The Hound Of Ulster

Michael Rubin LINKS to something pretty SCARY.

The audio message, whose authenticity has not been verified, was published on Islamist websites and was said to be the voice of Abu Hamza al-Muhajir.

The Democrats’ victory in Tuesday’s Congressional elections was a move in the right direction, the speaker said.

Outgoing US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had stepped down to flee the Iraqi battlefield, he added.

He told US President George W Bush to “stay on the battleground”.

“I tell the lame duck (US administration) do not rush to escape as did your defense minister.

“The American people have taken a step in the right path to come out of their predicament… they voted for a level of reason,” the voice said.

It was a lot easier to say “with friends like these” when “we” were in power. Now, it’s much more worrisome.

Tim Chapman, over at his eponymous blog, has several interesting posts. THIS one puts forward his general theory, and THIS one is a list. The “scandal” portion of the list is long, but that seems like it could be lumped with “liberal,” in some ways. At the very least it should not be lumped under “conservative.” (HT: RED STATE)

And THIS (.pdf format warning) seems to support the general claim.

The Ignoramus passed on this Krauthammer JEM - excellent as always, but particularly noteworthy for two reasons: its wonderful football analogies, and the fact that it says what I’ve been trying to say since Tuesday. But much, much better than I could ever say it.

But the great Democratic wave of 2006 is nothing remotely like the great structural change some are trumpeting. It was an event-driven election that produced the shift of power one would expect when a finely balanced electorate swings mildly one way or the other.

This is not realignment. As has been the case for decades, American politics continues to be fought between the 40-yard lines. The Europeans fight goal line to goal line, from socialist left to the ultranationalist right. On the American political spectrum, these extremes are negligible. American elections are fought on much narrower ideological grounds. In this election, the Democrats carried the ball from their own 45-yard line to the Republican 45-yard line.

The fact that the Democrats crossed midfield does not make this election a great anti-conservative swing. Republican losses included a massacre of moderate Republicans in the Northeast and Midwest. And Democratic gains included the addition of many conservative Democrats, brilliantly recruited by Rep. Rahm Emanuel with classic Clintonian triangulation. Hence Heath Shuler of North Carolina, anti-abortion, pro-gun, anti-tax — and now a Democratic congressman.

The result is that both parties have moved to the right. The Republicans have shed the last vestiges of their centrist past, the Rockefeller Republican. And the Democrats have widened their tent to bring in a new crop of blue-dog conservatives.

That’s what is a bit frustrating to me about all this analysis. We’re looking at ourselves a lot right now - which is important and right, because it’s our fault. Still, we should not ignore the other side. Examining them is not as important as straightening ourselves out, of course. But it is very instructive.

And besides, why would THIS be happening if it weren’t true that this election was not a rejection of conservative principles, but the contrary? Not even Nancy’s folks want the world to think they agree with her!

Earlier this week, one of our chaplains suffered a stroke. After holding steady for several days, he appears to have suffered a set-back. This is from our dean:

The news today is not so good. Father’s ability to speak and his mobility on the left side have worsened in the last day or so. The doctors are concerned that there may be more damage to his brain than was first indicated. There may be some bleeding or swelling which is impairing his speech and mobility. They plan to perform a second CAT scan today and possibly an MRI of Father’s brain. The MRI will reveal more, but will require that Father be transported to another hospital since the MRI cannot be performed here. Father will remain in the ICU at least through the weekend. We’ll know more once the test results are available. Please keep Father and his caregivers in your prayers.

Do please keep him in your prayers. He is a wonderful man, and a fine priest. I spent a great deal of my college years watching football on his TV, which he made available to all us students. I can’t begin to estimate how much time I spent over there, and Father was always welcoming.  He has also baptized every one of my children, (nearly) all of whom recognize him and talk to him regularly.

Saint Joseph, hope of the sick, pray for us.

SI’s Jon Weisman has an NL wish LIST. Fun stuff. I particularly enjoyed his Giants’ comment.

San Francisco Giants
Team Needs: Um, almost everything?
If the Giants let free agents Barry Bonds and Ray Durham follow Moises Alou out of San Francisco, no returning San Francisco starter will have an above-average OPS. And with Jason Schmidt also going through free agency, Matt Cain and Brad Hennessey are the Giants’ only remaining starting pitchers with park-adjusted ERAs better than the MLB average. Shortstop Omar Vizquel and catcher Eliezer Alfonso can hold down their positions, and there are some maturing prospects, but the team needs help.

I did not enjoy SI’s other tidbit, though.

The Dodgers reportedly have expressed interest in veteran outfielder Luis Gonzalez, and they could pursue center fielder and Southland native Jim Edmonds if the Cardinals do not exercise his option. The Dodgers could join the Angels in pursuing center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. – Los Angeles Times

Ugh. At least they won’t get EDMONDS. But this Matthews talk is crazy. That guy has had one good year. One. And he is not young. At all. What we really need to do is pursue a CF the Angels are no longer interested in: THIS one. A bit of an injury risk, sure. But we were just talking about LA’s interest in Jim Edmonds, remember? (HERE are all the free agents.)

Kansas City Catholic REPORTS on the post-election status of The Terrible Two, its supporters, and its opponents. Many prayers would be worthwhile there. This one is far from over. (And don’t read THIS unless your blood pressure needs to be raised a couple thousands points for your health.)

John PODHORETZ and Michael RUBIN talk about the Bolton situation a bit. And K-Lo drops a little bit of good NEWS.

I like some of the guys expected to be at the top there a lot. Mitch McConnell is expected to be minority leader. Jon Kyl will replace Santorum as conference chair. Good stuff.

Kyl’s presence would make Santorum’s loss sting less. A little.

This Corner e-mail MAKES Webb look better to me. I wonder if I could come to love moderate Democrats as much as I hate moderate Republicans. Not really likely, but I bet they’re easier to stomach.

Speaking of Democratic winners, THIS one is a doozy.

And speaking of dead people, Jack Palance has PASSED away.

“Most of the stuff I do is garbage,” he once told a reporter, adding that most of the directors he worked with were incompetent, too.

“Most of them shouldn’t even be directing traffic,” he said.

Movie audiences, though, were electrified by the actor’s chiseled face, hulking presence and the calm, low voice that made his screen presence all the more intimidating.

Jack was always fun to watch. And he would probably have taken that as a great compliment.