"I Think I Made The Wrong Decision"

Whatever qualms I may have about President Obama and his political ideology, is as nothing compared to people who genuinely have a stake in the matter, whose lives and sacrifices are more than just misgivings.

Like the mother of James McDaniels, Diane.

Her naval son died in the USS Cole attack. She is directly affected by President Obama's decision to close down the Guantanamo detainee camp, and in fact, now regrets her decision to vote for him.

"My son was blown up along with 16 others. I buried body parts for three years," she told FOX News. "I'm still suffering and now he's withdrawing the charges?

Brutal, absolutely brutal. Poor woman.



(Via Picketlines)

Seventeen U.S. sailors died on Oct. 12, 2000, when Al Qaeda suicide bombers steered an explosives-laden boat into the Cole, a guided-missile destroyer, as it sat in a Yemen port.

The Pentagon last summer charged al-Nashiri, a Saudi Arabian, with "organizing and directing" the bombing and planned to seek the death penalty in the case.

In his Jan. 22 order, Obama promised to shut down the Guantanamo prison within a year. The order also froze all Guantanamo detainee legal cases pending a three-month review as the Obama administration decides where -- and whether -- to prosecute the suspects who have been held there for years, most without charges.

Two military judges granted Obama's request for a delay in other cases.

But a third military judge, Army Col. James Pohl, defied Obama's order by scheduling a Feb. 9 arraignment for al-Nashiri at Guantanamo.

Watch her become a media and progressive aisle darling like Cindy Sheehan in 3...2...1...actually, in "never". Her pain at losing her son is devalued because she dares not to toe their line.

Thank you for your son's service, Mrs. McDaniels. May he rest in peace, since justice may be out of the reach of fate.

In The Heady Days Leading Up To New Year

I forgot to post one of the most wonderful bits of news for those here, who know my regard for Governor Sarah Palin.

She became a granny on December 27, 2008.

Her eldest daughter, Bristol, the girl who was smeared by a million disgusting tongues when her mother was a Vice-Presidential candidate, gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston -- continuing the tradition of his uncle Trig's three-barrelled Christian names before his surname, a common practise in Britain, but unusual for the two-named Americans -- was born in Palmer, Alaska and weighed in a very healthy 7 lbs 4 oz.

(I was 7 lbs 1 oz, and almost 22 inches long. My mother, when they put me in her arms the first time, remarked that she felt she was given a torpedo to hold)

His auntie Colleen Jones remarked:

"The baby is fine and Bristol is doing well. Everyone is excited."

Other than that, there has yet been no official word from Governor Palin herself, and I don't blame her. I would give no one, let alone the mentally diseased like Andrew Sullivan, any kind of satisfaction after the unbelievable rumours attached to both her and her daughter's pregnancies.

I knew politics was dirty, but just how much, and to what extent it was amongst each respective's Party's supporters, came as one of the greatest eye-openers of my life. Though an Historian, who has read her fair share of scurrilous rumours of every kind, I confess, I didn't know such malice existed, directed towards a practically newborn baby, until then.



I can only pray that little Tripp (whose name reminds one that of the super-snoop Democrats love to hate, Linda Tripp) doesn't have to undergo the same rank foulness directed towards his mother, uncle, and grandmother.

We live in hope in 2009.

ADDENDUM: Actually, after stating that this birth was a private family matter, Governor Palin has issued an official communiqué in the State of Alaska website:

Governor Sarah Palin Welcomes Her First Grandchild

December 31, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin has welcomed her first grandchild, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, born to Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston on December 27.

“We are over the moon with the arrival of this healthy, beautiful baby,” Governor Palin said. “The road ahead for this young couple will not be easy, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy. Bristol and Levi are committed to accomplish what millions of other young parents have accomplished, to provide a loving and secure environment for their child. They are both hard workers, they’re very strong, and have faith they’ve made the right decision in setting aside their own interests to make this child their highest priority.”

Palin added, “When Bristol and Levi first told us the shocking news that she was pregnant, to be honest, we all at first looked at the situation with some fear and a bit of despair. Isn’t it just like God to turn those circumstances into such an amazing, joyful blessing when you ask Him to help you through?”

Bristol Palin said she “obviously discourages” teen pregnancy and knows that plans she previously made for herself will now forever be changed. “Teenagers need to prevent pregnancy to begin with – this isn’t ideal. But I’m fortunate to have a supportive family which is dealing with this together. Tripp is so perfectly precious; we love him with all our hearts. I can’t imagine life without him now.”

Bristol begins her final semester of high school next week where she’ll get her last credit needed to graduate. She looks forward to continuing her record of good grades and high achievement. Levi is continuing his online high school work in addition to working as an electrical apprentice on the North Slope.

Bill McAllister, the governor’s office communications director, adds: "The governor's office previously declined to comment to honor the family's wishes that the event remain as private as possible. However, the high volume of press inquiries, along with some erroneous information that was published, prompted the governor to make a statement."

In a phone interview, the Governor said that the rumours about Levi and Bristol being high school dropouts were awful, and hurt their chances for future employment.

They were, and I quote, "working their butts off".

No other politician in America is this refreshingly frank. May none of them ever change.

Sally Heath Gets A Special Song

Sarah Palin asked the crowd, and Gretchen Wilson to sing Happy Birthday to Sally Heath, Palin's mother, over her Blackberry, all the way over in Alaska.

Just how cool and genuine is this lady? Seriously.

Palin In New Hampshire

Governor Palin was traversing New Hampshire on Wednesday, stopping at one point to campaign with her baby Trig in her arms. She had previously stopped to buy some Parent's Choice diapers at a New Hampshire Wal-Mart.

You'll notice that romper suit Trig is wearing here, is the same he wore to the famous RNC speech. And notice too that Palin has taken to wearing pants to dresses recently. The stops must be taking their toll.



Mother and child. I'm a sucker for these kinds of photos.

Palin Rally In Altoona

Governor Palin had two campaign rallies in Pennyslvania -- one at Johnstown, which you can see below. The other was in Altoona.

Here she is with her two daughters, Willow and Piper, and toting her infant son Trig in a kiddie sling.

Crowds line up early.



The Straight Talk Express bus is almost there.



Enormous energy at the rally.



Heh. I can see her dark roots in this over-exposed photo.



Afterwards, she heads to get some drinks at a pitstop, "the Sheetz convenience store/restaurant at Pleasant Valley Boulevard and 17th". (No Sheetz?) People line up to take photos with her.



That's when I noticed: Hey! Piper wears glasses? Miniature version of her mum's too!



I also notice that Willow and I have the same taste for Original Arizona teas. My favourite is Gingseng though.



Cradling her baby. Sniff. Gets me every time.

Nana Campaigns

Roberta McCain, Senator McCain's completely lucid, agile, look-a-like mother, is seen here at a recent campaign stop for her son this week.

She and Cindy McCain must get their pins done up by the same jewelers, although in Nana's case, she foregoes the Navy-USMC that Cindy wears, for a more pointed, WFM (Women For McCain, I'm guessing).

Difference Between Democratic And Republican Hearts

DEMOCRATS

Obama supporters from the Democratic Underground website put up this despicably bogus eBay listing.



REPUBLICANS

Governor Sarah Palin met with the parents of a Down Syndrome girl, Chloe, and hugged her, offering comfort and support to her family. (Via JSU)



Take a good look at how both sides react to the same issue, and you will peer clearly into the hearts of these people.

Palin And Piper

Hope none of my Sundries readers are diabetic.

The Yes Party

I swore to myself I wouldn't blog about this, but I can't help it, it's just TOO good to pass up.

So, we had two of my dad's colleagues over to our home, for a Super Bowl get-together, since these two gentlemen are Latin American physicians who don't know from pigskin -- thus were rather lost about this other All-American celebration.

(The other quintessential American one, of course, being Thanksgiving, although you can make a case for the Fourth of July, I guess)

But before our shindig began, my mother went to get our hors d'oeuvres tray we had pre-ordered from a "high-end" market, in South Beach.

High-end is currently my mother's favourite phrase, by the way. It recently replaced "old guard".

And before that, "bling-bling", but I digress.

Well, she was gone a little longer than we had anticipated, so I decided to call her on the mobile. All I heard, when she answered, was the most outrageous loud talking, and the thump-thump of a DJ spinning in the background.

Where did this woman get to??

"I'm at the yes party!"

"The wha-??"

"A party for the Super Bowl by sports people."

(Suddenly, it dawned on me)

"Um, you're at the S.I. Party?? Sports Illustrated??"



"Oh, it stands for Sports Illustrated, oh yes, I remember seeing the sign now."

"Wait, no, back up. How on earth did you get inside the most happening party for the Super Bowl, on the whole of South Beach??"

(Well, next to the ESPN Party, the CBS Party, the Playstation Party, the Paris Hilton Party, etc. etc.)

"There was this huge man at the door."

(Obviously, she was a little unclear about the door policy regarding bouncers)

"And since I wanted to see what was happening, I went inside. Well, this man who looks like Simon [a neighbour of ours, who works out like a mofo at Gold's Gym every day] put his hand nearly on my face, and said I couldn't go in."

"No kidding..."

(Translation, "Of course you can't go in, you crazy German woman!")

"He said, 'I'm sorry, ma'am, but this is for important people only.' I said, 'But I AM an important person.' And then I was inside."

"Whoa."

"It's all right, but I've seen better bling-bling in Palm Beach. People are actually wearing t-shirts and shorts. Yech."

(Obviously, 'bling-bling' had made a mini-comeback)

With that, we hung up, after she promised to get home lickety-split, since our guests were surely on their way over.

Oh, and she did see famous people, she later told me when I pumped her for more info -- well, you would.

The only problem is, not being a sports fan, they meant nothing to her.

Now, if she had seen Paris Hilton, that's another story. She would've bowled over any beefy guard to get to see her bling-bling.

My mother. What a character.