CALIFORNIA YANKEE

No posting likely until Saturday.

Senate Rejects Iraq Withdrawal

Senate rejects call for U.S. troop pullout from Iraq by a 93-6 vote.

The six Democratic Senators voting no - a vote for withdrawal:

Barbara Boxer of California
Robert Byrd of West Virginia
Russ Feingold of Wisconsin
Tom Harkin of Iowa
Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts
John Kerry of Massachusetts

Senate Majority Whip, Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, introduced legislation he said was taken from a proposal by Senator John Kerry. It called for Bush to agree with the Iraqi government on a schedule for withdrawal of combat troops by Dec. 31, 2006.

The Senate vote came unexpectedly as the House debated House Resolution 861 - Declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary.

Speaking in favor of the Global War on Terror Resolution, Speaker Hastert made an impassioned statement:

The clarity with which our men and women in uniform understand the reason they are in Iraq is a stark contrast to some here at home who talk about this war as a "war of choice." The facts are clear. America has been struck repeatedly.

Despite the life-ending attacks on Khobar Towers, our east African embassies, the USS Cole, and the first World Trade Center bombing, US policy tended to confuse these attacks with isolated, law-enforcement events.

We failed to recognize them as the escalating strikes that they were. We failed to identify the networks behind the bombs. We convinced ourselves that these attacks were somehow just random acts of violence.

Yet, the attacks continued. The terrorists did not admire or appreciate our limited response. They did not come to the table to discuss points of political concern. They did not de-escalate, demobilize, or disappear. Our response was inconstant and limited, but their reactions were not. They plotted and practiced, while we hoped for the best. We were wrong as we slumbered in denial.

Then came the day when terrorism slapped us in the face, awakening us to a stark reality. I remember it as a crisp fall day, where the clear blue sky was filled with fluffy white clouds. But that peaceful scene was transformed in an instant, when planes went crashing into buildings and the clear sky turned to choking ash and soot.

I stood in my Capitol office, just a few yards from where I am speaking today, and saw the black smoke rising from the Pentagon. The third plane had hit just across the river from this Capitol Building. On 9/11 the terrorists were not a distant threat, they were in our front yard, and they were very real – and very deadly.

In that moment, we were afraid. None of us had anticipated the lengths to which our common enemy would go to destroy our American way of life, our ideals and our beliefs. Of course we knew that foreign terrorist had caused trouble elsewhere, but we found it hard to imagine that they came to our shores hoping to kill tens of thousands of men, women and children, innocent, unarmed people, peacefully going about their daily lives. It is hard, even now, to comprehend such enormous evil.

As we watched some of our fellow citizens leap from burning buildings to their deaths, our fear turned to anger and then anger to resolute determination.

America’s response started high above a cornfield in rural Pennsylvania. Brave men and women, armed with nothing more than boiling water, dinner forks and broken bottles, stood up – as Americans always do when our freedom is in peril – and they struck back.

The vote on the House's Global War on Terror Resolution will be closer than the Senate's lopsided 93-6 vote. But not that Close. House Democrats realize that voting against such a resolution will expose them to attacks that Democrats who oppose the resolution don't support U.S. troops and advocate a "cut-and-run" strategy.

President Bush To Establish Worlds Largest Ocean Preserve

It's not often that a conservationist has something positive to say about President Bush. But Fred Krupp, head of Environmental Defense, says the President's plan to designate the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve as a National Monument is creates the world's largest marine protected area:

It's as important as the establishment of Yellowstone.

[. . .]

Roger Rufe, president of The Ocean Conservancy, agreed the area was on par with Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. "Teddy Roosevelt is largely considered the father of our national park system," he added. With this national monument, "President Bush may be securing a similar legacy in our oceans.”

About the size of California, the national monumentwill be 38 times larger than Yellowstone, and larger even than Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. It will consist of 139,000 square miles of largely uninhabited islands, atolls, coral reef colonies and seamounts, starting 160 miles west of Kauai, the remote 1,400-mile long string of islands extends to Kure atoll, west of Midway Island

President Bush is scheduled to announce the establishment of the nation's 75th national monument at a White House ceremony this morning.

This is a wonderful and important decision to protect the most intact tropical marine region under U.S. jurisdiction.

Cat Trees Bear

Jack, a territorial tabby, chased a black bear up tree - twice.

Suzanne Giovanetti's husband saw a bear climb a tree on the edge of their back yard. Giovanetti thought Jack was simply looking up at the bear, but soon realized the much larger animal was afraid of the hissing cat.

After a while, the bear descended the tree, only to have Jack chase it up another tree.

You can't make this stuff up.

Photo Credit: AP/Suzanne Giovanetti

Flag Day 2006

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Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2006
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

From our Nation's earliest days, Old Glory has stood for America's strength, unity, and liberty. During Flag Day and National Flag Week, we honor this enduring American symbol and celebrate the hope and ideals that it embodies.

In 1777, the Second Continental Congress established the flag of a young Nation, whose 13 original states were represented in the flag's 13 stars and 13 alternating red and white stripes. Today, the Stars and Stripes commemorate the revolutionary truths of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution. As Americans, we revere freedom and equality, the rights and dignity of every individual, and the supremacy of the rule of law. These fundamental beliefs have guided our country and lifted the fortunes of all Americans, and we have seen their power to transform other nations and deliver hope to people around the world.

During Flag Day and National Flag Week, we also honor the men and women who carry our flag into battle. Through their bravery and sacrifice, they help keep America safe and advance peace and freedom around the globe. By flying the flag, we express our gratitude to these heroes and all those who help ensure that the many blessings of our great country continue for generations to come.

To commemorate the adoption of our flag, the Congress, by joint resolution approved August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as "Flag Day" and requested that the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as "National Flag Week" and calling upon all citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2006, as Flag Day and the week beginning June 11, 2006, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during that week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by flying the Stars and Stripes from their homes and other suitable places. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, also set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor America, to celebrate our heritage in public gatherings and activities, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

President Bush Visits Troops In Iraq

I was going to post excerpts from President Bush's address to troops in Iraq. After several attempts I decided it was best to post the entire speech and recommend you read the entire thing.

I have some dear friends, people who I think are very smart and generally well informed, who are opposed to this war. I find it frustratingly impossible to have any meaningful discussion with these friends about the war. They had their minds made up about the war from the beginning. Because their minds are made up they refuse to inform themselves about what we are doing. They won't listen to or read what the President says, and he has given a remarkable series of speeches about the war and simply doesn't get enough credit for them. The point is if we are going to meaningfully debate how, or whether to continue to fight this war, and I think it is important that we do, it requires that the debate be informed. Don't let others decide what you think, decide yourself.

As William Safire once said:

Reading summaries and excerpts and critiques lets editors and analysts do the thinking for you. Film snippets of applause lines won't help you grasp the import, which you should have even if you want to disagree knowledgeably.

President Bush's address to troops in Iraq:

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thank you for the warm welcome. Thought I'd stop in to say "hello." (Laughter and applause.) I bring greetings from a grateful nation. (Applause.) I thank you for your sacrifice, I thank you for your service, I thank you for making history.

You know, one of the things I try to do is put good people in place who accomplish hard jobs. And I can't think of two better leaders than Zal Khalilzad and General Casey to lead this important effort. (Applause.) I thank you all very much for your service to our country. Your sacrifice is noble and your sacrifice is important.

I understand long deployments are tough -- they're tough on you and they're tough on your families. And so the first thing I want to tell you is the American people are incredibly grateful for what you do, and I bring their greetings and their thanks for the sacrifices you and your family make.

These are historic times. The mission that you're accomplishing here in Iraq will go down in the history books as an incredibly important moment in the history of freedom and peace; an incredibly important moment of doing our duty to secure our homeland.

You know, right after September the 11th I knew that some would forget the dangers we face. Some would hope that the world would be what it's not -- a peaceful place in which people wouldn't want to do harm to those of us who love freedom. I vowed that day, after September the 11th, to do everything I could to protect the American people. And I was able to make that claim because I knew there were people such as yourself who were willing to be on the front line in the war on terror.

Baghdad and Iraq is a front in the war on terror. It is a part of our mission to help make sure that the world is a better place. I truly believe the work that you're doing here is laying the foundation of peace for generations to come, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The progress here in Iraq has been remarkable when you really think about it. The people of this country suffered under the hands of a brutal tyrant -- and thanks to the United States forces and coalition forces, the people are liberated from the clutches of Saddam Hussein. (Applause.) America is safer, the world is better off and the Iraqi people have a chance to realize the great blessings of liberty because Saddam Hussein is no longer in power.

Thanks to your hard work, the Iraqi people have been given a chance to go to the polls -- not once, but three different times -- to elect a government that is dedicated to the will of the people. Today, I have come to not only thank you, but to look Prime Minister Maliki in the eyes -- to determine whether or not he is as dedicated to a free Iraq as you are, and I believe he is.

I met with the cabinet officials from all walks of life here in Iraq, and came away with the distinct impression that they are unified in serving the people of Iraq. They want to succeed. The faith and future of Iraq is in their hands, and our job is to help them succeed -- and we will. (Applause.)

I have come today to personally show our nation's commitment to a free Iraq. My message to the Iraqi people is this: seize the moment; seize this opportunity to develop a government of and by and for the people. And I also have a message to the Iraqi people that when America gives a commitment, America will keep its commitment. (Applause.)

Our work is not done with the formation of a unity government. This government is just getting started. And the enemies of a free Iraq will do everything they can to stop the progress. That should tell us something about the enemies of a free Iraq. Who wouldn't want the people's will to be expressed? Who wouldn't want a government to be able to meet the needs of the people? Those who kill the innocent lives or those who have no concept of liberty, have no sense of justice, have no respect for human rights and human dignity.

But I believe the Iraqi government that's formed does respect human rights and human dignity, it will respond to the will of the people. There are going to be tough days ahead, and more sacrifice for Americans, as well as Iraqis. But I come here -- come away from here believing that the will is strong and the desire to meet the needs of the people is real and tangible.

You know, one of the things that we've got to realize -- "we," the world, have got to realize, is that Iraqi women want their children to grow up in a peaceful world; they want their sons and daughters to be well educated; they want to live in peace and harmony; they want to be able to realize their hopes and aspirations. It's a common desire, and is one that you all are helping the Iraqis realize. It's important work, it's vital work, and it's historic work.

Our military will stay on the offense. We will continue to hunt down people like Mr. Zarqawi, and bring them to justice. (Applause.) We will continue to train the Iraqis, so they can help the unity government secure the peace. I've told the American people that as the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down, and I appreciate all the military folks here who are working hard to help the Iraqi forces become capable and able to do the job the Iraqi people expect them to do.

Those of you who are not in the military, the civilians, have got a really important job to do, as well, and I want to thank you for the job you're doing. (Applause.)

It is clear that Saddam Hussein destroyed many of the institutions necessary for this society to succeed. It is clear that he was a selfish, brutal leader who was willing to sacrifice infrastructure and civil society in order to meet his narrow objectives. And it is clear to me that our job is to help the Prime Minister and his government implement his strategy and his plan to restore infrastructure and education and health and agricultural society so that people have the confidence in their new government. Yours is hard work, but it's necessary work, and the government of the United States stands strongly beside you.

The stakes are high, and what happens here in Iraq reaches far beyond the borders of Iraq. The war on terror really will be addressed by strong actions by our intelligence and military services to bring to justice those who would do us harm. I've told the American people, we will defeat the enemy overseas so we do not have to face them here at home. (Applause.)

Ultimately, the victory in the war on terror, the victory in a struggle against those who have no ideology -- well, they've got an ideology, but it's an ideology that is dark and dismal. It's one that doesn't respect human dignity. It's an ideology that doesn't believe in the freedom to worship. It's an ideology that doesn't respect the role and rights of women in society. It's an ideology that has no hope. The way to defeat that ideology is with an ideology of light. I believe in the universality of freedom. I believe deep in everybody's soul is the desire to be free.

We don't expect the Iraqi government to look like the American government. We expect an Iraqi government to honor its traditions and its histories and its religious faiths. But we do expect the Iraqi government to honor the right of every man, woman and child to live in a free society. And when Iraq succeeds -- and it will -- the rest of the world, particularly in the Middle East, will see such a hopeful example of what's possible.

I told you earlier we were laying the foundation of peace for generations to come, and we are, because we go with confidence knowing that liberty is the desire of every soul. When Iraq succeeds, reformers and people who desire to live in a free society will see such a hopeful example, and they'll begin to demand the same rights and the same conditions and the same hopeful society.

And that's why I tell you what you're doing is historic in nature. People will look back at this period and wonder whether or not America was true to its beginnings; whether we strongly believed in the universality of freedom and whether we were willing to act on it. Certainly we acted in our own self-interest right after September the 11th; and now we act not only in our own self-interests, but in the interests of men, women and children in the broader Middle East, no matter what their religion, no matter where they were born, no matter how they speak.

This is a moment -- this is a time where the world can turn one way or the other, where the world can be a better place or a more dangerous place. And the United States of America and citizens such as yourself are dedicated to making sure that the world we leave behind is a better place for all.

It is such an honor to be here. (Applause.) It is such an honor to be with you. May God bless you all, may God bless your work, may God bless your families, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. (Applause.)

Transcript courtesy of the White House.

UPDATE:At Flopping Aces, Curt has pictures of President Bush with the troops.

Senate Immigration Reform Worse Than Thought

House Republicans who have read the 850-page Senate immigration reform bill say it is even worse than previously thought.

Among other things the Senate bill:

Allows illegal aliens to collect Social Security benefits based on past illegal work.

Requires the U.S. to consult with Mexican officials before commencement of any fence construction along the border.

Allows for the discounted in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities for illegal aliens who reside in those states. Meanwhile, legal immigrants and citizens who reside outside that state must still pay the full price.

The bill grants complete amnesty to employers who have illegally hired the millions of aliens and provided the magnet that drew them here in the first place.

The bill provides a path to citizenship to illegals who have snuck across the border, counterfeited documentation, committed Social Security fraud and cheated on taxes.

How many Senators do you think actually read the 850 page bill?

Rove Won't Be Charged

White House aide Karl Rove, U.S. President Bush's top political adviser, will not be charged in the CIA leak case:

"On June 12, 2006, special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald formally advised us that he does not anticipate seeking charges against Karl Rove," Rove's lawyer, Robert Luskin, said in a statement.

[. . .]

"We believe the special counsel's decision should put an end to the baseless speculation about Mr. Rove's conduct," Luskin said.

This is sure to inflame the bush haters. Some, such as TruthOut.org, wanted Rove indicted so badly they announced he was indicted as fact weeks ago. Will they now apologize? I think it more likely that they will turn to predicting some other White House aide will be indicted.

UPDATE: At Considerettes, Doug Payton has posted a song for  those poor folks who were hoping for a Fitzmas in June, and got only a Blue Fitzmas. It's worth a read, or you can sing it.

Troops Reduce Illegal Border Crossings

Deployment of National Guard troops along the Mexican border has scared off illegal Mexican migrants, significantly reducing illegal crossings:

U.S. authorities said Monday that detentions along the U.S.-Mexico border decreased by 21%, to 26,994, in the first 10 days of June, compared with 34,077 for the same period a year ago.

Along the Arizona border, once the busiest crossing spot, detentions have dropped 23%, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Detentions dropped 31%, to 8,308 from 11,977, along the Texas and New Mexico border.

This is a good sign, but we will have to wait and see if the trend continues. It's a shame such a serious effort to control the border wasn't tried years ago.

President Bush Makes Surprise Visit To Iraq

President Bush made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday.

Not even Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was aware the President was coming:

The prime minister had been invited to the embassy on the pretense of taking part in a video conference with Bush, supposedly at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountins.

[. . .]

Aside from al-Maliki and his cabinet, Bush was to see Jalal Talibani, Iraq’s largely ceremonial president. Bush also was to meet with the speaker of the parliament, national political leaders and U.S. troops during his five-hour visit.

According to MSNBC, President Bush flew to Iraq secretly from talks at Camp David, Maryland with senior national security advisers who gathered Monday to review how to bolster Iraq’s fledgling government and its capacity to handle the country’s defense:

Air Force One landed in hazy daylight at Baghdad Airport, where the temperature was above 100 degrees.

Then, Bush transferred to a helicopter for a six-minute ride into the heavily fortified Green Zone. White House officials said the helicopter ride posed the greatest risk for the president. 

This was President Bush’s second trip to Iraq. He visited American troops at Thanksgiving, 2003.