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Independence Day [New Window]
ILYA SOMIN: Was the Declaration of Independence an Example of Secession, Revolution, or Both?? [New Window]
ILYA SOMIN: Was the Declaration of Independence an Example of Secession, Revolution, or Both?
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 15:09:52 -0500 "Storm Clouds on the Fourth of July" [New Window]
Roger Simon writes, provocatively:I don't think I've ever seen my country so divided and depressed on the Fourth of July in my lifetime....The current situation is grim.Obama is already over. In six short months the now-spattered bumper stickers with "Hope and Change" seem like pathetic remnants from the days of "23 Skidoo," the echoes of "Yes, we can" more nauseating than ever in their clich-ridden evasiveness. Although they may pretend otherwise, even Obama's choir in the mainstream media seems to know he's finished, their defenses of his wildly over-priced medical and cap-and-trade schemes perfunctory at best.Read it all.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 14:53:49 -0500 BETTER AND CHEAPER: So Consumer Reports has ratings of LCD TVs again, and they?re better and cheape? [New Window]
BETTER AND CHEAPER: So Consumer Reports has ratings of LCD TVs again, and they’re better and cheaper — and bigger — than when I bought mine a couple of years ago. You can get a high-rated 52″ Toshiba for much less than I paid for my 46″ JVC just a couple of years [...]
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 14:00:31 -0500 MICHAEL SILENCE: Memo To The Republican Governors? Association: ?For a modest fee, the Wa$hington ? [New Window]
MICHAEL SILENCE: Memo To The Republican Governors’ Association: “For a modest fee, the Wa$hington Po$t will handle public relations for you.” Ouch.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 13:58:13 -0500 Ed Rollins: Palin a 'Shooting Star Crashing to Earth' [New Window]
Republican strategist Ed Rollins says Sarah Palin has made a big mistake: Palin A ‘Shooting Star Crashing To Earth’?On “The Early Show Saturday Edition,” Rollins, who headed up former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee’s 2008 White House run, told co-anchor Erica Hill that Palin’s Friday news conference “raised a lot more questions than she answered. Usually, at a press conference, you answer questions. I think the bottom line is you saw a shooting star come crashing to Earth.”I think the premise that she doesn’t want to be a lame duck governor - there’s people like Mitch Daniels, governor of Indiana, (Miss. Gov.) Haley Barbour, Gov. (Tim) Pawlenty, of Minnesota - they’re all gonna run for president, and they’re finishing their job. The job’s very tough now, and for her to bail out at this point in time, I don’t think it is fair to Alaskans and certainly, I think, damages her long-term career.“Stepping down hinders a potential 2012 bid, Rollins added, because, ”Most political people fight to the end. It’s now tough. She didn’t finish the job.“Rollins pooh-poohed political pros warning that people shouldn’t underestimate Palin’s ability to come back from any position of relative obscurity into which she risks falling.”You have to remember, everybody else climbed the mountain; she got put on top of it by John McCain,“ he said. ”We would not be talking about Sarah Palin if John McCain hadn’t picked her (as his running mater). So, at the end of the day, she’s still gotta earn her stripes.“ ...Rollins contended that, ”She diminished the job of governor. I think, at the end of the day, I’ve been in the business four decades, I’ve never seen a governor ever walk away from the job at mid-term, and I think, at the end of the day, that’s what’s gonna affect her."
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 13:45:57 -0500 STREAMING VIDEO from the Dallas Tea Party should be here in about an hour?. [New Window]
STREAMING VIDEO from the Dallas Tea Party should be here in about an hour.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 13:41:44 -0500 ALFONZO RACHEL: Why we celebrate Independence Day, and why we shouldn?t celebrate the government we? [New Window]
ALFONZO RACHEL: Why we celebrate Independence Day, and why we shouldn’t celebrate the government we’ve got.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 13:35:23 -0500 WANT TO STAND UP FOR AMERICA? Support PJTV. [New Window]
WANT TO STAND UP FOR AMERICA? Support PJTV.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 13:34:42 -0500 Tour De France Starts in Monaco [New Window]
The 2009 Tour de France opened today, with a time trial in Monaco. And yes, Lance Armstrong was there, riding with the Astana team — he came in tenth, 40 seconds behind winner Fabian Cancellara.The BBC has a blow by blow account of today’s race here, and a story with some quotes from Lance here.“I did not have big illusions”, said the 37-year-old Armstrong.“I was a bit nervous but it is logical,” added Armstrong, who last rode in the Tour in 2005 when he claimed his seventh victory.“I’m just happy to be here even if we don’t win because there are a lot of other things I could be doing right now. It is a difficult course for sure but I think it is difficult for everybody. It is very technical, it is hard to find a rhythm but that’s logical after years away.“What a beautiful race. It was fun. I felt pretty good, overall, I feel good. I was a little bit all over the place.”And by the way, here’s Lance Armstrong on Twitter.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 13:26:12 -0500 ROGER SIMON: Storm Clouds On The Fourth of July. ?I dont think Ive ever seen my country so d? [New Window]
ROGER SIMON: Storm Clouds On The Fourth of July. “I dont think Ive ever seen my country so divided and depressed on the Fourth of July in my lifetime and - no matter what Bob Dylan dreamed up - Im not young, forever or otherwise. That includes the Vietnam War period when both [...]
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 13:20:37 -0500 RECREATING Frederick Douglass?s Independence Day Oration?. [New Window]
RECREATING Frederick Douglass’s Independence Day Oration.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 13:16:10 -0500 READERS ARE SENDING PHOTOS FROM TEA PARTY PROTESTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. Here?s one from Perrysburgh,? [New Window]
READERS ARE SENDING PHOTOS FROM TEA PARTY PROTESTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. Here’s one from Perrysburgh, Ohio, sent by reader Chris Zarecki, who reports about 3,000 people attending.Here’s one from Bel Air, Maryland, sent by reader Maya Leonetti. The Debt Star makes another appearance!Here’s one from Washington, DC sent by reader Larry B who [...]
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 13:00:18 -0500 THE HOUSING COLLAPSE: As far as I can tell, it?s caused in no small part by idiots. At both ends.? [New Window]
THE HOUSING COLLAPSE: As far as I can tell, it’s caused in no small part by idiots. At both ends.I’ve learned this by watching HGTV. On the one hand, I saw a rerun of a show on people buying their first house the other night. It was from 2007. The [...]
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 12:47:22 -0500 CBS Mocks Palin: Resign from Office? You Betcha [New Window]
On the Saturday Early Show on the morning of July 4, anchor Priya David mocked Sarah Palins famous phrase, "You betcha," as she introduced a report by correspondent Nancy Cordes on the Alaska governors decision to resign from office. David: "Resign from office? You betcha. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin dropped a political bombshell Friday, announcing that she's leaving her post, but her future plans remain a mystery."Unlike her reporton theCBS Evening News from the previous night,this time Cordes refrained from referring to Palins speech as "rambling" and "confusing," but she did run a soundbite of the Politicos Mike Allen calling Palins decision "odd." Allen: "If youre trying to promote yourself as a steady leader, this is an odd way to run for President." On Friday night, Cordes had run a soundbite of Allen calling the announcement "bizarre." Allen: "This is very unusual, even bizarre. Governors just don't stop in the middle of their terms when theres no clear reason."Below is a complete transcript of the relevant report from the July 4 CBS Early Show: PRIYA DAVID: Resign from office? You betcha. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin dropped a political bombshell Friday, announcing that shes leaving her post, but her future plans remain a mystery. CBS correspondent Nancy Cordes has the latest.SARAH PALIN: I will not seek reelection as governor.NANCY CORDES: In a surprise announcement from her home in Alaska, Governor Palin said she will resign from office in three weeks.PALIN: I love my job, and I love Alaska, and it hurts to make this choice, but Im doing whats best for Alaska.CORDES: The Governor said she decided not to run for reelection, and that being a lame duck wasnt for her. Complained that the barrage of ethics complaints against her have been sapping the states attention and money.PALIN: My staff and I spend most of our day, were dealing with this stuff instead of progressing our state now.CORDES: Among supporters, the move has bolstered speculation that John McCains former running mate is planning her own run for the White House.CHERYL JACOBUS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: This is a good thing, its a responsible thing, its a smart thing, and so the only thing shes really signaling to the country and to the GOP is, I want to see whats out there, I want to see what else I can do.CORDES: But shell have to answer questions about why shes quitting the job she was elected to do.MIKE ALLEN, POLITICO: If youre trying to promote yourself as a steady leader, this is an odd way to run for President.CORDES: The timing of all this is curious. Typically, when politicians make announcements on a Friday at the start of a holiday weekend with no notice, it means theyre trying to bury the news, not herald the onset of an exciting new chapter in their political lives. Nancy Cordes, CBS News, Washington.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 12:17:03 -0500 Happy Independence Day [New Window]
Happy 233rd birthday, America, and happy Independence Day to all LGF readers!
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 12:11:01 -0500 BUT, MR. ADAMS.? [New Window]
BUT, MR. ADAMS.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 12:01:15 -0500 PETER SPIRO rains on the parade of 4th of July naturalization ceremonies. He?s got a point about th? [New Window]
PETER SPIRO rains on the parade of 4th of July naturalization ceremonies. He’s got a point about the expense and difficulty of obtaining legal immigration and citizenship status — as my family knows firsthand — but he’s still kinda negative.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 11:09:22 -0500 Notable Quotables Flashback: Ten Months of Media Scorn for Sarah Palin [New Window]
In announcing that she was stepping down as Alaska Governor on Friday, Sarah Palin noted the unrelenting hostility of liberal media elites. In the barely ten months since she burst onto the national scene, Palin has been scorned and mocked by journalists -- including many supposedly objective reporters -- like few other politicians. Here are a few of the choicer attacks, as compiled from MRC's Notable Quotables newsletter:"She is a far-right conservative who supported Pat Buchanan over George W. Bush in 2000. She thinks global warming is a hoax and backs the teaching of creationism in public schools. Women are not likely to be impressed by her opposition to abortion even in the case of rape and incest." Newsweeks Jonathan Alter in a "Web exclusive" posted on his magazines Web site, August 29, 2008."[McCain has] done it [picked Sarah Palin] at great cost, because the whole Republican convention...was going to be the slogan, Hes not ready to lead, meaning Barack Obama. Well, Sarah Palin makes Barack Obama look like John Adams. I mean, its just, its no contest." Newsweeks Howard Fineman on MSNBCs Countdown, August 29.Newsweeks Eleanor Clift: "This [McCains selection of Sarah Palin] is not a serious choice. It makes it look like a made for TV movie. If the media reaction is anything, its been literally laughter in many places across news-"Host John McLaughlin: "Where is that? See that?"Clift: "In very, very many newsrooms." Exchange on The McLaughlin Group, August 31, 2008."Im not that convinced that thats her baby....The daughter who we know is fertile because shes knocked up again, or maybe for the first time...she did like take a five-month leave from high school because she had [uses fingers to indicate quote marks] mononucleosis right around the time the baby was being born. And the mother, the so-called, you know, okay, maybe it is the mother, but, you know, she was back to work three days later. You dont smell something?...Its not like theyre not willing to lie about everything else." HBOs Bill Maher on Real Time, September 5, 2008, promoting the left-wing conspiracy theory that Sarah Palins infant son is actually her daughter Bristols baby."If [Bobby] Jindal had been governor of Louisiana in 2005 [during Hurricane Katrina], everything would have been different, and he would be John McCains running mate instead of this wacko right-winger." Co-host Mort Kondracke talking about Sarah Palin on FNCs The Beltway Boys, September 6, 2008."Before Gov. Sarah Palin came flying in from the wilds of Alaska for the Republican convention in St. Paul, there was a lot of sniggering in media rooms and satellite trucks about her beauty queen looks and rustic hobbies, and the suggestion that she was better suited to be a calendar model for a local auto body shop than a holder of the second-highest office in the land....In the press galleries at the convention, journalists wrinkled their noses in disgust when Piper, Ms. Palins youngest daughter, was filmed kitty-licking her baby brothers hair into place." New York Times media writer David Carr, September 7, 2008."You know, the one thing that I dont think anybodys said yet is that shes very mean to animals, this woman. Why does she have it in for these poor polar bear and the caribou and she aerial kills wolves? Thats a very mean thing to do. I think that thats an important point." ABC The View co-host Joy Behar explaining her opposition to Sarah Palin, CNNs Larry King Live, September 9, 2008."Is this a, like a Clarence Thomas where they wanted to pick an African-American for the Supreme Court so they picked the kind they wanted?...They have a person [Palin] here, whos apparently, to some extent, in terms of foreign policy, tabula rasa. Someone they can fill up with all this neo-conservative thinking....Is that what they wanted, just sort of a vessel to sell and carry their product, rather than someone with independent thinking on foreign policy?" MSNBCs Chris Matthews on Hardball, September 16, 2008.CNNs Jack Cafferty: "If John McCain wins, this woman will be one 72-year-olds heartbeat away from being President of the United States. And if that doesnt scare the hell out of you, it should....That [Sarah Palins interview with Katie Couric] is one of the most pathetic pieces of tape I have ever seen for someone aspiring to one of the highest offices in this country. Thats all I have to say."Wolf Blitzer: "Shes cramming a lot of information."Cafferty: "Theres no excuse for that. Shes supposed to know a little bit of this. You know, dont make excuses for her. Thats pathetic." CNNs The Situation Room, September 26, 2008."Is this [vice presidential debate] about her brain power?... Do you think cute will beat brains?...Do you think shed do better on the questions on Jeopardy or the interview they do during a half-time?...My suspicion is that she has the same lack of intellectual curiosity that the President of the United States has right now and that is scary!" MSNBCs Chris Matthews during the 7pm EDT Hardball on October 2, 2008 a couple of hours before the debate."Heres whats disturbing: Either she didnt know, because actually the legislative role [of the Vice President] is just about zero as Biden says, or -- scarier -- she has a little bit of Huey Long in her. The kind of -- you could see her being a demagogue, saying I got to do this, the rules are in the way, to heck with the rules, lets do it." Newsweeks Evan Thomas reacting to Palin suggesting at the debate that a vice president has a legislative role, on Inside Washington, October 3, 2008."Can we now admit the obvious? Sarah Palin is utterly unqualified to be vice presidentShe has never spent a day thinking about any important national or international issue, and this is a hell of a time to start....For John McCain to have chosen this person to be his running mate is fundamentally irresponsible." Newsweek international editor and CNN host Fareed Zakaria in his Oct. 6, 2008 column, "Palin Is Ready? Please.""The fact of the matter is, the comparison between her [Sarah Palin] and Hillary Clinton is the comparison between an igloo and the Empire State Building!" MSNBCs Chris Matthews on Hardball, October 14, 2008.Reporter David Wright: "Last summer, McCain mocked Obama as an empty-headed celebrity....But then he created a celebrity of his own."Clip of John McCain: "When you get to know her, youre going to be as impressed as I am."Wright: "Many were impressed, but plenty of others came to see Sarah Palin as an empty designer suit." ABCs World News, November 5, 2008.Sarah Palin: Ill-informed, inarticulate shopaholic has ego bigger than Alaska and shes still the darling of the GOP. From Newsweek's Conventional Wisdom column, December 29, 2008-January 5, 2009 issue.Sarah Palin now dont laugh is writing a book. Not just reading a book, writing a book. Actually, in the word of the publisher, shes collaborating on a book....What an embarrassment! Its one of these I told you, books that jocks do. You know shes already declared I mean, why they do it like this? She cant write, we got a collaborator for her. MSNBCs Chris Matthews on Hardball, May 13, 2009.Heres the question: Would you rather listen to a speech by Sarah Palin or a speech by Newt Gingrich...or would you rather just stick needles in your eyes? CNNs Jack Cafferty on The Situation Room, June 9, 2009. Ex-MSNBC anchor Dan Abrams: Sarah Palin, to me, is like the representative of everything thats gone wrong [for the Republican Party] lately....Comedian Chuck Nice: Sarah Palin to the GOP, this is what Ive got to say: She is very much like herpes shes not going away. Okay? Thats it. Exchange on NBCs Today, June 9, 2009.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 10:23:12 -0500 IN THE MAIL: Andrew Fox?s novel, The Good Humor Man, a sort of Fahrenheit 451 for food?. [New Window]
IN THE MAIL: Andrew Fox’s novel, The Good Humor Man, a sort of Fahrenheit 451 for food.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 10:00:43 -0500 Independence Day Tea Parties Open Thread [New Window]
As many of you know, there will be Tea Parties happening all over the country today. Those looking for a Tea Party in their area should go here. Please share your experiences upon your return.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 09:52:27 -0500 THOUGHTS ON SARAH PALIN?S RESIGNATION from Katie Granju?. [New Window]
THOUGHTS ON SARAH PALIN’S RESIGNATION from Katie Granju.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 09:51:09 -0500 PJTV: The Spirit of ?76: The Cancer of Congressional Corruption Betrays Our Founders? Sacrifice. A? [New Window]
PJTV: The Spirit of ‘76: The Cancer of Congressional Corruption Betrays Our Founders’ Sacrifice. Always nice to see Jim Moran put in his place. With a supporting appearance by John Murtha.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 09:45:18 -0500 Katie Couric Named 'Giant of Broadcasting' [New Window]
Although having the lowest rated broadcast evening news program, Katie Couric was just named a "Giant of Broadcasting."Such was announced by the Library of American Broadcasting (h/t TVNewser):Honoring a lengthening line of excellence tracing back to broadcastings beginnings. Under the guidance of Charles Osgood, Americas Master of Ceremonies, at noon onOctober 1, 2009(11:30 Reception & 12:00 Lunch & Awards Ceremony), in New Yorks Grand Hyatt. And the honorees are 10 GIANTS OF BROADCASTING FOR 2009Katie CouricKen BurnsDr. Woo PaikBarbara CochranChristopher J. RohrsNorman J.. PattizPosthumous Honorees:Bea ArthurEd McMahonThis despite Couric now having the lowest ratings for the "Evening News" in Nielsen history!Just imagine the accolades she'd be getting if nobody watched her newscast.Post facto exit question: if your ratings were this low, wouldn't you be embarrassed to receive such recognition?
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 09:32:48 -0500 JIM GERAGHTY: ?The lesson that the ruthless corners of the political world will take from the rise,? [New Window]
JIM GERAGHTY: “The lesson that the ruthless corners of the political world will take from the rise, fall, and departure of Sarah Palin that if you attack a politician’s children nastily enough and relentlessly enough, you can get anybody to quit.”And I don’t want to hear any of that dishonest have-you-no-decency posturing from the [...]
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 09:14:41 -0500 NYTimes Sneering at Christianity, Patriotism [New Window]
It seems that on July fourth, The New York Times saw fit to smirk at both American patriotism and Christianity. A recent Times article about the erection of a giant, though strategically altered, replica of the Statue of Liberty by a showman of a Memphis pastor presented a perfect example of the ridicule and disdain with which the Times views Christianity and American patriotism, both. In Memphis, Tennessee, writer Shalia Dewan could barely hide her sarcasm and distaste for the patriotism and the muscular Christianity espoused by Pastor Alton R. Williams in her coverage of the unveiling of the 72-foot-tall statue. Tellingly, the entire top third of Dewan's piece is filled with mockery, mischacterization, inapt comparison and quote after quote from Pastor Williams' detractors. It isn't until the initial ridicule is over that writer Dewan finally gives the pastor room to explain what his purpose and principle is in creating the odd pean to Lady Liberty. One of the inapt comparisons is contained in Dewan's first paragraph. As the congregation of the World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church looked on and its pastor, Apostle Alton R. Williams, presided, a brown shroud much like a burqa was pulled away to reveal a giant statue of the Lady, but with the Ten Commandments under one arm and "Jehovah" inscribed on her crown. Since when is a shroud used to hide a statue until its public debut "much like a burqa"? Is what is hidden underneath obscured from view for modesty's sake? Is it shame that the "brown shroud" covered up? Conversely, is there ever a time when a burqa is removed with pomp and circumstance for everyone to admire what hides beneath? No to all of that. The only reason that Dewan used the burqa quip is to cast aspersions on Pastor Williams' entire enterprise, a burqa, after all, being one of the most currently well known and visually distinctive religious evils in the world. The giant mock-up of Lady Liberty altered to fit Pastor Williams' particular religious/patriotic message is over-the-top, certainly. One would be excused to find a chuckle rising at first sight or a cocked eyebrow at least. With a giant golden cross in Liberty's upraised hand instead of the more familiar torch, the word "Jehovah" inscribed on her crown, and a single tear coursing down her cheek, the statue is a lot to take in. But, Pastor Williams has a very specific and serious point that he wants to make with the display. Regardless of the reason for the statue, Dewan is more disposed to ridicule. She assumes that the cross is there "as if to ward off the pawnshops" and then claims that it "is not clear" what the tear on the cheek is for, despite that Williams clearly explains it later in the piece. Naturally, as far as Dewan is concerned, it was important at the outset to tell readers that the statue "was not universally welcomed" despite that Pastor Williams' flock was there by the hundreds and pleased at the unveiling. To illustrate the disapproval, Dewan issues no less than five quotes in a row expression their displeasure at the statue. This is a backwards way to tell the story of an incident. The famous writer's maxim is to provide the "who, what, when, where and why" of a story before getting to reactions of bystanders. In this case, we get mockery and detractors before many of the facts. As it turns out, Dewan finally gets to the "why" Pastor Williams set up the huge display and his reasons are pretty solid if not understated in the least. Williams feels that too few black citizens in the U.S. are patriotic enough and he wants to reach out to them and shake them from their slumber. In "The Meaning of the Statue of Liberation Through Christ: Reconnecting Patriotism With Christianity," he explains that the teardrop on his Lady is God's response to what he calls the nation's ills, including legalized abortion, a lack of prayer in schools and the country's "promotion of expressions of New Age, Wicca, secularism and humanism." In another book, he said Hurricane Katrina was retribution for New Orleans's embrace of sin. Mr. Williams said his statue's essential point was that Christianity should be the guiding ethos of the nation. But because the church he leads is predominantly black, as is he, there is an added dimension to the message. Pastor Williams also feels that blacks have been too often led to ambivalence over American patriotism because of the history of slavery in America. He wants to reclaim patriotism for his people and reintroduce a pride in the red, white and blue. Seems to me these are fine ideas and the pastor should be applauded for his efforts, not treated with the ridicule doled out by Dewan and The New York Times. And further that he might be right that a big gesture, a grand show is what is called for to shake the black community from its apathy towards the U.S.A. Lastly, I'd like to point out that this "mega-church" of 12,000 black congregants obviously approved of the expenditure of the church's $260,000 on the statue and the attendance of hundreds of them at the unveiling proved it. So, for Dewan to lead off with her disdain and ridicule on full display is an elitist slap in the face to those thousands of black church goers of whom she writes. Unfortunately, ridicule of Christianity and a casual disregard for American patriotism is required for a writer for The New York Times, it seems, and Shalia Dewan reveals the requisite negativity toward both. (Photo by John Peyton)A Personal note: Happy Independence Day, everyone. I invite you all to take a few minutes to go to my webiste and read my holiday message on this Independence Day. Thanks for your support of my work here on NB and God Bless America.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 09:13:30 -0500 Why Is Palin Stepping Down as Governor? [New Window]
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 08:56:58 -0500 Open Thread [New Window]
For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: Sarah Palin steps down as Alaska's governor (part two below the fold).Thoughts?
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 08:46:25 -0500 Happy 4th! WaPo Publishes Book Review Lamenting Obama's Flag-Pin Wearing [New Window]
Heres the funny way the Washington Post celebrates the Fourth of July: it hands over the front of the Style section for a book review by Susan Jacoby, the leftist who hosts their websites discussion group called "The Secularists Corner." In reviewing a book by liberal professor Woden Teachout on the uses of our flag, Jacoby instructs that patriotism is divided into two categories: Teachout uses competing claims to the flag to trace the complicated relationship between American ideals of humanitarian patriotism, rooted in Enlightenment values of individual liberty and political equality, and nationalist patriotism, based on loyalty to a nation-state and emphasis on national security. But dont worry: Teachout believes that Barack Obama excels at both halves. But first, Jacoby must protest those dullards who put the words "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance: The pledge of allegiance, intended to promote assimilation of immigrants, was written by Francis Bellamy, a Christian socialist, and it simply read: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands: one Nation indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all." Teachout fails to follow up and make the important point that the phrase "under God" was added to the pledge only in 1954. Regrettably, the author does not deal at any length with the conflation of religion, patriotism and flag worship during the McCarthy era and in recent years. Jacoby concluded strangely that patriotism was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1943 by insisting Jehovahs Witnesses would not have to say the Pledge of Allegiance. (Thats a victory for religious liberty, but not exactly for patriotism.)This decision perfectly embodied the melding of humanitarian patriotism and nationalist patriotism, which Teachout discusses in her concluding remarks about the post-9/11 era and the 2008 presidential campaign. She sees Barack Obama's ability to elucidate both humanitarian and nationalist patriotism as a major political strength. The author may well be right in her view of the president as a publicist in chief for both patriotic traditions. But her optimistic conclusion does not explain why Obama, faced with harsh criticism during his early primary campaign for failing to wear a flag lapel pin, now wears a flag pin on every public occasion. The founders, as "Capture the Flag" eloquently reminds us, didn't feel obliged to wear their patriotism on their lapels.Most political observers would be completely mystified by the idea that Obama is a purveyor of "nationalist patriotism," given his tendency to apologize for American arrogance in every foreign land, or a preacher for "humanitarian patriotism," given his war on individual liberty in the economic sphere. But in the end, on Independence Day,the Post reader is left with the notion that "real patriots don't wear flag pins." To liberals, patriotism is always the last refuge of scoundrels.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 07:54:59 -0500 RUTH WEDGWOOD: The Strange Case of Florence Hartmann.A striking consensus is emerging in Washin? [New Window]
RUTH WEDGWOOD: The Strange Case of Florence Hartmann.A striking consensus is emerging in Washington for a closer relationship with the International Criminal Court. Even some staunch conservatives have backed the idea of lending logistical, political, and diplomatic assistance to the ICC on a case-by-case basis to act against the most shocking outrages of [...]
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 07:50:28 -0500 VIDEO FROM THE Rowlett, Texas Tea Party. More from Rowlett, here?. [New Window]
VIDEO FROM THE Rowlett, Texas Tea Party. More from Rowlett, here.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 07:46:36 -0500 HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY?. [New Window]
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 07:00:26 -0500 WASHINGTON POST UPDATE: Every newspaper is a glass house.Of course it was a bad idea. Arguably t? [New Window]
WASHINGTON POST UPDATE: Every newspaper is a glass house.Of course it was a bad idea. Arguably the Post did even more damage to its credibility in trying to explain itself than it did with the original concept as for instance with the declaration that a beautifully designed and widely distributed flyer was a draft. [...]
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 06:32:31 -0500 Independence Day [New Window]
It was a glorious morning. The sun was shining and the wind was from the southeast. Up especially early, a tall bony, redheaded young Virginian found time to buy a new thermometer, for which he paid three pounds, fifteen shillings.... The eternal meaning of Independence Day [New Window]
On July 9, 1858, Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas gave a campaign speech to a raucous throng from the balcony of the Tremont Hotel in Chicago. Abraham Lincoln was in the audience when Douglas prepared to speak. Douglas invited Lincoln to come join him on the balcony to watch the speech. In his speech Douglas rang the themes of the momentous campaign that Lincoln and Douglas waged that summer and fall for Douglas's Senate seat. Douglas paid tribute to Lincoln as a "kind, amiable, and intelligent gentleman, a good citizen and an honorable opponent," but expressed his disagreement with Lincoln's June 16 speech to the Illinois Republican convention that had named him its candidate for Douglas's seat. In that speech Lincoln had famously asserted that the nation could not exist "half slave and half free." According to Douglas, Lincoln's assertion was inconsistent with the "diversity" in domestic institutions that was "the great safeguard of our liberties." Then as now, "diversity" was a shibboleth hiding an evil institution that could not be defended on its own terms. Douglas responded to Lincoln's condemnation of the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision -- a condemnation that was the centerpiece of Lincoln's convention speech. "I am free to say to you," Douglas said, "that in my opinion this government of ours is founded on the white basis. It was made by the white man, for the benefit of the white man, to be administered by white men, in such manner as they should determine."Lincoln invited Douglas's audience to return the next evening for his reply to Douglas's speech. Lincoln's speech of July 10, 1858, is one of his many great speeches, but in one respect it is uniquely great. It concludes with an explanation of the meaning of this day to Americans with matchless eloquence and insight in words that remain as relevant now as then. Now, it happens that we meet together once every year, sometime about the 4th of July, for some reason or other. These 4th of July gatherings I suppose have their uses. If you will indulge me, I will state what I suppose to be some of them.We are now a mighty nation, we are thirty---or about thirty millions of people, and we own and inhabit about one-fifteenth part of the dry land of the whole earth. We run our memory back over the pages of history for about eighty-two years and we discover that we were then a very small people in point of numbers, vastly inferior to what we are now, with a vastly less extent of country,---with vastly less of everything we deem desirable among men,---we look upon the change as exceedingly advantageous to us and to our posterity, and we fix upon something that happened away back, as in some way or other being connected with this rise of prosperity. We find a race of men living in that day whom we claim as our fathers and grandfathers; they were iron men, they fought for the principle that they were contending for; and we understood that by what they then did it has followed that the degree of prosperity that we now enjoy has come to us. We hold this annual celebration to remind ourselves of all the good done in this process of time of how it was done and who did it, and how we are historically connected with it; and we go from these meetings in better humor with ourselves---we feel more attached the one to the other, and more firmly bound to the country we inhabit. In every way we are better men in the age, and race, and country in which we live for these celebrations. But after we have done all this we have not yet reached the whole. There is something else connected with it. We have besides these men---descended by blood from our ancestors---among us perhaps half our people who are not descendants at all of these men, they are men who have come from Europe---German, Irish, French and Scandinavian---men that have come from Europe themselves, or whose ancestors have come hither and settled here, finding themselves our equals in all things. If they look back through this history to trace their connection with those days by blood, they find they have none, they cannot carry themselves back into that glorious epoch and make themselves feel that they are part of us, but when they look through that old Declaration of Independence they find that those old men say that "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," and then they feel that that moral sentiment taught in that day evidences their relation to those men, that it is the father of all moral principle in them, and that they have a right to claim it as though they were blood of the blood, and flesh of the flesh of the men who wrote that Declaration [loud and long continued applause], and so they are. That is the electric cord in that Declaration that links the hearts of patriotic and liberty-loving men together, that will link those patriotic hearts as long as the love of freedom exists in the minds of men throughout the world. [Applause.]Now, sirs, for the purpose of squaring things with this idea of "don't care if slavery is voted up or voted down" [Douglas's "popular sovereignty" position on the extension of slavery to the territories], for sustaining the Dred Scott decision [A voice---"Hit him again"], for holding that the Declaration of Independence did not mean anything at all, we have Judge Douglas giving his exposition of what the Declaration of Independence means, and we have him saying that the people of America are equal to the people of England. According to his construction, you Germans are not connected with it. Now I ask you in all soberness, if all these things, if indulged in, if ratified, if confirmed and endorsed, if taught to our children, and repeated to them, do not tend to rub out the sentiment of liberty in the country, and to transform this Government into a government of some other form. Those arguments that are made, that the inferior race are to be treated with as much allowance as they are capable of enjoying; that as much is to be done for them as their condition will allow. What are these arguments? They are the arguments that kings have made for enslaving the people in all ages of the world. You will find that all the arguments in favor of king-craft were of this class; they always bestrode the necks of the people, not that they wanted to do it, but because the people were better off for being ridden. That is their argument, and this argument of the Judge is the same old serpent that says you work and I eat, you toil and I will enjoy the fruits of it. Turn in whatever way you will---whether it come from the mouth of a King, an excuse for enslaving the people of his country, or from the mouth of men of one race as a reason for enslaving the men of another race, it is all the same old serpent, and I hold if that course of argumentation that is made for the purpose of convincing the public mind that we should not care about this, should be granted, it does not stop with the negro. I should like to know if taking this old Declaration of Independence, which declares that all men are equal upon principle and making exceptions to it where will it stop. If one man says it does not mean a negro, why not another say it does not mean some other man? If that declaration is not the truth, let us get the Statute book, in which we find it and tear it out! Who is so bold as to do it! [Voices---"me" "no one," &c.] If it is not true let us tear it out! [cries of "no, no,"] let us stick to it then [cheers], let us stand firmly by it then. [Applause.] (Posted annually since 2004.)
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 06:10:20 -0500 ?SMART DIPLOMACY?? Report: U.S. to block Iran sanctions at G8 summit?. [New Window]
“SMART DIPLOMACY?” Report: U.S. to block Iran sanctions at G8 summit.
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 02:38:03 -0500 North Korea pops off another missileand more [New Window]
Read this post »
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:15:54 -0500 Independence Day: America turns 233 [New Window]
Read this post »
Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:10:56 -0500 MARK STEYN: ?National office will dwindle down to the unhealthily singleminded (Clinton, Obama), th? [New Window]
MARK STEYN: “National office will dwindle down to the unhealthily singleminded (Clinton, Obama), the timeserving emirs of Incumbistan (Biden, McCain) and dynastic heirs (Bush). Our loss.” And those responsible will not be the ones to pay the price, for the most part.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 23:07:59 -0500 PUT THE STATE IN CHARGE OF LIQUOR, and look what happens to booze?. [New Window]
PUT THE STATE IN CHARGE OF LIQUOR, and look what happens to booze.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 22:00:30 -0500 I?VE ENJOYED STEVEN PRESSFIELD?S BOOKS like Killing Rommel, and Gates of Fire. But now I discover h? [New Window]
I’VE ENJOYED STEVEN PRESSFIELD’S BOOKS like Killing Rommel, and Gates of Fire. But now I discover he’s got a blog.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 21:43:59 -0500 Ed Schultz Morphs Yet Again Into Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker [New Window]
Fans of the late great comedian Chris Farley, take comfort -- liberal radio host and MSNBC talking head Ed Schultz often bears an uncanny resemblance to one of Farley's best-known characters on "Saturday Night Live," that of Matt Foley, motivational speaker.Schultz has been on a Foleyesque tear of late, raging at Democrats as "spineless weenies" for not standing up to Republicans, despite holding the White House and sizable majorities in Congress.Here's Schultz on his radio show June 17, spewing his warped theory that Dick Cheney wants thousands of Americans murdered in another terrorist attack to help Republicans regain political power (click here for audio) --SCHULTZ: Believe me, that's where Cheney's going. I'm the only guy with any balls out there that's willing to call him on it! And God bless all of you people who backed me up with emails. If you sent me an email (makes kissing sound), I love ya! On his radio show the following day, Schultz vents about Democrats' lack of resolve in pushing for health care reform (here for audio) --SCHULTZ (initially in whiny, mocking voice): We don't have the votes. We just don't have the votes. It's the votes. We're trying to create jobs. We don't have the votes. No, you don't have any guts! You do not have any guts, Democrats! Spineless weenies!Later on June 18, Schultz described how he would converse with Obama and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanual (audio) --SCHULTZ: If I'm a presidential adviser, if I am in the Oval Office, the first thing I'd do is turn to Rahm Emanuel and say, shut up! 'Cause I'm talking now!More from Schultz on his mock conversation with Obama and Emanuel (audio) --SCHULTZ: Mr. President, you need to stand now with the American people, the American people want you to stand up and give the finger to the Republicans! There's only 40 of those bastards over there! And nail 'em! (pause, lowers voice) OK, Rahm, you can talk now (followed by bizarre mimicking sound)Schultz on June 23, disparaging GOP calls for bipartisanship (audio) --SCHULTZ: I'm listening to Shelby, Richard Shelby (Republican senator from Alabama), this morning again just on with Carlos (MSNBC anchor Carlos Watson) a little while ago, talking about (imitates Shelby's accent), Well, you know, we got to have bipartisanship, you know, we got to work together, we haven't done it yet, there's always going to be disagreements and you know we got to get together and there's things that we're just not going to agree to and there's things that they're not going to agree to, but you know we got to get together and they said we'd get together and -- Shut up! You lost! You lost! We don't have to get together with you, Mr. Shelby! We don't, we don't have to have lunch with you. You know you don't matter. You're out of touch.And on June 29, talking about how Democrats should respond to South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham's unequivocal rejection of the so-called "public option" in health care reform (audio) -- SCHULTZ: I would have liked to have seen someone come out from the White House and say, Lindsey Graham has his head up his ass. That's how you talk to him. Lindsey Graham has got it where it doesn't shine. One important difference, however, between Schultz and Farley -- Schultz is humorless. Any laughter he prompts is unintentional.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 21:30:22 -0500 BILL QUICK: What Sarah Palin could, and should, do. [New Window]
BILL QUICK: What Sarah Palin could, and should, do.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 21:28:20 -0500 CYNTHIA YOCKEY: The bullies will multiply unless we get David Letterman fired. With advice on what? [New Window]
CYNTHIA YOCKEY: The bullies will multiply unless we get David Letterman fired. With advice on what to do.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 21:24:20 -0500 JUSTIN BINIK-THOMAS SENDS THIS PICTURE from the Dayton Tea Party, in progress, and reports an estima? [New Window]
JUSTIN BINIK-THOMAS SENDS THIS PICTURE from the Dayton Tea Party, in progress, and reports an estimate of 4000 people according to police.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 21:23:50 -0500 Dr. Tiller's Murderer Still Advocating Via the US Mail [New Window]
According to ABC News, Scott Roeder (the fanatic suspected in the murder of Dr. George Tiller), has been using snail mail from his jail cell to stay in touch with the extremist anti-abortion network: Abortion Doc Murder Suspect Advocates Via Mail.A man charged with shooting a prominent Kansas doctor who performed late-term abortions has been advocating through mailings from his jail cell that such killings are justifiable and communicating with individuals on the fringes of the anti-abortion movement, weeks after suggesting others might be planning similar attacks.Scott Roeder, 51, is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the May 31 death of Dr. George Tiller — an attack that reignited the national debate over late-term abortion and gave Roeder icon status among extremists in the anti-abortion movement.From his cell in Sedgwick County jail, Roeder has been sending anti-abortion pamphlets that laud Paul Hill, who was convicted of murdering an abortion provider in 1994, as an “American hero,” and include examples of Hill’s writings about how the killing of abortion providers is justifiable.Hill was executed in 2003 for killing Dr. John Bayard Britton and his bodyguard outside a Pensacola, Fla., abortion clinic.Roeder has also been corresponding with Rev. Donald Spitz — whose Army of God group’s Web site celebrates Hill and who says he sent Roeder seven of the pamphlets at Roeder’s request — and Linda Wolfe, an Oregon activist who has been jailed about 50 times for anti-abortion activities and who is close friends with a woman convicted of shooting Tiller in the arms in 1993. She says Roeder mailed her one of the pamphlets.No one has accused Roeder of breaking any laws because of his jailhouse correspondence. But local and federal law enforcement agencies took seriously a threat Roeder made during a June 7 interview with The Associated Press that there are “many other similar events planned around the country as long as abortion remains legal.” A judge raised Roeder’s bond to $20 million, citing his comment to the AP, after a prosecutor argued Roeder’s ability to get his message widely disseminated should lead a reasonable person to believe he is engaged in “alleged acts of American terrorism.”
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:37:12 -0500 HOUSTON TEA PARTY: The organizers say 7-10,000 showed up, and send this picture of Steve Crowder (a? [New Window]
HOUSTON TEA PARTY: The organizers say 7-10,000 showed up, and send this picture of Steve Crowder (also seen on PJTV) addressing the crowd.UPDATE: A more negative take on Houston, here. Plus, in Chicago, a tale of two tea parties.Also, I’ve apparently underestimated the diversity of the movement.ANOTHER UPDATE: Kevin Menard writes:I [...]
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:26:27 -0500 PICTURES AND REPORTING FROM TODAY?S LAS VEGAS TEA PARTY. But there?s another one tomorrow, too?. [New Window]
PICTURES AND REPORTING FROM TODAY’S LAS VEGAS TEA PARTY. But there’s another one tomorrow, too.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:24:00 -0500 TRUE: Israel is Bullied Because It Acts Like a Doormat. In diplomacy ? especially American diplom? [New Window]
TRUE: Israel is Bullied Because It Acts Like a Doormat. In diplomacy — especially American diplomacy these days — the bigger a problem you are, the more goodies you get. You’ve got nukes. Be a big problem . . . .
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:19:17 -0500 Onion Reviews Innovative Wearable Feeding Apparatus [New Window]
[Video]
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:10:18 -0500 THREE kitchen gadgets that work?. [New Window]
THREE kitchen gadgets that work.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:00:53 -0500 NBC's Todd: Palin Will Attract 'Car-Wreck Watchers;' All Call Palin Decision 'Bizarre' [New Window]
Sarah Palin's bombshell holiday announcement that she will resign as Governor of Alaska managed to trump Michael Jackson as the lead on the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts Friday night as NBC's Chuck Todd predicted she will now make fundraising appearances for GOP candidates where she'll draw in car-wreck watchers. CBS reporter Nancy Cordes reflected the tone of the stories when she described a rambling, at times confusing announcement, while on all three newscasts Palin's decision was called bizarre.NBC News White House reporter Chuck Todd, who suggested she decided to quit so she could make a lot of money on the speaking circuit free of ethics complaint hassles, also predicted she will bring in big crowds at fundraisers for GOP candidates which will also entice those not so impressed by her:She may spend the next year campaigning for Republicans all across the country. She's probably going to be the person that can attract the largest crowds, some of it is car-wreck watchers -- you know, they just are coming, kind of curiosity-seekers. It doesn't matter. She can attract a lot of people.Audio: MP3 clip (16 seconds) Before Todd, NBC reporter Peter Alexander applied the bizarre label: It was just the latest bizarre twist for the self-described maverick... ABC and CBS reporters refrained from using that description themselves and left it to others in their July 3 coverage. In the World News story by David Wright, ABC's own Cokie Roberts maintained: It's mystifying. It was a bizarre statement. It didn't make a lot of sense and it doesn't seem to be the kind of thing someone would do if someone was running for President.On the CBS Evening News, in the piece from Nancy Cordes, the Politico's Mike Allen, a veteran of Time magazine, declared: This is very unusual, even bizarre. Governors just don't stop in the middle of their terms when there's no clear reason.Following Cordes, CBS News political analyst John Dickerson, also a veteran of Time, told fill-in anchor Maggie Rodriguez: It's bizarre and there's no good explanation. And if she were trying to do away with the kind of speculation that she says has so irritated her, this not the way to do it.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 19:46:18 -0500 SOCIALIZED MEDICINE: Hospital patient so shocked at dirty ward she climbed out of bed to clean it h? [New Window]
SOCIALIZED MEDICINE: Hospital patient so shocked at dirty ward she climbed out of bed to clean it herself.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 19:15:08 -0500 HuffPoster: 'Palin Will Run In '12 On More Retardation Platform' [New Window]
This is about as disgusting as Palin Derangement Syndrome can get.A blog just published at the Huffington Post is disgracefully titled "Palin Will Run In '12 On More Retardation Platform." The author, fiction and comedy writer Erik Sean Nelson (pictured right), actually wrote the following (readers are seriously warned to proceed with caution as this is really vile stuff):In Sarah Palin's resignation announcement she complained about the treatment of her son Trig who always teaches her life lessons. She said that the "world needs more Trigs, not fewer." That's a presidential campaign promise we can all get behind. She will be the first politician to actually try to increase the population of retarded people. To me, it's kinda like saying the world needs more cancer patients because they teach us such personal lessons. Her first act as President: To introduce a Pre-K lunch buffet that includes lead paint chips. Sort of a Large HEAD-START Program. She will then encourage women to hold off on pregnancies until their 40's just to mix up some chromosomes. She now is in favor of abortion only in case of diploid birth. Her policies will increase jobs because Wal-Mart is building new stores each day and someone has to be the greeter. This will lead to smaller government because fewer Americans will have the cognitive ability to hold a government jobWow. Is this what passes for comedy today?It will be interesting to see how long this post stays up before someone at HuffPo pulls it.Stay tuned. *****Update: The article has been pulled, apparantly by the author who claimed: "I got some emails from offended loved ones of the retarded. No one was seeing the absurdity of Palin hiding behind her children, so my piece was not accomplishing anything good."Imagine that.Well, for posterity purposes, here's a screen-cap of the piece courtesy NB reader Brett Scheer: Nice job, Erik. Don't be a stranger.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 18:52:39 -0500 RECIPE: Whole Salmon On The Grill?. [New Window]
RECIPE: Whole Salmon On The Grill.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 18:00:16 -0500 MARIETTA, GEORGIA TEA PARTY: Reader Gary O?Neill sends this picture, and says there are about 5,000? [New Window]
MARIETTA, GEORGIA TEA PARTY: Reader Gary O’Neill sends this picture, and says there are about 5,000 in attendance. Jonathan Krohn is a speaker.Plus, from Cynthia Yockey: How to talk to reporters at your Tea Party. And if you’re planning to attend one, how about signing up as a PJTV citizen reporter?UPDATE: [...]
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:59:41 -0500 TECHNOLOGY MARCHES ON: The Anti-Paparazzi Handbag?. [New Window]
TECHNOLOGY MARCHES ON: The Anti-Paparazzi Handbag.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:43:00 -0500 BRIAN DOHERTY: Heller Ain?t No Bad Place to Be: Second Amendment hero Alan Gura continues the lega? [New Window]
BRIAN DOHERTY: Heller Ain’t No Bad Place to Be: Second Amendment hero Alan Gura continues the legal fight for gun rights.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:36:03 -0500 A ROUNDUP OF user-alienating web practices. I particularly hate autorun videos (you hear me, Forbes? [New Window]
A ROUNDUP OF user-alienating web practices. I particularly hate autorun videos (you hear me, Forbes?) — but the ones with no controls are much worse.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:30:51 -0500 TO THEM THAT?S NOT A BUG, IT?S A FEATURE: ?Has anyone told the White House these are, um, err, recu? [New Window]
TO THEM THAT’S NOT A BUG, IT’S A FEATURE: “Has anyone told the White House these are, um, err, recurring costs?”
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:21:19 -0500 They Won't Have Sarah Palin to Kick Around Any Longer [New Window]
Not as Governor of Alaska, anyway: Governor Palin announced today that she will not seek re-election and, indeed, will resign her office in the near future. Her statement is here. She isn't retiring, but says she will continue "to make a positive difference and fight for ALL our children's future from OUTSIDE the Governor's office." Most observers assume that means she will devote full time to running for President. I guess so. Frankly, it seems bizarre to me, unless Palin calculates that in order to run she will have to spend most of her time in the lower 48, and the logistics of doing that while continuing as Governor are impossible.That's all I have to say. I'm curious to know what our readers think. Weigh in via comments, but remember that your comment will only appear if you include your first and last name. We'll quote salient observations from our readers in updates to this post.UPDATE: The comments are pouring in. Rather than try to select a few to quote from, I'd suggest you take a look if you're interested or want to participate. To a remarkable degree, readers who have commented so far are supportive of Palin's decision. This includes some who think she is (and should be) running for President and others who think she is just tired of constant abuse from the left. Several expect her to make a third-party run in 2012; I think that's farfetched. Surprisingly few--surprising to me, anyway--think that by resigning she has pretty much taken herself out of the running for 2012. Some expect her to resurface soon as a television commentator. That could well be true. Anyway, as I say, the comments are interesting and I recommend checking them out. Maybe I'll try to select a few representative ones to quote later in the day.I understand the Democratic National Committee has put out a statement on Palin's resignation, but I haven't been able to find it. Does anyone have a link?FURTHER UPDATE: At The Corner, Kathryn Lopez says that on MSNBC, they're speculating that Palin's resignation must be due to some impending scandal. Good grief. MORE: Mark Steyn thinks Governor Palin's decision was reasonable, but not--unlike many of our readers--as part of a plan to advance in national politics:Then suddenly you get the call from Washington. You know it'll mean Secret Service, and speechwriters, and minders vetting your wardrobe. But nobody said it would mean a mainstream network comedy host doing statutory rape gags about your 14-year old daughter. You've got a special-needs kid and a son in Iraq and a daughter who's given you your first grandchild in less than ideal circumstances. That would be enough for most of us. But the special-needs kid and the daughter and most everyone else you love are a national joke, and the PC enforcers are entirely cool with it.Most of those who sneer at Sarah Palin have no desire to live her life. But why not try to - what's the word? - "empathize"? If you like Wasilla and hunting and snowmachining and moose stew and politics, is the last worth giving up everything else in the hopes that one day David Letterman and Maureen Dowd might decide Trig and Bristol and the rest are sufficiently non-risible to enable you to prosper in their world? And, putting aside the odds, would you really like to be the person you'd have to turn into under that scenario?National office will dwindle down to the unhealthily singleminded (Clinton, Obama), the timeserving emirs of Incumbistan (Biden, McCain) and dynastic heirs (Bush). Our loss.NOW FOR SOME READERS: Our readers have made way too many interesting observations to say that these are the "best" of the comments, but I tried to excerpt some that are representative of the conflicting sentiments expressed.Jerry Magliano: I don't believe this is about a run for President in 2012. My bet is she will work to become the glue that pulls the Tea Party movement together into a cohesive national force prior to the 2010 and 2012 elections. This is the kind of grass roots environment in which she thrives. Whether that evolves into a true third party movement remains to be seen. Being relieved of her duties as Governor, she can focus full time on this endeavor. Lewis Kapell: Her statement makes sense to me - she seems to be saying that she can't serve Alaska effectively as governor any longer because she has become such a lighting rod for attacks from the Left.She wrote: "my staff and I spend most of our day dealing with THIS instead of progressing our state now."I think this is a really sad thing for America.Steven Gerig: Please, Sarah, Just stay home and raise you kids! Give your family a break. The media has already rehearsed the destruction of your campaign, and they've become pretty good at it. A run for President will not only be a torment for you and your family, it will be a torment for all of us watching.Christopher Edele: I think Palin is making the right decision here. As long as she stays put she will continually be on her back foot evading attacks from her political opposition in the State and across the country, no matter how petty, unwarranted, or incoherent they may be. There is no denying her support on the right is strong and I don't see any reason why her support would dwindle by stepping down.Linda Lindsey: I think this can be a very shrewd move on Sarah's part, and the act of a citizen-politician. The Washington politiican will run for office in November, and then begin their Presidential campaign in January, (Hillary?) all the while having no intention of fulfilling their office. They don't want to be without a political office, so they let the taxpayer fund their 'day job' while they travel the country not doing their job. ... The Average Joe can see Sarah's point of view and respect her - don't let the public continue to pay for you to not do your job while you run.Paul Gable: The liberal destruction machine has turned a quiet, productive state government into a circus of manufactured ethics complaints and other ridiculous distractions (in other words, Anchorage has started to resemble DC).
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:08:15 -0500 CNN's Sanchez: Is Palin Quitting Because She's Pregnant Again? [New Window]
In today's Sarah Palin Derangement segment, CNN's Rick Sanchez actually asked Candy Crowley if the Alaska Governor is stepping down because she's pregnant again (h/t multiple NB readers):For more examples of PDS, please read Judy Silver's piece at The New Agenda.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 17:06:14 -0500 GOOD NEWS for those growing long in the tooth: Gel Grows Tissue For Receded Gums On Teeth?. [New Window]
GOOD NEWS for those growing long in the tooth: Gel Grows Tissue For Receded Gums On Teeth.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:57:11 -0500 Sweden: Visit by spiritual leader of al-Shabaab [New Window]
Xasaan Xuseen, the spiritual leader of al Shabaab, is scheduled to speak at the Bellevue Mosque in Sweden. Is this part of al Shabaab's recruitment of Somalis from the US, Candada, Britain and Scandinavia? Islam in EuropeThe invitation of a... Iranian Police Torture & Rape Protestors [New Window]
via The Guardian:Afshin, a shopkeeper from south-west Iran, alleges that one of his friends was beaten and repeatedly raped after being arrested at an opposition rally after last month's disputed election. He gave this account to Esfandiar Poorgiv, a journalist... Minneapolis Somalis indicted for ties to al Qaida [New Window]
At least three Somalis from the Minneapolis area have been indicted by a grand jury on terror related charges. The Somalis were recruited by al Shabaab, a terrorist organization with close ties to al Qaida. One of the indicted is... Washington Post Whorehouse [New Window]
But I'm sure they have hearts of gold. Absolute corruption:Washington Post publisher Katharine Weymouth said today she was cancelling plans for an exclusive "salon" at her home where for as much as $250,00 The Post offered lobbyists and association executives... Riot In India Over Dead Pig [New Window]
Apparently someone thought it might me cute to throw a dead pig onto the grounds of a mosque that was under construction.Via CNN: NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Three people have been killed in religious rioting in southern India... Obama Stimulus Plan Saves or Creates 467,000 More Jobs [New Window]
Oh, wait...did I say "saves or creates," as in, the imaginary voodoo number crunching the Obama Administration mistakes for "measuring job creation?" Oops! I guess I did. In reality, which bears little resemblance to the utopian, unicorn-populated, sunshine-laden rainbow smiles... War Porn: Apache Takes Out Insurgent Mortar Team With A Hellfire Missile In Iraq [New Window]
Is Yemen Lying AGAIN? [New Window]
Munir Mawari reviews the possible meanings of the divergence between Yemen and Saudi Arabia on the capture of "major financier" Saudi Hassan Alwan. Yemen says they captured him; the Saudis haven't heard anything yet. Its quite a similiar situation to... Sarah Palin Resigns As Governor of Alaska [New Window]
via KTUU.com:WASILLA, Alaska -- In a stunning announcement, Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday morning she will resign her office in a few weeks. Speculation has swirled for weeks, perhaps months that Palin would not seek re-election in 2010 as she... This Is What Liberal Media Bias Looks Like [New Window]
Except in this case, it isn't just bias. It's activism. They're acting as middlemen (while trying to wet their beaks in the process) between lobbyists (who Obama, their boy, pledged to have little or nothing to do with in his... Online Jihadi Poll: Youtube Ties for Best Place to Spread Jihadi Propaganda [New Window]
There you have it Jihadtube. Youtube's commitment to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee about getting rid of official terrorist propaganda appears to have been and empty one. The terrorists still consider you as useful as the... Bottled Health Care [New Window]
(Columbus, Ohio) One might liken government-run health care to bottled health care where lower-level bureaucrats, I'll call Smiths, control the cork. Smiths will decide when to cork the health care bottle, when to remove the cork and when to use... Topless Babes Stall Construction Work [New Window]
(Darwin, Australia) Called Watergape, a controversy has emerged regarding construction on the Darwin Waterfront Project. Progress is being noticeably slowed by female European backpackers sunbathing topless and distracting the workers. Trade workers say the scantily-clad babes are purposefully distracting the... Crowder: Obama and N. Korea! (Featuring Lil KimJong) [New Window]
Suicide of the West [New Window]
Today's sign of the apocalypse, from Great Britain: "Prisoners on run cannot be named 'due to privacy rights.'"Civil servants have refused to name inmates who have fled prison even though individual police forces will often identify them if they pose a risk to the public.They say releasing their names would breach obligations under the Data Protection Act.It echoes a row in 2007 when Derbyshire Police refused to release pictures of two escaped murderers.This reminds me of an incident when I was growing up in South Dakota. A murderer escaped from the state penitentiary and was reported to be heading back to his (and my) home town. The judge who sentenced him, the lawyer who prosecuted him and the lawyer who served as his court-appointed defense attorney--one of my father's partners--all had armed police officers posted at their homes until the escaped murderer was apprehended. I'm trying to imagine the authorities, at that time and place, even comprehending the idea that rather than notifying citizens who might be in danger and putting out an APB for the escaped criminal, they had some sort of duty to keep secret the identity of the escapee. I can't do it. As Suffolk Coastal MP John Gummer said:We have gone mad if this is what we are doing.We seem to be going mad on a number of fronts these days.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:46:06 -0500 FIREWORKS SAFETY. I say, do it yourself if you want, just be smart. ?Leave it to the trained profe? [New Window]
FIREWORKS SAFETY. I say, do it yourself if you want, just be smart. “Leave it to the trained professionals” is one of the cancerous mantras of our age, and there’s a big difference between setting off your own fireworks and sitting passively while others do it for you — the difference, if I [...]
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:33:04 -0500 Press Is Under-reporting and Understating Police State Capabilities of China's New 'GD Software' [New Window]
Today's dispatch from the Associated Press about the Chinese Communist government's attempt to require that a state-developed program called "Green Dam Youth Escort" be installed onall new personal computers sold in that country is all too typical of the awful reporting on this potentially frightening development.I will refer to Green Dam Youth Escort as "the GD software" for the balance of this post. Many readers will find this abbreviation particularly appropriate once they fully understand everything the GD software could potentially do.The latest news about the GD software is that the government has delayed what was to be a July 1 installation requirement, but that it intends to go forward with that mandate at some point. In the meantime, for reasons not fully vetted, many PC makers have begun shipping units with the GD software either already installed or included on an accompanying CD.Considering the gravity of what the Chinese Communist government is trying to do to its people, worldwide media coverage of the GD software has been much lighter than justified. Somehow, what may happen to the free speech and free expression rights of 1.3 billion people isn't anywhere near as important as what's happening in connection with an entertainer who has been dead for a week.Here are key paragraphs fromJoe McDonald's AP story, as carried at USA Today (bolds after title are mine:PC makers voluntarily supply Web filter in ChinaSeveral PC makers were including controversial Internet-filtering software with computers shipped in China on Thursday despite a government decision to postpone its plan to make such a step mandatory.Beijing's decision this week to delay the requirement that the filtering software known as Green Dam be pre-installed or supplied on disk with all computers sold in China averted a possible trade clash with the United States and Europe. But the move by some makers to include the software anyway could re-ignite complaints by Chinese Web users.Also Thursday, a government newspaper said regulators will revive the plan to make Green Dam mandatory at some point, a move that would disappoint opponents who hoped the government would drop the effort.Taiwan's Acer the world's No. 3 PC maker Sony and China's Haier said they were shipping Green Dam on disks with computers for sale in China. China's Lenovo, the No. 4 producer, said it would offer the software pre-installed or on disk. Taiwan's Asus said it was preparing to supply Green Dam disks with PCs. Taiwanese laptop maker BenQ said the system was on the hard drives of its computers.Acer was supplying Green Dam because disks were already packed with PCs before the government postponed the plan, that had been due to take effect Wednesday, said a company spokeswoman, Meng Lei. Lenovo said it also was going ahead with plans made before the Green Dam order was postponed.Hewlett-Packard, the world's top PC manufacturer, said it was working with the U.S. government to get more information and declined to comment further. No. 2 Dell said it was not including Green Dam with its PCs...... An official of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology quoted Thursday by the China Daily said regulators will revive the plan to make Green Dam mandatory...... Beijing operates extensive Internet filters to block access to material considered obscene or subversive. Still, Chinese Web users were outraged by Green Dam, which would have raised screening to a new level by putting it on each computer.As you will see, calling the GD software a form of "Internet filtering" is like calling a telephone eavesdropping device a "call screener."Here, from an Epoch Times article that was originally in Chinese, is a more complete description of what the GD software actually can do:The regime says Green Dam can block pornography, filter illicit content, control web surfing time, and check browsing records. In fact, the software is capable of blocking politically sensitive websites, filtering out content based on a list of keywords, recording keystrokes and passwords, taking screenshots every 3 minutes, and recording all of the websites visited along with all of the users other internet activity... Computer hackers in China have cracked open Green Dams keyword library and administrative codes.According to the information produced by these hackers, Green Dam has 2,700 keywords relating to pornography, and 6,500 politically sensitive keywords. While these keywords include references to the Tiananmen Square massacre and Tibet, the great majority of the keywords refer to Falun Gong, the spiritual practice the Chinese regime banned and began persecuting in 1999... Analysts believe that Green Dam gives the regime the ability to tighten its control by collecting personal information and secretly sending it to a central database, while strengthening the regimes ability to censor the internet. The collected information could then be used to persecute dissidents.In 2003 the Chinese regime launched the Golden Shield, also known as the Great Firewall of China, an internet filtering system that cost tens of billions of yuan. The Internet Freedom Consortium believes Golden Shield is the worlds most stringent web filtering system... However, Golden Shield can be circumvented by such popular anti-filtering software programs as FreeGate, UltraSurf, and Garden. Green Dam can block these programs.Chinese users of Green Dam have found that the Green-Dam injects a dll file into Internet Explorer that prohibits the usage of FreeGate. Analysts predict that Green Dam will in its future updates add code that will prohibit the usage of proxy servers, another anti-blockage technology.The makers of Green Dam claim that, while the software will be pre-installed, users can remove it.A mainland Chinese computer expert discovered the truth after he installed and uninstalled the screening software. He said, When we used its [Green Dam] uninstallation program to uninstall the software, about half of Green Dams 110 system files continued to reside in the computer. After restarting the computer, Green Dams screening program is running actively in the background. The only part of the software uninstalled is its user interface.The expert added, Pre-loading the screening software and providing an uninstallation program that does not actually uninstall the software is an act of coercion. Green Dam project is a coercive software.What I have seen from the AP has consistently described the GD software as "Internet filtering" at least as far back as this June 21 report.This June 12 Christian Science Monitor article by Peter Ford confirms that the GD software goes well beyond blocking only pornographic material and terms, and that "its makers, Jinhui, boast on their website that Green Dam offers real-time screen captures, detailed Internet usage records for post-facto monitoring, and a tool to disable proxy servers, which many Chinese Internauts use to get around the great firewall and into sensitive political sites that would otherwise be blocked by existing filters.Clearly, the GD software is intended to complete the task of perfecting the Chinese police state's control of computers and communications. If that actually occurs, the world described by George Orwell in "1984,"at least technologically speaking,would look like a relative picnic.Only four things appear to stand in the way of the GD software's success:PC maker resistance, which appears weak to noncommittal;Pressure from other governments, which appears to be mostly the same;Technical problems -- the software is very buggy, according to this review of the program by three members of the Computer Science and Engineering Division at the University of Michigan, though it's tough not to wonder if the Chinese Communists really consider some of the alleged "bugs" to be "features";World opinion, which thanks to light establishment media reporting, has been mostly muted.The Western press's failure to give prominence to news about the GD software, its totally inaccurate description of its capabilities, and its failure to explore potentially horrible implications for the human rights of the Chinese people may someday be seen as an unforgivable journalistic failure.A related post is at BizzyBlog.com.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:18:58 -0500 Car of the Future [New Window]
This IowaHawk video spoofs Washington's takeover of Detroit. It's pretty funny; we might as well laugh as the bows of the ship sink beneath the waves:Via InstaPundit.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:57:36 -0500 Meet Lieutenant Vargas [New Window]
Hats off to the New York Times for an inspiring profile of Lt. Ben Vargas, a New Haven firefighter who was one of the plaintiffs--the only Hispanic plaintiff--in the Ricci case. The Hispanic Firefighters' Association sided against him and he was hospitalized after being beaten up in the men's room of a bar in an attack that he believes was orchestrated by pro-race discrimination forces. But the Hispanic firefighters' group eventually came around, and Vargas and his co-plaintiffs were finally vindicated by the Supreme Court.Vargas, who posted the sixth-highest score on the New Haven exam but joined the lawsuit before he knew for sure that score was his, says:I consider myself an American -- I was born and raised here. I love my people. I love my culture. I love our rice and beans, our salsa music, our language -- everything my parents raised us with. But I am so grateful for the opportunity only the United States can give.The article, by A.G. Sulzburger, who I take it is of the dynasty's younger generation and possibly not a chip off the old block, concludes with this:Gesturing toward his three young sons, Lieutenant Vargas explained why he had no regrets. "I want them to have a fair shake, to get a job on their merits and not because they're Hispanic or they fill a quota," he said. "What a lousy way to live."
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:32:50 -0500 UH OH: Colin Powell Airs Doubts on Obama Agenda. ?Colin Powell, one of President Obama?s most prom? [New Window]
UH OH: Colin Powell Airs Doubts on Obama Agenda. “Colin Powell, one of President Obama’s most prominent Republican supporters, expressed concern Friday that the president’s ambitious blitz of costly initiatives may be enlarging the size of government and the federal debt too much.”
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:19:34 -0500 SARAH PALIN TO resign as governor?UPDATE: Thoughts from John Hawkins and The Anchoress.I do? [New Window]
SARAH PALIN TO resign as governor?UPDATE: Thoughts from John Hawkins and The Anchoress.I don’t know if it has anything to do with her decision, but she’s been subjected — along with her family — to more abuse than any other non-national-officeholder I can think of.ANOTHER UPDATE: More thoughts from Tigerhawk. Plus, here’s [...]
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:02:23 -0500 Weekend Captionfest [New Window]
President Obama before the taping of a weekly Radio Address in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 15:00:32 -0500 Washington Post Hired Left-Wing Obama Enabler as Its 'Chief Digital Officer' [New Window]
The Washington Posts's first ever chief digital officer came aboard the newspaper, where he also oversees Newsweek's online efforts, after three years of working diligently to help elect liberals and Democrats to office -- including Barack Obama. A short profile of Vijay Ravindran, in the July issue of Washingtonian magazine, noted that Democratic strategist and entrepreneur Harold Ickes, a veteran of the Clinton administration and 1996 re-election campaign, enlisted Ravindran to build Catalist, a national voter database for Democratic candidates and liberal organizations. From the fall of 2005 through the election of Barack Obama, Ravindran built systems for Catalist. His title at Catalist: Chief Technology Officer.Catalist, which dubs itself The Future of Progressive Organizing, lists a who's who of left-wing groups and causes on its client list, from ACORN and the AFL-CIO to Wellstone Action, with MoveOn.org, the National Resources Defense Council and Obama for America (the official Obama campaign) alphabetically in between.In an interview last November with the Sepia Mutiny blog about South Asians, Ravindran recounted his political/career odyssey, including how I feel somewhat embarrassed that I didn't appreciate the Clinton years. (Meanwhile, one of Ravindran's colleagues is sliding over to the Obama administration. The Post's Federal Eye blogger, Ed O'Keefe, disclosed Wednesday: Washington Post Digital Vice President and General Counsel Sherrese Smith will join the FCC as legal adviser to chairman Julius Genachowski. O'Keefe described Obama nominee Genachowski as a close friend of President Obama who also worked on his presidential campaign and helped raise money from the telecommunications sector.)Hat tip to DCRTV.com for both job moves.An excerpt from Ravindran's comments to Sepia Mutiny about his personal political odyssey: I cared enough to vote, and always had strong feelings about voting Democratic prior to 2004, but I didnt do anything beyond that. Looking back, I feel somewhat embarrassed that I didnt appreciate the Clinton years. I was a college 1st year when Clinton got elected to his first term. I was happy, but not as happy as I should have been. And as someone who had the summer off before joining the workforce in 1996, I barely paid attention to the re-election. And volunteering never crossed my mind.My wife has always been a personal trail blazer for me. Shes the reason I moved to Seattle and took the first job I could find in 1998 (Amazon). She became active in 2000 campaigning for Gore and Cantwell, and protesting the outcome after the election was stolen.But like so many other people I know, my eyes were opened to how important politics and which political party is in power by the aftermath of 9/11. In small ways, I got more involved in 2004; I gave money for the first time, caucused in Washington State during the primary, and canvassed in South Seattle for Kerry/Gregoire. But my imagination really got stirred when I heard tales from two of my friends who I had worked with at Amazon, who had retired prior to 2004. They had volunteered in Cuyahoga County & DC and actually did technology related work for the Kerry Campaign and the DNC respectively. I had never realized that my day job skills could be put to such relevant use. So that definitely got me thinking, but it was a pipe dream at that point. Im not much of a career roadmap guy, so I didnt know what to do with the pipe dream. But then lo and behold, my wife who had been working on her PhD in Seattle got a great faculty offer from the University of Maryland at College Park, and we decided to move to Washington DC. Through my two politically active Amazonian friends, I was connected to Harold Ickes. We hit it off really well, and things just fell into place. It was meant to be... Ravindran, who also holds the title of Senior Vice President of the Washington Post Company, donated $4,600 to Obama's campaign last year a little less to John Kerry and Wesley Clark in 2004, according to a Huffington Post list.Catalist's self-description:Catalist is transforming the way progressive organizations communicate and campaign by creating a comprehensive, well-maintained national database of all voting-age individuals in the United States, along with the tools and expertise needed to make this database broadly accessible, at an affordable price.Ravindran's job may be a support role to distribute the work of journalists, but he also decides which content to promote. In Can This Geek Save the Post? Harry Jaffe reported that Ravindran, who joined the Post's staff in February, delivered his first 'product,' a streaming conversation for the Post Companys online magazine, Slate, across Twitter and Facebook. The first installment was a five-part series about the use of animals in medical research. He hopes it will be one of the 'kernels' to build Post revenues.An excerpt from the magazine item posted Tuesday on the Washingtonian's Capitol Comment blog (which has a picture of Ravindran):...Ravindran, 35, is a sweet, mild-mannered geek. He grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, where his father taught industrial engineering. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1996 and went into software development for American Management Systems.I cut my teeth as a programmer, he says.Ravindran sharpened them developing software for Amazon.com. He had seven jobs in as many years, eventually running teams working on the guts of the Amazon platform. He developed ways to make it easier for customers to buy more things more easily. When his wife landed a teaching job at the University of Maryland, Ravindran came east and asked: What next?Democratic strategist and entrepreneur Harold Ickes helped answer the question by enlisting Ravindran to build Catalist, a national voter database for Democratic candidates and liberal organizations. From the fall of 2005 through the election of Barack Obama, Ravindran built systems for Catalist. After the election, Amazon board member and Smithsonian board chair Patricia Stonesifer introduced him to [Post Publisher Don] Graham.We hit it off really well, says Ravindran. He knew there was a strong need to innovate in the digital space and the Post had to make an investment to grow internally....For more revolving door names, check my early May posting: Third CNN Staffer Joins Obama's Team, As Does ABC Vet; Revolving Door Up to Ten.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:52:55 -0500 Shocka: Palin Resigns As Alaska Governor [New Window]
Initial reports were that Sarah Palin was planning not to run for re-election, but in a surprise move today she announced she’s resigning as Governor of Alaska.ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin will resign her office in a few weeks, she said during a news conference at her Wasilla home Friday morning.Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell will be inaugurated at the Governor’s Picnic at Pionner Park in Fairbanks on Saturday, July 25, Palin said.There was no immediate word as to why she will resign, though speculation has been rampant that the former vice presidential candidate is gearing up for a run at the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.Palin made the announcement flanked by Parnell and most, if not all, of her cabinet.Hmm. This is a pretty standard way to downplay something and keep it out of the news cycle as much as possible — release it late Friday on a long weekend.UPDATE at 7/3/09 2:21:58 pm:MSNBC video of Palin’s announcement:[Video]
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:34:37 -0500 CBS: Palin Emails Show Infighting With Staff [New Window]
CBS has obtained internal McCain-Palin campaign emails that show a lot of infighting between Sarah Palin and campaign staffers.Internal campaign e-mails exchanged three weeks before Election Day offer a rare look at just how frustrated then Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin had become with the manner in which top McCain campaign aides were handling her candidacy. The e-mails, obtained exclusively, also highlight the power struggle and thinly veiled acrimony that pervaded the relationship between Palin and the campaign’s chief strategist, Steve Schmidt.The episode in question began when an investigative report published on the left-leaning Web site Salon.com raised questions about Palin’s relationship with members of the Alaska Independence Party (AIP) when she was mayor of Wasilla. The AIP’s platform calls for a vote giving Alaskans the option to secede from the United States. It had already been widely known that Todd Palin was a registered member of the AIP from 1995 to 2002 and that Governor Palin had taped a recorded greeting at the party’s 2008 convention.On the morning of Oct. 15, Palin was aboard her campaign jet and en route to New Hampshire when she happened to catch a disparaging CNN segment that touted the Salon.com story, complete with a provocative graphic at the bottom of the screen reading, “THE PALINS AND THE FRINGE.”While shaking hands after a rally later that afternoon, someone on the rope line shouted a remark at Palin about the AIP.The comment set her off. She worried that the campaign was not sufficiently mitigating the issue of her alleged connection to the party, which despite a platform that harkens more to the Civil War than the 21st century, continued to play a serious role in Alaska politics.Palin blasted out an e-mail with the subject line “Todd” to Schmidt, campaign manager Rick Davis and senior advisor Nicolle Wallace, copying her husband on the message (all of the e-mails are reprinted below as written).“Pls get in front of that ridiculous issue that’s cropped up all day today - two reporters, a protestor’s sign, and many shout-outs all claiming Todd’s involvement in an anti-American political party,” Palin wrote. “It’s bull, and I don’t want to have to keep reacting to it ... Pls have statement given on this so it’s put to bed.”Her reference to a single protestor’s sign and “many shout-outs” was indicative of Palin’s occasional tendency to take anecdotal evidence of a minor problem and extrapolate it into something far more menacing. The final of the three presidential debates was just hours away, which would mark the unveiling of the soon-to-be canonized Joe The Plumber.UPDATE at 7/3/09 12:20:26 pm:Meanwhile, Palin appears to be positioning for a run at the presidency: Palin won’t run for re-election in Alaska, source says.WASHINGTON (CNN) — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is expected to announce Friday that she will not seek a second term, a Republican source close to Palin tells CNN. ...As the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, Palin is considered one of the front-runners for the GOP nomination in 2012. Her decision not to seek another term as governor is sure to stoke speculation that Palin is seriously eyeing a run for the White House.UPDATE at 7/3/09 12:23:24 pm:Todd Purdum has a lengthy (and not very complimentary) piece on Sarah Palin in Vanity Fair: It Came from Wasilla.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:17:19 -0500 STUNNER: A Palin announcement: Resigning in weeks; It hurts to make this choice. But Im doing whats best for Alaska [New Window]
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Fri, 3 Jul 2009 14:04:27 -0500 NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE: The big point is that ? unlike many other proposed remedies ? ? [New Window]
NANOTECHNOLOGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE: The big point is that — unlike many other proposed remedies — nanotechnology is worth developing ASAP regardless of what happens with the climate. Plus, a warning: “Be careful, though: while natural climate variability is not an existential risk we do fine in steaming jungles and have [...]
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:45:22 -0500 WSJ: Franken Stole the Election [New Window]
The Wall Street Journal’s editors weigh in on Al Franken’s Senate win: The ‘Absentee’ Senator.The Minnesota Supreme Court yesterday declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of last year’s disputed Senate race, and Republican incumbent Norm Coleman’s gracious concession at least spares the state any further legal combat. The unfortunate lesson is that you don’t need to win the vote on Election Day as long as your lawyers are creative enough to have enough new or disqualified ballots counted after the fact.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:27:21 -0500 EXAMINER: No Second Stimulus, Please. ?Be sure to thank the President and Congress. This week, wit? [New Window]
EXAMINER: No Second Stimulus, Please. “Be sure to thank the President and Congress. This week, with news of some 467,000 jobs lost in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the U.S. has now lost about two million jobs since the economic stimulus package passed. Even more notable is that the average [...]
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:26:14 -0500 Video: Sarychev Peak Eruption from Space [New Window]
An incredible 3D image captured by an astronaut in the International Space Station as it passed over the Sarychev Peak volcanic eruption on June 12, 2009.[Video]Astronaut photograph ISS020-E-9048 was acquired on June 12, 2009, with a Nikon D2XS digital camera fitted with a 400 mm lens, and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations experiment and Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:19:45 -0500 A LIBERAL WHO?S OPTIMISTIC ON IRAQ. Of course, it?s okay to be optimistic on Iraq, now. It was jus? [New Window]
A LIBERAL WHO’S OPTIMISTIC ON IRAQ. Of course, it’s okay to be optimistic on Iraq, now. It was just pre-November that such optimism branded one as a neocon warmonger apologist. . . .
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:08:21 -0500 Iran Intends to Try British Embassy Employees [New Window]
The Iranian thugocracy is holding three British Embassy employees arrested last weekend during the election protests, and a senior cleric says they are going to be put on trial.A senior Iranian cleric said today that several employees of the British Embassy in Tehran arrested in recent days would be put on trial for unspecified charges of acting against Iran’s national security, potentially escalating a confrontation with the West over last month’s disputed presidential election.Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, head of the conservative Guardian Council, said in a Friday prayer sermon that the employees, all of them Iranian nationals, “will definitely be tried” for taking part or promoting weeks of unrest surrounding the June 12 election, which was marred by opposition allegations of massive vote-rigging.“The enemy made an effort to poison the people,” Jannati, who is politically close to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told worshipers gathered in Tehran. “They had planned a velvet revolution before the election . . . A number of people at the British Embassy were arrested for involvement in the unrests and they will definitely be tried.”
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:01:30 -0500 GORDON CHANG: The Coming Trade War With China?. [New Window]
GORDON CHANG: The Coming Trade War With China.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 13:00:58 -0500 Russia Allows Afghanistan Flyovers [New Window]
This is a welcome development, but I’m sure Putin has his own reasons for agreeing to it: Russia Opens Route for U.S. to Fly Arms to Afghanistan.MOSCOW — The Russian government has agreed to allow American troops and weapons bound for Afghanistan to fly over Russian territory, providing an important new corridor for the United States military as it escalates efforts to win the eight-year-old war, officials from both sides said Friday.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 12:53:55 -0500 Strike of the Sword [New Window]
Keep our Marines in your prayers as head off for the holiday weekend. [...] Read the rest »
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 12:42:57 -0500 FROM BMW: A 45 mpg Diesel SUV?? [New Window]
FROM BMW: A 45 mpg Diesel SUV?
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 12:28:55 -0500 GoDaddy.com celebrates America [New Window]
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Fri, 3 Jul 2009 12:01:19 -0500 Krauthammer: The Ricci Case and Affirmative Action [New Window]
Charles Krauthammer on The Meaning of the Ricci Case.The major conundrum of the civil rights age remains. The 14th Amendment bans discrimination on the basis of race. But the Civil Rights Act, which bans “disparate impact” discrimination — procedures (such as exams) that yield racially unbalanced results — affirmatively mandates racial favoritism to undo those results. The evil day will come, writes Justice Antonin Scalia in his concurrence, when this contradiction will have to be resolved.He is right. For decades we have been finessing the issue with a mess of compromises, euphemisms, incoherences and pretenses such as banning racial quotas but promoting racial “goals.” Anyone who has ever had to make hiring or admission decisions knows that this angel-on-the-head-of-pin distinction is 95 percent a matter of appearances, gestures and lawsuit-avoiding paperwork.And yet we have muddled our way through, permitting a large dose of intentional discrimination to ameliorate past discrimination — and present inadvertent imbalances — without totally abandoning the ideal of colorblindness.The result? At the near half-century mark of the Civil Rights Act, racial minorities have seen remarkable social advancement. The younger generation is infinitely more racially tolerant and accepting. We’ve made great racial progress. But the fundamental unfairness that underlies the racial spoils system continues to rankle. That’s what animated the Ricci case.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:49:06 -0500 Loudon Wainwright III Sings 'The Krugman Blues' [New Window]
Somehow New York Times columnist Paul Krugman seems a terrible subject for a song.Yet, Loudon Wainwright III, who admits to being a Times fan, performed "The Krugman Blues" in New York's Madison Square Park a few weeks ago:I read the New York Times, that's where I get the news. Paul Krugman's on the Op Ed page, that's where I get the blues. In Wainwright's view, given the current state of the economy, "I guess that I identify with that pissed off look on [Krugman's] face" (video embedded below the fold):
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:45:47 -0500 OUCH: Obama sounding Bush-like on jobs?. [New Window]
OUCH: Obama sounding Bush-like on jobs.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:25:24 -0500 1776: A letter from husband to wife [New Window]
Ravishing Light and Glory.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 10:28:43 -0500 Daily Kos: GOP Is Like A Perpetually Greedy and Spoiled Two-Year-Old [New Window]
On his Midday Open Thread Thursday, Daily Kos chief Markos Moulitsasfound it very easy to associate the Republican Party ethos with spoiled tots: I remember writing this about my son: Right now, he's a Republican. What's his is his, and he won't share. What's mine is his, because he "wants it". And if he gets angry and frustrated, He hits people, preemptively! He's now five and has evolved somewhat past this, developing a nice sense of empathy. But my 2-year-old daughter is VERY MUCH in her Republican phase. So the baton has been passed...It sounds just a little like the infamous Peter Jennings post-election commentary in 1994, doesn't it? "Ask parents of any two-year-old and they can tell you about those temper tantrums: the stomping feet, the rolling eyes, the screaming. It's clear that the anger controls the child and not the other way around. It's the job of the parent to teach the child to control the anger and channel it in a positive way. Imagine a nation full of uncontrolled two-year-old rage. The voters had a temper tantrum last week....Parenting and governing don't have to be dirty words: the nation can't be run by an angry two-year-old." -- Peter Jennings ABC Radio commentary, November 14, 1994 (later retracted).(Hat tip: Dominating Dentist)
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 10:28:15 -0500 John Ziegler Exposes How Palin Derangement Syndrome Works [New Window]
Although almost eight months have passed since last year's elections, Palin Derangement Syndrome continues to manifest itself throughout America's press.As NewsBusters' Mike Sargent reported Tuesday, Vanity Fair's Todd Purdum is gravely afflicted with the illness, and needs to see a team of doctors quickly if he ever wants to be taken seriously by anyone other than the extreme Left.With that in mind, Palin documentarian John Ziegler had a fascinating radio interview with Politico's Mike Allen Wednesday that shed some light on how PDS works and why it's so pernicious.To set this up, Allen was on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" earlier in the day, and defended Purdum's piece (15 minute audio available here): MIKE ALLEN, POLITICO: Nobody can agree on what exactly went wrong with that disastrous campaign. Todd has a great phrase in there where he refers to it as "A Bermuda Triangle of a campaign." [...]I know that she was advised after the campaign to disappear, to study, to learn foreign policy, to learn economics, learn some of these issues and come back in two years when she was ready. She didn't do it, instead she did a series of stupid interviews that just dug her deeper..." [...]Sure, she has incredible star power as you point out. She's wanted for fundraisers. We all cover her. But Joe, I don't think she's taken seriously as a policy person. I don't think that that's the sort of circus act the Republicans are looking for. I think she'll get tons of coverage. It's hard to see her at this point being taken as a serious person.After playing these audio segments, Ziegler asked Allen: "Which really stupid interviews that Sarah Palin did were you referring to specifically?"Reasonable question, correct? Yet, no matter how many times Ziegler asked it, Allen never gave one example of Palin giving a stupid interview despite telling MSNBC's Joe Scarborough earlier in the day, "she did a series of stupid interviews that just dug her deeper..."And therein lies the heart of Palin Derangement Syndrome: making totally false statements about the Alaska governor without being able to back them up.Sadly, as this is what most media outlets want -- dirt about Palin irrespective of veracity -- the mudslingers not only easily get away with it, but are revered for doing so.Fortunately, Ziegler was having none of it, and pointed out the hypocrisy to his guest:You made a very serious allegation that you seem to be backing off of that you can't substantiate, and I'm just. You're a very good reporter. You're not a lefty that I can tell. But I was disappointed that you would make an allegation like that on MSNBC where you're obviously, you know, that's what the audience wants to hear, and then you're not willing to back it up. You're a good reporter, Mike. I would think that you would have some substance behind an allegation like that. [...]You're saying that there's a perception that's out there. You're presuming that perception is reality, and then you're not, you're making allegations based upon that perception that you have no substance behind. As a reporter, don't you find that at all troubling? If someone else did that, wouldn't you criticize that kind of reporting? Allen didn't answer those questions either demonstrating how the state of America's media is such that so-called journalists don't have to substantiate negative allegations concerning Republicans. They can say or write whatever they want about politicians they don't like -- irrespective of facts -- with total impunity.And therein lies a very serious problem. Bravo, John. Bravo.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 10:22:21 -0500 IN THE MAIL: From Inman Majors, The Millionaires: A Novel. What?s not to love about a book centere? [New Window]
IN THE MAIL: From Inman Majors, The Millionaires: A Novel. What’s not to love about a book centered around “Glennville?”
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 10:00:19 -0500 A JULY 4TH WISH from the folks at Reason TV.? [New Window]
A JULY 4TH WISH from the folks at Reason TV.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:50:30 -0500 What's Going to Happen Between N. Korea and U.S. on July 4th? [New Window]
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:21:53 -0500 Open Thread [New Window]
For general discussion and debate. Possible talking point: Will N. Korea or won't N. Korea?U.S. missile defenses are prepared to try to knock down the last stage of a Taepodong-2 missile that North Korea is expected soon to launch if sensors detect the weapon threatens U.S. territory, the commander of the U.S. Northern Command told The Washington Times. "The nation has a very, very credible ballistic-missile defense capability. Our ground-based interceptors in Alaska and California, I'm very comfortable, give me a capability that if we really are threatened by a long-range ICBM that I've got high confidence that I could interdict that flight before it caused huge damage to any U.S. territory," said Air Force Gen. Victor E. "Gene" Renuart, Northcom commander. Thoughts?
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:17:58 -0500 Cap-and-Tax Watch: Protests across the country [New Window]
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Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:08:45 -0500 Barack Milhous Obama [New Window]
What prior administration does the Obama administration most resemble? In its early days, there is a surprising contender: that of Richard Nixon.Helen Thomas sounded the theme in an interview with CNS News that followed a Robert Gibbs press conference:The Following a testy exchange during Wednesday's briefing with White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas told CNSNews.com that not even Richard Nixon tried to control the press the way President Obama is trying to control the press."Nixon didn't try to do that," Thomas said. "They couldn't control (the media). They didn't try."What the hell do they think we are, puppets?" Thomas said. I think the answer to that question is Yes, actually.The Nixonian note was sounded again in the Obama administration's response to Republicans who are pressing for information on the firing of AmeriCorps Inspector General Gerald Walpin. It appears that Obama's firing of Walpin was both illegal and politically motivated, and his aides are circling the wagons, hoping the issue will go away without their having to provide information to Congress. Once again, Byron York has the story:All in all, the "extensive review" appeared more of a sham review -- an exercise designed to support a decision that had already been made. Nor has the White House been open about it. "Information provided to my staff by Mr. Eisen has been incomplete and misleading," Republican Rep. Darrell Issa wrote in a July 1 letter to White House counsel Gregory Craig.For its part, the White House is hinting broadly that it might invoke executive privilege to keep documents from Congress. "Your questions seek information about the White House's internal decision-making process," Craig wrote to Sen. Charles Grassley on June 30. "These questions implicate core executive branch confidentiality interests." At another point, Craig pledged to cooperate "to the fullest extent possible consistent with constitutional and statutory obligations."The message, apparently, is for GOP investigators to back off. Ah, executive privilege! The very words are redolent of the 1970s. (Although, of course, all administrations invoke executive privilege on occasion, sometimes properly, sometimes not.) Barack Obama is often compared to Jimmy Carter; the resemblances are obvious. But there may be a streak of Nixon in Obama, as well.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 08:42:32 -0500 Ballad of a thin man [New Window]
Omar Jamal of of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center played a walk-on role when prosecutors indicted Somali pirate Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse in New York. He made contact with family members of the pirates during the hostage standoff and spoke up on their behalf. Jamal announced that Muse's family members "don't have any money. The father has some camels and cows and goats outside the city. ... The father goes outside with the livestock and comes home at night. Father said they don't have any money, they are broke." Jamal sought to to get a lawyer for Muse and to ascertain whether he had medical or mental problems.Jamal had a sympathetic assessment of Muse's plight: "What we have is a confused teenager, overnight thrown into the highest level of the criminal justice system in the United States out of a country where there's no law at all." Jamal works out of our own backyard in St. Paul, but one has to go to the Financial Times to find a report on his latest exploits. The Financial Times reports that Jamal worked for months as the middleman in another Somali pirate drama. At the behest of the owner of a ship seized and held by Somali pirates for 10 months, Jamal somehow negotiated its release. The FT describes the result as "a striking cut-price deal to free a largely forgotten group of men whose abandonment contrasted with the diplomatic pressure, military intervention and millions of dollars in ransoms and negotiating fees expended to liberate other kidnapped ships."Something is happening here but you don't know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones? Via Tom Steward.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 08:31:43 -0500 Welcome to Obamacare Theater [New Window]
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Fri, 3 Jul 2009 08:27:01 -0500 CNNMoney: 'White House Staff Safe From Obama Tax Hike' [New Window]
Doesn't the title of this story from CNNMoney.Com make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? "White House Staff Safe From Obama Tax Hike." I bet you were biting your fingernails in worry about whether White House staffers would be hit with the higher taxes that President Obama promised would only happen to those making over $250,000 per year. Here is the "reassurance" from CNNMoney that the White House staffers won't be burdened by higher taxes due to Obama's sacred pledge:WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Barack Obama's White House staff appears to be safe from a tax increase, for now.The White House on Wednesday issued its annual report to Congress listing the salaries of all staff, revealing that everyone gets paid less than $200,000.During the election campaign, Obama promised no income tax increase for anyone making under $250,000.Uh-oh. That "for now" in the first sentence sounds somewhat ominous. Sort of like when Hugo Chavez of Venezuela says "por ahora." More on that later but "por ahora" let us revel in the fact that White House staffers won't be paying higher taxes according to CNNMoney:The report, which did not include the president's salary, showed that David Marcozzi, the director of public health policy, is the top paid White House staffer at $192,934 a year, with better-known figures such as Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Senior Advisor David Axelrod getting $172,200.Obama froze all salaries above $100,000 upon taking office, affecting 146 staff members including his personal aide Reggie Love, who is paid $102,000 a year.Other notables are Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, and National Economic Council director Lawrence Summers -- both at $172,200- - and Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House office for health care reform, at $158,500.Unfortunately for the White House staffers...and most of the rest of us...all of Obama's promises have an expiration date. And the expiration date for his "no new taxes" pledge for those earning under $250,000 appears to be arriving soon. Both David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs have recently hinted that the Obama tax pledge is about to the thrown under the bus. And CNNMoney in another story, contradicting their fairy tale above, has told us Why taxes will need to go up:"Ultimately, the long-term budget outlook will necessitate serious tax and spending changes," says the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which is led by tax and budget experts from the left and the right.And "ultimately" really means ASAP, say some tax experts. That's because the financial and economic crises have exacerbated an already tough budget outlook....Obama has promised to make permanent the tax cuts for everyone except high-income households. It's an expensive promise. The federal coffers will see roughly $2.1 trillion less in revenue over the next 10 years than it would if the tax cuts expired for everyone, according to estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation....But the pay-for debate over health care will be a mere warm-up to the resistance Congress will face if it tries to put the budget on more stable footing.Politicians understand the issue behind closed doors, Gale said. But when they're in front of the cameras, he noted, "Republicans say 'no new taxes.' And Democrats say 'no new taxes for 95% of all households.' Neither one of those is a starting position for sensible fiscal reform."...Without making significant changes to lessen the country's debt burden, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said, "we face the real threat of a fiscal and economic crisis more severe than what we've already endured."Of course, the most important "significant change" will mean tax increases for those making under $250,000 per year. Any idea of cutting spending is simply out of the question for the Obama administration and the Democrat-controlled Congress. And the worst aspect of Obama breaking his pledge would be the increased tax burden on the White House staffers. This "tragedy" almost takes your mind off the wall-to-wall news coverage of Michael Jackson.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 07:52:13 -0500 While America sleeps [New Window]
Peter Berkowitz has been spending time in Israel this summer. In "Bibi's choice," he reports on the perception of Israelis regarding the choices they confront on Iran's nuclear program. Berkowitz writes:Conversations over the last few weeks with more than a dozen members of Israel's larger national security community--right and left, scholars and military men and women, some coming out of the army and others the air force, some with decades of experience in military intelligence and others in clandestine operations, some former Knesset members and others former, current, and soon-to-be advisers to prime ministers--suggest it is fair to conclude that the professionals agree with the public that Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons is a game changer. Among them, there is a consensus that Israel has the technological capacity to undertake a military strike that would inflict heavy damage on Iran's nuclear program. Such a strike, they also believe, would involve unprecedented challenges and risks, including the likelihood of a significant military response by Iran and its allies. Accordingly, an urgent internal debate is well underway in Israel concerning the circumstances in which the country should strike, alternative options, and, in the event that Iran does acquire nuclear weapons, the structure of an effective containment regime....[T]he experts with whom I spoke were willing to discuss in broad outline Israel's capacity to destroy or substantially degrade Iran's nuclear facilities. All would be delighted to see engagement, diplomacy, or sanctions succeed. All emphasized that a military strike must be the last resort, chosen only after every other option has been fully exploited. All believe that a green light from the United States, or at least a yellow light, would be indispensable. And they seem convinced that Israel has good intelligence about vital Iranian targets and could, if necessary, with a combination of aircraft and ballistic missiles, bring enough firepower to bear to set the Iranian program back far enough to justify the substantial risks.Berkowitz cites the study by Anthony Cordesman and Abdullah Toukan on a possible Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear program. The study is accessible here. Berkowtiz adds that even if an attack went according to plan, Israel would face considerable costs, both military and political, and outlines six possible responses to an Israeli attack that his Israeli interlocutors envisages.Buried in the middle of his analysis is the predicate that Israel receive a green or yellow light for a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. If I read the Obama administration right, the chances of that are somewhere between slim to none. Commenting on Obama's Cairo speech, Berkowitz states: "[I]t would have been hard to project to a rapt world greater equivocation concerning Iran's quest for nuclear weapons if the president had deliberately concentrated his vaunted rhetorical gifts on the task." Although Berkowitz does not explore the Obama administration's thinking beyond this comment, Berkowitz's article provides interesting insight into the thinking of knowledgeable Israelis the choices confronting Israel.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 07:38:30 -0500 WaPo Publisher Still Complaining Dinner Parties At Her House Didn't Compromise Journalism [New Window]
The Washington Post may have canceled its $25,000-a-plate dinners matching lobbyists with top officials, but Publisher Katharine Weymouth is still not seeing it the way journalists do: paying for private dinners at the publishers private home looks like deal-making rather than news-making. Howard Kurtzs Friday story revealed the Weymouth worldview: Weymouth, who had not seen the marketing copy, said that "we will never compromise our journalistic integrity." But she said other news organizations sponsor similar conferences and that she remains comfortable with the basic idea of lobbyists or corporations underwriting dinners with officials and journalists as long as those paying the fees have no control over the content. But precisely what would be acceptable remains unclear. Asked whether the forums she envisions might still be viewed as buying access to Post journalists, Weymouth said, "I suppose you could spin it that way, but that is not the way it would have been done." She said the situation would be comparable to a company buying an ad in the newspaper while knowing that it "might hate the content" on that page. But an ad in a newspaper is public and visible, unlike a private dinner. Kurtz broughtin a former Miami Herald editor tooffer the newsroom view: Tom Fiedler, dean of Boston University's College of Communication, said news organizations should be a neutral broker among differing interests and that "what The Post was looking to do was to make a profit on the role of the convener. . . . The idea of crossing a boundary line that seems to me painted so brightly white, I'm astonished that it got this far." Kurtz reported that Post editor Marcus Brauchli said he told the Post marketing division that his journalists would participate on a number of conditions, including "multiple sponsors for an extended series of forums, rather than companies financing a single dinner involving their industry; a balanced lineup of participants from across the political spectrum; and no charge for the invited guests." Other media companies do convene top officials and CEOs and top journalists, and charge for the events but theyre often public, available for journalists to attend, taped and even streamed live on the Internet. Kurtz explained: A number of media companies charge substantial fees for conferences with big-name executives and government officials, but in many cases the sessions are open for news coverage. This week, for instance, Atlantic Media is sponsoring the Aspen Ideas Festival, underwritten by Altria, Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, Ernst & Young, Mercedes-Benz, Philips, Shell and Thomson Reuters. Speakers include White House economic adviser Austan Goolsbee, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and Google CEO Eric Schmidt, along with journalists for Atlantic and other media outlets. In March, the Wall Street Journal brought together global finance leaders -- including Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd -- for a two-day conference sponsored by Nasdaq and hosted by Robert Thomson, the Journal's top editor, and other editors and reporters. Outside journalists were invited to the session, which was on the record and webcast by the Journal. Participants, who paid several thousand dollars to attend, also had a White House meeting with economic adviser Lawrence Summers, which was off the record at his request. The Journal also holds conferences with its All Things Digital unit. A session in May, described as offering "unmatched access to the technology industry's elite," was sponsored by Hewlett-Packard and Qualcomm, among others, and featured the CEOs of Microsoft, Yahoo, NBC Universal, AT&T and Twitter, as well as Weymouth. These kind of events can still signal coziness among the elites, but its much more public than the "salons" the Post proposed. As could have been predicted, the Post newsroom was completely up in arms yesterday: Many Post journalists were stunned by the Politico story and angry about the fliers. Weymouth told the staff in an afternoon e-mail that the flier "completely misrepresented what we were trying to do," but added: "We do believe that there is a viable way to expand our expertise into live conferences and events that simply enhances what we do -- cover Washington for Washingtonians and those interested in Washington."
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 07:15:53 -0500 AP's Hyperbole Masquerades as Journalism [New Window]
For the Associated Press, Tim Klass shows that taking liberties with facts by enveloping them in wild hyperbole can sex up a boring story into something much more alarming. Unfortunately, what one ends up with is not a presentation of news, but a promulgation of a narrative that befits a particular political agenda. And this time writer Klass uses his hyperbolic style to advance the guns-are-evil story line.The headline startles the reader by screaming out "Powerful weapons found in Northwest drug raids." One immediately imagines an image of dozens of high powered and dangerous guns, those above and beyond the norm, in the hands of these felonious drug dealers. One imagines enough guns to arm an army with the police sorely out numbered. But, when the story is read in its entirety, it becomes obvious that "powerful weapons" turns into one high powered pistol, the rest being your average, everyday firearms seen all over the place.Federal agents busted a drug-trafficking ring that distributed methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico in Washington state and carried unusually powerful weaponry, injecting a dangerous new factor into drug crime in the region.The "unusually powerful weaponry" in discussion appears to be a .50-caliber Desert Eagle pistol. This pistol is a bit heavier than the average .45-caliber ACP automatic that the U.S. Army once issued by the thousands. The AP piece also describes a few other weapons.A .50-caliber Desert Eagle pistol, AK-47-type semiautomatic assault rifle and 14 other weapons shown to reporters Thursday were among 23 guns seized in Operation Arctic Chill when 35 search warrants were served in the past two weeks. Also seized were 19 pounds of methamphetamine, a quarter-pound of cocaine, 22 vehicles and $60,000 in cash, and 31 people were arrested.Yes, the one Desert Eagle is a powerful pistol and it isn't all too common to see one of these expensive pistols in the hands of drug dealers. But the other weapons listed are not "unusually powerful" at all. In fact, they are common as dirt both in the U.S. and in Mexico.Then we get more hyperbole in this:The Desert Eagle pistol can "blow a hole the size of a Mack truck through a person," said Leigh Winchell, regional chief of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.A "Mack truck"? What over-the-top foolishness. A big hole, yes, but this is simple-minded hyperbole was meant to make the one high powered pistol they found take on gargantuan proportions. This is a government official trying to puff up his actions to make himself look better, nothing more.But, the AP wasn't done quoting this spittle-specked official."Knowing that you have meth traffickers on the street carrying .50-caliber handguns or assault rifles is very sobering and is of great concern to us," Winchell said.Again, we have one Desert Eagle here. Not an Eagle in every drug dealer's pockets. But this doesn't stop these self-justifying officials from buttering up the press with wild claims. "This number of weapons is unprecedented" adds U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Sullivan.Now, remember. They found 23 guns total from multiple raids and one high powered pistol.Raids were conducted in Tacoma, Olympia and nearby communities; Vancouver, Wash.; several Seattle suburbs; and Oakdale, Calif., where Moorin said a "superlab" capable of producing 10 pounds of meth at a time was found in a home.Is 23 guns such a monumental amount from raids that took place over a large swath of the Pacific Northwest?Now, there is no question that Mexican drug violence is getting worse and has spilled across the border into our country. There are a lot of troubles here, to be sure. But this story is filled with hyperbole that makes a mockery of the real troubles going on and is a perfect example of fitting in hyperbole where facts are needed.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 07:01:24 -0500 Bozell Column: Oliver Stone, Lousy Historian [New Window]
Dear Oliver,Many years ago, when Bill Mahers comedy show was hosted by Comedy Central and he was funny, his formula for success was truly unique. Every week two sets of political and/or cultural opposites were pitted against each other, and he refereed with humor. It was all designed for a good laugh and succeeded because once upon a time Bill Maher was truly funny.Some producer really thought in extremes when they pitted Oliver Stone and Brent Bozell for one episode. I have to say that you were gracious, charming, engaging, and we enjoyed ourselves except for that moment when I chastised you for claiming youre an historian. You bristled and denied ever claming that moniker. I cited the source, an interview in some West Coast paper (I cant recall which one now). Im a filmmaker, thats all, you told me.It turns out that you were right (in the article) and I was wrong. You arean historian whether you believe it or not. You make films about history and historical figures. You record history, and that makes you an historian. Being an historian is not the problem. Its that youre a lousy historian.Your last project was the movie W. I confess I didnt watch it: I knew it would be a predictable left-wing spin about Bush being dumb and evil, and it could be worse because it could have been Cheney. Yawn. It bombed.You were back on Mahers show the other day talking about historical figures. Maher wanted to know why you havent done a film about Ronald Reagan, since that is the type of character you could do very well with. God only knows what he meant by that, but when you gave your answer, you were pretty blunt.Nixon always said Reagan was a dumb son of a bitch, you said, and the audience laughed, and you smiled and decided to take that statement further by agreeing with it. So you said, You know, I think that he was, and the audience now cheered and hooted and applauded.See what I mean when I say youre a lousy historian? Dont take my word for it, Oliver.I turned to Frank Donatelli, the White House Political Director under President Reagan from 1987 through 1989. I asked him what he thought of your observation. Heres what he has to say:Bill Maher and Oliver Stone have both made careersof ad hominem attacks on their political opponents.As Reagan would say, 'It's not that they're ignorant.It's just that they know so much that isn't so.'The literatureaswritten by conservative and liberal observersis overwhelmingin concluding that Ronald Reagan was fullyengagedin implementing policies during his presidencythatresulted in the longest economic expansion in our history and the end of the Cold War and the defeat of Communism.His presidential reputation is growing and history will remember Reagan as one of the great presidents in our nation's history." Ouch. I went to Richard Allen, Reagans National Security Advisor and asked him what he thought. Apparently he didnt think much.Everyrespectable academic and popularanalysis in thelarge andgrowing literatureof the Reagan presidency and Reagan's presence on the national scene proves beyond anydoubt the utter foolishness of the Oliver Stone remark. Stone has made an unsuccessful career of falsification, especially when it comes to Ronald Reagan. The actual dumbsumbitch is easy to identify.Thats gotta hurt. I asked Morton Blackwell. He was Special Assistant to the President between 81 and 84. You didnt score points with him, either.Stone must be jealous, he thinks.All Reagan did was restore American prosperity, deep-six the Soviet Empire, restore the morale of the American people, and win two national elections by landslides.By comparison, Stone gained his notoriety by smearing people. Blackwell adds this observation as well: Stone must be jealous.Reagan was principled, charming, and as honest as any politician can be.Stone revels in his own his image as a slimy slug on a toadstool.Oh, my. Gary Bauer was Domestic Policy Advisor under the Gipper for two years. That dumb son a bitch ran circles around people like Oliver Stone and the other creepy Hollywood elites, he says. He outwitted the Kremlin, restored the confidence of the American people, rebuilt our military, sent malaise packing and unleashed years of economic growth when he lowered taxes. Most Americans loved him then and miss him now. Oliver Stone is clueless.Al Regnery is an historian a real one. Dumb like a fox. Reagan always prided himself on the fact that people underestimated him Stone, the dumb son of a bitch, is just the latest one to fall to the trap.Finally, I couldnt resist. I asked Ann Coulter what she thought. She was quick. Two uneducated, historically ignorant boobs sitting around talking about which president they think was the dumbest now thats some good TV.Were all still laughing, arent we, Oliver? Oliver?
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 06:35:34 -0500 And Now for a Baby Sumatran Orangutan [New Window]
This Sumatran Orangutan inflicts its ineffable cuteness upon you, courtesy of ZooBorns.
Fri, 3 Jul 2009 01:29:41 -0500 A Miserable Failure [New Window]
That's the Obama administration's "stimulus" plan, which mainly stimulated Democratic constituencies with great gobs of pork. The web site Innocent Bystanders has done a service by plotting the actual unemployment rate against the Obama administration's prediction of what would happen with and without the "stimulus." Here is the latest, updated through June; click to enlarge:The administration's forecast provides a benchmark against which we can judge the success or failure of the $700 billion porkapalooza. The result is obvious: it was a failure. The best thing Congress could do is to cancel the rest of the program--the large majority that remains unspent--and let the economy recover without being hampered by government-imposed inefficiencies.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 23:21:48 -0500 6 New Personality Disorders Caused by the Internet [New Window]
The Internet makes people crazy. We all know this.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:02:41 -0500 Coup are you? part 2 [New Window]
Octavio Snchez is a lawyer, former presidential adviser (2002-05) and minister of culture (2005-06) of the Republic of Honduras. His Christian Science Monitor column on the events in Honduras is "A 'coup' in Honduras? Nonsense." Snchez writes: Sometimes, the whole world prefers a lie to the truth. The White House, the United Nations, the Organization of American States, and much of the media have condemned the ouster of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya this past weekend as a coup d'tat.That is nonsense.In fact, what happened here is nothing short of the triumph of the rule of law.Please read the whole thing, and if you know anyone in the State Department, please pass it on.Via CSM opinion editor Josh Burek.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:00:18 -0500 Administration, Lobbyist, Journalist: Who Can Tell the Difference? [New Window]
The news cycle these days is like time-lapse photography. Stories are born, flower and pass out of sight again in a matter of hours. For that matter, the Washington Post's "Salon" program didn't last much longer than that. Blink, or take a day off from the computer, and you've missed it.Here, via The Examiner, is the invitation that the Washington Post sent to lobbyists for companies in the health care industries; click to enlarge:The mind boggles: the Post wants lobbyists to bring "your organization's CEO or executive director" to a "salon" at the home of Post publisher Katharine Weymouth. If you pay $25,000, your CEO can actually participate in the discussion; or you can sponsor all 11 salons for a discounted price of $250,000. What's the purpose? "Interact with key Obama administration officials and Congressional leaders," thereby "participat[ing] in the health-care reform debate among the select few who will actually get it done."So the Washington Post is selling lobbyists access to "key Obama administration officials" for a mere $25,000 per evening. Obviously they could not have done this without arranging in advance for those "key officials" to participate. Where does the Obama administration end and the Washington Post begin? That is becoming an increasingly metaphysical question.There is this, too: participants can "build crucial relationships with Washington Post news executives." Ask yourself: why would it be "crucial" for health sector companies to have relationships with the Washington Post's news executives? Is that a threat or a promise?Ask yourself this: is it conceivable that the Washington Post would have imagined inviting lobbyists and CEOs to similar "salons" with "key Bush administration officials?" I don't think so.The Post, embarrassed by disclosure of its cozy, profitable relationships with lobbyists and the Obama administration, has repudiated the "salon" program. Given that their publisher was the program's host and the paper's "news executives" were set to participate, the paper's suddenly discovering its ethical standards rings rather hollow. It's worth mentioning that the story came to light because a lobbyist who received the Post's flyer was offended by the ethics of the event and blew the whistle. It's a sign of the times, I guess.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:52:14 -0500 CBS Doesn't Mention Obama as Unemployment Hits 26-Year High [New Window]
The unemployment rate in June jumped to 9.5 percent, the highest since 1983, as 467,000 jobs were lost, yet the CBS Evening News managed to air a story that didn't mention President Barack Obama or his stimulus bill while the NBC story only touched Obama's policies by running a soundbite of the President defending the lack of positive impact so far from his policies: It took years for us to get into this mess and it will take us more than a few months to turn it around. CBS reporter Anthony Mason remarked: Hopefully it's a one-month blip.In contrast, ABC anchor Charles Gibson teased Thursday's World News: Tonight, job jolt. Unemployment reaches a 26-year high. Where are all those jobs the economic stimulus was supposed to produce? Setting up ABC's lead (CBS and NBC began with Michael Jackson), Gibson proposed: The rising unemployment raises questions about the economic stimulus, which was supposed to create jobs.(Refusing to hold Obama accountable for his economic policies is nothing new. See the early June post, Finding the 'glass half full,' nets and newspapers find good news about job loss, ignore failure of stimulus to halt rising unemployment, from the MRC's Business & Media Institute.) The Thursday, July 2 NBC and CBS stories focused not on Obama administration policy but the plight of the unemployed. From the start of the story on Thursday's NBC Nightly News:BRIAN WILLIAMS: We turn to tonight's news on the U.S. economy and new numbers that prove what a lot of Americans already know, employers are continuing to fire and not hire. The unemployment rate now at 9.5 percent. Hasn't been that high in 26 years. 467,000 more jobs disappeared in the month of June alone, a surprise to a lot of the experts because May hadn't been that bleak. On Wall Street, the Dow, NASDAQ, S & P were way down on today's trading. CNBCs Trish Regan has more on the numbers and some of the real people behind them.TRISH REGAN: In New York City some instructions for the newly unemployed. It's become an increasingly popular class. And now news today that unemployment is at a 26-year high.PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: It took years for us to get into this mess and it will take us more than a few months to turn it around.REGAN: With the recession in its twentieth month, nearly 15 million Americans are out of work....The complete CBS Evening News coverage:KATIE COURIC: Turning to the economy now, while there have been signs the recession is easing, unemployment is only getting worse. The Labor Department reported today it's up to 9.5 percent now. That is the highest in 26 years. And 467,000 more jobs disappeared last month. Anthony Mason has the story.ANTHONY MASON: With another brutal month of job cuts, nearly 15 million Americans were out of work in June, disappointing analysts looking for green chutes.STUART HOFFMAN, CHIEF ECONOMIST, PNC FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP: Right now, we need more than chutes. We need branches, leaves, and flowers to get the economy to look better.MASON: Already a dozen states and the District of Columbia have unemployment rates above ten percent with Michigan the highest at more than 14 percent. Only two states, Nebraska and North Dakota, have rates lower than when the recession began. Many businesses are trying desperately to hang on to workers. At Tri-Star Industries, a metal working factory in Connecticut, owner Andrew Nowakowski laid off six of his 36 employees and was going to cut more until the state came to the rescue.ANDREW NOWAKOWSKI: The program allows us to maintain our full-time workforce intact.MASON: Under Connecticut's work share program, Nowakowski he has cut back his workers to three and four-day weeks, but the state makes up half of their lost wages with unemployment funds. Seventeen other states have similar programs.JAMES CASSIDY, TRI-STAR EMPLOYEE: If I didn't have this, I'd probably be trying to get on the welfare line.MASON: But rising unemployment has retailers hurting. At Stride-Rite and Payless shoes, CEO Matthew Rubel says he doesn't expect to see a rebound for at least another year.MATTHEW RUBEL, CEO, COLLECTIVE BRANDS: There's still one out of every 10 people looking for a job, so you can do whatever you want with Wall Street numbers. Main street, they're still looking for work. Until we get them back working, they're not going to go out and spend.MASON: And the picture gets worse when you add those people who settled for part-time work or given up looking. The so-called underemployed rate, is now a record 16.5 percent. Katie.COURIC: Some very unwelcome news tonight, Anthony.MASON: Hopefully it's a one-month blip.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:39:58 -0500 Washington Post Whorehouse [New Window]
Major Military Campaign in Afghanistan [New Window]
A massive military offensive is under way in Afghanistan against the Taliban.NAWA, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Marines suffered their first casualties of a massive new military campaign Thursday as they engaged in sporadic gunbattles along 55 miles of Taliban-controlled heartland in southern Afghanistan.One Marine was killed and several others were injured or wounded on the first full day of the assault, the largest military operation in Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban government in 2001.The offensive will test the Obama administration’s new strategy of holding territory and letting the Afghan government sink roots in Helmand province. The insurgency has proven particularly resilient in this area, where foreign troops have never before operated in such large numbers.President Barack Obama told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday that he has a “very narrow definition of success when it comes to our national security interests” in the region. “And that is that al-Qaida and its affiliates cannot set up safe havens from which to attack Americans.”And Long War Journal has some disturbing news from eastern Afghanistan: Haqqani Network captures US soldier in Afghanistan.The Haqqani Network has captured a US soldier who was based in the eastern Afghan province of Paktika. The soldier, who has not been identified, had reportedly been captured after walking off of his small outpost.The US military has confirmed a solider has been missing since June 30 and believes he has been captured by the Taliban.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:21:20 -0500 Judge not. . . [New Window]
I was in the car with my parents 40 years ago this month when we heard the news that Ted Kennedy had driven his car off of a bridge, after a night of partying, killing a young woman. My father said nothing. I thought "this means Kennedy will never be president." My mother said, "where was [his wife] Joan."When a public figure gets caught in a sex scandal, women naturally seem to focus on the aggrieved wife. These days, the main issue is how she will react. It varies. Some stand next to their husband at the press conference, some don't. Some say they aren't "standing by their man," but end up doing just that. Some implore the public to respect the privacy of her family, then end up writing a book about the matter.Jenny Sanford, wife of the disgraced governor of South Carolina, did not appear at the press conference and, as I understand it, has taken her four children and moved away from her her husband. For this she is earning high praise. But as we see moreof (and learn more about) Gov. Sanford, her response can also be viewed as a no-brainer.I consider it misguided to pass judgment over the way aggrieved wives handle these situations, or to compare the ways in which they do so. The better response is just to feel sympathy. All marriages are different and so are all women. There is no fixed correct or (within the limits of the criminal law) incorrect response.The urge to judge is strong, nonetheless. It stems in part from human nature and in part, I suspect, from modern feminism, pursuant to which women feel liberated relentlessly to judge the choices made by other women.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:23:12 -0500 Malta was worth a conversion [New Window]
President Obama has nominated Douglas Kmiec to be the U.S. ambassador to Malta. If the past is any guide, there's a good chance that Malta will soon be described on someone's website bio as a terribly important place attended to by a long and distinguished line of foreign diplomats. UPDATE: A reader reminds me that the Knights of Malta is a prominent Catholic group that dates back to the crusades. So the nomination stikes me as a great move by Obama -- he pleases Kmiec for services rendered without giving him anything of substance.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:05:28 -0500 Cap-and-Tax 8 Watch: Dave Reicherts rationalization [New Window]
Read this post »
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:58:03 -0500 Gray skies are going to clear up? [New Window]
As John shows below, the unemployment numbers released by the Labor Department today provide strong evidence that the Democrats' stimulus package has not succeeded thus far in curbing unemployment. Indeed, notwithstanding the Democratic over-promising, it was always difficult to see how the package could curb unemployment in the short term. Whatever potential such a package might have positively to affect the unemployment rate, any such positive impact was never going to kick in for many months. That's one of the reasons why a cut in the payroll tax would have been preferable.However, Bob Stein, a senior economist at First Trust Advisors contends that there is evidence the economy is healing, with the labor market serving as a lagging indicator that will enhance corporate profits, thus inducing more hiring down the road. And even the labor market shows a few small promising signs, Stein says. New claims for unemployment benefits are down and there is some evidence that fewer layoffs are being contemplated now than at this time last year.In addition, labor force participation (the number of those with jobs or actively looking for jobs) has increased by 1.2 million in the past five months, though it dipped in June. Whether this reflects, in part, increased public confidence in the ability to find work or increased desperation, I don't know. However, Stein points out that without the increase in labor force participation, the unemployment rate would be 8.8 percent, not 9.5 percent. (Of course, it was never likely that there would be no increase in labor force partcipation).
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:51:24 -0500 Pier [New Window]
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:13:52 -0500 The Washington Post 'Salon' [New Window]
Oh brother. The Washington Post was apparently planning to sell access to top Obama officials and other VIPs, at a price of $25,000 to $250,000 a pop, in a “salon program” at the private home of CEO Katharine Weymouth.The Washington Post has long prided itself on its access to the capital’s elite. Now, it appears, the paper is willing to sell that access.In a flier circulated to Beltway lobbyists, the Post touted a “salon” program which gives “exclusive access” to “Obama administration officials, Congress members, business leaders, advocacy leaders and other select minds” for between $25,000 and $250,000. (View an image of the flier.)White House officials said privately Thursday that the administration had no idea that the Post was peddling access to its officials.The first event, entitled “Health-Care Reform: Better or Worse for Americans” is scheduled for July 21, at the home of Post Publisher Katharine Weymouth.“Spirited? Yes. Confrontational? No,” the flier states. “The relaxed setting in the home of Katharine Weymouth assures it.”The flier, first reported by former Post editor Mike Allen on the Politico web site, offers the chance to “hear and be heard as an equal with key policy-makers and other stakeholders,” including Weymouth, Post executive editor Marcus Brauchli and health-care “reporting and editorial staff members” at the Post.Post company spokeswoman Kris Coratti issued a statement Thursday morning claiming that the flier was a “draft” that hadn’t been “properly vetted” before being dispatched.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 13:48:33 -0500 Arab Fists Still Clenched [New Window]
Imagine my surprise; Barack Obama’s bold new initiative for Arab countries to normalize relations with Israel is getting nowhere.The U.S. administration has not been successful in securing commitments from Arab countries to take steps toward normalizing relations with Israel, a senior source in Jerusalem said Wednesday.The source said U.S. President Barack Obama’s recent meeting with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia did not produce a commitment to encourage the other Arab states to begin normalization.“In such a situation, the Americans can’t continue demanding gestures only from Israel, such as the demand that Israel freeze settlement construction,” the source said.So naturally, since the Arab countries remain committed (as they always have been) to the destruction of Israel, Obama will continue asking them to unclench.In response, a senior White House source said talks with the Arab states are continuing with the aim of obtaining a commitment to make gestures toward Israel, and there is still hope for progress.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:17:12 -0500 Find an Independence Day Tea Party [New Window]
If you’re looking to celebrate Independence Day with other freedom-loving, limited-government activists, go to Tea Party Patriots for a list of more than 600 Tea Parties scheduled this weekend and beyond. [...] Read the rest »
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:16:56 -0500 North Korea Launches Four Missiles [New Window]
As North Korea continues preparations for a long-range ballistic missile test, possibly this weekend, today they test-fired four short-range missiles that apparently landed in the China Sea.Reports say these were ground-to-ship missiles; this bit of saber-rattling is probably intended as a threat to South Korea.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:12:02 -0500 Outpouring of support for Dallas vet whose flags were torched [New Window]
They haven’t found the culprits yet who burned the U.S. [...] Read the rest »
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:12:12 -0500 Washington Post: Laughingstocks and Lets Make a Deal!; Update: Salons shut down [New Window]
Ouch, my sides hurt from laughing. [...] Read the rest »
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:29:25 -0500 Stomach-turners of the morning [New Window]
Pimps and things.
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:11:09 -0500 New unemployment numbers: Quick, blame Bush! [New Window]
Waiting for “we inherited this” spin from the White House… [...] Read the rest »
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 08:20:05 -0500 Sanford: Dog About Town [New Window]
More of the Mark Sanford story’s leaking out, and it’s just not looking any better for the philandering creationist governor: Sanford, like a man in love, gushes about his ‘soul mate,’ confesses to other encounters.Crying at times and clearly wearing his emotions on his sleeve, the two-term governor also acknowledged that he had casual encounters with other women but insisted that he never crossed the line by having sex with them.“If you’re a married guy, at the end of the day, you shouldn’t be dancing with somebody else,” he said. “There were a handful of instances wherein I crossed the lines I shouldn’t have crossed as a married man but never crossed the ultimate line.”
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 08:16:18 -0500 Fireworks: North Korea test-fires 2 short-range missiles [New Window]
Good morning, people. [...] Read the rest »
Thu, 2 Jul 2009 05:35:58 -0500 God Said, Don't [New Window]
Joe the Plumber had a chat with the Almighty, and the word came down from on high: “Don’t run for office, Joe.”Asked if he has plans to run for public office, he replied, “I hope not. You know, I talked to God about that and he was like, ‘No.’”He continued, “I believe he’s gotten me on this grassroots movement. If I can encourage leaders to step up, that’s what I would like to do. That’s a heavy role. That’s something I don’t know if I am prepared to do yet.”
Wed, 1 Jul 2009 19:34:02 -0500 Wednesday Night Music: Pat Metheny Trio, 'Lone Jack' [New Window]
Pat Metheny with Christian McBride (bass) and Antonio Sanchez (drums), tearing through a tune called “Lone Jack,” from the album, Pat Metheny Group.[Video]
Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:25:47 -0500 New Gallup Poll: More Americans See Democratic Party As 'Too Liberal' [New Window]
A new Gallup poll has some interesting results; this year the number of Americans who described the Democratic Party’s views as “too liberal” increased to a historic high mark (46%), putting it slightly ahead of the number who say the Republican Party is “too conservative” (43%).However, it’s not great news for the Republicans, because the number who say the GOP is “too conservative” has remained unchanged from its own historic high mark last year.It looks like a lot of Americans are disenchanted with both parties for being too extreme.Here’s a Gallup video on the poll with more details on the results.[Video]
Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:59:54 -0500 Tech Note: Daily Format [New Window]
For years, the LGF front page has contained the last 3 to 5 days worth of posts, which can result in rather large pages depending on the content in the posts. I’m experimenting today with a single day’s worth of posts on the front page, to cut the size considerably — which makes the front page load much more quickly for you, dear reader.Obviously, the downside is that you see fewer posts as you scroll down the front page. But there is a light green navigation bar at the top and bottom of the page, with a link to yesterday’s posts. Once you click that link you’re in daily mode, and can use the navigation bar to step back and forth by days.As always, you can use the “Daily Archives” button in the left sidebar to bring up a calendar and jump directly to any day in LGF’s history.I think the faster loading time is worth the slight inconvenience of not seeing several days’ worth of posts on the front page; but if you disagree, here’s a thread in which to make your case.UPDATE at 7/1/09 1:26:59 pm:Changed the test slightly; now the front page shows today and yesterday, so there isn’t just one post on the page at the start of a day.
Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:17:04 -0500 JPost: Iran Hanging Mousavi Supporters [New Window]
The Jerusalem Post cites unconfirmed reports from Iran that the regime has begun hanging supporters of Mousavi.As the Iranian authorities warned the opposition on Tuesday that they would tolerate no further protests over the disputed June 12 presidential elections, a report emerged of the hangings of six supporters of defeated candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi.Speaking after Iran’s top legislative body upheld the election victory of incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, sources in Iran told this reporter in a telephone interview that the hangings took place in the holy city of Mashhad on Monday. There was no independent confirmation of the report.
Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:43:23 -0500 Onion: New Green Menu Has No Natural Ingredients [New Window]
[Video]
Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:11:28 -0500 Obama Health Care Town Hall Meeting [New Window]
Here’s a thread to discuss Barack Obama’s town hall meeting promoting his health care plans, now under way in Annandale, Virginia ...YouTube is streaming the meeting live.
Wed, 1 Jul 2009 13:19:37 -0500 Under Obama, America Becomes a Force For Oppression [New Window]
Dems Refuse to Stand for Pledge of Allegiance [New Window]
Billy Mays Found Dead At Home [New Window]
President Ousted in Honduras [New Window]
Obama DOESN'T Punt On Iran At News Conference [New Window]
In the Name of the Mullahs [New Window]
For Father's Day [New Window]
Senator A-Hole [New Window]
A (Small) Glimmer of Hope For Pontiac Loyalists [New Window]
ABC: 'We Doan Need No Steenkin' Robust Debate' [New Window]
ABC News to Become American Version of Pravda [New Window]
Sex Offenders Are Everywhere [New Window]
Send in the Clowns [New Window]
Saturday Afternoon Mellow-nicity [New Window]
Obama: Not Even Bothering to Hide it Anymore [New Window]
Fwank Fwies Into a Snit [New Window]
Obama's Most Reckless Move Yet: Mirandizing Captured Terrorists [New Window]
Government Motors Business Plan Takes Shape [New Window]
The Press, The Prez, and Hot Monkey Love [New Window]
Supremes Uphold 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' [New Window]
6 June, 1944: D-Day [New Window]
Animal Planet Show Features Racist Hippy Outlaws [New Window]
20 Years Ago Today [New Window]
MOONBAT CENTRAL IS CLOSEDWarmest Thanks to Our Bloggers and Readers [New Window]
We have made a decision to discontinue the Moonbat Central blog (though not the Moonbat Central team).During the months of MBC’s operation, we have discovered and developed an amazing crop of up-and-coming talent. Now we would like to put that talent to work where it can do the most good and get the most visibility.In our view, this means putting them to work on our high-traffic Web sites, FrontPageMagazine.com (FPM) and DiscovertheNetworks.org (DTN).The decision to close MBC was not an easy one. A successful blog is more than a communication medium. It is an active community of likeminded people, bloggers and readers alike, who gather together for a common purpose, interacting through the reader comments and forming lasting bonds and friendships. Many such bonds have formed at MBC in the last few months. We hope and trust that those friendships will outlive the blog that brought them together.Though the decision to close MBC was difficult, we believe it was correct. Unlike our adversaries on the left, we do not have access to limitless financial resources such as those which George Soros’s Phoenix Group dispenses. We must allocate our resources carefully.For now, we have determined that the talents and energies of MBC’s writers and editors will be most effective if focused on FrontPage and DiscovertheNetworks. In future, look for your favorite bloggers among the bylines of those Web sites.Special thanks are due to our tireless MBC editorial team — managing editor Richard Poe and deputy managing editor Jacob Laksin.Richard will be taking charge of a new investigative unit at CSPC, which will dig deep into the secrets of the left. It will follow the money trail and expose the left’s hidden agendas and relationships through hard-hitting articles which will appear in FrontPage and DiscovertheNetworks.Richard’s new title is senior fellow, director of research and investigative projects for CSPC. Jacob Laksin will assist him, as deputy director of research and investigative projects.In the not-so-distant future, we plan to revive our blogging operations, probably in a different format. Until then, we will focus on generating content for DiscovertheNetworks (DTN) and FrontPage (FPM).The few months during which Moonbat Central made its voice heard on the blogosphere will not be forgotten. We fought the good fight, broke many important stories and hit the Moonbats where it hurts. We are proud of every one of our bloggers.We are especially grateful to our readers, whose comments, enthusiasm and loyalty touched us deeply, and without whom MBC could not have enjoyed its brief but splendid moment in the sun.David HorowitzPresident, CSPC
Mon, 7 Nov 2005 11:30:02 -0600 READER COMMENTS WILL REMAIN ACTIVE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURSPlease Feel Free to Post Your Thoughts [New Window]
The reader comment function will continue working until 12 noon Eastern Time tomorrow, Tuesday. Between now and then, readers are encouraged to post their thoughts and say their farewells.Needless to say, any Bolshevist infiltrators who attempt to disrupt our final good-byes will suffer the blogospheric equivalent of impalement on a dull wooden stake. Don’t even think about it.Farewell, my friends. It has been an honor to serve with you, bloggers and reader commentators alike, on the frontlines of the culture war.UPDATE 11.08.05 11:34 am Eastern Time: In the rush of events yesterday, I neglected to thank our CSPC staffers, beginning with deputy managing editor Jacob Laksin, whose skillful editing, patient moderating and elegant blogging helped lighten my burdens and added a touch of class to MBC.Thanks also to our Webmaster Genesio Zenone and to our freelance web designer Tom Scerbo who together brought this site into being and helped us clear many a daunting technical hurdle.And of course we thank David Horowitz, for granting us this opportunity, however fleeting, to toss our antlers and stamp our hooves on the untamed veldt of the blogosphere.Our candle burned quickly, friends, but it burned bright.
Mon, 7 Nov 2005 11:29:50 -0600 Goodbye Moonbat Central [New Window]
Today, Moonbat Central blog will shut down.I would like to thank those who have read this blog and left comments on it. You’re one of main reasons I’ve been compelled to post here. I’ve appreciated your intelligence, humor and insight. I am honored to have written for your enjoyment. Bargholz, Rightminded, Nanc, RightWingMac, Orangeducks, RedBeard, Tazzmax, Kuhnkat, Sharikov, Madzionist and anyone else who has ever left a comment on one of my posts—thank you! I thank David Horowitz for having invited me to write for Moonbat Central. It’s been quite a thrill writing for one of the most prominent and respected Conservative intellectuals in America. I began writing a little more than a year ago and David has been instrumental in helping me "polish my chops." I thank him for his insights, his patience and his quick responses to my questions. I look forward to publishing future articles on his FrontPage webzine.I thank Moonbat Central’s managing editor, Richard Poe, for his insights, his great sense of humor and for him having pushed me to do better. He was instrumental in giving me great angles on stories that I had been ready to shelve. He taught me a lot about the craft of political writing. I look forward to continuing a friendship with him.I thank my fellow Moonbat Central bloggers— It’s been a blast trying to keep up with some of the finest minds and best writers in the blogosphere. I hope we’ll have future opportunities to again work together.As some Moonbat Central readers know, I edit and publish The Autonomist blog. I’ll be posting there on a regular basis once Moonbat Central closes down. I hope that you’ll join me there–I’d be honored if you did.Again, writing for Moonbat Central has been a total blast! I’m really going to miss it.
Mon, 7 Nov 2005 11:28:28 -0600 Many Thanks for the Comments [New Window]
As Moonbat Central is to be archived and discontinued, I would like to thank those who have participated in the commentary on each of my blogs. I learn from comments. Truth evolves from the contributions of the community.Until such time as Moonbat Central may be reinstated, in some form, my blogging will continue on my own Web site, BadEagle.com in two different places: 1) on the daily journal, Bad Eagle Journal, and 2) on the Blitzblog forum.I invite everyone to please visit my site, and feel free to contribute comments. There is no registration required for the Journal, but only for the BadEagle forums, and registration is free. (The Journal and the Forums are two different programs on the site.)It has been a great privilege to work for and to contribute to Moonbat Central, and FrontPageMagazine. The efforts of David Horowitz are certainly extensive. In this larger social context he has provided, my own concerns for America and the American Indian have often been informed, corrected, and refined. With a very special thanks to Richard Poe for his personal guidance and advice, I sign off.I shall continue to submit articles for FrontPageMagazine, and pursue any possible contributions I might make to DiscoverTheNetworks.
Mon, 7 Nov 2005 11:27:32 -0600 Thanks to All [New Window]
It has been an honor and a delight to contribute as a member of the Moonbat Central blog. Many thanks to David Horowitz for extending an invitation in the wake of my essay “Leaving the Left“. I’m now at work on a book expanding the ideas in that piece. I also write a blog called Sane Nation.Richard Poe and Jacob Laksin have been excellent editors, and I have learned a great deal from my fellow bloggers. If you like the work that has appeared here at Moonbat Central, keep your eye fixed to Front Page Magazine and Discover the Networks. If you hate what Moonbat Central has published, likewise I urge you to keep your masochism in good form by reading many of the same writers at FPM and DTN.
Mon, 7 Nov 2005 11:26:08 -0600 A Farewell to the People [New Window]
Moonbat Central shuts down. Women and minorities hardest hit. It’s the story of my life: Just as I find a nice place to meet friends and hang out, the place gets shut down. I thought that, after leaving the USSR, this would stop. Fat chance. In about five minutes, Moonbat Central will be no more.A leftie would complain and protest closing down this site and demand that it stay open, providing him with a fair opportunity to voice his opinions and be heard, and present many valid points why this would be beneficial to society, women and minorities. That’s what they are prone to do. Not me. I’ve learned long ago that if you want to be in a place where you can be happy, don’t wait for others to build it for you. Build it yourself. That’s the American way, at least in the ideal. Build your own place where you can have a life and the liberty to pursue happiness all you want. That’s what I did, in a way, when I built The People’s Cube - a nice place to meet friends and hang out that won’t be shut down unless I want it to. See you all there!
Mon, 7 Nov 2005 11:25:56 -0600 Chomskyists Upset that their Guru is Being Exposed [New Window]
The Guardian in the UK, far to the left of center, has run a fantastic pair of articles this week on Comrade Noam Chomsky. They started with an interview with the Noam, focusing on his endorsements of mass murderers throughout the world. When asked, "Do you regret supporting those who say the Srebrenica massacre was exaggerated?" our favorite Stalinist replied, "My only regret is that I didn’t do it strongly enough." This was followed by wailings of pain and anguish from the critters over at Counterpunch. Alexander Cockburn himself took time off fom his busy schedule of bashing Jews to scream that Chomsky was "misquoted". Yeah, sure he was. Just what part of Chomsky’s statements insisting that the USA is more evil than Nazi Germany does Cockburn not understand? The Guardian piece produced a wonderful commentary by Norman Johnson, published November 5. He writes, among other things:‘Me? Frankly, I’m just surprised it didn’t happen sooner. Once the turncoat had sold his soul, why shouldn’t he go the whole way and pick up a few extra shillings chancing his remaining scruples on the stock market? I know we columnists tend to pay a bit more attention to world events than your average homme moyen Norm, but am I the only one who knows what this born-again conservative’s been getting up to? …. Chomsky’s happier sitting at home, reviewing the fruits of his - sorry, Mrs Chomsky’s - share portfolio.‘Granted, the Chomsky family’s personal-finance ventures … must have come as a nasty shock to Prospect magazine’s constituency of stoppers, root-causists and not-in-my-namers. Without this ancient reactionary, how will they know what to think?‘But, believe me, I feel their pain. It wasn’t easy for me, either, when I realised the brilliant academic whose linguistics lectures had once held me spellbound, that the political theorist I’d revered for his unsentimental computation of Mao Zedong’s balance sheet, and firm evaluation of Pol Pot’s achievement in creating modern Cambodia, had morphed into an unfeeling appeaser to whom the murder of Milosevic’s victims could be assessed with an amoral sophistry that might have been lifted, with barely an adjustment, from the speeches of Douglas Hurd.‘Was it possible that this do-nothing conservative, who presumed, from his armchair, to mete out death sentences to Balkan peasants (let alone his request that Saddam Hussein be offered a visiting professorship at MIT and, I gather, a suggestion that David Cameron contribute to a Festschrift in honour of Robin Cook) was the same far-sighted but, above all, warm-hearted intellectual, who’d written by return when, as an idealistic student….‘If Bush is no better than Hitler, and Beria a lot more appealing than Dick Cheney, how does Chomsky compare with David Blunkett, the latest good man to fall victim to a pancetta-class pogrom? … Just because Pol Pot never fast-tracked a nanny’s visa doesn’t make Blunkett guiltier than Bin Laden.’Oh by the way, my favorite part of the Chomsky interview in the Guardian is where he tells the interviewer, "The Chomskys were one of the few Jewish families in an Irish and German neighbourhood, and Chomsky and his brother fought often in the street.”Talk about disinformation. The guy can rival Edward Said.I lived in the same neighborhood as the Noam, dated his cousin, and his father was my teacher. Most of the “Germans” in the neighborhodd were Jewish, there were almost no Irish, and no one picked on the Jewish kids.
Mon, 7 Nov 2005 07:55:38 -0600 The November Jewish Murders [New Window]
Jewish Defense League figure Earl Krugel was murdered last Friday, November 4 at a federal prison in Phoenix.On November 4, 2004 at a federal detention center in Los Angeles, JDL leader Irv Rubin fell 18 feet over a railing with his throat slashed. He died nine days later, his suspicious death deemed a suicide.On November 5, 1990 in Manhattan, an Egyptian linked to the perpetrators of the first World Trade Center bombing murdered JDL founder Rabbi Meir Kahane.What’s going on here?
Mon, 7 Nov 2005 07:50:08 -0600 Is France Responsible? [New Window]
After days of uncontrolled riots in and around Paris, and the inevitable reflection upon the policies of France regarding Muslims, one has to ask a legitimate question. But it may not be the obvious question about France’s responsibility. The real question has to do with a different application of the word "responsibility." Is France responsible for the caring, nurturing, and prosperity of the Muslims within her borders? And the other side of the issue: does any country at any time ever have the right to reject immigration of foreigners? Are all western countries forever obligated to allow all foreigners admission en masse? Are those western countries then responsible for the welfare of those immigrants and their children, forever? The situation seems abject. Islam, in the raw, does not appreciate nor desire any other form of government but Islamic theocracy. Assimilation into other cultures is not the goal of Islamicists at all, but to either change the society into which they have immigrated (shall we way, "invaded"), or to destroy it. This is the track record of Islam since Mohammad’s military aggressions beginning in 620 AD. With this in mind, how shall we who love freedom manage the influx of those who apparently hate it, and who use their own kind as human shields as they work to destroy freedom? There are those who theorize that the best defence against Islamic mania is exposure to freedom. When people experience the superior way of life, they are naturally won to the better way. So we are left with the prospect then of receiving a barrel of apples with virtually guaranteed rotten apples within it. Explosive apples, shall we say. Never mind the non-combatant Muslims They serve only as camouflage for the killers, whether they wish to or not. But foreign Muslims simply cannot demand respect for every detail of their religion and complain about the ill effects of not assimilating at the same time. Any country who allows this circumstance is indeed responsible for the results.
Sun, 6 Nov 2005 16:10:47 -0600 Storm Warnings [New Window]
Southwestern Indiana and northern Kentucky just experienced their worst tornado in over 30 years. It seems America is getting hit very hard by Nature this season. Obviously, after Hurricane Katrina, the role of the federal government was expanded, and the social action of the military was more ‘normalized’ than ever. The economy was immediately and perhaps permanently affected. As storm damage increases, it seems masses of people more are subject to government intervension. Add to this the menace of radical Islam in our society, and there must be a grave concern about the whole concept of freedom itself. How many storms, earthquakes, fires, and Islamic mass murder attacks will it take before the religious leaders of America will demand Congressional intervension? How much devastation will occur before the church decides to assume the upper hand of cosmic interpretation? Evangelists everywhere certainly address these catastrophies as ’signs of the end.’ And many translate the storm into a call for moral legislation. Since God "hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm" (Nahum 1:3), the evangelists believe catastrophies are judgments of God upon an immoral society. The solution is to make the society moral.But could this be "the way" of God? Can morality be legislated? Perhaps it can. America has certainly tried to legislate freedom, at least historically. Could it be that the future trend will be religious legislation? Could storms finally mean state control? Could the wind take away our freedom? Could America develop a brutal theocracy much like Islam has? Heaven forbid.
Sun, 6 Nov 2005 13:57:57 -0600
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