It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
Onegoodmove.org has a great video clip of Ted Haggard – you can check it out here.
This weekend I listened to Terry Gross’ interview of Bill O’Reilly. During the interview, Bill gets upset, cries about how it isn’t fair, and leaves. I don’t know if he is unwilling or unable to defend his positions – but ranting about how it isn’t fair – about the different treatment that other guests get – only proves his relatively low maturity level and does nothing to make me want to listen to his opinions.
I’ve noticed that this is a common fault of Mr. O’Reilly’s. He gets offended whenever his position is challenged and responds with an aggressive rant. For an example, just watch his show (if you can stomach it). His reasoning is hardly that – instead of reason he relies primarily on the fallacies of appealing to emotion and to authority.
For those masochists among you, here is a link to his website.
I wish to propose for the reader’s favourable consideration a doctrine which may, I fear, appear wildly paradoxical and subversive. The doctrine in question is this: that it is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true.
I do not believe in God because I do not believe in Mother Goose.
John Kerry has announced that he will not be running for President in 2008. While I have nothing against John Kerry per se, I can’t say that I’m saddened by his announcement. He did manage to loose to George W. last election – something that I had thought would have been damn-near impossible.
Here‘s the NYT article.
The New York Times has an interesting articleabout the problem of the Iraqi Parliament members not showing up for sessions.
They’re paid hansomly, with additional funds for security – and yet still do not bother to show up.
Some of Iraq’s more seasoned leaders say attendance has been undermined by a widening sense of disillusionment about Parliament’s ability to improve Iraqis’ daily life. The country’s dominant issue, security, is almost exclusively the policy realm of the American military and the office of the prime minister.
While a large part of the problems in Iraq are unquestionably security related – part of the problems might also be related to the fact that the Iraqis don’t feel like they have control over their own government. Even the Iraqi government doesn’t feel like it is in control. Maybe if the Parliament were allowed to make a difference the members would start taking it more seriously.
I do not see how it is possible for an intelligent human being to conclude that the Song of Solomon is the work of God, and that the tragedy of Lear was the work of an uninspired man.
Don’t compromise yourself. You’re all you’ve got.
From their website:
The EDGE of Existence programme aims to conserve the world’s most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species by implementing the research and conservation actions needed to secure their future.
They have a list (with photos) of their top 100 endangered species – there are some truly amazing animals . . . that need your help. (wink wink, nudge nudge). I highly recommend you go to the EDGE website to find out more.
Here’s the NY Times’ detail of Bush’s Plan for Iraq:
Details of President Bush’s new strategy for Iraq, as outlined by White House officials on Wednesday:
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U.S. TROOP INCREASE
— Bush will commit 17,500 additional U.S. combat troops, the equivalent of five combat brigades, to Baghdad. The first brigade is to arrive Jan. 15; the next on Feb. 15; the remainder in separate waves every 30 days.
— Bush will commit 4,000 more Marines, in two waves, to Anbar, a province that is a base of the mostly Sunni insurgency and foreign al-Qaida fighters.
— The president’s upcoming supplemental budget request will include $5.6 billion to pay for his new commitment of troops.
— Expand embedding of U.S. advisers into Iraqi security forces.
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ECONOMIC AID
–$414 million to expand the Provincial Reconstruction Teams and set up new Provincial Support Teams to help with rebuilding.
–$400 million in quick-response funds to address civilian problems.
–$350 million more for the Commander’s Emergency Response Program, set up in 2003 to give field commanders money to solve local problems that quickly the improve daily the lives of Iraqis.
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IRAQI COMMITMENTS
–Allocate $10 billion to assist in reconstruction efforts.
–Deliver three brigades for Baghdad; the first on Feb. 1; then two more on Feb. 15.
–Crack down on insurgents and give U.S. and Iraqi troops the authority to pursue all extremists, regardless of sect of religion.
–Reform cabinet to provide equal government services to all regions and sects.
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REGIONAL DIPLOMACY
–He will not propose direct talks with Iran and Syria, and will insist that they become constructive, not meddling influences in Iraq and the region.
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BENCHMARKS
–Finalize an oil law that will share the profits of Iraq’s resources among various ethnic sects and regions in a way that unites the country.
–Ease the policy of ”de-Baathification,” which purged ex-members of Saddam Hussein’sSunni-led Baathist rule from the top layers of government institutions.
–Hold provincial elections to bring Sunnis back into the political process at local level
–Increase the transfer of security to Iraqi security forces by the end of the year.
Thank God we have George W. Bush as president. Now we have a plan – four and a half years after invading Iraq mind you, but we have a plan. And thank god our new plan includes such brilliant strategies as, “Crack down on insurgents”. Wow. If only we had thought of that earlier.
Bush needs to be careful about persuing ‘religious extremists’ however, since I think that there are perhaps more than a few people who would call him a religious extremist.
Fear of Ignorance 
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