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My Favorite Christmas Movies

With it now being a short time to Christmas, I thought I would list my five favorite Christmas Movies. All of these movies I can recommend as great entertainment. I know many are in "Black and White"; but they are all worth watching!

 

  1. Miracle on 34th Street (1947; Rated G): This is my favorite Christmas movie of all time. Edmund Gwenn is convincing as Kris Kringle; and Maureen O’Hara is believable as a woman who has lost her faith in the "wonder and magic" of the "real" world. (When I was twelve years old, I knew I was no longer a child because my parents allowed me to stay up Christmas Eve night and watch this wonderful movie.)
  2. The Lemon Drop Kid (1951; Rated G): I have always had a fondness for Bob Hope. This movie is very funny; and the singing of "Silver Bells" by Hope and Marilyn Maxwell is worth watching this movie if only to see this rendition of this song.
  3. Three Godfathers (1948; Rated G): John Ford and John Wayne are at their "Western Story-Telling" best. The photography is beautiful; and this is Director John Ford’s best movie concerning redemption.
  4. Christmas in Connecticut (1945; Rated G): Barbara Stanwyck is a "fake" housewife who writes "homemaking" articles for a nation-wide magazine. Her boss invites himself and a WW2 veteran to her non-existent home for Christmas. Then the fun begins. Hollywood is missing a bet in not re-making this movie with a returning Iraq war veteran. (By the way, this is my wife’s favorite Christmas movie.)
  5. A Christmas Carol (1984; Rated PG): George C. Scott is magnificent as Charles Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge. His "Scrooge" is not some money-grabbing miser; but a man who has lost faith in everything. To me, this version of "A Christmas Carol" is the best made in the last sixty years.

 

                          Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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The Plot Thickens: Events of 09/06/07

Was it nuclear or chemical weapons the Israeli raid on Dayr AZ-Zawr destroyed? Was the USAF involved in the attack? What are the repercussions of this attack? An interesting article appeared in the "Middle Eastern Times" on November 19, 2007. This article, written by Oliver Guitta, made a fascinating observation: "What if Iran was behind the Syrian nuclear program?" The Iranians would be setting up "Plan B". By helping develop nuclear sites in Syria, air strikes on Iran might turn out to be useless. This was a good plan, until Israel bombed the site on September 6.


The Arab news reports are pretty bizarre (Al-Jazeera reported that two USAF planes participated in the raid; and one of them dropped a tactical nuclear bomb on the site!); but one thing is certain:


                 Hold on to your seats, this is going into extra innings!

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CONFEDERATE MAJOR GENERAL PATRICK CLEBURNE: Personal Details, Interaction with Confederate General Hood, the Battle of Franklin, and His Ghost in Franklin

 

(Written with respect for my favorite General of the War Between the States and the Anniversary of his death on November 30, 2007.) 

 

Patrick Cleburne immigrated to the United States of America from Ireland approximately eleven years before the start of the War Between the States. He settled in Helena, Arkansas, on the Mississippi River to the South of Memphis, Tennessee. In Helena, he became an attorney, and was a highly respected citizen.


Cleburne had military training, having served in the British Army. At the start of the war, he helped raise an infantry regiment in Eastern Arkansas for the Confederate States of America. His "baptism of fire" during the war occurred at the Battle of Shiloh. His leadership qualities were quickly recognized by the Confederate States Army; and by 1864, he had risen to the rank of major general and was a divisional commander in the Army of Tennessee.


Patrick Cleburne was also known for his bravery. Confederate newspapers during the war called him the "Stonewall of the West". In the Confederate Army (both in the Eastern Theater and the Western Theater), his by-name was the "Ney of the Confederacy, the bravest of the brave". (This comparison to Marshal Ney of Napoleon’s Army was a high honor for the day and time. Marshal Ney was literally "worshipped" by the Confederate Military.)


At the Battle of Spring Hill on November 29, 1864, due to confusing orders by Confederate General John Bell Hood (and in one case, the absence of any order), a small Federal Army was allowed to escape. This small Federal Army consisted of two corps (under the command of Major General John M. Schofield). During the night of November 29th and the morning of November 30th, Schofield and his little army fell back to Franklin, Tennessee. During this small affair at Spring Hill, Cleburne’s favorite mount (a chestnut colored horse named "Red Pepper") was wounded, giving General Cleburne a bad fall.

Early the morning of the 30th, when General Hood realized that Schofield had escaped, he severely reprimanded his corps commanders. This included Cleburne’s corps commander, Confederate General Benjamin Cheatham. Cleburne, and fellow divisional commander Major General John C. Brown, tried to defend General Cheatham with General Hood, but to no avail. General Hood was so mad (and probably not thinking correctly due to his liberal use of opium based painkillers) that he called both Cleburne and Brown a "pair of mincing toe-dancers". (In 2007 this would be the equivalent of calling a US Army Ranger a "limp-wristed p*ssy". In 1864, duels were fought for less.)


The affair almost went to pistols, as both Cleburne and Brown were both known for their courage. However, in the end both sides just let everything pass. General Hood moved on Franklin, and ordered a "Pickett’s Charge" type attack on the Federal Army. Again, one has to wonder if General Hood was thinking straight. Intelligence reports by no less than General Nathan Bedford Forrest showed that Schofield’s flank could be easily turned. A quick flanking movement by Hood and his army could capture or destroy the entire Federal army. For whatever reason, Hood decided on a massive frontal assault, with no artillery preparation against the Federal lines.


Cleburne went into the battle on a new horse; but he expressed anxiety about the attack orders with his staff. Almost to the Federal lines during the attack, Cleburne’s new horse was killed. He again received a nasty fall. A staff officer (Lt. James Brandon) dismounted and gave his horse to General Cleburne. As Cleburne tried to mount, this horse was also shot and killed. Cleburne was last seen on foot with his sword drawn and moving towards the Federal lines.


After the battle, General Patrick Cleburne’s body was found directly South of the Carter family’s cotton gin, about 50 yards East of the Columbia Pike. He had been shot once in the chest. The bodies of Confederate soldiers from his division surrounded his body.


His remains were first buried, after the Battle of Franklin, at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Columbia, Tennessee. A short time later, his remains were moved to the cemetery at St. John’s Chapel in Ashwood, Tennessee. In 1870, they were finally moved to the Evergreen Cemetery in Helena, Arkansas. His loss was a severe blow to the Confederate Army of Tennessee.


On a personal note, in early November of 1989, a Pizza Hut and its parking lot were located in Franklin, Tennessee, on US Highway 31 (formerly the Columbia Pike). The site of this restaurant was the exact spot of General Cleburne’s death. The writer and his best friend had eaten supper in this restaurant. While the writer was paying the bill, my friend walked out to my automobile, parked in the parking lot. When I got outside, I saw that my friend was noticeably shaking. I asked the reason for this (the night was chilly but not cold). My friend said that he had seen a "misty figure" walking besides the parking lot. This apparition walked towards the North, and slowly vanished.


My friend later said that when this figure was very close to him (no more than ten feet), he felt a profound sadness and a feeling of deep impending doom. (Others, who have visited the Franklin Battlefield, have voiced similar stories.)


It should be noted that my friend’s entire knowledge of the War Between the States could be expressed in three words: The South Lost. He had never heard of General Patrick Cleburne, much less knew where he died. I do not believe that he made up this story that he told me almost twenty years ago.

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Deaths in the Military on a Year By Year Basis


You will never see this in the newspaper, or hear it from a liberal.
THIS REPORT HAS BEEN VERIFIED AS CORRECT
 
    Deaths in the Military (On a year by year basis)

 
    1980 ........ 2,392
    1981 ........ 2,380
    1982 ........ 2,318
    1983 ........ 2,465
    1984 ........ 1,999
    1985 ........ 2,252
    1986 .........1,984
    1987 ........ 1,983
    1988 ....... .1,819
    1989 .........1,636
    1990 ........ 1,508
    1991 ....... .1,787
    1992 ........ 1,293
    1993 ........ 1,213
    1994 ........ 1,075
    1995 ........ 1,040
    1996 .........    974
    1997 ..........   817
    1998 .........    826
    1999 ..........   795
    2000 ..........   774
    2001 ..........   890
    2002 ..........1,007
   2003 ........  1,410  [534*]
    2004 ........  1,887  [900*]
    2005 .......               [919*]
    2006 ........              [920*]

 
    Figures so noted with an asterisk (*) indicates
  deaths as a result of Operation Iraqi Freedom and
  Operation Enduring Freedom.

 
    You may initially feel confused when you look at
  these figures --especially when you see that in
  1980, during the term of President Jimmy Carter,
  there were 2,392 US military fatalities. What this
  clearly indicates is that our media and our liberal politicians pick
  and choose and tend to present only those facts that support their
  agenda driven reporting.  Another fact our left media and
  politicians like to slant is that these brave men
  and women losing their lives are minorities. Wrong
  again - The latest census shows the following:

 
    European descent (white)  69.12%;  Hispanic
   12.5%;    African American 12.3%;  Asian  3.7%;
  Native American 1.0%;  Other ... 2.6%.

 
    The fatalities over the past three years in Iraqi
  Freedom are:

 
    European descent (white)  74.31%;  Hispanic
  10.74%;  African American 9.67%;  Asian 1.81%;
  Native American 1.09%;  Other ... 2.33%
    These statistics are published by DOD and may be
  viewed at:

 
    http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf
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The Five Best Halloween Movies of all Time

Since we are so close to Halloween, I thought I would list my personal list of the 5 best Halloween movies of all time (with an honorable mention). I hope you will enjoy this list; I will personally guarantee that all of these movies are worth watching. However, you are advised that "Signs" is very intense so it might not be a good movie for children under the age of ten(10).

I have doing this list of movies for over ten years. So far, the only change I have made is to add an "Honorable Mention". 
 
 
1. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944, Rated G)
    It doesn't get any better than this Cary Grant movie. The scene is Brooklyn. It is Halloween night. The Brewsters have a few family secrets and more than their share of relatives that are not playing with a full deck of cards. This is a truly classic movie.
 
2. Spaced Invaders (1989, Rated PG)
    The Martians have invaded the USA (Prepare to die Earth Scum!) on Halloween night and a small town fights back. Don't ask questions, just sit back and enjoy the fun. In many ways, this movie represents "Small Town America" and its values (on a comedy scale anyway).
 
3. The Adventures of Icabod and Mr. Toad (1950, Rated G)
     Walt Disney knew how to do cartoons. This is one of his best. The second half is on the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and the headless horseman, with Bing Crosby singing and doing the narration. I have been to the real Sleepy Hollow on the Hudson River in New York. The animators of this cartoon have shown it correctly.
 
4. The Ghost Breakers (1940, Rated G)
    This is one of the movies that gave Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis the idea for "The Ghostbusters". Bob Hope, pre WW2 Cuba, a haunted castle, and a hidden treasure.
 
5. The Thing from Another World (1951, Rated G)
     With actor James Arness as a giant "carrot" man from outer space, this movie is both funny and "campy". (By the way, the title of this movie, and the year it was released, have nothing to do with me; regardless of what any of my relatives have said.)
 
Honorable Mention: Signs (2002, Rated PG13)
     Mel Gibson is a preacher who has lost his faith in God due to the death of his wife. However, events are starting to happen in the world that will shake his quiet existence in Pennsylvania. I will give you a prior warning: This movie is intense. The first time I saw it, my wife had gotten it for me to watch while she went to a school meeting. I knew nothing about the movie at all and watched it only because she had gone to all this trouble to do something nice for me. About a quarter of the way through (after turning on all the lights), I realized I was looking at a true classic.  
 
 
 
TRICK OR TREAT!
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Why What Happened in Syria on September 6, 2007, Might Have Affected the US Election of 2008

  

For several weeks, I have been trying to understand what actually happened on September 6, 2007. The Israeli raid on Dayr AZ-Zawr in Syria was breath taking. Even more breath taking has been the lack of talk in all the major newspapers, main stream media, and news organizations of the world. This news "black-out" would appear to be significant. Something big happened.

Since the second week in September, I have been examining all the data I could find. I have looked at reports from such varied sources as: The Washington Post, the Pakistan Daily Times, the Jerusalem Post, the IMRA, the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, the AXIS Global Research and Analysis web site, and the Global Security.org web site. I have "haunted" such sites as the "The Middle East Media Research Institute" trying to find any shreds of information on what happened. Sadly, I could find little.

As an engineer, I was trained to look at a problem, acknowledge the facts, and postulate a solution that meets the facts. Here are the Facts that I have:

  1. Israeli aircraft, with US help, destroyed a Syrian military facility at Dayr AZ-Zawr.
  2. The freighter, Al-Hamad, (flying a North Korean flag) had recently docked at a Syrian port. It was supposedly loaded with cement. What it actually off-loaded was not clear. The freight it carried originated in North Korea.
  3. The Syrians have at least 50, North Korean "No-Dong" missiles. These missiles were obtained in the last 7 years, and are capable of striking deep into Israel.
  4. North Korea is facing all types of sanctions if it does not stop its nuclear arms program. Some type of inspections will probably be a part of any agreements reached in any settlement.
  5. In the last 2 weeks, the top 3 Democrat presidential candidates for the 2008 presidential race have changed their position on the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. (They do not see withdrawing all troops until at least 2012.)

I didn’t include Fact #5 in my list until a few days ago. I didn’t include it because I didn’t believe it was relevant to the problem. However, what if this fact is related to this problem?

Assumption: Let’s assume that the cargo delivered by the Al-Hamad was either nuclear bombs or radioactive material. With North Korean technical help, Syria could arm its "No-Dong" missiles and become the 2nd nuclear power of the Middle East. Suddenly, the current US Middle East policy (and Israel) becomes untenable. Syrian nuclear strikes on Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi oil fields would cause a worldwide economic nightmare. Syrian nuclear strikes on Israel would cause World War IV to begin.

I am a Conservative, and do not support or agree with anything the top three Democrat presidential candidates say, do, or support. However, these three people are not stupid. If my Assumption is correct, perhaps Fact #5 is the proof.

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Liberal Trolls on Townhall.com

Most Conservatives are having to learn one basic fact when they post comments at any Conservative Web Site; Liberal Trolls are waiting for you. For those of you who do not have a clue as to what I am talking about, let me explain.

A "Liberal Troll" is not a monster from the book The Lord of the Rings (although they sometimes act like them). A "Liberal Troll" is not an imaginary creation from a "Dungeons and Dragons" game (although you wish they were imaginary). A "Liberal Troll" is a person with a Left-wing political agenda who watches Conservative Web sites. He has one purpose; i.e., to interject his beliefs into an online discussion in an almost violent manner. He sometimes calls the other commentators names. He harshly denounces Conservative writers. He acts as if all Conservatives are stupid; and only he knows the "real truth".

Most Liberal Trolls are almost cartoonish in their writings. One infamous Liberal Troll, that regularly "haunts" Townhall.com, has stated or implied that he has been: a Navy Captain, a former Navy test pilot, a former Boeing test pilot, a former FAA designated Airline flight examiner, a former vice cop, a columnist for the National Review, a pilot for the US border patrol, and hinted at being an astronaut. However, they do cause problems in that they slow down the actual exchange of thoughts.

The following is a series of posts that were started on an article concerning the very successful Conservative writer Ann Coulter. Please note the times and comments of both "Malibu Ken" (a Liberal Troll) and myself:

Malibu Ken writes: Tuesday, October, 02, 2007 3:42 PM
If I were to talk about Screamboat Annie
the way she talks about others, I'd be booted from Townhall.

She's nothing more than a partisan Don Rickles.

Gray Ghost writes: Tuesday, October, 02, 2007 4:12 PM
Malibu Ken 3:42pm
And Senator Reid is nothing more than another Vidkun Quisling.

Even though I liked Don Rickles (He was great in "Kelly's Heroes".), his humor is based more on a caustic attitude. Ann Coulter's humor is based more on taking the PC talking points and showing how stupid they are (i.e., more the "in-your-face" type, backed up with facts).

But seriously, why do you want to post at TH? You are obviously a Liberal. You do not express any thoughts to be debated or discussed. Are you just here to make a glib remark, and then run away?


After waiting for a reply to my post of 4:12pm for over an hour, I assumed that this Liberal Troll had "left the building". Later that same night, by pure chance, I happened to check the Ann Coulter article. To my surprise, I learned that Liberal Trolls are sneaky. At 6:11pm, "Malibu Ken" had answered me (after almost 2 hours). Here is his reply:


Malibu Ken writes: Tuesday, October, 02, 2007 6:11 PM
Annthrax and the Ghost
Grey Ghost: "Ann Coulter's humor is based more on taking the PC talking points and showing how stupid they are (i.e., more the "in-your-face" type, backed up with facts).
--------------------
Somehow, I don't find advocacy of the poisoning of a Supreme Court justice simply because you don't like his rulings particularly hilarious.

====================
GG: "But seriously, why do you want to post at TH? You are obviously a Liberal."
--------------------
On what basis do you deduce that?

====================
GG: "You do not express any thoughts to be debated or discussed. Are you just here to make a glib remark, and then run away?"
-------------------
With respect to Annthrax, there isn't a lot of substance to discuss. She's merely a high-priced political streetwalker, using the verbal equivalent of hot pants and bright leather boots to draw attention to herself. What anyone sees in her is beyond my conception.

Well, okay, on second thought, Bill Maher and Bob Guccione, Jr. are almost as kinky as a Republican senator (which is why they dated her).... :)

It was late, but I decided to reply to his 6:11pm posting. Here is my reply:

Gray Ghost writes: Tuesday, October, 02, 2007 10:13 PM
Malibu Ken 6:11pm
MK, I am sorry I am so late answering your post of 6:11pm; but you waited 2 hours before answering my post of 4:12pm. I figured you weren't going to answer:

GG: "Ann Coulter's humor is based more on taking the PC talking points and showing how stupid they are (i.e., more the "in-your-face" type, backed up with facts).
--------------------
MK: Somehow, I don't find advocacy of the poisoning of a Supreme Court justice simply because you don't like his rulings particularly hilarious.
-------------------
Do you find anything she says or writes funny?
====================
GG: "But seriously, why do you want to post at TH? You are obviously a Liberal."
--------------------
MK: On what basis do you deduce that?
--------------------
Most Conservatives and Moderates find what she says or writes very funny.
====================
GG: "You do not express any thoughts to be debated or discussed. Are you just here to make a glib remark, and then run away?"
-------------------
MK: With respect to Annthrax, there isn't a lot of substance to discuss. She's merely a high-priced political streetwalker, using the verbal equivalent of hot pants and bright leather boots to draw attention to herself. What anyone sees in her is beyond my conception.

Well, okay, on second thought, Bill Maher and Bob Guccione, Jr. are almost as kinky as a Republican senator (which is why they dated her)....
-------------------
Well, I appear to have pegged the glib remarks comment; and you did run away for 2 hours before answering my post.

I never thought when I began to "Blog" or comment on the "Net" that I would be jumping into a real "Fairy Tale", with real "Trolls". Some how I assumed I would be entering the 21st century.
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Why Syria Has Been Quiet about Israel's Recent Air Strike

I don't necessarily agree with everything Dr. Jack Wheeler says, but the recent article below is really interesting:

 

SILENCE IN SYRIA, PANIC IN IRAN

Dr. Jack Wheeler

One of India's top ranking generals assigned to liaise with the Iranian military recently returned to New Delhi from several days in Tehran - in a state of complete amazement.

"Everyone in the government and military can only talk of one thing," he reports. "No matter who I talked to, all they could do was ask me, over and over again, 'Do you think the Americans will attack us?' 'When will the Americans attack us?' 'Will the Americans attack us in a joint operation with the Israeli s?' How massive will the attack be?' on and on, endlessly. The Iranians are in a state of total panic."

And that was before September 6. Since then, it's panic-squared in Tehran. The mullahs are freaking out in fear. Why? Because of the silence in Syria.

On September 6, Israeli Air Force F-1 5 and F-16s conducted a devastating attack on targets deep inside Syria near the city of Dayr AZ-Zawr. Israel's military censors have muzzled the Israeli media, enforcing an extraordinary silence about the identity of the targets. Massive speculation in the world press has followed, such as Brett Stephens' Osirak II? in yesterday's (9/18) Wall St. Journal.

Stephens and most everyone else have missed the real story. It is not Israel's silence that "speaks volumes" as he claims, but Syria's. Why would the Syrian government be so tight-lipped about an act of war perpetrated on their soil?

The first half of the answer lies in this story that appeared in the Israeli media last month (8/13): Syria's Antiaircraft System Most Advanced In World. Syria has gone on a profligate buying spree, spending vast sums on Russian systems, "considered the cutting edge in aircraft interception technology."

Syria now "possesses the most crowded antiaircraft system in the world," with "more than 200 antiaircraft batteries of different types," some of which are so new that they have been installed in Syria "before being introduced into Russian operation service."

While you're digesting that, take a look at the map of Syria: Notice how far away Dayr AZ-Zawr is from Israel. An F15/16 attack there is not a tiptoe across the border, but a deep, deep penetration of Syrian airspace. And guess what happened with the Russian super-hyper-sophisticated cutting edge antiaircraft missile batteries when that penetration took place on September 6th.

Nothing.

El blanko. Silence. The systems didn't even light up, gave no indication whatever of any detection of enemy aircraft invading Syrian airspace, zip, zero, nada. The Israelis (with a little techie assistance from us) blinded the Russkie antiaircraft systems so completely the Syrians didn't even know they were blinded.

Now you see why the Syrians have been scared speechless. They thought they were protected - at enormous expense - only to discover they are defenseless. As in naked.

Thus the Great Iranian Freak-Out - for this means Iran is just as nakedly defenseless as Syria. I can tell you that there are a lot of folks in the Kirya (IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv) and the Pentagon right now who are really enjoying the mullahs' predicament. Let's face it: scaring the terror masters in Tehran out of their wits is fun.

It's so much fun, in fact, that an attack destroying Iran's nuclear facilities and the Revolutionary Guard command/control centers has been delayed, so that France (under new management) can get in on the fun too.

On Sunday (9/16), Sarkozy's foreign minister Bernard Kouchner announced that "France should prepare for the possibility of war over Iran's nuclear program."

All of this has caused Tehran to respond with maniacal threats. On Monday (9/17), a government website proclaimed that "600 Shihab-3 missiles" will be fired at targets in Israel in response to an attack upon Iran by the US/Israel. This was followed by Iranian deputy air force chief Gen. Mohammad Alavi announcing today (9/19) that "we will attack their (Israeli) territory with our fighter bombers as a response to any attack."

A sure sign of panic is to make a threat that everyone knows is a bluff. So our and Tel Aviv's response to Iranian bluster is a thank-you-for-sharing yawn and a laugh. Few things rattle the mullahs' cages more than a yawn and a laugh.

Yet no matter how much fun this sport with the mullahs is, it is also deadly serious. The pressure build-up on Iran is getting enormous. Something is going to blow and soon. The hope is that the blow-up will be internal, that the regime will implode from within.

But make no mistake: an all-out full regime take-out air assault upon Iran is coming if that hope doesn't materialize within the next 60 to 90 days. The Sept. 6 attack on Syria was the shot across Iran's bow.

So - what was attacked near Dayr az-Zawr? It's possible it was North Korean "nuclear material" recently shipped to Syria, i.e., stuff to make radioactively "dirty " warheads, but nothing to make a real nuke with as the Norks don't have real nukes (see Why North Korea's Nuke Test Is Such Good News, October 2006).

Another possibility is it was to take out a stockpile of long-range Zilzal surface-to-surface missiles recently shipped from Iran for an attack on Israel.

A third is it was a hit on the stockpile of Saddam's chemical/bio weapons snuck out of Iraq and into Syria for safekeeping before the US invasion of April 2003.

But the identity of the target is not the story - for the primary point of the attack was not to destroy that target. It was to shut down Syria's Russian air defense system during the attack. Doing so made the attack an incredible success.

Syria is shamed and silent. Iran is freaking out in panic. Defenseless enemies are fun.

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When Liberals Eat Their Own

TV MINI-SERIES REVIEW


****


When Liberals Eat Their Own

 

Genre: Courtroom Drama

Showing Dates: Fall of 2007 through the 2008 Elections

Cast: Rather Delusional, Mary Marblehead, CBS Executive Management

 

 

It’s not Personal, it’s Just Business (and $70,000,000.00)

A Review by Gray Ghost

09/22/07


It so refreshing to see an older actor, at the end of his career, find a part that he has been waiting on for his entire life. In 1961, Rather Delusional hit the "idiot box" like a breath of hot air; literally, as he reported the forces of Mother Nature in Hurricane Blowhard, while tied to a tree. This made-for TV, low budget, mini-epic almost didn’t make it into the "can" as there wasn’t enough money to buy ropes for the camera crew. Never the less, higher management recognized that Mr. Delusional would sacrifice anything (or anybody for that matter) for the advancement of his craft. He got a chance at the center ring of the circus.


For the next seven years, Rather Delusional appeared in a number of low budget TV dramas; and except for a re-occuring role in a CBS war drama series (similar to the more popular TV series Combat!) he appeared to be at loose ends. His next big break came in 1968 in a political farce named The Chicago Clowns. This short-lived comedy only lasted three days, from August 26 to August 29, 1968. But in these few minutes of celluloid, the entire country saw the wide range of emotions he was capable of, including his cat-like abilities at taking a fall.


For the next thirteen years, he starred in one hit series after another (CBS Sunday Night Follies, CBS Reports What They Decide To, and The Clock is Ticking). It was in this last hit, The Clock is Ticking, that Mr. Delusional’s unique ability to sacrifice anything and anybody (including long time fellow actor Dodge T. Middle) that allowed him to truly become the legendary actor that we all know and love.


On March 9, 1981, he became the star of the long running CBS soap, The Evening Spew, replacing CBS icon Walter Crankcase. Even though very busy during the next few years, Delusional found time to star in a mildly humorous adventure mini-series (Gunga Dan) and to help write a piece of pop music ("What’s the Frequency, Kenneth"), later recorded in 1994 by REM. His "short fuse" temper lead to a now famous incident, when he walked off the stage of The Evening Spew after a disagreement with CBS executive management. The dropping of his costar (Ms. Conus Chug) in the long running soap was further attributed to this temper.


By 2004 Rather Delusional was bothered by the ratings of The Evening Spew versus the soaps on the other two networks. Wondering if his acting was the fault of this continued last place status; he helped write and produce a large budget spy thriller, Memogate. Unfortunately, poor writing and a contrived plot lead to a short run. CBS executive management canceled the series on September 20, 2004, after only twelve days.


Stung by the "arrows of outrageous fortune", and an even poorer thought process, Rather Delusional remained in The Evening Spew for over a year and a half. But his heart was not in it. On June 20, 2006, he left the cast of what was now called by fans everywhere as "The Spew". He took a few bit parts during the next year on small budget comedies on other networks, but he wanted back with his old friends at CBS where he got his start.

Pressing his credibility to the maximum, Rather Delusional convinced a fellow producer and writer from the ill-conceived Memogate, Ms. Mary Marblehead, and the CBS executive management to give him one more chance at the big time. When Liberals Eat Their Own promises to be an epic, courtroom drama of biblical proportions. Taking up where Memogate left off, Delusional’s hand written story will be a Psychodrama in every sense of the word. Playing an aging egotist, Rather Delusional will explore the nooks and crannies of his own mind as he tries to expose his ultimate truth: it’s not the facts, it’s the seriousness of the accusation. Along the way, CBS executive management will have to decide whether or not they embrace his ultimate truth and face oblivion, or do they throw this raging lunatic to the wolves of the FCC and alienate the entire Liberal Establishment?


With budget estimates running as high as $70,000,000.00, When Liberals Eat Their Own promises to be not just some cheap melodrama, but a freethinking rabble-rousing spectacular as one man explores the notion of how much money will it cost to buy his soul?

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"Back in the Saddle"

After a prolonged period of inactivity (work and family matters do take time), I am back on line. I want to thank the staff at Townhall in helping me get set back up.
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Happy Birthday to the USA

I have had little time in the last few weeks to do any posting (my daughter and her family were moving to Louisiana). However, I did want to wish the United States of America a Happy Birthday.

During the last 231 years there have been some tough times. Times, that to quote a favorite writer of mine, "try men's souls". I believe that we are about to enter another set of tough times. This country will face enemies both at home and abroad. The hardest of the two to combat will be those at home.

So again, on this up coming 4th of July, 2007 I want to wish a Happy Birthday to our country. A toast if you will, not to some human king or ruler, but to all of the good people who make up this great country of ours. Let us all strive not to be "summer soldiers" or "sunshine patriots"; but to be the type people that Thomas Paine wrote The Crisis to inspire.
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I Have Added a New "Blog" Site

I have added a new "blog" site and heartily recommend you take a look at it. The name of the site is: "Take Our Country Back". The writer's handle is "Snooper". He has some very interesting information gathered on the War in Iraq. Check the blog roll at the bottom of this page (just roll down to the bottom right hand side).
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This Is Getting Monotonous

I have just read that Pakistan and its Islamic leaders are threatening Great Britain for giving a knighthood to Salman Rushdie (author of the "Satanic Verses").

This is truly getting monotonous. First, the Islamic World threatens political cartoonists all over the world. Now, Pakistan is threatening Great Britain for giving a knighthood to some one that the Islamic World has threatened to kill.

When is the "West" going to realize that no amount of diplomacy is going to change these people or have any effect.

The only way that the "West" can get their attention will be the "nuking" of several key cities or areas in the Islamic World.
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Amnesty or Destruction of the USA?

The so-called amnesty bill (S.1348) can only be called the "Destruction of the USA" Bill; because that is what it will do. Allowing 12 to 14 million illegal aliens (and the estimated 30 to 60 million close family members back in these illegal aliens' home countries) to become residents and/or citizens is as close to the idea of "suicide" to the USA as could be imagined. If the total number of new residents and/or citizens is only 25 million, think of the effect on our culture from everything from language to social security to politics to education.

I supported President Bush in both elections. I supported and still support the War on Terror. However, I can no longer support him in this. If the Republican Party supports the amnesty bill, then I can no longer support it.

I have telephoned and emailed Senator Trent Lott (Mississippi-R) until I am "blue in the face". All he seems to say is that the amnesty bill is no big deal with his constituents.

There is talk that this bill will not be debated any time soon. That is not good enough. It must be completely thrown away and these illegal aliens gotten out of our country. If anyone says that they (the illegal aliens) are needed because they are willing to do work that our own citizens won't do, then I say shut down all entitlements (such as welfare, food stamps, and SSI). Tell those citizens that were on these government handouts that if they won't work then they get to starve.

I am sure that in no time at all, all of these jobs will be filled with people who would rather work than not eat.

If you are reading this and agree with me, please contact your representative and senators to voice your concern.
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Iran Wants to Talk to the U.S. Congress?

 I just read an article dated May 15, 2007, that certain elements of the Iranian parliament want to talk to the U.S. Congress. I am a little skeptical; however, it is interesting. The way I see it there can only be three reasons for this sudden change in diplomatic relations:

1. Iran is scared that we are about to take some kind of military action along the border with Iraq. This could have an effect with the more moderate groups within Iran who want to get rid of the existing radical-run government. Therefore, they want to open a dialogue and possibly shut down any future military action.

2. Iran has seen the newly elected Democrats in Congress in action. They have also seen a change of attitude in France and Europe. Iran therefore believes they might obtain an edge in future negotiations by talking to a more liberal U.S. Congress.

3. A more sinister reason, they want to "lull" us into believing they are sincere. Iran in turn, starts some type of drastic military action (i.e., a major movement of Iranian troops into Iraq, large-scale Iranian sponsored terrorist strikes against U.S. interests in the Middle East, etc.).

That they are truly sincere, would be unbelievable to me. If there had been a major revolution in Iran, with moderate forces gaining control, I could believe their sincerity. Otherwise, they want us dead, just like Israel.
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