DISPUNDIT

Steve Fossett has been missing for almost a week and the search continues for the millionaire adventurer.  While no sign has been found of him or his plane, the wreckage of 6 other aircraft have been found during the extensive search of Nevada's high desert country.  No human remains were found in the older wrecks, which are presently unidentified, however one might assume that none of the possible victims were millionaire adventurers.

Seriously though, as with all mishaps regardless of the $ worth or social status of the victim, I do sincerely hope for a happy ending to this story.

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(Middle America)
Before participating in future campaign debates, all presidential candidates will be required to answer the following standard but vital query:

"ASL?"  (age, sex, location)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Does race and gender matter in the presidential election?

It doesn't to me.  Hillary Clinton would still be an idiot if she were black and male.

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BREAKING NEWS:  House passes bill setting deadline for troop withdrawal.

US Troop Withdrawal Deadline no later than September 2008

Insurgent Takeover no sooner than September 2008

Future funding was passed on the condition of the withdrawal deadline.

Is that a bribe, because it sure sounds like one to me.   We'll give you all the money you need, but only if you agree to withdraw by September 2008.

This is not a game of poker.  This is war.  US lives are at stake.  The fate of an entire country is at stake.  The stability of the region is at stake.  The security of the world is at stake.  It is no longer important what 'coulda, shoulda woulda' been done.  We are where we are NOW, how are we going to fix it.  By abandoning Iraq just for a few votes?  And then what? 

Have the politicians who are so eager to withdraw and put this war behind us even begun to consider the 'and then what?'  When the insurgents swoop in as swiftly as the US troops withdraw... then what?  As the Iraqi people who try to resist the new terror that will descend upon them... then what?  When those people cry out for help to our retreating backs... then what?  As a new tyrant, a new terrorist regime is born with our blessing... then what?  When our enemies control the region... then what?

The war needs to be ended, our troops need to be back home.  But it needs to be done the right way.  We don't need an exit strategy.  We need a winning strategy.  We need our troops back home but right now they belong right where they are, protecting the Iraqi people who are caught in the middle of our battle.

Civil war?  Is it really?  I don't think so.  It is more complicated than that.

We cannot lose the War in Iraq in America, because if we do, we will almost surely lose the War on America in Iraq.  And that is a war we cannot afford to lose.  That is a war the world cannot afford for us to lose.

Tags: Withdrawal deadline, War on Iraq, War on America in Iraq

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This year's Daytona 500 is shaping up more like the Wacky Race 500.  Crew chiefs are suspended. Penalized drivers are pushed to the back of the pack.  This is already an exciting race, and it hasn't even begun!

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President George Bush's State of the Union address this evening was a well written, well rehearsed speech had his political audience bobbing up and down in an almost ridiculous number of standing ovations that were hearty at first but irritating towards the end of the 50 minute session.  A dark sea of business suits was spotted intermittently by women in eye catching red suits. 

I found myself agreeing with the President on several occasions.  I was reassured by his convictions.  His goals were promising.  His demeanor was humble and sincere.  I found myself cheering with renewed patriotism.

But one question remained unanswered.

What the hell was Nancy Pelosi chewing on through out the entire speech?  She sat behind the President of the United States during his State of the Union Address, sucking and chewing like a contented cow.  I half expected her to start gnawing on a piece of KFC.  What ever it was, she must have shared with Vice President Cheney because he began chewing halfway through the speech and then they were both chewing in unison.

And poor Bush, all he had was a little glass of water.

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Why can't folks just be happy that a boy who was kidnapped 4 years ago has finally been found and reunited with his family and the kidnapper behind bars.  Instead of focusing on the good news it seems many people have chosen to ponder the bigger question of why the young captor hadn't taken the many opportunities over the years to escape.

The point is... it doesn't matter.  It doesn't matter that he may actually have enjoyed his adventure.  It doesn't matter if he wasn't as unwilling as was first thought.  It doesn't matter that he has piercings and may have mocked his parents on their web site set up to find him.  He was and still is a minor.  It simply doesn't matter.

What does matter is that he was 11 when he was abducted.  He was removed from his parents custody without their or the court's permission.  He was illegally detained.  Even if he decided to remain in the custody of his kidnapper, it was still an illegal act on the part of his abductor.  A child who goes willingly with a non-custodial parent is considered kidnapped if it is done without proper permission.  Did he suffer from Stockholm syndrome?  Maybe he did, maybe he didn't.  Maybe he was a good boy who was brainwashed.  Maybe he was a bad boy who was happy to leave his family.  He was still kidnapped.  The other boy may easily have suffered a similar fate had it not been for an eye witness account and the diligent work of the local law enforcement agencies.

Be happy, people.  Be happy.

As for the outrage following the hanging of Saddam's henchman, I can't believe the fuss. He was executed for crimes against his people. He was tried in an Iraqi court.  His country men found him guilty.  He was sentenced to death by hanging.  He was hung by Iraqi executioners.  Nobody chopped off his head, it just happened that way. He died. He's dead.  He is no more.

Be happy, people.  Be happy.

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Saddam Hussein was executed before sunrise this morning.  Iraq is in an earlier time zone than the US so it was still last night our time.  I listened to the news until the announcement was made.  I wondered how I would feel when he was finally gone.

I felt nothing.

Saddam's lawyers made a last minute appeal, stating that it was against International Law to hand a POW over to his enemies.  The US military handed Saddam over to the Iraqis... his own people, not his enemies.  There is speculation that the US was actually pulling the strings and running the whole trial.  If that were true, his appeals could have taken several more years before they ran out, not 30 days, and he would have sat on death row for many more years after that.  No, the Americans were most definitely NOT in charge this time.

So why didn't I feel anything?  I thought for sure I'd be happy, that I would feel some sort of satisfaction.  I did not.  He was not some common criminal, he had ordered some horrendous crimes be committed during his regime and was responsible for the death of hundreds and thousands of people right there in his own country.  I do not believe in 'an eye for an eye', my parents made sure of that, but in this case I believe his sentence was just.  Perhaps I have better things to do with my time than to waste it on thoughts of him, a monster who's people served his country for him..

Like mourning the death of a former President, a good man who served his country for the people.

God Speed Gerald Ford.  May you rest in peace.

Enjoy your fire breathing virgin devils Saddam, you've earned every one of them.

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Former President Gerald Ford:

July 14, 1913 - December 26,2006

Rest Well My Liege.

Tags: Gerald Ford

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California Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger broke his leg on Saturday, December 23 2006, while skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho.  He under went surgery today to mend his fractured right femur.  After a successful operation, he was said to be conscious and speaking coherently.

Does that mean they've fixed his accent?

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China just recently revised its regulations for foreign adoption.  Under the new guidelines single parents are no longer eligible to adopt.  Nor are couples who have been married for less than 2 years, who are being medicated for depression, who have severe facial deformities or couples with one parent with a body fat index of 40% or greater.  Couples must be within 30 and 50 years of age, with a combined net worth of $80,000 or more.

Maybe its just me, but I don't think the Chinese want us to adopt their orphans.  Maybe we shouldn't.  Maybe we should let them take care of their own children.  Maybe we should eliminate foreign adoption all together and concentrate on placing our own orphans in loving families, even if their new parents are fat, ugly, middle aged and middle classed.

That will give all the young, thin, beautiful and rich Chinese couples the opportunity to adopt their own orphans.  Except, ironically, many of the orphans are little girls who were given up by their parents who are limited to one child and prefer a boy child.

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