the fact that a number of the actors are in fact the actual people that manned these centers on 9/11...

ShrinkwrappedLast night Mrs. ShrinkWrapped and I saw "United 93." It was a very intense, often harrowing, experience. Since we knew the outcome from the start, the tension came from the filmmakers ability to induce an effortless suspension of disbelief; you felt that you were int he airport, in the air traffic control centers, inside the plane. The people, while shown with minimal character development (the film proceeds in "real time") were recognizable human beings facing unprecedented situations. It took me several minutes to catch my breath when it ended, yet ultimately, it was a positive and very optimistic evening. The movie also helped me understand something that I have written about many times, yet grasped in a much more visceral way while watching a movie that had the feel of a documentary...

Righty in a lefty StateI went to see the movie United 93 today, and I found the film so realistic that I will now 'remember' the events in the airplane as they were depicted. I can't tell anyone else how it will affect them - but I will say that I think the movie is very important for all Americans to see, and that it affected me less than I was afraid it would. I certainly can understand that many people don't wish to have this experience, or at least not in a theater.. .

The Wide Awake Cafe“Democrats who are against this war should have to wear “I work for Al-Qaida badges at all times”, my husband said on our way home from the movie, United 93. That is the powerful impact that it had on us. It was one of the most gripping movies I have ever seen...

Previously OwnedUnited 93 is an extremely powerful film; an understated and fitting tribute to the people who fought back and eventually lost their lives on that fateful flight. Almost five years later, there ought to be a memorial that does the same thing - here in New York, in Washington D.C. and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania...

Perspecives of a NomadI went to see United 93 today, and must say, WOW! While the story line was, of course, very depressing, the movie was really well done. It never broke down into wild speculation, spectacular special effects, or over dramatization. Instead, it compiles what we do know into a cohesive timeline of the events of September 11th...

The Liberal Lie, The Conservative TruthYesterday I took the opportunity to watch , "United 93, " the just released film about the flight that went down in Pennsylvania on September 11. There has been a little controversy about this film. Some say that it is too early and that we do not need to be reminded on film of that events of 9/11...

Random BlurbingsThere have been three major stories dominating the news in America this week. The President’s slipping approval ratings, a rape case involving some college athletes, and the release of United 93. This is probably the most controvertial movie of the year, and it has been difficult to avoid news stories, op-eds and continual advertising trailers featuring director Paul Greengrass explaining his motives for making it...


Chickenhawk ExpressJust got in from seeing the Saturday afternoon showing of "United 93". I actually convinced my husband to go with me (the last time we saw a movie at the theater was 4 years ago). He was really ambivalent about going but humored me.
There is truly no single word that can describe the movie. It hurt all the way down to my soul, watching the movie and knowing that this was not just some fictional story concocted by a talented writer. This was real. It happened. Not just to the people on Flight 93, but to the entire country. Tears flowed freely at various points in the movie. The telltale sound of sniffing told me that I was not the only one...

Cross Bloggingwent to see United 93 today. It was very well done. They captured the essence of the day perfectly. The stunned silence as the FAA, and Military were watching on monitors and TV screens reflected the way multitudes of Americans reacted that day...

What's Bruinust got back from watching United 93. Not exactly typical “weekend entertainment”. It was a very serious movie, but I enjoyed it very much...

The Freedom Fighter's Journal MAN! For once the reviewers had it right! An awesome movie and a very intense experience that leaves the viewer emotionally exhausted when it ended...

Right from the RightI took my oldest daughter to see "United 93" today. We were both choking back tears and anger as the movie unfolded. Even now, it's difficult to write because the emotions the film evokes are so strong...

Skye PuppyI just got back from seeing United 93 for the second time this weekend. The first time I saw it was Friday afternoon, and I wanted to see it again...

Composite DrawingsI just got back from having seen the movie. I can't really add anything about United 93 to what I've posted in the header, above, but I can say, everything I'd heard already was right. It's a must-see movie...

RF BurnsExcuse me while I get something off of my chest."The 9/11 hijackers are bastard cowards who took the easy way out. No mess, no fuss and no answering questions and no way for retribution. I hope all of their 72 virgins have syphilis..."
Muskegon Pundit I was prepared to cry, so I went alone to the theatre. I was also expecting to be angry, as I was on 9-11 and still am. But "United 93" made me neither sad nor angry. I was proud...

Expose the LeftIt was done extremely well. No politics are involved, just straight facts. I don’t know how someone could review the movie and give it less than an A, but several reviewers did (via Neal)...

Too ConservativeI just got back from watching United 93. As a movie junkie, who has worked in three movie theatres, I’ve seen a whole lot of movies. There is only one other movie which echoes the power of United 93:The Passion of the Christ...

McBlogTake tissues. Take anger management courses first. I took two friends with me to restrain me and still almost broke the chair in front of me. I think my 'eat that, pig f*&^r!' and 'die goat raping motherf&^%er!' when the passengers attacked the Islamic goat-fellating pig-f&*(s was making the neighboring moviegoers nervous though...


The Smoothing Plane“We’re at war with somebody, stop all the flights!", said Sliney.
Indeed we are. Unknown actors made me hate them, and I am angry again. Kill all the terrorists...

Michealakers.net…was the most moving movie I’ve ever seen. Possibly the best movie I’ve ever seen. It took me back to somewhere I haven’t been since September 11, 2001, and it also took me to a place I havent been since July 2, 2005…..

The Ready RoomOn the morning of September 11th, 2001, I, like everyone else in this nation, stood horrified, watching the Twin Towers smolder on the television before me. A TV had been dragged to the main lobby of the building where I was on duty at Bolling Air Force Base base, and dozens of us were crowded around it...

Red StateWe should begin by saying what this film is not. It is not tawdry, jingoistic, exploitative or one-sided: it is not either a whitewashing of or an apologia for persons or institutions; and it is not too soon for this film to be shown...

Thought You'd Never AskI went alone as an act of homage to see the film "United 93" directed by Paul Greengrass that opened this weekend. The theater was crowded, but the moviegoers were unusually silent throughout the film, until the audience burst into applause at the final narrative frames...

Do You See What I See???The movie wasn't what I expected. I expected more of a drama that focused on the action in the plane, but this movie covered a lot more. Most of the really interesting scenes were the opcenter ones...

The Evening of KentThis is one of those movies that could have been done horribly wrong. Remember Apollo 13? Now, try applying the screenwriting on that film to United 93...
Iceman BloggethDespite Hollywood's best efforts, 9/11 will be remembered...

NewsbustersYou can’t miss it on television or radio. There are even some newspaper reports of the cry... “Too Soon...Too Soon!” All accounts are referring to the release of the new motion picture “United 93”, a graphic portrait of the events which unfolded on September 11, 2001...

The Daily BriefSeveral years ago, I lamented on this very blog, how no movies had come out of Hollywood post-9/11 that told our stories of heroism in the ongoing war against the forces of militantly jihadist Islam. I can’t find that particular entry among four years worth of tri-weekly posts, since I can’t remember what I called it, but I remember pointing out that the dust was barely settled on our WWII defeats at Bataan, and Wake Island, before Hollywood had rushed out stories focusing on the heroic resistance, and our national resolve...

In The BullpenI saw the movie United 93 today. This movie is amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone. If you have been living in a cave and don’t know, the movie United 93 is the story of the brave passengers who grounded the plane to save it’s target, either the White House or the Capitol...

TheStupid Shall Be Punished"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." -- John 15:13 I just got back from seeing United 93 tonight, and I'll answer the question that I'm sure is on most of your minds right away -- yes, I did cry...

Leaning Straight UpI want you to go , but I won’t. The reasons why are fairly complicated, as is my feeling about the movie. In certain ways the movie is a good thing and a bad thing...

'United 93' Audience Sickened by Fumes

From the LAFD News and Information Blog

On Friday, April 28, 2006 at 4:40 PM, twelve Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, six LAFD Rescue Ambulances, two Hazardous Materials Task Forces, three EMS Battalion Captains, two Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and one Division Chief Officer Command Team, under the direction of Assistant Chief Roy Kozaki responded to a Hazardous Materials Investigation at 6081 Center Drive in Westchester.



Firefighters arrived quickly at The Promenade at Howard Hughes Center and were directed to The Bridge: Cinema De Lux,a multiplex theater.

According to witnesses, one person noticeably and abruptly fled an upstairs theater after which an irritating odor and respiratory discomfort ensued among several of the forty remaining patrons who had been watching the movie "United 93".

With the guidance of theater personnel, these patrons were moved to the large lobby area and sequestered pending the Fire Department's arrival.

Los Angeles Police Officers arrived promptly and secured the perimeter, as Joint Command was established. Firefighters walked the forty patrons outdoors and swiftly triaged, tagged and documented their status.



None were experiencing a life-threatening illness or injury.

Though patrons and witnesses surmised that there may have been a brief discharge of an irritant like pepper spray, LAFD Hazardous Materials experts with sensitive monitoring equipment found no evidence of a lingering chemical hazard or toxic substance in the auditorium.



Bystanders and guests from other theaters were kept apart those effected, as it was subsequently determined that only two adult females, with general malaise secondary to nausea, were desirous of further treatment.

They were later transported by LAFD ambulance to area hospitals.

The remaining patrons, declining transportation, were politely referred to Police officials for interviews prior to their departing the scene. With approval by the County of Los Angeles Fire Department's Health Hazardous Materials Division, the theater was returned to the control of theater management.

There were no other civilian or Firefighter injuries associated with this incident, which remains under formal investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

(video) (photos)

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department

Some moonbats' version of "fire in a crowded theater" no doubt.

Bush Clones Self For Comedy

From Hotair
Watch the shocking video of two George Bush's speaking before the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Also see, Colbert dropping bombs (no one was hurt).

The Illegal immigrant's Corporate Support System

Here's the real reason why pols refuse to comply with the demands of their constituency. What can we do? Vote out you representative if he or she is soft on Illegal immigration, look at the list below and contact the companies of which you are a customer and tell them why you are taking your business elsewhere. Simply boycott as many of these companies as possible. The vast majority of Americans are opposed to illegal immigration, apparently, we need to reach the corporations in order to reach our elected officials.

Institutional Corporate Partners

The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) recognizes those corporations that have invested in NCLR's long-term strategic efforts with multiyear, multimillion-dollar commitments, including NCLR's Empowering An American Community Campaign.[La Reconquista]

The Allstate Corporation
Bank of America
The Coca-Cola Company
Citigroup
Fannie Mae
Freddie Mac
Ford Motor Company
General Motors Corporation
MBNA Corporation
PepsiCo Foundation
The PMI Group, Inc.
State Farm Insurance Companies
UPS
Univision
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Corporate Partners Program

The National Council of La Raza invites corporations large and small and Hispanic entrepreneurs to join in its mission to empower current and future generations of Hispanic Americans. To review the benefits offered to Corporate America for supporting NCLR's critical work, please click here.

We encourage individual Hispanic entrepreneurs to become an NCLR partner as well. Partners like you have firsthand knowledge of the hard work and dedication it takes to achieve the American Dream. We would deeply appreciate your involvement in our institution and welcome your membership participation.

Amerada Hess Corporation
American Airlines
Anheuser-Busch Companies
AstraZeneca International
AT&T
Azteca Foods, Inc.
Bridgestone/Firestone Trust Fund
Caterpillar Foundation
Chevron Corporation
ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Coors Brewing Company
The Cummins Foundation
DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund
Eastman Kodak Company
ExxonMobil Corporation
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Guaranty Bank
Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Johnson & Johnson
The Kroger Co.
McDonald's Corporation
MetLife Foundation
Mortgage Insurance Company
Sallie Mae
Schneider National, Inc.
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Sodexho
Starbucks Corporation
Time Warner
Washington Mutual, Inc.
Wilmer Cutler Pickering, LLP
Xerox Corporation

Corporate Programmatic Supporters

NCLR depends on our corporate partners for a variety of programmatic support in areas such as Education, Community Development, Health, Youth Leadership Development, Civil Rights and Advocacy, Workforce Development, and Affiliate Member Services.
Education
Chevron Corporation
Lockheed Martin
Lucent Technologies Foundation
Marathon Oil Corporation
Rockwell Automation
State Farm Insurance Companies
Toyota Motor Corporation
Verizon Communications, Inc.

Housing and Wealth Building
The Allstate Corporation
Chase Home Finance
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.
E*TRADE Financial
Fannie Mae
Freddie Mac
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation
Wells Fargo & Company
Washington Mutual, Inc.

Health
Belrex Inc.
Eli Lilly and Company
Metropolitan Life
Novo Nordisk
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals
PepsiCo Foundation

Workforce Development
American Express Company
Ford Motor Company
The Home Depot, Inc.
PepsiCo Foundation

Youth Leadership Development
The Allstate Corporation
Exxon Mobil Corporation
GEICO
Marriott International, Inc.
MBNA Corporation
Sallie Mae
Sodexho, Inc.
Sprint Nextel Corporation
U.S. Marine Corps

Civil Rights and Advocacy
The Allstate Corporation
American Honda Finance Corporation
Bank of America
Chevron Corporation
Freddie Mac
The UPS Foundation
WFS Financial Inc.

source;
Rev. Brian Bonner D.D.
http://uncooperativeblogger.com
**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.**

Watch A Sunset

With all this talk of bombs, terrorists and Iran, sometimes to good to just sit back and watch the sunset. I took this about a week ago. The rays of light seem somehow holy.

Howard Dean Approves of Nuestro Himno

Expose the left has a video of DNC Chairman Howard Dean defending "Nuestro Himno" by saying that Canada, plays it's national anthem "O Cananda" in two languages, English and French. Dean misses several key points,Canada has two official languages. America's history is distictively different from Canada's, English has always been the dominate language. Also, "Nuestro Himno" totaly changes the lyrics of the "Star Spangled Banner" as a form of protest."Nuestro Himno" was written for the benefit of non-citizens.

Michele Malkin
has a nice tribute to the "Star Spngled Banner" as well as the "Nuestro Himno" lyrics and audio.

United 93: A Must See

United Flight 93

There has been some debate as to whether it’s too soon to make a movie about 9/11. After about four and a half years they’re saying the movie should be made, but not now . Perhaps someday in the future. In a modern world we get our instant gratification now, you rarely hear about anything arriving too soon. But this is different. This is painful. There have been several TV documentaries made on the subject. The few I have seen are excellent histories of the events and fitting tributes to the victims and their families.



Until now, the only major big screen release touching on the subject has been Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 911 (2004). Heavily drenched in propaganda, Moore’s film was a hit piece on George Bush with little sensitivity to 9/11 families. Moore’s self-promoting leftist tirades were hardly the right means to better inform the public on such a delicate matter. All the more reason we need a film like United 93.

When United 93. began showing it’s trailer in the theaters, people were shocked. Perhaps this is because images of the 9/11 attacks haven’t run in newspapers for years, Perhaps we will always be a little shocked, when reminded of that day. Pearl Harbor was attacked 60 years ago and time has healed, but the “ Day that will live in infamy” was a conventional military attack upon a military base. 9/11 was much more personal. These were women and children. Brutally murdered by civilian terrorists posing as everyday people among us. Intended to strike fear in all Americans by implementing a war without borders that targets civilians.

This method of “Total War” has been abandoned by Western Civilization for centuries. A strategy for attacking anyone at random, regardless of military significance, hadn’t been used against Americans on American soil on this scale before.
For that reason the chills of 9/11 may never leave our collective spine. And for that reason many will chose to avoid United 93. The film is painful to watch. But just like the Holocaust, we need to remember, not forget. It's also notable that none of the families involved objected to the making of this film.



Knowing the outcome, and seeing the events unfold from Paul Greengrass’ third person directing style. The viewer gets the feeling of being a close observer, constantly peering over the shoulder the passengers, the terrorists, watching and listening in on intense conversations in the Pentagon, airport control towers and the FAA. We lean into whispers of two of the nervous highjackers as they wait for the right moment to strike. We see weeping hysterical passengers call home for the last time. We watch several of the passengers accumulate enough information to realize their fate and develop the resolve to take matters into their own hands. It’s rough ride. United 93’s 90 minutes seem to fly as the tension never lets up, and in fact slowly builds to the halting conclusion.









People know what they’re in for with this movie , and that’s why many of them will stay home. Even writing about it is difficult. But we shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the hero’s of United 93, and that’s why every American should see this film.

Immigration From USA To Mexico

I received this story in my email from a close relative.

The following from a director with SW BELL in Mexico City.

I spent five years working in Mexico.

I worked under a tourist visa for three months and could legally renew it for three more months. After that you were working illegally. I was technically illegal for three weeks waiting on the FM3 approval.

During that six months our Mexican and US Attorneys were working to secure a permanent work visa called a FM3. It was in addition to my US passport that I had to show each time I entered and left the country. Barbara's was the same except hers did not permit her to work.

To apply for the FM3 I needed to submit the following notarized originals (not copies) of my:

1. Birth certificates for Barbara and me.

2. Marriage certificate.

3. High school transcripts and proof of graduation.

4. College transcripts for every college I attended and proof of graduation.

5. Two letters of recommendation from supervisors I had worked for at least one year.

6. A letter from The ST. Louis Chief of Police indicating I had no arrest record in the US and no outstanding warrants and was "a citizen in good standing."

7. Finally; I had to write a letter about myself that clearly stated why there was no Mexican citizen with my skills and why my skills were important to Mexico. We called it our "I am the greatest person on earth" letter. It was fun to write.

All of the above were in English that had to be translated into Spanish and be certified as legal translations and our signatures notarized. It produced a folder about 1.5 inches thick with English on the left side and Spanish on the right.

Once they were completed Barbara and I spent about five hours accompanied by a Mexican attorney touring Mexican government office locations and being photographed and fingerprinted at least three times. At each location (and we remember at least four locations) we were instructed on Mexican tax, labor, housing, and criminal law and that we were required to obey their laws or face the consequences. We could not protest any of the government's actions or we would be committing a felony. We paid out four thousand dollars in fees and bribes to complete the process. When this was done we could legally bring in our household goods that were held by US customs in Laredo Texas. This meant we rented furniture in Mexico while awaiting our goods. There were extensive fees involved here that the company paid.

We could not buy a home and were required to rent at very high rates and under contract and compliance with Mexican law.

We were required to get a Mexican drivers license. This was an amazing process. The company arranged for the licensing agency to come to our headquarters location with their photography and finger print equipment and the laminating machine. We showed our US license, were photographed and fingerprinted again and issued the license instantly after paying out a six dollar fee. We did not take a written or driving test and never received instructions on the rules of the road. Our only instruction was never give a policeman your license if stopped and asked. We were instructed to hold it against the inside window away from his grasp. If he got his hands on it you would have to pay ransom to get it back.

We then had to pay and file Mexican income tax annually using the number of our FM3 as our ID number. The companies Mexican accountants did this for us and we just signed what they prepared. I was about twenty legal size pages annually.

The FM 3 was good for three years and renewable for two more after paying more fees.

Leaving the country meant turning in the FM# and certifying we were leaving no debts behind and no outstanding legal affairs (warrants, tickets or liens) before our household goods were released to customs.

It was a real adventure and If any of our senators or congressmen went through it once they would have a different attitude toward Mexico.

The Mexican Government uses its vast military and police forces to keep its citizens intimidated and compliant. They never protest at their White House or government offices but do protest daily in front of the United States Embassy. The US embassy looks like a strongly reinforced fortress and during most protests the Mexican Military surround the block with their men standing shoulder to shoulder in full riot gear to protect the Embassy. These protests are never shown on US or Mexican TV. There is a large public park across the street where they do their protesting. Anything can cause a protest such as proposed law changes in California or Texas.

Please feel free to share this with everyone who thinks we are being hard on illegal immigrants.

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.**

Thursday Pollday

Starting this Thursday and every Thursday afterward, there will be a topical poll in the bright yellow bow to the right. The comments section in the corollating post can be used to explain your viewpoint, suggest future polls, and complain about the opposition.

Freedom Tower Construction Starts Tomorrow

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The rebuilding of New York's World Trade Center was set to begin on Thursday, just one day after officials approved plans to erect the Freedom Tower and other buildings where the Twin Towers stood until September 11.

Developer Larry Silverstein said construction crews will arrive at 8:30 a.m. to start work on the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower, the tallest of the buildings, which will stand at a height symbolic of America's independence.

Image Gallery

The landowner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, approved the deal that Silverstein had agreed to on Tuesday, ending four years of often acrimonious debate over what to do with the site destroyed by the 2001 attacks.

Three other new office buildings and a residential tower will eventually surround a memorial, museum and cultural center dedicated to what relatives of the September 11 victims consider a sacred site. Construction would finish by 2011 or 2012.

Tower Statistics

Just Who's Side Are They On?

Infidel Bloggers Alliance uncover's a sports list on Britan's Channel 4 that refers to the US soccer team as the Great Satan. Twice.

The below links will take you directly to the Channel 4 site.
See #73
See #90
Gee, you'd think after 7/7 these guys would have a clue.

Here's how to contact Ch4

Nothing Mexican Day

Ok, enough is enough. Not only do illegal immigrants demand free government services, the institution of Spanish language, the right to clog our streets with protesters donning Mexican flags,accusing us of being racist for wanting to controls our own borders, and condescendingly informing us that all of southwestern America is actually Atzlan, Mexico, now they are boycotting US goods with Nothing Gringo Day. As if the boycott itself wasn't audaciously insulting enough, the pejorative gringo is used in the title.

I recommend a less confrontational title, perhaps "Bite The Hand That Feeds You Day" or how about boycotting all the free medical care, schools, and other government services? They could call it "No Payroll Taxation Means No Government benefits Day", hmm a bit wordy that one. So what can a poor gringo do?

How about "Nothing Mexican Day"?

After all, turn about is fair play. The concept is simple, just don't buy anything Mexican. Refuse to purchase any products "Hencho en Mexico". This could have a severe effect on the flimsy Mexican economy that benefits greatly by being next door neighbors to the largest consumer spender in the world. With Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) coming just 4 days after "Nothing Gringo Day", the effects would be felt almost immediately. Cinco de Mayo is the biggest day of the year for Mexican breweries like Corona, Dos Exes and Modelo. If you were planning a trip south of the border, go to Canada instead, or better yet, visit a part a this great nation you haven't seen yet. You can get a change of scenery without waiving the Bill of Rights at the border.

Our leaders in government may be spineless, but we still have control over our own spending, and we can send a message to illegals and the Mexican government that we're not going to take this lying down. There is no reason why this won't work, and we can do it (si se pueda) without protesting, breaking laws, race-baiting or even calling names.

**This was a production of The Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, please go to the above link to learn more. Afterwards, email the coalition and let me know at what level you would like to participate.**


DeMediacratic Nation cross posted this article.

The Cartoon Wars Are Over : We Lost

by Duncan Currie of the Weekley Standard

"EVER SINCE THOSE CARTOONS in Denmark, the rules have changed. Nobody shows an image of Muhammad anymore." When a character on the animated TV show South Park made that avowal a few weeks ago, he could easily have been speaking for media outlets across Europe and North America. This past winter's Cartoon Jihad occasioned far fewer robust defenses of press freedom than it did craven surrenders to the threats of radicals. Now, even South Park, Comedy Central's irreverent powerhouse, has felt the backlash.

Sometime in March, South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker approached network executives with their idea for an episode satirizing the Danish cartoon spat. Could they depict the Muslim prophet Muhammad on screen? No way, came the immediate reply. True, Comedy Central had allowed South Park to broadcast a Muhammad character five years earlier, in the episode "Super Best Friends." But that episode debuted on July 4, 2001--just before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "A lot changed two months later," one source close to the show told me, explaining the network's decision. "It's a vastly different world that we live in right now." Yes: a world where terrorists apparently have veto power over American television the rest of the article.

We demand freedom of speech. We deserve this freedom be protected by our elected leaders. We've already been abandoned by the print and television media, let's regain the truths we hold to be self evident.

The Jylaans Posten Cartoons

Probably A Natural Occurrence But...

Mensa Barbie has an unexplainable photo of the NYC skyline.

Check out Michelle Malkin's great new video site
Hot Air. Could this be be the future of blogging?

The Official Website of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Me)
Beware of Cheap imitations!


Iowahawk discovers Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi's views on e-mail.



... a giant avacado would need sunglasses to block the UV rays and look cool, but why the watch?

An Everyday Hero

Via Michelle Malkin
30 years ago today, Cub Outfielder Rick Monday saved the flag from being burned by a couple of miscreants who were trying to torch Old Glory in the outfield of a baseball game while it was underway.

Monday said;"I was angry when I saw them start to do something to the flag, and I'm glad that I happened to be geographically close enough to do something about it," said Monday, now in his 13th season as a Dodgers broadcaster.

"What those people were doing, and their concept of what they were trying to do was wrong. That feeling was very strongly reinforced by six years in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. I still think it's wrong to do that."

"Whatever their protest was about, what they were attempting to do to the flag _ which represents a lot of rights and freedoms that we all have _ was wrong for a lot of reasons," Monday said. "Not only does it desecrate the flag, but it also desecrates the effort and the lives that have been laid down to protect those rights and freedoms for all of us."



A retired Marine protecting rights and freedoms for all of us. This story is more logical and inspiring than all the flag arsons and their ilk.

Lodi's Judicial Travesty

I've always said that terrorist's shouldn't be "brought to trial". The people who bring up arms against the United States during wartime barely deserve a military tribunal. But I believe the tribunal would be the best option.

sources;
Stop The ACLU, Michelle Malkin and Sacramento Bee

A mistrial was declared Tuesday in the federal terrorism trial of a Lodi man charged with lying to protect his son, who authorities say attended an al-Qaida training camp in Pakistan.

The announcement came one day after the jury told U.S. District Court Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. that it could not reach a unanimous decision in the case of Umer Hayat.

"Their jury declared that it was hopelessly deadlocked this morning," deputy court clerk Carol Davis said.

Burrell questioned each member of the jury and then discharged them, she said. Jurors were led out of the courthouse by armed security officers and escorted to their cars. Burrell discouraged them from talking to reporters because the jury considering Hamid Hayat’s fate is still deliberating.

The Constitutional basis of jury trials is doling out justice to criminals, not making decisions regarding National Security. The fact that an admitted enemy combatant is being cosidered for bail is illustrative of America's deep denial of the fact that we are at war. The MSM's blind eye to this storyexacerbatess this ignorance, putting our nation at greater risk.

A bail hearing was set for Friday on the potential release of Hayat, who will remain in custody until that time. A status conference will be held the following Friday to determine whether the government can retry the case.
Former FBI agent James Wedick, who was the lead investigator for the defense team, said he talked to the jury forewoman. He said she told him the jury was evenly split.

Hayat told his attorney, Johnny Griffin III, he was glad he may be going home soon. Griffin said he was "feeling good" about the mistrial.

"The government literally threw in everything in including the kitchen sink in its attempt to convict Umer Hayat," Griffin said outside the courtroom. "In a post 9-11 world, 12 unbiased independent members of the community carefully considered all the government's evidence and decided not to return a guilty verdict. It sends a strong message to the government not to retry the case. It demonstrates the public is very sensitive to allegations to terrorist activity."

No, he got off on a technicality.

Throughout the trial, lead prosecutor David Deitch refused to comment on any aspect of the case. When asked if it was time to comment now, Deitch replied Tuesday, "It may never be time."

Umer Hayat, a 48-year-old ice cream vendor, is charged with lying to FBI agents about whether his son attended the terror training camp while on a visit to Pakistan in 2003. His son, 23-year-old Hamid Hayat, stood trial before a separate jury. That jury continued to deliberate on Tuesday.

Umer Hayat faced up to 16 years in prison if he had been convicted of the two counts against him, both related to making false statements to federal agents.

His son faces one count of providing material support to terrorists by allegedly attending the camp while visiting Pakistan in 2003 and three counts of lying about it. He faces up to 39 years in prison if convicted of all charges against him.

Both men are U.S. citizens and were standing trial before separate juries.

"They couldn’t prove it because it didn’t happen," Griffin said. "He’s not a terrorist. There is no evidence to demonstrate he is a terrorist."

Of course, he was vacationing in Pakistan no doubt.

"The government put its best foot forward, and in my view slipped and fell in their efforts to obtain a conviction," Griffin said.

The case against the father and son initially generated widespread interest because it raised concerns about a potential terrorist cell centered in the agricultural town about 35 miles south of the state capital. No such evidence arose during their trial.

Prosecutors say Hamid Hayat returned to the U.S. in May 2005 to await orders for carrying out attacks at grocery stores, hospitals and banks.

Their defense attorneys say the government failed to produce any evidence that Hamid Hayat ever attended the camp during the nine-week trial that began in mid-February.

The case instead centered on videotaped confessions the men gave last June to FBI agents and a government informant who secretly recorded hundreds of hours of conversations but whose credibility was challenged by the defense.

Defense lawyers' biggest hurdle was trying to persuade jurors to discount the men's videotaped confessions. The statements were given separately last June during lengthy interrogations at the FBI's regional headquarters in Sacramento.

Defense lawyers said the confessions were made under duress, after the men had been questioned for hours in the middle of the night.

The father and son eventually told the agents merely what they thought they wanted to hear, without realizing the legal consequences, their lawyers argued.

The trial is the result of what the government initially thought might be a much larger case. Its investigation into Lodi's 2,500-member Pakistani community began after agents received a tip in 2001 that Lodi-area businesses were sending money to terrorist groups abroad.

That investigation ultimately produced no results, but it eventually led to the Hayats.

Prosecutors described Hamid Hayat as having long-standing anti-American views and sympathy for terrorist groups.

His family said Hayat was merely a directionless young man who traveled to Pakistan between 2003 and 2005 to find direction in life and a wife. At the time of his arrest last June, he was working at cherry-packing shed in Lodi.

It's important to consider that our great land has taken these people into our embrace, allowed them to practice their faith openly, given them governmsubsistenceance if they needed it, and in return? Hatred. The Hayat family are Muslims, commanded by the Koran to slay the unbelievers wherever they find them. There is no mention of this in the news reports, untiltill there is we can expect a lot more of this kind of thing.

:UPDATE:

Stop The ACLU has a follow up. A twist in the trial, as the father Umer Hayat gets a mistrial, his son Hamid Hayat is found guilty.

GTB Blogburst

By Heidi at Euphoric Reality

Facts are a funny thing. They are conveniently forgotten if they don't uphold one's point-of-view, and they're easily overlooked if they are randomly scattered about. But when solid facts are brought together in one place, the pattern is difficult to ignore. The facts I'm about to provide below are just such a case. People may be able to overlook a single fact, but the weight of their significance cannot be denied when they come together in one place. That is the purpose of this week's Blogburst - to look at some hard facts.

I think it's important to study the problems of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas as instructive for the rest of the states. It may be that others can write off the doom of California by saying, "Well, that's just California, a loony state of fruits and nuts - that would never happen here." But while California is tipping head-first into ruin, it is highly indicative of the chain of events the rest of us are blindly bumbling through. Arizona and New Mexico have declared official states of emergency because they are completely unable to handle the burden of the influx of illegals into their communities. Texas is not far behind with mass hospital closings, an overwhelmed and declining school system, and a climbing crime rate. Just because one lives in Idaho or Nebraska or Maine does not mean that it won't happen to you! You're just a few years behind the curve.

The following 10 facts have been pulled from the LA Times. We've posted them all at one time or another at ER or in the Blogburst.

1. L.A. County has 10 million people. 40% of all workers in L.A. County are working for cash and not paying taxes. This is because they are predominantly illegal immigrants, working without a green card.

2. Of the 10 million people in L.A. County, 5.1 million people speak English. 3.9 million speak only Spanish.

3. 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.

4. 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.

5. Over two-thirds of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal whose births were paid for by taxpayers.

6. Nearly 25% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.

7. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.

8. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.

9. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.

10. 21 radio stations in L.A. are Spanish language only.

We need to look at the experience of California as inevitable for the rest of us - if we don't, we're only burying our heads in the sand and bequeathing that future to our children! After all, if we keep merrily careening down the road to California, we can't be dumbfounded when we actually end up in California, can we?!

Here are a few more facts on a national scale:

1. Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops but 36% are on welfare.

2. Over 70% of the United States annual population growth (and over 90% of California, Florida, and New York) results from immigration.

3. The United States receives more immigrants every year than the rest of the world combined.

4. The cost of immigration to the American taxpayer in 1997 was a NET (after subtracting taxes immigrants pay) $70 BILLION a year [Professor Donald Huddle, Rice University].

5. The lifetime fiscal impact (taxes paid minus services used) for the average adult Mexican immigrant is a NEGATIVE.

6. 29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.

The problems of illegal immigration are not solely "border state" problems. They impact everyone. California and Texas are the two biggest economic engines in the United States - and they are teetering on bankruptcy on a catastrophic scale. If they go bust, guess who picks up the pieces? Indiana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, West Virginia, and all the rest. Illegal immigration is not - I repeat, NOT - a border state problem. It's a burden we're all bearing and a risk we're all sharing.

We are way past the point of half-way measures and temporary fixes. As a nation, we must demand a definitive, decisive, no-nonsense solution. We cannot be placated by smarmy speeches from self-interested politicians, or fooled by spin semantics ("it's a guest worker program - not amnesty"), or lulled into apathy by the drone of our everyday lives.

We cannot leave this crisis to our children. Do something! Get out of your comfort zone and get involved. There are bigger issues at stake than the price of lettuce! The time is critical. And it's NOW.

_________________________________

This has been a production of the Guard the Borders Blogburst. It was started by Euphoric Reality, and serves to keep immigration issues in the forefront of our minds as we’re going about our daily lives and continuing to fight the war on terror. If you are concerned with the trend of illegal immigration facing our country, join our Blogburst! Just send an email with your blog name and url to euphoricrealitynet at gmail dot com.

Arnold Abandons His Base

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger-R arrived in the State Capitol under the worst of circumstances. Then Governor Gray Davis-D had led California to the brink of financial disaster and couldn’t keep the power grid up and running. The state’s population had seen enough and voted in a special election to rid themselves of Davis before his term ended. Arnold ran as a moderate Republican who was going to be tough on fiscal issues. This was probably a wise political strategy considering California is left-leaning but still outraged at Davis’ incompetence.

Arnold survived numerous personal attacks from the Democrats. Accusations of sexual misconduct, steroids use, his Father’s Nazi ties and trumped up sexual harassment charges. The Governor-to-be took the liberal smear campaign head on. Arnold admitted the truthful allegations of his youthful steroid abuse, Hollywood-era escapades and clearly separated his views from his Father’s by pointing out his contributions to the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles, and his criticisms of his Father in public long before Gov. Davis came along . The sexual harassment case turned out to be of questionable origins. The accuser turned out to have political ties and the LA Times was caught trying to push that story. It was a series of cheap shots organized by the teacher’s union and their willing toadies in the media.
Even the national media kicked in by focusing mostly on the wacky candidates. Even though none of these questionable opponents had the poll numbers to support such media coverage, the Left tried to foist porn star Mary Cary, porn peddler Larry Flynt-D, actor Gary Coleman ,and sledgehammer comedian Gallager into the mix in a attempt to prove the recall to be a circus. Comments questioning California’s collective sanity were fodder for the talking heads on the national networks. This lack of serious coverage was exacerbated by ignoring the real candidates like Tom Mc Clintock-R, Bill Simon-R, and Peter Uberroth (former MLB commissioner). Even the leading Democrat Lt Gov Cruz Bustamonte (and his connections to MECHA) and Gov. Grey Davis-D escaped press scrutiny in favor of stories that distracted from the substance of the election. California’s fiscal and power grid problems disappeared into a smokescreen of political fluff.

The networks had their fun, but the California voters had the last laugh.

Gov. Davis was recalled by a 55.4%



Schwarzenegger won with 48.6%. Lt Gov Cruz Bustamonte finished a distant second with 31.5%., and conservative Republican Tom Mc Clintock received 13.5% of the vote. Nearly as important , none of the joke candidates got more that 0.3% of the vote. Proving once again that the networks are so far from mainstream America they hardly deserve to be taken any more seriously than the candidates they wrongly highlighted. Arnold stood victorious and the people put him in office as the best by filtering through all lies and distortions force fed them via television and newspapers. My point is this;

Gov Schwarzenegger you owe us one. You’re not going to get reelected by abandoning your base. The voters of California turned out in record numbers because we thought you’d bypass special interests and fulfill the needs of the state. This means a strong border. Don’t forget Californian’s voted in proposition 187 ( a law that was to cut off government funds to illegal immigrants) by a landslide. On this issue the people have been clear many times both state-wide and nationally and will continue to be so. Every poll taken on border security says the same thing. America wants a secure border. It‘s about time our leaders stop preaching to us and do their job. If Arnold won’t, someone else will.

Holocaust Rememberence Day

Absolute must read at
Atlas Shrugs...

...and don't forget who the deniers are.

US Navy Spied On Japan

From Strategypage

April 23, 2006: Here is how the press of today might have reported on
the World War II American mission to kill Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the
master mind of the attack on Pearl Harbor. This operation made use of
an American secret weapon, a team of code breakers that had deciphered
the secret codes Japan used to send military messages via the radio.
Admiral Yamamoto was known to be a brilliant commander, and it was felt
that killing him would make it easier to defeat the Japanese, and save
American lives. At the time, taking down Yamamoto was considered a major
victory. But attitudes towards such operations, government secrets and
killing people, have changed.

Today, the media would have reacted differently:

San Francisco Chronicle, April 19, 1943: "SECRET MISSION SUCCESS
CLAIMED. Sources at Pearl Harbor report that an 'extremely successful' secret
mission against what was vaguely described as a 'very high-value
target' was carried out yesterday. American losses were said to be 'extremely
light' in this operation, which reportedly involved Army P-38
fighters."

Washington Post, April 20, 1943: "YAMAMOTO DEAD? War Department sources
claim that Army P-38s belonging to the 347th Fighter Group shot down
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto in a mission that was described as 'very
difficult' and which 'banked on luck'. They cite intelligence information as
confirming the success of the mission and the identity of the target.
Spokesmen at Pearl Harbor and in the White House refused to comment, but
stated they would discuss matters at a 'later date' due to concerns
about 'operational security'."

New York Times, April 22, 1943: "ASSASSINATION OF YAMAMOTO CONFIRMED.
Navy Department sources have confirmed that Secretary of the Navy Frank
Knox granted Admiral Chester W. Nimitz permission to order Admiral
William F. Halsey, Commander of the allied in the South Pacific, to launch
an attack with the express intention of killing Admiral Isoroku
Yamamoto, the alleged mastermind of the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The
authorization was prompted by what Navy Department sources said was
'extremely reliable intelligence' about Yamamoto's plans for an inspection
tour."

New York Times, May 3, 1943: "READING JAPAN'S MAIL: JAPANESE CODES
BROKEN. The United States has broken several major Japanese codes, and in
doing so, has done what sources describe as 'severe damage' to the
Japanese war effort. Among the successes apparently attributable to this
effort are the repelled invasion of Port Moresby, the destruction of four
Japanese aircraft carriers at Midway, the recent series of battles
around Guadalcanal, and the recent assassination of Admiral Isoroku
Yamamoto by U.S. Army pilots. The Navy Department declined comment on these
revelations, but off the record, sources indicated that various
codebreaking efforts have gone on since the 1930s. One of those said to be
responsible for the early successes is Commander Joe Rochefort, who was
recently reassigned from his post at Pearl Harbor. When contacted at his
current assignment, Commander Rochefort declined comment. Reportedly
overseeing the effort at Hawaii is Captain Edwin T. Layton, the officer in
charge of intelligence at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack who was
retained by Admiral Nimitz."

New York Times, May 4, 1943: "NIMITZ AIDE KNEW YAMAMOTO, RECOMMENDED
ATTACK. A Navy Department source claimed that Captain Edwin T. Layton,
intelligence officer to the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet, was once
on 'very good terms' with Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto during his time as a
naval attaché in Tokyo in the late 1930s, was the deciding factor in
the request by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz's decision to recommend the
mission that killed the Japanese admiral. Layton, who also served under
Nimitz's predecessor, Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, has reportedly been
testifying at various inquiries involving the attack that destroyed or
severely damaged seven of the Pacific Fleet's battleships."

Editorial, New York Times, May 5, 1943: "It seems apparent that the
Department of the Navy has established a program to not only break enemy
codes, but to also listen in on their radio conversations. This
development, while understandable, poses a serious threat to the civil
liberties of Americans. Radio waves cross borders, and if the federal
government is capable of listening to radios, then are telephones that far
behind? Furthermore, what limits should be placed on the actions of the
government in time of war? Is assassination of enemy leadership to be
permitted? And what of the motivations of Captain Layton? Was his reported
recommendation for the attack to go forward really the best advice
given, or was it payback for the humiliation suffered by his former
commander? Congress needs to hold hearings on this program as soon as
possible."

Editorial, New York Times, May 19, 1943: "In the wake of the
controversy over the U.S. Navy's eavesdropping and codebreaking program, one
disturbing tendency has been the recent attacks on the press, claiming that
the revelations of this program have caused severe damage to the war
effort. calls for the FBI to begin an investigation into the revelation
of this program are nothing more than an attack on freedom of the press,
and should not be heeded."

- Harold C. Hutchison

New Bin Laden Tape: Ten Main Points

From the
Counterterrorism Blog (bold print my own)

1. Hamas: Despite the fact that we (including Ayman Zawahiri) warned (Muslim Palestinians) not to take part in elections in general, the victory of Hamas shows that there is a "Crusader Zionist War against Islam." Cutting foreign aid to the Palestinians because of Hamas victory proves that war.

Sigh, is there anything that doesn't prove war Mr ROP?

2. The public (in the West and the US), despite our warnings, continues to reelect these Governments, pay taxes to these Governments, and send their children to fight against us. They (civilians) are therefore part of the war against us. They are responsible for any harm that would be caused to them.

That's right pal, we'll never submit. Get used to it.

3. Sudan: The Bashir Government is failing in stopping the Crusader War in Sudan. The Crusaders (Britain) has pushed the southerners (Blacks) to separate. The US has armed them and is supporting them. And now, because of tribal tensions in Darfour, the Crusaders are planning on intervening there. We are calling on the Jihadists to fight them in Darfour and Southern Sudan.

...so you can continue your geneocide?

4. Long War: We're calling on all Jihadists, particularly in Sudan and the Arabian Peninsula to prepare themselves for a long war.

Bush had said he same thing. I don't like your odds.

5. Danish Cartoons: We are asking the Danish Government to remit the Cartoonists to al Qaida.

Don't hold your breath, LOL!

6. Saudis: We criticize the Saudi Monarch for refuting the idea of Clash of civilization. There is a clash led by the West against Islam.

Are you still breathing? Where's a minuteman missle when we need one?

7. Arab Liberals: Jihadists must silence the Arab and Muslim liberals. (A list has been established, but it wasn't aired).

Yes, yes, when not trying to kill infidels, you're trying to kill Muslims.

8. Education: We warn from any change that would affect the educational curriculum in the Arab and Muslim world.

Time marches on...why not join us?

9. Arab TV: We warn against those TV stations airing into the region and propagating Crusader propaganda.

Well, that covers just about everybody, you've threatened them all.

10: Truce: We offered a truce to the West (US and Europe) but their public refused to accept it. They will only blame themselves.

Uh.. no. We blame you. Now back to your cave, bad Wahhabi! Bad!

Also, see the video of Muslim pro- terrorist rally in NYC

10 Cheers For The 109th!

Here's why we need to keep the House Republican.


From Human Events;

Top Ten Accomplishments In The 109th Congress
by Robert B. Bluey

10. Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (HR 748). Makes it a federal crime to transport a minor across state lines in an attempt to circumvent parental consent laws. Passed, 270-157, on April 27, 2005.

9. Henry J. Hyde United Nations Reform Act (HR 2745). Requires a withholding of 50% of the United States’ regular assessed dues to the UN if the agency doesn’t make specified reforms. Passed, 221-184, on June 17, 2005.

8. Budget Resolution for Fiscal 2006 (H.Con.Res. 95). Passed a budget that includes $35 billion in mandatory savings and $70 billion in tax cuts over five years.

7. Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act (HR 4297). Saved taxpayers $56 billion over five years. Passed, 234-197, on Dec. 8, 2005.

6. Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act (HR 3824). Reformed the Endangered Species Act, offering greater protection for private property owners. Passed, 229-193, on Sept. 29, 2005.

5. Private Property Rights Protection Act (HR 4128). Eminent domain reform following the Kelo v. New London decision. Passed, 376-38, on Nov. 3, 2005.

4. Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act (HR 8). Permanently repeals the estate tax. Passed, 272-162, on April 13, 2005.

3. Point-of-Order Protection. Change in House rules allows members to bring a point of order against any appropriation bill that exceeds its 302(b) spending limits. Agreed to on March 16, 2005.

2. Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act (HR 4437). Provides border and interior measures, including a 700-mile fence, additional Border Patrol agents and workplace enforcement. Passed, 239-182, on Dec. 16, 2005.

1. Deficit Reduction Act (HR 4241). Reconciliation bill that saved taxpayers a net of $50 billion over five years. Passed, 217-215, on Nov. 18, 2005.

Worthwhile Weekend Reading

Angel over at
Woman Honor Thyself has an excellent overview of liberal history revisionism and how it could effect the current administration.

Link n Zona has an interesting view on border security.


American Crusader discusses the Minutemen fence building project.


Brooke, over at the NeoCon Command Center examines the UN.

Read 'em all.
You'll be better for it.

Old Glory looks good at night , but the picture doesn't do her justice.
This flag flys over Temecula, CA and is well lit at night. She's massive and can be seen from the freeway. The pic is a little blurry because the wind was moving the Stars and Strips pretty good and I was use a long exposure time due to the lighting conditions. The full moon casts it's countenence in the background. If a business in your town is flying the flag, tell them you appreciate it.

Dubai At It Again

Mensa Barbie unearths the latest UAE dabacle.


A deal by a United Arab Emirates company to buy a British firm with operations in the U.S. has touched off security concerns among some members of Congress.
But it’s not the Dubai Ports World furor all over again.

This time, Dubai International Capital has agreed to purchase Doncasters Group Ltd, a British parts manufacturer that works on sensitive American weapons programs such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The Bush administration is conducting a security review of the $1.24 billion takeover and will present its findings to Congress, where many of the same voices that expressed outrage over the ports deal are beginning to complain about the Doncasters takeover, according to Hong Kong-based Asia Times Online.

Doncasters, which has nine plants in the U.S., also builds specialized fan blades for the M-1 Abrams tanks, the New York Sun reports.

It seems Dubai isn't going to give up on becoming heavily invested in our security. I hope the President learned his lesson from the Ports Deal. My reasons for distrusting the UAE are listed here.

Hu Heckeled On South Lawn

From the
Drudge Report

Chinese "President" Hu Jintao was heckled by an asian woman.
'President Bush, stop him from killing'... 'Stop persecuting the Falun Gong,' she yelled... She also shouted in Chinese, 'President Hu, your days are numbered, No more time for China's ruling party.'

The protester raised a Falun Gong banner. Falun Gong is a spiritual movement in China outlawed by the Communist regime in 1999. Falun Gong teaches that the "Buddha Law", in its highest manifestation, can be summarized in three words – Zhen , Shan , and Ren , which translate approximately as 'Truthfulness (or Truth), Benevolence (or Compassion), and Forbearance (or Endurance)'. The process of cultivation is thought of to be one in which the practitioner assimilates himself or herself to Zhen , Shan and Ren . Li Hongzhi points out that Buddism teaches "Shan" (Compassion) and Taoism lays emphasis on "Zhen" (Truth).

The protester was removed by Secret Service.

Michelle Malkin has video of the incident as well as a nice round up of Google logo satire. Google has agreed with the Chinese government to censor itself.

The Big Screen Wakes Up

For those of us who are tired of hearing from every left-wing extremist and are stating avoid the theaters because of it, help is on the way. After being pummeled by George Clooney,Sean Penn, Not in Our Name and the rest of these leftist whack-jobs who seem to think that all the world is suffering at the feet of America, we're finally getting a break. First there's Flight 93, about the passengers who took down the fourth plane on 9/11. You can bet I'll see that one, but even more impressive, a film that explores the root cause of terrorism;

Islam: What The West Needs To Know

It's truely amazing that this film is being released after Cartoon Jihad and the South Park incident, one would think the entire media world had become dhimmified. But "What the West Needs To Know" takes the myths of Islam head on and doesn't flinch.

Main Idea

Virtually every major Western leader has over the past several years expressed the view that Islam is a peaceful religion and that those who commit violence in its name are fanatics who misinterpret its tenets. This claim, while widely circulated, rarely attracts serious public examination. Relying primarily on Islam’s own sources, this documentary demonstrates that Islam is a violent, expansionary ideology that seeks the destruction or subjugation of other faiths, cultures, and systems of government.

Content
The documentary consists of original interviews, citations from Islamic texts, Islamic artwork, computer-animated maps, footage of Western leaders, and Islamic television broadcasts. Its tone is sober, methodical, and compelling.

Outline of the Documentary

Introduction
We hear from prominent Western leaders that Islam is peaceful and that those who commit violence in its name are heterodox fanatics.

Part 1: ‘There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet’
Our interviewees affirm their belief that Islamic violence is entirely orthodox behavior for Muslims and stems directly from the teachings and example of the Prophet Muhammad and the commands of the Koran. We learn that the example of Muhammad is one of a violent warlord who killed numerous people. The Koran – the verbatim words of Allah – prescribes violence against non-Muslims and Muhammad is the perfect example of the Koran in action.

Part 2: The Struggle
We learn that jihad, while literally meaning 'struggle', in fact denotes war fought against non-Muslims in order to bring the rule of Islamic law to the world. Violent death in jihad is, according to the Koran, the only assurance of salvation. One of our interviewees tells of his personal involvement in terrorism and of his conversion to Christianity.

Part 3: Expansion
Following the death of Muhammad, his 'rightly-guided' successors carried his wars to three continents, fighting, enslaving, and massacring countless Christians, Jews, and Zoroastrians. Islam did not spread through evangelism or through its natural appeal, but through aggressive wars of conquest. The Crusades were largely a belated response on the part of Christian Europe to rescue Christians in the Holy Land suffering under Muslim oppression. The Muslim world today, while no longer the unified empire of the Caliphs, is exceptional for being responsible for the vast majority of conflicts around the world and for almost all of international terrorism.

Part 4: ‘War is Deceit’
A great problem with Western efforts to understand Islam is due to the Islamic principle of 'religious deception', which enjoins Muslims to deceive non-Muslims in order to advance the cause of Islam. Muslim groups today in the West employ deception and omission to give the impression that 'Islam is a religion of peace', an utter fiction.

Part 5: More than a Religion
The most important characteristic of Islam not understood by the West is that it is more a system of government than a personal religion. Unlike Christianity, Islam has never recognized a distinction between the religious and the secular/political. Islamic law governs every aspect of religious, political, and personal action, which amounts to a form of totalitarianism that is divinely enjoined to dominate the world, analogous in many ways to Communism.

Part 6: The House of War
Islamic theology divides the world into two spheres locked in perpetual combat, dar al-Islam (House of Islam - where Islamic law predominates), and dar al-harb (House of War - the rest of the world). It is incumbent on dar al-Islam to fight and conquer dar al-harb and permanently assimilate it. Muslims in Western nations are called to subvert the secular regimes in which they now live in accordance with Allah's command. Due to political correctness and general government and media irresponsibility, the danger posed by observant Muslims in the West remains largely unappreciated.

We might expect this kind of honesty on the blogosphere, but a movie? I can't wait! I just hope the theaters have the courage to show it.

Neil Young’s New CD

I’ve been a Neil Young fan for about 30 years now, I have about a dozen of his albums and have always thought his blend of folk and rock made him one of the most interesting artists of his time. But I won’t be buying Neil’s new CD. I first heard about the CD on the Drudge Report a few days ago. One of the new songs is called "Impeach The President”.

I was a little surprised. Back in the 80’s, Neil took a lot of flak for publicly stating his support for Ronald Reagan. This was quite a shock at the time from a child of the 60’s who had written songs like Ohio. “Tin soldiers and Nixon’s coming, we’re finally on our way” he crooned while describing the Kent State tragedy, Neil had even expressed regret for penning Ohio, remarking that he felt guilty for making money off the four people who died. He even went as far as to recant his Crosby Stills and Nash years by singing in “Hippie Dream”.

But the Wooden Ships
Were just a hippie dream
Capsized in excess
If you know what I mean

"Wooden Ships" was one of CSN’s most popular songs. Neil’s no stranger to controversy, Lynard Skynard’s “Sweet Home Alabama” was a direct response to Neil’s “Southern Man”, a song about Alabama Governor George Wallace.

Southern change going to come at last
Now your crosses are burning fast.

Lynard Skynard defended their home state in “Sweet Home Alabama” by singing;

In Birmingham there was a Governor
We all did what we could do
I know my conscience doesn’t bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
(now tell me true)

Then later in the same song ;

We heard ‘ole Neil sing about us
We heard ‘ole Neil put us down
But Mr. Young can remember
Southern Man don’t need him around anyhow

After 9/11 Neil wrote “Lets Roll” about the passengers of Flight 93, and expressed support for
The Patriot Act. A few years later and Neil is still rockin’ in the free world. But now there is a lot more at stake than 4 college students. America is at war in Iraq and Afghanistan and Neil is going to make money off it. The CD is called “Living With War” and the entire album of 10 songs are protests against President Bush and the war in Iraq. Here’s a lyric sample from Neil’s website;

"I raise my hand in peace
I never bow to the laws of the thought police
I take a holy vow ... to never kill again ...

"In the big hotels ,
in the mosques and the doors of the old museum ...
I take a holy vow ... to never kill again."

So it was ok for the passengers on flight 93 to fight back, but now we’re “taking vows to never kill again“? Can we logically expect the terrorists to do the same? The Patriot Act was sound policy 4 years ago, but now it’s the “thought police”? Long time fans have got to ask. “will the real Neil Young please stand up?.” With over 2000 Americans dead in Iraq and Canadian Neil Young making a profit. That should dwarf the guilt he felt for writing Ohio, eh?

Send A Brick

From Stop the ACLU

Have you heard about this? The Idea is to send a brick to our congressional leaders to tell them how we want to secure the border.
Michelle Malkin has some great pictures of bricks on her site.

GTB Blogburst

A Welfare State With Illegal Immigration Offers Businesses a Better Deal Than Slavery

by Darnell MaGavock at Indpendent Conservative

Let me start by saying I don’t endorse either slavery or illegal immigration. But looking at things from the economic standpoint of a company that hires illegals today versus the use of slave labor in the 18th and 19th centuries, illegal immigration offers companies a better deal than any slave owner ever had. The reason is the modern day welfare state that is known as America.

During American slavery, the slave owner was responsible for the total care of the slave. Although slave masters did this “on the cheap” they had to provide housing, food, clothing and medical care for the slave and their entire family. This resulted in the institution of slavery being more of a loss than gain over time. The only other option was to grant freedom to slaves who were a great expense, but that involved the strain of possibly breaking a family. Separating families often resulted in the other slaves trying harder to escape to be with loved ones. Non-profitable slaves were not sellable, because nobody else wanted the burden. This was the slave master’s dilemma, that people like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin figured out. They realized that slavery was not financially good over time - because the “free labor” was not really “free”, given the need to provide full care to the slave labor force. This was in addition to the expense of buying a slave in the first place.

Today’s employer of illegal immigrants does not have any of the hassles experienced by slave owners. The employer of illegals offers them a very small salary and no benefits. Which means such an employer never runs the risk of going cash-flow-negative on labor costs. They can adjust wages at will, because they will always find an illegal that is willing to accept the rate. This is the reason Cesar Chavez once disliked illegal immigration. If one set of illegals tried to “strike” for better wages, the company would simply replace them with new illegals that were willing to accept the pay rate offered to them.

So the employer of illegals has no direct issues with having to fund housing, medical or the expense of educating the children of illegal immigrants. These are expenses that American taxpayers have been funding. Government (funded by taxpayers) helps illegals secure home loans and encourages banks to give them out. Government (funded by taxpayers) is picking up the medical expenses of illegals. Government (funded by taxpayers) is educating the children of illegal aliens.

You may have seen the CNN Special “Immigrant Nation: Divided Nation”. If you did, you saw profiles of illegals that live in my county of Gwinnett Georgia. The show often tried to make granting amnesty to illegals look like a good thing, but like the slave master’s dilemma, even the tax paying illegals do not come close to covering the expenses involved in caring for them.

Excerpts from, Transcript of CNN Special Report - Immigrant Nation: Divided Nation

…HINOJOSA: Ten years ago when I first came to Georgia, I asked people if there was a Latino neighborhood, or barrio. I got a lot of strange looks.

Now I’m here in the heart of just one of the many Latino barrios in Georgia. I can get some of the best tacos outside of Mexico right here 24 hours a day. The home of Martin Luther King, the state that gave us the civil rights movement, is now home to half a million Latinos, a 300 percent increase in a decade.

…

HINOJOSA: Estimates vary, but somewhere between 7 and 20 million people are living in this country illegally, one of the largest populations of undocumented immigrants in the world. Most of them come across this border. According to the U.S. government, over 1 million were caught last year alone.

This latest wave of immigrants has spread far beyond the southwest and the West Coast. Latino immigrant communities are now fixtures across the nation, especially in the south, in places like Gwinnett County, Georgia.

…

HINOJOSA: Rosa first came to Georgia two years ago, all alone.

Last year, unable to bear the separation any longer, Rosa paid a smuggler $5,000 to wade her children across the river at night, but they were caught at a checkpoint and immediately deported. Rosa faced a difficult decision.

ROSA (through translator): I told my daughter, you have two options. I either stay in Mexico with you, or I will leave for the States for another year in preparation to bring the two of you. Then my daughter told me to return to the States so I could bring them eventually.

…

HERCHEK: I’m afraid that America could become a third world country. We’re importing poverty by millions every year.

…

HINOJOSA (on camera): The numbers say it all. Ten years ago, these schools served very few Spanish-speaking students. In 2003, one out of 10 students listed Spanish as their primary language, $26 million will be spent in Gwinnett County in English language services.

…

HINOJOSA: Federal law says people are entitled to emergency medical care, whether or not they’re in this country legally. In one year Georgia paid $58 million in emergency Medicaid reimbursement for undocumented immigrants.

…

The smugglers will be paid almost $6,000 by Rosa if they were successful, would show border agents false papers for the children. They didn’t make it.

Despite their fake papers, Junior and Rosita were detained. The smugglers were arrested. The children were returned to Mexico and reunited with their grandmother. Despite the set back, Rosa vows to try again.

ROSA (through translator): I will keep trying to bring them. The sooner the better. If in 15 days I find someone to bring them here, then we will try again with them.

…

Unlike slavery, with illegal immigration the burden of expenses is carried by the entire nation. So instead of individual plantation owners having to endure the expenses of supposedly cheap labor, it is a burden carried by taxpaying Americans.

It is my family that endures pain, while waiting behind illegals for medical care. It is my tax dollars that pay for education of illegals, that by school rules have 6 years to learn English and many drop out before ever finishing school. So they take up much space and expense, while not even learning much during the process. While school time is spent on illegals, it diverts resources and teaching time away from children in a legal family. And I’m not even going to get into the issues with gangs. (That would require its own post.)

The issues I see here in Gwinnett County, Georgia will only get worse with anything that encourages illegal immigration or makes them feel they will be rewarded. And the issues will get worse for America. The nation will not be able to sustain the expense of this dilemma for much longer. It is causing the nation to engage in a race to the bottom and then we all lose.

America’s borders need to be secured and the only means made for immigration should be via the current legalization process. What employers of illegals see as a “resource” is really a great expense. Immigration requires regulation to prevent this nation’s collapse.

__________________________________________



This has been a production of the Guard the Borders Blogburst. It is syndicated by Euphoric Reality, and serves to keep immigration issues in the forefront of our minds as we’re going about our daily lives and continuing to fight the war on terror. If you are concerned with the trend of illegal immigration in our country, join the Blogburst! Send an email with your blog name and url to euphoricrealitynet at gmail dot com.