Carie Lemack
Blame Yourself

I unfortunately drove home tonight listening to horrible abc news radio. Ackkkk.

I am so sick of the activist 9-11 family members looking for someone to blame -- why not blame al-Qaida!

And if you insist on finding an American to blame ... blame yourself. You never stopped your loved one from working at the World Trade Center, which was a known terrorist target. If Americans were vigilant and attentive, we would have noticed that our country had repeatedly been attacked. We would avoid foreign travel (highjackings, kidnappings, bombings, Leon Klinghoffer & the Achille Lauro). We would avoid places like the World Trade Center which had already been attacked once. We would not go to these places until after we were assured that they were secure.

Because we value freedom, as citizens we have chosen to sacrifice total security for freedom, and we should know that freedom involves risk. We want to experience all we can - the exhilaration of life in the big city, exotic cultures, extreme sports and sometimes the choices we make are dangerous. We resist attempts to limit our lifestyle choices in order to make ourselves safer. I have a miata, and I know it's not the safest car to drive. But it's lots of fun and I love it. I don't want the nervous nellies in the nanny state to outlaw my fun. I try to drive her as safely as I can -- alert, aware, no hotdogging.

If a woman is attacked while jogging in the park, is it the police's fault? No! It is not the fault of the woman or the police, it is the fault of the rapist.

I wish we would all mourn for those who lost their lives on 9/11 and celebrate the lives they led.

There is no one to blame for 9/11 but the terrorists.

It's Wictory Wednesday and Hurrah for Condi

I am one of the many bloggers who tries to encourage you to donate and volunteer for the re-election of our great President George W. Bush.

Today's email from Vice President Dick Cheney asked me to host a Party for the President on April 29th. If I do, I could serve my favorite conservative menu, Rossi Pasta (because they advertised on Rich Galens' Mullings.com), something by Nigella, because her Dad was a pal of Margaret Thatcher and GOP Ice Cream. Served with Villa Toscano wine because it's the favorite of Tom Sullivan, our fabulous KFBK radio man and because it's listed on the 100 Things You Should Do In California.

UPDATE: I am going to have a Party for the President, but I've decided I can't serve pasta, cuz I have a brand new white rug, and I'm not going to serve Ice Cream cuz it's the wrong time of day. But, rest assured the refreshments will be excellent ... I just haven't decided on the menu yet. 4/20/04

Tomorrow morning I'll be joining the President in sending my best thoughts and prayers to Condi Rice as she speaks to the 911 commission. Not that she needs it any more than we all need prayers and good thoughts ... She is so incredibly capable, talented & intelligent. Back in the day when I was the county Young Republican Chair in San Jose, we invited Condi to speak to our club. It was 1986 or 87, and she was not yet Stanford Provost, just the youngest ever Stanford Professor. She had done her thesis on Mikhail Gorbechev while he was still a semi-lowly agriculture commissioner in the USSR, but she knew he was on the move. She was brilliant, but part of her brilliance was that she had the common sense, personal insights as well as the academic and analytic knowledge. People who know her love her.

Check out what the other Wictory Wednesday Bloggers have to say ...

Trump's House of Wings

I laughed so hard. If anyone sees a video clip, please send it to me.

Steve Tyrell

Last October, I blogged about my fabulous birthday at Yoshi's with my pals at Steve Tyrell's concert. The concert was so fabulous that we stayed for the second show and after Steve came out and sang Happy Birthday to me. The concert coincided with the release of his album, This Guy's In Love With You.

The following week, Steve's wife, Stephanie Tyrell, passed away. How terribly sad. Yesterday he spoke with Katie Couric about it.

Steve's music is enchanting. He is in part responsible for the revival of appreciation of standards. With Rod Stewart, Aaron Neville, Boz Scaggs, Bette Midler etc. recording standards now, a whole new group of people learn to love the great songwriters like Ted Koehler and Gus Kahn.

Recap

The Cal Journal tells us what happened March 2nd. A must for election junkies.

Some snips ...

These days, the white-haired Costa looks like someone central casting might cough up to portray a congressman in the remake of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." ...

She also had the advantage of her last name, which she shares with one of the area's most legendary politicians, who also happens to be her husband - former state Sen. Al Alquist, now 95. ...

Mail early, mail often. Mail until brochures ooze from the blue recycling bins that dot Sacramento neighborhoods. Six Democrats sought to succeed termed-out Assm. Darrell Steinberg, and three of the six poured enough mail into the district to denude a medium-sized forest. ...

The piece, which dropped just before the election, accused Pico of traveling on the taxpayers' dime to, among other places, Dublin, Ireland. Pico admitted visiting Dublin but, unfortunately for Torrico and the MDC, it was Dublin, California. ...

Google Rank?

Can someone explain to me about google rank? and how to improve your rank?

I ask because HoHo Dean is trying to get his supporters to help his Democracy 4 America to google jump over Alexis DeTocqueville's Democracy In America. So far it's not working (he's not even on page 1 --- HaHa HoHo) But I'd like to do my part to counteract the Deaniacs. Should I put a link to DeTocqueville on my sidebar? Should you?

How 'bout these other DeToqueville sites? This one or that or maybe this one and then there's this one and that one.

If you never age does that mean you're imature?

Dick Clarke was better at his old job then he is with what he's doing now. He should go back to hosting Rate-A-Record
"It has a good beat and you can dance to it."

"We're goin' hoppin' (Hop!)
We're goin' hoppin' today
Where things are poppin'(Pop!)
The Philadelphia way We're goin' drop in (Drop!)
On all the music they play On the Bandstand.!
Bandstand!"

Clarke suggested a "laundry-list of ideas, many of which had been rejected in the Clinton administration since 1998." Today he complains that they didn't act on his brilliant suggestions, 18 months ago he was stating how the President has been very aggressive in pursuit of the terrorists.

it's Wictory Wednesday

I believe in loyalty. When idjits are attacking your guy, you've got to rush to help him. All of us who are grateful that George W. Bush is the President, all of us who are worried about what might happen if he's not re-elected, need to step up and do our part TODAY. I hope all of you are doing your bit ... Have you donated? or volunteered? Have you asked your friends to donate and volunteer? Join the Wictory Wednesday bloggers in encouraging everyone to help. And do e-mail the polipundit at wictory@blogsforbush.com so that he can add you to the Wictory Wednesday blogroll, which will be part of the Wictory Wednesday post on all participating blogs:


Check out what the other Bush Bloggers are up to ...

The Pledge

Tomorrow, a dingdong from Elk Grove, is asking the Supreme Court to declare that the pledge of allegiance infringes on his right to be free from the horrors of religion. Hope they tell him to stuff it.

Have you ever heard the pledge recited by John Wayne?

Pledge of Allegiance
by John Wayne



I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS--
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE,
WITH LIBERTY
AND JUSTICE
FOR ALL.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag"

What do those words mean to you? To me they say, "Thank you, America, for your strength, your courage and your freedom...which has been a beacon to the world for two hundred years."

"Of the United States of America"

Whose bright stars are fifty states...each bearing its own stamp of individuality. People...two hundred million strong...people who have come to her from all corners of the earth.

"And to the republic for which it stands"

A land of laws...with an ingenious system of checks and balances that allows no man to become a tyrant...and lets no group prevail...if their power is not tempered with a real concern for the governed...A land where the right of dissent and of free speech is jealously guarded...wheere the ballot box is the sword...and the people its wielder.

"One nation under God"

A land where freedom of worship is a cornerstone of her being...A land graced with temples and churches, synagogues and altars that rise in profusion to embrace all the religions of the world.

"Indivisible"

A land forged by the hot steel of raw courage...and formed forever...by the awful crucible of civil war.

"With liberty"

Where man in pursuit of an honest life will not be denied his chance...where her citizens move freely within her vast borders without hindrance or fear...A land brimming with opportunity...where freedom of choice is the guide for all.

"And justice"

The courts of our land are open to all. Its wheels of justice grind for all couses...all people. They look to every avenue for justice...every concern of the law...and they temper their reasoning with mercy...

"For all!"

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG...
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS...
ONE NATION UNDER GOD...
INDIVISIBLE...
WITH LIBERTY...AND JUSTICE...
FOR ALL.

The Soundtrack of My Life

It's very cool that everytime you turn on the TV or go into a shop, they're playing some fabulous old standard. Tonight, I heard Marriott's Courtyard ad

The Nearness of You

It's not the pale moon that excites me
That thrills and delights me, oh no
It's just the nearness of you

It isn't your sweet conversation
That brings this sensation, oh no
It's just the nearness of you

When you're in my arms and I feel you so close to me
All my wildest dreams come true

I need no soft lights to enchant me
If you'll only grant me the right
To hold you ever so tight
And to feel in the night the nearness of you

and HP's new ad

Blue Skies

Blue skies Smiling on me
Nothing but blue skies Do I see
Blue birds Singing a song
Nothing but blue skies From now on.
I never saw the sun shining so bright
When you're in love, everything's right
Watching all the days Hurrying by
When you're in love, My how they fly
Those blue days, all of them gone
Nothing but blue skies from now on.

What's Going On

I may hit 10,000 today...Anyone have an idea for a good prize or celebration?

A few months ago, someone told me that my friend, Rob Lapsley, was the chief of staff to the Spanish Ambassador. You may know him ... He was Bill Jones' Chief of Staff while he was Secretary of State, became his campaign manager for Governor, and then became Bill Simon's campaign manager for the general election for Governor. I've been trying to find out if he's currently in Spain ever since the Madrid bombing. He's not listed on the Spanish Embassy site. Anyone know if he's still there or if he ever was there? I hope he's OK.

Ted Costa is going to be mailing out One Million petitions for the Fair Districts initiative this week. If you get one, fill it out and send it in. If you don't get one, call or e-mail the People's Advocate and get them to send you one. If you're from out of state, tell your California friends to get involved. Or send a contribution to the campaign. California has 52 congressmen and 32 are dems, 20 are Republicans. Wouldn't it be nice is it was 50/50?

Mark Abernathy is going to be opening his own Presidential Museum in Bakersfield. Cool.

Assemblyman Russ Bogh is leading the charge for real workers' comp reform. The Republicans will hang tough, the caucus is very united. But did they have to spend St Patrick's Day in Stockton?