Sunday, August 31, 2008

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Side by Side Comparison - Obama vs Palin

Redstate
Obviously not written by an Obama supporter but there is some truth in spite of a bit of snark.

She's Got the Right Instincts

NRO
Critics are already trying to damn Sarah Palin for her perceived lack of foreign-policy experience, but what they are not allowing for is something more important — that she has the right basic attitudes and sense of priorities. She understands that aggression has to be resisted and commitments have to be honored.

David Broder Blasts Obama

Chronicle of the Conspiracy
David Broder skewers Obama a la Iowahawk.

Quote of the Day

Hot Air - Ed Morrissey
Would you rather have the man who set the trap dealing with our enemies abroad, or the man who fell into it?

It's the Character Stupid

Bill Whittle argues reasonably and persuasively, on a lefty blog, about the real reason for choosing Sarah Palin. I stumbled across this at Brutally Honest but follow the link to Whittle's full comments. They are excellent.

I think, for me, it's a sense that this is an honest person - not just another politician. A breath of fresh air in a honorable profession gone bad. She convinces you through the strength of her character and beliefs not through triangulation. She does not see gaining office as a quest for power but as a sacred duty in the service of others. Kinda like our forefathers when they pledged their sacred honor when signing the Declaration of Independence.

Perhaps my expectations are too high. I think not. I hope not.

I know some folks read and participate on lefty blogs in order to understand the opposite point of view and to argue the conservative point of view. Whittle has done this masterfully. I applaud those who can do this, I can't. I have little patience for the left's arguments.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Now Blogging at ASHC

I have been invited to blog at A Second Hand Conjecture. Look for me in the "Around the Web". Look for me there

House GOP Rejects Dems Disingenuous Offer of Compromise

Hot Air - Ed Morrissey
Unlike some of their colleagues in the Senate, House Republicans have rejected a minimal effort to compromise offered by Nancy Pelosi on energy policy. After floating a proposal that would have allowed very limited drilling in exchange for windfall-profits taxes and depletion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Pelosi got the door slammed in her face by the GOP members participating in the House Oil Party this month. Their message — follow or get out of the way.
Two important points. Why we should not use the SPR.
That notion belies the entire underpinning of the Democratic policy on domestic production. They claim that we “cannot drill our way out of this crisis,” and yet the SPR release would temporarily do what expanded domestic production would do for decades. If one cannot produce one’s way out of a supply crisis, then what effect would an SPR release have? At the same time, with a war in the Caucasus and Americans fighting in two theaters in Asia, not only would a reduction in the SPR make the military more vulnerable to supply disruptions, it would require us to replace what gets depleted. If we’re not producing our own oil to do that, we’ll only raise prices again as we stoke demand.
And why we need to stop supporting the bad guys.
And now we have yet another reason to start producing our own oil. Vladimir Putin has rebuilt his empire-hungry nation’s military strength on the high price of crude oil and natural gas — prices we support with our demands on the international market. Any long-term strategy of containment regarding Moscow has to include a deep cut to the price supports for crude oil. The best way we can effect that is to vastly increase our own production (and refinement) of oil, and get out of the international market. Prices will drop dramatically, and Russia, Iran, Sudan, and other problem nations will suddenly have a lot less cash with which to make trouble.

That Rightward swing that comes with age and experience

Dissecting Leftism
Wow! This is a good example. The almost libertarian article below was written by none other than George McGovern, in the 1970s a far Leftist and Democratic party Presidential candidate. He really gets it now

McGovern's article

Above My Pay Grade

Blogs for Victory
Obama sez:
Whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity is, you know, above my pay grade.
An observer comments:
That spectacularly inept metaphor is going to haunt Obama throughout the rest of the campaign. News flash: There’s not a job on the planet above the pay grade of the President of the United States.
Whatever your position, a leader must take a stand. He must draw a line in the sand. Obama is clearly not a leader. He is a remarkable manipulator, but not a leader.


Increase Legal Immigrant Quota

Greg Mankiw
Alan Greenspan argues it would be a help to the housing market in addition to other benefits.
The most effective initiative, though politically difficult, would be a major expansion in quotas for skilled immigrants
Business had been calling for increased quotas for skilled labor for years. We need to increase and streamline the immigration process for legal, skilled labor and shut down the inflow of illegal immigration.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Awakening in Pakistan?

The Strata-Sphere
In an unprecedented development, an armed Lashkar in Buner district recently hunted down and killed six militants allegedly involved in killing cops in Kingargali. The operation shows that the people of Buner, Dir Upper and Dir Lower have stood up against the Taliban militants sneaking into these hitherto peaceful areas after Bajaur and Swat military operations.


Feminist Male Bashing in the Democrat Platform?

Instapundit
Who would have ever thunk of such a thing.
If the Democratic Party is interested in garnering men’s votes, one certainly would not know it from their platform. The Democratic National Committee’s "Renewing America's Promise" is bad news for American fathers.
And by extension, bad news for families and kids.

McCain to Advertize Where?

Hot Air
How interesting. Maybe the McCain campaign is beginning to break out of its slump.
What better way to reach potential voters than to provide a series of 60-second counterpoints to the rhetoric in Denver?

Friday, August 15, 2008

Gas Pipeline in the Works

IBD
As congressional Democrats dither on a vote for oil drilling, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has pushed through a gas pipeline project to bring new supply and price relief to the lower 48.

Your Local Nuclear Reactor

Next Big Future
Hyperion Power Module (HPM), a small, compact, transportable, nuclear power reactor.

Good News From Pakistan?

The Strata-Sphere
Is the Paki army stepping up to the plate? News that they may have uncovered an Al Qaeda hive and are making good progress against it.
Pakistan’s interior ministry chief said Friday that over 460 Islamic militants and 22 soldiers have been killed in more than a week of fighting in a tribal area bordering Afghanistan
I hate to see any good guys die but a 20 to 1 ratio ain't bad. Of course we should be cautious with any news coming out of these remote areas.

Another Crack in the Wall

Right Wing News
Crap like this is happening all the time. Eventually the wall will fall.
The idiocracy has taken another small step toward its goal of reducing Americans to ignorant, useless, government-dependent farm animals that can be raised for votes the way chickens are raised for eggs:
Dallas public school students who flunk tests, blow off homework and
miss assignment deadlines can make up the work without penalty, under
new rules that have angered many teachers.

Problem Mongering - Surest Path to Power

Foundation for Economic Freedom via Dissecting Leftism
Why are optimists about the state of the world disproportionately represented by classical liberals, libertarians, and free- market conservatives, while pessimists about the state of the world are disproportionately represented by statists?

Why do left-leaning media such as the New York Times and CNN devote so much ink and airtime alleging that middle-class Americans have made little or no economic progress over the past 35 years and that the planet continues to spiral into imminent catastrophe?

Answer:
Quite simply, problem-mongering is the surest path to power. No matter how good things are, we humans can always imagine them being even better. No matter how clearly the data show progress, data can be cherry-picked and interpreted to make matters appear grim.
This is how you manipulate the sheeple.

Obama's New Tax Plan - Creating More Dependecy

Chronicles of the Conspiracy
Obama wants to make it worse, shopping for voters by his tax plan to cut 17 million more in on a free ride in America.

Answering Russia's Aggression

Blogs For Victory
The United States and Poland reached a long-stalled deal on Thursday to place an American missile defense base on Polish territory, in the strongest reaction so far to Russia’s military operation in Georgia.
He argues that the US is the clear world power and Russia cannot exist on its own.
Next up, the Baltic States - we really need to teach Russia a lesson about which nation is the super power and which nation is the rapidly declining power of the second rank. Putin and his gang seem to labor under the illusion that Russia has the strength to stand on her own in the world - she doesn’t. Russia either gives up her imperial ambitions and agrees to alliance with the United States (after, of course, becoming a full democracy), or Russia will eventually find itself the conscript ally of China. There is only one way Russia retains her Asian territories beyond 2050, and that is in alliance with the United States.
Lastly, he calls the US the "bulwark of western civilization". I agree. Europe birthed the ideas of freedom and enlightenment but is losing its way today. The ideals of the Magna Charta and the French Revolution live on in the US Constitution.


Is That A Light At The End Of The Tunnel?

Blogs For Victory
New polls in a NJ race suggest a stronger Republican showing than anticipated.
As I keep saying, this is going to be an interesting year - and throw out all those ideas you had of predicting the outcome. Its really all up in the air, from top of the ticket to bottom.


What Happens When We Elect Children

American Thinker
This guys blasts Clinton and then Obama. I gotta agree. I think Clinton was a national disaster and a disgrace. Obama is just a child - way in over his head.
Our nation once elected wise men. It now votes for small children like Clinton and Obama. Panting for power and fame has replaced fighting for principles, often alone.

Can anyone imagine Clinton or Obama doing anything... alone? Government is, to them, a toy, an object of amusement, a super-sized television set. The blood that brave men and women shed for them each day so that we may be safe and free means nothing to immature schoolchildren like Clinton and Obama. Human freedom, served to them on a silver platter all their lives, requires no cost -- they never had to pay for it did they? -- and so it requires no blood, no sweat, no tears.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Fairness Doctrine Gaining Ground

All American Blogger
This is scary. The sheeple are being swayed by the Orwellian use of the term "fairness".
Nearly half of Americans (47%) believe the government should require all radio and television stations to offer equal amounts of conservative and liberal political commentary, but they draw the line at imposing that same requirement on the Internet. Thirty-nine percent (39%) say leave radio and TV alone, too.
It appears they don't want to manage the internet yet, but if this gains momentum, I doubt that will last long.

Moonbats At Work

Brutally Honest
Russians were told over breakfast yesterday what really happened in Georgia: the conflict in South Ossetia was part of a plot by Dick Cheney, the Vice-President, to stop Barak Obama being elected president of the United States.


Fred Thompson Shoots From the Hip

The Patriot Room
This is no time to elect a president whose international experience is limited to speaking to adoring European crowds who want to see the United States retreat from the world … until they require our help in the next crisis that threatens them.
...
This election cycle, the traffic in the world is very heavy …and dangerous; it’s no time to give a kid with barely a learner’s permit the keys to the car.



Islamist's Ulterior Motive?

Jihad Watch
The world Salafists' ultimate wish is to see the two infidel superpowers at odds with each other again; and that is happening. The combat-Jihadists want bloodshed both in Moscow and in Washington now and in the future. The long-term Wahabis likes the idea of an American demobilization against Jihadism and a re-mobilization against Russia. Ending the War on Terror and reigniting the Cold war is the ultimate fantasy of the oil producing fundamentalist powers.


A Strategic Reason for Helping the Third World

NRO
A lesson from Iraq, but it is more than Iraq. It pertains to all third world countries. Helping others is a good thing but it is also in our best interest. Funny how it works out that way.
... rebuilding the city and putting its people to work is in America’s strategic interest. Clean water, abundant electricity, well-paved roads, open schools, teeming markets — these are America’s most potent weapons in limiting the propagation of al Qaeda’s worldview.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

When: We Move Too Far Left

Townhall
Perhaps a bit dramatic but it does make one think about which way we may be headed.
When: We give up on the dream of America that was so forcefully and heroically espoused by our Founding Fathers, we will be left with nothing more than a faint memory of what was once, the greatest nation on the face of the earth.

VDH on the New World Order

NRO
Brace yourself — we may be on our way back to an old world, where the strong do as they will, and the weak suffer as they must.
Also see here

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Economic Optimism Rising

IBD
The IBD/TIPP index of consumer optimism soared 14.4% in August to 42.8, its highest reading since February

Senate Ethics a contradiction in terms

Hot Air
Ed Morrissey explains Senate ethics.
For some reason, they don’t seem offended by a Senator who earmarks millions of dollars to benefit bundlers raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for a presidential campaign. It gives a clear indication of the backwardness of Senate ethics. A member can sell himself out to campaign contributors and not even garner a raised eyebrow from the ethics watchdogs, but deliver a baby? Stone the crows!

Hezbollah in Latin America

EEPC Publication
Are these guys just gnats or is this something we need to not ignore?
Hezbollah continues ambitiously to spread its influence beyond the Middle East. It has successfully penetrated pockets of Africa and South America.

The "black" Elephant in the Room

Brutally Honest
Don't know if this guy is for real. He has a website. Gotta love this rant though. Won't help Obama when he pulls the race card.
White people gotta walk on white eggshells.


Is a Shakeup worth the Risk?

Instapundit
As much as I like seeing the Libertarians challenge the status quo, the problem of bleeding away Republican votes and thereby strengthening Obama, remains.
While victory may currently appear out of reach, many states are shaping up to be a photo finish between Obama and McCain. Bob Barr may well have more of an impact on the 2008 presidential election than many would have suspected or desired.

Monday, August 11, 2008

George Will is Not Happy

Townhall
George will is on fire also. He covers a lot of ground while interjecting biting comments of the state of events in the US.
America's trivializing presidential campaign
This in the second sentence and it just keeps getting better till the end.

Liberal Means What?

Townhall
Dennis Prager on fire. Notice the Orwellian shift in the term "liberal". It does not mean today, what it meant thirty years ago. Hence the description "classic liberal" for some parts of today's Libertarians.
The following is a list of beliefs that I hold. Nearly every one of them was a liberal position until the late 1960s. Not one of them is now.

A New World Order?

Fox Forum
Kinda like the old world order.
And so if the world isn’t becoming more like the West, then what is it becoming like? The answer, most likely, is that the world is going to revert back to the way it was before the US won World War Two and imposed a Pax Americana on what we called “The Free World.” Pre-1945, there were lots of great powers jockeying around, fighting proxy wars constantly, attacking each other when it suited them. And now, it seems, we are returning back to that world.


How to Answer a Question

Newmark's Door
It's a shame we actually need to spell this out but, what he said.
We shouldn't have to excuse, or to tolerate, any other answer. There should be no defense for politicians lying to voters. It corrupts our political system. The sooner we, as voters, demand it stop, the better off we'll all be.


Sunday, August 10, 2008

Leaking News from Hilary's Campaign

The Patriot Room
Two issues here. One is that she failed as an executive and could not manage the competing opinions within her campaign. Two, the opinion of her chief strategist.
Penn, the presidential campaign’s chief strategist, wrote in a memo to Clinton excerpted in the article: "I cannot imagine America electing a president during a time of war who is not at his center fundamentally American in his thinking and in his values."
The Patriot Room adds this:
Hillary had all the ammo and didn’t use it. The Atlantic article is an expose of the discord and mayhem in the Clinton campaign, which is useful for navel gazing, but the take-away is the lesson of how McCain, a traditional, patriotic American, can beat the man who is American by birth only.
Will McCain run with this and attack Obama head on even as Obama attempts to protect himself from criticism by labeling it racist?

Categorizing Your Political Opponents

American Digest
Looks like Gerard has returned from his summer hiatus. Very funny

Manipulating the Weather

Impact Lab
Fascinating.
Beijing fired over 1,000 rain dispersal rockets on Friday evening to blow away rain clouds for the smooth opening ceremony of the 29th Olympic Games at the National Stadium

Miracle of Modern Technology

Wired
Webcams make experts available.
If a stroke specialist can see and hear their patient, zoom in on their pupils and facial muscles, and ask them questions, they are far more likely to offer the right advice. In fact, experts who examined patients with the webcam made the right decision 98 percent of the time, compared to 82 percent when they simply talked to the emergency room doctor by phone.

Orwellian Doublespeak - a Democratic View of democracy

Wizbang
"Democrat" has two meanings. As a proper, capitalized noun, it means, simply, "a member of the Democratic party." But when it's a lower-case "d," though, it means considerably more:

Can the markets predict the Presidential election?

Economist
Many people believe in the acumen of those who participate in the Iowa Electronic Markets. Their “winner takes all” contract strongly favours Barack Obama at the moment, with a price of just over 62 (the winner gets 100, the loser gets zero). That probably reflects the opinion surveys: in CNN’s poll of polls the Illinois senator currently has a five-percentage point lead.

But maybe investors can get just as a good a guide from the stockmarket. Sam Stovall, the chief investment strategist of Standard & Poor’s, has investigated the performance of the markets in the three months (August through October) leading up to the presidential vote.

Confusion in the GOP Ranks

Right Wing News
One thing the Dems do well is manage their folks and stay on message. We don't have a unifying "head" of the party. We don't have a philosophical leader or a party leader.

Good News for Oil

Redstate
If the trend continues into September at anything like the same rate of descent, most of the inflationary spike of the past 12 months will miraculously have been sliced away.

The Big Question About John Edwards is Really About Us

Redstate
But why did it take so long for us to be able to see John Edwards as he truly is? Surely, we could as a nation vet better.

But They Are All "Good Kids"

Pajamas Media
This article is about increasing heroin addiction in our young people. But, it's more than than that. The article looks to the underlying cause. A generation of parents who have raised a generation of kids that can't cope with life.
They were not taught what to do when things don’t go your way because things always were made to go their way.


Gloomy News from Detroit

No Left Turns
It's been a bumpy road for Detroit's Big Three automakers for the past few years. But it may get worse.

Some experts fear that GM, Ford and Chrysler - their sales plunging as fewer consumers buy gas-guzzling pickups and SUVs - could be forced to head for bankruptcy.

This does not bode well for the R&D capital required to move into the post gasoline era.

Lopping Off Heads

Long War Journal
Figuratively speaking. We are decapitating the Taliban, just like we did Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Several Taliban shadow governors have been killed or arrested this year by security forces.

Leaking News from Hilary's Campaign

The Patriot Room
Two issues here. One is that she failed as an executive and could not manage the competing opinions within her campaign. Two, the opinion of her chief strategist.
Penn, the presidential campaign’s chief strategist, wrote in a memo to Clinton excerpted in the article: "I cannot imagine America electing a president during a time of war who is not at his center fundamentally American in his thinking and in his values."
The Patriot Room adds this:
Hillary had all the ammo and didn’t use it. The Atlantic article is an expose of the discord and mayhem in the Clinton campaign, which is useful for navel gazing, but the take-away is the lesson of how McCain, a traditional, patriotic American, can beat the man who is American by birth only.
Will McCain run with this and attack Obama head on even as Obama attempts to protect himself from criticism by labeling it racist?

Saturday, August 9, 2008

The Olympics Follows the Path of Other Dysfunctional World Organization

American Thinker
International Olympic Committee, the rogue group that delivered the economic windfall that hosting an Olympics brings to the police state of China.

The Myth of Multitasking

New Atlantis
And given what neuroscience and anecdotal evidence have shown us, this state of constant intentional self-distraction could well be of profound detriment to individual and cultural well-being. When people do their work only in the “interstices of their mind-wandering,” with crumbs of attention rationed out among many competing tasks, their culture may gain in information, but it will surely weaken in wisdom.

For the Movie Buffs

Friday, August 8, 2008

Power Corrupts ...

Conservatism Today
I was thinking about this and then I saw this article already written. A lesson at the expense of John Edwards. A caution about big egos.
And therein lies the real lesson of the day. Those whose ideals would lead to a growing government power over the individual are harmful to all of us. For the more government can exercise control over the common man, the more likely that some of those common men and women will be seduced by the promise of power and will achieve the egocentrism and corruption that is likely to follow. This is one of the big reasons why socialism will never provide for its people what the free market can.

Who's Got Hope?

Pat Dollard
For the first time the idea began to take hold that John McCain can win this thing.

Persistence Works

Red State

Appeasement encourages them to continue with terrorism and persistence causes them to change their mind. This sounds like something many of us have been saying for while now.
Leaders of al-Nassir Salah al-Din Army, a Sunni militant group, declared they would renounce violence and form a political party called the National Front of Iraq's Liberals to compete in elections. "We found out that armed action will not get the United States out of Iraq," said Majid Ali Enad, the group's leader. "After five years of directing painful blows to them, they did not budge from a single meter in the country."


What This Says is Violence Wins

Powerline
Freedom loses.
In May Random House killed publication of the book when it was warned not only that "publication of this book might be offensive to some in the Muslim community, but also that it could incite acts of violence by a small, radical segment." Random House decided not to proceed with publication out of concern for "the safety of the author, employees of Random House, booksellers and anyone else who would be involved in distribution and sale of the novel."

This is Fun

No Left Turns
George McGovern lashes out at his fellow Democrats for supporting "card check" legislation
Think about that just a bit. Let it sink in. Then rad the last sentence of this article
George McGovern the right wing of the Democratic party?
George McGovern is to the right of the current Democratic party?

Edward's True Colors Show

Conservatism Today
Where do these guys come from? How can they stand in front of an entire nation and lie to us with a straight face? How do people like this ever get to the positions of power they have arrived at? This may say something about us as much as it says about Edwards.

Appeasement Still Does Not Work

Commentary
Doesn't matter how many times you try it.
The cracks in your steadfastness encouraged us greatly and proved that this method [suicide attacks] is very effective.

Early Rumblings of the Civilian Response Corps

Commentary

Read about half way down to get to this part:
Now the office, in cooperation with the U.S. Agency for International Development, will begin fielding a Civilian Response Corps of federal experts who can deploy abroad.
I like this idea but I don't think the State Department, or any other civilian bureaucracy, can make this happen. The military can make it happen but it is not their primary mission.

Shades of the Sopranos

Michelle Malkin
The fascist portion of the liberal left reveals itself.
Nearly 10,000 of the biggest donors to Republican candidates and causes across the country will probably receive a foreboding “warning” letter in the mail next week.

Tips to Avoid ID Theft

Hot Security News
To help you keep your identity in shape without overly restricting your daily transactions, EDS Security and Privacy experts have identified EDS' eight tips to help consumers protect themselves from identity theft while still being able to share relevant information with those who need it:

Conservatives Are Happier

Reasearchblogging
In short, conservatives are less upset by inequality because they believe people generally get what they deserve in life.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Pump New Oil By When?

Powerline
Some new oil could begin pumping in just a year.
A report from Wall Street research house Sanford C. Bernstein says that California actually could start producing new oil within one year if the moratoria were lifted.
This is no the "10 years till we get oil" we have been hearing. This is exactly what we need to ameliorate the short term demand while the car industry gears up, nuclear power comes on line and alternative sources of energy production mature.

YouTube Hits Favor McCain

Instapundit
Other indicators moving in McCain's direction.
Mr. McCain has beat Mr. Obama's channel for seven straight days and 11 of the past 14 days, in a signal he intends to compete for the YouTube vote. That is a giant reversal. Mr. Obama had been quadrupling Mr. McCain's YouTube views and beat him every day since February, according to TubeMogul, which tracks online video viewing.

The Case for Obama as a Marxist/Socialist

Conservatism Today
Ouch - this could leave a mark.

81% Say Drill Now

Congress Ill Equipped to Manage Our Money

Conservatism Today
and there’s no reason to suppose that Congress can judge better than private individuals how best to use resources.

BADS In The News Today

Commentary
Obama opines:
“America is …, uh, is no longer, uh … what it could be, what it once was. And I say to myself, I don’t want that future for my children.”

Tax Rebates Are Bribes?

Positive Liberty
Or, in the absence of the ability to change the tax structure, is it a method to reduce net taxes? What do you think?

Blame America Derangement Syndrome

Instapundit
I'm starting a new term - BADS. Kinda like blame America first.
"From the get go, they tried very hard to not be American. They succeeded." And they got great press on how much smarter than Americans they were, until things were obviously in the toilet, at which point the problem became America's fault!

Groucho Marx on Politics

Newmark's Door
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies."

Congressional Perks

A little humor to illustrate the bubble these guys live in.
Dear Boss,

I have enjoyed working here these past several years. You have paid me very well, given me benefits beyond belief.

I have 3-4 months off per year and a pension plan that will pay my salary till the day I die, at which time my spouse will then receive it until they die and a health plan that most people can only dream about.

Despite this I plan to take the next 12-18 months to find a new position. During this time I will show up for work when it is convenient. In addition I fully expect to draw my full salary and all the other perks associated with my current job.

Oh yeah, if my search for this new job proves fruitless, I will be back with no loss in pay or status.


Before you say anything, remember that you have no choice in the matter. I can and will do this.

Sincerely,

Every Senator or Congressman running for President.

Now you try this at your present job and tell me how it works out.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Gaddafi Warns Iran of Military Humiliation

Tigerhawk
This is an amazing tidbit.
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Tuesday warned "arrogant" Iran that it faces military humiliation on the scale of Iraq for its refusal to respond to Western powers over a nuclear impasse.

Is the Obama Baloon Losing Air?

Pajamas Media
It remains an open question whether the punditocracy has really begun a course correction in assessing Obama or is simply evidencing a mild bout of remorse for its own excesses.

But the question of whether Obama could forever retain his Teflon coating and stifle concerns about serious weaknesses in his record and character has been answered. The answer we have learned, from liberal pundits no less, is a resounding “no.”

AGW and Resilence

Belmont Club
But you need energy to adapt. Fuel to move food to flooded areas; evacuate victims. Moderate excessive heat; warm against excessive cold. Rebuild after storms. All this requires energy. What does it mean when, in the name of reducing carbon emissions, we reduce our civilizational energy sources and thereby reduce our resilience? Who has thought this through?’


Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Hirsi Ali on Islam

Jihad Watch
Islam, as a creed, is the problem, depending on how you define the problem and I define it as the ideas of Mohammed are incompatible with the ideas that liberal secular democracies are based on.
And she is not using the word liberal as we use it to describe the "left" in America today. This is Classic Liberal.
The interviewer here is intent on portraying Islam and Christianity as essentially identical in character, but Hirsi Ali, who certainly holds no brief for Christianity, is able to tell him some truths anyway.


Healthcare Solutions

Instapundit
The "solution" is either socialized medicine (with government control over costs and availability) or competition and transparency. The latter should be the American solution.
There's that transparency word again.

Bolton on Iran

Commentary
What part of "no" don't we understand?

Is the Bush administration just "spent"? Except for the Iraqi surge it seems they are unable to apply pressure anywhere, or even worse, they seem to be backing away entirely in some cases. North Korea?, Gaza?, Syria?, Lebanon?, Iran?. What happened to the "axis of evil"?

Pelosi Dishonest Manipulation

All American Blogger
She is telling Democrats who face a tough fight for re-election to tell their constituents that they will back drilling for oil, but to not really mean it. As the Democrats see it, they will own Washington come November, and it won’t matter then. They can do what they want:

Adventures in Flying

Wired
The world's biggest jetliner brings back the golden era of air travel when flying was an event so grand men wore ties and women wore furs - if you've got $14,000, that is.

Be Safe Online

PC World
A little precaution goes a long way. Protect yourself from malicious viruses and from spambot infection. The spambots are successful because they are able to take over unprotected machines.

A Better Way to Look at Debt?

Skeptical Optimist
I think the portion of tax receipts it takes to pay the net interest (interest on publicly-held debt) is more to the point. It’s affected not only by the size of the debt and the size of the economy, but also by interest rates. In the last ten years it has dropped from 15% to its current level of 10%.

Seven Principles of Sound Public Policy

Newmark's Door
  • Free people are not equal, and equal people are not free.
  • What belongs to you, you tend to take care of;
  • what belongs to no one or everyone tends to fall into disrepair.
  • Sound policy requires that we consider long-run effects and all people, not simply short-run effects and a few people.
  • If you encourage something, you get more of it; if you discourage something, you get less of it.
  • Nobody spends somebody else's money as carefully as he spends his own.
  • Government has nothing to give anybody except what it first takes from somebody, and a government that's big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you've got.
  • Liberty makes all the difference in the world.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Crticism of Obama is Just

Tigerhawk lays it out pretty clearly.
It's a legitimate criticism. And the parallels to Hilton and Spears are spot on - they sell millions of records and get tons of attention for not much in the way of permanent accomplishment (or talent). They all have a decent voice, sort of.

Transparency is the Key to Controlling Costs

The Next Right
I've mentioned this before. Wasn't Congress supposed to set up some data base to allow this? Didn't Pork-Busters work on this? This is good stuff but doesn't seem new.

Secret Deal Between the Brits and al Sadr?

Jawa Report
Is this for real? Early news so far. Let's wait for corroboration.

A Critical Look at Obama's Record

Human Events
This guy has about the thinnest resume lately for a presidential candidate. It's about time someone got the news out.

Are All Profits Equally Bad to Obama?

Redstate
If making "windfall" profits is greedy and a threat to our economy and way of life, why hasn't the Senator spoken out against Google?

Spend Money on the US Economy First?

Instapundit
Sounds selfish - but let him explain.
Only an economically vibrant America can help solve some of the vexing problems around the globe. But the American economy is suffering a downturn. Until we turn it around and produce a long-term economic recovery, we will not be as effective in leading the world to solve the larger global challenges.
The US is the economic engine for the world. Get this economy roaring and the world economies will rise with it. Remember the rising tide adage?

Some Sensible Thoughts for the Elititst Left

Fox Forum
Lanny Davis was one of the most partisan left voices - seems he is shifting a bit.
It’s time for Democrats to kill the undemocratic and elitist caucus system for selecting national convention delegates for the presidential nomination. Instead, all delegates should be selected in primaries.


Cellulosic Ethanaol Expanding Slowly

IBD


Lots of new technology to be worked out here. This is supposed to take the pressure off food based (corn) ethanol. Still will be a decade to see production quantities, if we are lucky.



Unlike corn-derived ethanol, it does not divert land from food production. It also takes far less water and energy to produce. And cellulosic would emit 86% less greenhouse gas than gasoline, the Energy Department estimates.


Gotta Hold the Middle

The Stratasphere
Good news for McCain.
In one week McCain has gained 15 points with the independent middle of the electorate. That is a stunning change, and one I do not think is done playing out.
And then read the last paragraph:
Obama lost control of his PR team, who started treating him just like a brain dead celeb. And it was not hard to see it happening.
And then go read this prior article.

Some Downside to Indicting Stevens

The Next Right
Nothing is ever simple. It seems like a good idea to indict a guy for lining his pockets, but maybe not from a strategery point of view.

Sanctuary Cities Break the Law and Endanger our Citizens

NRO
But the reality is that many of our largest cities have defied federal law and have adopted sanctuary policies that protect illegal aliens from enforcement agencies.

The Big Lie

Jihad Watch
Think about that in the context of the Organization of the Islamic Conference's attempts to compel the UN to outlaw all criticism of Islam, and the international riots against the Muhammad cartoons that led up to these attempts.


Not Perfect, But All in All, a Standup Guy

Instapundit
But he stood strong and he restored honor and dignity in the White House. He has endured some of the worst abuse from the Left and its enablers — Al Gore’s loony attempt to litigate the election was rewarded with a Nobel Prize. Bush has repaid his critics with kindness instead of finger wagging. His wife has not made paranoiac claims of conspiracy.
Some think that despite his low approval rating, history will see George Bush in a positive light. I think so.

Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again

And expecting different results. A definition of insanity.
Instapundit
And yet, like Charlie Brown getting ready to kick a football, we seem to have an infinite capacity to believe that it will be different this time. We think that the next top-down design introduced by government will work fine, it will never degrade, and we won't find ourselves ten or twenty years down the road wondering how such a mess was created.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Three Steps to Oil Independence

Townhall
Well almost. I think he is missing step 4.
So we have a three step process.
  • First, the move we are making to affordable hybrid vehicles that recharge using brakes and an on-board gas engine.
  • Second, the move to plug in hybrid electric vehicles that provide a generous all-electric range and convert to gas for longer trips.
  • Third, the move to hydrogen fuel cell hybrid vehicles that will replace the gas powered engine with the same plug in attributes introduced by the PHEV.
I think step 4 is to start drilling now to produce domestic oil. Every penny we don't send to the middle east is a start, and it will takes decades to get the entire vehicle fleet converted. It going to require a lot of oil for the next 10-20 years.




jj

McCain Needs to Change His Tune

The Economist
I have been saying this all along. Get out in front and lead.
You have a story to tell about yourself. Tell it
See also this.

More Tributes for Alexander S

Commentary
Death of an Oak. What an enormously fitting picture for him - the mighty old oak tree.
He stood athwart to the greatest evil the world has ever known, and, by the grace of God, he outlived that evil, by 16 years.

Another Hand at Work

Blue Crab Boulevard
I know this sounds preposterous but it's almost as if someone else is grooming him for the presidency. It could simply be his staff trying to inculcate a sense of power - that he is the defacto president. Some folks believe much of the recent whirlwind tour was about that. Egos this big usually mean trouble down the road.


A Titan. We shall not see his like again.

American Digest
Gerard has some chilling words form a 1978 address by Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

Our Congress at "Work"

No Left Turns

Damn I am tired of these yahoos. Sorry , just needed to get that out of my system. I am losing what shred of respect I had left for our political "class". We need something like a jury of citizens to judge if the proceedings were worth our money they spent on it. Loser pays. What a novel idea. Hold them responsible? We all know what happens when organizations are funded without any natural limitations, like profit motive, to contain them.
I said the proceedings were "slightly demented." I was being polite. I was one of two witnesses invited by the Republican members to testify at the House Judiciary Committee's hearings on "executive power and constitutional limitations" on July 25. The event was more accurately described by one of the Republican committee members as "impeachment lite."


Updated: A Breath of Fresh Air from Republicans

The Next Right
What happened yesterday on the floor of the House isn't going to completely change the outcome of this election. But for once, at least there is something for the Right to get truly excited about. And that's certainly one step in the "Right" direction.
I'm not sure about the "for once" part but refreshing none-the-less.

Updated: NewsBusters has just learned Republicans will resume their demonstration
Monday even though the summer recess has officially started.

More Friends of Obama

Gateway Pundit

Early news. Let's see how this develops.

Obama and the Left Want to Treat You Like a Child

contentions
Obama’s condescension is on display every he time tells people he’ll protect them from their own carelessness or stupidity.

...

In other words, this is what Barack Obama expects of you: bad judgment, an inability to grasp details, a lockstep mentality, and incurable bitterness.



Training the World to be Self Sufficent

Instapundit
But some say we are the bad guys? Yet we continue to spend our treasure to help others succeed.
Coast Guard cutters, Dallas included, bring law-enforcement training teams to developing countries in order to improve the countries' ability to police themselves.

An Iran Analysis

Wolf Howling
Former CIA officer Reuel Marc Gerecht writes that Iran, now on the precipice of a nuclear arsenal, is making no pretense about even a willingness to discuss supension of its nuclear program.
Read the whole thing carefully. Lots going on here Also see this prior article

More on Cantor and McCain

A Breath of Fresh Air from Republicans

The Next Right
What happened yesterday on the floor of the House isn't going to completely change the outcome of this election. But for once, at least there is something for the Right to get truly excited about. And that's certainly one step in the "Right" direction.
I'm not sure about the "for once" part but refreshing none-the-less.

Future Supply Affects Current Price

The Next Right
It's a truth. It's not debatable.

Defining bloggers

The Next Right
Patrick Ruffini:
I am a (proud) partisan political operative first, and a blogger second.

To me, the ideal role of a blogger -- and the one that I strive for -- is melding the first-hand knowledge of politics that comes from being a professional activist with the intellectual honesty and rigor we typically associate with good political analysis.
I'm not sure this is the only role.

New VEEP for MCCain?

Outside the Beltway
This is interesting and refreshing to see the McCain team starting to think outside the box.
A young fiscal conservative who could help keep Virginia from tipping blue, Cantor could also be an asset in such battlegrounds as Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio. He has shown appeal to the party’s base as well as to independents, and would be an unconventional choice at a time when McCain is looking to add excitement to his campaign.
I keep hearing Newt say "No More Boring White Guys". This guy isn't boring and maybe the McCain team is listening.

Changing the Definition of Slander - Creeping Islamism

Jihad Watch
In any case, it is not surprising that Kuwait would criminalize "insults" to Islam, but it is just another step forward for those forces that are pushing for the same kind of measures in the West.


NYT Reporter is Ignorant or Biased or Both

Instapundit
This is interesting energy discussion but this part of the interview is unbelievable. Reporter in bold
You helped re-elect Bush in ’04 when you gave $3 million to the Swift Boat campaign to discredit John Kerry’s Vietnam service. Do you regret your involvement? Why would I?

Because it’s such an ugly chapter in American political history. Oh, I see. Well, it was true. Everything that went into those ads was the truth.

Really? I thought it was all invented. I never did anything dishonest.
The MSM has successfully instituted a different reality. The power of information control - Orwell is rolling over.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Why I'm Voting Democrat

That got your attention didn't it? This is funny but some truth to it. A bit tongue in cheek and perhaps a bit exaggerated - but you get the picture.
I'm voting Democrat because I believe the government will do a better job of spending the money I earn than I would.

I'm voting Democrat because freedom of speech is fine as long as nobody is offended by it.

I'm voting Democrat because when we pull out of Iraq I trust that the bad guys will stop what they're doing because they now think we're good people.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that people who can't tell us if it will rain on Friday CAN tell us that the polar ice caps will melt away in ten years if I don't start driving a Prius.

I'm voting Democrat because I'm not concerned about the slaughter of millions of babies so long as we keep all death row inmates alive.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that business should not be allowed to make profits for themselves. They need to break even and give the rest away to the government for redistribution as THEY see fit.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe three or four pointy headed elitist liberals need to rewrite the Constitution every few days to suit some fringe kooks who would NEVER get their agendas past the voters.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe that when the terrorists don't have to hide from us over there, when they come over here I don't want to have any guns in the house to fight them off with.

I'm voting Democrat because I love the fact that I can now marry whatever I want. I've decided to marry my horse.

I'm voting Democrat because I believe oil companies' profits of 4% on a gallon of gas are obscene but the government taxing the same gallon of gas at 15 isn't.

Makes ya wonder why anyone would EVER vote Republican , now doesn't it?

Suck It Up - Economically Speaking

Townhall
I was sad to see Phil Gramm exit the McCain campaign for saying something so fundamentally true about the general misperception of the economy. Whiners is exactly the right word. Of course that misperception has been helped along by the MSM.
In the long run, we will adapt to the new realities, the economic impact will moderate, and the pain will fade. Till then, our least destructive option is to do something no politician would dare suggest: Suck it up.

Who Is Setting The Election Pace?

Townhall
This is not a good analysis for McCain. I also have been wondering what he is up to. He seems to be counter-punching rather than punching. I want him to forget about Barack and talk about his vision for the country.
McCain is better than the campaign he has run so far. Most people admit that McCain is an inspirational figure – even Obama has admitted that – so why isn’t McCain telling voters where he wants to lead them?

Democrats Jumping Ship?

Gateway Pundit
Polls should be looked at with some degree of suspicion but this is interesting.
During July, the number of Americans who consider themselves to be Democrats fell two percentage points to 39.2%.

The Consequences of Unassimilation

Gateway Pundit
It's a growing conflict between Western society and Islamic culture in America.

Amazing Gadgets

Although the fireplace is a bit pricey.

CD Storage

Fireplace

Laptops Can Be Confiscated?

The Beacon
This doesn't sound right. I'm waiting for more news. Let's hope it's just inaccurate reporting.
Federal agents may take a traveler’s laptop computer or other electronic device to an off-site location for an unspecified period of time without any suspicion of wrongdoing, as part of border search policies the Department of Homeland Security recently disclosed.
On the other hand, this news from Homeland Security doesn't surprise me.

An Ally In The Middle East

Wolf Howling
What a novel idea.
"By Allah, we will build a strong Iraq, which will be an ally of the West. Let Iran and all those foolish Arab countries listen carefully. Iraq will be the ally of the West, and will progress more than the Emirates and Singapore, and all the rest will come looking for work in Iraq."


Great Music, Great Video

Powerline

I like the Latin beat for this oldie from BB King

Iraqi Police - Good News

Pat Dollard
Since 2006, the National Police have trained 20,666 policemen in basic, advanced and specialized courses, officials said. They said the training proved instrumental in police operations in 2008 in Amara, Basra and Mosul.

The ministry has also been building its energy protection force. Officials said 31,000 oil police and 16,000 electricity police have come under ministry supervision.
Interesting - specialized police to protect their infrastructure

Hard Nozed Global Policy

Commentary

This seems right to me.
And what is the leader of the free world doing about this predicament? He is continuing his policy of honoring authoritarianism. Instead, he should be publicly telling Russian and Chinese leaders that either they support global norms or they should consider us their adversary. By undermining us, Moscow and Beijing are already making themselves our foes, so there’s nothing to lose by forcing them to declare where they stand.
This makes me think of McCain's coalition of the free.

Right On For America

Here is an idea for a conservative slogan or maybe even an ad. McCain and the Republicans can all use it.

Right - on Iraq

Right - on Energy

Right - on Individual rights

Right - on personal taxes

Right On For America!!

President Bush Calls Rush

Pat Dollard
This is an audio of a call from George Bush, along with his father and his brother, to congratulate Rush. I am impressed how down to earth Bush is and how stunned Rush is. He is momentarily at a loss for words. Notice how comfortable Bush is with this and how he lapses into the southern traditional courtesy of addressing folks as sir.

I think this is great stuff and reinforces why I think Bush is such a decent person.


Beware the Quiet Ones

Instapundit
An interesting point from Ann Althouse. This is not the primary point of her article but this sentence struck me. Just because you are calm, and not angry, doesn't mean you have anything useful to say. Oh, and vice versa. Just because you are angry doesn't mean what you are saying isn't useful.
...very intelligent individuals who express themselves quite rationally and persuasively. They don't shout and point and interrupt. Obama has to resist them too.


Friday, August 1, 2008

A Trinity I Can Support

More Education Reform

Pajamas Media

Vouchers, transparent outcomes, pay for competence, transparent data and muzzle the unions.

Transparency is listed twice. Could be because it is a cornerstone of a government that is responsible to the people.


Senate "ethics" Committee at Work

Outside the Beltway

Good grief. Our elected representatives' behavior continues to decline. I'm pretty fed up with our political "class".

Education Reform

IBD
A private takeover of L.A.'s infamous Locke High may already be starting to turn it around. Success here would send a message to other failing schools: You've run out of excuses.

Putting Enforcement First

IBD
A new study showing fewer illegal aliens bolsters the case for putting enforcement first. What we're seeing is the necessary first stage of reform.

Inflation Outlook Cooling

Democracy Sprouts From the Ashes of Saddam's Regime

Rumours of Another Big Fish

Jawa Report
Stratfor reports that the United States is attempting to verify rumors coming out of Pakistan that al Qaeda's #2, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was killed in a July 28 Predator airstrike.
Let's hope this is true. They already confirmed one AQ weapons expert killed in this strike. They will replace him, of course, but, this will severely limit his desire to move around or communicate. Every little bit of pressure helps.

China and the Olympics

Instapundit
Two different points from Instapundit.

First, the Chinese government is planning to spy on visitors using the internet.

Second, his opinion of the Olympics, which I concur with. They need to be flushed just like the UN.
I won't be going, and I don't plan to watch. The Olympics are a fount of corruption and chicanery anyway, upholding no ideals and promoting no good ends anyway. Plus, they're boring.

Labor Unions Not Helping

Instapundit
The industries in America where labor has the most power are the ones that have the hardest time making strategic choices to lower profits now in order to raise them in the future.

The Underlying Problem of Health Care Costs - Insurance

Concise Conservatism
As long as someone else (either my insurance company or my government) pays for most or all of my health care, the services I get will be unsatisfying, poor quality, or drastically overpriced, and they just might be all three.

Beyond Scary, Obama is demented

Brutally Honest
He wants to nationalize the oil industry by requiring them to distribute their profits to everyone. This boggles the mind. I can't think of adjectives or expletives sufficient to describe how monumentally stupid this is!!

As you can see, taxing profits will only take money from your pension, retirement account, mutual fund or stock earnings; a plan which simply takes your wealth away from you and transfers it to government bureaucrats with no promise of lower prices at the pump.

So instead of taxing profits just what can we do to make the prices come down to reasonable levels that we all can afford? Increase supply. Increasing the supply of energy sources is the only way to make the price go down in any meaningful and real way.



Report from Afghanistan

SWJ

General McCaffrey has a great report on the current status. He covers all the bases.

His comments about Pakistan:
This is a 25 year campaign. We must be patient in our expectations. We must do no harm dealing with Pakistan. We clearly can strike directly and covertly across the border in self-defense. We must never publicly put the Pakistani military in political peril with their own people.

Ignorants Protest Milton Friedman Center

Newmark's Door
This is such blatant hypocrisy from the left. It still stuns me when something like this reminds me how close to censorship we are. And that's not censorship from the government either.

Read these comments from professor John H. Cochrane.

Milton Friedman stood for freedom, social, political, and economic. He realized that they are inextricably linked. If the government controls your job or your business, dissent is impossible. He favored, among other things, legalizing drugs, school choice, and volunteer army. To call him or his political legacy “right wing” is simply ignorant, and I mean that also as a technically accurate description rather than an insult. ... So here’s my question: If you’re embarrassed by this legacy, if you worry that it will tarnish the University’s reputation, just what is it that you good-thinking guys and gals have against human freedom?