Terri's gone ...

but not forgotten. Let's hope this sad episode marks a turning point where our nation can heal and grow. Let's hope and pray we aren't heading toward the Netherlands.

More on Monday.

For a lift and a smile in the meantime, Julie has answered the mail. See the post below. If you dare to be interviewed, let me know.

See you next week.

Julie B steps up to the plate ...

Yes, check out her answers to my questions and you, too, can understand better this quixotic, liberal blogger. As usual, she is verbose, so make sure you scroll down and read them all.

I mean her answers are good. They are almost as good as my questions. I mean, they're not as good as my comments to her answers, but they're good.

In all seriousness, in particular check out Julie's explanation of her ability to dialogue with ideological opponents -- and learn. Julie's liberal, but she's still the bomb (that's good, Julie ... a little young people lingo for you. I know that libs generally don't like militaristic thingies) ... and she's my friend. Now, go read.

Sick of the Schiavo case? ...

Well, I would like to change gears, but ... there are indeed far-reaching implications of this controversy. One life is precious. When that principle is in dispute, then many other well-settled matters are now up for grabs.

I will reiterate ... this is a tough issue. If you don't agree with me, I respect your views. However, if you are wishing for the death of Terri Schiavo, and/or you see in such a result some sort of personal vindication or political victory, then I can't respect your viewpoint.

And ... this fellow ... in spite of the fact that he is driving hits to this site through the roof ... is despicable. Not worthy of a shred of respect.

What do you think?

About the fellow Felos ...

Now that the Pope is unfortunately on a feeding tube, can any one account for the whereabouts of George Felos? I have come to the following conclusions about the fellow Felos:

1) he is a good lawyer, particularly on appellate issues;

2) he is creepy and appears to be deriving way too much pleasure out of this ordeal;

3) every time he opens his mouth and talks about how wonderfully euphoric and peaceful it is to starve to death, I wish to deny him the euphoria of such suffering by inflicting excruciating pain upon him;

4) his Saturday news conference, in which he endlessly gushed about how great it is that Terri is dying, was sickening. He should hang with judges, not juries and real people; and

5) he is proof that even complete, raging geeks can find a place -- albeit unseemly -- in this world.

No takers to be interviewed. Hmmm.

I see that no one has volunteered to be interviewed by me. (See interview rules below.) Please note that I submitted to the penetrating questions of JulieB. But I don't blame you.

Check out this intel report ...

from Dan at Riehl World View. I have no idea how Dan gets this stuff, but it looks like the jihadis may be having more difficulties than they are letting on. Check it out and see what you think.

Okay ... and about Jesse Jackson

So, what about his visit to Florida where he has eloquently taken up the fight for Terri Schiavo? Well, if you view it cynically, it might appear that Jackson is shoring up the Democrats' values flank. Perhaps he is trying to show up Gov. Jeb Bush. Perhaps he is just living out his faith and being true to his commitment to fighting for the powerless. As I recall, liberals used to take up the cause of the powerless. Who knows?

Frankly, I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt. But I will tell you this ... I really don't care what his motivation is. If he is working to save Terri's life, then great.

So, last month I praised Barney Frank for his stance on Eason Jordan's slander of our military. This month Jesse Jackson and I are buds. If I say something nice about Ted Kennedy next month, I quit. The world will be coming to an end.

DC Reveals Shocking Answers to Penetrating Questions ...

Okay ... well, sue me. Maybe they won't be shocking, but you've read this far, right? Interesting? Hard to say. You be the judge. At least they'll be correct. How about that?

So, without any further delay or "a dew" ... whatever ... here are the answers to the penetrating questions of JulieB:

If you could be any historical figure from the 16th Century, who would you be and why?

What?! Thank God for Wikipedia. Oh, my. First, I have to do a little research. Yeah, I know some. Luther, Shakespeare. Not Luther. Why? I mean, I am an evangelical Christian ... one of his spiritual offspring. Hmmm. How about ... Sir Thomas More? He was a man of principle and his life and death counted. Plus, I learned a bit about him when I saw his picture hanging in the office of Dr. Marvin Olasky, a man I respect as much as any one.

How did you propose to Mrs. DC?

Hmmm. Wow. Let me see. As I recall, she begged me ... something about, "You are the most amazing man ever to live ... " I seem to recall. Maybe my memory is fading as I am far older than most, I repeat, most of my readers. Let's see. The year was 1985. I had surrepti ... whatever ... snuck up to Dallas and bought her little, and I do mean little, engagement ring. She did not know I had it. We went out that evening. She was living in an apartment in Georgetown, Texas at the time. I was still in school. Yes ... she's an older woman. Story of my life. But I digress ... We came back to her apartment. I had concocted some story about "making her dessert" when we got back to her place. We even went to the grocery store and I bought ice cream, etc. She was sitting on the balcony. I went to "make dessert". Put ring (in the holder) in the bowl and came back ... Surprise!! Oh, yeah ... I wrote a note ... "I love you. I need you. Will you marry me?" Or something like that. Or ... maybe she begged me. I don't know.

What movie do you watch over and over again, and why?

As discussed on this blog previously, "A Christmas Carol" ... the 1951 version with Alistair Sim as Scrooge. I watch it every year. I love it because it is the best version of my favorite Christmas story. Sim is masterful. But most of all, I love the story because it is a great picture of hope and redemption. It reminds me that the most important point is what became of Scrooge's life after the spirits visited.

If you could interview Barbara Boxer, what would you ask her?

Gosh, I don't know. This is really hard, because I really don't want to interview the senator. But ... what could I ask ... okay, "Sen. Boxer, list some of your favorite conservative Republicans ... and in case you can't tell the difference, John McCain is not one of these ... "What do you think makes most people conservative?" ... "Assuming that you don't think that conservative Republicans are bad people (and I don't think you do), what can be done by liberal Democrats like yourself to convince some of your ideological soul mates of this?" ... "What is your plan for fixing Social Security?" ... "What specific proposals are the Democrats in Congress FOR now, and what are you doing to see that these proposals are at least partially enacted into law?" ... "Do you think it is bigoted to advocate legal protections for traditional marriage?" ... "As a Jewish person, I would be interested in knowing your thoughts on how a Christian lives out his or her faith without in your view being unfair, dogmatic, prejudiced ... in other words, being true to themselves without interfering with the rights of others to do the same." ... "What do you think of Jesus and why?"

What is your fondest memory of your childhood?

This is hard. My childhood wasn't great. My parents divorced when I was seven. I had to grow up too fast in a lot of ways. But don't go feelin' sorry for me, please. A lot of this helped get me to where I needed to go. But I digress ... Probably my best memories as a kid were as a freshman in high school when I met a guy from Thompson, Ohio who was a friend to me and told me how to become a Christian.

Interviewing Rules ... For those who would like to submit themselves to an interview by the great DC (caution: I have, in the past, been paid to ask questions):

* Leave me a comment saying “interview me”. The first five commenters will be the participants.*

I will respond by asking you five questions.*

You will update your blog/site with the answers to the questions.*

You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.*

Today, I will look up ...

Greetings all. The Terri Schiavo case winds to its sad conclusion, but I choose to look up. Maybe some thoughts on this next week. It's been a wild ride. When all settles down, I don't think it will be all bad for us as a nation, as we reflect on our system of government, the role of our judiciary, and most importantly, the preciousness of one solitary life.

Next Monday ... I will answer Julie's penetrating questions. I know you can't wait. Right? Oh, well. It is pretty interesting to think about coming up with some answers. And, of course, I see Julie working. She is making me do a little research and perhaps trying to get Sen. Boxer and me to be buddies. Okay ... I am game.

And finally, with all due respect to my friends who do not share my Christian faith and in the spirit of goodwill, I sign off this Easter week by citing the irony of being reminded at this time of year of the preciousness of the individual. Indeed, Jesus Christ cared so much for each individual that he gave His life for each of us sinners on Good Friday. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Jesus' death on Friday could have been perceived as a tragedy, and indeed it was for a time. Actually for about two days. Because on the third day ... Sunday ... He actually, physically rose from the dead. Thus, I will look up.

Terri's Legal Chances and Life Almost Gone, but consider ...

C. S. Lewis's words from "The Weight of Glory" (h/t Hugh Hewitt):

"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations -- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit --immortal horrors or everlasting splendors."

Indeed.

Thomas Sowell at the plate ... here's the pitch ... it's a long drive .... way back ...

back ... at the wall ... gone. Here's Dr. Sowell's devastating critique of liberal hypocrisy in the Terri Schiavo case:

The fervor of those who want to save Terri Schiavo's life is understandable and should be respected, even by those who disagree. What is harder to understand is the fervor and even venom of those liberals who have gone ballistic -- ostensibly over state's rights, over the Constitutional separation of powers, and even over the sanctity of family decisions.

These are not things that liberals have any track record of caring about. Is what really bothers them the idea of the sanctity of life and what that implies for their abortion issue? Or do they hate any challenge to the supremacy of judges -- on which the whole liberal agenda depends -- a supremacy that the Constitution never gave the judiciary?

Also, check out this deep drive off the wall by Lorie Byrd of PoliPundit regarding the new-found faith that liberals have in husbands of all stripes to care for their wives:

Many of the liberals commenting suddenly seem to believe that a husband always has the best interests of his wife at heart. This evidently extends even to husbands who have taken a new common law wife and have had children with her. At the very least, the court should see the fact that he has a new family as a conflict of interest.

At least conservatives on Terri's side have some history of supporting the cause we now embrace. And we will continue to hold to these views. But will the new advocates of states' rights, separation of powers, limited government, and .... for crying out loud, the authority of husbands ... still hold these views when a new set of facts arises?

Pay No Attention to that Man Behind the Curtain: Judge Whittemore Unmasked

Hugh Hewitt shows again why he is simply the best. He is absolutely right on and he knocks out of the park yesterday's outrageous, contemptuous ruling by Judge Whittemore in the Terri Schiavo case with two dynamite posts that are must-reads:

1) Endangered Vegetables Get More Protections than Terri Schiavo; and

2) In the Spirit of Pontius Pilate: Congress and the President be Damned, Terri gets no food or water.

It can't be said better. For those who wish to understand both what is at stake in this debate and the passion many of us feel, please check out Hugh's take.

Here's a shocker ...

The Great Oz rules against Terri's parents. I knew it last night when I read his arrogant comments. See below.

Government by the Oz, for the Oz, and of the Oz

I saw this quote today, and it absolutely made me see red: "I will not tell you when, how, or how long it will take." This is what U.S. District Judge James Whittemore told the parties in the emotionally-charged Terri Schiavo case. Don't believe it? Check it out.

I want to step back for a minute and acknowledge that this is obviously a difficult case for both sides. I am pulling for Terri's parents, the Schindlers. I am hoping that Terri will be allowed to live. Big time. Yet, I realize, as certainly any thinking person does, that both sides' nerves are frayed as this matter has come to a boil in full view of the nation.

Plus, Your Honor, there is this small detail: Terri is starving to death. Accordingly, time is of the essence.

Still, the Great Oz must not be disturbed. He will speak when and how he wishes. "Now, go away!!"

What complete arrogance. What pompous crap from this lawyer-in-a-robe. One of the lawyers should have looked him in the eye and said, "No, sir. That is not acceptable. We need this matter resolved, and now. We need to know what to expect. It's the only decent thing, after all we have been through." And the Schindlers' counsel might have added, "And since you can't tell us how long, Your Honor, would you please grant that the feeding tube be reinserted while you deliberate? There is some amount of evidence to review, and the law says we are entitled to a complete review of the record." Or they could have added, "Plus, your a federal judge. So, you can do whatever you want, any way. Please have the feeding tube reinserted." Or ... "If you can't find a standard that allows you to do this, just, uh ... 'evolve' one, how 'bout it?"

But the Great Judge Whittemore ... the all-knowing one ... he would hear none of it. "Go away, you little people!" Maybe he thinks we are little because we just accept such garbage dressed up as justice.

What an outrageous bastardization of our government. People are up in arms that the Congress would exercise its powers under Article III of the Constitution to define the jurisdiction of the federal courts, but where is the outrage over the runaway arrogance that is so prevalent in our judicial system?

Judges openly talk of inserting their own "evolving standards" for the collective wisdom of the states. They look to foreign friends and law to interpret ... American law? No, they are not. They are doing just what they want. They are exercising power. They are not to be disturbed. They are wise. They are good. They are our governors. They are protecting us children from ourselves, don't you see?

If the country does not wake up, we will have no freedoms left. These Wise Ones will have arrongantly absconded with them all. And if we are then left gasping for permission to take a few precious breaths of freedom, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

At the end of the day, what do we really have?

Very interesting week wrapping up and another one beginning. The Terri Schiavo saga continues with the Congress hopefully ... in my view ... passing a law that would allow her federal court review before her feeding tube is removed. I know that some of you would rather that I change the subject, and I understand. But bear with me for a moment while I wind my way from Terri Schiavo to where I am on this night.

What animates me in the fight to preserve Terri Schiavo is that innocent life deserves the benefit of the doubt. Terri Shiavo is innocent; this we know. Her estranged husband Michael says now that she would not have wished to be on a feeding tube, but he said earlier that she had never made such a statement. Indeed, most of us don't have the opportunity or inclination to opine on such matters before we are 26-years-old. The point is ... we don't know what her wishes were.

Michael Schiavo now has a girlfriend, children by his girlfriend. His life is moving on. It is hard to fault him for wanting to move on. Meanwhile, Terri's parents want to keep her alive and are willing to care for her. It is a difficult situation for all concerned, to be sure. But the key issue remains in my view: Innocent life always gets the benefit of the doubt.

Doctors have debated Terri's condition. Some say she will not improve. Others say she might. I have my doubts she will improve, but does it really matter? We are not God. Innocent life should get the benefit of the doubt.

I have watched with some amazement as politicians who clamor for convicted murderers to get every possible benefit of the doubt -- including, of course, federal habeus corpus review -- seek to deny the innocent Terri Schiavo the same right to review of her federal civil rights. Now, I watch people very awkwardly quote ... states rights? What!? But life trumps marital rights. Life trumps states' rights. This is not hard. Have we become so callous as not to realize the preciousness of each person?

You will have to forgive me because, yes, it is true ... this belief of mine stems from my Christian faith. I believe that God loves the world. That would mean ... every one. Each person, each life is precious. I do insist upon acting upon this belief, if you will excuse me, please.

And friends, if we don't have life, we don't have much. We can't marry if we are not alive. We can't have children. We can't work. Can't own property. We can't have "states' rights" if we reside 6 feet under our state. If all the people are dead, there is no state. Beam me up.

Have we lost our ability to morally reason as a culture?

Without life, we don't have much worth living for.

Without each other, we don't have much. I was discussing with my friend JulieB via email this week the subjects of marriage, bigotry, tolerance, faith, etc. ... and I was reminded again that without each other, we don't have much.

Each life is precious. So, live today accordingly.

Really sad developments today in Terri's case. Please contact your elected representatives, if you have not done so and urge them to act before Terri slowly starves to death.

I heard Gov. Bush speaking today about the ironic tragedy of all of this and he made an interesting point: Why does it absolutely take forever to execute a convicted murderer, but the courts seem in a rush to starve this innocent woman to death? Again, innocent life should get the benefit of the doubt.

And Congress just couldn't get its act together to pass a measure protecting innocent people without specific directives when they become incapacitated. Why? Busy, I am sure. That's right. Talking about baseball and steriods. They have no business talking about baseball. Oh, I forgot. Sen. McCain, who is pro-life you remember, thinks it is important to talk about baseball. And the MSM thought it was imporant, and it was good theater. I mean, dang, if McCain/MSM thinks it's important to talk about steroids and a private enterprise ... with grown men playing ... while a woman is about to be starved to death, then Shazam baby, let's talk steroids. And by golly, let's get to that recess. Lord knows, those congressmen need a break.

Shame on Sen. McCain and the rest of the Congress for frittering away precious moments while action was needed on this case. Hope they enjoy their break.

Pray. Act in Terri's interest ... in some way. Check Blogs for Terri for continued updates and action items.

Update: U.S. Senate acts. Bill to conference with House

The campaign to save Terri Schiavo rolls on. The U.S. Senate just passed the Incapitated Persons Legal Protection Act, which would allow federal court action to preserve the life of Terri Schiavo or other incapacitated persons whose wishes upon incapacitation are unclear.

The bill now goes to conference.

Awesome. Wonder how those nabobs named Reed voted. We'll find out.

Terri Schiavo Update ... Check this out from the Party of Compassion

Via Blogs for Terri:

It's BOTH Senator Reeds that need to be encouraged to support Terri - Urgent that EVERYONE CALL NOW - ONLY TWO HOURS LEFT!

ASK THEM TO PLEASE support: "The Incapacitated Persons Legal Protection Act."

Reed, Jack - (D - RI) Class II
728 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4642
Web Form: http://reed.senate.gov/form-opinion.htm

AND

Reid, Harry - (D - NV) Class III
528 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3542
Web Form: http://reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm

Note: I called Sen. Harry Reid's office (D-NV) and his assistant just told me that the bill was not up for consideration. He asked where I was calling from (Houston), and said he would pass on my support to the Senator.

However, when I spoke with Sen. Jack Reid's (D-RI) office and informed them I was calling from Houston (silly me), the nice young lady hung up on me.

The Party of Compassion strikes again.

So, call 'em. Bug 'em. Get after it.

Time is short for Terri Shiavo ...

On Friday, it appears that the starvation death of Terri Schiavo may very well commence. I would urge you to check out Blogs for Terri (linked to the left) and contact Gov. Bush. Pray. Do something.

For me, the issue is pretty simple: Innocent life gets the benefit of the doubt. I am just continually amazed how we as a culture bend over backwards to protect every conceivable form of "rights", yet we continue to show little regard for human life.

Without life, no other rights matter.

Goomba's Blog Gone ... but I remember

This week’s essay/column is dedicated to a mainstay in “My Unit” – my old blog friend and soul mate Nickie Goomba. If you check the link “Goomba Genius” to the right, you will find that his blog is no more. I have recently gotten some inquiries from blog friends regarding Goomba’s status. Thus, I emailed my man Nickie, and he was kind enough to write back. Yes, it is true that Goomba Genius is going the way of the buffalo. Man, this is really too bad. But I know the man has his reasons. I will miss his blog so very much. I am hopeful that Nickie G. will continue to drop by and comment here.

Goomba’s commentary and humor have been uplifting and inspiring to me. He is a tremendous talent, and I cherished the Goomba News Network reports, particularly when the “You are lying” comments were mixed in. Okay, so some of those were mine. But, he had the ability to make serious points through humor, while keeping his perspective and not getting too personal with political opponents. This is a gift. And all the while he was teaching/helping me to be better just by doing his thing. Thanks, man.

I know some may have seen Goomba’s work differently. Certainly the hackers did. But … there are many of us in the blogosphere who are very saddened by his departure. If you didn't appreciate the talent and heart of Goomba Genius, it's on you, not Nickie G.

It won’t be the same without Nickie.

I wish he had left us a farewell post with a place to comment and tell him how much we enjoyed his superb blog, how he made this more fun and rewarding, how his site made ours better. How much we came to vicariously care about him. But alas, Nickie’s site is no more.

But … how about commenting below and sending ol’ Goomba some love? I think he’ll stop by and read.

As for me, Nickie, I am praying for you and wishing you well. Most importantly, I want you to know that I am with you and for you as a man first; yes, your genius blog is secondary. I wish you all the best in your personal life and endeavors … blogging aside.

If you don’t come back, there will be a hole in the ‘sphere. But there’s a mark, too. Your mark.

Okay ... so I am on the take. What are you going to do about it?

I admit it. I am Jeremy's shill. But, the American Warmonger is on the verge of deserved retirement as King of the Blogs for a reason.

Good humor. Good nature. Good thoughts. Good blog friend, as good a blog friend as there is. How the American Warmonger does all this, stays employed, married, with a child, I have no idea. Maybe dude just does it because he is freakin' King of the Blogs. So, head over here now for instructions ... simple ones ... as to how to vote for the man.

Do it. The campaigning is killing me. But for Jeremy, I'll do it.

Greetings ... Sorry for the absence but ...

Life continues to intervene. So ... I will check back with more thoughts by Wednesday for the mid-week update. In the meantime, consider the following:

Wow ... Syrians in a partial pull-back from Lebanon. With perhaps more to come? Pro-Syrian PM resigns. Protests in the streets against the Syrians. Is there any body out there who thinks this is bad? Does the Bush Administration get any credit for this? Or is it just coincidence?

How do you say "glasnost" in Arabic?

I heard via Laura Ingraham that the Demos have a new Social Security do-nothing mantra: "Fix it. Don't nix it". Cute. Mono-syllabic and rhyming, so the faithful can be a part. Okay. I gotcha.

How about ... "Fix it? No, nix it." That is more like it, at least according to that extremist, political hack Alan Greenspan (remember him? The guy that Pres. Clinton appointed, too). Some of the faithful would still unknowingly chant this for sure. I say give it a try.

What are the Demos for, any way? And don't say "clean air, good jobs, affordable health care". Because you know that conservatives hate those things, and it's just not fair.

I would like to say to all of the Sen. McCain fans out there, "Welcome." And ... I pose the question: Is Sen. McCain odious, and should he therefore be scorned? Now, discuss. In the coming days, I will elaborate.

Profiles in Extremism ... Check them all out

It's hard to be shocked by a lot of what the legal profession brings us. Did you know that the U.S. Supreme Court is just nine lawyers with robes on? Well, their decision this week to outlaw capital punishment for offenses committed by minors was not alarming because of the result. What is extremely alarming, though, is the Court's usage of foreign authority/sentiment to support its decision. You may recall that the same Justice Kennedy who wrote the juvenile death penalty opinion this week also referenced foreign authority in striking down the Texas sodomy law. Hmmm. Seems like a trend. And a scary one indeed.

Where do these lawyers get the authority to look to foreigners who agree with them to support their interpretation of the Consitution? It's pretty audacious, if you think about it.

Here are the scathing and right-on remarks by that extremist Justice Scalia:

"The Court thus proclaims itself sole arbiter of our Nation's moral standards--and in the course of discharging that awesome responsibility purports to take guidance from the views of foreign courts and legislatures. Because I do not believe that the meaning of our Eighth Amendment, any more than the meaning of other provisions of our Constitution, should be determined by the subjective views of five Members of this Court and like-minded foreigners, I dissent."

Amen. And incidentally, Justice Scalia and I hold to our positions in spite of the fact that U.S. abortion laws are out of the "mainstream" of world opinion ... that is, abortions are easier to get here than most of the world. So ... I suppose that the foreign authority juggernaut will eventually hit the brick wall of liberal, result-oriented jurisprudence.

Please continue reading down for more ... Profiles in Extremism.

Speaking of extremists ...

Did you hear that Alan Greenspan agrees with the President that doing nothing about Social Security now is much riskier than private accounts? The Federal Reserve Chairman has been making his views known that he supports the President's efforts to reform social security, medicare, and now ... Holy Toledo ... reform of the tax code. Greenspan now supports a consumption tax.

Old extremist. I know he is married to NBC's Andrea Mitchell, and the Demos/MSM worship him when he says things that are not helpful to the President (i.e., problems with the deficit), but you have to admit ... he's an old extremist. He's gone to meddlin' by not only touching the third rail of politics but dancing on it.

Clearly, he wants to take retirement money away from old people and make them chow down on Alpo. Can't a liberal blogger dig up some dirt on this old fascist? I mean, the only thing to conclude from all of this is that Alan Greenspan is an evil man that must be investigated. He must have some illicit scheme working. Clearly, he is bad. His views are odious. Plus, he is an ugly man. An ugly, old extremist.

Speaking of old, senile extremists ...

By now most of you have heard (no thanks to the MSM) that Sen. Robert Byrd, D-WV and a former Ku Klux Klansman, this week opined about the similarity between the Senate changing procedural rules regarding filibustering of judicial nominees to ... uh ... yes ... Hitler's Germany.

Here's the bomb that Byrd set off in the Senate Chamber:

"Hitler's originality lay in his realization that effective revolutions in modern conditions are carried out with, and not without, not against, the power of the State. The correct order of events was first to secure access to that power of the State, and then begin his revolution. Hitler never abandoned the cloak of legality. He never abandoned the cloak of legality. He recognized the enormous, psychological value of having the law on his side."

Captain Ed hit the following towering shot into the stands regarding the Byrd controversy:

"Byrd, with his attempted filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, is the last person who should be standing in the well of the Senate, calling anyone a Nazi. Why the Democrats have defended this doddering old embarassment for decades is beyond any explanation but the most base and cynical: he votes the right way. Republicans shunned Trent Lott for waxing nostalgic for an old Dixiecrat on his birthday. Will the Democrats do the same for the lunatic who has befouled the political environment with this intellectually, morally, and historically bankrupt foolishness?"

Man, you'd have to be a Klansman to think Hitler was so benign. Oh, yeah. I forgot ...

"Support" is in the eyes of ...

the supported.

It seems the concept of “supporting the troops” has been kicked around so much as to lose all meaning.

So what does it mean? Surely, a lot of the well-intentioned letters, emails, and care packages qualify as supporting our troops, right? I suppose they do, but to find out for sure we would need to ask the troops themselves. Our perception may not be the troops' reality.

Thus, if we want to do something for our troops … and I take the many people at face value who say that they do … then we need to consider what they really want. Put another way, if we are to support the troops, we need to do more than simply feel like we are doing so.

The point here is not to denigrate or challenge any particular tangible means one uses to support or assist our troops in harm’s way. The point is simply to challenge the notion that we can ourselves define what matters to our troops and what constitutes meaningful support.
We should consider what is most important to our troops if our objective is truly to support them. And to the troops, supporting their objective -- their mission -- is paramount.

Matt Friedeman recounts how a recently-wounded Marine simply identified as Rick called his radio show in Mississippi. While recovering overseas, the Marine absorbed some of the MSM’s take on the war in Iraq:

"But the whole time I was [there, in recovery] we watched the news to see what's going on. And we saw the protests, and we saw what the media was saying about what's going on, and we were worried about what we were actually going to face when we came home. We didn't know what to expect, to be honest with you. From the news media we were seeing, the whole country was basically telling us we're a bunch of jerks.

"I thank God that the troops that are there don't see the news coverage. I thank God every day, because there'd be ten times the number getting killed, just because it would so un-motivate [sic] them.”

Let's be frank. The incessant negativism about Iraq that has dominated the MSM and has been the Democrats' mantra can very tangibly hurt troop morale and ultimately troop performance. There’s a reason why Zarqawi quotes Ted Kennedy’s garbage about Iraq being Viet Nam.

Here's the punch line: The most important thing for our troops is to know that we are pulling for them, both to come home alive and also to have success against the enemy. The work they are about is hard enough without being second-guessed and criticized. And the troops don’t particularly appreciate criticisms purportedly directed up the chain-of-command or questions as to why they are doing what they are doing, either.

So, if you really want to help, then find ways to communicate to as many people who will listen that you are fully in support of what the troops are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan … and that you love the troops and you hope that they are wreaking havoc on the bad guys. I know some of you don’t want to hear this, but it is true. If you want to be on the side of the troops, one must not criticize their mission … their work … once it is underway. Once the political process has worked and troops are committed, be quiet. You have the right to criticize as an American, of course. But I likewise have the right to tell you that you are making our troops’ jobs harder, and that I will hold you accountable for such behavior.

When Rick, the wounded Marine mentioned above in Matt Friedeman’s column, returned to the States, he and his comrades were overwhelmed by a spontaneous greeting in the airport. Here is how he described it:

"[E]very one of us just started crying like babies. Everybody in the terminal -- I kid you not, at least two to three hundred people -- just started clapping, spontaneously. To me, it was so much worth what we were doing, to realize that people over here actually get what we were doing. We weren't over there because it's fun. We're over there doing a job.”

So, if you support our troops, support their mission. And tell others you do.