22 Requirements To Be A Good Democrat

I received this email today and thought it would be a good idea to post it.

 

1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.

2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.

3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. Nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.

4. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.

5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by cyclical documented changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.

6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial but being homosexual is natural.

7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of federal funding.

8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach fourth graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.

9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.

10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.

11. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make "The Passion of the Christ" for financial gain only.

12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.

13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.

14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and A.G. Bell.

15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.

16. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and is a very nice person.

17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.

18. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.

19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.

20. You have to believe that illegal Democrat Party funding by the Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest to the United States

21. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right wing conspiracy.

22. You have to believe that it's okay to give Federal workers the day off on Christmas Day but it's not okay to say "Merry Christmas."

Ready to vote???

Halloween Night Haunted House

Wednesday night I traveled to the Cleveland suburb of Berea, home of the Cuyahoga Country Fairgrounds and visited the haunted attraction, the 7 floors of hell. There is actually seven different haunted houses in the same location. It's been a long time since I've visited a haunted house. I don't care for many of them because they are not necessarily "scary", but rather they are based on "startling" you with various loud noises. However; I was talked into this by a friend who is on a never-ending mission to find a haunted house that actually scares her.

***NOTE - She was scared, but won't admit it. She ran through The Cemetery like an Olympic sprinter because an actor started following her***

The different houses are:

Insane Asylum *new*

The Crypt

Blackout *new*

The House of Nightmares

The Butcher Shop

The Cemetery

Psycho Circus 3-D

Previous houses were Cellblock 13 and Industrial Nightmare 

(The links take you to photo galleries of the houses)

I will start off by saying that "Blackout" was my least favorite. It's a maze in complete darkness. It was based on "startling" you. The Insane Asylum and The Crypt were probably the best ones.

The Psycho Circus was weird. You had to wear 3D classes in order to have the full effect. At the end, you had to walk on a catwalk with this big spinning tube around you. It made you feel like the catwalk was moving.

All in all, it was not terribly frightening, but I still had a blast and will probably go back next year if they change some attractions.

Madrid Train Bombing Mastermind Acquitted

Even though he was bragging about the bombing being "his idea" during a wiretapped phone conversation. 21 out of 28 suspects were convicted of some crime. But, you terrorist sympathizers need not worry, in Spain there is no death penalty or life imprisonment. The most any of them will serve is 40 years. That is the maximum sentence for any crime in Spain.

An Egyptian who allegedly bragged that he masterminded the 2004 Madrid terror bombings that killed 191 people was acquitted of all charges along with six other lesser suspects Wednesday. Three other lead defendants were convicted of murder by the Spanish court, culminating a divisive trial over Europe's worst Islamic militant attack, which also wounded more than 1,800. Four other top suspects — Youssef Belhadj, Hassan el Haski, Abdulmajid Bouchar and Rafa Zouhier — were acquitted of murder but convicted of lesser charges including belonging to a terrorist organization. They received sentences of between 10 and 18 years.

Good News From The War On Terror 10/28-29

1-15 Infantry detains 6 suspected insurgents

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Soldiers of Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment conducted an air assault southeast of Baghdad Oct. 25 resulting in six suspected insurgents detained. Supported by AH-64 attack helicopters from the 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, the Company A Soldiers cleared four houses to disrupt insurgent activity in the Tigris River Valley.

 

Coalition forces disrupt terrorist networks, six suspects detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and detained another four suspects early Sunday during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq. In Baghdad, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual reportedly attempting to re-establish the city's car-bombing operations after significant degradation by Coalition forces. During several recent operations, Coalition forces captured numerous suspects with ties to the car-bombing network involved in numerous attacks against Iraqi civilians and security forces. In an operation to disrupt foreign terrorist networks in Mosul, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a terrorist cell leader in the southern part of the city. The suspect is believed to have a long history of terrorist activity and is associated with several al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders. Intelligence gained from previous operations led Coalition forces north of Habbaniyah to a location believed to be an al-Qaeda safe house and meeting place. During the operation, the ground forces were targeting an alleged associate of the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader. Reports indicate the targeted individual was previously responsible for finances and served under several terrorist leaders who fought Coalition forces in Fallujah in 2004. Three suspected foreign terrorists were detained on site. In another operation, Coalition forces detained one suspected terrorist southwest of Kirkuk while targeting an associate of an al-Qaeda in Iraq member believed to be the senior terrorist leader in the province. The targeted individual allegedly makes frequent trips across northern Iraq and has knowledge of al-Qaeda operations in the province, to include the whereabouts of foreign terrorists operating in the region.

 

Dragon Talon II: Cache, 13 suspected terrorists seized

BAGHDAD – Multi-National Division-Baghdad Soldiers, acting on tips from residents, found a large weapons cache and detained 13 insurgent suspects during ongoing operations in the Doura area of the Iraqi capital Oct. 25. Following a tip from Iraqi Security Volunteers, “Warriors” from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, attached to the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, found four 82mm mortars, 17 sticks of PE4 explosives, seven blocks of C4 plastic explosives, 300 feet of detonation cord, 29 blasting caps, 28 grenade fuses, 725 assorted 7.62mm rounds, eight rocket-propelled grenade ejection motors, two rocket fuses, six mortar fuses and 78 electric fuses.  Explosive ordnance disposal personnel were called in to remove the cache. Early that morning, volunteer tips led the Warriors of Co. A to a Doura home, where they conducted a raid and detained eight terrorist suspects.  The volunteers are part of a plan to help provide neighborhood security by empowering local citizens to protect their towns, and one day become members of the Iraqi Police. The morning of Oct. 25, “Raiders” from Troop C, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, raided a home and captured three military-aged men allegedly involved with terrorist cells.  That evening, Warriors of Co. D, 2-12 Inf., captured a suspected murderer and an alleged terrorist cell leader in two other raids.

 

Coalition forces disrupt terrorist operations, 11 detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured two wanted individuals and detained another nine suspects early Monday during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda networks in central Iraq. In southern Baghdad, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be involved in improvised explosive device and small arms attacks against Coalition forces and Iraqi citizens.  Reports indicate the wanted individual is an associate of senior al-Qaeda members operating in the Arab Jabour area and southern Baghdad. During the operation, Coalition forces also detained a suspect reported to be a senior member in the southern belt terrorist network and an associate of the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader. Also in Baghdad, Coalition forces conducted an operation targeting an al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist cell leader suspected of planning and executing high-profile attacks in the area. The ground force detained two suspects without incident, one who is believed to be the targeted individual’s brother. Coalition forces captured a wanted individual during an operation in Tarmiyah reported to be a terrorist cell leader associated with mortar attacks. The wanted individual allegedly was an associate of Ali Latif Ibrahim Hamad al Falahi, a former terrorist leader who coordinated car-bombing operations in Baghdad and was killed during a Coalition forces operation Aug. 20. Time-sensitive intelligence led the ground forces to the targeted individual’s exact location where he and another suspect were detained without incident. In another operation in Tarmiyah, Coalition forces detained five suspects while targeting a terrorist believed to be responsible for improvised explosive device and car-bombing attacks and foreign terrorist facilitation in the area. Reports indicate he is an associate of the al-Qaeda in Iraq northern belt network leader. The network is allegedly responsible for extortion, intimidation and weapons trafficking.

 

Several Taliban insurgents killed in Kandahar Province

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security and Coalition forces engaged insurgent fighters near the Shah Wali Kowt Distric of Kandahar Province Oct. 27.  The combined force was conducting a reconnaissance patrol near the Shah Wali Kowt District in Kandahar Province when several insurgents engaged friendly elements with rocket and small arms fire.  The patrol immediately engaged the Taliban element killing several enemy fighters before they fled the area.

 

Several militants killed, five detained in Kunar Province

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Coalition forces conducted an operation Sunday in the Kunar Province to disrupt Al Qaeda foreign fighter and weapons facilitation networks in the area. Coalition forces conducted a search of a compound in the Asadabad District where intelligence reports indicated Al Qaeda facilitators were operating. Upon reaching the compound, Coalition forces called for the occupants to come out.  Several militants fled the compound while an unknown number remained in the buildings, threatening the Coalition forces. Coalition Forces engaged the militants outside the compound area with small-arms fire and accurate conventional munitions as well as engaging the hostile militants inside the compound with small-arms. Several armed militants were killed during the engagements. After hostilities ceased, Coalition forces performed a search of the buildings on the compound and subsequently detained five suspected militants. The individuals will be questioned as to their involvement with foreign fighters and weapons facilitators, as well as other extremist activities. Coalition forces also recovered several weapons in the compound where they were destroyed in place to prevent further use by militant forces.

 

Oct. 27 airpower summary: Reaper conducts first strike

 

Oct. 28 airpower summary: C-130s replenish ground forces

Haunted Places On U.S. Bases

I found these stories today on the Stars & Stripes website. Since Halloween is here, I thought it would be good to share them. Hope you enjoy.

 

CREEPY CREMATORIUM TALE

Many of the buildings on Yongsan Garrison in South Korea have been there longer than the U.S. military. Some date back to Japan’s occupation of Korea before and during World War II. One of those buildings, near the gas station on the garrison’s South Post, has been surrounded by rumors for years. “I hate being here at night. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up just talking about it,” said Sgt. 1st Class Riviere Cools, 52nd Medical Battalion as he eyed the squat, red-brick building in the center of his unit’s complex of offices. “I don’t believe in that kind of stuff, but in the back of my mind, there are souls here.” The entire compound, surrounded by a thick, crumbling, brick wall, was a prison during the occupation. For years, said U.S. Army Garrison spokesman David McNally, soldiers working there have passed along stories claiming that the area, especially the small building in the center, was haunted. McNally said the building was most likely the prison’s administrative office, but those working around it have a more sinister theory. “Everybody that’s worked in that building right there has either seen something or heard something,” said Staff Sgt. Sae Kim, 52nd Medical Battalion. “Because that’s where they burned people.” McNally was quick to point out there was no evidence to suggest that the building was a crematorium, but that doesn’t stop the stories from spreading. “I haven’t seen any ghosts,” said Sgt. 1st Class Freeman Witherspoon. “But I definitely have heard the rumors. People say they see shadows when they have duty at night.”

THE UNEXPLAINED VOICE

Stories of strange happenings abound at the base chapel at Camp Zama in Japan. Strange presences in rooms and doors that mysteriously open and close are part of chapel lore, employees say. Some tell stories of strange figures passing by and then disappearing. “My predecessor said that she used to hear footsteps through the halls late at night,” said Staff Sgt. Desmond West, the Unit Ministry Team noncommissioned officer in charge. Last year, Spc. Jennifer Villagomez, a funds clerk, said she was working late when a voice emanated from her unplugged computer speakers. It sounded like a Japanese man, “like a drill sergeant yelling at a private,” she said. At first, Villagomez said she thought the sounds were a practical joke and called for a sergeant who was the only other person in the building at the time. “And as I heard him come closer to my office, the voice on the speaker went lower and lower until it went away, just before he walked in the room,” Villagomez said. She said that since that incident, she tries not to be the last person to in the office at night. Sgt. Joshua Lee, who works at the chapel with Villagomez, said he didn’t hear the voice that night but has witnessed other strange occurrences. Chapel lights switch on and doors open seemingly on their own, Lee said. West, who has worked in the chapel for four years, said he has never seen or heard anything peculiar. “But the day I start hearing things, I’m running out of here,” he said.

GHOSTS CROWD OKINAWA

Reportedly haunted sites can be found around almost any corner on and off Okinawa bases. So many ghost stories abound that Marine Corps Community Services and 18th Services Squadron on Kadena Air Base both run special Halloween spooky sites tours that sell out weeks in advance. Web sites and a book on the subject — Jayne A. Hitchcock’s “The Ghosts of Okinawa” — celebrate the local haunts. A World War II soldier is said to roam Gate 3 on Camp Hansen in blood-splattered fatigues asking sentries to light his cigarette. Marines refused to stand guard due to the haunting, and the gate was eventually closed, according to Hitchcock. Camp Foster is said to be the home of a ghostly samurai warrior who eternally travels from Stillwell Drive uphill toward Futenma Housing. Kadena Air Base also has its ghost stories. A small house behind the Kadena United Services Organization, numbered 2283, is now used for storage because, it is said, no one willingly lives in it for long. Some say the house remains haunted after a man murdered his family there. Others say the house rests on an ancient burial site, and the souls of the dead beneath are restless. Kadena’s golf course might be the site where in 1945 a group of high-school girls pressed into service in the Japanese Imperial Army committed suicide, according to another yarn. The spirits of the dead girls are said to still haunt the land. Off-base, half-finished buildings are abandoned due to reports of ghostly visitors. Construction of the Royal Hotel off Route 329, near the Nakagusuku Castle ruins, was begun some three decades ago — possibly on a sacred site. Mysterious accidents and deaths drove workers to abandon construction. Meanwhile, at Maeda Point, there is rumored to be a prophet-of-death ghost. The elderly Okinawan apparition is said to appear at a tomb that can be seen only from the water, and within days of a sighting, a body is found on a nearby beach.

Good News From The War On Terror 10/27

Coalition forces capture extremist splinter group leader

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured a senior militia extremist, killed two others and detained an additional 14 admitted criminals during operations in the village of al Fawwaliyah, northwest of Khalis early Saturday.  The operation was targeting a splinter group leader, who was not honoring Muqtada al-Sadr's pledge to cease attacks and who was involved in weapons procurement, kidnapping operations and explosively formed penetrator attacks against Coalition forces. Intelligence indicates that this individual also has ties to an Iranian intelligence cell. As the assault force approached the building where the criminals were believed to be housed, they called for the occupants to exit the building. Two armed men with weapons and hand grenades maneuvered on the assault force, one of whom was wearing a suicide vest. Coalition forces engaged, killing the two men after they failed to comply with instructions and warning shots. Upon securing the area, the main target of the raid identified himself and peacefully surrendered to the ground force. Inside the building, Coalition forces discovered several automatic weapons, a sniper rifle, maps and ammunition magazines. The area was further assessed to be a substantial militia extremists' compound used to coordinate criminal activity in the area. An additional 14 admitted criminals were detained on site.

 

Concerned Local Citizens help round up suspected extremists

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Seven suspected extremists were detained in three separate incidents over a 24-hour period in Hawr Rajab and Arab Jabour. The Concerned Local Citizens in the two areas were key participants in all of the detentions. In the largest incident, four suspected extremists were detained by a group of concerned citizens in Hawr Rajab and turned over to Iraqi Army Soldiers at a checkpoint Oct. 24 for questioning. Concerned citizens in Arab Jabour also detained one individual Oct. 24 when they identified the suspect as a known al-Qaeda operative. Concerned citizens turned the individual over to Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Ga. The other two alleged insurgents were captured in an overnight raid conducted by Troop B, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, out of Fort Richardson, Alaska. The men were detained after residents pointed them out as possible members of al-Qaeda. All detainees are being held for questioning.

 

Paratroopers discover rocket cache

KALSU, Iraq – A large cache of rockets were found by paratroopers in North Babil Oct. 26. Paratroopers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Military Transition Team 0820 found a cache containing 27 Iranian-made 107MM Katusha rockets during combat operations in Al Hilla. In addition to the rockets, two multiple launch rocket systems capable of firing 20 rockets at a time, 11 launching rails, nine batteries, eight firing devices, timers, blasting caps and other equipment used to fire the rockets were also found. The rockets, launch platforms and other equipment were taken for investigation.

 

Improvised explosive device cache turned in

FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – The Concerned Local Citizens in Hawr Rajab turned in a weapons cache to Entry Control Point 20, a base located southeast of Baghdad Oct. 24. The concerned citizens, who routinely assist the Company A, 5th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army Division, and the Paratroopers of Troop A, 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska, turned in the cache for safe disposal. The cache consisted of one 82mm mortar round, six 56mm rounds, two two-liter bottles filled with homemade explosives, and two 120mm mortars with pressure plates attached to them. This is the sixth improvised explosive device cache concerned citizens have turned in over a six-day period. To date, the Hawr Rajab Concerned Local Citizens have turned in nearly 30 IEDs.

 

Coalition forces disrupt foreign terrorist networks; 15 suspects detained

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces captured one wanted individual and detained 14 other suspects early Saturday during operations to disrupt al-Qaeda networks in central and northern Iraq. West of Balad, Coalition forces captured a wanted individual believed to be a member of a foreign terrorist facilitation network that channels extremists into Iraq. Reports indicate the targeted individual is an associate of an al-Qaeda senior leader operating outside of Iraq, who is involved in facilitating terrorist funds and information into the country. During the course of operations, the suspect identified himself to the ground force and was detained without incident. In addition to the targeted individual, seven suspected terrorists were detained on site. Farther north in Mosul, Coalition forces targeted another member of a foreign terrorist facilitation network. Intelligence reports indicate the targeted individual is associated with senior facilitators operating outside of the country, and is reportedly planning a meeting with the al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leader. Six suspected terrorists were detained during the operation. During another operation north of Fallujah, Coalition forces targeted a suspected associate of al-Qaeda in Iraq senior leaders and a building used as their safe house and meeting place. One suspect was detained on site. These operations continue successful Coalition forces targeting of foreign terrorist facilitation networks across Iraq, including operations Oct. 23 and 26 in Bayji. During these operations, the ground forces killed one terrorist, captured two wanted individuals and detained 14 other suspects for their roles in providing operational and logistical support.

 

Afghan National Security, Coalition forces kill dozens of Taliban fighters in Helmand Province

BAGRAM, Afghanistan  –  Afghan National Security and Coalition forces killed a large number of Taliban fighters after being ambushed in the Musa Qaleh Wadi region of Helmand Province Oct. 27. The combined force was conducting a reconnaissance patrol when Taliban fighters engaged them with rocket and small arms fire. The combined patrol immediately returned fire, maneuvered, and employed close air support resulting in almost seven dozen Taliban fighters killed during a six hour engagement. During the battle, the combined force exchanged small arms fire with the fleeing attackers, quickly putting them on the defensive. The insurgents attacked from a trench line using small arms, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades. The ANSF and Coalition forces fixed the enemy in their positions and four separate precision munition engagements killed over six dozen insurgents while trying to reinforce enemy positions.

 

Oct. 25 airpower summary: F-16s support coaliton forces

I Will Definitely Not Be Going To See The New "G.I. J.O.E." Movie

I pray to God that no one in the United States goes to see this movie either. I had heard they were changing "G.I. Joe", but had not heard many of the details. Until now. The "Real American Hero" has been turned into a "Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity" based out of Brussels, Belgium.

The show biz newspaper Variety reports: "G.I. Joe is now a Brussels-based outfit that stands for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, an international co-ed force of operatives who use hi-tech equipment to battle Cobra, an evil organization headed by a double-crossing Scottish arms dealer." Well, thank goodness the villain -- no need to offend anyone by making our villains Arabs, Muslims, or foreign dictators of any stripe these days, though apparently Presbyterians who talk like Scottie on "Star Trek" are still OK -- is a double-crossing arms dealer. Otherwise one might be tempted to conclude the geniuses at Paramount believe arms dealing itself is evil. [...] According to reports in Variety and the aforementioned IGN, the producers explain international marketing would simply prove too difficult for a summer, 2009 film about a heroic U.S. soldier. Thus the need to "eliminate Joe's connection to the U.S. military."

G.I. Joe was not just a toy. It was based on real person who was a real hero whose wishes that G.I. Joe remain a Marine is being stomped on.