Happy Mother's Day to all of you who make everything possible.  Where would we be without you?

We're in Charlottesville, Virginia, right now.  Yesterday we passed a festival celebrating different cultures - held in Robert E. Lee Park.  Is this a great country or what?

SUNDAY,  MAY 10,  2009

GATES RILES THE RIGHT - AT 10:11 P.M. ET:  The great GOP hope in the Obama administration, Defense Secretary Bob Gates, isn't winning too much applause from his old cheering section.  From the Washington Times:

Some conservatives who welcomed President Obama's decision to keep Robert M. Gates as defense secretary are already having second thoughts.

Decisions in the first 100 days of the new administration regarding future weapons systems have dismayed members of the Air Force fighter community and others who had considered the former CIA chief one of their own.

Baker Springs, a budget analyst at the Heritage Foundation, described Mr. Gates' first months under Mr. Obama as "not very good" and a reversion to policies that weakened U.S. defenses.

COMMENT:  Gates is a product of the Bush 41 administration, although he served Bush 43 at Defense.  He is, by most accounts, a very decent man and a capable executive.  Whether he has the stomach to stand up for a stronger defense is another matter altogether.  Obama clearly didn't pick him because he thought Gates would carry the Bush 43 flag.  This is not a hawkish administration, and Gates seems to be going with the flow.  I hope, however, that he'd have the guts to resign in protest if budget cuts and force compromises are carried too far.  I wonder.

May 10, 2009   Permalink

DETAILS, PLEASE, DETAILS - AT 9:35 P.M. ET:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's plan to provide medical insurance for all Americans took a big step toward becoming reality Sunday after leaders of the health care industry offered $2 trillion in spending reductions over 10 years to help pay for the program.

Hospitals, insurance companies, drug makers and doctors planned to tell Obama on Monday they'll voluntarily slow their rate increases in coming years in a move that government economists say would create breathing room to help provide health insurance to an estimated 50 million Americans who now go without it.

COMMENT:  This, of course, places these groups in a better position to influence the final shape of a national health insurance program.  But I want to see the details of that program, not simply cost-cutting gimmicks.  We are going down a road that has led to a dead end in too many countries for us to relax about this.  We need some improvements in our health care system.  We do not need socialized medicine.

May 10, 2009   Permalink

REPORT FROM NEVER-NEVER LAND - AT 10:21 A.M. ET: 

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) -- Vermont Democrats say President Barack Obama is being soft on prosecuting former Bush administration officials over torture, electronic spying and other matters.

A resolution by the state Democratic committee ''calls upon the current administration and Justice Department to cease attempts to block investigations and prosecution'' of Bush officials.

It criticizes the Justice Department for agreeing with Bush officials that they should be protected by sovereign immunity, a legal doctrine that shields people in government from liability for official actions.

COMMENT:  Why do I think that, deep down, the president is overjoyed at being criticized from the fringe left?  The louder the attacks become, the more "centrist" he appears, although he's no centrist at all.

As far as the Vermont Democratic Party is concerned, this is the outfit that gave us Howard Dean, Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, the only admitted socialist in Congress.  The activist Vermont Dems are people who probably thought the Japanese pilots over Pearl Harbor were tourists.  Don't call them if the country is in real danger.

May 10, 2009   Permalink

WE HOPE IT'S TRUE - AT 10:02 A.M. ET:  The Washington Post says that there's been a turnaround in public opinion in areas of Pakistan threatened by the Taliban:

When black-turbaned Taliban fighters demanded in January that Islamic sharia law be imposed in Pakistan's Swat Valley, few alarm bells went off in this Muslim nation of about 170 million...

...Today, with hundreds of thousands of people fleeing Swat and Pakistani troops launching an offensive to drive out the Taliban forces, the pendulum of public opinion has swung dramatically. The threat of "Talibanization" is being denounced in Parliament and on opinion pages, and the original defenders of an agreement that authorized sharia in Swat are in sheepish retreat.

The refugees are the "victims of ignorant cavemen masquerading as fighters of Islam," columnist Shafqat Mahmood charged in the News International newspaper Friday.

COMMENT:  We hope this reaction is being accurately reported.  Compare please to the behavior of leftists in the West, who would describe terms like "ignorant cavemen" as racist and culturally insensitive.  The leftists would also speak understandingly of the "legitimate grievances" of the Taliban fighters, simply resisting American imperialism and Zionist designs.

Leave it to people who live under the Taliban to tell it like it is.

May 10, 2009   Permalink

CELEBRITIES? - AT 9:42 A.M. ET:  Must be a culture thing.  The Washington Post reports on last night's dinner of the White House Correspondents Association.  Ah, to the Post and those of like mind, happy days are here again:

The correspondents' dinner always seems to convene a galaxy of stars, but last night's festivities were particularly incandescent, bringing back many of the celebrities who lit up Washington during Obama's inaugural events and parties.

The evening's guest list featured (in no particular order): Glenn Close; Robert De Niro; Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck; Natalie Portman; Stevie Wonder; Sting; Taye Diggs; John Cusack; Demi Moore; Alicia Keys; Brad Paisley; Eva Longoria Parker; Forest Whitaker; Jon Hamm; Chris "Ludacris" Bridges; young actors Miranda Cosgrove and Chace Crawford; and, for good measure, directors George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.

COMMENT:  Okay, okay.  There are some solid names there.  But, ah, in the days when Hollywood was Hollywood we would have had Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Fred Astaire, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and Ava Gardner.

Take that, you neophytes!

May 10, 2009   Permalink

OUTRAGE - AT 9:10 A.M. ET:  Considering the fact that there's funding in the stimulus package for ACORN, and that we'll be giving foreign aid that inevitably will filter down to groups that hate us, the following, from the Canadian Free Press, is particularly outrageous:

In a fit of hypocrisy sure to outrage, just as Attorney General Eric Holder makes ready to attend a ceremony to honor fallen police officers, the Obama administration is proposing to cut almost in half a program that provides benefits to the future families left behind.

So much for the more loving, more caring president “we’ve been waiting for.” So, wouldn’t you think the Old Media would be braying at the hypocrisy here? Wouldn’t you rather think that the Old Media would be up in arms about this one? Isn’t this typically the type of story that would get them motivated to get their high dudgeon on? Guess not because it is nearly invisible in the media today.

COMMENT:  Don't look for the mainstream media to complain.  They, in general, have pretty much the same attitude toward the police as toward the armed forces - stories about the few rotten apples are preferred to stories of heroism. 

May 10, 2009   Permalink

SATURDAY,  MAY 9,  2009

THANKS FOR THE WARMTH, FELLAS - AT 11:31 P.M. ET:  Those who claim to speak for Islam are expressing deep thoughts over President Obama's upcoming trip to Egypt.  From AP:

Egypt's most powerful opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, on Saturday called President Barack Obama's upcoming trip to Egypt useless unless the U.S. shows dramatic change in its policies toward Arab and Islamic countries.

The White House on Friday announced that Obama would deliver a speech in Egypt on U.S. relations with the Muslim world on June 4 as he seeks to repair damaged ties between America and Islamic countries.

But the Brotherhood's deputy leader, Mohammed Habib, said he was skeptical about Obama's intentions, according to comments posted on the group's Web site.

"The trip will be useless unless it is preceded by real change in the policies of the U.S. administration toward the Arab and Islamic world," Habib said.

COMMENT:  The Brotherhood is important because of its extensive influence over Islamic fundamentalist movements, including terrorist groups.  We hope that the starry eyed among the president's advisers come down to Earth and understand that there are elements in the Muslim world that will accept nothing less than the eventual subjugation of the West.  And some of us have the nerve to think that would be very bad.

May 9, 2009   Permalink

DON'T THEY CALL THIS GUILT BY ASSOCIATION? - AT 10:55 P.M. ET:  It is almost impossible to believe this, but a leading black candidate for the open Supreme Court seat may be vetoed because she's friendly with...Justice Clarence Thomas.  Her name is Leah Ward Sears, and she's the chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.  From The Washington Post:

In naming Souter's replacement, Obama is likely to choose a liberal jurist. Some in the civil rights community are hoping that person will be an African American, such as Sears, to soothe the lingering bitterness over the appointment of Thomas, a conservative who is the court's only black justice.

But if the choice does turn out to be Sears, the nation's first black president would be nominating someone whose closest friend on the court is the very person civil rights activists have accused of failing to represent African Americans' interests.

And...

Four years ago, Thomas was about the only conservative celebrating her rise to chief justice along with Atlanta's cadre of civil rights veterans, and it made for some discomfort. The Rev. Joseph Lowery, the longtime leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, quickly called Sears to congratulate her but also let her know that he would not attend her swearing-in because Thomas would be there.

And...

With Sears, Thomas has gone beyond the subtle -- praising her kindness, calling her a wonderful person and describing her investiture as "a particularly special day and a day when my pride runs deep. . . . I never thought in my lifetime I would be able to witness a black woman as a chief justice of the state of Georgia Supreme Court."

COMMENT:  The subtext of the story is that Sears's friendship with Thomas would pose a problem for the ideologically frozen.  What a sad state of affairs that would be - if a potentially nominee is permitted to be friendly only with those who meet the approval of a certain political class.

May 9, 2009   Permalink

 
THIS IS GREAT - AT 9:55 A.M. ET:  At the recent Americas conference - the one where President Obama did his reach-out to Hugo Chavez - the former president of Costa Rica, and Nobel laureate, Oscar Arias, gave a speech.  It was delivered behind closed doors, but details are leaking out.  In it, Arias snapped back at Latin American "leaders" who blame the United States for their countries' problems: 

"When the Industrial Revolution started in Great Britain, other countries joined that train, including Germany, France, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. But the industrial revolution passed over Latin America like a comet, and we didn't even notice. We certainly lost an opportunity.

"Fifty years ago, Mexico was richer than Portugal. In 1950, a country like Brazil had a per-capita income that was higher than that of South Korea. Sixty years ago, Honduras had a bigger per-capita income than Singapore. . . . We in Latin America must have done something wrong."

COMMENT:  Please read the whole thing.  It's well worth it.  But be aware that in American colleges, students are subjected to professors who tell them that the United States plundered Latin America, and that's why the Latin American nations are in the shape they're in.  I doubt if Mr. Arias's words will find their way into many American college courses. 

May 9, 2009   Permalink

STICK TO YOUR GUNS, GOP, SAYS MORRIS - AT 9:26 A.M. ET:  When Colin Powell speaks, everyone listens, for some reason I can't understand.  Powell, who endorsed Barack Obama for president last year, recently lectured his "fellow Republicans," asserting that they should become more moderate, more like him.  But Dick Morris takes on Powell and disagrees:

This is a time for the party to stand firm on its principles until this nation again comes around to the GOP's way of thinking. This process will be driven by the consequences of President Obama's program.

The challenge brought by Obama is no longer just theoretical: He means to pass the ultimate leftist agenda and has the votes to do so.

And...

Obama's brave new world will be the subject of the 2010 elections. We believe that his Congress will be swept from power as a result.

And...

All America will be watching the Obama fallout, and Republicans must be seen as a clear alternative -- a strong voice for reversal of the harm the president will have inflicted -- if they are to benefit from this catastrophe.

If the GOP is seen as a moderate force, a party just looking to split the difference, voters will cynically conclude that there is no distinction between the parties.

Finally...

Now another great debate has been born. The thesis is democratic socialism. The antithesis is free-market capitalism.

The Obama Democrats have posed the challenge. It's up to the Republicans to fight along these lines. Compromise is not an option, yet.

At some point, the synthesis will set in. But now is the time for clear alternatives and sharp disagreement. Only later can we hope to extract America from the leftist clutches into which it has fallen.

COMMENT:  Morris has a mixed record on predictions.  He wrote a book predicting that the 2008 presidential election would be between Condi Rice and Hillary Clinton.  But he is also an astute political observer, with a good sense of timing.

I suspect he's fundamentally correct, although he probably overstates the backlash against Mr. Obama's policies.  I don't think anyone can claim that there's a huge, angry tide building, at least not yet.  Rasmussen's generic congressional ballot shows the two parties about even in congressional preference.

And you can't beat somebody with nobody.  Morris makes good points about Republicans sticking to principles, but the recruitment of great candidates to run with those principles is absolutely critical.  We aren't seeing that to any great degree.

May 9, 2009   Permalink

WEIRDNESS IN SOUTH AFRICA - AT 8:50 A.M. ET:  One of the things I dislike most about the left is its obvious trendiness.  It dabbles in a cause, and then "moves on."  After all, why sully oneself with the details or hard work?

A perfect example is South Africa.  Once the trendy fight against apartheid was over, the left fueled up its caravan and moved on.  So few are aware of the mess the country is in.  They have a new president.  You won't believe the guy.  From London's Telegraph:

His political ambitions seemed over when he was sacked as deputy president in 2005, following the conviction of his financial adviser for soliciting bribes for him.

Related charges against Mr Zuma have twice been dropped on technical grounds, he has been acquitted of rape, and he was finally formally elected president earlier this week, having led the African National Congress to victory at the general election with 65.9 per cent of the vote.

And...

Mr Zuma's populist appeal is epitomised by his energetic performances of his trademark anthem Umshini Wami, Bring Me My Machine Gun.

With 19 children, he makes no secret of his polygamy, and was due to be accompanied by all three of his wives for the ceremony, although it is not yet clear which of them, if any, will be designated as the first lady.

And...

He is also divorced from South Africa's outgoing foreign minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and another wife, Kate, committed suicide.

COMMENT:  Just a family guy tryin' to do a job for his country.  John Edwards, take heart.

May 9, 2009   Permalink

YOU KNOW WHAT TALKS, YOU KNOW WHAT WALKS - AT 8:35 A.M. ET:  Apparently the television networks, although in love with President Obama, are putting their passions aside and consulting their wallets.  From The Hollywood Reporter:

By and large, they personally forked out for his campaign, they voted for him, and they know he is capable of boosting TV ratings just by making an appearance.

But executives at the Big Four broadcast networks are seething behind the scenes that President Obama has cost them about $30 million in cumulative ad revenue this year with his three primetime news conference pre-emptions.

Now top network execs quietly are hoping that Fox's well-publicized rejection of the president's April 29 presser will serve as precedent for denying future White House requests for prime airtime.

"We will continue to make our decisions on White House requests on a case-by-case basis, but the Fox decision gives us cover to reject a request if we feel that there is no urgent breaking news that is going to be discussed," said one network exec, who, like all, would not speak for attribution fearing repercussions from the administration.

And...

Although Obama's post-election visits to NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and CBS' "60 Minutes" served as major ratings boosts, the love affair between the networks and the Democrat darling actually might be cooling: There are too many demands, and too much money is at stake.

COMMENT:  There are two main issues here:  1)  the president is overexposed; and 2) the news conferences don't produce any news.

During the great Depression, President Roosevelt gave a series of fireside chats, by radio.  Each one told the American people exactly what he was doing to change conditions in the country.  They were far more effective than press conferences, which generally feature a series of not-very-vital questions.  Right now, President Obama runs the risk of wearing out his welcome.

If the president were great at press conferences, it might be a different story.  But he lacks Jack Kennedy's humor and irony.  So the sessions have generally been lifeless.

May 9, 2009   Permalink