Everyone in the nation (or just about everyone) knows about Detroit and, depending on your views, see it as a nice place to visit or live in or a festering Hellhole of crime and poverty. Your views depend on how you enjoyed your visit or the news reports you see/read/hear about, which leads me to the point of this post.

The August 2 primary is closing, and the current Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, is lagging in the polls due to multiple scandals in the cash-stripped city, some of which he has leased a luxary SUV for about $25,000, which was meant for his wife and paid for a trip to the Bahamas using the city's credit card.

Here you will find the candidates and their positions (via Detroit Free Press):

Sharon McPhail: http://www.freep.com/news/politics/mcphail -bar122e_20050722.htm" title="http://www.freep.com/news/politics/mcphail -bar122e_20050722.htm" target="_blank"http://www.freep.com/news/pol...

Freman Hendrix: http://www.freep.com/news/politics/hendrix -bar121e_20050721.htm" title="http://www.freep.com/news/politics/hendrix -bar121e_20050721.htm" target="_blank"http://www.freep.com/news/pol...

Hansen Clarke: http://www.freep.com/news/politics/clarke- issues20e_20050720.htm" title="http://www.freep.com/news/politics/clarke- issues20e_20050720.htm" target="_blank"http://www.freep.com/news/pol...

Kwame Kilpatrick: http://www.freep.com/news/politics/kilp-ba r119e_20050719.htm" title="http://www.freep.com/news/politics/kilp-ba r119e_20050719.htm" target="_blank"http://www.freep.com/news/pol...

Now, for the record, I do not live in Detroit, I live in Flat Rock, close to Monroe County, but I see the commercials for the mayoral race, so I decided to comment on it.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" title="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" target="_blank"http://www.foxnews.com/story/...,2933,163629,00.html (FOXNews.com)

For the first time in 2.5 years, a spaceshuttle has gone to space. Discovery is making its second "Return to Flight" launch in its history, the first one after the Challenger tragedy in the late 80's. It was nice to see the shuttle launch off with that huge-ass flame coming out of its engines like that.

Godspeed to the crew of Discovery, the International Space Station, and all of the people who will go up in the future.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" title="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" target="_blank"http://www.foxnews.com/story/...,2933,163466,00.html (FOXNews.com)

It appears that the person who was shot last Friday was not connected to the terrorist atrocities of 7/7 and the failed attack on the 21st. If anything has come out of this is that it shows that the police force is on edge since there are 4 people out there that wanted to blow themselves up but didn't. The police force wants to prevent another attack on innocient civilians, but with 4 terrorist-wannabes out there, they cannot take any chances. The person who was shot perked the suspicion of the police because he left a house under survallence and was wearing a heavy, padded coat in July, not the best time for winter clothing. He also failed to heed police orders and ran towards a subway car, thus the police feared that he could be a homicide bomber and did what they had to do to prevent another tragedy like 7/7.

Via FOXNews.com: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" title="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" target="_blank"http://www.foxnews.com/story/...,2933,163412,00.html

CAIRO, Egypt — At least two large explosions rocked the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula early Saturday, killing at least 25 people and injuring 110, police said.

From what I have read here at the website, it appears to be a terror attack, but we need more info before we can say for sure if this is a terror attack.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0" title="http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0" target="_blank"http://www.sky.com/skynews/ar...,,30000-1189833,00.html (Sky News)

Thankfully, only one person was slightly injured. The bombs did not explode, only the detonators. Some witnesses said they saw a man run from one of the trains after the detonator went off.

This all comes two weeks to the day since terrorists massacred over 50 civilians on July 7th. This time the bombers screwed up. Not only are they alive, but there were witnesses that may have saw them and it is only a matter of time before they are caught. The bombs themselves will help out greatly, since they can trace the explosives to see if they are the same as the bombs on 7/7.

One of the things that has changed since the 7/7 attack is that there are armed police officers out there, since the main police forces are armed only with batons and "stab-proof" vests.

Again, thankfully, no one was seriously injured, and only one slightly injured.

From FOXNews.com: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" title="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" target="_blank"http://www.foxnews.com/story/...,2933,163031,00.html

Some facts about his life:
Harvard Graduate; US Appeals Court for DC Circuit; principal deputy solicitor general, U.S. Justice Department, 1989-93 (Bush 41); lawyer of  Hogan & Hartson, Washington, D.C. from 1986-89 and 1993-2003; associate counsel to President Reagan, 1982-86; and was a law clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William H. Rehnquist when he was an associate justice in 1980-81.

Based on what I have read from the above site shows me that he is a well-qualified nominee. While some are disappointed that President Bush didn't nominate a female or a minority, pretty much everyone (for now) agrees that he is qualified to the post as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. On FOXNews.com's Voice Your Opinion http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" title="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" target="_blank"http://www.foxnews.com/story/...,2933,162975,00.html, there is a fair mix of responses from both the left and the right.

Now, while the person nominated to replace a woman is a male, President Bush does not have to nominate a woman to replace a woman, even thought women consists of a little more than half of the US population. Bush wanted someone well qualified and will uphold the Constitution and NOT legislate from the bench, and John Roberts is who he chose. Only time will tell if Roberts will uphold the conservative values and ideals.

I support Judge Roberts for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and I hope that the Democrats will give Roberts a dignified and fair hearing.

Well, that surprised a lot of us. Everyone expected Edith Clement to be the nominee. It was reported that John Roberts was the nominee earlier, but i waited to make sure it is official.

Now, based on what I have heard about him, Judge Roberts is a well qualified nominee for the position of associate justice vacated by Sandra Day O'Connor. He has served as the clerk to Chief Justice William Rehnquest in the 1980's, associate council to President Ronald Reagan, and has argued several cases before the Supreme Court.

Also, he is a conservative, which is what Bush wanted. It may upset the liberals in the Senate, but I think that Roberts' nomination will be a somewhat smooth one. Hopefully, he will received a dignified confirmation in the Senate, like the other Supreme Court nominees.

Bush to announce his pick tonight: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" title="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" target="_blank"http://www.foxnews.com/story/...,2933,162923,00.html (FOXNews)

One of the people on his short list, and is said to be the leading contender, is Judge Edith Clement from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans. I haven't heard much about her, so I will research her. 

At 9PM tonight is the announcement. Watch for reactions here and at http://www.blogsforbush.com/" title="http://www.blogsforbush.com/" target="_blank"http://www.blogsforbush.com/ (Blogs4Bush).

An interesting article on RightWingNews @ [url=]http://www.rightwingnews.com/...[/url] (Had some issues with the original link, just scroll down to The Evidence Presented So Far Suggests Karl Rove Has Done Nothing Wrong In The Valerie Plame Case)

My take on this is that, based on the information that I have read and heard, Karl Rove, White House advisor to President Bush, did nothing wrong. He told the reporter, Matt Cooper, not to go to far into this because Wilson's wife "works in the CIA". Now, there has been a lot of debate over whether Rove outed Mrs. Plame during this short conversation. Now, again, based on what I have read/heard, Rove did not outed Mrs. Plame.

Now the MSM is in a lather over this. The Democrats have called for Rove to be fired, or for Rove to resign, which none of the above will happen UNLESS the special prosecutor in the case indicted him and Rove was found guilty in a court of law. If he is guilty, then he should resign or for Bush to fire him.

Now, one thing to keep in mind is this: Rove was originally approached by Cooper about welfare reform, but then Cooper asked about the Joe Wilson investigating the Niger/yellowcake report.

Is this a political lynching or a criminal investigation? I'd say both: the left with the lynching and the right, as well as some on the left, with the investigation. The left has been druming this "felony committed" line for a while. They are hoping that they are right, but it may just blow up in their face, like Russian Roulette; pulling the trigger while hoping that the chamber is empty.

If Karl Rove is found guilty in a court of law, then I would be calling for his resignation/unemployment, along with the rest of the left and the right; but until then, he should stay on until the investigation is over.

Questions, comments, complains, observations? Post them in the comments section.

This was done after the bombings in London that killed over 50 people. We are major partners in the War on Terror. Simple, and gets the point across.

Attacks Kill at Least 33: http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0" title="http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0" target="_blank"http://www.sky.com/skynews/ar...,,30000-1188265,00.html (SkyNews)

British Prime Minister Tony Blair called the attacks "barbaric". His response:
"It's important ... that those engaged in terrorism realize that our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people and a desire to impose extremism on the world,"
"Whatever they do, it is our determination that they will never succeed destroying what we hold dear in this country and in other civilizations in the world."

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone:
"I want to say one thing, specifically to the world today — this was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful, it was not aimed at presidents or prime ministers, it was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian ... young and old … that isn't an ideology, it isn't even a perverted fate, it is an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder."
"They seek to divide London, they seek Londoners to turn against each other ... this city of London is the greatest in the world because everybody lives side by side in harmony. Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack."

His words to the terrorists:
"I know that you personally do not fear to give your own life in exchange to taking others ... but I know you do fear you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society ... in the days that follow, look at our airports, look at our seaports and look at our railway stations ... you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world, will arrive in London to become Londoners, to fulfill their dream and achieve their potential … whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail."

The G8 issued statement, read by PM Blair:
"Those responsible have no respect for human life. We are united in our resolve to confront and defeat this terrorism that is not an attack on one nation but on all nations and on civilized people everywhere. We will not allow violence to change our societies or our values, nor will we allow it to stop the work of this summit,"
"The terrorists will not succeed. Today's bombings will not weaken in any way our resolve to uphold the most deeply held principles of our societies and to defeat those who would impose their fanaticism and extremism on all of us. We shall prevail and they shall not."

The NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer called the attacks "appaulling".
"I know I speak on behalf of all NATO allies when I express our sympathy for and solidarity with the British people. There can be no justification for such heinous crimes, I condemn in the strongest terms these attacks, which underline the need for the international community and members of the alliance to remain united in the fight against terrorism."

(Quotes from: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" title="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0" target="_blank"http://www.foxnews.com/story/...,2933,161768,00.html)

This terrorist attack will united the people of the United Kingdom against terrorism. This attack came on the heels of the announcement of London holding the 2012 Olympic games, but that is a coincidence of timing. My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of London and the United Kingdom. The Queen has ordered the British flag to be lowered to half-staff to honor the victims of this massacre.

More updates will come as they come in.

Via: http://www.blogsforbush.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/4813" title="http://www.blogsforbush.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/4813" target="_blank"http://www.blogsforbush.com/m... Blogs 4 Bush

Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor had gave her letter of resignation to President George Bush today. Justice O'Connor has been a loyal public servant for the past 24 years since she was nominated by late President Ronald Reagan, becoming the first female to serve as Justice of the Supreme Court.

She has been the critical swing vote, mainly siding with the majority, thus the reason you see a lot of 5 to 4 decisions; thus, this will be a critical issue with both the left and the right; the left will want someone who will keep with Roe v. Wade; the right will want someone who will oppose abortion. Expect a fierce fight over the President's nomination. I hope that the President will choose someone who leans to the right on some issues, like abortion and capital punishment, but won't be afraid to choose sides.

Hopefully this wouldn't be too fierce of a fight and that there won't be a smear campaign against that nominee.