Dohnal Not Backing Down on Sullivan Double Voting Charge

Bob Dohnal, long-time conservative activist and publisher of the Wisconsin Conservative Digest, is not backing down from his charge that State Senate candidate Jim Sullivan double voted in a previous election. In a letter to the editor to a local newspaper that Dohnal e-mailed TAM he writes,

To the Editor,

Since my name was included in the story about the double voting of Jim
Sullivan, candidate for the state senate, I feel it is necessary for me to
explain my involvement.

When the allegations about Donovan Riley and his double voting came out
I called Stan Zurawski and Mike Goggins to refresh my memory about the
allegations concerning the double voting of Jim Sullivan several years back.

I still was extremely unhappy about the method used by Mr. Sullivan and
his agent to serve me a letter me about the double voting. I had never met
Mr. Sullivan and barely knew of the double voting controversy. I had only
met Mr. Goggins once.

One night in March my wife answered the door and mistakenly let this
person into the house. People, never do that. He asked my wife her name,
then spotted me sitting about 50 feet in my family room. He pushed past my
wife and then handed me this letter in a very threatening manner. He did
not leave until I stood up and ordered him out of my house.

The next day I tried to call Mr. Sullivan and his attorney. Neither
would take or return my call. Several days later I finally got through and
told both of them what I thought of their tactics and what would happen if
that ever happened again. The attorney uttered an expletive and Sullivan
hung up. Later I heard that the DA had dropped the case. No surprise there
as Mike McCann never prosecutes democrats.

Everyone also knew that Sullivan was just about to get his law license
and a felony conviction would void that. Behind the scenes I am sure that
the members of Progressive Milwaukee lobbied McCann to drop it. Why both
Sullivan and his father weren't required to swear about when or if they
voted is beyond me.

In reviewing the records it became plain that Sullivan double voted in
Tosa and Whitefish Bay in 9/98. The records are very clear. Now I
understand that he is claiming that Tosa records are wrong. He is claiming
that the Whitefish Bay records are wrong in 11/96. Two wrong records, doubt
it. Three people would have to make the same mistake at both polls in two
different years and he admits that his parents were out of the country
during the 9/98 time and that he was housesitting.

As an election official in West Allis and Wauwatosa for over a decade
I had never heard of anyone getting the check marks in the wrong place.
Those elderly people that everyone is insulting do a very good job. They
are not stupid as that article suggests.

When we reviewed the records I encouraged Stan to write a letter and I
would help distribute it. He did so and I then sent it out over the email
route.

On the Belling show Mr. Sullivan vowed to take a lie detector test to
prove his innocence. I challenge him to do so immediately, I will pay for
it as long it is a reliable, licensed polygraph operator that does work for
the FBI and the police on a regular basis.

Other wise he should resign the campaign.

Sincerely yours,

Bob and Jean Dohnal
Wauwatosa, Wi. 53226

Dohnal is continuing his fight even though Sullivan's attorney Michael F. Hart threatened legal action against Dohnal in the past:

The purpose of this letter is to place you on formal notice that any further communication whether written or oral including but not limited to, the dissemination and/or distribution of campaign literature claiming that Mr. Sullivan engaged in illegal or improper conduct with respect to his voting history, place of residency and/or compliance with State election laws will be deemed actionable as knowing misstatements of fact, and we will take any and all legal action on behalf of Mr. Sullivan to enforce his rights.

Doyle Getting Indian Money

I'm shocked, SHOCKED Indian tribes have been giving to Gov. Doyle. When you hand out juicy gaming compacts the tribes get what they pay for.

Rule #1 in campaign finance reform: If government didn't have so much power people wouldn't donate to enrich themselves.

"Doyle Re-Election Coffers Flow with Tribal Money"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 03:17 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

August 19, 2006

Remembering Eric Allen

As part of the 2,996 project TAM is remembering Eric Allen, 44, who died in the World Trade Center on Sep. 11, 2001. As part of Rescue Squad 18 Eric was one of the brave firemen who ran into the twin towers to save as many people as possible. He sacrificed his life for theirs.

A wife and daughter will forever miss him. Me, a little weblogger half a continent away can only say, "thank you."

"Eric Allen: All the Right Things"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 07:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Bucher-Van Hollen Tension Boils Over

There's a reason they invented e-mail. So participants in this conversation won't cringe when they re-read this conversation on a public weblog.

It seems the Bucher-Van Hollen aggitation is spreading from the two candidates. We've got spouses involved, supporters involved, even spouses of supporters (who are supporters themselves) involved.

Hey all, chill out--literally! It's the middle of August, and it's too warm. Everyone should grab a cold beer and relax.

As to the Bucher ad, John “Jay” Balchunas’ name is all over the newspapers. Him being murdered is a documented fact. Bucher mentioning it wasn't exploitation unless you call regurgitating the news "exploitation." Those who were griping need two beers to relax.

"Bucher Pulls Murdered Agent's Name from Ad"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 06:58 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Birthed from Terri's Fight

Last month, Michael Schiavo, the man who won the right to starve his wife to death, flew to Connecticut to endorse Ned Lamont. Schiavo has started TerriPAC to go after "politicians who tried to stop Ms. Schiavo’s death." Terri's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler, have started their own Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation Center for Health Care Ethics. Michael Schiavo has done fairly well with a near-broke PAC that's raised more than $26,000 solely from the internet. But the Schindler's organization's $379,855 head start means they have a better chance at shaping the debate on how best to treat the severely disabled.

"Husband Takes Schiavo Fight Back to Politicians"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Culture of Death at 06:11 PM | Comments (11) | TrackBack

August 18, 2006

Debating National Security

John Podhoretz wants a national security debate "right now - right this second."

If Democrats are going to take control of the House and Senate in November, they will have the power to change policies they think aren't working. So what policies are those, exactly?

Will they overhaul the Patriot Act, for example, which Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid once gleefully said he and his colleagues had "killed"?

Will they agree with Judge Taylor and others that the warrantless wiretap program is unconstitutional? Some do, others have not taken a firm position on the matter. Will they accept a central contention of the decision - that the wiretaps in question violate a completely undefined standard of "reasonableness" and that therefore they are "obviously in violation of the Fourth Amendment" prohibition against illegal search and seizure?

We know that they claim the administration has not done enough to secure ports. Right now America has the means to search something like 9 percent of the nation's ship-borne cargo, due to budget increases in the billions over the past few years. How exactly will Democrats increase that number?

These are the substantive matters that Democrats are choosing to address by challenging the GOP's preeminence on fighting terrorism. To do so, they will talk tough. By talking tough, they will push their own party to a more serious stance on these matters than it has been taking over the past couple of years.

And for that, we can all be thankful.

"Dems: Bring It On" [via Betsy's Page]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 07:56 AM | Comments (15) | TrackBack

France Surrenders Before Going into Lebanon

When the Israel-Hezbollah War starts again I'm blaming France:

France on Thursday rebuffed pleas by U.N. officials to make a major contribution to a peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon, setting back efforts to deploy an international military force to help police a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah, according to U.N. and French officials.

French President Jacques Chirac said Thursday that France would contribute only 200 additional troops to the U.N. operation in southern Lebanon, which the Security Council wants to expand from 2,000 troops to 15,000. Chirac said that a force of about 1,700 French troops and crew members on warships off the coast would provide logistical support.

France was a prime mover on the U.N. Security Council to send in 15,000 troops to bolster the Lebanese army. Yet, when push comes to shove the French run away like--well--the French.

But wait! There's more!

Chirac also told Annan that "France was prepared to assume command" of the bolstered U.N. force, according to the statement.

Wow. France is willing to order around the international force but not to risk their own rears.

France had a moment to step up to the plate and show the world they could still be a world player. They're failing like--well--the French.

"France Declines to Contribute Major Force for U.N. Mission" [via QandO]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in War at 12:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 17, 2006

Paul Bucher Radio Ad Jumps on Bolton Story

State Attorney General candidate Paul Bucher released a radio ad that takes advantage of news that a backlogged state criminal lab allowed a rapist to run free eventually killing a state Justice Department agent.

In 2006 a 15-year old girl was gang raped. Anthony Bolton later took the girl in his car, raped her, then dumped her half-naked in a park. July 9, 2004 the state crime lab received DNA evidence from the victim. From Bolton's DNA already on file from a previous drug conviction the crime lab finally connected Bolton to the rape in February 2005. That was almost four months after Agent John "Jay" Balchunas was murdered.

This news is damning to incumbent Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager. She runs the crime lab. The backlog of needed DNA testing is widely known. Now, we learn her mismanagement of the crime lab allowed a rapist to run free and kill a law officer.

So while the number of cases waiting on DNA testing at the state crime lab doubled between 2003 and 2005 Peg thinks it's important to do things like prosecute a murder case in Northwest Wisconsin and run off to Hollywood to be on Tyra Banks' show.

"DNA Test Late; Man Free to Kill"

[Ad via WisPolitics]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 10:00 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Judge Rules Terrorist Spying Unconstitutional

U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit ruled the NSA violated the First and Fourth Amendments with their warrantless terrorist surveillance.

Eugene Volokh has some quick analysis here, here, and here. Eugene agrees with Orin Kerr's thoughts from last year that FISA is the key to the NSA program's legality:

So, I think (as Orin's post suggested), the real foundation of this decision is FISA. If Congress prohibited this sort of eavesdropping via FISA, and didn't carve out an exception under the AUMF, then the program is indeed illegal (since I don't think the President's inherent power argument much works here, even as to violations of a statute). If FISA doesn't apply, though, then the program is permissible, because there's no First or Fourth Amendment violation here.

Opponent of the NSA program Jack Balkin even thinks Judge Diggs' ruling isn't so hot:

It is quite clear that the government will appeal this opinion, and because the court's opinion, quite frankly, has so many holes in it, it is also clear to me that the plaintiffs will have to relitigate the entire matter before the circuit court, and possibly the Supreme Court. The reasons that the court below has given are just not good enough. This is just the opening shot in what promises to be a long battle.

KipEsquire at Overlawyered sees Judge Diggs' Fourth and First Amendment analysis as weak. Her strength was on separation of powers.

While the ACLU and their Democratic allies are cheering they should realize they're handing a political issue to the GOP in the fall elections. The Democrats still don't have a coherent national security strategy. It amounts to "President Bush is screwing up Iraq, a war we shouldn't be in anyway so let's bring our troops home; and, oh by the way, Osama bin Laden is still running around, but let's ignore that British bombing plot that used intelligence methods Judge Diggs would find unconstitutional. American public, please trust us with defending the nation against the Islamist terrorist hordes."

Another rallying cry for the GOP base is the fear a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives would impeach President Bush. Rep. John Conyers would run the Judiciary Committee and has put in plenty of work preparing to impeach Bush. Think it wouldn't happen? Many Democrats didn't think the GOP would impeach President Clinton over lying to a grand jury about a sex scandal. Karl Rove is drooling with the opportunity Judge Diggs laid before him.

"Judge Nixes Warrantless Surveillance"

"NSA Surveillance Program Ruled Unconstitutional"

UPDATE: The Justice Department has appealed Judge Diggs' ruling. The press release also states, "The parties have also agreed to a stay of the injunction until the District Court can hear the Department's motion for a stay pending appeal."

[via California Yankee]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Surveillance at 03:17 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

August 16, 2006

Landis' Father-in-Law Dies

When it rains it pours. Tour de France winner Floyd Landis will soon deal with hip replacement surgery. Then he'll fight doping charges. Now, he also has to deal with the loss of a close relative:

David Witt, the 57-year-old father-in-law of embattled Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has died, authorities said Wednesday.
Witt was found dead in his car Tuesday afternoon in a North Park parking garage, according to his friends.

...

Witt and Landis first became friends when they used the same cycling coach and became roommates in 1998 shortly after Landis moved to San Diego.

The two later became related after Witt introduced Landis to his girlfriend Rose's daughter from a previous marriage, Amber Basile. The two couples married, and the former roommates were best men in each other's weddings.

It might have been a suicide which puts even more stress on Landis and his family.

"Cyclist Landis' Father-in-Law Dies"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 10:38 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Crazy Vermont Woman Forces Plane to Boston

A United London to Washington, D.C. was diverted to Boston's Logan Airport because of a passenger behaving suspiciously due to claustrophobia. One passenger said she wasn't permitted to use the on-board lavatory by a flight attendent. She then pulled down her pants and was about to relieve herself anyway. That's when things got ugly. Flight 923 was diverted to Boston, and a fighter escort followed the plane in. In Boston the Vermont woman was arrested.

This wasn't a terrorist attack even though earlier reports said she carried a note about al Qaeda.

Passengers were forced to leave the plane and had their baggage laid out across the tarmac to be searched by dogs. After seven hours passengers were allowed back on the plane to finally arrive at Dulles Airport.

"Unruly Passenger Forces Emergency Landing in Boston" [via Mary Katherine Ham at Michelle Malkin's weblog]

"London Flight Diverted to Boston" [via Netscape]

UPDATE: A FBI spokesman listed what the woman was carrying on the plane:

The woman was carrying hand lotion, matches and a standard Phillips screwdriver, Marcinkiewicz said. Up to four books of matches and screwdrivers shorter than 7 inches are allowed on flights, according to the Transportation Security Administration. But under the tighter restrictions, hand lotion is not.

A federal law enforcement source said the woman was also carrying a note but would not divulge details of its contents. Marcinkiewicz would not say whether or not a note was found.

She also said the woman started her trip in Dubai.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 08:46 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Pluton

Astronomers think calling Pluto a "pluton" will fix their planet problem. To me, it sounds like something from Flash Gordon.

"Pluto's New Place in Space Could Be as a 'Pluton'"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Miscellaneous at 09:28 AM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

August 15, 2006

Thanks, Charlie

Charlie Sykes is on vacation so his show prep will be as well.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Charlie's Show Prep at 11:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

More Money Posts than You Can Shake a Stick At

BarryBlog hosts this week's Carnival of the Capitalists.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Economics at 09:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

TracFones and Terrorism

Once upon a time I had a TracFone prepaid mobile phone. Since I barely make any calls a monthly bill is a waste of cash. The TracFone I had was almost the same as the one used in the IED found in Iraq last year.

I wonder how the company is handling the bad publicity. TracFone: Official Cell Phone for Islamist Terrorists. It hasn't hurt the stock price of the company's parent company American Movil.

"More Cell Phone Purchases" [via Viking Pundit]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 08:15 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Olbermann Has Really Gone Wacky

Last night was one of the few times I turned on Keith Olbermann's Countdown. I have to say, "Never again!" During the two minutes of my viewing I watched how Keith tried to pin numerous terrorism stories onto a timeline claiming President Bush used them to advance his political agenda. At the end Keith toppled his own conspiracy theory by admitting you could link the stories to just about anything. In other words, Keith's lips were just flapping in the wind.

Olbermann Watch puts it this way:

Then there was Krazy Keith's Top Ten List of terror incidents that coincide with politics: a "pattern of exploiting fear for political gain". Don't get the impression that there's much new here. He replayed the same interminable propaganda piece he ran last October. The only difference is that back then, MSNBC forced him put on an opposing point of view. Even that minimal concession to journalistic integrity was dispensed with on tonight's Hour of Spin.

"Countdown with Keith Olbermann - August 14, 2006"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Media at 08:18 AM | Comments (50) | TrackBack

Charlie's Show Prep #154

• The election unrest continues in Mexico.

• Americans know their pop culture as opposed to their Supreme Court justices.

• Moron Madison students demonstrate their inability to plan ahead.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Charlie's Show Prep at 03:19 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

Sullivan's Supposed Double Vote

The drama behind Jim Sullivan's voting record continues. Bill Christofferson writes the accusation of Sullivan voting twice in 1996 is a pack of lies:

The charge is totally bogus, and was dismissed by the district attorney's office in 2000, when Sullivan was running for Wauwatosa alderman. (He won.)

Someone named Michael Goggins filed the complaint then, attaching the same voter lists that Zurawski is now circulating, purporting to show Sullivan voted twice.

The district attorney's office investigated and wrote Goggins on March 28. 2000 to say the office was closing the investigation and taking no action.

Why? The Whitefish Bay voter history list was unreliable, Assistant DA Kurt Benkley said.

You see, Wauwatosa Ald. Jim Sullivan, the one running for the State Senate, is James Sullivan, Jr. His father, you won't be surprised to learn, is James Sullivan, Sr.

Therein the confusion, and the conclusion by the DA that the confusion "renders Whitefish Bay voter history records as to James Sullivan, Jr. and James Sullivan, Sr. unreliable and valueless. (My emphasis.)

Ah yes, E. Michael McCann's office said there was nothing there. Therefore there was nothing there. This is the same district attorney's office that plea bargains at the first sign of prosecutorial difficulty and wouldn't go after vote fraud in the 2004 election. Steve Biskupic's U.S. Attorney's office has been doing most of the hard work.

Jim McGuigan adds quotes from letters from E. Michael McCann's office. The most interesting being the one where Michael F. Hart wrote the District Attorney's office would legally defend Sullivan, Jr. if his opponents continued to use the voting accusation. Isn't that what Sullivan, Jr. should pay his lawyers to do? I think the District Attorney's office has better things to do (like lock up criminals) than be involved in political spats. [See update below.]

In Sullivan's case I can see where sloppy record keeping could be the source of the accusation. In the Whitefish Bay voter records it lists two James Sullivans living at 627 E. Carlisle Ave. One with a birthdate of 12.26.1967, the State Senate candidate, and one with a birthdate of 10.27.1936. The younger Sullivan is listed as voting in the general election on 11.05.1996. The older Sullivan is listed as voting in elections in 1998 and 1999. It's not outlandish to conceive Sullivan, Sr. going to vote in 1998 and giving his name to the poll worker only to have the wrong Sullivan marked off. What would be very interesting is if both Sullivans had voted.

To make things a little more interesting I received a forwarded e-mail from J.J. Blonien to Stan Zurawski, Sullivan, Jr.'s accuser. Blonien claims, "Jim Sullivan Sr. was not living in the home on Carlisle during November of 1996, and that candidate Sullivan was watching his parent’s home." Where was Sullivan, Sr.? How would Blonien know this? Who's going to find Jim Sullivan, Sr. and ask him where he was on the night of 11.05.1996?

I could care less about Tom Reynolds' political future. He's a strange man with strange views. I was all set to blast the hell out of him if he killed a school choice bill last March. I'm more interested is documenting voter fraud so laws can be changed to reduce it, and those who commit it are punished.

P.S. Christofferson and McGuigan don't understand the meaning of "lie." Neither man has any evidence Owen Robinson knew he was passing on a falsehood. If the accusation isn't true the worst that can be said is Owen didn't look into the story enough and ran too soon with it. McGuigan wanted to do a little smearing of his own, and decided to bash "right wing bloggers" plural. If he wanted to really do that he should have linked to more than one right wing weblog following the story.

UPDATE: Jay Bullock, A.K.A. Folkbum, corrects me. I incorrectly claimed Michael F. Hart was a part of E. Michael McCann's District Attorney's office. He's James Sullivan, Jr.'s lawyer. So it would make sense for him to legally defend Sullivan, Jr. against false accusations.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 02:22 AM | Comments (20) | TrackBack

August 14, 2006

Green Ad on YouTube

I asked the campaign, and they delivered. Mark Green on YouTube.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 11:54 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Castro Makes TV Appearance

Fidel Castro, his brother Raul, and Hugo Chavez were shown on Cuban television hanging out in Fidel's hospital room:

Cuban state television on Monday aired the first video of Fidel Castro since he stepped down as president to recover from surgery, showing the bedridden Cuban leader joking with his brother and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Castro appeared tired and pale, yet alert in the videotaped encounter, speaking quietly but clearly enjoying himself as he chatted with Chavez, his close friend and political ally. Acting president Raul Castro was also present for the encounter on his brother's 80th birthday.

As the men bantered back and forth, Castro's voice was inaudible. He was later shown in animated conversation with Chavez, but music played over his words.

Chavez told Castro he sat down to pray when he learned of the Cuban leader's illness and operation, and said "that was a horrible day." But the Venezuelan leader also was optimistic, saying, "Your capacity to recover is impressive."

The videotape showed the friends sharing a snack and looking at an album of photographs showing them together — including one from a trip Castro took to Venezuela during an earlier birthday. Sentimental music accompanied the footage, which lasted about 10 minutes.

CNN has some footage. [via Babalu Blog]

"Cuban TV Airs Video of Ailing Castro"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Foreign Affairs at 08:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

State Senate Candidate and Double Voting

First the Spice Boys found State Senate candidate Donovan Riley double voted in 2000, once in Wisconsin and once in Illinois. Now, Owen Robinson received evidence from a reader that State Senate candidate James O. Sullivan might voted twice in a 09.98 election.

Are Democrate State Senate candidates so infatuated with voting they like to do it twice? And these are just two people who got caught. How many do you think get away with it each election?

P.S. Mayor Barrett, we found your vote fraud example. He's a member of your own political party. I eagerly await you to decry his illegality and ask him to end his campaign.

"The More You Vote, the Better You Feel"

"Pattern of Dems Double Voting"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 08:10 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Ticket to Ride... er Weblog... er Whatever

If Glenn Reynolds ever hosts an open house I know where he can get tickets made.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Weblogging at 07:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Green's First TV Ad

Rep. Mark Green has finally joined the air wars with his first tv commercial. In it he goes right at the Doyle campaign's rhetoric that Green is "too extreme."

After watching the commerical the Doyle campaign sounds like a broken record.

Dare I say it's almost Feingoldian?

[via Boots & Sabers]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 07:33 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Did the NFL Ban the Spike?

Scout.com's article on new NFL rule changes has to be wrong. According to their interpretation the league banned the post-touchdown spike [emphasis mine]:

Individual players are prohibited from using foreign objects or the football while celebrating. They are also prohibited from engaging in any celebrations while on the ground. A celebration shall be deemed excessive or prolonged if a player continues to celebrate after a warning from an official. Previously, players were not prohibited from using props or celebrating on the ground.
Reason for the change: Promotes sportsmanship.

Taking the football and slamming it into ground looks like a violation of the rule to me.

A Hampton Roads (Virginia) Daily Press story puts the rule change this way [again emphasis mine]:

Another rules change will prohibit an individual player, not just two or more, from engaging in prolonged, excessive or "premeditated" celebrations. Players also cannot use a prop, such as the ball, to celebrate - a point illustrated in the video shown Thursday at Redskins Park by Washington running back Clinton Portis' resuscitation of the pigskin last season.

As a response to Chad Johnson's hijinks this is quite extreme. What next, banning the Lambeau Leap?

"NFL Rule Changes for 2006"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 05:29 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Fidel's Photos Faked?

There's been some talk about the authenticity of this photo of Fidel Castro released Sunday.

The photo looks real to me except for the missing age spots Sticky Notes noticed.

While Sunday's photo is good evidence that Fidel is still alive these photos of the Cuban dictator with Hugo Chavez posted by Sean Gleeson may indicate his health isn't so great. Gleeson writes,

The photos seem to show Fidel and Hugo writing notes to each other on a little tablet. I thought, perhaps Fidel was writing because he has lost his voice. But then, why is Hugo writing back? Has Fidel gone deaf too? Or perhaps they had secret matters to discuss, and couldn’t mention them aloud with Raul in the room.

"Conflicting Images????" [via Micro Persuasion]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Foreign Affairs at 04:01 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Packers Dismal Pre-season Opener

For those, mostly Packers die-hards, the first pre-season game against San Diego was a bust. The offense couldn't do anything and the defense looked out of position all game. People may start getting worried about first-round draft pick A.J. Hawk. At times he looked overwhelmed by the Chargers' veterans. But he still ended up with five tackles, two solo and three assisted. That's better than number one pick Mario Williams' debut.

But oh do I wish Reggie Bush was wearing green and gold.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 03:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Charlie's Show Prep #153

• Gov. Doyle opposed Rep. Mark Green's idea of a tax holiday for school shopping.

• Released reporter Jill Carroll begins the tale of her captivity by begging her captors to shoot her rather than give her the knife.

• Astronomers will finally decide the definition of a planet. And with that Pluto may be crossed off the list.

• Kids and baseball card collecting are going the way of the dodo.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Charlie's Show Prep at 12:51 AM | Comments (14) | TrackBack

August 13, 2006

Armstrong to Landis: You Talk Too Much

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong told Floyd Landis to keep his mouth shut and stop publically defending himself against doping charges:

"In this day and age, you're not going to get a fair shake in the media," said Armstrong, who rode his bike for charity Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"And the more you get out there and talk about it, I have to talk about it. The best is just to let the process play out and get out of the media. ... I would have encouraged him just to lay low."

Unfortunately for Landis this process could take months. After his hip surgery Landis will undergo tests and evidence will be gathered so his doctors and lawyers can mount a defense for why foreign testosterone was found in his system. Hearings and appeals will take a long time. Even if Landis is cleared he may never get out of his cloud of scandal.

"Armstrong Urges Landis to Lay Low"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 10:17 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Castro Releases Letter on 80th Birthday

Fidel Castro appears to be looking good after surgery. I'll let the blogosphere's photoexperts go over it, but the picture looks legit to me. Too bad.

"Castro "Better" on 80th Birthday"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Foreign Affairs at 12:43 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

August 12, 2006

Eating at the State Fair

For me the whole purpose of the Wisconsin State Fair is food. For others it's their once-a-year chance to see cows, horses, chickens, and cute little bunnies. But since I grew up in a farm community I had my fill of the wonders of heifers soon into my second year of summer work on my uncle's farm. So the state fair for me is stuffing my face and wandering past the political booths.

One requirement is to have a pork chop sandwich.

The Wisconsin pork producers didn't let me down this year. The pork was juicy, tender, and had a touch of smoke from the port-o-pit BBQ. Some BBQ sauce makes up for the lack of fat. Emeril Lagasse is right, pork fat is soooo good. Most modern pork is more healthy but too lean.

My first experience with fried cheese curds was at the Minnesota State Fair. That's their trademark fair food. No fried cheddar goo for me since the line to this stand was too long.

What I will stand in line for are the world famous Wisconsin State Fair cream puffs. The line looked daunting, but it moved quickly. Within five minutes of getting into line I had my sloppy state fair tradition.

I would have liked to wash down my cream puff with some flavored milk, but the line at Sen. Herb Kohl's milk stand was too long. I'm pretty sure the line was bipartisan. Only the wacked-out vegan anarcho-syndicalists don't like a glass of milk for a quarter.

I won't forget to mention state fair politics. At the GOP booth it was your standard political party booth. Mark Green signs dominated with other candidates' signs playing supporting roles. At the Democratic Party booth I noticed Kathleen Falk had a great big sign with Peg Lautenschlager's sign hidden below it because it was much smaller. Should we take that as a signal of party feeling in the Attorney General's race?

One final bit of state fair politics involves the anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment on November's ballot. Pflag Milwaukee bought some advertising in the expo hall.

It's a nice sentiment, but the constitution being amended is the Wisconsin one, not the U.S. constitution on Pflag Milwaukee's sign.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 11:55 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

August 11, 2006

U.N. Approves Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire

The U.N. Security council passed a ceasefire resolution that will bring in 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers to bolster the Lebanese army:

At the heart of the resolution are two elements: It seeks an immediate halt to the fighting that began July 12 when Hezbollah militants kidnapped two Israeli troops along the Blue Line, the U.N.-demarcated border separating Israel; and it spells out a series of steps that would lead to a permanent cease-fire and long-term solution.

That would be done by creating a new buffer zone in south Lebanon "free of any armed personnel, assets and weapons other than those of the government of Lebanon and UNIFIL" the acronym of the U.N. force deployed in the region since 1978. The force now has 2,000 troops; the resolution would expand it to a maximum of 15,000.

South Lebanon had been under de facto control of Hezbollah, a Shiite militia, for several years until Israeli forces occupied parts of it after the start of the fighting last month. The political solution would include implementation of previous Security Council resolutions calling for Hezbollah's disarmament.

Under the resolution, UNIFIL would be significantly beefed up to help coordinate when 15,000 Lebanese troops deploy to the region. As Lebanese forces take control of the south, Israeli troops would withdraw "in parallel."

Israel will withdraw in parallel from Hezbollah-controlled southern Lebanon when the U.N./Lebanese forces move in. Israel will still be allowed to continued defensive operations. They'll be able to launch attacks at Hezbollah rocket positions.

The resolution will stop the killing, but unless Hezbollah is disarmed and not allowed to simply build up its military stores with Syria's and Iran's help war will return.

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked his cabinet to accept the deal while at the same time he ordered troops to push into southern Lebanon. He must see his window of opportunity closing and wants to damage Hezbollah as much as possible before the ceasefire is implemented.

Captain Ed sees the resolution as putting blame on Hezbollah. The terrorist organization indeed was the protagonist antagonist. However, it stood up to the vaunted IDF and didn't lose. Hassan Nasrallah earned honor in the Arab tribal culture that is the Middle East, while Israel lost some face. Israel's Arab opponents may see that she isn't the same Israel that defeated Arab forces in the 1960s and 70s. Much importance now falls on Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora. Will he actually order the Lebanese army to disarm Hezbollah in the south? Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese government and such action risks returning the nation to civil war.

Andrew McCarthy at The Corner declared an Israel defeat:

Hezbollah wins this big just by being legitmized. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, not a country. The resolution we are signing on to, however, addresses it as if it were a country. The resolution doesn't purport to direct any UN member nation to make Hezbollah cease firing — least of all Lebanon, the purported sovereign of this territory. Instead, it appeals to Hezbollah directly — in the same paragraph in which it addresses Israel, as if there were no difference in status between the two — and "calls on" it to stand down.

If Hezbollah is perceived in the region as being the victor then it will gain public support and make it difficult to be disarmed. An armed Hezbollah means future war with Israel since the goal of the organization is the destruction of the Jewish state.

"Security Council OKs Mideast Peace Deal"

"Olmert Accepts UN Ceasefire Deal"

UPDATE: John Hawkins writes, "Actually, I think Israel has accomplished more than most people realize."

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in War at 10:07 PM | Comments (14) | TrackBack

Mexican Caught Smuggling Cheese

A smuggler was caught bringing cheese, not illegal immigrants nor drugs, into the U.S.

Officers using an X-ray machine saw the outline of 16 bulky packages stashed in a secret compartment behind the seat, which they initially believed were packets containing illicit drugs.

"Generally if you see something (with the X-ray machine) you expect it to be narcotics, but this turned out to be cheese," Maier told Reuters by telephone.

Officers regularly impound drugs including marijuana, heroin and cocaine at border crossings from Mexico, although Maier said the smuggled cheese haul was unusual.

"It looks like it was destined for people who wanted a taste of the old country," he added.

Police arrested the 38-year-old driver, seized the cheese and confiscated the truck because he failed to declare his cargo.

At least with NAFTA he shouldn't have to pay a ridiculous tariff.

There's a Wisconsin joke in this story somewhere. Help me out.

"U.S. Border Cops Nab Mexican Cheese Smuggler" [via Netscape]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Miscellaneous at 08:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Van Hollen Letter to Bucher

In an open letter to his opponent Waukesha District Attorney Paul Bucher GOP Attorney General candidate J.B. Van Hollen admits yesterday's radio debate was a disaster for both candidates. Van Hollen wants both of them to "stay united in our goal to restore focus and integrity to the office of attorney general." He wants the focus to be on what each GOP candidate can bring to the Attorney General's office instead of nit-picking about what each did or didn't do in their long law enforcement careers.

Here's the whole letter:

August 11, 2006

Paul Bucher c/o Bucher for Attorney General VIA EMAIL

Dear Paul, I think you and I can agree that yesterday’s debate did little to advance our shared goal of restoring responsible leadership to the office of the Attorney General. I know I did not appreciate being repeatedly spoken over, interrupted, and called "stupid," as I’m sure you did not appreciate my inappropriate use of the word "suck." I think its fair to say neither one of us should be proud of our performances. While we have some legitimate differences, we must stay united in our goal to restore focus and integrity to the office of attorney general. I write with the sincere hope that we can do that. We have now been together in more than 60 forums, almost all of which have allowed good, solid discussions of benefit to the voters. We will be together in several more forums and debates, including:

8/15/- Brookfield Rotary

8/15 . Marathon County forum

8/17 . Milwaukee Southwest Suburban GOP Picnic

8/27 . Dane Co. GOP Picnic

8/29 . Milwaukee County Bar Association Debate in Milwaukee

8/31 . WI Supplier & Development Council Debate in Madison

9/6 or 9/7 . Wis. Politics Debate

I propose some simple ground rules for our remaining joint forums and debates so that they can both be informative to the voters, and meet our shared goal of restoring effective leadership in the AG’s office. I propose the following for our remaining debates/formats:

1. We focus on why new leadership is needed in the AG’s office, and our own visions for what that leadership should be.

2. We agree to a fair allotment of times for exchanges, with no interruptions during the one another.s’ allotted times.

3. As we compare our respective experiences and backgrounds, we focus on what makes each of us prepared to fulfill the vision we are laying out for the office, not attacks on the preparedness of each other. We both have been in law enforcement for years, and there is plenty of good we can each say about our own varied experiences.

I hope you will join me in following these simple suggestions in our remaining discussions. I further hope our entire campaigns can be carried out in this spirit in these last days. I believe these suggestions will ultimately advance the issues we both care about, and most importantly help serve the interests of this great state. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

J.B. Van Hollen

Fellow Republican

Paid for by Van Hollen for Attorney General, Margaret Farrow, Treasurer www.vanhollenforag.com

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 05:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wisconsin Attorney General Debate

Staying up really, really late following the U.K. airline bombing story meant I slept through yesterday's Attorney General debate between Paul Bucher and J.B. Van Hollen. After listening to it (hey, Charlie get your podcast RSS feed fixed) I'm so glad Scott Walker and Mark Green aren't facing each other in September's primary. If Bucher and Van Hollen are any indication Walker and Green would have tore into each other but would have had more money so they'd do it with television and radio commercials. And Gov. Doyle would cruise to victory.

Despite both candidates saying they only disagreed with each other's management styles and issues you could feel the bad vibes between the two. That was capped by Van Hollen telling Bucher off-air that his management style "sucked." Van Hollen has apologized on his weblog saying, "I regret that I lowered myself to this level with my language choice." Bucher decided not to accept the apology.

Van Hollen has demonstrated he occasionally says wacky things. His "suck" remark goes right up there with saying earlier in the year, "We have in Wisconsin terrorists who are training and raising funds."

Bucher reinforced former governor Lee Dreyfus' endorsement that he would be a pugnacious Attorney General. Bucher verbally pushed Van Hollen on every question treating his opponent like a hostile witness. That's fine if you're a prosecutor in the courtroom, but not so good you're trying to impress voters you can run the state Justice Department.

Democrats Kathleen Falk and incumbent Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager haven't been as loud going after each other like Bucher and Van Hollen. Yesterday's debate won't hurt the GOP candidate that wins the September primary unless the animosity moves to their commercials. Then voters could have a bad taste for both Bucher and Van Hollen.

The debate wasn't as decisive as I hoped. Both Bucher and Van Hollen would make good conservative Attorneys General that would far surpass the Doyle-Lautenschlager regimes. I will take issue emphasis, character, and electability into consideration when handing out a TAM endorsement.

Here's some other blogospheric reaction:

• Boots & Sabers: "GOP AG Debate"
  
• Lakeshore Laments: "Thoughts on the AG Debate"
  
• Jeff Wagner: "GOP Candidates Need To Grow Up Quickly - Before A Golden Opportunity Slips Away"
  
• James Widgerson: "Paul's being mean to me. He sucks."
  

"GOP Candidates Come out Swinging"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 04:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Charlie's Show Prep #152

• The U.K. terrorist cell planning to blow up planes headed to the U.S. were monitored for months. Someone ask Sen. Feingold if he approves or feels the terrorists' rights were violated by a fascist government.

• A tip from the London Muslim community led to monitoring the terrorist cell. Cooperation like that will do well to block Islamists' violent efforts.

• A pathetic, big-time Left-wing weblogger thinks the increased security alert is a political ploy by President Bush to save Sen. Joe Lieberman.

• A business travel expert tells frequent travelers to "check everything." Ha! No serious businessman will risk having their all-important computer damaged or lost to an airline industry who is having problems moving baggage efficiently. They'll video conference instead, hurting the airlines.

• Hank Aaron was diplomatic when talking about possible steroid use by Mark MacGuire and Barry Bonds.

• ScrappleFace's "hard-nosed reporting" found the British Parliament will look into "why some Muslims hate airplanes."

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Charlie's Show Prep at 01:46 AM | Comments (14) | TrackBack

August 10, 2006

August Drinking Right Pics

I put some of my Drinking Right pics up on Flickr. It was my first time playing with the web service. Now, if only I could integrate it with the great photo program Picasa. Enjoy and get off my back--I mean my "narrow rear."

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Drinking Right at 10:49 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

Computers Allowed on Planes

Flying won't be as bad as I thought. You can bring a notebook computer into the plane's cabin:

[Green Bay's Austin Straubel International Airport Director Tom Miller] did mention a rumor floating around that people can't bring laptop computers on a plane. He says that is not true, and they will be inspected at the checkpoints like before. It's only liquids and gels that are added to the list of contraband carry-on.

Presumably that also means portable DVD players and iPods are kosher too. They will be until al Qaeda finds a way to pack them with explosives. Terrorists will always be one step ahead because governments and airport security has to defend against everything. Terrorists only have to get it right a few times to do massive damage. This fact reinforces my argument for travel cards and common sense profiling.

"Shampoo, Toothpaste Among Airport Security Restrictions"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 09:51 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

We Must Consider Travel Cards and Security Profiling

Islamist terrorists may think they're scaring us with their attacks and their threats of attacks. No, what they're doing is annoying us to death. If the government continues its ban on passengers bringing liquids into the cabin of an airplane we'll take another step down that path.

What would have really terrified average Americans was attacks on places they went frequently. Hitting the Pentagon and the World Trade Center made for spectacular television, but most Americans never went near those places. Imagine the fear induced if a few days after the Sep. 11 attacks a truck filled with fertilizer and heating oil exploded outside a Columbus, OH shopping mall. Then a few days later al-Qaeda let natural gas leak into an elementary school in Milwaukee, WI and then lit a match. Those acts of barbarism would truly scare people. They wouldn't know where they could be safe. After Sep. 11 there was some cocooning. The phenomenon would have been more widespread with more widespread attacks. Instead, Islamist terrorists stick to the big, bold bombing like something out of a Hollywood movie. They're either not the brightest people on the planet, or else their egos are so big they believe the only thing good enough to impress the world and their god is something spectacular.

There are two ways to stop airline travel from becoming one of Dante's rings of hell and save the airline industry. First, the government could issue travel cards to passengers who are willing to undergo background checks. They would get the cards if they passed. With the card they could bypass some of the security non-cardholders would have to go through. It wouldn't stop people from flying, it would only ease some security hassles for some flyers.

Second, we could finally resort to racial and religious profiling. After reading enough stories describing terrorists we have a good sense of who they are: they're muslim males in their 20s or 30s. In the case of CNN terrorism expert Peter Bergen he is "always concerned about citizens of Pakistani descent." I'm sure security firms, police, and government intelligence services could put together a more finely-grained profile. Those fitting the profile would undergo greater scrutiny. They wouldn't be banned from flying only be looked at more closely unless they were determined to be a threat. Those fitting the profile could also be eligible for a travel card where they would undergo a background check. Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) won't like it, but let them regularly fly seven-hour flights in a humidity-free airplane with your contact lens solution in your checked bags while your waiting for some water from an overworked flight attendant.

Travel cards and profiling aren't perfect. Cards no matter how sophisticated can be hacked or duplicated. Al-Qaeda could recruit suicide bombers who don't fit the profile. But no security system is perfect. We need to see what makes more sense treating every airline passenger as a potential terrorist or dropping our collective fear of "offending someone."

"Travelers Forced to Throw out Liquids"

"Ethnic Profiling: A Rational and Moral Framework" [via Dean's World]

"The Hunt for Terrorists Runs Up Against Political Correctness"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 06:44 PM | Comments (15) | TrackBack

Terrorist Attacks Thwarted; Air Travel Disrupted

Don't fly today.

It's not that I'm worried about a terrorist attack, Scotland Yard seems to have that under control with 21 arrested (British-born and Muslim, no surprise) and their investigation continuing. No, I wouldn't fly today because of all the new security restrictions: passengers can't take any liquids on board; no carry-ons like briefcases and computer bags; parents have to taste their child's milk or formula to prove it's the real deal; the few items you can carry with you into the cabin have to be in clear plastic bags. The thought of flying for seven hours without being able to turn on my computer, listen to my iPod, or read my book gives me the hives. I understand the reasoning behind the restrictions, but they really turn me off from flying. Too bad Amtrak is an uneconomical, pathetic replacement for travel outside the Northeast Corridor.

The no carry-on restriction and liquid ban better be temporary, or else the airlines will be hurt. One reason some people own a notebook computer is to get work done while in the air. Forcing computers and mobile phones to be stowed in the belly of a plane will have many business travelers saying, "Air travel is too much of a hassle; I'm going to teleconference." And that might be just what the Islamists want.

There was mention that U.S. airlines were targeted, but I heard no such confirmation from Scotland Yard. If United, American, Northwest et al. were targeted I'd see that as the Islamists trying to hit the U.S. economically. The first reports said 20 planes from four U.K. airports were targeted. That dropped down to six planes. I think Islamists, probably al-Qaeda, wanted to hit U.S. airlines, cause a massive security response that would turn off many from flying, and send the industry into another financial malaise just when it's starting to regain its footing. A secondary effect is the ailing airlines would reduce consumer confidence possibly causing a recession.

The U.K. is at their highest security level. The Department of Homeland Security raised the general terrorist threat level to orange ("high") while the level for incoming planes to the U.S. from the U.K. is red ("severe"), the highest possible level. London's Heathrow airport isn't taking any incoming planes and canceled shorter-range flights until this afternoon (London time). The CEO of the organization that runs Heathrow said something I've never heard from a CEO. He told reporters people shouldn't come do business with him today. It was an unusual statement for an extraordinary time.

Walid Phares at the Counterterrorism Blog asks some good questions. The best one being,

Is there a "Jihadi factory" in the UK which is targeting domestic and Transatlantic transportation; a factory that produces suicide bombers heading towards the Middle East, London subways and passengers flights towards the US? Who is ordering these strikes and are they located inside the British isles?

"'Mass Murder Terror Plot'"

"'Airlines Terror Plot' Disrupted"

"UK Police Thwart Massive Terror Plot"

"Sky Terror in UK: US Security Alert to ORANGE (High). May Go RED -- Fox"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Terrorism at 04:43 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack

August 09, 2006

Cuba Fears the U.S.

Cuba says it's the United States' fault for the news blackout on Fidel Castro's condition. Even with U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and no sign from President Bush that American troops would take part in any operation in Lebanon National assembly speaker Ricardo Alarcon still fears the "Yanqui" crossing south from Florida and taking things over.

It's the typical Communist Cuban way: where there are problems blame the Americans. It's kept Castro's prison island safely in his hands for over 40 years. Why mess with a good thing?

You want to see a real threat from the U.S.? Let see an Indian casino open up in Havana along with a Dodge dealership. No, scratch that, a Kia dealership. One of those Korean buckets of bolts would seem like a luxury to those who've been jury-rigging their cars for decades.

"Cuba 'Faces Threat from US'"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Foreign Affairs at 11:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Kos' Hubris

Ace hands out some good lines about the ever-expanding head of Mr. Kos after Ned Lamont's primary victory:

He's out for blood. Lieberman must be stripped of all committee memberships, immediately, etc.

This isn't political strategy. This is an impulse-control disorder masquerading as "people-power."

Don't take a shot at the king unless you're sure you'll kill him, Mighty Kos. In case you haven't noticed, Joe Lieberman is currently a US senator, and, if he runs as he promised his supporters (very nearly half the Democrats in Connecticut, in case you haven't noticed), he has a very good chance of winning.

You think bullying him by stripping him of his committee memberships is going to make him drop his independent bid? I don't-- I don't see him doing much legislative work at all for the next three months. I see him campaigning and fundraising and basically living in Connecticut.

Like Ned Lamont's radio ads told him to. Remember those?

As Dalton in Roadhouse said: Be nice. Until it's time to not be nice.

It's not the time to not be nice, Hard Guy.

"The Kosfather Puts Out A Contract On Lieberman"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Politics at 09:24 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

Charlie's Show Prep #151

• That collective orgasm you heard is from the left side of the blogosphere over Ned Lamont's victory over Sen. Joe Lieberman.

• Rep. Cynthia McKinney lost again in her Democratic primary. Hopefully she calls it quits for Congressional politics.

• Joey at Wide White sees last night's election results as "anti-incumbent" which doesn't bode well for the GOP keeping both houses of Congress. However, Lamont winning will pump up the lefty, anti-war "netroots" which forces the Democrats to explain how they'll defend the nation from Islamist terrorists.

• The Presbyterian Church's (USA) publishing house will release a book claiming the "Bush administration planned the events of Sept. 11 so they could provide justification for going to war in Afghanistan and Iraq."

• Milwaukee's open-wheel car race returns to its traditional date one week after the Indianapolis 500.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 02:35 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBack

August 08, 2006

Drinking Right Tonight

Working during the day + Drinking Right at Papa's Social Club tonight = few posts. :-(

Sorry, guys. You could always pick my brain after buying me a drink.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 08:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Charlie's Show Prep #150

• Oil and gas prices aren't the United States' only energy problems. A lack of enough electricity transmission plagues the nation.

• Mothers are fighting back to make the culture accept breast feeding in public.

• In July, Technorati counted its 50 millionth weblog with the blogosphere doubling every 200 days. [via digg]

• NFL owners begin voting on a new commissioner replacing Paul Tagliabue.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Charlie's Show Prep at 12:21 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 07, 2006

New TAM Features

If you look closely I'm "uglifying" TAM with the addition of social bookmarking links to del.icio.us, Digg, Furl, reddit, Spurl, and Yahoo's MyWeb.

If you have no idea what social bookmarking is let me give you the rundown. All these services allow people to share webpages they find with others. Furl (my fave), del.icio.us, Spurl, and MyWeb are all online bookmark sites where you can jump from computer to computer and always have access to your bookmarks. The services aggregate the choices of all their users and show you what's hot on the web. Digg and reddit are news sites where the users are the editors. Anyone can sign up and post stories. Other users vote on them and the ones with the most votes go to the front page. It's a way to glimpse what thousands, if not millions, of people are interested in. Both are ways to find interesting stories that might fall through the cracks of orthodox news sites controlled by formal editors.

So if you like a TAM post you can now easily save it with something like del.icio.us or Furl, or you can submit the post to digg or reddit and see if other people like it.

Behind the scenes at TAM HQ I'm preparing for some major changes. I'm moving TAM to new, up-to-date weblogging software (WordPress) and allow for easier design and feature improvements. I hope the software will help me combat the comment and trackback spam that wastes my time. I will have a new redesign to go with the software improvement. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Weblogging at 07:19 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Waiting for Outrage after Hezbollah Attack on Peacekeepers

Hezbollah mortar rounds injured three Chinese peacekeepers. A U.N spokesman said, "A mortar round from Hizbollah impacted inside the headquarters of the Chinese contingent in the al-Hinneyeh area. They received medical treatment in position. Their condition is stable and they were not evacuated."

Let's wait and see if Kofi Annan will accuse Hezbollah of intentionally targeting U.N. peacekeepers (an oxymoron, I know). That's what he did last month when Israeli forces hit a UNIFIL position. He accused Israel of "apparently deliberate targeting" of U.N. peacekeepers. [via Wizbang]

"Hizballah Hits U.N.: Where's the Outrage?" [via digg]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in War at 06:47 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Alaskan Pipeline Could Take Months to Repair

Fixing the Prudhoe Bay pipeline in Alaska won't be a quick fix:

BP said Monday it discovered corrosion so severe that it will have to replace 16 miles of pipeline at the huge Prudhoe Bay oil field — work that could shut down the nation's single biggest source of domestic crude for months and drive gasoline prices even higher.

Oil prices climbed more than $2 a barrel on the news, and gasoline futures rose, too. The West Coast is expected to be squeezed particularly hard, and the government is considering releasing oil from its emergency stockpile to ease the crunch.

BP PLC said it will have to replace most of the 22 miles of so-called transit pipeline at Prudhoe Bay, which produces about 2.6 percent of the nation's daily supply, or about 400,000 barrels a day.

When I was finally getting used to $2/gallon gas now I'll have to tolerate $3/gallon for a fairly long time. Those tiny, European Smart cars are looking pretty good right now.

"BP: Pipeline Closing May Last for Months"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Economics at 06:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Web: Raging Teenager

Yesterday, 08.06, the World Wide Web turned 15. I don't know what I'd be doing without it.

"Happy 15th Birthday, WWW!"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Tech at 07:57 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Charlie's Show Prep #149

• Fill up your gas tanks before prices go up again. An Alaskan pipeline will soon be shut down reducing domestic oil production by 400,000 barrels a day.

• Reuters unleashed a photoshopped picture of Beirut and got caught. Reuters has a recent history of being awfully sympathetic to Islamists. [via Michelle Malkin]

• Last month's North Korean missile tests proved quite successful. "[S]ix of the seven missiles tested by North Korea last month fell within their targets."

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Charlie's Show Prep at 01:48 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

GOP Attorney General Debate Next Week

Next Thursday's Attorney General debate will be very important. I'll be making my endorsement soon after. Misters Bucher and Van Hollen, impress me.

"Van Hollen and Bucher to Debate"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 01:22 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

August 06, 2006

Landis Taking Testosterone Doesn't Make Sense

Floyd Landis' publicized urine tests are very damaging. It will be hard enough for him and his experts to explain why his body had such a large ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone. It will be harder to explain why tests showed some of the testosterone wasn't made by Landis' body.

What has me scratching my head is why the ratio was too high after his legendary/infamous stage climb in the Alps that brought Landis back into Tour de France contention. I've read nothing that taking in testosterone before a race would benefit a cyclist. If he wanted a boost he should have taken amphetamines yet he didn't test positive for them. Testosterone is used over weeks and months to build up muscle. We haven't heard Landis testing positive after previous stages.

Here are a couple possibilities:

• After falling apart on stage 16 he figured his chance at winning the race was finished. So he started his doping program early. But then he won the stage the next day and got back into contention. At that point he had to be crossing his fingers hoping he'd avoid any positive tests.

• Landis is dumb. Maybe one of his teammates or coaches told him a testosterone injection or patch would give him a boost the next day. Phonak has a history of riders doping. However, Landis has been studying his body for years looking at how best to deal with his injured hip. It seems unlikely he'd take someone's word without looking into it.

• Conspiracy. Maybe French cycle officials have had enough of Americans winning their race. After Landis' amazing stage 17 someone wanted to take him and American cycling down a notch and tampered with his urine samples.

I'm an Occam's Razor guy so I usually avoid conspiracy theories. So I have to go with the notion Landis cheated. I just can't figure out why when what the evidence we has says wouldn't help him.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 12:35 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

August 05, 2006

Landis' Second Sample Forces Disciplinary Procedure

Floyd Landis' "B" sample was found to have an outlawed ratio of testosterone to epitetestosterone. It was also confirmed that testosterone not produced by Landis' body was found in the "B" sample. The results confirm the original findings from a French laboratory.

Landis was fired from his Phonak team, his case has been referred to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for investigation, but he still retains the Tour de France championship even though "Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme said Landis no longer was considered champion, but the decision to strip him of his title rests with the UCI."

Landis continues to claim he has never doped, but it's up to him, his lawyers, and doctors to explain his test results.

"Landis's Second Sample Confirms Original Finding"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 10:11 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 04, 2006

Landis' Second Sample Results to be Released Saturday

The results of Tour de Franch winner Floyd Landis' "B" urine sample will be announced by a French lab tomorrow morning. It's expected that sample will show a ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone higher than cycling rules allow. If that happens Landis could be stripped of his Tour title, fired from his team, and banned from cycling for two years. However, this is a process that will involve doctors and lawyers so it will take time:

Assuming that Landis's case is not resolved by a "savior ‘B' sample," it could be several months before the case is ultimately resolved, although there is considerable pressure from both sides to move the matter through the system as quickly as possible.

According to sources at the UCI, the entire process could take several months, with the final CAS appeal not likely to be concluded "until sometime this autumn."

But if an unnamed six-time major race winner is telling an Italian paper the truth, "No one can win [a major cycling race] without doping."

"The Landis Case: Savior 'B' Samples a Rarity"

"Mum's the Word on Test of Landis"

"Landis Awaits Backup Sample Result"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 11:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Second-Annual State Fair Invasion Tomorrow

I invite all TAM readers to the Wisconsin State Fair tomorrow for the second-annual Badger Blog Alliance invasion. We'll be gathering at the microbrew tent starting at 12:30 and going until we've tried all 30 beers available at the tent or untl we've eaten too many cream puffs and cheese curds. There will be good talk, some laughs, and a few cameras for historical purposes. Hope to see you there.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 10:38 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Meat in the Universe

Here's a very short story on why we still haven't heard from the space aliens yet.

"They're Made Out of Meat" [via Scott Rosenberg]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Miscellaneous at 06:28 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Pumping Up Raul Castro

Cuba's government newspaper Granma published a history lesson on the bravery of Raúl Castro Ruz, Fidel Castro's brother and temporary leader of the communist Island prison. During his trial in 1953 by Batista regime prosecutors Raúl defiantly said,

When they took a statement from me in the Bivouac, I assumed responsibility for the Movement because I supposed that they had killed Fidel, I knew that Abel had been assassinated and somebody had to assume responsibility for that action which was frustrated in the first attempt. But, with Fidel being alive, fortunately, things have fallen back into place. I am a simple soldier who was assigned a post and a mission.

In bold letters the Granma story reads, "This is a story that should not be ignored in the context of today’s events."

Fidel's recovery must not be that assured that the state press needs to pump up Raul as a hero of the Revolution who is willing to take command when needed but also cede power. It's an interesting bit of cult of personality in the making.

"When Raúl Castro Assumed Responsibility for the Assault on the Moncada Garrison"

"Cuba Launches Campaign Touting Fidel's Designated Successor"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Foreign Affairs at 05:50 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

Top Wisconsin Sports City

Milwaukee beats Madison as the top Wisconsin sports city according to The Sporting News.

"Best Sports Cities 2006: Who, Where and How" [via Netscape]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 05:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

NFL Refs Get New Uniforms

It must be the season of new, ugly sports stuff. First, we had the Milwaukee Admirals' new logo of a skull that should make Disney and Johnny Depp's lawyers cry foul. Then Brian Fraley found NFL referees will ditch decades of tradition to look like jockeys.

"Fashion Statement: NFL Refs to Sport New Uniforms"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 11:50 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Lamont Runs Far, Far Away from Unhinged Weblog Supporters

The man who wants to beat Sen. Joe Lieberman, Ned Lamont doesn't "know anything about the blogs" after one of his most fervent supporters Jane Hamsher of Firedoglake posted an altered image of Lieberman in blackface on The Huffington Post.

That's interesting since webloggers have driven the anti-war Left nationwide into a fury to end Lieberman's pro-war "Joe-mentum." Daily Kos and the gang the Townhouse gang have raised money for Lamont, helped him with his online presence, helped make Lamont video weblogs, and even got in his first campaign commercial.

Lamont doesn't "know anything about the blogs?" Huh, his campaign would be nothing without them.

"With Friends Like These" [via Captain Ed]

UPDATE: As noted my regular reader DJ Hamsher issued a psuedo-apology. She wrote, "I sincerely apologize to anyone who was genuinely offended by the choice of images accompanying my blog post today on the Huffington Post." It's fake because she didn't really apologize she's just sorry anyone took offense at Sen. Lieberman in blackface. It would be like me telling an irrate customer at the bookstore, "I'm sorry you feel that way." Hamsher doesn't feel bad about the racist picture, she's just bothered that it tarred Lamont.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Politics at 09:43 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

UW-Madison Flexible Silicon Research

UW-Madison's research is more than just stem cells:

The same high-quality form of silicon that is used inside many new computers could soon be rolled up on a sheet of plastic. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, have shown that the type of high-speed silicon used for the past few years in Intel's microprocessors, called "strained" silicon, can be made thin enough to be transferred to a flexible substrate.

The ability to put sheets of strained-silicon transistors on malleable materials could lead to high-quality flexible displays and solar cells -- or eventually even to improved prosthetics, or computerized clothes, according to the researchers.

I'm hoping that any businesses resulting from this research can endure Wisconsin's harsh tax climate.

"High-Performance Flexible Silicon" [via Adam Smith Institute]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 09:32 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Charlie's Show Prep #148

• AlGore's increased visibility hasn't changed the public's perception of him.

• Cuba wonders if this is the end of Fidel Castro's reign and if anything will change.

• Rep. Cynthia McKinney might lose again to a Democrat and is in the "fight of her career."

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Charlie's Show Prep at 02:03 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

August 03, 2006

Pedophile Claims Civil Right to Rape Boys

Here's one of the most disgusting legal defenses I've heard:

A suburban Cleveland man accused of sexually assaulting nine disabled boys told a judge Wednesday that his apartment was a religious sanctuary where smoking marijuana and having sex with children are sacred rituals protected by civil rights laws.

The admitted pedophile offered a surprising defense Wednesday to 74 charges of rape, drugs and pandering obscenity to minors.

Appearing in an Ohio court for a pretrial hearing, Phillip Distasio, 34, of Rocky River, Ohio, said he was a pedophile.

He told the judge, "I'm a pedophile. I've been a pedophile for 20 years. The only reason I'm charged with rape is that no one believes a child can consent to sex. The role of my ministry is to get these cases out of the courtrooms."

"Ohio Man Claims Right To Have Sex With Boys" [via Stop the ACLU]

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Law at 11:55 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

Plan B Discussed on The View

Elisabeth Hasselbeck, she's so cute and she believes human life begins at conception. Here's a discussion on Plan B from The View where the pro-abortion-on-demand opinion was dominant. Hey, it is the entertainment business.

She's also the only reason to ever watch a season of Survior.

"Elisabeth Hasselbeck 'Loses Her Mind' (Video)"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Culture of Death at 04:55 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack

August 02, 2006

The Double Standard Facing Israel

Ed Morrissey had a good op-ed in the Washington Examiner on the double standard facing Israel and her enemies. Here's a portion:

The U.N. Security Council held a rare Sunday session in response to the tragic Qana bombing. Governments from Britain to Bahrain scolded the Israelis for their disproportionate response to the war Hezbollah provoked, and the Lebanese government in Beirut decried the “massacre” at Qana.

All of this hand-wringing has a rational point. We want to see civilians spared the horrors of war, and we push combatants to take all possible steps to achieve that end. The Geneva Conventions have that explicit mandate, and the world should remain constantly — and consistently — vigilant.

Unfortunately, the global community has failed miserably at this task, and this war not only highlights that failure, but springs from it. While the world holds Israel to this standard, things become curiously silent when it’s time to hold Hezbollah responsible for its conduct of war. Hardly a word has escaped from the U.N. or Europe on the 2,500 missiles that have rained down upon Israeli civilians, deliberately targeted by Hezbollah. Those attacks have displaced more than 300,000 civilians, a fact the global community and the mainstream media ignore.

Those who argue that Israel has occasionally violated the Geneva Conventions in its attacks casually ignore the blatant violations of Hezbollah, whose combatants wear no uniform, deliberately hide in civilian populations and fire weapons from residential areas. Hezbollah conducts none of its operations within the rules of war — and yet world leaders and the media never mention it.

Why? Because no one expects terrorists to follow the rules. This is the soft nihilism of low expectations.

This creates an impossible double standard for Israel and political victories. In order to defeat terrorists, Israel will have to engage them when they attack, wherever that happens to be. In their effort to zealously apply the rules of war to only one side, the global community doesn’t act to reduce the tragedies of civilian casualties, it increases them by encouraging Hezbollah’s tactics. The terrorists counted on precisely this response, which dictates their tactics and strategy to this moment.

"This is the Soft Nihilism of Low Expectations"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in War at 01:37 PM | Comments (13) | TrackBack

Charlie's Show Prep #147

• The Senate passed a bill to expand drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. It's not as wide-ranging as the House's bill so a conference committee is needed.

• MealpayPlus lets parents decide what little Jimmy or Jane eats at school lunch. What it can't prevent is the age-old tradition of trading that fruit for a cookie with a classmate. [via Engadget]

• One psychologist has found many affluent parents' over-involvement puts too much pressure on their kids causing depression and drug abuse.

• The Milwaukee Admirals showed off their new logo. Yuck! Cool colors but the floating skull reeks of pirate faddishness.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Charlie's Show Prep at 01:37 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

August 01, 2006

Outside Testosterone Found in Landis' Urine

A test to determine whether testosterone found in Tour de France winner Floyd Landis' urine was synthetic found some of it wasn't produced by his Landis' body:

The French national antidoping laboratory in Châtenay-Malabry performed a carbon isotope ratio test on the first of Landis’s two urine samples provided after Stage 17, the person, who is in the cycling union’s antidoping department, said in an interview yesterday.

That test, which differentiates between natural and synthetic testosterone, was done after Landis’s ratio of testosterone to epitestosterone was found to be more than twice what is allowed under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, the person said. Regulations limit the ratio to four to one. The range for an average person is between one to one and two to one.

Landis' doctor Brent Kay hoped this latest test was a false positive. About the testosterone to epitestosterone ratio that put Landis in this situation Kay said, "Although Floyd’s was elevated, it’s not off the chart or anything." That's not reassuring to Landis' fans. Now, with evidence of outside testosterone Landis and his medical and legal team will have even more explaining to do.

"New Finding Challenges Tour Champ’s Claim"

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Sports at 04:03 PM | Comments (14) | TrackBack

Charlie's Show Prep #146

• Guantanamo Bay prisoners are violent and a dangerous threat to military guards. So, of course, Gitmo should be shut down and the prisoners released. That's what the anti-American, anti-war types would want.

• A bill opening more of the Gulf of Mexico to drilling will move to a Senate vote.

• Higher gas prices are getting people to ride motorcycles.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Charlie's Show Prep at 03:27 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBack

BBA Again Invades Wisconsin State Fair

From my BBA post:

The BBA invasion of State Fair will this Saturday Aug. 5 starting at the microbrew tent. I'll be there at 12:30 and will stay until 2:30-3:00 at the latest. This date and time are finalized, signed, sealed, and delivered. Only a Jim Doyle-size contribution will get me to change it. (I'm waiting, Potawatomi tribe.) However, if you ask me nicely I might show up on Aug. 12 because I might want a second day at the fair to see the exhibits.

To recap:

The invasion will simply be a meet-and-greet at the microbrew tent. We'll drink some of Wisconsin's finest malt beverages while putting faces to weblogs. Just stop by to say, "hi" or challenge one of us to a deep, philosophical debate on what pajamas work best for weblogging. As an incentive for webloggers and readers to show up I'll be giving away a prize for the most "interesting" food on a stick brought to the gathering. Don't worry, it won't be a cream puff.

There is also reports of wireless net access in the tent. However, I will mock those who bring a computer--unless it's one of those cool MacBooks. Cameras are more than welcome.

You can even wear "Green Team" shirts.

Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Wisconsin at 03:09 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

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