Monday, April 14, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
HILLARY'S TUZLA STATEMENT
Politico has the background on Bill Clinton's recent defense of Hillary's Bosnia statement. Bill was spinning.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Monday, April 07, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
F/A-22s
This is supposedly the answer to the new Russian jet fighter.
The First F/A-22s Delivered to Langley AFB
These are great In-flight photos of the F/A-22 Raptor as the first aircraft delivery was being made to Langley AFB in Va. . Langley is to be first operational AFB for the F/A-22. It is a very beautiful and historic AFB, located in a picturesque location, as you can see in these photos, near Norfolk and Hampton , Va.
For you non fliers; don't look for the cockpit in the first photo. The F/A-22 is inverted.
The aircraft flying along with the F/A-22 in the last of these photos is t! he F-15 , an incredable aircraft in its own right, which will be replaced by the F/A-22 which is several times better than the F-15!
In actual in-flight (simulated) combat operations against the F-15, two F/A-22's were able to operate without detection while they went head to head against eight F-15's. The F/A-22's scored missile hits (Kills) against all the F-15 Aircraft and the F/A-22's were never detected by either the F-15's or ground based radar.
Maj. Gen. Rick Lewis said: "The Raptors operated against all adversaries with virtual impunity; ground based systems couldn't engage them and no adversary aircraft survived"!!!
F/A-22-- America 's most advanced fighter aircraft for the 21st century!!!! They're a titanium and carbon fiber dagger. They're so advanced that if their on-board locator beacon is switched off even our own satellites can lose track of them. They're the first military aircraft ever built that is equipped with a 'bla! ck-out button'. What that means is this.....
The best conditioned fighter pilots are capable of maintaining consciousness up to in the vicinity of 15+ G. The Raptor is capable of making 22+ G. turns. If some day an adversary builds a missile that is capable of catching up to one of these airplanes and a Raptor pilot sees that a strike is imminent, he hits the 'b.o.b.' and the airplane makes a virtual U-turn, leaving the missile to pass right on by.
They know that in the process the pilot will temporarily lose consciousness, so the Raptor then automatically comes back to straight and level flight until he wakes up.
The First F/A-22s Delivered to Langley AFB
These are great In-flight photos of the F/A-22 Raptor as the first aircraft delivery was being made to Langley AFB in Va. . Langley is to be first operational AFB for the F/A-22. It is a very beautiful and historic AFB, located in a picturesque location, as you can see in these photos, near Norfolk and Hampton , Va.
For you non fliers; don't look for the cockpit in the first photo. The F/A-22 is inverted.
The aircraft flying along with the F/A-22 in the last of these photos is t! he F-15 , an incredable aircraft in its own right, which will be replaced by the F/A-22 which is several times better than the F-15!
In actual in-flight (simulated) combat operations against the F-15, two F/A-22's were able to operate without detection while they went head to head against eight F-15's. The F/A-22's scored missile hits (Kills) against all the F-15 Aircraft and the F/A-22's were never detected by either the F-15's or ground based radar.
Maj. Gen. Rick Lewis said: "The Raptors operated against all adversaries with virtual impunity; ground based systems couldn't engage them and no adversary aircraft survived"!!!
F/A-22-- America 's most advanced fighter aircraft for the 21st century!!!! They're a titanium and carbon fiber dagger. They're so advanced that if their on-board locator beacon is switched off even our own satellites can lose track of them. They're the first military aircraft ever built that is equipped with a 'bla! ck-out button'. What that means is this.....
The best conditioned fighter pilots are capable of maintaining consciousness up to in the vicinity of 15+ G. The Raptor is capable of making 22+ G. turns. If some day an adversary builds a missile that is capable of catching up to one of these airplanes and a Raptor pilot sees that a strike is imminent, he hits the 'b.o.b.' and the airplane makes a virtual U-turn, leaving the missile to pass right on by.
They know that in the process the pilot will temporarily lose consciousness, so the Raptor then automatically comes back to straight and level flight until he wakes up.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
OBAMA'S FOREIGN POLICY
According to Noah Pollak it is just a bunch of cliches and glittering generalizations.
What does “liberal internationalism” mean in Ackerman’s imagination? What does “enlightened global leadership” entail? Does that mean we let Iran get the bomb, or not? Who knows. Now what was Ackerman saying at the beginning of his piece about hollow sloganeering?
What does “liberal internationalism” mean in Ackerman’s imagination? What does “enlightened global leadership” entail? Does that mean we let Iran get the bomb, or not? Who knows. Now what was Ackerman saying at the beginning of his piece about hollow sloganeering?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
OBAMA AND WRIGHT
Victor Hanson raises a number of growing concerns about the Obama candidacy.
The speech and Obama’s subsequent interviews neither explained his disastrous association with Wright, nor dared open up a true discussion of race — which by needs would have to include, in addition to white racism, taboo subjects ranging from disproportionate illegitimacy and drug usage to higher-than-average criminality to disturbing values espoused in rap music and unaddressed anti-Semitism. We learn now that Obama is the last person who wants to end the establishment notion that a few elite African Americans negotiate with liberal white America over the terms of grievance and entitlement — without which all of us really would be transracial persons, in which happiness and gloom hinge, and are seen to do so, on one’s own individual success or failure.
Instead there were the tired platitudes, evasions, and politicking. The intelligentsia is well aware of how postmodern cultural equivalence, black liberation theory, and moral relativism seeped into Obama’s speech, and thus was not offended by an “everybody does it” and “who’s to judge?/eye of the beholder” defense. But to most others the effect was Clintonian. Somehow Obama could not just say, There is nothing to be offered for Rev. Wright except my deepest apologies for not speaking out against his venom far earlier. We in the African-American community know better than anyone the deleterious effects of racist speech, and so it is time for Rev. Wright and myself to part company, since we have profoundly different views of both present- and future-day America.
The speech and Obama’s subsequent interviews neither explained his disastrous association with Wright, nor dared open up a true discussion of race — which by needs would have to include, in addition to white racism, taboo subjects ranging from disproportionate illegitimacy and drug usage to higher-than-average criminality to disturbing values espoused in rap music and unaddressed anti-Semitism. We learn now that Obama is the last person who wants to end the establishment notion that a few elite African Americans negotiate with liberal white America over the terms of grievance and entitlement — without which all of us really would be transracial persons, in which happiness and gloom hinge, and are seen to do so, on one’s own individual success or failure.
Instead there were the tired platitudes, evasions, and politicking. The intelligentsia is well aware of how postmodern cultural equivalence, black liberation theory, and moral relativism seeped into Obama’s speech, and thus was not offended by an “everybody does it” and “who’s to judge?/eye of the beholder” defense. But to most others the effect was Clintonian. Somehow Obama could not just say, There is nothing to be offered for Rev. Wright except my deepest apologies for not speaking out against his venom far earlier. We in the African-American community know better than anyone the deleterious effects of racist speech, and so it is time for Rev. Wright and myself to part company, since we have profoundly different views of both present- and future-day America.
HITCHENS ON OBAMA
Hitchens is quite critical of Obama, but he does manage to mention Hagee and Parsley.
Now, by way of which vent or orifice is this venom creeping back into our national bloodstream? Where is hatred and tribalism and ignorance most commonly incubated, and from which platform is it most commonly yelled? If you answered "the churches" and "the pulpits," you got both answers right. The Ku Klux Klan (originally a Protestant identity movement, as many people prefer to forget) and the Nation of Islam (a black sectarian mutation of Quranic teaching) may be weak these days, but bigotry of all sorts is freely available, and openly inculcated into children, by any otherwise unemployable dirtbag who can perform the easy feat of putting Reverend in front of his name. And this clerical vileness has now reached the point of disfiguring the campaigns of both leading candidates for our presidency. If you think Jeremiah Wright is gruesome, wait until you get a load of the next Chicago "Reverend," one James Meeks, another South Side horror show with a special sideline in the baiting of homosexuals. He, too, has been an Obama supporter, and his church has been an occasional recipient of Obama's patronage. And perhaps he, too, can hope to be called "controversial" for his use of the term house nigger to describe those he doesn't like and for his view that it was "the Hollywood Jews" who brought us Brokeback Mountain. Meanwhile, the Republican nominee adorns himself with two further reverends: one named John Hagee, who thinks that the pope is the Antichrist, and another named Rod Parsley, who has declared that the United States has a mission to obliterate Islam. Is it conceivable that such repellent dolts would be allowed into public life if they were not in tax-free clerical garb? How true it is that religion poisons everything.
Now, by way of which vent or orifice is this venom creeping back into our national bloodstream? Where is hatred and tribalism and ignorance most commonly incubated, and from which platform is it most commonly yelled? If you answered "the churches" and "the pulpits," you got both answers right. The Ku Klux Klan (originally a Protestant identity movement, as many people prefer to forget) and the Nation of Islam (a black sectarian mutation of Quranic teaching) may be weak these days, but bigotry of all sorts is freely available, and openly inculcated into children, by any otherwise unemployable dirtbag who can perform the easy feat of putting Reverend in front of his name. And this clerical vileness has now reached the point of disfiguring the campaigns of both leading candidates for our presidency. If you think Jeremiah Wright is gruesome, wait until you get a load of the next Chicago "Reverend," one James Meeks, another South Side horror show with a special sideline in the baiting of homosexuals. He, too, has been an Obama supporter, and his church has been an occasional recipient of Obama's patronage. And perhaps he, too, can hope to be called "controversial" for his use of the term house nigger to describe those he doesn't like and for his view that it was "the Hollywood Jews" who brought us Brokeback Mountain. Meanwhile, the Republican nominee adorns himself with two further reverends: one named John Hagee, who thinks that the pope is the Antichrist, and another named Rod Parsley, who has declared that the United States has a mission to obliterate Islam. Is it conceivable that such repellent dolts would be allowed into public life if they were not in tax-free clerical garb? How true it is that religion poisons everything.
Monday, March 24, 2008
THE FAITH OF GEORGE W. BUSH
I haven't watched this but some of the contributors to H-Religion think it is the best discussion of Bush's faith.
Friday, March 21, 2008
SADDAM'S SUPPORT OF TERRORISM
The Washington Times argues that Saddam had terrorist links.
Newly declassified documents show a number of links between the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein and violent terrorist or Islamist groups, many of them dating from the early 1990s.
Newly declassified documents show a number of links between the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein and violent terrorist or Islamist groups, many of them dating from the early 1990s.
A Pentagon-funded study of the documents failed to find a direct link between Saddam and al Qaeda, the group that carried out the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. But it did establish Iraqi support for Egyptian Islamic Jihad, whose leader Ayman al-Zawahri merged the group with al Qaeda years later.
The papers also show that Saddam's Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) maintained a working relationship with Palestinian terrorist groups, secretly sent representatives to meet with them and trained scores of non-Iraqi Arabs to attack Israel.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
RUSSIAN JET
I don't understand all the technical issues, but if the following is true, I wonder what has happened to American air technology?
Russia now has #1 fighter plane in the world... SU-30- Vectored Thrust with Canards. As you watch this airplane, look at the canards moving along side of, and just below the canopy rail. The "canards" are the small wings forward of the main wings.? The smoke and contrails provide a sense of the actual flight path, sometimes in reverse direction.
This video is of an in-flight demonstration flown by the Russian's-30MK fighter aircraft.? You will not believe what you are about to see.
The fighter can stall from high speed, stopping forward motion in seconds.
(full stall). Then it demonstrates an ability to descend tail first without causing a compressor stall. It can also recover from a flat spin in less than a minute.
(full stall). Then it demonstrates an ability to descend tail first without causing a compressor stall. It can also recover from a flat spin in less than a minute.
US GOVERNMENT IMMORALITY
An interesting (and alarming) account of a leading government official. A fiscal conservative argues that nobody is looking to the future.
Friday, March 07, 2008
OBAMA'S WOMEN
Interesting. "Obama's Women Reveal His Secret." The article answers some of the questions I have had about his mother.
"Cherchez la femme," advised Alexander Dumas in: "When you want to uncover an unspecified secret, look for the woman." In the case of Barack Obama, we have two: his late mother, the went-native anthropologist Ann Dunham, and his rancorous wife Michelle. Obama's women reveal his secret: he hates America.
"Cherchez la femme," advised Alexander Dumas in: "When you want to uncover an unspecified secret, look for the woman." In the case of Barack Obama, we have two: his late mother, the went-native anthropologist Ann Dunham, and his rancorous wife Michelle. Obama's women reveal his secret: he hates America.
BILL CLINTON WINDFALL
While there may be nothing illegal in this, the Clintons sure do seem to make a lot of money. While Obama may be linked to the Rezko affair, I think Obama can only be faulted for ethical misjudgements. But in Chicago what he did was pretty typical. However, the amount of money Obama has made while in office pales in comparison to the money the Clintons seem to have made or raised.
US MILITARY BUILD-UP IN PACIFIC
A future war with China seems to be the reason. With the economy tanking and our forces committed to the Middle East, I wonder how much more taxpayers can afford. How much of this is bluff is hard to say.
Asked if the Chinese are monitoring the buildup, Keating said: “I kind of hope they do. We've got a number of B-2s in Guam now. I'm hoping they notice. We're doing our best to make sure they do. We want them to understand that we're going to continue to course around the Pacific in ways apparent and maybe not quite so apparent, but we're going to utilize all the arrows in our quiver, if you will, and B-2s in Guam, continuous bomber presence writ larger in Guam and elsewhere. We've been told to do it by Defense Policy Guidance, and we're most assuredly doing it.”
Asked if the Chinese are monitoring the buildup, Keating said: “I kind of hope they do. We've got a number of B-2s in Guam now. I'm hoping they notice. We're doing our best to make sure they do. We want them to understand that we're going to continue to course around the Pacific in ways apparent and maybe not quite so apparent, but we're going to utilize all the arrows in our quiver, if you will, and B-2s in Guam, continuous bomber presence writ larger in Guam and elsewhere. We've been told to do it by Defense Policy Guidance, and we're most assuredly doing it.”
MCCAIN'S COMEBACK
The LA Times has an interesting column on how McCain's team engineered a comeback after the campaign nosedived last summer.
In the second week of July 2007, a pall settled over the half-empty headquarters of John McCain in an Arlington, Va., skyscraper. The campaign was nearly broke. The top two officials had resigned. Two-thirds of the staff had been fired or left, and those who remained worried the campaign might never recover.
With headlines predicting the end, a small band of loyalists coalesced around McCain. The new campaign manager, Rick Davis, was on the phone with donors in every state, asking them to hang on. Mark Salter, McCain's aide of nearly two decades, walked from desk to desk at headquarters persuading core staffers not to bolt.
Strategist Charles Black, McCain's longtime friend and a veteran of every Republican presidentialcampaign since Ronald Reagan's 1976 bid, dropped in to remind the staffthat Reagan had survived a similar implosion.
In the second week of July 2007, a pall settled over the half-empty headquarters of John McCain in an Arlington, Va., skyscraper. The campaign was nearly broke. The top two officials had resigned. Two-thirds of the staff had been fired or left, and those who remained worried the campaign might never recover.
With headlines predicting the end, a small band of loyalists coalesced around McCain. The new campaign manager, Rick Davis, was on the phone with donors in every state, asking them to hang on. Mark Salter, McCain's aide of nearly two decades, walked from desk to desk at headquarters persuading core staffers not to bolt.
Strategist Charles Black, McCain's longtime friend and a veteran of every Republican presidentialcampaign since Ronald Reagan's 1976 bid, dropped in to remind the staffthat Reagan had survived a similar implosion.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
CIA LEAK
Someone leaked details of a CIA-Mossad plot against Iran.
The CIA counter proliferation department hired a Soviet nuclear engineer who had previously, in the 1990s, defected to the United States and revealed secrets from the Soviet Union's nuclear program. His speciality was in the field of what is called weaponization, the final stage of assembling a nuclear bomb.
The scientist was equipped with blueprints for assembling a nuclear bomb in which, without his knowledge, false drawings and information blueprints were planted about a nuclear warhead that was supposedly manufactured in the Soviet Union. The plan's details had been fabricated by CIA experts, and so while they appeared authentic, they had no engineering or technological value.
The intention was to fool the scientist and send him to make contact with the Iranians to whom he would offer his services and blueprints. The American plot was aimed at getting the Iranians to invest a great deal of effort in studying the plans and to attempt to assemble a faulty warhead. But when the time came, they would not have a nuclear bomb but rather a dud.
The CIA counter proliferation department hired a Soviet nuclear engineer who had previously, in the 1990s, defected to the United States and revealed secrets from the Soviet Union's nuclear program. His speciality was in the field of what is called weaponization, the final stage of assembling a nuclear bomb.
The scientist was equipped with blueprints for assembling a nuclear bomb in which, without his knowledge, false drawings and information blueprints were planted about a nuclear warhead that was supposedly manufactured in the Soviet Union. The plan's details had been fabricated by CIA experts, and so while they appeared authentic, they had no engineering or technological value.
The intention was to fool the scientist and send him to make contact with the Iranians to whom he would offer his services and blueprints. The American plot was aimed at getting the Iranians to invest a great deal of effort in studying the plans and to attempt to assemble a faulty warhead. But when the time came, they would not have a nuclear bomb but rather a dud.
THE CHICAGO WAY
"C" is for corruption! "If you see an open hand reaching out to you, you don't leave it empty."
CHICAGO
Jeff Foxworthy on Chicago:
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you live in Chicago.
If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Chicago.
If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Chicago.
If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Chicago
If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of I-80 for the weekend, you live in Chicago.
If you measure distance in hours, you live in Chicago.
If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, you live in Chicago.
If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Chicago.
If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them,you live in Chicago.
If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Chicago.
If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80 and everybody is passing you, you live in Chicago.
If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Chicago.
If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you live in Chicago.
If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in Chicago.
If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly", you live in Chicago.Monday, March 03, 2008
POLITICS BEHIND THE SCENES
An interesting account of how Obama's advisors reacted and tried to influence coverage on Politico.
HILLARY SET-UP?
Althouse believes Hillary was set-up by 60 minutes on question of whether Obama is a Muslim. I have to admit that I think Althouse is right--do reporters keep asking the same question until they get the clip they want????
OBAMA & JEWS
From The New York Times:
Mr. Obama called Mr. Farrakhan an anti-Semite and denounced his support, but was pressed to go further by his rival, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, an experienced hand at Democratic politics who herself has been on the defensive with Jewish voters after an encounter in 2000 with Suha Arafat, the wife of the Palestinian leader.
Mr. Obama has also faced criticism over remarks he made about the suffering of Palestinians — remarks he says were incorrectly reported — and about who is advising him on foreign affairs. And he has had to beat back false tales, spread in viral e-mail messages, that he is a Muslim who attended a madrassa in Indonesia as a boy and was sworn into office on the Koran. In fact, he is a Christian who was sworn in on a Bible.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Victor David Hanson gives reason why illegal immigration should be considered a problem.
1)We are wide open to terrorist infiltration; 2) We privilege illegal immigration from Mexico, while penalizing and delaying legal immigration from Asia, Africa, and Europe; 3) We serve as a safety valve and enabler for Mexico, which therefore will never make needed reforms; 4) We are creating a chauvinistic tribalism, a race industry that tries to convert the presence of 15 million illegal aliens into some sort of political movement; 5) We use cheap illegal labor to ensure our own entry level workers cannot bargain or organize.
1)We are wide open to terrorist infiltration; 2) We privilege illegal immigration from Mexico, while penalizing and delaying legal immigration from Asia, Africa, and Europe; 3) We serve as a safety valve and enabler for Mexico, which therefore will never make needed reforms; 4) We are creating a chauvinistic tribalism, a race industry that tries to convert the presence of 15 million illegal aliens into some sort of political movement; 5) We use cheap illegal labor to ensure our own entry level workers cannot bargain or organize.
HILLARY RAISING MONEY
I found the clips, I presume taken by people at these events, on Clinton fund-raising efforts interesting. It doesn't present the Clintons in the best light, but I think you could find similar kinds of problems in other campaigns as well. The pursuit of money is "the source of all evil."
OBAMA PLAYS THE RACE CARD
What struck me as interesting is that this issue was raised in The New Republic, hardly a right-wing publication.
OBAMA & REZKO AFFAIR
It all looks pretty sordid, but the bottom line seems to be : There is no evidence that in any of his dealings with Rezko that Obama broke any law. The question is one of ethics. And judgment, of course. And truthfulness. Obama’s relationship with Rezko is much more extensive than he has ever admitted. Their 17-year relationship went beyond “one fundraiser” as Obama claims, and a few social dates with the gals.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
HOW WOULD JESUS VOTE?
Thanks to Alisha for this!
And then there is the more dangerous sort of bias. A few months ago, while participating in an early-morning panel discussion in the heart of Manhattan, I was startled fully awake when a man stood up to declare that Democrats who reached out to religious voters, especially evangelicals, were akin to those who collaborated with the Nazis. I put on a sweet smile of Christian charity and counted to 10.
Comments like that explain why so many of us liberals who also happen to be evangelicals have stayed in the closet for so long. It is hard to overcome decades of suspicion, much of it richly earned by leaders of the religious right who used faith in the cause of a political power grab and in the name of intolerance and fear. But the lingering misconceptions are also painful reminders of the price people like myself have paid for staying silent while others claimed a monopoly on faith. And the country has paid, too.
And then there is the more dangerous sort of bias. A few months ago, while participating in an early-morning panel discussion in the heart of Manhattan, I was startled fully awake when a man stood up to declare that Democrats who reached out to religious voters, especially evangelicals, were akin to those who collaborated with the Nazis. I put on a sweet smile of Christian charity and counted to 10.
Comments like that explain why so many of us liberals who also happen to be evangelicals have stayed in the closet for so long. It is hard to overcome decades of suspicion, much of it richly earned by leaders of the religious right who used faith in the cause of a political power grab and in the name of intolerance and fear. But the lingering misconceptions are also painful reminders of the price people like myself have paid for staying silent while others claimed a monopoly on faith. And the country has paid, too.
OBAMA LAND DEAL
From The Times of London:
A British-Iraqi billionaire lent millions of dollars to Barack Obama's fundraiser just weeks before an imprudent land deal that has returned to haunt the presidential contender, an investigation by The Times discloses.
The money transfer raises the question of whether funds from Nadhmi Auchi, one of Britain’s wealthiest men, helped Mr Obama buy his mock Georgian mansion in Chicago.
Monday, February 25, 2008
HILLARY IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Andrew Sullivan is beginning to sound like he is part of the "vast right-wing conspiracy."
Clinton is a terrible manager of people. Coming into a campaign she had been planning for, what, two decades, she was so not ready on Day One, or even Day 300. Her White House, if we can glean anything from the campaign, would be a secretive nest of well-fed yes-people, an uncontrollable egomaniac spouse able and willing to bigfoot anyone if he wants to, a phalanx of flunkies who cannot tell the boss when things are wrong, and a drizzle of dreary hacks like Mark Penn. Her only genuine skill is pivoting off the Limbaugh machine (which is now as played out as its enemies). Her new weapon is apparently bursting into tears. I mean: really.
Clinton is a terrible manager of people. Coming into a campaign she had been planning for, what, two decades, she was so not ready on Day One, or even Day 300. Her White House, if we can glean anything from the campaign, would be a secretive nest of well-fed yes-people, an uncontrollable egomaniac spouse able and willing to bigfoot anyone if he wants to, a phalanx of flunkies who cannot tell the boss when things are wrong, and a drizzle of dreary hacks like Mark Penn. Her only genuine skill is pivoting off the Limbaugh machine (which is now as played out as its enemies). Her new weapon is apparently bursting into tears. I mean: really.
REFLECTIONS ON THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN & MCCAIN AFFAIR
Victor David Hanson comments:
OBAMA:
OBAMA:
One, he is an extremely good speaker, quick and humorous, perhaps the best natural orator and politician we’ve seen since Ronald Reagan and JFK—far better than Bill Clinton, inasmuch he rarely loses his temper or pouts on camera. So far, in Clinton fashion, he has not started shaking his finger.
I note in passing he almost never receives hostile questions. His debates have been limited to those with like-thinking liberal Democrats,. His political races were against other liberals or a weak conservative. And in general the press has bent over backwards to be considerate. Bottom line: we have no idea how he will react when crossed, although Hillary’s dig about his plagiarism in the Texas debate made him squeamish and moan.
MCCAIN AFFAIR AND NEW YORK TIMES:
Is this more of the same—when we remember the Jason Blair mess, the leaks of National Security information, the Moveon.org discounted ads, and the serial stories about defeat in Iraq and relative silence about the surge? The Times in the ideological sense has become indistinguishable from the Nation, and in its lack of craftsmanship no different from the British Tabloids or National Inquirer. Like Dan Rather and the crash of CBS, its directors know what their disease is, but also that the medicine is worse, so they will keep at it until they will expire.Thursday, February 21, 2008
OBAMA DALLAS RALLY, A RELIGIOUS REVIVAL
I was going through my morning ritual reading the Dallas Morning News to see how the Obama rally went yesterday. What struck me from those that were there was its "religious revival" atmosphere. Here is what columnist Jacquielynn Floyd wrote:
They stomped and cheered and used their cellphones to take pictures of themselves to post on their MySpace pages.
Maybe it was the representation of youth in the crowd that lends the oft-cited air of a rock concert that has been attributed to Obama rallies.
But that wasn't quite it, not entirely. It was more like church —not the stuffy kind, but roof-shaking soul church where people testify and dance in the aisles when the spirit's upon them.
"It's electric! Can't you feel it?" said one man, who told me he was headed for work at the IRS after the rally. I could feel it, because it's a fundamental element of crowd psychology that the expectation of "electricity" creates it.
In addition, in the column "Join the Debate: The Obama Rally," the following was written by Tod Robberson:
The rally struck me as having the quality of a religious revival, and I found that a little troubling. The opening prayer, with all heads bowed, turned into a campaign speech that ended with the weird phrase: "Barack Obama, in Jesus' name, yes we can." Obama got on stage and apologized for having a cold, then said, "If my voice starts faltering, just know that my spirit is still strong." I don't know, I just started feeling that there was too much of a religious overtone to the opening of the rally, as if we were brought there to witness the arrival of the chosen one.
I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if Mike Huckabee's rallies were like this? Or where is Barry Lynn and the separation of church and state crowd? I have to admit this kind of crowd psychology bothers me no matter who the candidate or preacher might be--I have too many visions of Nazi or Soviet crowd manipulation. We need to be a thinking people, not just an emotionally reactive people as we face the challenges of 2008.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
CLINTON IN PENNSYLVANIA
I can't understand a campaign that wouldn't file for all the delegates it could, especially in such a tight race. Hillary's management team seems to be dropping the ball.
Monday, February 18, 2008
ANGRY WHITE MAN
From Aspen, Colorado, of all places.
There is one group no one has recognized, and it is the group that will decide the election: the Angry White Man. The Angry White Man comes from all economic backgrounds, from dirt-poor to filthy rich. He represents all geographic areas in America, from urban sophisticate to rural redneck, deep South to mountain West, left Coast to Eastern Seaboard.
There is one group no one has recognized, and it is the group that will decide the election: the Angry White Man. The Angry White Man comes from all economic backgrounds, from dirt-poor to filthy rich. He represents all geographic areas in America, from urban sophisticate to rural redneck, deep South to mountain West, left Coast to Eastern Seaboard.
AN OLDIE COMES BACK
This is recirculating, but I am thinking that after a year events may be passing it by.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
AFRICAN-AMERICAN ANTI-SEMITISM
From Sue's Place:
Democratic primary in the Memphis area’s 9th District of Tennessee, where a shockingly worded flier paints Jewish Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) as a Jesus hater.
“Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen and the JEWS HATE Jesus,” blares the flier, which Cohen himself received in the mail — inducing gasps — last week.
Circulated by an African-American minister from Murfreesboro Tenn., which isn’t even in Cohen’s district, the literature encourages other black leaders in Memphis to “see to it that one and ONLY one black Christian faces this opponent of Christ and Christianity in the 2008 election.”
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
MORE THAN WMD
Norm Geras attacks the comments made by many opposed to the Iraq War who say the only reason Bush or Blair gave for the attack on Iraq was the WMD justification.
I try to refresh the memory of people whose memories need refreshing that those who spoke in support of the Iraq war before the Iraq war did not speak only of WMD and the terrorist threat; they also spoke of the human rights dimension and of regime change for democratization.
I try to refresh the memory of people whose memories need refreshing that those who spoke in support of the Iraq war before the Iraq war did not speak only of WMD and the terrorist threat; they also spoke of the human rights dimension and of regime change for democratization.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
REPUBLICANS ARE HAPPIER
Pew Research proves it!
Why are Republicans happier? The Post considers several hypotheses: (1) Wealth: Maybe Republicans are richer. But the effect is robust even controlling for wealth. (2) Power: Republicans have been winning the Presidency. But Republicans are happier even when Democrats are in the White House. (3) Religion: Republicans are more likely to go to church, and church-going correlates strongly with happiness. So, this explains some, but only some, of the effect. (4) Marriage: Republicans are more likely to be married, and marriage correlates strongly with happiness. Again, this explains some but not all of the difference. (5) Ignorance: Maybe Republicans know less, and ignorance is bliss. I don’t know the data, but, in my experience, among PhDs, Republicans are far happier on average than Democrats. So, I conjecture that the difference will remain after controlling for education.
Why are Republicans happier? The Post considers several hypotheses: (1) Wealth: Maybe Republicans are richer. But the effect is robust even controlling for wealth. (2) Power: Republicans have been winning the Presidency. But Republicans are happier even when Democrats are in the White House. (3) Religion: Republicans are more likely to go to church, and church-going correlates strongly with happiness. So, this explains some, but only some, of the effect. (4) Marriage: Republicans are more likely to be married, and marriage correlates strongly with happiness. Again, this explains some but not all of the difference. (5) Ignorance: Maybe Republicans know less, and ignorance is bliss. I don’t know the data, but, in my experience, among PhDs, Republicans are far happier on average than Democrats. So, I conjecture that the difference will remain after controlling for education.
Monday, February 11, 2008
OBAMA & ISRAEL
Questions about Obama's advisor on Israel.
More importantly, Power provides a window into the thinking of Obama, who in 2004 reportedly told Ali Abunimah, founder of Electronic Intifada, “hey, I’m sorry I haven’t said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I’m hoping when things calm down I can be more up front.” Pro-Palestinian sympathies, but no courage of conviction. Who says Obama is a blank slate?
More importantly, Power provides a window into the thinking of Obama, who in 2004 reportedly told Ali Abunimah, founder of Electronic Intifada, “hey, I’m sorry I haven’t said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I’m hoping when things calm down I can be more up front.” Pro-Palestinian sympathies, but no courage of conviction. Who says Obama is a blank slate?
Friday, February 08, 2008
AN OBAMA CULT?
Very interesting.
Describing various encounters with Obama supporters, she [Kathleen Geier] writes, "Excuse me, but this sounds more like a cult than a political campaign. The language used here is the language of evangelical Christianity – the Obama volunteers speak of 'coming to Obama' in the same way born-again Christians talk about 'coming to Jesus.'...So I say, we should all get a grip, stop all this unseemly mooning over Barack, see him and the political landscape he is a part of in a cooler, clearer, and more realistic light, and get to work."
Describing various encounters with Obama supporters, she [Kathleen Geier] writes, "Excuse me, but this sounds more like a cult than a political campaign. The language used here is the language of evangelical Christianity – the Obama volunteers speak of 'coming to Obama' in the same way born-again Christians talk about 'coming to Jesus.'...So I say, we should all get a grip, stop all this unseemly mooning over Barack, see him and the political landscape he is a part of in a cooler, clearer, and more realistic light, and get to work."
OBAMA AS VICE PRESIDENT
Althouse expresses my thinking on this issue.
It's clear that Obama should not subordinate himself to the Clintons. He doesn't need it to set up his next run for the presidency. Vice Presidents haven't been doing too well running for President these past few decades. Obama will have already distinguished himself as the frontrunner. It would be a comedown for him, and he'd be saddled with whatever goes wrong in the Clinton presidency — or her failed campaign for it. And Obama's distinctiveness is that he offers a clean break from the politics of the past. Why on earth would he want to connect himself to an icon of the politics of the past?
It's clear that Obama should not subordinate himself to the Clintons. He doesn't need it to set up his next run for the presidency. Vice Presidents haven't been doing too well running for President these past few decades. Obama will have already distinguished himself as the frontrunner. It would be a comedown for him, and he'd be saddled with whatever goes wrong in the Clinton presidency — or her failed campaign for it. And Obama's distinctiveness is that he offers a clean break from the politics of the past. Why on earth would he want to connect himself to an icon of the politics of the past?
Thursday, February 07, 2008
SHARIA LAW IN GREAT BRITAIN
The Archbishop of Canterbury says sharia law is coming to Great Britain. I wonder how the Brits will deal with the stoning of women for adultery?
He says that Muslims could choose to have marital disputes or financial matters dealt with in a Sharia court. He added Muslims should not have to choose between "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty".
A critic of the archbishop weighs in.
Dr Williams means well; a lot of such people do. But frankly, he gives lapsed Christians such as yours truly plenty of reason for wanting the Church to be shorn of its state privileges.
He says that Muslims could choose to have marital disputes or financial matters dealt with in a Sharia court. He added Muslims should not have to choose between "the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty".
A critic of the archbishop weighs in.
Dr Williams means well; a lot of such people do. But frankly, he gives lapsed Christians such as yours truly plenty of reason for wanting the Church to be shorn of its state privileges.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
5 REASONS HILLARY SHOULD BE WORRIED
From Politico.
Hillary Clinton survived a Super Tuesday scare. But there are five big reasons the former first lady should be spooked by the current trajectory of the campaign.
Longtime Clinton friends say she recognizes the peril in careening between near-death primary night experiences and small-bore victories.
Publish Post
Hillary Clinton survived a Super Tuesday scare. But there are five big reasons the former first lady should be spooked by the current trajectory of the campaign.
Longtime Clinton friends say she recognizes the peril in careening between near-death primary night experiences and small-bore victories.
Publish Post
EXXONMOBIL TAX PAYMENTS
ExxonMobil paid $30 billion in taxes last year.
In other words, just one corporation (Exxon Mobil) pays as much in taxes ($27 billion) annually as the entire bottom 50% of individual taxpayers, which is 65,000,000 people! Further, the tax rate for the bottom 50% is only 3% of adjusted gross income ($27.4 billion / $922 billion), and the tax rate for Exxon was 41% in 2006 ($67.4 billion in taxable income, $27.9 billion in taxes).
In other words, just one corporation (Exxon Mobil) pays as much in taxes ($27 billion) annually as the entire bottom 50% of individual taxpayers, which is 65,000,000 people! Further, the tax rate for the bottom 50% is only 3% of adjusted gross income ($27.4 billion / $922 billion), and the tax rate for Exxon was 41% in 2006 ($67.4 billion in taxable income, $27.9 billion in taxes).
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
AMERICA'S MIDDLE CLASS
Drew Carey on the quality of middle class life inspite of what Lou Dobbs, Hillary, and other gloom-and-doomers are saying.
JEWS AND EVANGELICALS
Liberalism can't abide conservative evangelicals. "Why Don't Jews Like the Christians Who Like Them?
In the United States, the two groups that most ardently support Israel are Jews and evangelical and fundamentalist Christians. Jewish support is easy to explain, but why should certain Christians, most of them politically quite conservative, be so devoted to Israel? There is a second puzzle: despite their support for a Jewish state, evangelical and fundamentalist Christians are disliked by many Jews. And a third: a large fraction of African-Americans are hostile to Israel and critical of Jews, yet Jewish voters regard blacks as their natural allies.
In the United States, the two groups that most ardently support Israel are Jews and evangelical and fundamentalist Christians. Jewish support is easy to explain, but why should certain Christians, most of them politically quite conservative, be so devoted to Israel? There is a second puzzle: despite their support for a Jewish state, evangelical and fundamentalist Christians are disliked by many Jews. And a third: a large fraction of African-Americans are hostile to Israel and critical of Jews, yet Jewish voters regard blacks as their natural allies.
THE PREACHER'S SON
An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting time for the boy to being giving some thought to choosing a profession. Like many young men, the boy didn't really know what he wanted to do, and he didn't seem to be concerned about it.
One day, while the boy was away to school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table four objects-- a Bible, a silver dollar, a bottle of whisky, and a Playboy magazine.
"I"ll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself. "When he comes home from school this afternoon, I'll see which object he picks up. If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me and what a blessing that would be!
If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a businessman, and that would be okay, too.
But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunkard, and Lord, what a shame that would be.
And worst of all if he picks up that magazine he's going to be a skirt-chasing bum.
The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's foot-steps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his room. The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them.
Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up the silver dollar and dropped into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink while he admired this month's centerfold.
"Lord have mercy," the old preacher disgustedly whispered. "He's gonna run for Congress."
One day, while the boy was away to school, his father decided to try an experiment. He went into the boy's room and placed on his study table four objects-- a Bible, a silver dollar, a bottle of whisky, and a Playboy magazine.
"I"ll just hide behind the door," the old preacher said to himself. "When he comes home from school this afternoon, I'll see which object he picks up. If it's the Bible, he's going to be a preacher like me and what a blessing that would be!
If he picks up the dollar, he's going to be a businessman, and that would be okay, too.
But if he picks up the bottle, he's going to be a no-good drunkard, and Lord, what a shame that would be.
And worst of all if he picks up that magazine he's going to be a skirt-chasing bum.
The old man waited anxiously, and soon heard his son's foot-steps as he entered the house whistling and headed for his room. The boy tossed his books on the bed, and as he turned to leave the room he spotted the objects on the table. With curiosity in his eye, he walked over to inspect them.
Finally, he picked up the Bible and placed it under his arm. He picked up the silver dollar and dropped into his pocket. He uncorked the bottle and took a big drink while he admired this month's centerfold.
"Lord have mercy," the old preacher disgustedly whispered. "He's gonna run for Congress."
Monday, February 04, 2008
LAW SCHOOLS WITH LOW BAR PASSAGE RATES
The ABA expects law schools to have 75% of graduates pass the bar. Several law schools seem to be having some problems.
BRITISH WELFARE SYSTEM SUPPORTS POLYGAMY
Britain bends the rules. . . Yes, even though bigamy is a crime in Britain, the decision by ministers means that polygamous marriages can now be recognised formally by the state, so long as the weddings took place in countries where the arrangement is legal.
On the other hand, I have seen news coverage of Mormon bigamist cults in Utah that also have all their wives and children on welfare.
On the other hand, I have seen news coverage of Mormon bigamist cults in Utah that also have all their wives and children on welfare.
Friday, February 01, 2008
MCCAIN, A CLOSET DEMOCRAT?
This certainly won't help McCain no matter how he spins it.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions.
Daschle said that throughout April and May of 2001, he and McCain “had meetings and conversations on the floor and in his office, I think in mine as well, about how we would do it, what the conditions would be. We talked about committees and his seniority … [A lot of issues] were on the table.”
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions.
Daschle said that throughout April and May of 2001, he and McCain “had meetings and conversations on the floor and in his office, I think in mine as well, about how we would do it, what the conditions would be. We talked about committees and his seniority … [A lot of issues] were on the table.”
Thursday, January 31, 2008
GRAND MUFTI WITH WAFFEN SS
Gates of Vienna has a picture of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem posing with Nazi SS soldiers in WW II.
US TECHNOLOGY SALES TO SYRIA
The US is selling Syria computers that could be used by Iran. Selling Syria computers in itself is a serious risk.
The export, disclosed by the U.S. television network Fox, was approved despite U.S. sanctions on Damascus of military and advanced dual-use systems. Syria, deemed a terrorist sponsor, has been in the same category as Iran and North Korea.
Officials said the State Department has provided a license for the sale of advanced computers for a Syrian border surveillance program, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the systems were being provided through a United Nations program that could significantly enhance Syria's military capabilities.
And here is a story of Syrian torture prisons.
The export, disclosed by the U.S. television network Fox, was approved despite U.S. sanctions on Damascus of military and advanced dual-use systems. Syria, deemed a terrorist sponsor, has been in the same category as Iran and North Korea.
Officials said the State Department has provided a license for the sale of advanced computers for a Syrian border surveillance program, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the systems were being provided through a United Nations program that could significantly enhance Syria's military capabilities.
And here is a story of Syrian torture prisons.
Monday, January 28, 2008
BILL CLINTON
Victor David Hanson asks an interesting question about Bill Clinton's aggressive support of Hillary in his stump speeches for her.
It would be cruel, but understandable to ask amid these long encomia on Hillary’s character, her talent, and her morality—prefaced by Bill’s commentary that he almost alone realized her singular gifts, why in the world, then, did he spend over thirty years trying to escape her in almost every way imaginable? Why if she walked on water, did he find company, carnality, conversation with Paula Jones or Gennifer Flowers, or feel the need to talk trash and more with Monica? In other words, he is asking the voter to take on a partnership, a political marriage if you will, that he, mutatis mutandis, never would or has. It reminds me of the last time I bought a Chevy S-10. The local Selma salesman went on at great length about its reliability, its power, and economy, its great price, and then I asked him whose small, like-sized Toyota Tacoma was parked nearby and was it for sale? No need to tell you to whom it belonged.
It would be cruel, but understandable to ask amid these long encomia on Hillary’s character, her talent, and her morality—prefaced by Bill’s commentary that he almost alone realized her singular gifts, why in the world, then, did he spend over thirty years trying to escape her in almost every way imaginable? Why if she walked on water, did he find company, carnality, conversation with Paula Jones or Gennifer Flowers, or feel the need to talk trash and more with Monica? In other words, he is asking the voter to take on a partnership, a political marriage if you will, that he, mutatis mutandis, never would or has. It reminds me of the last time I bought a Chevy S-10. The local Selma salesman went on at great length about its reliability, its power, and economy, its great price, and then I asked him whose small, like-sized Toyota Tacoma was parked nearby and was it for sale? No need to tell you to whom it belonged.
CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO ISLAM
Bruce Thornton criticzes the Epistle to Islam which a number of Christian leaders signed.
The groveling self-abasement of this language, particularly its begging forgiveness of Allah, is matched only by its remarkable historical ignorance. “Outright hostility” has indeed existed between Muslims and Christians, for the simple reason that for 13 centuries Islam grew and spread by war, plunder, rapine, and enslavement throughout the Christian Middle East. Allah’s armies destroyed regions that were culturally Christian for centuries, variously slaughtering, enslaving, and converting their inhabitants, or allowing them to live as oppressed dhimmi, their lives and property dependent on a temporary “truce” that Muslim overlords could abrogate at any time.
The groveling self-abasement of this language, particularly its begging forgiveness of Allah, is matched only by its remarkable historical ignorance. “Outright hostility” has indeed existed between Muslims and Christians, for the simple reason that for 13 centuries Islam grew and spread by war, plunder, rapine, and enslavement throughout the Christian Middle East. Allah’s armies destroyed regions that were culturally Christian for centuries, variously slaughtering, enslaving, and converting their inhabitants, or allowing them to live as oppressed dhimmi, their lives and property dependent on a temporary “truce” that Muslim overlords could abrogate at any time.
Friday, January 25, 2008
NOONAN ON BUSH & CLINTON
Peggy Noonan comments on Bush and the Clintons:
But the Clintons are tearing the party apart. It will not be the same after this. It will not be the same after its most famous leader, and probable ultimate victor, treated a proud and accomplished black man who is a U.S. senator as if he were nothing, a mere impediment to their plans. And to do it in a way that signals, to his supporters, How dare you have the temerity, the ingratitude, after all we've done for you?
On the pundit civil wars, Rush Limbaugh declared on the radio this week, "I'm here to tell you, if either of these two guys [Mr. McCain or Mike Huckabee] get the nomination, it's going to destroy the Republican Party. It's going to change it forever, be the end of it!"
This is absurd. George W. Bush destroyed the Republican Party, by which I mean he sundered it, broke its constituent pieces apart and set them against each other. He did this on spending, the size of government, war, the ability to prosecute war, immigration and other issues.
But the Clintons are tearing the party apart. It will not be the same after this. It will not be the same after its most famous leader, and probable ultimate victor, treated a proud and accomplished black man who is a U.S. senator as if he were nothing, a mere impediment to their plans. And to do it in a way that signals, to his supporters, How dare you have the temerity, the ingratitude, after all we've done for you?
On the pundit civil wars, Rush Limbaugh declared on the radio this week, "I'm here to tell you, if either of these two guys [Mr. McCain or Mike Huckabee] get the nomination, it's going to destroy the Republican Party. It's going to change it forever, be the end of it!"
This is absurd. George W. Bush destroyed the Republican Party, by which I mean he sundered it, broke its constituent pieces apart and set them against each other. He did this on spending, the size of government, war, the ability to prosecute war, immigration and other issues.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
HUCKABEE AS GOVERNOR
Not a very complimentary analysis of Huckabee's tenure as governor of Arkansas, particularly if you are a Republican.
For the 10 years he was governor of Arkansas, Mr. Huckabee was at war with much of his party.
Now that Mr. Huckabee is seeking the presidential nomination, many Arkansas Republicans warn that he could wage a bruising battle with the national party, too.
For the 10 years he was governor of Arkansas, Mr. Huckabee was at war with much of his party.
Now that Mr. Huckabee is seeking the presidential nomination, many Arkansas Republicans warn that he could wage a bruising battle with the national party, too.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
NEVADA HILLARY CAMPAIGN
A friend was returning from Las Vegas and found himself seated next to an ebullient Nevada Hillary Clinton campaign worker. Hillary had just finished defeating Obama in the caucuses and needless to say the campaign worker was on a "high." The impression was left that the Bellagio had given them a villa to use--I am not sure if the campaign paid for this or it was some sort of campaign donation by the Bellagio. In the victory party $8,000 in alcohol was consumed and each campaign worker received $500.00 to go to the gaming tables. Again, I don't know if the money came from campaign donations or some other source. But this is a rather interesting way of rewarding campaign workers.
Ironically the campaign staff of Rudy Giuliani is going without pay and Huckabee is scratching for every penny. I am not sure how Obama and Edwards campaign workers are being rewarded, but Hillarycertainly is well-heeled for this election.
Ironically the campaign staff of Rudy Giuliani is going without pay and Huckabee is scratching for every penny. I am not sure how Obama and Edwards campaign workers are being rewarded, but Hillarycertainly is well-heeled for this election.
REASONS TO VOTE FOR OBAMA
The editor at The State in South Carolina describes the reasoning of the editorial board in selecting Obama over Clinton and Edwards in the state Democrat primary.
It’s not just that he might be the first black president — Sen. Clinton would make history, too. It’s that he offers a fresh start for American politics. It is his ambition to be a president for all of us — black and white, male and female, Democrat and Republican. The nomination of Sen. Clinton would by contrast kick off another bitter round of the pointless partisanship that has plagued the nation under presidents named “Bush” and “Clinton.”
It’s not just that he might be the first black president — Sen. Clinton would make history, too. It’s that he offers a fresh start for American politics. It is his ambition to be a president for all of us — black and white, male and female, Democrat and Republican. The nomination of Sen. Clinton would by contrast kick off another bitter round of the pointless partisanship that has plagued the nation under presidents named “Bush” and “Clinton.”
ASSESSMENT OF FRED THOMPSON'S FAILURE
A staff member reflects on why the Thompson campaign failed.
Most of the leading candidates were working behind the scenes for years, making unofficial deals with the people in every state who know how to wield influence and mobilize the rank and file. Fred, on the other hand, honestly never lusted for the power of the presidency. He agreed, upon significant urging, to run because he believed it was the right thing to do for his children and the country. Politics, however, apparently requires more.
One was anti-Southern prejudice that I found particularly distressing. I’m not, y’all, actually Southern, having been raised in the linguistically neutral Northwest, but I was surprised by the sniping from our side at Fred based on his sincere and gentlemanly Southern manners. Several important conservative bloggers, including some here at Pajamas, made repeated jokes about his language and style as if they are affectations. They are not. The problem, though, is larger and there is a Northern prejudice that interprets the slower, deliberative Southern style as just dim.
Most of the leading candidates were working behind the scenes for years, making unofficial deals with the people in every state who know how to wield influence and mobilize the rank and file. Fred, on the other hand, honestly never lusted for the power of the presidency. He agreed, upon significant urging, to run because he believed it was the right thing to do for his children and the country. Politics, however, apparently requires more.
One was anti-Southern prejudice that I found particularly distressing. I’m not, y’all, actually Southern, having been raised in the linguistically neutral Northwest, but I was surprised by the sniping from our side at Fred based on his sincere and gentlemanly Southern manners. Several important conservative bloggers, including some here at Pajamas, made repeated jokes about his language and style as if they are affectations. They are not. The problem, though, is larger and there is a Northern prejudice that interprets the slower, deliberative Southern style as just dim.
EAST GERMAN SECRET POLICE
The activities of the East German secret police don't get much coverage. Wired has a good summary.
The pages amounted to a minute-by-minute account of Poppe's life, seen from an unimaginable array of angles. Video cameras were installed in the apartment across the street. Her friends' bedrooms were bugged and their conversations about her added to the file. Agents investigated the political leanings of her classmates from middle school and opened all of her mail. "They really tried to capture everything," she says. "Most of it was just junk."
There's no way to know what bombshells those files hide. For a country still trying to come to terms with its role in World War II and its life under a totalitarian regime, that half-destroyed paperwork is a tantalizing secret.
The machine-shredded stuff is confetti, largely unrecoverable. But in May 2007, a team of German computer scientists in Berlin announced that after four years of work, they had completed a system to digitally tape together the torn fragments. Engineers hope their software and scanners can do the job in less than five years — even taking into account the varying textures and durability of paper, the different sizes and shapes of the fragments, the assortment of printing (from handwriting to dot matrix) and the range of edges (from razor sharp to ragged and handmade.) "The numbers are tremendous. If you imagine putting together a jigsaw puzzle at home, you have maybe 1,000 pieces and a picture of what it should look like at the end," project manager Jan Schneider says. "We have many millions of pieces and no idea what they should look like when we're done."
The pages amounted to a minute-by-minute account of Poppe's life, seen from an unimaginable array of angles. Video cameras were installed in the apartment across the street. Her friends' bedrooms were bugged and their conversations about her added to the file. Agents investigated the political leanings of her classmates from middle school and opened all of her mail. "They really tried to capture everything," she says. "Most of it was just junk."
There's no way to know what bombshells those files hide. For a country still trying to come to terms with its role in World War II and its life under a totalitarian regime, that half-destroyed paperwork is a tantalizing secret.
The machine-shredded stuff is confetti, largely unrecoverable. But in May 2007, a team of German computer scientists in Berlin announced that after four years of work, they had completed a system to digitally tape together the torn fragments. Engineers hope their software and scanners can do the job in less than five years — even taking into account the varying textures and durability of paper, the different sizes and shapes of the fragments, the assortment of printing (from handwriting to dot matrix) and the range of edges (from razor sharp to ragged and handmade.) "The numbers are tremendous. If you imagine putting together a jigsaw puzzle at home, you have maybe 1,000 pieces and a picture of what it should look like at the end," project manager Jan Schneider says. "We have many millions of pieces and no idea what they should look like when we're done."
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
EVANGELICALS & US FOREIGN POLICY
James Carroll in the Boston Globe attacks the evangelical influence on US foreign policy:
The present climate is my subject. In recent years, the public realm has been invaded by a certain kind of narrow Christian enthusiasm, made up partly of triumphalistic self-aggrandizement (exclusive salvation), and partly of the impulse to denigrate other religions, especially Islam. This phenomenon has been centered in, but not limited to, evangelical fundamentalism. The United States cannot have a constructive foreign policy in religiously enflamed regions like the Middle East, northern Africa or South Asia if the American presence in such conflicts is itself religiously enflaming.
Also see this reaction.
Is rampant Christian fundamentalism really the reason the Israeli-Palestinian issue has been an intractable problem bedeviling every American president for the last four decades? Somehow I'm unconvinced by Carroll's argument that if the American public was less religious - or at least our leaders were more secular, or, by extending his logic, perhaps even atheist - we'd be much better off.
The present climate is my subject. In recent years, the public realm has been invaded by a certain kind of narrow Christian enthusiasm, made up partly of triumphalistic self-aggrandizement (exclusive salvation), and partly of the impulse to denigrate other religions, especially Islam. This phenomenon has been centered in, but not limited to, evangelical fundamentalism. The United States cannot have a constructive foreign policy in religiously enflamed regions like the Middle East, northern Africa or South Asia if the American presence in such conflicts is itself religiously enflaming.
Also see this reaction.
Is rampant Christian fundamentalism really the reason the Israeli-Palestinian issue has been an intractable problem bedeviling every American president for the last four decades? Somehow I'm unconvinced by Carroll's argument that if the American public was less religious - or at least our leaders were more secular, or, by extending his logic, perhaps even atheist - we'd be much better off.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
MICHIGAN PRIMARY ANALYSIS, III
Michigan evangelicals favored Romney over Huckabee.
Why Michigan's evangelicals abandoned Huck is the inetersting question. The most likely explanation is that the reality of Huck's policies caught up with his funny, winsome style. Bill Clinton was funny and winsome as well, and even though Huck is a good man and right on the life issue and marriage, most Republicans wouldn't vote for a pro-life Democrat over a pro-life Republican, and Huck is in essence, a pro-life Democrat. Huck's got five days to get his narrow but deep base back into the game, and yesterday's fiasco about the Constitution and God's word won't help.
Why Michigan's evangelicals abandoned Huck is the inetersting question. The most likely explanation is that the reality of Huck's policies caught up with his funny, winsome style. Bill Clinton was funny and winsome as well, and even though Huck is a good man and right on the life issue and marriage, most Republicans wouldn't vote for a pro-life Democrat over a pro-life Republican, and Huck is in essence, a pro-life Democrat. Huck's got five days to get his narrow but deep base back into the game, and yesterday's fiasco about the Constitution and God's word won't help.
MICHIGAN PRIMARY ANALYSIS, II
Interesting analysis at Tigerhawk -- I enjoyed the following quote: Judging from Frank Luntz's focus group tonight, the typical Nevadan is not nearly as articulate as the typical Iowan. Just sayin'. !!!!!
MICHIGAN PRIMARY ANALYSIS
From RealClearPolitics--the voter breakdown for the Democrats is especially interesting given all this discussion of race politics.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
ROMNEY LINKED TO HEZBOLLAH
This is posted by Debbie Schlussel, but there are pictures. I don't follow Michigan politics, but assome say, "just follow the money."
Does Romney have problems with the fact that Knollenberg and his state legislator son, Marty Knollenberg, both took thousands in campaign contributions from Hezbollah's American agents, Nijad Fares and Abdullah Bouhabib, as I've repeatedly noted? Apparently Not. Does Romney have a problem with the fact that, to pay these egregious contributors back, Joe Knollenberg single-handedly (with Sen. Spencer Abraham on the Senate side) doled out at least $86 million of our tax money to Hezbollah in 2000, allowing Hezbollah to rebuild its strongholds in Southern Lebanon and expand? Apparently not.
Does Romney have problems with the fact that Knollenberg and his state legislator son, Marty Knollenberg, both took thousands in campaign contributions from Hezbollah's American agents, Nijad Fares and Abdullah Bouhabib, as I've repeatedly noted? Apparently Not. Does Romney have a problem with the fact that, to pay these egregious contributors back, Joe Knollenberg single-handedly (with Sen. Spencer Abraham on the Senate side) doled out at least $86 million of our tax money to Hezbollah in 2000, allowing Hezbollah to rebuild its strongholds in Southern Lebanon and expand? Apparently not.
OBAMA'S KENYAN COUSIN
Obama's cousin in Kenya is a member of the opposition and wants to introduce sharia law in Kenya.
According to documents obtained by Kenyan officials, Obama's cousin Odinga promised Shariah law in Kenya if elected.That probably won't play too well with the Obama campaign on "Change" here at home.
According to documents obtained by Kenyan officials, Obama's cousin Odinga promised Shariah law in Kenya if elected.That probably won't play too well with the Obama campaign on "Change" here at home.
RECOUNT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY!
Recount! Is it Hillary or Diebold electronic voting machines? We shall see. Maybe the conspiracists will be proved right, but I am not holding my breath.
CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS ON HILLARY
He doesn't like her! Dysfunctional!!!
What do you have to forget or overlook in order to desire that this dysfunctional clan once more occupies the White House and is again in a position to rent the Lincoln Bedroom to campaign donors and to employ the Oval Office as a massage parlor?
It's often said, by people trying to show how grown-up and unshocked they are, that all Clinton did to get himself impeached was lie about sex. That's not really true. What he actually lied about, in the perjury that also got him disbarred, was the women. And what this involved was a steady campaign of defamation, backed up by private dicks (you should excuse the expression) and salaried government employees, against women who I believe were telling the truth. In my opinion, Gennifer Flowers was telling the truth; so was Monica Lewinsky, and so was Kathleen Willey, and so, lest we forget, was Juanita Broaddrick, the woman who says she was raped by Bill Clinton. (For the full background on this, see the chapter "Is There a Rapist in the Oval Office?" in the paperback version of my book No One Left To Lie To. This essay, I may modestly say, has never been challenged by anybody in the fabled Clinton "rapid response" team.) Yet one constantly reads that both Clintons, including the female who helped intensify the slanders against her mistreated sisters, are excellent on women's "issues."
What do you have to forget or overlook in order to desire that this dysfunctional clan once more occupies the White House and is again in a position to rent the Lincoln Bedroom to campaign donors and to employ the Oval Office as a massage parlor?
It's often said, by people trying to show how grown-up and unshocked they are, that all Clinton did to get himself impeached was lie about sex. That's not really true. What he actually lied about, in the perjury that also got him disbarred, was the women. And what this involved was a steady campaign of defamation, backed up by private dicks (you should excuse the expression) and salaried government employees, against women who I believe were telling the truth. In my opinion, Gennifer Flowers was telling the truth; so was Monica Lewinsky, and so was Kathleen Willey, and so, lest we forget, was Juanita Broaddrick, the woman who says she was raped by Bill Clinton. (For the full background on this, see the chapter "Is There a Rapist in the Oval Office?" in the paperback version of my book No One Left To Lie To. This essay, I may modestly say, has never been challenged by anybody in the fabled Clinton "rapid response" team.) Yet one constantly reads that both Clintons, including the female who helped intensify the slanders against her mistreated sisters, are excellent on women's "issues."
COLUMBUS & SYPHILIS
The spread of disease has always interested me. I don't think this new research will resolve the debate, but it does appear that sailors introduced syphilis from the New World to Europe.
The research, they say, supports the hypothesis that returning explorers introduced organisms leading, in probably modified forms, to the first recorded syphilis epidemic, beginning in Europe in 1493.
The so-called Columbus hypothesis had previously rested on circumstantial evidence, mainly the timing of the epidemic. It was further noted that earlier traces of syphilis or related diseases had been few and inconclusive in Europe. Yet nonvenereal forms of the diseases were widespread in the American tropics.
The research, they say, supports the hypothesis that returning explorers introduced organisms leading, in probably modified forms, to the first recorded syphilis epidemic, beginning in Europe in 1493.
The so-called Columbus hypothesis had previously rested on circumstantial evidence, mainly the timing of the epidemic. It was further noted that earlier traces of syphilis or related diseases had been few and inconclusive in Europe. Yet nonvenereal forms of the diseases were widespread in the American tropics.
Monday, January 14, 2008
H.L. Mencken
Of all the classes of men, I dislike the most those who make their livings by talking - actors, clergymen, politicians, pedagogues, and so on. .... It is almost impossible to imagine a talker who sticks to the facts. Carried away by the sound of his own voice and the applause from the groundlings, he makes inevitably the jump from logic to mere rhetoric. - H.L. Mencken, "Sententiae"
Friday, January 11, 2008
RACIAL BACKLASH AGAINST HILLARY
From Politico: The comments, which ranged from the New York senator appearing to diminish the role of Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement — an aide later said she misspoke — to Bill Clinton dismissing Sen. Barack Obama’s image in the media as a “fairy tale” — generated outrage on black radio, black blogs and cable television. And now they've drawn the attention of prominent African-American politicians.
MS. MAGAZINE: ANTI-SEMITIC
MS. magazine refuses to publish and ad which promotes the impact of Jewish women in Israel.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY
Some are proposing that Hillary's forces manipulated electronic voting machines in the New Hampshire primary.
CLINTON COLLAPSE
Even Bill Richardson is lashing out at the Clintons! I saw him as one of the more loyal water carriers. I would love to sit in a Clinton campaign meeting after New Hampshire.
Monday, January 07, 2008
VAST RIGHT-WING CONSPIRACY
It strikes me as ironic that Hillary has been concerned about the vast right-wing conspiracy that was out to do her in. . . .and it is a fellow Democrat, Obama, who keeps putting nails in her coffin. We will see what New Hampshire brings. I like the comments of David Brooks on the differences.
STUDENT WRITING
Daniel Drezner has collected a number of examples of interesting student statements on essays! I have to truthfully say, I have never read things as bad as some of these in my years.
Friday, January 04, 2008
GLOBAL COOLING COMING
I can't figure out whether to increase my air conditioning capacity to protect myself from global warming or buy a wood burning stove to keep me warm when global cooling strikes.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
HILLARY'S PAST
Hillary's camp is supposedly throwing out some negative items about Barack Obama, but I am not sure this is a wise thing to do. It raises issues of her and Bill's own past ethical problems. See "Hillary's Glass House" for a succinct summary of Hillary's questionable activites. I believe Stuart Taylor is a Democrat as far as I can tell.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
BILL VS. OPRAH
Kathleen Parker has an interesting column on who has stronger voter appeal, Bill Clinton or Oprah Winfrey. It looks like Bill adds value to Hillary's campaign whereas Oprah's added value may be minimal for Obama.
DECLINE OF THE WEST
This blogger captures a paradox in American presidential campaigns -- there is a general "dumbing" down on how issues are dealt with (and I blame the media for some of this) and also we have this celebrity focus (and Obama is not the only one to blame for this).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)