Another New Year's Resolution time is upon us. The annual cleansing of bad habits and wishful thinking has ancient roots. History records that New Year celebrations go back to the Babylonians 4000 years ago. They celebrated in March which is the beginning of a new growing season. That seems logical and tied to the natural cycle of seasons, the celebration would go back thousand of more years before written history. The beginning of a new growing season is rich with metaphors on a new time to start again.
Like the political establishment of the US three day weekend holiday schedule, Roman politicians changed the beginning of the year from late March to January 1. Julius Caesar, never lacking in ambition, established the Julian Calendar in 46 BC. The Christian Church, which was the Roman Catholic Church, was against the holiday before it was for the holiday. It has been a celebrated day with increasing gusto for the last three or four hundred years and now is universally recognized. There is no logical reason for it to be celebrated on 1 January, but it is, and it comes accompanied with making New Years resolutions.
Irwin Seltzer in the current Spectator, has a few resolutions for President Bush. They include three areas, Iraq, China and Russia. Here’s what to do in 2007, Mr President. The question is a serious one because the world is a much more dangerous place than when President Bush came into office. It is debatable that Bush made it that way. So far, it is obvious he has not made it better. What New Year resolution would you make for President Bush? It may be wishful thinking, but that is what we all do.
I, GWB will quit trying to fake my own brains, heart, and courage, and accept on faith what Ronald Reagan KNEW to be true about the limitless strength and possibilities of this great country in order to unleash it from all the shackles with which I have encumbered it.
ReplyDeleteNaked To Our Enemies
ReplyDeleteBy Clarice Feldman
Much as been made of the demonstrated ignorance of Silvestre Reyes, the newly named chair of the House Intelligence Committee. But Reyes is far from alone in failing to have learned the most basic facts of the forces arrayed against us.
How much longer can we count on dumb luck to protect us from our enemies?
---
Go Right Ahead – Tread On Us
Daily this site sounds like the New York Times. Get real.
ReplyDeleteSince the GIs rolled into Iraq, over 43 months ago, there has been a choir to preach to. Push on, to Damascus, to the Iranian oil fields, to Warizistan and the destruction of the Taliban's infrastructure. Take out the Golden Chain, dry up the Mohammedan financial pool.
ReplyDeleteDay by day the enviorment for these type actions worsen. 40 months ago 65% of US thought we were on the "Right Course", now less than 30% does. The US has bogged down, at home. The choir singing the song of Peace through War is singing to a mirror.
War is not the Course the President will choose, Democrazy & Nation Building is what he has delivered, a Course he and his Team told US would be a failure, and pledged to never follow, in 1999.
So we're gonna Party,
ReplyDeletelike it's 1999!
Elections, you see, will make the difference in the Middle East and Persia
ReplyDeleteTEHRAN, Iran -- Opponents of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took an early lead in key races in Iran's local elections, according to partial results announced Monday, with moderate conservatives winning control of councils across Iran.
If the final results hold _ especially in the bellwether capital, Tehran _ it will be an embarrassment to Ahmadinejad, whose anti-Israeli rhetoric and unyielding position on Iran's nuclear program have provoked condemnation in the West and moves toward sanctions at the U.N. Security Council.
...
"Results also show that a new coalition has developed between reformers and moderate conservatives, at the expense of hard-line extremists who support Ahmadinejad," he said."
So just as the 7 Nov elections in the US "spanked" Mr Bush, so too may Abracadbra hae been electorally spanked. Now the US will allow the Iranian elections time to "take", more diplomatic smoke.
The Elections in both countries will cause them to change Course, or not. I'd say "not" for the US changing course, Iraq will remain a local conflict.
In Iran it'll be "full steam ahead", in Lebanon and Iraq, as well.
Even in Palistine, we will try again. Even after arming the Abbas faction Mr Blair had to make a personal appearence to "buck up" Mr Abbas.
ReplyDelete"RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday he is pushing ahead with early elections _ despite factional fighting that intensified after his initial call for a poll _ and appealed for international help in restarting peace talks with Israel.
Abbas said he is ready to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert anytime. "We need each other," he said, adopting a much warmer tone than in the past.
Abbas spoke at a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who praised the Palestinian leader and urged the international community to rally behind him. ..."
Lawyers, Guns & Money.
Palistine, Lebanon & Iraq, violence follows elections in each of the Democrazy Project tests.
No one mentioned that part of the "Plan" at the start. Perhaps that is why there is a reported sense of dispair in the air.
Anonymous said, "Daily this site sounds like the New York Times. Get real."
ReplyDeleteYeah! You hear that boys? Anonymous wants you to use your real names.
after identifying the enemy of course
ReplyDeleteduh. they are all enemies. if you need a starting point ..Sadr City.
trish said...
ReplyDeleteWhere's Allen?
Trish,
Allen is has lost interest. Allen is no longer amused.
Every conservative, indeed, every patriotic blog should have front and center the story of a guy from Texas who, 23 years ago after disbarment in at least two states, was commissioned an Air Force JAG. This non-lawyer lawyer, faux-officer went on to become probably one of the most influential people in the Air Force; think of LtC. Oliver North, here. Among other things this liar, cheat, and fraud, became commandant at the Air Force JAG School in Montgomery, Alabama, i.e. he formulated the policy and curriculum used by all JAG commands throughout the world; think Iraq and Afghanistan, here. He negotiated with and distributed “large sums of money” to selected tribal leaders and other political entities in Iraq. (And when the US government admits to “large sums of money”, it must be assumed that they were LARGE sums of money.) In short, the liar, cheat, fraud, disbarred non-lawyer, faux Colonel chose and rewarded the Iraqi allies of the United States. Finally, this flag fraud served two tours within the White House, presumably advising the President, through the Air Force, on legitimate target acquisition and other material issues in TWAT.
For all those who obviously missed a REAL story, that of “Colonel” Michael D. Murphy is one. Oh, and it is one over which the President may exercise his sole prerogatives as CnC.
Just convince Mr Bush, anon.
ReplyDeletePick an Enemy, then whack the Mohammedan
But that is not the current Course.
Be convincing in your arguement, as Mr Bush will be deciding what to do, soon. When he does, in a few weeks, he will describe how goes the "New Way Forward".
Perhaps at the State of the Union
Who fricking knows what course W will take? As far as Iraq, he will not be allowed to take the correct course. You know, the heavy-handed one. As someone posted much earlier, too much hand-wringing by MSM everytime a human shield or innocent dies.
ReplyDeleteI would imagine he is experiencing many sleepless nights these days.
He certainly needs something good to happen, and I wish him that.
All that said, I hope his New Year's resolution is FULL COURT PRESS, might as well go out with a bang.
trish,
ReplyDeleteProbably to you, my Dear.
So, Trish, having dispensed with me, what do you think about the foreign policy influence of a a disbarred, Kernel? Not that that is nearly as important as things about which neither you nor the President have any power.
I'll try to make this as simple as possible: I look at would be "Colonel" Michael D. Murphy much as I would General Arnold. If that is unimportant to the commenters here or the general public, then, that might explain the sorry state of the country.
ReplyDeleteJust say'n.
Allen, the JAG guy, is the sole source of your criticism about him that he got the job fruadulently or were there actual specific things he did that bother you?
ReplyDeleteash,
ReplyDeleteAir Force = bases, planes, and personnel
Corrupt Senior JAG = paperwork, personnel, and millions in "fun money"
Afghanistan = bumper opium production
Iraq = “insurgents” in the drug trade
I'll start with those possibilities.
By the way, nearly 100 military personnel were busted over the weekend - part of a cocaine cartel, alledgedly.
On the mundane level, Ash, it does concern me that a fellow practicing law without a license for 23 years can rise to the senior leadership level in the Air Force and, thereby, for example, gain access to and potentially influence the decision making of the President of the United States. Security risks used to trouble the Secret Service as well. I am old fashioned. Call me obsessed.
Federal slackers.
ReplyDeleteFrauds and Peter Principle Princes
It is yet another exaample of systemic Federal dysfunction.
ash,
ReplyDeleteAs the matter of curiosity, what material difference would it make were my objections to the "Colonel" professional or personal? In either event, the man has harmed my country.
Get off it Allen, the MSM, not the CIC is responsible.
ReplyDeleteFor Everything.
well Allen it resembles and ad hominem attack. I in no way wish to defend his fraudulent misrepresentations nor the federal bureaucracy which allowed such a fraud to occur but it does not follow that because of the fact that he 'lied' on his job application all he subsequently did harmed the nation.
ReplyDeleteDoug, I'm with you on MSM, or as I prefer to call them, Big Media!
ReplyDeleteThey have proven they can spin anything, any direction they want. No doubt they have caused many, many deaths in this Iraq conflict, innocent and deliberate, due to their hatred of Bush. Coulter says Osama is in hiding at NYT....Hilarious, but I wouldnt put it past them, just to keep Bush from being successful.
Gag reflex said, "Coulter says Osama is in hiding at NYT...
ReplyDeleteHilarious, but I wouldnt put it past them, just to keep Bush from being successful."
Even if Bush captured Osama, it would not bring victory in Iraq, which Bush has defined as all three sects holding hands and singing:
I'd like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love,
Grow apple trees and honey bees, and snow white turtle doves.
I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony,
I'd like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company...
This just in (to no one's suprise):
ReplyDeleteOnly one-tenth of the votes had been counted in Tehran 60 hours after balloting ended because the president’s followers, backed by Revolutionary Guards stormed the central election committee. They stopped the counting several times to force the counters with threats and physical harassment to falsify the results and reverse the president’s opponents’ gains. The most painful blow has been the victory of his main rival ex-president Hashem Rafsanjani in early results to the powerful Assembly of Experts. Therefore, the results when published later this week may hold surprises
"Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see
ReplyDeleteIt's getting hard to be someone but it all works out,
Nothing is real, and nothing to get hungabout. Always, no sometimes, think it's me, but you know I know when it's a dream
I think I know I mean a "Yes" but it's all wrong, that is I think I disagree.
Nothing is real, and nothing to get hungabout "
trish,
ReplyDeleteUntil we know what the Kernel has done, we don't even know what boat we're in - which is about par for the course.
I'm going to return to sleep, now. Yawn.
Ash,
ReplyDeleteFeel free to send the injured patriot a Christmas card.
Colonel Michael D. Murphy
Air Force Legal Operations Agency
Bolling Air Force Base, DC 20336
bobalharb said, "Resolved--I will direct the attorney general to use the RICO statutes against the muzzies in America, beginning January1, 2007."
ReplyDeleteMother of Mercy, is this the end of RICO?