Old Jarhead's Political SitRep for January 6, 2013

Old Jarhead's Political SitRep for January 6, 2013

Robert A. Hall

The Philosophy of the Old Jarhead Blog

www.tartanmarine.blogspot.com

The Old Jarhead SitRep is a blog of political news and conservative opinion, that has had about 700,000 page views since founded in 2008, is read in many counties (Iran? Indonesia? Russia? Go figure.) and was up to 30,000 page views a week recently. Plus I throw in some humor and human interest pieces that catch my attention for seasoning. I try to include foreign sources and info you won’t get in the MSM, but I often use links to pieces in the Washington Post, New York Times, Politico, Reuters and other liberal leaning sources No one is required to read it, or any of the links. A majority of the pieces are sent to me by readers, for which I’m grateful, others come from newsfeeds I subscribe to. I get some from Twitter, but often don’t have time to look at my feeds there. I stop sending the link to people who become nasty or too angry. I used to forward political items, but was sending too many e-mails to my list, so a few years ago, I started collecting them on the blog to access in one place. I use maybe 50% of the conservative pieces sent me, probably less than 5% of the liberal opinion sent, usually to illustrate their views. Readers who don’t like that are welcome to start their own blogs. Blogs are free and so is speech in America right now, despite leftist efforts to outlaw “hate speech” they disagree with and Islamist efforts to outlaw criticism of Islam, while retaining the right to describe other religions in vile terms. I try to avoid items that will turn off thoughtful centrists and leftists or low-information independents, including “red meat” pieces with intemperate language or wild speculation, conspiracy theories with no supporting facts and silly distractions like the so-called “birther” issue (but I don’t always succeed). I predicted correctly four years ago the “birther” thing was going nowhere, was a huge waste of time and resources, and played into the hands of the left, much as the impeachment of Bill Clinton did in the 1990s. (I said so at the time.) I do sometimes include things I don’t agree with that I think readers might find of interest. Readers are requested to read all items critically and with skepticism—just like a newspaper! Readers who send formatted pieces (title, link, and a fair use excerpt of three sentences unless the piece is very short. than fewer) to tartanmarine(at)gmail.com have a higher chance of my using them than people who just send a link. I often include thoughtful comments from contributors. (Tell me if you want you full name used.) A piece without a link has a much lower chance of being used—it depends on how interesting it is and how much time I have right then to search for it. I understand if you don’t have the time to format or even to find a link—please understand my time is pretty limited too. There are no ads on my blog, no fees and I receive no income from it. When I retire, that might need to change, but for now, that’s how it is. I do promote my books, with the royalties going to charity. Thanks for reading and contributing. ~Bob.

Must Read: Bush Reconsidered. By Victor Davis Hanson

http://www.victorhanson.com/articles/hanson010413.html

Excerpt: George W. Bush left office in January 2009 with one of the lowest job-approval ratings for a president (34 percent) since Gallup started compiling them — as compared to Harry Truman’s low of 32 percent, Richard Nixon’s of 24 percent, and Jimmy Carter’s of 34 percent — and to the general derision of the media. At times the venom accorded Bush in popular culture reached absurd — and even sick — levels.

Euros discarded as impoverished Greeks resort to bartering

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/02/euro-greece-barter-poverty-crisis

Excerpt: n this bustling port city at the foot of Mount Pelion, in the heart of Greece's most fertile plain, locals have come up with a novel way of dealing with austerity – adopting their own alternative currency, known as the Tem. As the country struggles with its worst crisis in modern times, with Greeks losing up to 40% of their disposable income as a result of policies imposed in exchange for international aid, the system has been a huge success. Organisers say some 1,300 people have signed up to the informal bartering network. (Behold the future. ~Bob.)

Worth Reading: The Fiscal-Cliff Mirage: Without meaningful course correction, America is doomed. By Mark Steyn

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/336944/fiscal-cliff-mirage-mark-steyn

Excerpt: Which of the above is correct? Who cares? As I said, the politics is debatable. But the reality isn’t. I hate to keep plugging my book After America in this space, but if you buy multiple copies they’ll come in very useful for insulating your cabin after the power grid collapses. (After America is worth reading. Same theme as my book, The Coming Collapse of the American Republic, but longer and funnier. ~Bob.)

Are We All Europeans Now? We need to be honest about the size and scope of our government. By Mona Charen

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/336890/are-we-all-europeans-now-mona-charen

Excerpt: "...We’ve got to get real about this. We’re headed down the road that Europe’s already on.” There’s no “heading” about it. We’re there. 

NAACP President Slams Black Republican–Why?

http://lastresistance.com/928/naacp-president-slams-black-republican-why/

Excerpt: Once again, the Left is showing us the virtue of tolerance. It’s unfortunate that so many Liberals are completely unwilling to look outside their blinders; especially when an individual from a group of people they claim to support steps outside the confines of their enclosure. The thing is, Liberals love to bleed over causes so long as you stay in lock-step with their ideology. It’s conditional love.

New Hampshire Legislator: We Need To 'Restrict Freedoms' Of Conservatives

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/01/02/New-Hampshire-Legislator-We-Need-to-Restrict-Freedoms-of-Conservatives

Excerpt: A New Hampshire legislator wants her constituents to know that she feels conservatives are the "single biggest threat" her state faces today, and she wants to use her powers to legislate to Conservatives. (Wouldn't the Liberals be screaming if this legislator wanted to "pass measures that will restrict" the freedoms of gays or women who have had abortions or cohabiting couples? --Jer)

Online Firearm Sales Resume
Consumer reaction to the political rhetoric after the shooting in CT caused a rush of online orders at Cheaper Than Dirt! which led to the largest backlog in the company's history. Firearm sales will resume on a limited basis. The selection will increase as more firearms become available. 

#MyJihad in Indonesia: Muslims bomb church and orphanage

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2013/01/myjihad-in-indonesia-muslims-bomb-church-and-orphanage.html

Didn't get the "Islam is a Religion of Peace" memo. ~Bob

Georgia Mom Guns Down Intruder, Saves Children

http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/georgia-mom-guns-down-intruder-saves-children.html?utm_source=Todd+Starnes+Website&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=b9bd11275a-STARNES_RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN

Excerpt: A Georgia mother gunned down an intruder who broke into her home as her children hid in a crawlspace. ... The 37-year-old woman initially thought the person knocking at her door was a solicitor. (If she'd been a right-thinking progressive, she wouldn't have had a gun, would have preferred her kids to be murdered rather than resort to violence. It never solves anything, you know. Another story here. ~Bob.

http://m.ajc.com/news/news/local/mother-of-two-surprises-burglar-with-five-gunshots/nTnGR/)

Navy officer who shot down Air Force jet won’t be promoted after all

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/3/senate-balks-at-promotion-for-navy-officer-who-sho/

Excerpt: A Senate committee has refused to approve a promotion to admiral for a Navy officer who, as a young fighter pilot during a training mission, deliberately shot down an Air Force plane whose flier has suffered a life of pain from his forced ejection.

Muslims killing Christians in Nigeria

WARNING GRAPHIC PICTURE

http://cairnsnews.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/muslims-killing-christians-in-nigeria/

Excerpt: “And where are the International Human Rights Organizations? Christians are burnt alive in Nigeria: a horrific Holocaust right in front of International indifference! As denounced by Father Juan Carlos Martos, on behalf of the Missionari Clarettiani, via del Sacro Cuore di Maria, Rome, Italy.” (This [see picture] is the 'religion' that the West supports in the Middle East. Mubarak, who was friendly to Christians in Egypt, was told he had to leave. Obama and the rest of the Western leaders insisted on this. Ghadaffi, another Christian friendly leader, was also told to leave and when he fought the jihadists, he was brought down by NATO. Hillary cackled with laughter when she heard of his brutal torture and death at the hands of his--and our--enemies. You see, our enemies are now our 'leaders.' Since the Arab Spring, hailed as a glorious democratic grass roots movement, Christians in these countries are being forced to leave for fear of being murdered. Now your Western 'leaders' are coming after Assad, the last Christian-friendly leader left in the region. And you are supposed to believe he will be replaced by people who, to quote candidate Romney, 'share our values.' But Al Qaeda and other like groups are emerging as the new leaders in Syria. How can America lift her head with pride knowing that our tax money and our military are supporting the ideology that burned the Christians whose charred remains are shown below? The nation that wept over the horrors of Hitler's gas chambers is turning a blind eye to the savage murders of people who truly share our values and our faith. BTW, I was able to verify this story by going to the Spanish language site where the original text appears (see below this commentary). Nigerian Christians have had their churches burned by the local Muslims for many years so this is nothing new. It just happens to be perhaps the first time a photo of the charred remains has been sent to the public. But note that Facebook banned it on their social media and the world msm will remain as silent as the sphinx as long as they can. Their silence is consent. They are complicit in murder. This is the way all totalitarianism starts, with the full support of sold-out media. But this time, it is worldwide. The conditions for Armageddon--the very one mentioned in the Bible--are coming together like never before in world history. There is no longer a city on a hill to look to for help. Our only hope is in God, where it should have been in the first place. Make this viral. --Don Hank. Can you imagine the reaction of the Islamic terrorist organization in the (impossible) case of a massacre of Muslims in a mosque, by the hands of Christian terrorists? And how widely would our media cover and condemn the crime and the criminals?? --Stan.)

25 killed in Sandy Hook, the world mourns. 500 Christians burned alive in a Nigerian Church, *yawn*

http://sntjohnny.com/front/25-killed-in-sandy-hook-the-world-mourns-500-christians-burned-alive-in-a-nigerian-church-yawn/2103.html

Excerpt: Some horrors are better made for television broadcast. Some horrors fit prevailing narratives better than others. Some horrors feed into private agendas better than other. To what degree this might be the case in any particular choice by the media to highlight something will be forever cloaked to the majority of us.

A Black Woman's Perspective, On Gun Control.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn7bkncf1_E&feature=youtu.be

An excellent statement about the 2nd Amendment, from a minority member and former antigun believer. --Del

Worth Watching: Economic Freedom Speech - Avoid a Fiscal Cliff

http://www.pierremp.ca/budget/

Here is a Canadian politician discussing economics, including the Eurozone and some details on that of the USA. Interesting that a foreigner understands what happened here, while so many American politicians and others don't. --Del

There's No 'I' in 'Kumbaya.' Obama doesn't seem to have it in him to make a deal. By Peggy Noonan

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323374504578219860235756952.html

Excerpt: So here are some things President Obama didn't do during the fiscal cliff impasse and some conjecture as to why. He won but he did not triumph. His victory didn't resolve or ease anything and heralds nothing but more congressional war to come. He did not unveil, argue for or put on the table the outlines of a grand bargain. 

Denny’s Restaurant Evicts On-Duty Policewoman Because She Was Armed
http://godfatherpolitics.com/8840/dennys-restaurant-evicts-on-duty-policeman-because-she-was-armed/#ixzz2H9gOIwqu

Excerpt: On New Year’s Day, five on duty detectives of the Belleville, Illinois police department went to a local Denny’s Restaurant for a meal. As they were eating, a manager of the restaurant approached the table and told one of the detectives that she had to take her gun outside the restaurant. The detectives displayed their badges and showed the manager the police radios setting on the table. (Note to armed robbers: Denny's is a gun free zone even for cops. Easy pickings. ~Bob.)