The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

That Lefty Cartoon World

Posted on | August 24, 2011 | 2 Comments

by Smitty

Rasmussen hovers around 1 in 5 Americans strongly approving of BHO’s performance. Apropos nothing, I was on Wikipedia, looking up Hong Kong Phooey, and discovered this bit of insight:

A running gag is that Hong Kong Phooey is such a respected hero that when his incompetence causes him to crash into, harm, or otherwise inconvenience a civilian, the passerby feels honored as opposed to annoyed or embarrassed, such as when he drove the Phooeymobile through wet cement, splattering the workers, who responded that it was an honor to have a whole day’s work ruined by “the great Hong Kong Phooey.”

Does the Left somehow wallow in its moral, mental, and material deningration at the hands of BHO? Ponder that to the tune of Sublime:

Category: Barack Obama, Uncategorized

Obamanomics Helps Wall Street Fat Cats?

Posted on | August 24, 2011 | 9 Comments

Four years ago, Bank of America stock was trading above $50 a share. It’s now selling for less than $7 a share. And it may be worth a lot less like that:

The stock of a humongous American bank, Bank of America (BAC), is collapsing.
This is stoking fears that Bank of America will go bust, taking the whole economy down with it.
Why is Bank of America’s stock tanking?
Because the market thinks Bank of America is worth much less than Bank of America’s management says it is.
In fact, in what is fast becoming a formal law of bank-stock thermo-dynamics, the more the bank insists that everything’s fine, the more investors take this as a signal to run for the hills.

But Wall Street need have no fear — Tim Geithner is here!

There is a rumor circulated on Wall St. that JP Morgan will take over Bank of America within the week. The government will support the deal with a $100 billion investment in preferred shares issued by the combined entity. Alternatively, the government may guarantee the value of a large pool of Bank of America assets. The word is that Treasury Secretary Geithner has discussed the transaction with JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon.The “merger” would completely destroy the value of BAC’s common shares.

(Via Memeorandum.) So while Obama’s Treasury secretary bails out his big banker buddies on Wall Street, Obama and the Democrats are running around telling poor people to blame everything on Republicans and the Tea Party.

Category: Economics

Who Should Be Embarrassed, Mr. Yoo?

Posted on | August 24, 2011 | 8 Comments

by Smitty

John Yoo at the National Review:

Obama did the right thing to order U.S. forces in [to Libya], but it was done reluctantly, with the administration claiming it was not really at “war,” limiting the U.S. and its allies to enforcing a no-fly zone only, and then trying to reduce our participation in airstrikes. Obama’s foot-dragging prolonged the Libyan civil war and will reduce our ability to influence the post-Qaddafi regime, which may well have strong extremist elements.
But I think the new Republican isolationists in the House (and among the presidential candidates) will come out looking even worse. They opposed the president’s constitutional authority to use force abroad to protect U.S. national-security interests, yet they failed to put forward any serious proposals of their own for U.S. foreign policy in the region (aside from pulling out wholesale, I suppose). They not only contradicted the consistent position of Republican administrations on the war-powers issue, but they had no alternatives to put forward on what to do about Libya. These House members had plenty of company from the Democratic party’s antiwar Left, of course — but if they all thought the war was illegal and a bad idea, do they want to give Libya back to Qaddafi now?

There are ditches on either side of the foreign policy road:

  • Isolationist
  • The Team America: World Police, i.e. Hegemon

Picking WWI as a pivot point, or the Spanish-American War if you like, the U.S. moved toward the latter from the former, and picked up steam after WWII. After the fall of the Soviet Union, TAWP is looking rather threadbare.

Given the context of this Administration’s creepshow foreign policy, starting somewhere around Mel Zelaya in the Honduras and stumbling forward erratically from there, a lack of confidence in the President would seem mere prudence, a protection of the slupee from the ditch, not a source of embarrassment. Also, given this Administration’s flaunting of Congress on much of domestic policy (budge, anyone?), and the ongoing economic crisis, asking after the bills is due dilligence. OK, it scores points with the Tea Parties, too.

So the question to the Really Smart Folks like Yoo might be: is there a better operating point, around the crown of the road, between these ditches?

I think neither isolationism nor full forward presence is workable, especially in the globalized environment. Also suffering badly: the U.N. Anyone who thinks the U.N. should just fix stuff is probably a Left, or mad, but I repeat myself.

Is there really a level of effort below hegemon? Can you draw down forward deployments and economize, without ensuring a follow-on war? I’m guessing no.

At any rate, grant BHO his victory lap. As with Osama, you can’t both deny Obama the kudos and hold the man accountable for the rest of the economic disaster we face. Well, you can, if you’re a Lefty ingrate. That said, the War Powers act of 1973 bears review, as a part of the hegemony question. The fact that there has been dissent is patriotic, not a cause for embarrassment.

Category: History, Libya, Military

LIVE AT FIVE – 08.24.11

Posted on | August 24, 2011 | 1 Comment

— compiled by Wombat-socho


TOP NEWS
Despite Seizure Of Qadhafi Complex, Regime Says It Can Fight For Years

Rebels celebrate after capturing Gaddafi's complex in Tripoli

Growing number of foreign countries recognize National Transitional Council even as Khadafy, loyalists vow to fight on

Quake Sets Northeast Aquiver
Mineral earthquake measures 5.8 on the Richter scale; little actual damage

Hurricane Irene Regains Category 2 Stength
Tourists on Ocracoke Island, NC ordered to evacuate



POLITICS
Rick Perry A Tough Sell In New Hampshire?

Texas Governor Rick Perry talks to a voter in Dover, NH

Apparently the Massachusetts transplants were all the Reuters reporter could find

Washington Monument Top Cracked By Earthquake

Aide Says Former NY Governor Pataki Seriously Considering Run

Joey “Order In English!” Vento Dies, 71

Federal Judge To Hear Arguments On Alabama Immigration Law

Democrats Nominate First Black Candidate For Mississippi Governor



THE ECONOMY, STUPID
Gold Rebounds On Japan Downgrade; Oil, Metals Eye Stimulus
Moody’s Downgrades Japan Credit Rating
European Stocks Seen Higher On Hopes Of Fed Support
United Cockpits Take Cyber Turn With iPad Navigation App
Two-Year Treasury Notes Sold At Record Low Yield; Notes Fall On Stock Rally
HP’s Bradley Says PC Group Worth More Than One-Quarter Of Sales
Dow Surges Nearly 3% In Relief Rally
Sell Big Or Die Fast
Sprint iPhone May Portend End To Unlimited Data
What Happens When Google+ Cuts You Off?
Earthquake Doesn’t Damage Cell Phone Infrastructure, But High Call Volume Jams Parts Of Network
Samsung Looking To Buy HP’s PC Division?



SPORTS
Gonzalez, Scutaro Lead Red Sox’ Rout Of Rangers

Red Sox shell Rangers to retake part of AL East lead

Rangers’ Lewis pounded for seven runs on nine hits

A’s Allen Goes Yard Twice To Lift Oakland Over Yankees

Kyle Busch Loses License For Speeding

Mets’ Niese Bound For DL After Getting Bell Rung In Philly

Burroughs’ First Homer Since 2005 Gives Snakes Win Against Nats

NCAA Hits Pearl With 3-Year Penalty; Vols To Escape Further Sanctions

Ramirez’ 5 Hits Wasted As Cubs Lose Again

Pat Summitt’s Legacy A Long Way From Finished

Cubs Have No Shortage Of Candidates For GM Job

Strasburg Gets 6K, 1 ER In Rehab Start



FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
Will & Jada Pinkett Smith Split Rumors False

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, definitely together

Son Trey says rumors of divorce are bogus

Brenda Song & Trace Cyrus Expecting First Child

“Mad Men” Star Defends January Jones Against Haters

Simon Cowell Is A Very Odd Boy

Lady Gaga To Guest On “The Simpsons”

Megan Fox: Why I’m Removing My Marilyn Monroe Tattoo

Amy Winehouse’s Death: No Drugs Found

Uncle Frank Of “Kimmel Show” Fame Dies At 77

“Glee” Keeping Lea It’s No. 1

Richard Branson Credits Kate Winslet With Saving His Mum’s Life In Last Night’s Fire



FOREIGNERS
Syrian Opposition Forms National Council
Anna Hazare: Pakistan To Follow India With Anti-Corruption Campaign
IAF Hits Two Would-Be Terrorist Rocketeers In Gaza
Norks Pledge Return To Nuke Talks
France To Announce Spending Cuts
Serbia Welcomes Merkel On Threshold Of EU Bid
Chavez Denounces West Over Libya



BLOGS & STUFF
Gateway Pundit: Earthquake Rattles DC, Obama Goes Biking
Weasel Zippers: Jeb Bush Says Republicans Go Too Far When They Criticize Obama
Mark Steyn: Peking Duck
American Thinker: Perry Takes The Lead In Iowa
Allahpundit: Bad News – Conservative Elites Still Looking For A 2012 Hero
Lonely Conservative: Good News! NJ School District Removes Books About Gay Sex From Summer Reading List
Power Line: House Of Cards
Tim Blair: Racism Meets Warmenism
Megan McArdle: Did Welfare Reform Work?
Sister Toldjah: Religion Of Peace Watch
Hit & Run: Krugman On Google+ With Broken Windows Fallacy
Troglopundit: Earthquake Hits DC, Dow Up 322…Coincidence?


SOTD: Let’s Dance To Joy Division

Category: Live at Five

What an Awesome Computer!

Posted on | August 23, 2011 | 7 Comments

A couple days ago, one of our readers bought an ASUS Eee Pad Transformer TF101-B1 10.1-Inch Tablet Computer, an Android device that sells for $459.44 via our Amazon Associates link, along with a compatible $125.21 Keyboard Docking Station, thus kicking a sweet $23.39 commission my way. We also sold a Hamilton Beach 48464 Brewstation Summit 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker ($47.99, a $1.92 commission) and an Orbeli & Proache 500-thread-count organic Egyptian cotton bedsheet ($39.95, a $1.60 commission).

They sell everything at Amazon, and as long as you shop through the links here, I get a 4% commission on the total sale. It’s a great way to support the blog and get great bargains at the same time.

We’re still hoping one of those right-wing billionaires will buy that $120,000 7-carat diamond ring, but I’m grateful for every sale, as are the devastated young earthquake victims.

PREVIOUSLY:

Category: Amazon

Tea Party: ‘Small-Minded, Fear-Driven, Superstitious Lovers of Authoritarianism’?

Posted on | August 23, 2011 | 10 Comments

Hey, that’s what the experts say:

[T]he study was released at the annual convention of the American Sociological Association in Las Vegas . . .
Head researcher and author of this purported study, Andrew Perrin, is Professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill . . .

Could such an eminent expert representing a prestigious institution in this rigorous discipline of scientific research possibly be . . . wrong? We must consult that famed philosopher, Ace of Spades:

These reports always do the same thing– they take a particular political agenda, socialist/collectivist transnational progressivism, assume that (completely unscientifically) to the be the self-evidently correct position and therefore the privileged position, then note the bloody obvious that non-progressives do not believe in progressivism.
Then they go off on a Tourettes jag calling non-progressives cowards, morons, haters and brutes.
And then they slap a brand name on it– Science (TM).

They’re experts . . . in douchebagology.

Category: Intellectuals, Liberals, Tea Party

Tea Party Now ‘the Real Enemy’?

Posted on | August 23, 2011 | 13 Comments

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) took her Summer Demagoguery Road Show to Florida:

“The real enemy is the Tea Party –- let’s remember that,” said Rep. Frederica Wilson of Miami Gardens, host of the meeting and jobs fair. “The Tea Party holds Congress hostage … They have one goal in mind, and that’s to make President Obama a one-term president.” …
[Waters] also said: “We have to stand up and fight. It’s fight time … We’re not afraid of the tea party … In this struggle, we have to define who we are, what the president is doing and not let our voices be overshadowed by the tea party.”

(Hat-tip: Tina Korbe at Hot Air.) Obviously the Democrats have coordinated their talking points, as the Wilson/Waters rhetoric is an echo of Elijah Cummings’s aggressive scapegoating.

Category: Democrats, Tea Party

VIDEO: Exclusive Interview With Young Victim of the East Coast Earthquake UPDATE: Meet the Heroic Survivors

Posted on | August 23, 2011 | 63 Comments

HAGERSTOWN, Maryland
Reporting live from this previously peaceful community, mere miles from the epicenter of the devastating 5.9 earthquake:

Regular readers may notice that this emotionally traumatized victim bears a remarkable resemblance to my 8-year-old daughter, Reagan. And regular readers may also notice that the Earthquake Victims Relief Fund bears a remarkable resemblance to my tip jar.

It’s for the children!

UPDATE: Thanks to Dan Collins for helping spread the word about the catastrophic toll of this incomparable disaster. And thanks to Russ Emerson for his generous contribution to the Earthquake Victims Relief Fund. The victims are now demanding I take them to get Slushees . . .

UPDATE II: Earthquake Hits East Coast; Obama Blames Tea Party.

UPDATE III: The Lonely Conservative feels the pain of the young victims.

UPDATE IV: At the Earthquake Relief Center — which bears a remarkable resemblance to our local convenience store — the heroic young survivors recover from the emotional trauma wrought by this historic tragedy:

We appreciate the support of Fausta Wertz.

UPDATE V: Linked by Nice Deb — thanks! — and welcome, Instapundit readers!

Category: humor, Video
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