Day: December 12, 2005

G’night Tookie.

MORE: From Schwarzenegger’s statement of decision (PDF)

Is Williams’ redemption complete and sincere, or is it just a hollow promise? Stanley Williams insists he is innocent, and that he will not and should not apologize or otherwise atone for the murders of the four victims in this case. Without an apology and atonement for these senseless and brutal killings there can be no redemption. In this case, the one thing that would be the clearest indication of complete remorse and full redemption is the one thing Williams will not do.

Clemency decisions are always difficult, and this one is no exception. After reviewing and weighing the showing Williams has made in support of his clemency request, there is nothing that compels me to nullify the jury’s decision of guilt and sentence and the many court decisions during the last 24 years upholding the jury’s decision with a grant of clemency.

Therefore, based on the totality of circumstances in this case, Williams’ request for clemency is denied.

Period.

Recent documents released to Republican aides to a special house committee investigating the federal response to Katrina contained emails from staff members to Governor Kathleen Blanco. The contents of the messages illustrate a paranoia among her staffers who were consumed by fears of Blanco not looking like a strong leader in the days just after the hurricane.

Trying to avoid a public relations disaster, aides to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco fretted over her not appearing in charge after Hurricane Katrina hit, even worrying about her clothing, documents released Monday show. Thirteen pages of e-mails sent in the immediate days after the Aug. 29 storm also reflect the Blanco administration’s concerns over race relations _ specifically, the number of black victims leaving Louisiana to find shelter.

The dialog in this email is especially rich.

Aides also had concerns about Blanco’s physical appearance and discussed ways to make her look strong but compassionate. Their ideas, according to the e-mails, included having Blanco “put a few bags of ice in the hands of the citizens who need it” and stop “doing too many ‘first lady’ things.”

“Gov. Blanco might dress down a bit and look like she has rolled up her sleeves,” press consultant Kim Fuller of Witt Associates wrote in a Sept. 4 e-mail to aides including Bottcher, Mann and Kopplin. “I have some great Liz Claiborne sports clothes that look kind of Eddie Bauer, but with class, but would bring her down to level of getting to work.”

“She would look like a woman, but show she is MOVING MOUNTAINS,” Fuller wrote.

Style over substance. Sounds like the Democratic Party to me.

Catholics shall Limbo no more.

THE Pope is set to abolish the concept of Limbo, overturning a belief held by Roman Catholics since the Middle Ages.

Limbo has long been held to be the place where the souls of children go if they die before they can be baptised. However, a 30-strong international commission of theologians summoned by the late John Paul II last year to come up with a “more coherent and illuminating” doctrine in tune with the modern age is to present its findings to Pope Benedict XVI on Friday.

Ever since reading this story, I can’t get that silly “Limbo Rock” song outta my head. Here are the lyrics, in case you want to sing along.

‘Iraq The Model’ has updates and photos of democracy in action.

Others: Gateway Pundit |

For a second night, racial rioting has plagued the streets of Sydney, Australia. Dozens have been arrested, but police haven’t yet been able to quell the violence. Part of the problem has to do with the way individuals are inciting one another to continue rioting. Text messages sent by angry youths initiated the violence and the technology continues to be the used to encourage more people to join the fight.

According to New Zealand TV station TVNZ:

One (text message) congratulated Australians for the fight they put up against the Lebanese, but called for more attacks.
 
“We’ll show them! It’s on again Sunday,” the message said.
 
Another warned of retaliation from the Middle Eastern groups.
 
“The Aussies will feel the full force of the Arabs as one – `brothers in arms’ unite now…”, the message said.
 
Another called for “straight up WAR”.
 
“The leb’s/wogs won’t stand for this…”, it said.

Last night, a mob of 5,000 chased and bashed people of Middle Eastern appearance at Cronulla Beach, a hot spot for surfing. 

Prime Minister John Howard must get a handle on the situation as soon as possible. Australia doesn’t need to rival or best the recent riots in Paris.

Tim Blair blogs from Australia and provides updates here.

Video news report from Ynetnews (Israel)

I can’t believe ABC News had the guts to report this story.

Surprising levels of optimism prevail in Iraq with living conditions improved, security more a national worry than a local one, and expectations for the future high. An ABC News poll in Iraq, conducted with Time magazine and other media partners, includes some remarkable results: Despite the daily violence there, most living conditions are rated positively, seven in 10 Iraqis say their own lives are going well, and nearly two-thirds expect things to improve in the year ahead.

And then there’s this remarkable statistic:

Average household incomes have soared by 60 percent in the last 20 months (to $263 a month), 70 percent of Iraqis rate their own economic situation positively, and consumer goods are sweeping the country. In early 2004, 6 percent of Iraqi households had cell phones; now it’s 62 percent. Ownership of satellite dishes has nearly tripled, and many more families now own air conditioners (58 percent, up from 44 percent), cars, washing machines and kitchen appliances.

And on the political front:

Preference for a democratic political structure has advanced, to 57 percent of Iraqis, while support for an Islamic state has lost ground, to 14 percent (the rest, 26 percent, chiefly in Sunni Arab areas, favor a “single strong leader.”)

This positive news comes at a time when Americans are fatigued over the daily doses of negative news about car bombings, suicide bombers and the deaths of American soldiers. Yet on the eve of new elections, a majority of Iraqi people have a mindset of acceptance and the will to continue their forward movement toward a democracy.

Lets not forget that our troops are able to read, hear and view the same media we take in daily.

Conservatives need to fill their circles of influence with this positive news too. If we don’t, the disinformation of the MSM will continue to cast doubt about our mission, and our resolve will be weakened. The Bush administration needs to continue to remind Americans that good things are happening in Iraq, and that our soldiers are doing a great job which is producing strong positive results.

Others: | Captain’s Quarters – “A new poll by ABC/Time shows that the Iraqi polling numbers tossed around by Democrats for the past month in defense of their cut-and-run “strategy” were bald-faced lies.” |