Christie Orders Flags Lowered Tomorrow

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed the following Executive Order:

Executive Order No. 72 - Ordering all State buildings to fly flags at half-staff on Friday, August 19, 2011 to honor the service and sacrifice of United States Marine Corporal Nicholas S. Ott, a 2006 graduate of Manchester Regional High School, who lost his life serving on active duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Read More...

Jackie Mason On Obama, Iraq, The Mideast . . .

Whether you agree with him or not, you gotta admire Jackie Mason's willingness to say what he thinks and tell it like it is. Here's Jackie on the Rick Amato radio program.

Read More...

America In The Age Of The 'First Person Presidency'

At National Review, Victor Davis Hanson has done a marvelous job of analyzing President Obama's Sunday night speech on the capture of Osama Bin Laden and look at how he's highlighted various parts and phrases in this excerpt:

“Tonight, I can report . . . And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta . . . I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden . . . I met repeatedly with my national security team . . . I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action. . . . Today, at my direction . . . I’ve made clear . . . Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear . . . Tonight, I called President Zardari . . . and my team has also spoken. . .These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief . . . Finally, let me say to the families . . . I know that it has, at times, frayed. . . .”

Hanson calls this the FIRST PERSON PRESIDENCY. And indeed, it is perhaps the most egotistical presidency in American history.
As one moves along in life (and one encounters more than one's share of overblown egos) this much becomes clear: A Big Ego often masks deep-seated insecurity or maybe even more serious problems.

Anyway, you owe it to your self to read what Victor Davis Hanson has written. Click here for the full column.

Read More...

This Is What Vindication Looks Like

Read More...

OBL Death: Celebrate Into The Night!

The great Christine Flowers has written an outstanding column on some of the hand-ringing surrounding celebrations in the aftermath of Bin Laden's death.
Here's part of what Christine has to say in today's Philadelphia Daily News:

Here's what I think of the people who are upset (upset?!) at the jubilation over the death of al Qaeda's monster-in-chief:
Please go get a cup of green tea to calm your nerves, a good selection from Oprah's book club - and some smelling salts.
You poor, delicate things.

Click here to read more.

Read More...

Has Obama 'Screwed Up' OBL Death Aftermath?

Is President Obama in the process of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory?
Well, no one can deny that the killing of Osma Bin Laden was a high point for the Administration -- a dramatic international coupe and huge rally-round-the-flag moment with Obama at the center of the spotlight.
But Jim Treacher, writing in The Daily Caller, seems to think that Obama & Co. bungled the triumph even before all the hoopla began.
Here's tiny part of what he says:

It’s been less than 72 hours since President Barack Obama announced that U.S. Special Forces “a small team of Americans” had killed Osama Bin Laden. Since then, his administration has been hard at work screwing the whole thing up.

Click here to read the whole story.

Read More...

OBL Death: Has American 'Sensitivity' Gone Too Far?

A friend sent along this thought:

"Imagine how the American people would react if al-Qaida killed one of our troops or military leaders, and put photos of the body on the internet." - President Obama

...uhhhhh don't they routinely do that anyway? i.e. Nick Berg, Daniel Pearl...etc?

and, by the way -- imagine how the American people could, should and DID react when al-Qaida created a raging inferno that killed 3,000 innocent people on our own soil? 

Read More...

The 9/11 Great Escape As Celebrity Road Trip

Did three of the world's biggest stars take a post-9/11 road trip into the heart of America?
Were they really cooped up in a hired car together for 500 miles and did they really stop at every Burger King and KFC along the way on an endless junk food binge?
Was New Jersey really their first stop?
And was Ohio their final destination?
It's a story that seems just incredible enough to be true: That Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Marlon Brando fled the Big Apple the day after September 11 and embarked on a combination Great Escape and Celebrity Road Trip - together!
Click here to read more.

Read More...

NO 'Victory Laps" On Sacred Ground

A Facebook friend writes:

Many of you may disagree, friends, but I think the 'celebration' planned for Ground Zero tomorrow is inappropriate and inconsiderate. The only 'events' I will ever attend related to the horrors of 9/11/2001 will be the somber services of prayer and remembrance. Civil comments are welcome, as always.

I totally agree.
There should be no "celebrations" and no "victory laps" on sacred ground. Not now. Not ever.

Read More...

Dershowitz: How We Mishandled Osama's Body

In The Wall Street Journal, Harvard's Alan Dershowitz writes that there is no real risk that the photographs will inflame Muslim or Arab sensibilities any more than the photographs of Saddam Hussein did.
Here's an excerpt from this "must read" piece:

The president's decision to withhold photographs of the dead Osama bin Laden is only the last in a series of terrible mistakes in the handling of his body. Although there should be no doubt that bin Laden is actually dead, there are grave doubts as to the circumstances surrounding his death. Was he shot in cold blood? Was he shot in the back or in the front? Were his hands raised in surrender? Was he actively resisting?
Many of these doubts could have been resolved if bin Laden's body had been subjected to the usual investigatory techniques routinely employed in homicide cases. His body should have been subjected to an autopsy, to forensic testing by an experienced medical examiner, to extensive photographing of entrance and exit wounds, to paraffin testing for gun-powder residue, and to other such forensic examination.
Burying his body at sea constituted the willful destruction of relevant evidence, which naturally gives rise to suspicions that there was something to hide.

Click here to read the entire column. 

Read More...

Runyan Returns From Afghanistan Trip

Congressman Jon Runyan has just returned from a congressional delegation visit to Afghanistan.
Here's an excerpt from a Burlington County Times story:

Congressman Jon Runyan was in Afghanistan with a congressional delegation just days before U.S. commandos killed Osama bin Laden in neighboring Pakistan, but the freshman lawmaker did not learn about the clandestine raid until President Barack Obama announced the terrorist leader’s death to the world.
“He was never briefed on the attack,” Runyan press secretary Chris Terrell said Tuesday, adding that the 3rd District representative did meet with top military and civilian commanders to discuss security and strategy in the ongoing military conflict against the Taliban and al-Qaida.
During his two days in Afghanistan, Runyan, R-3rd of Mount Laurel, also met with American service members and attended a memorial for fallen troops as well as a “ramp service,” in which the remains of troops are given a respectful ceremony as they are loaded onto an aircraft to return to the United States for burial.
“It was an honor to meet with our troops in the field. They and their families suspend their lives to answer the call of our nation. There aren’t enough words of appreciation for what they do,” Runyan said Tuesday in a statement.

Click here for the full story.

Read More...

Bush Declines Obama's 'Victory Lap' Invite

President George W. Bush will mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in September but he will not be going to the World Trade Center site in Manhattan with President Obama tomorrow.
Here's an excerpt from the story as reported by The Daily Beast and MSNBC:

Former President George W. Bush has declined President Obama’s invitation to jointly visit Ground Zero on Thursday. “President Bush will not be in attendance on Thursday,” his spokesman told The New York Times. “He appreciated the invite, but has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight. He continues to celebrate with Americans this important victory in the war on terror.”

Click here for the complete story.

Read More...

Raid: Obama Kept Military Waiting For 16 Hours

In customary fashion, President Obama kept top commanders waiting -- even after they were ready to go -- until he gave the command to launch the raid on Bin Laden's headquarters.
Here's an excerpt from London's Daily Mail:

Barack Obama kept military commanders hanging by declaring he would 'sleep on it' before taking 16 hours to give the go-ahead to raid Bin Laden's compound.
Hit squads of specialist Navy Seals - who were not even told who they were preparing to capture - had practised the mission at two reconstructions of the terror chiefs sprawling compound.
The mission looked set to be given the all clear last Thursday when analysts confirmed beyond doubt that Bin Laden was in busy town of Abbottabad in northern Pakistan.
But the president stunned officials when he told a national security meeting that he wanted to more time to think - and disappeared out of the room. I'm not going to tell you what my decision is now - I'm going to go back and think about it some more,' said Obama, according to the New York Times. He then added 'I'm going to make a decision soon.'

Click here to read more. 

Read More...

Why We Love Those Navy Seals!

The Trailer For Navy Seals Starring Bill Paxton, Charlie Sheen, Michael Biehn, Joanne Whalley, Rick Rossovich, Nicholas Kadi, Dennis Haysbert, Ronald G. Joseph, S. Epatha Merkerson, Paul Sanchez, And Cyril O'Reilly. Directed By Lewis Teague.

Read More...

Video: Christie Recollects, Comments On Bin Laden Death

Governor Chris Christie spoke about the death of Osama bin Laden at a press conference at the State House on Monday, May 2, 2011.

Read More...

Govenor Chris Christie On Death Of Obama

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today issued the following statement concerning President Obama's announcement that Osama bin Laden has been killed:

"I want to commend President Obama's Administration for its commitment and dedication to finally bringing Osama bin Laden to justice. As the former U.S. Attorney and now Governor of New Jersey, I speak for all the families of this state who have courageously endured the unspeakable and devastating consequences of terrorism. There is hardly a life that has gone untouched in New Jersey by the horrifying assault on American soil that took place on September 11th and today, after years of waiting, justice has finally been delivered. While our fight against terrorism continues, Osama bin Laden's reign of terror has come to an end, sending a clear signal that even in the face of immeasurable horror, democracy and freedom continue to prevail."

Read More...

Netanyahu's Message On Death Of Bin Laden

Read More...

George W. Bush: 'Momentous Achievement For Military'

"Earlier [last] evening, President Obama called to inform me that American forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al Qaeda network that attacked America on September 11, 2001.  I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission.  They have our everlasting gratitude.  This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001.  The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message:  No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."
--President George W. Bush

Read More...

O Beautiful For Heroes Proved . . . .

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood 

--Katharine Lee Bates

America The Beautiful 

Read More...

America's Dramatic Triumph!

Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list,
The Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist.
The eagle will fly and it's gonna be hell,
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell.
It'll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you.
......Brought to you, courtesy of the red, white & blue.
-Toby Keith-

Read More...