Category: opinion/news

Arthur Carter Watch Lets try to re-lose the cold war

Datechguy

You know it took about 46 years to win the cold war. And it looks like president Obama is doing his best to undo that win:

A Russian Air Force chief said Saturday that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has offered an island as a temporary base for strategic Russian bombers, the Interfax news agency reported.

The chief of staff of Russia’s long range aviation, Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, also said Cuba could be used to base the aircraft, Interfax reported.

Lets see kicked out of Kyrgyzstan, pulling out the missile defense that Poland still wants and now here come bombers once again on the doorstep. Hotair nails it:

Recall that Barack Obama ran in part on a campaign to “restore diplomacy” in foreign relations. Hillary Clinton made a big show of bringing a “reset button” to her first meeting with her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, in which the button was labeled incorrectly and not spelled in Cyrillic. This followed her bumbling show at the EU, making it clear to the Russians that our foreign service was in complete disarray, run by imcompetents.

Can you imagine Russia trying this with George Bush? For that matter, can you imagine Bush losing Kyrgyzstan — and a vital military route — to Putin? Russia is doing this now because Putin and Medvedev understand that they can get away with it.

Do you think the middle east et/al is noticing who the strong horse and how the weak horse is. And just think we have another 46 months of this.

Carter 11 Arthur 6

Update: Don Surber nails it:

President Obama’s overtures to Russia and Cuba have been answered.

They think he is a lightweight.

Read his whole post, I agree with every word except for “think”.

Update 2: Stop the ACLU has a roundup.

Distraction isn’t a policy

Datechguy

During the early days of the Civil War Albert Sydney Johnston faced problems on the east west and center fronts of the west. Johnson knew he didn’t have sufficient troops to cover any kind of coordinated advance. So his strategy was BS literally. He planted false stories in his papers about the overwhelming strength of his forces and how they seemed to be preparing for advances everywhere at once. The North was convinced it was true and it slowed down their plans to move forward. It bought him some time but eventually when the North started to move bluff and distraction couldn’t cut it. Defeat came at Forts Henry & Donaldson and Death came at Shiloh.

Karl Rove notes that this seems to be the strategy concerning Rush:

What better way to divert public attention from these more consequential if problematic issues than to start a fight with a celebrity conservative? Cable TV, newspapers and newsweeklies would find the conflict irresistible. Something has to be set aside to provide more space and time to the War on Rush; why not the bad economic news?

Here’s the problem: Misdirection never lasts long. Team Obama can at best only temporarily distract the public; within days, attention will return to issues that clearly should worry the White House.

Not even Team Obama can forestall unpleasant reality. And among those America now faces is Mr. Obama adding $3.2 trillion to the national debt in his first 20 months and 11 days in office, eclipsing the $2.9 trillion added during the Bush presidency’s entire eight years.

In fact James Carville is still playing the game:

James Carville fired back Wednesday at radio host Rush Limbaugh, who earlier in the day had taken the Democratic strategist to task for saying of President Bush in 2001, “I certainly hope he doesn’t succeed.”

Carville told CNN that unlike Limbaugh, who recently said he wants President Obama to fail, Carville retracted his own missive — uttered to a group of reporters on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 — just minutes later, when he learned of the terrorist attacks on America.

“Thank God that I had the good sense to realize that the United States was at war and that changed everything, Carville said. “Once I found out that the country was at war, I said: Whatever I said, disregard it; it’s inoperative.”

I find it interesting that as long as Carville felt there was danger he needed George Bush. Apparently the president must have done a hell of a job since we feel so safe we can even have John Walker Lindh’s defense attorney work for Justice and nobody blinks an eye.

This is the difference between this president and the last one. One acts one distracts.

Update: Noticed an incomplete sentence three years later and fixed it.

I’m done with Steele

Datechguy

In Robert Caro’s first volume on Lyndon Johnson: The Path to Power there was a line that was used to describe Lyndon Johnson in his early political years:

Lyndon goes the way the wind blows

Apparently on Abortion as the American Spectator reports so does Michael Steele.

But the reality of Steele is quite different. He is proving himself to be a shape shifter who is trying to please everybody, but in the end delivering a completely muddled message. Ultimately no pro-choice independent or Democrat is going to be more inclined to become a Republican as a result of that GQ interview, because Steele comes off like a bumbling clown who is trying to have it both ways. The mere fact that we have to have a whole debate over what he means demonstrates that he’s doing a terrible job at communicating. And lest we forget, communication was supposed to be his strong suit.

That is the political reason for rejecting him. Captain Ed agrees:

I have seen the man speak with conviction and passion at conservative events and leave everyone mightily impressed, but now we have to wonder whether Steele just tailored the message for the audience, as he appears to have done with Hughley and GQ. I don’t necessarily buy that, as he has easier ways to get media air time than being in the Republican Party, but it’s hard not to ask the question these days.

One thing is certain: he’s a lot less media savvy than most of us thought. And since he doesn’t seem to have much skill in organization, we have to ask ourselves why we should support his continued tenure as RNC chair.

You tell me what pro life person is going to give to the Republican National Committee with him in charge?

Some National Review readers are a little more flexible but on this subject a Catholic can’t be. I’ve seen enough “Roman Catholics” who are personally opposed to abortion but vote the other way. I can’t stomach it. If Mr. Steele doesn’t have the courage of his convictions to stand up for his own expressed beliefs I have no use for him. I suggest he take advantage of the Lenten season to avail himself of the sacrament.

I don’t think he will last to the end of next week. It’s just an amazing bit of timing that Rush is off the air for the next two days when this is happening.

Some expressions of racism are more equal than others UPDATED

Datechguy

Georgia 1996-2003 controversy over the confederate flag as a symbol of Racism:

“Wherever that flag is flying, we’re going to protest and demonstrate,” Beasley says. “Atlanta and Georgia will never be truly international as long as they are immersed in the sort of racism that is a fact of daily life here.”

Georgia today. Something more explicit:

Atlanta City Hall’s choice of artwork is creating an uproar. Especially the piece with the secret message that says, “Politically it’s OK to hate the white man.”

The curator doesn’t see what all the fuss is about:

The exhibit is designed to showcase both well-known artists as well as those just starting out. The piece that is garnering all of the attention is called “Formula For Hatred.”

“If I had thought it was offensive, I would not have agreed to show it,” said curator Freddie Styles.

And the city’s reaction?

City officials have refused to remove the anti-White propaganda from the government building.

Soooo battle flag of the south rejected because of it’s connection with racist groups and the battle to maintain slavery? Evil must be removed. An explicit racist message attacking a specific ethnic group? Art.

Oh and please don’t insult my intelligence and history by trying to claim that the Civil War was not about slavery. The people who make that claim are the original truthers.

UPDATE: Apparently there is more to this than meets the eye. The artist explains here.

I don’t think there is …

Datechguy

…a stature of limitation on this:

The police union in San Francisco has accused the radical couple and allies of Barack Obama of setting a bomb in 1970 that killed a police sergeant. The union cites testimony from a former government informant.

Well this is an interesting twist. I wonder if they will ask him about it at his next book signing.

Morning Joe Let’s talk drugs

Datechguy

They are talking a Drug documentary with Al Roker.

6:33 a.m. Talking Pot. The Doc points out it is also bad for the lungs and the brain cells but insists that particularly in the 70’s it was the best anti-nausea drug out there.

6:35 a.m. We haven’t resolved the states rights issue says the doc. Federal Law should trump it, but you have to be willing to enforce it.

6:37 a.m. The Doc is talking good medical sense and pointing out that regardless of what the law should be Pot is a drug and she doesn’t want her kids using it.

6:40 a.m. Is global warming man made is the argument? He is saying it is but how severe?

6:41 a.m. The down side of spending billions and restricting trade is the same as hiring a contractor to clip your hedges and paying him 38 million dollars. A ridiculous price for a very small return.

6:44 a.m. Why do I see Mika’s suit and think Madonna video?

6:48 a.m. You know the Doc is starting to grow on me, she was talking in a sensible manor all during that segment. When she is talking medical stuff and not talking about sticking her hand in our collective wallet she is solid.

6:53 a.m. They really didn’t want to cover Madoff O.J. style. That speaks well for them.

6:58 a.m. Mika calls following the Madoff car news you can’t use. Another reason to like this show.

6:59 a.m. Uh Oh Doctor Who Marathon on Sci-Fi this morning I guess I’ll check Joe & Mika during commercials.

7:02 a.m. Ford talks about earmarks and explains how they work. He was really quiet during the pot debate.

7:03 a.m. 8000 earmarks imperfect. You know I think the reason I like Joe and Mika so much is because they remind me of people I hang out with. They are generally sane, even if they are wrong and that call BS BS when they see it.

7:05 a.m. Should Pot be legalized? She says No it makes you dumb. It is dangerous and much stronger then it once was. She says Medical Pot is totally different.

7:07 a.m. Earmarks to bloat government good. Earmark to business bad. Looks like BS to me and to Joe.

7:10 a.m. Clinton is exactly right on the strategy of the White House.

7:11 a.m. Win the civil war 1st.

7:13 a.m. The Matthews Fletcher clash was classic.

7:20 a.m. Bernie is out of the Kia. Mika can rejoice!

7:31 a.m. They should have time for things to change, but they don’t have time to show competence. That should be up front.

7:34 a.m. They will talk to Syria & Iran but not us?

7:36 a.m. Ford talks why Tarp 1 was good, I still say I’d rather see him in the White House instead of Obama.

8:00 a.m. Dr. Who has started see you at the commercial boy Billie Piper looks so young.

8:10 a.m. Joe nails the problem of the 60’s and its costs. Exactly Right!

8:18 a.m. Obama has been post ideological? Bull****! Have you seen what he has actually done?

8:24 a.m. (Rose) That is the first time the sound of the Tardis was heard on British TV in 8 years when it was first broadcast. Two generations of Brits grew up with that noise and what it represented. It is as much a part of the British psyche as the monarchy is.

8:30 a.m. Lost the ring but haven’t lost the husband.

8:43 a.m. The doc continues to make sense. She is on a roll.

Late Morning Joe I’m up I’m up

Datechguy

Ok I’m awake no scheduled post this time

7:58 a.m. Pence notices that Washington is tone deaf concerning living in means.

8:00 a.m. Was Pat on today? Would have been interesting to hear what he had to say on the Freeman stuff.

8:01 a.m. Under Mika’s argument we should legalize coke because our president did it in school so we can’t forbid or even speak against its use.

8:07 a.m. Mika mentions it on the headlines but doesn’t go into detail about the Saudi connection.

8:08 a.m. Sen McCaskill laments the warming blanket gap.

8:17 a.m. McCaskill ducks if the president should veto the spending bill.

8:31 a.m. Wouldn’t the best way to resolve Gitmo to actually show that Gitmo wasn’t a place of torture and oppression rather than feed into the myth of the Gitmo torture chamber?

8:33 a.m. Oh the man who thinks Gitmo violently shakes America’s image won’t close it because he is a u uniter not a divider. What a joke.

8:38 a.m. “Let me tell you about the economy that really stinks” Gotta love it.

8:39 a.m. It’s going up because its finished going down, he says 6500 is the floor. Mark Hayes calls it. Jon Stewart is watching.

8:52 a.m. Fallon is funny but not funny enough to stay up to watch him.

Freeman gone, now what?

Datechguy

Well Chas Freeman has withdrawn his name. This is good news for the US and although they might not believe it right now even better news for the Obama administration as they won’t a toady who defended the massacre of pro-democracy protesters in China on the team.

Glenn Reynolds as usual notes the most relevant point.

It’s also worth noting that, like the John Edwards story, press covering this withdrawal will have to explain all the stuff they didn’t report before.

At least Morning Joe hinted at it, but this is why the reputation of journalists and newspapers are in the tank and rightly so.

Update Steyn:

Poor old Freeman. He has the guts to spill the beans on the Israel Lobby, and either their stooge Pincus or the sinister cosmopolitan Jews who control America’s Union of Newspaper Delivery Boys hoover any reference to the dark truth out of the paper before it reaches your doorstop.

At least I hope that’s the case. The alternative explanation is that The Washington Post would rather protect anyone even peripherally associated with President Obama than risk giving its readers any “news”.

Manipulating the news was always more about people keeping people ignorant of facts that are dangerous.