Saturday, January 10, 2009

Ron Paul Is No Friend of Israel

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution "Recognizing Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza, reaffirming the United States strong support for Israel, and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process."

The vote was 390 'aye', 5 'nay', and 22 'present'. Joining liberal Democrats such as Dennis Kucinich (OH) and Maxine Waters (CA) in voting against the resolution was Texas Republican Ron Paul.

In a YouTube video published on the 3rd, Ron Paul says, "To me it's a pretty sad day for the whole world because it means the whole idea of preemptive, preventative war is spreading. Israel says they have to go in to prevent a problem... and who knows for what other reasons."

He goes on to add, "This thing is an entire mess. The Palestinians are virtually in like a concentration camp. They have a few, small missiles, but it is so minor compared to the firepower of Israel, who has nuclear weapons, and they can turn off all the food and all the water and whatever they want to the people in Palestine, and yet we are going to have to accept some of the moral responsibility for this."

If Rep. Paul thinks the Gaza Strip is a concentration camp, perhaps he needs to visit Auschwitz and Dachau and Buchenwald. Perhaps the congressman can visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum someday soon, to find out what exactly a concentration camp is. The Museum being in Washington, D.C., would be much more convenient for the doctor than traveling to Germany and Poland. Or closer to home, he might even have some Holocaust survivors in his district. He should ask them what those camps were like.

Maybe Ron Paul thinks Israel should stand idly by as Hamas bombs the Israeli people, and fires rockets day after day. Maybe Ron Paul thinks that the deaths of Israeli civilians are okay, since rockets are only "minor" weapons, not major ones like nuclear bombs. Whatever Ron Paul thinks, he is dead wrong on Israel.

He may be right when it comes to fiscal responsibility, but Ron Paul is dangerously wrong on most of his foreign policy, and dead wrong when it comes to Israel. He is no friend of Israel.

Friday, January 09, 2009

Muskogee County Under Burn Ban

From the Muskogee Phoenix:

Muskogee County Commissioners have declared a burn ban in effect until further notice.

It is unlawful to build a campfire or bonfire, or to burn trash or other material or otherwise cause a forest, grass, range, crop or other wildlands fire, according to Oklahoma law.

It is unlawful for any person to set fire to any forest, grass, range, crop, or other wildlands, or to build a campfire or bonfire, or to burn trash or other material that may cause a forest, grass, range, crop or other wildlands fire.

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Ken Blackwell's 'Conservative Resurgence Plan'

Ken Blackwell, candidate for RNC Chairman, has released his 'Conservative Resurgence Plan', co-authored by Oklahoma GOP Chairman Gary Jones.

You can view the document here. Blackwell is swiftly becoming the front-runner for the RNC Chairmanship.

RNC members will meet January 28-31, during which time they will vote on a new chairman.

Monday, January 05, 2009

Pictures and Video from CAIR-OK Gaza Protest

The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations held a rally at the State Capitol building today, protesting Israel's recent invasion of Gaza, known as 'Operation Cast Lead'.

Originally, a press conference was scheduled for 11:30am, but as of noon, nobody showed up to speak. About twenty-five people, mostly members of the media, waited for half anhour outside Room 432B for Razi Hashmi, the director of CAIR-OK, to come.

A "Peace Vigil for Gaza" was planned for noon, at the Capitol Building's south plaza. I would estimate that between 150 and 200 protestors came. Most of the participants were local Muslims, including several imams, along with various anti-war peace activists.

The protestors marched around in circles for nearly an hour, shouting various slogans and chants such as:
  • Free, free Palestine
  • Free, free Gaza
  • Stop the genocide, stop the bombing
  • Sharon and Hitler are the same; the only difference is the name
  • Occupation is a crime
... etcetera.

They held posters of all sizes, with phrases such as "Terror, made in Israel, sponsored by the U.S.", "War is not the answer", "Israel is the terrorist", "End the occupation of Palestine", "Stop the genocide", and "Stop the war".

They also held 'bloodied' baby dolls.

CAIR-OK plans on making this a weekly event.

I have video here and here (more will be uploaded). A few more pictures (click to make larger):

CAIR-OK Rally and Press Conference in OKC Today

The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is holding a press conference and "Peace Vigil" at the Capitol Building in Oklahoma City today.

The press conference will take place at 11:30am in room 432B. The "Peace Vigil for Gaza" will start at noon and go until 1:00pm on the South Plaza of the Capitol Building.

We will try to have some video and pictures up sometime afterwards.

Sunday, January 04, 2009

Richardson Pulls Cabinet Bid

Breaking: Bill Richardson drops Commerce Secretary nomination amid investigation.

WASHINGTON – New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Sunday announced that he was withdrawing his nomination to be President-elect Barack Obama's commerce secretary amid a grand jury investigation into how some of his political donors won a lucrative state contract.

Richardson's withdrawal was the first disruption of Obama's Cabinet process and the second "pay-to-play" investigation that has touched Obama's transition to the presidency. The president-elect has remained above the fray in both the case of arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the New Mexico case.

Read more here.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

RNC Race: The Blackwell Surprise

RNC Chair candidate Ken Blackwell, whom we first mentioned when OKGOP Chairman Gary Jones endorsed him, continues to gain heavy-weight endorsements in his bid. Today, Blackwell announced a whole slew of new supporters. Here's the press release:

Conservative Leaders Endorse Ken Blackwell for RNC C

A broad cross-section of American conservative economic, social and foreign policy leaders has endorsed the candidacy of former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell for chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC).

The election will be at an RNC meeting in D.C. January 28-31.

A meeting of conservative leaders, gathered by the Council for National Policy on November 13, asked Virginia Republican National Committeeman Morton Blackwell (no relation to Ken Blackwell) to prepare and distribute a list of questions for the RNC chairmanship candidates.

All six active candidates, Saul Anuzis of Michigan, Ken Blackwell of Ohio, Katon Dawson of South Carolina, Mike Duncan of Kentucky, John “Chip” Saltsman of Tennessee, and Michael Steele of Maryland, answered the questions. The 37 questions and the six candidates’ answers are posted on the website Townhall.com.

After a review on January 2 of the candidates’ answers and a discussion of their other qualifications, the conservative leaders listed below announced their support of Ken Blackwell and urged the 168 members of the RNC to elect him at their late-January meeting.

Their organizational affiliations are provided for identification only.

The conservative endorsers noted that there were other good candidates, but all agreed that Ken Blackwell is the best choice. They intend to contact grassroots conservatives across the country and ask them to urge the three RNC members from each state and U.S. territory to vote for Ken Blackwell for RNC chairman.

Gary Aldrich, Chairman, CNP Action, Inc.
MORTON C. BLACKWELL, Virginia Republican National Committeeman
Robert B. Bluey, Contributing Editor, RedState
L. Brent Bozell, Founder and President, Media Research Center
Kellyanne Conway, CEO and President, the polling company, inc./WomanTrend

T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr., Former Domestic Advisor to President Reagan
JAMES C. DOBSON, Ph.D., FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN, FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
Becky Norton Dunlop, President, Council for National Policy
Stuart W. Epperson, Chairman, Salem Communications Corporation
STEVE FORBERS, CHAIRMAN & CEO, FORBES MEDIA

Dr. Ronald Godwin, Vice Chancellor, Liberty University
Rebecca Hagelin, Author and Conservative Columnist
Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom Ring
DAVID KEEN, Chairman, American Conservative Union
Tim LaHaye, Founder and President, Tim LaHaye Ministries

ED MEESE, PAST PRESIDENT, COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL POLICY
James C. Miller, Past President, Council for National Policy
TONY PERKINS, PRESIDENT, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL
Ken Raasch, Chairman & CEO, Creative Brands Group
Alfred S. Regnery, Publisher, The American Spectator

PHYLLIS SCHLAFLY, PRESIDENT, EAGLE FORUM
PAT TOOMEY, PRESIDENT, CLUB FOR GROWTH
Richard Viguerie, Chairman, ConservativeHQ.com

[all-caps emphasis are mine; major endorsements]

Blackwell has gathered so many influential supporters, as well as the most publicly announced Republican National Committee members, that any other candidate will have a hard time beating Ken Blackwell.

From what I'm seeing and hearing, this is Ken Blackwell's race to lose. I'm predicting a Blackwell victory come February.

The Difference a Day can make, EU-style

The European Union on the current Israel vs. Hamas/Terrorism conflict:

A few day ago...
"The EU condemns the Israeli bombardments as well as rocket attacks from Gaza. It demands that this stops immediately."

"I [Javier Solana, the European Union’s foreign policy chief] call for an immediate cessation of military actions on both sides. The EU has repeatedly condemned rocket attacks against Israel. The current Israeli strikes are inflicting an unacceptable toll on Palestinian civilians and will only worsen the humanitarian crisis."

... and today:
"At the moment, from the perspective of the last days, we understand this step as a defensive, not offensive, action," said Czech EU presidency spokesman Jiri Potuznik.
Vaclav Klaus, the conservative president of the Czech Republic, has now taken over the rotating presidency of the EU. His views on national sovereignty, global warming, and Israel are counter to much of the liberal governments of Europe. His predecessor in the EU presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy, had a different view on the latest Israeli conflict.

The statement by Vaclav Klaus led France and Great Britain to respond with this:

"France condemns the Israeli ground offensive against Gaza as it condemns the continuation of rocket firing."

"It is not the position of the British government."

I really like this Vaclav Klaus...

Operation Cast Lead: Day Eight

Israeli ground forces have moved into northern Gaza today, shortly after nightfall. Israeli troops have not been there, the site of former Jewish settlements, since the Disengagement in 2005.

Shortly before ground troops went in, the IDF began to use artillery to pound terrorist locations and mines. The IAF also struck more targets in Gaza. The IDF estimated another 30 Hamas terrorists killed, with no Israeli casualties.

Hamas continued to launch rockets into Israel, but there were no casualties. A home was hit, but most of the rockets landed in open areas.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that Israel is prepared for any attacks by the Iran-supported terrorist group Hezbollah on the border with Lebanon. Iran had warned that Hezbollah will get involved if Israel attacked Gaza on the ground.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

The Situation in Israel

Here are some links on the situation in Israel, from the Israelis themselves:
Operation Cast Lead continues, with a very high-ranking Hamas leader, as the Israeli media says, "liquidated" today. Hamas terrorists continue to fire rockets in response.