The future and the past boldly go where I’ll be back! If you’re not sure what day, year or planet you’re traveling through, the news will confuse you even more. But Uncle Jay explains it all!
Year: 2009
Cartoons of the Day
Flagging Enthusiasm
North Korea tests a nuke and a short range missile
Here we go again!
This comes via the NYT:
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea announced on Monday that it had successfully conducted its second nuclear test, defying international warnings and drastically raising the stakes in a global effort to get the recalcitrant Communist state to give up its nuclear weapons program.
The North’s official news agency, KCNA, said “The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea successfully conducted one more underground nuclear test on May 25 as part of the measures to bolster up its nuclear deterrent for self-defense in every way as requested by its scientists and technicians.”
The test was safely conducted “on a new higher level in terms of its explosive power and technology of its control,” the agency said. “The results of the test helped satisfactorily settle the scientific and technological problems arising in further increasing the power of nuclear weapons and steadily developing nuclear technology.”
Word of the test sent a shudder through Asian financial markets and clearly caught South Korea and the United States off guard. The news hit just as South Korea’s government and people were mourning the suicide of former President Roh Moo-hyun. And hours after the test was reported, South Korean state media reported that the North had fired a short-range missile.
The nuclear test also came against a backdrop of uncertainty about North Korea’s reclusive leader, Kim Jong-il, and speculation about who might succeed him. Mr. Kim suffered a stroke last August, which prompted him to step up preparations to transfer power to one of his three known sons. Analysts believe the favorite son is his youngest, Kim Jong-un, who is in his mid-20s.
North Korea conducted its first nuclear test on Oct. 9, 2006, which was considered something of a bust by South Korean and American officials. If the North’s second test was more of a success, it could mean that North Korea has bolstered its atomic weapons capabilities — and its leverage over the United States, which has sought to denuclearize the North.
In Washington, the Obama administration had a cautious initial reaction to the news early Monday. “We are aware of the reports of a nuclear test by North Korea,” said a senior State Department official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the department was still gathering information. “We are consulting with our allies. Once we have established the facts, we will have more to say.”
Looks like Mr. Jong-il is looking for another handout; and if our United Nations’s track record is any indication. He will get it.
Here is the Official Statement from President Bambi Teleprompter:
Text of statement by President Barack Obama on nuclear and short-range missile tests conducted by North Korea.
Today, North Korea said that it has conducted a nuclear test in violation of international law. It appears to also have attempted a short range missile launch. These actions, while not a surprise given its statements and actions to date, are a matter of grave concern to all nations. North Korea’s attempts to develop nuclear weapons, as well as its ballistic missile program, constitute a threat to international peace and security.
By acting in blatant defiance of the United Nations Security Council, North Korea is directly and recklessly challenging the international community. North Korea’s behavior increases tensions and undermines stability in Northeast Asia. Such provocations will only serve to deepen North Korea’s isolation. It will not find international acceptance unless it abandons its pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.
The danger posed by North Korea’s threatening activities warrants action by the international community. We have been and will continue working with our allies and partners in the Six-Party Talks as well as other members of the U.N. Security Council in the days ahead.
Yeah, that’ll show ’em! Slap ’em on the wrist another good time and make ’em feel bad, that’ll really put them in their place. 🙄
Another day, another dumb liberal response to a serious problem.
Others Covering: Michelle Malkin, Stop The ACLU, Don Surber
(H/T Memeorandum)
Happy Memorial Day – Let us never forget
To some Memorial is just another day or to some it is a excuse to get out of work or cook on the grill.
To those of us, who have a deep and abiding respect for our Nation’s Military. This is a scared and hallowed day.
These cartoons are the best representative of this Holiday and the attitude that everyone should have.
The only commentary that I will add, is this picture here:
Sunday Morning Short Takes
Here’s the stuff that is burning up the Blogosphere on this wonderful Sunday morning……
1. Obama Says, “We’re out of Money“, Yeah, thanks there Mr. Bambi Teleprompter. Spend us into a hole the size of the grand canyon and then say, “Whoopsie! Were outta money!” If that’s his idea of brilliance, we in deep trouble.
2. Nancy Pelosi “Pussy-gate” continues, I’m referring to this video; produced by the NRC:
At least one Republican is not happy about it.
3. Helene Cooper says that most of Obama Enemies are made of straw; of course, there are some who disagree. It is this writers opinion that Helene’s brain is made of straw.
4. Robert J. Samuelson says we should let Social Security and Medicare got broke. I wonder what his Father thinks of that?
5. The Times of London has an interesting story on the terror plot that was broken up as of recent. Calls the terrorists dimwits. Could that not be used to describe all Muslims?
6. Tom Ridge vs Rush Limbaugh. Quick, get the popcorn! This is going to be very interesting to watch. Backpedaling in 5….4….3…2…
7. Jumping off a bridge? Here, let me help.
8. Trapped in space? Atlantis can’t come home, Thunderstorms loom.
….and finally:
Former Vice President Dick Cheney has been in the news a lot this week, attacking President Obama.
Cheney’s been making so many speeches lately I’m starting to think he’s not really dead.
Quote of the Day
According to the National Intelligence Estimate of 2007, Iran
halted its weapons program in 2003. Nor are there any reports of
the diversion of Iran’s industrial-grade uranium from Natanz or
evidence of any secret centrifuge cascade to enrich it to weapons
grade.According to the Los Angeles Times, the EastWest Institute of
Russian and U.S. scientists says Tehran is “at least six years away
from building a deliverable nuclear weapon,” and a Rand Corp. study
says that Iran’s “ability to wreak havoc in the Middle East through
surrogates is exaggerated.”Iran represents no threat to the United States to justify a war.
And as Korea finished Harry Truman, Vietnam finished LBJ, and Iraq
finished the Bush Republicans, war with Iran would make Barack —
with the situations in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq all
deteriorating — a one-term president.Barack had best understand. The crowd manipulating him into war
with Iran has in mind, first, obliterating Iran; second, getting
rid of him.
The Far Left is now realizing the awful truth about President Obama
I have said many times on this blog; in no way, shape, form or another that Obama would never change any polices of George W. Bush.
Well, outside of a few “window dressing” changes; nothing has changed at all.
Here’s proof: ( H/T to Freedom’s Phoenix)
I don’t agree with all of her positions. But I humbly submit this as proof that I was correct and as state’s Evidence of my vindication. I also present this as a humorous view at the utter breakdown of the left, as their personal black progressive Messiah lets them down from the election induced stupor.
It is truly a site to behold. 
My first opinion piece at Freedom’s Phoenix is posted
I am really beginning to wonder about the libertarians of today, especially those who come to this site. When I first registered at Freedom’s Phoenix, a long while back and posted my first news link; my hits went to over a thousand in one day. Now if I post a news link, I am lucky if I get a hundred hits or so. My question is this. Why is that? Is it because I do not subscribe to the latest and greatest conspiracy theory that comes out of Alex Jones’s lair of paranoia?
I thought that Conservatives and Libertarians were a bit more tolerant, of those who did not agree with the mainstream, I am beginning to think that I was quite wrong about that. I will give you another example, one time on here, there was a bit of uproar because I had the nerve to have ads on my blog. Unless I am highly mistaken, do not libertarians believe that capitalism is what drives the American spirit? —- Go read the rest
Police State: Seattle deputy shoves an innocent man into wall, causing a coma.
First the raw video from the AP:
SEATTLE — Authorities have released surveillance video showing a burly sheriff’s deputy slamming a man head first into a wall earlier this month, leaving him in a coma.
Christopher Harris remains in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center, his family says. The 29-year-old had been pursued by deputies May 10 after a witness wrongly identified him as a suspect in an assault.
Sheriff’s Sgt. John Urquhart (URK’-hart), who released the video Thursday, says Deputy Matthew Paul did not violate policy in tackling Harris. He says Harris was trying to get away, and calls the injury “a tragic accident.”
A Harris family lawyer says the video and witness accounts show he was a victim of excessive force.
I do not know about you. But this seems to be getting to be a pretty common occurrence here as of late.
Police State?
You decide.
No Maggie, The problem is Social Conservatism itself
It is not everyday that I find myself talking back to the writers of the National Review‘s Blog “The Corner“.
But, I saw this entry, and I felt the need to let my feelings be known.
Maggie Gallagher, who, in typical cowardly Republican fashion, does not divulge her e-mail address in her profile; says the following:
Back a while ago, when I was complaining about Republicans who think the GOP has just too darn many religious voters (“funny, so do the Democrats”), I promised I would explain how social conservatives have contributed to this misimpression — and also to their oddly subordinated role within the GOP governing coalition.
It’s simple. Social conservatives have had bad models for political action. We’ve depended on two basic strategies, and neither of them work very well:
1. The Mass-Uprising Model. “The people will rise up and throw off their oppressors spontaneously.” Well, it’s nice when it happens, but it’s hardly a plan, is it?
2. The Secular-Messiah Model: Join with others in the GOP to elect a godly man to office and then expect him to solve all your problems for you. This last model resulted in me fielding calls from reporters about whether or not I thought Bush was responsible for failing to pass a Federal Marriage Amendment — at a time when the poor man was 33 percent in the polls. Gay-rights groups don’t behave like this. They understand it’s their job to make it easy for politicians to do what they ask, not the other way around.
Social conservatives simply have not been in politics. We lack institutions that can defeat our enemies and directly assist our friends.
After a while, threatening to leave the coalition unless the coalition does what you want gets old. And tiring. And ineffective. It makes your allies not like you very much. Social conservatives talk like that because it’s our one lever of power.
Time to get some new levers.
No Megan, what it is time for; is this, it is time for the social Conservatives to leave the Republican Party and make alliances with a new Party, like the “America First” Party or something similar. I am going to be perfectly blunt, the Social Conservatism movement is, essentially a very bad joke. A perfect example would be no other than Sarah Palin. That is correct, Sarah Palin. I mean this woman, who before the 2008 election was a little known Governor outside of the state of Alaska. John McCain selects her, on a whim, and attempts to steal Hillary’s voters away from Barack Obama. We see how well that worked out, did we not? It is quite the buzz kill and sobering dose of reality to point this out. Nevertheless, because I believe in the truth; even when it is not considered popular or even politically correct; I will state the obvious.
Sarah Palin came charging to the forefront of the Republican scene, like an Alaska Buffalo on the prairie farm. She was to come in, riding on the White Horse of Social Conservatism, she was the evangelical Church’s new female Messiah, and she was going to wrangle the victory away from those who were going to try to expand the Government to Anti-Christ-like Levels. Again, as I wrote a minute ago, we all see how that worked out, did we not?
Instead, Sarah Palin became the poster woman of everything that is essentially wrong with the Evangelical Christian movement as a whole. One of the biggest and most grotesque problems with the movement as a whole is just innate and abject hypocrisy. Sarah Palin came into the 2008 election as the beacon of moral pureness. By the time, the people had come to vote, Palin was exposed as someone; who preached moral values, but her own children were not even listening. In fact, her own daughter said that abstinence was unrealistic.
To add insult to injury, instead of Sarah Palin leaving the McCain campaign taking her family back to Alaska and salvaging what little of a political career that she actually had left. Instead she continues to bring a black mark to the campaign of John McCain and allows his campaign to be trounced by one the most unqualified candidates ever. Further, instead of actually owning up to her daughters mistakes and basically admitting that she lied about her daughter and also admitting that her accepting the offer John McCain was a mistake; Palin then spins her daughters sexual promiscuity into this sister souljah moment. Frankly, it was quite sickening to watch.
Meggie, the Religious do-gooders do not need levers. They need to stop trying to pull levers, because every time they do. The secular world sees them for exactly for what they are. You would have thought the Conservative Christian world would have learned this lesson in the 1980’s. I suppose some dogs are not trained as quickly as others are.
Others: Politics Daily and AmSpec Blog
The Southern Avenger says “Just Say No” to Government
When South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford was attacked by Republican state leaders for not accepting federal stimulus dollars, it was worth pointing out the utter uselessness of GOP politicians who refuse to follow through on their conservative rhetoric.
Cartoons of the Day
Karma Monoxide?
For more fun visit the website/blog at www.diversitylane.com or go directly to the blog at www.diversitylane.wordpress.com.
For more go to Baloo’s Cartoon Blog
Terrorist plot to blow up Jewish Synagogues in the Bronx thwarted
This news broke last night, but I was not in any mood to write about it.
Video Report, showing NY’s Mayor Bloomberg:
Four men were arrested Wednesday night in what the authorities said was a plot to bomb two synagogues in the Bronx and shoot down military planes at an Air National Guard base in Newburgh, N.Y.
The men, all of whom live in Newburgh, about 60 miles north of New York City, were arrested around 9 p.m. after planting what they believed to be bombs in cars outside the Riverdale Temple and the nearby Riverdale Jewish Center, officials said. But the men did not know the bombs, obtained with the help of an informant for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, were fake.
The arrests capped what officials described as a “painstaking investigation” that began in June 2008 involving an F.B.I. agent who had been told by a federal informant of the men’s desire to attack targets in America. As part of the plot, the men intended to fire Stinger missiles at military aircraft at the base, which is at Stewart International Airport, officials said.
“This latest attempt to attack our freedoms shows that the homeland security threats against New York City are sadly all too real and underscores why we must remain vigilant in our efforts to prevent terrorism,” Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said in a statement. The mayor was expected to appear at 6:45 a.m. Thursday at the Riverdale Jewish Center morning services, joined by Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.
The charges against the four men represent some of the most significant allegations of domestic terrorism in some time, and come months into a new presidential administration, as President Obama grapples with the question of how to handle detainees at the Guantánamo Bay camp in Cuba.
Rabbi Jonathan I. Rosenblatt, the senior rabbi at the Riverdale Jewish Center, a modern Orthodox congregation, said the police informed him on Wednesday evening that his synagogue was a target of the plot, as well as the Riverdale Temple, a Reform synagogue that is a short distance away, on Independence Avenue. The two buildings are about six blocks apart, each with a brick facade. Outside the synagogues on Wednesday night, the streets were eerily quiet.
Rabbi Rosenblatt said in a phone interview that he took the news with “shock, surprise — a sense of disbelief that something which is supposed to belong to the world of front pages and the evening news had invaded the quiet world of our synagogue.”
via 4 Accused of Bombing Plot at Bronx Synagogues – NYTimes.com.
Of course, the Neo-Conservative Blogs are all over this one. A couple of things to point out:
- There’s no proof at all, that these guys were connected to any sort of formal terrorist group
- They never were able to obtain any sort of real weapons
So, what we have here is a group of wanna-be’s who got caught. This is what, the second time? The first was the much hyped Fort Dix plot; which turned out to be a great deal of nothing. I am sure that the Conservative media and blogs are going to hype this for all it is worth. The liberal-controlled media; hopefully, will take a more reasoned approach to the situation and report the facts, and shy away from the hype.
Do not misunderstand me here. I personally believe that the war on terrorism, as George W. Bush rightfully called it, is quite real. However, I have a hard time believing that this group of bumbling idiots were a part of it formally. If anything, these guys were a group of morons who could not even make a pipe bomb; much less a damn bomb capable of causing any sort of real damage.
As to why they did it. These guys were upset about our involvement in Afghanistan. We can expect to see this sort of a thing, as that War progresses. Now the idiots on the far liberal left will try and say that this is why we should leave Afghanistan. Which any sane, rational person knows is foolish. We should not leave until Osama and his henchmen are dead and Al-Qaeda is formally defeated. Some say this is impossible. I believe nothing is impossible, if it is done correctly. The far left likes to bring up that Russia tried to fight a war in this region and ended up pulling out. I say; apples and oranges. Different kind of a war, and the Russians did not have nearly the Military that we have and the technology that we have today.
The good thing about all this is, that this terrorist cell was broken up and these idiots are going to jail. Thanks to the fine work of our men at the F.B.I. Good show guys, keep up the good work.
Update: …and then there’s the Libertarian conspiracy theorist angle. No wonder the Republicans think that most libertarians are kooks.
Hillary Clinton is now being pimped out for a female special interest group
Seriously.
From my inbox:
You are receiving this message as a member of Hillaryclinton.com’s online community. Please take a look at No Limits.org’s message below from Ann Lewis about the important work they do. No Limits.org is solely responsible for the content of this message.
Dear Chuck,
Remember Hillary’s speech in Denver last summer, when she said: "With our ingenuity, innovative spirit and creativity, there are no limits to what is possible in America"
That’s our message at NoLimits.org, a non-partisan organization that enables us to keep in touch and stay engaged on issues Hillary championed: health care reform; an economy that works for the middle class; a foreign policy that recognizes America is stronger when we have more allies, and safer in a world where women’s rights are human rights.
Some of our projects include:
- Updates on congressional progress toward health care reform – and what we can do to make it a reality!
- Our Equal Pay Action Kit, with a calculator that shows what the wage gap is costing your family, and news about policies that can make a difference.
- Supporting the historic call for action against rape and violence against women in conflict zones, like the Democratic Republic of Congo, by Sen. Barbara Boxer and her new subcommittee on global women’s issues.
- Speaking out about women’s rights as human rights and the implications for American policy. See this powerful video of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, about international women’s health.
A social networking site, where you can connect with friends you made along the campaign trail. You’ll see many familiar faces!
Click here to join today.
NoLimits.org isn’t a political organization – it’s a community. We don’t raise money for candidates or political parties; we do raise our voices on issues we care about.
And with your voice, we can be even more powerful!
Click here to join today.
We are so proud to be part of this new era for our country. Let’s keep working for the values and goals we share – a better future for every child, from every family; a world in which No Limits is not just our goal, but a reality.
Sincerely,
Ann Lewis
P.S. We’ve come a long way together, but there is so much more to do. Please join us!
Cue the music!:
Hmmmmm… I wonder if they’re going to use any of that money to retire Hillary’s debt?
Notre Dame is done!
So says Laura Ingraham
That woman so needs my big 12 inch. She just doesn’t know it yet. 😉 😛
Stupid Baby Names
Read about it here
What the heck ever happened to normal names. Like John, Robert, William, Joseph, or George and names like Mary, Lisa or Tina?
They’re children, not cars or paintings people!
Yeesh… 🙄
California’s Massive FAIL!
Read about it, from a decent source, Here.
Burning out……again
I will be taking a few days, just to get away from this. I get like this in the summer time. My interests in blogging wane around this time.
I just feel like this whole political writer thing is just getting old. Politics is just getting stale.
I’m not saying that I am going to quit. But, just do not have the motivation to write anymore.
I’m around, I’m just not writing much.
Sorry. 🙁
-Pat
The Southern Avenger on “Lindsey Graham Republicans”
When Lindsey Graham denounced Ron Paul-style libertarianism and advocated for George W. Bush-style neoconservatism during a speech at the South Carolina Republican Convention, it was worth pointing out that Graham’s suggested GOP path is the road to nowhere.
Quotes of the Day
If we are to restore the principles of religious liberty, it will be necessary for State governments–and for Christian people in particular–to stand united against an ever-growing, ever-menacing federal leviathan that is intent on destroying the safeguards and foundations of a once-proud constitutional republic, which was, after all, rooted and founded upon Christian principles.
His evidence for this claim is two quotes by Rush Limbaugh. One saying Obama’s instincts on terrorists are wrong; the other saying that Obama is, with his policies, hurting America. There is no statement that seems strong enough to justify Frum’s assertion. Limbaugh seems to be using the same tone parents often take with their children when they’re engaged in self-destructive activities – ‘Do you want that shelf to fall on your head? Keep pulling it.’ His statement seems more hypothetical than anything else. If anything, Frum’s willingness to attribute Rush’s statement to ODS is evidence of his own crusade to caricature Limbaugh as a political Snidely Whiplash tying up the GOP’s future and placing it on the train tracks.
However, what’s most ridiculous about Frum’s statement is his belief that “no prominent liberal figure” ever accused the Bush administration of wanting to harm America.