What would we have if government agencies leaked any information they thought they should, including sensitive information having to do with national security and the ability of the United States to strive to create stable governments? What would happen if your top security people were undermining you with your enemies who have killed more then 3,000 innocent Americans? I think it's wrong and should be punished with a charge of treason. John Kerry, apparently doesn't mind a bit.
Here is an explanation of why we should be glad that Kerry lost his bid for president.
ABC 'THIS WEEK' HOST GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: On another -- on another front, excuse me, CIA official Mary McCarthy lost her job this week for disclosing classified information according to the CIA probably about a WASHINGTON POST story which reveal revealed the existence of secret prisons in Europe. A lot of different views. Senator Pat Roberts praised action but some former CIA officers described Mary McCarthy as a sacrificial lamb acting in the finest American tradition by revealing human rights violations. What's your view?
SEN. KERRY: Well, I read that. I don't know whether she did it or not so it's hard to have a view on it. Here's my fundamental view of this, that you have somebody being fired from the CIA for allegedly telling the truth, and you have no one fired from the white house for revealing a CIA agent in order to support a lie. That underscores what's really wrong in Washington, DC Here.
STEPHANOPOULOS: That's one issue of hypocrisy but should a CIA officer be able to make decisions on his or her --
KERRY: ... Of course not. Of course, not. A CIA agent has the obligation to uphold the law and clearly leaking is against the law, and nobody should leak. I don't like leaking. But if you're leaking to tell the truth, Americans are going to look at that, at least mitigate or think about what are the consequences that you, you know, put on that person. Obviously they're not going to keep their job, but there are other larger issues here. You know, classification in Washington is a tool that is used to hide the truth from the American people. Daniel Patrick Moynihan was eloquent and forceful in always talking about how we needed to, you know, end this endless declassification that takes place in this city, and it has become a tool to hide the truth from Americans.
STEPHANOPOULOS: These --
SEN. KERRY: So I'm glad she told the truth but she's going to obviously -- if she did it, if she did it, suffer the consequences of breaking the law.
Me Again---McCarthy had no authority to release the information she leaked. But kerry says you shouldn't leak, but if you're telling the truth, well that's okay, right John?
No, it's not right, it's wrong. And the action of this woman has endangered the efforts of freedom in the middle east and the world. I don't think McCarthy should be fired, I think she should be prosecuted for treason and if she is convicted---suffer the effects of a firing squad or other appropriate punishment.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Friday, April 14, 2006
TR Said it Best--What Do You Think?
Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on Immigrants and being an AMERICAN in 1907."In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American ... There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."Theodore Roosevelt 1907 Origins: Theodore Roosevelt was about to finish his first two-year term as governor of the state of New York when the Republican Party chose him as its candidate for Vice-President in the 1900 national election. The Republicans were victorious at the ballot box that year, but Roosevelt held the vice-presidency for less than a year
before he was elevated to the White House upon the assassination of President William McKinley on 14 September 1901, thereby becoming the youngest person ever to hold the office of President of the United States. Roosevelt was elected to a full term as president in 1904, and among his many notable achievements was his selection as a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate for his part in the negotiations leading to the Treaty of Portsmouth that ended the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.Although Roosevelt did not hold public office again after leaving the presidency in 1909 (his efforts to regain the White House as a third party candidate in 1912 proving unsuccessful), he remained active in the public political sphere; in the waning years of his life, as World War I raged in Europe and America entered the conflict on the side of the Allies, he frequently spoke of his belief that immigrants taking up residence in the U.S. should assimilate into American society as quickly as possible, learn the English language, eschew hyphenated national identities (e.g., "Italian-American") and declare their primary national allegiance to the United States of America.On 1 February 1916, for example, Roosevelt advocated measures for strengthening and ensuring the "loyalty" of American immigrants:
Theodore Roosevelt, speaking at a luncheon given yesterday by Mrs. Vincent Astor for the National Americanization Committee in the Astor Court Building, declared that one of the reasons why many German-Americans have shown greater love for their native land that for their adopted country is that the German system demands greater loyalty than is demanded in this country, and a greater contribution to the common welfare. "And all of you know I am free from a taint of neutrality," he added, "so I can say this without suspicion."The encouragement of better housing conditions and a compulsion to learn the English language, Colonel Roosevelt said, would help the process of Americanization."We cannot make the Americanization movement a success," Colonel Roosevelt said, "unless we approach it from the economic standpoint. It is true that governmentally Germany is an autocracy. But there has been a great deal more industrial freedom there than many of our old industrial communities. The German Government says we expect you to work out good results, to get together with the laborer, and yourselves decide what you are going to pay to the doctors who are to pass upon the health of the employes, and the amount of damages any employe merits. The Government insists upon a great amount of self-government by the people themselves."I feel that by insistence upon proper housing conditions we shall indirectly approach this. I want to see the immigrant know that he has got to spend a certain amount of his money in decent housing; that he will not be allowed to live on $2.50 per month board basis."Let us say to the immigrant not that we hope he will learn English, but that he has got to learn it. Let the immigrant who does not learn it go back. He has got to consider the interest of the United States or he should not stay here. He must be made to see that his opportunities in this country depend upon his knowing English and observing American standards. The employer cannot be permitted to regard him only as an industrial asset."We must in every way possible encourage the immigrant to rise, help him up, give him a chance to help himself. If we try to carry him he may well prove not well worth carrying. We must in turn insist upon his showing the same standard of fealty to this country and to join with us in raising the level of our common American citizenship."If I could I would have the kind of restriction which would not allow any immigrant to come here unless I was content that his grandchildren would be fellow-citizens of my grandchildren. They will not be so if he lives in a boarding house at $2.50 per month with ten other boarders and contracts tuberculosis and contributes to the next generation a body of citizens inferior not only morally and spiritually but also physically."1
A few months later, Roosevelt expanded on this theme in a series of Memorial Day speeches he delivered in St. Louis:
Moral treason to the United States was charged by Mr. Roosevelt, in an address delivered before the City Club, against German-Americans who seek to make their governmental representatives act in the interests of Germany rather than this country. He characterized the German-American Alliance as "an anti-American alliance," but added that he believed that its members "not only do not represent but scandalously misrepresent" the great majority of real Americans of German origin.Using the motto "America for Americans" for all Americans, whether they were born here or abroad, the former President declared that "the salvation of our people lies in having a nationalized and unified America, ready for the tremendous tasks of both war and peace.""I appeal to all our citizens," the colonel said, "no matter from what land their forefathers came, to keep this ever in mind, and to shun with scorn and contempt the sinister intriguers and mischiefmakers who would seek to divide them along lines of creed, or birthplace or of national origin."Col. Roosevelt said he came to St. Louis to speak on Americanism — to speak of and condemn the use of the hyphen "whenever it represents an effort to form political parties along racial lines or to bring pressure to bear on parties and politicians, not for American purposes, but in the interest of some group of voters of a certain national origin or of the country from which they or their fathers came."He was equally against the native American of the wrong kind and for the immigrant of the right kind, the former President declared, but the immigrant who did not become in good faith an American "is out of place" in the United States. He said each nation should be judged by its conduct and that the United States should oppose encroachment on its own rights, whether Germany, England, France or Russia be guilty of misconduct."The effort to keep our citizenship divided against itself," the colonel continued, "by the use of the hyphen and along the lines of national origin is certain to a breed of spirit of bitterness and prejudice and dislike between great bodies of our citizens. If some citizens band together as German-Americans or Irish-Americans, then after a while others are certain to band together as English-Americans or Scandinavian-Americans, and every such banding together, every attempt to make for political purposes a German-American alliance or a Scandinavian-American alliance, means down at the bottom an effort against the interest of straight-out American citizenship, an effort to bring into our nation the bitter Old World rivalries amd jealousies and hatreds."2
In a Fourth of July speech in 1917, Roosevelt urged the adoption of linguistic uniformity, including a requirement that all foreign-language newspapers published in the U.S. should also include English translations:
Touching on the matter of language, Col. Roosevelt declared that "We must have in this country but one flag, and for the speech of the people but one language, the English language. During the present war all newspapers published in German, or in the speech of any of our foes, should be required to publish, side by side with the foreign text, columns in English containing the exact translation of everything said in the foreign language. Ultimately this should be done with all newspapers published in foreign languages in this country."3
Likewise, on 27 May 1918, Roosevelt urged in a speech at Des Moines, Iowa, that English be the sole language of instruction used in American schools:
English as the sole language for schools, newspapers and other usage in this country was urged by Theodore Roosevelt in an address here tonight under the direction of the National Security League.[...]In voicing his approval of the recent proclamation by Gov. Harding, ordering that English be the only medium of instruction in public or private schools in Iowa, Col. Roosevelt said:"This is a nation — not a polyglot boarding house. There is not room in the country for any 50-50 American, nor can there be but one loyalty — to the Stars and Stripes."4
The comments quoted at this head of the page are more in the same vein; excerpts not from (as claimed in the accompanying text) a statement made by Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 (while he was still President), but from a letter written shortly before his death in January 1919, just a few months after the armistice that ended the fighting in World War I:
NEW YORK, Jan. 6. — What was the last public statement by Col. Roosevelt was read last night at an "All-American concert" here under the auspices of the American Defense society, of which he was honorary president."I cannot be with you and so all I can do is to wish you Godspeed," it read. "There may be no sagging back in the fight for Americanism merely because the war is over."There are plenty of persons who have already made the assertion that they believe the American people have a short memory and that they intend to revive all the foreign associations which more directly interfere with the complete Americanization of our people. Our principle in this matter should be absolutely simple."In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with every one else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birthplace or origin. But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American."If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn't doing his part as an American."We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile. We have room for but one language here and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, and American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house; and we have room for but one soul [sic] loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people."5
A copy of this letter, obtained from the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, can be viewed here.
before he was elevated to the White House upon the assassination of President William McKinley on 14 September 1901, thereby becoming the youngest person ever to hold the office of President of the United States. Roosevelt was elected to a full term as president in 1904, and among his many notable achievements was his selection as a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate for his part in the negotiations leading to the Treaty of Portsmouth that ended the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.Although Roosevelt did not hold public office again after leaving the presidency in 1909 (his efforts to regain the White House as a third party candidate in 1912 proving unsuccessful), he remained active in the public political sphere; in the waning years of his life, as World War I raged in Europe and America entered the conflict on the side of the Allies, he frequently spoke of his belief that immigrants taking up residence in the U.S. should assimilate into American society as quickly as possible, learn the English language, eschew hyphenated national identities (e.g., "Italian-American") and declare their primary national allegiance to the United States of America.On 1 February 1916, for example, Roosevelt advocated measures for strengthening and ensuring the "loyalty" of American immigrants:
Theodore Roosevelt, speaking at a luncheon given yesterday by Mrs. Vincent Astor for the National Americanization Committee in the Astor Court Building, declared that one of the reasons why many German-Americans have shown greater love for their native land that for their adopted country is that the German system demands greater loyalty than is demanded in this country, and a greater contribution to the common welfare. "And all of you know I am free from a taint of neutrality," he added, "so I can say this without suspicion."The encouragement of better housing conditions and a compulsion to learn the English language, Colonel Roosevelt said, would help the process of Americanization."We cannot make the Americanization movement a success," Colonel Roosevelt said, "unless we approach it from the economic standpoint. It is true that governmentally Germany is an autocracy. But there has been a great deal more industrial freedom there than many of our old industrial communities. The German Government says we expect you to work out good results, to get together with the laborer, and yourselves decide what you are going to pay to the doctors who are to pass upon the health of the employes, and the amount of damages any employe merits. The Government insists upon a great amount of self-government by the people themselves."I feel that by insistence upon proper housing conditions we shall indirectly approach this. I want to see the immigrant know that he has got to spend a certain amount of his money in decent housing; that he will not be allowed to live on $2.50 per month board basis."Let us say to the immigrant not that we hope he will learn English, but that he has got to learn it. Let the immigrant who does not learn it go back. He has got to consider the interest of the United States or he should not stay here. He must be made to see that his opportunities in this country depend upon his knowing English and observing American standards. The employer cannot be permitted to regard him only as an industrial asset."We must in every way possible encourage the immigrant to rise, help him up, give him a chance to help himself. If we try to carry him he may well prove not well worth carrying. We must in turn insist upon his showing the same standard of fealty to this country and to join with us in raising the level of our common American citizenship."If I could I would have the kind of restriction which would not allow any immigrant to come here unless I was content that his grandchildren would be fellow-citizens of my grandchildren. They will not be so if he lives in a boarding house at $2.50 per month with ten other boarders and contracts tuberculosis and contributes to the next generation a body of citizens inferior not only morally and spiritually but also physically."1
A few months later, Roosevelt expanded on this theme in a series of Memorial Day speeches he delivered in St. Louis:
Moral treason to the United States was charged by Mr. Roosevelt, in an address delivered before the City Club, against German-Americans who seek to make their governmental representatives act in the interests of Germany rather than this country. He characterized the German-American Alliance as "an anti-American alliance," but added that he believed that its members "not only do not represent but scandalously misrepresent" the great majority of real Americans of German origin.Using the motto "America for Americans" for all Americans, whether they were born here or abroad, the former President declared that "the salvation of our people lies in having a nationalized and unified America, ready for the tremendous tasks of both war and peace.""I appeal to all our citizens," the colonel said, "no matter from what land their forefathers came, to keep this ever in mind, and to shun with scorn and contempt the sinister intriguers and mischiefmakers who would seek to divide them along lines of creed, or birthplace or of national origin."Col. Roosevelt said he came to St. Louis to speak on Americanism — to speak of and condemn the use of the hyphen "whenever it represents an effort to form political parties along racial lines or to bring pressure to bear on parties and politicians, not for American purposes, but in the interest of some group of voters of a certain national origin or of the country from which they or their fathers came."He was equally against the native American of the wrong kind and for the immigrant of the right kind, the former President declared, but the immigrant who did not become in good faith an American "is out of place" in the United States. He said each nation should be judged by its conduct and that the United States should oppose encroachment on its own rights, whether Germany, England, France or Russia be guilty of misconduct."The effort to keep our citizenship divided against itself," the colonel continued, "by the use of the hyphen and along the lines of national origin is certain to a breed of spirit of bitterness and prejudice and dislike between great bodies of our citizens. If some citizens band together as German-Americans or Irish-Americans, then after a while others are certain to band together as English-Americans or Scandinavian-Americans, and every such banding together, every attempt to make for political purposes a German-American alliance or a Scandinavian-American alliance, means down at the bottom an effort against the interest of straight-out American citizenship, an effort to bring into our nation the bitter Old World rivalries amd jealousies and hatreds."2
In a Fourth of July speech in 1917, Roosevelt urged the adoption of linguistic uniformity, including a requirement that all foreign-language newspapers published in the U.S. should also include English translations:
Touching on the matter of language, Col. Roosevelt declared that "We must have in this country but one flag, and for the speech of the people but one language, the English language. During the present war all newspapers published in German, or in the speech of any of our foes, should be required to publish, side by side with the foreign text, columns in English containing the exact translation of everything said in the foreign language. Ultimately this should be done with all newspapers published in foreign languages in this country."3
Likewise, on 27 May 1918, Roosevelt urged in a speech at Des Moines, Iowa, that English be the sole language of instruction used in American schools:
English as the sole language for schools, newspapers and other usage in this country was urged by Theodore Roosevelt in an address here tonight under the direction of the National Security League.[...]In voicing his approval of the recent proclamation by Gov. Harding, ordering that English be the only medium of instruction in public or private schools in Iowa, Col. Roosevelt said:"This is a nation — not a polyglot boarding house. There is not room in the country for any 50-50 American, nor can there be but one loyalty — to the Stars and Stripes."4
The comments quoted at this head of the page are more in the same vein; excerpts not from (as claimed in the accompanying text) a statement made by Theodore Roosevelt in 1907 (while he was still President), but from a letter written shortly before his death in January 1919, just a few months after the armistice that ended the fighting in World War I:
NEW YORK, Jan. 6. — What was the last public statement by Col. Roosevelt was read last night at an "All-American concert" here under the auspices of the American Defense society, of which he was honorary president."I cannot be with you and so all I can do is to wish you Godspeed," it read. "There may be no sagging back in the fight for Americanism merely because the war is over."There are plenty of persons who have already made the assertion that they believe the American people have a short memory and that they intend to revive all the foreign associations which more directly interfere with the complete Americanization of our people. Our principle in this matter should be absolutely simple."In the first place we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with every one else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birthplace or origin. But this is predicated upon the man’s becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American."If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn't doing his part as an American."We have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile. We have room for but one language here and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, and American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house; and we have room for but one soul [sic] loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people."5
A copy of this letter, obtained from the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, can be viewed here.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Here's the Problem with the Immigration "Compromise"
Statement of Sen. Jeff Sessions on the Immigration Bill Compromise
Thursday, April 6, 2006
“The compromise bill, unfortunately, is essentially the same as the Kennedy-McCain bill that was crushed by a 60 - 39 vote today. Therefore, without substantial amendment, I will not vote for it. For example, it allows for more permanent residents than before – including at least three times the annual current employment green card level – all without serious evaluation. We can fix the immigration system in our country, but we first need a commitment from the President and Congress to ensure that our borders are secure. Then we can decide how to fairly and humanely treat the 11 million illegal immigrants who are already here and determine how many people can come in the future.”
Thursday, April 6, 2006
“The compromise bill, unfortunately, is essentially the same as the Kennedy-McCain bill that was crushed by a 60 - 39 vote today. Therefore, without substantial amendment, I will not vote for it. For example, it allows for more permanent residents than before – including at least three times the annual current employment green card level – all without serious evaluation. We can fix the immigration system in our country, but we first need a commitment from the President and Congress to ensure that our borders are secure. Then we can decide how to fairly and humanely treat the 11 million illegal immigrants who are already here and determine how many people can come in the future.”
Illegal Aliens Vs. Common Sense
If you've watched the demostrations in various cities around the nation by what are thought to be illegal aliens, you probably are wondering what's going on.
It's pretty simple and scary at the same time.
First, the media reports these demonstrations are being led by groups that support the overthrow of the United States government, they hate America and want to use this to create a wave of undocumented voters to sway elections to give the Democrats the congress, raise taxes and destroy our nation.
I'm not saying that, that's what the media reports.
It appears that people who are in the United States without proper documentation are now demanding that they be given special treatment to gain citizenship.
The proposed reform bill that was going through the Congress wasn't a good compromise because, among other things, it gave amnesty to those illegals who had already gone through the courts and told to get out of the nation.
There are laws, and if those laws aren't followed, the government needs to get tough, and since we are the government, we need to tell our congressmen how we feel.
Our borders aren't stopping ilegals from entering the U.S. That needs to be fixed.
If your home's hot water heater is leaking, you don't let the leak to continue while you install a new hot water heater, YOU FIX THE LEAK.
So, congressmen, FIX IT. Enforce the laws. And by the way, why don't you change the law back to before Bill Clinton changed the immigration rules back in the 1990's and MAKE SURE THAT anyone who is immigrating to the U. S. MUST SPEAK ENGLISH.
That's not too much to ask.
And, isn't it time we demanded that someone who wants to become an American believes in America. I'm very happy of immigrants who want to change into Americans, but that means you learn the language and the culture--you aren't a ______/American.
Remember when? The United States of America is the only place that anyone, someone from France, England, Pakistan or Russia can come and be an AMERICAN. No American can go to France and become a Frenchman, Englishman, Pakistani or Russian.
We need these people who aspire to become Americans to care about our nation as much as we do.
It's time to care about this country and our ideals, or we will lose them to the ages.
You can't just get a change in your papers and live in America without believing in America, with all the warts, we are still a world leader for human rights, freedom and all that is good in the world.
Anyone who attempts to come to the U. S. needs to believe that too, or they need to go home.
It's pretty simple and scary at the same time.
First, the media reports these demonstrations are being led by groups that support the overthrow of the United States government, they hate America and want to use this to create a wave of undocumented voters to sway elections to give the Democrats the congress, raise taxes and destroy our nation.
I'm not saying that, that's what the media reports.
It appears that people who are in the United States without proper documentation are now demanding that they be given special treatment to gain citizenship.
The proposed reform bill that was going through the Congress wasn't a good compromise because, among other things, it gave amnesty to those illegals who had already gone through the courts and told to get out of the nation.
There are laws, and if those laws aren't followed, the government needs to get tough, and since we are the government, we need to tell our congressmen how we feel.
Our borders aren't stopping ilegals from entering the U.S. That needs to be fixed.
If your home's hot water heater is leaking, you don't let the leak to continue while you install a new hot water heater, YOU FIX THE LEAK.
So, congressmen, FIX IT. Enforce the laws. And by the way, why don't you change the law back to before Bill Clinton changed the immigration rules back in the 1990's and MAKE SURE THAT anyone who is immigrating to the U. S. MUST SPEAK ENGLISH.
That's not too much to ask.
And, isn't it time we demanded that someone who wants to become an American believes in America. I'm very happy of immigrants who want to change into Americans, but that means you learn the language and the culture--you aren't a ______/American.
Remember when? The United States of America is the only place that anyone, someone from France, England, Pakistan or Russia can come and be an AMERICAN. No American can go to France and become a Frenchman, Englishman, Pakistani or Russian.
We need these people who aspire to become Americans to care about our nation as much as we do.
It's time to care about this country and our ideals, or we will lose them to the ages.
You can't just get a change in your papers and live in America without believing in America, with all the warts, we are still a world leader for human rights, freedom and all that is good in the world.
Anyone who attempts to come to the U. S. needs to believe that too, or they need to go home.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Colin Powell Rocks
It was a wonderful experience hearing former General and Secretary of State Colin Powell recently.
Here are some of the highlights.
What makes a great leader?
A great leader is someone who inspires someone to follow. He said there could be no greater compliment than for someone to say, "I'll follow you just out of curiosity."
A leader is someone who fights for their employees, solves their problems and demands the support what they need to be successful.
Trust is also another factor that is extremely important for a leader. If people don't trust and respect their leader, there is no leadership.
Here's an example of trust: and international crisis Powell had thrown in his lap one week while serving as SoS and how leadership and trust made the difference.
The Spanish Ambassador called Powell and said, "You've got an international problem that you have to solve."
What is it? Powell didn't know so he said, I'll call you back. Then he yelled at his staff demanding to know why there was in international incident in the Mediterranean and he didn't know about it.
His staff explained the problem is what's called the Parsley Island, a small patch of land off the coast of Spain about the size of a football field. The island had been Spain's but Morocco invaded the uninhabited island and put their flag on the island.
He called the Spanish officials and asked why is this "our" problem, isn't it a problem with Spain and Morocco?
No, the Spanish official explained, it's your problem, because Spain is a member of the European Union and Morocco is a member of the Arab League.
Great. He was heading home for a weekend and his grandchildren were coming to visit and he didn't want to mess with this mess.
Spain repelled the Moroccans, the event was over, so Powell said, it's over Spain has the island back, no one hurt, no harm-no foul.
Spain said, great, write up a treaty and sign it.
Powell said, why me?
Why wouldn't Spain and Morocco sign the treaty?
Spain said, no, you write up an agreement, send it to us, we'll approve it and you sign it, it will have more impact.
So Powell wrote a short document, saying it was short because there weren't any lawyers in his house that weekend, he emailed it to Spain and to Moroccan Officials. Spain ran it by King Juan Carlos, it's okay with him, but Moroccan officials said King Muhammad VI was in a car in the desert and couldn't be reached.
Powell said, I've known the King since he was the Crown Prince, get him on the phone.
Minutes later, his phone rang, it was the King.
Your Highness, Powell explained, I'd like your permission to sign the document on behalf of Spain and Morocco to settle this dispute.
King Muhammad VI explained he hadn't seen the document and would rather see it before granting permission.
Powell then said, Your Highness, I knew your father; I visited with you in your home while you were the Crown Prince. I would never do anything to harm you or damage the reputation of Morocco or the relationship between your nation and the United States. Trust me on this, Your Highness.
"I trust you Mr. Secretary," the King said.
Powell signed the agreement and spent the afternoon with his grandchildren as planned.
Twelve Brazilian; How Many is That?
Twelve Brazilian High School students visited the United States. That's something Powell encourages to help the ideals of America spread around the world to provide insight into our real people, not the sit-com image of America.
He met them in Washington, and when he visited Brazil, he wanted to follow up with the students.
They met. What do you remember from your visit, he asked.
One student said people laughed at him when he put ketchup on his pizza. Powell indicated that most people think pizza has enough tomato sauce on it and no more is needed.
Another complained they served milk with pizza at his school in the U. S.
Powell explained how he would love to explain how the dairy lobby works but there wasn't time.
Then one student explained what happened in Chicago. They went out one night without their sponsor to a restaurant. When the bill arrived they found that they didn't have enough money to pay the bill.
They explained to the waitress that they didn’t have the money their sponsor wasn’t with them they were from Brazil and would arrange to pay the bill later.
The waitress went and spoke to the manager and then she returned.
We can go get the money, they explained again, but the waitress said, “Don’t worry about it.” The manager explained that he came to the United States as a student as well, and he wanted them to go home and tell everyone they know about the courtesy and kindness they received when they were in the United States.
Bring Students Here
After 9/11 there was a concerted crackdown on illegal and improper immigration. Powell told the President that the new tougher rules were preventing the world’s brightest students from coming to the United States to learn. Instead, they can go to England, Germany or France and we need to make sure they come here. He encouraged the loosening of the rules to bring those students here because in addition to educating the world about the real America, it also provides wonderful economic benefits to universities and colleges because they pay out of state tuition.
I’m Not OBL
Powell now makes more money speaking than he ever did in the military and government. After he left the State Department, he found himself trying to fly home after a trip. He was arranging another flight.
So, he went to the ticket counter, purchased a one-way ticket, with cash, and didn’t have any luggage. He did everything that a terrorist would do.
So despite his notoriety, when he came through the metal detectors, he had every red flag raised, so they asked him to take his shoes off and take off some clothing items.
While he stood there, the attendant was waving the magnetic wand around his body while he had his arms outstretched. Since his face has been on the cover or Time and Newsweek, almost everyone knows Colin Powell; in fact, he was picked as one of the sexiest grandparents by AARP. So lots of people said hello to the former Secretary as they walked by while he was being searched.
The attendant even looked up and said, “Hey, you are Colin Powell, aren’t you?” To that Powell said, that’s right, now why don’t you go out and capture Osama bin Laden?
Corvettes and Airplanes
So, what does Powell do after being among the most powerful people in the world and what does he miss the most?
Powell says the first thing he did when he retired was to sit and have coffee with his wife, Alma. It was very interesting when they sat across from each other and she explained that the toilet was leaking. He asked her, “What do you want me to do about that?”
It was about that time that Powell realized he had to find something to occupy his time. But first, everyone is allowed to buy a toy. It’s cheaper than a mistress and usually has the same effect.
For General Powell, his toy was a Corvette. It was well known that Powell bought a Corvette, and the General Motors Corporation took note of the General’s affection for the car. In fact, a couple of months after Colin purchased his toy, Chevrolet called him, smelling a marketing opportunity.
“How do you like your Corvette, General?” is what the representative asked. “I love it,” he said. Then there was the offer.
“General, I don’t know if you know this yet, but this year the Indianapolis Pace Car is going to be a Corvette. A Red Corvette,” the GM Spokesman said.
“That’s very nice, but what does that have to do with me,” Powell asked.
“We’d like you to drive it in the Indy 500.”
For the General, this was too tempting to miss. He went to the driving course and practiced in the Indy Pace car and then the magic moment came. Officials explained, General Powell, you’ve got the track for the next 30 minutes to practice. Powell says he got the Corvette up to 120 miles per hour. He took his son with him and his son was scared to death.
“As long as I live, my life will be measured against the excitement of driving the pace car in the Indy 500, it was one of the most incredible moments of my life,” Powell said.
And the thing he misses most about being Secretary of State? The airplane. No, not just any plane, but the Secretary of State’s Plane, the Boeing 757 with the United States of America painted on the side. He loved it. And he explained to those who were in the Air Force attending, “When I arrived at Andrews Air Force Base, security would be abuzz, and I would walk on a red carpet for me, and walk all the way to the airplane. When my right foot touched the bottom of the stairway, the first engine would fire. And when I sat in my seat and a Diet Coke was placed in my cup holder, we would begin our takeoff,” the General explained.
“But they took my plane away, and gave it to Condi.”
He really misses that plane.
And Then There is Elvis
The Prime Minister of Japan loves America, and he loves Elvis Presley. The Prime Minister explained how he believes that a song by Elvis explains the relationship between the United States and Japan. That song is “I Love you, I Want You, I Need You” and Powell agrees.
Of course, the Japanese Prime Minister wasn’t ready for Powell’s admission that he knew Elvis. In fact, Powell served in Germany at the same time the King was stationed there. Powell explained that he knew Elvis and that Elvis is STILL ALIVE.
“He is?” the Prime Minister asked.
Here are some of the highlights.
What makes a great leader?
A great leader is someone who inspires someone to follow. He said there could be no greater compliment than for someone to say, "I'll follow you just out of curiosity."
A leader is someone who fights for their employees, solves their problems and demands the support what they need to be successful.
Trust is also another factor that is extremely important for a leader. If people don't trust and respect their leader, there is no leadership.
Here's an example of trust: and international crisis Powell had thrown in his lap one week while serving as SoS and how leadership and trust made the difference.
The Spanish Ambassador called Powell and said, "You've got an international problem that you have to solve."
What is it? Powell didn't know so he said, I'll call you back. Then he yelled at his staff demanding to know why there was in international incident in the Mediterranean and he didn't know about it.
His staff explained the problem is what's called the Parsley Island, a small patch of land off the coast of Spain about the size of a football field. The island had been Spain's but Morocco invaded the uninhabited island and put their flag on the island.
He called the Spanish officials and asked why is this "our" problem, isn't it a problem with Spain and Morocco?
No, the Spanish official explained, it's your problem, because Spain is a member of the European Union and Morocco is a member of the Arab League.
Great. He was heading home for a weekend and his grandchildren were coming to visit and he didn't want to mess with this mess.
Spain repelled the Moroccans, the event was over, so Powell said, it's over Spain has the island back, no one hurt, no harm-no foul.
Spain said, great, write up a treaty and sign it.
Powell said, why me?
Why wouldn't Spain and Morocco sign the treaty?
Spain said, no, you write up an agreement, send it to us, we'll approve it and you sign it, it will have more impact.
So Powell wrote a short document, saying it was short because there weren't any lawyers in his house that weekend, he emailed it to Spain and to Moroccan Officials. Spain ran it by King Juan Carlos, it's okay with him, but Moroccan officials said King Muhammad VI was in a car in the desert and couldn't be reached.
Powell said, I've known the King since he was the Crown Prince, get him on the phone.
Minutes later, his phone rang, it was the King.
Your Highness, Powell explained, I'd like your permission to sign the document on behalf of Spain and Morocco to settle this dispute.
King Muhammad VI explained he hadn't seen the document and would rather see it before granting permission.
Powell then said, Your Highness, I knew your father; I visited with you in your home while you were the Crown Prince. I would never do anything to harm you or damage the reputation of Morocco or the relationship between your nation and the United States. Trust me on this, Your Highness.
"I trust you Mr. Secretary," the King said.
Powell signed the agreement and spent the afternoon with his grandchildren as planned.
Twelve Brazilian; How Many is That?
Twelve Brazilian High School students visited the United States. That's something Powell encourages to help the ideals of America spread around the world to provide insight into our real people, not the sit-com image of America.
He met them in Washington, and when he visited Brazil, he wanted to follow up with the students.
They met. What do you remember from your visit, he asked.
One student said people laughed at him when he put ketchup on his pizza. Powell indicated that most people think pizza has enough tomato sauce on it and no more is needed.
Another complained they served milk with pizza at his school in the U. S.
Powell explained how he would love to explain how the dairy lobby works but there wasn't time.
Then one student explained what happened in Chicago. They went out one night without their sponsor to a restaurant. When the bill arrived they found that they didn't have enough money to pay the bill.
They explained to the waitress that they didn’t have the money their sponsor wasn’t with them they were from Brazil and would arrange to pay the bill later.
The waitress went and spoke to the manager and then she returned.
We can go get the money, they explained again, but the waitress said, “Don’t worry about it.” The manager explained that he came to the United States as a student as well, and he wanted them to go home and tell everyone they know about the courtesy and kindness they received when they were in the United States.
Bring Students Here
After 9/11 there was a concerted crackdown on illegal and improper immigration. Powell told the President that the new tougher rules were preventing the world’s brightest students from coming to the United States to learn. Instead, they can go to England, Germany or France and we need to make sure they come here. He encouraged the loosening of the rules to bring those students here because in addition to educating the world about the real America, it also provides wonderful economic benefits to universities and colleges because they pay out of state tuition.
I’m Not OBL
Powell now makes more money speaking than he ever did in the military and government. After he left the State Department, he found himself trying to fly home after a trip. He was arranging another flight.
So, he went to the ticket counter, purchased a one-way ticket, with cash, and didn’t have any luggage. He did everything that a terrorist would do.
So despite his notoriety, when he came through the metal detectors, he had every red flag raised, so they asked him to take his shoes off and take off some clothing items.
While he stood there, the attendant was waving the magnetic wand around his body while he had his arms outstretched. Since his face has been on the cover or Time and Newsweek, almost everyone knows Colin Powell; in fact, he was picked as one of the sexiest grandparents by AARP. So lots of people said hello to the former Secretary as they walked by while he was being searched.
The attendant even looked up and said, “Hey, you are Colin Powell, aren’t you?” To that Powell said, that’s right, now why don’t you go out and capture Osama bin Laden?
Corvettes and Airplanes
So, what does Powell do after being among the most powerful people in the world and what does he miss the most?
Powell says the first thing he did when he retired was to sit and have coffee with his wife, Alma. It was very interesting when they sat across from each other and she explained that the toilet was leaking. He asked her, “What do you want me to do about that?”
It was about that time that Powell realized he had to find something to occupy his time. But first, everyone is allowed to buy a toy. It’s cheaper than a mistress and usually has the same effect.
For General Powell, his toy was a Corvette. It was well known that Powell bought a Corvette, and the General Motors Corporation took note of the General’s affection for the car. In fact, a couple of months after Colin purchased his toy, Chevrolet called him, smelling a marketing opportunity.
“How do you like your Corvette, General?” is what the representative asked. “I love it,” he said. Then there was the offer.
“General, I don’t know if you know this yet, but this year the Indianapolis Pace Car is going to be a Corvette. A Red Corvette,” the GM Spokesman said.
“That’s very nice, but what does that have to do with me,” Powell asked.
“We’d like you to drive it in the Indy 500.”
For the General, this was too tempting to miss. He went to the driving course and practiced in the Indy Pace car and then the magic moment came. Officials explained, General Powell, you’ve got the track for the next 30 minutes to practice. Powell says he got the Corvette up to 120 miles per hour. He took his son with him and his son was scared to death.
“As long as I live, my life will be measured against the excitement of driving the pace car in the Indy 500, it was one of the most incredible moments of my life,” Powell said.
And the thing he misses most about being Secretary of State? The airplane. No, not just any plane, but the Secretary of State’s Plane, the Boeing 757 with the United States of America painted on the side. He loved it. And he explained to those who were in the Air Force attending, “When I arrived at Andrews Air Force Base, security would be abuzz, and I would walk on a red carpet for me, and walk all the way to the airplane. When my right foot touched the bottom of the stairway, the first engine would fire. And when I sat in my seat and a Diet Coke was placed in my cup holder, we would begin our takeoff,” the General explained.
“But they took my plane away, and gave it to Condi.”
He really misses that plane.
And Then There is Elvis
The Prime Minister of Japan loves America, and he loves Elvis Presley. The Prime Minister explained how he believes that a song by Elvis explains the relationship between the United States and Japan. That song is “I Love you, I Want You, I Need You” and Powell agrees.
Of course, the Japanese Prime Minister wasn’t ready for Powell’s admission that he knew Elvis. In fact, Powell served in Germany at the same time the King was stationed there. Powell explained that he knew Elvis and that Elvis is STILL ALIVE.
“He is?” the Prime Minister asked.
Maybe This is Why She Went Wacky?
You may have seen the story about Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney getting into a tussle with a Capitol Hill Policeman and slugging the officer.
McKinney complains that she was touched inappropriately and that she was treated poorly because she is black. If someone uses their race as an excuse for their bad behavior, it's wrong. It is especially bad when it involves an elected public official.
The plot thickens....
McKinney Admits Misusing Taxpayer Money
POSTED: 3:40 pm EDT April 3, 2006
UPDATED: 3:57 pm EDT April 3, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Cynthia McKinney admits that she broke government rules by spending money to fly a celebrity to Atlanta.
Channel 2 Action News has uncovered documents showing McKinney, D-Ga., spent about $1,000 of taxpayer's money to fly singer Isaac Hayes to Georgia to help dedicate a new office in Atlanta.
The money came from a fund members of Congress are supposed to use for office supplies.
Using the money to pay for Hayes' airline ticket and hotel expenses is a violation of strict congressional rules. Those rules state that taxpayer money can only be used for "travel by Members, Members' employees and vendors. A vendor is an employee of a private company that provides maintenance and support for equipment and software..."
Watchdog groups call taxpayer-funded celebrity travel a blatant waste of taxpayer money.
McKinney staffers say they will reimburse the congressional fund for the cost of Hayes' flight and hotel room.
So this is why she's raising the race card? Oh yeah, she says that because the Capitol Hill Police Officer tried to keep her from getting into the capitol without going through the metal detector of showing her official house pin, she said this is more about race than security.
This is getting old. When will people begin taking responsibility for their actions and avoid trying to use some sort of excuse to avoid taking responsibility.
Let's stop using race as a way to attack others and provide an excuse for bad decisions. Don't let the media let Cong. Cynthia McKinney off easy, when she's the one who should be wearing stripes and sitting in the grey bar hotel.
McKinney complains that she was touched inappropriately and that she was treated poorly because she is black. If someone uses their race as an excuse for their bad behavior, it's wrong. It is especially bad when it involves an elected public official.
The plot thickens....
McKinney Admits Misusing Taxpayer Money
POSTED: 3:40 pm EDT April 3, 2006
UPDATED: 3:57 pm EDT April 3, 2006
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Cynthia McKinney admits that she broke government rules by spending money to fly a celebrity to Atlanta.
Channel 2 Action News has uncovered documents showing McKinney, D-Ga., spent about $1,000 of taxpayer's money to fly singer Isaac Hayes to Georgia to help dedicate a new office in Atlanta.
The money came from a fund members of Congress are supposed to use for office supplies.
Using the money to pay for Hayes' airline ticket and hotel expenses is a violation of strict congressional rules. Those rules state that taxpayer money can only be used for "travel by Members, Members' employees and vendors. A vendor is an employee of a private company that provides maintenance and support for equipment and software..."
Watchdog groups call taxpayer-funded celebrity travel a blatant waste of taxpayer money.
McKinney staffers say they will reimburse the congressional fund for the cost of Hayes' flight and hotel room.
So this is why she's raising the race card? Oh yeah, she says that because the Capitol Hill Police Officer tried to keep her from getting into the capitol without going through the metal detector of showing her official house pin, she said this is more about race than security.
This is getting old. When will people begin taking responsibility for their actions and avoid trying to use some sort of excuse to avoid taking responsibility.
Let's stop using race as a way to attack others and provide an excuse for bad decisions. Don't let the media let Cong. Cynthia McKinney off easy, when she's the one who should be wearing stripes and sitting in the grey bar hotel.
Walter Cronkite—She Ain’t
Katie Might Have a New Gig—Who Cares?
The story came down of the weekend, and it wasn’t even close to being a shock.
COURIC SET TO MAKE HISTORY; MAY ANNOUNCE CBS ANCHOR JOB THIS WEEK
Katie Couric's deal to move to CBS NEWS is completed in principle, and an announcement that she is leaving NBC might come as early as this week, TV WEEK reports.In taking on the CBS job, Ms. Couric would be the first female to serve as sole anchor of a network flagship newscast.Michele Greppi reports: The first announcement should be that Ms. Couric is leaving the Peacock Network and the viewers who have spent their mornings with Ms. Couric for 15 years. The official announcement of CBS's dream come true-landing Ms. Couric as its evening star- would follow, perhaps next week.My reaction: Big Deal. Let’s see, a woman who has been able to keep ratings in the morning slot for NBC for 15 years and is a known and noted liberal, will now be in the anchor chair for CBS News?
So the only thing that has changed at CBS is the GENDER of the snews anchor? She’ll be out of CBS in less than 5 years, maybe 3, because she isn’t strong enough or conservative enough to be the official news reader of America. Walter Cronkite—She Ain’t.
The story came down of the weekend, and it wasn’t even close to being a shock.
COURIC SET TO MAKE HISTORY; MAY ANNOUNCE CBS ANCHOR JOB THIS WEEK
Katie Couric's deal to move to CBS NEWS is completed in principle, and an announcement that she is leaving NBC might come as early as this week, TV WEEK reports.In taking on the CBS job, Ms. Couric would be the first female to serve as sole anchor of a network flagship newscast.Michele Greppi reports: The first announcement should be that Ms. Couric is leaving the Peacock Network and the viewers who have spent their mornings with Ms. Couric for 15 years. The official announcement of CBS's dream come true-landing Ms. Couric as its evening star- would follow, perhaps next week.My reaction: Big Deal. Let’s see, a woman who has been able to keep ratings in the morning slot for NBC for 15 years and is a known and noted liberal, will now be in the anchor chair for CBS News?
So the only thing that has changed at CBS is the GENDER of the snews anchor? She’ll be out of CBS in less than 5 years, maybe 3, because she isn’t strong enough or conservative enough to be the official news reader of America. Walter Cronkite—She Ain’t.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
How Soon We Forget....
Here's what's happening in our world.
Newsweek
April 10, 2006 issue - If movie trailers are supposed to cause a reaction, the preview for "United 93" more than succeeds. Featuring no voice-over and no famous actors, it begins with images of a beautiful morning and passengers boarding an airplane. It takes you a minute to realize what the movie's even about. That's when a plane hits the World Trade Center. The effect is visceral. When the trailer played before "Inside Man" last week at the famed Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, audience members began calling out, "Too soon!" In New York City, where 9/11 remains an open wound, the response was even more dramatic. The AMC Loews theater on Manhattan's Upper West Side took the rare step of pulling the trailer from its screens after several complaints. "One lady was crying," says one of the theater's managers, Kevin Adjodha. "She was saying we shouldn't have [played the trailer]. That this was wrong ... I don't think people are ready for this."
We should remember 9/11 everyday, and hope America doens't forget the tragedy. Because if we are afraid to recognize this event and the impact on the world, then our resolve to fight these terrorists around the world will be undermined.
Currently the opposition party is attempting to accomplish that, I hope they fail miserably.
In the mean time, pray for the troops, their families and those of all faiths who are striving to promote freely elected governments around the world, we need them now more than ever.
No one ever said the war against terror would be easy, or it would be over in a few weeks.
Newsweek
April 10, 2006 issue - If movie trailers are supposed to cause a reaction, the preview for "United 93" more than succeeds. Featuring no voice-over and no famous actors, it begins with images of a beautiful morning and passengers boarding an airplane. It takes you a minute to realize what the movie's even about. That's when a plane hits the World Trade Center. The effect is visceral. When the trailer played before "Inside Man" last week at the famed Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, audience members began calling out, "Too soon!" In New York City, where 9/11 remains an open wound, the response was even more dramatic. The AMC Loews theater on Manhattan's Upper West Side took the rare step of pulling the trailer from its screens after several complaints. "One lady was crying," says one of the theater's managers, Kevin Adjodha. "She was saying we shouldn't have [played the trailer]. That this was wrong ... I don't think people are ready for this."
We should remember 9/11 everyday, and hope America doens't forget the tragedy. Because if we are afraid to recognize this event and the impact on the world, then our resolve to fight these terrorists around the world will be undermined.
Currently the opposition party is attempting to accomplish that, I hope they fail miserably.
In the mean time, pray for the troops, their families and those of all faiths who are striving to promote freely elected governments around the world, we need them now more than ever.
No one ever said the war against terror would be easy, or it would be over in a few weeks.
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