Protect and Defend

I just like this picture

2006-11-07T01:01:00.000-05:00

Doogie???

2006-11-07T01:00:00.000-05:00

Washington Post, Monday, November 6, 2006; Page C03

Doogie Howser is gay -- and he wants to quash recent reports that he has denied it. Neil Patrick Harris, 33, recently told People magazine: "The public eye has always been kind to me and until recently I have been able to live a pretty normal life. Now it seems there is speculation and interest in my private life and relationships. So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love."…

Do we really need to know when an actor is gay? Are there actors anywhere coming out in the news saying, “I am a very content straight man living life to the fullest.” I know this story hasn’t made big headlines, but did it need to make any headlines at all?

Thanks

2006-11-07T00:59:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to thank you all for responding to my question about what made America great. But I guess the answer I really wanted was to the question: How did America become the most powerful and influential country on the planet in a less than 250 years?

Joe Pa hurt during Penn State – Wisconsin game

2006-11-04T17:39:00.000-05:00

Paterno carted to locker room after sideline collision

Associated Press, November 4, 2006

MADISON, Wis. -- Penn State coach Joe Paterno was taken by cart to the locker room after one of his own players ran into his left leg in the second half of the Nittany Lions' 13-3 loss to No. 17 Wisconsin on Saturday.
A Penn State spokesman said Paterno had a knee injury and was flying back to State College, Pa., with a member of the school's medical staff ahead of the rest of the team. He is expected to be X-rayed on Saturday evening and could undergo an MRI on Sunday or Monday.
Freshman tight end Andrew Quarless caught a short pass for a first down along the Penn State sideline, and tumbled into Paterno's leg -- knocking the 79-year-old coach to the ground. Paterno then stood for several minutes before having to be helped to the bench and having his leg bandaged by the Penn State training staff.
"He's a wily old rascal," said Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who filled in for Paterno in the second half. "He's not going anywhere unless he has to. He's pretty tough."
Paterno remained on the bench, surrounded by trainers and police. Paterno remained seated for most of the third quarter, but he was carted to the locker room with less than 2 minutes remaining in the quarter.
"I told him he's not playing the low blocks like he used to," Bradley said.
Paterno also had to leave the sideline in Penn State's game at Ohio State in September after he became ill. He returned briefly at halftime, then left before coming back at the start of the fourth quarter.
"I've never walked off the field early," Paterno said after that game. "I've had some kind of a bug during the week. I'm the kind of guy who doesn't like to take pills or see a doctor. I thought I'd be fine."

Paterno is probably the classiest head coach in all of college football, and he took a wicked hit to his knee and yet refused to leave the filed until he was literally forced to by trainers and assistant coaches. At 79 years old, the injury will most likely keep Joe Pa sidelined for awhile, but it is my sincere hope that he makes it back soon.

Kerry doesn’t want poor, black, brown, or uneducated military

2006-11-02T22:42:00.000-05:00

Kerry's '72 Army Comments Mirror Latest

Associated Press, November 2, 2006

WASHINGTON - During a Vietnam-era run for Congress three decades ago, John Kerry said he opposed a volunteer Army because it would be dominated by the underprivileged, be less accountable and be more prone to "the perpetuation of war crimes."
Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran who turned against the war, made the observations in answers to a 1972 candidate questionnaire from a Massachusetts peace group.
After Kerry caused a firestorm this week with what he termed a botched campaign joke that Republicans said insulted current soldiers, The Associated Press was alerted to the historical comments by a former law enforcement official who monitored 1970s anti-war activities
Kerry apologized Wednesday for the 2006 campaign trail gaffe that some took as suggesting U.S. soldiers fighting in Iraq were undereducated. He contended the remark was aimed at Bush, not the soldiers.
In 1972, as he ran for the House, he was less apologetic in his comments about the merits of a volunteer army. He declared in the questionnaire that he opposed the draft but considered a volunteer army "a greater anathema."
"I am convinced a volunteer army would be an army of the poor and the black and the brown," Kerry wrote. "We must not repeat the travesty of the inequities present during Vietnam. I also fear having a professional army that views the perpetuation of war crimes as simply 'doing its job.'…
Kerry filled out the candidate questionnaire at the request of Massachusetts Political Action for Peace, an anti-war group that decades later turned over its historical documents to university researchers.
AP obtained the document from someone who gathered it from archives during Kerry's unsuccessful 2004 presidential campaign against President Bush. Republicans in that election relentlessly assailed Kerry's role in the anti-war movement decades earlier…

America

2006-11-01T23:01:00.000-05:00

This is a two part question, but I wanted some input on the first part to form my thoughts a bit. Do any of you believe America is the greatest country on Earth? And if you do, what made America great? Not, what makes America great, but how did America become the greatest country on Earth? This country is a little more than 225 years old. The US is a much newer country than England, France, Spain, Russia, or Portugal. Japan was an empire long before the US came into existence. China had ruling dynasties millennium before 1776. Egypt built the pyramids, Rome built the Colosseum, and the Greeks built the Parthenon centuries before there was an America.
So how did America become the most powerful and greatest country on Earth when so much of the world has such a head start?

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T04:36:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Halloween.
Personally, I have never liked the holiday, even going back to being a little kid. In college it was a lot more fun, but otherwise I could do without. But, I hope you all enjoy, and if you have any little kiddies running around that they enjoy it too.
Be safe and enjoy!

Thirty-one years ago

2006-10-31T04:35:00.000-05:00

Having some trouble sleeping, I was up watching TV tonight, and caught the last few minutes of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Can you believe it was made in 1975? I knew it was an older movie, but I as actually shocked when I saw just how old it was.

Duke Lacrosse Prosecutor Standing Firm

2006-10-31T04:34:00.000-05:00

Associated Press, October 30, 2006

DURHAM, N.C. - The prosecutor in the Duke lacrosse rape case has heard the criticism from experts and armchair lawyers, and said Monday he is comfortable with nearly all the decisions he has made and confident about taking the case to trial…
Nifong, running for election against two challengers who have attacked his handling of the case, obtained an indictment against three athletes accused of raping a stripper at a team party in March. They have strongly declared their innocence.
In the early days of the case, Nifong granted numerous newspaper and TV interviews, at one point calling the players "hooligans" and declaring that DNA would identify the guilty. DNA failed to connect the players to the accuser.
Nifong said Monday that granting so many interviews was his only regret…
The latest questions about Nifong's handling of the case came last week, after he said he and his staff have yet to interview the accuser about the facts of the case, leaving that work to police. He said Monday his responsibility is to direct the investigation, not conduct it…
Nifong declined to comment on an interview, aired by ABC on Monday, with Kim Roberts, a second stripper at the party. Roberts said the accuser was clearly impaired and "talking crazy" after they left the party and drove to a grocery store.
Roberts said she was unable to get the accuser to leave her car, and pushed on the woman's arm and leg to try to force her out. Roberts quoted the accuser as saying: "Go ahead, go ahead. Put marks on me. Go ahead. That's what I want. Go ahead."
"And it chilled me to the bone," Roberts said…

So the DA has never even talked to the accuser? I said from the beginning this was nothing more than someone seeking reelection and playing the race card to win. According to one report I saw on TV, there is now the possibility that Nifong might be prosecuted due to his handling of the case. He should be prosecuted for ruining the lives of three people, only this time, there is enough evidence to prosecute.

America at 300 Million

2006-10-28T16:53:00.001-04:00

I know not all of you get Time Magazine, so I wanted to share some of the more interesting parts of the cover story on America with a new population of 300 million, and counting (Time, October 30, 2006).
I wanted to split them each into separate posts so that if there is any discussion, no one gets confused about which part we are on in the discussion. SO away we go. According to the Time study about the 300 million American citizens (illegals not included):
80.1% of the population is white
12.8% of the population is black
4.4% of the population is Asian
0.2% of the population is Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
1.0% of the population is American Indian and Alaska Native
1.6% of the population is two or more races
And 14.8% of the population is Hispanic of any race.

Whereas Time separated Asians from Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and from American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanics were not separated by race, and instead given a quasi-category based on language. But, Muslims and Indians were not given separated and instead most likely classified as Asian.

America at 300 Million

2006-10-28T16:53:00.000-04:00

In 1850, 9.7% of the US population was born outside the US
In 1890, 14.8% of the US population was born outside the US.
In 1970, 4.7% of the US population was born outside the US.
Today, 12% of the US population was born outside the US, or 14.6% of the US population was born outside the US if an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants are now living in the US. However, if estimates of 20 million illegal immigrants living in the US are correct, this means that there is a greater percentage of foreign born people living in the US than at any other time in our nation’s history. This would mean that immigration numbers are larger than at any other point in our history including the Irish immigrations after the Potato Famine.

America at 300 Million

2006-10-28T16:51:00.001-04:00

Average Annual weeks of work:
U.S. 46.2
Italy 41.1
Britain 40.8
France 40.7
Germany 40.6

Vacation Required by Law
U.S. 0
Italy 4
Britain 4
France 5
Germany 4

America at 300 million

2006-10-28T16:51:00.000-04:00

50% of the US population makes less than $30,000.
70% of the US population makes less than $50,000.
90% of the US population makes less than $100,000.
9.7 million make between $100,000 and $200,000.
2.3 million make between $200,000 and $500,000.
9,677 make more than $10 million a year.

America at 300 million

2006-10-28T16:50:00.001-04:00

34% are Evangelical Protestant
22% are Mainline Protestant
21% are Roman Catholic
11% are unaffiliated
5% are Black Protestant
2.5% are Jewish
The remaining follow Islam or Buddhism
According to the study, 5% are atheist.
But then no, the numbers don’t add up: 61% Protestant and 21% Roman Catholic equals 82%, when the religious with no affiliation are added we have 93%, and then by adding Jewish we come to 95.5%. Obviously these numbers are rounded, but it only leaves room for 4.5% of the population that are atheist, Buddhist, or follow Islam.

America at 300 million

2006-10-28T16:50:00.000-04:00

41% of the US population believes ancient civilization, like Atlantis, once existed.
37% of the US population believes places can be haunted.
25% of the US population believes some UFOs are probably spaceships from other worlds.
18% of the US population believes creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster will one day be discovered.

Here’s a question

2006-10-27T00:07:00.000-04:00

Are you disgusted with the Republican Party or your Republican representative? That is if your Representative or Senator is up for reelection. I keep hearing in the news how the Democrats might very well take over both Houses in November because there is such discontent with Congress and the President. But, is this general discontent, or specific? Personally, I am disappointed with many of the decisions being made in Washington, but I am still going to go out and vote next month, and I am going to be voting for my Republican Representative and my Republican Senator.
I can’t help but wonder how many people are like me. There is disappointment but the votes are still going to be the same. I have a feeling that any feel the same way, and the Democratic takeover is not a guaranteed as predicted.

Thank you New Jersey

2006-10-27T00:06:00.000-04:00

With the New Jersey Supreme Court not striking down same sex marriage and instead extending the rights of marriage to gay couples, this is going to lead to a lot of Republicans going out and voting next month in a critical New Jersey race which may determine who controls the Senate.

Bush Signs U.S.-Mexico Border Fence Bill

2006-10-27T00:04:00.000-04:00

Associated Press, October 26, 2006

WASHINGTON - President Bush wanted an exchange of workers with Mexico to bring order to the border, but wound up signing a law Thursday that approves partitioning 700 miles of the United States from its southern neighbor.
The administration once talked of "orderly migration" _ workers entering the United States and returning to Mexico or other countries when their jobs were finished. But political realities have replaced phrases like that with "border security" and plans for fences, surveillance cameras, unmanned aerial vehicles and watch towers.
Bush still wants a guest-worker program. But the toughest resistance to that idea has come from his own Republican Party _ and has intensified as the midterm elections have drawn near…
"We're modernizing the southern border of the United States so we can assure the American people we're doing our job of securing the border," Bush said.
The new law also gives the Department of Homeland Security up to 18 months to achieve "operational control" of the border, defined as preventing all illegal entries into the U.S. by land or water.
The bill didn't come with any new funding, and the $1.2 billion that Congress previously approved is not enough to build the full 700 miles of proposed double-layer fence…
Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., said Congress will add more money each year to erect the fence.
"Within about three years, we should have about 370 miles," said Kyl, whose state would be virtually sealed from Mexico through fencing and other barriers.
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Ralph Basham said the fence could take many forms, from chain link to solid wall, depending on where it is placed. The shape will be determined with the help of Boeing Co., which was awarded a $67 million contract to install a high-tech "virtual fence" along 28 miles in Arizona…
Bush continues to promote a temporary guest-worker plan. His administration had been negotiating the proposal with then-Mexican President Vicente Fox but shoved it into the background after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks…

So for those of you who don’t like Bush, think about what it means if you agree with his immigration policy. Do you think he actually got something right, or could it be that he is wrong once again, and maybe you should reevaluate your own ideas on the issue?

Meet your new neighbor

2006-10-24T21:55:00.000-04:00

Atlanta residents warned: John Mark Karr lives here
Associated Press, October 23, 2006

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- A neighborhood group is warning members that the man who was briefly a suspect in the slaying of JonBenet Ramsey is now living in the community with his father.
The Chastain Park Civic Association sent an e-mail Thursday to its 2,000 member homeowners announcing that John Mark Karr had moved into his father's home in the well-to-do Atlanta neighborhood, where houses sell for more than $600,000.
The e-mail noted that Wex Karr's house is about three blocks from a playground…
Karr has not been convicted of any crime that would require him to register as a sex offender or restrict where he can live or work…
After being cleared in the slaying, Karr was sent to California to face charges of possessing child pornography. But the case was dropped and he was released October 5 because investigators had lost crucial evidence.

A timetable in Iraq & More Troops

2006-10-24T21:54:00.000-04:00

U.S. Says More GIs May Be Needed in Iraq
Associated Press, October 24, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two weeks before U.S. midterm elections, American officials unveiled a timeline Tuesday for Iraq's Shiite-led government to take specific steps to calm the world's most dangerous capital and said more U.S. troops might be needed to quell the bloodshed.
U.S. officials previously said they were satisfied with troop levels and had expected to make significant reductions by year's end. But a surge in sectarian killings, which welled up this past summer, forced them to reconsider.
At a rare joint news conference with the American ambassador, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. George Casey, said additional U.S. troops could come from inside or outside Iraq to "improve basic services for the population of Baghdad."
"Now, do we need more troops to do that? Maybe. And, as I've said all along, if we do, I will ask for the troops I need, both coalition and Iraqis," Casey said. There are currently 144,000 U.S. forces in Iraq…
Casey said Iraqi forces would be "completely capable" of controlling the country within the next 1 1/2 years.
"We are about 75 percent of the way through a three-step process in building those (Iraqi) forces," the general said. "It is going to take another 12 to 18 months or so until I believe the Iraqi security forces are completely capable of taking over responsibility for their own security. That's still coupled with some level of support from us."…

So more American troops are needed, duh, and it will be another year and a half before the Iraqis can be in charge of their own security. I don’t particularly like the idea that it is going to take longer to make a free Iraq then it did to make a free USA (the Civil War was only 4 years), but I trust the words of a general on the ground about what it will take more than any politician.

And he’s not even a white guy

2006-10-23T00:37:00.001-04:00

Candidate in Letter Probe Stays in Race
Associated Press, October 22, 2006

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. - The Republican congressional candidate whose campaign was linked to an intimidating letter sent to Hispanic voters promised Sunday to stay in the race despite pressure to withdraw.
"I'm not going to quit this race; I'm going to win this race," Tan Nguyen told reporters at his campaign headquarters.
Nguyen, a Vietnamese immigrant trying to unseat popular Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez, last week blamed an unidentified staffer for sending out 14,000 letters warning immigrants they could be deported or jailed for voting in next month's election. The mailings sparked state and federal probes.
Nguyen said he did not authorize or approve the letter, and implied that Sanchez was behind the investigations.
"There has been no crime committed so why is there a criminal investigation three weeks prior to a very important election? What is going on? Who is fueling this investigation?" he asked.
Calls seeking comment from Sanchez were not immediately returned.
The Orange County Republican Party has called for his resignation and he has received criticism from many, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
On Friday, after Nguyen's campaign headquarters was searched by California Department of Justice investigators, a handful of local candidates showed up to condemn the letter and suggest Nguyen might not be the only Republican involved.
Nguyen's residence, and that of a home listed as belonging to one of his staffers, also were searched by investigators on Friday.
The letter, written in Spanish, was mailed to an estimated 14,000 Democratic voters in Orange County. It warned: "You are advised that if your residence in this country is illegal or you are an immigrant, voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time."
Immigrants who have become naturalized U.S. citizens are eligible to vote.
William Braniff, a spokesman for the Nguyen campaign and a former U.S. attorney, blamed the controversy on the media. He said the media mistranslated the word "emigrado," which appeared in the Spanish-language letter.
The word "emigrado" refers to someone who has emigrated and has no specific legal connotation.
Braniff said, however, the word refers specifically to legal residents _ but not naturalized citizens. He said when the letter was translated into English, the word "emigrado" became "immigrant" and didn't distinguish between those immigrants who were U.S. citizens and U.S. residents.

But, I guess there is the inconvenient fact that those in this country who are not citizens or here illegally, emigrados, can not vote in an election, and I would assume it would be against the law if they tried. Unless there is something here I am missing, but we haven’t started to let illegal immigrants vote too have we?

Excerpt

2006-10-23T00:37:00.000-04:00

GOP Losses Could Spark Partisan Warfare

Associated Press, October 22, 2006

…Some of Bush's sharpest critics would rise to top positions with a Democratic takeover.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., probably would become speaker. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., a foe of extending Bush tax cuts, would become chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.
Rep. John Conyers of Michigan, who has sponsored legislation calling for steps that could open the way to Bush's impeachment, would lead the Judiciary Committee.
If Democrats win the Senate, Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada _ one of the most outspoken of all Bush critics _ probably would ascend to majority leader…
A Democratic takeover of one or more chambers would all but guarantee that Bush would not get his Social Security overhaul or further tax cuts through Congress.
One Bush initiative that actually might see improved chances is his immigration proposal for a "guest worker" program. That actually has more Democratic than Republican support…

Bush’s ridiculous tax cuts and his destruction of Social Security are not going to happen regardless of who wins in November because neither Party really wants either. But, it is enough for me to vote Republican to prevent a guest worker program or amnesty for 20 million illegal immigrants.

Boy's Dad Has Doubts on Madonna Adoption

2006-10-23T00:36:00.000-04:00

Associated Press, October 22,2006

BLANTYRE, Malawi - A Malawian man who gave up his 13-month-old son to be adopted by Madonna said Sunday he had not realized he was signing away custody "for good."
Yohane Banda signed adoption papers earlier this month, clearing the way for a Malawian judge to grant the pop singer and her husband a temporary order to take his son David.
"Our understanding was that they would educate and take care of our son just as they were doing at the orphanage," the 32-year-old illiterate peasant farmer told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Lipunga, the village where he ekes out a living growing onions and tomatoes.
Until now, Banda has said his decision was in the best interests of his motherless son and criticized local charities who have started legal proceedings to challenge the adoption.
Banda said his understanding was that "when David grows up he will return back home to his village." He said the director of Child Welfare Services, Penston Kilembe, and the retired pastor who heads the orphanage where David spent most of his life never told him by "adoption" it meant David will cease to be his son.
"If we were told that she wants to take the baby as her own we could not have consented, because I see no reason why I should give away my son," he said…
Banda said he was illiterate and so had no idea of the significance of the adoption papers he signed in the High Court in the capital, Lilongwe…
Madonna's Malawian lawyer Alan Chinula also refused to comment, saying his clients have not given him any fresh instructions, but he insisted the singer followed all the procedures to adopt the child.
Critics of the adoption disagree. The Human Rights Consultative Committee, which comprises 67 human rights groups, has challenged the adoption, saying laws concerning the residency of the prospective parents were flouted and that it may set a precedent for human trafficking.
Banda's claims were corroborated by his cousin, Wiseman Zimba, and mother, Asineti Mwale.
"Our understanding as family is that David is still part and parcel of our clan," Zimba said. "After the good woman nurtures and educates him, he will return back."…
Madonna, who came to Malawi on Oct. 4 with her husband, the British filmmaker Guy Ritchie, spent eight days visiting six orphanages she is funding through her Raising Malawi charity. She is also establishing her an orphanage for up to 4,000 children in a village outside the capital.

Madonna went to Africa, spent eight days there, toured six orphanages, and picked out the child she wanted to take back to England with her. The father didn’t know he was giving up his son permanently, and now we will have to see if Madonna gives the child back. If she doesn’t, this is no different than a triangle trade, but without the Rum. Why is the only outrage from human rights groups?

Madonna

2006-10-21T23:31:00.000-04:00

Madonna has taken some time off from her busy touring schedule where she hangs from a cross while wearing a crown of thorns to symbolize that she is in fact evil, and recently paid a visit to Africa. While in African, Madonna found a young African boy and decided to bring this baby home with her to America. No, sorry, I forgot she is English now. So she brought the small orphaned African boy back to England with her. No, sorry again, I forgot, the boy’s father is still in Africa. Anyhow, Madonna, went to Africa to bring home a young African child. I assume this is now the thing to do to show you care about Africa. Go there, pick out a child, and bring them home with you, and then you too can own your own.
So can I go to Africa too and pick out a child? What if I don’t really want to go to Africa though to pick one out? Can I have someone go for me instead? But, I don’t want them to bring back the wrong one, so is it possible they could bring over a few for me. And, I would hate for the young children to be scared on a plane, so maybe they could bring the children by boat instead? I mean there are always ships going back and forth throughout the Atlantic, they could even stop somewhere in the Caribbean and pick up some Rum.
When they get here by boat, perhaps they could line up all the children and I could pick the one I wanted. I’m sure if others found out that there was a boatload of young African children coming to the US they might want one too, so maybe we could have some kind of auction to determine who gets what child if there are too many people who want their own?
As I child, I remember once I became old enough, my parents had me do some odd work around the house, like cleaning, and some work outdoors. I mean they didn’t pay me for it, but they clothed me and fed me. Sometimes though there was a lot of work, so it would have been nice to have had some brothers and sisters around to help out. Maybe, for the welfare of the child, I should adopt more than one. Maybe even 10 children, so my new child could have people to play with and share the work with? I will of course clothe them and feed them, but why would they need any money if I was taking care of them? I mean didn’t I pay to have them brought over on a boat? And wasn’t I generous enough to adopt them? They of course would take my last name too, but they wouldn’t really mind would they? I mean it is what is best for the child, and it looks like it is the thing to do anyhow. Maybe it could be a regular thing. A boat leaves from the US with money, or some other type of goods, arrives in the Caribbean and exchanged for Rum, then off to Africa to pick up children to adopt, and then back to the US, where the children could be auctioned off to their new proud parents.

Obviously this is all in jest, so I don’t want someone to tell me they were upset by this. Instead take it for what it was meant to articulate, however crudely. How do you let some rich white person go to Africa and pick out a child, take that child from their parents, regardless of parental consent, and bring them to another country? Because the child will have rich parents? Because the child will have a “better life?” Because that child will have more opportunities?
Look, I know children get adopted everyday, and I am sure Madonna is not adopting this young child to become some-sort of slave. But, does anyone else get at least a bit of a queasy feeling in their stomach because of this story?

The Truth Hurts

2006-10-21T23:30:00.000-04:00

'Illegals' term isn't divisive, it's the truth

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER : October 17 , 2006 -- by ROBERT L. JAMIESON JR.

A hijacking of the English language just took place.

It happened earlier this month when Seattle activists accused Senate candidate Mike McGavick of using "divisive" language by invoking the word "illegals" in an ad.

In the TV spot, McGavick's camp says Sen. Maria Cantwell "voted to allow Social Security benefits to illegals."

Liberal activists, led by Hate Free Zone Washington, a social-justice group, blasted such language, calling it "dehumanizing."

"This kind of anti-immigrant rhetoric is inflammatory," the activists claimed, "and does nothing to solve the real problems to our broken immigration system."

Immigration policy in America is broken.

The system doesn't reflect the millions of people who sneak in and help our economy by cooking in restaurants, working as nannies, picking fruit or building homes.

But to suggest people who come from Latin America or Canada or wherever without valid paperwork are somehow here legally is ridiculous.

As David Ray of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, put it: "Referring to an illegal alien as an 'undocumented immigrant' is like calling a bank robbery an 'unauthorized withdrawal.' "

"Undocumented workers" or "unauthorized migrants" are euphemisms used for a reason -- to sugarcoat uncomfortable truths.

You see this verbal jibber-jabber all over the place.

Folks at Hewlett-Packard are in hot water for obtaining others' phone records by pretending to be those people -- or people with legitimate access rights -- then coming up with a pretext for needing the records.

The corporate world calls this pretexting. In the rest of the universe, it is known as lying.

After Hurricane Katrina, victims were not to be called refugees, but evacuees, a flaccid noun that doesn't capture the depth of the suffering.

President Bush likes to talk about reforming welfare. He means dismantling it.

What makes the linguistic spin surrounding illegals brain-numbing is that using polite words or phrases doesn't magically give people legal status. It does wipe out accurate language in the name of protecting the feelings of people who are in this country without permission.

I'm usually on the same page as Pramila Jayapal of Hate Free Zone, but not this time.

"Factually, no human being is 'illegal,' " says Jayapal, director of the social-justice group. "People commit acts that are illegal. Many of our august Congress people have committed illegal acts -- but we do not call them 'illegal.' "

Jayapal points out that being in America without valid immigration papers isn't a criminal offense. The immigration system was set up as a civil system, not a criminal one. Immigration violations, she says, are typically considered civil violations.

That said, people without papers aren't following the rules. That makes them illegal immigrants or illegal aliens or illegals for short.

"It's about stigma and dignity," Jayapal says. She said the activists "singled out" McGavick, adding, "It was an educational opportunity."

But to what end?

Public attention got deflected from where it's needed -- on meaningful policy discussions -- and that is nothing new.

Whether they're "refugees" or "evacuees," the flood victims of New Orleans are still without homes.

Whether they're "illegals" or "paperless immigrants," the hardworking people who cross the border still are looking over their shoulders.

Meanwhile, the PC word police keep up a blindfolded pursuit. They recently called the Cantwell campaign to complain about her ad rebutting McGavick's; the senator's ad says "illegal immigrants."

Uh oh.

"We're working on changing it," a spokeswoman for the comically hypersensitive Cantwell campaign said Monday. "They need to get the voice-over guy back in the studio to redo it."

What will the new ad say?

"Undocumented workers," the spokeswoman said. "Or undocumented immigrants."

What a bunch of bovine droppings.