Lee on Nov 05 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008
So we had an election. For those in the new opposition the outcome was variously enviable, troubling, or contemptible. For the victors it was…what else, an occasion for gathering an enormous outdoor rally at an urban theatrical stage to chant.
For my own part, I’m always somewhat reluctant to criticize the phenomenon of Barack Obama, because [...]
Lee on Nov 03 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008
It occurs to me that the sequence of cocktails is the best political indicator I know of on election night. In 2004 I was attending a Democratic election party and early on everyone was drinking wine and martinis in stemware, or beer and soda in tall glasses. The ambiance befit the beverages: general levity and [...]
Lee on Oct 20 2008 | Filed under: Foreign affairs, Lee's Page
Stéphane Dion, leader of the defeated Canadian Liberal Party, has rather ignominiously resigned his position today. Thereby he becomes the first Liberal Party leader since the 19th century to have never become Prime Minister of Canada. Given his dismal political skills, it might seem somewhat mystifying how he ever even became a national party leader. [...]
Lee on Oct 18 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Lee's Page
Video of Laura Ingraham interrogating Christopher Hitchens over his rather weakly supported endorsement of Barack Obama for president.
Hitch’s primary position in this chat is that Obama should be supported because he is “evolving” toward support of a more aggressive policy against international terrorism. Hardly the most persuasive pitch to say the least. Perhaps all those [...]
MikeR on Sep 21 2008 | Filed under: MikeR's Page
Brutally HonestThe drumbeat - the phenomenon of the big lie.
It’s the drumbeat of the left. It is political, philosophical, theological, and social. It pervades every activity. It is post-structural, post-modern, post-everything in the parlance of the day. It is tolerant, diverse, non-judgmental, non-discriminatory, egalitarian, politically correct, multicultural, globalist, and collectivist. It insists that there [...]
MikeR on Sep 20 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web, MikeR's Page
InstapunditBill Whittle talks about McCain and Palin and their stand against a Legion of Narcissists and a Confederacy of Despair - the Liberal Left.
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Lee on Sep 17 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web
Sarah Palin’s personal email account gets hacked by an anonymous operative and Farhad Manjoo blames Palin for “Rovian tactics.” Indifference to irony isn’t a new thing in Palin reporting, but there’s a certain amusement about the event in liberal circles which is amusing in itself. That is, if you have the imagination to picture the [...]
MikeR on Sep 13 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web, MikeR's Page
Instapundit“Senate Democrats promised more open government. This is not it.”
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MikeR on Sep 13 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web, MikeR's Page
The Chronicles of the Conspiracy“What does it say about our nation that it has become political suicide to state the good news that our economy is not in recession?”
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Lee on Sep 11 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web
Seth Weinberger picks up Foreign Policy’s “10 Worst Policy Ideas” for Obama and McCain and adds some commentary. What’s immediately striking to me is how few objections FP offers to McCain’s foreign policy proposals. A peculiar thing, if you’re familiar with the doctrinal tilt of the pub. There’s really only one they single out against [...]
MikeR on Sep 07 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web, MikeR's Page
Caroline Glick via Ace of Spades
Caroline Glick is an astute observer of our political situation. She is based in Jerusalem.
“McCain’s strategic grasp of the requirements for a successful
presidential race provide an important lesson for policy-makers and
political leaders.”
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Lee on Sep 02 2008 | Filed under: Foreign affairs, Lee's Page, Media
The IMF has come through for Georgia in an enormous way, approving a $750 million credit line for the beleaguered republic. Beyond the much needed aid, it’s a powerful political reminder for Russia of the gargantuan economic advantage the West maintains.
But in that article notice the black banner in the feature photograph. It’s a promotional [...]
Lee on Sep 01 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Lee's Page
Apparently the teenage pregnancy of Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol has excited social conservatives even more about the candidate (for the when-it-counts demonstration of opposition to abortion). According to Grover Norquist, the soc-cons are “over the moon” in their support.
That’s interesting. It reminds me that historically a minor or unfair scandal that is politically survivable (as [...]
MikeR on Aug 31 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web, MikeR's Page
The Weekly StandardNewt Gingrich nails it.
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MichaelW on Aug 30 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Health Care, Media, MichaelW's Page
It’s almost as if the Dems can’t help but to resort to misogynistic antagonism in dealing with Gov. Sarah Palin. This comes courtesy of Alan Colmes, citing Rogers Cadenhead who questions Palin’s maternal abilities:
One bit of weirdness associated with Palin concerns the birth of her youngest child. As the Alaskan media reported, Palin was [...]
MikeR on Aug 30 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web, MikeR's Page
RedstateObviously not written by an Obama supporter but there is some truth in spite of a bit of snark.
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MikeR on Aug 30 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web, MikeR's Page
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?”
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MikeR on Aug 30 2008 | Filed under: MikeR's Page
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. [...]
MichaelW on Aug 25 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Media, MichaelW's Page
Because the blogosphere and all its scions have much more prominence, and arguably more influence, with respect to this year’s election, I’ve been lazily paying more attention to how new media is tackling the subject at hand. I think the following presentation is a prime example of what new media can offer, and foreshadows [...]
MikeR on Aug 25 2008 | Filed under: MikeR's Page
Human EventsThe unions and municipal workers groups don’t surprise me. What does surprise me is how the left dominates these large fund raising groups. What causes this? What is different about the left and the right? Some kind of association with centralized planning an government control extrapolated to large organizations? [...]
MikeR on Aug 23 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web
Instapundit
“Yeah, it would threaten their whole business model.” Isn’t this an interesting idea?
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MikeR on Aug 21 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web
Blogs for Victory“I wanted to make a distinction between separation of Church and state, and separating our faith from our politics. You can embrace the concept of separation of Church and state, but that’s not at all the same thing as separating our faith from our actions, from our political actions.”
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MikeR on Aug 19 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web
Intellectual Conservative Politics and PhilosophyLong but interesting view of the current state of the political left.
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Peg on Aug 18 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Media, Peg's Page
Every day, Professor Keith Burgess-Jackson reprints a Letter to the Editor from the New York Times. This offering left me gape-jawed.
The Professor’s first point is well-taken.
Where is the evidence that Barack Obama is more intelligent than John McCain? Have they taken intelligence tests?
One might argue that because Obama performed better in college than McCain, he [...]
Peg on Aug 17 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Peg's Page
My time at the Nebraska Regional was super. Our team won three of the four Knockout Events, was second in a shorter “Compact” Knockout - then struggled to 13th place in the last day’s Swiss Team, although we were in second place with only 3 rounds to go. Still, our performance was enough to [...]
Peg on Aug 17 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Media, Peg's Page
When you’re Speaker of the House, I guess that, in addition to all your other powers, you can make language mean whatever you wish it to mean.
PELOSI: I’m never certain of anything. Today, I would be certain. I just think that it is the opportunity for our country to move away from Washington. You know, [...]
Lee on Aug 16 2008 | Filed under: Election 2008, Foreign affairs, Lee's Page
(photo: Chris Dunn)
John Bolton argues that the future of Russian imperialism in Eurasia rides on the outcome of the US presidential election. Unsurprisingly, he pitches McCain: “First reactions, before the campaigns’ pollsters and consultants get involved are always the best indicators…McCain at once grasped the larger, geostrategic significance of Russia’s attack.”
That’s evidently a sentiment shared [...]
Lee on Aug 13 2008 | Filed under: Foreign affairs, Lee's Page
Russian units are on the move again in Georgian territory, apparently in violation of the truce agreement. One Russian soldier in a large convoy shouted an ominous flirtation to a press photographer outside Gori, hopefully in jest or lust:
“Come with us, beauty, we’re going to Tbilisi.”
(AP)
A week in a Caucasian foxhole will make any soldier [...]
Peg on Aug 02 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Peg's Page
Occasionally I have arguments with my liberal friends about which party was responsible for what actions throughout history. Some liberals think, for instance, that it was always the Democrats who battled for civil rights and against Jim Crow. Yet, for periods of our history, Republicans were far more the friends of blacks and the party [...]
Lance on Aug 02 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Environment, Lance's Page, energy
Pelosi says, “I’m trying to save the planet; I’m trying to save the planet.”
Charles Krauthammer points out the incoherence of this:
Does Pelosi imagine that with so much of America declared off-limits, the planet is less injured as drilling shifts to Kazakhstan and Venezuela and Equatorial Guinea? That Russia will be more environmentally scrupulous than we [...]
Lance on Aug 01 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Lance's Page
EJ Dionne thinks McCain is blowing it:
By running an attack campaign that is almost a parody of George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 exertions, McCain is chucking away his greatest opportunity, which is to show that he could reform Republicanism and offer voters an alternative way of breaking with a past they have come to [...]
Lance on Aug 01 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Humor, Lance's Page
I still hate the housing bill.
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Peg on Jul 31 2008 | Filed under: Peg's Page
ABC’s Jake Tapper thinks it’s primarily being leveled by Democrats.
There’s a lot of racist xenophobic crap out there. But not only has McCain not peddled any of it, he’s condemned it.
What I have not seen is it come from McCain or his campaign in such a way to merit the language Obama used today. Pretty [...]
Lance on Jul 28 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Economics, Lance's Page, Media
For those of you who love New York Times bashing, I am in rant mode at Risk and Return. What a bunch of balderdash.
Also, if you want a good idea of where housing prices may go, I also have this. Charts, I have lots of charts!
Finally, I really hate the housing bill.
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Lance on Jul 27 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Foreign affairs, Lance's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
From The Huffington Post, where this kind of BS is applauded:
“Quit talking about, ‘Did the surge work or not work,’ or, ‘Did you vote for this or support this,’” Hagel said Thursday on a conference call with reporters.
“Get out of that. We’re done with that. How are we going to project forward?” the Nebraska senator [...]
Lance on Jul 27 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Lance's Page, Libertarianism
Ah, the Libertarian Party. I wish I could call it home, but like all parties animated by ideals, it is susceptible to grievance mongers who latch themselves onto the rhetoric to justify disgusting views. The Republican Party of La. had the good sense to repudiate David Duke, can the Libertarians manage to distance themselves from [...]
Lance on Jul 27 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Humor, Lance's Page
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Lance on Jul 26 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Interviews, Lance's Page, Law, Libertarianism
While my opposition to modern liberal left politics is pretty clear, I generally feel that name calling is rarely needed, or warranted. I certainly do not believe that any particular ideology is more or less likely to have virtuous people, whether we are speaking of kindness, generosity, bravery or integrity.
I also don’t believe that any [...]
Lance on Jul 25 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Lance's Page
Hat tip: Peg Kaplan
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Peg on Jul 25 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Economics, Peg's Page
Is it really too late for him to be a candidate?
Too bad. Mankiw’s platform surely would be our nation’s best.
Mankiw coyly calls it “pandering.” I call it a breath of fresh air - along with refreshing rationality.
No wonder most of it doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting implemented.
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Lance on Jul 24 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Economics, Humor, Lance's Page
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Lance on Jul 24 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web
Two straight weeks of 400k+ jobless claims (the level we have been told signals a recession) and the minimum wage goes up making it more expensive to hire low skilled employees by 12%. How about that for well thought out government policy.
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MichaelW on Jul 09 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Foreign affairs, MichaelW's Page, Military Matters, Notes on the war
Not the same thing as a Harry Reid Timetable (HT: McQ):
A deadline should be set for the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces from Iraq, and the pullout could be done by 2011, an Iraqi government spokesman said Tuesday.
Ali al-Dabbagh said any timetable would depend on “conditions and the circumstances that the country would be [...]
MichaelW on Jun 23 2008 | Filed under: Books, Domestic Politics, Election 2008, History, Libertarianism, MichaelW's Page, Philosophy, social science
Over the weekend I read with fascination William Saletan’s review of the new offering from George Lakoff, “The Political Mind,” and was struck by the remarkable similarities between it and the revolutionary syndicalism espoused during the prior fin de siècle.
In particular, Saletan summarizes Lakoff’s principal idea as the need for progressives to recapture [...]
Lee on May 31 2008 | Filed under: Around the Web
Politics makes for strange bedfellows. Vowing to vote McCain, an outspoken, paranoid and hopefully drunk Hillary supporter gets tossed out of the Democratic Rules & Bylaws Committee meeting, raving about race and CIA surveillance: video.
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Lee on May 31 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Religion and theology, Uncategorized
Well, Mr. Obama has finally quit that ludicrous Chicago institution known as Trinity United Church of Christ. His membership had survived Rev. Wright, but was ultimately done in over the visiting Rev. Michael Pfleger’s bizarre self-hating white guilt trip, and radicalized political rally in sacred masquerade.
Having seen the deranged, obscenely ideological sermons of Wright and [...]
Lee on May 31 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Lee's Page
(photo: Department of Defense)
The Obama campaign has categorically rejected John McCain’s proposal for a joint trip to Iraq, calling it a “publicity stunt.” Publicity stunt it most certainly is, but why is it automatically assumed that the publicity would only benefit McCain? Because he proposed it? Or because the facts on the ground are thought [...]
Peg on May 01 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Health Care, Peg's Page
John McCain gets my vote.
What exactly is the problem with the American health-care system?
The problem is not that Americans don’t have fine doctors, medical technology, and treatments. American medicine is the envy of the world. The problem is not that most Americans lack adequate health insurance. The vast majority of Americans have private insurance, and [...]
Peg on Apr 25 2008 | Filed under: Domestic Politics, Election 2008, Law, Libertarianism, Media
John McCain was one politician I admired greatly. While I still believe that the man is a true hero, and while I still do applaud some of what he does, the veil has been lifted from my eyes for one major reason: McCain-Feingold.
Although I, like so many others, wish that we lived in [...]
Peg on Apr 25 2008 | Filed under: Economics, Environment, Peg's Page, energy, science
Sooner rather than later.
And this:
Perhaps turning food into transportation fuel would make sense if massive amounts of grain spoiled every year from a lack of demand, but that certainly isn’t the case. Farmers love the higher prices that come from the new demand to fill gas tanks, but higher prices have consequences for poorer nations [...]
Risk and Return Multinational Force-Iraq QandO