Wednesday Wanderings

It seems the left leaning congress in the Socialist Republic of California now want to pass anti-spanking laws,talk about nanny state. Apparently the single, childless sponsor of the bill doesn't know the benefit of a razor strop and a bare bottom painting a clear picture for wayword kids. I doubt Sally Lieber even knows what a razor strop is, a strip of leather used to final hone a straight razor before shaving and very effective paddle. Pain for doing something wrong is the most effective preventative of doing the same wrong in the future. Molly-coddle and talk to this rebel all you want, only pain, physical or financial, will change my course. There are ample laws on the books covering abuse, a parent swatting their incoherent child on the rear to make them understand a parent's law should not be against the law, it is not abuse, it is education for a mind yet unable to understand the vast nuances of the liberal socialist muck. Goat screwed up, he was swatted, if he did good, he was rewarded and praised, an easy choice for a kid that has blown many golden opportunities over the years. Smacking wayard kids on the rear is a fact of life and the nanny state Dems need to realize that fact.

???OOPS????

I lost my blogroll somehow and can't figure out how to restore it, !$%^&! Anybody familiar with blogger and new blogger please inform.

Must Reads

At OPJ from Fouad Ajami on Iraq:

In the fullness of time, the Arab order of power will have to come to a grudging acceptance of the order sure to take hold in Baghdad. This is a region that respects the prerogatives of power. It had once resisted the coming to power of the Alawites in Syria and then learned to accommodate that "heretical" minority sect and its conquest of Damascus; the Shia path in Iraq will follow that trajectory, and its justice is infinitely greater for it is the ascendancy of a demographic majority, through the weight of numbers and the ballot box. Of all Arab lands, Iraq is the most checkered, a frontier country at the crossroads of Arabia, Turkey and Persia. The Sunni Arabs in Iraq and beyond have never accepted the diversity of that land. The "Arabism" of the place was synonymous with their own primacy. Now a binational state in all but name (Arab and Kurdish) has come into being in Iraq, and the Shia underclass have stepped forth and staked a claim commensurate with the weight of their numbers. The Sunni Arabs have recoiled from this change in their fortunes. They have all but "Persianized" the Shia of Iraq, branded them as a fifth column of the state next door. Contemporary Islamism has sharpened this feud, for to the Sunni Islamists the Shia are heretics at odds with the forbidding strictures of the Islamists' fanatical variant of the faith.

also from the OPJ, Brendan Miniter on New Orleans:

This most recent kerfuffle over who cares more about New Orleans began just minutes after the president concluded his remarks. Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, delivering the Democratic response to the president, mentioned the city's recovery early in his speech. Later he upped the ante by hinting to reporters that funds being spent on the war should instead go to the Gulf Coast: "If we're putting all this money into Iraq and ignoring New Orleans, then we're doing something wrong."

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat desperate to move her approval ratings out of the 20s as she runs for re-election this year, scored the president's speech for failing "to lift up our citizens." And Walter Leger, a member of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, dismissed the president's focus on the war by saying "we are at war here." The Times-Picayune reports he said this at a press conference last week as his face was "turning red and sweaty."

And from Townhall, Bill Murchison also on the Gulf region,USA:

"Sixteen months later," notes the Journal's Christopher Cooper, "the automobile bridge remains little more than pilings. The railroad bridge is busy with trains. The difference: The still-wrecked bridge is owned by the U.S. government. The other is owned by railroad giant CSX Corp. of Jacksonville, Fla. Within weeks of Katrina's landfall, CSX dispatched construction crews to fix the freight line; six months later, the bridge reopened. Even a partial reopening of the road bridge, part of U.S. Highway 90, is at least five months away."

The point being is that big government is excruciatingly slow and very wasteful in its desire to micromanage what the free market can accomplish much easier, more efficiently and at less cost to taxpayers than it can. The more government invades upon the free market, the less control we have over ourselves and is an evolution towards socialism and an invasion upon the very basis of America. Our tax code is regressive socialism as are many of our gov't programs, education, arts, energy, housing, healthcare, etc, etc, etc, that is why the Barnyard supports a consumption/fair tax where everybody pays taxes even the criminals, druglords, tax evaders, corporations as a national sales tax would apply to all of them and the burden of the taxcode would be lifted from the rest of us. That would not happen under a flat tax, the underground would still flourish, a fair tax would get the underground as well as they consume and buy things just like the rest of us. Employer still pays SSI and the employees have a choice in the gov't or private program for their half, with small business getting some options both ways. Income taxes are regressive and socialist by nature and we need to do away with them as well as gov't regulation over the free market, it can regulate itself just fine.
Since we are a consumption based economy would it not make since to have a consumpion based tax policy as well and not income based which penalizes hard work and success?
What say you?

Monday Meander

A couple different articles from Mr. Politics, Michael Barone, caught the Goat's eye as he was grazing about, one at Townhall and one at the OPJ. Mr. Barone is a Barnyard bellweather and few know the 'Beltway' and 'Swamp' better.
From Townhall:

Sometimes, it's useful to take politicians at their word. George W. Bush has announced that he's sending an additional 21,000 troops to Iraq, to provide security in Baghdad and Anbar province. Gen. David Petraeus in testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee said that it's impossible to achieve that goal without additional troops. He also said, in response to a question from Sen. Joseph Lieberman, that a congressional resolution disapproving of the additional troops would not have a positive effect on military morale.

We don't know whether this "surge" of troops to Iraq will achieve its goal, but we do know that Petraeus is held in high regard. Armed Services voted unanimously to confirm him.

And from the OPJ:

Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton. It sounds like the Wars of the Roses: Lancaster, York, Lancaster, York.

To compare our political struggles to the conflicts between rival dynasties may be carrying it too far. But we have become, I think, a nation that is less small-r republican and more royalist than it used to be. Viscerally, this strikes me as a bad thing. But as I've thought about it, I've decided that something can be said for the increasing royalism of our politics. And whether you like it or not, you can't deny it's there. Not when the wife of the 42nd president is a leading candidate to succeed the 43rd president who in turn is the son of the 41st president. The two George Bushes are referred to in their family, we are told, as 41 and 43. If Hillary Clinton wins, will she and her husband call each other 42 and 44?

Michael writes of lineage and political dynasties in the US and his points are well taken and if we go off from that, Mitt Romney is the son of a very popular Gov. of Michigan, when Detroit mattered, a major factor in our economy and now a weak link, unions,cough, cough, and fits Barone's picture. Mitt has a style and class far and above every other candidate by a long margin, add that to his brains, personal charisma and leadership abilities with world class presentation and we have a candidate to really get behind.
Roll Mitt Roll!!!
Welcome again to the folks at Mitt Romney08, just post a comment while you are here so the Goat knows who is visiting the Barnyard.

Weekend Roundup

First double weekend edition in a while, but a few things a The American Thinker caught my eye particularly this article by Timothy Birdnow on our Left's love affair with radical islam, Hezbollah and the wackjobs in the Palestinian territories, come to mind. Which are subjects of a couple blog posts there as well, here and here.

Conservatives seem baffled by the animosity held by liberals towards Christians and Jews. Christianity requires the believer submit to authority, accept the rule of government, be charitable to his fellow; in short, be a model citizen. Ditto the Jews, who held these requirements even longer than the Christians. Why are liberals so hostile to both? For that matter, why do liberals seem so smitten with that 7th century holdover known as Islam? Why do those on the Left seem less than eager to defend our freedom and way of life from the ravages of Islamic Jihad?

Dennis Prager has discussed this extensively on his radio show, why our far left envirogreenies are teaming with the Taliban for a 7th century society where everything goes. I doubt our Amish communities would welcome that and if living in the third world is your thing, later, or join the Amish if you want to ride around on a buckboard. As Mary Katherine Ham points out in her Hamnation video clip, it is one think to preach the environmental gospel from a studio loft in San Francisco or New York than to live the life of a simple farmer or miner as in MKH's clip.I am but one generation from that life and as a tradesman it continues today. This is why I quit the Sierra Club, it is no longer about the environment, it is about social policy. I am all for preserving, protecting, clean policies, etc. but not the social engineering these groups now profess.

My friend Lores Rizkalla has a great line up for her show tonight, listen in www.krla870.com. I am proud of this gal, she has done well and runs a great show.
Welcome ,Mitt supporters, feel free to comment further.

Weekend Rambler

Apparently, the Goat is not the only one that sensed the deep hostility and hatred displayed by Sen. Jim Webb in his recent rebuttal to the SOTU address. Hugh Hewitt has posted a brilliant essay by by one of Webb's colleagues from Anapolis that is still enlisted and reveals some things about Sen. Webb that explain alot. Sen. Webb is a true hero and patriot for America and fine auther, "Born Fighting" is a personal favorite being Scots-Irish meself, but he has thrown a bearing somewhere or had too much scotch. The Scots are fiercely proud with a rich history doing and saying stupid things to get into a fight, its in his blood as mine. This is a must read in its entirety.
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Senator Jim “Copperhead” Webb


Why did the new Democratic majority select Senator James Webb (D-VA) to give the Democratic response to the president’s State of the Union Address? Since when does this privilege fall to a freshman, even a freshman senator? It’s seems that despite the bad experience with nominating John Kerry to be their standard bearer in 2004, the Democrats have learned nothing. At least they recognize that they have a serious national security credibility problem but the leadership and the base simply cannot get beyond Vietnam. Hence, they asked a US Marine officer turned novelist, turned Navy Secretary, turned Democrat to present their--well, their opposition to all things Bush, because one certainly did not hear ANY tangible plans. Senator Webb is a graduate of my alma mater, the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. He is a highly decorated Marine from Vietnam who unlike Senator Kerry actually and definitively earned his commendations for bravery and valor in combat. His novels have sold very well because he is a very talented writer. But on close inspection, something about Senator Webb is very disturbing. Perhaps it harkens all the way back to his midshipman days in Annapolis and a simple boxing match lost. You see, James Webb lost a boxing match to a man he clearly despises, Oliver North. Webb, as chronicled by Robert Timberg in his best-selling book, The Nightingale’s Song, was heavily favored to beat North in the Brigade boxing championships but lost. Timberg claims that Webb believed he was intentionally denied the title by poor preparation from his coach, or more accurately the boxing coach made sure Ollie was better prepared to beat him! Regardless, Webb believes he was wronged and today we can see this streak of vengeance in him. More on this later.

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While at Hugh's place you might as well or from here, sign the pledge not to support any gop Sen. that supports the dems and their sophmoric shenanigans of non-support for the war, or the NRSC if leadership does not fight tooth and nail against this political showboating by the panty waists prancing for their owners and the MSM.The Goat is in the blogroll of names, join us.
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If the United States Senate passes a resolution, non-binding or otherwise, that criticizes the commitment of additional troops to Iraq that General Petraeus has asked for and that the president has pledged, and if the Senate does so after the testimony of General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy, I will not contribute to any Republican senator who voted for the resolution. Further, if any Republican senator who votes for such a resolution is a candidate for re-election in 2008, I will not contribute to the National Republican Senatorial Committee unless the Chairman of that Committee, Senator Ensign, commits in writing that none of the funds of the NRSC will go to support the re-election of any senator supporting the non-binding resolution.

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Also of note it was nice to find out Mitt Romney has signed Grover Norquist's "No Tax" pledge, one of only two, Sam Brownback being the other I believe. The other candidates are going to face a political machine like never before seen in the Romney campaign, most money is wasted in campaigns as a few people get really fat but Mitt is a "money" man and finacial wizard. Mitt's money will be spent wisely and highly targeted, it will not be negative, it will be about solving the issues before us. Not a day goes by that more positive evidence of Mitt's ability doesn't come up. As my coblogger pointed out even James Dobson has moved a bit closer. I am not Evangelical so I disagree with Dobson on some doctrinal isssues but not his values so that was good to see as well. Full Disclaimer, The Barnyard is a registered part of the team for Mitt, I send him money and he says thanks, my first political contribution so I am in for the nomination race and beyond and I hope my coblogger X, the unknown Bostonian, can convince you to join a grassroots movement like no other ever seen.
America needs Mitt Romney, he is the man to lead us into the 21st Century with a roar not a wimper, our modern Reagan. He is not a career pol or lawyer, he is a self made millionaire businessman as is President Bush though in many, many ways far more polished. His demeanor will play very well against Hillary, Barack and John in debate and he could put their ideas on the back of a business card in his wallet, no contest. He and Newt Gingrich will ignite the base with real ideas and free market solutions and not stale retoric filled with snide inane comments about the opposition. Could Newt become Mitt's 'Karl Rove' as chief strategist? Newt want's a Cabinet position, what about former Va. Gov. Gilchrist at VEEP, a conservative's man just lacking the 'machine' that Mitt has?
Rudy will fall in with Mitt after Iowa as will many others. While I may disagree with Mormon doctrine, it is a uniquely American sect of Christianity that recognizes our Constitution in its bylaws. They are very conservative and I hold them in full respect despite doctrinal differences. Mitt and his wife paint a pretty picture of America for America's people and I believe they will be well embraced enough to elect him in a landslide.
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Welcome to the Barnyard, http://blog.electromneyin2008.com/.

Back To School

It has been like walking into senior year at business school as a journeyman and actually having to study again beyond being casually informed. Launching ACG has been much more involved than the barnyard imagined though I believe taking care of all legal aspects at the very beginning is best since I do original design work. An attorney is a waste of money as the process is simple if lengthy and there are many internet services available, lots and lots of forms to fill out but easy. You are paying the attorney fees to fill out those very simple forms, if you choose that route, that a para-legal route can accomplish as well for much less. Trademark and domain protection are so very important if you do custom work that it is hard to overstate the need for this investment, protecting your brain property is as important as protecting any other property. You can protect your name as well if you are in chatrooms, blogs, etc. under your own name for example, myname.com, my name suxs.com, etc..
Computer programming, business management, contract and business law, tax law, website management, accounting and staying sane over the next couple months is the curriculum. Wish me luck and send your prayers to the Lord for me, I need them.

Mitt Romney Is The Man

Hugh Hewitt played part of his speech in Israel (under Mitttv on his site) and it was a true stemwinder, he left nothing in doubt on his foriegn policy with a strong rebuke to Iran and those that support radical islam. Mitt clearly understands what we as a nation face from Islam in general, a socio/religio/politico doctrine far beyond being a religion in the true sense and more an excuse for subjugation and slavery. Judeo/ Christian law developed many centuries, even millinia before their so called "prophet" was born. The Islamists wish to usurp the Torah to their own wishes not those that actually believe in Moseanic law just as they have taken the former cultures of their own lands and burned them.
Mitt continues to shine where it counts and is building the hottest coalbed of all the candidates and Newt Gingrich is helping build the future by shaping the debate.
The Barnyard is GOP and will support our nominee while fully supporting Mitt for the run. He is the best man we have had run for POTUS in a very long time and The hope here is that we can help persuade folks that Mitt is the Man for '08'. That is as long as the communists let me. We find Mitt's so called "move to the right" to be authentic as the Barnyard has moved considerably to the right over the past decade and now as a small business owner have even more obligation to conservative politics. Mitt is the only candidate that resonates in the barn at this time and hope other conservatives can step up and get our message out.
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American Craftsman Glass is now trademarked and www domain protected, website forthcoming, the Barnyard uses GoDaddy.com . We were very surprised to find the name open and own all slots now, .com, .biz, etc., and variations The Lord continues to open little hidden doors as this Goat holds on for the ride. AmericanCraftsmanGlass.com will soon be up and running with its own blog, e-mail, website and assorted other goodies. This is a very good investment to make for a new company and can be written off of taxes. It will cost a few thousand as an initial investment with renewal costs, www.godaddy.com leading the pack as a provider.

Patriot Quotes

THE FOUNDATION
"Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust must be men of unexceptionable characters." -Samuel Adams
Wednesday Chronicle
INSIGHT
"In the writings of the Ephesians there was this precept, constantly to think of some one of the men of former times who practiced virtue." -Marcus Aurelius "I am entirely persuaded that the American public is more reasonable, restrained and mature than most of the broadcast industry's planners believe." -Edward R. Murrow "When the political columnists say 'Every thinking man' they mean themselves, and when candidates appeal to 'Every intelligent voter' they mean everybody who is going to vote for them." -Franklin P. Adams "Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy." -Ernest Benn ++ "Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles." -Ambrose Bierce

Mitt, McCain and Dobson

As most political afficianados know, James Dobson, head of Focus on the Family, wields a very powerful sword of influence in guiding millions of conservative followers to the polls. He has taken credit for delivering, or as was the case in the mid-terms, not delivering various national elections in recent years. All and all, and as much as it irks me, it is next to impossible to win without the support of James Dobson.

He recently went on record for each of the men.

"Speaking as a private individual, I would not vote for John McCain under any circumstances," said James Dobson...

Not good.

"I don't believe that conservative Christians in large numbers will vote for a Mormon but that remains to be seen, I guess," Mr. Dobson said on a syndicated radio program hosted by a conservative commentator, Laura Ingraham.

Mr. Dobson, the founder of the Colorado-based Focus on the Family, did not say why Christians would fail to support Mr. Romney. Mr. Dobson also acknowledged that the governor's stands on social issues are similar to those of many religious conservatives.
"He's a nice guy. He's a very attractive man. He's got a beautiful wife and a lot of his principles and values are consistent with ours," Mr. Dobson said."

I'll take it!!!!!

Mitt is going to continue to slowly win these big guys over. Just watch!

Mitt on the Move

In an ongoing effort to expand his foreign policy knowledge, credentials and support, Mitt Romney will be attending the Herzilya conference in Israel this week.

Barnyard Business

Something can be said for growing up a country boy in the Deep South where among men of honor and friendship a man's handshake and word were better than any written lawyer mumbo-jumbo. This well traveled Goat can tell you my friends that it ain't that way on the West coast, it is a cut-throat, 'watch your own ass' land where friendship and a man's word do not matter. Long time friends and colleagues will openly and blatantly lie, backstab, double-talk, finger-point all in an effort to make themselves look better, really crass. The straight up honest party better be very good with their retorical guns and well armed, meaning very good at their job. They will like you even less for it but thats OK because your honor is intact.

If there is one thing the Barnyard could teach is that honesty no matter how painful is always better than lies and the trap they weave. This Goat was not a meek and mild kid, he was the barnyard terror into all kinds of trouble and it took a couple trips to the stable overnight and the Lord coming to unlock him to get "It". In nearly a quarter century in the service and sales sector of our economy, simple honesty goes further than anything. It is where the conservative ideals espoused here were learned after traveling around the back-forty for awhile and earning my grazing rights. To coin off Ben Franklin: Honest labor for an honest return will make a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
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Dennis Prager was reporting on his show that al-qaida's leader in Iraq has ordered retreat from Bagdad and Sadr ordered the mahdi to stand down. If true, to busy to search, this means the thugs have not the guts to face our GIs. Missed Hugh's show. The Goat will go nose around and update if a 'cow-patty' is found. It is of the opinion here that they will do their best to hide and lay low till this latest campaign is done as well advertised as it is. General Petreous does not know the meaning of the word 'quit' and I am sure he is well aware of that, this is where Iraqi "Humint" and US precision training can have a full impact. The time is not allowed to list them but the blogroll is solid.

Playoff Sunday

We had a couple really good games, particularly the Colt's comeback lead by Peyton Manning, aginst the Patrioats in a great game with a record setting comeback, to set up the Super Bowl. Indianapolis will and their precision offense will take on the relentless defense and run offense of the Chicago Bears in a couple weeks.Peyton moved himself into the class of a couple Joes, Ken, John and that Brady guy he finally beat. The Barnyard will be rooting for the Colts, the Goat does not think Manning can be stopped after his first quarter test run. The Patriots got some big plays and were unable to protect those breaks. The better team won.
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The Democrats bluff didn't work with the Baker Report down in flames and as Amir Taheri reports the Iragi people are thankful the US isn't going to run away like cowardly dogs as the Democrats want to do.
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'A SIGH of relief!"

So one resident of Haifa Street, in the heart of Baghdad's badlands, reacted to the new plan to secure the Iraqi capital with the help of thousands of additional American troops.

"Maybe the Americans aren't running away after all," said the resident, a Sunni Arab, over the phone moments after President Bush unveiled his new plan. "The message seems to be that the United States will remain committed as long as Bush is in the White House."

Some 70 percent of Baghdad's violence is concentrated in five neighborhoods, where both Shiites and Sunnis have been the targets of rival death squads for months. Other Baghdadis say the population of those areas will greet the American troops with sweets and flowers.

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Amir also writes about the unstable financial situation in Iran and what it means to the West as well as French President Jacque Chirac's desparate "cloths off" appeal to the mad mullahs of Iran, here and here . America likes winners and places them high in our society, just observe the idolotry thrown at our sports teams, lets give that same spirit to our war effort, our troops and our country. Let's win this "super bowl" decidedly with a national effort for the best team, the USA.

Open For Business

American Craftsman Glass is officially open for business thus moving the Barnyard further into the conservative movement as a small business owner.
It has been a major learning curve as American Craftsman Glass launches from a sound pad. As advice to others, get your federal EIM, employer ID No. first a simple phone call and subsequent long hold to the IRS can secure that. Next would be registering a fictitious business name,done at your 'county clerk's'office. Next if you are planning to resell goods a "resale license" from the state for tax purposes is needed, our,Ca,BOE was highly informative and helpful in getting the information The Barnyard needed. Next is accounting, Quickbooks for many obvious reasons is the choice.
The Barnyard can now write 'life' off Goat's income taxes and this Goat is very savvy.
The Goat also wants to offer a salvo to an old friend, so called, it is sinfull to flaunt one's success, but burning strong bridges is wrong, treating friends as cast-a-w and creates a negative image.Believe you me, this grizzled old goat knows just a little bit about networking the market

Anouncement

I am giddy to anounce the official launch of American Craftsman Glass with the official filing of Federal papers today and State tomorrow. A golden egg has been layed in my lap to nourish and grow. I pray that I can deliver for a line of customers already lining up with the honesty and integrity needed to be successful.
Wish me luck my friends!
A bone for Sheepdog from
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Last Monday, the Romney campaign held its first major fund-raising event, a high-powered call-a-thon that pulled in $6.5 million. It demolished not only the modern record for political donations raised in a single day, but the paradigm of what a campaign fund-raiser can be. Instead of inviting several hundred supporters to a $1,000-a-head dinner, Romney invited several hundred political and financial all-stars -- eminentoes like Governor Matt Blunt of Missouri and eBay chief executive Meg Whitman -- to spend a day working their Rolodexes and dialing for dollars. Unlike a typical boiler-room operation run out of a hole-in-the-wall, Romney's "National Call Day" was staged in a giant convention center, with old and new media on hand to record all the action.

All in all, it was a remarkable display of confidence, smarts, and organization. It suggested, as Boston blogger Dean Barnett put it, "that the Romney campaign, like his business career, will be marked by innovation. The Romney campaign won't be relying on techniques that were moldy back when David Letterman was actually funny. . . As he has done throughout his career, Mitt Romney will build a better mousetrap.

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Jeff Jacoby adding to my list of pundits.

Dixie Land, The Deep South-East

This Goat was raised in the "Heart of Dixie", Alabama, and the morals espoused by the Baryard are built from a 'sharecropper' background on the maternal side, and a 'tool and die' backround on the paternal, Michigan, side. Doug Giles in his recent coloumn in Townhall expresses my sentiments very well though I now live in the Socialist Republic of California.
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The liberal Belief Police want America to hate the South because the South represents the Secular Regressive’s (SR) chief political and cultural (and armed, I might add) high hurdle.

The autoerotic “elite,” which form the intellectually line bred gene pool of the soulless Left, are hell bent to bar from our borders all praises and practices of the principles which have made the South substantial. What are the things that make Dixie so darn good? Well, I know it’s hard for those of you who are wedged up Hollywood’s backside to understand our virtues, but its stuff like author Clint Johnson points out in his predestined to be best-seller The Politically Incorrect Guide to the South (and Why it Will Rise Again) . . .

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This Goat was raised in a "Yes Sir,Yes Ma'am" polite enviroment, and got bopped if he wasn't. A true 'country boy' can attend a 'black and white(tux)' social and while possibly a bit uncomfortable able to mingle with ease. The best example I can think of is an old TV friend, Andy Taylor and Mayberry of the "Andy Griffith Show". I believe that show has far more hold on America than any show today and with removal of some of Barney's antics is very relevant to much of small town America. Though the Barnyard is less than a hundred miles from the "Silicon Valley" it is a different world alltogether, scooters and minibikes, kids running around the neighborhood, folks on horseback, everybody knows their neighbors and big BBQs are not uncommon. The elite might consider us poor and underclass, we don't, we just enjoy the riches the Lord provides us while moving on with our lives in His Grace. That is the joy of a rural community and those that have never experienced that joy are truelly missing something in the a world of computer games.
Being polite can take you far, for example: a long time A+client caleed the other day and because I was using 'yes sir' my boss thought something was wrong but in reality it was securing a $12,000.00 contract for my new company. Knowing the difference in polite and patronizing can only be found in how genuine you are and the reputation you have built. The absolute best reading on that subject, in the Barnyard's opinion, is Dale Carnegie's "How To Win Friends And Influence People" if you are a salesman or deal with the public on a regular basis. Another favorite is Zig Ziglar, his writing is as humorous as his name and every bit as informative. Dale's, a 66 year old opus, still remains as a guiding light for small businessmen and large alike.

If you learn to be genuinely polite, you will never lose, no matter how cutthroat the competition as the integrity needed to be genuinely polite is prerequisite to success in the long run.
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A couple more Mitt Romney links for my sceptical Sheepdog: from Townhall and Dean Barnett and from Hugh Hewitt tonight. The Barnyard holds few conservatives in higher respect than its Sheepdog. He wants to bark at Mitt and doesn't like his smell, while a good sheepdog is right most of the time they can go bezerk over a simple disturbance in the flock. Goats have to contend with sheepdogs as well, we just aren't as compatible as sheep.

Weekend Roundup

Its been busy here in the Barnyard closing one door and opening another just as many Iraqis are doing, Mike Yon is back in the field embedded in the El Anbar with the CSM, Command Sargent Major, the top NCO on the ground. He also talks with Hugh Hewitt here on the radio and discusses the differences in Bagdad, Anbar, and the rest of Iraq.
The Barnyard supports a build up of troops if they have a clear mission and David Petraeus from what has been gathered here sounds like a determined leader, determined to win and succeed in helping bring the Iraqi people their freedom for prosperity and peace. We need to take the gloves off and go Rambo on the killers of all stripes and factions. Our boys are going after the killers all over the globe and we need to let them with full blessing and support.
We need to bring the full force of our military might against the islamo-fasciscts soon or pay a heavier price as we did against Hitler and Tojo. The Mullahs of Iran and Kim Jong-Il of North Korea greatly wish to replace them and succeed. Japan, China, Russia and all of Europe, let alone the USA, understand global war and the destruction and chaos it brings. There is no eagerness among the G8 for a global war yet we find ourselves in the middle of one we must win at all costs or lose our Western way of life. They want to die so we should oblige them and we are enmasse, if the real numbers were known it would probably be in the 500 to 1 range, from what has been gathered here from various wires and Tony Snow.
The Barnyard is toatally at a loss to explain why our lefty media and loonbat leftists are so desirious of a US loss to their complete ideological opposite. Taking a loss to the communists can be understood as they are socialist at the core but taking a loss to the far religious right represented by Iran, Hezbollah, Al-Qaida, etc. is beyond me as they would be the very first targets. Americas left is in an oblivious dream world full of grand illusions of peace through tea talks, our right realizes we need to fight for that peace so we can have some tea by the birdfeeder. America needs a real leader for the challenges we face and there are very few options of any worth on either side of the fence. The next couple years will be very interesting with Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Rudy Guilliani, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards setting the tone for the debate. John McCain and John Kerry will be playing catch-up the entire campaign as also-ran failures for many reasons.
Sheepdog, I will win you over to Romney just as I did with Roberts and Alito. It sounds like we read the same things and come away with different impressions, interesting. I wonder why?

A New Year And A New Start

2007 has birthed itself in the Barnyard with unforseen and unfortold opportunity. My boss passed a few months back and his son and widow decided to close after some unsuccessfull buyout attemps and because I stayed to help finish some big contracts, I inherited a thirty year legacy and full admittance into the artisan guild in NoCal. The sweetest part is I already nailed down $25,000 in my first two deals, both etched artwork on glass. The one on mirror will be carved from the back and lit from behind in a light box and involves flowers on a trellis,and hummingbirds among other details. I am the salesman and installer not the artist on these occasions The artist and good friend I work with did the artwork for Sierra Nevada brewery for their bottle labels and more. Adream has come true at the most oppurtune timeand I have the Lord among others to thank for this blessed start. If it involves glass on an artistic level, well, I am your man and I hope to here from you, a new site will be launched soon for the business.
Have a Great Weekend, Goat intends to!

Winning and Losing

This conflict every bit as much as the three previous world wars must be won and won by western civilization. Victor Davis Hanson says it much better than can be said here, so here is the link.
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It may be hard for the world's new impatient generation to accept the truth: There are no simple black-and-white solutions at little cost in today's technologically connected but politically fragmented world. Restless Americans and a demanding global public are going to have to accept that in Afghanistan, Darfur, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Somalia and the West Bank, the United States itself — not just the bogeyman George Bush — has only bad and far worse choices.

What sometimes works against jihadists and tyrants in one place won't always in others. Unilateral, multilateral, react or preempt — these have no innate moral value but are just differing strategies for a baffling multitude of new problems that all defy a cookie-cutter approach. After 9/11, caution in the long run may prove deadlier than intervention has in the short term. People will die daily on CNN no matter what we do.

The only constant in this wired-together but split-apart global family? The frantic American parent will try its best, as it is blamed for saying no, yes — and everything in between

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Here is one GOP '08 'straw poll and here is another at Patrick Ruffini's place.

Know The Enemy

Peter Wehner, deputy assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Strategic Intiatives, has an excellent article in the OPJ online that does a very good job of defining the enemy, after five years it is about time. The Barnyard has tried to define Islamo-fascism many times and will continue to do so because the threat is real and incredibly dangerous. This is a must read.
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Concluding Thoughts

It is the fate of the West, and in particular the United States, to have to deal with the combined threat of Shia and Sunni extremists. And for all the differences that exist between them--and they are significant--they share some common features.

Their brandand of radicalism is theocratic, totalitarian, illiberal, expansionist, violent, and deeply anti-Semitic and anti-American. As President Bush has said, both Shia and Sunni militants want to impose their dark vision on the Middle East. And as we have seen with Shia-dominated Iran's support of the Sunni terrorist group Hamas, they can find common ground when they confront what they believe is a common enemy.

The war against global jihadism will be long, and we will experience success and setbacks along the way. The temptation of the West will be to grow impatient and, in the face of this long struggle, to grow weary. Some will demand a quick victory and, absent that, they will want to withdraw from the battle. But this is a war from which we cannot withdraw. As we saw on September 11th, there are no safe harbors in which to hide. Our enemies have declared war on us, and their hatreds cannot be sated. We will either defeat them, or they will come after us with the unsheathed sword.

All of us would prefer years of repose to years of conflict. But history will not allow it. And so it once again rests with this remarkable republic to do what we have done in the past: our duty.

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War against a fanatical enemy is not an easy thing nor is war ever a pretty thing but it must be fought and fought to win. War won our liberty and has preserved that liberty for but a drop in the rain of time and as Thomas Jeffersom once said:" The tree of Liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots". The problem is we don't face a nation we face an "Ummah" a "Borg" like collective, that wants to kill us because we aren't a part of them, "assimilate or die". For 'Trekkies' the comparison is obvious and yes, the Barnyard is a big fan of Star Trek in all its reincarnations.The US is the Enterprise and Bush is Picard, almost, fighting the Borg.

A Founders' Quote

The Patriot Post
Founders' Quote Daily
"Were the pictures which have been drawn by the political jealousy of some among us faithful likenesses of the human character, the inference would be, that there is not sufficient virture among men for self-government; and that nothing less than the chains of despotism can restrain them from destroying and devouring one another."--
Alexander Hamilton and James Madison (Federalist No. 55,15 February 1788)
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Political partisanship has been a glaring example of our American virtue, we can agree to disagree and move forward with America's best interests held forth. America has always been a partisan country and hopefully will remain so. It is not a new fangled phenomena, it is what we are. The Lincoln vs, Douglas debates come to mind as do the Federa;ist and anti-Federalist debates of our very founding. Ideas are meant to be tortured, wrangled and mauled through open debate and it has never been pretty. Ask a Founder, Alexander Hamilton as he died over a political duel or James Madison as he debated with George Washington over the course this new nation would take. The very basis of the conservative movement lies in these debates and it is up us, centuries removed, to uphold that noble creed set forth by wiser men than us. It cannot be born false witness for it stands greater than any besides the Bible for human dignity and freedom and false witnesses will be born out.
Sheepdog and I will bang heads and heatedly at times though and we are after the same goal, the method differs.
Newt Gingrich says it best in his latest E-alert from Human Events and it is the Barnyard's firm belief that he will shape the coming debate better than anyone else.
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Seeking Blame or Seeking Solutions?

If Chairman Biden decides to do a Fulbright-like partisan series of narrowly tailored hearings, he will clearly be focused on the past, seeking to assign blame, and pursuing a series of actions which would force the Bush Administration to be on the defensive. This will maximize partisan hostility and minimize the development of effective, creative solutions to our national security challenges.

Or he could choose an alternative path.

In 1946, Michigan Sen. Arthur Vandenberg was the new Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The Republicans had been out of power for 16 years. They thought they could win the Presidency in two years. There was every temptation to be bitterly partisan. On domestic politics they were. Republicans disliked Democrat President Harry Truman and tended to speak of him with contempt.

However, Vandenberg had seen the failure of the peace process after World War I. He had seen the power of partisan politics to cripple American standing in the world.

He had also seen thousands of young Americans sacrifice their lives in World War II.

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Much is to be seen, much more can be had, which way will Congress go? The Barnyard has them under the spotter's scope, searching for targets.

Weekend Roundup

So much has happened recently, the death of former Presidents, one brutal, one salving, jihadi islamo-fascist uprisings and routs, Iranian saber-rattling with Israel shooting right back, Iraq in seeming suspended animation while the American people seem more concerned with American Idol and Desperate Housewives than the plight of women , children, Christians and other minorities in muslim lands. For folks actually interested in what is happening in Somalia, Afganistan, Iraq and the greater Middle-East on a day to day basis, Bill Roggio at The Fourth Rail is the best along with the folks at The Counterterrorism Blog, Threats Watch and of course to get it straight from the horse's mouth there is Centcom or Central Command the USMil site for the region. Why use the elite Media when their sources are available and alternative ones as well? No wonder their serious decline recently in the marketplace of ideas and knowledge.
We are kicking the islamist's tail whenever it dares actually show itself, tens of thousands of jihadis have been sent to their seventy white raisens/virgins in the pits below with a special kudos going the the Ethiopian Army for its help in Somalia.
Michael Totten meanwhile provides a very deep inside look into the Levant and all its factions and frictions and what is really happening in Lebanon and Israel at the personal social level. Michael is a very good writer and photographer and his site is an absolute must read for those interested in the Middle-East. This is one of the Barnyard's very favorite blogs, very informative on a more down-to-earth personal level. He will bring you the "Arab street" ,so conjured by our media, in a totally different perspective and very interesting one. He takes you into the 'teahouses' and bars and describes life there.
It is not hard to find information, good clean facts or well done propoganda on the web, sorting all that out has become more the job of informed, investagative, independant bloggers tham paid 'journalists for our nations leading news outlets in print and TV. Radio and Net independants have become a staple for many of us news junkies that nolonger trust the main wires as they have become so corroded with leftist thinking and anti-American propoganda, not to mention rampant socialist Marxism.
I hope the Barnyard can help sort the flowers from the weeds for a long time and your input is desired. As soon as time is had, some aesthetic changes are going to be made to the look of the Barnyard, it is rather stale, anybody with graphic design experience out there?
Finally a welcome back to an old friend in the comment section, the sheepdog is back and he likes to bark alot though he only bites liberal moonbats, considers them a tasty snack. He helps keep the Barnyard in order and bloviator extrordinaire he is, barks constantly, lol, a good thing for sheep.

OK, Back To Politics, Mitt Romney '08

Mitt Romney continues to tower above the other GOP possibilities for '08, this interview with Human Events helps clear up some of the Boston Globe's "expose's" of late. Without a single shred of doubt the Barnyard is in the Romney camp to stay. Mitt has the business and political acumen to actually accomplish much of what this awesome country have to offer, a class A money manager and business man but he seems a little confused on flat vs. consumption/fair taxation.

The Barnyard is in favor of ending all income based taxes on individuals and business and in favor of a consumption or fair tax where you are taxed on what you spend not on what you earn, with food and certain things negated. Who spends more on big ticket items? The rich, and it follows that if they have it to spend, they spend it or give it away to escape taxes, that or shelter it. We are a consumption based, free market economy and it makes zero sense to have these vast draconian tax codes in place, good grief, can't we at least advance to the present?

The Barnyard knows those ideas are not well accepted by the socialist regressive left that believes "big government" is the answer and unfortunately some on the right.

Mitt did answer well on his stance on gay marriage and a certain '94 letter and clarified his pro-life stance. Mitt is a constitutional federalist and expresses his belief in the states as testing grounds and incubator of federal law.

GOPers watch for Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich to shape the debate for '08 and beyond, they are far and above anyone else in the field as far as policy and direction are concerned. Both are extremely articulate on the challenges that face America today, in the 21st century not in the jungles of the '60s and 70s of the last century.

One last Barnyard observation, how do the loonbats justify about 6,000,000 aborted children in this country since the Iraq invasion to their outrage over 50,000 Iraqis and 3,000 American Soldiers in the midst of a war? Yes, the zeros are correct or very close. Why the outrage over Saddam's hanging and not over partial-birth abortion? One takes the monster the other takes the innocent as it is being born, alive, how cruel the malformation of right and wrong in today's society. I pray we can correct this tumor or it will kill us, cancer does that. We must make the body, America, healthy, she is, and continue to feed her the nutritional food that a consumption/fair tax would. It would set our already vigorous free market loose and bring evermore enhanced prosperity to all.

The Barnyard comes from a libertarian Conservative GOP standpoint and as anti lefty-socialism as it can get. The belief in the power of the individual to legally succeed without government interference beyond basic law is prerequisite to conservative thought and should be upheld and fought for as that is the very basis of freedom.

PS: I had three extra zeros, since removed after a long lost Sheepdog pointed it out to the Barnyard's embarrassment. We have flagellated ourselves with razor sharp blades as a result.

New Years Day

Of course this day is dominated by college football at its very finest and one of the finest renditions of The National Anthem the Barnyard has heard . It seems fitting it was delivered by the cadets in Westpointe's choir, a rousing and somber delivery, it works very well in the choral setting, performed at the opening of the Fiesta Bowl.
My team, Alabama, had no chance this year so I root for the SEC and with the exception of our biggest rival, Auburn, has done poorly. The two toughest divisions in NCAA ball, the Big East and the SEC will once again decide the championship, the Buckeyes vs. the Gators.
Currently the Fiesta Bowl is on and Boise St is taking it to the Sooners of Oklahoma, go Broncos! This could really mess with the BCS, as we support a true playoff.
The Barnyard is a longtime fan of college football as it is bred into us growing up in the SEC and in our opinion, football at its finest. Yea the pros are good and they are payed very well to be but not one of them is wrth what one of our heros in the real war and definately not the exorbitant salaries of todays's professional game.

Update: That was the best football game seen in the Barnyard in a very long time, 85 total points, constant lead changes, many huge plays, electric crowd and an inspiring win by a no name team, Boise St. over longtime powerhouse Oklahoma.
Tonight, two more teams rarely found playing on New Years or after, Louisville and Wake Forest. The Cardinals have played Alabama hard for years in what was supposed to be a gimme game for 'Bama. This demonstrates yet again why we need a playoff tournement to find the true champ. If Florida defeats Ohio St. and Boise St. is the only undefeated team under this system shouldn't they be #1? It also proves what had been lesser conferences have stepped up to be able to play with and whoop the big dogs because there is now so much more parity than ever before.
A playoff is needed now more than ever and Goat has said that for years since the Crimson Tide was cheated a few times by the polls. Lets decide it on the field not in the computer, coach's or sportswriter's polls.

Update: Since corrected, BS beat OU 43-42 not 42-41 as posted total misconstrued. LSU lays it into Notre Dame with a true shellacing, go SEC, dang do we needa playoff! Notre Dame has to be the most hated team within the SEC fans, besides Nebraska, Oklahoma, and in some cases Penn St. Alabama's prpgram lost alot when it discontinued its rivalry with Penn St, it was always one of the top games of the year.

You want to coach the Crimson Tide, come well marinaded and ready to be on the grill. Our booster club is the toughest in football, they expect/require championship contention yesterday. The Barnyard joke is that Alabama fans are looking for another "Bear" Bryant with the same zeal that the GOP seeks another Reagan. It ain't gonna happen! They just fired one of the finest young coaches available, one of Don Shula's boys, no coaching history in that family, Super Bowls mean nothing in the brutal world of being a coach for the "Tide", for the most loyal and demanding fans in the NCAA