Americans will die for liberty

The author of this Telegraph opinion understands the heart of America. It is sometimes difficult to see through all the angst that some Americans feel they must apologize for, but it's there. And it will always be there - as long as America exists.:

"But when the Americans speak of freedom, we should not imagine, in our cynical and worldly-wise way, that they are merely using that word as a cloak for realpolitik. They are not above realpolitik, but they also mean what they say.

These formidable people think freedom is so valuable that it is worth dying for."

The first step towards defeating the terrorists: Stop blaming ourselves

Times Online:

"It is a neatly comprehensive schema of cynicism. If the plot turns out to be a damp squib, or the police have made some ghastly error, the sceptics will triumphantly claim that it was deliberately overdone to scare us. If the plot is real, or God forbid, as with 9/11 or 7/7 it isn't foiled in time, then they can switch seamlessly to the claim that we've only ourselves to blame."

It's also the convenience of not having to take responsibility or actually "fix" something. Besides, what would we have to talk about at the club or over cocktails?

Suri's eight simple rules

NEWS.com.au:

"'However, they were a little shocked at the list of rules they'll have to follow."

Can anyone seriously make the case that Tom Cruise is sane?

Cosby's Media Lament

Cosby's Media Lament:

"'Our children are trying to tell us something (with their self-destructive behavior) and we're not listening,' he said."

Well. We should be.

Gore isn't quite as green as he's led the world to believe

USATODAY.com:

"Then there is the troubling matter of his energy use. In the Washington, D.C., area, utility companies offer wind energy as an alternative to traditional energy. In Nashville, similar programs exist. Utility customers must simply pay a few extra pennies per kilowatt hour, and they can continue living their carbon-neutral lifestyles knowing that they are supporting wind energy. Plenty of businesses and institutions have signed up. Even the Bush administration is using green energy for some federal office buildings, as are thousands of area residents.

But according to public records, there is no evidence that Gore has signed up to use green energy in either of his large residences. When contacted Wednesday, Gore's office confirmed as much but said the Gores were looking into making the switch at both homes. Talk about inconvenient truths. "

And this is a surprise to who?

My County Board does the right thing!

Ozaukee Press Online News:

"Is this going to change anything? Probably not. But if 71 other counties follow, we would be able to get the attention of UW officials."

Congress set to battle over offshore drilling plans

MSNBC.com:

"Ronald Barone, managing director of equity research in UBS Securities' natural gas electric utilities group, explains that environmental restrictions on access to new lands and offshore tracts are a significant problem.

Existing drilling areas are not only maturing but those still to be developed are ever smaller fields, with ever smaller finds, leaving oil companies 'drilling smaller and smaller targets''.

Plans to remove the barriers to drilling in new areas have come up in Congress repeatedly, only to be knocked back, he says. So he remains guarded about its possible passage."

If we actually "fixed" something, why would the American people need to send us here to work on their behalf? ~ thoughts of a congressman.