Greg Mankiw has the details.
Excerpt:
"How might this be funded? There are only three groups that could be asked to pay for the new entitlement with higher taxes (or lower benefits): the current elderly, those currently of working age, or the same future generations who are getting the new benefit and are slated to pay for existing unfunded entitlements. Which group do you think Senator Clinton has in mind?"
Gosh, wouldn't this be just such a neat program for "the children", and wouldn't it dovetail nicely with the new, improved, and greatly enlargened SCHIP program?
I can't wait to read about what new gems of the onrushing Dem/Lefty/"Progressive" agenda are floated next.
Who wants to venture a guess at what new and wonderous proposals await us?
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Regressive "Progressives"
Here's why I always use quote marks whenever I use the word "Progressive" in its currently used political/social/economic context.
The truth:
"By giving themselves this label, however, the Progressives have proven yet again that there's no delusion quite as powerful as self-delusion. The fact is that, if you pick apart each of the Progressives' stands on any major issue of the day, you'll see that either they have staked out positions that were either proven false or ineffective decades ago, or they're still fighting battles that were long ago won, making their efforts redundant (yet still, somehow, harmful to the modern political process)."
But we already knew that already, didn't we?
Still, it's important to make it clear every time it comes up.
The truth:
"By giving themselves this label, however, the Progressives have proven yet again that there's no delusion quite as powerful as self-delusion. The fact is that, if you pick apart each of the Progressives' stands on any major issue of the day, you'll see that either they have staked out positions that were either proven false or ineffective decades ago, or they're still fighting battles that were long ago won, making their efforts redundant (yet still, somehow, harmful to the modern political process)."
But we already knew that already, didn't we?
Still, it's important to make it clear every time it comes up.
Regarding those recent ginned up non--scandals over Limbaugh and O'Reilly's remarks
Two sterling examples of "The Big Lie" technique, long favored by many of our Usual Suspects in the Dem/Lefty/"Progressive" Storm Trooper brigade, have been in the news this past week.
First was the Limbaugh smear, orchestrated by the Soros-influenced (and likely Soros financed) Media Matters propaganda outlet.
Second was the purposeful misrepresentation of the O'Reilly conversation with Juan Williams, which has been misrepresented on local blogs as well as on national media outlets.
Peter Wehner exposes the lies about Limbaugh.
Excerpt:
"You’ll be shocked to learn that Media Matters does not include this portion of the transcript in their posting — and Senator Kerry and the others failed to mention it as well. I wonder why?
Perhaps — and this is only a wild guess — it’s because it would demonstrate that when Rush Limbaugh mentioned “phony soldiers,” he meant, literally, phony soldiers. "
Regarding the smears of O'Reilly, here's an spot-on analysis of the structuring of the attack.
Noteworthy:
Exactly........
First was the Limbaugh smear, orchestrated by the Soros-influenced (and likely Soros financed) Media Matters propaganda outlet.
Second was the purposeful misrepresentation of the O'Reilly conversation with Juan Williams, which has been misrepresented on local blogs as well as on national media outlets.
Peter Wehner exposes the lies about Limbaugh.
Excerpt:
"You’ll be shocked to learn that Media Matters does not include this portion of the transcript in their posting — and Senator Kerry and the others failed to mention it as well. I wonder why?
Perhaps — and this is only a wild guess — it’s because it would demonstrate that when Rush Limbaugh mentioned “phony soldiers,” he meant, literally, phony soldiers. "
Regarding the smears of O'Reilly, here's an spot-on analysis of the structuring of the attack.
Noteworthy:
"Instead, it’s just another example of how “racism” as a charge has become nearly meaningless, a way to put an ideological opponent on the defensive, or to shame him into silence, without any concern that such cynical and opportunistic accusations weaken the force of the charge when it is applied to actual racists (or instances of actual racism).
It is character assassination for the purpose of character assassination — and as such, it is as every bit as vile as the history of racism it uses as a pre-made slur."
Exactly........
Friday, September 28, 2007
A new perspective on "scamming the rich"
The Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" must think the rich can't add.
Noteworthy:
"Abolishing the Social Security Wage Base would be a huge tax increase – a 12.4% surcharge on all income over $100,000. It would affect one in every six households. It would, additionally, be quite awkward, given that the liberal party line on entitlements is that Social Security is fundamentally sound, and entitlement reform really means health care cost controls to bail out Medicare and Medicaid. That’s a big tax increase to fix what we’ve been assured is a very small problem."
I can just imagine what the pushback on this particular point will sound like.
Noteworthy:
"Abolishing the Social Security Wage Base would be a huge tax increase – a 12.4% surcharge on all income over $100,000. It would affect one in every six households. It would, additionally, be quite awkward, given that the liberal party line on entitlements is that Social Security is fundamentally sound, and entitlement reform really means health care cost controls to bail out Medicare and Medicaid. That’s a big tax increase to fix what we’ve been assured is a very small problem."
I can just imagine what the pushback on this particular point will sound like.
So WHY didn't the leading Republicans show up last night
.....at the Morgan State forum?
Perhaps it's because of this:
"As Matthew Sheffield at Newsbusters shows, Smiley has a long history of making offensive remarks about Republicans. For example, Smiley once said he considered then-Texas-governor George W. Bush to be a "serial killer" for his enforcement of state capital punishment laws.
Tim Graham has more on Smiley's anti-Republican bias, which he contrasts with Smiley's fondness for lobbing softball at Democrats."
Perhaps it's because of this:
"As Matthew Sheffield at Newsbusters shows, Smiley has a long history of making offensive remarks about Republicans. For example, Smiley once said he considered then-Texas-governor George W. Bush to be a "serial killer" for his enforcement of state capital punishment laws.
Tim Graham has more on Smiley's anti-Republican bias, which he contrasts with Smiley's fondness for lobbing softball at Democrats."
Algore's still playing Dodgeball with his critics
He knows he can't win a face to face debate on his "global warming'"views.
Why is he ducking critics?
He's afraid of this happening to him:
"In the debate, a team of global warming skeptics composed of MIT scientist Richard Lindzen, University of London emeritus professor of biogeology Philip Stott, and physician-turned novelist/filmmaker Michael Crichton handily defeated a team of climate alarmists headed by NASA scientist Gavin Schmidt."
Why is he ducking critics?
He's afraid of this happening to him:
"In the debate, a team of global warming skeptics composed of MIT scientist Richard Lindzen, University of London emeritus professor of biogeology Philip Stott, and physician-turned novelist/filmmaker Michael Crichton handily defeated a team of climate alarmists headed by NASA scientist Gavin Schmidt."
Remember the "man-made evil CFCs caused the ozone hole" meme from the 70s and 80's?
Gasp!
It.....just....might....not....have.....been.....caused....by ........dare we even THINK it, human desecration of Mother Gaia!
Key point:
"This neat story of the scientific identification of a man-made cause for stratospheric ozone depletion followed by a successful international response to the threat is now being challenged by some very recent research."
Now let's see......what OTHER climate issue might not turn out the way the alarmists want it to turn out?
You have three guesses at the right answer, and the first two don't count.
(hat tip: Fred Gregory)
It.....just....might....not....have.....been.....caused....by ........dare we even THINK it, human desecration of Mother Gaia!
Key point:
"This neat story of the scientific identification of a man-made cause for stratospheric ozone depletion followed by a successful international response to the threat is now being challenged by some very recent research."
Now let's see......what OTHER climate issue might not turn out the way the alarmists want it to turn out?
You have three guesses at the right answer, and the first two don't count.
(hat tip: Fred Gregory)
"A lot of the loss of political sanity we see today reflects the death fears of the Boomer Left"
Being a Dem/Lefty/"Progressive" in the 60s was highly overrated and may have caused permanent damage.
Noteworthy:
"When people confront their own mortality, their finiteness, they tend to project their personal fears onto the world. So we have Global Warming panic, Flesh-Eating Germs panic, Nuclear Power panic and scores of other imaginary fears. For anxious people the world is full of scary things, all because of their need to escape the prospect of personal end. The PC world is as full of superstitious phobias as the Mayan world of a thousand years ago; the Mayans controlled their fears by sacrificing children to ensure the sun would rise the next morning. We sacrifice conservatives: Newt Gingrich, George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, two Attorneys General in a row."
Great summation:
"One of these days it would be nice for the grown-ups to take the culture back."
You're preaching to the choir here, bro.......
Noteworthy:
"When people confront their own mortality, their finiteness, they tend to project their personal fears onto the world. So we have Global Warming panic, Flesh-Eating Germs panic, Nuclear Power panic and scores of other imaginary fears. For anxious people the world is full of scary things, all because of their need to escape the prospect of personal end. The PC world is as full of superstitious phobias as the Mayan world of a thousand years ago; the Mayans controlled their fears by sacrificing children to ensure the sun would rise the next morning. We sacrifice conservatives: Newt Gingrich, George Bush, Donald Rumsfeld, two Attorneys General in a row."
Great summation:
"One of these days it would be nice for the grown-ups to take the culture back."
You're preaching to the choir here, bro.......
It's WAY past time to consult the divorce lawyers
This was undoubtedly an arranged marriage of convenience and expediency which clearly needs to be dissolved.
Key points:
"These policy packages may appear to focus on security, but they are designed to promote the environmentalists’ goals first and foremost. A genuine national-security energy policy would look for ways to reduce oil imports from terrorist-supporting states without comprehensively altering the American way of life or reducing our economic competitiveness with our rivals. The NCEP plan purports to do this, but does not."
"Meanwhile, as Jerry Taylor and Peter Van Doren of the Cato Institute have shown repeatedly, there is no correlation between the price of oil and the level of terrorism worldwide. If reducing reliance on oil does not decrease terrorism, while cutting emissions would weaken America, it is hard to see any good reason for national-security conservatives to continue their marriage of convenience to the greens. It is time for a divorce; perhaps it should be an acrimonious one."
Key points:
"These policy packages may appear to focus on security, but they are designed to promote the environmentalists’ goals first and foremost. A genuine national-security energy policy would look for ways to reduce oil imports from terrorist-supporting states without comprehensively altering the American way of life or reducing our economic competitiveness with our rivals. The NCEP plan purports to do this, but does not."
"Meanwhile, as Jerry Taylor and Peter Van Doren of the Cato Institute have shown repeatedly, there is no correlation between the price of oil and the level of terrorism worldwide. If reducing reliance on oil does not decrease terrorism, while cutting emissions would weaken America, it is hard to see any good reason for national-security conservatives to continue their marriage of convenience to the greens. It is time for a divorce; perhaps it should be an acrimonious one."
James Hansen, Pat Michaels, and the "global warming" double standard
All of us are aware of the double standard/double speak of Political Correctness as it applies to various Dem/Left/"Progressive" agenda items, but nowhere is this type of intellectual and academic phoniness more apparent than in the "global warming" nonsense.
As discussed at length here and elsewhere, Pat Michaels is one of the GW True Believers' favorite targets, while noted alarmist/agitator James Hansen often gets portrayed as an innocent victim of Michaels' attacks and the Bush Administration's efforts at censorship.
Let's give this thing some important perspective.
Excerpt:
"Undoubtedly, they are racing deadlines in the newsrooms in New York to get this Hansen business cleared up and expose the silencing of a real whistleblower, Patrick Michaels."
Have we read any of this information about Michaels in ANY of the lame stream GW enabler media?
No?
Imagine that!
As discussed at length here and elsewhere, Pat Michaels is one of the GW True Believers' favorite targets, while noted alarmist/agitator James Hansen often gets portrayed as an innocent victim of Michaels' attacks and the Bush Administration's efforts at censorship.
Let's give this thing some important perspective.
Excerpt:
"Undoubtedly, they are racing deadlines in the newsrooms in New York to get this Hansen business cleared up and expose the silencing of a real whistleblower, Patrick Michaels."
Have we read any of this information about Michaels in ANY of the lame stream GW enabler media?
No?
Imagine that!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Nutroot Looney Toon of the Day
"MoveOn is not a far-left, anti-war, fringe organization. Its 3.3 million members are average Americans who are tired of being lied to about the war in Iraq, tired of officials who refuse to hold themselves or the administration accountable, tired of Democrats who are entirely too polite to confront the hypocrites and liars in Washington, tired of election fraud, tired of outrageous corporate profits, tired of watching our Bill of Rights disappear and tired of losing so many of our young men and women to a bloody war that should never have been waged.
We joined MoveOn because we see that our country is not going in the right direction and we desperately want to correct that. MoveOn's eager and patriotic organizers are bringing America's most urgent problems to light and telling it like it is. I applaud them, even if some toes get stepped on."
-- Gwynne Chesher
".......not a far-left, anti-war, fringe organization"?
Gee, coulda fooled me!
I guess Soros needs to get his money back then, doesn't he?
(hat tip: South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
We joined MoveOn because we see that our country is not going in the right direction and we desperately want to correct that. MoveOn's eager and patriotic organizers are bringing America's most urgent problems to light and telling it like it is. I applaud them, even if some toes get stepped on."
-- Gwynne Chesher
".......not a far-left, anti-war, fringe organization"?
Gee, coulda fooled me!
I guess Soros needs to get his money back then, doesn't he?
(hat tip: South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Quote of the Day
“It’s impossible to read King Lear or Hamlet without questioning the deepest human values. Because John Milton is a dead white man, the erudition of his poetry is discounted (or ignored). The political and religious issues he raises in ‘Paradise Lost’ would animate any discussion of democracy, terrorism and war, but raising questions is not the aim of much that passes for higher education. Milton’s debate of the devils over how to perpetuate the war against God, ‘which if not Victory is yet Revenge,’ has much to tell us about our own times. Students arrive on campus yearning to think big thoughts and often get political polemics from little professors with small minds.”
—Suzanne Fields
(hat tip: Patriot Post US)
—Suzanne Fields
(hat tip: Patriot Post US)
Monday, September 24, 2007
The answer is "Yes"
Attention!
The following is yet another creeping Dem/Lefty/"Progressive" agenda item notification.
Noteworthy:
"The S-CHIP program shows the mission creep that inevitably results from entitlement programs. Originally launched as a means to insure poor children, its backers have decided that America simply can’t get enough of a good thing. The advocates of expansion have gone with a hard sell, pushing the notion that the Bush administration and the GOP want to leave children without health care, when in fact the vast new expansion threatens to undermine the health insurance most of them already have."
I can hear the plaintive bleating now:
"Why oh why do you conservatives hate children? Why do you want them to die?"
The following is yet another creeping Dem/Lefty/"Progressive" agenda item notification.
Noteworthy:
"The S-CHIP program shows the mission creep that inevitably results from entitlement programs. Originally launched as a means to insure poor children, its backers have decided that America simply can’t get enough of a good thing. The advocates of expansion have gone with a hard sell, pushing the notion that the Bush administration and the GOP want to leave children without health care, when in fact the vast new expansion threatens to undermine the health insurance most of them already have."
I can hear the plaintive bleating now:
"Why oh why do you conservatives hate children? Why do you want them to die?"
Do you think she needs help?
How's this for Looney Toon Nutroot libthink?
Appropriate summation:
"This is no joke. Here's a lefty with a definite suicide wish along with the worst case of Bush Derangement Syndrome I've ever seen. You just can't make this stuff up about the left..."
Appropriate summation:
"This is no joke. Here's a lefty with a definite suicide wish along with the worst case of Bush Derangement Syndrome I've ever seen. You just can't make this stuff up about the left..."
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Stossel on Mikey Moore's distortions about Cuba's health care in "Sicko"
Why let a few facts get in the way of a good chance to propagandize and pander for a cherished agenda item?
Excerpt:
"When challenged with these facts by Stossel, Moore tried to change the subject: 'Let's stick to Canada and Britain and this stuff, I think you should challenge me on these things, and I'll give you my answer.'"
Excerpt:
"When challenged with these facts by Stossel, Moore tried to change the subject: 'Let's stick to Canada and Britain and this stuff, I think you should challenge me on these things, and I'll give you my answer.'"
Questions for Hillary and other Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" who support "universal health care"
...at GrasstopsUSA.com.
Noteworthy:
"To those who claim that a 'single-payer system will save money because people will seek care earlier when it is easier and more affordable to treat diseases....'
While it is true that we could significantly reduce health-care costs overall by focusing more on earlier state preventative care instead of advanced stage treatments and therapies, what would make one think that people would have easier access to health-care in a single-payer government run health-care system given the excessive long waits and difficulties getting appointments in the U.K., Canada, France, and Australia?
Is there one example where a single-payer system actually saves money and increases access simultaneously?"
Noteworthy:
"To those who claim that a 'single-payer system will save money because people will seek care earlier when it is easier and more affordable to treat diseases....'
While it is true that we could significantly reduce health-care costs overall by focusing more on earlier state preventative care instead of advanced stage treatments and therapies, what would make one think that people would have easier access to health-care in a single-payer government run health-care system given the excessive long waits and difficulties getting appointments in the U.K., Canada, France, and Australia?
Is there one example where a single-payer system actually saves money and increases access simultaneously?"
Friday, September 21, 2007
"Global Warming" climate modeling: Garbage in, garbage out
No, there's no problem with the science or the integrity of how these numbers were derived, is there?
Noteworthy:
"By definition, Global Mean Temperature is a calculated value, derived from representative samples of reliable data collected in a manner that allows statistical averaging so that daily and seasonal fluctuations in temperature can be, so to speak, 'averaged out'. Furthermore, sufficient geographic distribution of data sets should also be available to construct a meaningful 'average' for all latitudes and longitudes of the globe. Only after these statistical processes are completed can science 'take the temperature' of the planet to see whether it 'has a fever'. "
"Thus, 'climate change' alarmism is based on two mathematical models: 1) a statistical model that 'reconstructs' historical data using modern correlations projected backward for 100 years onto the thin support of sparse empirical data sets available then; and 2) a 'climate model' that uses this very same reconstructed historical data as key input data to project climate forward for the next 100 years. "
" I do know that Climate Model's double-extrapolation has potential to magnify any errors in the sparse underlying data, in the same way that the time-keeping error can accumulate in a watch that runs fast or slow. A systematic error was recently discovered in modern North American climate data. It will be impossible to discover such errors in the data collected long ago with more primitive instrumentation, even though such errors might well be there. And given that North American data is the central pillar for 'reconstructing' the GMT climate record, James Hansen's reluctance to correct the recent US temperature record, and dismay about having to do so, is a display of incompetence. "
"There is also a more basic reason for my skepticism concerning climate models: Although climate scientists show no reluctance to assign high accuracy to their backward projections of global climate data, and although global-warming theorists boldly predict climate disasters 100 years from now, they all seem quite reticent about predicting climate conditions one or two years hence."
Indeed.
Noteworthy:
"By definition, Global Mean Temperature is a calculated value, derived from representative samples of reliable data collected in a manner that allows statistical averaging so that daily and seasonal fluctuations in temperature can be, so to speak, 'averaged out'. Furthermore, sufficient geographic distribution of data sets should also be available to construct a meaningful 'average' for all latitudes and longitudes of the globe. Only after these statistical processes are completed can science 'take the temperature' of the planet to see whether it 'has a fever'. "
"Thus, 'climate change' alarmism is based on two mathematical models: 1) a statistical model that 'reconstructs' historical data using modern correlations projected backward for 100 years onto the thin support of sparse empirical data sets available then; and 2) a 'climate model' that uses this very same reconstructed historical data as key input data to project climate forward for the next 100 years. "
" I do know that Climate Model's double-extrapolation has potential to magnify any errors in the sparse underlying data, in the same way that the time-keeping error can accumulate in a watch that runs fast or slow. A systematic error was recently discovered in modern North American climate data. It will be impossible to discover such errors in the data collected long ago with more primitive instrumentation, even though such errors might well be there. And given that North American data is the central pillar for 'reconstructing' the GMT climate record, James Hansen's reluctance to correct the recent US temperature record, and dismay about having to do so, is a display of incompetence. "
"There is also a more basic reason for my skepticism concerning climate models: Although climate scientists show no reluctance to assign high accuracy to their backward projections of global climate data, and although global-warming theorists boldly predict climate disasters 100 years from now, they all seem quite reticent about predicting climate conditions one or two years hence."
Indeed.
Getting our "Global" priorities straight
There are much better things we can do than to "combat global warming".
Although I disagree with Bjorn Lomborg about the cause of "global warming", it is critical to understand his analysis if we are to avoid the calamity that the True Believers want to impose on us all.
Excerpt:
"...In the U.S. each year, 42,600 people die and 2.8 million are injured from traffic accidents. If we were to lower speed limits to five miles an hour, almost no one would die. But automobile transportation is important to our economy and our people, so we work on seat belts, speed limits and better highways rather than 5 mph speed limits. Like traffic accidents, 'global warming is strongly caused by people, and we have the technology to reduce it to zero,"'so we could curtail our use of fossil fuels and thus sharply reduce global warming. But Mr. Lomborg points out that 'the benefits from moderately using fossil fuels' for 'light, heat, food, communication and travel' vastly outweigh the cost to our society.
Although I disagree with Bjorn Lomborg about the cause of "global warming", it is critical to understand his analysis if we are to avoid the calamity that the True Believers want to impose on us all.
Excerpt:
"...In the U.S. each year, 42,600 people die and 2.8 million are injured from traffic accidents. If we were to lower speed limits to five miles an hour, almost no one would die. But automobile transportation is important to our economy and our people, so we work on seat belts, speed limits and better highways rather than 5 mph speed limits. Like traffic accidents, 'global warming is strongly caused by people, and we have the technology to reduce it to zero,"'so we could curtail our use of fossil fuels and thus sharply reduce global warming. But Mr. Lomborg points out that 'the benefits from moderately using fossil fuels' for 'light, heat, food, communication and travel' vastly outweigh the cost to our society.
'Cool It' makes the case for helping the world's individuals rather than the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change goal of reorienting our lifestyles away from consumption and individual ownership and toward free time instead of wealth.
'Our ultimate goal,' Mr. Lomborg says, 'is not to reduce greenhouse gasses or global warming per se but to improve the quality of life and the environment.'"
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Things we now know about the David Wray situation
Let's sum up the new information that has come to light this week about the tawdry behavior of the city of Greensboro NC as exhibited in the firing of former police chief David Wray over trumped up charges, brought about for political and personal purposes.
1. By listening to the taped conversation between Wray and the city manager, it's obvious that David Wray was fired by Mitch Johnson. The meme of "he resigned" is bogus.
2. Wray is an honorable, respectable man of dignity. The city manager is not.
3. After much early babble from the Wray is a Villain crowd, a long investigation by NC SBI personnel resulted in the indictment of two lower echelon GPD officers, and no mention of any wrongdoing on Wray's part.
4. The Greensboro News and Record, known for its early "Trial by Newspaper" coverage of this issue, failed to tell the whole story of this week's events.
5. Greensboro's mayor issued a totally CYA message after the indictments, and any number of his fellow council members/city manager sycophants voted NOT to release the rest of the documentation pertaining to this case, at least for the time being.
6. The theme of Wray the Racist has subtly been changed over these many months to Wray the Insubordinate Employee. Based on the tape mentioned above, that is highly unlikely.
7. The on-going story of Wray's travails told by Jerry Bledsoe in the Rhino Times has once again been validated.
Links to the current story:
The Conservative Alternative
Joe Guarino
Three different threads at Cone's blog.
And a bunch of posts at The Troublemaker.
Greensboro News and Record stories can be found here, here, and here.
1. By listening to the taped conversation between Wray and the city manager, it's obvious that David Wray was fired by Mitch Johnson. The meme of "he resigned" is bogus.
2. Wray is an honorable, respectable man of dignity. The city manager is not.
3. After much early babble from the Wray is a Villain crowd, a long investigation by NC SBI personnel resulted in the indictment of two lower echelon GPD officers, and no mention of any wrongdoing on Wray's part.
4. The Greensboro News and Record, known for its early "Trial by Newspaper" coverage of this issue, failed to tell the whole story of this week's events.
5. Greensboro's mayor issued a totally CYA message after the indictments, and any number of his fellow council members/city manager sycophants voted NOT to release the rest of the documentation pertaining to this case, at least for the time being.
6. The theme of Wray the Racist has subtly been changed over these many months to Wray the Insubordinate Employee. Based on the tape mentioned above, that is highly unlikely.
7. The on-going story of Wray's travails told by Jerry Bledsoe in the Rhino Times has once again been validated.
Links to the current story:
The Conservative Alternative
Joe Guarino
Three different threads at Cone's blog.
And a bunch of posts at The Troublemaker.
Greensboro News and Record stories can be found here, here, and here.
From the The Hillary files
"'I don’t feel no ways tired. I come too far from where I started from. Nobody told me that the road would be easy. I don’t believe He brought me this far,' drawled presidential aspirant Hillary Clinton, mimicking black voice to a black audience, at the First Baptist Church of Selma, Alabama.
I’m wondering if Mrs. Clinton visits an Indian reservation she might cozy up to them saying, 'How! Me not tired. Me come heap long way. Road mighty rough. Sky Spirit no bring me this far.' Or, seeking the Asian vote she might say, 'I no wray tired. Come too far I started flum. Road berry clooked. Number one Dragon King take me far'."
—Walter Williams
I’m wondering if Mrs. Clinton visits an Indian reservation she might cozy up to them saying, 'How! Me not tired. Me come heap long way. Road mighty rough. Sky Spirit no bring me this far.' Or, seeking the Asian vote she might say, 'I no wray tired. Come too far I started flum. Road berry clooked. Number one Dragon King take me far'."
—Walter Williams
Monday, September 17, 2007
Hillary as Free Trader?
Sometimes the WaPo writers make me laugh.
Don Boudreaux points out yet another effort at triangulation by the front-runner for the Dem presidential nomination.
Great analogy:
"Calling Hillary Clinton 'a dedicated free-trader' is akin to calling Bill Clinton 'a dedicated husband.'"
Don Boudreaux points out yet another effort at triangulation by the front-runner for the Dem presidential nomination.
Great analogy:
"Calling Hillary Clinton 'a dedicated free-trader' is akin to calling Bill Clinton 'a dedicated husband.'"
Rudy vs Hillary for President in 08
It's the election matchup that we didn't get to see in the 00 NY senate race.
Key point:
"There’s a reason why Giuliani is at the top of the GOP match, and his performance during the aftermath of September 11 is only one facet of it. Giuliani exudes a sense of leadership and tenacity in a way that no other politician in the race does. It’s his single biggest asset.
The American people could see Giuliani taking on the Iranians and the corrupt Washington establishment with equal verve. Contrast that to Hillary Clinton, who now has 8 years of Senatorial waffling to explain as well as a well-deserved reputation for being someone whose ambition drives her to say whatever she thinks will get her elected."
From Philip Klein's AmSpec article, as linked by Jay:
"Throughout his career, Giuliani has excelled at relentlessly pursuing opponents, whether in the courtroom or political arena. As a young prosecutor in the 1970s, before he became a celebrity for taking on the mob, he gained notice for his successful prosecution of Democratic Congressman Bertram L. Podell in a bribery trial.
The New York Times magazine recounted the dramatic conclusion in a 1985 profile: 'Under Giuliani's intense cross-examination, Podell faltered, became so nervous he poked out his eyeglass lens, asked for a recess and gave up, pleading guilty.'
Giuliani's background as a prosecutor and gift for speaking plainly and with clarity makes him ideally suited to cut through the type of word parsing for which the Clintons are legendary."
Key point:
"There’s a reason why Giuliani is at the top of the GOP match, and his performance during the aftermath of September 11 is only one facet of it. Giuliani exudes a sense of leadership and tenacity in a way that no other politician in the race does. It’s his single biggest asset.
The American people could see Giuliani taking on the Iranians and the corrupt Washington establishment with equal verve. Contrast that to Hillary Clinton, who now has 8 years of Senatorial waffling to explain as well as a well-deserved reputation for being someone whose ambition drives her to say whatever she thinks will get her elected."
From Philip Klein's AmSpec article, as linked by Jay:
"Throughout his career, Giuliani has excelled at relentlessly pursuing opponents, whether in the courtroom or political arena. As a young prosecutor in the 1970s, before he became a celebrity for taking on the mob, he gained notice for his successful prosecution of Democratic Congressman Bertram L. Podell in a bribery trial.
The New York Times magazine recounted the dramatic conclusion in a 1985 profile: 'Under Giuliani's intense cross-examination, Podell faltered, became so nervous he poked out his eyeglass lens, asked for a recess and gave up, pleading guilty.'
Giuliani's background as a prosecutor and gift for speaking plainly and with clarity makes him ideally suited to cut through the type of word parsing for which the Clintons are legendary."
Those are the reasons why "social" conservatives, among other diverse groups, will support Giuliani for President.
Privately, the Dem leadership understands that.
So do the Nutroot wannabee power brokers
Imperialistic Mexico
"Finally, I have said that Mexico does not end at the border, that wherever there is a Mexican Mexico is there; this is why the actions of the Government in favor of our migrating countrymen is guided by principles, by the defense and protection of their rights, by prevention for detecting measures that may affect our people and by the professionalism we must offer our co-nationals."
-- Mexican President Felipe Calderon, 9-2-07, in his State of the Union address.
His "migrating" countrymen?
Sounds like the "undocumented workers" the Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" love to talk about.
Let's hear it for the Open Borders/Unrestricted Illegal Immigration crowd.
(hat tip: North Carolina Conservative)
After last week, any chance for an effective and strong foreign policy under a Dem president is GONE
Hugh Hewitt tells us why with some pertinent points from two other articles.
from Fred Barnes:
"For Democrats, Petraeus Week was a wrenching ordeal. It meant their efforts to change Bush's policy on Iraq fundamentally were dead. Instead, they decided to push various proposals, some symbolic, some designed to make it more difficult for Bush to carry out his military plans in Iraq.
The New York Times ad by MoveOn.org trashing Petraeus as a liar backfired badly. Making matters worse, Democrats were afraid to repudiate MoveOn.org because the party relies so heavily on it for money and campaign workers. Senator John McCain, among other Republicans, seized the moment. He said if Democratic senator Hillary Clinton isn't tough enough to denounce MoveOn.org, she's not tough enough to be president."
"The scariest words for Democrats in Bush's speech involved Petraeus directly. Bush said he's directed the general, along with Ambassador Ryan Crocker, "to deliver another report to Congress in March.' The prospect of a return engagement by Petraeus can only fill Democrats with a feeling of dread."
Indeed.
March is perilously close to the general election for Dems to have more undisputable good news from Iraq, and for the public to be made aware once again about how the Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" supposedly "support the troops".
Hugh sums it up appropriately:
"The Democrats are already committed to a Carter restoration and to accepting defeat in Iraq with all that entails. Both of the leading Republicans are taking Reagan's line on the Cold War as their approach to the long war: 'We win. They lose.'
The last chance for Democrats to repudiate a platform of retreat and defeat passed this week. MoveOn.org sealed the deal the Congressional Democrats have made with the hard left, and all the Democratic presidential candidates signed on as well. An extraordinary week, the events of which will be referred to again and again throughout the next year, and with good reason."
from Fred Barnes:
"For Democrats, Petraeus Week was a wrenching ordeal. It meant their efforts to change Bush's policy on Iraq fundamentally were dead. Instead, they decided to push various proposals, some symbolic, some designed to make it more difficult for Bush to carry out his military plans in Iraq.
The New York Times ad by MoveOn.org trashing Petraeus as a liar backfired badly. Making matters worse, Democrats were afraid to repudiate MoveOn.org because the party relies so heavily on it for money and campaign workers. Senator John McCain, among other Republicans, seized the moment. He said if Democratic senator Hillary Clinton isn't tough enough to denounce MoveOn.org, she's not tough enough to be president."
"The scariest words for Democrats in Bush's speech involved Petraeus directly. Bush said he's directed the general, along with Ambassador Ryan Crocker, "to deliver another report to Congress in March.' The prospect of a return engagement by Petraeus can only fill Democrats with a feeling of dread."
Indeed.
March is perilously close to the general election for Dems to have more undisputable good news from Iraq, and for the public to be made aware once again about how the Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" supposedly "support the troops".
Hugh sums it up appropriately:
"The Democrats are already committed to a Carter restoration and to accepting defeat in Iraq with all that entails. Both of the leading Republicans are taking Reagan's line on the Cold War as their approach to the long war: 'We win. They lose.'
The last chance for Democrats to repudiate a platform of retreat and defeat passed this week. MoveOn.org sealed the deal the Congressional Democrats have made with the hard left, and all the Democratic presidential candidates signed on as well. An extraordinary week, the events of which will be referred to again and again throughout the next year, and with good reason."
Not to be outdone by Obama and Edwards
Ms. Rodham introduces Hillary Care II.
Surprise, Surprise!
Hillary says:
"'This is not government-run,' Clinton said of her plan to extend coverage to an estimated 47 million Americans who now go without."
The article goes on to say:
"She called for a requirement for businesses to obtain insurance for employees..."
....and then this:
"....businesses, in turn, would be required to offer insurance to employees, or contribute to a government-run pool that would help pay for those not covered."
Government run, government mandate: the difference is only in the semantics.
Before I get the knee-jerk responses, let's stipulate one thing: Government mandate of automobile insurance is quite different from government mandate of health insurance.
A question for all......
What is the amount of North Carolina's unfunded health care mandates?
Surprise, Surprise!
Hillary says:
"'This is not government-run,' Clinton said of her plan to extend coverage to an estimated 47 million Americans who now go without."
The article goes on to say:
"She called for a requirement for businesses to obtain insurance for employees..."
....and then this:
"....businesses, in turn, would be required to offer insurance to employees, or contribute to a government-run pool that would help pay for those not covered."
Government run, government mandate: the difference is only in the semantics.
Before I get the knee-jerk responses, let's stipulate one thing: Government mandate of automobile insurance is quite different from government mandate of health insurance.
A question for all......
What is the amount of North Carolina's unfunded health care mandates?
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Today's lesson at Indoctrinate U
This story is about as bad as it gets.
And the icing on the cake:
And the icing on the cake:
"[Principal Joanne] Parsley said she doesn't believe Brooks has any political agenda to advance."
Insert the appropriate "Pope" or "Bear" analogy.....
Live blogging the Gathering of Eagles at the war protest
....in our nation's capital this weekend.
Noteworthy:
"Well, they came, they spewed, they cursed. Several thousand Soros marchers descended on the Capitol yelling 'Fuck Bush' and 'Fuck you' at Gold Star Families.
As Capitol Hill police arrested the 'die-in' participants, young peaceniks shouted 'What does a pig look like? The Capitol police' and 'Oink! Oink! Oink.”'
Others shrieked about 'Fascism!' and gleefully performed 'Sieg Heil' salutes."
Check out the Moonbats here.
Noteworthy:
"Well, they came, they spewed, they cursed. Several thousand Soros marchers descended on the Capitol yelling 'Fuck Bush' and 'Fuck you' at Gold Star Families.
As Capitol Hill police arrested the 'die-in' participants, young peaceniks shouted 'What does a pig look like? The Capitol police' and 'Oink! Oink! Oink.”'
Others shrieked about 'Fascism!' and gleefully performed 'Sieg Heil' salutes."
Pete Hegseth of Vets for Freedom:
“I figured I’d seize this opportunity to quote a man best known for his $400 haircut. He claims there are two Americas in this country. For once, he’s right. There are two Americas…on display here today."
Check out the Moonbats here.
Lie of the Week
....goes to the New York Times, regarding their running of the disgraceful MoveOn.Org "Betrayus" ad.
Red State has the proof.
Red State has the proof.
Why the alarmism over the suprime problem?
Ken Fisher deflates all the hot air and nonsense we've been hearing about this issue.
Noteworthy:
TCS: You don't see major long-term economic consequences?
KEN FISHER: I think intuitively everybody knows that in the long term, this is not a big deal for the economy and the stock market. I don't think it's big enough to matter.
...................
TCS: If you want to promote home ownership at the margin, don't you by definition have to lend to people who don't qualify for traditional mortgages? And doesn't the risk of default increase in some proportion to how deeply you move into that pool of non-homeowners?
KEN FISHER: Yeah, and default rates are now up. There are more people failing. But say you got to a ratio of 85/15. We're still better off. If the default rate soars all the way up to 20 percent, we'd still be better off.
Politicians want to talk about this as if subprime lenders were involved in predatory activities because some of the people that borrowed from them failed and suffered. These politicians talk as if they want to restrict this activity moving forward so that, simply put, those 90 percent of subprime borrowers won't be able to buy homes.
The fact is, if 90 percent of our activities succeed and ten percent fail, we're a whole lot better off than if we didn't do anything at all.
And, yes, I'm sympathetic to those who suffer the pain; but I'm really gleeful about the 90 percent who got the homes.
Fisher doesn't go into the reasons for all the babble we've heard on this issue, but it's pretty apparent to those who are paying attention.
There are certain people with a certain worldview who have a political stake in letting this courty slide into a "recession", if at all possible, before the 08 elections. The goal is to discredit Republicans so that there is no chance that the GOP will regain control of Congress, or retain the Presidency.
Can you guess who those people are that want you to believe that the subprime meltdown will wreak havoc on our nation's prosperity?
Noteworthy:
TCS: You don't see major long-term economic consequences?
KEN FISHER: I think intuitively everybody knows that in the long term, this is not a big deal for the economy and the stock market. I don't think it's big enough to matter.
...................
TCS: If you want to promote home ownership at the margin, don't you by definition have to lend to people who don't qualify for traditional mortgages? And doesn't the risk of default increase in some proportion to how deeply you move into that pool of non-homeowners?
KEN FISHER: Yeah, and default rates are now up. There are more people failing. But say you got to a ratio of 85/15. We're still better off. If the default rate soars all the way up to 20 percent, we'd still be better off.
Politicians want to talk about this as if subprime lenders were involved in predatory activities because some of the people that borrowed from them failed and suffered. These politicians talk as if they want to restrict this activity moving forward so that, simply put, those 90 percent of subprime borrowers won't be able to buy homes.
The fact is, if 90 percent of our activities succeed and ten percent fail, we're a whole lot better off than if we didn't do anything at all.
And, yes, I'm sympathetic to those who suffer the pain; but I'm really gleeful about the 90 percent who got the homes.
Fisher doesn't go into the reasons for all the babble we've heard on this issue, but it's pretty apparent to those who are paying attention.
There are certain people with a certain worldview who have a political stake in letting this courty slide into a "recession", if at all possible, before the 08 elections. The goal is to discredit Republicans so that there is no chance that the GOP will regain control of Congress, or retain the Presidency.
Can you guess who those people are that want you to believe that the subprime meltdown will wreak havoc on our nation's prosperity?
Toward REAL health care reform
....not the potentially disastrous type promoted by most Dems/Lefties/"Progessives", including all three of the Dem party front runners for their presidential nomination, from David Hogberg and Jeremy Taglieri.
Why is it that we never seem to hear about these much better alternatives to "universal health care"?
Why is it that we never seem to hear about these much better alternatives to "universal health care"?
Friday, September 14, 2007
Krauthammer on Petraeus' congressional appearance
The general won it hands down, despite the Move On slime, and the lame snarling of Hillary Clinton.
Excerpts:
"For all the attempts by Democrats and the antiwar movement to discredit Petraeus, he won the congressional confrontation hands down."
"Just carrying this battle to its successful conclusion -- independent of its larger effect of helping stabilize Iraq -- is justification enough for the surge. The turning of Sunni Iraq against al-Qaeda is a signal event in the war on terrorism. Petraeus's plan is to be allowed to see it through."
Cue the sound of much wailing and gnashing of teeth from Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" of all stripes
Related:
It's time for them to give it a break.
Noteworthy:
"Simply put, the MoveOn people are a gift to the GOP," Republican consultant Dan Hazelwood told Washington Post political blogger Chris Cillizza right after the ad came out.
He is right."
Excerpts:
"For all the attempts by Democrats and the antiwar movement to discredit Petraeus, he won the congressional confrontation hands down."
"Just carrying this battle to its successful conclusion -- independent of its larger effect of helping stabilize Iraq -- is justification enough for the surge. The turning of Sunni Iraq against al-Qaeda is a signal event in the war on terrorism. Petraeus's plan is to be allowed to see it through."
Cue the sound of much wailing and gnashing of teeth from Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" of all stripes
Related:
It's time for them to give it a break.
Noteworthy:
"Simply put, the MoveOn people are a gift to the GOP," Republican consultant Dan Hazelwood told Washington Post political blogger Chris Cillizza right after the ad came out.
He is right."
Thursday, September 13, 2007
"Who should America listen to?"
There's more at
Gateway Pundit: Giuliani & Thompson Blast Hillary/MoveOn Attacks on Petraeus!
....from The Corner:
"Senator Clinton said that believing General Petraeus' testimony requires a 'willing suspension of disbelief.' I think it willingly suspends disbelief to not repudiate an advertisement run by a radical left wing organization that impugns and dishonors the integrity of a man who has served his nation with dedication all of his life. If you're not tough enough to repudiate a scurrilous, outrageous attack such as that, then I don't know how you're tough enough to be President of the United States."
-- John McCain
Joe Zawinul 1932-2007
If you are a fan of jazz fusion as I have been since the early 70s, Joe Z was no stranger to you.
Along with Return to Forever, Miles, and others, Joe and his colleagues in Weather Report pioneered a powerful but controversial force in jazz.
Scott at Power Line has video.
Along with Return to Forever, Miles, and others, Joe and his colleagues in Weather Report pioneered a powerful but controversial force in jazz.
Scott at Power Line has video.
Fighting "oppression", embracing "diversity"?
It's all in a day's work if you're a social worker or student compelled to follow the National Association of Social Workers' code of "ethics".
Noteworthy:
"Now aspiring social workers must commit themselves, usually in writing, to a culturally left agenda, often including diversity programs, state-sponsored redistribution of income, and a readiness to combat heterosexism, ableism, and classism."
"Nine of the ten programs, the NAS reports, require students to accept the ideology-saturated NASW code of ethics to get a degree in social work. The University of Central Florida says students 'must comply' with the code of ethics if they wish to remain in school. Failure to accept the code constitutes "academic misconduct 'in the University of Michigan program and "can result in disciplinary action' at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities."
The more I read, experience, and learn, the worse this absolute nonsense gets.
Where and when does common sense, good judgment, and fair play put an end to this sort of thing?
Noteworthy:
"Now aspiring social workers must commit themselves, usually in writing, to a culturally left agenda, often including diversity programs, state-sponsored redistribution of income, and a readiness to combat heterosexism, ableism, and classism."
"Nine of the ten programs, the NAS reports, require students to accept the ideology-saturated NASW code of ethics to get a degree in social work. The University of Central Florida says students 'must comply' with the code of ethics if they wish to remain in school. Failure to accept the code constitutes "academic misconduct 'in the University of Michigan program and "can result in disciplinary action' at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities."
The more I read, experience, and learn, the worse this absolute nonsense gets.
Where and when does common sense, good judgment, and fair play put an end to this sort of thing?
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
More reflections on the anniversary of 9-11
Jay Reding says it very well indeed.
Noteworthy:
"We have failed the memory of those who lost their lives that terrible day. We have once again become a nation that is self-absorbed and uninterested in our position in the world. Our political classes line their own pockets and play to their bases rather than do what’s right in the national interest. Our national culture is still a culture of malignant narcissism — instead of celebrating heroism, our culture degrades it.
The image most commonly used to describe the brave men and women of our armed forces: Abu Ghraib, the actions of a few who brought dishonor to their country. Meanwhile, from Africa to Afghanistan and across the globe, our fighting men and women perform more good than any force in history."
Jay hammers the nail well, don't you think?
He's becoming one of my favorite bloggers.
Noteworthy:
"We have failed the memory of those who lost their lives that terrible day. We have once again become a nation that is self-absorbed and uninterested in our position in the world. Our political classes line their own pockets and play to their bases rather than do what’s right in the national interest. Our national culture is still a culture of malignant narcissism — instead of celebrating heroism, our culture degrades it.
The image most commonly used to describe the brave men and women of our armed forces: Abu Ghraib, the actions of a few who brought dishonor to their country. Meanwhile, from Africa to Afghanistan and across the globe, our fighting men and women perform more good than any force in history."
Jay hammers the nail well, don't you think?
He's becoming one of my favorite bloggers.
No socialized medicine?
Look again.
It's already here to an extent larger than you realize.
Key points:
"Consider two distinguishing features of socialist economies. The first is that the government decides what individuals may produce, what they consume, and the terms of exchange.
That is largely true of America's health care system Government controls production and consumption by determining the number of physicians; what services medical professionals can offer and under what terms; where they can practice; who can open a hospital or purchase a new MRI; who can market a drug or medical device; and what kind of health insurance consumers may purchase.
Government bureaucrats even set the prices for half of our health care sector directly, and indirectly set prices for the other half. When you read about Medicare over-paying imaging centers and hospitals, or that it's impossible for Bostonians to get an appointment with a general practitioner, it's largely because the bureaucrats got the prices wrong, and those rigid prices do not automatically eliminate shortages and gluts like flexible market prices do.
A second feature of socialist economies is that there is little incentive to make careful economic decisions, because government has put everyone in the position of spending other people's money. "
"To paraphrase Keyser Söze, the greatest trick that advocates of socialized medicine ever played was to convince the American people that we don't already have it."
It's already here to an extent larger than you realize.
Key points:
"Consider two distinguishing features of socialist economies. The first is that the government decides what individuals may produce, what they consume, and the terms of exchange.
That is largely true of America's health care system Government controls production and consumption by determining the number of physicians; what services medical professionals can offer and under what terms; where they can practice; who can open a hospital or purchase a new MRI; who can market a drug or medical device; and what kind of health insurance consumers may purchase.
Government bureaucrats even set the prices for half of our health care sector directly, and indirectly set prices for the other half. When you read about Medicare over-paying imaging centers and hospitals, or that it's impossible for Bostonians to get an appointment with a general practitioner, it's largely because the bureaucrats got the prices wrong, and those rigid prices do not automatically eliminate shortages and gluts like flexible market prices do.
A second feature of socialist economies is that there is little incentive to make careful economic decisions, because government has put everyone in the position of spending other people's money. "
"To paraphrase Keyser Söze, the greatest trick that advocates of socialized medicine ever played was to convince the American people that we don't already have it."
Quote of the Day
“Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of. Our enemies are numerous and powerful; but we have many friends, determining to be free, and heaven and earth will aid the resolution. On you depend the fortunes of America. You are to decide the important question, on which rest the happiness and liberty of millions yet unborn. Act worthy of yourselves.”
—Joseph Warren
(hat tip:Patriot Post US)
—Joseph Warren
(hat tip:Patriot Post US)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Quote of the Day
"For six years, we have been at war on a worldwide basis with a movement funded largely by Saudi Arabian and Iranian sources. For six years, we have failed to confront the scale of our enemy, the direct threat of nuclear and biological weapons if possessed by that enemy, and the scale and nature of the strategy needed to win the larger war with that enemy.
...The great tragedy of the six years since 9/11 is that we have not had a national debate about the scale of our opponents, the depth of their hatred for our way of life and the very real threat that they will acquire nuclear and biological weapons. With the former, they may kill hundreds of thousands of Americans in our cities. With the latter, millions of Americans could die in a deliberate attack."
—Newt Gingrich
(hat tip: Patriot Post US)
...The great tragedy of the six years since 9/11 is that we have not had a national debate about the scale of our opponents, the depth of their hatred for our way of life and the very real threat that they will acquire nuclear and biological weapons. With the former, they may kill hundreds of thousands of Americans in our cities. With the latter, millions of Americans could die in a deliberate attack."
—Newt Gingrich
(hat tip: Patriot Post US)
Petraeus on Iran's proxy war in Iraq
Scott Johnson has the details.
Key point (from Scott):
"Iran's proxy war against the United States is being fought in Iraq, but not only in Iraq. Today our friends at the Claremont Institute publish Thomas Joscelyn's extraordinary pamphlet: Iran's Proxy War Against America. Joscelyn traces the war from the embassy bombing in Beirut and collects evidence suggestive of Iran's collaboration with al Qaeda in attacks including the Khobar Towers bombing, the 1998 embassy bombings, 9/11 and the al Qaeda/Taliban "great escape" from Afghanistan in late 2001."
In addition, Joscelyn has successfully debunked the current revisionist meme circulating among Dem/Lefty/"Progressive" sources (including one particular local blog) that are downplaying the influence of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
As we know, that particular topic is a thinly disguised ploy to draw attention away from certain truths in the Iraq situation, as well as to deflect attention away from the threat we constantly face from terror.
Just more Business As Usual for those who never miss an opportunity to support their worldview through lies and distortions.
Key point (from Scott):
"Iran's proxy war against the United States is being fought in Iraq, but not only in Iraq. Today our friends at the Claremont Institute publish Thomas Joscelyn's extraordinary pamphlet: Iran's Proxy War Against America. Joscelyn traces the war from the embassy bombing in Beirut and collects evidence suggestive of Iran's collaboration with al Qaeda in attacks including the Khobar Towers bombing, the 1998 embassy bombings, 9/11 and the al Qaeda/Taliban "great escape" from Afghanistan in late 2001."
In addition, Joscelyn has successfully debunked the current revisionist meme circulating among Dem/Lefty/"Progressive" sources (including one particular local blog) that are downplaying the influence of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
As we know, that particular topic is a thinly disguised ploy to draw attention away from certain truths in the Iraq situation, as well as to deflect attention away from the threat we constantly face from terror.
Just more Business As Usual for those who never miss an opportunity to support their worldview through lies and distortions.
Regarding the 9-11 conspiracy nutcases
They will will never give it up despite factual evidence to the contrary.
(hat tip: Instapundit)
Noteworthy:
"Healthy skepticism, it seems, has curdled into paranoia. Wild conspiracy tales are peddled daily on the Internet, talk radio and in other media. Blurry photos, quotes taken out of context and sketchy eyewitness accounts have inspired a slew of elaborate theories: The Pentagon was struck by a missile; the World Trade Center was razed by demolition-style bombs; Flight 93 was shot down by a mysterious white jet. As outlandish as these claims may sound, they are increasingly accepted abroad and among extremists here in the United States."
(hat tip: Instapundit)
Noteworthy:
"Healthy skepticism, it seems, has curdled into paranoia. Wild conspiracy tales are peddled daily on the Internet, talk radio and in other media. Blurry photos, quotes taken out of context and sketchy eyewitness accounts have inspired a slew of elaborate theories: The Pentagon was struck by a missile; the World Trade Center was razed by demolition-style bombs; Flight 93 was shot down by a mysterious white jet. As outlandish as these claims may sound, they are increasingly accepted abroad and among extremists here in the United States."
Monday, September 10, 2007
"Oh, but this is just a freedom of speech issue."
"No, none of OUR protesters would ever deface one of these memorials. You're just saying that to stir up trouble against us!"Yeah, right.
Scumbags never care, particularly when there's an agenda item to be fulfilled, do they?
UPDATE:
Here are a series of pictures taken Sunday that reveal more of the damage.
Where's the Lame Stream coverage?
Where's the outrage?
MoveOn.org smears Petraeus
Why are we not surprised?
Excerpt:
"Let's be clear: MoveOn.org is suggesting that General Petraeus has 'betrayed' his country. This is disgusting. To attack as a traitor an American general commanding forces in war because his 'on the ground' experience does not align with MoveOn.org's political objectives is utterly shameful. It shows contempt for America's military leadership, as well as for the troops who have confidence in him, as our fellow soldiers in Iraq certainly do."
These bottom feeding scum sucking low lives of the Left will say or do anything to score political points, regardless of the cost to the nation, our military people, and the rest of our citizens.
More, from Joe Lieberman:
Excerpt:
"Let's be clear: MoveOn.org is suggesting that General Petraeus has 'betrayed' his country. This is disgusting. To attack as a traitor an American general commanding forces in war because his 'on the ground' experience does not align with MoveOn.org's political objectives is utterly shameful. It shows contempt for America's military leadership, as well as for the troops who have confidence in him, as our fellow soldiers in Iraq certainly do."
These bottom feeding scum sucking low lives of the Left will say or do anything to score political points, regardless of the cost to the nation, our military people, and the rest of our citizens.
More, from Joe Lieberman:
"As a member of the Senate Democratic caucus, I therefore call on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to denounce Moveon.org in no uncertain terms for its vile attack on Gen. Petraeus. General Petraeus deserves no less."
Read the asinine responses from some of the Nutroots.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Little Chuckie runs his mouth.....again!
Here's yet another example of the "we support our troops" big lie that's told by certain Dems/Lefties/"Progressives".
Quote:
"And let me be clear, the violence in Anbar has gone down despite the surge, not because of the surge. The inability of American soldiers to protect these tribes from al Qaeda said to these tribes we have to fight al Qaeda ourselves. It wasn’t that the surge brought peace here. It was that the warlords took peace here, created a temporary peace here."
Quote:
"And let me be clear, the violence in Anbar has gone down despite the surge, not because of the surge. The inability of American soldiers to protect these tribes from al Qaeda said to these tribes we have to fight al Qaeda ourselves. It wasn’t that the surge brought peace here. It was that the warlords took peace here, created a temporary peace here."
Gee, someone needs to give poor Chuckie the message.
The current talking point memo about Al Quaeda in Iraq is found here:
http://edcone.typepad.com/wordup/2007/09/bogeymen.html
....and here:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/052467.php
....and here:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2007_09/012011.php
You get the idea.
It's just another example of thought control tactics in anticipation of the Petraeus report, the anniversary of 9-11, the terror plot breakup in Germany this week, and warnings of a possible direct attack on America.
Combined with poor Chuckie's foot-in-mouth problem, it just adds more to the Libthink reputation for playing both ends against the middle as long as there's some political/social/economic agenda point that can be made.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
More about "Move along folks.....there's nothing to see here."
Professor Hanson has details and as usual, describes it perfectly.
Noteworthy:
"Two things seem clear here. One: There have been, and are now, plenty of Islamic terrorists and their helpers in the United States. And two: We are dangerously shortsighted about the ongoing threat they pose."
"In short, six years of quiet at home since 9/11 have fooled some into thinking that terrorists pose little danger here - or that we may be doing far too much rather than too little to stop such killers. No matter that this past week a jihadist plot to destroy U.S. facilities in Germany was thwarted."
"More naivete - or is it simple hubris?"
Based on what appears in certain national blogs, and on one particular blog locally, it's pretty clear that "hubris" is the right word.
Noteworthy:
"Two things seem clear here. One: There have been, and are now, plenty of Islamic terrorists and their helpers in the United States. And two: We are dangerously shortsighted about the ongoing threat they pose."
"In short, six years of quiet at home since 9/11 have fooled some into thinking that terrorists pose little danger here - or that we may be doing far too much rather than too little to stop such killers. No matter that this past week a jihadist plot to destroy U.S. facilities in Germany was thwarted."
"More naivete - or is it simple hubris?"
Based on what appears in certain national blogs, and on one particular blog locally, it's pretty clear that "hubris" is the right word.
The REAL cost of the war in Iraq
It's not what you might think.
Excerpt:
"But no matter how much the war costs, we are only 15 months away from an event which may make current expenditures seem like peanuts: if voters elect any of the current Democratic candidates to be our next president, we will be in for an increase in the size and cost of domestic government programs which would make Lyndon Johnson’s 'Great Society' seem like an idea from the Club for Growth."
Based on previous experience and some concrete previous examples, there is every reason to believe certain Dem/Lefty/"Progressives" are more than willing to sacrifice national security to fulfill certain political, social, and economic agenda items.
Excerpt:
"But no matter how much the war costs, we are only 15 months away from an event which may make current expenditures seem like peanuts: if voters elect any of the current Democratic candidates to be our next president, we will be in for an increase in the size and cost of domestic government programs which would make Lyndon Johnson’s 'Great Society' seem like an idea from the Club for Growth."
Based on previous experience and some concrete previous examples, there is every reason to believe certain Dem/Lefty/"Progressives" are more than willing to sacrifice national security to fulfill certain political, social, and economic agenda items.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Quotes of the Day
"Speaking at a forum organized by Lance Armstrong on cancer research, Hillary Clinton told Chris Matthews if she is elected president, she will declare war on cancer, and then she will support the war on cancer for two years, and then she will be against it for a year, and then she will back out of it all together"
-- Jay Leno
"Once you become a liberal, you can wax eloquent on the glories of the public schools while sending your kids to private school. You can wax prolix about the greedy rich while making a fortune on the side. You can even use the government to impose your values willy-nilly, from racial quotas and confiscatory tax rates to draconian environmental policies and sex-ed for grade-schoolers—all of which will paid for in part by people who disagree with you."
—Jonah Goldberg
"The argument for gun control has always been based more on utopian visions than empirical facts. That, and the Left simply does not trust an armed citizenry."
—David Niedrauer
(It's the same way with their "scientific consensus" on "global warming" too. No surprise there.)
And finally we have the Lie of the Week, printed in the N&R from the Clown Prince and Slimeball Laureate of Dem/Lefty/"Progressive" nonsense himself, Paul Krugman:
"The administration, this time relying on Gen. David Petraeus to play the Colin Powell role, has had remarkable success creating the perception that the ‘surge’ is succeeding, even though there’s not a shred of verifiable evidence to suggest that it is."
Massachusetts: Where many of the worst Libthink viruses run unabated
It's the state of my birth, and is home to one of the most interesting cities of our nation but let's be honest.
It's a cesspool of some of the absolute worst political, social, and economic nonsense and corruption this nation has ever seen.
Noteworthy:
"The viruses come in many forms: addiction to tax revenues and a raging edifice complex couched in disrespect to wage earners; phony identity politics without real results for women and minorities; reflexive anti-Americanism in foreign affairs; vain indulgence in obnoxious political correctness; self-serving featherbedding; NIMBYism; authoritarian distortion of the balance of governmental power, all simmered in a broth of hypocritical paternalism."
Nowhere is this truth more evident than in the two U.S. senators who represent the state.
It's a cesspool of some of the absolute worst political, social, and economic nonsense and corruption this nation has ever seen.
Noteworthy:
"The viruses come in many forms: addiction to tax revenues and a raging edifice complex couched in disrespect to wage earners; phony identity politics without real results for women and minorities; reflexive anti-Americanism in foreign affairs; vain indulgence in obnoxious political correctness; self-serving featherbedding; NIMBYism; authoritarian distortion of the balance of governmental power, all simmered in a broth of hypocritical paternalism."
Nowhere is this truth more evident than in the two U.S. senators who represent the state.
"Move along folks.....there's nothing to see here."
.....will be the official response from all kinds of Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" to this news.
Excerpt:
Obviously just another plot by Bush/Cheney/Rove/Rumsfeld to keep us afraid, and to drum up support for their lies, illegal war and illegal violations of the Constitution, right?
Oh wait, I forgot....Rove and Rumsfeld are gone.
No matter. They probably hatched this plot before they left, I'm sure.
Watch for the expected statements from the more stupid of the Usual Suspects.
The few smarter ones will keep their mouthes shut, or make some meaningless remarks, particularly considering the nearness to the 9/11 date, and the forthcoming Petreaus report.
check out the thread and comments at Captain's Quarters.
This comment accurately predicts the reaction we'll get from the Nutroots:
"....the meme will be that the CIA planted the explosives on these peaceful (but justifiably angry at US) Muslims in order for Chimpy McHilterburton to justify spying on US citizens."
Excerpt:
"German Federal Prosecutor Monika Harms said the three suspects, two of whom were German converts to Islam, had trained at camps in Pakistan run by the Islamic Jihad Union, a group based in Central Asia. They had obtained some 1,500 pounds of hydrogen peroxide for making explosives.
'We were able to succeed in recognizing and preventing the most serious and massive bombings,' Harms told reporters. She declined to name specific targets, but said the suspects had an eye on institutions and establishments frequented by Americans in Germany, including discos, pubs and airports."Obviously just another plot by Bush/Cheney/Rove/Rumsfeld to keep us afraid, and to drum up support for their lies, illegal war and illegal violations of the Constitution, right?
Oh wait, I forgot....Rove and Rumsfeld are gone.
No matter. They probably hatched this plot before they left, I'm sure.
Watch for the expected statements from the more stupid of the Usual Suspects.
The few smarter ones will keep their mouthes shut, or make some meaningless remarks, particularly considering the nearness to the 9/11 date, and the forthcoming Petreaus report.
check out the thread and comments at Captain's Quarters.
This comment accurately predicts the reaction we'll get from the Nutroots:
"....the meme will be that the CIA planted the explosives on these peaceful (but justifiably angry at US) Muslims in order for Chimpy McHilterburton to justify spying on US citizens."
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
The tide continues to turn in Iraq
As witnessed by the situation in Anbar.
And yes, it's the result of real progress in completing the mission.
Noteworthy:
"Stripping the U.S. effort of the forces needed to continue this strategy, as some in Washington and elsewhere are demanding, will most likely destroy the progress already made and lay the groundwork for collapse in Iraq and the destabilization of the region. President Bush clearly understands this fact, as his choice of venue in Iraq demonstrates. We should all understand the significance of the president’s presence in Anbar. With a little good fortune and the continued pursuit of a successful strategy, this visit could well mark a key turning point in the war in Iraq and the war on terror."
And yes, it's the result of real progress in completing the mission.
Noteworthy:
"Stripping the U.S. effort of the forces needed to continue this strategy, as some in Washington and elsewhere are demanding, will most likely destroy the progress already made and lay the groundwork for collapse in Iraq and the destabilization of the region. President Bush clearly understands this fact, as his choice of venue in Iraq demonstrates. We should all understand the significance of the president’s presence in Anbar. With a little good fortune and the continued pursuit of a successful strategy, this visit could well mark a key turning point in the war in Iraq and the war on terror."
The Proxy War in Iraq
This is the situation that the Dems/Lefties/"Progressives" don't want you to think about or understand.
"Iran, and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, have been actively involved in supporting Shia militias and encouraging sectarian violence in Iraq since the invasion of 2003-and Iranian planning and preparation for that effort began as early as 2002. The precise purposes of this support are unclear and may have changed over time. But one thing is very clear: Iran has consistently supplied weapons, its own advisors, and Lebanese Hezbollah advisors to multiple resistance groups in Iraq, both Sunni and Shia, and has supported these groups as they have targeted Sunni Arabs, Coalition forces, Iraqi Security Forces, and the Iraqi Government itself.
Their influence runs from Kurdistan to Basrah, and Coalition sources report that by August 2007, Iranian-backed insurgents accounted for roughly half the attacks on Coalition forces, a dramatic change from previous periods that had seen the overwhelming majority of attacks coming from the Sunni Arab insurgency and al Qaeda.
The Coalition has stepped-up its efforts to combat Iranian intervention in Iraq in recent months both because the Iranians have increased their support for violence in Iraq since the start of the surge and because Coalition successes against al Qaeda in Iraq and the larger Sunni Arab insurgency have permitted the re-allocation of resources and effort against a problem that has plagued attempts to establish a stable government in Iraq from the outset. With those problems increasingly under control, Iranian intervention is the next major problem the Coalition must tackle."
"Iran, and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, have been actively involved in supporting Shia militias and encouraging sectarian violence in Iraq since the invasion of 2003-and Iranian planning and preparation for that effort began as early as 2002. The precise purposes of this support are unclear and may have changed over time. But one thing is very clear: Iran has consistently supplied weapons, its own advisors, and Lebanese Hezbollah advisors to multiple resistance groups in Iraq, both Sunni and Shia, and has supported these groups as they have targeted Sunni Arabs, Coalition forces, Iraqi Security Forces, and the Iraqi Government itself.
Their influence runs from Kurdistan to Basrah, and Coalition sources report that by August 2007, Iranian-backed insurgents accounted for roughly half the attacks on Coalition forces, a dramatic change from previous periods that had seen the overwhelming majority of attacks coming from the Sunni Arab insurgency and al Qaeda.
The Coalition has stepped-up its efforts to combat Iranian intervention in Iraq in recent months both because the Iranians have increased their support for violence in Iraq since the start of the surge and because Coalition successes against al Qaeda in Iraq and the larger Sunni Arab insurgency have permitted the re-allocation of resources and effort against a problem that has plagued attempts to establish a stable government in Iraq from the outset. With those problems increasingly under control, Iranian intervention is the next major problem the Coalition must tackle."
This is what we face in the middle east next, whether the not-so loyal opposition likes it or not.
And it makes it VERY clear that we can not afford to elect ANY of the Dem presidential candidates next November.
The American public is not stupid . They are beginning to understand the truth contained in the previous paragraph.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Congratulations Appalachian!
At least one of our local interest David and Goliath sports stories worked out.
It's too bad John Isner couldn't cut down on the unforced errors.
Otherwise, we could have gone 2 for 2 today in winning the Battles of the Biblical Allegories.
It's too bad John Isner couldn't cut down on the unforced errors.
Otherwise, we could have gone 2 for 2 today in winning the Battles of the Biblical Allegories.
"Objectivity? We don' need no stinkin' objectivity. We're JOURNALISTS!"
Here's your "global warming" True Believer nonsense item of the day.
Editor&Publisher columnist Steve Outing publishes a non tongue in cheek piece urging journalists to forget about objectivity when it comes to writing about "global warming."
He obviously needs no fact checking either when it comes to the over-the-top True Believer hype he repeats as gospel:
"There's clearly scientific consensus that humans are altering the planet's climate, and that the effect is accelerating. Stronger hurricanes, melting glaciers and sea ice, worse wildfires and longer fire seasons, more severe droughts and flooding, and more frequent bizarre weather events overall. "
As we have often detailed here and elsewhere, there is NO empirical evidence that that type of reasoning is true.
Here's the fun part, contained in a reply comments, where the writer is rightly taken to task for his stance.
The best reply:
"Your whole contention about newspapers giving up objectivity, so as to battle global warming, is akin to a whore giving up her virginity to honor Santa Claus.
Both are incapable of giving up something already long gone for some collective fantasy."
(hat tip: Amy Ridenour)
Editor&Publisher columnist Steve Outing publishes a non tongue in cheek piece urging journalists to forget about objectivity when it comes to writing about "global warming."
He obviously needs no fact checking either when it comes to the over-the-top True Believer hype he repeats as gospel:
"There's clearly scientific consensus that humans are altering the planet's climate, and that the effect is accelerating. Stronger hurricanes, melting glaciers and sea ice, worse wildfires and longer fire seasons, more severe droughts and flooding, and more frequent bizarre weather events overall. "
As we have often detailed here and elsewhere, there is NO empirical evidence that that type of reasoning is true.
Here's the fun part, contained in a reply comments, where the writer is rightly taken to task for his stance.
The best reply:
"Your whole contention about newspapers giving up objectivity, so as to battle global warming, is akin to a whore giving up her virginity to honor Santa Claus.
Both are incapable of giving up something already long gone for some collective fantasy."
(hat tip: Amy Ridenour)
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