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Possibly the dumbest Republican to hold a cabinet position in contemporary times is running for President.
Former Wisconsin Governor and ex-Bush HHS Secretary, Tommy Thompson is running for President. Because even the mediocre, bumbling set need a representative in the race, apparently.
Having lived in Wisconsin for 5.5 years while I went to Law School, Business School, and worked (all while he was the Guv), I had the misfortune of seeing up close what a nincompoop this guy is. It’s laughable that he’d run.

Bush is thinking: “Why did I pick this idiot?”
But he probably thinks that whoever ultimately gets the GOP Presidential nod might be dumb enough to pick him–an ostensibly conservative governor from a Midwestern state with no skeletons save for lack of a brain–to be a running mate.
G-d help us all if that happens. Bush picked Tommy Thompson as HHS Secretary to pay off a political debt in a position where he thought the bloviating Beer-and-Cheesehead-State boob would do the least harm. But he was wrong and soon regretted the decision. From my :

Thompson believes he deserves to occupy 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue because, he claims, nobody else has been “as vocal on [healthcare] as I have.” Thompson’s healthcare “legacy” was a cockamamie CIPRO (medicine for chemical weapon exposure) distribution scheme, multiple people dying of anthrax poisoning with the culprit never discovered, no vaccine for anthrax (except that being produced EXCLUSIVELY by ONE MUSLIM-OWNED company in the entire U.S.), flu vaccines running out everywhere, soaring healthcare and medicine prices, and not much else.
As you’ll recall, this genius, Thompson, announced in his resignation from HHS that he doesn’t understand why the terrorists haven’t yet targeted our food supply (and sounded as if he was practically begging them to, so that he could fly in and fail, yet again, to save the day). During the debates with John Kerry, President Bush alluded to some Cabinet appointments he regretted making. Reportedly, Bush was alluding to Bono-groupie (and part-time Treasury Secretary) Paul O’Neill and Tommy Thompson.
Since he left HHS, the intellectually-challenged Thompson has consistently engaged in exploits of the idiotic. For instance, he joined the board of a microchip company and endorsed the implantation of microchips in humans. Talk about Big Brother. That’ll make you really healthy.

It’s a great idea for Islamic terrorists, though. Just not law-abiding U.S. citizens.

Thompson was Governor of Wisconsin when I was in grad school (University of Wisconsin Law School ’93; University of Wisconsin Business School ’95). His nephews were in some of my classes, and even they acknowledged what a dummy their uncle was. We overwhelmingly voted for “Hollywood Squares'” Charles Nelson Reilly over Thompson as our law school graduation speaker, and he was dead (we thought).
Maybe it’s no coincidence that Thompson hails from Elroy, Wisconsin. It seems fitting that this cartoonish figure comes from a town that shares its name with a Jetsons character. Unfortunately, he’s no cartoon. Fortunately, Tommy Thompson has as much chance of becoming President as the Unabomber.

Unfortunately, he does have a chance as a running mate. And that’s just too close for comfort.

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Well, it’s about time. Finally, someone with a vote stepped up to the plate and opposed the Julie Myers nomination to head up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). But, unfortunately, only until he gets his big government program implemented.
Congressional Quarterly reports that U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)–of whom I am not a fan–is upset that ICE didn’t implement an emergency response program he proposed (National Emergency Technology Guard Program a/k/a “NET Guard”). So, in a letter to DHS chief, Michael Chertoff, Wyden announced he’s put a hold on her nomination.
I’m sure Myers’ a/k/a “The ICE Princess” buddy (and her and her husband’s former boss–they’re not keen on getting off the government dole), Chertoff, will make nice so Wyden will lift the hold on his crony, the incompetent Miss Julie. But for now, her nomination is “on ice.”

Two Evils, No Lesser:
Liberal Dem Senator Ron Wyden vs. ICE’s Veruca Salt, Julie L. Myers
Read Wyden’s March 29 letter to Chertoff, which reads in part:

Out of options and out of patience, I wish to inform you today that I am putting a hold on the nomination of Julie Myers, who has been nominated by President Bush to serve as Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, until the Net Guard program is up and running nationwide.

It’s unfortunate that the only reason Wyden, an ill informed liberal, is holding up her nomination is so that his pet program will be enacted. There should be a hold on her absurd nomination, unconditionally.
Watch for Chertoff to put all DHS resources on getting Wyden’s program in place–to save the day for his little Julie, ICE’s own Veruca Salt.

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Of the two big box office releases this weekend, neither are that great. But the far more preferable one is, of course, the one starring the ever hilarious Will Ferrell:
* “Blades of Glory“–When it comes to Will Ferrell flicks, this is hardly his funniest, but it’ll do.
Ferrell plays semi-mullet-haired, cheesy Olympic ice skater, Chazz Michael Michaels, who gets into a brawl with his rival, effeminate skater, Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder). As a result, both get banned for life from skating. But in a rules loophole, they discover that nothing bans them from pairs skating. They return from being relegated to selling skates to kids and performing in cheap ice shows for kids to become the first male-male pairs skating team in world competition.

But they are competing against the underhanded, incestuous Van Waldenberg brother and sister team, who send their younger sister (Jenna Fischer–Pam, from TV’s “The Office”) to spy on them.
Michaels is a sex addict, and there is a lot of tasteless sex and bathroom humor in this movie. But it’s definitely funny to watch the non-stop parody of the easily-parodied ice-skating world, complete with cameos by many of the famous ice skaters we’ve come to know (Dorothy Hammill, Peggy Fleming, Nancy Kerrigan). They made a mistake not putting Tonya Harding in this movie.
The movie is not as funny as other Ferrell fare, like last year’s “” (which I thought was last year’s funniest). And I expected more. I kept waiting for it to be more funny, but it wasn’t. Close enough, though, for a weekend escape from real life. The skating routines are very funny, and you’ll definitely laugh–just not as hard as you expected to.
Best on-ice routine: The Van Waldenbergs perform as John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe (complete with pill-popping) on ice. If only we could see more of that kind of thing in real life pro and Olympic skating, both would be far more exciting.
* “The Lookout“–Truth in trailers sure doesn’t apply to this one. This movie looks like it’ll be exciting and thrilling. It’s neither. Just depressing and a waste of time.
A popular, rich, star high-school jock (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in small town Kansas drives too daringly and gets in a major car accident. Some of his friends die, one is seriously injured, and he loses his short-term memory and ability to function in a normal life. He now lives with his blind roommate (Jeff Daniels) and relives his every day trying to remember his normal routine of waking up and showering.
In a bar, he meets a smooth-talking former schoolmate (who, strangely, in Kansas, has a New Jersey accent) and his good-looking female friends, including a former stripper (played by the annoying Sacha Baron Cohen’s Omani-born fiancee). The stripper comes on to him and the smooth-talking “friend” convinces him to take part in a bank robbery on the bank at which he works as a late-night janitor. At the last minute, he changes his mind, but his thuggish new friends–including a self-parodied “Uncle Bone”–don’t exactly let him. Predictable.
This movie is depressing and dreadful. Long and boring, you’ll feel empty afterward. Skip it. I warned you.

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More of your tax dollars at work in the latest entry to the boondogglepedia. This time it’s hundreds of millions wasted on a watery new headquarters for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. From the Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire:

RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT: The new Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives headquarters, originally slated to open two years ago, has a problem: Water fills the basement. A General Services Administration spokesman says the $150 million building will open this summer. Agents quip that ATF vehicle purchases should include amphibious vehicles and gondolas.

The ATF . . . America’s Little Venice.

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Today’s USA Today features a front-page gush over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its program to train local law enforcement in identifying, dealing with, and arresting illegal aliens. It even features a typically self-promoting quote from ICE Director of Investigations a/k/a “Peppermint Patty”:

“It’s something that is expanding,” says Marcy Forman, director of ICE’s office of investigations. “It’s certainly been a success.”

Uh, not exactly. Like her quote, the story is more puff than truth. As I’ve written, ICE has actually constricted–NOT expanded–its program to help local law enforcement enforce immigration laws. And that’s by design (because they really aren’t interested in stopping illegal immigration).
These Local & State Officials are Stopping Illegal Aliens . . .

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor & Arizona Atty. Gen. Terry Goddard
While These Top ICE Officials Block Their Efforts . . .

ICE’s Marcy Forman-Friedman & Julie L. Myers
As I noted in January–in a of ICE Chieftess a/k/a “The ICE Princess,” ICE put the kabosh on Costa Mesa, California’s plans to train hundreds of police in immigration enforcement. Ditto for the State of Oklahoma’s pleas to ICE for the same:

Then, there are Myers’ failures–no, refusals–to work with local law enforcement to help them help ICE enforce immigration laws. When Costa Mesa, California , little did he know that . Ditto for who also wanted to partner with ICE to make Oklahoma a State friendly to immigration enforcement. Myers .

Given that, it’s hilarious that the USA Today article claims ICE is helping Southern California police to screen illegal aliens. Why didn’t USA Today interview Mayor Mansoor? Because that would actually take some real reporting and a truly balanced story. And we can’t have that.
And, while it’s very crafty that the ICE PR spinners convinced Oren Dorell and William M. Welch–two incompetent USA Today reporters who apparently just rewrite slick government press releases for a living–that ICE is helping local law enforcement stop illegal immigration, it’s actually the exact opposite.
The people doing the real pioneering in immigration enforcement are state and local officials who do their work DESPITE ICE obstacles and impediments.
Take Terry Goddard. The Arizona Attorney General is a one-man immigration enforcement Superman, who’s faced Julie Myers’ opposition, not help. Top ICE sources tell me that The ICE Princess cancelled important meetings with him and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano because she is upset that for bringing them into the country.
If she’s truly for immigration enforcement–and we know she is NOT–why would The ICE Princess block Arizona’s efforts to break the chain of alien smuggling funds?
And, yesterday, Goddard did something it takes ICE a whole year to plan, with a whole lot less results:
Goddard smashed a human-smuggling ring responsible for transporting thousands of illegal aliens–at least 6,800 of them since 2005–into Arizona and other parts of the nation. He busted six travel agencies and 14 people in volved in the ring, as well as those who ran “drop houses” for the aliens. They were all indicted.
This was the work of a state Attorney General and subordinate Arizona law enforcement personnel, NOT The ICE Princess’ minions (though some of her agents–dedicated law enforcers, despite her incompetence–may have helped).
Moral of the story: If it’s on the front page of USA Today, and it’s a positive piece on top ICE officials, it ain’t worth the paper on which it’s printed.

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As I’ve said before, I like Rudy Giuliani for a host of reasons. But he also has a ton of drawbacks (like his previous position on illegal aliens, which I hope he’s changed, but we’ll see).
Tonight, Baba Wawa interviews Rudy and his wife, Judith Nathan Giuliani. And excerpts are being promoted by ABC. One of them is troubling and evokes visions of the first Hillary Rodham Cankles admiministration, when a man named Bill was on the ballot in her place.
Giuliani tells Wawa that if he’s elected he’d be open to his wife, Judith, attending Cabinet meetings on issues in which she’s interested.

Whoa! That is NOT what we want. We’ve had enough of Hillary playing President when her husband was elected, enough of her secret health care policy confabs. It reminds me of Slick Willie’s “You get two for the price of one” slogan. Sorry, but if I wanted a bargain, I’d go to Filene’s Basement or TJ Maxx, not the polling booth in a Presidential election.
And I have the same rejoinder for this unwelcome news about Mrs. Giuliani that I always had about Hillary:
She was NOT on my ballot.
Not sure why Rudy thinks this is good news to any of our ears. But here’s a newsflash about the First Lady . . . any First Lady:
She’s not the President. She’s not on the ballot. She should have no say in any policy or even the appearance thereof.
The First Lady’s issues should be:

White House drapes, White House china, State Dinner menus, ball gown fashions, haircuts with Christophe, workout wear, the color pink, pastel clothing, silk, ribbons, bows, flowers, smiling teas with ugly wives of foreign leaders, meeting snot-nosed kids trying to find eggs on the front lawn, giving awards to women who rescued cats from cancer and psoriasis, and breast cancer awareness.

In that order and without other issues seeping into the fray.
Please, Mr. Giuliani. Another Hillary Rodham Cankles administration, we don’t need.

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How do you tell Islamic terrorists that we mean business? Well, I have several ideas I’ve put forth over the years, since well before 9/11.
But allowing a pro-terrorist group that has been defrauding Medicaid and openly support Hezbollah and HAMAS to sponsor and host a swearing in ceremony of new U.S. citizens is not one of the ways. In fact, that’s one of the ways to keep the Muslims around the world laughing at our stupidity.
But that’s exactly what happened yesterday, when U.S. Judge George Caram Steeh–a Lebanese judge who went easy on Hezbollah arms smugglers (and even dropped all charges against one of them, for no reason whatsoever)–swore in 500 immigrants as new U.S. citizens in Dearbornistan, yesterday. Most of them–surprise!–were Arab Muslims.

ACCESS Protests on Behalf of Illegal Aliens
The event was sponsored jointly by the Department of Homeland Sharia, er . . . “Security” and . As I’ve repeatedly noted, ACCESS openly supports Hezbollah and HAMAS (its President and lawyer says he contributed money to Hezbollah), was raided for helping provide Medicaid to pregnant Muslim illegal aliens (here to get U.S. citizenship and birth certificates for their kids or to sell on the open market), openly advocates for illegal aliens, and spent thousands of dollars in our tax money to train Al-Qaeda terrorists.
Yup, that’s the way to tell terrorists we mean “business.” Except, the business we mean is helping to destroy our country from within.
Thanks, Michael Chertoff for jointly hosting this event with ACCESS. Next time, why not have it in a mosque? I have to apologize to “The Simpsons”‘ Mr. Burns for comparing Chertoff to him. Montgomery Burns would never be this imbecillic.
Today’s New York Times reports that immigrants are becoming U.S. citizens at an even faster and higher rate. That doesn’t mean they’re the kind of citizens we want. In fact, it means the exact opposite–that just anyone is getting his/her application rubber-stamped through.
Having citizenship events presided over by Judge Steeh and co-sponsored by ACCESS is just another nail in America’s coffin.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust . . .

Artwork by Fred Taub/Boycott Watch

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300 Arab Muslim lesbians, including Palestinians, gathered yesterday in Northern Israel to protest their treatment in Islam. They said they were “sad that the only place safe enough to hold a conference for gay Arab women was in a Jewish area of Haifa,” which has a mixed Arab-Jewish population.
Predictably, Muslim Arab women protested the gathering. Wait ’til they see the videos their husbands, fathers, and boyfriends are watching behind their hijab-and-thobe-encrusted backs.

Muslim Women Protest Muslim Lesbian Gathering in Haifa, Israel

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Thanks to Canada Free Press Founding Editor, Judi McLeod, for writing a whole column, “Kicking the Keester of a Brigadier General,” on me and my column regarding .
Great job, Judi. And nice to know that you are ever vigilant in the Great White North of Canada.

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Just got back from screening “Disturbia,” a great and very creepy thriller.
Yes, it’s a rip-off of (and not nearly as good as) Alfred Hitchcock’s classic, “Rear Window.” But this one updates the Hitchcockian thriller for the 2000s with the technology we all have for spying and documenting it, today. And instead of adults, like Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly, “Disturbia” features teens.
Stay tuned for my full review when the movie opens in two weeks. Although I hate to promote an film, this one is very good. Visit Disturbia’s website.