In any case, what does this update mean? Will we still get the daily user registrations from Russia and employees at, umm,  enlargement facilities? Hopefully not, though of course we hope they keep reading.

Speaking of Russia, I’m very grateful that our government can keep everyone equally unsafe.  There are bad actors in the world, and though it’s unpopular to say, the U.S. is not one of them.  Our liberal friends prefer that we lead by example, but does anyone honestly believe that the real Bad Actors will follow us? Come on, if they would do that, they wouldn’t be bad actors in the first place!

But why was there the rush? Was Obama really that scared that Harry Reid wouldn’t be able to get the treaty through in the next Congress? And what did it really accomplish? It will lessen our stockpile of nuclear warheads and “delivery vehicles” , but this is just to get those in line with what Russia’s already has. Russia already plans to put multiple warheads on single launchers.  And the treaty will also lessen our ability for missile defense.

The Senate can of course only give its advice and consent on treaties — they cannot rewrite them.  So we signed. Now it’s up to the Duma.

And even after all that, they still don’t trust us. Right back at ya, Mr. P.

Anyway, W surprised some troops coming home or passing through DFW. I didn’t agree with all Bush’s policies (seriously, who did?), but this is a class act, and a good reminder of what a  patriot President Bush was. (And will these be seen outside Facebook and random blogs like this? Doubtful.)

Facebook | USO Dallas/Fort Worth’s Photos – President Bush surprises the troops

The Bloomberg report notes this:

“They were not doctors. They were trying to spread the Christian religion in Karan wa Manjan,” Mujahed [a Taliban spokesman] said. “And at the other hand they were spies. Our Mujahedeen people arrived there and tried to stop them, but they escaped and our Mujahedeen had to open fire on them.”

The International Assistance Mission, which describes itself as an international Christian organization providing education and health aid in Afghanistan, said on its website it has been informed that 10 foreign and Afghan people, likely members of a team providing eye care in communities in Nuristan, were killed while returning to Kabul.

British Sky News reports that the Brit who was killed — Dr. Karen Woo — was not Christian. Her fiance says that instead she was a Humanist, and he highly doubts that she was preaching. That may be the case, but she was working from a Christian organization. And one which is quite careful to avoid offending its host country:

“Amongst others, we ascribe to the code that aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint. IAM fully commits to the standard that aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the recipients and without adverse distinction of any kind.”
- International Assistance Mission Standards

Frankly, the ability to be a secular Humanist and work with an organization dedicated to serving others out of a love for Christ is not something that jihadists or Islamists can comprehend, and is not something they themselves would accept in their own organizations.

Islam, remember as Bush told us for 8 years, is a religion of peace. That might be the case if you are Muslim. If you aren’t, it is anything but.

May we remind the good congressmen and women that the healthcare bill was passed late in the dark of a winter’s night, and only after Ms. Pelosi twisted so many arms the Indian burn was felt all the way to Michigan, and was so uncomfortable it caused sudden and unexpected resignations across the fruited plain. This means, people DON’T LIKE IT. (Republicans, if they’re smart, will capitalize on this.)

And then businesses did what businesses are legally bound to do — their accountants wrote down the massive charges the companies would take. And Democrats, many of whom are absolutely clueless about business, complained that companies were only publicizing their charges because they are all against Obama.

But why should we repeal the whole thing? Sure, there are problems, say the more moderate among the populace, but can’t we just repeal those things and keep the nice things.. like insurance for the chronically ill and uninsured?  Sadly, no.

The whole bill is based on a wrong assumption about who should be in charge of healthcare, and it is clearly leading to the eventual need for a public option. Companies who drop their health benefits  because they can afford the penalty more than the coverage will force their employees into Medicare, or those employees will join the ranks of healthy individuals who will choose to pay the small penalty and wait to go to the doctor until they really need it. And then this will raise prices for everyone who remains in insurance. Prices will go so high that what’s covered will be slashed, or there will be a call for a…  public option.

But culturally, we are not like Canada or Britain in some important ways. We Americans are a very independent people. Maybe too independent sometimes, sure. But if you want to respect cultural diversity, start with us. We do not and will not like it when the government gets too involved in our business. Oh wait, it already has, dictating which OTC medications require a prescription and which don’t in order for you to use your pre-tax WageWorks credit card at Walgreens.

Republicans are not without ideas to increase access and lower costs for healthcare. They must campaign on Repeal AND Replace. But first it must be repealed and then we must immediately replace with a more reasonable way to ensure that more people are Insured. Such as high-risk pools to help pay for those of us with chronic conditions, and a more free-market approach to buying insurance in the first place, and tort reform.

So we have these ideas. Many different ways of implementing them, too. Most of all, though, Republican candidates cannot be too scared to stand for REPEAL. REPEAL REPEAL REPEAL. Don’t worry when a moderate says “We can’t just repeal! We’ve struggled since 1936 for this!” When they say that, you know you are not talking to a moderate, but a disappointed progressive.

Remember, it was only last summer the townhalls were attracting attention from real voters, upset and angry with the direction of the country. Republican candidates, I urge you to stiffen your spines and call for REPEAL.

44 – Gibbs says health-care will become law this week, but House Democrats still short of votes

And the arrogance of this administration continues apace.

What worries me is that many Democrats who are not Obama/Pelosi/Reid just DON’T care about the political fallout of this thing. Many have announced they won’t be seeking reelection this year — so essentially they can do whatever they want between now and November. And we’ll thank them for their sacrifice later, or something.

Let us be clear once more — health care is NOT a right. It is NOT.  Neither is wealth, shelter, or frankly, friendship.  The “progressive” push has been to eliminate the view of natural rights on which this country, like it or not, was founded. The U.S. was not founded by members of  the Frankfort School or Hegelianism or the other REALLY BAD ideas that came out of Germany in the last part of the nineteenth century.

The founders did not all agree with one another, and obviously there are academic debates about how Christian they were, or if they were, or how centralized they felt the government needed to be. But they did all believe that as a republic, we had to be a moral country, or we would fail. They all agreed that there are “certain inalienable rights” — healthcare was not listed.

I mention our founders because I do believe that the arrogance of this administration is at least reminding many people of our founding principles, and there may in fact be a rebellion against this “revolution” that the true-blue Obama voters believed they were ushering in.

So about what can we be gloomy?

How about Eric Holder’s Justice Department? They have just announced the release from Gitmo of Hassan Zumiri, a guy who wanted to bomb Los Angeles Airport in 2000. To Algeria. Gee, that sounds like a great idea. And let’s not  forget that this is the same Justice Department that has decided that those who plotted 9/11 — like the mastermind of it all Kalid Sheik Mohammad — should be tried in civilian court. Even though he already confessed and said he wanted to be executed. Military commissions are apparently okay for lesser-known terrorists, but the big guys deserve respect.

Here are former Bush official John Yoo’s comments about what the U.S. Constitution will now offer our enemies::

The Constitution requires that we have an open public trial for any criminal defendant tried by our government, and one of the rights that every defendant has is to force a government to open up its files and provide all the information it has on the defendant.This is going to be terrible for our efforts against al-Qaeda because we will have to explain, for example, how we knew where Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was, how we were able to intercept his cell phone calls, how we were able to read his e-mails, and how we captured him. All of this is going to have to be made public.

Feel better? Let’s not rest on a couple victories, friends.

Amazing history made tonight in Massachusetts. Scott Brown is the first Republican elected to the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts in 38 years.  40-55% voter turnout — in a special election. In January.

What’s more ironic? That a Republican won in Massachusetts on a platform, in part, against Obama’s healthcare plan, or that he replaces the very man who pushed so hard for so long for that very bill, and for whom the bill is named??

And in case you were watching MSNBC or CNN and therefore missed Senator-elect Brown’s acceptance speech, see this text  (from The Corner). (It is missing his jokes about his daughters, alas.)

as prepared for delivery:

Thank you very much.  I’ll bet they can hear all this cheering down in Washington, D.C.

And I hope they’re paying close attention, because tonight the independent voice of Massachusetts has spoken.

From the Berkshires to Boston, from Springfield to Cape Cod, the voters of this Commonwealth defied the odds and the experts. And tonight, the independent majority has delivered a great victory.

I thank the people of Massachusetts for electing me as your next United States senator.

Every day I hold this office, I will give all that is in me to serve you well and make you proud.

Most of all, I will remember that while the honor is mine, this Senate seat belongs to no one person and no political party – and as I have said before, and you said loud and clear today, it is the people’s seat.

Interim Senator Paul Kirk has completed his work as a senator by appointment of the governor, and for the work he has done, I thank him.  The people, by their votes, have now filled the office themselves, and I am ready to go to Washington without delay.

I also want to thank Martha Coakley for her call of congratulations.  A hard contest is now behind us, and now we must come together as a Commonwealth.

This special election came about because we lost someone very dear to Massachusetts, and to America. Senator Ted Kennedy was a tireless and big-hearted public servant, and for most of my lifetime was a force like no other in this state.  His name will always command the affection and respect by the people of Massachusetts, and the same goes for his wife Vicki.  There’s no replacing a man like that, but tonight I honor his memory, and I pledge my very best to be a worthy successor.

I said at the very beginning, when I sat down at the dinner table with my family, that win or lose we would run a race which would make us all proud. I kept my word and we ran a clean, issues oriented, upbeat campaign – and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

When I first started running, I asked for a lot of help, because I knew it was going to be me against the machine. I was wrong, it was all of us against the machine. And after tonight we have shown everyone that – now – you are the machine.

I’m glad my mom and dad, brothers, sisters, and so many family members are here tonight.

Once again, before I go any further, I want to introduce somebody very special… That is my wife, Gail.

And as you know, my wife Gail couldn’t join me on the campaign trail because of her work as a Boston TV journalist. But I will let you in on a little secret. She didn’t stay neutral today, and she voted for the winner. I rely as always, on Gail’s love and support and that of our beautiful daughters.

Arianna will be returning a day or two late to her pre-med studies at Syracuse, because she’s been giving her all to this campaign.  As always, Arianna and her sister Ayla have been a joy to Gail and me, and we’re so grateful to them both.  Even before her campaign performances, millions of Americans had already heard Ayla’s amazing voice on “American Idol.”  As Boston College basketball fans know, she’s also pretty good on the court.

If the President thinks they’ve got basketball talent at the White House, I ask him to pick his best teammate and find some time to play two-on-two with Ayla and me.

I’m grateful to all those from across Massachusetts who came through for me even when I was a long shot.  I especially thank a friend who was there with encouragement from the very beginning, and helped show us the way to victory – former Governor Mitt Romney.

I’ll never forget the help of another man who took the time to meet with me months ago – who told me I could win, and gave me confidence for the fight.  It was all so characteristic of a truly great and heroic American, and tonight I thank my new colleague, Senator John McCain.

On a night like this, when so many people mark your name on a statewide ballot, you think back to the first people who gave you a chance and believed.  For the trust they placed in me, and for all they have taught me, I thank my neighbors and friends in my Senate district and especially my hometown of Wrentham.  The cause and victory that all America has seen tonight started right there with all of you.

Let me tell you when I first got the feeling something big was happening in this campaign. It was when I was driving along and spotted a handmade, Scott Brown yard sign that I hadn’t actually put there myself.

This little campaign of ours was destined for greater things than any of us knew, and the message went far beyond the name on the sign.

It all started with me, my truck, and a few dedicated volunteers.  It ended with Air Force One making an emergency run to Logan. I didn’t mind when President Obama came here and criticized me – that happens in campaigns. But when he criticized my truck, that’s where I draw the line.

We had the machine scared and scrambling, and for them it is just the beginning of an election year filled with surprises.  They will be challenged again and again across this country.  When there’s trouble in Massachusetts, there’s trouble everywhere – and now they know it.

In every corner of our state, I met with people, looked them in the eye, shook their hand, and asked them for their vote. I didn’t worry about their party affiliation, and they didn’t worry about mine. It was simply shared conviction that brought us all together.

One thing is clear, voters do not want the trillion-dollar health care bill that is being forced on the American people.

This bill is not being debated openly and fairly. It will raise taxes, hurt Medicare, destroy jobs, and run our nation deeper into debt.  It is not in the interest of our state or country – we can do better.

When in Washington, I will work in the Senate with Democrats and Republicans to reform health care in an open and honest way.  No more closed-door meetings or back room deals by an out of touch party leadership.  No more hiding costs, concealing taxes, collaborating with special interests, and leaving more trillions in debt for our children to pay.

In health care, we need to start fresh, work together, and do the job right. Once again, we can do better.

I will work in the Senate to put government back on the side of people who create jobs, and the millions of people who need jobs – and as President John F. Kennedy taught us, that starts with an across the board tax cut for individuals and businesses that will create jobs and stimulate the economy. It’s that simple!

I will work in the Senate to defend our nation’s interests and to keep our military second to none.  As a lieutenant colonel and 30-year member of the Army National Guard, I will keep faith with all who serve, and get our veterans all the benefits they deserve.

And let me say this, with respect to those who wish to harm us, I believe that our Constitution and laws exist to protect this nation – they do not grant rights and privileges to enemies in wartime. In dealing with terrorists, our tax dollars should pay for weapons to stop them, not lawyers to defend them.

Raising taxes, taking over our health care, and giving new rights to terrorists is the wrong agenda for our country. What I’ve heard again and again on the campaign trail, is that our political leaders have grown aloof from the people, impatient with dissent, and comfortable in the back room making deals. And we can do better.

They thought you were on board with all of their ambitions.  They thought they owned your vote.  They thought they couldn’t lose.  But tonight, you and you and you have set them straight.

Across this country, we are united by basic convictions that need only to be clearly stated to win a majority.  If anyone still doubts that, in the election season just beginning, let them look to Massachusetts.

Fellow citizens, what happened in this election can happen all over America. We are witnesses, you and I, to the truth that ideals, hard work, and strength of heart can overcome any political machine. We ran a campaign never to be forgotten, and led a cause that deserved and received all that we could give it.

And now, because of your independence, and your trust, I will hold for a time the seat once filled by patriots from John Quincy Adams to John F. Kennedy and his brother Ted.  As I proudly take up the duty you have given me, I promise to do my best for Massachusetts and America every time the roll is called.

I go to Washington as the representative of no faction or interest, answering only to my conscience and to the people. I’ve got a lot to learn in the Senate, but I know who I am and I know who I serve.

I’m Scott Brown,

I’m from Wrentham,

I drive a truck, and I am nobody’s senator but yours.

Thank you very much.

Meanwhile, he is booed in Pizza Hut in Nebraska.  He seems to misunderstand their anger.

Does anyone — ANYONE — really know what is in the bill? And if  you do, HOW could you in good conscience vote for it? As James Taranto noted last week in the Wall Street Journal, even socialist Bernie Sanders was (at least at one time) opposed to it because it is simply not socialist enough.

But here’s this, from Yuval Levin on the Corner:

The CBO assessment of the bill tells the appalling story. We are going to raise taxes by half a trillion dollars over the next ten years, increase spending by more than a trillion dollars, cut Medicare by $470 billion but use that money to fund a new entitlement rather than to fix Medicare itself, bend the health care cost curve up rather than down, insert layers of bureaucracy between doctors and patients, and compel and subsidize universal participation in a failed system of health insurance rather than reform or improve it.

Again, we must wonder WHY Democrats are in such a panic? I mean, don’t they believe they have a mandate from the people? If so, what are they so worried about? Maybe it’s because what the bill will really do and who it will affect is leaking out. See this Sunday evening Wall Street Journal editorial:

Never in our memory has so unpopular a bill been on the verge of passing Congress, never has social and economic legislation of this magnitude been forced through on a purely partisan vote, and never has a party exhibited more sheer political willfulness that is reckless even for Washington or had more warning about the consequences of its actions.

Democrats say that Republicans have no alternatives. That is, of course, hogwash. How about making more minor adjustments to current insurance coverage so that it is portable, available across state lines, gives the same tax benefits to individuals as companies receive, and still ensures coverage for those with preexisting conditions? I HAVE in fact read many ideas from conservatives and Republicans that espouse just this route, and give details on how this could be done, at FAR less cost to taxpayers and patients alike.

Let’s hope the House members want to go home to a HAPPY holiday, and not one where their tax-paying constituents will be openly rioting.

This is the price we must pay so that white liberals could soothe their racial guilt? I feel sick. Guess I should call my doctor before another layer of bureaucracy wants to know WHY.