World Cup Update June 17th

Portugal down Iran to advance

Ghana up 1-0 on Czech Republic in 32nd minute

USA Vs. Italy 12:00pm PST on ABC

I have heard all kinds of predictions about lineups and stratgey, etc... for the US team today. My personal hope is for DMB to ride the pine and Dempsey and EJ to get the start. I am both apprehensive and excited to see what happens. US will need to "bring it" today if they are going to win or even scrape a tie against a powerful Italian attack.

GO to em' boys, I am behind you!!!!
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UPDATE: 6/17 2:25pm PST

Ghana Shocks Czech Republic 2-0

USA and Italy Draw 1-1

In a really poorly called match the USA showed the fire that sent them through to the quaters in 2002. I have to say though that the ref decided this match for us, a straight red that anyone who knows the game would say was an equalizing red card took Mastroeni out right away and we were down to 10 men. Then on a very questionable second yellow card Eddie Pope went out in the 46th minute to make it 10v9. I sincerely hope that apon reviewing this game someone within FIFA reprimands the center official for what was a poorly officiated game to say the least.

In the end we sat back and defended well, but with 1 substitution left and 15 minutes to play Bruce Arena left a dog tired and beat up McBride on the field in favor of EJ, Ching or Josh Wolf. I hope someone in the press core can get a good answer from him on this. Considering all the options there was no reason not to bring in some fresh offensive legs in my mind and that may have cost us 2 points and the Cup. No excuse for it for my money, but all in all I was impressed with the heart and the level of play the US team showed today and I can once again proudly support my team!!

Awesone Job Guys!!!!

Don't Believe the Hype!!

He may be an old distinguished looking man in a suit, but that's just the Harry he wants you to see...once a Hippie always a Hippie!

Hat Tip: Drudge for being the first source I could find on this story. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi unvieled the Democratic plan to win back seats in Congress this fall today. Now I have joked about my own party but it is crucial to understand the difference between the two. On a day like today particularly crucial to understand the difference between what Pelosi and Reid say and what they really mean. I encourage everyone who has the time to listen to this load of BS and then when you are finished click on the below link to hear what they really mean.

The Truth
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Hew Hewitt has a great article in the same arena below

Democrats Take Off The Mask

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Related: Divisions Among Democrats

Do we have a Choice in 06 or 08

That is a question I have found myself asking a lot lately. I went from hoping my party (republicans) would grow a pair, to disdaining them for not only failing to do that, but loping off the meager pair they had already, to looking for alternatives. Let's be honest, aside from the two new Judges who really have not been tested yet by any large issue, our senators and yes, I said it, our president have let us down for the most part on policy issue after policy issue. Let's review, Gay marriage...Nope, no teeth, Immigration...Wearing bad dentures, Respecting those who put them in office, you know that silly little thing called...

"The will of the people"

There is a great debate in the state about a proposed law to control the price of pizza. Almost everyone has a very strong opinion on the matter.

There are three candidates running for governor. The candidate who gets the most votes (a plurality) will win the election. Two of the candidates, Mr. A and Ms. B, support the Pizza Protection Bill and would sign it into law. One candidate, Mr. C, opposes (is against) the bill and would veto it.

Of the people who will vote, 60% (60 out of 100) are for the bill and will vote for a candidate who supports it. The remaining 40% of the voters are against the bill, and will vote for the candidate who opposes it.

The voters who support the Pizza Protection Bill are evenly divided as to which candidate they prefer. Half of them will vote for Mr. A; half of them will vote for Ms. B.

Based on the above information, which statement is true?

a. Mr. A will win the election.
b. Ms. B will win the election.
c. Mr. C will win the election.
d. Either Mr. A or Ms. B could win, because they both have the same position about the bill as most of the voters.
e. Mr. A and Ms. B will tie for the most votes.
f. Any of the candidates could win. There is not enough information here to predict the winner.
g. It doesn't matter who wins because none of the candidates really like pizza and they are more concerned with subsidies and repaying the lobbyists than with what their constituents want.

Yes folks the answer is "g" and they have proved it time and time again. Fortunately though the good people over at Six Meat Buffet have an answer

Be sure to drop on by their site and give them your support in November!!

Cool World Cup/ Military News

Aparently, Armed Forces Network viewers in Iraq will get to watch the remaining US MNT World Cup matches from bases in country. Michelle Malkin has the details below. This makes me proud to be an American. Now, let's just hope that USA comes to play this Saturday so that this will have been for something.

Murdoch Helps The Troops

Stick that in your pipe and smoke it...

Murtha, Pelosi, Kerry and your ilk. Huge news today (Hat Tip Drudge) on the raids conducted following the death of Zarqawi. One document in particular lays out Terrorists plans for the near future. I was rivited, take a look. Iraq's new National Security Advisor had this to say at a press conference,

"We believe that this is the beginning of the end of al-Qaida in Iraq," al-Rubaie said, adding that the documents showed al-Qaida is in "pretty bad shape," politically and in terms of training, weapons and media. "Now we have the upper hand," he said at a news conference in Baghdad. "We feel that we know their locations, the names of their leaders, their whereabouts, their movements, through the documents we found during the last few days."

The military is also reporting that since Zarqawi was taken out they have conducted 452 raids and killed 104 insurgents

"

Why Al Gore is wrong on climate change

From Drudge(Hat Tip) Scientists Respond To Gore's Warnings of Climate Catastrophe

Does it seem cool in here to you?? Well it does to about every other scientist in the world who studies climate change. Well, except for Gore's panel of "Experts in the field". In an article out today Tom Harris from the Canada Free Press has researched the issue and found not one, not two, but "many" scientists whose field of expertise either is or very closely relates to climatology. To hear Gore talk, one might surmize that these experts should either accept the inevitable truth that we are all DOOMED!!, DOOMED I tell you!! Or be ridiculed as paid lobbyists and charlatans. I have been waiting to post about this until I had a chance to read more than just one account of the whole climate change issue and had a grasp on both arguments, but the article I read today was the kicker for me. Did you know for instance that according to paleoclimatologist Professor Tim Patterson who is not on the Bush family or any other government's payroll and is a scholar and established scientist at Carlten University had this to say,
"There is no meaningful correlation between CO2 levels and Earth's temperature over this [geologic] time frame. In fact, when CO2 levels were over ten times higher than they are now, about 450 million years ago, the planet was in the depths of the absolute coldest period in the last half billion years." Patterson asked the committee, "On the basis of this evidence, how could anyone still believe that the recent relatively small increase in CO2 levels would be the major cause of the past century's modest warming?"

Interesting when you consider Uncle Al's assertion that human emssions of CO2 are the root of all climatelogical evil eh? Or have you heard this dissenting view of Gore's assetrion that the polar ice caps are infact melting away too quickly?

Dr. Boris Winterhalter, former marine researcher at the Geological Survey of Finland and professor in marine geology, University of Helsinki, had this to say,

"The breaking glacier wall is a normally occurring phenomenon which is due to the normal advance of a glacier," says Winterhalter. "In Antarctica the temperature is low enough to prohibit melting of the ice front, so if the ice is grounded, it has to break off in beautiful ice cascades. If the water is deep enough icebergs will form."

I will let you read the entire article from Mr Harris because it is well worth the time. But consider a Gore run for President in 08, his wife says she'll support him! It would seem that Al has a lot of support from the Anti-War, Global Warning, I'm ok Your ok crowd, but will the Democratic leadership actually get behind him in light of his dive off the Global warming deep end? Maybe not, but if you think that will stop this fire breather, think again, and don't forget to check the independent ticket come November 2008. He'll be Back!!
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Six Meat Buffet has a great little tidbit : Fun Global Warming Facts
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Update: 06/28/2006
AP Science writer says "Scientists" OK Gore's movie
Senate Commtiee on Environment and Public Works says AP story is bogus

Still Licking the wounds

Well, a day later and a good nights sleep I am still stinging as are many others from the US loss to the Czech's. I have been listening to and calling into the new XM Radio World Cup channel since last week (great coverage BTW) and I am hearing the same thing that I really feel, we just plain sucked out there on Monday. Well, moving on I just want to say the players deserved whatever Bruce gave them, the only thing I would blame him for at all would be the 4-5-1 lineup and for not getting Johnson on earlier or Dempsey on at all. Lame, Lame, Lame!!!! That said I have my line-up for Saturday in case Bruce reads my blog before then (yeah right!!) But hey, it is theraputic for me so let me rant...

Beasley sits for sure, Pope sits because he proved that he is too old and slow to compete like I thought from the begining and the lineup changes from a 4-5-1 to a 3-5-2.

Strikers: McBride and Johnson
Midfield: Convey, O'Brien Donovan, Mastroeni, Dempsey
Defense: Bocanegra, Gooch, Conrad
Keeper: Keller

Irony is thick

...at the Weakly Kos convention. They must have meant this as a joke, or a slam at Republicans, but somehow I see this like saying "Hey, we'll show those sharks, I'll throw some chum in the water then we'll all jump in!"

Caption This! has a great, well...Caption for this photo.

"You see, basically, Bush is Hitler and his entire administration is run by Jews for the benefit of Israel. It makes a lot more sense if you wear one of these."

Reality Czech!

USA Pounded by Czech Republic 3-0 in what looked to me like the worst opening game for any team in the World Cup thus far save maybe Costa Rica, but at least they scored in their 4-2 drubbing at the hands of Germany.

From the start of this match the US were outclassed, outmanned, outgunned, out matched and out played in every aspect of the game. Donovan was non-existent, Beasley was pathetic, Pope looked as old and slow as he really is and the rest were just seemingly out of their depth for most of the game. Kasey Keller can say what he wants about the new addidas ball but not even wet leather would have saved him today. My honest review of this "game" today is: The US looked and played like a second division club side against one of the worlds soccer powers, what a let down after four years of waiting! They do have two more games to make it up and advance out of their group but I think there is some astronomical figure like 1 Kajillion to 1 for a team to lose their first game and still advance. I am still an American and still a supporter but today I was embarassed to have wasted a half day of work to watch what was as one talking head called it "The Nightmare in Gelsenkirchen".

....Oh and one more thing that absolutely baffles me is how Bruce Arena brings on Josh (freakin' haven't scored a goal in 500 games) Wolf in the 71 minute instead of Demspey who has scored in something like his last 3 US caps and is a much greater threat than Wolf ever was even in his prime. Personaly, I don't even see how Wolf made this team to begin with, but what do I know, I mean there are only Twellman, Ralston, Noonan, Eskandarian, Klein, Mullan, Rolfe. Not that any of them are really up to it either but they could do the same job as Josh Wolf on any given Sunday, maybe better.
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World Cup Update: The Hits Just Keep on Comin'!

Italy downs Ghana 2-0, which leaves the USA withthe near impossible task of winning their next two games to get out of group play

World Cup Soccer Update

When Pigs Fly

I posted earlier about Iran's controversy and their President (so called) planning to visit if the teams wins it's way out of group play. Well, apparently I am not the only one who thinks it is a bad idea

World Cup Soccer Update

England Blanks Paraguay on an own goal

Trinadad SHOCKS Sweden 0-0

Argetine's show class in 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast

All in all it was a pretty exciting day at the Cup , the big news on the horizon is Milan Baros not being fit for the USA match on Monday. He strained a tendon in his foot and has not trained at all since. The gaffer is still unsure of his fate but says he will make a choice before the game.

England lacked creativity in the midfield which was disappointing with Lampard and Gerard both fit and playing in top form. For Ivroy Coast Drogba showed passion with a late goal but the Africans in general were not up to the massive attack of the Argentine strikers and spectacular midfield play.

Sunday brings us ever closer to the USA opener with Portugal v Angola, Mexcio v Iran and Serbia v Holland. Hope you are all having a great weekend!!!

Go USA!!!

Islamic indoctrination in public schools??

Stop The ACLU has a great post about this effort. The backstory is that a public school gave an assignment to "teach" kids about what it means to be a muslim, but it was quite a lot more fishy than that. Check out the post HERE

World Cup 2006 Friday June 9th UPDATE

Germany swept not so convincingly past Costa Rica 4-2 in this mornings opening match of the greatest tournament known to mankind. Wanchope and Klose were on fire for the Ticos and Germany respectively as the world watched an exciting opening match. More to come on Poland Ecuador which is now in the 63 minute with Ecuador up 1-0.
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UPDATE: 1:50PM PST

Ecuador Shocks Poland 2-0 with goals from Tenorio and Delgado in the 23' and 80' minutes. Poland with have a tough row to hoe now if they want to get out of this group.

Al-Zarqawi killed in air raid

Click here or on the above picture for a great video of the bombing

Ding Dong the Biatch is DEAD

Malkin has a great post Here

Drudge also has a bunch of good links

From Instapundit
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UPDATE:

Democrats call Zarqawi killing a "Stunt"

You knew it was coming folks... Let the Moonbat parade begin!
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UPDATE June 9th 2006:

Zarqawi Aide gave him up

He was alive when troops first arrived

Zarqawi & Satan: An inprocessing interview - Too Funny!

Why Democrats Favor Amnesty

It has been widely circulated in most Conservative circles that Democrats view amnesty for Illegal Immigrants as a way to bolster their base. This has been a long awaited boon for the democratic party and if the congress passes a bill that looks a lot more like the Senate and the President's plan than that of the House... Well lets just say the left is already scattering seed

Democrats Courting Hispanics During World Cup

Democrats Offer Plan on Illegal Aliens

Most people believe the US won't fix the immigration problem

Rasmussen Reports: Polls

Honestly, I am not pro amnesty, but my hope if the Congress screws immigration up yet again, is that the democrats strategy will backfire. Hispanics in this country are generaly poor and flock to social and economic issues, but they are also fiercly religous and could become ardent values voters if courted properly by our side. So, lets beat the dems at their own game shall we?

...and for any hispanics out there, don't be fooled into thinking the democrats care a lick about you or your family values, they just want your 12,000,000 votes come November.

Senate Majority to protect marriage 49-48

Though this is not a "super" majority and it did not pass just yet. Your Uncle Tim is still hopeful, do not lose faith people!

On another note Senior Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, who we all know is a pillar of restraint and constitutional morality had this to say about the President's push to get the amendment passed:

"The Constitution is too important to be used for partisan political purposes. It is not a billboard on which to hang political posters or slogans seeking to stir public passions for political ends"

Oh really Patty me boy, really! So it is not ok to amend our constitution to uphold a long held tradition, but if you want to twist its stanzas and meaning to say... Oh I dunno, "its ok to kill babies" or... Let's see "remove Christians/Christianity from the public square" that's just fine. Maybe next time we should try that, yes that's it, we'll just close our eyes, point at the constitution and then whichever part we land on we'll make believe it means defense of marriage!

Let's see, Eany, Meany, Miney, Moe. Ah this one will do... Article IV Section 3 says:

"New states may be admitted by the Congress into this union; but no new states shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned as well as of the Congress."

Ok, so we'll pretend that when they say "States" they really mean "Hetrosexual couples" and when they say "Union" they really mean "Marriage". But when they say "Parts of States" we'll act like that really means "Gay Couples".
No? C'mon the liberals have been doing this for years, I mean its a living, breathing document right? Anyway, its not like it's the law of the land or anything, right? Oh...It is? Right, well I guess that wouldn't really be ok then.

Ann Coulter on the Today Show

Boy the liberals are all in a tissy about this one. Ann Coulter kicked Matt's behind up and down and into next week. I do applaud him for having the squirrel food to let her on though. That was his first mistake, his second as this great News Busters wrap up shows was baiting her...

One thing you can always say about Ann is she says it like it is and pulls no politicaly correct punches. It may be uncomfortable to hear, sometimes even offensive but you gotta love her style.

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June 7th 2006 UPDATE:

Everyone is bagging on Ann Coulter for her comments about the 9/11 widows. Even Hew Hewitt of all people. Guys, it was a reference to using your grief as a political tool and a money making opportunity, not a slander on 9/11 familes. Get over it!!

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June 8th UPDATE:

Yep, Ann Coulter must be crying all the way to the bank. Her book is #1, yes Numero Uno folks and its all thanks to your hate! Kind of Ironic when you think about it... Liberals, Centrists & others hating her for alleged hate speech actually caused more people to buy her book. Kooky
world eh!
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June 9th UPDATE:

9/11 Commissioner Critisizes Coulter

You know this issue was opitimized for me watching Hanity and Colmes last night. They had Ann on debating with some stock Dem Strategist and Ann asked something to the effect of "So, if they appear on the Today show, the cover of Vanity Fair, toss their hats in the political area, are they not fair game?" And all this woman could respond was (emphaticaly) "These women lost a loved one!" Which very neatly made Ann's point without her even needing to say a word more about it. Those on the far left really believe that people who have lost someone are somehow imune from critizism. Ridiculous!

World Cup 2006 Kicks Off Friday June 9th

Just thought I'd share with my fellow Football fanatics out there a few good links in advance of the start of the tournament.

Fox Sports USA

Fox Sports Funhouse

FIFA World Cup 2006 Tables:From MatchNight

Studio 90: From USSoccer.com

FIFA World Cup 2006: From Yahoo

World Cup Fantasy Challenge: From Yahoo

FIFA.com

Germany 2006 Website

BBC World Cup 2006 site

World Cup 2006: From Soccerphile

When Pigs Fly!

Iranian President Ahmadinejad will apparently be coming to World Cup this summer if his team make it out of the group stages.

First lets take that at face value, Iran is up against Portugal and Mexico in group play. Though their recent form is encouraging, they will have a rough go of it getting past either of those teams playing at full tilt. So, "when pigs fly" is my prediction.

Having said that let me say this: If the leaders of Europe allow him to be received at the World Cup it will be an insult to the US and UK who have been in stark opposition to Iran's Nuclear policy, not to mention the many human rights abuses. But if I spent any time on that I would have to mention Ivory Coast, Angola and Saudi Arabia as well and I'll not go there today. Bottom line is the process, this process the EU, UK and US are following to get Iran to comply would be jilted, ever more so if he is received with any kind of pomp and circumstance as any other world leader would be. World Cup is about peace and coming together. Let's remind ourselves that this is a man who is calling for... No, actually promising the extinction of an entire race/country. "Red Card" would be too mild a penalty for the EU allowing this so called president to visit World Cup. Lets hope I am correct and we don't have to find out!

Related:

From Times Herald Online Article

"When German politicians last December suggested Iran be banned from the June World Cup in Germany for repeated Holocaust denial by its president (a serious crime in Germany), FIFA president Sepp Blatter insisted FIFA isn't political. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has since announced he will likely attend Iran's opening match against Mexico in Nuremberg on June 11.

Meanwhile FIFA (and other sporting bodies) ignore boycotts of Israeli athletes."

Iran does not allow women to attend Soccer matches

F.I.F.A Hypocrisy.
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UPDATE: From Breibart.com

US Jewish group urges tough German stance on Ahmadinejad's World Cup visit

"The six-power package of perks or penalties"

Rice Warns Iran Does Not Have Much Time: From MYWay

Say that 10 times fast while eating crackers... Oh and while you are at it start warming Kofi up in the bullpen cuz this has as much chance of being accepted by Iran as Saudi Arabia does of winning the World Cup this month. In the article they do not reveal the perks or the penalties, but one could assume at this point that the perks would be something to the affect of more ease in diplomatic relations with the west, trade agreements, help in providing clean nuclear energy, etc... and that penalties would be economic sanctions at this point, what shape they will take remains to be seen, but that is almost a sure thing given that we are not ready to go forward militarily just yet.

On another note, I think their estimates as to when Iran will have a bomb are very liberal to say the least. They have running centrifuges and the help of two of the most advanced nuclear nations on earth. To me 4 years seems optimistic on our part. At any rate, at least when we do go in and blow 10 or so nuclear power plant size wholes in their country, at this rate we will be able to say we exhausted all options diplomaticaly. Though no matter what the left in America will find a way to say we did not.
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Update: From Reuters

"powers are preparing to deliver a pivotal proposal"

I sware I am not making this stuff up... TBC
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Update:

Kerry Attacks Bush Over Iraq Policies

Kerry in his usual mix of partial sense and overt stupidity said in the above article that he would "attach an amendment to this summer's defense appropriations bill calling for a total withdrawal of U.S. combat troops by the end of this year", but went on to admit, "I know I'm not going to get the majority of my own caucus."

He also said this which really did ring true to me:

The sight of politicians haggling over Cabinet seats in the midst of an undiminished insurgency is "a disgrace, and this administration ought to get tough"

The reason I attached it to this post was the Iran content, so read the whole thing.