Begin the Beguine

Storm clouds are still gathering overseas, winter has hit Southern California [34 degrees on Wed. morning (take that Global Warming)], but some important events are coming up this month.....

1) The Valley of the Shadow's annual Fundraising drive -- It begins tomorrow and I will ask on every post throughout this month. Maintaining the Valley is hard work, and the creator always needs alms. If you donate via Pay Pal, I will thank you personally and get you a shirt from The Valley of the Shadow.

2) My birthday -- December 16. Please remember it, I always lose out to Christmas every year. Visit the Wishlist or help with the fundraising drive. Thank you.

3) Keep your eye on March and May -- More news later.

Wilsonian Idealists v. Nixonian Realists

Please join in the Valley of the Shadow Annual Fundraiser. We are raising $7,700. Please hit the Tip Jar here or here to contribute. Thank you.
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When Woodrow Wilson proposed his "14 Points" during the 1919 Paris Peace Conference, he opened up the door to American idealism in foreign policy. By the time of the Vietnam War, Nixionian Realism determined the opening to China.

The first term of the Bush Presidency was based on Wilsonian Ideals, Democracy for the Middle East, defend America by creating Capitalism abroad. Thanks to the results of the 2006 midterms, Bush pere's main advisor, James Baker, returns the Bush fils administration to the realist ideology. And with him comes the return of Realpolitiks to the Foreign policy desk.

Realpolitik is what brought the pre-World War One world to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand. Leaving diplomacy to the diplomats brought the world to the brink. And today? The leaving of Wilsonian idealism brings the world closer to the "Archduke Ferdinand moment" (if it hasn't happened yet already). The chessboard is not the poppy fields of Europe, but the desert sands of the Middle East.

Under Realpolitik, Israel is put a pawn on a chessboard to be given away. Under Wilsonian rules, it is a lighthouse to a darkened area. Balance of power is an ideal goal for the Nixonians, but it is not how the world works today. During the 70's, the USSR was a balance to America. Balance of Power made sense. What is our balance today? The USSR might return, but not yet.

The realists are rising. The idealists are falling. Since 9/11, America has lived with the Damocles' Sword of another attack on our shores. By bringing Democracy to an autocratic region, America was building another pillar to use for the Realists. The return of the Realists is the end of a dream.

UPDATE: If you're coming from Hugh Hewitt's Blog, welcome! Please visit the Valley. Explore, comment, link or email. Please let me know what you think. Again, welcome!

Thankgiving

We are coming to the end of the year. Storms are still gathering, but the world moves forward. Here is the history of the first Thanksgiving.

What am I thankful for in this year of Our Lord, 2006?

1) My Family. After my Dad's death in 2003, my Mom, sister and I might not have a lot of money, but we did have a lot of love. Thank you.

2) My friends. This has been a trying year, friends and allies lost, Dreams dashed and deferred, and betrayals. True friends stand by you, not when the everything is for you, but when things are tough. Thank you.

3) My friends in DC. Some have known me over a decade, one I've met last year. They inhabit the lobbying firms, the House, and the White House. I worry about their positions after this election. But if I can help them the same way they help me, I would. Thank you.

4) The readers of this Blog. Without you, I would not be here. Also, props to Blogger, Blogspot, Google, and AdSense. Stay with me, it will grow some more. Thank you.

5) The USA and Israel. Two democracies standing firm in this world. I grew up in the greatest country on earth, with the greatest political, economic, and social system on earth. The best flattery is imitation and who better then the Jewish state? Sh'ma Yishrael and God Bless America.

6) And thank you for reading this.

The storm is coming

At what point do we realize that the danger is coming? I've warned in an earlier post what could happen. Here is what is going on right now.

The Orchestra is practising before the show begins. Afghanistan and Iraq put the enemy in a defensive stance. Again, my liberal friends, are you willing to fight the Islamofacists on Santa Monica Blvd or Bleeker Street? The opening gun started with the murder of a Lebanese politician named Pierre Gemayel. The gun came from Assad in Syria . The bullet that flew to kill Gemayel is from the same people that gave us 9/11. Same ideology, no matter the country.

The Democrats throughout their campaign said "We must leave Iraq,". Fine. But we are facing a Stateless Enemy (or an NGO). We leave, where will they go?

Anti-Semitic Bloggers like the Heathlander believe the enemy is Israel and the United States. When the forced conversions begin, when the beheading begins (after we concede Israel to Hamas and Hezbollah), when woman wear Chadors, maybe the Democrats will join the War. Until then, I pray that we only hear thunder.

Will San Francisco join in?

Let's recap.

Rep. Charlie Rangal (D-NY), head of Ways and Means in the 110th Congress, offered (again) to initiate a National Draft for the Armed forces. However, let's take Speaker-to-be Pelosi's district and see how receptive they are to such an idea.

2004: Prop. I passes, thus dis-allowing the military to recruit from Public Schools and Universities.

2006: San Francisco dis-invites the famed USS Iowa from docking there. Also, they do not want the public schools to offer JROTC either.

If San Francisco, city of high rents and high culture doesn't want any military to be there. At all. The question becomes, if as a city of the United States, they will take the monetary benefits without the military proposals. Standing on idealism is fine, it's a political town. "Dissent is etc" but what is their duty to the United States?

If their duty is to oppose every GOP President and Congress, then is dissent allowed against Democrats in San Francisco? I think not. Hell, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors want regulate Blogs.

My question to the left side of the Blogosphere is: What does San Francisco owe the US if it won't join in support of our National welfare? What does the US owe San Francisco if the anti-military trend continues?

The Operative

You scored as The Operative. You are The Operative, a skilled Alliance assassin sent to capture or kill the Tams. You are a cold, calculating killer with a strange sense of honor. A self-described "monster" you realize that you will have no place in the "better world" you are trying to create. Your "belief" is your most dangerous weapon.

Since I am a fan of Serenity, I took this test. Who are you?

Cleaning up the Blogroll.....

I've just been added to a few sites, so I have added them to the Blogroll. This weekend, I will clean up the Blogroll and give some semblence of pattern and meaning to it. If you like the Blog, add me and I will exchange links. Thanks.

Is Israel the new Czechoslovakia?

Read to what Mahmoud Ahmidinajad (sp?) said about Israel.

Here is Netanyahu's reply.

This question is for the democrats in the audience. If your party wants to negotiate with Al-Queda in Iraq, Hezbollah and Hamas, what do you think they want?

Point of Divergence

History occurs while we live our lives. In alternate history, points diverge, paths are taken, and most do not question what could have been. Come January 3rd, we will be at a point of divergence depending on what happens in Congress and the President.

Democrats have campaigned on leaving Iraq. Let's follow this point and see what the future holds....

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March 15, 2007 - Congress authorizes and budgets re-deploying the troops to Okinawa, Japan. This is to be done within 6 months. President Bush (with help from his father's advisers) signs the bill and the budget.

September 2007 - Final troops leave Iraq. Iran and Syria having allied themselves with Al-Queda in Iraq, Hams and Hezbollah move in.

December 2007 - The Fertile Crescent, now empty of Western troops, allows the terrorist groups to align and take over Middle and Southern Iraq. Massacres of Shias and Sunnis who do not follow the "Islamic Coalition" occurs. Kurds defend themselves. American soldiers fighting in Darfur and cannot defend the innocent.

March 2008 - Islamic Coalition establishes control over Oil . Aligns with Venezuela and Iran. Iraq becomes "Islamic Republic of Iraq." Funds start to arrive from Oil selling.

June 2008 - Nuclear Bombs over Israel from Iran and Iraq. Population destroyed. Democrats worry about quagmire in Darfur.

September 2008 - First suicide bombers attack "soft targets" in America. Los Angeles, St. Louis, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and New York attacked. Democrats blame President Bush. Troops pulled out of Darfur.

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Can anyone prove me wrong?

Four Questions

Now that I've re-seen the Cinamax Star Wars series (I - VI), cried in my beer over Tuesday, brought the Blog into Blogger Beta, now it is time ask some questions of the new Democrat majority.

1) If Democrats decide to pull out of Iraq, what are their plans to defend against another attack in the United States?

2) If Israel is attacked again, and the Daily Kos decries American support of Israel, will the Democrats rescind any monetary or military support of the only Jewish Democracy in the Middle East?

3) How will the Democrats support the Executive Branch in fighting the War on Terror? Specific examples please -- what tools? and what goals?

4) If re-distribution of tax funds are the way of fixing problems, who gets to decide?

Come on you Democrats. You can continue to gloat if you can answer these questions.

Remember the Veterans

At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. remember their sacrifice.

An equation before sleep

60 Minutes [four years of] Anti-Bush stories and Anti Republican stories + Network (ABC/CBS/NBC/CNBC/MSNBC) anti-Bush stories + Anti-Bush media (Newspapers, books, TV shows, et. al) + Press collusion with the DNC/DCCC/DSCC =

Democrats take over House of Representatives (but not the Southern seats).

Congratulations! The Fourth estate now controls the second estate.

Go Vote

Today, we go and do our civil duty and vote. Here are some reccomendations I have for todays vote:

Connecticut:

Vote for Lieberman, Nancy Johnson, Rob Simmons and Chris Shays

California:

Candidates: Arnold, McClintock, McPherson, Strickland, Parrish and Pachoogian.

Props: 1A - 1E: Yes; 86 - No; 87 - No; 88 - No; 89 - No; 90 - Yes.

Predictions: House R - 221; D - 213; I-1

Senate R - 52; D- 47; I-1

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Those are my choices. Makes yours. Vote today for the candidate of your choice and remember, even though one card says "D" and another says "R", we are all Americans. Remember that November 8.

Death of a Terrorist

Saddam Hussein lost his trial, despite supports from Democrat partisans in the United states. Here is a list of his crimes. And here is who he financed.

If you can't see the good that a newly functional state had done by trying a former dictator of that same state, then maybe it is time for the terrorists to start attacking the Transamerica tower or Universal Citywalk. Either we face them in Iraq and Afghanistan or we fight them here.
Ask an Israeli.

Why no Dem says "Ya'll"

Back during the days of the Democratic Majority (1932-1994), their show of power consisted of the Boston-Austin connection. For instance, during their time of power, their was Speaker Sam Rayburn (D-TX) and Speaker Thomas "Tip" O'Neill (D-MA). However, since 2004 that connection has been frayed and these new Dems are not the party of old.

A) Three Elections - Let us start with 1964. If you look at a map , you can see that LBJ won a majority of the Southern sates (From TX to MD). By 1976, all Carter won was the Southern states. By 1980, Carter lost all the southern states but GA. 1964 was the last high tide for the Democrat party in the south. Remember, after FDR, any President could not get elected without the south. LBJ was an admirer of FDR and worked to continue that connection between Southern Conservatives and Northern Liberals. In 1994, after the Republicans solidified Congressionally what was occurring Presidentially. Ten years later, the Dems didn't fight in the south at all.

B) Military culture and Global War on Terror - Thanks to Kerry's remarks last week, the real view of the Dem party and the military can be seen. Since the Tet offensive in 1968 and Kerry's remarks in 1972, the Democrat party has taken an Anti-war stance that it has never left. What would happen if the Dem's win Tuesday during the GWOT? They will make Israel the new Czechoslovakia to Hamas and Hezbollah. They will allow the terrorists to re-group in Iraq and make it Afghanistan 1995 (who was President then?).

C) Southern Culture - Most Democrats have no problem insulting southerners (even though they need their votes). Redneck culture is just as important as Hip-Hop culture in this big nation. The "solid South" was a bedrock in Democrat politics until 1980, and then has not turned back. The GOP has a bulk of the country as it's starting point. The mid-Atlantic and New England states are losing population. It is also too expensive for most people to live in the Pacific west. Until the Dems learn to speak Southern, they will lose.