The fingers are willing but the brain just won’t cooperate tonight.
I began a post and realized it wasn’t even sensible to me so I used the trusty delete button and stopped by my old standby and found this.

After a day of politics, human interest stories, personal reflections, frustration and humor, it was nice to sit back and remember, we really do live in a pretty “Wonderful World.”

See you tomorrow friends..I am sure there will be much on the plate!

Linked through permission of Old Blue Web Designs

Believe me when I tell you I have visited more vets in my life than I care to remember. Our now 13 year old chocolate cocker spaniel was diagnosed with anal gland cancer three years ago and our regular vet recommended we take her to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for treatment.

During the treatment and the follow-up visits we saw students, residents and professors. Every single one of them was an animal lover and loved our dog.

It irks me when I read stories such as this, where a veterinarian punched a dog in the head five times with his fist and knocked the dog’s eye out. The victim is a 5 pound chihuahua and wasn’t being as co-operative as the vet thought she should be when coming in for a spay.

He’s been arrested and posted bail, but he needs to have his license revoked and spend some time behind bars, preferably in a cage similar to one used in dog pounds.

I think my favorite Ratherism was in either the 2000 or the 2004 presidential reporting when Rather said, “This race is tighter than the lugnuts on a 55 Ford.”

Enjoy this blast from the past.

A woman with the last name of Butts has been busted for stealing 3 rolls of toilet paper from the rest room at the courthouse. She could be sentenced to 3 years in jail.

Can you imagine if she goes to prison:

Butts: What are you in for?

Cellmate: Manslaughter while DUI. Two years. How ’bout you?

Butts: Stealing toilet paper. Three years.

Video here.

The incredible Michael Yon is writing a four part series entitled “Death or Glory.”

I will offer only a taste of what is a depiction unlike any other of some of the events taking place in Iraq.

The intended target in an ambush never knows when it’s over. Yesterday’s ambush, which killed two soldiers and wounded three others, is a case in point. Once the Brits had dealt with the immediate aftermath of the ambush—setting up security, calling in air support, tending to the wounded and getting EOD in to deal with the remaining dozens of bombs—our convoy still had its mission objective. So we put the disabled vehicles in tow and continued our journey deeper into the desert.

This location was ideal for an area ambush, in which the enemy predicts or tries to shape your movements after the first attack, so that you move into other attacks. If the enemy does a good job, your force should be increasingly damaged and disorganized with each new ambush. If they do a very good job, they might wipe you out completely leaving nothing but burning vehicles, dead bodies, and maybe some prisoners.

If you are interested in the daily obstacles the forces in Iraq face, this is a must read. The real time photos offer stories in and of themselves.

Part one of the series is available from a link at the conclusion of part two. I look forward to parts three and four. Thank you Michael Yon for not only your dedication but your straightforward reporting.

The Senate came up 7 votes short to move a resolution of no-confidence in Attorney General Gonzales to the floor for full debate.

Since we aren’t a parliamentary style of government a vote of no-confidence means nothing. If they want to get rid of him they’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way: impeachment.

Republicans blocked the Senate’s no-confidence vote on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Monday, rejecting a symbolic Democratic effort to prod him from office despite blistering criticism from lawmakers in both parties.
The 53-38 vote to move the resolution to full debate fell seven short of the 60 required. In bringing the matter up, Democrats dared Republicans to vote their true feelings about an attorney general who has alienated even the White House’s strongest defenders by bungling the firings of federal prosecutors and claiming not to recall the details.

Republicans did not defend him, but most voted against moving the resolution ahead.

Short of impeachment, Congress has no authority to oust a Cabinet member, but Democrats were trying anew to give him a push.

Why, oh, why can’t our congress get on to business that matters and is not just a sense of the Senate or a sense of the House, which means nothing?

This man has not served the president well, but passing resolutions isn’t the answer.

I think the impeachment train has left the station too because this administration will be gone in 18 months. It would take congress that long to organize a trip to the bathroom.

I received a letter in the mail today, the text of which is quoted:

To the Parents of:
My name and address (married name)

Dear Parent:

You’ve worked hard to raise a conscientious and academically successful teen–one with a bright future ahead! Your focus and dedication along with the achievements of your teen have been recognized with a nomination to be honored in the 41st Edition of Who’s Who Among American High School Students, 2006-2007.

This tremendous honor is reserved for fewer than 5% of American high school students. Since 1967 Who’s Who have gone on to become respected business and political leaders, scholars and humanitarians. Being named a Who’s Who student is an extraordinary milestone and a harbinger of future success.

What a Who’s Who Nomination Means

An invitation to be included in Who’s Who is an opportunity to be part of a 40-year tradition of excellence. Your teen’s Biography, including academic honors, extra-curricular activities, sports awards, and community services, will be showcased in the upcoming edition of Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

Many college admissions officers consider inclusion in Who’s Who to be a prestigious scholastic award. Research shows 95% of responding college admissions officers consider the Who’s Who honor a plus when they are reviewing applications and making those critical decisions.

Applying for Scholarships?

All approved honorees can also apply for part of the over $100,000 in scholarships from the Educational Communications, Inc. Scholarship Foundation. Since its creation, the Scholarship foundation has awarded over $5 million to outstanding students. See our web site [left out. Admin] for more information and to download an application.

Your Student is Exceptional. Accept this Invitation Today

You and your student have worked hard. Accept today, so they can feel the positive impacts for years to come. Just remember, we need to hear from you by June 5, 2007. [Today is June 11 Admin] Complete the biography online at [Web site left out Admin]

We’re pleased and proud to recognize your student’s accomplishments and your dedication as a parent. Congratulations on this achievement!

Carol Lynn Martens
Publisher, Who’s Who Among American High School Students
Chair, Educational Communications, Inc. Scholarship Foundation

There is an urgent note at the top of the letter stating the online deadline is June 12.

The minimum fee is $15 to publish my photo.

My parents have been dead for a number of years. I graduated from high school in 1965 and will be 60 years old in October.

Think I should join and send them my high school picture so I can reach soaring heights?

In our never-ending effort to prove conservatives and liberals can actually discuss politics, disagree and still be pleasant to one another, it is my pleasure to introduce you to the newest member of our team, Ayschlay.

Ayschlay is a liberal-leaning person who is in higher education in the political science field.

I will let him tell you as much about himself as he wishes to disclose.

Let’s give Ayschlay a very hearty welcome to the Js Cafenette team!

A suicide bomber drove his explosives-laden vehicle into a bridge south of Baghdad Sunday, wounding several U.S. soldiers guarding the bridge.

There was no immediate U.S. Army confirmation on the number and severity of the casualties. An Iraqi civilian also was injured, said Donald Campbell, of the private security Armor Group International, who helped in the rescue.

Campbell, a 40-year-old from Inverness, Scotland, was among those in a passing Armor Group convoy who worked with a U.S. Army quick reaction force for some 45 minutes to pull trapped men from the rubble, scrambling over the fallen concrete.

U.S. armored vehicles provided cover fire from their cannons after the bombing, which occurred in the area dubbed the “triangle of death” for its frequent Sunni insurgent attacks. (more…)

To Our House and Senate Leaders:

I hear you are planning ways to withdraw troops from Iraq by using amendments to funding bills later in the year.

Code Pink is forcing you to live up to your campaign promises, you see.

You think you can unring the bell of the war authorization. Sorry, but that train has left the station.

If what you want to do is what the majority of Americans want done, as you say, then do it the honorable way. Send up a bill that will stop all funding of the war and we will be forced to leave Iraq if there are no funds.

The American electorate will support you; or will they?

Quit playing around with amendments to spending bills setting a date certain for withdrawal. If you are so proud of what you want then show your pride and your support by putting forth a clean bill that shows it for what it is, instead of constantly going through the same gyrations we just went through in the past couple of months.

Does any politician think the voters have any sense at all, or do you all think we have the IQ of an amoeba?

What you are planning to do is the coward’s way out. You promised us transparency in our government. I’m ready for some transparency.

Pass a bill that calls for defunding the war and take any praise or scorn for that bill, but quit playing footsie and pretending it’s something else by trying to hide some strange-sounding amendment in an appropriations bill.

I, for one, will appreciate you more if you are honest with me and upfront instead of trying to slip something in on another bill.

Update: Take a look at what Captain Ed is writing. If what he reports is true, we won’t have to worry about Congress getting more involved in the war than they already are.