There’s an opening on the Watcher’s Council. If you think you’re good at watching weasels, head on over there and apply for the open seat.

It was a solemn pledge, repeated by Democratic leaders and candidates over and over: If elected to the majority in Congress, Democrats would implement all of the recommendations of the bipartisan commission that examined the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

But with control of Congress now secured, Democratic leaders have decided for now against implementing the one measure that would affect them most directly: a wholesale reorganization of Congress to improve oversight and funding of the nation’s intelligence agencies. Instead, Democratic leaders may create a panel to look at the issue and produce recommendations, according to congressional aides and lawmakers.

So, rather than keep their promise and implement the recommendations of the 9/11 panel, Democrats plan to create a panel to produce different recommendations.

Ain’t it funny how power can make you change your position on just about everything?

This weeks Carnival Of The Snark is up. Wow. Lots of people were feeling snarky weren’t they? Go check it out. You too can join the Snark Hunt. Might as well, there’s enough snark for everyone.

by Jonathan of Publius Rendezvous

Now that the aftermath of the elections have subsided, I want to follow-up on what TD said in the FTBB a couple of weeks ago about grassroots campaigning. As we have mentioned on countless occasions, whether you are a Republican or Democrat or Libertarian, the FairTax is for you.

I, myself did not heed my own advice for I grew disconcerted immediately after the election for the FairTax’s prospects. Me, being an individual that leans right of center in virtually every facet of my life thought the Democrat Party would not be the party to implement the FairTax.

But, the more I have come to think of it the more I grow somewhat optimistic. Why? Well, the Democrat Party has promised to reform government in many ways, and one in particular is ethics reform and reducing/eliminating earmarks. This is where our grassroots campaign must be decisive. We must remain vigilant to stay one step ahead of societal evolution in bring in the nation our message. The FairTax fits this agenda. It will and is designed to work to disrupt and eliminate the albatross that is our current system.

People around this country can and are already beginning to realize this phenomenon. Take Mr. Stephen Sanders of Fayetteville, NC:

Congressional scandals were a part of the changes in the last election. Many citizens cast their votes out of disgust at the influence-peddling of some congressional representatives and their highly paid lobbyist friends.

Quite often, this influence-peddling involves special tax considerations for those who hire the lobbyists. The lobbyists make large salaries by persuading members of Congress to tweak the tax code in favor of the lobbyists’ clients. This is where loopholes, tax incentives, tax exemptions and tax exclusions come from. It is a large part of why the U.S. tax code is so complex and convoluted. It is also why we desperately need the Fair Tax.

The Fair Tax is very aptly named because it is, unlike the current income tax, fair. The Fair Tax replaces the income tax with a national retail sales tax. Under the Fair Tax, there are no exemptions, no loopholes and no special consideration for the privileged few. There is no convoluted tax code that even Internal Revenue Service experts cannot figure out. And because the Fair Tax treats everyone the same without exceptions, exemptions, and loopholes, there is less influence-peddling.

Congratulation to Vinny, for wrapping up his second novel!

Good job, buddy!

Isn’t it ironic that the most coveted pair of shoes being offered were designed by her arch enemy?

Only a few days ago Sir Paul McCartney was signing autographs for hundreds of fans during a rare public appearance in London.

Today it was the turn of his estranged wife Heather Mills to step into the limelight. Unfortunately, nobody else bothered to turn up.

…

Several celebrities have donated shoes for the auction, including signed white leather ankle boots from David Bowie, signed Adidas trainers from Coldplay’s Chris Martin and silver strappy Jimmy Choo’s owned by Hollywood star Susan Sarandon.

Pamela Anderson has, ironically, donated a pair of Stella McCartney white PVC stilettos signed by the designer.

It’s a shame really. The Mines Advisory Group could really use the money. Maybe next year they should get a celebrity to help them raise money…

In a follow up to my “Some People Are Born Stupid…” post, two 14 year old students have been arrested for taking a homemade bomb to school, but it does not appear that the administrator will face charges at all.

According to reports, one of the students made the bomb from firecrackers, bb’s, and metal shavings. He then brought the device to the Savannah Country Day School and gave it to another student. That student took the bomb home.

Both of the boys have been charged with possession of a weapon on school property and reckless conduct. They could also be charged with possession and manufacturing of an explosive device.

Here’s the good part…

School Headmaster Tom Bonnell urged the second student to bring the device back to the school three days later. He then held onto the device for nearly 24 hours before contacting police.

If these boys are being charged with possession of a weapon on school property, shouldn’t Mr. Bonnell be charged as well? If these boys are being charged with reckless conduct, shouldn’t Mr. Bonnell be charged as well? Apparently the device was not powerful enough to destroy the building, but it was definitely powerful enough to cause serious bodily harm to anyone nearby.

I can’t think of anything more reckless than the conduct of Mr. Bonnell, a school administrator, who endangered the lives of the boys involved, as well as that of any student they came in contact with while transporting the device back to the school at Mr. Bonnell’s request.

Tom Bonnell is a moron, and he should be removed as headmaster for putting the children of the Savannah Country Day School in jeopardy.

[Source: WSBTV]

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A public Christmas festival is no place for the Christmas story, the city says. Officials have asked organizers of a downtown Christmas festival, the German Christkindlmarket, to reconsider using a movie studio as a sponsor because it is worried ads for its film “The Nativity Story” might offend non-Christians.

New Line Cinema, which said it was dropped, had planned to play a loop of the new film on televisions at the event. The decision had both the studio and a prominent Christian group shaking their heads.

Oh great. Here we go again. We wouldn’t want to offend people coming to a Christmas festival by showing a film about… Christmas. If you read the artlice you find that a spokeswoman for the Mayor’s office stressed the city did not order them to drop the studio as a sponsor, they merely suggested it because the city does not want to appear to endorse one religion over another.

God forbid you attempt to promote Christmas at a Christmas festival! Jim Law, the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Events actually said, “… it would be contrary to acceptable advertising standards suggested to the many festivals holding events on Daley Plaza”.

Does this mean “arts and crafts” would be contrary to acceptable advertising standards at an arts and crafts festival? Don’t even get me started on OktoberFest.

Troy Lee Gentry pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor charge of falsely registering a captive bear as being killed in the wild.

Under the plea, the 39-year-old country singer agreed to pay a $15,000 fine, give up hunting, fishing and trapping in Minnesota for five years, and forfeit both the bear’s hide and the bow he used to shoot the animal in 2004. The bear, named “Cubby,” was killed in a 3-acre private enclosure.

The plea meant Gentry avoided a trial, which had been scheduled to start Monday.

There were some heated comments in this thread, but no matter what his delusional fans think, he did it, and he admitted it. Case closed.

UPDATE (02/28/07): Troy Gentry Sentenced