The Other McCain

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

‘Firebagger Lefty Blogosphere’

Posted on | August 17, 2011 | 18 Comments

The reality that President Obama is seeking re-election while the left wing of his party is profoundly disillusioned hit home last week at the Iowa State Fair when I watched DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz get heckled off stage by angry progressives. And Obama’s re-election campaign staff isn’t helping their boss much.

New Mexico OFA state director Ray Sandoval sent out an e-mail to Democrats, attempting to address their “frustrations” with the debt deal and including the text of a post from liberal blogger Spandan Chakrabarti:

Paul Krugman is a political rookie. At least he is when compared to President Obama. That’s why he unleashed a screed as soon as word came about the debt ceiling compromise between President Obama and Congressional leaders – to, you know, avert an economic 9/11. Joining the ideologue spheres’ pure, fanatic, indomitable hysteria, Krugman declares the deal a disaster – both political and economic – of course providing no evidence for the latter, which I find curious for this Nobel winning economist. . . .
No, the loudest screeching noise you hear coming from Krugman and the ideologue Left is, of course, Medicare. Oh, no, the President is agreeing to a Medicare trigger!!! Oh noes!!! Everybody freak out right now! But let’s look at the deal again, shall we? . . . .
Now let’s get to the fun part: the triggers. The more than half-a-trillion in defense and security spending cut “trigger” for the Republicans will hardly earn a mention on the Firebagger Lefty blogosphere. Hell, it’s a trigger supposedly for the Republicans, and of course, there’s always It’sNotEnough-ism to cover it.

HuffPo’s Amanda Terkel explains that “Firebagger Lefty blogosphere” is probably a reference to Jane Hamsher’s Firedoglake.

To have the Obama re-election team trashing Krugman and Firedoglake ought to give you an idea of what a sense of hopeless doom the Democrats are facing as they look forward to 2012. FDL wouldn’t be trashing Obama if Obama wasn’t looking weak, and Obama’s staff wouldn’t be worried about a columnist or a blogger if the White House was generally winning the message war.

Just as nothing succeeds like success, nothing fails like failure. Ever since Obama got his ass kicked in the 2010 mid-terms, he has been covered in failure, and the negative mojo appears to be snowballing.

UPDATE: Jane Hamsher is willing to take one for the team: “If they’re doing this because they think it’s a good campaign strategy, do what you have to do.” But she adds: “This smacks more of narcissism and personal vendetta than any sound political ‘strategy.’ ”

So at least if she’s going to get beaten up like a domestic abuse victim, Jane is rational about her voluntary victimhood.


Category: Barack Obama, Election 2012, Liberals, New Mexico

Herman Cain ‘Common Sense Solutions’ Bus Tour Heads to New Hampshire Friday

Posted on | August 17, 2011 | 2 Comments

While the incumbent is running around the Midwest blaming the Tea Party for unemployment, Herman Cain gets ready to head to the Granite State and talk about how jobs are really created. Here’s the press release from the Cain campaign:

Cain Announces New Hampshire Stops
of “Common Sense Solutions” Bus Tour

(Stockbridge, GA)- Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain will embark on his “Common Sense Solutions” two day bus tour throughout the state of New Hampshire beginning on Friday, August 19.

Bus schedule (all times EDT):

Friday, August 19, 2011
5:15 p.m. Grand Opening of New Hampshire Headquarters
62 Lowell Street, Manchester, NH

6 p.m. Visits around the area
Elm Street shops and restaurants

Saturday, August 20, 2011
9:30 a.m. Breakfast in Dover
Weeks Restaurant (Downtown Dover)
2 Locust Street

10:30 a.m. Durham
Breaking New Grounds
50 Main Street, #B

12:15 p.m. Portsmouth Downtown
The Friendly Toast
113 Congress Street

3 p.m. New Hampshire Young Republican’s Lobster Bake
The Great Island Common
301 Wentworth Road (Behind New Castle Library)

Category: Election 2012, Herman Cain, New Hampshire

Scapegoater-in-Chief: President Obama Blames Tea Party for High Unemployment

Posted on | August 17, 2011 | 25 Comments

Some have called it the “Magical Misery Tour,” and the allusion to the Beatles’ psychedelic phase is quite apt, because Obama must be tripping:

President Barack Obama accused Republican Tea Party activists of holding back the economic recovery Tuesday, hiking pressure on Congress to pass his yet-to-be unveiled jobs plan.
On the second day of a three-day bus tour of midwestern states, Obama expanded on his theme that political brinksmanship in Washington was harming America’s capacity to speed up the slowed recovery.
“The only question is if, as a nation, we’re going to do what it takes to grow this economy and put people back to work right now,” Obama said as he opened a Rural Economic Forum in a small town in northeastern Iowa. . . .
“The only thing that’s preventing us from passing the bills I just mentioned is the refusal of a faction in Congress to put country ahead of party.
“And that has to stop. Our economy cannot afford it. Our economy can’t afford it.”

If passing legislation proposed by Obama was “what it takes to grow this economy,” don’t you think we might have seen some of that growth after Obama had two years of a Democrat-controlled Congress that rubber-stamped whatever he wanted?

Never mind. Once he stops touring the Heartland — in a Canadian-built bus — Obama’s going to roll up his sleeves and get to work creating some more of those jobs that his $800 billion stimulus was supposed to have created two years ago. But before he creates those jobs, first he’s going to take a vacation on Martha’s Vineyard.

Because he really cares about all those poor unemployed people.

(Hat-tip: New Federalists on Twitter.)

Category: Barack Obama, Economics, Tea Party

Michelle Goldberg and ‘The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Evangelicalism’

Posted on | August 17, 2011 | 48 Comments

Da Tech Guy yesterday made passing reference to something I had previously noticed but chosen to ignore: Michelle Goldberg’s article at the Daily Beast warning that both Michelle Bachmann and Rick Perry are in league with “some of America’s most radical theocrats.”

Can we just call this what it is, namely fear-mongering and bigotry against devout Christians? Because I’m frankly sick and tired of this little game, which has been going on for decades but is seldom called out for what it really is.

If a conservative were to accuse liberal Jews of conspiring for political dominance, he would be automatically condemned as an anti-Semite and purged from polite society. And yet no liberal is ever condemned for accusing conservative Christians of conspiring for political dominance.

This goes back at least as far as Norman Lear and People for the American Way, and the same agitprop methods have been pursued quite lucratively by the disgraced and disgraceful Southern Poverty Law Center.

Fear of a Christian theocracy, the alleged objective of schemes purportedly hatched and incubated by secretive cabals of fundamentalists, has been a persistent theme of liberal journalism and advocacy for at least three decades now. But where is this theocracy they’ve warned us about? 

To hear them tell it, we are always but one election cycle away from the dawn of a Margaret Atwood dystopia — If Republicans win, the Bible-thumping fascists will impose their morals on us all! — yet we recently passed through several years of GOP dominance and I don’t recall any headlines about the National Morality Police shutting down gay discos or strip joints during the Nightmare Era of Bushdom. Read more

Category: Intellectuals, Liberals, Michele Bachmann, Religion

‘Cold-Blooded Kindness’ By Barbara Oakley: A Provocative Read

Posted on | August 17, 2011 | 4 Comments

by Smitty

Barbara Oakley’s book, “Cold-Blooded Kindness” is an excellent read for those with the courage to have their ideas challenged. The subject matter is disturbing. Carole Alden murdered Marty Sessions. After that, the case sinks into a modern swamp of ambiguity. The killer, victim, and setting are straight out of Jerry Springer.

In reviewing the biography of Carole Alden, Oakley discovered she had been exposed both to dangerous medications and serious illness in utero. Throughout her childhood, Alden expressed significant artisitc talent, and notable altruistic love, both of animals and humans. Into her teenage years, Alden exhibited behavior that occasionally, could be characterized as rebellious. Read more

Category: Uncategorized

The Seasteading Concept Is All Fun And Games Until Reality Intrudes

Posted on | August 17, 2011 | 17 Comments

by Smitty (via Althouse)

The idea is for these countries to start from scratch–free from the laws, regulations, and moral codes of any existing place.

Ocean Engineering ain’t beanbag, but it can be done. The only way this has much of a chance is if it goes Swiss, and does a lot of very discreet wealth handling for people who need such services. Also, it has to support port calls from pretty much every navy afloat.

Why? Security is the chief concern. Past natural disasters, the main predator for this idea will be other countries which are envious of the prosperity. Are you a petty megalomaniac who was snubbed by a Seasteading leader? Get yourself a diesel-electric boat and slide a torpedo into it. Cheap, anonymous retribution. Even the mere threat of such will trigger the clanging sound of sphincters slamming shut.

Category: Uncategorized

LIVE AT FIVE – 08.17.11

Posted on | August 17, 2011 | 1 Comment

— compiled by Wombat-socho


TOP NEWS
Sarkozy, Merkel Want More Unity In The EU

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy at yesterday's news conference

Leaders call for balanced budget amendments in EU nations; also, vague talk about a “new economic government”

Wisconsin Fleebaggers Survive Recall Elections
GOP maintains control of state legislature

President Tries To Connect With Iowa Voters
Maybe he should actually try, you know, listening on his “listening tour”.



POLITICS
Rick Perry: Leader Of The Pack

Texas Governor Rick Perry campaigns in Iowa

Heads for New Hampshire as polls put him 11 points up on Romney

Team Obama Sharpens Attacks On GOP Candidates

SecState Defends American “Smart Power”




Olympic Star Carl Lewis Disqualified In NJ Senate Race

“Secure Communities” Deportations Spur Frustration With Obama

Nevada Tops Nation In Unemployed Parents

Unemployment, Foreclosures Drive More Utah Families Into Poverty



THE ECONOMY, STUPID
Exchanges Drop As Sarkozy, Merkel Talk Trading Tax
Euro Weakens On Debt, Growth Concerns
US Stocks Fall On Fears About Europe
Wal-Mart, Home Depot Post Higher Profits, Raise Outlook
Oil Erases Gains In New York As Economic Concerns Counter Stockpile Decline
USDA Comes To Aid Of Chicken Industry With $40 Million Purchase
Dell’s Midha: Motorola Purchase Will Strengthen Android
Amazon Web Services Launches GovCloud For Federal Agencies
iPad Resurrects Google Catalog Search For Shoppers
HTC Bids To Block Imports Of iPhone, iPad
New Blackberry Torch Pushes Few Buttons
Windows Phone Mango To Include XBox Live Features & Games
Jodie Foster Joins Alien Hunt, Contributes To SETI



SPORTS
Cubs Closer Marmol Implodes, Serves Up Sayonara Homer To Astros’ Bogusevic

Astros PH Brian Bogusevic mobbed by teammates after his walkoff grand slam

Astros beat Cubs 6-5 to end their three-game winning streak

Rangers Rout Angels Again, Take Six-Game Lead In AL West

Verlander Notches 18th  In 7-1 Win Over Twins

Kobe Bryant Denies Church Brawl

Snakes Win Seventh Straight, Edge Phillies 3-2

Dodgers Waste Billingsley’s Work In 2-1 Loss To Brewers


Cano’s Homer Sparks Yankees To 9-7 Win Against Royals

“Everything Seemed Positive” Before Rypien’s Death

Morse & Zimmerman Power Nationals To 6-4 Victory Over Reds



FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
Russell Armstrong’s Ex: “Taylor Drove Him” To Suicide

Russell and Taylor Armstrong in happier days

Russell apparently distraught over divorce, financial problems
Taylor allegedly hysterical after Russell’s suicide

K-Fed Spawns Again

Taylor Momsen: The Elle Interview

$cientology Ruined Jennifer Lopez’ Marriage



Chen Ticks Off “The Talk” Team

Prince Harry And Girlfriend Split?

Jim Belushi Teams With “Murphy Brown” Creator For New Comedy Series Project

Salma Hayek Is Totally Down With Being Super-Rich And Privileged



FOREIGNERS
Libyan Rebels Tighten Grip On Tripoli
Syrian Armor Shells Latakia, Death Toll Rises To 36; Palestinians Flee
Letter Reveals Phone Hacking Coverup
Kapil Sibal Faces Black Flags, Fires Back At Anna’s Followers
Chicago Area Teens Primed For World Youth Day In Madrid
UK Police Exploited Social Media Intel To Head off Rioting At Olympic Site



BLOGS & STUFF
Legal Insurrection: Texas Is The Sponge Soaking Up Obama’s Unemployment Mess
The POH Diaries: The True Frontrunner – Rick Perry, Of Course
Michelle Malkin: Rick Perry’s Bad, Obama-Style Medicine
Jawa Report: Rick Perry Suggests Predator Drones For Border Patrol
Rasmussen: Perry 29%, Romney 18%, Bachmann 13%
Rich Lowry: Let The Perry Hatred Begin
Sundries Shack: Ed Schultz “Big Black Cloud” Is A Big Fat Lie
Walter Russell Mead: Blue Partisans Shorten The Lines
Don Surber: Obama Refuses To Apologize
Troglopundit: Why Is Paul Ryan Trying To Make Me Feel Old?
Marginal Revolution: Why Did Texas Create So Many Jobs?
NRO Corner: The Left’s Misguided Love For Fred Upton
Larry Kudlow: Rick Perry’s Red-Hot Bernanke Slam – A Much-Needed Defense Of The Dollar


SOTD: Choctaw Bingo

Category: Live at Five

Real Suicides of Beverly Hills

Posted on | August 16, 2011 | 11 Comments

Russell Armstrong, whose wife Taylor was a star of the Bravo network reality show Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, apparently committed suicide Monday, reportedly hanging himself in the bedroom of his lavish home on Mulholland Drive. He was 47 years old.

Armstrong’s wife filed for divorce last month, accusing him of abuse. The Associated Press did a video interview last week with two of Brooke’s co-stars:

Imagine the trauma of having your divorce become a plot-point for a reality show. Life is hard enough without having your personal humiliation serve as primetime ratings fodder for a cable network. Perhaps now Taylor Armstrong can get a new series: Real Widows of Beverly Hills.

Category: Uncategorized
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