Such anguish we have witnesssed these last days, among people ruled by two totalitarian regimes. Guy Sorman, WSJ:

Children crushed by the walls of their school are victims of the corruption of builders, businesses and government officials as much as they are victims of the earthquake. This the people know, and all the gesticulations of aid agencies and national leaders will not be able to eradicate this source of collective hatred of the people towards the party.

So it is with China and with tyrannical regimes: The party is convinced it controls everything. But it is often unexpected events that reveal fault lines in the system, the hypocrisy of public discourse, and the most unbearable injustices.

I've long thought that liberals operate out of a delusional state, but its odd that have it confirmed so literally.

Sen. Barack Obama, the leading Democratic candidate for his party's nomination, is very fond of telling receptive audiences the story about how last May he walked right into the automotive lion's den of Detroit and told those industrialists they were going to have to shape up, change the way they do things and start making more fuel-efficient vehicles to protect our environment.

"And I have to say," the straight-talking Obama tells his chuckling followers, "that when I delivered that speech, the room got really quiet. [Laughter] Nobody clapped."

Well, in honor of Obama's return campaign visit back to Michigan this week, someone -- perhaps Republicans, perhaps someone closer to home politically -- assembled videotape of Obama's oft-told tale and spliced it side by side with videotape of that actual Detroit speech.

You'll never guess what. The room wasn't quiet at all. Obama, in fact, got a loud round of applause. And at the end of his address the camera's view of him at the podium is partially blocked because the audience of local businesspeople and automotive executives was rising to give him a standing ovation.

The L.A. Times refers to it as Obama's Bosnian Sniper incident, but its apparently a common liberal ailment this fault recollection of metaphorical Christmas Eve trips into Cambodia. Ed Driscoll notes that Robert Reich, Clinton's Secretary of Labor, similarly recalled capitalist disapproval from a reality of polite applause.

Damn that YouTube...

Tennessee GOP tweaks Michelle Obama, who is visiting Nashville. Huffpo gets exercised. NIce zinger at the end. Video: UPDATE: Obama's extreme PC Nanny State in play already.(And the Obamas can say whatever they want.) VDH, Obama Rules: Ten new regulations for the 2008 election.

I've been amazed at how closely so many Democrat arguments about race resemble those of of the historical segregated South and in some cases, even those of the KKK.

If you listen closely to Jeremiah Wright talk about African-American brains and Euro-American brains, you can almost imagine him in front of a burning cross. The soft-bigotry of low expectations as far as blacks are concerned, is nothing more than tacit acknowledgment of the idea that blacks are somehow inferior and unable to compete on level ground with Whites and Asians. I'm simply amazed and perplexed that so many in the black community seem willing to accept this view so passively. I'd be screaming bloody murder.

Continue reading "The Return of Socially-Acceptable Bigotry" »

Contemplating Bush's remarks in Israel and the Democrats panicked and hasty response, we have to concede the point to the Republicans.

Its impossible to tell whether Bush had Obama in mind while making the remarks, but I'd like to think he did. Regardless, Jimmy Carter provides plenty of cover for the lame charges by the weenies that Bush launched and "unprecedented" domestic political attack on foreign soil. The guy did meet with Hamas, he is representative of the Democrat view of foreign policy, and he is not a public official or running for office--in other words--fair game.

Yet its the effect of the statement that is so brilliant.

On the anniversary of a state formed as a reaction and protection against tyranny, Bush utters what can only be called an aphorism.

“Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along."

Bush says it in a context that makes it legitimate and innocuous, and if the Democrats were smart--and they aren't--they would have let those words fall on the ears of Israelis and left it at that.

But no--the Obama campaign has to respond with outrage, thus insuring that Bush's remarks are widely replayed in the United States as an election issue. Bush is held harmless, but the damage is done--Obama's naivete and inexperience are highlighted for several news cycles without political risk or cost.

Sure, the Bush-haters will rage at Bush, but the would vote for Obama even if he raped their sisters. For the rest of the country though, its yet another in a series of Obama denouements.

Like Wright and bitterquiddick, the more you look at it, the worse it gets. By upping the ante with statements by the risible Joe Biden (the Democrats foreign policy "expert"), they simply invite more uncomplimentary revelations. Did Hamas endorse Obama? You bet they did. So did FARC and more hopes for Obama's election will undoubtedly be expressed by other bad actors in the coming weeks and months.

It is Obama's two political left-feet that give me confidence, that in spite of the Republican party's considerable problems, McCain will still win the presidency. Its just a gift to get a rival so unbelievably incompetent.

Its McCain's election to lose.

For a guy who ran around with the unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers, it doesn't seem particularly smart to remind everyone you're also the terrorist appeasing fool George Bush is talking about. Obama's like the hapless kid in Bill Cosby's high school shop class who put a bullet in the furnance. After it exploded, the shop teacher tried to find out who did it. When no one claimed responsibility, the teacher remarked how such an act looked poorly on the mother of the boy who did it. That's when the perpetrater couldn't help himself defend his momma.

Signal:

We're a powerful bunch of khaki-wearing, gay-marriage-supporting, arugula-eating, Mac-using elitist nerds out here. To all of you racist homophobic non-Californian dumb f**ks who find that annoying? Tough sh*t. We outsmarted you. We out-spent you. And now for the next eight years we're going to be running this country. We're going to give equal rights to gay people, fund stem-cell research, teach evolution, take down the fence on the Mexican border, and make sure abortion stays safe and legal. We're going to pull out of Iraq, shut down Gitmo, and stop torturing people. And yeah. A black dude with a Muslim-sounding name and degrees from Columbia and Harvard is going to be in charge. So sit back down, strap yourself in, and shut the f**k up, crackers.

“Let’s not confuse precondition with preparation,” said [Obama's communications director] of any talks with Iran. “Obviously these meetings would be full of preparation. But we’re not going to sit down and engage Iran, unless or until they give up their nuclear weapons program.”

New politics sure involves a lot of whining.

By tradition, partisan politics comes to a halt when a U.S. president is on foreign soil, and Bush's remarks led Obama to quickly cry foul. The first-term Illinois senator responded to the comments as if they were criticism of his position that as president he would be willing to personally meet with Iran's leaders and those of other regimes the United States has deemed rogue.

"It is sad that President Bush would use a speech to the Knesset on the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence to launch a false political attack," Obama said in a statement his aides distributed. "George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists, and the president's extraordinary politicization of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people or our stalwart ally Israel.

In turn, White House press secretary Dana Perino denied that the Knesset remark was aimed at Obama. In fact, the language is fairly typical for Bush speeches, and Gordon Johndroe, a national security spokesman for the president, said Bush was referring to "a wide range of people who have talked to or suggested we talk to Hamas, Hezbollah or their state sponsors" over a long period of time.

Bush of course, made no mention of Obama, but Obama sure saw himself in Bush's remarks, and thereby condemned himself.

Obama has been endorsed by Hamas and FARC. Further endorsements are undoubtedly forthcoming, probably thanks to the July 2007 CNN/YouTube debate in which Obama and Clinton said the following.

QUESTION FROM VOTER: Would you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries?

OBAMA: I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them -- which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration -- is ridiculous. Now, Ronald Reagan and Democratic presidents like JFK constantly spoke to Soviet Union at a time when Ronald Reagan called them an evil empire. And the reason is because they understood that we may not trust them and they may pose an extraordinary danger to this country, but we had the obligation to find areas where we can potentially move forward.
And I think that it is a disgrace that we have not spoken to them. We've been talking about Iraq -- one of the first things that I would do in terms of moving a diplomatic effort in the region forward is to send a signal that we need to talk to Iran and Syria because they're going to have responsibilities if Iraq collapses...

CLINTON: Well, I will not promise to meet with the leaders of these countries during my first year. I will promise a very vigorous diplomatic effort because I think it is not that you promise a meeting at that high a level before you know what the intentions are.
I don't want to be used for propaganda purposes. I don't want to make a situation even worse. But I certainly agree that we need to get back to diplomacy, which has been turned into a bad word by this administration. And I will pursue very vigorous diplomacy.
And I will use a lot of high-level presidential envoys to test the waters, to feel the way. But certainly, we're not going to just have our president meet with Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez and, you know, the president of North Korea, Iran and Syria until we know better what the way forward would be.

The naivete was astonishing, and roundly criticized by anyone with a brain and not in the tank. As usual, Obama is his own worst enemy, and if Pres. Bush's comments stung, it was only because Obama himself first created the political vulnerability.

Paul Mirengoff puts his hand down the sewer pipe and drags up this, er-r-r, nugget?

The Clintons don't give a damn about our party. Their party, their church, is themselves. To hell with everyone else. I actually liked Hillary up until a few months ago. Other bloggers used to tell me that Joe and I were too nice to Hillary. People just assumed that we were endorsing her. Now I actually loathe her. She makes me yell at the TV like she's George Bush, and no one other than George Bush makes me yell at the TV - until now. I actually can't stand her or her husband any more. I defended her. I defended her husband. And now I'm actually wondering if the Republicans weren't right about them. That's how bad she has damaged her reputation. People who actually liked you, who actually helped you, who actually defended you, LOATHE you now. Call me a Clinton-hater all you like, but people like me were the ones who had your back. And we never will again.

That just about sums it up--John Avarosis, like every other nutroots liberal, is a mewling infant, a puerile, whining little snot who considers himself the center of the universe and his whims the will of God, which is to say, himself.

Continue reading "One Good Rant Deserves Another..." »

I saw video this morning of a guy flying around the Swiss alps with a winged jet pack. He looked and maneuvered just my child-self imagined many decades ago.

The future is here and it is good.

"It's like a second skin," Rossy said later after landing on the shores of Lake Geneva.

"If I turn to the left, I fly left. If I nudge to the right, I go right."

With his first big test under his belt, Rossy, 48, is ready for bigger challenges: he plans to cross the English Channel later this year, before attempting to fly through the Grand Canyon.

To do this, he will have to fit more powerful jets to allow for greater maneuvering.

The four German-built model aircraft engines he currently uses provide 200lb of thrust each, enough to enable the 110lb foldable carbon wings, and Rossy in his 120lb flying suit, to climb at 200ft a minute.

"Physically, it's absolutely no stress," Rossy said.

I have a new goal...

Take a look at this graph, courtesy of The Jawa Report.

Notice anything?

Yeah--where are all the Republicans? In 2002, nearly 100,000 Republicans showed up to vote. In 2004, Democrats didn't bother to field a candidate. In 2006, the Republican again won with nearly 100,000 votes.

This year?

50,000 Republicans showed up, and 50,000 didn't... The Democrat won by a mere 8,000 votes, 8,000 more than they mustered in 2006.

Do you see the problem?

Continue reading "Conservatives Stay Home" »

Islamofascist jihadists' liberation for women. Hezbollah murders Lebanon. An incredibly brave woman (why is it always the women?) TV journalist speaks out, for now. This is the future under an Obama foreign policy. Video, via Gateway Pundit, translated now by MEMRI:
UPDATE: NY Times on Bush visit to Israel.

Norfolk State University is an historically black university providing education opportunities to the disadvantaged, which of course is a noble and useful mission.

Unfortunately, "educating" is a problematic concept at NSU.

Steven D. Aird his job teaching biology at Norfolk State University. Today is his last day of work, but on his way out, he has started to tell his story — one that he suggests points to large educational problems at the university and in society. The university isn’t talking publicly about his case, but because Aird has released numerous documents prepared by the university about his performance — including the key negative tenure decisions by administrators — it is clear that he was denied tenure for one reason: failing too many students. The university documents portray Aird as unwilling to compromise to pass more students.

Apparently, the administration equivocates between the terms "educating" and "passing"

Continue reading "Would You Hire a Norfolk State Grad?" »

Fashion, "Out with Vegas, in with Vamp". Is more is more a cultural statement? Probably not, just a way to sell more bathing suits to the un-anorexic crowd. But a pleasant change--even a salute? Enjoy.

P.S. Maybe, just maybe a backlash to this, which has been going on for some time.

Sean Penn is in Cannes to judge at the film festival. Apparently, in his judgment, Barack Obama is not radical enough. First night premiere, Blindness. Telegraph:

”I don't have a candidate I'm supporting and I'm certainly interested and excited by the hope that Barack Obama is inspiring,” he said, but went on to accuse him of a “phenomenally inhuman and unconstitutional” voting record.

”I hope that he will understand, if he is the nominee, the degree of disillusionment that will happen if he doesn't become a greater man than he will ever be,” Penn said. “This is the most important election, certainly in my lifetime, and maybe ever.”

While effete liberals at the NY Times and gourmet dog biscuit shops smugly suggest they are not racists but they know it lurks in less cosmopolitan parts, perhaps those "rubes" in West Virginia got it right.

Perhaps the NY Times should abandon Barack Obama on his racist reconciliation tour of blue collar car plants and at the Edwards loser lovefest and take it to TUCC, where real racism resides. Stanley Kurtz, in National Review's May 19th cover story, explores the Rev. Wright's black liberation theology based on the writings of James Cone. At his infamous speech at the National Press Club Wright reaffirmed his reliance on Cone, and Cone has claimed Wright's church exemplifies his beliefs--TUCC, the most radical church in America--Barack Obama's church for 20 years. It's worth reading in full, but I will give you this from the print edition:

Indeed, one of the most striking features of Black Theology and Black Power is its strident attack on white liberals. According to Cone, "when white do-gooders are confronted with the style of Black Power, realizing that black people really place them in the same category with the George Wallaces, they react defensively, saying, 'It's not my fault' or 'I am not responsible.'" But Cone insists that white, liberal do-gooders are every bit as responsible as the most dyed-in-the-woll segregationists. Well before it became a cliché, Cone boldly set forth the argument for institutional racism--the notion that "racism is so embedded in the heart of American society that few, if any, whites can free themselves from it."

The liberal's favorite question, says Cone, is "What can I do?" He replies that, short of turning radical and putting their lives on the line behind a potentially violent revolution, liberals can do nothing.

Continue reading "Obama's Hope Based on Hate" »

Well, OK, not Milli Vanilli, but the political equivalent--hair with no actual political talent.

Its pathetic but it works. Obama was desperate to change the media narrative, which is that core Democrat voters are racist. Its not brilliant apologetic; that's certain, but as bad as it is, its better than telling the truth--the Emperor has no clothes.

Getting John Edwards to endorse him accomplishes that, if little else.

Kathleen Parker observes that its pretty much a consensus.

Here's what John Davis, president of the e North Carolina Forum for Research and Economic Education and editor of The Almanac of North Carolina Politics, recently told Politico about the value of an Edwards endorsement: "It would carry no weight. He didn't help carry any state in the Southeast, his own home county or even his home precinct in 2004."

Jonah Goldberg points out exactly how much Edwards underwhelmed in 2004.

...in 2004 Democrats insisted that John Edwards would make the Kerry-Edwards ticket competitive throughout the South. Not only was that not true, not only did Edwards not deliver North Carolina, but he didn't even improve Kerry's share by a single percentage point over Gore-Lieberman in 2000.

I'd have to call this a hail Mary. If Obama had better options, he would have exercised them--apparently all he had was John Edwards.

He's in worse trouble that I thought...

The surge is more than putting more troops on the ground:

"One month ago, the patrols are back, and they are walking, not in Humvees. Different soldiers from the soldiers in the first patrols, but behaving like them – very courteous, very watchful.

"When the patrol knocks on my door, I say, 'Please come in – I would like some lubricant for my pistol.' The patrol leader looks at me with a funny look, then he smiles, then they all come in and drink tea and I draw a map of where the Wahabi are..."

h/t SDA

NY Times worried about a foreign visitor's detention for 10 days. Quite the purple prose:

He was a carefree Italian with a recent law degree from a Roman university. She was “a totally Virginia girl,” as she puts it, raised across the road from George Washington’s home. Their romance, sparked by a 2006 meeting in a supermarket in Rome, soon brought the Italian, Domenico Salerno, on frequent visits to Alexandria, Va., where he was welcomed like a favorite son by the parents and neighbors of his girlfriend, Caitlin Cooper.

The Mormon church is suing Wikileaks to take down illicits PDFs of its Church Handbook of Instruction.

Wikimedia Foundation has received a copyright infringement claim from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon Church or LDS Church. The infringement claim is in reference to a URL used as a source in a Wikinews article about Mormon Church documents leaked to the website , titled "Copy of handbook for leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints obtained by Wikinews". The URL was original