Virgil Endorses Dwight D. Eisenhower for the Republican Nomination for President.

Hobson's Choice On Immigration

"I have many good liberal friends who, for humanitarian reasons, disagree with me about immigration. Their position is irrational and ultimately inhumane. It will not work. It fails to recognize such realities as: a bloated U.S. population; a disastrous U.S. population growth rate that is fed primarily by immigration; 36 million Americans who went hungry in 2006; the 37 percent of us who cannot afford needed medical care; overburdened schools; sprawling land-use patterns; gluttonous resource consumption; and a sagging transportation system. A nation struggling with such burdens cannot deal with essentially unlimited immigration. . . " Art Hobson, Against Immigration, For Immigrants, via Jonah.
Music provided by Arlo & Emmylou.

Did Bhutto Arrange Her Own Death To Make Musharraf Look Bad?

If so, it was a waste. Bush's buddy and protegee does fine on his own.
"A team of Scotland Yard investigators has arrived in Pakistan to assist authorities in the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was killed on December 27 in a terrorist attack. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf had initially rejected offers of international assistance with the inquiry, but changed tack mid-week, saying he was "displeased with the investigation," and that "we need more experience, maybe more forensic and technical experience that our people don't have." But given that the crime scene was hosed down within hours of the attack, and Bhutto was buried a week ago without a autopsy, the much vaunted Scotland Yard will be able to lend little more than a veneer of impartial credibility to the investigation into her death, which many Pakistanis attribute to government hands." Was Bhutto to Blame for Her Death? by ARYN BAKER in Time.

Jose Cuervo from Jim, Barbara, Shelly & David.

Esteban: It's ok to flick your hurley over this one, but please enjoy it in moderation. Barbara will hire a wino on you in a second.

It's the War, Stupid.

"I can't tell you how bad I feel for Senator Clinton tonight. I don't believe she was ever really for this war. But she did -- and continued to do -- what she thought was the politically expedient thing to eventually get elected. And she was wrong. And tonight she must go to sleep wondering what would have happened if she had voted her conscience instead of her calculator." "It's the War," Says Iowa to Hillary -- And a "Happy Blue Year" To All! ...from Michael Moore
Thanks to Dr. Steve

The Politics of Fear.

“. . . the Clintons. . . followed the Bush blueprint in Iowa and played the fear card again and again and again. Be afraid of Obama, they warned us. Be afraid of something new, something different. He might meet with our enemies. His middle name is Hussein. He went to a madrassa school. A vote for him would be like rolling the dice, the former president said on Charlie Rose. And the people of Iowa heard him, and chose to roll the dice. . . . for tonight at least . . . we can look at ourselves with pride. This is the kind of country America was meant to be, even if you are for Clinton or Edwards -- or even Huckabee or Giuliani. It's the kind of country we've always imagined ourselves being -- even if in the last seven years we fell horribly short: a young country, an optimistic country, a forward-looking country, a country not afraid to take risks or to dream big. Bill Clinton has privately told friends that if Hillary didn't win, it would be because of the two weeks that followed her shaky performance in the Philadelphia debate. But it wasn't those two weeks. Indeed, if we were to pinpoint one decisive moment, it would be Bill Clinton on Charlie Rose, arrogant and entitled, dismissive and fear-mongering. And then Bill Clinton giving us a refresher course in '90s-style truth-twisting and obfuscation -- making stuff up about always having been against the war, and about Hillary having always been for every good decision during his presidency and against every bad one, from Ireland to Sarajevo to Rwanda. So voters in Iowa remembered the past and decided that they didn't want to go back. They wanted to move ahead. Even if that meant rolling the dice. . . .for tonight, I am going to savor it -- and cross my fingers that it may stand as the day that fear as a winning political tactic died. Killed by an "unlikely" candidate -- as Obama called himself again and again -- who seized the moment, and reminded America of its youth and the optimism it longs to recapture.”
Obama Wins Iowa: Why Everyone Has a Reason to Celebrate Tonight -Ariana Huffington
Cartoon by Mike Thompson of the Detroit Free Press.
I'm for Edwards today, but was moved byAriana's piece. There is a gremlin in me, however, that says "Just because the fear mongers are self-serving, lying bastards doesn't mean that there's nothing to be afraid of out there, possibly including charismatic politicians who support Joe Lieberman and Baptist preachers who don't believe in evolution and think that they know the mind of God.

May You Flick Your Opponent's Hurley? That's One of the Differences Between Camogie & Hurling.

There are very few differences between the two games. The following are the main differences:
Playing gear:
¨ All Camogie players, including the goalkeeper, must wear the same jersey. The goalkeeper in Hurling must wear a distinctive jersey.
¨ Skirt/divided skirt/skort is worn in Camogie
¨ Hurling: Shorts are worn
Sliotair:
¨ Camogie: Weight: 90-110 grams Size: 21cm in circumference
¨ Hurling: Weight: 110-120grams Size: 23-25cm
Scores:
¨ Camogie: Handpassed goal is allowed
¨ Hurling: Handpassed goal is not allowed
Frees:
¨ Camogie: 45 metre is awarded
¨ Hurling: 65 metre is awarded
Dropping the hurley:
¨ Camogie: Hurley may be dropped to handpass the sliotar provided it is not dangerous to do so
¨ Hurling: It is a foul to drop the hurley to handpass
Solo:
¨ Camogie: The sliotar may be taken twice into the hand from the hurley regardless of how the player gained possession
¨ Hurling: The sliotar may only be taken once into the hand from the hurley if it was already caught with the hand
Tackling:
¨ Camogie: Shouldering is not allowed
¨ Hurling: Side–to-side charge is permitted
Flicking of Hurley in the air and on the ground
¨ Camogie: A player may flick an opponent’s hurley from the ground or in the air with her own hurley
¨ Hurling: It is a foul to tip an opponent’s hurley up with a player’s hurley or foot. It is also a foul to tip an opponent’s hurley in the air
Yellow & Red Cards
¨ Camogie: Red cards only are used to send a player off for dangerous play. The player is then dealt with by the Committee in charge of the competition
Players may be sent off for the duration of a game for persistent fouling/dissent. The player’s name is noted by the Committee in charge of the competition and should this player be sent off on a second occassion for the duration of a game, she will have to appear before the Committee in charge.
¨ Hurling: Yellow card for first bookable offence
Red card – to dismiss a player after he receives a second Yellow card
- straight Red Card for dangerous play

Thanks to the Carrigaline Camogie Club.

Hurling Awards for 2007

Score of the year: Henry Shefflin, All-Ireland SHC Final, Kilkenny v Limerick.
Player of the year: Dan Shanahan (Waterford)
Honourable mention: Tommy Walsh (Kilkenny).
Personality of the year: Richie Bennis (Limerick)
Honourable mention: Dan Shanahan (Waterford)
Game of the year: Limerick's Munster SHC three-part saga with Tipperary.
Highlight of the year: Henry Shefflin and the McGarrys lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Lowlight of the year: The Semplegate saga.
(Dis)Honourable mention: The Dublin county board for deliberately flouting the GAA rulebook in an attempt to free Peadar Carton for the All-Ireland under-21 final.
Flop of the year: Ger Loughnane (Galway manager)
One to look out for in 2008: Shane O'Neill (Cork)
Honourable mention: Joe Canning (Galway)
From Setantasports.com 2007 hurling awards by Brian Murphy.

As Huckabee & Romney Attack Each Other, Ahmadinejad Surges In Iowa Polls.

For more info, see Tennessee Guerilla Women's Romney v. Huckabee Gay Marriage Attack Ad & Villagers With Torches, Exaggerated homphobia, a sign of homosexuality?.

A Look Back at Paradise Made Possible By John Prine. Sorry I Didn't Do One for Coal Hill.

A Parting Glass to Tommy Makem-Good Night & Joy Be With You.

. . . since it falls unto my lot,
That I should rise and you should not,
I'll gently rise and softly call,
Good night and joy be with you.

More Bush/Cheney Sneaky Stuff - Attack on Wolves Who Have Never Shot Anyone In The Face.

"Officials in the Bush/Cheney Administration are moving forward with plans to allow wolves to be killed in Idaho and Wyoming even before the animals are removed from the list of federally protected endangered and threatened species. . . .Pups could be killed under Idaho’s wolf plan.Click here to help stop them and their 'efforts to let states start killing wolves and to delay de-listing of gray wolves in the Northern Rockies.'"
"[ . . . during] the holidays . . . the . . . Administration have been working behind the scenes to pave the way for the killing of hundreds of wolves in the Greater Yellowstone area. . . .By killing our nation's precious wildlife population, we are endangering ourselves. . . . .Over the last several weeks, officials within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been quietly moving forward with rule changes that would allow[the] killing wolves . . . This latest proposal would jump start plans to use fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and other means to kill hundreds of wolves, leaving few more than 200 of the wolves in Idaho. In fact, three-quarters of the wolves in the Lolo District of the Clearwater National Forest could be removed... before they are de-listed. . . .Hundreds of wolves in Wyoming could be shot and trapped under the new rules -- whether wolves are removed from the endangered and threatened species list or not.
A decision on the proposal is expected in the next few weeks. Please email Secretary Kempthorne right now and let him know that you oppose any proposal that would threaten the long-term future of wolves in the Northern Rockies and Greater Yellowstone Region. . . Thanks so much for helping me save wolves!" From Amy

Happy 23rd Barbara & Jim.

Here's your song.

Auld Lang Syne By Robert Burns, Video from "Waterloo Bridge," Vocal by Someone Who Can Sing & Blessing From Rev. Sandi

From Rev. Sandi:
"Howard Thurman says it best
'I remember with gratitude the fruits of the labors of others, which I have shared as a part of the normal experience of daily living.
I remember the beautiful things that I have seen, heard and felt--some, as a result of definite seeking on my part, and many that came unheralded into my path, warming my heart and rejoicing my spirit.
I remember the moments of distress that proved to be groundless and those that taught me profoundly about the evilness of evil and the goodness of good.
I remember the new people I have met, from whom I have caught glimpses of the meaning of my own life and the true character of human dignity.
I remember the dreams that haunted me during the year, keeping me ever mindful of goals and hopes which I did not realize but from which I drew inspiration to sustain my life and keep steady my purposes.
I remember the awareness of the spirit of God that sought me out in my aloneness and gave to me a sense of assurance that undercut my despair and confirmed my life with new courage and abiding hope.'"

Chris Jessie-A Real Uniter

Chris Jessie made everyone a Texas fan for nearly three quarters of football. Who'd a thunk it was possible?
Thanks for the fun Jessie. I'm glad it turned out OK.

Benazir Bhutto 1953-2007

Calling her murder a "cowardly act" as George W. Bush did is mindless, meaningless and probably inaccurate. (He typically calls any act of violence not done by the United States or its allies a cowardly act, especially if done by Muslims or in a Muslim country) Still, I'm speechless. What is to be said? I started to do a post about her last week and and didn't. I liked her and hoped she might move Pakistan forward. Maybe she would not have been successful and maybe not, but nothing good can come from this. I'm so sorry for her, her family, Packistan, and the rest of us. I fear this will haunt our grandchildren and their grandchildren.

Shelby Claus Relaxes After An Exhausting December.

Christmas in Calumet Michigan

Click here for the lyrics, a different vocal, and the history.

I Couldn't Find The Angel

I am an old woman named after my mother
My old man is another child thats grown old
If dreams were lightning thunder was desire
This old house would have burnt down a long time ago

Make me an angel that flies from Montgomry
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go....

How the hell can a person go to work in the morning
And come home in the evening and have nothing to say.

from Angel From Montgomery by John Prine done here by Bonnie Raitt

Transition - Joe Nuxhall

Joe Nuxhall sent me a nice letter back in July wishing me a happy birthday & congratulating me on being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. He allowed as how he was looking forward to seeing me in February. We won’t get to have that meeting unless it’s on the other side. Joe passed away last month. We’ll miss you Joe.