DEMOCRATIC GLORY

No, it has nothing to do with our own erstwhile American political party (or what's left of it).

Rather it refers to the resounding success of the Iraqi elections. What a tribute to the brave people of Iraq, our magnificent troops and the President's fortitude.

It is also an inglorious refutation of the "chicken little" Dems here at home like Kennedy, Boxer, Kerry, Biden, Dayton, Dean, etc. They not only got it 100% wrong but have maligned the spirit and history of what once was a great party that promoted justice and liberty.

Fortunately, even their lies and cynical hot air cannot detract from this momentous event.

DOUBLE MURDER

Officials at the Rotterdam Film Festival have murdered Theo Van Gogh a second time.

First, an Islamofascist thug killed the Dutch filmmaker a few months ago. But now the good folks of Rotterdam have seen fit to cancel a screening of his film "SUBMISSION" citing security concerns.

Another cowardly Euro espression of freedom of speech.

Shame!

PLAIN TRUTH

Everyone should take a look at this fine salute to our troops.

You will never see or hear about scenes like these in the MSM.

CALL FOR SENATOR STUPID

That's Barbara Boxer for those not from California.

GOPBloggers ask where is the outrage from the outrageous senator.

...As paid Democrat activists are to be charged with felonies for their attempt to keep Republicans from voting on Election Day in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The paid Democrat activists "will be accused of cutting the tires of some 20 vans and cars rented by the state Republican Party to usher the party faithful to and from the polls on election day."

Hmmmm. I guess we'll have to wait and see the true depth of the good senator's committment to justice.

HINT: Don't hold your breath!

THE DNC HIGH DIVE

The Democratic party looks as though it is moving in the direction of annointing Howard Dean as head of the DNC.

As a card carrying, conservative Republican all I can say is YES!

If I were a mainstream Democrat, I'd be worried. Or at least planning to reregister.

TOO PLAIN FOR LIBERALS

The President gave a magnificent speech yesterday, setting the tone and agenda he believes America must pursue. He was eloquent, inspiring and direct. Perhaps too direct for liberals, who prefer nuance.

One thing this past election campaign made clear is that liberals disdain committment. Particularly to core values. (Remember the election?) They do not mind grand, nuanced pronouncements but will never sacrifice their own comfort or safety for a greater good. They have no hesitation telling you how to live your life and what to believe but only so long as they are the ones dictating the rules. They cannot accept discordant voices or views that actually challenge them to do something. They can always nuance their way to see past threats.

But that leaves them with nothing with which to draw attention to themselves. Wait!. We have the old standby, that great bugaboo for every problem: America itself!

America is to blame for everything. Famine, AIDS, volcanoes, meteors and the loss of the dinosaurs. Of course. It's those nasty capitalist, God squad yahoos from red America who did it all.

Thus, they deride Mr. Bush for calling for an end to tyranny, just as they derided President Reagan for pronouncing the Soviet Union an "evil empire". They would rather wail about mythical oppression of gays, woman, three toed sloths and minorities in America (where they are of course free to publish such tripe) than remember those true heroes who languish in Fidel's gualag or women who are forced into virtual slavery in Iran.

No, those tyrants they can excuse. So long as they are safe and prosperous. It's all so nuanced. Sort of like how the French behave. Free to sit back and pursue machiavellian schemes with dictators while proclaiming liberty, quality and fraternity.

These hypocrites deserve no attention. Liberals past would blanch at their accommodation with evil. But it is of minor consequence. Nobody listens anymore to these self absorbed, "look at me" crybabies who refuse to grow up. Their hypocrisy is pathetic and laughable. They live in their own bubble of un-reality and cannot recognize plain truth when it right before them. They are blinded by their own nuance.

But for the benefit of those without the wit or soul to discern what is imporant, I offer the President's words from yesterday's address. Read and repeat as needed. Until you understand.

"It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world."

What could be more plain? Or more true.

HOW BIG?

So Dr. Rice how big is Senator Boxer's brain?

SENATOR HIGHBALL EXPLAINS IT ALL

Senator Ted Kennedy at the National Press Club:

"We as Democrats may be in the minority in Congress, but we speak for the majority of Americans."

OH! NOW I understand how democracy works. Term limits look better and better.

VOIP

No, not a hiccupping sound or other bodily emanation. It stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and it's the hottest thing coming through your broadband connection. Flat rate local and long distance calling. In some cases it's free.

I am currently using SKYPE (free if calling other SKYPE users). It sounds great. Vonage is another provider. Even the big guys are getting into it. AT&T, Verizon, SBC and Comcast are launching service.

Check it out.

IT NEVER RAINS IN CALIFORNIA

It POURS! Hole in the roof. Call the roofer. Four days later call returned. Can't come by until NEXT week.

SENATOR STUPID, PART DEUX

From James Taranto and the WSJ Opinion Journal:

Barbara Boxer, the lone senator to object to the election result, has resorted to crying in an attempt to get her way. The Washington Times, meanwhile, reports that Boxer is on the defensive over the connection between her challenge and full-bodied filmmaker Michael Moore's agitprop piece "Fahrenheit 9/11." She insists the dreadful documentary "had nothing to do with what I'm doing now."

But Boxer acknowledges that, as the Times puts it, " 'Fahrenheit 9/11' gave her guilt feelings about her deference to Vice President Al Gore's request that his Democratic colleagues not contest the Electoral College count over the disputed 2000 race in Florida."

Those who objected to the election result insisted they knew their effort would not succeed and their purpose was merely to urge Congress to reform the election system. Bring it on, says reader Dave Clark:

I hope the Republicans will respond to the grandstanding of Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones and the rest of the Congressional Black Caucus. This is a great opportunity to advance comprehensive election reforms that include some kind of uniform voter ID in every state. Election reforms could eliminate the huge advantage Democrats have in urban areas where there are more voters than the adult census population, like Philadelphia, Milwaukee and St. Louis. It could also track voters who use the absentee ballot provision to vote twice in different states. Could the Democrats win Pennsylvania if voting was cleaned up in Philadelphia?

Be careful what you wish for . . .

WHO HAS THE STUPIDEST SENATOR?

Has anyone stupider than Barbar Boxer EVER served in the United States Senate? I am open to nominations if you know of any. But I doubt it.

EURO NON-SEQUITER

As usual, Mark Steyn is spot on re: the comments from a former British cabinet official hostile to the U.S. She complained only the UN had the "moral authority" to help the tsunami victims.

State-of-the-art buoys measuring temperature and water level don't cost that much, nor would a chain of monitoring offices. If you're to have a permanent U.N. bureaucracy, that would seem the perfect role for a transnational body.
But, after 60 years, the neocolonial viceroys of Big Humanitarianism would rather maintain the developing countries as permanently helpless children and lecture the advanced world on its tax rates. If Clare Short's right and Mr. Bush is intentionally bypassing the U.N., good for him.

THE NEXT WAVE

Arnold Kling of Tech Central Station makes a compelling argument about the future direction of society, due to the spread of technology and the ubiquity of opportunity it creates.

LOOK AHEAD

Happy New Year!

Time to look ahead. This could be a great year. Numerous opportunities to untangle long term problems appear on the horizon. That is if we don't screw it up. If not, then I predict:

- Iraqi elections will be a success and lead to fast changes throughout the Middle East.
- The new Iraqi government will move to crush the terrorists.
- Israel and the Palestinians will finally start to get serious now that Arafat is dead.
- Indonesia and the other countries affected by the tsunami will rebound stronger than ever.
- The U.S. economy will continue to grow. That will cut the deficit and boost the dollar which will stabilize back to $1.20 to the Euro by year end. (Contrary to the conventional wisdom spewing from the MSM pundits).
- Oil will drop to $34 / barrel by March and stay there.
- Chief Justice Rehnquist will retire and President Bush will nominate Justice Scalia to replace him.
- Hillary will start to make moves to run for president but sensible Dems will start to coalesce around a centrist to block her.
- New 3G phones will start to appear and video over the phone will be a killer app.
- Arnold will continue to kick the "girly men" in the Calif. legislature around.
- Boston will not repeat as Series champs, thus starting another "curse".
- The DJIA will end 2005 over 13,000; the NASDAQ will cross 4,000.

Remember you heard it here first.