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00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Chris Matthews: McCain has a ‘Menacing Smile,’ Obama’s ‘Debonair’

October 8, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In the post debate “analysis” tonight after the second presidential debate, Chris Matthews of MSNBC proved once again that he is in such rapture about Barack Obama that it cannot be believed. Tonight, Matthews cast McCain in the role of Snidely Whiplash or some such thing thing because of his “menacing smile.” Yet, according to the sycophantic Matthews, Obama’s is “debonair.”

Mary Katharine Ham reports what Matthews said tonight:

Barack Obama is gifted in birth by a wonderful smile…

John McCain, when he smiles, has a somewhat menacing quality. It may not be purposeful, but when he smiles, you wonder what he’s really thinking.

Barack Obama, for whatever reason, comes off as debonaire, even under attack.

What does Matthews mean “it may not be purposeful”? Is Matthews leaving open the possibility that McCain is secretly wringing his hands in glee like Doctor Evil over an evil plan about to come together if only we Americans are foolish enough to vote for him?

Seriously, what is with this obsequiousness that Chris Matthews displays for Barack Obama? Worse, how is it that he thinks he should be taken seriously with this sort of groveling, boot-licking?

Far from McCain being Doctor Evil or Snidely Whiplash, I’d suggest that Matthews is turning into Renfield to Obama’s Dracula!

Continue reading “Chris Matthews: McCain has a ‘Menacing Smile,’ Obama’s ‘Debonair’”

00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Brian Williams: McCain/Palin Shunning Him Because of Olbermann/Matthews

October 7, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

In the Actions have consequences department, Brian Williams recently told David Letterman that the McCain camp is punishing him by not allowing him to interview Sarah Palin because the McCain camp is mad at MSNBC’s extreme leftism as evinced by Chris "Thrill up my leg" Matthews and Keith Olbermann. Is Brian crying? There’s no crying in broadcasting!

During his visit on The Late Show with David Letterman, Brian Williams admitted that he is the only network anchor that has yet to be granted an interview with Governor Palin but that he “cannot wait” to interview her.

As to why he has yet to be granted that interview, Williams thinks it’s because the McCain camp is “unhappy” with the far left editorial leanings of NBC’s cable outlet MSNBC.

“I’ve put a general invite out to the campaign,” Williams told Letterman. “I’ve asked them about it. We think it’s because they’re unhappy with our cable programming. But I’m here. I’m waiting.”

Continue reading “Brian Williams: McCain/Palin Shunning Him Because of Olbermann/Matthews”

00Publius Contributor - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Frank Salvato - GOP - Media Bias - News - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes

The Reid-McConnell Bailout Bribe

October 7, 2008 by

-By Frank Salvato

Let me see if I have this right. We the People express our overwhelming disdain for a government manufactured, taxpayer-funded bailout of semi-coerced greed merchants on Wall Street and the Senate’s answer is to leave the offending legislation intact and entice weak politicians into voting for the package by adding sweetheart tax legislation to it. Can this possibly – in the most incredible of circumstances – be correct?

Just as I finished setting up my new television I found myself clearing away the debris and dust from a bazooka shot that destroyed it. You see, I felt the destruction needed to be that much more definitive as the cause for the need to do so was that much more offensive.

It is one thing to watch a political charlatan like Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) lie through his teeth about his role in constructing the financial catastrophe in which we are now mired; that warrants an “Elvis Episode.” But when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and – incredulously – Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stand before the nation, on national television, and congratulate themselves for: a) working together in a bi-partisan manner, and b) working in a bi-partisan manner to achieve something an overwhelming majority of their bosses (the electorate) oppose, well, that calls for a response ala Gen. George S. Patton; therefore the bazooka.
Continue reading “The Reid-McConnell Bailout Bribe”

00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Charlie Gibson: ‘It’s Important to Expose’ Sarah Palin

October 6, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

So, instead of merely reporting the news, now reporters are the news? Apparently Charlie Gibson thinks he is, anyway. He gave an interview to the Toledo Blade on October 5 as if his opinions of the race for the White House are somehow more important than the news of the candidates. You remember the candidates, don’t you Chuck? You know, those guys who are actually going to be elected, the ones that you are supposed to be reporting on?

Gibson spoke to the Toledo Blade’s TV beat reporter Kirk Baird about an upcoming visit to Ohio’s Bowling Green State University and he said a few pretty revealing things to the Blade about how the media are treating the campaign.

Like many of his ilk, he appears in this interview to show a disdain for small town America, he obviously pretends not to see any bias among his comrades, he excuses that bias he does see and interestingly he claimed it was the duty of the media to “expose” Sarah Palin — an interesting choice of words, for sure.

Continue reading “Charlie Gibson: ‘It’s Important to Expose’ Sarah Palin”

00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Race - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

AP Says Palin is a Racist

October 5, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Talk about an idiotic assertion, but the Associated Press just claimed that Governor Sarah Palin is a racist for saying that Obama used to “pal around with terrorists.” According to the AP’s Douglass K. Daniel, Palin is a racist because the word “terrorist” is construed now-a-days to mean a “dark-skinned radical Muslim” so that makes her a “racist” in his blinkered view.

See, it isn’t overt, according to Daniel, but there is a “subtext,” don’t you know? And, yes, he’s serious with this absurd claim, sadly. This Olympics award winning back stretch has to be seen to be believed.

Palin’s words avoid repulsing voters with overt racism. But is there another subtext for creating the false image of a black presidential nominee “palling around” with terrorists while assuring a predominantly white audience that he doesn’t see their America?

In a post-Sept. 11 America, terrorists are envisioned as dark-skinned radical Muslims, not the homegrown anarchists of Ayers’ day 40 years ago. With Obama a relative unknown when he began his campaign, the Internet hummed with false e-mails about ties to radical Islam of a foreign-born candidate.

Whether intended or not by the McCain campaign, portraying Obama as “not like us” is another potential appeal to racism. It suggests that the Hawaiian-born Christian is, at heart, un-American.

The FACT that Obama has close ties to an AVOWED American domestic terrorist has absolutely nothing whatever to do with race. It has everything to do with Obama’s terrible judgment. Obama isn’t being at all attacked for being “black” with this exposure of his ties to Weather Underground terrorist William Ayers.

There is also nestled in this story another bit of spin that has become the media’s excuse making for Obama’s ties to Ayers. (My bold for emphasis)

Continue reading “AP Says Palin is a Racist”

00Publius Contributor - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - John Armor - Media Bias - News - Society/Culture - Taxes

Prices, Politicians, and Common Sense

October 5, 2008 by

-By John Armor

I’ve watched the stock market go up and down lately like a giant yo-yo. I’ve followed the details of how and why the so-called bailout failed in the House early this week, and will probably pass the Senate on Wednesday, and possibly the House a day later. In revised form, of course.

But there’s an aspect of this situation which applies to the bad mortgages, whose failures led to the collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And applies to the failures of Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, AIG, Wachovia, the House of Representatives, the Senate, the White House, and both presidential campaigns.

What is the common denominator of all these failures? It is rapid decline in prices of mortgages, bundled mortgages, and businesses which trade on bundled mortgages, and finally, politicians who are rented by such businesses. The part of these related disasters which no one in the press has bothered to discuss, is basic.

What are prices?
Continue reading “Prices, Politicians, and Common Sense”

00Publius Contributor - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - Security/Safety - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes

The politics of the bailout

October 5, 2008 by

-By Michael M. Bates

So how did they come up with that $700 billion bailout figure? A Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com last week: “It’s not based on any particular data point. We just wanted to choose a really large number.”

That they did and, in so doing, scared a many Americans. Watching cable news after the House sensibly defeated the bill ratcheted up anxiety. When the markets closed with a record drop in the Dow Jones, the media mavens were shooting for their own personal best in high dudgeon.

How dare House Republicans fail to approve the bailout, particularly after Speaker Nancy Pelosi persuaded Democrats to – as one CNN anchor asserted – overwhelmingly back it? An undoubtedly innocent lapse kept him from reporting that almost a hundred Democrats voted against the measure.
Continue reading “The politics of the bailout”

00Publius Contributor - Congress - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Media Bias - News - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes - Vince Johnson

THIS TOPIC IS OFF LIMITS!

October 5, 2008 by

-By Vince Johnson

cc: The Jump$tart Coalition for Financial Literacy for Youth – 919 18th St. NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20006

The “topic” that no one in America will discuss has to do with what we adults are doing to our children. We are doing it without their approval or consent. Politicians are careful to never mention it. We have devised all kinds of gimmicks to divert their attention. We spend billions developing games and movies of the most violent nature we can conceive. We have loosened discipline in schools in a manner that encourages kids to engage in perverse diversions like drugs, edgy tattoos, body metal, too much teen pregnancy and disgusting fads that focus attention on belly buttons and snuggy jeans worn far too low.

Whether or not this laxity in discipline is by design or the result of overwhelmed school systems does not matter. What matters is that we are all aware of it and we are not sufficiently motivated to do anything about it. We have led the kids to believe that the teachers answer to the principal. That the principal answers to the superintendent. That the superintendent answers to the Board of Education. That the Board of Education answers to the parents. That the parents answer to their children. And therefore, the kids are not required to be answerable to anybody!
Continue reading “THIS TOPIC IS OFF LIMITS!”

00Publius Contributor - Congress - Constitution - Dan Scott - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Media Bias - News - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Taxes

Collateralized Debt Obligations, The CDO Menace

October 4, 2008 by 4 Comments

-By Dan Scott

When the discussion turns to financial instruments people’s eyes glaze over due to the complexity of the issue. However, in this case what you don’t understand or rather what you don’t know can hurt you. Congress and the Whitehouse at this point have focused on a plan that supposedly will solve the credit lock threatening the economy with Recession. The problem is the solution proposed doesn’t address the cause but the symptoms. The upshot is while this solution will work it will only do so in a very short time frame, leaving the underlying problem unresolved and festering. Unfortunately, it may take the fall of Wells Fargo, Citicorp and HSBC who literally own TRILLIONS of dollars in CDO derivatives to finally bring Congress and the Whitehouse to their senses. Bears Stearns and Lehman Brothers already paid the price of inaction. I’m not optimistic about any of the current batch of politicians in power actually acting proactively, their track record speaks otherwise.

The Bush Administration for years has been warning about the potential of the lending abuses by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Unfortunately, their warnings have been too technical, understood by only those in the financial arena. Combined with the incompetence of Rep. Barney Frank (D) and Sen. Christopher Dodd (D) the problem was not resolved and in fact the solutions were repeatedly rebuffed. Even Sen. Barack Obama in 2005 failed to grasp the issues when reforms were repeatedly requested, he dutifully voted the Democrat Party Line as an Order Taker against reform. He opposed CHANGE in the favor of the STATUS QUO. His response thus far in 2008 is more Order Taking. What was his response about going back to Washington to work out a bipartisan compromise? He said to paraphrase, I can fly to Washington for the vote and then return in time for the debate. A leader is involved in negotiations, an order taker settles with the results.
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00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - Patriotism - President - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Rolling Stone: McCain a ‘Mean Little Fu_ _er,’ That Puts Own ‘Advancement Above All Else’

October 3, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Rolling Stone has a long attack piece on John McCain in its October issue that really rakes the GOP presidential candidate over the coals. The piece indulges in quite a lot of name-calling and dismisses his patriotism, bravery, and integrity in nearly every paragraph. It’s quite a vicious attack piece, really.

This slanderous piece doesn’t even take a little time to get warmed up as it emerges, guns blazing, in the first few paragraphs by calling John McCain an “undisciplined, spoiled brat” and insisting that he once went to Rio to “get laid” despite being married, with three kids at the time. This sort of name-calling is indicative of the whole piece.

Continue reading “Rolling Stone: McCain a ‘Mean Little Fu_ _er,’ That Puts Own ‘Advancement Above All Else’”

00Publius Contributor - Congress - Crime - Dan Scott - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Media Bias - News - Society/Culture - Taxes

Crisis Management, An Act Of Incompetence Or A Choice of Willfulness?

October 2, 2008 by

-By Dan Scott

The current economy is beset with many daunting problems, most of which were self inflicted wounds. Congress is debating a financial bailout plan that seems to have a huge dollar value to it in the neighborhood of $700 billion. No question that $700 billion is a serious pile of money and it has certainly piqued the ire of the taxpayer since they are the ones being told they have to fork it over. The MSM and government officials tell us daily that the world will end if Congress doesn’t pass a bailout plan. It certainly does seem the decade of the 2000’s has been a series of claimed catastrophes that demand our unqualified attention to act. The phrase, the price of inaction is greater than action has been bandied about frequently. It is almost as though some terrorist has put a gun to our heads, said you don’t get to read the fine print, sign here or I’ll pull the trigger. I don’t know about you but I dislike being threatened on every issue as though my life or my future depended on it.

This “Do it now or the earth is will come to an end” attitude smacks of crisis management using the tyranny of the urgent to force our acquiescence. It is as though we are being trained to accept every deal by government like Pavlov’s dog to respond in a certain manner. Speaking of coming catastrophes, this brings me to the curious silence by both the MSM and government officials regarding the 2008 federal budget deficit, the Medicare and Social Security financing imbalance this election season. If the current bailout could be described as the 700 pound gorilla we are currently grappling with, what about the 800 pound gorilla called the 2008 federal budget deficit, the 900 pound gorilla called Social Security and the equally big 900 pound gorilla called Medicare (Hospital Insurance Fund)? Is the MSM overly consumed with the problem de jour to the point of ignoring the other issues in context or is there something more to it? Are they attempting to train us to believe government is the answer to all of our problems by springing these upon us one at a time only when it becomes a crisis to just sign the paper?
Continue reading “Crisis Management, An Act Of Incompetence Or A Choice of Willfulness?”

00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

NYT Maureen Dowd Kicked Off McCain’s Campaign Plane: He’s ‘Dismissive of 1st Amend’

October 2, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, I guess the McCain campaign really did get tough on the New York Times. Yesterday, leftist columnist Maureen Dowd was told she was no longer welcome on McCain’s campaign plane and had to go home with her tail between her legs. Tim McNulty of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports that Mo’s parting shot was a charge that because of this incident McCain is somehow against the First Amendment like she imagines Dick Cheney is.

Rather amusingly, she was dumped in the middle of Pennsylvania, too. After an August 30 rally in Washington, PA, she was told she could not get back on the plane. The rest of the press corps loaded up and off they flew leaving poor Mo standing there in shock.

Naturally, instead of seeing this as just deserts, Dowd goes on to blame everyone else.

Continue reading “NYT Maureen Dowd Kicked Off McCain’s Campaign Plane: He’s ‘Dismissive of 1st Amend’”

00Publius Contributor - Abortion - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Family - GOP - Media Bias - Morals/Sex - News - President - Religion - Security/Safety - Selwyn Duke - Society/Culture

Does Pro-life Now Mean Pro-libertinism?

October 2, 2008 by

By Selwyn Duke

At NationalPost.com, journalist David Frum has a piece in which he discusses what he perceives to be the transformation of the pro-life movement. His thesis is that the widespread acceptance of unwed motherhood – including by pro-lifers – has eliminated the stigma attached to the state, thereby causing a quarter-century decrease in the abortion rate.

Frum starts out talking about how the applause for Sarah Palin’s pregnant, 17-year-old daughter at the Republican Convention reflects this sea-change. Then, contrasting today’s sexual mores and abortion rate with those of 27 years ago, he writes:
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00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Obama Gets His Own Wedding Anniversary Wrong

October 1, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

So, The One was in front of his subjects of the Black Congressional Caucus in D.C. and was wowing them with the mellifluous tones of his oratory and there stood the little missus. There was that mean Mama all a flutter over her man — you know, the one that made her proud of America for the very first time? — and the messiah deigned to notice her across the room.

The One thought to bring her before the enraptured crowd and let everyone know that the Dear Leader was having his 15th Anniversary with Michelle the Angry. “She just about has me trained. Almost. I still do stupid things she tells me sometimes,” he jests.

What a wonderful day. A 15th wedding anniversary… well, maybe Barack is a bit late with that celebration? You see, he is supposed to be celebrating his 16th wedding anniversary, not his 15th. From October of 1992 to October 2008 is 16 for most of us.

Oh, these things happen. Especially to men, let’s face it. Many, many men throughout time have forgotten little details like, Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays… men sometimes don’t have a mind for these dates so important to women. So, to be fair, we cannot do much else but chuckle at this little slip.

But, here is the thing. If John McCain had made such a glaring error the Old Media would be crucifying him over it. He and his wife would be the butt of jokes on every late-might TV talk show, would be portrayed as a doddering, senile old fool by every barely listened to PACIFICA or Air America host, and would be the hottest topic of ridicule from all the partisan pseudo-analysts in every medium from pulp to electronics.

And guess what?

Obama is getting a pass.

It’s hard for the media to even see daylight anymore they are so in the tank.

Continue reading “Obama Gets His Own Wedding Anniversary Wrong”

Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Education - GOP - News - Society/Culture - Taxes

About School Choice

October 1, 2008 by

-By Adam B. Schaeffer, Ph.D.

This year’s K-12 Education Reform Summit conference delivered yet another line-up of great information and hard questions. I’d like to follow up on one of the most important questions raised during the conference; are education tax credits more viable than vouchers?

If we hope to succeed against the power of the teachers unions and entrenched political interests, we need to approach this issue in the most careful, systematic, productive way we can. With that in mind, I’d like to pose a few follow-up questions that might shed some light on the debate . . .
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00Publius Contributor - Business - Congress - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - John Armor - Media Bias - News - Socialism - Society/Culture - Taxes

All’s Foul in Love and Politics

September 30, 2008 by

-By John Armor

Alexander Pope’s original quote was, of course, “all’s fair in love and war,” meaning you can get away with anything in those two areas. Now, as we all know, the entire economy of the United States is threatened with collapse because of supposed “errors and outright fraud on Wall Street.”

Let’s step back a bit. The crisis began with the financial collapse and federal take-over of the two “private” organizations which insured and/or bundled and marketed a major part of all home mortgages in the US. These two organizations had gone along for decades, serving the public one mortgage at a time. What brought Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to “suddenly” collapse?

A decade ago, Congress changed the rules of operation of both institutions. It ordered banks to broaden their lending into areas where the risks were greater, and to make loans to borrowers they previously thought would not pay those mortgages when they came due. The two institutions would then buy those loans.

Then, those loans were bundled into pools and sold on national and international markets. They were attractive, because they paid high interest rates, because they were, after all, high risk loans. The mortgages had low or no down payments. So all it took was a downturn in the housing markets and many of these loans went below zero in value. The home owners walked away. The banks were left with piles of bad paper.
Continue reading “All’s Foul in Love and Politics”

00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

State Run Canadian Media Corp. Apologizes for Palin-Smearing Article

September 29, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

**Video Below The Fold**

Well, it took them long enough, but the State run Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has finally apologized for the obscene attack on Governor Sarah Palin that appeared on September 5 that was extensively covered in the conservative press in both Canada and the U.S.

Heather Mallick called McCain a “hateful little man,” called Republicans and Palin “white trash,” and also called Palin a “porn actress” in her two September 5 articles (one has been removed by the CBC the other is at The Guardian). That wasn’t all as Mallick seemed to completely lose her mind with a litany of name calling and charges not based in any factual evidence.

The complaint soon flowed into the inbox of the kindly lefties at the CBC, so many in fact that even these hard core leftists had to back track from Mallick’s insane ramblings.

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00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

AP Attacks Palin for Not Being in Alaska During Campaign

September 29, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

With the newest angle to beat up Sarah Palin, the AP is suddenly alarmed that no one is “running Alaska” while Palin is out on the stump with John McCain, so much so that they’ve published a piece wondering if Alaska is about to sink into the icy grip of the Alaskan tundra, or something, because Palin isn’t there. One wonders if the AP is all upset that no one is in Congress representing Illinois or Delaware with Obama and Biden roaming the countryside instead of sitting in the Senate? One wonders if the AP has even noticed that Obama has spent less than 200 days in the Senate since he took his seat in that august body in 2005? Talk about rudderless! Talk about short-shrifting the representation of constituents!

The AP is all about the wringing of hands because Palin has been absent from the Alaska governor’s office for the last three weeks. I guess the AP isn’t aware that Alaska has a Lt. Governor? But, let’s face it, the AP doesn’t care about Alaska at all because this article is only a thinly disguised excuse to slam Palin for not running to the press to fawn over them and cater to their every need.

Most of this piece is centered on the way McCain and Palin are trying to control the Palin message, as opposed to any real worry that Alaska is running rudderless. In fact, this AP smear piece is a bait and switch, not really about what it seems to be about.

The AP even basically starts out with a lie:

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00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Marie Jon - Media Bias - President - Socialism - Society/Culture

The Democrats Own It

September 29, 2008 by

-By Marie Jon’

New Media pundits have been forthright when presenting well-investigated stories concerning Barack Obama and John McCain. While the alphabet biased media fawned over Obama, who marketed himself as a candidate who transcends race and represented a new brand of politics, others looked for the truth.

As it turns out, the New Media found that Obama is just another disingenuous politician. He is a packaged and pretentiously scripted candidate created by the DNC. Obama’s promises are nothing but the oily words of a swindler.

Appropriately, the facade has been stripped away by some of those who love their country. Conservative talk show hosts from across the USA have been peeling the blinders from the eyes of both parties’ constituents. Great inroads have been made by patriots such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. They have been revealing the Democrat’s deepest darkest secrets to unprecedented numbers of Americans.
Continue reading “The Democrats Own It”

00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

AP, CNN Both Distort Laura Bush Saying Palin ‘Lacks Foreign Policy Experience’

September 27, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

**Video Below the Fold**

In the Words-Mean-Things category, yesterday we got both the Associated Press and CNN distorting the words Laura Bush used to describe Sarah Palin on foreign policy. Worse, the video interview of the First Lady was right on CNN yet on its own Political Ticker blog, CNN still distorted what Laura Bush said about Palin. It makes you wonder if the folks at CNN even watch CNN?

On September 24, Political Ticker posted a story by “CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney” headlined “Laura Bush says Palin lacks foreign policy experience” and started the posting out with these first lines: (bold mine)

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00Publius Contributor - Dan Scott - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - Security/Safety - Society/Culture

The Decision of the Undecideds

September 27, 2008 by

-By Dan Scott

The first debate between John McCain and Barack Obama covering mostly foreign policy came to its expected outcome. McCain made the obvious points accepted by most of the country and cut through Obama’s attempts at nuance. We expected Obama to be shown for the extreme leftist, dangerous, naïve person he is and we were not disappointed. McCain was slow to begin with the economic question and definitely not on his game giving the advantage to Obama.

To say the least, both liberals and conservatives said their respective candidate won the debate. In a sense, both sides are right and wrong at the same time. From their perspective each candidate delivered the talking points they wanted to hear and thus in their minds was a point scored. This result is what we call, confirmation bias. The problem here from a strategic view is neither side has the votes to win if things stand as they are. Both candidates have essentially half the decided voters. Therefore, the election will be decided by the actual turn out of the decided voters and by those who have yet to make their decision.
Continue reading “The Decision of the Undecideds”

00Publius Contributor - Elections - GOP - Military - News - President - Security/Safety - Warner Todd Huston

300 Retired Generals And Admirals Endorse John McCain For President

September 27, 2008 by 1 Comment

In this day of uncertain security, this endorsement REALLY means something…

John McCain For President

ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today announced that 300 retired generals and admirals from around the country are endorsing John McCain for president. The retired generals and admirals announced their support with the following letter:

“We have had the honor and privilege of serving as career officers in the United States Armed Forces, and of serving shoulder to shoulder with so many of the fine young men and women who are the backbone of America’s Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. It is that experience that informs our judgment that John McCain is the presidential candidate best suited to serve as America’s Commander-in Chief from the day of his inauguration.

“Our next president will confront national security challenges as significant as those faced by any administration in at least a generation. Success will require a leader with proven tenacity, judgment and courage. It will also require a leader with detailed knowledge of our military and other instruments of national power, and with years of experience dealing seriously with foreign leaders.

“John McCain’s entire life has been devoted to the service of America. Throughout a long and distinguished career in the military and in Congress, he has repeatedly displayed the courage and integrity to place America’s interests first — regardless of personal cost. And he has demonstrated the experience and wisdom to lead America — and, importantly, our allies — in effectively dealing with complex and vitally important national security challenges around the world.

“We unequivocally endorse him to continue his service to the country as the next President of the United States.”

Full, Alphabetical List Follows:
Continue reading “300 Retired Generals And Admirals Endorse John McCain For President”

00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Kissinger Says Obama Wrong on Kissinger’s Position in Debate Tonight

September 26, 2008 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Here is something that the media should focus on. In the debates tonight, Barack Obama said that even Henry Kissinger agreed with Obama that on a presidential level a diplomatic meeting with as rogue a leader as Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a good idea. McCain immediately said that this was not true, but the issue wasn’t further addressed in the debate.

Well, now Henry Kissinger himself is attempting to set the record straight. Kissinger says that Obama was wrong, McCain was right. Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard has a short post to this effect on his TheBlog entry.

Kissinger Unhappy About Obama

Henry Kissinger believes Barack Obama misstated his views on diplomacy with US adversaries and is not happy about being mischaracterized. He says: “Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next President of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the Presidential level. My views on this issue are entirely compatible with the views of my friend Senator John McCain. We do not agree on everything, but we do agree that any negotiations with Iran must be geared to reality.”

Well, that about answers to that Obama lie.

This reply by Kissinger should find greater exposure to show that Obama really is out of his depth on foreign policy issues. Let’s hope the Old Media corrects the record.

Continue reading “Kissinger Says Obama Wrong on Kissinger’s Position in Debate Tonight”

00Publius Contributor - Business - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Dems Bailout Proposal Redirects ‘Paulson’s Profits’ To Left-Wing Groups

September 26, 2008 by 2 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

Bush told the country that we are in an economic crisis and his Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson, came up with an idea that would, it is claimed, end up actually making money for the U.S. Treasury in the long run. That’s all well and good, but the Democrats already have a plan to siphon off any repayment of the people’s money back to the treasury by adding one little line to the agreement that would end up stealing money from any repayments and giving it to left-wing political advocacy groups like ACORN, the National Urban League and the Hispanic group La Raza. Instead of trying to help the economy, the Democrats just want more money for their left-wing political constituents. It’s business as usual for the Democrats, of course, but a bigger question is will the media let them get away with it?

On Thursday, the Senate Democrats shopped around a one page “Agreement in Principle” from the U.S. Senate Banking Committee that laid out their proposal for the bailout of the economy. At first it all seems rather straight forward, but hidden inside this document is one little line that proves that Democrats aren’t as interested in the economy as they are in trying to extort a payday for their favorite political advocacy groups. Yes, even in a bill as important as the bailout the Democrats are trying to stuff it with pork!

Of course, the claim that this bailout will make money is not cut and dried. But the idea is that the bailout will put the Treasury Department in ownership of what could easily later become lucrative investments. And, at that later date, the Treasury Dept. can then begin to sell these investments off at a profit and, thence, pay back the Treasury for the bailout — in essence repaying the American people. But, the Democrats already have a plan to spend “profits” that not only do not exist yet, but may never exist. In the “Agreement in Principle” is the following line:

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00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Old Media Pushes False ‘Rape Kit’ Charge Against Gov. Palin

September 25, 2008 by 6 Comments

-By Warner Todd Huston

At least since September 8 the extreme left has been pushing a lie that Governor, then Mayor, Sarah Palin “charged rape victims for rape kits” performed upon them in the Alaskan town of Wasilla. The charge stems from a May 22, 2000 article in the local Wasilla paper The Frontiersman and has been spun from a comment made by the Wasilla Police Chief. This comment was somehow made into a Sarah Palin policy. Evidence of the incident, though, shows no involvement by Palin at all. Still, many Old Media outlets continue to keep illegitimately linking this rape kit billing claim to Sarah Palin, even though the truth is easily discovered.

As mentioned first up was The Frontiersman story from 2000. In that story Police Chief Fannon was quoted as standing against legislation that would force local municipalities to pick up the costs of rape kits being performed. In the interview Fannon said that, upon conviction, he favored the criminals being charged for the costs.

The story mentions that Fannon claimed that at the time Wasilla did have a policy that rape victims’ insurance would be charged for the kits being performed but there was no mention that victims themselves were charged and no claim that any ever were. It should be pointed out that The Frontiersman is the local Wasilla paper, so, consequently, the story did not mention what the policy was in any other Alaskan city outside the area the paper covers other than to say that “most municipal police agencies have covered the cost of exams.” This last phrase has been focused on by Palin’s detractors and spun from “some municipalities” into “all” (except Wasilla) and presented as some sort of proof that she hates rape victims.

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Political Elections, Cultural Elections, and the Votes that Really Matter

September 24, 2008 by

By Selwyn Duke

To be honest, treating politics isn’t my favorite pastime. Sure, like other commentators I do it, but it’s not something I can truly sink my teeth into. I’ll explain why momentarily.

This election season, my pen has directed many slings and arrows Barack Obama’s way. I criticized John McCain, too, but that was during the primaries. Now there is what I perceive to be a clear and present danger in the person of a slick demagogue, so my sights — and my site — are trained in one particular direction. Because of this, however, I sometimes receive emails from disenchanted rightist voters. “What do you have to say about McCain?” some ask. “How is he any better than Obama?”

My feelings toward such respondents vacillate between surliness and sympathy. I understand why they feel the way they do, but they don’t understand me. I’m neither a party man nor a doctrinarian. I’m probably at least as dissatisfied with our wanting candidates as those who write me, and I can sum up my reasoning very simply:

Both candidates deserve to lose.

Only, one deserves to lose more.
Continue reading “Political Elections, Cultural Elections, and the Votes that Really Matter”

00Publius Contributor - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Media Bias - News - President - Security/Safety - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Dems Threaten Anti-Iran Rally Organizers With IRS Attack if They Let Palin Speak

September 23, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

News has emerged that the organizers of that anti-Iran rally that famously got snarled up in Senator Hillary Clinton’s ire at Governor Sarah Palin last week were threatened by New York Democrats with IRS action against their tax-exempt status if they allowed Palin to speak. CBS local NY news reported this little fact and so did NBC but most of the national news has ignored this outrageous threat to use the IRS to silence Governor Palin.

Accusing New York Democrats of using “McCarthyism” to shut Palin down, Democrat Assemblyman Dov Hikind was flabbergasted by the behind the scenes threats against the rally organizers. “It’s an absolute shame that this has happened,” CBS quoted Hikind as saying. “To threaten organizations … to threaten the Conference of Presidents that if you don’t withdraw the invitation to Gov. Palin we’re going to look into your tax exempt status … that’s McCarthyism.”

The charge was that inviting only Palin and not also Democrat VP candidate Joe Biden is somehow a violation of “equal representation of candidates” (As NBC claimed in its report). But, this is not a certainty. After all, the appearance wasn’t a campaign stop nor was it a venue to advertise Palin or engage in presidential politics. Besides, as HotAir notes, of the political speakers that were invited to speak last year, few were Republicans.

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