Headlines Friday 2nd April 2010

=== Todays Toon ===

KILL BILL OF RIGHTS
Bush's illegal wiretapping operation.
This cartoon was kind of inspired by one of Jim Borgman's pulitzer-prize winning editorial cartoons from the early '90s. His involved George H.W. Bush as a used car salesman and his catchphrase, "Read my Lips," so needless to say, it was much funnier than this one is.
George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12, 1924) was the 41st President of the United States (1989–1993). He was also Ronald Reagan's Vice President (1981–1989), a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.

=== Bible Quote ===

“[For the director of music. Of David.] The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.”- Psalm 14:1 -- Happy Easter --

=== Headlines ===

Modern stage parents are increasingly using the Web to get their kids in the spotlight, but posts like this 'Scarface' reenactment have critics wondering if they're going too far.

Atheists are 'believers who hate God'
ATHEISTS resent not ruling the world, says Anglican Archbish

Demand for Border Hearing
GOP lawmaker calls for border security hearing after murder of Ariz. rancher believed killed by illegal immigrant

'Babs' Boxed In
Poll shows Sen. Barbara Boxer neck and neck with three Republicans who hope to run against her in November

Tragedy at Disney
Disney World bus strikes, kills 9-year-old boy in third bus-related accident at theme park in six months

U.S. Navy Captures 5 Pirates After Gun Battle in Indian Ocean
The USS Nicholas reported taking fire from a suspected pirate skiff and returned fire before pursuing it and eventually disabling it.

Was H1N1 Crisis Overblown?
As health officials warn that the H1N1 influenza season is not over, it’s being reported that the government is about to throw away millions of vaccines. Do you think the crisis was overblown?

NASA Planning Billions More for Climate Research
Despite growing questions about the validity of NASA's climate data, the space agency plans to move ahead with a whopping 62 percent increase in the budget for climate science.

The tiny whimpers of a baby abandoned on a verandah have spurred police to find his mother, with nursing staff already doting on him and showering him with love.

Toddler dies after balcony fall
A TWO-YEAR-OLD boy has died in hospital after falling more than seven metres from a balcony.

Asylum seekers ring ahead for instructions
BOAT people dial 000 to notify police of their presence before they were caught by border patrol.

How to avoid the annual Easter rip-off
DRIVERS are told how much petrol should cost over Easter and urged to boycott price gougers.

Bizarre theories circle radar anomalies
CONSPIRACY websites sent into meltdown after mysterious shapes appear on our radar system.

Williams apologises for 'redneck' jibe
COMEDIAN makes peace with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, offering to take him to a strip club.

'Second chance liver mum loses battle'
RECOVERING drug addict Claire Murray has died after doctors turned off her life-support.

Notorious bikie leader free to race
THE boss of the Notorious bikie gang, Allen Sarkis, is free to pursue a drag racing career after his bail was relaxed to allow him to leave Sydney for more than a day.

Liberal Premier-elect Will Hodgman vows to work with Kevin Rudd
TASMANIAN premier-elect, Liberal leader Will Hodgman, has promised to move quickly to cut land tax and work cooperatively with Kevin Rudd on health reform.

Minister Frank Sartor and MP Cherie Burton obtain AVOs after threatening emails
A SERIES of emails - one titled "coffin carrier required for independent murderer" - prompted police to take out an interim apprehended violence order yesterday to protect a minister and an MP. - sounds like the ALP are applying the rancid turd theory to hide the fact their members have molested this man. - ed.

=== Journalists Corner ===

They are ordinary Americans who have led extraordinary lives!
Sarah Palin profiles these real Americans who have given back, given all and have never given up.
Guest: Ed Koch
The former mayor speaks out on why he is outraged over the administration's treatment of Israel!
===
A GOP Jumpstart?
How could the health care bill ultimately help the party take back the Hill in the upcoming elections?
===
Let's Hug it Out ...
Just not during class! Why some schools are now banning hugging!

=== Comments ===

Senator McCain Changes His Mind About Mexican Border
By Bill O'Reilly
In May 2001, we went to Phoenix, Arizona, to report on the porous Southern border. As part of that program, I interviewed Sen. John McCain and told him that the only way the border could be secured was to use U.S. troops. The senator disagreed:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, R-ARIZ.: I do not favor using troops because they are not trained for it. They don't have the kind of qualifications necessary. I have strongly favored us using all the technical equipment that our military has including satellites, including aircraft and other technical means.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Well now Mr. McCain has changed his mind, finally. But it took a terrible tragedy.

Arizona rancher Robert Krentz, 58, was found shot to death on his own property. Mr. Krentz leaves behind a wife, three kids and two grandchildren. His family had been ranching in Arizona since 1907.

Police suspect the murder was committed by an illegal alien who then fled back to Mexico. Authorities say they followed the man's footprints for about 20 miles until the trail stopped at the border.

In response to the murder, Sen. McCain wrote a letter to President Obama: "I am asking you and the administration to immediately reconsider your position and send National Guard troops to our Southern border region."

We applaud Mr. McCain's new position, but must point out that "The Factor" has been saying this for 10 long years:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

O'REILLY: After much study and thought, I have come to the conclusion that the military has to secure the Mexican border. One of the mandates of the federal government is to provide security for American citizens from outside forces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Sadly, Mr. Krentz did not get that security.

As for President Obama, "The Factor" has been told that he cancelled a military exercise which would have trained troops on the Southern border. Of course, that would have inhibited anyone from crossing where those troops were.

The president apparently feels that a military presence on the border would send the wrong message to the world, that the U.S. is militarizing the Mexican border.

So here's my question: What's wrong with that?

Obviously things are out of control down there, are they not? Thousands of people are being killed in Mexico by drug gangs, millions are crossing the border illegally, and we're worried about sending the wrong message? That's insane. The Southern border should have been militarized a long time ago.

A new Rasmussen poll says an astounding 72 percent of Americans want the U.S. military on the border. Just 16 percent don't. Another huge victory for common sense.

But still, the federal government dithers, putting all Americans at risk.

Once again, John McCain's conversion on border security is helpful. We hope President Obama will notice and rethink the issue before anyone else gets murdered.
===
Obama Damages His Game-Changing Brand
By John Tantillo
Politically, Barack Obama managed to pull something off with health care reform that no one had been able to do thus far. This is an achievement.

Unfortunately, it is a brand-damaging achievement. To push through this landmark legislation, the president had to align himself so closely to the Democrats that his image as an outside “change bringer” is virtually ruined.

Fact is, Obama has now cast his lot with the Democratic old guard, and the Republicans are now positioned as the hardened opposition. Forget all about bipartisanship. Even if it were possible before, that window has closed now. (With their talk of repealing the legislation, the Republicans are signaling that they risk becoming the party of “no,” which isn’t good for them either — but it’s easier to fix than Obama’s problem.)

From a marketing perspective, the fundamental problem for the president is that by turning to the old guard Democrats, he has turned his back on significant segments of his Target Market. Fiscally conservative Independents and Democrats, as well as the many crossover Republicans who voted him into office, are not seeing the man they voted for occupying the presidency. They’re not seeing Candidate Obama in President Obama. This is political bait-and-switch, and it alienates a wide swath of those who were supporters of Candidate Obama.

Bottom line, the die has been cast. Obama and the Democrats are joined at the hip. What’s next?

President Obama needs to put the pedal to the metal if he wants to have a chance of re-election in 2012. This means that he might as well start pushing every piece of partisan legislation he can, because he won’t be getting his reputation as a new kind of politician back anytime soon. He can only hope that the legislation he passes (Wall Street regulation, immigration, etc.) works and makes those Target Markets he’s done such a good job of alienating happy again.

And, remember, things are always easier when you keep marketing and branding in mind.

John Tantillo is a marketing and branding expert and president of the Marketing Department of America who markets his own services as The Marketing Doctor. He is a frequent contributor to the Fox Forum and the author of a new book "People Buy Brands, Not Companies."
===
Obama Choosing to "Pass Over" Israel
By Jon Kraushar
President Obama is plaguing Israel and placating its enemies for his own political gain
Obama’s desire to out-do past presidents in achieving breakthroughs where his predecessors failed is a laudable goal except that, as with health care reform, Obama cares less about the consequences of his actions and more about his reputation as a “transformational” leader whose will justifies any way.

So strong is Obama’s desire to broker an historic formation of a Palestinian state that the president vilifies Israel over its plan to build 1,600 apartments in East Jerusalem—territory that Israel won in the 1967 Mideast war. In the Mexican-American War, ending in 1848, the United States won land that now comprises the states of California, Utah, and Nevada, as well as most of Arizona and New Mexico, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado. Is President Obama willing to give that land back to the Mexicans?

And since when has sacrificing “land for peace” resulted in anything other than sacrifices for Israel?

As Mario Loyola points out in the National Review online: “Israel withdrew from south Lebanon in the interest of peace and got a second Lebanon war instead. It withdrew from most of the West Bank, and was repaid with a thousand Israeli civilians dead. It withdrew from Gaza, forcibly uprooting thousands of Jewish settlers, and the response was thousands of rockets fired at its civilian population, attacks that continue to this day. Still, despite these horrifying object lessons in the flaws of the ‘peace process,’ the Obama administration acts as if the peace process has no flaws at all and if Israel would just make a few more concessions, everything would be okay.”

U.S. officials describe the president as “livid” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu because of the East Jerusalem construction. Is Obama equally “livid” over the Iranians’ construction of nuclear weapons?

While Israel faces an existential threat from Iran and while the Palestinians persist in calling for Israel’s destruction, Obama repeatedly calls for Israel to make more “concessions” for the sake of a “peace process” while the Palestinians make no concessions. Last year the president warned Netanyahu not to surprise the U.S. with a military attack against Iran.

Put that together and Obama is asking Israel to meekly acquiesce to its sworn enemies and to make itself vulnerable to annihilation, which is completely contrary to Jews’ vows of “never again” after the Holocaust.

Two obligations of any nation and its government are to maintain the security of its people and the sovereignty of its borders. This is all Israel is asking for Obama to accept—not with rhetoric but with the realistic understanding that America should not ask Israel to endanger itself as America should not be endangered.

In the Haggadah, the prayer book used for the Passover Seder, Jews ask: “May we be spared sorrow and adversity, and may we never suffer shame or humiliation.”

In 2008, 78 percent of American Jews voted for Obama. Perhaps one lesson of this Passover should be “never again” to that.

Communications consultant Jon Kraushar is at www.jonkraushar.net.
===
LITTLE HATS AND PARTY WHISTLES
Tim Blair
An excruciating New Yorker profile of NYT columnist Paul Krugman delivers this priceless caption:

Krugman and his wife, Robin Wells, at home with their cats, Doris Lessing and Albert Einstein.

Pretentious, much? When they’re not hanging ridiculous names on domestic animals, Paul and Robin like to throw incineration parties for anxious academics:

“I was nervous until they finally called it on Election Night,” Krugman says. “We had an Election Night party at our house, thirty or forty people.”

“The econ department, the finance department, the Woodrow Wilson school,” Wells says. “They were all very nervous, so they were grateful we were having the party, because they didn’t want to be alone. We had two or three TVs set up and we had a little portable outside fire pit and we let people throw in an effigy or whatever they wanted to get rid of for the past eight years.”

“One of our Italian colleagues threw in an effigy of Berlusconi.”

“I put out some coloring paper and markers so that people could write stuff on it and throw it into the fire. People really felt like there was stuff they wanted to shed! I had little hats and party whistles.”

And safe scissors so nobody would hurt themselves. Speaking of harm, the article doesn’t mention any fire-related trauma for either of the Krugman cats; just as well, because an incendiary Albert could burn for weeks.
===
RUDDNECKS
Tim Blair
Alabama’s Will Collier deals with Kevin Rudd, lately deploying his diplomatic skills in the direction of the Yellowhammer State:

Nobody from Alabama ever set up anything nearly as stupid as Rudd’s recent “global warming” plan that cost nearly $3 billion and led directly to over a hundred houses burning down and several deaths. That’s pretty impressive; my 100%-Alabamian grandad was an electrician, and in a 60-year career (he was still doing wiring in his 80’s), he never managed to burn down even one house.

This unusual international dispute began with comments from saccharine comedian Robin Williams:

Nothing much there to be upset about, although Williams could use some lessons on Australian Rules football. Then the PM got involved:

Furious Alabama residents have hit out at Kevin Rudd and demanded he issue an apology for his “redneck" comment, made during the PM’s spat with comedian Robin Williams.

US media organisations, including the New York Times and FOX News, picked up Mr Rudd’s remarks, which followed Williams joking “Australians are basically English rednecks”.

Alabama newspaper the Birmingham News ran an “Australia vs Alabama” headline on the most prominent section of its website and asked readers to comment.

They did not hold back, with one accusing Mr Rudd of making a “racial epithet” while another wrote “if it weren’t for some Alabamians fighting in the war, the Australians would be speaking Japanese”.

“I’m going to go to the zoo and punch a kangaroo in protest,” another wrote on the Birmingham News site.

Blood on your hands, Kevin. Williams has since apologised:

“Please let me come back to Australia without a cavity search, and if not I’d love to go to a strip club with you in New York.”

Yet still the insults fly. This is particularly wounding:

Some Alabamians agreed with Rudd’s redneck comment and defended Australia.

“I have been to Australia several times and it is a modern progressive society with strict environmental laws and good schools,” a reader wrote.

Those, sir, are fighting words.
===
BIGGER THAN KERRY
Tim Blair
“Marc Morano broke the Swift Boat story and effectively stalled John Kerry’s presidential run,” reports Esquire. “Now he is working against an even bigger enemy: belief in climate change. Somehow, he seems to be winning.”

(Via Brat)
===
OCCUPIER INTERVIEWED
Tim Blair
Leftoid website New Matilda inquires of SMH reporter Paul McGeough:

What question should we ask our next interviewee?

And McGeough‘s reply:

Australia is occupied by a foreign power and you join the resistance — where would you draw the line between name-calling and suicide-bombing?

Depends on the occupiers. In the case of McGeough, I’d just tell him to go back to Ireland. No need to bomb the fellow.
===
TIPPING POINT
Tim Blair
Via the great Paco, urgent capsizing news:

Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., was questioning Admiral Robert Willard about the Navy’s plans to relocate 8,000 personnel and their families to Guam. After noting at some length that the island is narrow, Johnson says “My fear is that the whole island will become so overly populated it will tip over and capsize.”

CL forwards an item that should calm the tilty Democrat: “Like other islands, Guam is attached to the sea floor, which makes it extremely unlikely that it will tip over, even if there are lots and lots of people on it.”
===
Lovelock: warmists know their case is weak
Andrew Bolt
Gaia guru Professor James Lovelock explains why warmist scientists are so prone to fury when questioned:

The great climate science centres around the world are more than well aware how weak their science is. If you talk to them privately they’re scared stiff of the fact that they don’t really know what the clouds and the aerosols are doing. They could be absolutely running the show. We haven’t got the physics worked out yet....

We do need scepticism about the predictions about what will happen to the climate in 50 years, or whatever. It’s almost naive, scientifically speaking, to think we can give relatively accurate predictions for future climate. There are so many unknowns that it’s wrong to do it.

(Thanks to reader John.)
===
The new puritans
Andrew Bolt
I’d have thought stripping was the last thing you’d do in a country called Iceland, and now it is.

The country’s parliament last week voted to ban striptease shows, making it a crime to turn a buck from a naked woman.

Now, normally news from Iceland - even news including words such as “stripper” and “nude” - cuts no ice with me.

But there’s a moral to this story that helps explain why Formula One driver Mark Webber protested last weekend that Australia had turned into “a bloody nanny state in which we’ve got to read an instruction book when we get out of bed - what we can do and what we can’t do”.

Mark, all the way from Iceland comes your explanation.

The telling thing about Iceland’s ban on strippers is that it’s long been a Christian country - yet it’s not Christians now forcing everyone else to live by their finger-wagging code.

True, Iceland’s Christianity is of that wobbly northern European kind, with only one in 10 believers in a pew on Sundays. Sounds a bit like Australia.

Yet the 90 per cent of Icelanders formally registered with a church have long tolerated the strip shows that a new breed of believers have now banned.

And who are these new wowsers? Why, followers of a creed that’s also growing strong here, and dangerously lacks Christianity’s tolerance.

You see, Iceland is the first country in the world to ban stripping and lapdancing not for religious reasons but feminist.
===
Boat people call for Rudd’s cabs
Andrew Bolt
I WISH Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor would stop telling such preposterous lies.

Take his press release on Thursday, boasting how our navy caught the latest boat trying to reach Australia.

“Last night, Border Protection Command successfully intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel.”

Intercepted?

“Intercept”, says my dictionary, means “to stop, seize, or interrupt in progress or course or before arrival”.

So did HMAS Broome on Wednesday night do any of the above?

Here’s the facts, as reported by the West Australian: “A boatload of asylum seekers claiming to be near Christmas Island has made contact with Australian authorities after making a triple zero emergency call.

“Police said the call was received in Perth just before 5pm Wednesday asking for help and stating the vessel was close to Christmas Island.”

And HMAS Broome was then sent to the boat - the 32nd this year already - to pick up the passengers.

This is not intercepting. This is being called like a taxi.
===
Boat people resent more boats arriving
Andrew Bolt
There is indeed a queue - or two:

The rising number of boats reaching Australia is also causing anxiety among refugee communities already here, as their hopes of bringing family diminish with each new arrival.

The refusal rate for refugees wishing to sponsor family to join them sits at 90 per cent and is set to grow as more places are filled by applicants who ask for humanitarian visas once they arrive.

The trade-off arises from a 1996 law peculiar to Australia that bundles the two categories of people together and puts a lid on the total. Frederika Steen, a former immigration official in resettlement services, said it was a ‘’systemic issue’’.

‘’They are taking away the places set aside for recruitment selection from overseas.’’
===
Let’s not tell you how we spent your cash
Andrew Bolt
Why should you be told just how Kevin Rudd squanders your billions?

THE Victorian and federal governments are refusing to release cost breakdowns for thousands of building projects in the state’s public schools, prompting claims the information is being withheld to conceal rorts and ripoffs in the $16 billion program.

In contrast to Victoria, the New South Wales government has posted cost breakdowns for each of its projects under the federally-funded schools building program on its website.
===
The arts collective draws as one
Andrew Bolt
It’s just another measure of the political disposition of scribbling class:

The Bald Archy - a parody of the Archibald Prize for portraiture - is a competition of humorous works of art, making fun of Australian celebrities and politicians…

There were 91 entries in this year’s Bald Archy, which was culled to 45 finalists.

This year’s collection is dominated by caricature of politicians - there are nine images of Tony Abbott, with many of them depicting the leader of the opposition in his red budgie smugglers. Kevin Rudd features in the finalist field only once.