On indoctrinating children into the cause...
We must out our Dear Leader, before it becomes officially "unpatriotic" to do so...
More on the corporate/partisan sponsors (including media executives) that put together Indoctrination Camp
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Boston Globe...
Iraqis stand up...
I appreciate that the Globe (the little brother of the NY Times) notices the war is on the verge of victory. It pains me, however, to read a column like this with no recognition of Gen. Petraeus, the American soldier or the strategy that made this possible. It is a rewriting of history that should be offensive to patriotic Americans.
I appreciate that the Globe (the little brother of the NY Times) notices the war is on the verge of victory. It pains me, however, to read a column like this with no recognition of Gen. Petraeus, the American soldier or the strategy that made this possible. It is a rewriting of history that should be offensive to patriotic Americans.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Bill Clinton: John McCain "has served his country" more and Barack Obama has "not achieved greatness"
The last Democratic President makes clear that Barack Obama is Not Ready...
David Broder... the "dean of the Washington Press Corps" says John McCain won the debate...
upon further reflection, John McCain rolled on Friday. Key graph:
---------------------
There were no knockout blows in the first presidential debate of the fall, but John McCain out-pointed Barack Obama often enough to encourage his followers that he can somehow overcome the odds and deny the Democrats the victory that has seemed to be in store for them.
It was a small thing, but I counted six times that Obama began a sentence with the words that McCain was "absolutely right" about a point he had made. No McCain sentences began with a similar acknowledgement of his opponent's wisdom, even though the two did, in fact, agree on Iran, Russia and the U.S. financial crisis far more than they disagreed.
That suggests an imbalance in the deference quotient between the younger man and the veteran senator -- an impression reinforced by Obama's frequent glances in McCain's direction and McCain's studied indifference to his rival.
Whether viewers caught the verbal and body-language signs that Obama seemed to accept McCain as the alpha male on the stage in Mississippi, I do not know.
----------------------
---------------------
There were no knockout blows in the first presidential debate of the fall, but John McCain out-pointed Barack Obama often enough to encourage his followers that he can somehow overcome the odds and deny the Democrats the victory that has seemed to be in store for them.
It was a small thing, but I counted six times that Obama began a sentence with the words that McCain was "absolutely right" about a point he had made. No McCain sentences began with a similar acknowledgement of his opponent's wisdom, even though the two did, in fact, agree on Iran, Russia and the U.S. financial crisis far more than they disagreed.
That suggests an imbalance in the deference quotient between the younger man and the veteran senator -- an impression reinforced by Obama's frequent glances in McCain's direction and McCain's studied indifference to his rival.
Whether viewers caught the verbal and body-language signs that Obama seemed to accept McCain as the alpha male on the stage in Mississippi, I do not know.
----------------------
Byron York on the debate...
The most fair analysis I've seen...
-----------------------
The debate was scheduled to focus entirely on foreign policy and national security, but for obvious reasons moderator Jim Lehrer devoted the first half-hour to the current financial crisis. Polls show Obama with a pretty big lead on economic issues, and yet McCain was able to turn the discussion — ostensibly about the $700 billion bailout proposal — into an extended examination of federal spending and earmarks, two issues about which McCain has strong feelings and a good record. When McCain pointed out that Obama had asked for $932 million in earmarks — “nearly a million dollars a day for every day that he’s been in the United States Senate” — Obama answered weakly that yes, the process has been abused, “which is why I suspended any requests for my home state, whether it was for senior centers or what have you, until we cleaned it up.” Not his best moment.
When the debate came around to the topic of the evening, McCain outshone Obama on topics like Russia and Pakistan while hitting him over and over for his comments, made in earlier Democratic debates, that he would meet Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad “without precondition.”
* * * * *
The bottom line was that Obama did well enough, but McCain did better. A number of post-debate observers suggested that Obama might emerge the winner on these topics because he was able to stand alongside McCain and argue as an equal despite McCain’s greater experience. Maybe viewers will handicap the contest that way, but if they judge it straight, McCain will come out on top.
----------------------
-----------------------
The debate was scheduled to focus entirely on foreign policy and national security, but for obvious reasons moderator Jim Lehrer devoted the first half-hour to the current financial crisis. Polls show Obama with a pretty big lead on economic issues, and yet McCain was able to turn the discussion — ostensibly about the $700 billion bailout proposal — into an extended examination of federal spending and earmarks, two issues about which McCain has strong feelings and a good record. When McCain pointed out that Obama had asked for $932 million in earmarks — “nearly a million dollars a day for every day that he’s been in the United States Senate” — Obama answered weakly that yes, the process has been abused, “which is why I suspended any requests for my home state, whether it was for senior centers or what have you, until we cleaned it up.” Not his best moment.
When the debate came around to the topic of the evening, McCain outshone Obama on topics like Russia and Pakistan while hitting him over and over for his comments, made in earlier Democratic debates, that he would meet Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad “without precondition.”
* * * * *
The bottom line was that Obama did well enough, but McCain did better. A number of post-debate observers suggested that Obama might emerge the winner on these topics because he was able to stand alongside McCain and argue as an equal despite McCain’s greater experience. Maybe viewers will handicap the contest that way, but if they judge it straight, McCain will come out on top.
----------------------
Saturday, September 27, 2008
David Yepsen at the Des Moines Register...
Clear McCain win:
------------------------
It was one of the most substantive debates in recent presidential campaign history and John McCain won it.
The Arizona senator was cool, informed and forceful in Friday’s first presidential debate of the general election campaign.
He repeatedly put Barack Obama on the defensive throughout the 90 minutes session. Obama did little to ease voter concerns that he’s experienced enough to handle foreign and defense policy. That was his number one task Friday night and he failed.
------------------------
------------------------
It was one of the most substantive debates in recent presidential campaign history and John McCain won it.
The Arizona senator was cool, informed and forceful in Friday’s first presidential debate of the general election campaign.
He repeatedly put Barack Obama on the defensive throughout the 90 minutes session. Obama did little to ease voter concerns that he’s experienced enough to handle foreign and defense policy. That was his number one task Friday night and he failed.
------------------------
New Republic on Obama's Emotional Deficit...
Noam Scheiber, no shrinking violet or cheerleader for the McCain campaign, on how Sen. McCain spanked Obama on defending America and her allies.
Supporters of Israel should shudder at this point:
--------------------
My biggest problem with Obama is that he cedes almost all the emotional ground to McCain. For my money, the exchange that defined the debate was McCain sarcastically suggesting Obama would just tell Ahmadinejad "no" when he threatens to annihilate Israel. Obama tried to interrupt McCain several times during this mini-rant, then just kind of let the matter drop when he had a chance to respond. What he needed to do was look straight into the camera and inject a little emotion of his own. Something like, "Israel is one of our most loyal allies in the world. Their security is absolutely sacred to me. And if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or any other tin-pot dictator thinks he can threaten Israel in my presence or anywhere else, he's in for a rude awakening. I would leave absolutely no doubt in his mind how we treat countries looking for fights with our allies."
--------------------
Supporters of Israel should shudder at this point:
--------------------
My biggest problem with Obama is that he cedes almost all the emotional ground to McCain. For my money, the exchange that defined the debate was McCain sarcastically suggesting Obama would just tell Ahmadinejad "no" when he threatens to annihilate Israel. Obama tried to interrupt McCain several times during this mini-rant, then just kind of let the matter drop when he had a chance to respond. What he needed to do was look straight into the camera and inject a little emotion of his own. Something like, "Israel is one of our most loyal allies in the world. Their security is absolutely sacred to me. And if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or any other tin-pot dictator thinks he can threaten Israel in my presence or anywhere else, he's in for a rude awakening. I would leave absolutely no doubt in his mind how we treat countries looking for fights with our allies."
--------------------
Even the New York Times agrees...
"The debate was generally a relief from the campaign’s nastiness."
Hey, Times... maybe that's because Barack Obama has been running from debating John McCain for over 110 days! Why has no reporter asked Obama about avoiding the town halls? I haven't seen a single question asked of him about it. They're all busy chasing Sarah Palin stories in Alaska, I guess. Strange priorities, until you realize they're in the tank for Obama.
Hey, Times... maybe that's because Barack Obama has been running from debating John McCain for over 110 days! Why has no reporter asked Obama about avoiding the town halls? I haven't seen a single question asked of him about it. They're all busy chasing Sarah Palin stories in Alaska, I guess. Strange priorities, until you realize they're in the tank for Obama.
Mac is Back!
Roger Simon leads his debate analysis with: "John McCain was very lucky that he decided to show up for the first presidential debate in Oxford, Miss., Friday night. Because he gave one of his strongest debate performances ever."
Friday, September 26, 2008
One point from tonight...
Barack Obama was wrong about Henry Kissinger being on his side regarding meeting with the President of Iran without preconditions.
Sec. Kissinger has already responded to tell him he's wrong.
The Debate...
I will be at the Met Club party, and will have my reaction tomorrow.
In the meantime, Ann Althouse will be live blogging...
In the meantime, Ann Althouse will be live blogging...
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
McCain-Palin meet with Presidents of Ukraine and Georgia...
Peace through strength (a stock Reagan line) will best be achieved with a President McCain. Those in the Bear's path know that deeply...
Which side is leaning on the refs?
Using the "community organizer" approach to pressure the Associated Press...
If Sen. Obama is elected President, don't be surprised if the "community" is roused against you if you take a position against his administration. Pressure is how the Alinsky method makes radical changes.
If Sen. Obama is elected President, don't be surprised if the "community" is roused against you if you take a position against his administration. Pressure is how the Alinsky method makes radical changes.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The NEXT PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES!!!
Welcome NY Women for McCain! Please, take a look around. The blog is about 6 months old and has a lot of history. This is my favorite clip of Sen. McCain speaking EVER...
- Chris
Monday, September 22, 2008
John McCain closes huge gap with women...
Lifetime poll:
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Since picking Sarah Palin as his running mate, John McCain has obliterated what had been a 34-percentage-point deficit in a poll of likely women voters on the question of which candidate has a “better understanding of women and what is important” to them.
The two are now effectively tied, with McCain's 44 to 42 percentage lead within the margin of error of the most recent poll conducted by pollsters Kellyanne Conway and Celinda Lake for Lifetime Television. In Lifetime's July poll, women preferred Barack Obama on the same question by nearly three-to-one— 52 to 18 percent.
---------------
Since picking Sarah Palin as his running mate, John McCain has obliterated what had been a 34-percentage-point deficit in a poll of likely women voters on the question of which candidate has a “better understanding of women and what is important” to them.
The two are now effectively tied, with McCain's 44 to 42 percentage lead within the margin of error of the most recent poll conducted by pollsters Kellyanne Conway and Celinda Lake for Lifetime Television. In Lifetime's July poll, women preferred Barack Obama on the same question by nearly three-to-one— 52 to 18 percent.
Why Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac created this crisis...
This op-ed from Bloomberg on why the failure of the Fannie/Freddie reform bill in 2005 was the turning point:
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Now that the collapse has occurred, the roadblock built by Senate Democrats in 2005 is unforgivable. Many who opposed the bill doubtlessly did so for honorable reasons. Fannie and Freddie provided mounds of materials defending their practices. Perhaps some found their propaganda convincing.
But we now know that many of the senators who protected Fannie and Freddie, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Christopher Dodd, have received mind-boggling levels of financial support from them over the years.
Throughout his political career, Obama has gotten more than $125,000 in campaign contributions from employees and political action committees of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, second only to Dodd, the Senate Banking Committee chairman, who received more than $165,000.
Clinton, the 12th-ranked recipient of Fannie and Freddie PAC and employee contributions, has received more than $75,000 from the two enterprises and their employees. The private profit found its way back to the senators who killed the fix.
There has been a lot of talk about who is to blame for this crisis. A look back at the story of 2005 makes the answer pretty clear.
Oh, and there is one little footnote to the story that's worth keeping in mind while Democrats point fingers between now and Nov. 4: Senator John McCain was one of the three cosponsors of S.190, the bill that would have averted this mess.
--------------------------
Now that the collapse has occurred, the roadblock built by Senate Democrats in 2005 is unforgivable. Many who opposed the bill doubtlessly did so for honorable reasons. Fannie and Freddie provided mounds of materials defending their practices. Perhaps some found their propaganda convincing.
But we now know that many of the senators who protected Fannie and Freddie, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Christopher Dodd, have received mind-boggling levels of financial support from them over the years.
Throughout his political career, Obama has gotten more than $125,000 in campaign contributions from employees and political action committees of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, second only to Dodd, the Senate Banking Committee chairman, who received more than $165,000.
Clinton, the 12th-ranked recipient of Fannie and Freddie PAC and employee contributions, has received more than $75,000 from the two enterprises and their employees. The private profit found its way back to the senators who killed the fix.
There has been a lot of talk about who is to blame for this crisis. A look back at the story of 2005 makes the answer pretty clear.
Oh, and there is one little footnote to the story that's worth keeping in mind while Democrats point fingers between now and Nov. 4: Senator John McCain was one of the three cosponsors of S.190, the bill that would have averted this mess.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
McCain Economic Message...
As I stated last Sunday, the financial crisis is the top issue on the minds of most Americans this week, and we need to get out ahead of it...
Sen. McCain unveiled a detailed policy prescription on Friday in Wisconsin. It centers around a Mortgage and Financial Institutions Trust (MFI) that will provide a systematic approach to the crisis.
In addition, Sen. McCain has -- for months -- had a comprehensive "Jobs for America" program which is explained on his website with a video message and policy papers.
It would be nice, as I said last week, if Sen. McCain would name a point person on the economic message (Bloomberg? Romney??) to push these programs. Obviously, he can do it, but there are substantial foreign policy issues as well and it would be nice to have someone to focus only on this crisis in conjunction with Sec. Paulson's plan.
Sen. McCain unveiled a detailed policy prescription on Friday in Wisconsin. It centers around a Mortgage and Financial Institutions Trust (MFI) that will provide a systematic approach to the crisis.
In addition, Sen. McCain has -- for months -- had a comprehensive "Jobs for America" program which is explained on his website with a video message and policy papers.
It would be nice, as I said last week, if Sen. McCain would name a point person on the economic message (Bloomberg? Romney??) to push these programs. Obviously, he can do it, but there are substantial foreign policy issues as well and it would be nice to have someone to focus only on this crisis in conjunction with Sec. Paulson's plan.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Lehman's Contributions...
When it comes to Lehman Brothers in particular, both candidates have taken lots of donations. Obama has received almost $400,000 from Lehman employees in his three-plus years in the Senate. McCain has gotten less than $150,000 from them since 1989. Certainly both have benefited from Lehman’s largess, and simply taking donations doesn’t prove any kind of corruption. But a hundred k a year certainly cuts into Obama’s message of “change.” “Hope,” too.
How can the Democrats be impartial with Dick Fuld (Lehman CEO) when he testifies next week? They'll probably be encouraging him to attend a party with them the night before.
How can the Democrats be impartial with Dick Fuld (Lehman CEO) when he testifies next week? They'll probably be encouraging him to attend a party with them the night before.
The problem with the media's Sarah Palin coverage...
This is one of the most complete, factual and balanced analysis of media coverage I've seen. If you're looking for factual examples, read this.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
AIG... a New York, national and worldwide tragedy...
The Fed was forced to step in tonight with $85 Billion Loan Rescue. I just watched Hank Greenberg on Charlie Rose.
Mr. Greenberg is a national hero, the founder of AIG and one of the best businessmen of the 20th Century.
He was summarily pushed out of his own company on trumped up charges by Eliot Spitzer. This is another chapter in his ridiculous reign. Spitzer should go to prison for this.
Mr. Greenberg is a national hero, the founder of AIG and one of the best businessmen of the 20th Century.
He was summarily pushed out of his own company on trumped up charges by Eliot Spitzer. This is another chapter in his ridiculous reign. Spitzer should go to prison for this.
New McCain CNBC video on the economy...
John McCain shows he sincerely understands the nation's financial crisis... Teddy Roosevelt would be proud!
The smell of fear and desperation...
Top Democrats Privately Urging Major Donors To Fund Outside Groups To Attack McCain...
Maybe something like this?
Sen. Obama did not think it was out of bounds, and just voted "Present" when he had an opportunity to condemn this ad, so this style would seem to be OK...
Maybe something like this?
Sen. Obama did not think it was out of bounds, and just voted "Present" when he had an opportunity to condemn this ad, so this style would seem to be OK...
Monday, September 15, 2008
McCain hits just the right note on the financial crisis...
Smarter, clearer, stronger regulation by Washington. We need fundamental reform in this area, and Sen. McCain will provide the most comprehensive, market based reform without killing the economy with massive tax increases and new government spending programs.
Smarter, clearer, stronger SEC and Treasury/Banking regulators. A cop on the beat of Wall Street. But no big government tax increases and spending giveaways that will create another Fannie/Freddie debacle...
Smarter, clearer, stronger SEC and Treasury/Banking regulators. A cop on the beat of Wall Street. But no big government tax increases and spending giveaways that will create another Fannie/Freddie debacle...
The definition of Dishonorable...
would be going after someone in an advertisement based on his physical limitations due to serving his country in a war.
Well... that's exactly what the Obama campaign did this weekend. If the Obama campaign had any inherent honor, it has now lost it. The party of JFK, RFK and FDR is heading toward a new low.
Well... that's exactly what the Obama campaign did this weekend. If the Obama campaign had any inherent honor, it has now lost it. The party of JFK, RFK and FDR is heading toward a new low.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Wall Street awakes to 2 storied firms gone...
Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers will not exist as we know them after the events of today... with the fire sale of Bear Stearns this spring, this is a three-fer that will reverberate around the world.
The Presidential candidates have to get out ahead of this. Sen. McCain needs to name a "czar" of economic-financial survival as a spokesman NOW, and needs to become intimately conversant with this crisis.
The nature of this crisis is growing, and problematic. Sec. Paulson and Chairman Bernanke have drawn some interesting lines (saving Bear through JP Morgan Chase, pulling Freddie and Fannie under the federal umbrella, but letting Lehman twist) that will be tested by political wrangling. There are going to be headlines about "Wall Street Meltdown" and fear could course the markets this week. This issue could become huge, and we need to be ready...
UPDATE: More analysis from the Times Business editor Floyd Norris...
UPDATE #2: The WSJ calls this crisis a "Category 5 test of our financial levees".
The Presidential candidates have to get out ahead of this. Sen. McCain needs to name a "czar" of economic-financial survival as a spokesman NOW, and needs to become intimately conversant with this crisis.
The nature of this crisis is growing, and problematic. Sec. Paulson and Chairman Bernanke have drawn some interesting lines (saving Bear through JP Morgan Chase, pulling Freddie and Fannie under the federal umbrella, but letting Lehman twist) that will be tested by political wrangling. There are going to be headlines about "Wall Street Meltdown" and fear could course the markets this week. This issue could become huge, and we need to be ready...
UPDATE: More analysis from the Times Business editor Floyd Norris...
UPDATE #2: The WSJ calls this crisis a "Category 5 test of our financial levees".
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
The national media provides cover fire for Obama AGAIN...
The national media is calling the McCain campaign ad on Obama's sex ed to K-6 children "lies" and "false". The analysis of the bill's language begs to differ.
Thanks for your factual reporting ABC and others... it is appreciated. Seriously, what is "the McCain ad 'makes it sound like'"... is that reporting?? That is rank opinion, Jake. You're better than that...
Maybe that's why John Roberts of CNN slipped and said "we" when referring to the Obama campaign...
Thanks for your factual reporting ABC and others... it is appreciated. Seriously, what is "the McCain ad 'makes it sound like'"... is that reporting?? That is rank opinion, Jake. You're better than that...
Maybe that's why John Roberts of CNN slipped and said "we" when referring to the Obama campaign...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Camille Paglia on the pioneer spirit that Sarah Palin represents...
I never thought I'd be excerpting Camille Paglia during this campaign, but this is so uniquely brilliant it's required reading (here's the whole article):
-------------------------
Perhaps Palin seemed perfectly normal to me because she resembles so many women I grew up around in the snow belt of upstate New York. For example, there were the robust and hearty farm women of Oxford, a charming village where my father taught high school when I was a child. We first lived in an apartment on the top floor of a farmhouse on a working dairy farm. Our landlady, who was as physically imposing as her husband, was an all-American version of the Italian immigrant women of my grandmother's generation -- agrarian powerhouses who could do anything and whose trumpetlike voices could pierce stone walls.
Here's one episode. My father and his visiting brother, a dapper barber by trade, were standing outside having a smoke when a great noise came from the nearby barn. A calf had escaped. Our landlady yelled, "Stop her!" as the calf came careening at full speed toward my father and uncle, who both instinctively stepped back as the calf galloped through the mud between them. Irate, our landlady trudged past them to the upper pasture, cornered the calf, and carried that massive animal back to the barn in her arms. As she walked by my father and uncle, she exclaimed in amused disgust, "Men!"
Now that's the Sarah Palin brand of can-do, no-excuses, moose-hunting feminism -- a world away from the whining, sniping, wearily ironic mode of the establishment feminism represented by Gloria Steinem, a Hillary Clinton supporter whose shameless Democratic partisanship over the past four decades has severely limited American feminism and not allowed it to become the big tent it can and should be. Sarah Palin, if her reputation survives the punishing next two months, may be breaking down those barriers. Feminism, which should be about equal rights and equal opportunity, should not be a closed club requiring an ideological litmus test for membership.
-------------------------------
Read the whole thing...
-------------------------
Perhaps Palin seemed perfectly normal to me because she resembles so many women I grew up around in the snow belt of upstate New York. For example, there were the robust and hearty farm women of Oxford, a charming village where my father taught high school when I was a child. We first lived in an apartment on the top floor of a farmhouse on a working dairy farm. Our landlady, who was as physically imposing as her husband, was an all-American version of the Italian immigrant women of my grandmother's generation -- agrarian powerhouses who could do anything and whose trumpetlike voices could pierce stone walls.
Here's one episode. My father and his visiting brother, a dapper barber by trade, were standing outside having a smoke when a great noise came from the nearby barn. A calf had escaped. Our landlady yelled, "Stop her!" as the calf came careening at full speed toward my father and uncle, who both instinctively stepped back as the calf galloped through the mud between them. Irate, our landlady trudged past them to the upper pasture, cornered the calf, and carried that massive animal back to the barn in her arms. As she walked by my father and uncle, she exclaimed in amused disgust, "Men!"
Now that's the Sarah Palin brand of can-do, no-excuses, moose-hunting feminism -- a world away from the whining, sniping, wearily ironic mode of the establishment feminism represented by Gloria Steinem, a Hillary Clinton supporter whose shameless Democratic partisanship over the past four decades has severely limited American feminism and not allowed it to become the big tent it can and should be. Sarah Palin, if her reputation survives the punishing next two months, may be breaking down those barriers. Feminism, which should be about equal rights and equal opportunity, should not be a closed club requiring an ideological litmus test for membership.
-------------------------------
Read the whole thing...
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Lipstick on a trainwreck...
This, from Sen. Obama today. (h/t to Jennifer Rubin from Commentary)
------------------------
The latest mega gaffe comes directly from Barack Obama’s lips. ABC news reports:
You know, you can put lipstick on a pig,” Obama said, “but it’s still a pig.” The crowd rose and applauded, some of them no doubt thinking he may have been alluding to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s ad lib during her vice presidential nomination acceptance speech last week, “What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.” “You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called ‘change,’” Obama continued, “it’s still gonna stink after eight years. “We’ve had enough of the same old thing! It’s time to bring about real change to Washington. And that’s the choice you’ve got in this election.” Obama added that “it is not going to be easy … John McCain has a compelling biography, you know Sarah Palin is an interesting story.” The crowd booed. “No, she’s new!” Obama said. “She hasn’t been on the scene, you know, she’s got five kids and my hat goes off to anybody who’s looking after five. I’ve got two and they tire Michelle and me out!”
The entire exchange is of course deeply offensive and disrespectful, treating his opponent’s running mate as a sexualized object and a mere mother, to put it bluntly. I can’t imagine there is any Democratic woman — forget the Republicans and Independents — who isn’t embarrassed. Obama appears to be crumbling under pressure, reduced to swinging away at the person who has supplanted him as the political star of the Election.
-----------------------------
HotAir has video and audio of the McCain team's response...
Instapundit is all over this story...
------------------------
The latest mega gaffe comes directly from Barack Obama’s lips. ABC news reports:
You know, you can put lipstick on a pig,” Obama said, “but it’s still a pig.” The crowd rose and applauded, some of them no doubt thinking he may have been alluding to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s ad lib during her vice presidential nomination acceptance speech last week, “What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick.” “You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called ‘change,’” Obama continued, “it’s still gonna stink after eight years. “We’ve had enough of the same old thing! It’s time to bring about real change to Washington. And that’s the choice you’ve got in this election.” Obama added that “it is not going to be easy … John McCain has a compelling biography, you know Sarah Palin is an interesting story.” The crowd booed. “No, she’s new!” Obama said. “She hasn’t been on the scene, you know, she’s got five kids and my hat goes off to anybody who’s looking after five. I’ve got two and they tire Michelle and me out!”
The entire exchange is of course deeply offensive and disrespectful, treating his opponent’s running mate as a sexualized object and a mere mother, to put it bluntly. I can’t imagine there is any Democratic woman — forget the Republicans and Independents — who isn’t embarrassed. Obama appears to be crumbling under pressure, reduced to swinging away at the person who has supplanted him as the political star of the Election.
-----------------------------
HotAir has video and audio of the McCain team's response...
Instapundit is all over this story...
Two takes on the Fan/Fred mortgage bailout...
Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin write (entire op-ed here):
The bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is another outrageous, but sadly necessary, step for these two institutions. Given the long-term mismanagement and flawed structure of these two companies, this was the only short-term alternative for ensuring that hard-working Americans have access to affordable mortgages during this difficult economic period.
We are strong advocates for the permanent reform of Fannie and Freddie. For years, Congress failed to act and it is deeply troubling that what we are now seeing is an exercise in crisis management rather than sound planning, and at great cost to taxpayers.
---------------------------------
House Democratic Chairman of Finance Barney Frank has repeatedly defended reform of Fan and Fred (full WSJ editorial here):
Fannie Mae's Patron Saint
September 9, 2008
Taxpayers are now on the hook for as much as $200 billion to rescue Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and if you want to know why, look no further than the rapid response to this bailout from House baron Barney Frank. Asked about Treasury's modest bailout condition that the companies reduce the size of their high-risk mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolios starting in 2010, Mr. Frank was quoted on Monday as saying, "Good luck on that," and that it would never happen.
There you have the Fannie Mae problem in profile. Mr. Frank wants you to pick up the tab for its failures, while he still vows to block a reform that might prevent the same disaster from happening again.
At least the Massachusetts Democrat is consistent. His record is close to perfect as a stalwart opponent of reforming the two companies, going back more than a decade. The first concerted push to rein in Fan and Fred in Congress came as far back as 1992, and Mr. Frank was right there, standing athwart. But things really picked up this decade, and Barney was there at every turn. Let's roll the audiotape:
In 2000, then-Rep. Richard Baker proposed a bill to reform Fannie and Freddie's oversight. Mr. Frank dismissed the idea, saying concerns about the two were "overblown" and that there was "no federal liability there whatsoever."
Two years later, Mr. Frank was at it again. "I do not regard Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as problems," he said in response to another reform push. And then: "I regard them as great assets." Great or not, we'll give Mr. Frank this: Their assets are now Uncle Sam's assets, even if those come along with $5.4 trillion in debt and other liabilities.
Again in June 2003, the favorite of the Beltway press corps assured the public that "there is no federal guarantee" of Fan and Fred obligations.
A month later, Freddie Mac's multibillion-dollar accounting scandal broke into the open. But Mr. Frank was sanguine. "I do not think we are facing any kind of a crisis," he said at the time.
Three months later he repeated the claim that Fannie and Freddie posed no "threat to the Treasury." Even suggesting that heresy, he added, could become "a self-fulfilling prophecy."
In April 2004, Fannie announced a multibillion-dollar financial "misstatement" of its own. Mr. Frank was back for the defense. Fannie and Freddie posed no risk to taxpayers, he said, adding that "I think Wall Street will get over it" if the two collapsed. Yes, they're certainly "over it" on the Street now that Uncle Sam is guaranteeing their Fannie paper, and even Fannie's subordinated debt.
By early 2007, Mr. Frank was in charge of the House Financial Services Committee, arguing that he had long favored some kind of reform. "What blocked it [reform] last year," Mr. Frank said then, "was the insistence of some economic conservative fundamentalists in the Bush Administration who, to be honest, don't think there should be a Fannie Mae or a Freddie Mac." What really blocked it was Mr. Frank's insistence that any reform be watered down and not include any reduction in their MBS holdings.
-------------------------------
In the very least, we need some check on the Democratic Congress in the White House come January. These cozy deals are running rampant, and one party government will help them blossom and balloon...
The bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is another outrageous, but sadly necessary, step for these two institutions. Given the long-term mismanagement and flawed structure of these two companies, this was the only short-term alternative for ensuring that hard-working Americans have access to affordable mortgages during this difficult economic period.
We are strong advocates for the permanent reform of Fannie and Freddie. For years, Congress failed to act and it is deeply troubling that what we are now seeing is an exercise in crisis management rather than sound planning, and at great cost to taxpayers.
---------------------------------
House Democratic Chairman of Finance Barney Frank has repeatedly defended reform of Fan and Fred (full WSJ editorial here):
Fannie Mae's Patron Saint
September 9, 2008
Taxpayers are now on the hook for as much as $200 billion to rescue Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and if you want to know why, look no further than the rapid response to this bailout from House baron Barney Frank. Asked about Treasury's modest bailout condition that the companies reduce the size of their high-risk mortgage-backed securities (MBS) portfolios starting in 2010, Mr. Frank was quoted on Monday as saying, "Good luck on that," and that it would never happen.
There you have the Fannie Mae problem in profile. Mr. Frank wants you to pick up the tab for its failures, while he still vows to block a reform that might prevent the same disaster from happening again.
At least the Massachusetts Democrat is consistent. His record is close to perfect as a stalwart opponent of reforming the two companies, going back more than a decade. The first concerted push to rein in Fan and Fred in Congress came as far back as 1992, and Mr. Frank was right there, standing athwart. But things really picked up this decade, and Barney was there at every turn. Let's roll the audiotape:
In 2000, then-Rep. Richard Baker proposed a bill to reform Fannie and Freddie's oversight. Mr. Frank dismissed the idea, saying concerns about the two were "overblown" and that there was "no federal liability there whatsoever."
Two years later, Mr. Frank was at it again. "I do not regard Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as problems," he said in response to another reform push. And then: "I regard them as great assets." Great or not, we'll give Mr. Frank this: Their assets are now Uncle Sam's assets, even if those come along with $5.4 trillion in debt and other liabilities.
Again in June 2003, the favorite of the Beltway press corps assured the public that "there is no federal guarantee" of Fan and Fred obligations.
A month later, Freddie Mac's multibillion-dollar accounting scandal broke into the open. But Mr. Frank was sanguine. "I do not think we are facing any kind of a crisis," he said at the time.
Three months later he repeated the claim that Fannie and Freddie posed no "threat to the Treasury." Even suggesting that heresy, he added, could become "a self-fulfilling prophecy."
In April 2004, Fannie announced a multibillion-dollar financial "misstatement" of its own. Mr. Frank was back for the defense. Fannie and Freddie posed no risk to taxpayers, he said, adding that "I think Wall Street will get over it" if the two collapsed. Yes, they're certainly "over it" on the Street now that Uncle Sam is guaranteeing their Fannie paper, and even Fannie's subordinated debt.
By early 2007, Mr. Frank was in charge of the House Financial Services Committee, arguing that he had long favored some kind of reform. "What blocked it [reform] last year," Mr. Frank said then, "was the insistence of some economic conservative fundamentalists in the Bush Administration who, to be honest, don't think there should be a Fannie Mae or a Freddie Mac." What really blocked it was Mr. Frank's insistence that any reform be watered down and not include any reduction in their MBS holdings.
-------------------------------
In the very least, we need some check on the Democratic Congress in the White House come January. These cozy deals are running rampant, and one party government will help them blossom and balloon...
Monday, September 8, 2008
New McCain Manhattan Photo Page...
We have a Flickr page gathering McCain Manhattan pictures in one place.
Great thanks to Kim Hill for all of his beautiful work...
Great thanks to Kim Hill for all of his beautiful work...
Sunday, September 7, 2008
NBC/MSNBC Comes to its senses...
This is good news... and I hope that MSNBC becomes a more balanced source of coverage. Keith Olbermann had really strayed so far from reality as to be positively Dobsian... or O'Riellian.
Welcome back MSNBC. I'll give you a second shot now for my political watching home...
Welcome back MSNBC. I'll give you a second shot now for my political watching home...
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Another one bites the dust...
Seriously... how long is this going to go on and how many people is this going to hurt? The media needs someone to stand in the middle of the highway and say "STOP"! or at least "Think before you speak"!!!
The clown continues to beclown...
Sometimes on Saturdays I wander over to the NY Times website and see that Charles Blow has written another column. Sometimes I'm even stupid enough to click on it and read it.
Today's column "Let's Talk About Sex" was, I knew, clearly going to be about Sarah Palin's daughter. I thought a second about clicking, but still of course did click...
The first line: Sarah Palin has a pregnant teenager.
Thanks jack*ss. I didn't know. He's soooo informative in his columns. Read the other classy ones here and here...
With idiots like this writing for this old newspaper, it's going to be hard for them to get interviews with the McCain/Palin administration. You guys at the Times should get prepared for that...
Today's column "Let's Talk About Sex" was, I knew, clearly going to be about Sarah Palin's daughter. I thought a second about clicking, but still of course did click...
The first line: Sarah Palin has a pregnant teenager.
Thanks jack*ss. I didn't know. He's soooo informative in his columns. Read the other classy ones here and here...
With idiots like this writing for this old newspaper, it's going to be hard for them to get interviews with the McCain/Palin administration. You guys at the Times should get prepared for that...
Thursday, September 4, 2008
And They're TIED!!
Just released CBS News poll has McCain/Palin picking up 8 points over last week's poll!!
And Sen. McCain hasn't even spoken to the country yet!!
And Sen. McCain hasn't even spoken to the country yet!!
37 Million Viewers!
Sarah Palin spoke to 37 million people last night on TV. Basically the same TV crowd as Obama. This thing has excited the country, and now it’s time for the main event!!
GO MCCAIN!!
GO MCCAIN!!
When Liberals Attack...
it's often because their worldview is being tested.
Sarah Palin is testing a lot of old-guard liberals...
Sarah Palin is testing a lot of old-guard liberals...
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
The WSJ tells the liberal media where to go...
Here... in its entirety is the WSJ's brilliant editorial on the media's savaging of Sarah Palin for the past four days. I really hope you guys are proud of yourselves...
-----------------------------
The Beltway Boys
September 3, 2008; Page A22
Even as the Obama camp ponders how best to handle John McCain's veep pick of Sarah Palin, the high priests and priestesses of the media have marked her as an apostate. The Beltway class is in full-throated rebellion against a nondomesticated conservative who might pose a threat to their coronation of Barack Obama and the return of Camelot-on-the-Potomac.
Here is a sampler of media comment on Governor Palin this week:
- Eleanor Clift, the McLaughlin Group: "If the media reaction is anything, it's been literally laughter in many places across newsrooms."
- Sally Quinn, Newsweek: "It is a political gimmick . . . I find it insulting to women, to the Republican party, and to the country."
- E.J. Dionne, Washington Post: "Palin is, if anything, less qualified for the vice presidency (and the presidency) than [Harriet] Miers was for the court. But there is one big difference: Palin passes all the right-wing litmus tests."
- Maureen Dowd, New York Times: "They have a tradition of nominating fun, bantamweight cheerleaders from the West."
- Ruth Marcus, Washington Post: "But as a parent in the media, I also know that the Palins assumed this risk. Anyone who watched coverage of the Bush twins' barroom exploits knew that the avert-your-eyes stance toward candidates' children has its limits."
- Charlie Cook, Beltway pundit, on PBS's "Charlie Rose": "I had a friend that had a young person tell them that they had three interviews to get a job as a server at Ruby Tuesday! So this is like putting a whole -- for someone that hasn't played on a national -- Geraldine Ferraro had more -- Dan Quayle had undergone more scrutiny, had played on a bigger stage than this. This is putting an enormous risk on someone he didn't know. And he has to just pray that it works!"
This is the same media whose chant for weeks -- no, months -- has been "let McCain be McCain." If we know anything about John McCain, it is that he is by instinct a reformer, sometimes to a fault. Yet when he acts like McCain and picks a maverick reformer in his own mold, his former media cheering squad turns on him for not conforming to Beltway mores and picking someone they've all met 10 times in the CNN green room.
They want a VP to be a kind of parliamentary choice, someone they have already vetted, someone who's made them laugh with insider jokes at the Gridiron dinner. The Beltway class whines constantly about how it wants fresh voices in politics, but we guess this means a first-term Democratic Senator rather than a first-term Republican Governor from some godforsaken U.S. state few of them have ever been to.
We are instructed that Mrs. Palin isn't qualified, because she lacks Washington experience. But until recently that was said to be a virtue in Mr. Obama, who is at the top of his ticket. Meanwhile, there's hardly a peep of media notice that the Obama campaign is preposterously trying to remake Joe Biden into a poor scrapper from Scranton when he's been in the Senate for 36 years. They all know Joe. But when Mr. McCain picks an authentic middle-class mother who is also a Governor, we are told she's not up to the job.
The spin du jour is that her choice reflects poorly on Candidate McCain because she wasn't properly vetted. Yet this seems to be false. Campaign vetter A.B. Culvahouse, White House counsel under Ronald Reagan, says Mrs. Palin told the campaign about her pregnant daughter and her husband's DUI at the age of 22. On Monday, Time magazine's Nathan Thornburgh wrote from Wasilla, Alaska, that Bristol Palin's pregnancy had been known by virtually everyone there, with little made of it. But what do these private family matters have to do with Mrs. Palin's credentials to be Vice President in any case?
The press in 2000 ignored marijuana use by Al Gore's son, as it should have. But now we are told a teenage pregnancy is going to raise second thoughts among evangelicals and "family values voters" about Mrs. Palin's ability to be both a mother and a public official. This is also false.
Leaving aside the embarrassing reality that the Beltway press corps barely knows any evangelicals, religious leaders this week greeted the pregnancy news with support for the Palins. Offering support for unwed pregnant women and their families is a primary activity of these churches from one end of America to the other. That might even make a good story for someone this weekend.
What's really going on here is that the Beltway class can see how popular the Palin pick is with Republicans outside Washington, and especially with middle-class conservatives. As Richard Land, a leader with the Southern Baptist Convention, said Monday, John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin closed the "enthusiasm gap" between the two parties.
There is nothing more dangerous to entrenched Washington power than a populist conservative who looks unlikely to buy into Washington's creature comforts. Take a close look at Governor Palin's record on ethics and energy in Alaska, and it becomes clear what this Beltway outburst is actually about. The irony is that while Senator Obama is running on change, his acceptance speech made explicit that he's promising only more power and money for Washington. Sarah Palin's history of taking on the career politicians of a corrupt Alaskan GOP machine -- her own party -- shows that she's the more authentic change agent.
* * *
If Sarah Palin succeeds as a national candidate, she could help John McCain proceed to a reform Presidency. Even if he loses while she does well, she could emerge as a major figure in GOP politics for years to come. This is why the media and political classes are so eager to discredit her. They can't let it happen.
We hope Mr. McCain and the GOP are prepared to fight back. On the evidence this week, it looks like an army of volunteers is forming up to help them.
See all of today's editorials and op-eds, plus video commentary, on Opinion Journal.
-----------------------------
The Beltway Boys
September 3, 2008; Page A22
Even as the Obama camp ponders how best to handle John McCain's veep pick of Sarah Palin, the high priests and priestesses of the media have marked her as an apostate. The Beltway class is in full-throated rebellion against a nondomesticated conservative who might pose a threat to their coronation of Barack Obama and the return of Camelot-on-the-Potomac.
Here is a sampler of media comment on Governor Palin this week:
- Eleanor Clift, the McLaughlin Group: "If the media reaction is anything, it's been literally laughter in many places across newsrooms."
- Sally Quinn, Newsweek: "It is a political gimmick . . . I find it insulting to women, to the Republican party, and to the country."
- E.J. Dionne, Washington Post: "Palin is, if anything, less qualified for the vice presidency (and the presidency) than [Harriet] Miers was for the court. But there is one big difference: Palin passes all the right-wing litmus tests."
- Maureen Dowd, New York Times: "They have a tradition of nominating fun, bantamweight cheerleaders from the West."
- Ruth Marcus, Washington Post: "But as a parent in the media, I also know that the Palins assumed this risk. Anyone who watched coverage of the Bush twins' barroom exploits knew that the avert-your-eyes stance toward candidates' children has its limits."
- Charlie Cook, Beltway pundit, on PBS's "Charlie Rose": "I had a friend that had a young person tell them that they had three interviews to get a job as a server at Ruby Tuesday! So this is like putting a whole -- for someone that hasn't played on a national -- Geraldine Ferraro had more -- Dan Quayle had undergone more scrutiny, had played on a bigger stage than this. This is putting an enormous risk on someone he didn't know. And he has to just pray that it works!"
This is the same media whose chant for weeks -- no, months -- has been "let McCain be McCain." If we know anything about John McCain, it is that he is by instinct a reformer, sometimes to a fault. Yet when he acts like McCain and picks a maverick reformer in his own mold, his former media cheering squad turns on him for not conforming to Beltway mores and picking someone they've all met 10 times in the CNN green room.
They want a VP to be a kind of parliamentary choice, someone they have already vetted, someone who's made them laugh with insider jokes at the Gridiron dinner. The Beltway class whines constantly about how it wants fresh voices in politics, but we guess this means a first-term Democratic Senator rather than a first-term Republican Governor from some godforsaken U.S. state few of them have ever been to.
We are instructed that Mrs. Palin isn't qualified, because she lacks Washington experience. But until recently that was said to be a virtue in Mr. Obama, who is at the top of his ticket. Meanwhile, there's hardly a peep of media notice that the Obama campaign is preposterously trying to remake Joe Biden into a poor scrapper from Scranton when he's been in the Senate for 36 years. They all know Joe. But when Mr. McCain picks an authentic middle-class mother who is also a Governor, we are told she's not up to the job.
The spin du jour is that her choice reflects poorly on Candidate McCain because she wasn't properly vetted. Yet this seems to be false. Campaign vetter A.B. Culvahouse, White House counsel under Ronald Reagan, says Mrs. Palin told the campaign about her pregnant daughter and her husband's DUI at the age of 22. On Monday, Time magazine's Nathan Thornburgh wrote from Wasilla, Alaska, that Bristol Palin's pregnancy had been known by virtually everyone there, with little made of it. But what do these private family matters have to do with Mrs. Palin's credentials to be Vice President in any case?
The press in 2000 ignored marijuana use by Al Gore's son, as it should have. But now we are told a teenage pregnancy is going to raise second thoughts among evangelicals and "family values voters" about Mrs. Palin's ability to be both a mother and a public official. This is also false.
Leaving aside the embarrassing reality that the Beltway press corps barely knows any evangelicals, religious leaders this week greeted the pregnancy news with support for the Palins. Offering support for unwed pregnant women and their families is a primary activity of these churches from one end of America to the other. That might even make a good story for someone this weekend.
What's really going on here is that the Beltway class can see how popular the Palin pick is with Republicans outside Washington, and especially with middle-class conservatives. As Richard Land, a leader with the Southern Baptist Convention, said Monday, John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin closed the "enthusiasm gap" between the two parties.
There is nothing more dangerous to entrenched Washington power than a populist conservative who looks unlikely to buy into Washington's creature comforts. Take a close look at Governor Palin's record on ethics and energy in Alaska, and it becomes clear what this Beltway outburst is actually about. The irony is that while Senator Obama is running on change, his acceptance speech made explicit that he's promising only more power and money for Washington. Sarah Palin's history of taking on the career politicians of a corrupt Alaskan GOP machine -- her own party -- shows that she's the more authentic change agent.
* * *
If Sarah Palin succeeds as a national candidate, she could help John McCain proceed to a reform Presidency. Even if he loses while she does well, she could emerge as a major figure in GOP politics for years to come. This is why the media and political classes are so eager to discredit her. They can't let it happen.
We hope Mr. McCain and the GOP are prepared to fight back. On the evidence this week, it looks like an army of volunteers is forming up to help them.
See all of today's editorials and op-eds, plus video commentary, on Opinion Journal.
Why Iraq will help answer the "Commander in Chief" question...
Iraq has turned into a big trump card for Sen. McCain... he was right in 2003-4 when he criticized Don Rumsfeld and Pres. Bush's strategy. He has finally been fully vindicated with the surge strategy that Pres. Bush implemented shortly after he fired Rumsfeld...
Two stories today show the facts on the ground and the political ramifications...
For all of those not paying close attention, Sen. Obama has not yet admitted that the surge worked, that we're all safer for it, and should celebrate its success... That seems to me to be enough to question his ability to be Commander in Chief.
Two stories today show the facts on the ground and the political ramifications...
For all of those not paying close attention, Sen. Obama has not yet admitted that the surge worked, that we're all safer for it, and should celebrate its success... That seems to me to be enough to question his ability to be Commander in Chief.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Hillary was right...
On sexism and the media...
This list will surely only grow...
I think having an example of a strong female in elected executive office will help to change this.
This list will surely only grow...
I think having an example of a strong female in elected executive office will help to change this.
Monday, September 1, 2008
A class operation...
Please visit this site for opportunities to help out with the Gulf Coast re: Hurricane Gustav.
Early reports from New Orleans are encouraging, but remember that during Katrina the first reports were wrong... I would say we will begin to know for sure how the levees held by midday tomorrow.
Early reports from New Orleans are encouraging, but remember that during Katrina the first reports were wrong... I would say we will begin to know for sure how the levees held by midday tomorrow.
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