You have to read the whole list to believe it.

If I'm going to be hard on the media once in awhile, I need to also acknowledge those rare instances when they do something right.

Kudos to CNN for being hard on pork.

The media doesn't know what to do!

Well, sort of.

Sad. Just... sad.

 

I'm no fan of Rudy Guiliani as a presidential candidate--but this is unbelievable!

The fight began one month ago, when site founder Jim Robinson posted an anti-Giuliani manifesto titled: “Giuliani as the GOP presidential nominee would be a dagger in the heart of the conservative movement.” Then the virtual ax started to swing. Longtime posters to the freewheeling discussion threads, used to serious no-holds-barred web etiquette, were still stunned by the intensity of the anti-Rudy activity; conservative blogs buzzed with the development.

It continues:

Just a few months ago, Rudy Giuliani placed second in an early Free Republic straw poll; now, his support on the site has been virtually eliminated. “After the ‘April Purge,’ I don't think there are any Rudybots left around here,” noted Free Republic commenter “upchuck” in one recent post. “And if there are, they're not posting pro-Rudy stuff :).”

The forums weren’t the only venue for the Free Republic’s new antagonism toward Mr. Giuliani, which coincided with a wave of comments expressing similar sentiments from other corners of the conservative movement. A few days after Mr. Giuliani’s equivocal Roe v. Wade comments at the Republican presidential debate on May 3, a new “STOP RUDY NOW News & Information Thread” was featured on the site, and a newly-created stand-alone category debuted via a link from the homepage: “The Giuliani Truth File.” (So far this campaign season, Mr. Giuliani is the only candidate – Republican or Democratic – to be singled out for that level of scrutiny from the Free Republic.)

And there's more:

Robinson himself could not be reached for comment, but his original post laid out his case against Mr. Giuliani – a graphics-heavy presentation of some of the former mayor’s most damning moderate quotes in mainstream media venues, along with a color-coded report card tracking his less-than-doctrinaire positions on abortion, immigration, gays and guns.

Robinson, it should be noted, famously blasted George W. Bush’s presidential candidacy back in 2000, before a dramatic late-campaign about-face that saw him emerge as one of the GOP ticket’s biggest supporters. But whether or not Free Republic experiences a similar election-year shift this cycle, the site’s current campaign is spreading a dangerous primary-season meme of Rudy Giuliani as big-city liberal – and turning one of the most influential web forums in conservatism into an exclusive gathering place for those who share that view.

The website obviously has the right to do whatever they want. It is independently owned and operates on the donations of its users. It is suprising, though, that they would stifle the debate by completely banning aggressive Guiliani fans. If anything, I'd think they would love to take advantage of the extra traffic to the site!

Today, Rudy Guiliani is leading in all the national polls. Free Republic has been incredibly successful throughout its ten year history--and may have an influence on how the election cycle shifts in the near (or distant, for that matter) future.

Granted, Free Republic users ("Freepers") are not indicative of the entire GOP population. Anyone who looks at the polls can see that. It is interesting, however, when you think of the Freepers as representative of a large number of very active grassroots Republicans--the very people who are most likely to volunteer, to donate money, and to actually show up to vote. In that sense, they could lead many other active Republicans away from Guiliani. (They aren't the only people opposed to Guiliani, by the way.)

Only time will tell.

For now, if you're a Guiliani supporter and looking for a place to voice your opinions and concerns--start up a blog on Townhall.com and get to it.

Update: Here's a link to the "Guiliani Truth File" at Free Republic. Take a look around.

You needn't look far.

If you're like me, and currently residing in the Metropolitan DC Area, go to this link to see how you can help.

If you're not near the Beltway, click here to find your local USO.

The USO's work makes a considerable difference in the lives of our military and their families. Please consider donating your time or money today.

I missed this a few days ago, but I think it's worth reading after Memorial Day, too.

Memorial day means a lot of things to a lot of people, but first and foremost, it means remembering Soldiers and the sacrifices they have made and continue to make for all of US. It’s not glamorous, doesn’t often bode well on the front page, and is rarely the kind of thing you talk to your kids about when you tuck them in bed. Without them, however, none of us could begin to imagine what our lives would be like.

I, like my Grandfather, was too young for one war and too old for the next. In between, I made a life and grew a family, and did what I could to support those who WERE wearing the uniform on my behalf, and in my stead. I thank God for them, and remember them in my prayers every day. Today, as I take out the triangular flag, neatly wrapped in a zippered plastic bag courtesy of the US Government, and brush off the dust, I remember my Father Richard.

Click here to continue reading the tribute. 

Nice catch, John.

"I know, I know. White people all look alike. But still."

The courage of military wives never ceases to amaze me.

If you build it, they will succeed.

Gateway Pundit reports that 3 more provinces will be handed over to the Iraqis and that business is booming in the northern Irbil, Iraq.

Click over there to check out the photo view from the new Naz City Apartments. Not too shabby.

97 too many.

A new editorial intern, Ryan, started today at Townhall. He's already got his blog Permanent Waves up and running. I particularly enjoy his title and the double meaning; read his first post for the explanation.

Post a comment over on his blog to welcome him to the Townhall user blog community.

Welcome, Ryan!

I got this email yesterday and, as I did with the Message from an Army Wife, I've since received permission to reprint it here for you all. It is from Cpl. Marcus A. Penn, currently stationed in Iraq, and includes a message from his Commanding General.

Friends and family,

 

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Memorial Day. Please do not forget the true meaning of this day nor all of us currently "in country." I want to take this moment before the General's Memorial Day message to let all of you know that there is true progress being made! I noticed even CBS News is reporting the Iraqis are taking a stand for their country against all those wishing them harm. Do not give into the easy route of calling for our return before the mission is accomplished. There is still a lot of good work to be done!

 

Without any more delay, here is the Memorial Day Message from my Commanding General here in Iraq. Especially pray for SSgt Callahan's and SSgt Woodall's family and my unit as we are still coping with our loss.

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines,

This Monday, we celebrate Memorial Day.  For many of you, you may have grown up recognizing this day as the beginning of summer.  For many, it is a day of picnics and parades, and fun times at the beach.

 

This Memorial Day, I urge you to pause and reflect on what the day is REALLY about.  Memorial Day is set aside as a special day for us to remember and honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice when called upon to serve their Nation. 

 

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May, 1868, by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

Today, you will often see members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) selling red poppies in front of stores and in your neighborhoods on Memorial Day.  Do you know the history of why they sell those poppies?  It comes from the poppies that grew on Flander's Fields where many WWI veterans were buried.  Following WWI, Memorial Day changed from a day that recognized the sacrifices made by Civil War vets to one recognizing the ultimate sacrifice paid by all military men and women in their Nation's service.

 

Who more than us, serving today in a foreign land, in a combat zone, should strive to recall the true meaning of this important day?  I urge you to pause this Monday and remember those who have given their all.  Since 2d MLG Fwd took command of the LCE here in MNF-W, we have lost the following:

 

Sgt Alejandro CARILLO, CLB-5, died 30 Jan 2007

Cpl Jennifer PARCELL, CLB-1, died 7 Feb 2007

SSgt Dustin GOULD, EOD, 7th ESB, died 2 Mar 2007

HM3 Lucas EMCH, EOD, 7th ESB, died 2 Mar 2007

LCpl Dennis VEATER, CLB-5, died 9 Mar 2007

LCpl Raymond HOLZHAUER, HQ Co., 2d MLG, died 16 Mar 2007

Cpl Henry BOGRETTE, CLB-6, died 23 Mar 2007

SGT Greg Riewer, 2-136 CAB, died 23 Mar 2007

LCpl Daniel SANTEE, 2d MaintBn, died 14 April 2007

SSgt William CALLAHAN, EOD, 8th ESB, died 27 Apr 2007

SSgt Peter WOODALL, EOD, 8th ESB, died 27 Apr 2007

LCpl Jeffrey WALKER, CLB-6, died 14 May 2007

 

On this Memorial Day, take the time to remember these fallen heroes . . .

 

Semper Fidelis,

J. A. Kessler

BGen, USMC

CG, 2d MLG Fwd

II MEF Fwd

Al Taqaddum, Iraq

 

In Flanders Fields

John McCrae, 1915.

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

You can keep up to date with Cpl. M by reading his blog posts at A Soldier's Perspective. If you'd like to send him a message of thanks or prayer, please feel free to email me and I'll pass it along.