QUOTE of the DAY: And this afternoon, I have a message for the Iraqi people: You will not have to fear the rule of Saddam Hussein ever again. All Iraqis who take the side of freedom have taken the winning side. The goals of our coalition are the same as your goals -- sovereignty for your country, dignity for your great culture, and for every Iraqi citizen, the opportunity for a better life.

In the history of Iraq, a dark and painful era is over. A hopeful day has arrived. All Iraqis can now come together and reject violence and build a new Iraq.

HERO of the PEACE PING!!!!

HOOOOOOOO----RAAAHHHHHHHHHH!

Here I am Ohio.

On the phone with Tony Blair.......

What a day!

oWf, thank you! What a wonderful day!

Next Capture:

HILLARY

Whatta day!

What a great Christmas present we all got today!

Here's the official WH Christmas photo:

Thanks for the pictures. What a happy. Thank You, Dear Lord, for giving us a great man to lead this country.

Hi, have you heard from Mike by any chance?

Here is Squarebarb in a state of happy shock and awe.

A staffer watching the President's speech...........which should be read by everyone, everywhere......

I knew we could count on you for a Sunday Dose, considering the monumental event! Thanks.

Kudos to GWB bump.

No, Im anxious to talk to him to see if any of his choppers were involved in this today...I don't know if he could tell me over the phone though.

Peggy Noonan said it best: JOY TO THE WORLD!

These are from last evening when the First Couple came back from Camp David. The President had been notified yesterday afternoon that they might have captured Saddam.....

THAT'S ALL! Feel free to add others if you have them!

Hey made it to the top 20! *S*

When I turned the TV off last night it was on FoxNews, so when I woke up at around 8:30 this morning and turned the TV on the news of Sadaam was the first thing I saw...much to the chagrin of my kids (who were demanding cartoons) I sat and watched the news for a good solid hour not believing what I saw...

Thanks for the ping

The TYRANT is a PRISONER! (Paul Bremer quote)

Thank You, LORD!!

Thank you President Bush!

What a wonderful surprise to awaken to this morning! How proud I am of this man and his determination in spite of fierce opposition to stay the course. Patience is a virtue, and this man is patient! If only the people would be as steady as he is! The real ROCK is our W!!!!!

Thank You to our brave men and women in the US military!!! Thanks to our wonderful Rummy for also staying the course no matter what! God bless them one and all!

Yea Buddy! It's been a good day (and I don't even complain too much about being sick today!)

GREAT DAY!! :o)

LOL!

Just put her in a hole in the ground, Joy!

Just got off the phone with Eric, mystery.

He's a happy soldier!

Outstanding Presidential and military PING!! This is a day the Lord hath made ... let us rejoice and be glad!!

Ongoing prayers for our awesome courageous and resolute military .. may their days .. and those in the family of our family here .. be safe, with plans for a well-deserved homecoming soon.

MESSAGE FOR OSAMA and the whining, appeasing, capitulating Demos .. when Dubyah says he's gonna do something, it wouldn't be prudent to bet against him!!

May our fantastic President continued to be guided and blessed by the hand of God.

How ironic. Yesterday when this was all coming down I was teaching twin 10 y.o. boys how to play Joy To The World on the piano. And they learned it really quickly. Little did we know the joy we would find this morning!

Got home really late last night. Due to the snow storm it took five hours to travel what I normally do in an hour.
Brought a young couple and their baby home with me...They'd been off in the ditch and there was no way they would have been able to get home. We drank cocoa and ate cookies till 1:00 AM .
SInce it was still snowing this AM didn't even think about checking the news. One of my friends called. "WE GOT HIM!" "WE GOT HIM!" What a joyous day!

Shock and awe, indeed!

I think I pinged you from Thread #1 this morning, but I bet it was lost in the bandwidth.

Any bets if your better half knows already?

The President was awakened at 5:00 this morning (in Washington, having spent the day Saturday at Camp David with Laura) to the glorious news that the Butcher of Baghdad, the Evil One of Iraq had been captured

And Freepers knew 1 minute,5 seconds later,wow!

Email: Saddam may have been captured [Has now been confirmed by DNA testing] Unconfirmed source - Posted on 12/14/2003 2:01:05 AM PST by Gigantor

Kudos, for sure, AAA! We are PROUD of our amazing military, AND their Commander in Chief!

W swoops into and out of Baghdad at Thanksgiving to share the holiday -- to give thanks unto God for our many blessings as a nation -- with those who defend the nation.

Then the Defense Department proves W really meant that "either you're with us or you're against us" as it limits major Iraq reconstruction contracts to US allies.

A few days later, our incredible armed forces capture the Iraqi rat in a hole.

All fat chances, or orchestrated by the God of a man who prays?

What a GREAT Christmas present for the President, and for us ALL!

What a wonderful day! Praise God!

I am so proud of our military and our president!

This has to be the biggest morale boost...wish Mike would call...

What'd that lil' man have to say about today? How is the morale there?

I sat and watched the news for a good solid hour not believing what I saw...

Isn't that the truth! I was just stunned! My hubby flipped on the TV in the computer room right after we woke up, and came running into the kitchen where I was pouring coffee to say, "We got Saddam!" I was so shocked, and you know how you feel at times like that, I said, "What do you mean we got Saddam?" My brain just refused to compute that for a minute or two!

GREAT graphic, Fawnn!!

Laura looks wonderful in red..

I'd think he would if they had the TV on at all today, unfortunately I prolly won't hear from him again till tomorrow when he's done with duty watch.

(Pity my husband guys, most of his shipmates prefer to watch CNN *shudder twitch*)

orchestrated by the God of a man who prays?

God's Blessed America, Land that I love.
Stood beside her and guide her from the night with a light from above.....

Our First Lady has been wearing a lot of red the past few weeks, I think it's her best color. Reminds me of the song, "Lady in Red" - wish I could remember the words.

What a day. First of all...god bless your husband mystery, your son Ohio and all our military men and women abroad....and god bless our president. What a day.

While I usually don't have time to post on The Dose...it is still one of my favorites...thanks!

There's NO way I could let this day go by without fellowship with my Dose friends, Gretchen.

This is an event we should celebrate together!

I saw that thread. It was cool to be in on the breaking news.

I had to e-mail the webmaster of the local rag and get them to update their front page. I 'mailed them at 5:30am, and they didn't get the page up-to-date until around 7:30.

I got a nice note from the webmaster, saying that they were understaffed, and that they did a remote update on the front page from home. (Must be a closet freeper. LOL)

Great minds - see my Post 47 :-)

Hope you get better soo, Maigrey........but this has gotta help!

My brain reacted with glee, and I raced to get the remote for the TV. (Of course, this was 4:45am this morning. LOL)

Amazing! FR is the place to be for news! :o)

Thanks for the Dose, especially on this fantastic day.

BTW, there's a TNT Christmas special tonight with the President and Yahoo just posted a couple of new picture of the President and First Lady from that event.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20031214/capt.mbc10212142334.bush_christmas_mbc102.jpg

Thanks again for the dose and all you do.

Yech! Why watch that negative drivel?

Any reports on Xanax futures? Prozac and Valium futures? hehehe

There is NO doubt in my mind that this President's steps are being guided by his Heavenly Father, from whom he seeks guidance.........NO doubt at all.....

Just watch the economy soar! Boy will that ever make the rats mad!

Ladies (and others) - I got a call this AM from my sister about a relative of ours in Tikrit. Let's just say that this person was on the mission that got Saddam! We are one bunch of happy campers from the east coast, thru Texas, and out here in Seattle.

Thanks for the Christmas photo, now my puter wallpaper with red background matching Laura's glorious dress.

Joy to the World!

Yesterday when this was all coming down I was teaching twin 10 y.o. boys how to play Joy To The World on the piano

Now we all have another reason to sing it!

BTW I don't care if it is 'triumphalism' as John F-word Kerry termed it....I'm into gloating....big time!

Just for you!

Lady in Red
Chris DeBurgh

I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight,
I've never seen you shine so bright,
I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance,
They're looking for a little romance, given half a chance,
And I have never seen that dress you're wearing,
Or the highlights in your hair that catch your eyes,
I have been blind;

The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek,
There's nobody here, it's just you and me,
It's where I want to be,
But I hardly know this beauty by my side,
I'll never forget the way you look tonight;

I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight,
I've never seen you shine so bright, you were amazing,
I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side,
And when you turned to me and smiled, it took my breath away,
And I have never had such a feeling,
Such a feeling of complete and utter love, as I do tonight;

The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek,
There's nobody here, it's just you and me,
It's where I want to be,
But I hardly know this beauty by my side,
I'll never forget the way you look tonight;

I never will forget the way you look tonight...
The lady in red, the lady in red,
The lady in red, my lady in red,

I love you...

From Lady in Red lyrics

*L* In our home it's nothing but FoxNews. You can thank my parents for that, they're the ones that got us to watching them full-time.

He was pumped about what a great thing this was. He had been watching FOX! LOL!

I think this will carry him through the days ahead.

With his sense of history, I'm sure he's already thought about the fact that he has been part of something monumental historically!

He can tell his grandkids when he's 80....."I was in BAGHDAD when they got Saddam!"

(I'm sure Mike will call soon, mystery!)

OOPS....meant to ping you (not dansy)to my #61....LOL

Hey, How are you doing today? Have you heard from Eric? Jan is still in the hospital. They moved her to another room this afternoon. They are keeping her in for a few days more to make sure she gets over that severe sinus and kidney infections.

If you ever left a message on an answering machine you can do this!
It's really that simple. AND It's a Toll Free Number !

You can leave one or more new messages each day.

Send deployed troops message on SoldiersRadio.com SoldiersRadio is again this year providing a way to let you tell Service members worldwide that you care and are thinking about them during the Holidays. You can do an Audio Post Card simply by calling 1-800-330-5090. Your recorded personalized message will be played back on www.SoldiersRadio.com. You can record a short message (30 seconds) to friends, family members or just a random message of good will. SoldiersRadio will then take your message and put it on the radio Web cast throughout the Holiday Season. Its very simple to do and works both ways ... from the field or to the Service member. AnyServiceMember.org is also promoting the call-in holiday service in hopes of reaching a large group of people who would like to send a message to Soldiers serving away from home. The cut-off date for the call in is tomorrow, Monday Dec.15. SoldiersRadio.com

An unforgottable one! Is that the way it is spelled?

This, a plateful of brownies (for our wedding anniversary), and 1/2 gallon of OJ today does wonders.

Throw in some hot soup a little later, and I should be sufficient for the evening.

Me too! Gloating is good for the soul. And hasn't Santa been good to us this season?!!

That is one of my favorite pictures of our First Couple. She looks so good in red.

"All fat chances, or orchestrated by the God of a man who prays?"

Not only that, but another freeper pointed this out earlier today.......

Go back exactly three years from the day Saddam was captured....the day another horrible nightmare was finally over.....

"CAMPAIGN 2000: VICE PRESIDENT GORE DELIVERS REMARKS

DECEMBER 13, 2000

SPEAKER: ALBERT GORE JR., VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

Good evening.

"Just moments ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd president of the United States, and I promised him that I wouldn't call him back this time."

I could not be PROUDER of our military, and our President than I am right now!

(Wonder how many times I'll end up saying that in the EIGHT years he's President??)

................

Oh, THANK you, usedtolurk! Do they look happy, or WHAT??

Sorry, forgot to post the picture

Wow! What a great coincidence! I love it.

I have a friend that simply has 'no clue' - just does not watch the news -EVER! Called me to ask -what channel should I watch? Guess she didn't want to be clueless on this big event - I said very casually - FoxNews is the one I watch... she said okay here it is - got off the phone.
she's off on the right track....
now if she'll just gain the same crush I have on Shepherd Smith -we can giggle on the phone about him.. !!

You beat me to it!

Thanks

GIve that loved one a special hug from the dose the next time you see them.

Check out post #64, Mama. Eric just called.....

Still praying for Jan!

Hye. Do you think we could post some other pictures?

I found one from a different thread, but it doesn't include Dubya.

Oh (heck) I will.

Indian college students watch a television showing footage related to Saddam Hussein's capture at a hostel in Allahabad, India.

LOL! I'll keep looking for new ones from this event on Yahoo, and post them.

Why not get them to e-mail you the non-classified stuff, and let it develop into another Urban Legend. (The stuff of legends!)

Thanks, I read it after I posted mine. Glad and thankful that you heard from him.

Laura is lovely....especially in red!

I'm here Ohio. Yes, what a great day.

Thanks be to God for our great President, and our fantastic Troops. I'm still smiling from ear to ear.

Here's another. Isn't Freedom beautiful?

An Iraqi policeman celebrates with a child after the capture of Saddam Hussein, under the Freedom statue in Baghdad, the former site of a toppled Saddam Hussein statue.

I've felt terrible since Thurs night...lots of aches and pains and upset stomach(that's all)...I had a flu shot Wed?....hmmmmm!

The dancing in the streets of the jubilant and FREE Iraqis brought tears to my eyes, Maigrey.

This is beautiful!

Ooooh - thank you!!! I've always loved that song! I can just picture our President and First Lady dancing to this song (even though we all know that dancing is definitely NOT his favorite pastime ;-)

Wow - congratulations!!! Bet you all can't wait to hear the story when your loved one gets back home.

Thank you for a special day of the Dose.

What a fantastic day.

I was so amazed at the composure of the President during his speech. I have to admit, if it were me, I'd have been gloating. That is what is so great about this President.

Did anyone else hear that he decided the announcement should come from "in theatre", not the White House? What a humble man.

"Would you like some Kool Aid with this, Jacques?"

Some of you have asked what Hitlery has to say:

From Newsweek:

***Hillary Clinton and UN chief Kofi Annan have had virtually identical reactions to the capture of Saddam Hussein.

In comments broadcast on Fox News this afternoon, Hillary said the the capture created the "potential" for peace, etc. in Iraq. Fox stressed that rather than outright congratulating Bush or recognizing that the capture was in itself a good thing, she was only willing to recognize the potential for a positive outcome, assuming the US reached out to the UN and the Europeans.

The UN's Kofi Annan has now issued his statement, and - surprise, surprise! - it tracks Hillary's almost identically! See article below.

Is Hillary's staff preparing Kofi's statements?

---

***

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1040341/posts

Lady In Red, My favorite song! Could you just tell? LOL. Thanks so much, very thoughtful of you!

Iraqis celebrate the capture of Saddam Hussein under the Freedom statue in Baghdad.

Then I shall post more!

Residents of Samawah, Iraq, 150 miles south of Baghdad, celebrate Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003, at the news of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's capture.

"Mais Non!"

Is Jan doing better though Mama? I hope and pray she is. Bless her heart, she really has a rough time, but the thoughts and prayers of all of us go with her!

That is really exciting news. When you are able to share details with us, please do. Please let your soldier know he has our deepest thanks for his service.

An important thing to remember when the Dems and other communists call us "aggressors." We are NOT fighting this war to make prisoners of the Iraqis, and President Bush said it well today:

***The goals of our coalition are the same as your goals -- sovereignty for your country, dignity for your great culture, and for every Iraqi citizen, the opportunity for a better life. ***

Iraqi people celebrate the capture of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein in Baquba, 60km northeast of Baghdad.

Iraqi children celebrate the capture of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein in the predominantly Shiite Baghdad suburb of Sadr City.

Iraqis celebrate in the southern city of Nasiriyah after the capture of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in his hometown of Tikrit.

ROFLOL

Makes me wish I'd bought some stock on Friday. I believe the stock market will SOAR on Monday Morning.

Ding dong, the dictator's caught!!

HGTV also has a Christmas special from the White House tonight at 9 pm. They do this every year. I saw previews and Laura looks beautiful naturally!

I must give credit where it's due...that came from instapundit.com, a great blog.

Thanks for the reminder, Tonk.

I've been so busy shovelling snow, fixing my VCR, and celebrating with Fox News, I haven't made any calls today.

About to be corrected...........

(Wonder how many times I'll end up saying that in the EIGHT years he's President??)

Whoo Hoo!

I am already wearing my Bush 2004 pin everywhere I go!

This set is for you!

An Iraqi beats a picture of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein with his shoe in downtown Baghdad.

A US soldier from 1-22 Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division flashes the V-sign for victory at the 4ID headquarters, in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit.

Iraqi immigrant Ali Almothafer shows customers in the Arab Kabab restaurant in Dearborn, Mich., a picture of captured Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

A crowd begins to form on Warren Ave., outside the Karbalaa Islamic Center in Dearborn, Mich., Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003 after hearing the news that Saddam Hussein was captured in Iraq.

Rummy's on CBS!

Buy early and watch with glee. tee hee!

Did anyone else hear that he decided the announcement should come from "in theatre", not the White House? What a humble man.

How completely in character that is......but completely remarkable at the same time!

Thank You, Lord for this servant-leader!

My own set of pics...thanks...what a good-looking GI...I love them all!...

Oh, I LOVE that picture, baseballmom!!

What a courageous thing to do THAT was! And he threw a perfect pitch! :o)

When I find more, I'll make a new list for Severa. She needs one also

It really is funny to listen to the dims trying to spin this!

God bless W and Laura!

Did you see the official White House portrait?

You may have noticed that that picture is on my homepage, Mike??

It's one of the BEST, IMO.

Bremer is just the coolest guy. Thanks for the picture.

I love that photo. Thanks for posting it.

Says it all, doesn't it?

WE DID NOT FALTER WE DID NOT FAIL!

http://w-04.com/

Methinks the American people can't be SPUN on this one, Salvation.

This event is too huge to be distorted into a negative for the President.

It's a beautiful thing! :o)

Rummy's giving Leslie Stahl HECk!

AND he's said very carefully several times that Saddam will be treated according to the Geneva Convention. So Leslie starts saying he's a prisoner of war. Rummy jumps in and says, "NO! I didn't say that! I said he's CURRENTLY being treated AS IF he's a prisoner of war." He then went on to explain that, with the actions in the insurgency since combat ended, he may have forfeited his p.o.w. elibibility.

WOW!

It really is funny to listen to the dims trying to spin this....Maybe we should all just look at them and laugh when they spin. Nothing is more infuriating than laughter when you expect anger......mission accomplished...melt down complete!

WE DID NOT FALTER WE DID NOT FAIL!

AMEN! W04Man!

A GREAT day for freedom!

These are for you!

Perjin Jaffer and Samira Jaha dance and sing as they celebrate the capture of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) during a peaceful gathering Sunday on Parliament Hill. (CP/Jonathan Hayward)

An Iraqi youth displays a victory sign following the news of the arrest of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) in Baghdad December 14, 2003. REUTERS/Alexander Demianchuk

US soldiers from 1-22 Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division smile at the 4ID headquarters, in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, 180 kms (110 miles) north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.(AFP/Mauricio Lima)

US soldiers from 1-22 Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division celebrate the capture of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) as he is shown on TV during a press conference in Baghdad, at 4ID headquartes in his hometown of Tikrit, 180km north of Baghdad.(AFP/Mauricio Lima)

AND he's said very carefully several times that Saddam will be treated according to the Geneva Convention. So Leslie starts saying he's a prisoner of war. Rummy jumps in and says, "NO! I didn't say that! I said he's CURRENTLY being treated AS IF he's a prisoner of war." He then went on to explain that, with the actions in the insurgency since combat ended, he may have forfeited his p.o.w. elibibility.

DOUBLE WOW!!!

Saddam has such a low opinion of women I hope that it was a female soldier that drug him out of his rat's nest or at least held the gun on him when another did! Anything to humiliate the man!

Oh yea!

Rummy is so cool, and cool under the collar. No wonder he's where he is at.

He was incredible...the old Rummy we really haven't seen much of lately. (I hope he has a presser tomorrow!)

Leslie Stahl asked him about "torture". That's when he jumped down her throat...she was totally astonished.

This has been an amazing several weeks! First the good news on the economy, then President Bush at considerable personal risk visiting the troops in Bagdad at thanksgiving, giving them such a morale boost, and now...the capture of saddam! God Bless President Bush and the troops of the greatest military in the world. I do believe the prayers are having an effect.

GLOAT BABY GLOAT!!!!!! Thank you Lord, Thank you Mr. President and THANK YOU SOLDIERS!! WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS!!!

This was on 60 minutes?....I wish I could have seen this....Rummy Rocks!

You heard from your hubby lately? Just talked to mine yesterday. I should hear from him again tomorrow, they leave port in a few days and head back under the water (Just before the new LOTR movie hits theaters. My husband's a bit miffed at that)

Well, looking at news reports, the Asian Markets are showing major gains in the dollar vs. foreign currency, and the price of oil fell, and the price of gold went up.

My guess, buy early, and sell a few minutes later.

Disclaimer: I am not a stock broker, but I did stay at Maigrey Manor last night!

Leslie Stahl asked him about "torture". That's when he jumped down her throat...she was totally astonished.

Oh I detest these snide remarks from the media! How dare she!!!! I am so glad he jumped down her throat! She asked for it, going for the jugular herself! Were this a dim administration the Nobel committee would have already been calling!

An Iraqi journalist shouts out and cries at a news conference following the arrest of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) in Baghdad December 14, 2003. Cheering Iraqis in the audience shouted 'Death to Saddam!'

From :Yahoo News Service

Iraqi Journalist Cries for Joy at Saddam's Capture
Sun Dec 14,11:56 AM ET

By Michael Georgy

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi journalist Fatah (news - web sites) al-Sheikh wept when he saw U.S. video of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) at a news conference Sunday.

"When I saw Saddam's long beard, how he looked like a defeated man, it reminded me of the two years I spent in jail, how his agents tortured me in every way you could imagine," he said.

Iraqi reporters at press conference with Paul Bremer mirrored the jubilation in the streets by jumping for joy when the U.S. administrator showed pictures of the man who had terrified Iraqis and ruthlessly crushed dissent for decades.

They punched the air and shouted but Sheikh just sobbed loudly.

Like millions of Iraqis Sheikh was relieved when U.S. forces toppled Saddam in April.

But he could not feel safe without clear proof of Saddam's death or capture.

"Saddam put me in prison just because I was publishing an Islamic newspaper without official permission. I was in jail in 1989 and again in 1999. In the end I had to pay them off to get released," said Sheikh.

Employees of the U.S. administration, who in an unusual move were allowed into the televised press conference, clapped and cheered Bremer.

Some reporters screamed "death to Saddam." Others thanked the 600 U.S. soldiers who tracked down the once-feared leader who was hiding in a hole near his home town of Tikrit.

While Western journalists asked for details of how U.S. troops closed in on Saddam, Iraqi journalists kept pushing for details on Saddam's fate. Will he face the death penalty? Will he be handed over to an Iraqi court to face Iraqi justice?, they asked.

Sheikh, a member of the majority Shi'ite Muslim community that Saddam persecuted, wants Saddam handed over to Iraqis.

"They should hand Saddam over to us," he said.

The former president should be executed if convicted, "if God is willing," Sheikh added.

As journalists turned their attention to Sheikh one asked him mistakenly if he lived in Saddam City in Baghdad.

"The name is now Sadr City," he said with a smile.

He called Thurs night...we had a terrible connection so didn't talk long....he called to make sure our 2yo grandson had a flu shot(which I did)....he said he had decorated his quarters with the things I sent and that there was a USO show planned for next week....and was looking forward to Christmas packages.....I hope he calls tonight...(his am)

Goodie a Dose!! Wonderful comment about the "Avenger of the Bones"! A nice touch on this wonderful day.

Prairie

He called Thurs night...we had a terrible connection so didn't talk long....he called to make sure our 2yo grandson had a flu shot(which I did)....he said he had decorated his quarters with the things I sent and that there was a USO show planned for next week....and was looking forward to Christmas packages.....I hope he calls tonight...(his am)

ooops...what happened?

WHAT A PRESIDENT! WHAT A MILITARY! WHAT A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FOR IRAQ (AND THE WORLD)!

"We got him!" [You can watch Paul Bremer's announcement and the reaction from Iraqi reporters by selecting the appropriate video link on the http://www.foxnews.com/ website !

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The "Washington Christmas" special is on NOW -- 8 PM (ET) TNT. The President and Laura are in attendance!!

Thank you for posting the FLIGHT SUIT pix -- this pix is a MUST on a day like today!

You're funny.

I've already sent my broker my order, and the sell price. Mmmm, I love making money!

God, I love that pic....Im soooooo lonely...LOL....I love a guy in a flightsuit....Mike took all of his with him...

Bwahahaha! Great one!

Prairie

I just saw Biden on CNN say that this would help get the troops home earlier only if we use this opportunity to internationalize the effort in Iraq.

Hey Biden, you loser, it's already an international effort in Iraq. But you only have the same old tired message and nobody is buying anymore bucko. Nobody.

The rats have got to be tearing at their fur. EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT YOU LOSERS!!!!

Prairie

Do you know what kind of chopper they airlifted Saddam with?

Notice Sheikh's mangled right hand? Only one visible sign of the torture he suffered.

Tell us how ya REALLY feel Prairie!

The rats have never had a CinC that the troops love...the are beside themselves with jealousy.

I am already wearing my Bush 2004 pin everywhere I go!

I've had mine on my coat for quite a while. After New Year, it's on my shirt, everywhere I go.

Prairie

Maigrey, the pix of the Iraqi women and the one with the sign thanking America is wonderful!

Prairie

My Goodness....... The NIKKEI Market is up by over 253 points

Guess that answers my question oWf. I imagine there are hundreds of happy soldiers over there about now. What a day indeed!

The rats have never had a CinC that the troops love...the are beside themselves with jealousy.

Boy, you said a mouthful!

And may be I add, seeing all the fur coming out is sure a lot of fun. Oooh, bad me.

Hey triple A! Thanks for stopping by to bump GWB.

WOW! I bet the Dow goes nuts tomorrow!

I been putting that pix on my profile page bbmom. Thanks!

Prairie

Just hope it doesn't drop after that, but continues to grow! Reaching for 11!

Don't forget the news out of the UK yesterday that the troops have found proof linking Saddam to training the 9/11 terrorists!

I posted this earlier today in the Canteen:

The US Military: The Quagmire Quenchers!!!

We need a Q word to describe the naysayers. Only thing I can think of is DemoQUACKic party. ;)

Think we can reach a quorum on this quality question?

Thanks for the heads up on the TNT program...I tuned in just in time for that glorious rendition of Ave Maria!

A perfect ending to a perfect day -- a column by Peggy Noonan:


Joy to the World

They thought that we would rue it.
They doubted we'd do it.
But now they must admit it, that succeed we did.

Sunday, December 14, 2003 12:20 p.m. EST

"Ladies and gentlemen, we got him."--Paul Bremer

First, let's just be happy. Let's feel a burst of joy.

Let's not be boring people who Consider the Implications. Let's not talk about the domestic political impact. For just a day let's feel the pleasure history just handed us.

All morning the words of an old song of the old America have been running through my head. From "My Fair Lady," from the age when Americans whistled Broadway show tunes on the street. Rex Harrison (a bow today to our valiant allies, the English) jauntily crows over Eliza Doolittle's first triumph.

"Pickering Tonight, old man, you did it!
You did it! You did it! You said that you would do it;
And indeed you did. I thought that you would rue it;
I doubted you'd do it. But now I must admit it
That succeed you did. You should get a medal
Or be even made a knight."

As far as I'm concerned he could be singing this to American troops, and the American administration, and America's allies, and the Iraqis who suffered through so much to get to this moment.
This is a great day in modern history. A terrible man whose existence had been for decades actively harmful of humanity was forcibly removed from power, run to ground, and has been captured living in a hole. As I write, the television is showing videotape of his hair being checked for lice and his mouth being inspected with a pencil light for signs of disease. The white plastic pinpoint light illuminates his throat and gums. It looks like the mouth of hell. He has been utterly defeated and quelled. He can't kill anybody now. He cannot gas women and children with chemicals that kill them; he cannot personally torture dissidents, or imprison them. He cannot tell his soldiers to throw opponents off the tops of buildings. He can't impose his sickness and sadism on the world. The children of Baghdad dance in the streets. A nightmare is over.

America did this. American troops did this. The American people, by supporting those troops and this effort, did it. And a particular group of soldiers led by a particular U.S. army officer did it. As Dana Priest of the Washington Post has just reported on NBC, he is a big, tall, bearlike guy who loves his job and whose attitude toward his mission was, apparently, a natural and constitutional optimism. We don't yet know his name, but he'll be famous by tomorrow morning.

What do we learn? Well, as Samuel Johnson said, "Man needs more to be reminded than instructed," so what are we reminded of through the happy ending of this story?
That human agency works and is an active force in history. You don't have to sit back and accept; you don't have to continue to turn a blind eye; you don't have to sit and do nothing, because all action involves choice and all choice invites repercussion. You can move forward. You can take action. You can go in and remove a threat to the world. You can make the world safer. You can help people. Just because they live in Iraq and we don't bump into them every day doesn't mean they don't merit assistance and even sacrifice.

We are reminded, all of us, that patience is necessary, that nothing big can be accomplished without it. America and Iraq searched day and night for Saddam Hussein for eight months. And for some time they searched for a man half of them thought had already been obliterated in the early days of the war. But they didn't know and they had to find him if he was alive. They had to find him even if he was surrounded by a thousand troops and explosives. So there was their patience, and there was the patience of Washington: political patience. If he's there, we will find him. The administration's foes had attempted to embarrass them for eight months. The administration simply said: If he's there, we will find him; we won't give up until we do. Good for them for not spinning it but simply having faith in the troops and being patient.

And we are reminded that when you do what is right, you can be rewarded. When you summon the guts to take a controversial stand, and accept the price of that stand, and the price comes in every day, you can win. And that victory can make things better.

Now Iraq's Baathist movement is over; its chief is humiliated, revealed as a coward, caught and ridiculous. Now the people of Iraq will be able to testify in court about what he did, in front of his face. Now we all may find out a great deal more about what exactly Saddam did with the weapons of mass destruction we know he had in the past, for he used them on the Kurds and against Iran in the old war. Where did those weapons go? Where are they now? What about Saddam's relations with al Qaeda? What papers will we find now, what evidence? And what will he say in an attempt to save his skin?
Next stop, Osama. May we find him in a hole. May we search his beard for lice and his gums for disease. May we see in the reflection of the light the mouth of hell, and may we close it for him tight.

All the journalists and politicians, they are always embarrassed to feel joy when something like this happens. They fear it will show a lack of understanding that history is a heavy and ponderous thing, a big tragedy machine, and all progress is illusory. Celebrating a military triumph--and this was among other things a military triumph--seems to them tantamount to Kiplingism, quaintly ignorant and unhelpfully nationalistic. That's why everyone on TV today is furrowing his brow. They know joy is the wrong thing to be feeling. It's unsophisticated.
But normal people don't have to be sophisticated. They can be normal. And happy. And say what normal Americans say when something great in history happens. "Thanks, God. Thanks a lot."

Ms. Noonan is a contributing editor of The Wall Street Journal and author of "A Heart, a Cross, and a Flag" (Wall Street Journal Books/Simon & Schuster), which you can buy from the OpinionJournal bookstore. Her column appears Thursdays.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110004429

FNC market analyst was predicting big gains because of the news. Brought to us by the Awesome Military of the United States of America!

Prairie

You are wrong on that date. Gore conceded on Dec 12, 2000. It is a day I will never forget since it was my birthday and it was the best birthday present I ever received.

Thanks for posting that column here. I'm going to forward it to lots of people

Prairie

There's a special "Best of the Web Today" up, too!!!

Taranto suggests that the soldiers who found the "spiderhole" and their families should get to spend a special Christmas dinner at the White House! I concur!!!

Well, here it is....right on CNN's website.

Two Tyrants fell on this day :-)

I just finally learned how to put a few things on the profile page.

I'm looking for that cute flight suit pic where he is flashing the V sign.

And also the great cowboy hat shots - The one of him at the olympic torch ceremony in the black overcoat and white cowboy hat, and the one at the ranch in the cowboy hat that we LOVE. Can anyone help?

Of course you will have to post them, for me to see if they are the ones I'm lookin for. I hope no one minds. :-)

Mansoor Ijaz on O'Reilly...."we" have excellent new information on where Saddam's "lab" is. Some of the components are in Iran, some in Syria, and some in that lab near Baghdad. He bets Bill "by the State of the Union we'll KNOW that Saddam had chemical and biological AND NUCLEAR capabilities"!...Et Cetera, Et Cetera, Et Cetera.

Congratulations President Bush
&
Congratulations to our Troops
For a job well done

It feels REAL good to gloat, doesn't it, Rose? .....hehe....

I just watched that, Boy their would be egg on so many faces that I doubt the chickens would be up to the task, Not too mention the shortage of Crow

I just love the song, Lady in Red, and Chris DeBurgh's talent. I have his CD's and wonder why he's not more popular here.

OH, RATS! Just catching the end of it!

Hope they replay it!

What?? He didn't leave a single flightsuit home for you to 'remember' him by?

Shame on you, MIKE! ;o)

Laura is drop dead gorgeous in that dress. Red is her color. Wow!

Criminey now Lieberman is on O'Reilly. I seem to be two minutes behind the best interviews tonight. At least Joe calls Saddam a mass murderer.

Prairie

Here's one........

Today we have much to celebrate about, but this war is far from over and we must pray extra hard for our men and women in uniform. I truly believe our prayers are working and the capture of Saddam might be the straw that breaks the Camels back for those attacking our nations warriors.

Everytime we get great news like we did today, I'm reminded of something George W. Bush said on the day he was sworn in as our President

We are not this story's author, who fills time and eternity with his purpose. Yet his purpose is achieved in our duty, and our duty is fulfilled in service to one another.

Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose today, to make our country more just and generous, to affirm the dignity of our lives and every life.

This work continues. This story goes on. And an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm.

God bless you all, and God bless America. George W. Bush, Jan. 20th, 2001

Lieberman is the only respectable one of that sorry lot

Are you hearing this?! President Bush gave his speech then he and Laura stayed on the stage for the "Joy to the World" finale.

AND HE STILL HAS HIS MIKE ON! We can hear him singing....not too bad, either! LOL!

George Bush sings with a Texas accent. LOL!

HA! I heard it as well!

Peggy Noonan on MSNBC.

Here's another......

And one more.....

The CNN is wrong it was on my birthday. I will never forget it.

"FREEDOMS DEFENDER"

Yes.....I heard him!

He could sing very well with a little training............think I could help him out.......you know I AM a music teacher! ;o)

I missed it

TNT will rerun it after "A Christmas Carol" I think. Maybe you can watch it if you are up late.

"think I could help him out.......you know I AM a music teacher! ;o)"

Get control of yourself woman :-)

I was up late last night and was woken up at 7:00 AM by a international call from my brother in Jakarta with the news of Saddam's capture. So I will be retiring somewhat early tonight, hopefully by midnight :-)

Wooooooooo, it was the Supreme Court decision that came on the 12, my birthday that confirmed Bush won the presidency. Gore did indeed concede on 13th. I was thinking of the Supreme Court decision when I read your post. Sorry

Do you have the text of the speech? I didn't have the chance to see it?

And I as a semi-retired music teacher will offer to assist you! Let the lessons begin!

Now everybody quickly switch to HGTV for the White House Christmas decorating special. Chef Roland is preparing Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory depicted entirely in chocolate.

President Bush has made the Democrats eat so much crow he will pardon a crow next Thanksgiving.

Chris Matthews is disgraceful. Now saying that Herman Goehring in his trial at Nuremberg pointed out how we could have avoided going to war with Germany, and what if news comes out about something like that? Then Pat Caddell chimes in about how we armed Iraq in the war against Iran.

What horrible people these Rats are. I am going back to Fox, even if Peggy Noonan is on Matthews show.

That's my favorite flight suit picture!!!!

Thanks so much for posting this on a Sunday. It was a special day indeed. God Bless our Soldiers the world over.

And Lieberman has no chance of getting the nomination cause he supported the war.

Oh, thanks for reminding me. I am now on HGTV!!!

Those are some of my favorites too.

I get the feeling the only one he wants to sing to is Laura so Ohio, I don't think your services will be needed.

Mike I Love that part of his Inaugural Address. In fact, I loved the whole thing.

Yes, Ohio, Thank you so much. Those are the ones, I think you few in a few for good measure?? ;-)

Here are a couple more from tonight......

Here is the text for the speech.

You can watch it on video at the White House website too, which is what we did, since we got home from church too late to actually watch it live.

Hey now......I was talking about really teaching him!

You know, good vowels, breath control, all that good vocal stuff.

I could help him......HONEST I could!

We are witnessing a Presidency that has done more for the cause of freedom like few in our history. In the process he has also restructured the Federal Government by consolidating dozens of agencies under one roof. Pushed through 3 tax cuts, 2 of which were very large. He was the first president ever to gain seats in Congress in his first midterm election. He has Liberated 50 million people from two brutal regimes that rank with that of Hitler's.

The fact of the matter is, This President came to office in a cloud of controversy and he is now soaring with the Eagles. History will have many pages dedicated to this President and I believe it will be written that he came to office promising to change the tone in Washington and bring honor and dignity back to the White House. He fulfilled his promise and along the way he changed the world and brought freedom to millions in a land that desperately needed it.

In three years much has been done, and it was done under the most trying of times. Kudo to President Bush, his leadership comes at a time when we needed it most.

God Bless America

To paraphrase Home 'smotto. "You can duet and we can help!"

Speaking of Laura.........did you see the TNT special??

At the end they were holding hands REALLY nicely, and the camera panned in on just their hands!

Methinks the cameraperson was a romantic like me!

LOL, Where is Lawgirl when we need her, at least she is honest about her motives :-)

Ping for the Queen of BushBabes

That Home Depot's motto. Why did it leave part of the sentence out......I lost my mind years ago...am just now missing it!

Thanks!

I watched that exchange and I have to wonder if those two bafoons realize how utterly clueless they are

"Methinks the cameraperson was a romantic like me!"

That's impossible :-)

It got worse on Hardball. Interviewing Dick Gephardt, Chris asked him about all that "health care" and "dental checks" Saddam was getting "for free" when so many in this country can't afford it.

Sheesh. A new low.

The greatness and the strenght of President W. Bush is in his true humility. It is never about him. I am in awe.

AMEN, Mike! Beautiful!!

And thanks for those amazing words from his Inaugural speech. I was SO moved by them at the time, but little did we know how prescient they would be.

btw, Mike, Patty, Deb, Pat and whoever else has sent Eric stuff lately........

When I talked to him today, he said, "Mom, your Free Republic friends are WAY too nice!! He has been absolutely OVERWHELMED by all the goodies you've sent him. He feels SO honored by your generosity!

Deb, Patty and Mike (and whoever else was in on that big package......who else was??), he got your packages, and LOVED the stuff in them!

Patty, the DVD choices were perfect, and Deb, the OSU shirt and stocking were a HUGE hit!

THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING FOR MY BOY!!!!

LOL, forget Ohio, George only sings to Laura and I am sure she doesn't care about vowels and breath control.....well maybe she cares about breath control!!!

Yeah, well............I guess lawgirl and I ARE two peas in a pod.........aren't we, girl?

That exchange between Chrissy Matthews and Pat Cadell was very Neville Chamberlainesque

Pat Caddell's beard matches his tweed coat...LOL!

Somehow I just knew Ohio would notice that hand holding and the fact the camera person zoomed right in on it. Ohio, you are a hopeless romantic....stay that way!!

Tell Eric for me .... "Thank You"

I am pretty bad, aren't I?

well, MR. ohio appreciates that quality in me.........

Gettin pretty close to the edge there, Kath..........LOL!

I wondered what that HOME 'smotto was! LOL!

(I still think you and I could coach the President a bit in the vocal department.....don't you?)

Hey, I kept it clean!!!

Happy Birthday Sibb1213

I didn't realize you're a music teacher Ohio! I was so excited about the childrens choir on the A&E special yesterday and the little soprano soloist. I thought I posted it to you, but not completely sure.

How did I know to post that to a music teacher?! heehee

Prairie

Just barely!

(And I LOVED it!)

Here's another picture.......albeit not a GOOD one! ;o)

Oh, my GOODNESS prairie!! She was FANTASTIC!! And only 11!!

And the 12 year old belter was fantastic in a totally different way!

I'm a choir director myself, and that choir was GOOD (and the director sorta looked like a Bushbabe, didn't she??).

Just announced: they've moved Saddam to Qatar.

Prairie

Church choir by any chance? I was gone much of the day to extra rehearsals, as well as church service itself. Busy time of year for singers and musicians.

Prairie

BTTT President Bush & US troops!
(Nice font!)

One more from tonight, and I'm calling it a night! It's been fun.....I'll check in in the morning......

G'Nite all! GREAT day!!