This blog is no longer active as of October 31, 2011
Something I kinda overlooked, but here it is.
Tucker Carlson’s “The Daily Caller” went live yesterday.
It looks Huffington Post’ish. However, I think it might work. It is using WordPress and that is a very good thing.
Good luck to Mr. Carlson on his new project.
As much as I hate to write about a subject, that I have already written about once, I will again. Because I need to make my personal position clear.
Regarding the media stampede over Harry Reid’s comments; Now this is where I am going to break from the normal Conservative Blog and media talking points. This blog has never been about talking points, ever. Nor will it ever be. I am a clear and free thinker and I am not afraid to go against what I feel to be blatant stupidity.
First off, regarding Trent Lott‘s comments: Those comments were highly racist in nature, they were given at a Birthday Party for a very well known former segregationist. Hell, Even Michelle Malkin was none too pleased with what he said, at the time; although her position on it was a bit different, than what I felt at the time. Second of all, it is being reported that Trent Lott was kicked out of the Senate for his remarks. This totally bogus lie and needs to be corrected. Trent Lott’s leadership position in the Senate was removed for his comments. Trent Lott left the Senate because of changes in the rules for lobbyists in the Congress.
Now for Reid’s comments; Sorry to my fellow Conservatives, but, I do not believe that Harry Reid’s comments are to be considered the moral equivalence of what Trent Lott said. That is because Harry Reid’s comments were factually correct; however, his choice of words were, quite bluntly, stupid. However, because I believe in a equal standard in the Senate and House, I believe the Senator Reid ought to resign his leadership position, because it is the right thing to do. If you going to have a standard, of when leadership within both houses of Congress make stupid mistakes and resign leadership posts, it should be equal for both sides. Partisanship ought not to be a deciding factor in this situation, sadly, I believe that it is a big part of what is happening in this situation.
The Bottom Line: While what Reid said was incredibly stupid. I do not believe that it should be compared to Trent Lott’s statement at all.
Oh Wonderful, wonder what she’ll do, show Russia from her house?
Former Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska has signed on as a contributor to the Fox News Channel.
The network confirmed that Ms. Palin would appear on the network’s programming on a regular basis as part of a multiyear deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Ms. Palin will not have her own regular program, one person with knowledge of the deal said, though she will host a series that will run on the network from time to time. This person would not elaborate, but the network does have a precedent for such a series. Oliver L. North is the host of an occasionally running documentary series on the military called “War Stories.
via Sarah Palin to Contribute to Fox News – Media Decoder Blog
Hmmmm, what’s it going to be called; “How to keep the media from finding out if your daughter is knocked up”? God knows that’s what she’s good at. The good thing about this is, that she most likely will not be running for President, which is a good thing for the Republican Party as a whole. We need someone that can articulate fiscal Conservative ideas, not stupid muddled populism. Besides all that, we need someone who was actually raised here in the continental 48 and not some psycho shrieking harpy; who was raised on some obscure piece of land, that was not even a state in the union until 1959. We need restrained, disciplined leadership. Not some idiot moose hunting soccer mom, who thinks she on some sort of mission from God and would push the nuke button at a drop of a hat.
Bottom Line: Sarah Palin is the perfect embodiment of female entitlement and the highly hypocritical Evangelical Christian right. That is the LAST thing we need in the White House. I love Jesus and believe the Bible to be literally true; However, I do not want my Country being run as the Christian equivalent of Sharia law. Keep Christianity where it belongs, in the home and in the Church; and out of the Federal Government.
But, I do… :
Chairman Steele needs to have a long talk with Pundit Steele; the RNC chairman needs to spend more time raising money and supporting the party — both its conservative and centrist wings — and less time running his mouth and alienating entire GOP blocs.
via David Frum: Steele Can’t Have it Both Ways.
I hate to say it, but Frum is right here. Steele does spend way too much time running his mouth and tweaking off the Republican establishment. That is not good, especially when those people happen to be paying you.
So, Yes, Frum is spot on here. My Paleo-Conservative friends are so going to hate me for this post. I can hear it now, “You Neo-Con!” Which is impossible, seeing I am not Jewish, but I digress. 😛
Who is leaving or has left Taki’s Magazine.
From the beginning, I thought of my role at Takimag as that of an impresario, my task being to surround myself with as many people who are smarter than I am as possible. (Whenever I’d mention this to my buddies, one would usually chime in with, “Well, Richard, that’s not too hard!” Hardy har har…)
Takimag was churning out great stuff before I arrived (with Paul Gottfried, Justin Raimondo, and John Zmirak leading the way), but I’m particularly grateful to those new contributors who helped me appear like an intelligent and well connected editor.
[…]
And what else will I be up to? Well, I’m currently hard at work creating a new web project. Many of the themes that predominated at Takimag over the past two years will be taken up again at the new site, but I also hope to cut some new paths, particularly in the discussion of Human Biological Diversity and also in terms of the format and look of a right-wing webzine.
In order to fuel more speculation around the blogosphere, I won’t say anymore… But expect a launch by early February. And if you’re interested in supporting this project, then I encourage you to shoot me an email, as I’d love to discuss the details with you.
Crises are opportunities, and I hope that 2010 will be the year when the Alternative Right comes into its own.
In closing, I’ve had a great time at Takimag over the past two years, and its been an honor to work with such intelligent contributors and readers.
Best of luck to Mr. Spencer. I have always enjoyed Robert writings, even if I disagreed with some of what he has to say. I have always enjoyed Taki’s Magazine. It is a bit of the high brow, but always enjoyable.
(H/T Minority Report)
Crowder does that Southern Accent waaaaaaay too good. It’s spooky. 😯 He’s a freakin’ Canadian for goodness sakes!
The Video:
The Story via ABC News:
ABC News’ Aaron Katersky and Rick Klein report: RNC Chairman Michael Steele is lashing out his critics, with a series of blunt messages for prominent Republicans who have blasted him over his leadership for the Republican Party.
“I tell them to get a life. That’s old Washington, that’s old ways, and I don’t represent that, and that kills them,” Steele told ABC News Radio in an interview today.
“I’m telling them and I’m looking them in the eye and say I’ve had enough of it. If you don’t want me in the job, fire me. But until then, shut up. Get with the program or get out of the way.”
Steele was responding to a series of reports — most recently in today’s Washington Times — where prominent GOP operatives and fund-raisers have criticized Steele for seeming to focus more on his own image (and pocketbook) rather than the good of the party
Ed Morrissey weighs in here:
Shut up? Maybe Steele hasn’t noticed, but America is a place where we hold our leaders accountable, or at least attempt to do so. While the GOP should be focusing on holding Democrats accountable, Steele argues that we treat him like a dictator, given the keys to Rome for a year in order to rout the barbarians. At the very least, Steele should familiarize himself with Harry Truman’s famous maxim: if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
[…]
For the year in which he agreed with D.L. Hughley that the 2008 GOP convention looked like a Nazi rally and his opinion that Republicans aren’t ready to lead? Er, sure. He could give himself that “good, solid B-plus.” And it would have much the same meaning as the one Obama assigned himself — a great argument against self-evaluation as a technique.
I agree with Ed here on principle. However, I will simply add this. While I believe that criticism is totally legitimate. Anonymous criticism towards someone, is just cowardly. My feeling is, if you have a beef with Steele, say it to his face, write him, tell him about it. Don’t act like a coward and do it behind his back. If you have a beef with Steele because he is too black or because he is black, period; be a man and tell him about it, and tell Steele or the GOP how you feel about how Steele is doing his job. Own up to what you feel, don’t nuance it, don’t play stupid, speak what you feel! Oh, and before anyone screams, or before Ed Screams! No, I am not calling Ed a racist. I know that is NOT where he is coming from. But there are those that do. Hence the point. 😀
I will admit it, Steele acts like a clown, he gives the Black Liberals what they want; talking points. He tries to say, that the G.O.P. is racist. He does not actually come out and say it. But it is a nuanced message. I agree with Ed, Steele’s agreeing with D.L. Hughley was a huge blunder, it also made him look like a Identity Politics type. Which is all sorts of wrong within the Republican Party, hence the uproar towards him. However, I think if party bosses have an issue with Steele, they need to call a meeting and confront him, otherwise, they need to just zip it and let the man do his job.
Just my thoughts. 😀
Update : As a rule, Tbogg can be quite the liberal a-hole, but I found this to be quite funny 😀 😆 —:
Michael Steele goes all Kathy Griffin on Republicans
HEH!
Update: Whoa Boy… I do believe Mr. Steele might be getting the ol’ Heave Ho, before he knows it, Via CQ Politics: (H/T AP)
Although RNC Research Director Jeff Berkowitz originally defended the campaign committee and Steele, aides ultimately acknowledged that they have little control over the former Maryland lieutenant governor and that they are not in charge of lining up his media appearances while he is promoting his book.
“Their response was, ‘We’re not booking the book stuff,’” a second GOP Senate aide said. And while RNC staff said they would try to get Steele “back on message,” this Senate aide said the frustration goes well beyond Steele’s latest statement [that the GOP can’t take back the House this year], charging that he is using his position at the RNC to line his own pockets rather than raise much-needed campaign cash.
“Republicans at all levels have been working day and night to build a wave, and every time we turn around the guy standing on the surfboard is busy trying to collect admission to watch him ride,” the aide said, arguing that “he has an agenda of his own that isn’t reflected by the goals of the party as a whole.”
Republicans said there’s a growing concern that Steele is catering to conservative activists and others who may not have the party’s best interests at heart. Steele mounted an unsuccessful bid for Senate in 2006, running as a moderate.
“He’s talking like he’s some kind of tea partier … when [in 2006] he was THE most moderate candidate we had in the field. That was his whole thing, and he had no problem trashing [former President George W.] Bush and others for being too conservative,” one GOP aide said.
I just hope that the RNC thinks loooooooooooooooooong and hard before they give Steele the boot. The backlash could get ugly.
Looks like John McCain is running radio ads out in Arizona.
Click here to take a listen to them.
He says he is Arizona’s last line of defense, and is going to stop Barack Obama’s socialism. 🙄 Yeah, like he stopped George W. Bush’s spending during that era too, right?
As always, McCain tries to cash in on his Military record, in order to get elected. I wonder if it will actually work this time, or not? Hopefully not. The late Senator Barry Goldwater could not stand McCain, called him a phony; and I can totally understand why.
Quite Well, I might add..
I hereby publicly retract what I said to him.
Video: (H/T Hot Air)
I swear to all of you. I had zero clue about Brit Hume’s son. 😯
It is a plausible question, and an interesting one at that. Are the Democrats now jumping from the bloated ship of socialist waste ever known to humankind? Are Democrats preparing themselves for the “Nuclear Option” on healthcare? The questions abound, the speculation is running rampant, and internet meme’s are burning up the bandwidth. I, on the other hand, will tell you what I do know.
First off, let us start with the local story; Michigan Lt Governor John Cherry was expected to be the person to succeed Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm at the helm of Michigan Governorship. However, Democrat Governor Jennifer Granholm’s performance as Governor of this state has been less than stellar. I ought to know this, I have lived here all of my life. Double-digit unemployment, a one state recession that towered over the national recession for many years now; put quite bluntly, there are no jobs here in Michigan. Sure, there are jobs, if you want to work in a fast food joint, making minimum wage. However, if you happen to be a 37-year-old man, looking for a decent paying, full time job, with health insurance — you are frankly out of luck.
However, to be fair, some of Michigan’s woes cannot be laid at the feet of the Democratic leadership. GM’s credit crisis cannot be blamed entirely on the Democrats, at least not the current ones in office here in Michigan. GM and Chrysler’s troubles are a direct result of the mortgage crisis, which was caused by President Jimmy Carter and President Bill Clinton and that idiotic piece of legislation that opened up the mortgage market to high-risk individuals. When the credit markets froze up, due to the stock market crash and subsequent credit freeze, the big three found themselves in the middle of it. This is my biggest issue that I have with the “Republicans” or those within the Conservative movement. They always, without fail, blame the unions for the troubles of the big three; when in all honesty, unions had zero to do with the meltdown or its effect on the automakers. The entire mess was, in fact, lack of proper regulation in the mortgage industry and the stock market in regards to credit swaps that caused this whole mess in the first place. Sorry to my fellow Conservatives, but I am just not buying that talking point.
However, it would be fair to mention that the unions did play a role in the financial woes of the big three, as did the big three’s failure to listen to the automotive experts, who saw what Japan was doing in the 1970’s and their arrogant attitudes. The big three could have saved themselves much heartache, by building smarter, higher quality vehicles. However, by the time the big three got around to embracing the ISO standards, it was too little, too late. As for the talking point of Union workers making too much money, I find it amazing how many Conservatives have axe to grind with those who simply want to make a decent working wage. Most of the people that make these idiotic claims are those who are making more than two hundred and fifty thousand a year and have no financial worries at all; but they want to rip away the comfortable living of others. Do you see now why I have not voted “Republican” yet?
Another point that I feel that is important to make, is the fact that the big three are just designing some of the most god-awful looking car nowadays. Heck, even the trucks are now getting just plain butt-ugly. Does it make any damned sense to build cars for every day Americans that look like they taken from the pages of a twenty fifth century comic book? Whatever happened to graceful, classic designs from the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s? Those were real cars back then, now all the big three can produce is glorified garbage — and do not even get me started on the idea of an electric car, now that is a idea that is going to go right straight were the Chevy EV1 went, right straight into the scrap heap.
Now back on the subject of politics, it seems that Chris Dodd, going to retire. Getting sweetheart deals on a house mortgage can do that to a fellow, especially when people in your district are losing their houses left and right. I also notice that Bryon Dorgan is also retiring; he supported Obama’s healthcare plan, which made him damaged goods. I also notice that Colorado Governor Bill Ritter is withdrawing from that race — corruption will do that to a fellow.
Now what is my personal take on these retirements and how it affects the 2010 elections? My take is this; I believe that there are going to be some very big upsets come election time. Now, I do not necessarily see a Republican wave or anything like that. However, I do see a drastic change in Washington D.C. I do also see a “defanging” of the socialist monster that exists on Capitol Hill right now. As for the Governor’s race here in Michigan, I believe that the Republicans can win Michigan, but they are going to have to work to earn the trust of the American people. It would take some very hard work and some massive breaking of some very established political rules to do it. However it can be done. The people of Michigan want real answers, real results, not political grandstanding, and platitudes.
It is going to be a very interesting 2010. I look forward to writing about it and giving you my take.
(H/T Ed @HotAir)
That’s right, Michael Yon, famed independent war corespondent was detained at the airport, handcuffs and all.
For not disclosing how much money he makes…. 🙄
From his facebook fan page:
Got arrested at the Seattle airport for refusing to say how much money I make. (The uniformed ones say I was not “arrested”, but they definitely handcuffed me.) Their videos and audios should show that I was polite, but simply refused questions that had nothing to do with national security. Port authority police eve…ntually came — they were professionals — and rescued me from the border bullies.
and…:
Got arrested at the Seattle airport for refusing to say how much money I make. (The uniformed ones say I was not “arrested”, but they definitely handcuffed me.) Their videos and audios should show that I was polite, but simply refused questions that had nothing to do with national security. Port authority police eventually came — they were professionals — and rescued me from the border bullies.
and….:
When they handcuffed me, I said that no country has ever treated me so badly. Not China. Not Vietnam. Not Afghanistan. Definitely not Singapore or India or Nepal or Germany, not Brunei, not Indonesia, or Malaysia, or Kuwait or Qatar or United Arab Emirates. No county has treated me with the disrespect can that can be expected from our border bullies.
Jazz Shaw asks, “WTF??!?!”:
Very strange. Even if you’re into profiling, Yon would hardly fit one you’d be interested in. Of course, his passport, by now, doubtless has a list of countries stamped into it which could give an inspector pause, but that’s no excuse. Very, very strange. I expect this one will be high profile enough that you’ll see an apology coming from the government.
Ed Morrissey weighs in:
Unless there is more to this story, an apology would be the least owed to Yon. When an American citizen with a valid passport presents himself for travel, there should be some reasonable screening to verify identity and to determine whether there is a physical risk, ie, weapons and the like. Why should border security be interested in Yon’s annual income? How does that relate to national security and border protection? Unless this is an arm of the Internal Revenue Service, it doesn’t, and Yon was right to refuse to answer the question.
Instead of hassling American citizens about their income or watching the ice melt, how about paying attention to actual security and intelligence issues? Please?
I must say that I agree with both of these assessments, and I personally believe those responsible for detaining Mr. Yon, ought to be fired. I honestly have to ask this question, that neither Jazz nor Ed would even ask. If Michael Yon had been, say, Arabic or even black; would he have been detained? I somehow doubt it. But, because he’s a White American, he gets asked a stupid question and because he refuses to answer it, which was well within his rights; he gets detained. Welcome to Obama’s America people. Where white men are oppressed, interrogated and harassed; by the black power establishment. You say this isn’t about race? I disagree. This is all about race and as long as Barack Hussein Obama is President, you will continue to see this sort of nonsense happening in America. Bank on it.
Others: Michelle Malkin, Outside The Beltway, Gateway Pundit, Mudville Gazette, The Jawa Report, Atlas Shrugs, JammieWearingFool, Moonbattery
Woo Hoo! I LOVE stories like this one! 😀
The Video:
The Story via KTVB-TV in Idaho: (H/T to Freda)
COEUR D’ALENE — A teen attempting to rob an espresso stand in northern Idaho met his match in a gun totin’ barista.
Police say the 17-year-old confronted Sunshine Espresso owner Michelle Cornelson with a gun at about 6:20 a.m. on Wednesday, demanding all her money.
Cornelson has been hunting since she was a little girl and says she remained calm as a customer pulled up to the other side of her kiosk, distracting the teen.
Cornelson quickly whipped out her 9 mm Kel-Tec firearm — a Christmas present from her husband — scaring the teen off before calling police.
A Kootenai County sheriff’s deputy was nearby after picking up a beverage at the stand and caught the suspect, who was later transported to a juvenile detention center.
Two thumbs up the pretty lady with 9MM! The only true deterrent to crime, is GUNS baby!
Say uncle says:
“Obviosly, compensating for the size of her penis”
HEH! 😆 😀 😛
Anyhow, glad the lady is okay and the kid is alive. Thank God for Guns and for the second amendment! Barry has not taken that right…..yet.
I saw this over on a leftist Blog and I really did not want to use their video. Fortunately, my favorite EeyorePundit came to the rescue.
Um, Mr. Hume? You’re not helping at all. Man, how would you like to have been in that little situation? Oy. 🙄 did you notice that little uncomfortable moment, after Brit spoke? Holy Toledo. 😮
I mean, why didn’t Brit Hume just say, “Hey Darky, your stupid religion ain’t good enough; you need to get with the white man’s theology in order to get your career back.” I know, that’s an extreme interpretation, but Oy Vey… talk about a foot in mouth moment there. 😯
As expected, this little silly remark has become a big time Blog story. Memeorandum has the roundup.
Are they fucking serious?
Okay, here’s the background:
These two photos were released:
and….
Glenn Reynolds writes on his Blog which is called InstaPundit — Update: I should have written this in the first place, Glenn was posting the words of one of his readers, it was NOT Glenn speaking himself. So, once again, the Liberals are distorting stuff, as always…:
ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Joseph Gautier writes: “If I really wanted to set my dad off, all I’d have to do is send him this photo. The amazing thing is, that it is found on the WH’s flickr page. Proving that they don’t see what we see.” It’s interesting to read the comments, where what people see is very different depending on who’s posting. Well, Obama did say that he had cultivated the ability to be a blank screen onto which people could project things. . .
Well, look what some asshole fucking liberal blogger writes…:
No doubt it would: “A nigger in a tuxedo!”
“… The amazing thing is, that it is found on the WH’s flickr page. Proving that they don’t see what we see.”
Hate to tell ya, buddy, but we don’t see the pink elephants or the leprechaun that tells you to burn things, either.
Was there a gas leak at the last CPAC convention or something?
No, it it is pretty fucking obvious to me, and everyone else, that there some sort a fucking “gas leak” in your fucking brain asshole. Nobody was making this about race, at all. Except maybe for you.
See guys? This right here, is a perfect, and I do mean PERFECT example of why I will never, ever, vote for a fucking democrat, ever again! The fucking constant bringing race into shit, that does not have jack shit to do with race, at all. I mean, can we get any more of an text book example of race baiting? I mean, it was just a fucking picture and the right had a little fun with it, and naturally some dickheaded liberal has to go all racial on it. For all we know the two guys were just standing there shooting the breeze, until they got up on the stage.
I’m sorry to those who I may have offended with my language, but this sort of stuff, just burns my ass. 😡
Update: I guess the widdle liberal asshat didn’t like what I wrote, and also linked to an old posting of mine. First off, Mr. Liberal pansy, learn the fucking meaning of Snark, and also, get over your idiotic fear of white people, please. I haven’t killed a Black man….yet. Then again, a black man hasn’t tried to break into my house either….yet.
Others: Althouse, Hot Air, Pajamas Media, Another Black Conservative, Nice Deb, PoliBlog and American Power
Oh brother, this again?
If you thought 2010 was the future, think again. A phony new email chain letter — one of the antiquated viral sort leftover from the AOL era — is claiming that the case against President Barack Obama’s citizenship has reached the Supreme Court, based on a forged and typo-riddled Associated Press “report.”
The birther movement of angry citizens who believe President Obama was not born in the country and is thus ineligible to be president seemed to lose steam in the year since the 2008 election, but this new email spreading takes the accusations to a new level of ridiculousness based on fake news done poorly.
via Birther Chain Email Uses Fake AP Story To Question Obama’s Citizenship – Mediaite.
This is the main reason why I quit giving that birther crap any space on my blog. Because they know they are wrong. But that will not stop them. What they cannot prove; they make up. Which is horrible, but they are entitled to free speech, like everyone else — like me.
The problem is, there are well-meaning Conservatives, who actually believe this bunch of nonsense. The problem is, not many of them know this theory’s origins; which was on the White Nationalist website, Stormfront. It was then picked up operatives in the Hillary Clinton campaign, and then finally by political operatives within the Republican Party. It was quickly dumped by the Republicans and somewhat by the Hillary people. But it still festers out there. There are some, who are still angry at Obama from the Hillary camp, and some angry Republicans, who still, to this day, forward these e-mails around. It is, as Charles Johnson noted in the interview that I posted, a nuanced racial message, that basically says, “Go back to Africa, nigger!” I will be the first to admit it, there are some racists still in the ranks of Conservatives, especially in the south. Some of these people, at some point may have voted Democrat. Some not. It depends entirely on the person. This is not to say, that they all are, but there are some who hold that well-nuanced feeling towards blacks.
I think one of tragedies of the Conservative Blogosphere is that some of them, including me, got caught up into that birther nonsense. Especially when Orly Taitz started bringing out her “supposed” Birth Certificates. I was burned on that story once; it will never happen again, I can assure you of that. I went as far as to add a retraction to the story and went out of my way to slam that pathetic woman, for even trying to deceive the American people. I also slammed the owner of WorldNetDaily for giving Taitz the space to spout her nonsense too. Most of the rest that covered it, never bothered, and that to me, is a real issue. I mean, if you going to cover a story, at least have the common decency to say that it was a hoax.
I am presenting this video, because quite frankly, I feel that in some, not all, instances Charles Johnson has gotten a bad rap on the right, especially by those who are to the right of me.
Here are the things that I did NOT agree with at all or did not like in the video:
Here are the things that I do agree with:
The thing or things that I agree half, and half disagree with Johnson:
There you have it, my take on the video… here’s the video and if you want to give me any crap for posting, feel free, but let me warn you. You start acting like a troll. I do not care who you are. I will kick your sorry butt to the curb, just as I do the rest of the trolls around here.
Here is the video:
The short answer is, well, No.
Was Obama briefed on a possibly attack? Yes.
From Newsweek:
President Barack Obama received a high-level briefing only three days before Christmas about possible holiday-period terrorist threats against the US, Newsweek has learned. The briefing was centered on a written report, produced by US intelligence agencies, entitled “Key Homeland Threats”, a senior US official said.
The senior Administration official, who asked for anonymity when discussing sensitive information, said that nowhere in this document was there any mention of Yemen, whose Al-Qaeda affiliate is now believed to have been behind the unsuccessful Christmas Day attempt by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to bring down a transatlantic airliner with a bomb hidden in his underpants. However, the official declined to disclose any other information about the substance of the briefing, including what kind of specific warnings, if any, the President was given about possibly holiday attacks and whether Yemen came up during oral discussions.
According to the senior official, the holiday threat briefing, one in a series of regularly-scheduled sessions with top counter-terrorism officials, was held in the White House Situation Room on December 22. Present were representatives of agencies involved in counter-terrorism policy and operations, including Attorney General Eric Holder, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and FBI Director Robert Mueller. The CIA and National Intelligence Directors Office were represented by deputy agency heads: CIA deputy director Steven Kappes, and David Gompert, the principal deputy to National Intelligence Czar Dennis Blair. Also present was Michael Leiter, director of the National Counter-terrorism Center, a unit of the Intelligence Czar’s office which was created after 9/11 to ensure that intelligence reporting about possible terrorist plots was shared quickly among all US agencies who might have some capability to do something about it.
The senior official said that beginning in early December, based on reports coming in from intelligence agencies, policy-makers had begun tracking a stream of information which alluded to a possible holiday-period plot against the US orchestrated from somewhere in Pakistan. However, the official said, this reporting later turned out to be “garbled” and it was determined that the threat probably was a washout. The official denied that the White House received any report, representing the concensus of US intelligence agencies, warning that a Holiday-period plot originating in Yemen and targeting the US homeland could be in the works.
In a background briefing for reporters on December 29, also attributed in an official White House transcript to a “senior administration official”, that official asserted that in the wake of the attempted underpants attack, it had become clear to the President and top advisers that before Christmas, the US government was in posession of “bits and pieces” of information, which, if they had been properly knitted together, “could have…allowed us to disrupt the attack or certainly to know much more about the alleged attacker in such a way as to ensure that he was on, as the President suggested in his statement, a no-fly list.” In the briefing, the official identified three rough categories of information that the government had which could have been relevant to foiling the attack: information about Abdulmutallab and his plans, info about Al-Qaeda and their plans, and info “about potential attacks during the holiday period.”
Asked about what kind of intelligence reporting was circulated to senior officials about possibly holiday period attacks before the failed underpants attack, a US intelligence official, who also asked for anonymity, explained: “As everybody knows, terrorists often speak in coded language, especially when they think their communications might be intercepted. There was no clear discussion of an attack, on Christmas or any other time, in the Middle East or anywhere else. But as veiled as the message was, it was spotted, processed, analyzed, and presented to senior policymakers as a warning sign-however vague-of a holiday attack. While this was handled properly, there were, to put it mildly, virtually no details at all. That happens.” When Newsweek asked a senior Administration official about this characterization of a warning which was passed to White House policymakers, and whether it tracked what was presented at the December 22 Presidential briefing, the official would not comment.
I quoted a good lot of that; because I think that it is important to note, that United States Government, in particular, the President; cannot look into a crystal ball and tell the American people where we are going to be hit next. Also too; there seems to be a bit of rumbling amongst the Conservative Bloggers about how Obama handled the attacks. Yes, I know, it looked horrible. In fact, it kind of pissed me off as well. But, Bush did the same stuff, prior to 9/11.
Remember this? From Salon.com:
We’ve known for years now that George W. Bush received a presidential daily briefing on Aug. 6, 2001, in which he was warned: “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.” We’ve known for almost as long that Bush went fishing afterward.
What we didn’t know is what happened in between the briefing and the fishing, and now Suskind is here to tell us. Bush listened to the briefing, Suskind says, then told the CIA briefer: “All right. You’ve covered your ass, now.”
The point that I am trying to make here guys, is that while it might be fun to try and tag this President and blame him directly for the attempted terrorist attack; I am afraid that I just cannot play along here. President Obama just cannot sit and predict when something like this is going to happen. Blaming Obama for this sort of a thing is just plain stupid. Was the ball dropped? Yes. Did someone screw up? Yes. Can Obama be blamed for any of that. Sorry, I’m afraid that is just plain wrong. President Obama cannot predict when one of the Governmental agencies is going to make a mistake, much less when a terrorist attack is going to happen.
Now, if you are one of those people that believes that Obama is somehow trying to undermine the Nation’s intelligence; because he is some sort of pseudo-Muslim. Then, you are just a plain idiot that believes every damned e-mail that you read, then you have issues that is beyond the scope of this blog, much less this blog entry.
So, in short, while this might not look good. I am afraid this finger pointing by the right — is just plain silly.
Others in the Conservative, “Obama is a terrorist” Meme Machine: Gateway Pundit, Erick’s blog, The Strata-Sphere, Outside The Beltway, YID With LID, Riehl World View, Laura Rozen’s Blog and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS
Update: Since I originally wrote this earlier today; there has been some new information come to light. I have funny feeling, that after the Holiday and the weekend are past. You are going to see some resignations of some posts within Obama’s cabinet. I could be wrong though. We will have to wait and see. But, from the looks of this; someone’s head is going to roll, when Obama gets back from his Holiday vacation.
Here’s the Video of his Presser:
Here’s a note from his Website:
To my listeners,
Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts over the past several days. Today, I am leaving Queens Hospital in Honolulu, feeling strong and rested. I offer my deepest thanks to the staff and administration there, who provided excellent care and supervision.
I’m going to take several days of rest over this weekend and the early part of next week, and will be back on the radio with you sometime next week, taking the advice of so many of you to rest and fully recover.
I wish each and every one of you a Happy New Year in 2010!
With great thanks for your support and love,
Rush Limbaugh
Here’s Memeornadum’s Round up on Rush’s Story.
I am just glad the ol’ fella is going to be okay.
This is a bit late… But man is it powerful:
It’s a little longer than normal. But still just as good. Some really funny stuff in this one too.
Enjoy….
PDF VERSION
FRIDAY CHURCH NEWS NOTES
January 1, 2010, Volume 11, Issue 1
The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this does not imply an endorsement. For instructions on how to unsubscribe to this list or to change mailing addresses, please consult the information paragraph at the end.
RICK WARREN CONFERENCE TO FEATURE MARK DRISCOLL, THE ULTRA-COOL PASTOR (Friday Church News Notes, January 1, 2010, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – Mark Driscoll is scheduled to speak at Rick Warren’s Radicalis conference in February. The goal is “how to develop emotionally healthy leadership.” The conference also features Pete Scazzero, founder of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, a ministry that promotes emotional health through Catholic contemplative mysticism. Driscoll is the ultra-cool senior pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. He claims to be “THEOLOGICALLY CONSERVATIVE AND CULTURALLY LIBERAL” (“Pastor Provocateur,” Christianity Today, Sept. 21, 2007) and criticizes “hardcore fundamentalism that throws rocks at culture.” He defines himself as “relevant,” “contextual,” and “cool” (“Conference examines the emerging church,” Baptist Pres s, Sept. 25, 2007). Mark Driscoll’s church sets up a “champagne bar” at its New Year’s Eve parties. Members have to bring their IDs. They have “beer-brewing lessons” for men, show R-rated movies, and operate the Paradox Theater to host secular rock concerts. Scott Thomas, director of Acts 29, a church planting network associated with Driscoll, says, “We won’t water down our theology to reach more people and we won’t attack the culture in the name of Christianity” (http://www.acts29network.org/about/welcome/). These are contradictory statements. You can’t be faithful to the Bible (having rock-solid theology) if you “contextualize the gospel” and refuse to attack the sinful and satanic side of culture, which is a very large side of it in a world in which the devil is god! God’s Word commands, “And have NO fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, BUT RATHER REPROVE THEM” (Eph. 5:11). John the Baptist lost his head for rebuking a political leader for his immorality. Too bad he did not have one of Driscoll’s books to help him learn how to be culturally liberal. The emerging John would have been so much cooler.
HOLLYWOOD CULTURE CREATES “INSANE SELF-IMAGE ISSUES” (Friday Church News Notes, January 1, 2010, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – The following is by Brian Snider <bsnider@gmail.com> — “Investing a lot of money, time and worry on this body is a hopeless dead end. Sadly, that’s what Hollywood culture demands from those who worship at its altar. Actress Brittany Murphy, who mysteriously died of ‘natural causes’ two weeks ago, apparently spent an inordinate amount of time worrying about a body that would only carry her to 32 years of age. ‘She had insane self-image issues,’ said one of her friends. ‘Her weight, her hair, her clothes, her skin, her teeth, everything. She was always so self-conscious.’ Adds another: ‘A lot of her problems were due to poor self image. She wore extraordinary amounts of makeup, tons of fake eyelashes, got her teeth capped, dyed her hair blonde, lost weight–she wanted to be a beauty. She didn’t want to be the fat girl from Clueless.’ The things she spent so much time worrying about–body, eyes, teeth and hair are now lying in a grave, though her spirit has passed on into eternity. And with all the worrying she did about things that will pass away, we wonder how much time she spent worrying about the state of her soul. This young actress was sold a false bill of goods by the Satanic machinery of the movie industry, which convinces people that looks, prestige and glamour are great things to be sought. There is a permanence to death that is stunning in its seriousness and scope. Better to have the perspective of Scripture now than the perspective of Hollywood, which can only lead to eternal misery. ‘Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes , and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever’ (1 John 2:15-17). ‘It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth’ (Ecclesiastes 7:2-4).”
Read More …
This is not good. (H/T Instapundit)
Video:
Story:
Conservative radio talk host Rush Limbaugh was rushed to a Honolulu hospital on Wednesday afternoon with chest pains, sources told KITV.
Paramedics responded to the call at 2:41 p.m. at the Kahala Hotel and Resort.
Limbaugh suffered from chest pains, sources said. Paramedics treated him and took him to Queen’s Medical Center in serious condition.
via Sources: Limbaugh Hospitalized In Honolulu – Politics News Story – KITV Honolulu.
Even as this news broke, I wandered over to a few sites and already, the hate is sprouting. Unbelievable.
Thoughts and Prayers are with Rush, His Wife and the Limbaugh family tonight. Hang in there Rusty, we need you like never before.
I will update, as I learn more.
Others: Bookworm Room, HotAirPundit, Mediaite,
Egad, when an American Conservative like me, and a warmongering Wilsonian Conservative, like Bill Kristol are actually agreeing. You know stuff is fudged up in the Country:
Unable to defend themselves on the merits, the administration and Democratic leaders are trying to change the topic to blaming Bush and Republicans. This is pathetic.
First of all, Obama is president. He has been for almost a year. Whatever mistakes Bush did or didn’t make, Obama is in charge — and the issue isn’t partisan score-settling, it’s whether the system he is in charge of is working. It isn’t.
One reason the system isn’t is some of the people he put in charge — Janet Napolitano and Dennis Blair come to mind. Another reason is certain concrete policy choices they’ve made — e.g., embracing a law enforcement approach and, without even weighing the choice, immediately choosing to treat Abdulmutallab as a criminal suspect, not an enemy combatant.
via The Weekly Standard.
Go read the rest. It is very good….and yes, I agree with it all.
Obama promised change, and change he might be able to deliver, like mending the long standing rift between the Paleo-Conservatives and the notorious Neo-Conservatives. Yeah, I know, not everyone would go along with it. But it would be some, dare I say it? Progress!??! (In the Republican Party? GASP!) 😉
One the Conservative Blogosphere’s better and funnier blogs turns six years old today.
Congrads Ace. Keep up the good work. 😀
