Hey, Michelle, What's this word "Democracy?" Get my dictionary

Sobering, Muravchic: The Abandonment of Democracy

In early April, former New York Times correspondent Joel Brinkley summed up the administration's initial performance:

Neither President Obama nor Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has even uttered the word democracy in a manner related to democracy promotion since taking office more than two months ago. The State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor has put out 30 public releases, so far, and not one of them has discussed democracy promotion. Democracy, it seems, is banished from the Obama administration's public vocabulary.

Che Obama

Paul Kiernan and David Luhnow: New Honduras Leader Faces Backlash From Coup. And here is a nice summary with commentary at the Washington Examiner, Morning Must Reads

While president Obama has reacted much faster to the situation in Honduras than he did to the one in Iran, his critics say it shows even worse judgment. Obama being slow to scold the mullahs of Tehran but quick to denounce the overthrow of a would-be strongman in Tegucigalpa. As Charles Krauthammer said on Fox News Special Report -- “when you’re on the same side as Hugo Chavez, you’ve got a problem.”

Yes, I would have to agree with Mr. Krauthammer - but it is "we" who have a problem. The Obama is behaving in a manner that makes him proud in the eyes of every third world dictator out there - Ahmadinejad, Castro, Chavez and even Mugabe over in Africa. It is behavior unbecoming someone who claims to believe in democracy.

A Democratic Coup!?

WSJ: The Wages of Chavismo

As military "coups" go, the one this weekend in Honduras was strangely, well, democratic. The military didn't oust President Manuel Zelaya on its own but instead followed an order of the Supreme Court. It also quickly turned power over to the president of the Honduran Congress, a man from the same party as Mr. Zelaya. The legislature and legal authorities all remain intact.

President Obama is joining the U.N., Fidel Castro, Hugo Chávez and other model democrats in demanding that Mr. Zelaya be allowed to return from exile and restored to power. Maybe it's time to sort the real from the phony Latin American democrats. (Don't limit it to phony Latin American democrats - toss in our phony democrat - the Obama.)

So way is the Obama calling for the return of Zelaya? The obvious reason and the only one that fits is that he is trying to do a favor for his fellow socialist Chavez. Che anyone?

NEWS FLASH: Get your handbaskets serviced - you'll need them

Socialist Obamocrats finally gain control of Senate: Coleman Concedes to Franken After Court Ruling.

The rise of the women (or Pantywaist on occasion)

Well it is certainly true that in the White House now is one of the least macho Presidents this country has ever witnessed and hopefully will never witness again - President Pantywaist: The Death of Macho.

Indeed!

Thanks El Greco for this one:

THE FINAL INSPECTION

The soldier stood and faced God, Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining, Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, you soldier, How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain't.

Because those of us who carry guns, Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was tough.

And sometimes I've been violent, Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny, That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime, When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God, forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place, Among the people here.

They never wanted me around, Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand.

I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand."

There was a silence all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod.

As the soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, you soldier, You've borne your burdens well.

Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, You've done your time in Hell."

~Author Unknown~

Remember, it is the Soldier, not the reporter Who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the Soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.

Please pray for our men and women currently serving our country and pray for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

Stunning!!

Via El Greco - Incredible!!

An Ongoing New Mexico Tragedy

4 teens killed in Santa Fe crash

Hundreds gather to remember slain teens

Honduran Democracy

WSJ: Honduras Defends Its Democracy.

But Honduras is not out of the Venezuelan woods yet. Yesterday the Central American country was being pressured to restore the authoritarian Mr. Zelaya by the likes of Fidel Castro, Daniel Ortega, Hillary Clinton and, of course, Hugo himself. The Organization of American States, having ignored Mr. Zelaya's abuses, also wants him back in power. It will be a miracle if Honduran patriots can hold their ground.

The socialist Obamadministration is also chanting for the return of Zelaya.

Morning Must Reads | Washington Examiner

Good Monday Morning!! Start off the day at the Washington Examiner with the Morning Must Reads.

A not so Wise Latina Woman

Just in from the Wall Street Journal: Court Rules for White Firefighters

President Fat Head

Peggy Noonan: To-Do List: A Sentence, Not 10 Paragraphs.
Here's a sentence that fits perfectly: Squandered America's treasure, security, and world pride for his own ego.

President Pantywaist could miss an Opportunity

WSJ: Solidarity With Iran

Negotiating with Killer Robots

Today we went to see the movie Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen. I typically ignore the critics on movies, especially high-tech SciFi movies. Most critics are looking for things that are out of place in these kinds of movies - character development, complex and deep plots and related namby, pamby crap. Whenever I read a critic's review of a movie and it glows about plot and character I usually avoid the movie, because it usually ends up being some sappy, shallow over acted and often violent piece of junk. Anyway, today's movie was great - lots of action and no gratuitous anything. The high light of the movie is the not so subtle slap at the Obama's girly foreign policy - at a critical moment in the movie a representative of the President - Galloway, implied that the Obama's approach to dealing with Decepticons would be to negotiate with them.

Stupid is as the Obamocrats do

A major piece of liberal legislative crap - appropriately known as cap and tax - has been passed narrowly by the House. Hopefully a more rational senate will gut the bill before sending it on to the Obama for his hoof print. WSJ: House Passes Historic Bill to Curb Climate Change.

Is it a Case of Obama Overload????

The death of pop icon Michael Jackson has managed to push more important and relevant news off the front pages of the liberal State Run media rags. While Mr. Jackson was a major influence on pop-culture and his death is a tragedy his passing is in no way of the magnitude of the mess that the Obama is creating. One cannot help but think that the Obama is relishing his fall from the limelight, temporary as it will be given our shallow and ADD (attention deficit disorder) society. We were surprised to find that Fox had preempted its normal news flow to jump on the bandwagon with the State Run media to push out hours of mindless drivel on a person who has been out of the spotlight for several years now. Maybe it reflects a growing Obama overload - too much of his open-door ears before the camera. To me, tragic as it is, the passing of Michael Jackson carries very little significance. Since his departure from the Jackson Five decades ago his music has little interested me. RIP Mr. Jackson.

Real Change

Voting Rights and the High Court: Recognizing the nation's progress on race.

Civil rights groups and others on the political left want Americans to believe that the death of Section 5 would threaten the black franchise. But such scaremongering obscures their real agenda, which is preserving racially gerrymandered voting districts. Liberal Democrats like Section 5 because it gives legal cover to race-based redistricting. More than half of the blacks in Congress today come from Section 5 jurisdictions. (Emphasis mine)

Stupid Liberal Congressional Ideas

Text of H. J. Res. 5: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to repeal the twenty-second...

God forbid that we have to suffer through the Obama for more than 4 year, though I don't see the country getting much smarter between now and the next election in 2012. If he is voted in for a second term 8 years will have been sufficient time for the complete socialization of America and the migration of the earning class to other corners of the world - unless he institutes laws the ban emigration.

Obamocrats NOT Democrats

STENY HOYER and GEORGE MILLER: Congress Must Pay for What It Spends, Democrats won't be the party of deficits. So, what party does Pelosi and Obama belong to? Oh, you guys are right. You guys aren't the Democrats anymore you are the Obamocrats - which is the party not just of deficits but of MASSIVE Deficits. You guys aren't amateurs when it comes to squandering tons of cash.

Michael Jackson Too!!

WSJ: Pop giant Michael Jackson is dead, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing city and law enforcement sources.

What the hell is going on here??

Bye My Angel

Farrah Fawcett has passed away at the age of 62. : (

He Could Take the Low Road - Claim Clinton Syndrome

Wall Street Journal: Sanford Odyssey Ends in Tears.

Media now has serious story to pursue

NEWS FLASH: Libs upset Gov. Mark Sanford admits to behaving like liberal icon Bill Clinton.

Via WSJ: South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admitted that he has had an extramarital affair and apologized to his wife and children. He held a press conference to explain a five-day trip to Argentina during which his staff and family said they did not know his whereabouts.

Morning Must Reads | Washington Examiner

Over at the Washington Examiner the Morning Must Reads. Of particular interest are the two stories:

Washington Post -- Iran Unrest Reveals Split In U.S. on Its Role Abroad

Washington Post -- Confidence in Stimulus Plan Ebbs, Poll Finds

Remember Neda

The 'Angel of Iran'. Very moving. True sacrifice for Freedom - are you watching President Pantywaist?

Obama - WEAK ON FOREIGN POLICY, (Anti America)

The Obama's tepid response to that last two major foreign policy events, North Korea and Iran, and his overall weak foreign policy should have those that follow US foreign policy events on edge. The Obama has put himself into a place where even our allies are no longer taking him seriously on foreign events, certainly our enemies no longer take him seriously. The result might be that in an effort to restore credibility on foreign affairs the Obama may actually overreact to some world event that might better be handled with his "measured" approach and that overreaction might be toward an ally. If the Obama wants the world to start taking him seriously on foreign policy it would be better for him to start now by taking a stronger stance on both North Korea and Iran. He needs to declare with no caveats, that the US will not tolerate further nuclear activities by North Korea - he needs to take back US policy on NK from China. With regard to Iran he needs to declare the US on the side of those protesting the rigged elections. No ambiguity. Despite his efforts to drag us left and insinuate that we are Islamic - the US is neither, so his political stances in those directions need to be dropped.

A Skunk By Any Other Name - Still Stinks!

Kevin Mooney at the Washington Examiner: ACORN drops tarnished name and moves to silence critics.

A Rudderless Nation

Once upon a time this Nation looked to the president to be its moral compass and leader during trying times, well no more. Democrats have not been able to take the rudder-of-state and guide this nation forward since Kennedy. Like Clinton before him the Obama has been steering the country in a circle - and a circle that doesn't even close on itself. His tepid empty responses to every significant foreign policy event - North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan and now Iran leaves this American wondering why we even need the Obama. If we are going to drift about aimlessly what's the point of a useless entity in the White House. If he only wishes to screw the country domestically then maybe he ought to consider letting Hilary take the reigns-of-state and lead the nation forward - or better yet call Bush or Cheney back to actually provide real foreign policy. Iran needs the first world power to stand up and take the moral high ground to let the Iranian dictators know that their actions will not be tolerated - what Iran doesn't need is a Martin Luther King quoting psyncophant.

Frozen Actions

Frozen custard - Obama Tells Killer Iranian Regime "The World Is Watching"... Then Gets Ice Cream - read it at the Gateway Pundit!

Eh, What

Andrew Malcolm tries to decipher what the Obama said, if anything about Iran: What Obama just said and meant about Iran and democratic protests:

Interference is something Obama promised not to do in his recent speech to the Muslim world from Cairo as he tries to coax Iran's hardline regime to join the international community through talk rather than threats.

Well, I little strategic pressure could bring Iran to its knees, but certainly the Obama cannot bring himself to take a stand against his ruthless Muslim brothers. I think that President Pantywaist fits nicely.

A Message to Iran from the First Driveler

Some soft whiny drivel from the First Driveler: Statement from the President on Iran

Live Blogging Iran

Keeping abreast of events in Iran: Iran Updates (VIDEO): Live-Blogging The Uprising.

The Adventures of President Pantywaist

Telegraph UK's Gerald Warner has a blog, Is it just me? He has a series of blog articles on the Obama, President Pantywaist. Lee Thienel brought the following article to my attention: Barack Obama and the CIA: why does President Pantywaist hate America so badly? His most recent article: President Pantywaist latest: Iran unclenches its fist - to slap Barack Obama's face.

If al-Qaeda, the Taliban and the rest of the Looney Tunes brigade want to kick America to death, they had better move in quickly and grab a piece of the action before Barack Obama finishes the job himself. Never in the history of the United States has a president worked so actively against the interests of his own people - not even Jimmy Carter.

And this one:

Today Iran unclenched its fist - to slap President Pantywaist on the face. It seems, despite the chiding from Barack Obama, that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad feel quite comfortable on the wrong side of history.

To read more of Mr. Warner's series on President Pantywaist - go here.

Dumb as a Stump

Time to rethink nuclear energy in America: NRC Cites Utility Shortfalls. Liberal dogma against anything that actually works has led to a major decline in the Nuclear Industry over the last 3o+ years. The nuclear facility to go online was in 1996 at the Watts Bar plant in Tennessee. Construction began in 1973!! The anti nuclear crowd, groups of liberal hippies and same such with absolutely no understanding of nuclear power or the industry - most are English lit majors who couldn't find useful jobs, even a Burger King, bolstered by some out of work lawyers and scientists with an axe to grind, have managed to successfully block new plant starts for nearly 30 years. The Obama's energy plan consists almost entirely of hippie, greenie ideas like windmills. How does a windmill replace a 1.2GW nuke facility or a 500MW coal-fired facility?? Some of the world's smartest scientists said that Yucca Mountain would work to store high left waste from nuclear plants. They were over ridden by groups of ignorant (and just plain stupid) liberals who couldn't think their way out of a bag made of air. It would be an insult to a tree stump to call these people dumb as stumps. We should call the Obama's energy policy - the "Dumb as a Stump" policy - no insult to tree stumps intended!

An Opportunity

WSJ: U.S. Fortifies Hawaii to Meet Threat From Korea

Mr. Gates told reporters that the U.S. is positioning a sophisticated floating radar array in the ocean around Hawaii to track an incoming missile. The U.S. is also deploying missile-defense weapons to Hawaii that would theoretically be capable of shooting down a North Korean missile, should such an order be given, he said.

For those who doubt are capability here is a chance to demonstrate!

Only Room for Ducks Here

Oregon is my home state, I was born there and lived there before coming to New Mexico to go to school and as it turned out to make my home here. Oregon is a beautiful green state but to be that way it is under clouds more months than it is out of the clouds. Seattle became the home of Microsoft - though co-founder Paul Allen own the Trail Blazers and has an interest in Portland - and with the collapse of the logging industry cities like Portland struggle for national recognition. If I had to chose I would live in Portland over Seattle. It is smaller, less congested but it has the downside - what to do for a living. Tektronics and Nike have headquarters there but what else is there? Now the state's legislature, which has been democrat for way too long is about to finish killing the state's chances for growth. Here is an article from the WSJ: The Oregon Travail.

Mutant Ants -

Don't worry, we'll still have a good crop of extra hot chili this summer, from Science News: Downside of red-hot chili peppers

Does a falling tree make any sound when there is no Obama to hear?

WSJ: 'The Fear Is Gone'- Voices from Iran

By Kaveh from Tabriz - We ask the president not to accept this coup d'etat. (We - the American people - are sorry that the Obama has not supported your efforts more fully, preferring to instead support his Islamic ally Ahmadinejad.)

By Alireza in Tehran - Democracy is a long way ahead. I may not be alive to see that day. With eyes full of tears in these early hours of June 16, I glorify the courage of those who have already been killed. I hope that the blood of these martyrs will make every one of us more committed to freedom, to democracy and to human rights. (The blood of your martyrs are on the hands of our fearless Bleeder - the exalted Obama a mullah brother and supporter. He is too busy destroying his homeland to be bothered with the plight of Iranians in search of freedom - freedom is not the way of the most exalted Obama.)

By Negin in Tehran - People want to be heard and supported by the rest of the world. They were sending messages to the West with their cameras. They were calling on Obama and Sarkozy to demand that the Free World not recognize this government. I saw a few women shouting: "Now it's your turn to support democracy and human rights." (And we the American people are sorry that the Obama and the Sarkozy - his brother in the oppression of freedom - do not hear you. They have closed their minds to world freedom.)

Please read the whole article - these are Iranians calling for help, calling to the closed minded Obama.

Puffing UP for North Korea

Fox News: Navy Positioning Destroyer USS John McCain to Intercept Suspect North Korean Vessel.

Convict DNA

May have limited impact, but important: Court Rules Convicts Have No Right to Test DNA

STOP THE INSANITY!!

Karl Rove: The GOP Can Stop ObamaCare

Despite Obama's Hands off Approach

Legal Insurrection: Iran Plays The Meddle Card

Another Victim of Obamonomics

Portland Business Journal: Eddie Bauer declares bankruptcy

Obamocratic Hypocrisy

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nevada) admits to having an affair with a former member of his election team. He resigns from his leadership post. Why? Pelosi didn't resign from her leadership position after being caught lying about the CIA - when she accused them of continually lying to congress. Ah, he's a Republican and she's an Obamocrat!

Obama on the Fawning State Run Media

With an ego as big as his, it is hard for the Obama to accept that one of the major news organizations, Fox News (which by the way far outstrips State run media when it comes to viewership) won't fawn over him like the State Run media does. During an interview on State Run media channel CNBC Obama was asked about softball treatment he was receiving from his media organizations. Obama whined that Fox spends its entire day criticizing him. Well, that is not exactly true. Fox does not criticize Obama 24 hours a day. No, instead it actually investigates, reports and discusses the Obama and his policies. Fox does not start with the premise that the Obama is great and everything he says, thinks and does is great and thus all the media has to do is report about his Greatness's next great thing - glory be to the Great One is the State Run media's motto. Fox actually does what the State Run media is supposed to do - objectively report. Fox at least tries to present both sides of a story without criticizing either side. It is up to the viewer to chose which side it wants to agree with.

One Islamist would hardly criticize another - would they?

WSJ: Obama's Iran Abdication

The President yesterday denounced the "extent of the fraud" and the "shocking" and "brutal" response of the Iranian regime to public demonstrations in Tehran these past four days.

"These elections are an atrocity," he said. "If [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad had made such progress since the last elections, if he won two-thirds of the vote, why such violence?" The statement named the regime as the cause of the outrage in Iran and, without meddling or picking favorites, stood up for Iranian democracy.

The President who spoke those words was France's Nicolas Sarkozy.

The French are hardly known for their idealistic foreign policy and moral fortitude. Then again many global roles are reversing in the era of Obama.

Obama and Sleaze (The Sleazocrats)

WSJ: The White House Fires a Watchdog - Every time I read another one of these sleazy doings by the Obama and his Obamocratic congress I want to get into the shower. Just thinking about the Obama makes me feel grimy. What a disgusting and embarrassing time for Americans. Obama is making Clinton look like a rank amateur.

Change is no change in Iran

So, the question is, how would things have changed in Iran had Ahmadinejad lost and Mousavi won? Iran is not actually run by the president - the is just a mouth piece, a public face - the country is run by a council of Mullahs lead by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a Shiite cleric who holds the title of supreme leader. Iran's nuclear program, which claims to be for the development of civilian power, but is actually just a cover for developing weapons, is under Khamenai's control. Mousavi was a former Prime Minister and close ally to then president Khamene and has always supported Iran's nuclear program.

The west spends too much time worrying about things like "fair elections" in these radical third world countries. Look at Chavez in Venezuela, he came to power because of massive public popularity but the second time around his return to power had nothing to do with popularity - it was a rigged election, but it looked "fair" to the outside because so many people came out to support him.

If the Mullahs change their minds and let Mousavi become president - they came out quickly in support of Ahmadinejad when he declared victory - the only change we'll see in Iran is the president's name. Sure, Mousavi may not be so radically vocal as Ahmadinejad and may talk softer toward the west, but Iran will still be a rogue state, supporting world terrorism, working to destroy Israel and still developing a nuclear weapon. The softer public stand will only lull neophytes like the Obama into thinking that Iran wants dialogue with the west, while they slip the knife deeper into the west's back.

Because the Obama has no real foreign policy toward the Middle East, these are dangerous times for America and the world. The Obamocrats are easily fooled by soft talk and fancy rhetoric - heck that's how Obama got elected (Sheep always move in a flock when goaded, its the way of liberal). So, the only question that the Mullah's need to answer is, "What kind of public face do they want for Iran?" I think that the Obama would prefer a less flamboyant face - like Mousave, that way the Obama can ignore Iran and focus on destroying America. Change in Iran, like in America, means nothing.

Biden admits Obamomonics isn't and doesn't work!

AP: Biden says 'everyone guessed wrong' on jobs number

Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday that "everyone guessed wrong" on the impact of the economic stimulus...

The vice president said losses each month have dropped, although the economy is still losing jobs.

"Can I claim credit that all of that's due to the recovery package? No. But it clearly has had an impact," Biden said.

Biden said the estimates were based on standard economic models.

I think, Joe, that only the Obama and the Obamocrats, including the State Run Media "guessed wrong" the rest of us knew that the "stimulus" wouldn't work and isn't working.

Worth Considering

DAVID MAKOVSKY: Mideast Peace Can Start With a Land Swap

Sounds like the way Democrats in America win elections!?

Amir Taheri: Iran's Clarifying Election

Mr. Ahmadinejad was credited with more votes than anyone in Iran's history. If the results are to be believed, he won in all 30 provinces, and among all social and age categories. His three rivals, all dignitaries of the regime, were humiliated by losing even in their own hometowns. This was an unprecedented result even for the Islamic Republic, where elections have always been carefully scripted charades.

It sounds like Ahmadinejad went to the Obama, ne Daley, school for election fraud.

He hasn't so far

The Iranian Rebellion, Will Obama stand with Tehran's democratic reformers?

That moral obligation goes especially for the Obama Administration. President Obama came to office promising the world's dictators an open hand in exchange for an unclenched fist. But as with Kim Jong Il's nuclear advances and the sham trial of two Americans in North Korea, Mr. Khamenei has repudiated the President's diplomacy of friendly overture. It turns out that the "axis of evil" really is evil -- and not, as liberal sages would have it, merely misunderstood.

The vote should prompt Mr. Obama to rethink his pursuit of a grand nuclear bargain with Iran, though early indications suggest he plans to try anyway. On Saturday, the New York Times quoted one unnamed senior Administration official to the effect that the election uproar would cause Mr. Ahmadinejad to be more receptive to Mr. Obama's overtures as a sop to disgruntled public opinion. If the Administration really believes this, then Mr. Obama is the second coming of Jimmy Carter and the mullahs will play him for time to get their bomb.

However, Mr. Obama has also stressed the importance of democracy, rule of law and transparency, most recently in the June 4 Cairo speech in which he addressed himself directly to the world's Muslims, Iranian-Muslims included. Now the stand-off in Tehran will test -- more quickly than Mr. Obama probably imagined -- whether he was serious when he said "we will welcome all elected, peaceful governments -- provided they govern with respect for all their people."

Iran Election Round up

WSJ: Iran to Probe Claims of Vote Fraud - This is a well written balanced piece with a nice time line of events.

Washington Post: Muted Response Reflects U.S. Diplomatic Dilemma - A typical soft on Obama sop/puff story - the story's title say it all (there really is no dilemma - The Obama does not want to upset his Iranian allies), the rest of the story tries hard to paint Obama's non-response as measured and balanced. A relevant quote from the article, made by Mitt Romney is probably the best of the entire piece:

Appearing yesterday on ABC's "This Week," former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney (R) said, "What has occurred is that the election is a fraud, the results are inaccurate, and you're seeing a brutal repression of the people as they protest."

"The president ought to come out and state exactly those words, indicate that this has been a terribly managed decision by the autocratic regime in Iran," said Romney, who has not ruled out another run for president in 2012. "It's very clear that the president's policies of going around the world and apologizing for America aren't working." (Emphasis mine)

WSJ: Israeli Minister Calls Iran a Threat

WSJ: Ahmadinejad Re-election a Blow to U.S.-Arab Allies

"And the Spirit of God hovered upon the face of the waters" -- Genesis 1:2

Thanks again El Greco - I've been falling down this week on my favorite columnists. This one from Charles Krauthammer: Hovering on High: Obama Surveys the World is particularly worthy of one's attention:

Obama undoubtedly thinks he is demonstrating historical magnanimity with all these moral equivalencies and self-flagellating apologetics. On the contrary. He's showing cheap condescension, an unseemly hunger for applause and a willingness to distort history for political effect.

Distorting history is not truth-telling, but the telling of soft lies. Creating false equivalencies is not moral leadership, but moral abdication. And hovering above it all, above country and history, is a sign not of transcendence but of a disturbing ambivalence toward one's own country.

Iran Burns, Obama Fiddles

A round up of news on the Iran situation at the Gateway Pundit.

Update: Check out this link here - 50 -100 Iranians dead.

Chrysler Debacle Legal Summaries and Commentary

Scotus Blog: Court clears Chrysler sale, without dissent

Insisting that it was denying a postponement “in this case alone,” the two-page order said the challengers had not met their burden of showing that a delay was justified. The reference to this case alone perhaps was a signal that the Court did not want its order to appear to give advance clearance for any other government rescue plan — such as that to save another auto company, General Motors.

George Will: More Judicial Activism, Please

"We," said Queen Victoria, employing the royal plural, "are not amused." "We," said the Treasury Department on Tuesday, relishing the royal prerogatives it exercises nowadays, "are gratified that not a single court that reviewed this matter, including the U.S. Supreme, found any fault whatsoever with the handling of this matter by either Chrysler or the U.S. government." Is it lese-majeste to note that Treasury is being misleading?

Of course courts should not make policy or invent rights not stipulated or implied by statutes or the Constitution's text. But courts have no nobler function than that of actively defending property, contracts and other bulwarks of freedom against depredations by government, including by popularly elected, and popular, officials. Regarding Chrysler and GM, the executive branch is exercising powers it does not have under any statute or constitutional provision. At moments such as this, deference to the political branches constitutes dereliction of judicial duty.

Kim Jong Il picks a successor

Over at Townhall.com there is a great collection of political cartoons including this one by Jerry Holbert.

Happy Flag Day & Happy Birthday Army

Michelle Malkin: Happy Flag Day & Happy Birthday Army

Cashtration (n.)

Via El Greco: Washington Post's Mensa Invitational. They have a great new definition that fits the members of the Obama Administration:

Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

It's An Obama World

Within a few short days of his inauguration the world knew what Obama's policy with respect to the rest of the world would be. His apology tour of Europe informed them that he and his administration would be kissing serious foreign booty. His bowing to a Saudi King informed the Arab world that the US was weak and subservient. His recent visit to the middle east represented an explicit acknowledgment that in his foreign policy - Islam comes first, before traditional and long time US ally like Israel. The Obama administration has done nothing about North Korea except throw a few empty platitudes that the country's leader Kim Jong Il (An interesting and scary read here: North Korea declares all-out push for nuclear weapons). And now we are expected to be hearted by the Obama's administration when it pretends to condemn the Iranian elections, which by the way turned out as expected for those of us who actually pay attention to such things. There is a feigned outrage and shock by State mouth piece Clinton (see my previous post here.) If I were an Iranian dissident I wouldn't look to the US for an support or encouragement. When it comes to actually and forcefully engaging the world and rogue states, It's an Obama World: lots of green house gas emissions from a lot of talking heads - Talk about Bovine Flatulence.

Hold on tight, I am, I'm the Revolution

Iranian BS: Ahmadinejad Defends Poll's Legitimacy After Violent Protests Erupt

Update: Washington Examiner: Secretary Clinton rejects election win claim by Ahmadinejad. Unfortunately Clinton has just about no credibility anywhere.

(Un)intended Consequences

This is what happens when Obamocrats get involved with anything having to do with money: Creditors Cry Foul at Chrysler Precedent. There is inevitably an unintended (or quite possibly an intended) consequence to every action taken by the Obamocrats when it comes to economics and money. Someone will always try to leverage to their advantage the outcome of some stupid Obamocrat action. Giving the Obamocrats the benefit of the doubt tells me that their Chrysler fiasco produced consequences that were unintended, but that would be stretching credibility to the breaking point. I have no problem believing that the Obama Administration is totally inept, but I also believe that the Obama is a devious person and these "unintended" results from his stupid actions are fully expected by he and minions.

By the color of their skin, not by the content of their character - Sotomayor

Pete Wehner: Judge Sotomayor, in Her Own Words

In reading her lecture – which I would urge everyone who comments on Judge Sotomayor to do – one gets the sense she has more or less given up on the notion of overcoming “sympathies and prejudices” to reach fairness and integrity “based on the reason of law.” The main thrust of her argument is to rebut the proposition put forth by Judge Cederbaum that there is danger in gender-based and ethnic-based judging. The “aspiration of impartiality” is just that, an aspiration – and a fanciful one to boot. Because our gender and national origins will have a profound effect on our judgment, we should simply accept those limitations. Nor is there is an “objective stance”; there is, rather, a “series of perspectives.” And according to Sotomayor, her Latina perspective is superior to all others.

This line of reasoning is at the core of identity politics, which is a step beyond the multiculturalism embraced by those on the Left. She takes a perfectly reasonable and obvious fact – we are all shaped by our experiences, therefore making perfect objectivity an impossible standard to meet – and seems to give up on the quest for impartiality.

Madame Lunkhead, Squeaker of the House!

Cash From Lunkheads: Congress wants to pay you to destroy your car.

"Napoléon"

Napoleon and America

The Answer to Obamacare

It will never work - doesn't require the government: How Safewary Is Cutting Health-care Costs.

Communism's Horrors to be Exposed

Next Tuesday an online museum will tell the truth about the horrors of communism. Here is a story at the Washington Examiner about the pending opening of the new site: Online museum devoted to telling horrors of communism goes active Tuesday. I am still surprised by the number of people who still consider communism as a viable and the best form of government - the Obama administration is full of communist adherents - and I am not always sure that the Obama doesn't harbor some fond feelings for communist regimes - Cuba to mention just one example where the Obama has gone gaga over communism. He is an acolyte of FDR, whose political leanings have always been suspect and whose administration was full of and run by latent communists. I will be in line to visit this site when it opens. Another site that I think Americans should visit is the Venona site. This site puts to rest all questions regarding the Rosenbergs and their role in stealing Nuclear Secrets and selling them to the Soviets.

Update: At Human Events, Communists in the government: Where Else Are the Castro Spies?

Obamonoics

WSJ: Delay the Minimum-Wage Hike

Despite a few exceptions that are tirelessly (and selectively) cited by advocates of a higher minimum wage, the bulk of the evidence -- from scores of studies, using data mainly from the U.S. but also from many other countries -- clearly shows that minimum wages reduceemployment of young, low-skilled people. The best estimates from studies since the early 1990s suggest that the 11% minimum wage increase scheduled for this summer will lead to the loss of an additional 300,000 jobs among teens and young adults. This is on top of the continuing job losses the recession is likely to throw our way.

The reduction in jobs for youths might be an acceptable price to pay if a higher minimum wage delivered other important benefits. Many people believe, for instance, that it helps low-income families. Here, too, the evidence is discouraging. There is no research supporting the claim that minimum wages reduce the proportion of families living in poverty. Research I've done with William Wascher of the Federal Reserve Board and Mark Schweitzer of the Cleveland Fed indicates that minimum wages increase poverty. (Emphasis mine.)

Time to get the Obamocrats out of the Auto Industry

Feinstein's Monster: Handouts for Hummers

Trucks with above-average fuel economy for their class would also qualify. They include the Chevy Silverado, the two-wheel-drive Ford F-150, and the Toyota Tacoma (built in California). Drivers could also choose from an array of Toyotas and Hondas built by American workers in U.S. factories -- such as the Toyota Camry (built in Kentucky) and the Honda Accord (built in Ohio).

Feinstein's original bill would have provided (no doubt at tax payer expense) a voucher worth up to $4500 toward the purchase of a more fuel efficient automobile when American's turned in their gas-guzzlers. Yes, of course that is a great deal - turn in your paid for car for a puny $4500 toward an expensive more fuel efficient car. This is the fundamental problem with Obamocrats and Obamonomics, a total lack of actual economic understanding. Note the emphasis on "worth up to." If you trade in your 87 Chevy pick up that gets 12 mpg you certainly are not going to get a $4500 voucher, so it's hardly worth trading in something you own outright for car payments. What Obamocrats always fail to understand is that fuel efficient cars are made to cater to those who can afford cars in the first place. The rest of the population buy what they can and drive it until it falls apart and often what they can buy is a used car off the lot with not so great fuel efficiency. Obviously in these tight economic times having a fuel efficient automobile could be considered a smart way to go, until you figure in that the monthly payment over 5 or 6 years costs much more than the delta cost in fuel. So, the economically smart thing in tight times is to not go further into debt. Drive what you have and drive less. It is time to stop encouraging these ignorant Obamocrats and start thinking of the American tax payer. It is the Obamocrats that have killed the US auto industry - well at least for GM and Chrysler.

The impact of Obama's coddling of Iran

John Bolton: What If Israel Strikes Iran?

It's Done - Dark Day in America

Fiat Closes Deal to Take Over Chrysler

Never Underestimate the Power of Class Warfare

WSJ: High Court Clears Way for Sale of Chrysler.

Both Chrysler and the Obama administration argued strenuously that speed was of the essence in the company's Chapter 11 restructuring, and that any delays could jeopardize the Auburn Hills, Mich., auto maker's future, chasing away potential customers, straining its suppliers, and potentially causing Fiat to turn away from the deal.

Just when you think that the right thing will be done - as in the people who invested in Chrysler, as opposed to those who brought it down, would get a bit of a return on their efforts - everything changes, and changes for the worse. Well, let Fiat have the company, I will never buy a Chrysler again even if it becomes the last car make in the world. The UAW has won an undeserved victory - fortunately thousands of their members will find out what it is like to actually have to work for a living. The Obamites' claim that Fiat will pull out if things don't move along is a crock, a myth that has been dispelled by Fiat itself. The reason for moving the proceedings along so quickly is for the benefit of Obama supporters - the UAW - and so that no one has a chance to fully investigate any potential illegalities. Obama cares nothing about the American worker if that worker doesn't belong to a union. The Indiana pension funds are made up of investors that are just so many nuisances that are to be swept aside in his quest for power. In the next election we'll see how many of these nuisances vote for the Obama.

Morning Dog Fights

Hummingbird pulls Top Gun stunts

I'm spinning with envy!

I so want to be there: Tornadoes, prepare to be demystified

Less Trips to the Bathroom

Fact or Fiction? You Must Drink 8 Glasses of Water Daily.

From Here to Eternity

Image of remnant from the type Ia Tycho supernova: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO, Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech; Optical: MPIA, Calar Alto, O.Krause et al.

Scientific America's 60 Second Science: A better way to size up distant galaxies

Eclipse Assets Headed For Auction Block (Albuquerque Journal, 09 Jun 2009, Page A1)

---

Eclipse Assets Headed For Auction Block
By Richard Metcalf Journal Staff Writer
Albuquerque Journal
09 Jun 2009

What’s left of now-defunct Eclipse Aviation amounts to a paltry sum compared to the more than $1 billion in debt reported by the company when it entered U.S. Bankruptcy Court last November. All the tools, equipment, computers, office supplies and...read more...

Tech Tags: Albuquerque Journal newspaper Front page

With Interest!

A Wall Street Journal alert:

"The Treasury Department said it will allow 10 of the nation's largest banks to repay $68 billion in government bailout money.

The Treasury says the banks will be allowed to repay the money they received from the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program funds. The banks have been eager to get out of the TARP program to escape government restrictions such as caps on executive compensation.

The Treasury Department did not name the banks involved, but Morgan Stanley said it is repaying $10 billion in TARP capital."

Yummmmmy!!!!

Grilled Leek-Wrapped Salmon with Romesco Sauce.

The Morning Must Reads

Washington Examiner: Morning must reads.

Weaselly words and a little help from his friends at the Press

There are some advantages to having your own State Run Media: The Media Fall for Phony 'Jobs' Claims:

"The expression 'create or save,' which has been used regularly by the President and his economic team, is an act of political genius," writes Mr. Mankiw. "You can measure how many jobs are created between two points in time. But there is no way to measure how many jobs are saved. Even if things get much, much worse, the President can say that there would have been 4 million fewer jobs without the stimulus."

Read the whole article.

Subtle Changes at NASA - Are we going to stay home?

At Space.com: Lawmakers Slash $670 Million From NASA Budget Request

In a move that reflects the uncertainty surrounding NASA's current strategy for replacing the space shuttle and returning astronauts to the Moon by 2020, House appropriators slashed by 16 percent the space agency's $4 billion request for manned space exploration in 2010.

Other recommendations contained in the bill include a $77million reduction in NASA's proposed space operations budget, which includes the space shuttle and international space station; a $6 million reduction in science; and a $332 million shift in funds from the Cross Agency Support account to a new budget line-item included in the subcommittee's mark. Dubbed Construction and Environmental Compliance, the new account would be funded at $441 million. Congressional aides said the new line item and accompanying funds are aimed at consolidating NASA's various construction efforts into a single pot of money.

From the article it is difficult to determine what the goal of the NASA budgetary changes are. It looks like the Obama Administration may be taking a step back from manned spaceflight missions and a step toward more environmental related missions - global warming and so forth. Read the whole article and make your own judgements.

Thank god, I was worried

Scientific Blogging: Is the Standard Model Failing Us in the Bs Sector? Not Really, Say New Tevatron Results

Galactic Obesity

Science News: Galactic black holes may be more massive than thought:

Astronomers report that some of the biggest supermassive black holes in nearby galaxies are at least twice and possibly four times as heavy as previously estimated. The findings come from new simulations by two independent teams of researchers, as well as new observations of stars whipping around a handful of supermassive black holes at the centers of massive galaxies no more than a few hundred million light-years from Earth.

Obamanomics at Work - but not for you

Things don't seem to be going quite as the Obamanomists predicted - Hmmmm, wonder why? Read about it here.

Stopping the UAW Power Grab

High Court Stymies Quick Sale of Chrysler

The Politics of Race

Shelby Steele: Sotomayor and the Politics of Race

Judge Sotomayor is the archetypal challenger. Challengers see the moral authority that comes from their group's historic grievance as an entitlement to immediate parity with whites -- whether or not their group has actually earned this parity through development. If their group is not yet competitive with whites, the moral authority that comes from their grievance should be allowed to compensate for what they lack in development. This creates a terrible corruption in which the group's historic grievance is allowed to count as individual merit. And so a perverse incentive is created: Weakness and victimization are rewarded over development. Better to be a troublemaker than to pursue excellence.

Sonia Sotomayor is of the generation of minorities that came of age under the hegemony of this perverse incentive. For this generation, challenging and protesting were careerism itself. This is why middle- and upper middle-class minorities are often more militant than poor and working-class minorities. America's institutions -- universities, government agencies, the media and even corporations -- reward their grievance. Minority intellectuals, especially, have been rewarded for theories that justify grievance.

The above quote is just a taste of a very damning article on Obama's race politics. Read the entire piece.

The state of State Run Media

I managed to miss this article from Noemie Emery at the Washington Examiner: Liberal media on life support.

Pretenders

Compared to the dignified grace of Laura Bush, Michelle Obama comes across as tawdry and kind of oily - a la the Clintons. The Bushs were down to earth hardworking people, the Obamas are coming across as glitzy cheap wannabes.

Washington Examiner has an interesting story here.

Befitting a Hero

Just returned home to New Mexico from Iowa. We laid to rest the ashes of my father-in-law Bob Day. He and his wife have a small plot at the beautiful Sacred Heart Cemetery in Boone Iowa. He was accorded full military honors, including a 21-gun salute and taps. RIP dad.

Obamacracy

So, Why is he Cutting aid to the Egyptian Democratic movement? Read here and read it all.

A pleasant surprise in President Obama's Thursday speech on the Middle East was his rhetorical shift on democracy. His audience at Cairo University applauded his commitment "to governments that reflect the will of the people" and "freedom to live as you choose." So why is his Administration cutting support for democracy promotion?

Stuck in Omaha

The airport in Denver is fogged in so all planes are being held at the gates of other airports that are sending planes to Denver - mine is delayed for 30 minutes so not so bad but it means I will have a delay leaving Denver, but at least I will have a connecting flight. Fog - Wimps!

Obamonomics at Work in an Obamocrat State

On the front page of yesterday's local newspaper there was a report that in the Boone area unemployment is 9.4%. Boone county voted slightly Democrat in the last presidential election; no doubt the influence of liberal college town Ames. Will Obamonomics come to the aid of Boone county - well maybe for the college town, the farmers will have to take care of themselves. They will have to put more windmills on their land and grow less food. They already grow more grain for the ethanol industry than most other places. Now green cars will help kill that business, also.

Boone Blogging

Over at Legal Insurrection an interesting note on the Obama's speech to the Islamic world:

'The selection of this item to highlight in the "historic" speech is a window on what was wrong with the overall tone of the speech. While the speech was good in some specific respects, the overall tone was one of moral equivalence and subjugation to grievance politics. And the Muslim charity canard is a prime example'

Broken Buchanan

My opinion of Buchanan has dropped greatly after reading his horrible book blaming Churchill for WWI and WWII. So it should come as no surprise that I consider this column to be just more of his deluded rants: Breaking Bibi.

Race to Oblivion: Obama, Chrysler and the end of an American Icon

Remote blogging from Boone Iowa. Here is an interesting snippet from the WSJ:

The Obama administration rushed an alliance between Chrysler and Fiat despite Chrysler's worries about Fiat's financial health and its willingness to share technology, according to internal company emails.

The emails show Fiat ignoring requests for documents and trying to change contract terms late in the talks.

The documents provide a glimpse at the tense debates that shaped Chrysler's final days as it raced to find a suitor.

Praise To Allah

Via the Wall Street Journal:

President Barack Obama called for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims" in a much-anticipated speech at Cairo University aimed at redefining and improving relationships with Muslims. "This cycle of suspicion and discord must end," he said, addressing the Islamic world, hoping to reframe relations after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the war in Iraq. Obama also spoke on the issues of Iraq, the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world, nuclear weapons, democracy, religious freedom and women's rights.

So Sorry Tour Continues

Chris Stirewalt: Obama’s regret-and-redemption road show.

D-Day on its Way

The Meaning of Bloody Omaha: On D-Day, the U.S. saved Europe from itself.

He would know

Via Reuters: Venezuela Chavez says "Comrade" Obama more left-wing

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday that he and Cuban ally Fidel Castro risk being more conservative than U.S. President Barack Obama as Washington prepares to take control of General Motors Corp.

Young Cons

I'm Sorry I'm so Ignorant: The Obama Apology Tour II

So, the Obama is off to the Middle East on another one of his infamous apology tours and of course Israel is not on his itinerary. When one watches a movie the underdog is almost always easily identifiable - at the 99.99% level. When it comes to the Middle East the real underdog depends on your religious and political leanings. The State Run media would have everyone believe that of course the underdog are the Palestinians and by extension all of the Islamic world. The truth is, though, that no one can become the underdog by actions of their own doing, that is the Palestinians cannot be the underdog because their situation is a result of their own actions, as it is for the rest of the Muslim world. When one thinks of religions Islam is a johnny-come lately religion. Judaism had been around for nearly 2 millennium before Islam came into the mind of Muhammad and Christianity had been around for over 600 years. One might liken Islam to Mormonism - late in coming and possibly a reaction to the status quo. So, the Obama while he is out and about apologizing for the US's actions might actually educate himself and realize that it is not the US and Israel out to destroy Islam but that it is Islam out to destroy the US and Israel. Despite all of his protestations to the contrary (and those of the State Run Media and his WH minions) one cannot help but wonder about the Obama's religious leanings.

New Leader of Islam

State run media appears to be declaring the Obama the new de facto shining star and Messiah of the Muslim world. In the same breath the State run media is also declaring that Bin Laden is no longer important to Muslims.

Playboy: In Like Flynt

Playboy: In Like Flynt

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Morning Must Reads | Washington Examiner

Morning Must Reads | Washington Examiner

Shared via AddThis

Intolerable Behavior

Now tell me why again I should be feeling sorry for Islamic countries: Al Qaeda Says It Executed Briton.

Oooh, Brutal!

Notable & Quotable

Auto expert William J. Holstein writing at BusinessWeek.com:

The Big Three figured [that the arrival of foreign auto manufacturers in the U.S.] would saddle the Japanese with the same labor costs and the same labor problems they had. But they were wrong. The Japanese located in mostly southern and border states that were solidly anti-union. They hired younger, less expensive workers, and they created an entirely new relationship between management and labor. This led to an entirely new auto industry. The net effect was to rachet up the competitive pressures on Detroit, not ease them. . . . That was followed by yet another rude awakening last November when the then-CEOs of GM, Ford and Chrysler came to testify in Washington, D.C., and found out that the government wouldn't be bailing them out. Southern Republicans, many of whom represented states with nonunion auto factories, chewed the CEOs up before the cameras. Newly powerful California environmentalists assaulted them. The center of the national consensus regarding the importance of the domestically owned auto industry had shifted, and American media coverage was also thoroughly hostile.

Carter, Really?! Who would've thunk it?

Jenkins: If Obama Had Carter's Courage . . .

Barack Obama is no Jimmy Carter. The latter really did face the unraveling of an indispensable industry. Mr. Obama faces not a collapse of the domestic auto industry, but collapse of two companies miserable enough to have been extant in the 1930s when the Wagner Act was foisted upon the industry.

We have a second auto industry, founded after the political and legal system had thought better of mandatory unionization, born of foreign parents, mostly in the South. It's surviving the recession without extraordinary help...

We're still waiting for the brave, original thinking that we were told Mr. Obama represented. Like Washington circa 1978, he has landed for once in a situation where something more than symbolism is required of him. He has finally glided into the land of the real, where the key measurable outcome is no longer whether an audience is glowing with self-approval when he leaves the room.

Unfortunately, Mr. Obama, that freethinker, took to the CAFE fraud like a bat to a belfry. He signaled his arrival on the presidential stage by sternly demanding higher mileage standards early in his campaign. The "change" candidate who might have broken with a generation of political cant about CAFE instead appropriated the fraud for his own careerist purposes. (Emphasis mine)

Please read the whole thing, then rethink any liberal ideas, you might harbor, about who's to blame for the fall of Chrysler and GM.

The Race Maze

Victor Davis Hanson attempts to sort through the tangled web of racial and identity politics in the world of the guilt-ridden liberal white: Lost in the Labyrinth of Race.

Shuttle Returns to Florida

The Space Shuttle Atlantis rides aboard the 747 transport aircraft June 1 as it takes off from Edwards Air Force Base. In the background, the NASA camera airplane.
Credit: Nick Smirnoff

Space shuttle Atlantis back home in Florida

More here with pics.

Air France Tragedy

Terribly sad, our prayers go out to their families: Air France Plane Debris Is Found in the Atlantic.

Acronym Zoo!

Only one Acronym describes them all, WASTE (No special dictionary needed): New Crop of U.S. Acronyms Adds to Thistles and Tares in Language.

Kim Jong UN - How Appropriate

WSJ: Seoul Sees Signs of Heir to North's Kim Jong Il - Kim Jong UN, How quaint, he names his son after his favorite world organization. Maybe he will be as useless as his namesake.

We don't take him serious either

I'm listening to Fox News and they are reporting on this country's first Arab-Islamic president's (a la Clinton being the first black president) trip to the middle east to hold talks with his friends and allies. Fox is showing clips of an interview with an Arab news reporter and a comment came out of his mouth that I doubt the State run MSM will comment on; the interviewer was asking why the Obama was so popular with the Arab news media and the reporter blurted, that, "They don't take his threats very serious!" Well, a lot of Americans don't either, but that doesn't translate to popularity with us.

Be and Adult but don't encourage him, VOTE NO to Sotomayor

Peggy Noonan: Republicans, Let's Play Grown-Up

The choice for Republicans isn't between "attack" and "roll over." It's broader than that, and more interesting. There's a new and fresh opportunity here for Republicans in the Senate to be serious, and, in their seriousness, to be seen and understood in a new light.

Serious opposition to Judge Sotomayor is not only fair, it's necessary: It's your job to oppose if you oppose. But it should be serious, not merely partisan. Mr. Obama himself well knows he voted against John Roberts and Sam Alito only in essence because they were conservative. He was planning a presidential run and playing to a left-wing base. But that didn't enhance his reputation, did it? Not with anyone who wasn't part of his base.

Don't grill and grandstand, summon and inform. Show the respect that expresses equality and the equality that is an expression of respect. Ask and listen, get the logic, explain where you think it wrong. Fill the airwaves with thoughtful exchanges.

And then, Ms. Noonan, the Republicans should, all of them, vote no.

The grim road ahead

WSJ: How GM Lost Its Way

All in the Family

BBC: N Korea 'names Kim's successor'

Another Industry Slated for Government Take Over

Washington Examiner: Democrats set to tackle health care overhaul - Don't you mean "health care destruction," much like what has happened to the auto industry?

Take Heed Republican Wimps!

Kimberley Strassel: The Sotomayor Rules

President Barack Obama has laid down his ground rules for the debate over Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. The big question now is whether Republicans agree to play by rules that neither Mr. Obama nor his party have themselves followed.

Ground Rule No. 1, as decreed by the president, is that this is to be a discussion primarily about Judge Sotomayor's biography, not her qualifications. The media gurus complied, with inspiring stories of how she was born to Puerto Rican immigrants, how she was raised by a single mom in a Bronx housing project, how she went on to Princeton and then Yale. In the years that followed she presumably issued a judicial opinion here or there, but whatever.

Which brings us to Ground Rule No. 2, which is that Republicans are not allowed to criticize Judge Sotomayor, for the reason that she is the first Hispanic nominee to the High Court. The Beltway media also dutifully latched on to this White House talking point, reporting threats from leading Democrats, including New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who intoned that Republicans "oppose her at their peril."

Republicans will be tempted by this history to go ugly. They might instead lay down their own rules, the first being that they will not partake in the tactics of personal destruction that were waged by the left on nominees such as Mr. Thomas or Mr. Alito or Mr. Estrada. But the party could also make a rule to not be scared away from using Judge Sotomayor's nomination, or future Obama picks, as platforms for big, civil, thorough debates about the role of the courts and the risk of activist judges to American freedoms and beliefs.

IN DEED!

Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus: Sotomayor's Deliberate Choice of Words

"Nice try, Mr. President, but I'm not buying the poor-choice-of-words defense for Sonia Sotomayor [in her statement] 'I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life' . . . You spin the speech that's dealt you. But it seems clear to me that Sotomayor, to quote that great jurist Dr. Seuss, meant what she said and said what she meant. This was no throwaway line or off-the-cuff linguistic stumble along the lines of the judge's other controversial comment about appeals courts making policy. Rather, Sotomayor was deliberately and directly disputing remarks by then-Justice Sandra Day O'Connor that a wise old woman and a wise old man would eventually reach the same conclusion in a case. . . . Moreover, if Sotomayor regretted that YouTube moment, she had the chance to revise and extend: Her remarks were reprinted in the Berkeley La Raza Law Journal. Knowing the multi-layered editing process of law journals, I'd be shocked if Sotomayor did not at least have the chance to review the transcript of her speech and make any tweaks"

AMEN!

Mr. Buckley

Brookhiser: Bill Buckley and the Future of Conservatism

In times of perplexity evangelical Christians ask themselves, "What would Jesus do?" Conservatives trying to regroup in the age of Obama might ask themselves, "What would William F. Buckley Jr. do?"

The most important lesson of his career is that there are limits to accommodation. Buckley came to fame in the early 1950s after two decades of liberal Democratic dominance, the Fair Deal of Harry Truman having followed the New Deal of FDR. When Republicans finally recaptured Congress and the White House in 1952, it was a case of new men and old measures. The new president, Dwight Eisenhower, despite his conservative instincts, was unwilling to pick ideological fights. On the sidelines of politics, the poet Peter Viereck called for a New Conservatism dedicated to managing change gracefully and recognizing liberal Democrats like Adlai Stevenson as its natural leaders. Germany, Japan and (it seemed) the Depression had been beaten by great collective efforts. The world had moved into a new era, and conservatives should recognize the fact.

Buckley would have none of it. He wanted a conservatism that stood for capitalism and freedom. The Cold War required another great mobilization, which Buckley supported wholeheartedly, but he would not lose sight of his individualistic goals. In 1955, when he founded National Review as the journal of opinion for his kind of conservatism, he declared its purpose to be "to stand athwart history, yelling 'Stop!'" He yelled because he hoped to be heard. Liberalism had been ascendant for years, but that didn't mean it always would be.

Early in his career he justified obstacles to black suffrage in the South -- "the white community," he wrote in 1959, "is entitled . . . to prevail politically because, for the time being anyway, the leaders of American civilization are white." He ended his career in despair over the Iraq War, concluding as early as 2005 that we should bug out -- "our part of the job is done as well as it can be done, given limitations on our will and our strength."

He changed his mind on both issues, embracing the civil-rights historiography of the political scientist Harry V. Jaffa and supporting the surge in Iraq when it began in 2007. Being wrong is the risk you run by thinking and acting. The only people who are never wrong are hermits -- unless withdrawing from the arena is itself wrong. For Buckley quietism was never an option. (Emphasis mine.)

There aren't many thinkers in the Republican party these days (there are certainly a lot of stinkers). Most are trying to fit in and be popular with their electorate - and that seems to be more important than sticking to ones principles and if wrong on something admitting being wrong and moving on. Sadly, there is hardly a difference between what today is called a "Republican" and an "Obamocrat." I think that today Mr. Buckley would hardly recognize those in Congress that pass themselves off as Republicans. So we can beat up on Limbaugh for being true to the conservative principles or we can be just another arm of the socialists - as republicans it is our choice - I choose the former.

Advice from a once not so great Socialist

McGovern: My Advice for Obama: We could defend ourselves with a military budget half the current size.

Most Americans probably agree that we have elected a highly articulate, talented president in Barack Obama. He has also given us a potentially great Secretary of State in Hillary Clinton. (Well, let me tell you Mr. McGovern, some Americans do not believe this at all and as things stand now, we will never know if Clinton is a good or a bad Secretary of State - The Obama controls every minute detail of his staff of yes-people that she has not a thought of her own. Many Americans are not easily swayed by large quantities of human green house gas emissions in the form of empty vapid speeches by a former Community Organizer.)

Nonetheless, our military budget is higher than ever -- $515 billion annually, not including the cost of Iraq and Afghanistan. (Well, it is the one thing that the Constitution actually mandates. We could easily save $2.5T by eliminating most of the social programs of the budget and just concentrate on protecting ourselves and paying down the huge deficit. If the Obama and congress (and by congress I mean not just the socialists but also the republicans - woops, I am almost being redundant) would focus on what the Constitution mandates as being their jobs then things would actually improve.)

Much of the arms spending is for things that are capital-intensive but low on job creation. The reverse is true for public investment in such things as upgrading our decaying infrastructure, protecting the environment, providing quality teachers and schools, and improved health care. (Unfortunately, Mr. McGovern, it is not the place of government to grow government. By spending trillions on social programs the government is doing no more than creating Trillions in debt. Little or nothing has come of the Obama's first package of economic squandering - people are still out of work and the debt grows. His budget will amount to the same thing but by a factor of 4.)

It's Going to be a Long Summer!

From the "Department of Gee, I Didn't See That Coming, Well Duh": Reports: N. Korea Prepares Long-Range Missile

"If North Korea turns its back on dialogue and peace and dares to carry out military threats and provocations, the Republic of Korea will never tolerate that," Lee said in his regular radio address. "I want to make clear that there won't be any compromise on things that threaten our nation's security."

Now let's contrast that with what the Obama will probably say:

"Uh, how come this damn Teleprompter aint' working - Uh, well, Uh, as I have said before, Uh, we are going to ask, uh, damn Teleprompter is making me look bad, Uh - who gave it the week off anyway? Uh, as I have said before, I have furrowed my brows more deeply than before, Uh, someone call Hillary, this is her mess, I have an ACORN board meeting at 1 o'clock, Uh to discuss giving them more taxpayer money - crap, did I say that out loud? Uhhhh, well heck, the press will overlook it, anyway as I have said we will beg the UN to act really, really tough. Someone send Kim Jong Il some chocolate and tell him to Uhhhh, chill out. Dammit, where's Hillary when you need someone to do something, Uh"

Missing?

Not a good way to start a new month: Air France Jet Carrying 228 Missing Over Atlantic.