May 12, 2011

Professional Idiot Ron Paul Would Not Have Authorized Bin Laden Mission

Proving yet again why this messiah to the dim and half-baked is simply unfit for the job he wants.

Ron Paul says he would not have authorized the mission that led to the death of Osama bin Laden, and that President Barack Obama should have worked with the Pakistani government instead of authorizing a raid.

"I think things could have been done somewhat differently," Paul said this week. "I would suggest the way they got Khalid [Sheikh] Mohammed. We went and cooperated with Pakistan. They arrested him, actually, and turned him over to us, and he's been in prison. Why can't we work with the government?"

Asked by WHO Radio's Simon Conway whether he would have given the go-ahead to kill bin Laden if it meant entering another country, Paul shot back that it "absolutely was not necessary."

"I don't think it was necessary, no. It absolutely was not necessary," Paul said during his Tuesday comments. "I think respect for the rule of law and world law and international law. What if he'd been in a hotel in London? We wanted to keep it secret, so would we have sent the airplane, you know the helicopters into London, because they were afraid the information would get out?"

The correct answer is damn right you send the Blackhawks into London, and fire on Britain's throngs of disloyal Bin Laden supporters if necessary.

What Ron Paul doesn't get—and will never get—is that it is easy to be an ideologue when you don't have any real responsibilities. Obama is being exposed to this reality the hard way, which is why he's been dragged kicking and screaming into many of the (correct) foreign policy and military decisions undertaken by his predecessors, despite his unrealistic campaign promises.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 09:52 AM | Comments (7) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 11, 2011

Coming Soon To A Blog Near You...

Beginning Tuesday, May 17, and hopefully continuing every Tuesday thereafter, I’ll be posting a new addition to the blog, tentatively titled “Letter From the Teacher.” Regular readers know that my day job is teaching high school English. Yes, I am a defender of the mother tongue. Yesterday I could not spell English teacher and today I are one!

Few people would think that they know more than a doctor or even a plumber or electrician about their business, yet everyone, it seems, knows just what is wrong with education and just how to fix it. I suspect that this is because most Americans had 12 years of experience in the public schools and that familiarity breeds a certain amount of comfort, for the truth is, most Americans were--and are--well served by their schools. Yet many, when confronted with headlines that scream that American schools are horrible failures, tend to reflexively agree. It’s rather like congressmen: many Americans think they’re all crooks and incompetents, except for their Congressman.

In the coming weeks, I’ll discuss and hopefully provide some thoughtful commentary on many educational issues, such as:

Why most of what you hear in the media about America’s schools is wrong.

Why mandatory high-stakes testing is not only harmful to children, but insanely expensive and wasteful.

What a teacher’s real job is and why it’s irrational to believe that they can be held fully accountable for student performance on tests.

What political correctness is doing to education (it’s not good).

Why prayer has never been removed from the schools, and can’t be.

Who is really running our schools and their mindsets.

How sports do less--and more--than you would expect in our schools.

Why good administrators can fire bad teachers while upholding everyone’s rights, and why bad administrator’s can’t and won’t.

Why public schools really are a good idea.

I’ll look forward to seeing you on Tuesdays, and as always, to your comments.

Posted by: MikeM at 08:56 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Quick Takes, May 12, 2011

ITEM: Mr. Obama has now refused to release post-mortem photos of Osama Bin Ladin, worried about how Muslims will react. May I be so bold as to suggest that one of the reasons we continue to have to fight a war for the future of civilization is that our leader from behind, our commander-in-chief from the rear, doesn’t understand that the way to win a war is to make our enemies worried--very, very worried--about what we think about their actions, not the opposite. With such fundamental errors is the future lost. You don’t like what we say or do, Mr. Jihadist? Well, let me introduce you to Mr. Hellfire missile! Perhaps we’ll invite a few of the SEALs over to have a little chat with you!

ITEM: It’s Baaaacckk! Department: From Fox News (here) comes the news of Mr. Obama’s speech in El Paso on May 10. The topic? Immigration reform, of course. Mr. Obama was, as usual, vague, pushing only the failed DREAM Act. Republicans were not impressed. Speaker of the House Boehner (R-Ohio) noted that the Congress has no plans to take up immigration issues and that if Mr. Obama was serious, he should have contacted Mr. Boehner (he hasn’t). Of course, one of Mr. Obama’s main themes was the immediate need for “reform.” Translation: Doing whatever Mr. Obama wants. Sure, why not? I mean, what could go wrong?

ITEM: Also from Fox (here) comes the news that the Texas House has passed a bill that would empower police officers in “sanctuary cities” to question detained suspects about their immigration status whether their bosses like it or not. It is expected to pass the Senate and be signed by Governor Rick Perry. The usual suspects erected the usual racial straw men. Think about it: Being in the country illegally is a violation of the law. Police officers are charged with investigating violations of the law. Hmm. Seems simple enough to me...

ITEM: Have you ever heard of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard? No? It’s a 3” lizard that lives in Texas and New Mexico. The Center For Biological Diversity wants it placed on the endangered species list. The immediate effect would be to shut down at least 1000 drilling locations in the Permian Basin of Texas, one of America’s most productive oil and natural gas fields. This, gentle readers, is political cover for Mr. Obama who can claim to be all about increasing oil production, but whose bureaucrats throughout the government will do all that they can to obstruct development and production. And should they fail, environmental groups will use the all-too-willing courts to further obstruct. Only a tiny fraction of the species that have existed on this planet are still alive, and virtually all of those became extinct through the processes of--gasp!--nature, long before the dawn of Man. Go here for the story, but take your blood pressure medication first.

ITEM: He WHAT?! Department: From Hot Air (here) we learn that rabid environmentalist Dr. James Hansen, director of NASA’s Goddard Center is behind a lawsuit that is using teenagers as a front to sue the Federal Government for failing to protect the atmosphere. This is no doubt a part of a recent push by such environmental luminaries as self-described Communist Van Jones to give nature “human rights,” so that enviros can sue on nature’s behalf. What’s that? What the hell is a NASA honcho doing playing environmentalist on NASA time? Now now, don’t be so intolerant! His boss, NASA Head Charles Bolden thinks NASA’s main mission is to make Muslims feel good about the scientific accomplishments of long- dead ancestors. Why shouldn’t NASA underlings play environmentalist? What’s that? Who is handling space exploration? Hahahahahahaaaaaaa! You must be a Republican!

ITEM: They WHAT?! Department: From the Guardian (here) we learn of a report by British Secretary of State For The Environment Caroline Spelman that concludes that unless we utterly bankrupt the civilized world to prevent global warming, Wi-fi internet access and other means of communication will be obliterated by global warming. And the Brits used to think that Americans were slightly quaint and daft.

ITEM: Aw! Isn’t that Nice? Department: Our good friends in the war on terror, Pakistan, are now threatening to show the remaining fragments of the helicopter we destroyed in the raid on Bin Laden to their best pals, the Chinese. You know, the superpower of supermen who have to steal their technological advancements from lesser beings? Go here for the story. Remind me again why we’re giving these people billions? Remind me why we owe the farm to china?

ITEM: We Are Own Your Cell Phonz! Department: Your federal government at work, gentle readers. That’s right! In the near future, the Federal government will mandate that all new cell phones come installed with government chips that will enable to the feds to send you “emergency” messages at will. And the best part is that you won’t be able to stop them, particularly “presidential messages,” though they’re not saying just what such “presidential messages” will be. Surely Mr. Obama would never misuse such a system for political purposes? Surely such a thing has never crossed his mind. Go here for the story. Orwell didn’t go nearly far enough.

ITEM: So Mr. Obama won’t release death photos of Osama Bin Laden for all the usual, touchy-feely, we’re better than that reasons? Hmm. Recall, please, how liberals salivated over Abu Graib porn and could not fling that into the far reaches of the Internet fast enough. They didn’t seem to worry about inflaming the perpetually outraged and ready to take offense Muslim world then. One might be tempted to think that our liberal friends actually like to harm America, but won’t lift a finger to demonstrate American capability and superiority. And now we learn from our good friends at Hot Air (here) that Mr. Obama is making the Bin Laden photos available for viewing by our congresspersons. Isn’t that special! Oh well. I’m sure that 7th century homicidal barbarians will entirely change their world view in recognition of Mr. Obama’s cultural sensitivity. Isn’t that what smart diplomacy is all about?

ITEM: Transparency for Me But not for Thee Department: Another milestone from the most transparent administration in history is served up by Hot Air (here). Yes, Mr. Obama is about to sign an executive order that would force any company doing business with the government to fully disclose all political donations for the past two years, including contributions of individual officers of those companies. Even for a man whose first inclination seems to be to make ethically corrupt power grabs whenever the temperature changes, this is absolutely amazing. It is hard to imagine a more blatant attempt at political intimidation and dim-witted thuggery. Read the story, but lock up the dog. You’ll want to kick something. For the Analogy-Challenged: NO, I am not actually advocating dog-kicking. Kicking the nether regions of certain politicians, absolutely (figuratively, of course. No need for the Secret Service to call. Got that guys? Guys?) but doggies? Never! We love doggies here at CY. And kitties too.

ITEM: Airplane Rugby! From the delightful Michelle Malkin (here) comes the story of a Yemeni Muslim who charged the cockpit door of American Airlines Flight 1561 and began pounding on the door while yelling “Allahu Akbar!” That’s “God is great” in Arabic, and just happens to be what Jihadist bombers and assorted other killers routinely scream just before they slaughter innocents. Reactionary and anti-Muslim passengers and cabin crew, obviously misinterpreting his peaceful outreach to the flight crew quickly leapt upon and subdued him. DHS Chief Janet Napolitano has not commented, but if she had, I’m sure she’d observe that the system worked perfectly, you know, just like when the underwear bomber came within a few molecules of blowing a plane out of the sky? We’re in the very best of hands, but only when we rely on each other instead of waiting for witless, clueless bureaucrats to protect us.

ITEM: Campus Carry Department: Visit the Atlantic (here) for insight into the throbbing recesses of the anti-gun brain. More and more states are considering concealed carry bills for college campuses. Good on them. With the Bin Laden removal, Jihadists will be more likely to attack larger numbers of smaller, less spectacular, softer targets, like schools, and not just colleges. Capable, responsible adults are capable responsible adults on or off school property. Self- righteous anti-gunners are--to killers--easy targets, on or off school property. Asking and answering this simple question might provide a bit of clarity: An armed killer is on his way down the hallway to your child’s classroom. Do you want their teacher to be unarmed and unable to protect your child? If you honestly, truly believe your child would be better off at the mercy of a madman, I’d like a copy of video of you explaining to your child why you find subjecting them to the mercy of a homicidal madman is a good idea. Hey, live your convictions, right?

ITEM: I knew Mr. Obama was factually challenged and basically clueless about, well, just about everything, but this one takes the cake. In a May 9 speech in El Paso, Mr. Obama claimed that the border fence on our southern border was “basically complete.” Hmm. Under his administration we’ve completed a haphazard, non-standard, ineffective 670 miles out of 2000 miles. I guess that qualifies as “nearly complete,” doesn’t it? He also asked the audience if he needed to build a moat at the border to make Republicans happy. Apparently he has not heard of the Rio Grande, which has, for its entire history, been a large ditch with water in it. Visit Katie Pavlich at Townhall (here) for more.

ITEM: Well, Duh! Department: Sears, the fourth largest business in the Chicago area is courting several states in anticipation of fleeing that particular version of a people’s paradise. Illinois officials have taken some torpid notice, but it now appears likely that a major producer of the tax revenues so beloved by liberals will soon be relocating. Go here for the story. This notice follows on the heels of a recent trip to Texas by California officials to try to figure out why business are fleeing the Golden state like passengers on a sinking cruise liner. Could it be—just maybe—that socialism doesn’t work? Nah!

ITEM: John Hinderaker at Powerline (here) conducts a fine takedown of the whining of Osama Bin Laden’s male children who are upset at the mean treatment afforded dear old dad. In a just, rational world, the President of the United States would be pointing out that such people are fortunate indeed that we don’t immediately wipe them and all like them from the face of the planet. In a just, rational world. For now, rational people will have to explain, very patiently to small, liberal and Jihadist minds, why Bin Laden is not a sympathetic figure and why most Americans are disappointed that he was treated so nicely.

ITEM: At Pajamas Media, Barry Rubin (here) reports on Amr Moussa, who will almost certainly be Egypt’s next president. Moussa is certain that the Parliament, which will write Egypt’s constitution and laws, will be dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood and worse. Worse? Worse indeed. Alarming, but not surprising, is his recitation of Hillary Clinton’s lack of rational thinking in correctly categorizing the MB and its allies. As a public service, CY offers the following:

Dear Secretary of State Clinton:

The Muslim Brotherhood and all of its allies are fanatical Muslims. Islam is fundamentally incompatible with Democracy and with Christianity, Judiasim--come to think of it, Muslims routinely kill each other too. Each and every one of the people you seem unable to understand would be more than delighted to kill you because you are American, you have a high position in our government, and you are female. Each and every one of them wants to destroy America (and Israel, of course) and they won’t be mollified by your moral confusion and Muslim outreach. Got that?

We are soon to see the wages of fecklessness and dithering. Mr. Obama is a rank neophyte and far less informed and capable than his acolytes claim. The price, for all of us and for the world, will be high.

ITEM: One of the primary objections to the ObamaCare individual mandate—the requirement that all Americans buy government mandated and approved insurance policies—is that such a mandate, in effect, regulates inactivity. In simple terms, if I choose not to buy insurance, I am engaging--at most--only in thought. The government has no power to regulate thought, which is essentially inactivity. If, on the other hand, I actually enter into the process of buying insurance, then I am engaging in activity, and the government may have a more plausible claim to the power to regulate that activity. Easy to understand, right? Not so much for a three judge panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals which is hearing that very case. Go here for a rational article about why you are right and the judges are wrong.

ITEM: Have you wondered why California is self-combusting? Why hundreds of thousands of people and businesses by the score are fleeing that conflagration of regulation, taxation, nanny-statism and liberal lunacy? Wonder no more. Go here for a concise explanation of the horrendous and likely irreparable problems of a state that will, in the very near future, be demanding a federal bailout, a bailout Mr. Obama will move heaven and Earth to give them.

And in a related story, go here to discover the weighty issue the California Legislature is now pondering: mandating whether the sheets used on hotel beds throughout the state must be flat or fitted. And these people wonder why California is in such trouble. The legislators involved couldn’t say “this isn’t the state’s business?” I could easily add many more examples of similar idiocy, but at CY, we look out for your mental health and voluntarily impose a weekly outrage limit. Consider, gentle readers, that this is the mindset that now occupies the Executive Branch.

ITEM: Louis Renault Award of the Week: From Hot Air (here) comes the news that the General Accounting Office (GAO) is accusing the Obama Administration of ignoring science and playing environmental politics in shutting down the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Depository in Nevada last year. Even if the process to begin a new depository elsewhere was begun today, it would cost untold billions and take a minimum of 20 years to navigate the red tape. I don’t know about you, but I was shocked, shocked! at the notion that Mr. Obama would not put science back in its rightful place in government. Surely this cannot be true! Yeah, it is--and don’t call me Shirley.

ITEM: First Lady Michelle Obama has invited Rapper “Common” to the White House for a “poetry event,” sparking a bit of controversy (here). Common, it seems, is a good pal of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, of “God Damn America,” and thrown under the Obama bus after Mr. Obama said he could not more abandon him than his own white grandmother. Kerthump! Oh yes, and his raps celebrate killers and radicals, and denigrate women, you know, the usual. I’m inclined to cut the White House some slack on this one. After all, considering the Socialists, Communists, racists, corruptocrats and other flora and fauna that inhabit the White House on a daily basis, this guy is a neophyte at best.

ITEM: Louis Renault Award, Housing Industry Division: I was shocked, shocked! to learn from Hot Air (here) that the homebuyer tax credits thrown wildly about to compound the problems the Democrats created by forcing banks to issue home loans to people who couldn’t afford them have actually been an enormous failure, not only to the homebuyers, but to the taxpayers. Who’da thunk it? Actually, just about anyone who knows anything about economics and/or real estate.

ITEM: You are, I’m sure, up to speed on the NLRB/Boeing case wherein Boeing has already spent billions to open a new plant for its advanced 787 Dreamliner in South Carolina, and the NLRB, dominated by union minions, has filed a complaint against Boeing to prevent the opening of the plant in the non-union state. Go here to read Jennifer Rubin’s informative article in The Washington Post. This is an important issue that provides a small peek into America’s future if Mr. Obama gets a second term. It’s not pretty. If the Republican’s don’t exploit this for 2012, they’re well, Republicans.

ITEM: In a past edition of QTs, we reported on the frisking of a six-year-old by alert and professional child molesters employed by the TSA. Go here for additional photographs of another frisk of another 6-year-old, an 8-year-old and of the diaper--I am not making this up--of a toddler. The TSA is, of course, defending these blue-suited pederasts. It is also most annoying that the story does not appear in American media, but in the Daily Mail of England. I'm more security minded than most and can usually suggest why security personnel might have done a given thing that seems, to the uninitiated, outrageous. Here, I'm drawing a blank. Look at the photos and tell me if you can do any better. If the Republicans don’t make an issue of this for 2012, they’re doubly Republicans.

ITEM: Go here to Commentary for a great--but lengthy--article by George Russell that outlines the cases of several domestic terrorists, pals of William Ayers, good friend and political crony of Barack Obama. Russell explores several inexplicable Clinton pardons and provides an interesting look into one of the more despicable undercurrents of the Left. This, gentle readers, is one of the fetid pools in which Mr. Obama learned his political craft.

ITEM: I knew it! If the Republicans took back the House, all manner of chaos would erupt: Global warming going berserk, people coming to expect affordable gasoline and food, terrorist heros being captured and killed, but this, this is just too much. Yes, the Michigan cops have arrested Batman! Go here for the shocking story and a sweat-stained bat-costume. Holy Five-Day Deodorant-Pads, Batman!

And with that, I must, once again, thank you for dropping by and urge you to come back next week, same bat-time, same bat-channel!

Posted by: MikeM at 08:33 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

College Student that Made $ on Bin Laden Death Tee Shirts Decides to Refund His Customers

I talked about it at the time and was amazed at how quickly he was able to capitalize on the opportunity.

Now I see via Ed Driscoll posting on Instapundit that he has had a change of heart, and has refunded all the money to his customers. Ed speculates that his very liberal professors had a come-to-Jesus moment with the young man, perhaps implying that his current and future success may be in jeopardy at NYU if he didn't change his tune. I think Ed's speculation may have merit.

I feel sorry for Mr. Harary if he felt compelled to relinquish his profits in order to remain in good standing at NYU.

Osama Bin Laden's death is worth celebrating, or at the very least, the accomplishments of the operators that took him down certainly are.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 12:26 PM | Comments (13) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

1 One hundred and twenty thousand dollars in hand, or the 'promise' of an NYU business degree in the other?

He chose poorly.

Posted by: ThomasD at May 11, 2011 12:40 PM (i/tnP)

2 If he has any sense, he will have just made a few public apologies and give a few token dollars to some peace groups and then stop talking about his ill-gotten gains. Saying you are giving it all back is not the same as actually giving it all back. But in general, no one can tell the difference.

Posted by: Professor Hale at May 11, 2011 01:45 PM (PDTch)

3 He just earned an honorary degree in business and marketing. He should bail from college and continue in his business endeavors.

Posted by: David at May 11, 2011 10:07 PM (Jfjun)

4 A very insightful story.

Posted by: kvinna at May 13, 2011 11:59 AM (TiHgk)

5 Closer scrutiny indicates an element of B.S. could be in play here.

For the last three years, my buddy and I have been running a similar online store called Tabloid T-Shirts. Like the guy in the story, we use websites such as Zazzle and CafePress to actually fill the orders. Those sites render the products and sell them for their "merchants" one item at a time. The cheapest shirts on Zazzle and CafePress are more than $12 each. So, it seems unlikely that Harary could sell his shirts for that price and make money UNLESS he purchased a large stock of inventory at a quantity discount. The start-up costs to do this would be very, very expensive for a college student (prohibitively so).

This could be a brilliant publicity stunt. But, my guess is that instead of the "moral issues" cited, Osamadeadtees.com actually closed up shop because Harary realized too late that his small-sized operation wasn't equipped to fill 10,000 orders and still be profitable.

FWIW, Tabloid T-Shirts sold significantly less items than Harary (by A LOT). But, we have no intention of giving the money back.

http://www.tabloidtshirts.com/osama-bin-laden/

Posted by: Matt Maul at May 13, 2011 03:49 PM (39/UT)

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And Now for Something Completely Different

Any of you who have ventured over to the "About the Authors" page may have noticed that I mention as part of my bio that I was a professional ATV rider for a time. and no, I wasn't a racer.

Instead, I worked for a electrical utilities subcontractor in one of a pair of two-man teams that journeyed across the back-country of southern New York building detailed GPS maps of high-voltage, power lines for Central Hudson. We would go out in teams of two ATVs (quads, four wheelers, whatever), map the position of the towers, note any erosion, damage or vandalism, and mark access points. The goal of the work was to make it far easier for power crews to know what they were getting into when trying to fix a downed line, and to note any priority maintenance work that needed to take place.

It was exhausting work, man-handling an ATV through swamps and brush and mountains nine hours a day, but it was also rewarding. I was out in nature, could easily measure my accomplishments at the end of the day, and was learning how to ride through experience in fairly extreme conditions to the tune of 100 miles a week of back-country riding.

Did you catch the "learning how to ride" part?

I'd never been on a quad before I took the job, and it was a crash course education (pun intended), to be sure. I remember my first ride started with me having to crawl down the rock-covered face of a slope beside a train trestle, across a cold water creek, and up the other side. It only got more interesting from there (remind me to relate the story of when I parked on a bear some time).

Miraculously, I survived the several thousand miles I road that summer and fall, even though I managed to sink my quad in a bog (pulling it out was not fun), rolled it twice, was thrown from it once, and had to go down a mountain face without brakes when they partially failed.

It was kind of odd, but New York didn't require any sort of training (much less licensing) to do the kind of riding I was doing. This is the same state that wants to outlaw salt and certain kinds of fast food. They were fine with me muscling a Honda Rancher ES 350 through state forests, public right-of-ways, and even around reservoirs guarded by DHS.

I never really thought about the lack of regulations or training until an advertiser asked if I would put up a link to their site promoting ATV tests last night. Apparently, certifications are apparently required by law in Iowa, Massachusetts, Montana, and New Mexico to ride on public lands, and the site provides study guides and the tests online.

So yeah, while this advertiser is marketing a product, they did get me wondering about why so few states require any sort of training to ride off-road, when it is both potentially much more dangerous than riding on-road, and capable of doing significant environmental damage if done irresponsibly.

The two times I rolled my quad were matters of bad judgement. The first time I misjudged the angle of a slope and I luckily rolled off the high side. the second time I thought the quad would push down a sapling in a dense section of brush, and instead, it just pitched the quad over. I'm not sure that in 2000 miles of riding through the kind of terrain I was covering that training could have helped either one of those incidents.

Oddly enough, the one time I really got banged up was the result of an accident that might have been prevented if I'd been alerted by a course such those offered at the link.

The high-voltage lines we were mapping were typically the big steel towers, and the vehicles used to put in those towers and service them are big pieces of equipment, and occasionally left big ruts in soft wet ground. When that ground dried out, it can turn a rut into a launch pad for unsuspecting riders, and that is precisely what happened. My front wheel entered a dip and I pitched forward, and them as the rear dropped as the quad clawed its way out I was thrown back, and as the rear of the quad lifted as I was leaning backward, up back and off I went, landing awkwardly and nearly breaking my arm.

Would a riding course have alerted me to how an ATV might pitch and buck in that sort of circumstance, and have given me a better idea of what to expect?

Would an ATV course have given me a better idea of how to negotiate a path down the side of a mountain after experiencing a partial brake failure?

I don't know.

In theory, however, I do like the idea of ATV certifications purely as a way of addressing safety concerns. The fact these states seem to have an eye on teaching rider how "tread lightly" is also admirable.

I'll be interested to see if these programs take off in other states, and to see how atvcourse.com fairs in accomplishing the goals the states have laid out.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 10:30 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Typical White Person: President's Cousin Rips Obamacare

But what does he know. He's only a doctor.

It’s not often that a president's most vocal critic comes from his own family, but I believe the inviolable oath I took to my patients demands that I oppose ObamaCare.

Today, ObamaCare is on the ropes—in the courts, and in terms of public opinion. While the Supreme Court denied Virginia's petition to hear its ObamaCare lawsuit on an expedited basis earlier this month, this case will soon be heard by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In a more high-profile case, Judge Roger Vinson ruled the individual mandate unconstitutional. This lawsuit, which was filed by more than half the states in the union and led by Florida, will be heard in the U.S. appeals court in Atlanta in June. And in poll after poll, it has become clear that more than one year after ObamaCare's passage, the American people strongly reject it. The fundamental flaw at the core of ObamaCare is the mistaken belief that the government can spend your dollars more effectively than you can. This tragically pessimistic belief views all Americans with suspicion as either incompetent or unrighteous but either way in need of big-government control.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 09:25 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 10, 2011

Microsoft to Buy Skype

This is not going to be welcome news to many.

"It looks like you are trying to make a free phone call."



"Too bad."

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 11:00 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 09, 2011

NYC Observations, Updated 051311

Well, I’m back! Sorry for the paucity of blogging over the last five days, but I’ve been away on...business. Actually, the choir with which I sing performed at Avery Fisher Hall of Lincoln Center in NYC on Sunday afternoon. We performed the world debut of an entirely new work for choir and orchestra and also performed the Mozart Requiem Mass in Dm (K.626). Surprisingly, the hall was nearly full--I’m told by MidAmerica Productions (the concert’s promoter--our director is their principal Associate Conductor) that NY Philharmonic performances in that hall aren’t always so well attended--and we actually got a standing ovation, which apparently isn’t something to be taken for granted with NY audiences. In any case, we were all pleased with the performance, which went very well. As I sat onstage, one of about 165 performers, I realized that only a tiny portion of the population of the world would ever have the opportunity I was about to experience. We really do need to be grateful for whatever opportunities we have to create beauty and to care for others.

A few random NYC observations (Keep in mind, please, that I stayed in the Grand Hyatt, which is directly above Grand Central station, so most of my observations are confined to the Manhattan experience):

Posted by: MikeM at 10:40 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Chuck Schumer Proposes "No Ride" List for Amtrak

I'm pretty sure he didn't think this one all the way through:

A senator on Sunday called for a "no-ride list" for Amtrak trains after intelligence gleaned from the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound pointed to potential attacks on the nation's train system.

Sen. Charles Schumer said he would push as well for added funding for rail security and commuter and passenger train track inspections and more monitoring of stations nationwide.

"Circumstances demand we make adjustments by increasing funding to enhance rail safety and monitoring on commuter rail transit and screening who gets on Amtrak passenger trains, so that we can provide a greater level of security to the public," the New York Democrat said at a news conference.

As you would expect from a New york progressive, Schumer's "solution" is to throw hundreds of millions of dollars at a problem without solving it.

Any student of history has to be aware that while stations and the trains themselves are prime targets, the rail lines themselves are the weak link. During every major conflict from the mid 19th century onward, rail lines have been major targets for saboteurs, and those lines are nearly impossible to continuously monitor.

Terrorists do not need to enter a train station or get on a train to destroy the train; all they need to do is target an unguarded or just checked section of track with minimal explosives or even robust hand tools to cause a catastrophic derailment. Spending money we don't have to focus additional security resources on the part of the system that already has the most robust security measures is a fool's errand.

Further, Shumer assumes that passenger trains are the best target for catastrophic casualties, but the derailment of a chemical-laden freight train resulting in the rupture of caustic chemicals could lead to an incident on par with Bhopal.

If Schumer wants to provide the illusion of doing something worthwhile at great expense, he's certainly on the right path. But his farcical "no-ride" list will do nothing to save Americans lives.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 10:49 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 07, 2011

Nuclear Dwarf's Genie-Catcher Arrested

I've been telling folks for years that the cult at the top of the heap in Tehran was nutty as a squirrel pantry.

I just didn't know he was in league with Valdemort as well.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 07:39 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 06, 2011

Obama Honors SEALs That Killed Bin Laden

Fox News has the story:

President Obama has met with the assault forces who carried out the strike on Osama bin Laden and has awarded them a presidential citation.

The White House says the president, along with Vice President Joe Biden, met privately with the troops at Fort Campbell, Ky., to thank them for their service.

Obama met with the full assault force involved in the raid in Pakistan carried out by Navy SEALS and also with helicopter operators who got them there. He awarded the units involved a Presidential Unit Citation -- the highest such honor that can go to a military unit -- to recognize "extraordinary service and achievement."

In a show of respect, the special operations team presented President Obama with a rare unit patch to wear on his Commander-in-Chief's jacket, something I'm told has not been done for other recent Presidents.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 05:11 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

1 Would it be out of line to suppose that Obama asked for that patch rather than it was awarded to him out of respect?

Posted by: I-RIGHT-I at May 06, 2011 07:01 PM (SYYL5)

2 He was awarded the Order of the Blue Falcon? I'm shocked

Posted by: karlj at May 06, 2011 07:21 PM (TBtDe)

3 Since he has never worn his commander in chiefs jacket, there is no telling what he will do with the patch.

Posted by: Professor Hale at May 06, 2011 11:09 PM (FJTpO)

4 Mascot.

These are big men looking for big jobs. On the other hand, he is a small man obscured by a big job.

Thank God for these big men.

Posted by: Maddog at May 06, 2011 11:30 PM (MwNkV)

5 To these men, it could be an inside joke: the Blue Falcon being a reference to a Buddy F#@ker, one whose actions lead to f'ing over a buddy. On a yellow backbone, surrounded by Reds, it fits the pretender teleprompter reader to-a-tee.

Posted by: twolaneflash at May 07, 2011 05:44 PM (FipEk)

6
Heh. Priceless. I doubt anyone in his circle of sycophants would know the meaning of that patch and clue him in on it.

Hope they got one for Biden, and everyone else on the White House Team.

Posted by: AW1 Tim at May 09, 2011 09:02 PM (e1MOO)

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Guy makes $120K in Two Days on Osama Bin Laden Tee Shirts

I've got to give the kid credit. He saw the market opportunity, capitalized on it, and burned the midnight oil.

Now he's filthy rich.

Maurice Harary, 23, set up his T-shirt website Osamadeadtees.com as soon as he heard that the former Al Qaeda leader had been shot by U.S. Navy Seals on Sunday night.

The New Yorker raced home to his apartment to work on building the website on Sunday night and it was ready to go live at 3.30am on Monday morning.
Making money: Maurice Harary, 23, from New York, made $120,000 from his Osama Bin Laden merchandise website in two days.

By Tuesday evening he had already sold more than 10,000 items at $12 a time.

T-shirts bearing slogans including 'Obama killed Osama', 'Osama's back - not!' and 'Just dead it' have been flying off his virtual shelves.

I rather like the fact that Harary is a New Yorker. My only complaint is that I wish more people would honor those who made Bin Laden a room-temperature commodity.

Something more like this.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 12:05 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

al Qaeda Confirms that Bin Laden Sleeps with the Fishes

I guess this will make things a little harder on the conspiracy theorists, but only just a little bit.

Al Qaeda released a statement on jihadist forums Friday confirming the death of its leader, Osama bin Laden, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors Islamist websites.

The development comes days after U.S. troops killed bin Laden in a raid on a compound in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad.

The statement, translated by SITE, lauded the late militant, threatened to take action against the United States, and urged Pakistanis to "rise up and revolt."

Bin Laden's death will serve as a "curse that chases the Americans and their agents, and goes after them inside and outside their countries," the message said.

"Soon -- with help from Allah -- their happiness will turn into sorrow, and their blood will be mixed with their tears," it said.

It appears the White House decision to go back on the precedent of publishing pictures of dead terrorists accomplished precisely nothing, which anyone could have predicted. Perhaps one day we'll one again elect a President that understands that you win wars by breaking the enemy ability and spirit to fight, not placating them.

Barack Obama is not that President.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 09:25 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

U.S. Government a Major Supplier of Narco-Terrorist Weaponry in Mexico

Despite Barack Obama's repeated use of the "90% lie" in an effort to push gun control measures, civilian gun shops aren't responsible for arming the Mexican drug cartels.

For that, you can thank Uncle Sam.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 09:08 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 05, 2011

Video Blackout on Bin Laden Raid? Not Likely.

Is anyone buying this?

Leon Panetta, director of the CIA, revealed there was a 25 minute blackout during which the live feed from cameras mounted on the helmets of the US special forces was cut off.

A photograph released by the White House appeared to show the President and his aides in the situation room watching the action as it unfolded. In fact they had little knowledge of what was happening in the compound.

In an interview with PBS, Mr Panetta said: "Once those teams went into the compound I can tell you that there was a time period of almost 20 or 25 minutes where we really didn't know just exactly what was going on. And there were some very tense moments as we were waiting for information.

"We had some observation of the approach there, but we did not have direct flow of information as to the actual conduct of the operation itself as they were going through the compound."

The video feeds of this op were likely transmitted via a drone circling overhead, an AWACS or similar aircraft in Afghanistan and another in the Arabian Sea, and surveillance satellites overhead. The odds that feeds from 79 operators, fed through multiple uplinks, was never seen or recorded simply isn't credulous.

Further, you'll note that Panetta chose his words very carefully. They did not have direct flow of information. That indicates that there were recording of the assault recorded on the flash-memory of helmet-mounted cameras, but these are just one more set of images—along with the three or more sets of photographs of Bin Laden's body—that the "most transparent Administration in history" refuses to show the American people.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 09:45 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 04, 2011

Quick Takes, May 05, 2011

ITEM: At the top of our list today is the death of Osama Bin Laden in a CIA/SEAL raid on April 30. You’ve read the details elsewhere by now, but let’s make three simple predictions and see how they pan out:

(1) Mr. Obama will claim credit, even calling it a triumph of leading from behind (his spokesmen will surely do the latter).
(2) Worldwide jihadist activity will increase, particularly against Americans, in retaliation.
(3) Because this is not backed up by a consistent show of American strength, it will not suppress jihadist power in those nations currently embroiled in turmoil, but will embolden them and make it more likely that they will establish anti-American governments.
(4) George W. Bush and global warning had something to do with it.

ITEM: Birthergate Department: The birther issue has, apparently, been retired, yet the entire affair has left a bad taste in the mouths of far too many Americans. Who among us, if necessary, could not quickly produce a certified copy of our birth certificate? Most American’s parents keep such copies in their homes. Let us assume that the certificate released by Mr. Obama on April 27 is the genuine article, for there is no compelling, current reason to believe otherwise, yet the matter is not completely dead. Far too many questions remain unanswered, questions that could and should have been answered long ago, questions raised not about Mr. Obama’s place of birth, but of his obstinate refusal to convincingly confirm it. That the most transparent administration in history has been anything but transparent in this matter, and and so much else, has allowed this controversy to grow and flourish, and to whatever degree it persists, Mr. Obama bears considerable responsibility. A large part of this issue is simply trust. Having spent a reported one million dollars to kept his birth certificate--which appears to be completely innocuous--hidden, one may reasonably ask if Mr. Obama is worthy of the public’s trust.

ITEM: Blast From The Past! Remember those doctors in Wisconsin who handed out fake medical excuses to union teachers protesting Gov. Walker? Apparently some 1000 teachers used them, and many may find themselves in trouble, but what about the doctors? From Fox News (here) we learn that the University of Wisconsin--which apparently employs many of those involved--and the State Medical Examining and Departments of Licensing and Regulation are also investigating the doctors. Speaking of trust, what’s a doctor’s integrity and honesty worth? In Wisconsin, apparently not much. Wrist slaps anyone?

ITEM: NOMINATIONS FOR THE WORST EX-PRESIDENT ARE NOW OFFICIALLY CLOSED. From Hot Air (here) we discover that the execrable Jimmy Carter recently traveled to North Korea with a delegation self-styled as “the Elders.” Success? Only if you count denigrating America as success. Mr. Carter, in his own insipid style, accused America of violating the human rights of North Koreans by not showering them with food. Let me see if I understand this: The Norks are one of the last fanatical, crazy communist regimes on the planet. They torture, starve and murder their own citizens in wholesale lots. Their entire population suffers from stunted growth and people actually eat tree bark and any vegetation they can find. Any aid we send there does not go to the starving people, but to Kim Jong Il--who would not, by the way, meet with “the Elders”-- and the Army and Politboro. The Norks export terrorism, kidnap foreign nationals, randomly attack South Korea and threaten everyone in range with nuclear attack. Well of course they have the moral high ground and we must do whatever they want! Thanks for clarifying that Mr. Carter!

ITEM: Louis Renault Award of the New Century (Thus Far)! Department: San Francisco Chronicle Reporter Carla Marinucci recently recorded and posted video of protestors at an Obama fundraiser while she was serving as a White House “pool” reporter. The White House, obviously angered, notified her that she would be banned in the future. Amazingly, the SFC pushed back, publishing the story, and now the White House is claiming that Marinucci was never banned--although she still is. A card-carrying member of the Mainstream Media is now shocked, shocked! to learn that Mr. Obama and his minions are hypocrites and liars, and hypocrites and liars who don’t particularly like reporters! Go here for the story.

UPDATE: At SFGate (here) comes more on Carla Marinucci. There can be, of course, no discord! The One is universally loved and adored. Long live The One! Aren’t you glad we have the most transparent presidential administration in American history? Yeah. Me too.

ITEM: Have you wondered about the realities of health care, more specifically, Medicare? Go here for a great article by Daniel Mitchell on why Mr. Obama’s Medicare guru, recess appointed Dr. Donald Berwick, hasn’t a clue about economics or Medicare. Dr. Berwick, you may recall, is the man who think Britain’s National Health Care system is absolutely brilliant. You know the British system, interminable waits, shortages, filthy hospitals, surly, uncaring providers, dead patients who just couldn’t wait? Yeah, that one. Ah, the fierce moral urgency of change! Discuss.

ITEM: Will Barack Obama become a one-term president? Peter Wehner at Commentary (here) thinks so. I think it’s possible if the Republicans, as they are so often prone to do, do not snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Read and make up your own mind.

ITEM: Go here to see a stark before/after satellite image of Tuscaloosa, Alabama pre and post tornado. It might serve to remind us that thinking we can effect the course of nature in any meaningful way--global warming?--is utter foolishness.

ITEM: Have you heard about the King & Spaulding controversy? Go here to Le-gal In-sur-rec-tion for a sharp exposition. In Brief: K & S was hired by the US House of Representatives to defend the Defend of Marriage Act (DOMA). Under pressure by unspecified gay groups, K & S dropped the House as a client. The first backlash has been the State of Virginia under Republican AG Ken Cuccinelli. Virginia has now dropped K & S because it’s rather hard to work with lawyers who bow to outside pressures on the spur of the moment. It’s an interesting, important article worth your time.

ITEM: Tales of Smart Diplomacy, #2842: Diplomatically, things in Syria just couldn’t be going any better for the US. The regime, threatened, is engaging in the routine slaughter of its citizens, likely with help from Iran. What’s that you say? They’d never dare harass Americans? Consider Elliott Abrams (here), former diplomat/national security figure in the Bush White House, who tells us that an American diplomat in Damascas was detained, hooded and roughed up by Syrian security agents before being released. By way of comparison, such things come close to an act of war. Read Jennifer Rubin’s full account to see how Smart Diplomacy continues to make America seem so feckless that Jimmy Carter looks like a lion of international strength by comparison.

ITEM: It was May day again, time to reflect on all that it means, most particularly a celebration of communism. It is disgusting to know that a great many, including our fellow citizens, still celebrate this despicable “holiday.” It’s equally despicable that Mr. Obama hired Van Jones, a self described communist, and that Mr. Obama has spent much of his life in similar company. How many have the communists murdered? Glad you asked. Go here to the Volokh Conspiracy to find out.

ITEM: Remember astroturfing? When Nancy Pelosi suggested that the Tea Party movement was not really a grass roots movement, but an artificial contrivance of the Republican Party, hence “astroturf?” Yeah. That didn’t work out so well for the Dems in November of 2010, did it? But now the Dems have been actually astroturfing on their own, sending political operatives into Town Hall meetings by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and others to harass them and to try to make it appear that there is no support for an actually responsibly budget. It hasn’t been working out so well. Go here for the story, and a great photoshop of a classic Norman Rockwell painting. There may be hope after all. Discuss.

ITEM: Remember Ezra Klein, the reporter responsible for the Journolist debacle? For those who weren’t aware of it, the Journolist was an on line-chat room of sorts where liberal journalists (there’s an oxymoron!) actually discussed their strategy for damaging President Bush, and lo and behold, across the nation, their talking points would crop up, identically, like particularly aggressive and noxious weeds. With its exposure, Journolist became defunct, but I thought you’d like to have a preview of what the press has in store for us in the eternal campaign culminating in 2012. Here’s what Klien wrote back in 2008:

“Obama’s finest speeches do not excite. They do not inform. They don’t even really inspire. They elevate. They enmesh you in a grander moment, as if history has stopped flowing passively by, and, just for an instant, contracted around you, made you aware of its presence, and your role in it. He is not the Word made flesh, but the triumph of word over flesh, over color, over despair. The other great leaders I’ve heard guide us towards a better politics, but Obama is, at his best, able to call us back to our highest selves, to the place where America exists as a glittering ideal, and where we, its honored inhabitants, seem capable of achieving it, and thus of sharing in its meaning and transcendence.”

There just aren’t words to describe such delusion, such pathology...

ITEM: From Hot Air (here) comes the news of the governmental genital fondling of Susie Castillo, former Miss USA, at the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport. Ms. Castillo was, understandably upset. I suppose it’s more fun to fondle beauty queens than six year old girls, but considering some of those the government apparently hires for the TSA, you never know. “You can’t professionalize unless you federalize,” said then Senate Majority Leader John Daschel (D-SD). I believe that sort of professionalism is available at any penitentiary near you.

ITEM: What Would Machiavelli Do? Go here for a short piece by the indispensable Michael Barone. Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), Italian Renaissance political philosopher, wrote “The Prince,” a manual on how to get and keep power. I often explain to my students that the book is, even now, read and studied around the world by politicians and human beings. Machiavelli asks whether it is better to be loved or feared. He concludes that it’s best to be both loved and feared, but if you have to settle for one, it’s better to be feared. If Mr. Obama ever read “The Prince,” he apparently learned nothing from it, for particularly in foreign affairs, he’s managed to become hated and mocked, but that’s smart diplomacy for you. Discuss.

ITEM: Visit the New York Times (here) for an interesting story about Representative Alan West (R-FL). Some of Col’ West’s comments: Barack Obama is a “low-level socialist agitator.” “I don’t drink my own tub water or read my own press.” “I tell the truth and I stand on convictions and you know what you’re getting.” That’s the kind of change one could hope for.

ITEM: There was a recent raid by crack government operatives that received little airplay. Highly trained undercover FDA (Food and Drug Administration?!) operatives made a group of sinister criminals do the perp walk for foisting dangerous agricultural products on a witting public. Yes, your federal tax dollars hard at work! The FDA arrested some Amish (?!) farmers for selling raw milk to people who knew it was raw milk. No doubt AG Holder will demand terror trials in NYC. Go here for the entire, bizarre story. These guys ought to team up with the TSA.

ITEM: Have you wondered about “quantative easing?” Do you think the Secretary of the Treasury, the tax evading Timothy Geithner, isn’t exactly playing with a full deck? Well so does the invaluable Mark Steyn. Go here for the article, and if you haven’t yet read “America Alone,” please do. It’s easily one of the most important books of the last decade.

ITEM: Today (Thursday, May 5) Mr. Obama will be visiting Ground Zero and meeting with 9-11 families. This is billed as an opportunity to unify the nation behind Mr. Obama as he continues, like Sir Robin, to bravely lead from behind, run away, whatever. Remember please, gentle readers, that Mr. Obama did meet with 9-11 families once before. They left that meeting with a very bad taste in their mouths and it is unlikely that the passage of time will sweeten it, nor will they be anxious to serve as political props for Mr. Obama. Likewise please recall that Mr. Obama has, several times, called for unity and civility, and before the echo of his teleprompter-inspired words has died, done and said just the opposite. I’ll leave it to you to decide if this trip is the act of an American President or a cheap politician playing events for all they’re worth, hoping for personal benefit.

ITEM: In a related story, we learn from Fox News (here) Mr. Obama invited Mr. Bush to be present at Ground Zero on May 5. Bush reportedly appreciated the invitation, but “has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight,” David Sherzer, a Bush spokesman, said. Even in office, Mr. Bush acted with restraint and class, none of which he has lost in retirement. But it’s also a smart move in that he knows that Mr. Obama’s last meeting with 9-11 families was a disaster. Better not to be a part of that. In addition, Mr. Bush has seen how Mr. Obama treats his invited guests, such as Paul Ryan, who he recently savaged at an economic speech. Mr. Ryan is only the latest in a long line of luminaries insulted by Mr. Obama, beginning most notably with the Surpreme Court during his first State of the Union address. While in office and after, Mr. Bush has continued, without publicity and without praising himself, to meet with our military members and their families. Even if he actually cared for our military rather than photo ops for his own glorification, Mr. Obama can never hope to catch up to the good Mr. Bush has done in that arena. Good for you Mr. Bush!

ITEM: According to the Lamestream Media, at the momentous meeting that would decide the go/no go status of the mission to take out Bin Laden, before any of his startled minions could speak, Mr. Obama masterfully slammed his fist onto the tabletop and solemnly intoned “it’s a go!” What is emerging, what the Lamestream Media is not saying, is that Mr. Obama dithered for 16 hours before making the decision. Sixteen hours during which Bin Laden could have escaped. Sixteen hours during which our military assets were poised and ready. Sixteen hours of witless dithering. Sixteen hours during which it was entirely possible that Mr. Obama would have passed on taking out Bin Laden. Sixteen hours that put the earlier jump off point on Saturday, which caused a further delay of a day due to weather. Remember gentle readers that when Mr. Bush waited seven minutes—seven minutes for his helicopter to be warmed up and preparations for departure to be made—he was castigated by the same media vermin. I’ll have more to say on this in greater detail in the near future, but for now, let’s reserve awarding Mr. Obama the nation’s highest award for swift and decisive military leadership until all of the facts are known. This much we do know: General Patton he’s not.

ITEM: “Well, Duh!” Headline of the Millennium: “Soldiers With Mental Illness More Often Get PTSD.” Ya think? Story here.

ITEM: There was once a time when a great many Americans in Congress and in every walk of life were veterans. Even movie stars like Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, Lee Marvin and Charles Bronson served honorably. Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass) is a Lt. Colonel in the Mass. National Guard. He is asking to do his yearly service in Afghanistan. Brown is a military lawyer, so he’ll be unlikely to be in combat, but good on him!

ITEM: Remember Cindy Sheehan, you know, the woman who had “absolute moral authority” during the Bush Administration? Remember the constant press coverage of her unhinged rants in Crawford, TX and elsewhere? Remember too how when Mr. Obama was elected, she dropped off the edge of the media Earth? Well, she’s still around. Stop by the invaluable PowerLine (here) for a brief reminder.

ITEM: Louis Renault Award, Politicial Division: I was shocked, shocked! to discover politicians behaving like, well, politicians!

Nancy Pelosi, press conference, September 7, 2006:

[E]ven if [Osama bin Laden] is caught tomorrow, it is five years too late. He has done more damage the longer he has been out there. But, in fact, the damage that he has done ... is done. And even to capture him now I don't think makes us any safer.

Nancy Pelosi, earlier today (05-02-11):
The death of Osama bin Laden marks the most significant development in our fight against al-Qaida. ... I salute President Obama, his national security team, Director Panetta, our men and women in the intelligence community and military, and other nations who supported this effort for their leadership in achieving this major accomplishment. ... [T]he death of Osama bin Laden is historic....

Oh well, it’s good to know that like death, taxes and the narcissism of Barack Obama, some things, such as the political opportunism and witlessness of Nancy Pelosi, are faultlessly reliable. Go here for the story.

ITEM: Greenie Intellectual Bankruptcy Department: Via Walter Russell Mead (here) we find a fascinating article about George Monbiot, one of the greenie left’s intellectual big guns bemoaning the intellectual bankruptcy and idiocy of his own movement. Rational people have known this for many years, but some of the greenies are just beginning to wake up. Must reading.

Item: Louis Renault Award, First Lady Edition: The world was shocked, shocked! to learn (here) that the White House put pressure on a small local newspaper to remove a true but unflattering reference to the First Lady. The Pleasanton Weekly of Pleasanton, CA was pressured to remove a sentence in which the reporter observed that Mr. Obama would not speak to the Marine pilots of her aircraft apart from making eye contact with them. I am shocked, shocked to hear anyone suggest that either of the Obamas could behave in such an imperious, high-handed, superior, entitled manner. What’s that? If she didn’t, why did the White House demand the sentence be killed? Well, uh, uh…

ITEM: Continuing Tales of The Religion of Peace: It has been long known by those who do not get their news from the Lamestream Media that Arab/Muslim “leaders” routinely say one thing in English to the West, but quite another in Arabic (or other languages) to their own people. And so it goes with the death of Osama Bin Laden. Visit Powerline (here) to see how the Muslim Brotherhood—you know, those pro-American “reformers” in Egypt?—is double dealing.

ITEM: Oh Goody! Department: On May 4, the Army tested a new 5.56mm cartridge designed to replace the standard cartridge now in use for decades. According to Fox News (here) the new cartridge is supposed to be faster and deadlier, but the best part is it’s green! That’s right gentle readers, it’s lead free! I don’t know about you, but the mere fact that the Army would even think about greenie idiocy in the design of munitions is uniquely disturbing. Discuss.

ITEM: Go here for a good article by Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) that catalogs many of the insane steps Mr. Obama has taken to wreck our economy by means of hindering and shutting down our energy industries. I’m sure most of you know, at least in general, what he has done, but this is a fine reminder. Mr. Obama claims he can do nothing to help (apart from building the Brazilian and Columbian energy industries), but we can do something about it in 2012.

ITEM: Are you still suspicious about Mr. Obama’s “Birth Certificate?” Me too. Bruce Bawer at the PJ Tatler (here) has produced a list of ten things that would tend to raise reasonable suspicions.

And on that conspiracy-mongering note, it's time to thank you, once again, for stopping by, and to say I'm looking forward to seeing you all again next Thursday! America is the greatest nation in human history. Accept no substitutes.

Posted by: MikeM at 09:41 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

Real Presidents Show Dead Terrorists

But then, nobody ever accused Barack Hussein Obama of being a real President.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 02:17 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

GUTLESS

Barack Obama refuses to publish any of the death photos of Osama Bin Laden.

The decision confirms that Obama is weak and too deferential to the sensitivities of people who celebrated the murder of thousands of Americans on September 11, 2001, and who delighted in the beheading snuff films of Daniel Pearl and Nick Berg.

Barack Obama cares more about the opinions of terrorists than he does closure for the America people.

Screw him.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 02:07 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

ATF Agents/Auditors in North Carolina Stonewall Criminal Investigation to Protect Their Careers

Yeah, I'm still dogging this, and I'm not going to let it go.

Lee Booth of Greensboro, NC, is a convinced felon with current warrants out for his arrest, and is under investigation by multiple agencies for more crimes than I can list... which may be news to him.

I wrote about Booth's illegal involvement with three gun companies in a Pajamas Media article back in October.

Jerry Ahern (left) and convicted felon Lee Franklin Booth (right). Booth is holding two Detonics pistols, including Ahern's personal carry weapon. This photo was taken on January 6, 2007 using Booth's own Sony DSC-T5. Apparently photographic evidence, eyewitness testimony, and documentary evidence already in the court system from prior civil actions isn't enough to get the BATF to do their damn jobs.

There is reputedly physical and documentary evidence that exists to bring charges to put Mr. Booth in prison for many years, but BATF agents and auditors in Greensboro are stonewalling the investigation with the help of at least one BATF employee in Fayetteville.

I've kept my sources covered and will continue to do so, but will reveal some of what I know about the case in order to force the hand of corrupt government officials more intent on protecting their pensions than the citizens they are sworn to protect.

As part of a current BATF investigation being run out of the Charlotte office, the investigating ATF agent instructed other employees to pick up Form 4473s linked to Booth to be picked up from numerous gun stores in North Carolina.

One of the more crucial sets of documentation comes from Ed's Guns in Vass, North Carolina.

Records show that Booth has run literally hundreds of weapons through this particular store, including hundreds of Detonics pistols and an alleged "straw sale" of a .50 BMG sniper rifle from Booth's personal collection. According to sources, Booth is also alleged to have purchased gun parts from other stores, and is alleged to have been a frequent Saturday visitor to Caliber's Indoor Gun Range in Greensboro. All of these allegations are potential felonies, and most are easily proven by simply obtaining records from the locations in question.

But the agent in charge of the investigation has run into a stonewalling effort being orchestrated by local agents and auditors that failed to act upon numerous felony violations in the past due to their own incompetence and breaking of procedure. Sources indicate that BATF employees in Fayetteville that obtained the 4473s from Ed's Guns in Vass are refusing to provide those documents to the Charlotte-based agent in hopes of protecting the BATF agents and auditors in Greensboro.

The BATF SAC in Charlotte isn't happy about this investigation, and would be happy if this case would die a quiet death. Unfortunately for him, local, state and federal sources within law enforcement are tired of machinations designed to protect the incompetent within the BATF and enable a convicted criminal to avoid prosecution, and are willing to talk to the media (me) if it brings a little sunlight on this case.

The BATF has long had credibility problems. If they do not take steps to remedy the problems here in North Carolina, and quickly, their reputation is only going to get worse.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 09:24 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

May 03, 2011

Bin Laden's Death Ultimately Means Little

For most Americans—including progressives that suddenly seem okay with violence directed at someone other than conservatives—Bin Laden's death was a source of both relief and satisfaction. At the same time, those of us grounded in reality—and some aren't—know that neither al Qaeda, nor the Taliban, nor greater Islam's barbaric normalism has suddenly ended because of one man's death.

Osama Bin Laden was just one of thousands of committed warlords in 1,400 years of Islamic history that dedicated his life to the destruction of all ideas that were not lock-step in line with his own. Islam has not been diminished by his death. It's constant bloodlust and history of oppression is not subdued as a result of his passing. Osama Bin Laden's death is just one of a millions that can attributed to the world's most violent death cult. He is merely one of the more recent martyrs.

The war between good and evil, light and dark, the rest of the world and Islam, will continue.

There can be no peace as long as Islam exists. Every second of their history since 632 AD confirms that sad fact. You cannot "coexist" with evil.

You kill it, or it kills you.

And so the war continues.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at 01:28 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment | Trackbacks (Suck)

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