Shut up, NFL Network explained to Deion...

Deion Sanders has just been muzzled by the NFL Network. Apparently, it seems that Roger Goodell is not exactly willing to prevent the lynch mobs from forming.

Worse, yet, here's what Deion had to say, which I think is a good point:

What a dog means to Vick might be a lot different than what he means to you or I.

Hold on, don’t start shaking your head just yet. Listen to me.

Some people kiss their dogs on the mouth. Some people let their dogs eat from their plate. Some people dress their dogs in suits more expensive than mine, if you can believe that.

And some people enjoy proving they have the biggest, toughest dog on the street. You’re probably not going to believe this, but I bet Vick loves the dogs that were the biggest and the baddest. Maybe, he identified with them in some way.

You can still choose to condemn him, but I’m trying to take you inside his mind so you can understand where he might be coming from.

Also, from a follow-up interview:

"[T]he real issue to me is, I think anybody, if someone in their family has done wrong or is doing wrong or made a bad, terrible decision, do we stone them or do we pray for them? I definitely, absolutely do not condone anything, but I am praying for him."

That was what was so controversial? Oh, yeah, he also had the nerve to point out that there are bigger fish to fry, like murders and armed robberies.

I think Deion needs to walk up to Goodell and the NFL Network bosses, and tell them to either let the column run - and remove that clause from his contract, or he will resign and call a press conference to announce it. And he should have the letter of resignation ready to hand to Goodell.

Goodell has been treating Michael Vick like a hardened criminal - never mind that Vick's not had the track record of a Pacman Jones, Chris Henry, Tank Johnson, or Odell Thurman. The dogfighting issue is the first troubel he's ever had. It's not minor, but it's not what others have done, either. Meanwhile the person or persons responsbile for killing and NFL player are still out there. Maybe he needs to re-direct his attention on that matter.

They weren't sexy, anyway...

It seems that in New Zealand, some vegans are pretty much ruling out any nookie with you if you eat meat.

Quite frnakly, anyone that strident isn't worth the effort to pursue.

Best sign that Pelosi's an albatross?

AJ-Strata seems to have one indication - the New York Times is apparently retreating from the Pelosi/Murtha cut-and-run approach.

That's what happens when you send the Congressional approval rating down the tubes.

Suing gangs?

OK, let me get this straight: You have a problem with street gangs. And the solution to the problem is to sue them?

Initially, I quoted Chris from Team America: World Police and I really got into trouble. Sadly, there's just no other appropriate reaction to reading about this sort of thing. It's so absurd it is begging for Matt and Trey to turn their awesomely profane comedic genius on it.

You stop gangs by putting them away for committing crimes, not with frigging lawsuits.

NOTE: This is the one and only time this blog will EVER be edited due to complaints about language.

Better Dick than Walter...

Walter Mondale is complaining about Vice President Cheney.

I find it interesting he remains proud of what he did from 1977-1981. The Carter-Mondale Administration gave us the present Iran, stagflation, a hollow military, and finished the gutting of the intelligence community that the Church and Pike Committees started.

I, for one, am not very proud of them - nor do I think they did a good job.

Briggs signs...

Lance Briggs signs a one-year deal. Charles "Peanut" Tillman and Nathan Vasher have signed multi-year extensions. Defense upgraded with Archuleta. Offense adds Devin Hester and Greg Olsen among its playmakers.

This is gonna be fun to watch.

"This isn't going well..."

Captain Lennox's line from Transformers rings oh-so-true when it comes to things for the Brewers. This last series was disappointing all around.

C'mon, guys... pull it together.

Tragedy in Mojave...

An explosion at Scaled Composites kills three.

I certainly can't find the words for the famileis of those killed and injured at this point. Getting to space has its risks - and this is one of them.

The consequences of declining civility...

AJ-Strata discusses his observations in the light of the decline in civility that seems to have accellerated in recent years.

It is hard to discuss issues when the name-calling begins almost immediately.

Dems are doubling down...

It looks like they are now going to expand the attack on Gonzales - not only going after him personally, but now expanding the attack to intelligence programs that have helepd us prevent attacks.


This can only be another example as to why you just can't trust the Democrats to keep the country safe.

Another Bit of Americana Gone . . .

Weekly World News will shut down August 3rd.

Bat Boy and Zombie Elvis could not be reached for comment.

Hugo's big mouth...

Hugo Chavez has a big mouth - we all knew that. But now he's insulting a cardinal.

Is Hugo trying to get his ass kicked? I mean, sooner or later, he is going to mouth off about someone who is not as charitable as a cardinal. Or maybe he'll nationalize the wrong company's assets - and Hugo will find that someone wants to kick his ass. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Iran's morality Gestapo...

Brietbart has a good article on Iran's fashion police.

While it is good to have a look into the regime, I really wish the reporter hadn't given it so much of an ADAM-12 flavor - becasue that Iranian police outfit is nothing like the stuff that Reed and Malloy did. Reed and Malloy served and protected the people L.A. (at least on TV screens) - these fashion Gestapo are doing nothing like that for the people of Iran.

Can we take a breather, here?

It looks like Russia and the UK are really going at it. First there was an effort by someone to knock off Boris Berezovsky, a person who had announced his intention to change the Russian government forcibly via extralegal means. Now, as AJ-Strata discusses at his blog, the Russians are refusing to extradite the man the Brits say poisoned Alexander Litvenenko.

I would refuse extradition, too. Unless, that is, the British will extradite Berezovsky to face the appropriate legal process for his announced intentions.

Have no fear, Zoey the Chihuahua is here . . .

All dogs go to Heaven . . .

. . . but Zoey the Chihuahua rates head-of-the-line privileges.

Booker West was splashing his hands in a birdbath in his grandparents' northern Colorado back yard when the snake slithered up to the toddler, rattled and struck. Five-pound Zoey jumped in the way and took the bites.

'Nuff said.

Holocaust Denial: The Next Generation

Senator John Kerry has once again proven that it is far better to keep silent, and merely be thought to be a fool, than it is to open one's mouth and remove those nagging doubts.

The money quote:

"We heard that argument over and over again about the bloodbath that would engulf the entire Southeast Asia, and it didn't happen," Kerry said, dismissing the charge out of hand as he argued that the American presence only makes the situation worse every day.

Just. Damn.

That much stupidity concentrated into that small a volume may have significant relativistic and quantum-mechanical effects.

165,000 dead in Vietnam after the Communist takeover? That wasn't a bloodbath, according to Kerry. 2,000,000 dead in Cambodia? Nope, not a bloodbath, according to John Kerry's argument.

Well, first we had Armenian Genocide denial. (Still do, in Turkey.) Then we got Holocaust denial. Now we have Killing Fields denial, updating the concept for a new generation. In 2025 or so, we'll have Rwandan Holocaust denial.

Santayana was wrong. He should've said "Those who refuse to remember the politically inconvenient past are doomed to repeat it."

John Kerry's next career move: becoming a contributing editor at the Journal of Historical Review.

Tragedy on the diamond...

In a Texas League game, a coach was struck in the head with a line drive and killed.

Those line drives travel fast - and when attending a minor league game, I've seen a few whiz by. A couple of people have even been hit. It's the reason why I would take the seat between the girl I took as my date and the plate.

This is tragic all around.

If not impeachment, then censure...

If you ever wondered why Democrats can't seem to be trusted on national security, let me refer you to Exhibit A, in the form of Russ Feingold, who seems to think that George W. Bush is a bigger threat to the United States than terrorists.

Put it this way - going nearly six years without a second major attack after 9/11 is worthy of commendation, not condemnation. If Feingold can't figure it out, maybe he should do the country a favor and resign.

Respectfully disagreeing...

Strategypage has done an article on the Israeli Nemer IFV. It's not bad, carrying eight infantry, and a crew of three. Based on an old Merkava chassis, it'll be tough, too.

But the ultimate IFV, though, has to be the BTMP-84. OK, it carries three fewer infantry, but it maintains the firepower of the Ukranian T-84 tank. Just imagine meeting that sucker in a dark alley, and ask yourself what you would do.

I don't think it would be much of a contest.

Finally!

The Pentagon called out Senator Clinton on her push for retreat. The generals are also saying they need until November to have a better idea on what is working.

Looks like a real brawl is coming around September.

USA Today needs help...

On the D section, they announce a poll to pick characters for the new movie, and put up a picture of a Transformer they identified as Devastator.

This page identifies the Transformer they pictured.

Ugh...

Well, the Crew can't win `em all. Still, wasting a strong start by Capuano is not a good thing.

But at least Cappy was back on.

Talk about messed-up...

Let me get this straight: Boris Berezovsky vocalizes his intentions to bankroll a palace coup in Russia. The British do nothing about this guy - well, okay, they didn't exactly do "nothing", they gave him asylum and a new identity.

If I were Putin, I'd be pretty pissed off about the situation. And, like I posted earlier, I'd be looking into dealing decisively with Mr. Berezovsky. Which he did. The Brits, though, foiled it.

So why is Putin the bad guy in all of this? Sorry, but in this case, the Brits are in the wrong, and they are arguably an accessory to any attempted coup.

Whacked-out priorities...

We have al-Qaeda plotting to attack the United States again. We all remember the last one, don't we? On a sunny, Tuesday morning that looked so good. I remember that day very well - complete with starting the process of mentally composing a protest letter over a decision that had been made by Secretary of State Colin Powell - a decision I couldn't really understand.

By the end of that day, I put off that letter - it was very obvious that he was going to be dealing with a much bigger fish to fry, and I could raise my objections at a later time, which I did - and I have voiced those objections elsewhere.

And so, I need to ask why we are getting off track by chasing down a dogfighting ring, or raiding meat-packing plants. OK, I don't like dogfighting - and yes, people should not be hiring illegal immigrants, but when al-Qaeda's trying to attack, I think we can agree that these are minor issues that divert resources from the more important task.

This is more than a little aggravating.

Four straight...

You know you have a good team when a cold offense that has scored 2, 4, 4, and 3 runs doesn't mean you have lost four straight. Why? Because the Brewers pitchers have been dishin' out some awesome stuff.

As a result, the Brewers have the best record in the NL. This means HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE throughout the playoffs.

I'm enjoying that thought.

Ongoing threats...

The terrorist threat is evolving.

Not only that, al-Qaeda has recovered to an extent. That was to be expected. Let's face it, there are folks willing to shelter bin Laden and other scumbags like him.

They're going to try to get operatives into the United States. Given the immigration debate and the recent diversion of resources into raiding places like meat-packing plants, I think it can be understood why al-Qaeda may think it can succeed.

Hopefully, in 2008, we'll get a President who will continue to take the global war on terror seriously.

Watch those gopher balls...

Still, any time you limit the damage to three solo homers, your team has a good chance to win the game. Particularly when you have a hitter like Ryan Braun on the team.

Now Braun's doing very well. I guess when he looks at te mound, he's not seeing a pitcher, he's seeing a baby seal.

Whomp.... whomp...

WHOMP!!!!

Depth is nice...

Especially when your ace may miss a start. But the Brewers have two other good starters currently in the bullpen.

There's a reason they have been in first since April.

Death by texting...

It seems text messaging has caused a fatal crash.

Folks - can you just pull over to the side of the road if you need to text that badly? Or, betetr yet, just call and use a hands-free set? They work pretty well.

One driver didn't think to do so. As a result, five young lives have been snuffed out.

Oil up...

Oil has hit $74 a barrel. The short and medium-term answer to this is very simple: Biofuels (including ethanol), flex-fuel vehicles, oil shale, and coal-to-liquid.

Once that's done, we can work on putting a stake through OPEC's heart for good.

Liking her more and more...

Kelly Clarkson has told off Clive Davis. I'm getting more and more impressed with her. She says what she thinks, and doesn't back down.

I might be getting a crush...

Working herself up...

A Nobel laureate is now spouting off about wanting to kill President Bush.

I'm beginning to wonder when the wheels will come off, not a matter of if.

Unbreakable records...

Here's a list of baseball records that are believed to be unbreakable.

The Bulge, Tet, and the Summer of 2007...

What do the Battle of the Bulge and the Tet Offensive have in common? They were last-ditch efforts to turn the tide of a war. The Bulge failed, and the Tet Offensive was a military disaster that was salvaged by media misreporting.

AJ-Strata now thinks we can add this summer to that list. It makes a lot of sense. In essence, al-Qaeda knows they cannot win a straight-up battle with American troops. They can, however, launch attacks that will generate headlines - and be focused on. Editors will run those headlines and the lurid photos. Al-Qaeda is hoping that like Mogadishu and Tet, the American public and the political leadership will lose their nerve.

After all, ABC did report that Petraeus is optimistic he can win - if he has the time. Al-Qaeda's trying to make sure he doesn't get it. And there are plenty in the media who might help them do it.

Micro-management defeated...

It seems the pet-ownership micromanagement bill in California has gone down in flames.

What grates on me - and probably most pet owners - is the fact that this was a coercive bill, and one that would have met with massive civil disobedience. I don't deny that there are bad pet owners - that is true in any ownership group (guns, cars, etc.), but the best option is to focus on the bad apples, and not pass such blanket measures that are little more than collective punishment.

Obama's right and wrong at the same time...

Barack Obama has managed to be both right and wrong at the same time.

On the one hand, he is correct - we don't get "do-overs" in time of war. On the other hand, he wants to cut and run. In essence, he'd be telling Iran, Syria, and al-Qaeda that if you keep racking up spectacular attacks that grab the headlines and kill innocent people and the occasional American soldier, America will quit.

That is not the message I want to send to Bashir Assad, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, or Osama bin-Laden. We only get one chance to send the right message. I want it to be, "Piss us off, and you will be lucky if you end up like Saddam", not "We're wimps."

Stephen Ampbrose had a wonderful phrase in his book, D-Day that describes what we are dealing with: The poison of pacifism. The Democrats have taken a massive dose since the Vietnam War. We even have one of their candidates claiming the war on terror is a bumper sticker slogan. I wonder how the victims of the 9/11, Bali, Madrid, and London attacks would feel about that.

Trusting your gut...

Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff thinks we could be in for an attack this summer - or a higher risk, at the very least.

Believe it or not, gut instinct is one of the more important tools that folks in businesses like intelligence and counter-terrorism have. And an attack this summer might be appealing to al-Qaeda or Iran if only because President Bush seems weak.

It sure makes me wonder why some people insist that we chase after landscapers, cleaning ladies, honor students, workers in meat plants, and suburban housewives. One would think that preventing another 9/11, Madrid, or London would be more important.

Success and failure...

While the MSM will be discussing the failure of the Iraqi government to meet any targets, what will be studiously ignored in newsrooms is the successes coming from the surge, particularly as Sunnis turn against al-Qaeda.

Now, we do need to adjust for the failure of the Iraqi government, but that will probably be handled in a July 15 no-confidence vote.

It is not 100% success - nothing in war ever is. But it is far from a failure.

He's working himself up...

RFK Jr. was clearly working himself - and the crowd at Live Earth - up.

Screaming treason, as has been common from certain quarters in the immigration debate, is not a small matter. Treason is a capital crime in just about any country in the world.

So, with RFK Jr.'s declaration that people like Michael Crichton should be treated as traitors - probably after some Nuremberg-style trial - for expressing skepticism of the "man-made global warming" claims, he is, in essence, saying that they are worthy of death. And we have had a lot of environmentally-motivated terrorism in this country from groups like the Earth Liberation Front.

I'm starting to get a little nervous.

Looks like there was a big fish...

It seems a Senator has been caught up in the DC madam scandal. It also looks like some other fish may be involved, too.

In this case, the Senator was very dumb. He didn't just pay when he cheated, he's paying for it AFTER he cheated.

Blogger doesn't seem to want to post titles today. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Talk about sleazy...

Talk about sleazy...

I don't know much more about Denise Richards than the fact that she was a not-too-bad Bond Girl in The World Is Not Enough.

I do know that taking a girl to Hawaii to dump her is low.

Ups and downs...

Well, the good news is that the Brewers still have the lead in the NL Central.

The bad news: They didn't just lose three of four, Bill Hall got hurt.

I HATE PNC Park.

More fallout...

When you fail to solve a problem, there are consequences. One of the consequences of not passing a comprehensive immigration bill is the fact that Microsoft is now opening a Canada office.

We'll see more outsourcing if we don't get a bill passed soon. Worse, that will give the Lou Dobbs populists another reason to bash American businesses.

Can we get Gallardo in the rotation... PLEASE?

Claudio Vargas is not exactly a good starter. He rarely gets through the sixth inning, and he can't even reliably protect a three-run lead in the first.

Meanwhile, Gallardo, after some very good starts, has been moved to the bullpen.

Maybe the Brewers need to switch these pitchers around. Soon. The lead is only 5.5 games.

The wheels are coming off...

In essence, I am starting to wonder if I am a person without a party.

The Democrats are a complete non-starter with me. They got us into this global war on terrorism due to the eight years of incompetence on the part of Bill Clinton. Now, they are deciding to pursue a poisonous pacifism. Pacifism is not the answer when one is dealing with the likes of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Kim Jong-Il. In essence, the Dems would do little more than transfers of wealth and trying to get revenge against the Republicans.

But the GOP is not exactly a good choice, either. In essence, a substantial part of the Republican base seems to despise people like my co-blogger and myself as unprincipled (or worse) because we do not toe their line on an issue. We're accused of smears when we rightfully point out the slimy side of certain parts of a coalition on an issue. In essence, aside from the global war on terror, the GOP would be paralyzed as talk-show hosts and pundits enforce an ideological purity that does not have the support of the American people.

That said, those are the only two parties who have any real chance to win. The Dems are a non-starter, so that leaves the GOP. But I'm no longer happy about it.

Busted for cheating...

Note to men: If you are planning to be a philanderer, don't marry a forensic scientist.

One cheater got nailed. Big time.

The blowback begins...

It seems the blowback from the immigration debate has begun with a flood of new citizenship applications.

Personally, I doubt they will vote for anyone who they perceive to be aligned with those who were all but saying, "We never wanted you here in the first place."

Sentence Commuted...

The President's statement says it all. A pardon would have been better to address the out-of-control special prosecutor's pursuit of someone who had no connection with the leak itself. The leak, as we now know, was from Armitage - and it was an effort to expose the lies of one Joe Wilson and possible neptism on the part Valerie Plame.

Still, it is a start. One can hope that the pardon will come at an appropriate time.

A pop quiz...

Here's the situation:
The opposing team has already scored three runs, and with two out, and runners on secodn and third, you are facing a hitter who has gone O-fer on the day with a hitter who already has three RBI on deck.

Do you:
A. Pitch to the guy having the O-fer;
B. Intentionally walk both hitters and get to the #8 spot and the pitcher;
C. Just intentionally walk the guy having the O-fer, and pitch to the other guy... his luck has to have run out by now...

I would like to thank Pirates manager Jim Tracy for choosing option C - and for leaving a pitcher who clarly did not have his best stuff out there long enough for the Brewers to hang seven runs on him.

Four All-Stars...

The Brewers have four All-Stars this year:
1B Prince Fielder, who won the vote to start at that position. Albert who?
SS JJ Hardy, probably having the best offensive season at that position in the majors.
SP Ben Sheets, the ace of the staff
RP Francisco Codero, who leads the majors in saves.

Way to go, guys.

The London attacks...

If you've read Drudge over the weekend, you've seen the news about the failed attacks in London. It also shows why we need things like the NSA's programs, and AJ-Strata shows how the approach we took under the Clinton Administration doesn't work.

Message to conservatives: There are real terrorists, and there are shadows. You've been jumping at the latter, particularly on immigration.