One of the people whom I admire most in the conservative movement is Michelle Malkin, who is about 20 years my junior, and light-years ahead of everyone with her sterling journalistic skills and fearless blogging.

She has honored our intrepid group at Move America Forward with her 2007 year-end round-up of most memorable photos...and it does all of us proud.

Here's the photo she picked for special recognition.

Move America Forward counter-protesting the Code Pinko crowd in Berkeley:

Thanks Michelle!

Fred Thompson has FINALLY made the most compelling arguement for his candidacy to date. In a 17 minute talk, he asked voters in Iowa to pick him as the GOP presidential nominee in their Hawkeye Cauci.

But he was really talking past Iowa to the rest of the country. 

Typically, he used the Internet to do it.

Grab a seat on the Fred Express --it's rolling down the track.

Matt Sanchez, who is one of the premier embedded milbloggers from Iraq and Afghanistan, has dedicated the last seven months of his life to bringing us the truth from the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I met him in Kuwait, and now he has filed his own report on what he saw, said and did there.

Debbie Lee is a leggy blonde from Arizona, almost six feet tall, with piercing blue eyes, and an inner glow that could power the San Onofre nuclear power plant here in California. She's kind, gentle, and never has a bad word to say about anybody. She clings to her Christian faith, which helped raise her out of a family that was often cruel. She is a widow of 13 years, with two surviving children who love her very much.

Debbie Lee is a Gold Star Mom. It's exclusive club to which she never aspired. 

It means that she lost a child in the war. The war against nascent Radical Islam. A war that we are still fighting, and will be fighting for decades to come. 

Debbie has told and re-told  the story of how her hero, Marc, was killed in a hail of gunfire fighting radical Islamic terrorists.

She has shared the intimate details of his life and death in Ramdai, the first Navy Seal who was killed in the fighting in Iraq, and how he stood up not once but three times to save his fellow soldiers from a murderous attack by Al Quada.

She has done this for over a year for Move America Forward and our country, with no compensation, other than the gratitude of our soldiers and fellow Americans.

Deb filed this report from our MAF delegation (of which I was a part until last week) in Baghdad, Iraq.

It is a moving account of Christmas day with our troops. Grab a hanky.

It's Christmas morning 2007 and I arise, but not to the typical Christmas traditions. There is no Christmas Tree with sparkling lights to be plugged in, no presents to be opened, no stockings are hung, no Stereo to play the Christmas CD's. There will be no Christmas table set with fine china and family gathered around smelling the aroma of a roasting turkey or pumpkin pies. No children or grandchildren with their excitement and laughter filling the air. No snow falling on the ground. That doesn't mean that I won't be celebrating and remembering the birth of my savior who was born to be a sacrifice and give the best gift of all, an eternity with Him for those who believe. I'm closer than I have ever been to the physical place where Jesus Christ was born. This Christmas I am in Baghdad, Iraq sharing Christ's love and hope with the troops. 
 

From WorldNetDaily.com

A lot of trees have died for newsprint about the success of the "surge" of troops into the chaos of the old Iraq, but reports are thin on details (except for the fine work of milbloggers who are embedded with the troops).

First, the media pronounced the war lost. Then in July, when it became apparent that the change of strategy by Gen. David Petraeus is achieving measurable victories, the mainstream media became strangely mute.

Now the storyline is that the armchair generals, talking-head pundits on cable-clown shows, editorial writers and opinion makers knew all along that Iraq would stabilize, but it was because of the efforts of "others" and not U.S. military forces. Exactly who the "others" are depends on which left-wing anti-American chin-wagger needed some face time on TV.

I have just returned from an American base in Kuwait (unidentified for security purposes) where I spent a good chunk of time talking to soldiers and officers who were transiting home for the Christmas holidays, and others who are returning in theater. During perpendicular rainstorms that turned desert talcum-powder sand into packed mud, I interviewed hundreds of Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force officers, as well as coalition forces from Australia, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Japan. A highly pixilated image of what is happening is now visible to even the naked eye.

While I have been home nursing the infection I picked up in Kuwait, I am checking my computer seventeen times a day (or thereabouts) worrying about my friends Debbie Lee, Gold Star Mom, Danny Gonzalez, Move America Forward's Director of Communications, and Mary Pearson, our extraordinary photographer for news and photos.

 My stretched thin nerves were rewarded this evening. From Iraq, here's Danny's blogging on the shocking assassination of Benizar Bhutto, and photographs from 'inside the sandbox.'

Vice-President Dick Cheney and his wife Lynne signed the 100,000th Christmas card collected by Move America Forward for our military in Iraq and Afghanistan during our 'Heroes for the Holidays Tour' across the country, stopping in 40 cities to rally support for the troops AND their mission.

We weren't sure that we could collect that many, despite our hopes and boasts. In the end, Americans who love our men and women overseas sent us over 200,000 and still counting!

Gold Star Mom Debbie Lee, whose son Marc Alan Lee was the first Navy Seal killed in action in Iraq, is with our delegation in Baghdad. Please see our website www.moveamericaforward.com for reports on their journey, and the first-hand stories of how the 'surge' is succeeding.

General David Petraeus launched the change in strategy in July , and now we are seeing the pay-off.

While in Kuwait, where thousands of troops are transiting into or out of Iraq, I interviewed hundreds of soldiers who gave very specific examples of this stunning reversal.

As Americans, we can be very proud of  what we are accomplishing--even the liberal media is accepting this truth!

With gratitude to everyone who contributed to our efforts --

Melanie Morgan

Chairman, Move America Forward

KSFO Radio, San Francisco

Debbie Lee, whose son Marc Alan Lee was the first Navy Seal killed in Iraq, is now in Bagdad with Danny Gonzalez, and Mary Pearson of Move America Forward. They are still trying to get into Ramadi, where Marc was killed, and where they have named a camp in his honor. Debbie is living for the moment she can see Camp Marc Lee.  

The military is a mess with trying to get media into Iraq. From what I have been told, there's a rift between Centcom and the Army over who has control of applications and paperwork. It's causing a giant hassle for people who are trying to get 'inside the sandbox' and it's not generating a lot of goodwill.

Anyway, it was the middle of the night when Debbie wrote to me.

"Merry Christmas Mel!  We are okay, tired but doing well. Mary is starting to get a little sick. I think I personally I have given out at least 2000 Christmas Cards and loved on soooooooooo many of the troops. I'm starting to get attached to some of the boys. It's amazing the difference they have made in their area of operation.

After a punishing 22 hour plane ride from Kuwait, I gratefully surrendered to the loving arms of my family here in San Francisco, a luxury that most of our military do not have in the Christmas season.

Before I click you over to Danny Gonzalez's excellent blogging from Baghdad, I have a few things to say about Move America Forward's efforts in a tangled war zone six thousand miles away in Iraq.

As most of you folks know who follow me on the radio, blogging, in my column at WorldNetDaily.com or on television, I have little patience for the Hollywood elites who are directly undermining the support for the war and our efforts to thwart the murderous intentions of radical Islam.

It's fr-fr-freezing cold here in the desert, which seems weird to me because the last time I was in Kuwait, it was 130 degrees in the shade.

But at this American transit station where I have been handing out thousands of holiday cards, the wind whips around a body like a string of lights around a Christmas tree.

I got my passport back this morning, which means that I should be on an airplane back to the United States in about 12 hours.

I'm hearing that Mary Pearson, Debbie Lee and Danny Gonzalez all got into Baghdad after a grueling night and day of travel, and now our MAF staff is attempting to get into Ramadi.

About the best thing that you can say about rain in the desert here in Kuwait is that it turns the powdery sand into packed mud.

It is shockingly cold as the water pours off the faces of young Marines and other service members, bone weary by their efforts to leave Iraq and Afghanistan and get home to their families by Christmas.

Some are trying to sleep in the breezy tents, no heat and not much to do for two weeks.

The lucky ones wait two days.

Hi Everybody!
 
It's the middle of the night here in Kuwait where we landed with our delegation from Move America Forward .

We are already running into some snags from the military end of our efforts to get into Ramadi, which used to be called the 'Triangle of Death' before our counter insurgency plan put into place by General David Petraeus started kicking in with phenomenal results.
 
Some of the aggregavation is big, some of it's small. No one met us at the airport to transport us to the military base where we are supposed to grab a chopper into Ramadi. Bureaucratic snafus. But I was prepared for that from my previous trip to Iraq in 2005.

Media giant NBC caught with it's knickers down! Michelle Malkin has this VERY interesting blogpost up on her site about how the lawyer who turned down FreedomsWatch.org SPECTACULAR Christmas television spot honoring our troops got is a LIBERAL DEMOCRAT DONOR AT NBC!

Shocked, shocked, I tell you.

Addiction is a terrible thing. And it has claimed a young woman with much promise as an entertainer, who was scheduled to appear at our A Song for their Service concert at the Lincoln Theatre on December 14th. She won't be attending, unfortunately, as she is otherwise detained.  

 Jessica Sierra needs some time and space to work out her problems --whether in a jail cell or a rehab unit.

Move America Forward wishes Jessica well.  I hope she gets the help she needs.

Michelle Malkin, an itty-bitty thing with a HUGE heart for our troops, blogs about our road-trippin' Move America Forward tour "Honoring Our Heroes at the Holidays.'

Next up, The New York Times.

Just kidding.

In a stunning about-face, NBC Standards and Practices has cut-and-run on it's own discriminatory policies following outrage by Americans across the country over the refusal to air an ad thanking our troops during the Christmas Holidays.

The ad was produced by FreedomsWatch.org, a group of folks who are working diligently to make sure our backing of the troops in Iraq remains firm --counter-acting the appalling actions that have undercut our troops by Nancy Pelosi, CodePink, international A.N.S.W.E.R. and others.

It's a GOOD day for patriots.

Outrage. Disgust. Contempt.

Those are the three words that immediately jump to mind after hearing this news from my fellow pro-troop organization Freedoms Watch.

 NBC's legal beagle has decided that a television commerical produced by the great folks at FreedomsWatch THANKING OUR TROOPS isn't good enough for the 'high' broadcast standards on the once proud Peacock Company.

This isn't the first time that John Kelly, head of the Broadcast Standards department for NBC has shut-down America's right to be heard on OUR airwaves. He denied Move America Forward the right to spend money on 'his network.'

He claims that FreedomsWatch  website is 'too political.' He said the same thing about MAF.

FreedomsWatch.org is sponsoring a seven-figure ad campaign across America thanking our brave troops. Even the LIBERAL New York Times printed an ad featuring a child thanking our soldiers. 

Sigh. When did it become 'political' to support our troops during a time of war?

Ronald Reagan is spinning in his grave.

Today, President of Freedom’s Watch, Brad Blakeman, issued a letter to John Kelly of NBC to express our deep disappointment in the station’s decision not to air our new ads thanking the troops for their service.

The ads, seenhere, are our way to express our appreciation for the sacrifices the troops make. This is not a political issue, but rather a way to show our troops who will not be able to see their families during the holidays that we are grateful for everything they do to protect our country. It is sad that NBC would choose to deny any message that would thank them.

While our brave men and women our out fighting for our rights and freedom, NBC is brazenly limiting them here at home. We have to come together and tell NBC that no matter what their opinion is of the war, the troops are heroes and should have the support of the country. Call NBC and ask forJohn Kelly and tell him you support the troops, and ask him why NBC does not feel the same.

NBC News

John Kelly

212-664-4444

Marooned in Marin has his doubts.. 

I want to take a few minutes to say THANK-YOU to all our friends at Gathering of Eagles who have been working furiously to support our efforts across America to honor our Heroes at the Holidays.

Vets for Freedom, EaglesUp, and many others have pitched in selflessly to make sure our military men and women are remembered this holiday.

 ALSO --MUST SEE TV!

See the YouTube videos of FreedomsWatch.org "Thank You" to the troops by clicking here and here.

Freedoms Watch is doing the heavy lifting to help Move America Forward with our tour, and all the other groups, too!

Check out their website www.FreedomsWatch.org !

Don from Lake Ronkakoma, New York has been collecting hundreds, and now thousands of letters from school kids around his small town to send with me to Iraq to honor our troops at the Holidays.

He was kind enough to pass along a sampling of messages. As I read them for the post, it struck me --the grown-ups might not get it, but children sure do understand why our soldiers are so important!

Dear Soldiers,
Happy Holidays!! Thank you for protecting us.  Have  a good holiday.  I am thinking of you during the holiday.  Do you sleep at night?
From,
Mo

Merry Christmas!  Go USA
You are cool
You Rock!!

Dear Soldier,
Happy Hollowdays
Hope you are doing well in Iraq. 
I know the weapons you're using because I watch this TV Show called Future Weapons. 
It is on channel 27.  Thanks for protecting us.
From,
Steven


Dear Troops,
I hope you have a Merry Christmas even though you are not at home.
PS  Hope you win!


Dear Savior,

I would like to say Happy Holidays to you from far away, and thank you for protecting me and the people around me.
BYE!!

And From our Move America Forward Christmas Cards and Letters!

Dear Soldier,

I’m making you a card. I hope you be careful out there in the Army. Make sure you watch out for those line minors (land mines). I know - I hate those too. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

By Demar (8 years old)

Thanks for fighting for our lives!!! If you have loved ones, fight for them. If not, fight for your dream wife! Love is the strongest feelings of all.

(Pink card with pink heart cutouts)

Soldiers Stay Strong.

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Don’t worry,

We’ll see you.

You’re out there

And we’re at home,

Don’t worry,

I’ll see you soon.

You don’t have to worry about anything cause I’ll be by our side through the night and day.

God bless America, our home sweet home.

From: Keanu

Merry Christmas Solgiors!! I’m gong to war when I’m 18. I’m sorving my country in war. I’m not being funny. Happy B-Day – if it’s your b-Day.

Dude, Thank you and Merry Christmas. Sebastian.

Our road trippers heading across America for "Honoring Heroes at the Holidays'are being welcomed with open arms and huge hearts to express unstinting love and support for our troops.

   I haven't updated in awhile, but I've got a long list of media (radio, TV and print) that I will pass along shortly.

   Meanwhile, enjoy this moving story from the Houston Fox TV affiliate.

Sometimes blogging is easy. And sometimes it is hard.

This posting is tricky, because I want to get the words exactly right.

David Blumberg, a San Franciscan who happens to be gay, Jewish, Republican and a TRUE PATRIOT-- sent me the following e-mail.  .

I wish we were  friends. But we haven't had the time together to become close. We are great acquaintances!

But, as David says, we are young and the struggle is long.

YOU GOTTA READ THIS! SMILES PROMISED!

A month ago, I was having a late lunch at the Harvard Club in NYC and the only other diners were three older folks at the next table who were complaining very loudly about the Bush Administration.

Lady #1: This administration is just awful; the worst ever! Cheney and Rumsfeld are crazy and the ones that aren't crazy, like Powell, are weak! 

Me: I couldn't help overhearing your discussion so if you would like to speak with a nice progressive gay Jewish San Franciscan who has come to respect, appreciate and support the Bush Administration, here's my card, I'd be pleased to share the lessons from my political evolution.

Silence...then a fork dropped; the blood drained from their already pale faces. 

Lady #2: How on earth could that happen?

Me: It was a long process, but after 9/11, I diversified my news sources from exclusively National Public Radio and The New York Times to a balance with conservative talk radio and the Wall Street Journal, and I realized there was a whole other world of important data and opinion filtered out by the leftist perspective of mainstream media like NPR.

Lady #2: (pointing to Lady #1) Do you realize you are speaking to Sylvia Poggioli, Senior European Correspondent for National Public Radio?

Me: It's an honor to meet you, Ms. Poggioli. I have listened to you for years and love your voice...

Lady #1 (Poggioli): NPR is not biased to the Left, she hissed, it presents objective journalism!

Me: What about Leftist analysts Daniel Shorr and Lorren Elkins among many others and the choice of Left focused topics?

Lady #1 (Poggioli): Well, we have David Brooks!

Me: There's one for a start, but most of NPR's presentations skew Left. How about adding more diverse, conservative perspectives?

Lady #1 (Poggioli): We don't need to add more; I know many conservative people who work at NPR.

My conclusion:

OK, well that settles it, right? Hooray for the open-minded, self-critical, objective media. ;-)

David J. Blumberg

San Francisco, CA 

Chicago Sun-Times Columnist Tom McNamee must be getting some heat after my blog busted him for a profanity-laced description of our President and our policies to detain suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay.

Jack in Libertyville, Illinois (I'm not making up the name of his town!) wrote to McNamee about his sophomoric, delusional and suicidal point-of-view.

Tom got back to him.

The suddenly conciliatory tone of McNamee's response to Jack stands in stark contrast to his earlier response.

"1] Holding any human being indefinitely without charge, without access to an attorney, without a fair and full trial, is immoral, wrong, a fucking sin. I don't care if it's a citizen or not.

2] FDR was wrong. Doesn't make Bush any less of a complete asshole."

These terrorists detained are not common criminals; they are enemy combatants in our war against terrorism.  They are not entitled to all of the rights that someone arrested in this country gets.  Just like we held German and Japanese prisoners of war during World War II, we have to confine enemy combatants so they stop killing Americans serving their country in Iraq and Afghanistan.  
 

"I regret dropping a couple of swear words in there..." in NOT the same thing as apologizing.

 Contact Tom McNamee at the Chicago Sun-Times.

[email protected]  

I love getting e-mail.

The hate mail is especially entertaining, but occasionally I recieve a nugget that demands attention.

Today was such an occasion when I logged onto my computer and found a missive from Jack in Libertyville, Illinois.

He was rightly OUTRAGED by Tom McNamee, a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, and his subsequent thread with him that started out innocently enough... some seventh graders writing for their class project.

It quickly went downhill from there.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/mcnamee/666869,CST-NWS-mcnamee26.article

HERE'S TOM MCNAMEE'S OBSCENE RESPONSE TO 'JACK IN LIBERTYVILLE.'

1] Holding any human being indefinitely without charge, without access to an attorney, without a fair and full trial, is immoral, wrong, a fucking sin. I don't care if it's a citizen or not.

2] FDR was wrong. Doesn't make Bush any less of a complete asshole. 
   

Don't you just love Liberals who accuse thoughtful conservatives of denigrating 'civil' discourse?  

These terrorists detained are not common criminals; they are enemy combatants in our war against terrorism.  They are not entitled to all of the rights that someone arrested in this country gets.  Just like we held German and Japanese prisoners of war during World War II, we have to confine enemy combatants so they stop killing Americans serving their country in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Please feel free to contact Mr. McNamee and let him know how his suicidal, delusional and dangerous his thinking is to America, our troops, and the western world.

Politely, of course.

When is Michelle Malkin going to be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize?

A Christmas gift for the staff of TNR, courtesy of Borderpundit:

Depending on which search engine you use, "Honoring our Heroes for the Holidays" tour has recieved between 705,000 and 1.5 million hits.

Looks like America loves our troops and wants to support them, despite the disgusting stuff you see on TV and in your newspapers (you know, the usual lies about highest rates of suicide for our troops in Iraq, drug and alcohol abuse at highest levels ever --the crap the MSM LOVES to make-up.)

Here's a blog from Ron Winter on the Clintonista News Network, Hillary, HHH and Move America Forward.

A SOLDIER ESCORTING THE BODY OF A FELLOW TROOP WAS STRIP-SEARCHED BY TSA.

Is there a corner of hell hot enough for whomever is responsible?