Something to pray for

Ilisa Gold seizes upon (and links to) a Religious Conservative's (politically) unfortunate tongue-in-cheek political commentary, in which said-Dobsonite said he was going to pray for God to open the flood gates on Obama's outdoor acceptance speech.

Ugh. He should probably have spent his time countering Democratic prayers for a sluggish economy and non-success in Iraq.

The process of picking Palin

Here's an interesting report on how McCain settled on Sarah Palin ("How Palin Got Picked"). But I especially liked this quote from the article:

Many political observers are astonished the secret held. The McCain campaign is not. 'The key to keeping secrets is not telling people,' says Matt McDonald, a McCain adviser, who was one of only a handful to learn about the pick Thursday night.

Kristol on Palin

Bill Kristol of The Weekly Standard provides some great advice for the McCain campaign--Let Palin Be Palin. From the first paragraph:

A spectre is haunting the liberal elites of New York and Washington--the spectre of a young, attractive, unapologetic conservatism, rising out of the American countryside, free of the taint (fair or unfair) of the Bush administration and the recent Republican Congress, able to invigorate a McCain administration and to govern beyond it.

News to me . . .

I just learned that Shawn Johnson led the Pledge of Allegiance at the Democratic National Convention.

They say the Pledge of Allegiance at the Democratic National Convention?

McCain's Maverick Pick

I was discussing with BCM and Toni last evening that I was really wondering if McCain could make a "surprising" (but not shocking) choice for his running mate--a serendipitous choice, shall we say.

I think he did. All the data supports the conclusion that a choice of VP rarely makes a direct impact on the final polling results, but it is one tool in a candidate's belt to energize your volunteers and to frame the "story" of the candidacy. I think that Palin, known for her own brand of maverick-ness, and having demonstrated executive talent, is a great pick. Way to go, John.

Those Dems . . .

Today's email from Democrats.com was a keeper, with its mix of (1) identity politics, (2) a (refreshing, frankly) confession, (3) promises to end war, and (4) promises to end natural disasters. Dang, maybe I do need to vote for Obama:

Last night the Democratic Party made history by nominating the first major-party African-American candidate for President, Barack Obama.

Tonight, Barack Obama will accept our nomination. It is fitting that a 20,000 seat arena isn't remotely large enough to mark this moment. Even a 75,000 seat stadium will be too small and many will be turned away.

Rightwingers will mock the white columns. (1)Everyone else in America and the world will marvel at the black man who stands before them.

Incredibly, it was the first viable feminist candidate, Hillary Clinton, who put him over the top. In that single act, the parallel lines of the civil rights and feminist movements met to transform American history.

(2) And we did it through the oldest and largest political party in the world - the party that once fought civil rights - our party, the Democratic Party ...

The Republican plan is more disastrous war with Iran or Russia; less health care, education, justice and jobs; and environmental catastrophe. (3) The Democratic plan is the opposite: ending war, more health care, education, justice and jobs; and saving the planet before it is too late. That is our choice, and it leaves us no choice.

In Berlin Barack Obama declared , (4) "This is the moment when we must come together to save this planet. Let us resolve that we will not leave our children a world where the oceans rise and famine spreads and terrible storms devastate our lands."

When identities collide!

I think it was Rush yesterday asserting that Obama is a flawed candidate because he got the nomination by "identity politics." It was interesting to read this Chicago Tribune article about the smash-mouth identity politics going on in the DNC:

An African-American woman who is an Illinois delegate for Sen. Hillary Clinton maintained Monday that Senate President Emil Jones, a mentor of Sen. Barack Obama, called her an “Uncle Tom” at the Illinois hotel for the Democratic National Convention.
. . . .

“When the question of why Hillary Clinton supporters aren’t coming over (to Obama) and jumping up to joy comes up, this is not an isolated incident. This has been going on for months now. Now, here we are. Be gracious in victory.”

Gentleman, this is a judge.

For those who spend a lot of time involved in a subject or an activity (e.g., politics) it is easy to lose sight of the fundamentals. This is particularly problematic in the political realm because most of the voters being wooed are not similarly immersed.

So, in the spirit of the legendary Vince Lombardi, I encourage you to read this splendid op/ed about the fundamentals of American judicial principles. This distinction between how Democrats and Republicans generally view the judiciary, is one reason, among many, that I am not a Democrat.

Kathryn Jean Lopez on "Democrats & Judges" on National Review Online

On messiah complexes

Maybe I'm just more aware of this type of thing of late, but in reading this great Byron York op/ed, I realized how disturbing is Obama's construct of his or government's role in America. It is almost messianic.

York is writing about the corner into which Obama has painted himself in the run-up to tonight's acceptance speech--I agree with York, and I'm still wondering how/if the Obama campaign can pull off this high-risk event. But what really jumped out at me from the article was a quote from Obama that manifests his perception of what voters need and/or want in a president. I don't want to take these comments out of context, but they seem to betray an overwrought view of (a) how intractable/bad things are in America and (b) how much of a positive, specific role "government" can play in an individual's life:

Speaking to reporters in Illinois this week, he took pains to play down the razzle-dazzle. “I'm not aiming for a lot of high rhetoric,” he said of his upcoming speech. “I'm much more concerned with communicating how I intend to help middle-class families live their lives.”“People know that I can give the kind of speech that I gave four years ago,” Obama continued. “That's not the question on voters' minds. I think they're much more interested in, what am I going to do to help them in their lives?"

(emphasis added). Anyone paying attention knows that the, "I feel your pain," shtick is classic Democratic fare, but should we foster this type of mindset?

Dramacrats in Denver

I'm sorry, but it's hard not to laugh at the fabricated "drama" in Denver. For example, the breathless reporting about Ted Kennedy's "surprise appearance" at the DNC convention. We had heard reports (akin to Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve) that the "Liberal Lion" had secretly touched down in Denver. Give me a break.

Not to mention, he appeared in DC six weeks ago to cast one of nine extra votes to override a GOP filibuster.

But wait, there's more "drama":

Barack Obama addressed the delegates in a short message via satellite at the conclusion of his wife's speech.

"Now you know why I asked her out so many times, even though she said no. You want a persistent president," he joked. Obama's two daughters, Sasha and Malia, grabbed the mic to give their father a quick "hello."

Obama watched his wife's speech from Kansas City, Missouri, where he is scheduled to campaign Tuesday.

Republicans will probably try something similarly stupid, but I think such Santa sighting reports appear stupid to all but party die-hards camped out at the convention looking for something to cheer about.

"Working the refs" and playing the (tin) foil

Something came to mind as I read a headline about the "protesters" and police preparing for the Democrats' Convention in Denver. It is intriguing to speculate about whether these Liberal loons will serve to marginalize the Democratic Party with average voters or whether they (the Loons) will make the Democrats seem more mainstream by comparison. I guess it all depends on how the story is spun by the MSM.

But over-the-top Leftyness is getting results, it seems, in its mastery of the 24/7 war room--the never-ending campaign. Here's a great article at Politico.com about the Nutroots' efforts to "work the refs" in this latest election cycle. :

Gone are the days when only the right howled about bias and malice from network anchors and star political reporters. What began roughly a decade ago as frustration from Democrats over coverage of President Bill Clinton’s impeachment and adulterous escapades has morphed into an informally organized rapid response network, ready to pounce on any and all perceived media slights against Barack Obama.

But even as I write this, I think there is a good argument, based on the past few presidential elections, that Libs seem to be getting diminishing returns on this strategy. Voters kinda get numb to the extreme rhetoric, and there's only so much antipathy that readily transfers from chimpybushitler to McCain.


Aside: I don't know whether it is politico or the Liberal dimwits being interviewed, but it is interesting that they mistakenly used "tenants" where they meant "tenets" and "slack" where they meant "flack." Impressive.

Frothy cup of Joe

Here's a PowerLine profile of Obama's choice of running mate:

Barack Obama's selection of Joe Biden as his running mate is underwhelming for many reasons, but it affords an opportunity to review a few of the moments that might have provided all the embarrassment a normal man would have needed to escape from public life.

Indeed . . .

Think globally, lose locally

I enjoyed this quote from Obama about his VP announcement ("Obama notifies candidates on shortlist" - CNN.com):

Obama said Thursday that he had made his decision but declined to give any further details.

Obama has told some other potential running mates over the past few weeks that he would not be choosing them, the Democratic source said.

'I won't comment on anything else until I introduce our running mate to the world,' he said in Emporia, Virginia. 'That's all you're going to get out of me.'

(emphasis added)

Democrat's class(less) warfare

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., showed his backside in a Wednesday interview regarding Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman on Wednesday:

"[Lieberman] has a close personal relationship with John McCain. I don't fully understand why he does," said Reid, who said Lieberman called Tuesday from the Republic of Georgia to alert him to the move.

"I told him last night, 'You know, Joe, I can't stand John McCain.' He said, 'I know you feel that way,' " Reid said.

(emphasis added)

Gold medals and the 20 something %

What a shock to see--in a typically annoying (to me, at least) Olympic "winner's circle" interview last evening, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh going out of their way to speak highly of the President (approvingly, you might say).

On the heels of Kobe Bryant's refreshingly patriotic comments the other day, this Olympics' "human interest" stuff is almost inspiring. Maybe McCain can make inroads with the Soccer Mom demographic this election.

Maybe he IS the messiah . . .

SI’s Selena Roberts Predicts Olympic Softball Might Be Saved by Obama | NewsBusters.org:

Sports Illustrated’s Selena Roberts, when asked during an interview on the SI website about the future of softball as an Olympic competition on Thursday, added some liberal commentary into her prediction about the sport’s redemption: "One other wildcard for 2016 is the exit of the Bush administration. The undercurrent of anti-Americanism within the IOC, which some say has hurt the U.S. because of its softball dominance, may abate somewhat with a potential administration led by Barack Obama, a rock star in Europe."

As an aside, I hope the Redeem Team is paying attention to the softball story.

Recycling and "Cap and trade" nonsense

Stephen Moore takes on "Gang Green" at WSJ.com:

But now the environmental movement has morphed into the most authoritarian philosophy in America. The most glaring example of course is the multitrillion-dollar cap-and-trade anti-global warming scheme that would mandate an entire restructuring of our industrial economy. This plan, endorsed by both presidential candidates, would empower climate-change cops to regulate the energy usage and carbon emissions of every industry in America. If we do this, the best estimates are that we could reduce global temperatures by 0.1 degrees by 2050 and save on average about one polar bear a year from early death. But no burden is too great when it comes to helping the planet -- even if the progress to be made is infinitesimal. To weigh costs and benefits is regarded as sacrilege -- the refuge of global warming 'deniers.'

. . . .

Many studies have shown that the environmental benefits from household recycling are minimal or at least highly exaggerated (because it uses a lot of energy and those recycling trucks emit a lot of greenhouse gases). America is not in danger of ever running out of landfill to store our garbage. For example, a study by Daniel Benjamin, an economist at Clemson, finds that we could store all of America's garbage for the next century within the property of Ted Turner's ranch in Montana, with 50,000 acres undisturbed for the horse and bison.

By the way, McCain's susceptibility to stupid (and typically "populist") arguments like the "green" agenda is the most troubling thing about him.

Ridge is out of touch.

Don't be so sure, Mr. Ridge. Ridge: GOP would accept abortion-rights VP (OneNewsNow.com):

"'I think that would be up to, first of all, to John to decide whether he wants a pro-choice running mate; then we would have to see how the Republican Party would rally around it,' Ridge said. 'At the end of the day, I think the Republican Party will be comfortable with whatever choice John makes.'"

Maybe this type of statement is calculated to appeal to "the muddled middle" on the issue of abortion, but "comfortable"? You gotta be kidding me.

If it's above your pay grade, then shut your pie hole

Warren: Obama dodged question on when life begins (OneNewsNow.com):

The moderator of Saturday night's presidential forum on faith -- Pastor Rick Warren -- says Barack Obama failed to adequately address the question of when life begins.

Senator Obama (D-Illinois) told Pastor Warren that it was 'above [his] pay grade' to determine at what point a baby should be given human rights.

Following the forum, Pastor Warren criticized Obama's decision to dodge the question. In an interview with Beliefnet.com, Warren said 'to just say 'I don't know' on the most divisive issue in America is not a clear enough answer for me.'

Warren went on to suggest Obama's non-answer will not sit well with many Christians. As Warren puts it: 'If an evangelical really believes that the Bible is literal -- in other word[s], in Psalm 139 God says 'I formed you in your mother's womb and before you were born I planned every day of your life' -- if they believe that's literally true, then they can't just walk away from that. They can add other issues, but they can't walk away from the belief that at conception God planned that child, and to abort it would be to short circuit the purpose.'

In all fairness, I have to admit that Obama's answer--when analyzed closely and viewed from a Liberal worldview--was not as glib as it sounds. He was basically asserting that he is not a scientist or a theologian (though I'm not sure the self-deprecating angle is credible, e.g., scientists or theologians are at a higher "pay grade" than legal dynamoes, U.S. Senators and community organizers? Come on.)

Nonetheless, Obama was dodging the question because the question of "when an individual human life begins" is pretty basic Christian theology and pretty basic biology.

It's baaack.

History, that is.

Call me easily distracted, but the Olympic Games (the back story of the Olympic Games is probably more accurate) combined with Russia's invasion of Georgia in the past week or so have gotten me dwelling on foreign policy. Too bad I couldn't have been on vacation in Hawaii.

Anyway, I just read a profound op/ed over at the Weekly Standard called, History's Back. I think Robert Kagan accurately assesses the post-Cold War global situation and demonstrates how the New World Order's honeymoon--as well as the viability of Liberal and neo-Conservative global visions, has ended. From the article:

Nor has the growth of the Chinese and Russian economies produced the political liberalization that was once thought inevitable. Growing national wealth and autocracy have proven compatible, after all. Autocrats learn and adjust. The autocracies of Russia and China have figured out how to permit open economic activity while suppressing political activity. They have seen that people making money will keep their noses out of politics, especially if they know their noses will be cut off. New wealth gives autocracies a greater ability to control information--to monopolize television stations and to keep a grip on Internet traffic, for instance--often with the assistance of foreign corporations eager to do business with them.

Exactly; and though I have defended Dubya from unhinged rhetoric about nefarious motives for invading Iraq, I have long believed that the aspiration of planting a republic in Islamic Iraq was uber-wishful.

But, it's comforting to know that we're still doing pretty well in the medal count . . .

NCLB swamping State Dept.'s of Ed.?

I don't follow public education stories (especially when my children aren't directly impacted), but I happened upon this story about the rising influence of Nashville's teachers' union, and it got me to thinkin' . . . in sum, it is intriguing to me that No Child Left Behind (NCLB) may inadvertently be fostering the influence of local teachers' unions at the expense of local school systems (and, frankly, at the expense of students in said systems). As State Departments of Education are given authority (read: responsibility) to control local failing (per NCLB standards) school systems, are State Education officials practically forced to let special interest foxes in to help guard the henhouse?

From today's City Paper article regarding the controversy of MNEA's potentially extensive role in principal and vice princpal assignments in Nashville:

The state has authority to make principal and assistant principal changes due to the d[i]strict’s repeated failure to pass certain benchmarks required by state and federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) laws. MNPS, as a district, is currently in NCLB’s “Restructuring” status, giving the DOE authority to approve all staffing resources.

One school board member, Steve Glover, recently organized a meeting with three state legislators to discuss the state’s role with the school district. At that meeting, Glover noted that some of the principals moved by the state had brought about success and change at their schools, in terms of NCLB. There appeared to be other factors playing a role in principal moves, and Glover highlighted public statements from Smith that the MNEA had contributed to the process.

. . . .

“It appears that they [MNEA] had a considerable amount of influence. …It unnerves me to think that they may have a hand in determining who the principals are, because I think that’s clearly a management decision,” Glover said. “Any time you’re in management, it’s a very fine line between the ‘respect’ and the ‘like.’”

. . . .

[Metro Nashville School] Board chair Marsha Warden said Thursday that she agrees that the MNEA’s relationship with the district has changed. She added that she hopes the union will play a larger role in helping the district monitor the effectiveness of individual teachers. A positive relationship with the union will be helpful to MNPS, she said, as long as the teachers’ union serves as a professional organization with a focus on teacher and student success.

“I think one of the most beneficial results for children would be a beneficial relationship with the MNEA,” Warden said.

The obtuseness (and naivete, INMHO) of that last statement by Board Chair Marsha Warden is odd . . . and it almost makes you wonder exactly how concerned she is about having her school system in "restructuring" status.

Above his pay grade, indeed*

Mark Rose links to Michelle Malkin on Barack Obama's radical abortion record.



*Here's a great write-up on Rick Warren's Saddleback Church Civil Forum.

The Evangelical-driven Night

Well, I'm jumping between the Olympics (which right now consists of the Women's Marathon--btw, do competitors typically drop like flies during World Class Marathon competitions?) and Rick Warren's Presidential Forum.

I was kind of surprised to hear that people were paying up to $2,000 for a ticket to the event . . . then I read <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/church-tickets-saddleback-2122308-members-ross">that EVERYone had to pay</a>. Then I was surprised--despite all the hype about Obama's purported entree to Evangelicals, to see a standing ovation when Obama made his appearance, not to mention when people applauded--mid answer, Obama's circuitous (as all his answers were) reply to some "social issue" question.

I had assumed that this was more of a Saddleback event than simply an event staged in Saddleback facilities. I would have preferred--and I generally prefer, debates that don't have live studio audiences. I'm not sure what I think about that, and I'm not sure I agree with Saddleback using this event to raise $$.

I must admit I didn't watch the entire event, but several other things occurred to me as I watched, all related to the candor of the candidates. Both men face a challenge of wooing skeptical Evangelicals, and I think that McCain's forthrightness will be a serious asset in a campaign against a personality like Obama. Warren asked for names of the three wisest counselors he had and he gave three. Obama's answer was, shall we say, less than forthright, though I was disappointed that he did not attempt to rehabilitate Rev. Jeremiad Wright as he did his grandmother.

Obama's Clarence Thomas answer was also disingenuous. Based on his follow-up, Liberally-obligatory swipe at Scalia, Obama seems to think that Thomas is not intelligent enough (lacks "intellectual brilliance") to be a Supreme Court justice. It was a knee-jerk jab at Thomas and indisputably ironic in light of Obama's bid to be president . . . as Obama said, he's "been on the stump a long time" . . . 140 days after becoming a U.S. Senator.

One other seemingly disingenuous statement I heard from Obama was his statement about being concerned about the election (I think): "As a person of faith, I believe things will work out and we will get the president we need." That is a smooth answer for the Evangelical target demo, but I'm guessing Obama thinks God was out to lunch each time Dubya was elected?

The Chinese girls' gymnastics squad

Okay, I'm new to gymnastics-watching, so I hadn't realized that people were questioning the age of China's "women" gymnasts prior to yesterday.

I had been thinking (in light of the regrettable reality that commies treat citizens--to include children, as tools of the state), "so what if they're young?" But tonight I couldn't help but notice how "cool" one of these Chinese gymnasts was as she did a vault. And then I came across this somewhat dated NYTimes article on the subject with this interesting quote:

"An advantage for younger gymnasts is that they are lighter and, often, more fearless when they perform difficult maneuvers, said Nellie Kim, a five-time Olympic gold medalist for the former Soviet Union who is now the president of the women’s technical committee for the Swiss-based International Gymnastics Federation.

“It’s easier to do tricks,” Kim said. “And psychologically, I think they worry less.”

And sorry, China; the extra layers of eye shadow aren't fooling anyone.

The ABA needs more cowbell!

This WSJ op/ed reports on ABA (American Bar Association) plans to take over the appointment of Federal judges by means of so-called "merit selection." The article highlights the problem with "merit selection"; in particular, do we want the politics of picking judges out in the open or behind closed doors? And I assure you, the process is very political.

Ironically, Tennessee and other states are moving in the opposite direction. It must really be irritating to the ABA, George Soros, et al, that states are refusing to go along with the ABA agenda. Whatever . . . the ABA needs more cowbell!

Pommeling credulity in China

For whatever reason, the ugly side of Communism and China is increasingly coming to light during the Olympics. Today, it appears that several members of the gold medalist Chinese women's (girl's) gymnastics squad were not old enough to compete in the Olympics. I thought this quote from a Chinese official was funny:

Asked whether the federation had changed their ages to make them eligible, Zhang said: 'We are a sports department. How would we have the ability to do that?'

'We already explained this very clearly. There's no need to discuss this thing again.'

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has said repeatedly that a passport is the 'accepted proof of a gymnast's eligibility,' and that He and China's other gymnasts have presented ones that show they are age eligible. The IOC also checked the girls' passports and deemed them valid.

Yeah. Riiiight.

Which reminds me of a clever post (an "interview" with the coach of the Chinese Gymnastics team). Enjoy . . .

Dems' not exactly embargoed script

The folks at Democrats.org are scaring up money for their opposition research operation so as to be ready to come out swinging the moment John McCain announces his running mate--the website is named thenextdickcheney.com.

Which goes to show that Dick Cheney is probably not as outrageous as the Left purports . . . he's just the Republican guy. So, like producers of the next Bond movie, Democrats.org has already written the script for "Villain." Likewise, the Dems' hollow "message" is garnering them little more than a Margin of Error lead in the midst of an unpopular war and a flagging economy.

Not pretty enough for the Motherland

We love us some Olympics around the Williams household. My wife and I have always been fans, and it appears the fruit is not falling far from the tree: the other day my oldest daughter rebuffed a request to do Something Kids Love To Do by saying, "I'm watching women's beach volleyball and it only comes on in 4 years!" In our family, the Olympics is almost like 14 Super Bowls in a row.

That being said, Olympics spectating is more complex than it used to be (you could say it is "nuanced," kind of like John Kerry's political views). It was much simpler, before the dissolution of the Soviet empire and before the advent of heart-wrenching human interest segments on athletes, to pick a team or competitor to root for. And having little eyes and ears spectating on our spectating makes it more complex, as well.

The Olympics have certainly lost most of their political dimension, but this article provides a glimpse behind the curtain to what makes America different than other countries, like China. The Beijing opening ceremony was literally awe-inspiring for our family, and I couldn't help but wonder whether we could pull off such a spectacle in America. America definitely has her problems, but this story helps to illustrate--for my children and for me, at least one difference between America and China, and at least one reason to be proud of our Republic. ("Official: Child Singer Not Pretty Enough for Olympics Opener; Girl Lip-Syncs Her Song").

We decide, then report.

Interesting to consider: ("Clinton aide: If affair pushed Edwards out, she would have won") from CNN.com:

"If reporters had nabbed former presidential candidate John Edwards lying about his extramarital affair, Hillary Clinton would have captured the Democratic presidential nomination, her former communications director said."

Side effects of BDS

We have some dear friends that live in Tbilisi, Georgia, and we're really concerned about what is happening over there. What should America do in the face of such aggression?

One unfortunate side effect of the Left's radical, reckless rhetoric after 9/11 is showing up of late. As a result of the over-heated, irrational and partisan campaign waged against All Things Republican (or Anything Bush Touched), the President--and our country and our allies, are in a very difficult position in responding to the Russians' veritable invasion of Georgia.

"Adults" are better at remembering who the real enemies are in the world. But hey, maybe this election they will finally beat Bush.

Barack Obama: Painful indeed

Life in the spotlight must be grand . . .

Obama's holding out . . .

There's an interesting (and unsurprising) Time article about the Clintons' struggle to move on from the Primary loss to Obama. Karen Tumulty reports:

But behind the united front, says an adviser, "it's not a great relationship, and it's probably not going to become one." In private conversations, associates say, Clinton remains skeptical that Obama can win in the fall. That's a sentiment some other Democrats believe is not just a prediction but a wish, because it would prove her right about his weaknesses as a general-election candidate and possibly pave the way for her to run again in 2012. Clinton is also annoyed that Obama has yet to deliver on his end of an informal bargain, reached as part of their truce, that each would raise $500,000 for the other. "Hillary has done her part in that regard," says an adviser. "Obama has not."

Dude doesn't have $500,000 for Hillary?

As an aside, it is interesting to see how Bill Clinton is handling the loss. I always thought it would be awkward for an ex-president to campaign for his spouse.

How did I miss this? Al Gore's hot air baloon

I can't believe I missed this "protest" story concerning environmental alarmist Al Gore. From the article:

"A 70-foot-tall hot air balloon was launched and sent floating toward the Belle Meade home of former Vice President Al Gore Friday, emblazoned with large, white letters that read: 'Global Warming Alarmism: Lost Jobs, Higher Taxes, Less Freedom.'

The launch and flight over Gore's home was part of the national 'Hot Air Tour,' organized by the libertarian group Americans for Prosperity. Its aim was to point out what the organizers describe as the folly of concern over global warming."

Is that a cricket I hear?

At least the WSJ is reporting some of the good news out of Iraq:

Good news out of Iraq is becoming almost a daily event: In just the past week, we learned that U.S. combat fatalities (five) dropped in July to a low for the war, that key leaders of al Qaeda in Iraq have fled to the Pakistani hinterland, that troop deployments will soon be cut to 12 months from 15, and that Washington and Baghdad are close to concluding a status-of-forces agreement.

Now this: Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr plans to announce Friday that he will disarm his Mahdi Army, which was raining mortars on Baghdad's Green Zone as recently as April. Coupled with the near-total defeat of al Qaeda in Iraq, this means the U.S. no longer faces any significant organized military foe in the country. It also marks a major setback for Iran, which had used the Mahdi Army as one of its primary vehicles for extending its influence in Iraq.

That's good to hear.

BigAppliance: public enemy #1!!

Here's a great article (linking to a WSJ article) about the demagoguery related to purported windfall profits for Oil Companies. It's ironic that household appliance makers (who almost doubled the profit margin of "BigOil") aren't being vilified by the Left.

America, The Exceptional

Jonah Goldberg has a great op/ed today about what makes America exceptional:

The interesting question isn't "Why is there poverty?" It's "Why is there wealth?" Or: "Why is there prosperity here but not there?"

At the end of the day, the first answer is capitalism, rightly understood. That is to say: free markets, private property, the spirit of entrepreneurialism and the conviction that the fruits of your labors are your own.

For generations, many thought prosperity was material stuff: factories and forests, gold mines and gross tons of concrete poured. But we now know that these things are merely the fringe benefits of wealth. Stalin built his factories, Mao paved over the peasants. But all that truly prospered was misery and alienation.

A recent World Bank study found that a nation's wealth resides in its "intangible capital" — its laws, institutions, skills, smarts and cultural assumptions. "Natural capital" (minerals, croplands, etc.) and "produced capital" (factories, roads, and so on) account for less than a quarter of the planet's wealth. In America, intangible capital — the stuff in our heads, our hearts and our books — accounts for 82 percent of our wealth.

McCain and MLK

Here's the latest meme I've seen emanating from the Left: John McCain is a liar . . . a LIAR!!!! . . . because he stated in a debate that he worked for recognition of a day commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. AND THEY'VE GOT THE VOTING RECORD TO PROVE IT!!!! (google McCain, MLK, liar)

NOTE: Beware political shills bearing legislative scorecards.

McCain did support an MLK day after having opposed it. He apologized way back when and acknowledges that he made a mistake. Here's a recent example of his attitude on the subject.

No doubt pointing out a candidate's vote in black and white on a particular "hot" issue is powerful. That's why many candidates try to avoid having a voting record. Take Barack Obama, for example.

The Chosen One

Okay, I've been a little out of the loop lately (only lately, mind you--I know how you Libs think), so I just watched McCain's ad "The One."



I like it. Just tongue-in-cheek enough to get the point across without being "mean spirited." Too bad they couldn't have patched in a scene from Eddie Murphy as "the Chosen One" in The Golden Child.



But thankfully, in America voters (not the MSM) do the choosing.

Who you callin' a science denier?

Once again, it appears that research on adult cells is more promising than that on cells harvested from human embryos. The score is now 7851 to 0 . . . goose egg . . . zip.

Dja hear about Obama's church, pastor favorite artist?

Hey have you heard rapper Ludacris' ode to Barack Obama? Some lyrics from Ludacris' "Politics as usual":

Said I handled his biz and I'm one of his favorite rappers
Well give Luda a special pardon if I'm ever in the slammer
Better yet put him in office, make me your vice president
Hillary hated on you, so that bitch is irrelevant

. . . .

You can't stop what's bout to happen, we bout to make history
The first black president is destined and it's meant to be
The threats ain't fazing us, the nooses or the jokes
So get off your ass, black people, it's time to get out and vote!

Paint the White House black and I'm sure that's got 'em terrified
McCain don't belong in any chair unless he's paralyzed
Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped.

Folks love to talk about how "smart" rappers are. If he was smart, and if he really wanted Obama to be president, Ludacris would have kept these "clever" hip hop ideas to himself. And I love the irony of a forced-rhyming, grammatically-challenged rapper calling someone "mentally handicapped." I also love the irony of Ludacris accusing ANYone else of being racist.

But, don't let the man keep you down, Ludacris! Keep speakin' truth, bro!