The Random Updating Continues....SORRY!!!!

Friends, life is just really hectic right now...between my ministry at church and the TV show, as well as hockey and the duties of being a good American and a brother and son, there is just so much to be done...and besides, Matt likes to overload stories over at WMD to keep me extremely busy...Sadly, that means things here have been very slow...however, please keep checking in, you might never know when an update may happen!

From the Ducks Home Office- Some Scores and Updates

Parenteau, Bryzgalov help Ducks fend off Wolves (2/13/04)

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Pierre Parenteau had a goal and an assist and Ilya Bryzgalov made 30 saves to lead the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks past the Chicao Wolves, 3-2, Friday at Cincinnati Gardens.

Keith Aucoin and Tony Martensson also scored for the Ducks, who won their second straight game and improved to 13-9-5-1 at home. Mark Popovic, a second-round pick by Anaheim in 2001, chipped in with a pair of assists to break a 10-game point drought.

Bryzgalov stopped 22-of-23 shots over the first 40 minutes and turned aside all nine shots in the third period to perserve his 50th career victory.

Stephen Baby and Tommi Santala scored for Chicago, which fell to 1-3-1-0 in its last five.

Frederic Cassivi surrendered three goals on 31 shots for the loss.

Chicago.........................................1-0-1=2
Cincinnati.......................................0-1-2=3

First period: 1. Chi, Baby 7 (Maloney, Stewart), 7:13.

Second period: 2. Cin, Aucoin 14 (Hankinson, Parenteau), 10:22.

Third period: 3. Cin, Parenteau 10 (Popovic), 1:26. 4. Cin, Martensson 7 (Popovic, Chistov), 13:07 (ppg). 5. Chi, Santala 8 (Healey, Maltais), 18:44.

Shots on goal: Chicago 9-14-9=32; Cincinnati 7-11-13=31.

Power play opportunities: Chicago 0-for-3; Cincinnati 1-for-4. Goaltenders: Chicago, Cassivi (58:41; 31 shots, 28 saves; record 9-10-5); Cincinnati, Bryzgalov (32 shots, 30 saves; record 18-15-5). A: 5,041. Referee: Langdon. Linesmen: Ferguson, Gould. Records: Chicago 26-17-7-3; Cincinnati 20-22-7-1

Mark's Hockey Remarks

This was a great game, and Ilja sparkled....he did great work, but of course his blind in almost both eyes naysayers will not admit it. Ilja is a great goalie in progress, he has no consistent defense in front of him. That is not his fault. He has kept us in more games, that if we had offensive firepower, we could have won. However, he still continues to be the scapegoat.

Aucoin helps Ducks skate to third straight win (2/14/04)

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Keith Aucoin had a goal and an assist and Ilya Bryzgalov made 31 saves to lead the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks to a 3-1 victory over the Manitoba Moose Saturday at Cincinnati Gardens.

Joel Perrault and Pierre Parenteau also scored for the Ducks, who won their third straight game and improved to 14-9-5-1 at home.

Chris Nielsen scored the lone goal for Manitoba, which lost its fourth in a row and fell to 10-16-4-2 on the road this season.

Tyler Moss surrendered three goals on 27 shots to suffer his 15th loss.

Manitoba........................0-0-1=1
Cincinnati.......................1-1-1=3

First period: 1. Cin, Aucoin 15, 7:11.

Second period: 2. Cin, Perrault 8 (Martensson), 15:31 (shg).

Third period: 3. Cin, Parenteau 11 (Mottau, Aucoin), 6:54 (ppg). 4. Mtb, Nielsen 3 (Vydareny, Kavanagh), 13:19.

Shots on goal: Manitoba 3-11-18=32; Cincinnati 7-13-7=27.

Power play opportunities: Manitoba 0-for-4; Cincinnati 1-for-2. Goaltenders: Manitoba, Moss (58:22; 27 shots, 24 saves; record 10-15-5); Cincinnati, Bryzgalov (32 shots, 31 saves; record 19-15-5). A: 4,881. Referee: Langdon. Linesmen: Gould, Lord. Records: Manitoba 20-27-7-2; Cincinnati 21-22-7-1.

Note: The Ducks assigned left wing Brian Gornick to San Diego of the ECHL on Saturday. Gornick, 23, had one goal and one assist in 22 games with Cincinnati this season.

Mark's Hockey Remarks

Great game, again. It was action packed, and showed some great scoring. Josh Gratton continued to intimidate, and the offense was actually awake. Of course, since Ilja gave up a goal, his blind naysayers will think he is washed up. This poor guy cannot win. I feel for him. Here he is, in the last year of a contract, with a baby on the way, and he is being the scapegoat for the team having a poor season. Shame on them!!! Ilja, you are still the best goalie the Ducks have had since Tom Askey in the first season! You will be great, just keep it up and don't listen to the morons!

Gamache, Finley help Admirals extend winning streak to seven (2/15/04)

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Simon Gamache scored two goals to lead the Milwaukee Admirals to a 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Sunday at Cincinnati Gardens.

Gamache tallied 17:04 into the first period to even the score at 1-1 and buried the game-winner 6:54 into the second for the Admirals, who have won seven straight games and are unbeaten in their last nine (8-0-1-0).

Brian Finley, the sixth overall pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by Nashville, stopped 22 shots over the final two periods and 33 overall to improve to 6-0-1 in his last seven starts.

Stanislav Chistov scored the lone goal in the first period for Cincinnati, which had its three-game winning streak halted.

Eddy Ferhi surrendered two goals on 20 shots to suffer the loss.

The Ducks play Friday at Toronto to begin a three-game road trip.

Milwaukee...........................1-1-1=3
Cincinnati............................1-0-0=1

First period: 1. Cin, Chistov 2 (Bylsma, Martensson), 11:35. 2. Mil, Gamache 12 (Ivanans, Schultz), 17:04.

Second period: 3. Mil, Gamache 13, 6:54.

Third period: 4. Mil, Shishkanov 19 (Classen, Finley), 18:59 (eng).

Shots on goal: Milwaukee 10-6-5=21; Cincinnati 12-12-10=34.

Power play opportunities: Milwaukee 0-for-2; Cincinnati 0-for-6. Goaltenders: Milwaukee, Finley (34 shots, 33 saves; record 13-11-4); Cincinnati, Ferhi (59:19; 20 shots, 18 saves, 1 eng; record 2-9-2). A: 4,941. Records: Milwaukee 28-14-6-3; Cincinnati 21-23-7-1.

Mark's Hockey Remarks

OK, Ilja haters...you have your wish. Eddy Ferhi is in net. What happens? We lose. THIS IS NOT A SLAM ON EDDY!!! Eddy will be a very good goalie, maybe even a solid NHLer in a couple of seasons. However, he is no Ilja. Eddy has a bright future, but it is a ways off. The team was very lackluster, and the game was sad at times to watch. Chistov an Smirnov continue to skate well.....Though Shaw is using Smirnov at times as a Dman...Why? I have no clue. More and more of Mr. Shaw's decisions and calls are coming into question. This team suffers from a lack of consistency in Defense and scoring. We had that with Coach Babcock (well, at least the scoring). And Shaw was a defenseman. He is not imparting much into a system which routinely does little to protect the goaltender. If there should be any changes, it needs to start with Mr. Shaw.

CINCINNATI MIGHTY DUCKS ANNOUNCE ROSTER MOVES

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks were assigned defenseman Chris Armstrong by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on Tuesday.

Armstrong, 28, appeared in four games with Anaheim this season, recording one assist. He has six goals and 24 assists in 46 games with Cincinnati.

A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Armstrong was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the third round (57th overall) of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-foot, 198-pounder was signed by Anaheim as a free agent June 26, 2003.

In another roster move made Tuesday, Cincinnati recalled left wing Brian Gornick from ECHL San Diego.

Gornick, 23, had two goals and two assists in five games with San Diego this season. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder has one goal and one assist in 22 games with Cincinnati.

A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Gornick was drafted by Anaheim in the ninth round (258th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

Mark's Hockey Remarks

Glad to have Chris back, he can provide leadership again, and get us some much needed goals and points with his consistency.

The Gornick move I question. I want Gornick in Cincy, but I want him here to play. He has gotten little playing time all year, frequently a scratch. If he is getting the chance to play and develop in San Diego, leave him there for this year, so he can grow in skill and bring him back next year to Cincy, with much more experience and confidence. This yo-yoing is not effective and never has been. If Gornick is in Cincy, he should play. Sitting in the stands does nothing for his development. If he is not going to be played here, send him to San Diego so he can gain valuable experience. Just my two cents.

Phantoms down Ducks, 4-1 (2/26/04)

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Steve Gainey had a goal and an assist and Neil Little made 21 saves as the Philadelphia Phantoms defeated the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, 4-1, Wednesday at Cincinnati Gardens.

John Slaney, Boyd Kane and Freddy Meyer also scored for the Phantoms, who have won three straight games and four of their last five.

Randy Jones chipped in with a pair of assists for Philadelphia, which improved to
13-5-1-0 in its last 19 road games.

Josh Gratton scored a goal in the first period for Cincinnati, which has lost four of its last five games.

Ilya Bryzgalov surrendered four goals on 28 shots in the loss for the Ducks, who failed to score on 11 power play chances.

The Ducks and Phantoms complete a two-game series at 7:35 p.m. Friday at Cincinnati Gardens.

Philadelphia................................2-2-0=4
Cincinnati...................................1-0-0=1

First period: 1. Phi, Slaney 10 (Gainey), 8:02 (ppg). 2. Phi, Kane 9 (Peluso, Furey), 10:18 (ppg). 3. Cin, Gratton 1 (Stepp, Pecker), 19:46.

Second period: 4. Phi, Meyer 9 (Jones), 14:29. 5. Phi, Gainey 8 (Stafford, Jones), 14:29.

Third period: No scoring.

Shots on goal: Philadelphia 12-11-5=28; Cincinnati 10-4-8=22.

Power play opportunities: Philadelphia 2-for-7; Cincinnati 0-for-11. Goaltenders: Philadelphia, Little (28 shots, 27 saves; record 18-9-0); Cincinnati, Bryzgalov (28 shots, 24 saves; record 20-18-5). A: 2,828. Referee: St. Pierre. Linesmen: Dunn, Lord. Records: Philadelphia 33-18-5-1; Cincinnati 22-26-7-1.

Mark's Hockey Remarks

This game began with such promise. In the first period, Josh Gratton of the Ducks had one of the most decisive contests I have ever seen. He knocked his opponent silly. I mean, literally. As Gratton went to the box, his opponent from Philly stumbled around the ice and had to be helped to the box. He was out of it. Gratton later fought to a draw with Vandermeer, though Vandermeer thought he won the fight. I guess a draw against Gratton, who has mostly decimated his competition in fights since coming to the AHL, is like a win. Gratton was also the hero for Cincy, scoring their loan goal. Maybe he is what we need, a strong enforcer who finds his way to the net...kind of like my old friend Jeremy Stevenson!!!! I think we have found our enforcer!!!!!

As to the rest of the game, the defense and passing were pathetic. The shoddy passing in the neutral zone accounted for two goals as lazy passing was intercepted and Ilja was left all alone many times. It was a wonder they only scored four, and a tribute to Ilja's focus. Shane O'Brien, who has been improving, backslid with this effort, instead wanting to make noise with big hits and trashtalking than taking care of the puck. By the middle of the 2nd, the whole team seemed to have given up, which was really sad. The frustration showed, as many came off the ice slamming the bench doors and their sticks. HOwever, this aggression needed to come out in scoring.

This team pussyfoots around with the puck WAY TOO MUCH. We had shots in front of the net, but instead we make two extra passes that did nothing. Neil Little, who is slower with each decade he plays, was able to look like an all-star because we refused to take shots. This team needs more aggression on offense and needs to shore up its passing and defense.

Well, until I have a spare moment next time....

God bless you, God bless America....keep your heads up and sticks on the ice....

Mark

Shawn Michaels, and the Nutter Center

Met the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels

Yes, that is right...I met Shawn Michaels last night, the WWE showstopper, the Heartbreak Kid!!! My cousin Darren, his friend Kevin and I went to Dayton, OH to the Nutter Center on the campus of Wright State University. The WWE star was there at a Dayton Bombers ECHL hockey game. We got there early, and it was an adventure in stupidity on the part of the staff of the facility.

First, everything except the arena part of the center itself is top notch. The gym facilities, the workout areas...all good. However, the arena is very plain and looks drab, especially for a college arena. Then, you have the incompetent staffers. All of them were either handicapped mentally or physically. Now, I am not trying to demean the handicapped, but these people were suffering from stupidity. It was beyond bushleague. It was atrocious. The security people were mostly old guys, half of whom were walking with canes. Oh yeah, they are gonna chase down a violator. Come back here or I may gum you! The workers roaming about aimlessly sounded like they were from the backlots of Deliverance.

The professional staffers, and I use that term loosely, waited until less than five minutes before the gates opened to check security for the autograph area for Mr. Michaels. It was terrible. As someone who has worked security, you do that way before the public enters, and you test it to make sure it works. These guys were all goofing around. Half of them didn't even know there was going to be a celeb there until they saw the sign. Very sad. They had no idea about anything, as we had to sneak in to investigate where the autographs were to be.

We ended up at the gate right be the autograph area and mosied on in and got to be first in line.

I got to shake Shawn's hand, got some autos, and got my pic with him. He was a great guy, who even told the staffers he would sign their publicity crap later, because he saw how long the line was and wanted to service the public. What a class act. Too bad I could not say the same for the Nutter Center people. Deplorable and irresponsible behavior. We didn't even stay for the game, it was so sad.


However, I got to meet Shawn Michaels!!!! Yeah!!!!!

Enough Politics....On with other Pursuits

Now, on to some developments in other areas, especially, for my one fan out there, Fez, the developments in Ducks hockey!!!!!!

Ducks News--From the Home Office at the Cincinnati Gardens

Severson Recalled by Anaheim

Feb 9--Cincinnati Mighty Ducks left wing Cam Severson was recalled by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on Monday.

Severson had seven goals and seven assists with a team-leading 145 penalty minutes in 38 games with Cincinnati this season. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder has appeared in nine games with Anaheim this season, going scoreless with 21 penalty minutes.

Undrafted Kunitz a Star at AHL All Star Game

Cincinnati Mighty Ducks left wing Chris Kunitz had a goal and an assist to help lead the Canadian All-Stars to a 9-5 victory over the PlanetUSA All-Stars in the 2004 AHL All-Star game Monday at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Kunitz, who leads Cincinnati in goals with 31, assisted on a goal by Houston's Kyle Wanvig 8:32 into the second period to snap a 2-2 tie and scored 3:35 later to give the Canadians a 5-2 lead.

Lowell's Mike Zigomanis scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with 5:17 left in the second and added two assists to earn honors as the Pepsi All-Star Most Valuable Player.

Hartford's Chad Wiseman and Hamilton's Benoit Gratton also each had a goal and two assists for the Canadian team, which won its fifth straight AHL All-Star game.

The game was played in front of 9,220 at Van Andel Arena and the telecast was picked up by 22 regional sports networks across the United States and Canada

....AND Chris gets Rewarded with a Call By Anaheim...

Cincinnati Mighty Ducks left wing Chris Kunitz was recalled by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim on Tuesday.

Kunitz, who recorded a goal and an assist to help lead the Canadian All-Stars to a
9-5 victory over the PlanetUSA All-Stars in the 2004 AHL All-Star game Monday in Grand Rapids, Michigan, had a team-leading 15 goals and 31 points with 68 penalty minutes in 38 games with Cincinnati this season. The 24-year-old native of Regina, Saskatchewan has appeared in 10 games with Anaheim this season, posting one assist.

A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Kunitz is currently tied for third among AHL rookies in points, goals and power play goals (five) and ranks sixth in assists (16).

And, a Little Game Action before the Break....

Ducks cool red-hot Griffins

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Keith Aucoin and Cory Pecker scored 34 seconds apart in the second period to help the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks skate to a 3-1 victory over the league-leading Grand Rapids Griffins Saturday at Cincinnati Gardens.

Aucoin scored 8:30 into the middle period to tie the game at 1-1 after Michel Picard had given the Griffins the lead 1:54 into the period. The goal by Aucoin, his 13th of the season, broke a shutout sequence of 211:01 by Griffins goaltender Marc Lamothe, who had posted shutouts in each of his last three starts against Cincinnati.

Pecker snapped a 14-game goal drought with his sixth goal of the season at 9:12 to give the Ducks a 2-1 lead.

Pierre Parenteau also scored for Cincinnati in the second period, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

Ilya Bryzgalov, a second-round pick by Anaheim in 2000, made 31 saves to post his 17th victory of the season.

Lamothe, who entered the game with a 1.85 goals-against average, finished with 28 saves for Grand Rapids, which lost for just the second time in its last 16 games
(10-2-4-0).

Grand Rapids............................0-1-0=1
Cincinnati..................................0-3-0=3

First period: No scoring.

Second period: 1. Gra, Picard 10 (Robinson, Groulx), 1:54. 2. Cin, Aucoin 13 (Perrault), 8:38. 3. Cin, Pecker 6 (Smith, Severson), 9:12. 4. Cin, Parenteau 9 (Reierson), 15:07.

Third period: No scoring.

Shots on goal: Grand Rapids 7-14-11=32; Cincinnati 12-11-8=31.

Power play opportunities: Grand Rapids 0-for-4; Cincinnati 0-for-4. Goaltenders: Grand Rapids, Lamothe (31 shots, 28 saves; record 18-12-5); Cincinnati, Bryzgalov (32 shots, 31 saves; record 17-15-5). A: 6,105. Referee: Hoberg. Linesmen: Lord, Mallin. Records: Grand Rapids 30-14-8-0; Cincinnati 19-22-7-1.

Note: The Ducks reassigned defenseman Mike Garrow to ECHL San Diego prior to Saturday's game. Garrow, 28, appeared in two games with Cincinnati, going scoreless with four penalty minutes after being called up January 31.

Mark's Hockey Remarks

First, to the guys who got called up--congrats!!! Cam, you deserve it for working so hard and putting up with some b.s. during your time in Anaheim's organization. And, well, Chris Kunitz's stats and performance in the All Star Game speak for themselves. Chris has the potential to be a great talent, but I worry if Anaheim is not yo-yoing him too much, as they did with Matt Cullen and others who did not pan out after hot starts. Chris, though, has some great mental toughness, and I think this will help him to pan out.

As to why this is happening: Anaheim is not going anywhere. They are sunk, and are looking for who to keep and who to let go. They are looking (again, still) to clean house and are trying out different people. They are trying to find the right combos, and maybe they are trying to find inexpensive combos esp. in light of the state of the collective bargaining agreement fiasco that might be coming (lockout, etc.)

As to the game listed above: great performances, all around. Even though he has some fair weather fans, Ilja still continues to dazzle with his skills. Yes, he has bad games. Yes, he is not the most talkative. But this young man brings passion to the game, and to his goaltending. I had a confrontation with two fans who said they hope he leaves and Anaheim dumps him. I could not believe it. Ilja has kept us in most games, at times when the defense was porous and when the offense was/is sputtering. They are just upset because Ilja doesn't kiss their rear, and quite frankly, that is not his job. He does great at what he does. This game, he was flying all over the ice, making snow angels to make saves and standing on his head. He has great potential and will probably be backing up one of the Ducks goalies in the NHL real soon, because I think Anaheim is going to make a move.

Also, thanks to Anaheim for giving us Dan Bylsma. This guy is another grinder, and that is not hype. He also brings passion to the game. Watching his leadership during warmups and his interaction with fans, it should be put on tape for young players to see. He is a class guy, and while I am sorry for him he is here, we in Cincy are blessed to have him. Also, thanks for sending us Stan Chistov and Alexi Smirnov. This Russian connection is dazzling. They skate so well and are so polished. The game before this one that I attended they were on both ends of goals and assists. They could be a great combo for Anaheim real soon.

Cory Pecker continues to struggle, but I have every confidence in him. He is a mentally tough and gritty player, and he is all about the team. However, he does need to improve his production to get up the depth chart with Anaheim, though I think he is due for a breakout performance.

Casey Hankinson was named Cincy Duck of the Month for January. Go over to www.cincinnatimightyducks.com to read the story and see why.

Speaking of Casey, he and Chris Armstrong got recalled by Anaheim for a few games. I really do not understand why Armstrong has not stuck in the NHL. This guy is a defenseman point machine. He was leading all defensemen in points when he was recalled. He also is another class act. Some question his physicality, but I know he has it. I just can't figure out why he does not stick around. Well, the NHL's loss is our gain.

The Ducks need to get on a Winning streak, and beating Grand Rapids before the break was a great way to start!!!! By the way, it was also Garrett Burnett bobblehead night. And, yes, as usual, the Gardens marketing geniuses screwed it up and created a fiasco for getting the bobblehead, just as they did last year for the NASCAR Tony Stewart bobblehead. When will these people learn?

Well, enough for now...I have to get up and go sub tomorrow....Hope I gave you a small fix for your Ducks Hockey jones....

This was Mark...Thanks for reading.

By the way, the Ducks play at home this friday and saturday. Come out and root them on if you are in Cincinnati, and look for the Peckerhead sign!!!! :)

Here is How The Libs Really Feel About Veterans...Especially if they disagree....

Hey, I got an email from someone who came to this site after going to a particular Hamster's site and reading his comments. I sadly and reluctantly looked at his comments toward someone who SERVED OUR COUNTRY in the military and was horrified. It goes to show you that liberals are not about honest debate or even honoring military service. At least if you disagree with their views. I was surprised the vet who made the comments was not erased and banned, as this liberal usually does to any dissent. Then the liberal makes up stories about what was said, in order to make himself appear a victim. Usual game. Well, read his disparaging comments about a Veteran , here they are:(note-emphasis added by me)
Look, folks, it's another close-minded conservative who is spinning the facts to suit their own needs. They refuse to believe the real facts and instead produce propoganda. I wouldn't be surprised if this person wasn't even really a veteran but was just someone trying to score a sympathy point or two with this fictitious name. I'd be even less surpised if it was one of the local cockroaches playing games. Regardless, you should be ashamed of yourself for backing this incumbent. If you were a real veteran then you would realize how miserable a failure the incumbent truly is.

Isn't that sad? The person is so obsessed with people he once called friends who realized what a duplicit and hateful person he is that he calls into question anyone who disagrees with him. He asks if the person was a real veteran? He says if the person were a veteran they would be against Bush. Well, HamsterBoy, I know many a veteran who are for the President, and who don't appreciate your denigrating one who served. But, of course, you only like veterans when they come out of nowhere to support your candidate and help them. You don't honor veterans when they come home after war. Remember, it was your party leadership, including your messiah Bill Clinton who protested against our troops on foreign soil, who called them rapists and murderers. Wow, you all really honor the service of veterans. Shameful behavior, but what do you expect from a liberal who is a 5 year old trapped in a 30++++++year old's body, who whines about being a victim and only has hate to back him up? Shameful, but hardly atypical. Liberals have become hateful, empty of ideas, and simply rehashing their usual attacks. Sad.....

Just wanted to let everyone know how libs REALLY feel about those honorable folks who served our country...

God bless you all, God bless our troops, and God bless America!!!

This was Mark...thanks for reading.

And now for some good news....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. PRESIDENT!!!

Today is President Ronald Reagan's 93rd birthday, or as he called it, the anniversary of his 39th birthday. God bless you, Mr. President, thank you for your clarity and courage in leading us in the Cold War and ensuring our victory. Thank you for your inspirational words for freedom loving people everywhere. Happy Birthday, Ronald Reagan, a Real American Hero!

It's OK, You can come out....

It is National Conservative Coming Out Month. (What did you think I was talking about,eh?) You closet conservatives out there....Come out, it is OK....Do you have a secret? Come on out....The water's fine....


God bless,

Mark

Wow, Seems Like 8 days Since I posted....Oh yeah..it has been...

Things have been very busy. Between show prep, job searching, and working out, along with duties of a brother and son, things have been very busy at the TIB Rural Command. However, I have to begin to get back in the habit, because I know you folks are just dying to see what I have to say on my own. So, Here goes....

Good News for America is Bad News for Liberals, In Other Words, They Want Suffering

Liberals hate the fact that the economy is growing, and are distorting the economic conditions with number games and spin. Check this out, from the Anti-American Guardian Unlimited, a liberal/socialist paper.

US Leads GLOBAL Recovery

The US economy strengthened considerably in December, leading the global economic recovery and leaving Europe and Japan behind, the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said today.
For the 30-nation membership of the OECD, the December leading indicator - a pointer of future economic activity - rose to 123.6 from 122.8 in November. The reading for the US was 133.3 (up from 131.7), the 12-nation euro currency zone struggled up to 123.8 (from 123.5), and Japan managed a weak increase of 0.2 to 102.3. Of the G7 economies, only Italy showed weaker development, its index slipping to 106.3 in December from 107.8 in November. Read the text of the article here.

So, what is this article saying? It is saying that America is humming along, with great growth, and that we have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world. We are the engine of the world, and we are leading them to recovery, outstripping the EU and even Japan. That is good news, but you are not hearing it. You are instead hearing the doom and gloom and the number games of so-called 2.5 million jobs lost. However, these numbers are in fact misleading.

Real Job Growth? You betcha!

For nearly a year, a debate has been brewing over which of the government's employment measures is wrong.

Monthly payroll figures, derived from a survey of 160,000 employers, show a net loss of 537,000 jobs the past two years. But the monthly survey of about 60,000 households shows the U.S. has added 2.4 million jobs in that span.

In recent weeks, the Federal Reserve and the treasury secretary joined the discussion.

The Fed's policy-setting committee, while holding its key interest rate steady on January 28, noted in its inscrutable fashion, "Although new hiring remains subdued, other indicators suggest an improvement in the labor market." Read the rest of the article here.

We keep hearing these number by liberals bantied around. However, according to the statistics, there is nowhere near the job loss that the libs are preaching. In fact, if you include the self-employed and contractors, which are not counted in most statistics, then, as this article asserts, 2.4 million new jobs have been created. Why would the liberals twist these good news statements around? Answer: they don't like prosperity. Prosperity is not good for their campaigns. They hate it when America is doing well. They want to paint a picture of America as breadlines and such, but it is not. We are modernizing, we are changing, many people are tired of working the clock and are starting their own businesses as contractors. Libs hate this, because self-employed people are not forced to join unions in order to protect themselves and safety, and not forced to contribute money to the liberal agenda of most labor unions. Therefore, they will paint this gloomy picture which goes against all reality. The reality is that the economy is growing, we are getting new jobs, and we are getting better and better. Libs hate this, because suffering sells. They are snakes and twisters, and they love their word games.

On to the War In Iraq, Intel, etc., More Liberal Lies and Equivocation

Liberals just love to say now that the basis of the war was : 1)Iraq had WMD 2)Iraq was an imminent threat and 3) that Iraq and al-Queda had ties....These people are twisting words again. THEY ARE LYING AGAIN!!!!!

The President, as I have referenced before, in his speech discussing the move to invade Iraq, listed three reasons:
1. Iraq was a gathering threat
2. Human rights abuses
3. WMD programs and violations of International Mandate

Where is the part about al-Queda? Where is the imminent threat talk? Bush said that he wanted to get our enemies BEFORE they became an imminent threat.

Of course, now that David Kay has come out and said he hasn't found any WMD yet, the libs are now saying it was all a Bush conspiracy, but what about Clinton's admonitions about Iraq in 1998? What about all these libs' comments about Iraq and WMD? Or these? What about these?

Instead of addressing the needs to modify or fix intelligence, the liberals are politicizing our national security instead of doing something about it. They, remember, were the ones who wanted to do away with the CIA (Kerry), to slash military and intelligence budgets (Clinton), and to handcuff the intel community with restrictions and superfluous legislation on who to talk to (Clinton again). Yet, once again, a mess they created is dumped in the President's lap, and the media plays along with Teddy "have another Drink" Kennedy and co., even though it was their poor stewardship which led our intelligence to be flawed?

In my opinion, the question is not were there weapons, but where are they? What happened to them? Intel communities across the world said they were there. Did saddam destroy them, did he sell them? Did he ship them to Syria? These are questions that need to be asked, as opposed to poiinting the finger at the President, especially when the critics were some of the most vocal supporting regime change, etc. Talk about the height of hypocrisy!!!!

Libs Say We Are No Safer, that Bush is a foreign policy failure....BULLSNARF!!!!

Liberals say we are no safer, even with Saddam, that we are not getting anything out of our flexing of our military might and living up to our word to fight enemies. That is a load of garbage. Do you really think Quaddafy would have come clean if we hadn't gone after Saddam? Do you think the Saudis would be more willing to get their own terrorists in their midst if we hadn't gone into Iraq and Afghanistan? Do you think that we would have found out about Iran's programs? Do you think we would have found out about Pakistan's selling of nuke stuff? Hell no! We are safer and more informed because we have a President who said something, and who then delivered. We have a President who will not cater to our enemies, who will not engage in just legislating terrorism, that we are taking the fight to them. We have a President who has put it all on the line to root these people out.

And, some people say, where is Usama? They say that Clinton warned Bush. They say that there was a plan to root out al-Queda. Where is the evidence beyond Clinton's own assertions and that of his liberal supporters? Where is the hard evidence? There is none, and Clinton's word is worthless. He lied under oath, and has told lie after lie after lie to save his "legacy." Speaking of which, Clinton had the chance to get Usama at least five times from the Sudan! Why didn't he take action? Many times he had the chance to go after these people, but instead he launched legal investigations and did not have the guts to stand up and go after the man. He bombed tents in symbolic displays, and IT WAS CLINTON'S FOREIGN POLICY IN SOMALIA THAT EMBOLDENED AL QUEDA!!!!!!!! Usama himself said that seeing how the Americans responded to Somalia told him all he needed to know. Clinton did nothing about the first WTC bombing, the bombings in Riyadh, and the embassy bombings in Africa, except launch investigations and issue warrants that had no power. THIS PRESIDENT DID SOMETHING!!!! The only plan for dealing with al-Queda was launched by the Bush admin and arrived on the President's desk for perusal on Sept. 10, 2001. Of course, we know what happened the next day. Of course, this was the fault of a President on the job for only 8 months, not the guy who had the chance to cut the head of al queda on a gift platter. Liberals are twisting the facts, ladies and gentlemen!!!! They want you to believe that the recession that Clinton left us was Bush's fault! They want you to believe that terrorists attacked and Bush was at fault. Ladies and gentlemen, who had the chance before any massive loss of life to get Usama but dropped the ball not once but over and over? It was the liberal Messiah and Master of Lies, Bill Clinton. Now they are following in his spinning example and trying to spin away the facts that liberals led us into this war on terror with their bumbling of national security and appeasement strategy of foreign relations. Don't let them lead us to more destruction. They have shown they have no clue. Don't give them a chance to give more rogue nations (like North Korea and Red China, who were big campaign contributors to Clinton and Gore, and still with Democratic Party) our technology and mortgage our future on agreements only we keep. That failed with the Soviets, that Detente garbage. It will fail with the terrorists.

America is strong in economic issues and strong in diplomacy. Don't be fooled by liberal whining, lying, deceitful word and number games. If we allow ourselves to be fooled, we are heading for something worse than 9/11, which liberals want to forget or minimize. They want us to forget that we all agreed to go to war against terror and nations that support them and harbor them. We know Iraq did it. Saddam offered money to suicide bombers' families. We know Abu Nidal hid in Iraq. They harbored terrorists. We have found terror training grounds with fuselages of airplanes for practice targets. Liberals don't want you to remember this. They want to politicize the sacrifice of our troops who believe in this cause for their own gain. They are the worst kinds of fear mongerers and deceitful cons, using our valiant soldiers' sacrifice against the military and against our President. They are duplicit, and we must not let their smoke screen defeat us, for it will surely lead to more bloodshed and the sum of our fears.

God bless you, God bless America.
This was Mark...thanks for reading.