Are the Liberals completely insane? While the Liberals in Congress are debating over how to scrap all the Tools put in place that have kept us all safe in America for the last 6 years, and pulling Troops out from the War On Terror, London is under attack yet again. Yet the Liberal loones in Congress believe we dont need the Patriot Act, Data Mining, The Terrorist Surveillance Program, or any of tools put in place to keep US from getting attacked again! Here is just a snip of what's going on in London today just day's after Tony Blair left office:
Explosives-Packed Car Defused In London
LONDON - Police in London's bustling nightclub and theater district on Friday defused a bomb that could have killed hundreds after an ambulance crew spotted smoke coming from a Mercedes filled with a lethal mix of gasoline, propane and nails, authorities said. The bomb near Piccadilly Circus was powerful enough to have caused "significant injury or loss of life"—possibly killing hundreds, British anti-terror police chief Peter Clarke said.
The discovery resurrected fears that followed the July 7, 2005, suicide bombings that killed 52 people on three London subways and a bus and failed attacks on the transit system just two weeks later.
"We are currently facing the most serious and sustained threat to our security from international terrorism," Britain's new home secretary, Jacqui Smith, said after an emergency meeting of top officials.
Well fortunately the attack that would have been devistating and would have killed hundreds of people was foiled by a very brave first responder who in my book is a hero!
But try telling Liberals that Islamic Extremeists want us all dead and what do we hear? Terrorism is a "Bumper Sticker"!! Sorry Liberals YOU ARE WRONG!! Mr. John Edwards YOU ARE WRONG!! We NEED the tools that have been put in place to stop the death and destruction of America and our Allies and today once again PROVES IT! We CANNOT trust the Democrat's and Liberals to protect us. They want ONLY to win elections and tax us all to death and dont seem to give a damn about protecting this Country or her borders. They would wrather get rid of all the tools we have and bash President Bush than do anything to stop this Country from being attacked. It's time once again for the American people to Wake Up! Because the Democrat's DO NOT CARE!
Amnesty Bill Goes Down In Flames: Democrats Come Unhinged Over Conservative Talk Radio
Well we did it! Finally! No More Amnesty, we crashed the Senator's phone lines in Washington lol, no more whatever the hell Ted Kennedy wanted in this friggen bill, it's DEAD!! I would like to thank my Senator's Tom Coburn and James Inhofe for having the clarity to see that anything that makes Ted Kennedy happy about Immigration must have been a really really bad bill. Ted Kennedy is one miserable Democrat today, go have another glass of Bourbon Teddy!
I sure would like to know what our Democrat Presidential candidates opinions are on this lunatic bill. And all you Democrats that didnt like this bill and kept your mouths shut and let us do all the work to stop this nonsense, UP YOURS! The Democrats that are running for President were counting on the Illegal Alien Vote, and they are pissed! Proof positive that Democrat's will do ANYTHING to win an election. Us Republicans are more concerned in protecting this Country from another friggen attack. I guess the Liberals have forgotten 9-11. We havent, we are never going to and we arent puting up with this crap any more!
Stretch of the Mexican Border Along Texas, Look Protected To You?
CAN WE BUILD THE FRIGGEN FENCE NOW? BEFORE ANY MORE TERRORIST'S SNEAK ACROSS THIS FRIGGEN BORDER? SECURE THE BORDER NOW!!
And get ready, they are now debating on the Senate Floor the "Fairness Doctrine" and are going after Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh and pretty much all of Conservative Talk Radio. I knew this was coming. (See previous post) It's almost time to take to the streets people!
These loones are talking about bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, which would basically put and end to Conservative Talk Radio! Can you imagine Rush Limbaugh having to sit there on his radio show with a Liberal waiting in the wings for the "Second Opinion"? We cant help it if Liberal Talk Radio sucks. Starting with Sen. Feinstein D-Cal Here's a snip:
Feinstein might push for fairness doctrine
WASHINGTON,-- U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., said Sunday she is "looking at" the possibility of reviving the fairness doctrine for U.S. broadcasters. Feinstein, speaking on "Fox News Sunday" with Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said talk radio in particular has presented a one-sided view of immigration reform legislation being considered by the Senate.
U.S. talk radio is dominated by conservative voices.
Senator Diane Feinstein D-CA
"This is a very complicated bill," said Feinstein. "Most people don't know what's in this bill. Therefore, to just have one or two things dramatized and taken out of context, such as the word amnesty -- we have a silent amnesty right now, but nobody goes into that. Nobody goes into the flaws of our broken system."
Feinstein said the measure before the Senate "fixes those flaws" but that doesn't get presented on talk radio, which she said "pushes people to ... extreme views without a lot of information."
Asked if she would revive the fairness doctrine, which used to require broadcasters to present competing sides of controversial issues, Feinstein said she was "looking at it."
"I remember when there was a fairness doctrine," she said, "and I think there was much more serious correct reporting to people."
This is just a tidbit of what we are about to face here. Here's a snip from Dick Durbin:
GOP preps for talk radio confrontation By Alexander Bolton June 27, 2007 House Republican lawmakers are preparing to fight anticipated Democratic efforts to regulate talk radio by reviving rules requiring stations to balance conservative hosts such as Rush Limbaugh with liberals such as Al Franken.
Conservatives fear that forcing stations to make equal time for liberal talk radio would cut into profits so drastically that radio executives would opt to scale back on conservative radio programming to avoid escalating costs and interference from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Senator Dick Durbin D-IL
They say radio stations would take a financial hit if forced to air balanced programming because liberal talk radio has not proved itself to be as profitable as conservative radio. Air America, the liberal counterpunch to conservative talk radio, filed for bankruptcy in October.
But Democratic leaders say that government has a compelling interest to ensure that listeners are properly informed.
“It’s time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). “I have this old-fashioned attitude that when Americans hear both sides of the story, they’re in a better position to make a decision.”
So would we hear a Conservative opinion mixed in with "Air America" Had they succeeded? I dont think so. Then we have 'ol John Kerry chiming in, here's his video:
Senator John Kerry D-MASS
Now I would expect this crap from these loones, after all they are threatened by Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Medved, Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, etc.. Because they tell us what is truly in these bills that this insane Congress would like to see passed and what all it would do to help and/or hurt us in some way shape or form. And that frightens the Liberals because they dont want us to know all this! But what is even MORE appauling, is that Republican Trent Lott has now jumped on this bandwagon! Here's a snip from this Republican Loon This Last Sunday with Chris Wallace
WASHINGTON — The following is a partial transcript of the June 24, 2007, edition of "FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace":
"FOX NEWS SUNDAY" HOST CHRIS WALLACE: Well, joining us now, two key senators, the number two Republican, Trent Lott, and one of the Democratic leaders, Dianne Feinstein.
And, Senators, welcome back to "FOX News Sunday."
SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN, D-CALIF.: Thank you very much.
SEN. TRENT LOTT, R-MISS.: Glad to be back, Chris.
Senator Trent Lott R-MISS
WALLACE: Let's start with the controversy over talk radio, because, Senator Lott, you stirred up quite a hornet's nest this week when you said this, "Talk radio is running America. We have to deal with that problem."
And here was the reaction from some conservative talk show hosts.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
RUSH LIMBAUGH: Talk radio is the American voter. That's what bothers Trent Lott.
This is Madness!!! Just because Trent Lott want's some crazy as hell amnesty bill for illegal aleins passed all the sudden "Talk Radio" is running this Counry? Just because we have minds of our own and we call our Representaives and Senators and tell them what we think? WE JUST WANT THE FRIGGEN FENCE BUILT! Whose fault is it that no one want's to hear the Liberal Crap that is spewed from Liberal Talk Radio? What else do Republicans have? Fox News isnt all that right leaning anymore, the schools are run by Liberal teachers (Mostly). And now they want to take away Conservative Talk Radio? Where will it end if this bill get's brought up and believe me it's coming, are they coming after us next? Bloggers? Even some Liberal bloggers I have read arent thrilled with this either. KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF TALK RADIO!! You idiots are going to be in for one hell of a fight if you bring this nonsense back! And I hope the ass kicking starts coming from Senator James Inhofe R-OK. Read this crap for yourself.
Senator James Inhofe R-OK Overhears Senator's Clinton And Boxer Talking About "Legislative Fix" For Conservative Talk Radio
Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barbara Boxer Dispute Conversation About Reining in Conservative Talk Radio
Sen. Barbara Boxer of California says Oklahoma Sen. James Inhofe "needs to have his hearing checked" if he thinks he heard Boxer and Sen. Hillary Clinton talking about a "legislative fix" to curb conservative talk radio.
Inhofe, a Republican, said Thursday on John Ziegler's evening radio show on KFI in L.A. that he overheard Clinton, D-N.Y., and Boxer, D-Calif., saying they want legislation to control conservative radio talk shows.
Click here to listen to Inhofe's claim on the Breitbart.tv Web site.
Senator James Inhofe R-OK
"I was going over to vote the other day and I was walking with two very liberal gals that didn’t pay any attention to me being with them. They were outraged by something you said or Rush Limbaugh or somebody said that upset them," Inhofe told Ziegler. "They said, ‘we have got to do something about this, these are nothing but far-right wing extremists. We’ve got to have a balance, there’s got to be a legislative fix to this.’"
He added: "As we got off the elevator, I said, ‘you gals don’t understand. This is market-driven and there’s no market for your liberal trite.’"LOL!!
When asked what female senators Inhofe was referencing, the Oklahoma lawmaker said one was running for president, and the talk-shot host guessed Boxer's name.
But Boxer spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz told FOXNews.com that conversation "never happened."
"Senator Boxer told me that either her friend Senator Inhofe needs new glasses or he needs to have his hearing checked, because that conversation never happened," Ravitz said in an e-mail.
"Jim Inhofe is wrong," added Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines. "This supposed conversation never happened, not in his presence or anywhere else."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WOW! My Senators are on a roll! Naturally Clinton and Boxer will deny that Inhofe heard them, so what are they calling Inhofe a Liar? We all know about the "Un "Fairness Doctrine" and how the Liberals would love to silence Conservative Talk Radio. We cant help it that Liberal Radio takes a dive. We cant help it if Liberal Talk Radio is a disaster and no one want's to hear them moan and bitch. Hell they already have the Main Stream Media, and Teachers in the Classroom, Print Newspapers, Unions, AARP, etc.. All on thier side. Can we have Nothing? That's all we have is Conservative Talk Radio and Fox News woopie! And Fox News isnt all that Republican biased anyway, so we have very little to get our message across and they want to take that away from us? WTF? You go get 'em Senator Inhofe, I'm behind you all the way :-) You Liberals are really going to have a fight on your hands if you want to silence Conservative Talk Radio because us Conservatives WILL NOT PUT UP WITH IT!!
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will not be permitted to use State Department funds to travel to nations that are known to have sponsored terrorism if a Republican amendment to appropriations legislation passes the House on Thursday.
The amendment to the $34 billion State and Foreign Operations bill, offered by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), prohibits funds to be used to travel to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan or Syria.
In a “Dear Colleague” letter released earlier today, King said Pelosi had overstepped her constitutional role as Speaker when she traveled to Syria in April.
“Taking her cue from the Iraq Study Group’s recommendation that the U.S. enter into talks with Syria to forge a new way forward in Iraq, Speaker Pelosi decided to ignore the requests of the President that she refrain from traveling to the terrorist state,” the letter said.
King told The Hill that he believed Pelosi was in violation of the Logan Act, a 1799 law signed by President John Adams that prohibits unauthorized U.S. citizens from interfering with relations between the United States and foreign governments.
“I was one of the members of Congress that was incensed the Speaker had taken it upon herself to conduct foreign policy,” he said. “It was a blatant violation of the Logan Act.”
No one has ever been prosecuted under the 208-year old law, according to the Congressional Research Service.
He said that it was not the visit that caused him to introduce the measure, but Pelosi’s decision, in his perception, to act as a diplomat that made him take action.
“She carried a message from Israel to Syria and that message according to representatives of both Syria and Israel wasn’t consistent with what one of them agreed to … these are the kind of problems you get,” he said.
A spokesman for Pelosi brushed off the amendment as a partisan attack.
“How can anyone take this amendment seriously, especially when it comes on the same day that Bush Administration officials are in North Korea? And why would anyone think it is responsible to restrict the ability of the Speaker of the House to bring the concerns of the American people to foreign leaders? It is part of the Speaker’s job,” said spokesman Nadeam Elshami, a spokesman for Pelosi. “This amendment is a cheap political stunt that just won’t fly.”
Logan Act PDF Format ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well it's about time! How can anyone take this amendment seriously? WTF? The Bush administration officials are the ONLY ones who should be running around to these Countries we have probelms with to talk about THIS administration's Policy! That is Condi Rice's Job. NOT Nancy Pelosi's. I can see if the President asked her to go, but to defy him and go on her own and talk to state sponsors of terrorism delivering "Her Own" foreign policy agenda instead of the President's is a clear violation of the Logan Act. When is Nancy Pelosi going to get it through her head that she is NOT the Secretary Of State or the President? As for the 9-11 Commission Report that was for the PRESIDENT to decide on what part's to work on and what part's not to. Those were recomendations to the PRESIDENT NOT Nancy Pelosi!
Did you know that as a U.S. taxpayer you have helped fund a transgender beauty pageant? That is just one on a long list of bloated expenses by the tax-funded Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
CDC director Dr. Julie Gerberding recently told the U.S. Senate that her agency needed an additional billion dollars. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) decided to see how the CDC had spent its last $10 billion. What he found will make you sick.
The CDC has wasted millions of taxpayer dollars during the past few years on everything from vegetable statues to zero gravity chairs. Sen. Coburn shows in his report, "CDC Off Center," that the CDC has spent millions on lavish facilities, questionable conferences, and new offices in the home states of committee members who oversee its funding.
Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council, points out some of the more outrageous line items:
The CDC used syphilis prevention funds to host a "safe sex" event with a porn star.
It spent $45 million for conferences, including some that featured prostitutes and beach parties.
On the HIV/AIDS front, one grantee hosted a "bar night" with instructions on "how to throw a good party with lots of alcohol." Sen. Coburn reports that the CDC spent enough money on trips for employees to international AIDS conferences to underwrite drugs that would have prevented mother-to-child AIDS transmission in over 115,000 babies.
For other examples of how the CDC spends your tax dollars, read Coburn Report: CDC Off Center.
But, instead of making good use of the billions the CDC gets, Dr. Gerberding says she needs an additional billion dollars to operate. If Dr. Gerberding wants to keep the "safe sex" events with a porn star, international conferences featuring prostitutes and beach parties, and a bar night teaching how to throw a good party with lots of alcohol, let her get it from the millions wasted by the CDC.
The Coburn Report: CDC Off Center ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Isnt this friggen dandy! So alot of Government waste has wound up in of all places the Centers For Disease Control. Good for Senator Coburn, he is on a mission to find out where all of our Tax payer money is going. Is anyone comfortable with the idea that we just paid for a Transgender Beauty Pagent? I'm NOT! The American people expect CDC to spend its $10 billion budget this year treating and preventing diseases and dealing with public safety threats, including the threat of bioterrorism. While CDC will meet some of those expectations, if history is any guide, it will also waste millions of dollars. Our Dollars!
The foreign trip come as Thompson prepares to launch his presidential campaign, expected next month.
Fred Thompson, the actor and former Tennessee senator who is expected to announce next month he is running for president, flew to London on Monday to meet Margaret Thatcher and deliver a foreign policy speech, his advisers tell The Politico.
Thompson's advisers aim to use the London events to bolster his foreign policy credentials and elevate him above the increasingly contentious fray of the GOP race.
On Wednesday, he will pose for photos with Thatcher, which his advisers hope will enhance his support among devotees of former President Ronald Reagan.
Thompson will deliver the foreign policy speech, "Strengthening the Transatlantic Alliance," on Tuesday at the Policy Exchange, a conservative think tank based in London.
It will stress the importance of American alliances abroad, his advisers said.
"The speech is mostly about the unique and special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K," an adviser said on condition of anonymity, because the prospective campaign has not publicly announced details of the address. "It is about how we have a responsibility to stand together and lead the Western democracies, protect our civilization and stand together for freedom."
The audience will include British business, opinion and political leaders.
Thompson will follow it with a dinner Tuesday night with British journalists, businessmen and policymakers.
The "Law & Order" actor and former senator from Tennessee will meet Wednesday with Lady Margaret Thatcher, the United Kingdom's first female prime minister, and David Cameron, the current leader of the Conservative Party.
The foreign trip comes as Thompson prepares for the formal launch of his quest for the Republican nomination, likely in the first few weeks of July.
Thompson also plans a trip to Israel later this year, advisers said.
Even before Thompson's formal entry into the race, his campaign is likely to announce twin headquarters in Northern Virginia, where policy, communications and research will be based; and Nashville, which will be the home of organization, outreach and other departments.
The campaign will also begin rolling out a slate of advisers.
Liz Cheney, the former State Department official and the vice president's elder daughter, is consulting on foreign policy. Longtime GOP guru Mary Matalin, a friend of Thompson, will help shape the campaign's message.
Although Thompson is formally just testing the waters, his operation is quickly picking up the trappings of a full-fledged campaign. He traveled to London with his new personal aide, a former staffer in his Senate office who had gone on to the Republican National Committee.
Advisers were debating an announcement date on Monday, and said it was likely to be in early to mid-July, perhaps a few days later than originally planned.
"That's the starting gun for everyone to start harassing him about why he doesn't know everything about every issue," said one adviser.
Over the weekend, a Mason-Dixon poll published by The State newspaper of Columbia, S.C., showed Thompson leading the Republican field in that crucial early-voting state, with 25 percent, compared with Rudy Giuliani at 21 percent, Mitt Romney at 11 percent and John McCain at 7 percent.
Thompson is scheduled to visit South Carolina for a state party fundraiser next week.
Everything you ever wanted to know about Fred Thompson, Personel, Voting, etc. Little Miss Chatterbox Can Tell You All About Him Chatterbox Chronicles ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is great! Fred Thompson appears to be making all the right political moves and asking Thatcher for her blessing sure reminds us of You Know Who :-) Fred is out there gathering even more allies, getting caught up on current foreign policies, he is just all around a very, very smart man. I will be very proud when he enters the race :-)
Tony Blair on Monday strongly defended intervening in Iraq for the final time as prime minister before parliament's top scrutiny body. In a robust farewell performance, Blair insisted ordinary Muslims craved democracy, saying that Islamist terrorists rather than the West were their worst enemy.
He warned that the West would be making a "fundamental mistake" if it gave up defending democracy when threatened with terrorism and slapped down those blaming coalition failures for the sectarian unrest since the March 2003 US-led invasion to topple dictator Saddam Hussein.
And Blair, who steps down next week, admitted that he felt a heavy responsibility for the death toll in Iraq.
"It is so comforting to people to say there was an error made in the planning. Someone didn't spot what was going to go on," he told the House of Commons liaison committee, made up of all the chiefs the lower chamber's scrutiny bodies.
"That is not what has created the problem. What has created the problem is that the people we are fighting have decided to give us a problem.
"What they have decided is that if they can hang on long enough in Iraq, or in Afghanistan, or anywhere else, then we will lose the will."
He said that Islamist militants purporting that Muslims were being oppressed by the West had a "difficult argument to make" if Muslims were being given a free vote for the first time.
"If we end up saying that because these people are committing these acts of terrorism in Iraq or Afghanistan, that we shouldn't have done the removal of Saddam or the removal of the Taliban, then we are making a fundamental mistake about our own future, about security, about the values we should be defending in the world."
Blair stands down on June 27 after a decade in power, leaving a legacy clouded by his decision to support US President George W. Bush in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Push For Blair To Be EU President ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Good for you Tony, Doing what's right isnt always popular, but history will come to know you and President Bush got together on this issue of destroying terrorism and you were one of our staunchest supporters and allies and History will remember you and President Bush for looking terrorism straight in the face and saying "NO MORE"! Gonna miss ya Tony. But Britain will still be our staunchest ally :-) Good luck in your future endeavors, maybe President of the EU? :-)
Dingey Harry: Troop Surge Has Failed, Calls General Pace Incompetant
Top US congressional Democrats bluntly told President George W. Bush Wednesday that his Iraq troop "surge" policy was a failure.
Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi challenged the president over Iraq by sending him a letter, ahead of a White House meeting later on Wednesday.
"As many had forseen, the escalation has failed to produce the intended results," the two leaders wrote.
"The increase in US forces has had little impact in curbing the violence or fostering political reconciliation.
"It has not enhanced Americas national security. The unsettling reality is that instances of violence against Iraqis remain high and attacks on US forces have increased.
"In fact, the last two months of the war were the deadliest to date for US troops.
The letter appeared to preview a fresh showdown over Iraq between anti-war Democrats and the president, just a few weeks after Bush forced his foes to strip troop withdrawal timelines from a 100 billion dollar emergency war budget.
It also came a few days after the US military mourned its 3,500th soldier killed in action in Iraq.
Pelosi and Reid told Bush in the letter that they planned to send him new legislation to "limit the US mission in Iraq, begin the phased redeployment of US forces, and bring the war to a responsible end."
On Tuesday, Reid said that Senate Democrats would attach troop withdrawal deadlines to a Defense Department Authorization bill, due to be debated within weeks.
The next critical point in the showdown between Bush and Congress over Iraq is expected in September, when US commander in Iraq David Petraeus is due to report on progress in the strategy to "surge" up to 30,000 more US troops into the war-ravaged nation.
Even senior Republicans have said they expected the president will have little choice but to make adjustments in the Iraq strategy, once the report is made public.
Story Here ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gee Dingey Harry and Syriana Pelosi, cant you wait until the last Brigade is in Country and the results are due out in September before you scream Defeat? Didnt you just authorize the Troops to get funded? Has'nt that only been a few weeks? I have never seen such a bunch of defeatocrats in all my life! Gee Harry is there ANYTHING else you want to do to destroy Troops Morale? Friggen Moron. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UPDATE:
Reid labels military leader 'incompetent'
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "incompetent" during an interview Tuesday with a group of liberal bloggers, a comment that was never reported.
Reid made similar disparaging remarks about Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said several sources familiar with the interview.
This is but the latest example of how Reid, under pressure from liberal activists to do more to stop the war, is going on the attack against President Bush and his military leaders in anticipation of a September showdown to end U.S. involvement in Iraq, according to Democratic senators and aides.
Reid, who was bashed by Republicans for suggesting earlier this year that the Iraq war was "lost," is lashing out at top commanders while putting the finishing touches on a plan to force a series of votes on Iraq designed exclusively to make Republicans up for reelection in 2008 go on record in favor of continuing an unpopular war.
Rest Of Story Here ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Unmittigated gall of this idiot is making me mad! We are at WAR! And this SOB is going to downgrade one of our Top Military Commanders in front of Al-Quaida and every other enemy we have and say the "War is Lost and Our Top Miltary Commander is Incompetant"? Who the hell does Harry Reid think he is? HARRY REID MUST APOLOGISE!! Then HARRY REID NEEDS TO STEP DOWN!!
TIRANA, Albania - President Bush, enthusiastically welcomed as the first U.S. president in this former communist nation, served notice Sunday he is running out of patience with Russia's objections to independence for neighboring Kosovo.
"Sooner rather than later you've got to say 'Enough's enough - Kosovo is independent,'" Bush said, telling Albanians what they wanted to hear. He said independence was a certainty.
Nearing the end of an eight-day trip, Bush got a hero's reception in this desperately poor country, still struggling to recover from being cut off from the rest of the world for four decades under the harsh rule of dictator Enver Hoxha. Hoxha died in 1985, and Albania emerged from isolation in 1990 but still is one of Europe's most impoverished lands.
Cannons boomed salutes from mountains overlooking the capital. Huge banners proclaimed "Proud to be Partners," and billboards read "President Bush in Albania Making History."
At home, Bush's job approval rating stands at its all-time low. But here, Prime Minister Sali Berisha said Bush was Albania's "greatest and most distinguished guest we have ever had in all times."
Throngs of people grasped Bush's hands, arms and fingers on the streets of Fushe Kruje, a small town near the airport where he stopped to chat in a cafe with business owners. Unused to such adoring crowds in America, Bush reveled in the attention. He kissed women on the cheek, posed for pictures and signed autographs. Someone reached out and rubbed his gray hair.
"Bushie, Bushie," people shouted. Some of the business people have received small loans under U.S. government programs.
The scene was uncharacteristically wild for a presidential crowd. Bush spokesman Dana Perino said later that the Secret Service assured Bush's safety, as always. "If they didn't think the president was safe, obviously they wouldn't have put him in that position," she said.
While the United States supports Albania's bid for membership in NATO, Bush said this country still has to make more political and military reforms and crack down on corruption and organized crime.
"We are determined to take any decision, pass any law and undertake any reform to make Albania appropriate to receive the invitation" to join the western military alliance, Berisha said at a news conference with Bush.
Albania has eagerly embraced democracy and idolizes the United States. Three stamps have been issued featuring Bush's picture and the Statue of Liberty, and the street in front of parliament has been renamed in his honor.
The president spent just eight hours here and then flew to Bulgaria, another Cold War Soviet ally turned pro-American. The two stops gave an upbeat ending to Bush's six-country trip after big protests earlier in Rome and at the summit of industrialized nations in Heiligendamm, Germany.
Kosovo has been run by the United Nations and NATO since 1999, when Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic's forces were ousted after a NATO air war ended his crackdown on independence-seeking ethnic Albanians, who make up 90 percent of Kosovo's population.
The U.N. Security Council has been divided over Kosovo's independence. The United States and key European countries support Kosovo's statehood while Russia, traditionally a Serbian ally, opposes it. Moscow says it would set a dangerous precedent for other breakaway regions.
Bush said diplomats from the United States, Russia and European Union will try to find common ground on a formula for independence.
"But if it's apparent that that's not going to happen in a relatively quick period of time, in my judgment, we need to put forward the (U.N.) resolution," Bush said. "Hence, deadline." He did not specify a date.
Negotiations must result in "certain independence," Bush said. "That's what's important to know."
Bush said the summit in Heiligendamm had tried to determine whether there was a way to make Kosovo independence acceptable to Russia. French President Nicolas Sarkozy unexpectedly called for a delay on the issue, and the summit failed to reach agreement.
Bush urged Albania to help maintain peace and calm in Kosovo as the independence talks move forward.
Predominantly Muslim, Albania has 140 troops in Afghanistan and about 120 troops in Iraq - a presence that President Alfred Moisiu says will not end as long as the Americans are engaged there. Bush met here with some of the troops who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Albanians know the horror of tyranny," the president said. "And so they're working to bring the hope of freedom to people who haven't known it. And that's a noble effort and a sacrifice."
In saluting Albania's democracy, Bush praised it as a country that has "cast off the shackles of a very oppressive society and is now showing the world what's possible."
During his visit, the president had lunch with the prime ministers of Albania, Macedonia and Croatia, which hope to join NATO.
Story Here ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well what do you know? I never did believe that President Bush was'nt loved throughout the world. And now I have proof! Thank You People From Albania!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They Stole His Watch!! Talk about wanting a momento!!
UPDATE:
President Bush did NOT have his watch stolen, he put it in his pocket!
Fred Thompson is doing something no other Presidential Candidate has done before, he is using YouTube To get his message out well before he even announces he is Running for President. I think this is a brilliant move on his part. Here are some Video's addressing certain issues that we would all like to know where he stand's on them. These are not long, just long enough to let everyone know where he is coming from. I will add more as I find them every few day's.
William (Frozen Assets) Jefferson Pleads Not Guilty To Bribery
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Rep. William Jefferson pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of soliciting more than $500,000 in bribes while using his office to broker business deals in Africa.
Jefferson, D-La., said he understood the charges during the federal court hearing. He was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
"I am absolutely innocent of the charges that have been leveled against me," Jefferson said afterward. "I'm going to fight my heart out to clear my name."
As conditions for his release, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III denied the congressman access to shotguns and rifles in his Louisiana home. Jefferson said the guns were used for hunting.
Ellis also ordered Jefferson to surrender his passport.
Jefferson, 60, will be allowed to travel in the Washington area and in Louisiana, but he will need approval for any other domestic or international travel, the judge said.
A 94-page indictment, handed down Monday, details 11 separate bribery schemes and 16 criminal counts, including racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice.
If convicted, Jefferson faces a possible maximum sentence of 235 years. His trial is scheduled for January.
Robert Trout, Jefferson's lawyer, said the complexity of the case required Jefferson to waive his right to a speedy trial.
"This has been investigated for two years," Trout said.
The charges came almost two years after investigators raided Jefferson's home in Washington and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in a box in his freezer.
During Friday's hearing, prosecutor Mark Lytle said the government had compiled evidence filling eight file cabinets and had extensive tape recordings. The prosecution's case could take up to a month to present, he said.
Jefferson was re-elected last year. After his indictment, he resigned from the House Small Business Committee while maintaining his innocence.
On Thursday, a federal judge froze Jefferson's assets and the House ethics committee voted to expand its own investigation of Jefferson to include any subject in the 16-count corruption indictment.
Jefferson is the first U.S. official to face charges under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits corporate bribery overseas.
Story Here ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Where is Jefferson's Mugshot? The left was so pleased to throw Tom Delay's Mugshot out there, where's Jeffersons? And why is he still a Congressman? Why hasnt Jefferson stepped down like Tom Delay did? Nancy Pelosi want's to put Jefferson on the "Homeland Security Committee"!!! I dont think so!! WILLIAM JEFFERSON MUST STEP DOWN. The Democrat Culture of Corruption continues on and on...
Why does this guy even run for President? He doesnt believe we are at war,
Excerpt: Campaign-hardened Republicans used to treat the phrase "global war on terror" so casually, even affectionately, that they talked about "the G-WOT," after the four-letter abbreviation used in White House calendars to denote Iraq messaging meetings. Democrats embraced it, too, with John Kerry asserting during his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention: "We are a nation at war, a global war on terror."
But increasingly the phrase is being regarded with hostility by many Democrats, who view it as little more than propaganda, and with a degree of skepticism by some Republicans, who consider it tired and vague. The left lobe of the blogosphere roared its approval in March when the House Budget Committee directed its staff to eschew "global war on terror" and instead use more precise language like "the war in Iraq" and "ongoing military operations throughout the world."
He doesnt even mention the importance of this critical interruption in Radical Islam's plans to blow us all to smitherines if they could get away with it.
Excerpt: NEW YORK — Federal authorities announced Saturday they had broken up a suspected Muslim terrorist cell planning a "chilling" attack to destroy John F. Kennedy International Airport, kill thousands of people and trigger an economic catastrophe by blowing up a jet fuel artery that runs through populous residential neighborhoods.
Three men, one of them a former member of Guyana's parliament, were arrested and one was being sought in Trinidad as part of a plot that authorities said they had been tracked for more than a year and was foiled in the planning stages.
I have never heard Edwards mention where he was on 9-11. Was he asleep? Did he not understand that we were at war with the people that declared war on us in 1996? And attacked us repeatedly before 9-11 and 9-11 was the last straw? Is he friggen blind? He has not mentioned or noticed in the last few months/years there have been countless arrests of terrorists on our own soil, major terrorist plots foiled, JFK, Ft. Dix, Sears Tower, Brooklyn Bridge, etc.. Hell Edwards cant even bring himself to say that our intelligence is obviously getting better, The Patriot Act, Wiretapping, and Money Tracking are all obviously working!
He doesnt understand that The enemy is not stupid and they are the most patient, quiet, cold, calculating, little bastards we have ever dealt with and John Edwards chooses to ignore this. He obviously doesnt give a rats ass about this Nation's Security, He, as do most Liberals would like to turn back the clock and make this all go back to a "police action" but we cant do that, if we do that we will get repeatedly attacked again and again because it already happened constantly during the Clinton administration.
And this is not fear this is fact. President Bush said "We have to be right 100% of the time, the terrorists only have to be right once." Did this dumbass forget this?
And now what's he going to do?
He is going to go to Rally's with Danny Glover. You remember Danny Glover the actor from Lethal Weapon who had to rush to Hugo Chavez side in Venezuela, and chanted with Chavez "Down With America"? I guess Edwards want's to align himself and be associated with people that hate America. Way To Go Mr Wanna Be President! That pretty much let's us know where you stand.
Excerpt: Former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) and actor Danny Glover rallied hundreds of people in support of 1.3 million hotel workers.
Hugo Chavez came to OUR Country, Called Our President the Devil while saying how bad America was and people like Danny Glover and Harry Belafonte clapped. And strolled down in New York City in Charlie Rangel's district (And I will alway's respect Rangel for this) calling our President all sorts of names and badmouthing our Country IN OUR OWN COUNTRY!! And Glover right alongside Chavez. And the only one I saw on the Democrat side that gave 2 hoots about any of this was Charlie Rangel. And Edwards want's to hang out with a guy of Chavez belief?
So let's see, Edwards want's to do away with the Global War on Terror and go back to getting attacked repeatedly again, doesnt even believe we are at war and never has, and now want's to align himself with the "Hate America Crowd"! John Edward's doesnt give a horses behind about us. He is proving it more everyday that he is in bed with MoveOn. org, Soros, and that bunch. And just plain doesnt give a flying f***.
This guy cant be President! He will get us all killed!!!
None of them get it or they just dont friggen care!
“You know that minor deal about catching those guys who wanted to blow up JFK Airport? The New York Times decided it was not worthy of front page coverage in its Sunday editions. Nor the second page, nor the third. The NY Times, in what can only be described as editorializing by placement, put it on page THIRTY, the page after the obituaries and the page before the chess column.” —Rich Galen
“When Democrats say they will bring the troops home, what they are really saying is that they will bring the war home.” —Alan Keyes
This is NOT a BUMPERSTICKER Mr. Edward's you dumbass, WE ARE AT WAR!!! And it is indeed GLOBAL!!
WASHINGTON - Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., was indicted Monday on federal charges of racketeering, soliciting bribes and money-laundering in a long- running bribery investigation into business deals he tried to broker in Africa. The indictment handed up in federal court in Alexandria., Va., Monday is 94 pages long and lists 16 alleged violations of federal law that could keep Jefferson in prison for up to 235 years. He is charged with racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money-laundering, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Jefferson is accused of soliciting bribes for himself and his family, and also for bribing a Nigerian official.
Almost two years ago, in August 2005, investigators raided Jefferson's home in Louisiana and found $90,000 in cash stuffed into a box in his freezer.
Jefferson, 63, whose Louisiana district includes New Orleans, has said little about the case publicly but has maintained his innocence. He was re-elected last year despite the looming investigation.
Jefferson, in Louisiana on Monday, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Two of Jefferson's associates have already struck plea bargains with prosecutors and have been sentenced.
Brett Pfeffer, a former congressional aide, admitted soliciting bribes on Jefferson's behalf and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Another Jefferson associate, Louisville, Ky., telecommunications executive Vernon Jackson, pleaded guilty to paying between $400,000 and $1 million in bribes to Jefferson in exchange for his assistance securing business deals in Nigeria and other African nations. Jackson was sentenced to more than seven years in prison.
Both Pfeffer and Jackson agreed to cooperate in the case against Jefferson in exchanges for their pleas.
The impact of the case has stretched across continents and even roiled presidential politics in Nigeria. According to court records, Jefferson told associates that he needed cash to pay bribes to the country's vice president, Atiku Abubakar.
Abubakar denied the allegations, which figured prominently in that country's presidential elections in April. Abubakar ran for the presidency and finished third.
The indictment does not name Abubakar. But it describes Jefferson's dealings with an unnamed "Nigerian Official A" who was a high-ranking official in Nigeria's executive branch who had a spouse in Potomac, Md. One of Abubakar's wives lived in that Washington suburb.
Court records indicate that Jefferson was videotape taking a $100,000 cash bribe from an FBI informant. Most of that money later turned up in a freezer in Jefferson's home.
In May 2006, the FBI raided Jefferson's congressional office, the first such raid on a sitting congressman's Capitol office. That move sparked a constitutional debate over whether the executive branch stepped over its boundary.
The legality of the raid is still being argued on appeal. House leaders objected to the search saying it was an unconstitutional intrusion on the lawmaking process. The FBI said the raid was necessary because Jefferson and his legal team had failed to respond to requests for documents.
Some but not all the documents seized in the raid have been turned over Justice Department prosecutors.
Story Here ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Well it's about time. If convicted Jefferson could spend the rest of his life in jail. And this indictment is over and inch thick! It will be pretty hard to get out of this one seeing as it was all caught on Video Tape! How long will it be before Jefferson steps down? Or is that just a Republican thing? Will Syriana Pelosi ask or demand (Frozen Assets) step down? (Democrat's Policing Themselves? Ha!) And I thought this was going to be the "The Cleanest Congress Ever"? The Democrat corruption continues, on and on and on. Expect more of the "Cleanest Congress" to get caught up in this disaster. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~