Honestly, as I keep saying, you cannot make this up.

As this memory from September recalls:

Hillary Clinton in essence called Gen. Petraeus a liar when she remarked: "I think the reports that you provide to us really require the willing suspension of disbelief." I wonder who wrote that line for her. It sounds like it came straight from James Carville, the former Clinton advisor. Earlier, Clinton had said: "I was against the Surge when it was first proposed." Really? She voted for it. It's funny how what Clinton says publicly, and what she does in the Senate are usually two different things.

And so her nuanced¹ position continues (emphasis mine):

Another one from MTP this morning, a day after the first fragile measure of political reconciliation passed the Iraqi parliament. Whom to thank? Not David Petraeus, whose claims of improved security and lowered sectarian tensions we were assured require “the willing suspension of disbelief.” Thank the Democratic candidates like Hillary Clinton — who opposed the surge, who opposed funding for the surge, who even opposed a symbolic resolution defending Petraeus from the “Betray Us” smear. It took the looming prospect of withdrawal by a Democratic president, she says, to finally get the Iraqis in gear, neglecting the fact that the election of the Democratic Congress in 2006 was also supposed to get them in gear and never quite did. Thus do the stars align for Hillary: the failure of her own party plus the success of an operation she dismissed produce a credit-taking opportunity only the dumbest Clinton supporter could fall for. The fact is, troop levels are increasingly out of her hands and nobody knows it better than the Iraqis she cynically pretends to be influencing:

It's a serious question to me.  Did her sob act generate some sympathy that helped her win New Hampshire?

Hot Air seems to agree:

It could still go the other way, though that’s unlikely now. But at this point, even if the race tightens further, and even if Obama ends up winning by a point or two, The Glacier cried, Obamania died…? That plus the new “Comeback Kid” meme could be the Democrat narrative now. She lost the women’s vote in Iowa, regained it New Hampshire, and the teary-eyed emoting on Monday, however fake it appeared to cynics like us, may have had a great deal to do with her finish. The Glacier became flesh. Second to that, maybe Fat Elvis helped her more than he hurt? I didn’t see that coming. Hardly anyone did.

Obviously it is not a done deal, for she was polling well in several places.  But it makes me wonder.  What is she capable of top feed her quest for power?

Were the tears a calculated emotional tool?  Was it all an act? 

Frankly, it would not surprise me, as she is one of the coldest, most ruthless politicians in the game.  So it would not surprise me if she admitted it someday.  And if it was true, it is a devious little tool, because with the barely suppressed sobs she appeals to some men who seek to protect her frailty, as well as women so seek to defend her because the guys are picking on her.  Poor Hillary.

But then again, let's give her credit.  Maybe her emotions were real, that she was consumed with self doubt and was honestly letting the strain of the campaign show.  Does that inspire anyone to trust her to handle the stresses inherent in the presidency?

Straight out of the gate, the foolishness begins.

I knew it would. 

And who better to inaugurate the insanity then St Cindy Sheehan.  She started it off with yet another threat:

Sheehan/BDS/Truther mob to disrupt Rose Bowl parade

The impeachment mob plans to stink up the Rose Bowl parade. It’s all part of the New Year’s wave of BDS activities I’ve been telling you about. Prepare for the ultimate moonbat convergence:

There could be some discord during the Tournament of Roses Parade as demonstrators promise to raise issues during the holiday spectacle that has been going on for more than a century. Human rights advocates plan to protest a float honoring the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and anti-war activists, including “Peace Mom” Cindy Sheehan, intend to rally for peace…

Call this what it is:  An opportunity for visibility and media attention.  Long ago, Cindy became the left's most annoying media whore, and nothing has changed for the new year.

And as she promised, so she did:

Cindy Sheehan: Down with BushCo–and screw the evil corporate Rose Bowl parade, too!

As promised, St. Cindy stinks up the Rose Bowl parade and delivers an unhinged salvo posted at After Downing Street–complete with BushCo/Hitler epithets, anti-American insults, and Absolute Moral Authority sanctimony:

...

Gold Star Families for Peace and the Camp Casey Peace Institute has joined a group called the “White Rose Coalition” that will be carrying a large copy of the Constitution at the end of the parade and the Backbone Campaign’s Chain Gang will be following the parade. Many activists will tag along with our “Impeachment” banners, signs and other means of protest to call national attention to the accountability issue.

Being involved in this particular action has engendered the most hate mail for me since I left the Democratic Party! I am “ruining the parade.” I am the “representation of everything that is evil in the world today.” One woman named Carrie, was “sorry” that my son is dead, but he volunteered to “honor” this country with his service and even though Carrie is no “fan” of Bush (yeah sure), I have really “crossed the line” this time.

I sat up with my kids tonight, waiting for the glory and spectacle of the fire works show in Seattle, what we fondly call "blowing up the Space Needle."

It started on time, then abruptly quit.  "We're sorry, we seem to be having technical difficulties..."

Oops.  Seattle ended the year on a disappointing fizzle.  As my Daughter noted "..and they had Star Wars music playing, too!"

Undeterred we set off a few dozen of the little confetti poppers and the kids went their merry way with their faux champagne (Sparkling cider).

The old year was nice, Bizarre, even.  I reflected to myself, and had no less then several dozen weird and amazing events.  Too many to detail, maybe another day.

But looking ahead...ah...I see great things happening.  A presidential election that so far promises to break all the molds.  I seriously cannot wait to blog it. 

Likewise, I look forward to my continued efforts, futile as they seems sometimes, to thwart the Global Warming lies by posting all the truth and science I can. 

Immigration will surely continue to be a huge issue, as will terrorism, the war and so much more, all dovetailed into the presidential election theatre.

The local election theatre promises to be feisty as well, as Dino Rossi preps for a rematch to his stolen victory in 2004.

And then there is Hollywierd.  Britney may have imploded and become old news, but now her sister is entering the fray. And I cannot believe that Paris will lose her fortune without some headlines.  What of Lindsey, will she clean up, or burn out?  Will Rosie return with her conspiracy theories intact?

Film at 11...and so much more.

On a personal note, I am going to be dieting, practicing guitar more and preparing to redesign my blog.

Oh Joy...I hate web design, but the new software has some features my present design cannot use.  NW Bloggers will get a face lift, and I hope, a rebirth.

I posted an article a few days ago about Manuel Jesus Cordova, and how his decision to take the moral high road and save the life of a kid cost him his bid to come here illegally.

It mentioned in passing that he was coming here to work to support 2 families, which I gather was two women and the children he fathered by each.  Admirable on its face, but why come here? 

Well, simply put, he can make enough money here to do it.  The question is, how?  And the answer is that he lives small and works hard. 

This brings us into the whole jobs we won't do argument, that illegals are harder working and more willing to work low paying menial jobs, to the extent that they will come here illegally to do so.

A friend, Connie, sent me this link to a blog by a radio host, who takes exception to that premise:

http://760kfmb.com/rick_blog/?p=15

FAT LAZY AMERICAN -VS- HARD WORKING ILLEGALS

CBS has done a poll on the problem of illegal immigration in the United States.

Most of the results are reflective of what you hear in The Court of Public Opinion… except for one.

We self-deprecating Americans believe that immigrants work harder than people born in the U.S. .

There is, unfortunately some truth to it.  The fact is that immigrants will take any job they can, leaving them open to the unskilled and low skilled jobs that many Americans shun, not necessarily because they are menial, but because they don't pay well.

Another factor is the wage gap between the 'skilled' jobs and the unskilled, a gap driven in some small measure by the unions.  Why work at a hotel as a maid for 20k when you can work at a factory making 50k?

And that is not entirely greed, it is often survival, because the reality is that few people can live on minimum wage jobs.

I really thought New York was gonna pwn them, but they came back hard.

Congrats to the New England Patirots for their historic perfect 16-0 season.

 Now, let's see how they do in the playoffs...

I was reading up on Ken Schram's commentaries and I ran across two he did about Manuel Jesus Cordova.  In them, he detailed the story of this guys deportation and how the conservatives were essentially cold hearted bastards.

While his comments are grossly over generalized, he is essentially correct.  It is the anti illegal immigration people, which is not exclusively conservatives who are being a bit short sighted, but besides that, though it galls me, I agree with him.

The story starts in Mexico where Manual began his trek to enter the USA illegally.  After walking for two days he came across a 9 year old boy.  The boy, Christopher Buztheitner, had been in a car accident where his mother was killed.  Stranded, he was wandering looking for help when it found him, in the form of Manuel.

Manuel had a choice.  He was a relatively short walk to freedom, and he could have left the boy, who could have died.

He chose a higher path.  He stayed, gave the boy his sweater and fed him, then built a campfire, and as the boy slept, kept watch over him throughout the night.  They were found there by hunters late the next day.

The boy was taken to a hospital and Cordova was sent back to Mexico.  Read more here.

Those are the basic facts in the case.  Ken noted that the conservatives gloated that Manuel should have been deported, as that is the law, and I might normally agree as I am pro enforcement of immigration law.

But I have to say that I think if anyone deserved a chance to stay, he was a prime candidate. 

Look at it this way:  he had a choice and chose humanity.  As he put it:

"I am a father of four children. For that, I stayed. I never could have left him. Never."

He didn't make a calculated choice hoping for reward, he knew his choice would doom him to likely deportation.  He did it anyway because he know it was the right choice.

This Christmas was my daughter's first "real" Christmas.  No she is not a baby, she is 17 and a senior in High School.

The reason I say it is her first one, is that this year she is working and decided to buy presents for all of our family herself, and in doing so, she went all out.  And it was a joy to behold.

First some history.

Throughout Kayla's early years, times were somewhat hard.  I was military, recently divorced and remarried, and frankly we had little money for many years.

Kayla never lost her holiday spirit, and always took great delight in Christmas, even when there were only a few presents under the tree.

When she reached an age to want to give presents, we often didn't have the resources to help her buy presents for the other kids, so she made her own.  Her present of choice for many years was to take scraps of cloth (she loved to sew and collected fabric) and batting and make mini pillows, some only a few inches long.  She would spend hours making them by hand, then wrapping them, so no one was forgotten.

They are treasured gifts.

She more then most kids her age "gets" Christmas, the spirit of giving and of sharing love.  This year was no different, as she has Christmas lights in her room.

so armed with a paycheck, she set out to spend more money on us than I wanted her too.  Her response was that this was her first real Christmas of buying her own presents for people, and she wanted to do it right.

So, when I think about Christmas this year, she occupies much pride in my thoughts.  What she bought me is not important, it is the thought and love she gave it.

What this is not:  A campaign commercial.  If he had not flashed his name at the end you would not have known.  No voice overs, no photo ops.  Just the music, and the photos which speak volumes.

What this is:  A classy way to wish the troops a happy holiday, considering where many of them are, without overtly trying to sleaze a few votes.

Via Hot Air

 Trackposted to Outside the Beltway, Stop the ACLU, The Midnight Sun, Rosemary's Thoughts, Stix Blog, Right Truth, Shadowscope, Stuck On Stupid, The Amboy Times, Chuck Adkins, Pursuing Holiness, third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, Pirate's Cove, Celebrity Smack, The Pink Flamingo, Right Voices, Blog @ MoreWhat.com, 123beta, guerrilla radio, Adam's Blog, Big Dog's Weblog, Cao's Blog, Conservative Cat, Nuke's, Faultline USA, Allie is Wired, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World According to Carl, Walls of the City, Blue Star Chronicles, Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker, CORSARI D'ITALIA, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Thanks to fellow Linkfest blogger Carl for this video.

Enjoy.  Warning:  Contains Kitten Cuteness. 

 Trackposted to Rosemary's Thoughts, Adam's Blog, Right Truth, Big Dog's Weblog, The Amboy Times, Cao's Blog, Chuck Adkins, third world county, Faultline USA, Woman Honor Thyself, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World According to Carl, Walls of the City, Pirate's Cove, Blue Star Chronicles, The Pink Flamingo, Celebrity Smack, CORSARI D'ITALIA, and Right Voices, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.