Libtard grassroots organization, Americans Coming Together... falls apart
Mood:  d'oh
Topic: Lib Loser Stories

Americans Coming Together Falls Apart

John Fund notes in OpinionJournal's Political Diary (e-mail subscription only) that the grassroots organization Americans Coming Together has quietly closed its doors. I have not yet seen any press release announcing this; in fact, the ACT website says nothing at all about a cessation. However, ACT last updated its blog almost a month ago. Given all the political tussles this summer, it sounds as if no one's home at ACT.

Fund writes:

Last month, ACT quietly shut its doors and went out of existence. Remarkably, its demise attracted almost no media attention. But that doesn't mean it didn't teach its backers some lessons. Privately, some Democrats admit that ACT's emphasis on using paid workers to gin up voter turnout was eclipsed by Republican efforts to motivate volunteers to do the same work for free. In the end, ACT will stand as a monument to how big money in politics -- such as the $37 million spent by Mr. Soros in 2004 -- isn't nearly as important as having a candidate with a coherent message and supporters who believe in their own nominee rather than merely disdain the opponent.

Fund also mentions the embarrassment and dismay that ACT caused the Democrats when the AP reported that ACT hired convicted sex offenders to do their door-to-door canvassing for the voter registration drives it conducted. It turned out that the hiring couldn't even be blamed on poor oversight, but a deliberate attempt to rehabilitate the worst offenders by sending them to people's homes in an effort to collect their personal information. Their spokesman made this policy clear when asked by the AP:

ACT does not believe the felons it sends door to door pose a threat to the public, said Mo Elleithee, a Washington-based spokesman for the group. "We believe it's important to give people a second chance," Elleithee said. "The fact that they are willing to do this work is a fairly serious indication that they want to become productive members of society."

ACT later found more suitable tasks for their contingent of second-chancers, but the damage had already been done. In the end, as Fund notes, the Democrats spent millions on ACT and its shenanigans, while the Reublicans did the same work with volunteers, managing to avoid sending felons and sex offenders to the doorsteps of families. The Republicans also fielded candidates with coherent political messages rather than a presidential contender who offered up memorable quotes such as, "I voted for the eighty-seven billion -- before I voted against it."

If ACT has closed its doors, it won't be missed, not even by deep-pocketed Democrats looking to rescue failed campaigns.

(More)
Ed Morrisey, Captain's Quarters Blog

Right Nation.US Blog ** Americans Coming Together Falls Apart

Sending felons door to door to collect personal info is classic! Sometimes I can't believe how stupid the Dems are. LOL

Group Behind Gay Marriage Ban Sues Calif. Attorney General
Mood:  energetic
Topic: Yahoo Chat Stuff

Group Behind Gay Marriage Ban Sues Calif. Attorney General

SAN FRANCISCO - The sponsors of a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage sued California's attorney general Tuesday over the summary the state prepared for the group's signature-gathering petitions.

The lawsuit claims Attorney General Bill Lockyer inaccurately described the measure, which would also strip same-sex couples of domestic partnership rights.

The suit says Locker, a Democrat, highlighted the amendment's effects on registered domestic partners instead of explaining that its chief purpose was to preserve marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

"The Attorney General has failed to carry out his duty to prepare a neutral, factual title and summary," said Mathew Staver, whose Liberty Counsel law firm is representing VoteYesMarriage.com.

Staver wants the court to order Lockyer to revise the petition language. Until the matter is resolved, the group won't be circulating the petitions required to gather the 598,105 signatures it needs to qualify the amendment for the June 2006 ballot.

Lockyer spokesman Tom Dresslar defended the attorney general's summary of the amendment, saying it was a fair representation that a judge is likely to uphold.

"The title and summary is 100 percent accurate in describing what the initiative would do," Dresslar said. "It wipes out registered domestic partner rights and obligations that currently exist in California law."

Meanwhile, a second group that also wants to ban gay marriage and do away with domestic partner rights in California with a constitutional amendment has begun gathering signatures. That amendment is sponsored by a group called ProtectMarriage.com.

Elsewhere Tuesday, gay marriage opponents filed a ballot initiative aimed at amending the Massachusetts Constitution to ban gay marriages. The initiative would define marriage as between a man and a woman.

The measure is part of an effort to overturn same-sex marriage, which the state Supreme Judicial Court legalized in 2003. Massachusetts is the only state to allow gay and lesbian marriages.

On the Net:

Vote Yes Marriage.com

Protect Marriage.com

Tampa Bay Online ~ Associated Press - Lisa Leff ** Group Behind Gay Marriage Ban Sues Calif. Attorney General

Report: Dem. operatives 'far more involved' in voter intimidation, suppression in 2004
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Lib Loser Stories

WASHINGTON - The American Center for Voting Rights Legislative Fund ("ACVR Legislative Fund") today released the most comprehensive and authoritative review of the facts surrounding allegations of vote fraud, intimidation and suppression made during the 2004 presidential election.

The ACVR Legislative Fund report, "Vote Fraud, Intimidation & Suppression In The 2004 Presidential Election," finds that while Democrats routinely accuse Republicans of voter intimidation and suppression, neither party has a clean record on the issue. The report finds that paid Democrat operatives were far more involved in voter intimidation and suppression activities than were their Republican counterparts during the 2004 presidential election. Examples include paid Democrat operatives charged with slashing tires on GOP get-out-the-vote vans in Milwaukee and an Ohio court order stopping Democrat operatives from calling voters telling them the wrong date for the election and faulty polling place information.

The report further finds that thousands of Americans were disenfranchised by illegal votes cast and a coordinated effort by members of certain "nonpartisan" organizations to rig the election system through voter registration fraud in more than a dozen states. Examples include a law enforcement task force finding "clear evidence of fraud in the Nov. 2 election in Milwaukee," including hundreds of felon and double voters and thousands more ballots cast than voters recorded as having voted in the city and multiple indictments and convictions of ACORN workers for voter registration fraud in several states.

ACVR Legislative Fund presents eight key recommendations focused on punishing those who engage in acts of vote fraud and voter intimidation and strengthening legal safeguards against such activity in future elections. The report's central recommendation calls for both national parties to formally adopt a zero-tolerance fraud and intimidation policy that commits them to repudiate any effort to intimidate voters or volunteers or commit vote fraud.

"Until political parties and candidates are willing to adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards election fraud, the American public will have little confidence in other reforms," said Brian Lunde, ACVR Legislative Fund board member. "There is no room for politics when it comes to the right to vote."

"It should be easy to vote but tough to cheat," said Mark F. "Thor" Hearne, ACVR Legislative Fund Counsel.

In addition to common-sense recommendations such as required government issued photo ID at the polls, accurate statewide voter registration databases and a zero-tolerance policy against vote fraud and intimidation, ACVR Legislative Fund identifies five cities as election fraud "hot spots" which require additional immediate attention prior to the 2006 elections. These cities were identified based on the findings of the report and the cities' documented history of fraud and intimidation.

1. Philadelphia, Pa.

2. Milwaukee, Wis.

3. Seattle, Wash.

4. St. Louis/East St. Louis, Mo./Ill.

5. Cleveland, Ohio

A letter delivered today to DNC and RNC chairmen Howard Dean and Ken Mehlman urged party leaders to formally adopt the zero-tolerance policy against fraud and intimidation. ACVR Legislative Fund further asked party leaders to identify issues of concern in each of the election fraud "hot spots" by Oct. 1, 2005.

ACVR Legislative Fund was founded on the belief that public confidence in our electoral system is the cornerstone of our democracy. The organization was established primarily to further the common good and general welfare of citizens of the United States of America by educating the public about vote fraud, intimidation and discrimination which impacts the constitutional right of all citizens to participate in the electoral process. ACVR Legislative Fund is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that neither supports nor endorses any political party or candidate.

Please visit http://www.ac4vr.com to view the report in its entirety.

Contact: Jim Dyke for the American Center for Voting Rights Legislative Fund, 843-722-9670
U.S. Newswire ** Report: Democrat Operatives Far More Involved In Voter Intimidation,Suppression In 2004, Thousands of Americans Disenfranchised By VoteFraud on Election Day

Also at...
The Arizona Republic ~ U.S. Newswire ** Report: Dem. operatives 'far more involved' in voter intimidation, suppression in 2004

Wisconsin Speed limit of 75 mph considered
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Yahoo Chat Stuff

Speed limit of 75 mph considered

Our Wisconsin transplants might be interested in knowing that one of their former state's legislators has drafted a bill that would increase Wisconsin's speed limit to 75 mph, the National Motorists Association noted in its driver news alerts last week.

The organization, which favors the increase, says that "This is the first time since the repeal of the 55 National Maximum Speed Limit that we have the opportunity to raise the speed limit in Wisconsin."

What possible thinking could be behind raising the speed limit, you might reasonably ask, and should Florida consider doing such a thing?

The NMA is in favor of the increased speed limit, because:

♠ Raising speed limits to 75 mph will bring those limits closer to speeds drivers already are traveling, which is safer.

♠ Traffic currently is traveling 75 mph on the interstate system. Raising the limit would help safe motorists avoid costly tickets and insurance surcharges.

♠ The argument that says because you raise the speed limit to 75 mph, drivers will go 80 mph doesn't hold any water. Studies have shown, as well as experience, that this will not happen.

NMA's position on speed limits says: With extremely rare exceptions, speed limits should be set at the 85th to 90th percentile speed of free-flowing traffic. If separate speed limits are set for different classes of vehicles or different time periods, the speed limits for those classes of vehicles or time periods shall also be set at the 85th or 90th percentile speed of those classes of vehicles or those identified time periods.

In those instances where 85th percentile speeds exceed 75 mph, serious consideration should be given to eliminating enumerated speed limits and posting advisory speed limits in those locations with design limitations that require slower speeds.

The News-Press ** Speed limit of 75 mph considered

4 in 10 liberals believe in ghosts; 60% more likely than conservatives
Mood:  bright
Topic: Yahoo Chat Stuff

Gallup finds that a third or all Americans believe in ghosts. The more liberal a person is the more likely they are to believe in ghosts.

Gallup: One in three Americans believe in ghosts!

Gallup is reporting that a recent poll found a third of Americans “believe in ghosts!”

The poll shows 32% of all adults say they believe that “ghosts/spirits of dead people can come back,” while 48% do not, and 19% are unsure.

Even more Americans believe that houses can be haunted, with 37% holding that position, 46% saying no, and 16% not sure.

And along political party lines - 42% of liberals saying they believe in ghosts--but only 25% of conservatives and 35% of moderates say they do.

The poll also indicates that a belief in ghosts declines with age. Forty-five 45 of those 18 to 29 say they do - but only 22% of those 65 and over still believe.

The poll was based on interviews with 1,002 adults, with a plus or minus 3% sampling error.

WTSP - TampaBay's 10 News ~ Gallup and USA Today ** Gallup: One in three Americans believe in ghosts!

Dem's ''bellwether'' race for 2006... GOP's Schmidt Wins Ohio Special Election
Mood:  party time!
Topic: News

GOP's Schmidt Wins Ohio Special Election

CINCINNATI — A Republican former state lawmaker claimed a seat in Congress on Tuesday by narrowly defeating an Iraq war veteran who drew national attention to the race with his military service and a series of harsh attacks on President Bush.

With all precincts reporting, Jean Schmidt had 52 percent, or 57,974 votes, compared with Democrat Paul Hackett's 48 percent, or 54,401 votes. Schmidt's margin of victory amounted to about 3,500 votes out of more than 112,000 cast.

Schmidt, 53, will replace Republican Rob Portman, who stepped down this year after being named U.S. trade representative by Bush. Portman held the seat for 12 years, consistently winning with more than 70 percent of the vote in the Cincinnati-area district.

Democrats had viewed the race as a bellwether for 2006, saying even a strong showing by Hackett in such a heavily GOP district would be a good sign for them in the midterm elections.

"We began this race way back in late march, and no one had thought we'd be the focus of the national media or be the so-called first test of the Republican Party and the Bush mandate. Well, ladies and gentleman, we passed that test," Schmidt said.

In other races Tuesday, Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and former deputy mayor Freman Hendrix emerged from a 12-candidate mayoral primary to advance to the general election. With 56 percent of the vote in, Hendrix had 44 percent of the vote, Kilpatrick had 34 percent and the next nearest candidate had only 12 percent.

Kilpatrick was heralded as Detroit's next great hope when he was elected four years ago at age 31, but his term has been marred by a $300 million budget deficit, scrutiny over his running up huge bills on a city credit card, and the city's lease of a luxury SUV for his family.

In Ohio, Schmidt billed herself as an experienced leader more in tune with the district than Hackett. She is the first woman ever elected to Congress from the 2nd District.

Hackett, 43, is a lawyer and Marine reservist who recently completed a seven-month tour and was vying to become the first combat veteran of the Iraq war to serve in Congress.

He drew attention to the race with his flame-throwing assaults on Bush, namely for the president's July 2003 "bring 'em on" comment about Iraqi insurgents. Hackett called the comment "most incredibly stupid comment" he ever heard a president make, and said it "cheered on the enemy."

Schmidt consistently supported Bush on the war, and said she shares the "moral values" of the district with her opposition to abortion and to gay marriage.

In another race in Detroit, Motown legend Martha Reeves was one of 120 City Council candidates vying for 18 spots in the general election. Reeves, 64, was the lead singer of Martha and the Vandellas and had hit singles that included "Dancing in the Street," "Jimmy Mack," and "Nowhere to Run."

Fox News ~ Associated Press ** GOP's Schmidt Wins Ohio Special Election

Dems losing Hispanics
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Lib Loser Stories

The Dems used to count on the growing Hispanic population to stay Dem and revitalize the party, particularly in the Sun Belt states. Those hopes are shattered as Hispanics have showed that they are following the same patterns as most immigrant groups. While most early immigrants vote Dem, as they assimilate, start businesses, buy homes, have children, they begin voting Republican. Already almost half of Hispanics vote GOP.

Hispanics Shifting to GOP

Hispanics in the U.S. are increasingly taking part in civic life – last year 9 million Hispanics voted in the presidential election, up from 6 million only four years earlier.

And nearly half of them voted for Republicans.

"Hispanics do not align with either political party," according to a new report by the Hispanic American Center for Economic Research.

"The Democratic Party has not been able to retain a solid majority of Hispanics, and according to the polls, the Republican Party obtained around 45 percent of the Hispanic vote in the last presidential election, versus just 35 percent in 2000."

One reason behind the shift to Republicans is that the GOP is seen by Hispanics as more conducive to easing their access to a prosperous life as middle-class Americans, author Jose Maria Marco writes in the report.

"Hispanics do not immigrate to the United States to enjoy the services of the welfare state," he declared.

"They come so that their children may have a decent future, to buy a house, and to be entrepreneurs in a system that encourages free enterprise. Moreover, they are drawn by lower taxes, simpler regulations, a judicial system that functions, and a more competent public education system."

But some observers worry that Hispanics - who now number more than 40 million and make up one-seventh of the U.S. population – face unique difficulties in assimilating into American society as a whole.

For one thing, the Hispanic population tends to be concentrated in a few geographical areas - Texas, Southern California, Florida, New York and Illinois.

Secondly, while most immigrants learn English and speak Spanish only at home, a significant portion can live in the U.S. without ever having to learn English.

"It is certain that by its number, its geographic concentration and its individual attachment to its native language, the Hispanic population presents specific difficulties," the report concludes.

"But … fortunately, most Hispanics that immigrate to the U.S. do so because they believe in the universal principles in which American culture is based."

News Max.com ~ Carl Limbacher ** Hispanics Shifting to GOP

Sunbelt trends spell trouble for Dems
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Lib Loser Stories

This article, written by a former Dem Congressman, deals with the Dems electoral college woes. As the population shifts to the sun belt states the resulting electoral college disparity between the sun belt and snow belt states will mean more problems for the Dems ahead. There are a few very interesting facts in the article.

Democrats Must Tighten Grip on Sun Belt Voters

The Democratic Leadership Council, a major group of centrist Democrats, met recently in Columbus, Ohio, to discuss the future of the Democratic Party and to consider what Democrats need to do to win national elections.

They might have taken a moment to look at the numbers, because therein lies the story. A recent study by the Brookings Institution says it all: "The Electoral College Moves to the Sun Belt."

Electoral votes move around after each once-in-a-decade census. They follow population growth trends. Electoral votes are based on the number of Congressional seats each state has plus two extra votes for the state's two U.S. Senators. And Congressional seats are reallocated each 10 years to reflect population growth patterns.

The reason that the Brookings study is so important is that as a rule, Republicans have been doing better in the Sun Belt (the South and West) and Democrats, as a general mater, have been doing better in the Snow Belt. If Democrats don't learn how to campaign better in the Sun Belt, the party may be over.

Let's be very specific. According to the Brookings study, the Sun Belt controlled 271 electoral votes after the 1970 census and the Snow Belt controlled 267 electoral votes, for a net margin of only four. After the 2000 census, the Sun Belt controlled 313 electoral votes and the Snow Belt controlled 225 electoral votes for a margin of 88 electoral votes. Following the 2030 census (just 25 years from now), projections are that the Sun Belt will control 342 electoral votes and the Snow Belt only l96 votes, for a margin of 146 votes.

There are some exceptions to all this – Democrats win some Sun Belt states (California, Oregon, Washington and Maryland) and Republicans do win some Snow Belt states (Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska), but the overall pattern is set. Thus, Republicans currently have a built-in growing margin in the Electoral College if Democrats don't make significant changes.

History demonstrates the recent dominance of the Sun Belt rather dramatically. During the last 40 years, every person elected President regardless of party has come from the Sun Belt: Lyndon Johnson (Texas), Richard Nixon (California), Jimmy Carter (Georgia), Ronald Reagan (California), George Bush (Texas), Bill Clinton (Arkansas), and George W. Bush (Texas).

During these same 40 years, Democrats have lost presidential elections every time they nominated someone from the Snow Belt: Hubert Humphrey (Minnesota), George McGovern (South Dakota), Walter Mondale (Minnesota), Mike Dukakis (Massachusetts), and John Kerry (Massachusetts). The only time Democrats lost with candidates from the Sun Belt were Jimmy Carter (running for re-election) and Al Gore (Tennessee).

So what must Democrats do? Nominating someone from the Sun Belt or someone who clearly resonates with concerns of the Sun Belt is the obvious answer.

Beyond that, there are several other approaches that must also be undertaken.

For openers, Democrats must stop the bleeding among Hispanic voters who have been trending toward Republican candidates in recent elections. Hispanics are key swing voters in Sun Belt states like New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Florida and California. All of these states went Republican in 2004 except California. Democrats cannot permit this to become a permanent situation.

Additionally, Democrats must find ways to make inroads in the Southern part of the Sun Belt which is now overwhelmingly Republican. Border states like West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Virginia may be the best shots.

Finally, Democrats must win back some of the Snow Belt states that they have lost in recent presidential elections such as Missouri, Iowa and Ohio. Blue collar, middle class voters are the key target audiences in those states. Democrats must establish that they are not hostile to religious values and that they have something to offer on basic economic issues to be competitive in these states.

Our country is best served when we have two truly competitive parties. As a Democrat, I hope my party can figure out how to get back in the game.

Fox News ~ Martin Frost ** Democrats Must Tighten Grip on Sun Belt Voters

Congresswoman Maxine Waters hosts anti-war rally in LA
Mood:  chatty
Topic: Lib Loser Stories

Ah, yes. Maxine Waters. That Castro-loving Clintonista, libtard fruitcake extraordinaire... babbling peacnik pacifist, textbook talking point bullshit.

Congresswoman hosts anti-war rally in LA

Los Angeles - U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters led a rally Saturday calling for the United States to withdraw from Iraq, where attendees tried to raise awareness of documents they said raised questions about the justification for the war.

Waters said many of those in attendance, including veterans, relatives of soldiers, and civil rights activists, "have not had an opportunity to voice their opinions" about the war.

Several attendees staged simultaneous calls to local reporters to complain about what they said was a lack of public awareness about the so-called "Downing Street memos" — leaked minutes of a July 23, 2002, meeting between British Prime Minister Tony Blair and top government officials at his Downing Street office.

The rally was held to coincide with the third anniversary of the meeting.

According to the meeting minutes, Sir Richard Dearlove, then chief of Britain's intelligence service, said the White House viewed military action against Saddam Hussein as inevitable following the Sept. 11 attacks.

Blair has said the memos paint a distorted picture, and has insisted that the Iraq war was not predetermined by the United States.

San Francisco Chronicle ~ Associated Press ** Congresswoman hosts anti-war rally in LA

Iraq Citizens Deem U.S. Soldier As Sheik
Mood:  special
Topic: Odd Stuff

In this image made available by Dale L. Horn, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dale L. Horn of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, a member of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment, leaves a meeting after discussing road projects with local leaders, Tuesday, July 26, 2005, in the village of Jedellah Anuk, Iraq. Officially, he's Army Staff Sgt. Dale L. Horn, but to residents of the 37 villages and towns that he patrols he's known as the American sheik. Sheiks, or village elders, are known as the real power in rural Iraq. And the 5-foot-6-inch Floridian's ascension to the esteemed position came through dry humor and the military's need to clamp down on rocket attacks.

Iraq Citizens Deem U.S. Soldier As Sheik

QAYYARAH, Iraq - Sheik Horn floats around the room in white robe and headdress, exchanging pleasantries with dozens of village leaders. But he's the only sheik with blonde streaks in his mustache — and the only one who attended country music star Toby Keith's recent concert in Baghdad with fellow U.S. soldiers.

Officially, he's Army Staff Sgt. Dale L. Horn, but to residents of the 37 villages and towns that he patrols he's known as the American sheik.

Sheiks, or village elders, are known as the real power in rural Iraq. And the 5-foot-6-inch Floridian's ascension to the esteemed position came through dry humor and the military's need to clamp down on rocket attacks.

Late last year a full-blown battle between insurgents and U.S. and Iraqi forces had erupted, and U.S. commanders assigned a unit to stop rocket and mortar attacks that regularly hit their base. Horn, who had been trained to operate radars for a field artillery unit, was now thrust into a job that largely hinged on coaxing locals into divulging information about insurgents.

Horn, 25, a native of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., acknowledges he had little interest in the region before coming here. But a local sheik friendly to U.S. forces, Dr. Mohammed Ismail Ahmed, explained the inner workings of rural Iraqi society on one of Horn's first Humvee patrols.

Horn says he was intrigued, and started making a point of stopping by all the villages, all but one dominated by Sunni Arabs, to talk to people about their life and security problems.

Moreover, he pressed for development projects in the area: he now boasts that he helped funnel $136,000 worth of aid into the area. Part of that paid for delivery of clean water to 30 villages during the broiling summer months.

"They saw that we were interested in them, instead of just taking care of the bases," Horn said.

Mohammed, Horn's mentor and known for his dry sense of humor, eventually suggested during a meeting of village leaders that Horn be named a sheik. The sheiks approved by voice vote, Horn said.

Some sheiks later gave him five sheep and a postage stamp of land, fulfilling some of the requirements for sheikdom. Others encouraged him to start looking for a second wife, which Horn's spouse back in Florida immediately vetoed.

But what may have originally started as a joke among crusty village elders has sprouted into something serious enough for 100 to 200 village leaders to meet with Horn each month to discuss security issues.

And Horn doesn't take his responsibilities lightly. He lately has been prodding the Iraqi Education Ministry to pay local teachers, and he closely follows a water pipeline project that he hopes will ensure the steady flow of clean water to his villages.

"Ninety percent of the people in my area are shepherds or simple townspeople," said Horn. "They simply want to find a decent job to make enough money to provide food and a stable place for their people to live."

To Horn's commanders, his success justifies his unorthodox approach: no rockets have hit their base in the last half year.

"He has developed a great relationship with local leaders," said Lt. Col. Bradley Becker, who commands the 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery Regiment. "They love him. They're not going to let anyone shoot at Sheik Horn."

He has even won occasional exemption from the military dress code — villagers provide a changing room where he can change from desert camouflage to robes upon arrival.

There are downsides. In his small trailer on base, Horn keeps antibiotics to take after unhygienic village meals.

"I still refuse to kiss him," joked Becker, referring to the cheek-kissing greetings exchanged among sheiks. "He doesn't have any sheep — he can't be a sheik," said Becker, apparently unaware of the recent donation of the small flock.

Some may say he's doing a tongue-in-cheek Lawrence of Arabia, but Horn says he doesn't know much about the legendary British officer who led the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire in World War I.

He acknowledges some villagers are offended at seeing a foreign soldier in clothing usually reserved for elders, but he says this has diminished over time.

The sheiks told Horn they will give him an official document deeming him a sheik before he goes home in about two months. He plans to frame it.

And the robe? "Maybe I'll put it in the closet and wear it on occasion," Horn said.

Yahoo News ~ Associated Press - Antonio Castaneda ** Iraq Citizens Deem U.S. Soldier As Sheik