• Tim Johnson

    Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Senator Undergoes Surgery

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    Reuters: Sen. Johnson undergoes surgery: source

    Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota underwent surgery on Wednesday, a source said, after suffering what a doctor called “symptoms of a stroke.” The actions prompted concerns about his fellow Democrats’ razor-thin majority in the incoming Senate.

    While there was no immediate word on the condition of the 59-year-old senator, the source, who is familiar with Johnson’s situation, said surgeons sought to remedy an unspecified medical problem.

    Just hours after Johnson was admitted to George Washington University Hospital, a spokeswoman for him said the senator had not suffered a stroke. She provided no other details.

    In a statement later, Johnson’s communications director Julianne Fisher said: “Senator Johnson continues to undergo testing and procedures at George Washington University Hospital. We expect to have more information in the morning.”

    John Eisold, attending physician of the U.S. Capitol, issued a statement of his own, saying Johnson was admitted to the hospital “with the symptoms of a stroke.”

    Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle went to the hospital to check on Johnson, a party aide said, as did the current Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada.

    Tumor or uncontrolled bleeding in the brain comes to Flap’s mind.

    Say a prayer for Senator Johnson.

    Stay tuned……..


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  • Iran,  Israel,  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,  Michael Ramirez

    Michael Ramirez on David Duke and the Iran Holocaust Conference

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    Philadelphia Inquirer: Among those at Iran’s Holocaust conference: David Duke

    Iran yesterday hosted a conference gathering prominent Holocaust deniers that it said would examine whether the World War II genocide of Jews took place, drawing condemnation from Israel and Germany.

    The conference was initiated by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in an apparent attempt to burnish his status at home and abroad as a tough opponent of Israel. The hard-line president has described the Holocaust as a myth and called for Israel to be wiped off the map.

    Organizers touted the conference as a scholarly gathering aimed at discussing the Holocaust away from Western taboos, but the 67 participants from 30 countries were predominantly Holocaust deniers. They included David Duke – the former Louisiana state representative and Ku Klux Klan leader.

    Also at the conference were two rabbis and four other members of the group Jews United Against Zionism, dressed in the traditional long black coats and black hats of ultra-Orthodox Jews. The group, which says the creation of the state of Israel violated Jewish law, does not deny the Holocaust occurred but argues that it should not have been a reason for Israel’s founding.

    German Parliament President Norbert Lammert protested the conference in a letter to Ahmadinejad.

    “I condemn any attempt to offer anti-Semitic propaganda a public forum,” Lammert wrote.


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  • ACLU

    Stop the ACLU Blogburst Watch: U.S. Subpoenas ACLU Over Possession Of Secret Document

    Via the ACLU we find out the U.S. government is finally being proactive against the ACLU in protecting classified information from being leaked for our enemies to know.

    The American Civil Liberties Union today announced that it has asked a federal judge to quash a grand jury subpoena demanding that it turn over to the FBI “any and all copies” of a December 2005 government document in its possession.

    The ACLU called the subpoena, served on November 20 by the U.S. Attorney’s office in New York, a transparent attempt to intimidate government critics and suppress informed criticism and reporting.

    “The government’s attempt to suppress information using the grand jury process is truly chilling and is unprecedented in law and in the ACLU’s history,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. “This subpoena serves no legitimate investigative purpose and tramples on fundamental First Amendment rights. We recognize this maneuver for what it is: a patent attempt to intimidate and impede the work of human rights advocates like the ACLU who seek to expose government wrongdoing.”

    The three-and-a-half page document, issued in December 2005, is marked “Secret” and apparently is classified. The ACLU received the document, unsolicited, on October 23, 2006.

    Apparently a document marked “Secret” is classified? You don’t say! Someone please tell me the ACLU is really this stupid. Quite a scary thing that such a dangerous organization like the ACLU has its hands on classified information. I think the ACLU has already demonstrated how reckless they can be with secret information. You can bet there would be no regard to National Security.

    The ACLU think that exposing government wrongdoing is exposing to the enemy the governments efforts and techniques to secure our nation.

    In legal papers, the ACLU said that while release of the document might be “mildly embarrassing” to the government, the ACLU’s possession of it is legal and its release could in no way threaten national security. To the contrary, the ACLU said, the designation of the generally unremarkable document as “Secret” “appears to be a striking, yet typical, example of overclassification.”

    So who elected the ACLU to determine what should or shouldn’t be classified? And if the document is so “unremarkable” why are they fighting so hard to keep it? The ACLU then goes on to justify having classified information by stating that some of the biggest news of the past year came from leaks of classified information, like the NSA surveillance program, SWIFT, etc. I think we all remember how the ACLU handled these leaks. When it comes to National Security, the ACLU has created a dangerous reputation. I don’t think they should have any say so in what remains classified or not.

    Rob at Say Anything sums it up:

    So, basically, the ACLU is claiming that the Bush administration is trying to “suppress information” by getting some leaked classified documents back. But isn’t the government supposed to suppress classified information? Isn’t that the reason it is classified in the first place? I mean, if the government isn’t supposed to be suppressing classified information, then why are we classifying it in the first place?

    And how does the government requesting leaked classified documents back violate the ACLU’s first amendment rights? Surely the ACLU isn’t suggesting that first amendment rights extend to illegal leaks of private information, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to stop someone who obtained my bank records from somebody at the bank who illegally divulged them from putting my private information on the internet.

    I sometimes wonder if the ACLU even takes its own arguments seriously.

    Although the ACLU has been told that it is not a target of the investigation, which I think it should be, it is interesting that the the subpoena refers to the Espionage Act. That is too bad. The FBI have their own concerns over the ACLU. Between the shady business of their funding issues, helping America’s enemies, spying on their own members, and FBI concerns; there are many reasons besides illegally obtaining classified information that the ACLU should be investigated.

    I’m just glad to see the government being proactive to prevent classified information from falling into the hands of our enemies. If the ACLU has its way that is where it will end up.

    This was a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay at Jay@stoptheaclu.com or Gribbit at GribbitR@gmail.com. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 200 blogs already on-board.


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  • Tim Johnson

    Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Democrat Spokesman Says Johnson Did Not Suffer Stroke

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    Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., is shown in a file photo from Jan. 7, 2006, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Johnson suffered a possible stroke Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006, and was taken to a Washington hospital, his office said.

    AP: Spokesman: Johnson Did Not Have Stroke

    A spokesman for Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson said the politician did not suffer a stroke or heart attack, contrary to initial reports after Johnson was taken to a Washington hospital, weeks before his party was to take control of the Senate by a one-vote margin.

    Johnson, who will 60 on Dec. 28, became disoriented during a conference call with reporters at midday Wednesday, stuttering in response to a question. He was taken to George Washington University Hospital, where doctors were evaluating his condition.

    So, if not then how about TIA?

    Before he ended the call, Johnson appeared to recover and asked if there were any additional questions.

    Spokeswoman Julianne Fisher said he then walked back to his Capitol office but appeared to not be feeling well. The Capitol physician came to his office and examined him, and it was decided he should go to the hospital.

    He was taken to the hospital by ambulance around noon, Fisher said.

    “It was caught very early,” she said.

    Sounds like Transient Ischemic Attack to Flap.

    Stay tuned……

    Previous:

    Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Johnson Hospitalized with Apparent Stroke


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  • Elton Gallegly,  Tom McClintock

    Tom McClintock Watch: McClintock for Congress?

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    Tom McClintock: Thank You

    I cannot begin to thank you enough for everything that you did for me during this campaign. My gratitude to you for your faith and generosity and support makes it all the harder to accept the result. I was very much looking forward to delivering you a victory after all that you have done and sacrificed for my candidacy.
    By all accounts, we ran a solid campaign of which I am intensely proud. And according to all of the final polls, we were poised to win.

    But those polls were based upon normal voter turn-out – and that’s the tide that went against us. Unfortunately, a very high percentage of Democrats and a very low percentage of Republicans actually cast ballots. (For example, only 47.7 percent of voters turned out in the Republican stronghold of San Bernardino, while 61.2 percent turned out in the Democratic bastion of Alameda County).

    California and the country did not suddenly take a dramatic turn to the left. Rather, Republican voters were disenchanted with the direction of their party and simply stayed home. The political fundamentals are still sound – it is the abandonment of our party’s core principles that must now be challenged if our voters are to return to the polls.

    I intend to do my part, and I know that you will, too. In this campaign, we pulled together the largest coalition of supporters of any candidacy on the ballot because each of us is firmly committed to a simple principle called freedom. And I don’t think that a single one of us is willing to meekly abandon that principle or our beautiful California .

    On the contrary, we can all draw increased confidence that the policies of higher taxes, greater regulation and less freedom that will inevitably follow from this election can not be sustained and will not be tolerated by precisely those voters who sat at home this time.

    We must rally them and return them to the polls – and on that day we will certainly save our state.

    Again, thank you for standing firm. I could not possibly be more gratified or more humbled than to have had your support in this campaign.

    Time to come home to Thousand Oaks, Tom, and run for the 24th Congressional seat of retiring Congressman Elton Gallegly, R- Simi Valley. Or maybe NOT retiring Elton Gallegly.
    Watch for such a move and fundraising efforts by termed out California State Senator McClintock after the first of the year.

    McClintock will have NO challengers in the GOP primary.

    Stay tuned………


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  • Tim Johnson

    Senator Tim Johnson Watch: Johnson Hospitalized with Apparent Stroke

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    Fox News is reporting that Senator Tim Johnson D- South Dakota has been hospitalized with an apparent stroke.

    The Freepers have the story.

    Biography of Senator Tim Johnson is here.

    Drudge has:

    REPORTS: Sen. Tim Johnson (D, SD) has suffered an 'apparent stroke'... NBC Affiliate WHDH in Boston: 'If he were to die or resign, he could potentially create a tie between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate. That is because South Dakota's governor would be able to appoint a replacement for Johnson and he is likely to be a fellow Republican.' Developing...

    Tom Delay being interviewed on Fox News calls Washington a tough town and wishes Senator Johnson good health and calls him a nice man.

    Update:

    Keloland Television: Senator Johnson Hospitalized

    Senator Tim Johnson’s office has confirmed that the senator has been taken to the George Washington hospital in Washington D.C. to have some tests done. His office tells KELOLAND News he wasn’t feeling very well after his morning conference call at 11:15 eastern time, which would have been shortly after 10:00 here. So his wife, Barbara took him in to be checked out.

    We’ve been told Senator Johnson is still hospitalized. His office told CNN he was experiencing stroke like symptoms. We’ve contacted George Washington hospital. They are not releasing any information at this time.

    The Democrat Underground thread is here

    Update #2

    AP: Sen. Johnson Suffers Possible Stroke

    Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota suffered a possible stroke Wednesday and was taken to a Washington hospital, his office said.

    Johnson became disoriented during a call with reporters at midday, stuttering in response to a question. He appeared to recover, asking if there were any additional questions before ending the call.

    If he should be unable to continue to serve, it could halt the scheduled Democratic takeover of the Senate. Democrats won a 51-49 majority in the November election. South Dakota’s governor, who would appoint any temporary replacement, is a Republican.

    Stay tuned…..


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  • Illegal Immigration,  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),  Michael Chertoff

    Illegal Immigration Watch: Federal Immigration Raid Linked to Identity Theft

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    A Federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement agent searches an unidentified man, right, during a raid of a Swift and Company Beef Plant in Greeley, Colo.

    USA Today: Immigration raid linked to ID theft, Chertoff says

    More than 1,200 people were arrested for alleged immigration violations in Tuesday’s six-state raid on meat processing plants and about 65 of them face criminal charges, including identity theft, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said today.

    Federal officials said Operation Wagon Train netted 1,282 individuals, the largest such crackdown on illegal immigration at a single worksite.

    “This is not only a case about illegal immigration, which is bad enough,” Chertoff said at a news conference in Washington. “It’s a case about identity theft and violation of the privacy rights and the economic rights of innocent Americans.”

    He said the cases involved the identify theft of hundreds of people.

    “These individuals suffered very real consequences in their lives,” he said. “These are not victimless crimes.”

    The target of the raids, Swift & Co., one of the world’s largest meat processors, shut down nearly all its U.S. operations after the crackdown.

    The crackdown, involving 1,000 federal agents, occurred at Swift’s headquarters in Greeley, Colo., and its plants in Grand Island, Neb.; Cactus, Texas; Hyrum, Utah; Marshalltown, Iowa; and Worthington, Minn. Chertoff said the raids capped a 10-month investigation.

    Swift, which has not been charged, denied knowledge of the alleged scheme.

    illegalimmigrationdecember3

    An unidentified Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) agent watches the back of the Greeley Beef Packing Plant for Swift & Co. in Greeley, Colorado December 12, 2006. ICE agents raided Swift & Co. meat plants in six states on Tuesday, temporarily shutting them down, as part of a 10-month investigation into identity theft involving illegal immigrants, federal officials said.

    Right, the Swift & Co. corporate officers did not know about the employment of illegal aliens. The federal government has been LAX in allowing large companies to get away with hiring (of course for cheaper wages) people that are in the United States illegally and have no right to work.

    “Swift has never condoned the employment of unauthorized workers, nor have we ever knowingly hired such individuals,” Swift President and CEO Sam Rovit said in a statement.

    This is extremely doubtful.

    The Swift & Co. website is here.

    Today’s news release from Swift is here.

    The question Flap has: Why wasn’t this done previously?

    Swift and its corporate management must be held accountable as well. Maybe a little time cuddling with Bubba would assure that these corporate “FAT CATS” like CEO Sam Rovit hire by the laws of the United States.

    Stay tuned…….

    illegalimmigrationdecember2

    Swift & Co. said it would reopen its meat plants after Immigration and Customs Enforcement ends its operation, but that production would depend on the number of workers arrested or detained. The sites raided handle all of Swift’s domestic beef processing and 77% of its pork processing.

    Previous:

    Mitt Romney Watch: Presidential Campaign Implodes on Illegal Alien FLAP

    Arnold Schwarzenegger Watch: Lack of Immigration Reform “CRAZY”

    Illegal Immigration Watch: President Bush Signs Secure Fence Act


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  • Dixie Chicks,  Entertainment,  Iraq War,  Liberal Morons

    Dixie Chicks Watch: Chicks to Split Up After Grammy Awards?

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    The Dixie Chicks (L to R) Emily Robison, Natalie Maines and Martie Maguire arrive at the 2006 American Music Awards in Los Angeles in this November 21, 2006 file photo. The Dixie Chicks received five Grammy nominations on December 7, 2006. The 49th Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles February 11, 2007.

    The National Enquirer: DIXIE CHICKS HATCH PLAN TO SPLIT UP!

    The Dixie Chicks are getting ready to fly the coop!

    The controversial country superstars have secretly decided to split up after the Grammy Awards – because Emily Robison and Martie Maguire no longer want to share the nest with outspoken Natalie Maines, say sources.

    “The Chicks are tired and wrung out,” said a group insider. “They feel they’ve come to the end, and they want a break from each other to spend more time with their families.”

    Flap somehow doubts that the Chicks will be breaking up for good. They have taken a hiatus before to have children and spend time with husbands. But, touring and controversy does take a toll.

    The three women, who have seven children among them, are at odds over Natalie’s blunt political ramblings. And while sources say sisters Emily and Martie share many of Natalie’s anti-George W. Bush views, they feel her public rants have taken the focus off their music.

    “They’ve supported many of her political beliefs, even though it’s put their lives and the lives of their families in jeopardy,” said the insider.

    “They’ve received death threats, and it’s made them all nervous wrecks.”

    Look for a two year hiatus with some studio work beginning in a year. But, there will NOT be another tour until AFTER the 2008 Presidential campaign.

    dixiechicksdecember13bweb

    Television host and comedian Bill Maher (L) presents the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California Bill of Rights award to singer Natalie Maines of the ‘Dixie Chicks’ at the organization’s Bill of Rights dinner in Beverly Hills, California December 11, 2006. The ‘Dixie Chicks’ were honored for their work to help preserve civil liberties and civil rights.

    During the hiatus, Natalie can always get a job with Bill Maher or Michael Moore. Oh…………

    Check out this video (H/T Allah):

    Well, Flap supposes this COULD be the reason for the SPLIT………

    But, not likely………

    Stay tuned……….

    Previous:

    Dixie Chicks Watch: Film Documentary – “Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing” Picked Up for Worldwide Distribution

    Dixie Chick Watch: Red States Disapprove With Their Feet

    Dixie Chick Watch: Natalie Maines – “I Don’t See Why People Care About Patriotism.”

    Dixie Chicks Watch: Tour Struggling in Red State Markets

    Dixie Chicks Watch: Taking The Long Way, Debuts At #1 On Billboard Top 200

    Dixie Chicks Watch: Natalie Maines – “I Don’t Feel He (President Bush) Is Owed Any Respect Whatsoever.”


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  • Kofi Annan,  Michael Ramirez,  United Nations

    Michael Ramirez on Kofi Annan and the United Nations

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    The Heritage Foundation: Kofi Annan’s Legacy of Failure

    United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan delivered his swan song today at the Truman Presidential Library in Missouri.[1] It was a thinly veiled parting shot at U.S. foreign policy delivered by an embittered U.N. leader seething with self-righteous indignation and resentment. Annan’s Missouri speech will go down in history as one of the most blatant assaults on a U.S. administration by a serving U.N. official……

    Today’s United Nations is a broken institution in fundamental need of wholesale reform. That is Annan’s legacy, and the United States and the world looks forward to new leadership at Turtle Bay—leadership that is untarnished by the taint of scandal and actually lives up to the ideals of the U.N.’s own Declaration of Human Rights. The U.N. needs a Secretary General who will seek real reform of the U.N. bureaucracy and aggressively stand up for democracy, human rights, and freedom.

    Indeed……


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  • Iran Nuclear Watch

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Rejects New United Nations Security Council Sanction Resolution Before it is Adopted

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    A general view shows the nuclear power plant in Bushehr, Iran February 26, 2006. Britain and France plan to introduce on Monday a revised U.N. Security Council draft resolution imposing sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment and hope to put the measure to a vote in the next two weeks.

    RIA Novosti: Iran rejects new UN resolution in advance – Larijani

    Iran has rejected in advance a new UN Security Council resolution, which is currently coordinated by the Iran-6, the country’s top nuclear negotiator said Wednesday.

    “The latest draft resolution of the UN Security Council is unacceptable to Iran, as it restricts Iran’s right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” Ali Larijani said.

    Following Tehran’s refusal to halt its uranium enrichment activities or allow inspections of its program in exchange for a package of incentives, European powers drew up proposals on sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

    However, objections from Russia and China, which are key economic partners of Tehran and who considered the previous draft excessively harsh, prompted the formulation of a revised version of the resolution.

    Larijani said the world community has no grounds for concern regarding the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, as the country “has never used nuclear weapons.”

    He said Tehran is ready to resume talks, which were suspended because “Europeans failed to meet their obligations.”

    Now, you know why John Bolton resigned. The United States would have to pay Flap a good deal of money to put up with this pathetic and feckless endeavor of negotiating with Iran regarding uranium enrichment.

    Isn’t anyone in the United Nations or the EU growing tired of this circular argument and stall game of Ahmadinejad and the Iranian Mullahs?

    Israel has already begun their war plans. And Flap bets so has President Bush.

    The nuclear “POINT OF NO RETURN” IS fast approaching. Don’t be surprised when spring 2007 arrives and the demand for Gulf oil decreases of an Israeli/American opertion to seize Iranian Gulf Oil operations and a bombing of Naatanz and Bushehr.

    Stay tuned……

    Previous:

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – ” Just As the Soviet Union Was Wiped Out and Today Does Not Exist, So Will the Zionist Regime Soon Be Wiped Out”

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Expands Uranium Enrichment – AGAIN

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Credibility of United Nations at Risk Over Iran Nuclear Sanctions

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Warns P-5-Plus-1 About Sanctions

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – Israel “On the Verge of Disappearing”

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Letters to Ahmadinejad

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad Sends ANOTHER Letter – This Time to the American People

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Begins Delivery of Tor-M1 Air Defense Missile Systems to Iran

    Iran Nuclear Watch: IAEA Waives Decision on Aid for Iran’s Arak Nuclear Reactor

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Robert Mugabe – Iran, Zimbabwe “THINK ALIKE”

    Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Replacing Tehran Nuclear Reactor With Heavy Water Arak Reactor

    The Iran Nuclear Files

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    The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.


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