2007 July archive at Sunflower Desert

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Archive for July, 2007

Gitmo Inmate Pleads for U.S. to Keep Him in Custody

Published by

Tammi

at July 31, 2007 in Club Gitmo, Murder, terrorist and torture. 21 Comments

See? Club Gitmo isn’t that bad. The irony is almost too good here. Almost being the key word.

From FoxNews.com:

An inmate of Guantanamo Bay who spends 22 hours each day in an isolation cell is fighting for the right to stay in the notorious internment camp.

Ahmed Belbacha fears that he will be tortured or killed if the United States goes ahead with plans to return him to his native Algeria.

The London Times reported that Belbacha, who lived in Britain for three years, has filed an emergency motion at the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., asking for his transfer out of Guantanamo to be halted. He was cleared for release from Camp Delta in February and his lawyers believe that his return to Algerian custody is imminent.

Read the original report in the London Times.

Belbacha says that if he returns to Algeria, he faces the threat of torture by security services and murder by Islamist terrorists.

L O freaking L! According to the leftards in this country, the good ol’ USA is the only country that tortures and kills people. What the heck? I think the libtards, starting with mother sheehan, need to ’splain the facts to old Ahmed, don’t you?

Let’s see what Ahmed’s human rights scumbag lawyer thinks:

Zachary Katznelson, senior counsel with the human rights lawyers Reprieve and Belbacha’s lawyer, has asked the US courts to block any transfer.

“Ahmed is being held in camp six, the harshest part of Guantanamo,” he said. “His cell is all steel, there are no windows, he is not allowed to communicate with other prisoners and he gets just two hours exercise each day in a metal cage.

“He says his cell in Guantanamo is like a grave and that, although it sounds crazy, he would rather stay in those conditions than go back to Algeria. The fact is that he is really, really scared about what might happen to him in Algeria.”

Well too freaking bad Ahmed! We really need to close the grave and send you on your merry way. That’s just too much crap from the loser lawyer; trying to bash the United States military out of one side of his mouth, while basically having to admit, that we are so much more civilized that the animals kept at Club Gitmo. Makes me chuckle. Freaking good for nothing hypocrites. Sorry, this is just one of those posts that makes me say freaking too much.

Belbacha’s appeal to stay was rejected by a district court last week after the judge ruled that she had no jurisdiction in the case, despite believing the strength of his claims. His lawyers are prepared to go to the Supreme Court to prevent his transfer.

Our court system was not established to protect foreign terrorists. So, go home Ahmed. The mean ol’ USA is finished with you.

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Driver Fears Carjacking, Shoots Man

Published by

Tammi

at July 30, 2007 in 2nd Amendment, Crime, Guns, News and Self Defense. 13 Comments

From TheKansasCityChannel.com:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An Army veteran who believed he was being carjacked shot a man late Tuesday night, police said.

It happened at about 11 p.m. near 40th Street and Warwick Boulevard. The veteran said he drove to the area to help a friend move.Police said the veteran and a friend were in a car when another man walked up and offered to sell them drugs.When they refused, the drug dealer punched one of the men in the mouth and then reached for what they believed was a gun, the veteran said.“Pulling up shirt as if he had something underneath, and with the other hand he socked me in the face,” said the veteran, who didn’t want to be identified.The veteran pulled his own gun and shot the man in the stomach, according to investigators. The veteran said he was trying to disable the man long enough so he and his friend could escape.“I decided to go ahead and shoot him in the lower left and try to avoid any major organs,” the veteran said.The 29-year-old shooting victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. He is expected to recover.”This is nothing to be proud up, having shot a person,” the veteran told KMBC’s Maria Antonia.The 49-year-old disabled Army veteran said he can’t protect himself with his fists, so he got a concealed weapons permit six months ago. Police said he had a license for the gun.The veteran said last night was the first time he pulled out his .40-caliber gun.“I feel disgusted that I had to use it on a human being, but I’m not going to be the victim who can’t defend himself anymore,” the veteran said.So far, no charges have been filed.

If you ask me, the perp was very fortunate that the man he was attempting to assault was an experienced Army veteran. I pray it doesn’t come back to haunt him (the veteran) by way of a law suit.

H/T once again to Clayton Cramer

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Pistol Packing Pastor Nabs Theft Suspect

Published by

Tammi

at July 30, 2007 in 2nd Amendment, Crime, Guns, News and Self Defense. 0 Comments

You have to love that headline! From here:

A former Bakersfield police officer turned pastor helped nab a man who allegedly stole a car from his church’s parking lot.

James Kilgore, pastor at Taft Free Will Baptist Church, said he always keeps a gun and handcuffs in his fanny pack. They came in handy on Tuesday, when one of his elderly parishioners left Bible study to find his car had vanished.

Lol — gun and handcuffs in your fanny pack? Let’s not go there, okay?

Kilgore and Walter Brenton, 72, drove around looking for Brenton’s 1986 Ford Crown Victoria, and spotted the alleged thief driving it a few blocks away.

The pastor followed the driver until he crashed, tackled him as he crawled out of the car and then handcuffed him until police arrived on the scene.

I know the story sounds strange, but it’s a funny strange.

Ronald Lee Allen, 46, of Taft, was arrested on suspicion of grand theft auto and being in possession of stolen property, said Kern County sheriff’s Sgt. Martin Downs.

“We don’t recommend that people try to apprehend suspects, although in this case it worked out really well,” Downs said.

Kilgore said he was glad to put his law enforcement training to use, but said it was likely God had a role in helping him restrain the suspect.

H/T: Clayton Cramer

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How to Protect Your Home From an Invasion ABC News.com style

Published by

Tammi

at July 30, 2007 in 2nd Amendment, Crime, Guns, Insanity, News, Self Defense and Stupidity. 16 Comments

Remember this little gem from my last post?

I did find a related ABC News article titled: Find Out How to Protect Your Home From an Invasion. I’ll tell you right now that good lighting is the key to prevent your home from being invaded by criminals, but that’s the next blog. So, stick around.

Well, I hope you took it with a grain of salt because I was just joking about the lighting business. However, ABCNews.com apparently wasn’t. Does this mean that good lighting is a bad thing? Of course not! Good lighting is essential so that you can see the look on an intruder’s face before you blow him to kingdom come.

Alrighty then, we need to get back to the life saving advice from ABC:

A peephole in your front door isn’t enough. It’s important to have one peephole up high for adults and another lower for kids. People, especially children, are less likely to open the door if they can see who is on the other side.

You can get a home alarm, but know that they are not that hard to bypass, especially by more experienced criminals. Still, security signs have been known to put off burglars.

The main thing in an alarm is to make sure it makes a loud noise. You need a noise that will wake everybody up. Then the burglar has no option but to run.

Secure your windows. Even if each window isn’t alarmed, there are some other common sense things you can do that really work. When home invaders break into windows, it is usually because they are unlocked, especially bathroom windows.

Also, hang chimes in the window area. You want the intruder to knock things down, make noise and alert you. Put plants that have thorns on them outside the house.

And finally, if you are not in a safe place, they can get to you in a heartbeat. So turn a closet into a safe room. You can do that by putting a deadbolt lock on the closet door, put a light source inside the closet and keep a cell phone inside. Also, write a list of emergency numbers on the back of the door, so you’ve got them in case of panic. And you should always call 911.

Okay, is everybody feeling all warm, fuzzy, and safe yet? Me neither! So, how about of dose of common sense?

Jamie Buck was jolted awake by a loud noise. According to police, an alcohol-fueled man wielding a sledgehammer shattered a window in the side door and entered the home. The suspect, whose latest release from jail was just seven weeks prior, demanded money or jewelry. Then he swung the sledgehammer at Buck, striking him in the head. In imminent peril, Buck drew a firearm and fired several shots, killing his assailant. (The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, OH, 03/24/07)

Police say a 20-year-old couple went on a weekend crime spree until their luck ran out. It started on a Saturday morning when they attacked a 92-year-old in his home and sent him to the hospital. That night, they broke into another home and assaulted the occupant before robbing her. Their rampage ended the next day, however, when they broke into the home of Jimmy Norman and his wife. Norman retrieved a handgun and shot the male intruder twice. The injured suspect was to be charged pending his release from the hospital, and his accomplice was also apprehended. (St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL, 03/13/07)

Bob Manross said he often keeps a firearm handy because of his area’s crime problem. “I don’t take any chances,” he said. That proved good policy when a man broke into his home, called him by name and said he would shoot him unless he handed over his money. “I told him I didn’t have the money with me, but I’d get it from the other room,” said the 77-year-old Manross, who had a rifle at the ready nearby. “He wasn’t expecting me to come back through here and shoot him.” Manross shot the burglar, whom he recognized as a man living nearby. He directed police to the suspect’s home, where they found him suffering from a gunshot wound. “I am not proud of what I have done,” Manross said of the incident, “but I have to protect my wife and my house.” (Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, 04/04/07)

Two masked men apparently thought they could pray on an elderly couple, but Alif “Betty” Feaster-Weeder’s quick thinking prevented their offensive. The 75-year-old woman was lying on a couch reading when the men entered the home. One man asked, “Where’s your money?” twice before she understood the seriousness of the situation. The woman yelled for her husband, asleep in an adjoining room, to get his gun. The mere suggestion of the firearm sent the intruders running before the husband could respond. (The Daily Item, Sunbury, PA, 04/02/07)

Is it just me, or are the testimonies above more logical than putting chimes in your windows? Just checking.

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Parole Procedures to Be Reviewed After Grisly Conn. Home Invasion

Published by

Tammi

at July 29, 2007 in Crime, Insanity, News and racism. 2 Comments

What a needless gruesome story:

Connecticut officials have promised to review parole procedures that put two accused killers on the street, after a horrific home invasion and arson left three family members dead, a father badly beaten and the small town of Cheshire reeling.

The state medical examiner confirmed Tuesday evening that Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, was strangled to death and that her two daughters Hayley, 17, and 11-year-old Michaela died of smoke inhalation. Cheshire Police Lt. Jay Markella told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that additional charges would come. “I’ll fully expect murder charges to be added,” he said.

You think? One would hope.

From the prosecutor:

Prosecutor Michael Dearington said he had not yet decided whether to pursue the death penalty. “I know the public consensus is they should be fried tomorrow,” he told The Associated Press.

Well, normally I would say let’s not be hasty, but not in this case. It truly would not be an issue if it were my family. The two men would already be dead. We believe in the 2nd Amendment wholeheartedly.

I did find a related ABC News article titled: Find Out How to Protect Your Home From an Invasion. I’ll tell you right now that good lighting is the key to prevent your home from being invaded by criminals, but that’s the next blog. So, stick around.

Back to this story:

So far, the two suspects, 44-year-old Steven Hayes of Winsted, Conn., and 26-year-old Joshua Komisarjevsky of Cheshire, Conn., have been charged with various counts of aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, burglary and arson. They are being held on a $15 million dollar bond.

Both men were on parole at the time of the killings and they both have extensive criminal records, mostly for burglary. But Robert Farr, chairman of the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Parole, said neither man had a record of violent crime. He promised a review of parole procedures.

Hmmm … this really leaves me scratching my head and sick to my stomach. How would you feel if you were part of the worthless system that turned these animals loose?

According to police, around 3 a.m. Monday, two men entered the Petits’ house at 300 Sorghum Mill Drive planning to rob it. Police have not said why the the Petit house was selected. The men allegedly tied up the mother and her daughters and assaulted William Petit. Around 9:30 a.m., officials said, one of the men drove Hawke-Petit to a Bank of America branch nearby and forced her to withdraw a large amount of money and drive back to the house. Bank officials then called police. A short time later, at the Petit house, the two men tried to leave, but not before setting the house on fire, police say.

Honestly, my intent is not to judge or blame victims here. But I would really hope lessons could be learned by others if the same or similar circumstances would present themselves. I realize that fear can lead people to do whatever criminals demand, but it is never worth it. My advice would be to fight to the death if need be to avoid being bound, tied up, or moved to a second location. Seriously, inflict all the damage possible. This family would be no worse off if they had done so.

Finally, a comment from the article at ABCNews.com:

I like where ABC News reports this kind of crime AFTER they know the perps are white. If this had been a Black on White crime we’d have NEVER had a report, except in regional papers.You’re excuse would’ve been that this is another common crime and does not warrant our attention. But now, since you’ve got white perps, you’ll freely describe the horrors.What, it took months for a breath of coverage over Knoxville and Black on White crimes are routinely ignored by you people.Just your report on Michael Vick illustrates this well. You lead in with a report on a white criminal referee.The Media continues it’s denigration of the white. Make note on how the media will inflate this crime and we’ll hear nothing but this, for years to come, so you can ignore the incredible criminal rates for Blacks or just blame whites racism for it.Hypocrites.

Posted by:
PhilJ58 Jul-24

Think the commenter might know something others don’t?

Thoughts? As a disclaimer, I personally think all violent crime is hideous no matter who commits it.

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More trouble for Northwest Airlines

Published by

Tammi

at July 29, 2007 in Airlines, Insanity, Stupidity and unions. 4 Comments

Looks like Northwest Airlines might be making other peoples’ crap list besides Tieki Rae’s.

Hundreds of passengers experienced disruptions in their travel plans this weekend when Northwest Airlines canceled more than 200 flights.

During a summer season already filled with record delays and cancellations, the nation’s fifth-largest carrier cited pilot absenteeism for the problems.

Where in the world are the beloved pilots?

The pilots have said they were not playing hooky. They said their contract with Northwest limits their flying time to 90 hours per month and during this year’s busy travel season their time sheets are maxed-out.

I’m reading that as the contracts with Northwest that are limiting the pilots to 90 hours per month, not FAA regulations. Therefore, I’m limiting this entire problem to labor unions. Seriously, do you realize that 90 hours per month is barely over 20 hours per week?

What’s the labor union saying?

This weekend’s cancellations happened despite efforts by Northwest earlier this month to thin out its schedule so pilots would have enough hours. The union said the airline simply needs more pilots.

Heck, I didn’t realize it was possible to find a profession that actually works less hours than a dentist, but by golly I think I’ve done it! The entire article can be found here, but I also find the little ditty below to be a bit disturbing:

The Federal Aviation Administration said on-time performances in June were dismal. Last month had twice as many cancellations compared to the same time in 2006, the result of bad weather, more flights and an outdated air traffic control system.

Yikes! That’s something I think we should stay on the cutting edge of technology with.

And last but not least:

In a May 2007 survey by the University of Michigan, Americans ranked the airlines below the Internal Revenue Service in customer satisfaction.

I can guarantee you that Northwest has earned this honor. They should be so proud.

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Sheikh delays plane over seating

Published by

Tammi

at July 28, 2007 in Airlines, Insanity, Islamic law and Stupidity. 10 Comments

Found this over at Doctor Bulldog’s place. Wouldn’t you just be livid if you were on this flight? From Reuters:

MILAN (Reuters) - A Qatar sheikh held up a British Airways flight at Milan’s Linate airport for nearly three hours after discovering three of his female relatives had been seated next to men they did not know.

When none of the other business class passengers agreed to swap seats, the sheikh, a member of Qatar’s ruling family, went to the pilot, who had already started the engine, to complain, an airport official said.

But the pilot ordered him and his traveling companions, the three women, two men, a cook and a servant, off the plane.

The London-bound flight took off nearly three hours behind schedule Thursday evening and around 50 of the 115 passengers missed connecting flights.

Traditions in the conservative Gulf Arab region bar women from mixing with unrelated men.

Then I guess these women should never have booked a ticket on the airline in the first place? Give me a freaking break! Of course, you know there will be litigation. Can you imagine missing your connection due to this moron? I get ticked just reading about it.

UPDATE: Angel is having another open trackback weekend

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Kids could lose insurance!!!!

Published by

Tammi

at July 27, 2007 in News, healthcare, politics and welfare. 9 Comments

The article can be found in all its splendor at the Casper Star Tribune and I don’t think it’s written to make Republicans look bad. Just kidding! I really do think it’s written to make Republicans look like prudes who desire for all poor children to lose their health coverage. Then again, what’s new?

CHEYENNE — Because of a struggle in Congress over funding for children’s health insurance programs, Wyoming officials have put on hold a planned expansion of the state’s Kid Care insurance program that was to include 3,700 poor, working parents.

The Legislature in the 2006 budget session authorized expansion of the program, but the federal government has taken no action on the state’s request for a waiver so it can begin, Gov. Dave Freudenthal said this week.

In a letter to U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., the Democratic governor noted the lack of action on the waiver and expressed his worry over financing for the program and the possibility it won’t be renewed this year.

Question: Who’s paying for the waiver? Federal tax payers or the state of WY? News flash: The program has not even been implemented yet and children are going to lose coverage? How is this possible?

The Bush administration apparently does not want socialized medicine to spread to working adults. I, personally, would rather see some sort of program available at a price to working adults, than for lazy sluggards to be covered at the expense of hard working Americans. Just my opinion.

President Bush has threatened to veto the Senate’s bill to pay for renewal and expansion of the State Child Health Insurance Program with a higher excise tax on cigarettes.

If the bill doesn’t become law, the 5,700 children enrolled in Wyoming could lose their coverage beginning as early as Oct. 1, Freudenthal said.

“It’s an incredibly serious problem,” the governor said.

Well, then I would suggest that the coverage for the children not be tied to the coverage for their parents. Seems simple enough. Honestly, I know several people who have health insurance available through their jobs, but refuse to participate because the cost is a few hundred dollars per month. Once again, this is a choice the individuals are making and my tax dollars should not go to provide them free medical care. As a side note, I also know of successful businesses ran by Democrats that don’t even offer health insurance to their employees because they are such hypocrites. Anyway, back to the story:

Freudenthal said the $5 billion a year would not maintain the program with the current enrollment. But he did not specify what the dollar figure should be.

Enzi, meanwhile, said Thursday through his press secretary, Coy Knobel, that expanding the program to cover adults is becoming a problem.

Socialized medicine is becoming a problem and needs to be done away with. Part of the problem is that the medical professionals appear to want their cake and eat it too. They want their exuberant tests and diagnostics paid for by Medicaid, yet if everyone had the government coverage that they dream of, they could in no way charge the prices they do.

Senator Barrasso and Representative Cubin’s offices weigh in:

“The concern here is the overall price tag,” Barrasso said. “One of the proposals I saw extends it to families making $80,000 a year.”

Wyoming did it right, he said, by making the program available to families with incomes less than the federal poverty level — about $40,000 a year for a family of four.

“We have to be fiscally responsible. We want to help the kids, but it’s not a program designed to help everybody,” Barrasso said.

U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin, R-Wyo., is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee which has been engaged with the children’s health care program for several months. Cubin supported SCHIP when it as created in 1997 for children who did not qualify for Medicaid yet whose families could not afford health care on their own, and she continues to support it, said her press secretary, Alison McGuire.

“Unfortunately, Washington Democrats are taking a successful program like SCHIP, turning it on its head, and using it as a vehicle to create a massive new entitlement program for upper- and middle-income Americans,” McGuire said. “Democrats have proposed a $50 billion program expansion that would make SCHIP available to people as old as 25 and even to illegal immigrants. To fund their plan, Democrats have proposed massive tax hikes and cuts to important Medicare Advantage programs.”

*sigh* I think the paragraph above pretty much summarizes the entire problem in two words: Washington Democrats.

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Comment of the Week!

Published by

Tammi

at July 27, 2007 in Comment of the Week. 6 Comments

Hi everyone! It’s been a long week and I came very close to forgetting about the comment of the week! I don’t have a wireless connection, therefore, I’m on my sister-in-law’s desktop using Internet Explorer. So, bear with me.

Not much blogging has taken place this week due to traveling and the motel in Dodge we stayed at had sketchy wireless. Not to mention the funeral service on Wednesday and visiting with friends while back in Dodge. The funeral went well. Ted played an instrumental on his guitar, which is a feat in itself because of some nerve issues in his left arm!

I apologize for not making it to read all your posts and not commenting on each one here. Please remember you are appreciated and things will get back to normal!

As for any technical issues you are experiencing with my new home, be patient, I have confidence everything will get ironed out and be better than before.

On to comment of the week. I think Neil has won before, but what the heck? Let’s give it to him again for a good try at getting me kicked off of conservablogs before getting started.

Congratulations, Tammy!

But why are you on Conservablogs?! I thought you were a liberal.

Psych!

Good thing Neil added that Psych or Eric might have had to kick me to the curb!

Anyway, in case you are new or have forgotten, here are the rules:

Go back to your own blog and find your favorite comment that someone left you
Copy it and bring it back here and post it in the comments of this post
Please feel free to link back to your blog /post where the comment took place and also the commenter’s blog.
If your comment gets caught in the moderation queue, call me. Just kidding! I will do my best to check my blog and get it out of there. But, remember, I’m not at home yet and have limited access to the internet.
Okay — please play! Show some love!

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Vic ordered to avoid camp during investigation

Published by

Tammi

at July 23, 2007 in Crime, News and Sports. 14 Comments

I would expect nothing less. Good for the NFL. Now, if only they stick to it.

From ESPN news:

NEW YORK — Michael Vick was ordered by commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday to stay away from the Atlanta Falcons‘ training camp until the league reviews the dogfighting charges against him.

“While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the Personal Conduct Policy,” Goodell said in a letter to the quarterback.

Read the entire story and watch the video.

Wow, I cannot believe how quickly this summer is flying by. I’d forgotten how close we actually are to pre-season. I have a feeling I’ll be disappointed in the lack of punishment Vic receives even if convicted. In the meantime though, I’ll continue to hope for a conviction with very stiff penalties.

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