Myth vs Fact-Part 195

Myth	Fact
Islam: Religion of peace.	Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 182: Narrated 'Ali: When it was the day of the battle of Al-Ahzab (i.e. the clans), Allah's Apostle said, "O Allah! Fill their (i.e. the infidels') houses and graves with fire as they busied us so much that we did not perform the prayer (i.e. 'Asr) till the sun set."
Tafsir

Sphere: Related Content

Fred: Confusion, Fear or Purposeful Misinformation?

As the circus in Iowa reaches its crescendo, two conflicting reports come out about Fred. One states he will drop out of the presidential race and give his support to McCain if he places less than third; the other shows a surge in support for Fred.

First, we'll address the issue of whether or not he'll drop out of the presidential race.

Jonathan Martin and Mike Allen of The Politico post a January 2, 2008 report:

A Thompson campaign source said there is “a strong likelihood” that if Thompson comes in a distant third in Iowa, with less than 15 percent of the vote, he would drop out soon—most likely before this weekend’s New Hampshire presidential debates.

The Thompson sources said they were describing a consensus expectation that is now widespread among his political circle, not announcing a decision that the candidate himself has definitively reached.

and:

Trying to fend off rumors about an impending demise of the campaign, Thompson issued a news release Wednesday afternoon saying he plans to participate in debates in New Hampshire on Saturday and Sunday. Thompson was alone in issuing such a release: No other campaign thought that was necessary.

Despite the air of doom hovering over his candidacy, Thompson has not yet shared his intentions with the campaign or indicated to friends that he has reached a decision in tandem with his wife, Jeri, an influential adviser. Campaign underlings continue to make plans as far ahead as Super Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Interesting how there is no actual source named, just a lot of vague "campaign source", "consensus expectation", etc. Nothing and no one specific.

Traveling to Digby at Hullabaloo, he posts this:

Sad, sad news, my friends. Fredmania may be over (this link just leads back to the Politico post).

The most "intelligent" comment from Hullabaloo comes here:

I was particularly excited at the prospect that we might have a first lady with big tits.
Riesz Fischer | 01.03.08 - 12:59 am | #

Frankly, it sounds like a bunch of wishful thinking. Yes, Fred's had a difficult time fundraising. He's had a difficult time getting his message out because the MSM is terrified of someone who's a straight shooter, who has though out the issues and written up a "battle plan" of policies and how he plans to handle issues and someone who plain doesn't pander to the MSM.

Fred runs his campaign as a campaign and not as a circus. That's part of what differentiates him from the rest of the candidates, and the point was made earlier today by Peter Robinson at The Corner here:

Iowa Republicans, in other words, have wanted Thompson to do them the courtesy of actually campaigning—and now they’re beginning to realize that he has. First Thompson conducted a two-week bus tour of Iowa at which he campaigned in more than 50 towns and cities. Then he taped a 17-minute video in which he makes his case more calmly, deliberately, and and with incomparably greater respect for the issues than has any of his opponents. And? For a lot of Iowa Republicans, that’s all they needed.

Perhaps Iowans, and maybe the rest of the conservatives out there, are beginning to wake up to the truth of what Fred is promoting and his strengths on the issues.

Race 4 2008 posts the same article of Fred dropping out as referenced above. However, there is a quote from the comments section at The Politico that appears at this site as well.

From The Politico comments:

Phil D Location: NA Party: Republican

Reply #: 17 Date: Jan. 2, 2008 - 11:38 PM EST

---

Here’s the update from the broadcast in Des Moines tonight on KCCI, the most watched local news in Iowa. Fred was asked about what events would take place if he finishes 3rd or last, and if it is true he will endorse McCain. His answer, “Total fabrication, he never said it either privately or publicly, and it was planted by some other campaign” Then he joked with the anchors about imagine that happening in politics!

Fred08.com

And the comments section from Race 4 2008:

1. Tommy Oliver Says:
   January 3rd, 2008 at 1:07 am

   Here’s the update from the broadcast in Des Moines tonight on KCCI, First, he was asked about what events would take place if he finishes 3rd or last, and if it is true he will endorse McCain. His answer, “Total fabrication, he never said it either privately or publicly, and it was planted by some other campaign”

Again, interesting the "source" of the "drop out" comments was never named, but is a vague "campaign source".

Now, the opposite side of the coin reads Fred is experiencing a late breaking surge in Iowa.

Peter Robinson at The Corner reports on the latest Zogby poll here:

The Thompson campaign may be shaping up as something like the precise reverse of the Clinton campaign. Presenting herself as the candidate of inevitability, Hillary dare not slip in the polls for fear of suffering a rapid and irretrievable collapse. Fred is by contrast the candidate who just can’t get elected—solid, likeable, and best on the issues—but, well, a man for whom it just isn’t going to happen. But as modest as it so far remains, his sudden rise in the polls—this “late-breaking surge,” to quote Zogby again—could persuade whole slews of Republicans that Fred could indeed win after all, leading to a definitive breakout.

Spree at Wake Up America and Snooper at A Newt One are also reporting on this poll and Fred's surge.

From Spree:

It seems Fred has a "late breaking surge" (Zogby's words) in Iowa, via the Corner, who points to Zogby's latest.

From Snooper:

In their daily tracking poll, conducted by traditional telephone surveys rather than on-line polls, Zogby shows a significant bump in support over the last three days -- enough to tie Fred with John McCain for third place.

And from Zogby:

Arizona Sen. John McCain remained in third place at 12%, tied with former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson, who has seen a late-breaking surge.

So the question is--is Fred ready to throw in the towel (which would absolutely delight the democrats and RINOS as well as the MSM) or is he finally starting to come alive and people are finally starting to realize he has indeed been campaigning as a candidate should--a man worthy of the position of CIC rather than a carnival barker to the house of horrors?

And, is Fred really as conservative as we all think he is? For the answer to that question, I refer you back to his site here and this entry page to the issues and his "plan" on those issues. I also refer you to one last article by Peter Robinson at The Corner entitled "Fred Thompson, Reagan Conservative".

We will probably never see another RWR in our lifetime. However, Fred comes close. It would be outstanding if we could get a Fred Thompson/Duncan Hunter ticket. Don't count Fred out yet. If he drops out, we will be left with nothing but RINOS and the left. And that, my friends, would be terrible news for this country.

Catch the Wave!

Sphere: Related Content

Myth vs Fact-Part 194

Myth	Fact
Islam: Religion of peace.	Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 181: Narrated Abu Ishaq: A man asked Al-Bara', "O Abu 'Umara! Did you all flee on the day (of the battle) of Hunain?" He replied, "No, by Allah! Allah's Apostle did not flee, but his young unarmed companions passed by the archers of the tribe of Hawazin and Bani Nasr whose arrows hardly missed a target, and they threw arrows at them hardly missing a shot. So the Muslims retreated towards the Prophet while he was riding his white mule which was being led by his cousin Abu Sufyan bin Al-Harith bin 'Abdul Muttalib. The Prophet dismounted and invoked Allah for victory; then he said, 'I am the Prophet, without a lie; I am the son of 'Abdul Muttalib, and then he arranged his companions in rows."
Tafsir

Sphere: Related Content

Myth vs Fact-Part 193

Myth	Fact
Islam: Religion of peace.	Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 178: Narrated 'Amr bin Taghlib: The Prophet said, "One of the portents of the Hour is that you will fight with people wearing shoes made of hair; and one of the portents of the Hour is that you will fight with broad-faced people whose faces will look like shields coated with leather."
Tafsir

Sphere: Related Content

Fun From Snopes--New Year's Superstitions

Snopes' weekly email landed with disgusting regularity this week. There was a fun article I decided I'm going to link here, and post below. It covers a lot of the things we take for granted in our New Year celebrations, superstitions, and just plain light-heartedness. I thought, with the roller coaster year we've had in 2007, we could use some fun to start 2008.

With that in mind, I present Snopes' New Year's Superstitions.

Kissing at Midnight: We kiss those dearest to us at midnight not only to share a moment of celebration with our favorite people but also to ensure those affections and ties will continue throughout the next year. To fail to do so would be setting the stage for a year of coldness.

Stocking up: Bare cupboards must not see the New Year in lest that be the way of things for the year. Larders must be topped up and plenty of money must be placed in every wallet in the home to guarantee prosperity.

Paying off bills: You should not begin the New Year in debt; checks should be written and mailed prior to January 1 and personal debts should be settled before the New Year arrives

First Footing: The first person to enter your home after the stroke of midnight will influence the year you're about to have. New for old Ideally, he should be dark-haired, tall, and good-looking, and it would be even better if he came bearing certain small gifts such as a lump of coal, a silver coin, a bit of bread, a sprig of evergreen, and some salt. Blonde and redhead first footers bring bad luck, and female first footers should be shooed away before they bring disaster down on the household. Aim a gun at them if you have to, but don't let them near your door before a man crosses the threshold.

The first footer (sometimes called the "Lucky Bird") should knock and be let in rather than unceremoniously use a key, even if he is one of the householders. After greeting those in the house and dropping off whatever small tokens of luck he has brought with him, he should make his way through the house and leave by a different door than the one through which he entered. No one should leave the premises before the first footer arrives — the first traffic across the threshold must be headed in rather than striking out.

First footers must not be cross-eyed or have flat feet or eyebrows that meet in the middle.

Nothing prevents the cagey householder from stationing a dark-haired man outside the home just before midnight to ensure the speedy arrival of a suitable first footer as soon as the chimes sound. If one of the partygoers is recruited for this purpose, impress upon him the need to slip out quietly just prior to the witching hour.

Nothing Goes Out: Nothing — absolutely nothing, not even garbage — is to leave the house on the first day of the year. If you've presents to deliver on New Year's Day, leave them in the car overnight. Don't so much as shake out a rug or take the empties to the recycle bin.

Some people soften this rule by saying it's okay to remove things from the home on New Year's Day provided something else has been brought in first. This is similar to the caution regarding first footers; the year must begin with something's being added to the home before anything subtracts from it.

One who lives alone might place a lucky item or two in a basket that has a string tied to it, then place the basket just outside the front door before midnight. After midnight, the lone celebrant hauls in his catch, being careful to bring the item across the door jamb by pulling the string rather than by reaching out to retrieve it and thus breaking the plane of the threshold.

Food: A tradition common to the southern states of the USA dictates that the eating of black-eyed peas on New Year's Day will attract both general good luck (financial in particular) to the one doing the dining. Some choose to add other Southern fare (such as ham hocks, collard greens, or cabbage) to this tradition, but the black-eyed peas are key.

Other "lucky" foods are lentil soup (because lentils supposedly look like coins), pork (because poultry scratches backwards, a cow stands still, but a pig roots forward, ergo those who dine upon pork will be moving forward in the new year), and sauerkraut (probably because it goes so well with pork).

Another oft-repeated belief holds that one must not eat chicken or turkey on the first day of the year lest, like the birds in question, diners fate themselves to scratch in the dirt all year for their dinner (that is, bring poverty upon themselves).

Work: Make sure to do — and be successful at — something related to your work on the first day of the year, even if you don't go near your place of employment that day. Limit your activity to a token amount, though, because to engage in a serious work project on that day is very unlucky.

Also, do not do the laundry on New Year's Day, lest a member of the family be 'washed away' (die) in the upcoming months. The more cautious eschew even washing dishes.

New Clothes: Wear something new on January 1 to increase the likelihood of your receiving more new garments during the year to follow.

Money: Do not pay back loans or lend money or other precious items on New Year's Day. To do so is to guarantee you'll be paying out all year.

Breakage: Avoid breaking things on that first day lest wreckage be part of your year. Also, avoid crying on the first day of the year lest that activity set the tone for the next twelve months.

Other superstitions attaching to the beginning of the New Year are:

Letting the Old Year Out: At midnight, all the doors of a house must be opened to let the old year escape unimpeded. He must leave before the New Year can come in, says popular wisdom, so doors are flung open to assist him in finding his way out.

Loud Noise: Make as much noise as possible at midnight. You're not just celebrating; you're scaring away evil spirits, so do a darned good job of it!

According to widespread superstition, evil spirits and the Devil himself hate loud noise. We celebrate by making as much of a din as possible not just as an expression of joy at having a new year at our disposal, but also to make sure Old Scratch and his minions don't stick around. (Church bells are rung on a couple's wedding day for the same reason.)

The Weather: Examine the weather in the early hours of New Year's Day. If the wind blows from the south, there will be fine weather and prosperous times in the year ahead. If it comes from the north, it will be a year of bad weather. The wind blowing from the east brings famine and calamities. Strangest of all, if the wind blows from the west, the year will witness plentiful supplies of milk and fish but will also see the death of a very important person. If there's no wind at all, a joyful and prosperous year may be expected by all.

Born on January 1: Babies born on this day will always have luck on their side.

From my house to yours--Have a safe, Happy New Year!

Cross posted at Grizzly Groundswell here and Real Clear Politics here.

Sphere: Related Content