Someone sent this to me in e-mail, and I have to admit it is a valid point.

I received the following from a friend via e-mail, and though it good enough to share.

The Democrats promise a “New Direction” - what dose that really mean?

The stock market is at a new all-time high and America’s 401K’s are back.
A new direction from there means, what?

Unemployment is at 25 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Oil prices are plummeting.
A new direction from there means, what?

Taxes are at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Federal tax revenues are at all-time highs.
A new direction from there means, what?

The Federal deficit is down almost 50%, just as predicted over last year.
A new direction from there means, what?

Home valuations are up 200% over the past 3.5 years.
A new direction from there means, what?

Inflation is in check, hovering at 20 year lows.
A new direction from there means, what?

Not a single terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11/01.
A new direction from there means, what?

Osama bin Laden is living under a rock in a dark cave, having not surfaced in years, if he’s alive at all, while 95% of Al Queda’s top dogs are either dead or in custody, cooperating with US Intel.
A new direction from there means, what?

Several major terrorist attacks already thwarted by US and British Intel, including the recent planned attack involving 10 Jumbo Jets being exploded in mid-air over major US cities in order to celebrate the anniversary of the 9/11/01 attacks.
A new direction from there means, what?

Just as President Bush foretold us on a number of occasions, Iraq was to be made “ground zero” for the war on terrorism — and just as President Bush said they would, terrorist cells from all over the region are arriving from the shadows of their hiding places and flooding into Iraq in order to get their faces blown off by US Marines rather than boarding planes and heading to the United States to wage war on us here.
A new direction from there means, what?

Now let me see, do I have this right? I can expect:

The economy to go South
Illegal’s to go North
Taxes to go Up
Employment to go Down
Terrorism to come In
Tax breaks to go Out
Social Security to go away
Health Care to go the same way gas prices have gone

But what the heck!

I can gain comfort by knowing that Nancy P, Hillary C, John K, Edward K, Howard D, Harry R and Obama have worked hard to create a comprehensive National Security Plan, Health Care Plan, Immigration Reform Plan, Gay Rights Plan, Same Sex Marriage Plan, Abortion On Demand Plan, Tolerance of Everyone and Everything Plan, How to Return all Troops to the U.S. in The Next Six Months Plan, A Get Tough Plan, adapted from the French Plan by the same name and a How Everyone Can Become as Wealthy as We Are Plan. I forgot the No More Katrina Storm Plan.

Now I know why I feel good after the elections.

I am going to be able to sleep so much better at nights knowing these dedicated politicians are thinking of me and my welfare.

.. or at least how the Associated Press see’s them.

1. War in Iraq

What started in 2003 as a supposedly straightforward drive to topple Saddam Hussein deteriorated during 2006 into a dismayingly complex and savage struggle, with Iraqis by the thousands killed in sectarian reprisal attacks and the U.S. military death toll nearing 3,000. President Bush dropped talk of “staying the course” but balked at embracing many of the key suggestions of a bipartisan study group. Iraqi authorities struggled to assert control and avoid fracture.

2. U.S. election

Unhappiness with events in Iraq was one of the driving forces behind the Democrats’ surge in the Nov. 7 election. They took over the House with a large majority, gained a narrow edge in the Senate and advanced in statehouses nationwide. Nancy Pelosi, right, assailed by Republicans as a “San Francisco liberal” during the campaign, will become the first female speaker of the U.S. House.

3. Nuclear standoffs

The United States and its allies were frustrated in their efforts to rein in nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran. North Korea and its leader, Kim Jong Il, above, tested a nuclear bomb in October. Iran - despite a threat of sanctions - pushed ahead with plans to bring its first nuclear power plant on line.

4. Illegal immigration

Congress tried to confront the influx of illegal immigrants from Latin America, but the effort collapsed amid deep divisions over whether to stress a crackdown or include provisions to help some illegal immigrants work toward citizenship. The get-tough approach triggered huge protests by immigrants-rights supporters.

5. Scandals in Congress

Several Republican congressmen were brought down by scandals, including Mark Foley, who resigned over sexually explicit messages sent to male pages, and Randy Cunningham, who pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from defense contractors. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, left, resigned after being indicted on campaign finance charges in Texas. Ohio’s Bob Ney pleaded guilty in connection with the probe of lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

6. Saddam convicted, executed

Saddam Hussein, the former dictator of Iraq, was convicted in the slaying of 148 Shiite Muslims, including children, after an assassination attempt against him in 1982. He was ordered to die by hanging, and the sentence was carried out Friday in Iraq.

7. (tie) Mideast fighting

Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia fought a monthlong war in the summer; more than 900 people were killed. Lebanon’s Western-backed government emerged more embattled than ever, while Hezbollah claimed increased popular support.

7. (tie) Rumsfeld resigns

A day after the midterm elections gave Democrats control of Congress, President Bush announced Donald Rumsfeld’s departure. Rumsfeld was seen as underestimating Iraq’s challenges, while alienating military brass and members of Congress.

9. Airliner terror plot

British authorities said they narrowly thwarted a terrorist plot to bomb several jets over the Atlantic Ocean. The disclosure led to tough new restrictions on the contents of carry-on luggage.

10. Disaster in Darfur

Violence worsened in Sudan’s Darfur region, where fighting between rebels and government forces has killed more than 200,000. The United Nations approved a 20,000-strong peacekeeping force, but Sudan blocked its deployment.

I have no qualms with the content of the list, though I would probably alter the order a bit. I am surprised that Darfur even made the list, the MSM has been mostly quiet on that front. I note the tie for 7th pace and have to wonder if the Middle East fighting would have been so prevalent on the list had the AP decided to stick with reporting only the facts.

H/T Jihad Watch

I need to update my Christmas list. :)

I usually post the good ‘toons from Cox and Forkum. Lately I have been too busy to post much, so here is a catch up post. Here are all the good ones from the last several days.

Many thanks to Cox and Forkum for good conservative cartoons.

Ok, I have been busy the last week, so just got to read my normal political cartoon sights. Here are some of the best for your viewing enjoyment:

I am sorry for the absence of activity over the last several days. I have a new contract in Houston and so have been spending a fair amount of time on the road and getting the new contract up and running. Things should settle down into a new routine here in the next several days, and then I can get blogging back into my schedule.

So expect to see more soon!

First, I made a mistake yesterday. I wrote post on Regan’s Birthday, which is Feb 11th, and though I posted it to appear on Feb 11th (yes, I like to cheat a pre-load some articles). Well, it posted immediately and it took me until this morning to notice. My apologies!

The following list was on a flier at a recent Men’s Breakfast at our church. I though it was pretty good all around, handsome of the points are quite insightful. The list was authored by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

#1 Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.

#2 Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy of your time and talent.

#3 Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

#4 Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

#5 Be forgiving of yourself and others.

#6 Be generous.

#7 Have a grateful heart.

#8 Persistence, persistence, persistence.

#9 Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.

#10 Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.

#11 Commit yourself to constant improvement.

#12 Commit yourself to quality.

#13 Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.

#14 Be loyal.

#15 Be honest.

#16 Be a self-starter.

#17 Be decisive even if it means you’ll sometimes be wrong.

#18 Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.

#19 Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.

#20 Take good care of those you love.

#21 Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud.

Cross Posted from Revealing the ACLU: Last month I wrote about a group called STAT (Stop The ACLU Tyranny), who was fighting to preserve the Nativity Scene in the city of Berkley. The city Nativity Scene, like so many others, had come under attack from the ACLU.

Well, Monday Night The Berkley City Council voted on this issue.

From Hometown Life:

The Berkley City Council voted 6-1 Monday night to give the city’s nativity scene to the Berkley Clergy Association for display at local churches.

The council’s options, narrowed from five originally, were either give the Christmas display to the clergy or secularize the nativity.

Before the vote was cast, the council listened to about two hours of citizen comments, including arguments on Supreme Court precedence, religious freedom, community acceptance of others beliefs, watering down Christmas, decoration dollars, minority rights, national agendas, and individual civil liberties.

Berkley clergy members spoke against secularizing the display, saying that only adds fire to flames of an already watered down Christmas.

While I agree with core statement by the clergy involved, I cannot think that the resolution is acceptable. This was not a win for the conservative side of establishment law, as the ACLUs ultimate desire of removing Christian symbols from public property has succeeded. The rights for a church to have a Nativity was never in question.

I do agree that it should be moved rather than secularized. In a move the core message is maintained. When secularized the core meaning of the Christian symbol is removed, and it becomes meaningless.

I am glad that STAT, who supported the Nativity on Public property, agreed and kept with the fight until the end.

The leader of the group Stop the ACLU Tyranny, Georgia Halloran, showed up with a lawyer from the Thomas More Law Center to renew her side of the debate, that she believed the nativity should remain on city property.

“I would say the city capitulated to the ACLU, no matter what was said up there,” she said after the vote. Her group has some options that were mentioned during the meeting, such as a ballot referendum or lawsuit against the city.

“We are not finished,” Halloran said.

I am glad STAT is intending to fight on, and that they now have some high quality support in the Thomas Moore Law Center. However, now that the City has made a decision, the battle has become exponentially more difficult.