Blue Star Chronicles

Governor Tim Kaine, (D) Virginia is giving the Democratic response to the President’s State of the Union Speech.I’m trying to listen to him. Honest. Really. I am.

But I can’t quit watching his eyebrow.

Am I the only one who is sitting at home watching him talk and trying to see if I can get one eyebrow to go up like that?

Is there a string on it? Is someone behind him pulling his skin back to make the eyebrow go up like that?

Can he do the other one? I haven’t seen him do the other one ….

I can’t conscentrate on what he’s saying for looking at that eyebrow.

The Democrats are touting him as a possible Presidential canidate as an alternate to Hillary’s apparent quest for the Presidency.

At that thought I actually raised both my eyebrows. But I still can’t just raise one.

Expose the Left has an animation for those of you who missed seeing this.

Hat tip to Samantha Speaks for pointing us to the animation.

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State of the Union - My Thoughts
Excerpt: However, it should be noted that Democrats are standing and applauding often enough. Maybe they’re beginning to realize that their extremism is causing them to lose their standing with the average American. It’s time for some common middle ground to …
Weblog: The Median Sib
Tracked: 01.31.06 - 7:17 pm

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Open Posts:
Mudville Gazette
Cao’s Blog
Right Wing Nation
Jo’s Cafe
The Real Ugly American
Third World Country
Basil’s Blog
Stuck on Stupid

Helen Thomas’ standing at White House Press Conferences has been in steady decline over the last few years. Last Thursday she was inexplicably snubbed by President Bush when he did not accept a question from her!

Her reaction was:

“He’s a coward. He’s supposed to be this macho guy. He’ll take on Osama bin Laden, but he won’t take me on.”

Ms. Thomas has also stated:

“The day Dick Cheney is going to run for president, I’ll kill myself.“

To all of our good fortune, Ms. Thomas has found an alternative to killing herself. She’s found Michael Moore.

Ms. Thomas’ bitterness has swiftly melted away and been replaced by utter joy with the blossoming of new found love. A love based in common values. Those common values being their hatred of their President.

This commonality is something not to be taken lightly. In fact, it’s quite heavy. Very heavy. I mean really really heavy.

Should PETA be notified? Somebody’s been eatin’ meat!

Sorry, I digress.

I couldn’t be happier for them both!Â

It’s been rumored that the blissful couple are in Riyadh even as I write this. It is said they are staying with close friend and confidant Mr. Michael Jackson or Ms. Michael Jackson, depending on the day. Mr./Ms. Jackson has given them the use of the eastern wing of his ForeverLand House of Saud-ymi.

Mr./Ms. Jackson was overheard to say it has been an interesting change of pace to have grown-ups for a sleep-over.

h/t to Sparks from the Anvil ‘Heckler Thomas: A Profile in Self-Importance

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A Little Political Heckling: Helen Thomas, Michael Moore, Michael Jackson
Excerpt: I’ve got to share a couple of hilarious posts I’ve read tonight. I guess they wouldn’t be too funny to liberal democrats, but as an independent conservative, I thought they were amusing.
Weblog: The Median Sib
Tracked: 01.31.06 - 8:04 pm

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Open Posts:
Mudville Gazette
Cao’s Blog
Right Wing Nation
Jo’s Cafe
Stuck on StupidÂ

Coretta Scott King, Human Rights Leader and widow of Martin Luther King, Jr. died during the night last night.Speaking of the strength of character she exhibited following her husband’s death, she once said:

“I think you rise to the occasion in a crisis,” she once said. “I think the Lord gives you strength when you need it. God was using us - and now he’s using me, too.”

Always a lady. Always true to her beliefs. A brave and honorable woman. Rest in Peace.

H/t to Sanity’s Bluffsource photo above was taken while Mrs. King was attending Stanford University.

After a contentious confirmation process and a partisan vote the Senate Confirms Alito to Supreme Court

An American Soldier was laid to rest today. He was eulogized, honored and buried with full Marine military honors.

The ceremony was spectacular and heartbreaking.

He had served his country for over 20 years as a Marine. He had served his community as a law enforcement officer. And in the last year, he had served his country again, training Iraqi soldiers. He was killed in Iraq by an IED. It took 11 days to bring him home.

He was buried in a cemetery next to a church a long way down a country road on the outskirts of a very small southern town.

This middle-of-no-where place is familiar to most of us Americans. You probably have a place very similar to it down the road and over the hill from where you are. Hundreds of people came to this middle-of-no-where place to pay respects to the man who was killed in service to his country.

Law enforcement officers escorted the horse drawn caisson from the church to the cemetery. Dozens of other law enforcement officers attended out of friendship and respect for the service he had given to his community. A group of military veteran bikers stood guard at the entrance of the cemetery.

And the Marines.

The Marines honored him with the dignity, ceremony and respect fitting this fallen Marine.

This man was respected and emulated by his sons, adored by his daughters, loved and admired by his parents and siblings, and held in high esteem by his community.

His wife cherished him. And he cherished her.

A life well lived, ended too soon.

She let me read his last email to her. In it he had written, ‘I know that God exists and that He loves me. He has to love me because otherwise I could have never deserved your love.’ He also wrote, ‘You have made my mission here easy for me. You are the only woman who could understand why I need to be here and accept me for who I am.’

I watched from the sidelines today as my friend buried her husband. She was surrounded by a large, loving family. Her two sons sat on either side of her. One son in his dress greens the other will be in military garb when he graduates at the end of this school year.

She held herself with dignity, class and quiet strength. She greeted everyone who approached her. She thanked them for coming.

I hugged her as I was leaving, and for a couple of seconds she hid her face in my shoulder and wept, her body relaxed and felt as weak and helpless as a kitten. For just a couple of seconds. Then she raised herself again and mechanically thanked me for coming, regaining her composure.

The first time I saw her after getting the news, I asked her how she was doing. She said, I’m still standing.’ As I walked away from the cemetery, I knew even after this gut-wrenching blow, she’d still be standing.

‘I’m grieving for myself.’ she had said, ‘He died doing what he loved’.

Flags fly on the houses around there. The people believe in God and country. They love their families, their friends and help their neighbors. They believe in integrity, honor, decency and carrying their own weight. They believe in traditional American values.

These people are the character and strength of America.

My friend, her family, her friends and her community have made a very personal sacrifice for love of their country. Americans have been making these sacrifices since the Revolutionary War. One family at a time. One person at a time. One community at a time.

Its the extraordinary common man who holds this country together. Its the guy who loves his country, his family, his community and his God. It the wife who waits for him, understands him and loves him.

You probably know these people. They are probably down the street from you, living in your community.

They are the threads that make up the fabric of American society and the cloth of the American Flag.

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Contributed to Michelle Malkin’s list of Others Injured and Killed by IEDS This Week. Also can be viewed at Argghhh!!! Open Posts

Mudville Gazette Open Posts
Right Wing Nation Open Posts
Jo’s Cafe Monday Special
Freedom Folks Tanker Brothers Just Like That
Basil’s Blog - Picnic 1.30.2006
Cao’s Blog
Basil’s Blog
Stuck on Stupid

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Service above self.
Excerpt: This deserves better than a trackback link on the H&I post.. Beth of Blue Star Chronicles honors service above self. It’s the extraordinary common man who holds this country together. It’s the guy who loves his country, his family, his…
Weblog: Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah’s Military Guys.
Tracked: 01.30.06 - 9:55 am

Service Above Self
Excerpt: American Strength An American Soldier was laid to rest today. He was eulogized, honored and buried with full Marine military honors. The ceremony was spectacular and heartbreaking. He had served his country for over 20 years as a Marine.
Weblog: Small Town Veteran
Tracked: 01.30.06 - 2:36 pm

The Best Posts: Monday
Excerpt: Blue Star Chronicles: American Strength
An American Soldier was laid to rest today. He was eulogized, honored and buried with full Marine military honors.
The ceremony was spectacular and heartbreaking.
Hat tip: Jo’s Cafe
Weblog: Don Surber
Tracked: 01.30.06 - 2:45 pm

An American Hero
Excerpt: Go read Beth’s first hand account of a Marine laid to rest over at Blue Star Chronicles. An American Soldier was laid to rest today. He was eulogized, honored and buried with full Marine military honors. The ceremony was spectacular and
Weblog: The Violence Worker!
Tracked: 01.30.06 - 6:52 pm

A Moving Tribute
Excerpt: Beth at Blue Star Chronicles has written a most loving and beautiful tribute to a fallen Marine and the family who loves him.
Weblog: A Rose By Any Other Name
Tracked: 01.30.06 - 7:48 pm

A Moving Tribute to a Fallen Hero
Excerpt: Beth of Blue Star Chronicles posts a moving tribute to a fallen Marine.I don’t know this Marine. I don’t know but a handfull of those I post about here. I do know how the Military Honors them. I also know how the families grieve, the com…
Weblog: Echo9er
Tracked: 02.02.06 - 8:11 am

Please go by and welcome Laura from The Wide Awake Cafe to the Blue Star Blogroll

She says that her husband is retired military. She has brothers in the military. And her son is currently serving.

She has a beautiful grandson.

Check out her post about Jim Carroll’s Boston Globe article.

Welcome Laura!

There’s something of a debate going on at this post in which I assert that the jury is definitely still out on whether the Hamas Terrorists can turn into the George Washingtons and Benjamin Franklins of Palestine.

 

In addition to name calling, Carla asserts that Hamas has softened it’s stance regarding destroying Israel, suicide bombings and does charity work for the Palestinian people.

Yankee Mom, Brent Roos and Mark answer Carla’s argument by pointing out that Hamas has not softened it’s manifesto and other inconsistancies in the Jimmy Carter version of Foreign Relations.

 

Here’s one of the problems I have with this. There is a leap in logic that I have a hard time getting past.

The Hamas Terrorists managed to win a ‘democratic’ election.

With the Progressive line of logic that means they will therefore take their new power and use it in a responsible manner. They will rule the Gaza Strip as a democracy.

To my way of thinking, that’s like saying ‘A rose is red and a barn is red, therefore a rose is a barn.’

Call me a hate-filled right-winged bigot, but that just doesn’t flow for me.

It just seems to me that there are a few steps left out of that logic. And with those steps left out, the conclusion isn’t necessarily acurate.

See, the way I think is like this, ‘A rose is red and a barn is red therefore a rose is red and a barn is red.’

Have the Hamas Terrorist Group decided to become a democratic organization rather than just using a ‘democratic’ election to gain power? We’ll see.

To build a democracy in Palestine they will display a willingness to defend the weak and infirm. They will allow free speech and free press. They will protect the rights of the minority. They will protect freedom of religion and protect the right of it’s citizens to worship as they please. They will have no state supported religion. They will provide an avenue for a fair and equal system of justice.

As a democratic form of government they will be obliged to guarentee all of its citizens the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

There is much more to forming a democracy than winning an election over an equally dispicable group.

If the Hamas Terrorists can transform themselves into the Hamas Democracy, than more power to them.

I’m not holding my breath.

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Others participating in debate:

Brent Roo’s Blog - Jimmy Carter Hopes to Fund Hamas
Knocking on the Golden Door
Jo’s Cafe
Sanity’s Bluff
Crazy Politico’s Ranting
You Betcha I’m A Proud Army Mom
Stop the ACLU - The Gun Toting Liberal
In the Bull Pen - Jihad as Usual for Hamas
Michelle Malkin - Victory for Hamas
Sister Toldjah - Bad News for the Middle East
All Things Beautiful - A Dark Victory
The Uncooperative Blogger - Hamas Unofficially Wins a Majority in Parliament
Jihad Watch - Hamas Wins, Palistinian Premier Resigns
Rhymes With Right - Hamas Wins, The Process is Dead

 

Cartoon by Mike Lester
Also see:
Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys

From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.

Thomas Jefferson

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is advocating for financial assistance to the Hamas Terrorist group. WHAT!!!!

Mr. Carter’s theory seems to be that if they are properly funded and pacified they will start behaving themselves.

 

From the Jerusalem Post:

Carter, who has long supported the participation of Hamas in the Palestinian elections, voiced the hope that the Islamic terror group would act “responsibly” now that it had won the elections.

We have seen Mr. Carter take this tact before. I have serious doubts that wanting them to change will make them change.

 

Hamas leaders say they won’t renounce their violent ideology. Hamas Says It Will Not Change.

The U.S. administration and Israel are saying they will not deal with Hamas unless and until they denounce their committment to destroying Israel.

Brent Roo’s Blog has this excert of the Hamas “Martyr’s Oath”

 

“Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious…The Movement is but one squadron that should be supported by more and more squadrons from this vast Arab and Islamic world, until the enemy is vanquished and Allah’s victory is realized…

“The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him salvation, has said: ‘The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews. When the Jew will hide behind stones and trees, the stones and trees will say O Muslims, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him…’

“There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.

“The day The Palestinian Liberation Organization adopts Islam as its way of life, we will become its soldiers, and fuel for its fire that will burn the enemies…

“The Zionist invasion is a vicious invasion… It relies greatly in its infiltration and espionage operations on the secret organizations it gave rise to, such as the Freemasons, The Rotary and Lions clubs, and other sabotage groups.

“We should not forget to remind every Muslim that when the Jews conquered the Holy City in 1967, they stood on the threshold of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and proclaimed that ‘Mohammed is dead, and his descendants are all women.’

“Israel, Judaism and Jews challenge Islam and the Muslim people. ‘May the cowards never sleep.’”

Judging from this ‘Martyr’s Oath’ and Hamas stated organizational purpose of destroying Israel and Jews, I think Mr. Carter’s plan does not have a very good prognosis. I don’t know that pumping enough money and power into a terrorist group will persuade them to stop bombing Israel. Besides, how much is enough?

 

Avoiding conflict creates unavoidable conflict. I would have thought that would have been obvious from his negotiations with Iran in 1980.

Go here for some background on Hamas Terrorists Organization

Other’s writing on this:

Brent Roo’s Blog - Jimmy Carter Hopes to Fund Hamas
Stop The ACLU - The Gun Toting Liberal
Sanity’s Bluff - The World is Teetering on the Edge of Sanity’s Bluff
Right Wing Nation - Open TrackBacks
In The Bull Pen - Jihad As Usual for Hamas
Michelle Malkin - The Hamas Victory
The Uncooperative Blogger - Open Trackback

Weekend Specials
Excerpt:
Weblog: Jo’s Cafe
Tracked: 01.29.06 - 4:34 am