Monday, October 31, 2005

fwd:Confirm Judge Alito

-----Original Message-----
From: "Chairman Ken Mehlman"
Sent: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:27:44 -0500
Subject: Confirm Judge Alito

Today, President Bush announced his nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr. to serve as the next Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Judge Alito is an exceptionally well-qualified nominee who has served for 15 years on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and before that as a U.S. Attorney in New Jersey. Law journals have hailed Judge Alito as "one of our profession's best" and The Almanac of the Federal Judiciary calls him "brilliant" with an "excellent demeanor." By nominating Judge Alito, President Bush continues to fulfill his commitment to appoint qualified judges whowill not legislate from the bench.

Senate Democrats are already on the attack, and they will hold nothing back in obstructing this highly qualified nominee. Don't let the spin from media pundits or attacks from Democrats distort Judge Alito's distinguished record as a judge, former federal prosecutor and public servant. The best antidote to their spin is your voice. Here's what you can do right now to ensure a timely confirmation:

1. Sign our petition (http://www.gop.com/getactive/) in support of Judge Alito - and forward the petition to your friends.

2. Call your Senators (http://www.gop.com/getactive/). Tell them Judge Alito has your support and deserves theirs.

3. Call talk radio (http://www.gop.com/getactive/), write a letter to the editor of your local paper (http://www.gop.com/getactive/) and tell your friends and neighbors why you support the President's choice.

Learn more about Judge Alito's record at http://www.gop.com/issue/nominations/.

Judge Alito is a fair-minded jurist with an impeccable track record of interpreting the law, not making it.

What you do right now will greatly influence the outcome of this nomination, the future of the Supreme Court, and the direction of our country. Sign the petition to confirm Judge Alito. Contact your Senators. Call talk radio. Letyour voice be heard in support of President Bush's choice.

Sincerely,

Ken Mehlman,
RNC Chairman

Republican National Committee | 310 First Street, SE | Washington DC 20003
p: 202.863.8500 | f: 202.863.8820 | e: info@gop.com

Paid for by the Republican National Committee
Not Authorized By Any Candidate Or Candidate Committee
© 2005 Republican National Committee


Indiana Rep John Hostettler Opposes Gulf Coast Gambling Aid

PalmAddicts: Palm Powered Desk Reference

PalmAddicts: Palm Powered Desk Reference

The Palm Powered Desk Reference from Grassia Network Solutions, written by Alan M. Grassia, is the perfect tool for both novice and expert Palm users. I've been using Palm devices for several years, and while I'm not the most knowledgeable Palm user in the community, I didn't expect to learn much from this little (109 pages) book.

It wouldn't be fair to the author to share all that I learned in this forum, but I will share the highlights here and encourage you to pick up a copy to keep at the ready on your desk or in your briefcase.

The Palm Powered Desk Reference covers topics from the most basic, such as how to set up your new Palm device to work with your PC, to more advanced topics, such as hiding unwanted ROM Applications (that constantly annoying but rarely used Quick Tour) from your launcher.

Did you know that your Palm device is equipped with a special Reset feature designed to reset the charging circuitry when your handheld will not recharge or powers off immediately after being turned on? Complete details are provided in the first chapter (available for free download), including detailed explanations of every Reset method available.

If you're a long time Palm user, you've probably had a taste of the handwriting text-entry methods known as Graffiti and Graffiti2. If so, like many Palm users, you likely stand strongly in support of one over the other. In the Palm Powered Desk Reference, Alan Grassia tells how you can likely have the text-entry method you prefer, regardless of which one was preinstalled on your device.

Happy with your Palm m515 or other hanheld and you just don't want to let go of it, but still want to get the best of the software available on today's newer devices? The Palm Powered Desk Reference will show you how to run the newest PIMs on your beloved older device.

Learn more about backup power sources available for non-VFS devices, and if you aren't sure what VFS is, you'll learn that as well, and how you can benefit from upgrading to a device with VFS.

The Palm Powered Desk Reference discusses several launcher applications that will not only spice up the appearance of your Palm Powered device, but also increase the functionality, including one very simple yet useful launching tool from PalmAddict's very own Tyler Faux that was news to this writer.

And for those PalmAddicts like Sammy who are also MacAddicts, the Palm Powered Desk Reference is an indispensable tool for getting the most from the marriage of a Mac and a Palm Powered handheld device.

That's just a sampling of the wealth of information you'll find in Grassia Network Solutions Palm Powered Desk Reference by Alan M. Grassia, available for only $24.00 plus shipping and handling at the Grassnet Store, and that's for a printed copy that you can actually put on your desk and refer to when your Palm or PC are unavailable or, God forbid, crashed. For more information, email Grassia Network Solutions.

A thorough, well-written guide in every-day language, not techno-babble, the Palm Powered Desk Reference is a must-have for every Palm Addict, from beginning to long-time users.

AOL News - Bush Picks Alito as New Supreme Court Choice

AOL News - Bush Picks Alito as New Supreme Court Choice:
"President Bush, stung by the rejection of his first choice, nominated longtime judge Samuel Alito Monday in a bid to reshape the Supreme Court and mollify his conservative allies. Democrats said that Alito may be 'too radical for the American people.'"
Let the Senate bickering begin!

Joe

Sunday, October 30, 2005

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

20051029.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)
In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "The political process in Iraq now moves forward. Iraqis will return to the polls in December to elect a new government under their new constitution. This government will be our ally in the war on terror, a partner in the struggle for peace and moderation in the Muslim world, and an inspiration for people across the Middle East to claim their liberty as well."

Bush narrows Supreme Court selection to 2, sources say

KRT Wire | 10/29/2005 | Bush narrows Supreme Court selection to 2, sources say:
"With an announcement expected Sunday or Monday, administration officials have narrowed the focus to Judges Samuel Alito of New Jersey and Michael Luttig of Virginia, sources involved in the process said."

Friday, October 28, 2005

Scooter Libby Indicted

Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, has been indicted for perjury in the Investigation of the leak that outed CIA Agent Valerie Plame Wilson.

Karl Rove is still in limbo. Will he, too, be indicted? Or is he innocent of wrongdoing? Or is he too powerful to be indicted?

And what will this mean for the Bush Administration? Will Libby be forced to step down? Who will fill his shoes in the Veep's office? Had you even heard of Scooter Libby before this investigation began?

And, perhaps most importantly, does this clear the V.P.? Or could we see more action taken on that front?

This is certain to dominate the headlines in the coming days. Check back often for more news and commentary.

Joe

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Halloween Nightmares

Halloween is just four days away. I could write about why we recognize this day the way that we do, but a quick Google search will tell you more than I possibly could here. Instead, I'll tell you some thoughts I've had lately about Halloween.

I have a two-year-old son, which means that this is probably the last year that putting him in a costume will be more for me and my wife than it will for my son. Next year, Halloween will be all for him. This year, it's for us.

My son's first Halloween, when he was only two months old, we put him in a ladybug costume (hey, if you've seen the movie Antz, you know that ladybugs come in both sexes). At the age of one, he was a purple dragon (not a purple dinosaur, like Barney). This year, he'll be dressed as a chicken.

He's been learning all about the sounds that animals make, and he now has the chicken down quite well. My wife found a chicken outfit at Old Navy, which made it a clear choice.

Halloween is NOT a particulatly safe time of year. A whole horror movie franchise in the 80's and 90's made that perfectly clear. Sick people put razor blades in apples and poison in candy and gleefully give it out to unsuspecting young ghosts, goblins, and super heroes. Even sicker people lure unsuspecting innocent children into dark places and do unmentionable things to them.

If you've been a long time reader of my blog, you know exactly how I feel about sexual predators. You also know that one lives within two blocks of my home.

We will not be taking our son door-to-door trick-or-treating this year, parading him past all the crazies with their sick fantasies. We'll take him for a quick trip to the park, then to a couple of friends' houses to trick-or-treat, then to his grandparents' home.

The world is not safe, and a "holiday" set aside for people to wear masks and costumes in public only makes it that much more dangerous.

Our son will be safe this year. I hope you keep your loved ones safe, as well.

Joe

Harriet Miers Withdraws

Supreme Court Nominee Harriet Miers has withdrawn herself from nomination to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Did she do it for personal reasons? Or at the urging of the Bush administration? How will Democrats respond? How will Conservatives respond? Will they breathe a collective sigh of relief?

And who will the President nominate next?

Joe

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Falling Temps & Rising Prices

As the temperature continues to fall and the price of natural gas is expected to rise as much as sixty percent, my wife and I are doing what many families in America are doing this month: leaving the heating off, dressing warmer, and complaining about the cold.

In the summer, when it's ninety degrees out, sixty-three sounds great. Today, the thermostat on the wall reads sixty-three, and it feels cold! So cold, in fact, that we're headed out the door right now to run some errands, and I'm looking forward to cranking up the heat in the car!

Joe

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

20051022.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)
In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "To defend this country, we have to enforce our borders. When our borders are not secure, terrorists, drug dealers, and criminals find it easier to sneak into America. My administration has a clear strategy for dealing with this problem: We want to stop people from crossing into America illegally, and to quickly return the illegal immigrants we catch back to their home countries."

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Dreams Can Come True

Kit Kat: "2003 KIT KAT expands its limited edition line to include mint and orange flavors."

On October 3, I told you about my Candy Bar dream. Strange, but true. Apparantly, my dream was less prophetic than I thought it was, even though the flavored Kit Kat candy bar I had dreamed about IS a reality.

I swear I've never seen or heard of such a thing before today. But during a brief stop at the grocery store on my way home from work, I happened upon a delicious mint Kit Kat bar. Naturally, I had to buy it, and I couldn't wait long to eat it. But upon looking it online when I got home, it seems that this minty-chocolaty delight has been around since 2003.

Either way, here it is.

Joe

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

AvantBlog

I'm constantly searching for a better way to post to my blog when I'm away from the computer. Blogger allows email posting and mobile audio posts by phone, which are both great, but I can't quite format them the way I'd like.

HBlogger software lets me post from my Palm, but again has some formatting issues and requires a mobile internet connection, which I don't always have access to.

AvantGo, the mobile offline web reading service, now offers AvantBlog, a free blogging channel that I'm writing this post on now from my Palm Zire 72. I can post with a mobile internet connection or when I next sync my Palm with my PC.

It's only compatible with Blogger, but it's quite cool!

Joe

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Give Me A Break!

Maybe I'm just a little behind on things, but I had no idea that the original "Rocky" movie was actually WRITTEN BY Sylvester Stallone.

MSNBC.com reports that Sly has written a new Rocky movie, the sixth in the series, to be titled "Rocky Balboa." Creative, huh?

Well how about this: Rocky comes out of retirement to compete in a few small matches, and ends up boxing the reigning Heavyweight Champion. This is the best part: the Champ's name is Mason "The Line" Dixon. Really! You know, like the Mason Dixon Line. I didn't make it up, Stallone did. Read the report.

Joe

Monday, October 17, 2005

Gas Prices

I've ranted and raved recently about gas prices and taxes on gasoline. I don't know what you might be paying for gasoline, but I see a pretty wide range of prices in my average day.

I started my 85 mile one-way commute this morning and the first gas station I passed was selling Regular Unleaded for $2.469 per gallon. The last gas station I passed was priced at $2.699 per gallon. I saw every imagineable price in between.

How can it be that the same product -- in many cases from the same oil company -- can have such a large range of prices? Who is determining these prices for the oil companies, and what criteria do they use? It's outrageous!

Just wanted to share a little frustration.

Joe

Sunday, October 16, 2005

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address

20051015.a.mp3 (audio/mpeg Object)

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "Earlier this week, the Iraqi people embraced changes to the text that have led to its endorsement by some Sunni leaders, as well as Kurdish and Shia leaders. Now the people of Iraq will have the final say. ... We have stood by the Iraqi people through two elections, and we will stand by them until they have established a free nation that can govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself. When we do, Iraq will be an ally in the war on terror and a partner for peace and moderation in the Muslim world. And because America stood firm in this important fight, our children and grandchildren will be safer and more secure."

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Something to Think About

The Bush administration has been receiving flak from the media for what has been described as a well scripted but poorly rehearsed question & answer session with American troops serving in Iraq. If you didn't see the nationally televised broadcast of the session, and you've missed the soundbytes on the radio, and you've missed the quotes in newspapers and on the Internet -- well, crawl out of the hole that you're in and let me tell you -- it definitely was well scripted and poorly rehearsed.

If you ever spent any time serving in the United States military, you probably aren't surprised by any of this. In the military, everything high profile is very well choreographed. Having served eight years myself, I'm not at all surprised that the troops were provided with the questions and coached on the answers in advance. Everything in the military is all about training and practice and preparation for the purpose of preventing unexpected situations.

The military spends more time rehearsing for such events as retirements, funerals, and awards ceremonies than they do actually performing them. They expend more rounds of ammunition in training and qualification than they ever will in combat. Much more than the Boy Scouts ever dreamed, the mission of the military is to be prepared.

They clearly were prepared in this case for all of the President's questions. Their answers were respectful, professional, and well-executed. For their preparedness and performance, they should be commended.

But consider one thing: these troops were probably selected for their patriotism, professionalism, and high level of dedication to their country and their Commander In Chief. Have you ever been in a position where you had such a high level of dedication and devotion to a person, place, or thing that you would risk your very life for people with whom you've never met and don't even share a common language. In most cases, I would guess not. If you've never stood on a military parade field as a proud member of America's armed forces, then you probably don't understand that the responses those soldiers gave to their Commander In Chief would have sounded respectful, professional, and well-executed even if they had been ad libbed.

The media doesn't understand it. Most Americans don't understand it. But those soldiers understand it completely. And our media today is taking one of the proudest moments of their lives -- the day they actually had a person-to-person conversation with their Commander In Chief -- and is trying to make it a mockery.

Just a little something for you to think about.

Joe

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Extreme Measures for Extreme Times

We've been dealing with these high gas prices for how long now? Too long! And it seems like no one is driving any less. Lines at the pumps are just as long as ever, and rush hour traffic is just as heavy as ever. Being in retail, I can tell you where consumers are saving their money to pay these outrageous gas prices: discretionary spending.

Now we're hearing reports that we can expect our natural gas heating bills to be as much as 61% higher this winter. And what recourse do we have?

These are extreme times for consumers like me who commute AND use natural gas to heat their homes. These extreme times call for extreme measures on the part of government at all levels.

In Indiana after 9/11, the Governor suspended the state gasoline tax, saving Indiana consumers on every gallon of gasoline purchased. The federal government collects 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline in taxes. The average American tax burden per gallon of gas -- including federal, state, and local taxes -- is 45.9 cents per gallon.

I think it's time for some real tax relief -- AT THE PUMPS!

Joe

--------------------
Sent from my Palm Zire 72.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Babysitter For Hire: $30/hour

What would you think if you saw a job listing that read:

BABYSITTER FOR HIRE: $30/hour

What kind of babysitter can ask for and actually receive $30 an hour for babysitting? I don't know if anyone can, really -- that's a fictional listing I made up just to get a point across. The point, you ask? I am an overpaid babysitter!

I don't quite make $30 an hour in my role as a Retail Store Manager (I wish), but I am definitely overpaid for the one thing I seem to spend most of my time doing lately: babysitting the 20-somethings (and a few 30-somethings) that work for and around me.

I have an Assistant Manager working for me who lately can't seem to stop whining about not having enough labor help to complete assigned tasks. In retail, the more you sell the more hours you earn to spend. It doesn't work the other way. You first must achieve results with the resources provided before more resources are given. It has been that way throughout my entire tenure in retail, and some people just don't seem to grasp it.

In my company, the store is divided into two lines of business. Let's just call them Line A and Line B. I manage the A line, and I have a business partner who manages the B line. We're supposed to be equals, as the whole scheme of things goes, and that creates more havoc than harmony. For my purposes here, I'll call this business partner of mine Biff (hey, it's the most unusual, obviously made up name I could think of). Biff "supervises" a staff of eleven of the most morally bankrupt people I have ever encountered. They're loud, dirty, and disrespectful. Biff is the perfect leader of this band of outlaws as he is probably the only person I've ever met who is louder and more disrespectful.

What makes this so frustrating is that Biff, my supposed business partner, is also the biggest baby in the bunch. He can't seem to get along with my Sales Manager, my Assistant Manager (or his predecessor), or my Manager-in-Training. He is the most widely disliked Manager in the entire market. And the crying has become so intense lately that I've resorted to the same tactics that any other good babysitter would use: I ignore it. That's right, I let them cry and bicker and fight amongst themselves, and I ignore it. I've tried stepping in before, but then I just become another target of their mischief.

Retail can be stressful work if you try to make a career of it. But you know what, I'll take it over the babysitting any day. That is, of course, unless someone out there is willing to pay me $30 an hour to babysit. Then I'm your man.

Joe

Sunday, October 9, 2005

fwd: Target Continues Ban on Salvation Army, Adds Sex Toy Products

Target Corporation will continue to ban the Salvation Army from their 1,351 stores this Christmas season. The Army will not be allowed to place their red kettles in front of Target stores.

Despite increased need caused by the hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Target continues to bar the Salvation Army. Many observers feel that the ban by Target is a result of pressure put on the company by homosexual groups. Homosexual activists have targeted the Salvation Army for years because of the Army's refusal to recognize their lifestyle. Target is a supporter of various homosexual causes.

While Target contributes to homosexual groups, the company publicly states that they will not contribute to any religious groups. For Target, homosexual organizations are worthy of financial support, Christian and Jewish organizations are not. Further showing Target's true colors, WTOP Radio Network in Washington, DC, reports that Target is one of the national chains that will be carrying a new line of women's products that includes a vibrator. Elexa by Trojan spokeswoman Cassandra Johnson says the products will be discreetly packaged and sold in the feminine care aisle. "Formerly the domain of sex shops, such products have been brought out of the shadows by popular television shows like 'Sex and the City,'" WTOP reported.

While Target continues to ban the Salvation Army, competitors such as Wal-Mart are increasing their donations to the Salvation Army. Wal-Mart and others continue to welcome the Army's kettles.

Please send an email asking Target to end their ban of the Salvation Army and their offering of a sex toy line of products. In addition, you can email Wal-Mart, thanking them for supporting the Salvation Army.

Send Your Email To Target and Wal-Mart Now! http://www.afa.net/petitions/signpetition.asp?id=1430

Please help us spread this important information about Target by forwarding this to your friends and family.

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

Questions or comments about AFA? Contact us via email, phone, fax, or postal mail.

www.afa.net
Copyright 2005

All Rights Reserved

Thursday, October 6, 2005

Joe Scarborough, GET REAL!

Franklin Graham is taking flak this week for some comments he made about New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. After pointing out the obvious practices of Satan worship, sexual perversion, drugs and alcohol, and the totally heathen Mardi Gras celebrations, Reverend Graham suggested that, "They believe God's gonna use that storm to bring revival." In the hands of the media, that has been taken entirely out of context.


MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, on the October 4, 2005, episode of Scarborough Country interpreted that as a declaration that God targeted New Orleans with destruction as a penalty for sin. Joe's guest, the singularly named Kennedy of MTV fame (who proclaims herself an "Orthodox Christian"), declareed Franklin Graham "insane" for "speaking on behalf of God."

And Jennifer Giroux, president of Women Influencing the Nation, tried to turn Rev. Graham's comments into a battle over abortion and President Bush's refusal to impose a litmus test when making his recent Supreme Court nominations.

William Donahue, president of The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said that making such statements is not the lexicon of Catholicism.

Scarborough added, "The God that I worship ... does not kill 14-month old babies to punish the people...."

Kennedy suggested that "the God of the New Testament is not [a] wrathful, vengeful God."

I don't get it! First, I don't see where Franklin Graham said that God had anything at all to do with the cause of the devastation. Rev. Graham merely suggested that God might use the situation to bring revival to the region. God does not cause everything that happens in the course of our lives. He allows us to make choices that may reap reward or punishment. He allows the weather and other natural disasters to occur. He often uses such events to bring His people closer to Him.

I think both Kennedy and Joe Scarborough need to take a closer look at their Bible, both New Testament and Old. They'll see that not only is God a wrathful God (the book of Revelation describes God's wrath on the Day of Judgment), but that he has also killed very young babies before as a means of punishment. In Exodus 12:12 (GW) God tells Moses, "On that same night I will go throughout Egypt and kill every firstborn male, both human and animal. I will severely punish all the gods of Egypt, because I am the LORD."

Furthermore, I wouldn't presume to say that Peter, Paul, Moses, Joshua, Jonah, and each of Christ's disciples were insane. God told each of these great men to speak on his behalf. I'd say Kennedy's judgment of Rev. Graham is less an accurate assessment of his mental condition and more a case of the pot calling the kettle black (if I'm not careful, even that might be construed as a racial slur).

As for Scarborough's other two guests: Rev. Graham does not now and never has professed to be a Catholic and I believe it would be cause for concern if he did attempt to follow the "lexicon of Catholicism;" and I don't know how the Supreme Court and abortion rights got dragged into this.

To Joe Scarborough I ask, how did you make such a one-sided selection of guests? You had three guests on the show to bash Rev. Graham for comments that you somehow took so totally out of context that they were completely fabricated, and the only guest whom I assume you invited to offer the counterpoint to your argument didn't have a clue what the topic of discussion even was!

I'm disappointed, Mr. Scarborough. I thought you were above that kind of one-sided journalism.

From an Average Joe to a Regular Joe, Get Real!

Joe

Tuesday, October 4, 2005

More on Sex Offenders

Driving home from work last night, I passed the house of our friendly neighborhood Registered Sex Offender. He was outside in the yard. It was dark out.

It's an eerie feeling, if you haven't experienced it before, to know that someone so near -- so close that I could have struck him with the door of my car had I opened it at just the right time -- is a convicted violent criminal. Of course, I would never do such a thing as open my car door hoping to hit the man. He's paid his debt to society, after all.

Or has he? Has he really paid his debt in full? When you borrow $100, you pay back $100, plus interest in most cases. What do you pay back when you commit a violent sexual offense against someone? Can you really give them back what you've taken? Can you make everything as if nothing ever happened?

And what of the rest of society? Are they not victims, as well, even though the crime committed was against someone else? Do we not all suffer when one among us has been hurt in such a way?

In New York last month, a woman was arrested for sitting alone on a park bench. She goes to court in November and faces up to ninety days in jail. Her crime? She was alone. Parks are no longer open to members the general public unless accompanied by a child. Why? Because sexual predators prowl alone. They go alone to the places where children gather . They sit alone. They watch alone. They wait alone. They attack alone. Some cities have decided that an effective way to prevent such atrocity is to prevent people from going to the park alone. Preposterous? It's just one more way that ALL of society is hurt by these monsters.

I recently engaged in a discussion about Sex Offender Registries with some men I work with. Of course, I believe they're a good thing. In fact, I believe there should be a national registry for all offenders convicted of committing a violent crime, whether it be a sexual offense, mugging, murder, assault, robbery, etc. If you intentionally hurt someone, why shouldn't you pay for it for the rest of your life, just like your innocent victim would? The rest of society has the right to protect themselves from every threat, and knowing what those threats are would go a long way in providing that protection.

I'll be driving home again late tonight. I'll be passing that same house, and looking in disgust as I drive slowly by. What right does that man have to live in my neighborhood? None! He gave up EVERY right when he chose to prey on the innocent. His crime can never be undone. His guilt can never be erased. His victim(s) can never be unvictimized.

I certainly wouldn't open my car door as I pass to try to hit him. That wouldn't be right. But I might not be able to stop the car in time if he evercrossed my path.

Joe

Past entries on Sex Offenders:
On Sex Offenders, 4.20.2005
August Updates, 8.14.2005

Monday, October 3, 2005

Bush Nominates Non-Judge to Supreme Court

President Bush nominated White House counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court on Monday to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Ms. Miers has never been a judge.

"She has devoted her life to the rule of law and the cause of justice," Bush said. Miers was the first woman to serve as president of the Texas State Bar and the Dallas Bar Association.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist outlined a timetable calling for confirmation by Thanksgiving. Senator Arlen Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, made no commitment, saying he wanted a thorough confirmation proceeding.

Within hours of Bush's announcement in the Oval Office, Miers travelled to the Capitol to begin courtesy calls on the senators who will vote on her nomination.

The nomination triggerred outrage from conservatives who questioned whether she would uphold their political views. Miers is a lawyer but not a judge and her opinions on key issues likely to come before the high court are largely unknown. Conservatives immediately protested the nomination as a betrayal of the President's campaign promise to pick conservative judges, pointing to her past campaign donations to Democrats.

"I believe that senators of both parties will find that Harriet Miers' talent, experience and judicial philosophy make her a superb choice to safeguard the constitutional liberties and equality of all Americans," Bush said.

Democrats said much was unknown about Miers and that she would undergo intense scrutiny by the Senate. The White House noted some Democrats had urged Bush to consider Miers but would give no names. One of those, however, was SenateMinority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.

Joe

Sweet Candy Bar Dreams

Do you ever have silly dreams that don't seem to have any roots in reality? As I repeatedly hit the snooze button this morning trying to squeeze in every extra minute of sleep that I possibly could, my wife woke me from just such a dream.

I was in a grocery store, I believe, and found myself talking to a representative from the M&M/Mars candy company. He and an assistant were stocking the shelves with the latest entry into the M&M line. It was a chocolate cookie type of snack about the size of a York peppermint pattie, about twice the thickness. I don't remember there being anything unique about the cookie, though it would probably be sparsely populated with M&M Minis if it was real.

The M&M Rep offered me a sample of the cookie and asked for my opinion. With the agreement of his assistant I tried to convince the Rep that a normal chocolate cookie should not be sold under the M&M label.

As I continued my perusal of the candy bar aisle -- which is as much reality as it was dream -- I noticed several other new candy bars, including a mint Kit Kat and a brand new variety called Nextbar.

Responding to my wife's constant nudgings, I finally roused myself from my sweet chocolatey dream and pulled myself out of bed.

I don't know if there's a chocolate cookie M&M in production now or if there will be in the future. I wouldn't be surprised if there's already a mint Kit Kat on the shelves, though I don't recall actually seeing one. And though I don't know any details about this Nextbar, it seems I've heard mention of acandy bar named Nextbar before (a Google search turns up no candy bar named Nextbar).

Whatever happens, remember that you heard it here first.

Joe

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