...came quicker than I expected.

The answer to the question I posed two posts ago is....Iran.

(Tonight's AP headline on MSNBC)

"Iran to give Palestinian government $50 million
Promise of funds comes after U.S., Europe cuts (sic) off aid to Hamas leadership"

Welcome to the Middle Eastern version of Russian-Cuban satellite states.

We simply have to stop using fuel and stop fueling terrorism.

But how?

sharptalk

This is an issue that will cut both ways and can't be read in one year. As hard as it is to believe, the Republicans had a lot of strength in California before Proposition 13 (or something like that) that dealt sternly with immigration.

However, with a terrorism overlay, this issue could turn on the Democrats and sweep away their current huge momentum.

Already the polls are showing a modest advantage for Republicans on this issue and the President's approval rating has risen back to 45% per Rasmussen.

We're also seeing the Democrats leads in many races begin to shrink and there are even a few Democratic seats that look to be in peril in the Senate. A quick sampling:

DeWine has retaken the lead in Ohio
Talent has pulled back to even in Missouri (actually 1% down)
A close race is shaping up for the Democratic seat in Minnesota
Maryland is seeing a tight race to replace a retiring Democrat
Casey's lead in PA over Santorum has fallen to single digits
Harold Ford can't equal any of his potential Republican opponents in TN to replace Bill Frist

Those are a few highlights, most other races are yawners.
But the possibility exists that, with any minor impetus, the Republicans could hold or even build on their advantage in the Senate. And immigration/terrorism could be shaping up to provide it.

Unbelievable.

We'll be watching.

sharptalk

This could be entitled, "Be careful what you wish for II".

Hamas is now entering dire straits. Security forces (part of the government that hasn't been paid in two weeks) brought traffic to a halt on the main road into Gaza this week.

And all of this just days after I read a glowing review of the terrorist hate organization in a liberal rag (I think it was Newsweek). They were praised for "keeping their promises" and "working hard for the Palestinian people".

Maybe they should work a little less hard on terrorism. Then they might receive more of the massive support that nations like the U.S. and those in Europe have given the the Palestinian gov't for years. It's mostly on hold right now and the U.S. gov't won't let businesses here do business with Palestinian companies.

Why is that? Because the U.S. gov't hates Palestinians? Because they hate Arabs? Muslims?

No, it's because the overriding goal of Hamas is the destruction of Israel.

So now they have a problem. They can't pay anybody. Hamas is now the biggest employer in the Palestinian (sort of) state. Will they get funding from Iran? A modern-day Cuba/Russia connection? Will they get it from the Saudis?

It will be interesting to watch. But I particularly want to see how the fawning left elites in the media treat this story. I'm watching to see how they make this all Bush's fault. And I'm not kidding in the least.

sharptalk

All these jobs and all this growth are making it tough to find excuses for my personal financial situation.

If he had just left alone the 0% growth he inherited from Clinton then I could whine all I wanted about how the government has let me down and owes me a living.

What the heck. I'll do it anyway. Everyone else does.

sharptalk

I was the one who outed Valerie Plame.

Of course, I read it in her husband's book.

I swear I didn't know it was a secret.

Who got her. The Russians? The Mossad? The Iranians?

What? She was on the cover of Vanity Fair? Doesn't that make it hard to hide?

Wish I hadn't said anything.

sharptalk