Political Digest September 22, 2009

Government Health Care
There’s a reason why “Good Enough for Government Work” has become a cliché for a shoddy effort. Your next heart bypass could be just “good enough for government work.”

More on DDT
Had a blog comment suggesting the link I posted on DDT meant I was a “Larouchie”! Here’s my earlier response, with more links for those who want to know more:
http://tartanmarine.blogspot.com/2009/09/more-on-ddt.html

McChrystal: More Forces or 'Mission Failure'
Top U.S. Commander For Afghan War Calls Next 12 Months Decisive
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR2009092002920.html?hpid=topnews
During the campaign, BO called Afghanistan the good war and promised to win it, as opposed to Bush’s bad war in Iraq, which Harry Reid and other brilliant military strategists pronounced lost. Now Afghanistan isn’t going so well, the “Hate America” wing of the Democrat party is getting antsy, and the Leftstream Media may start asking uncomfortable questions of “The One.” Will he fish, or will he cut bait—or cut and run. My bet, he’ll declare victory, retreat and hope al Qaeda holds off the next attack until after the votes are counted in 2012. Only a hopeless hopeandchange eater would think the plight of Afghan women under a resurgent Taliban matters to liberals. For my prediction on the next attack, see:
http://tartanmarine.blogspot.com/2009/09/essay-next-terrorist-attack-on-america.html

Mark Steyn: Obama helping Putin restitch Iron Curtain
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/obama-missile-defense-2572467-nuclear-iran
Excerpt: Was it only April? There was President Barack Obama, speaking (as is his wont) in Prague, about the Iranian nuclear program and ballistic missile capability, and saluting America's plucky allies: "The Czech Republic and Poland have been courageous in agreeing to host a defense against these missiles," he declared. "As long as the threat from Iran persists, we will go forward with a missile defense system that is cost-effective and proven." On Thursday, the administration scrapped its missile defense plans for Eastern Europe. The "courageous" Czechs and Poles will have to take their chances. Did the "threat from Iran" go away? Not so's you'd notice. The dawn of the nuclear Ayatollahs is perhaps only months away, and, just in case the Zionists or (please, no tittering) the formerly Great Satan is minded to take 'em out, Tehran will shortly be taking delivery of a bunch of S-300 anti-aircraft batteries from (ta-da!) Russia. Fancy that.

Selling Socialism To The Masses
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.4299/pub_detail.asp
Excerpt: In the presence of union leaders to whom Obama partially owes his election, BHO says “Big Brother” will take care of workers, implying a false assumption and a false solution. The false assumption is that union workers carry inadequate or no healthcare. The false solution is that only government is capable of providing healthcare to workers. Government officials have never been able to deliver anything fiscally sound to the people who elect them. Take a look at these facts:

Massachusetts House votes in favor of interim replacement for the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/massachusetts_house_votes_in_f.html?category=Politics+category=Statehouse+category=Talk
When Romney was Governor, the democrats in what we called “The Great and General Court” (the Massachusetts Legislature) took away the right of the governor to appoint an interim senator, assuming John Kerry would be president. Now, with a Democrat governor, they want the right back. Power, not principle, is the first consideration.

Bankers Face Sweeping Curbs on Pay
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125324292666522101.html#mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTWhatsNews
Great idea. While they are at it, lets limit pay for sports and entertainment stars. After all, they provide an optional versus a necessary service like banking, and their big bucks come out of the pockets of the little guy. And lets curb the amount politicians can make off books, speaking and lobbying after they are in office. All those dollars go to them because we elected them to office, so rightfully belong to the people. Next up, lawyers—they make way too much money. In fact, I’m working on a whole list of folks whose pay should be curbed. Pretty much anyone who makes more than me. No, I’m not on the list. I’m underpaid. Just ask me.

Why Chile is more economically free than the United States
http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2009/09/17/why-chile-is-more-economically-free-than-the-united-states/#more-9142
Excerpt: In the 2009 Economic Freedom of the World Report, Chile is now #5, one place ahead of the United States.In 1975, of 72 countries, Chile was No 71. How did this happen? The explanation lies in what I call the “Chilean Revolution,” because it was as important and transformative to my country as the celebrated American Revolution that gave birth to the United States. The exceptional political circumstances of this period have obscured the fact that from 1975 to 1989 a true revolution took place in Chile, involving a radical, comprehensive, and sustained move toward economic and political freedom (from a starting point where there was neither one nor the other). This revolution not only doubled Chile’s historic rate of economic growth (to an average of 7% a year, 84-98), drastically reduced poverty (from 45% to 15%), and introduced several radical libertarian reforms that set the country on a path toward rapid development; but it also brought democracy, restored limited government, and established the rule of law… Not only is Chile now at the top of rankings on free trade (number 3 in the world after Hong Kong and Singapore) and transparency (less corruption that in most western European countries), but it is expected to be a developed country by 2018, the first in Latin America. (Economic and political freedom are flip sides of the same coin.)

Creating America Jobs Through Global Trade
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-donohue/creating-american-jobs-th_b_290030.html
From the Huffington Post? The overwhelming majority of Americans derive great benefits from trade. An astonishing 57 million Americans work for companies that benefit from exports. One in five factory jobs depends on exports, and one in three acres on America's farms are planted for consumers overseas. A major surge of exports is our best path out of recession, double-digit unemployment, and exploding deficits. We should set a national goal of doubling U.S. exports in five years. To achieve this goal, we must do the following: First, enact the pending free trade agreements. If we dawdle while Canada and the European Union move ahead with their own trade accords with Colombia, Panama, and Korea, American workers will be put at a disadvantage. We also need to bring about a successful conclusion to the Doha Round negotiations.

Voter attitudes toward Congress
http://www.redstate.com/brianfaughnan/2009/09/18/cook-voter-attitudes-hardening-against-democrat-congress/
Excerpt: A whopping 48 of those Democrats — eight more than the size of their party’s majority — are from districts that voted for both Bush and McCain. That America is very different from the Democratic base in blue America, and it sees many major issues very differently. Resurgent Republic’s findings corroborate a growing view that the cumulative impact of Democratic missteps has reached a critical mass, with Obama receiving some damage and with Democrats in Congress and the Democratic Party receiving much more. Critics point to the Troubled Asset Relief Program; the takeovers of banks and auto companies; an economic stimulus package that they see as ineffectual and stuffed with pork; and climate-change and health care reform efforts as all being contributing factors to Democrats’ decline…What we are seeing is an electorate growing just as disgusted with the Democratic majority as it did with the Republican one in 2006. The mounting ethics problems of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., combined with ongoing allegations about House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Murtha, D-Pa., and others on his panel threaten to make matters still worse for their party.

Chris Matthews unhinged
http://www.redstate.com/curt_levey/2009/09/18/chris-matthews-unhinged/
Excerpt: 1) Matthews believes that right wing hatred of Democratic presidents is so pernicious that it’s even responsible for John F. Kennedy’s assassination by avowed Communist Lee Harvey Oswald. 2) Matthews considers what Rep. Joe Wilson did – or standing outside a town hall meeting with a gun or anti-Obama sign – akin to assassinating the president. 3) Matthews has no memory of the left-wing protest signs and cartoons that portrayed George W. Bush as a chimpanzee and compared him to Hitler and the Nazis.

Muslim Congressman defies Congressional warning, meets with Hamas-linked CAIR
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2009/09/muslim-congressman-defies-congressional-warning-meets-with-hamas-linked-cair.html
Whose side are you on update.

UK: Christian couple charged with criminal offense after offending Muslims during discussion of religion
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2009/09/uk-christian-couple-charged-with-criminal-offense-after-offending-muslims-during-discussion-of-relig.html
Excerpt: A Christian couple have been charged with a criminal offence after taking part in what they regarded as a reasonable discussion about religion with guests at their hotel. Ben and Sharon Vogelenzang were arrested after a Muslim woman complained to police that she had been offended by their comments. They have been charged under public order laws with using 'threatening, abusive or insulting words' that were 'religiously aggravated'. The couple, whose trial has been set for December, face a fine of up to £5,000 and a criminal record if they are convicted. (The Right Not to be Offended, favored by the left for every group except white, Christian males. This is from the UK, but coming soon to a location near you.)

Don't eat near Ramadan fasters, Home Office staff told
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1214691/Dont-eat-near-Ramadan-fasters-Home-Office-staff-told.html#
It might offend them. And if your breathing offends them, stop!

Obama skips Fox news
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/White-House-dismisses-Fox-News-as-ideological-outlet-renewing-feud_09_21-59946477.html
the President of all the People is afraid to speak to the three million people who watch Fox, because it’s not a friendly outlet like the rest of the Leftstream Media.

New poll: Majority believe government is doing too much
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/New-poll-Majority-believe-government-is-doing-too-much-59982527.html
Excerpt: A new Gallup poll shows that the number of people who believe government has its hand in too many areas of American life has reached its highest point in more than a decade. The question asked by Gallup was, "Some people think the government is trying to do too many things that should be left to individuals and businesses. Others think that government should do more to solve our country's problems. Which comes closer to your own view?" Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed say government is doing too much, while 38 percent say it should do more. Five percent are undecided. (Gee, ya think?)

Obama out of his depth? The View from Britain
http://commonamericanjournal.com/?p=2675
Excerpt: Regimes in Moscow, Pyongyang and Tehran simply pocket his concessions and carry on as before. The picture emerging from the White House is a disturbing one, of timidity, clumsiness and short-term calculation. Some say he is the weakest president since Jimmy Carter. The grizzled veterans of the Democratic leadership in Congress have found Mr Obama and his team of bright young advisers a pushover. That has gravely weakened his flagship domestic campaign, for health-care reform, which fails to address the greatest weakness of the American system: its inflated costs. His free trade credentials are increasingly tarnished too. His latest blunder is imposing tariffs on tyre imports from China, in the hope of gaining a little more union support for health care. But at a time when America’s leadership in global economic matters has never been more vital, that is a dreadful move, hugely undermining its ability to stop other countries engaging in a ruinous spiral of protectionism. (How’s that Restoring Europe’s faith in us thing working out?)

Barack Obama ready to slash US nuclear arsenal
https://mail.google.com/mail/?hl=en&zx=17dv7xm78ahmb&shva=1#inbox/123de3b3250bde04
Am I too old to learn Chinese? I think I prefer the Reds to the Jihadists.

Morning Fix: The White House Plays (Political) Hardball
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/morning-fix/morning-fix-the-white-house-pl.html?wprss=thefix
Excerpt: "The Paterson push is one more piece of evidence that this is Barack Obama's Democratic Party," said one veteran Democrat granted anonymity to speak candidly about the White House's efforts. "The question is, will he use the same strong-arm Chicago tactics against House and Senate Democrats who defy him on health care?" (Bet on it.)

For Edwards, Drama Builds Toward a Denouement
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/us/politics/20edwards.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1253560900-YkyWHPy6EQNSCSJrlZmrHQ
The Democrat Trial Lawyer (is that redundant?) who wasn’t far off the presidency. That would have been fun. Excerpt: Mr. Edwards, the one-term senator who came close to being elected vice president in 2004 and ran a credible campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, remains largely secluded at his 100-acre estate here. But a federal grand jury in nearby Raleigh is investigating whether any crimes were committed in connection with campaign laws in an effort to conceal his extramarital affair with a woman named Rielle Hunter. At the same time, Mr. Edwards is moving toward an abrupt reversal in his public posture; associates said in interviews that he is considering declaring that he is the father of Ms. Hunter’s 19-month-old daughter, something that he once flatly asserted in a television interview was not possible…. Mr. Edwards dismissed an initial report in The National Enquirer in 2007 that he was having an affair, and the matter was largely ignored by the mainstream news media. (Enquirer scoops the Leftstream Media!)… Mr. Young, who has since renounced that statement, has told publishers in a book proposal that Mr. Edwards knew all along that he was the child’s father. He said Mr. Edwards pleaded with him to accept responsibility falsely, saying that would reduce the story to one of an aide’s infidelity. In the proposal, which The New York Times examined, Mr. Young says that he assisted the affair by setting up private meetings between Mr. Edwards and Ms. Hunter. He wrote that Mr. Edwards once calmed an anxious Ms. Hunter by promising her that after his wife died, he would marry her in a rooftop ceremony in New York with an appearance by the Dave Matthews Band.

Doubts About ACORN Pre-Date Current Scandal
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/2009/09/push_to_defend_acorn_nothing_n.html?wprss=capitol-briefing
Really? Who knew?

90-year-old Columbia man parachutes to relive history
http://www.thestate.com/thebuzz/story/949041.html
what have we done with the world they saved? Did we deserve it?

Quotes from The Patriot Post (www.patriotpost.us/subscribe/)"
"The dilemma ... is between the democratic process of the market in which every individual has his share and the exclusive rule of a dictatorial body. Whatever people do in the market economy is the execution of their own plans. In this sense every human action means planning. What those calling themselves planners advocate is not the substitution of planned action for letting things go. It is the substitution of the planner's own plan for the plans of his fellowmen. The planner is a potential dictator who wants to deprive all other people of the power to plan and act according to their own plans. He aims at one thing only: the exclusive absolute preeminence of his own plan." --Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises (1881-1973)

"As the president's approval ratings fall and rise and fall again, some of his supporters in journalism and politics are returning to days of old when the label 'racist' could end any discussion and force the accused either into stunned silence, or groveling repentance. I suspect the tactic won't work this time because Obama supporters will have difficulty explaining how a mostly white country could elect a black man president last November and ten months later become a racist majority. Racism has always been a one-way street for the Left. ... According to liberal doctrine, black people can never be racist because they are members of a victim class created by white liberals as a kind of modern plantation to keep blacks voting for liberal Democrats. ... The president's race would be a factor only if Americans shied away from criticizing him because of it. That they are not is a triumph of Martin Luther King Jr.'s hope that people be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. Some opinion polls show that Obama's character is being judged and found wanting by a rapidly growing number of Americans, at least a small percentage of whom are black. With Democrats controlling all three branches of government, including significantly wide margins in Congress, isn't there a better explanation than racism for why the president is having difficulty with some of his proposals? ... There is a better explanation for the growing opposition to President Obama. It has less to do with his ethnicity than it does his credibility. Character, after all, is colorless." --columnist Cal Thomas

"I traveled on the Tea Party Express tour bus as a singer/songwriter, entertainer and spokesperson; 16 states, 34 rallies in two weeks. I experienced vicious racial verbal attacks, not from the tea party protesters. The racial hate expressed against me all came from the left, people who support President Obama's radial socialist agenda. ... These racists are outraged by my opening lines I boldly proclaimed at each rally. 'Hello my fellow patriots! I am NOT an African-American! I am Lloyd Marcus, AMERCIAN!' ... The tea party audience's passionate response to my proclamation was a surprise to me. I did not know so many Americans disapproved of hyphenating pushed on us via political correctness. ... Liberals' response to my YouTube videos, columns and performances on the Tea Party Express have been extremely racist, vicious and hate-filled. In their incredible arrogance, they vilify me for loving my country and not viewing myself as a victim of white America. In the sick minds of liberals, as a black man in America, I must support President Obama regardless of his policies. I must resent white America. I must feel entitled to the earnings of other Americans. My belief that my success or failure is totally in the hands of myself and my God is anathema to them. As to the claim that the tea party protesters are racist, they are not. Quite the opposite. At every rally, with thousands in attendance, I was overwhelmingly showered with affection and thanks for standing up for America. ... These protesters are not racist. They are decent hard working ordinary Americans who love their country and disapprove of the radical changes planned by the Obama administration." --singer, songwriter and columnist Lloyd Marcus

Joke of the Day
Cash for Clunkers--The POSITIVE results:
It’s taken thousands of Obama stickers off the road!!!!