Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
CONCERNS ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF AMERICA
George Will sees a growing evidence of the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress to promoting a "toxic" agenda, which infringes on civil liberties and sends bailout money to auto plants in Sweden.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
BAILING OUT GM
It is hard for me to see the bailout of GM as good for the nation and even maybe GM. Fortune makes some good points. The company just wants federal money to get smaller--as the article points out the company needs to get "better."
Joseph B. White's take on the bailout. Will we end up with cars like the East German Trabant! describes some of the systemic problems in the company.
Joseph B. White's take on the bailout. Will we end up with cars like the East German Trabant! describes some of the systemic problems in the company.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
THE COLLAPSE OF EVANGELICALISM
According to this writer, the evangelical movement will be dead within 10 years. I agree with a lot of his analysis about the weakness of evangelical churches and Christians, but church history seems to show the resilience of the church. Revival seems to come at unexpected moments.
Mark Galli at Christianity Today responds.
Mark Galli at Christianity Today responds.
ISLAM, A RELIGION OF PEACE?
An ex-terrorist's view: There is a certain schizophrenia among many Muslims who seem to believe that it is acceptable to teach hatred and violence in the name of their religion, while at the same time expecting the world to respect Islam as "a religion of peace, love and harmony."
While many religious texts preach violence, the interpretation, modern usage and implementation of these teachings make all the difference. For example, the stoning of women exists in both the Old Testament and in the Islamic tradition, or "Sunna" -- the recorded deeds and manners of the prophet Muhammad. The difference, though, is that leading Jewish scholars agreed to discontinue these practices centuries ago while Muslim scholars have yet to do so. Hence we do not see the stoning of women practiced or promoted in Israel, the "Jewish" state, but we see it practiced and promoted in Iran and Saudi Arabia, the "Islamic" states!
While many religious texts preach violence, the interpretation, modern usage and implementation of these teachings make all the difference. For example, the stoning of women exists in both the Old Testament and in the Islamic tradition, or "Sunna" -- the recorded deeds and manners of the prophet Muhammad. The difference, though, is that leading Jewish scholars agreed to discontinue these practices centuries ago while Muslim scholars have yet to do so. Hence we do not see the stoning of women practiced or promoted in Israel, the "Jewish" state, but we see it practiced and promoted in Iran and Saudi Arabia, the "Islamic" states!
BUFFETT CRITICISM OF OBAMA
This looks like a pretty sharp attack by an Obama supporter, Warren Buffett, on Obama's early presidential decisions. I didn't sense it was this strong from the few comments I saw in some news sources.
Monday, March 09, 2009
RELIGIOUS GROUPS LOSING GROUND
An interesting study indicating the religious changes in America. Baptists are declining in influence and numbers in the South and the Roman Catholics are doing the same in the Northeast. 15% of all Americans claim "no religion" -- up from 8% since 1990.
Friday, March 06, 2009
STATE DEPARTMENT
I can't believe that the Russian experts in the State Department can't get a Russian word right!
Hillary seems to be making even more mistakes. "I have never understood multiparty democracy." I never expected have such a poor understanding of Europe.
Hillary seems to be making even more mistakes. "I have never understood multiparty democracy." I never expected have such a poor understanding of Europe.
PALIN, THE CENTRIST
Evidence that she is not part of the religious right--she appointed a member of Planned Parenthood to the Alaska Supreme Court. But it appears to be a complicated issue.
Now, before you write off Palin completely there are some extenuating circumstances. You should know the way the process in Alaska goes. A liberal board (made up of leftist trial lawyer types) nominates two people and the Governor has to pick one. And from what I understand, neither option was great but of the two, it would appear that Palin may have picked the more liberal of the two, at least according to Alaska Family Council's Jim Minnery. Minnery wrote Palin in support of the other candidate, Judge Eric Smith saying Smith was “more conservative” and that Christen would be “another activist on the Court.”
Now, before you write off Palin completely there are some extenuating circumstances. You should know the way the process in Alaska goes. A liberal board (made up of leftist trial lawyer types) nominates two people and the Governor has to pick one. And from what I understand, neither option was great but of the two, it would appear that Palin may have picked the more liberal of the two, at least according to Alaska Family Council's Jim Minnery. Minnery wrote Palin in support of the other candidate, Judge Eric Smith saying Smith was “more conservative” and that Christen would be “another activist on the Court.”
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
THE COLLAPSE OF AMERICA
A Russian prophet! Russians seem to be given to these kind of apocalyptic visions from time to time.
If you're inclined to believe Igor Panarin, and the Kremlin wouldn't mind if you did, then President Barack Obama will order martial law this year, the U.S. will split into six rump-states before 2011, and Russia and China will become the backbones of a new world order.
If you're inclined to believe Igor Panarin, and the Kremlin wouldn't mind if you did, then President Barack Obama will order martial law this year, the U.S. will split into six rump-states before 2011, and Russia and China will become the backbones of a new world order.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
ANOTHER OBAMA SUPPORTER QUESTIONS HIS SUPPORT
Jim Cramer of CNBC.
"Until they realize that their agenda is destroying the life savings of millions of Americans, then all I can give you is caution... I'm not saying Mr. President go stare at the Bloomberg quote machine and come to your senses. I just want some sign that Obama realizes the market is totally falling apart and that his agenda has a big hand in that happening. I don't know about you but I felt it everywhere I went this weekend... A young kid took me aside. He said I was right when I said we've elected a Leninist... I felt the total lack of control we all feel right now, the, "It's out of my hands but where's the authority?" The, "Hey it's amateur hour at our darkest moment."
"Until they realize that their agenda is destroying the life savings of millions of Americans, then all I can give you is caution... I'm not saying Mr. President go stare at the Bloomberg quote machine and come to your senses. I just want some sign that Obama realizes the market is totally falling apart and that his agenda has a big hand in that happening. I don't know about you but I felt it everywhere I went this weekend... A young kid took me aside. He said I was right when I said we've elected a Leninist... I felt the total lack of control we all feel right now, the, "It's out of my hands but where's the authority?" The, "Hey it's amateur hour at our darkest moment."
DEPRESSION COMING
Found this through the Dallas Morning News -- Obama Wall Street supporters are becoming disenchanted with his policies.
The Dow closed today at its lowest mark in 12 years, and now it's becoming clear even to Obama supporters on Wall Street that his reckless agenda will make a bad situation worse.
But for all of that they can’t believe what they are witnessing: an economic agenda that is contradictory at best, and possibly reckless in its extreme. Policies that will certainly make a very bad situation even worse, and when things do get better, they will certainly not be better enough to compensate for the pain we are experiencing.
People compare it to FDR’s New Deal, but it’s only fair to point out that Herbert Hoover’s taxes on the rich and restrictive trade policy, which preceded the New Deal, were hardly free-market-oriented. And when Roosevelt tried many of these same measures, coupled with a massive expansion of government that crowded out business investments large and small, the economy got worse, not better. The stock market’s various declines that occurred throughout the 1930s and well into the 1940s reflected the disconnect between Roosevelt’s economic policies and the economy’s health. A quick check of the Dow Jones Industrial Average shows a series of fits and starts and no recovery until well after World War II.
Things must be bad when even the liberal economist, Paul Krugman, is depressed.
The Dow closed today at its lowest mark in 12 years, and now it's becoming clear even to Obama supporters on Wall Street that his reckless agenda will make a bad situation worse.
But for all of that they can’t believe what they are witnessing: an economic agenda that is contradictory at best, and possibly reckless in its extreme. Policies that will certainly make a very bad situation even worse, and when things do get better, they will certainly not be better enough to compensate for the pain we are experiencing.
People compare it to FDR’s New Deal, but it’s only fair to point out that Herbert Hoover’s taxes on the rich and restrictive trade policy, which preceded the New Deal, were hardly free-market-oriented. And when Roosevelt tried many of these same measures, coupled with a massive expansion of government that crowded out business investments large and small, the economy got worse, not better. The stock market’s various declines that occurred throughout the 1930s and well into the 1940s reflected the disconnect between Roosevelt’s economic policies and the economy’s health. A quick check of the Dow Jones Industrial Average shows a series of fits and starts and no recovery until well after World War II.
Things must be bad when even the liberal economist, Paul Krugman, is depressed.
WHAT OBAMA IS READING
The Post-American World. I would like to see what else he is reading. I wouldn't judge him on just one book. But I can't help but wonder what CNN or Chris Matthews would have done if Bush were seen reading this book?
OBAMA'S HEALTH CARE PLANS
“Even if we’re busting the budget, we’ve got to solve some of these problems,” said a member of his inner circle. “I’d rather live with a debt than have people go without health care.”
But will massive debt end up destroying the health care system (and the country)? From Politico.com.
But will massive debt end up destroying the health care system (and the country)? From Politico.com.
RUSSIA PUBLICLY REJECTS AN OBAMA OVERTURE
It is obvious Medvedev (and Putin) has no respect for Obama. Obama's initiative to compromise on US missiles in Eastern Europe for Russian help in Iran went down in flames. This doesn't look good for American power and influence. It's one thing to take the blow privately, but Russia made it a public rebuke.
This is seen as a sign of weakness. But Obama thinks he can make deals with Putin.
This is seen as a sign of weakness. But Obama thinks he can make deals with Putin.
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