Then came Rita…

Now we have Kansas…

It has been revealed what a complete joke Texas’ disaster preparedness is.

The people who claim that only they can protect America from terror have co-opted the front-line defense for natural disasters.

Last November, Newt Gingrich tried to scare everyone by invoking the specter of losing an American city:

We need to get ahead of the curve rather than wait until we actually literally lose a city, which I think could literally happen in the next decade if we’re unfortunate.

New Orleans, Louisiana…

Greensburg, Kansas…

That’s two cities we’ve already lost. Is anyone paying attention?

…or I might be a Kiwi by now:

Every week, successful Americans are making the decision to sell up, pack up and move out to a small nation in the South Pacific. Why?

Try freedom, a more relaxed pace and a new life in a land abounding with fresh and exciting opportunities and possibilities. And you’d be on the right track. Those who’ve experienced New Zealand tend to agree that it is one of the friendliest nations under the sun. It has a population of just over four million and one-third of the country is protected by national parks; but that doesn’t leave this small yet diverse nation without sophistication.

I reached this site through a banner ad.

Gary Hart, who is probably much, much more qualified to opine on global terrorism than any of the chuckleheads vying for the Repubs’ nomination, gives Rudy Giuliani a much-needed ass-smackin’ today.

Let all heed the words of William F. Buckley.

Apparently deaths from car bombs in Iraq are not being counted in the new figures showing “declining violence.” The key apparently is that the number of executions has decreased, which is good. As for the increasing number of car bombings??? Well, let me first point out that Chewbacca is a wookie, but wookies don’t live on Endor…

Also, Mahablog has perhaps the best comment on Malkin’s “Bring It On” moment:

[T]hey’re out of even nonsensical arguments and have resorted to flinging feces.

Via Think Progress:

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith, covering yesterday’s flag-draped coffin procession for the Blue Angels pilot who died in a crash last weekend:

This is a scene we are not accustomed to see during war times. They don’t allow us to see the victims — uh, heroes who died for us in Iraq. We don’t get to see their caskets come back. It’s a wonderful honor to be able to pay tribute to this man in this way. Wouldn’t it be nice if we were able to do this with the hundreds upon hundreds who have died for us in Iraq?

Ouch.

Just go look at this. If you think it’s either (a) intentionally funny or (b) even remotely insightful, please let me know why.

Jessica Lynch and Mary Tillman, for standing up for the truth. “The truth always is more heroic than the hype.”