Thursday, January 21, 2010

From Roadside Bombs to Atomic Bombs

Dan from New York:

Here's a neat idea, gang. Let's give these guys nuclear weapons!

The revelations of possible Iranian involvement in the attack on Israeli diplomats earlier this month in Jordan appear to offer the latest evidence of direct engagement by Teheran in subversion and paramilitary activity across national borders.

The Jordanian investigation is still in its early stages. But the suggestion by sources close to the well-respected Jordanian General Intelligence Department that the explosives used for the attack may have been brought into the kingdom by Iranian diplomats is certainly plausible. It would conform to similar incidents on which the fingerprints of Iran were later unmistakably identified. It would also fit the current pattern of Iranian support for destabilizing its regional enemies.

...A cold war is on in the region - pitting Islamist Iran and its allies against pro-Western states. Like other such phenomena in the past, this cold war has a number of fronts, and a number of faces... [including] a clandestine-warfare aspect, in which the Revolutionary Guard and its many regional clients seek to destabilize and subvert rival states and regimes. This is a side of the conflict which only occasionally and fleetingly reveals itself to the public eye.

The latest revelations suggest that the roadside bombing on January 14 on the Dead Sea Highway from Amman may well have formed an engagement on this front of the ongoing regional contest.

Insert your own sardonic Clenched Fist™ remark here.


Larwyn's Linx: Deficit Kabuki theater

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget.

Nation

A Hundred Battles: Doctor Zero
Tuesday night at the White House: PJM
The Evaporation of a Myth: R&R

What Has Brown Done for Us?: AT
The Democrat Reaction Richter Scale: Hanson
Dems define new GOP responsibilities: RWN

The Democrats Start to Fracture: AT
Uh, We Don't Have an Interrogation Program: Ace
White House: We're Sticking to Radical Agenda: GWP

Why MA Victory Killed Health Care Reform: RWN
Brown Victory Has Barney Frank Gasping for Air: GayPatriot
How to Cause a Political Tsunami: AT

Economy

Deficit Kabuki theater: Dems act like they care about debt: Malkin
What We Can Learn From Cicero: forbes
For the First Time Ever: US No Longer Ranked “Free”: GWP

Without a hint of irony: InstaPundit
No, Let US Be Clear: Pundette
UK: Unions ask for "Universal Jobs Guarantee" Guaranteed Employment: Mish

Dean: Brown won because ObamaCare isn’t socialist enough or something: Hot Air

Climate & Energy

Obama TSA Nominee Out, Called Christians Terrorists, Put Global Warming Ahead Of War On Terror: BlogProf
UN climate report riddled with errors on glaciers -- Call for climate chief to resign: Seattle Times
Democrats move doomsday clock 1 minute to midnight: BlogProf

Media

Press takes new look at Tea Parties after Brown win: MKH
Obama Gets It Right: Kimball
Plan 9 from OlbyPlanet!: Strap-On Watch

Massachusetts suddenly turned racist: Hot Air
Message Maybe Received... by Someone: Ace
You never forget your first time... watching MSNBC: PJM

Beck's World Domination Bid Threatened By Man In Truck: Equalizer
How Did The Cable News Channels Deal With Coakley And Brown Speeches?: STACLU
Glenn Reynolds: Barone on Scott Brown: InstaPundit

Woodshed Politics: MNR

World

2nd Haiti Quake; Ed’s alive: Anchoress
Haiti and the U.S. Coast Guard: A Sailor's View from Ground Zero: AT
The Decline of the Obama Administration: Massachusetts and the Middle East: RubRep

Good news: DNI, FBI chief weren’t sure who should interrogate Flight 253 bomber: Hot Air
One Year Ago- The World’s Greatest Liberator Since World War II Leaves Office: GWP

SciTech

Google to Broadcast a Live Sport First Time With IPL Cricket: BizWk
Social networking key to Brown's success: PJM
Chinese-made fake Blackberries being sold in UAE: Maktoob

Cornucopia

Obama Administration: One Year Anniversary Video: Three Beers Later
'I am Rogue' -- the MacGruber Movie Trailer Hits the Web: NBC New York

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

"Iceberg -- Dead Ahead!"

Criminal. Irresponsible. Outrageous.

Even before the federal government nationalizes the entire, $3 trillion-a-year health care industry, its spending was completely out of control:

Jim Bianco of Bianco Research crunched the inflation adjusted numbers. The bailout has cost more than all of these big budget government expenditures – combined:

• Marshall Plan: Cost: $12.7 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $115.3 billion
• Louisiana Purchase: Cost: $15 million, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $217 billion
• Race to the Moon: Cost: $36.4 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $237 billion
• S&L Crisis: Cost: $153 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $256 billion
• Korean War: Cost: $54 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $454 billion
• The New Deal: Cost: $32 billion (Est), Inflation Adjusted Cost: $500 billion (Est)
• Invasion of Iraq: Cost: $551b, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $597 billion
• Vietnam War: Cost: $111 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $698 billion
• NASA: Cost: $416.7 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $851.2 billion

TOTAL: $3.92 trillion

That is $686 billion less than the cost of the credit crisis thus far.

I blame Bush.


Bumper Sticker o' the Day

Idea: ReliaPundit.


America Today: an Address

Decades of time ago, under a vale of fairness, compassion, protection, and in following years, political correctness and environmental concern, a new culture was brought forth to this nation. Conceived in Godlessness, immorality, corruption and governmental tyranny, and dedicated to the proposition that sloth, greed, dishonesty, stupidity and dependence would drive men to lose their integrity and souls, forfeit their liberties, and grovel at the feet of a self-interested, almighty government and its liberty-fearing leaders.

We now engage in a great moral and social war testing whether those who abhor this damnable ideology will fight to regain the strength and soul of this once great country or allow it to finally fall completely into the ash heap of history. To rebound from the moral and social blight created by those who have degraded the freedoms and strengths of our once great nation and its people to increase their own power and wealth. We are met on a great battlefield of that war at a crucial time and have come to take back this great nation for those who have died defending it, the children that are its future, and those who still take pride in loving it, savoring its freedom and calling it home. It is vital that we should do this for the benefit of the future of this country and mankind. For that last great bastion of freedom and prosperity is fast becoming what it was and not what it is.

We cannot waste, we cannot hand over, we cannot just give away this hallowed ground millions have died to protect. To those heartless and soulless titans of self-interest and character assassination who have desecrated and reduced this society far below our power to rebuild it today or tomorrow, but in the many years it will take to reverse an ideology that reduces God to an enemy of the state, diminishes individual liberty, disrespects private property, limits free speech, negates the uniqueness of human life, promotes the destruction of the family, abuses the most innocent and defenseless, and develops a culture of wickedness and lawlessness to release upon this society, which they then attempt to disarm while hiding behind their taxpayer-funded fortresses.

Unlike the crisis they have dreamed up, if we do not act here in true and real urgency, the world will not long remember the greatness of this land and what it has stood for. It will instead be taught to forget the appreciation of those who it has freed and fed in the name of humanity and liberty and who have craved a chance to bask in its freedom.

On our city streets we are reminded with great remorse of the empty lives and dreamless futures of those whose lives have been used and destroyed by others who use government dependence as a tool for political survival.

It is for us the living and still freedom-loving to be dedicated to reversing the selfish and sinful work which they who have used humanity here have so despicably advanced. To guarantee this nation founded under God, shall have a reemergence of freedom of the people, by the people and for the people. Under God and so help us God.

Seen



Victor the Contractor: The Democrat Party Has Just Been Raided!

By Victor the Contractor

Can you hear the earth rumbling underfoot? A change is coming, and it will do away with 'Change you can believe in,' and leave more than change in your pocket. A lot of people in this country are fed up with the course the Democrat-controlled Legislature was plotting and the past few elections have sent a shot across the bow of Liberals and their 'Progressive Agenda.'

The victory of Scott Brown in Massachusetts last night was the latest warning of the coming Republican tsunami that will wash out the Marxists for the next generation in both Houses of Congress. I'm calling for a change of leadership in the House and Senate and the immediate realization that President Obama is a one-termer, a sort of Carter Presidency redux. Before you rain on my parade and say that the Democrat agenda is still in the works -- and some of it can be forced through in the next ten days -- be advised that above even their Communist plans for this country the Democrats love power. And to keep any kind of power they need to be reelected periodically.

Having failed to set up the National Health Care Consortium that would serve as a revolving door through which failed politicians would recycle back onto bureaucratic payrolls (and control about a sixth of the economy), the Democrats are forced to stay in power the old fashioned way; by running for reelection. Their plans for a 'United Socialist American Republic' have once again been thwarted by an electorate that refused to sustain the momentum of the government's rush toward a totalitarian state. It seem that most Americans are not sweet on the idea of paying for illegal aliens to go to American schools and doctors. One need only examine the de facto bankruptcy of California to realize the inevitable results of government-run health care and overly generous welfare programs.

We have a country that is solidly center-right in its political bent. The Obama election was an understandable aberration in that it was based upon a suddenly ailing economy and a vitriolic press exacerbating the problems. With a bad recession, the party in power always gets tossed out. Simple as that. The lessons some took from the election were that the country had swung permanently left and that a European style of socialism was now possible because most people had realized that they were responsible for their fellow citizens' needs. From there it was a short hop to health care being a Constitutional right. And then to a proposed wealth transfer -- using Cap-and-Trade -- to countries with failed economies over guilt for our success as an industrialized nation. To me it makes little sense but then I'm not a rabidly liberal member of the normally socialist press, am I?

Well, the voters have spoken a third time and it resonates on a national level. With a Scott Brown Senate win in Massachusetts, Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell in the Governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia respectively, the country is forewarned of an unmistakable shift from a silent tolerance of the liberalism in Washington to repudiation of all things socialist and maybe even an overcompensation to the right in the coming November elections.

There is an epidemic of Democrat cold sweat breaking out nationwide and it can only mean a shift to the right politically if there is even a hope of reelection for some of these characters. And while the White House downplays a growing list of election losses and the press decries the electorate as superstitious and stupid for 'clinging the their guns and bibles', the mainstream Democrats are quietly retooling their platform to focus on jobs and the economy. Health care, Cap-and-Trade and the 'Card Check' travesty are crosses to be now carried only by liberals who intend to fall on their swords in November.

I am also noting a curious behavior only engaged in by Democrats and the commentators who subsist on the party swill: they destroy their losers. It started last week with a report that Barney Frank blamed the Senate loss on Ms. Coakely; this being at a campaign rally days before the election. Commentators are also falling back on the tired, lame explanation that the Democrats didn't get their message out effectively enough and didn't frame the issues. This couldn't be further from the truth: the Democrats and liberal press have not only framed the debate but declared it "settled" on numerous subjects when it served their purposes. Others blame 'angry voters' or fear-mongering as reasons the Democrats lost. Suffice it to say that we'll never hear from the losing contestants again. No one blacklists like the Democrats. Maybe they will become commentators who resurface during election cycles, but not any in the foreseeable future.

I am interested to see who will press harder to further the liberal agenda before all the air is let out of the balloon, so to speak. I think its over for all but a vestigial health care bill that tinkers with the existing system in some trivial way so the administration can declare a Pyrrhic victory. Even that will require major negotiations with Republicans and the Democrats are currently loathe to stoop to that level.

The Democrats' influence is going to go into decline and a new conservative mood will permeate government. A couple of things will force Washington's hand. First, we are all aware that the borrowing engaged in by the Obama Administration has nearly bankrupted the country and that our lender nations are already making noises about the wisdom of our expenditures. Let China pass on one bond auction and we'll see how 'prosperous' we are. It will cause a depression in about five minutes. That's because all credit is extended on the assumption of eventual payback with interest and China refusing to buy our notes will signal a loss of confidence in our credit-worthiness. A collapse of the markets would soon follow. Think 1929; then 1931.

Second, even if we are able to make payments indefinitely, of which I'm not entirely convinced, the interest alone will consuming so much of the budget that spending growth is out of the question. We simply have to cut back on spending, and in some cases it will be rather draconian.

Whether it be by Republican or Democrat leadership, we were due to lower spending as a condition of economic survival. And I know that the Democrats wanted to destroy the economy so they could remake it in Stalin's own image but we would probably go into a kind of 'economic receivership' before that happened. Even if it did, the Government of China is not a bottomless source of funding. Spending cuts were on the horizon by necessity. And simply raising taxes to fund projects results in less revenue as people and companies progressively shield income from scrutiny.

I want to see how Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid react in the coming weeks to the election results and change in mood of the elected officials across the country. No longer can they ignore public opinion or turn a blind eye to the coming elections. But I really want to know if they will continue to ram through some type of nationalization of the health care system (and probably fail in the process) or back off and suddenly change their focus to the economy. The wise thing to do would be to regroup and wait out a few election cycles; but I feel the temptation is too great not to try to get the assorted bills to the White House and sacrifice both House majorities to do so. After all, this is what the Leftists in Congress have salivating over for a generation. If they can't pass health care, Cap-and-Trade and Card Check now, they will die before the Democrats again have the needed majorities to do so. So they have ten days: lets see what they do.

Alternately, we have to live now with the fallout of letting a spendthrift government control our collective destiny. Somebody's got to pay down this debt. And that falls to us. For all revenue derived by the government comes from the American people. Even if we could stop the growth of Government, and we are not even close to doing that yet, we have to pay interest on some 12.3 trillion dollars and somehow pay that down. We pay it down by borrowing less. I'm not advocating for a total cessation of borrowing because that would cause a governmental shutdown as we ran out of money to pay our bills -- but we need to cut spending drastically. And again, that's where the Democrats come in.

There will be a fight for the heart and soul of the Democrat party during the coming months. Moderate Democrats, who know all too well the mood of the country, will try to 'mainstream' the platform of the party to the center and stress the economy and jobs. They know that the old maxim, 'its the economy, stupid,' dominates politics during periods of high unemployment. Trying to avoid the problem would result in their bodies getting thrown under the bus at election time. Alternately, the far left liberals, who should be known as Communists were the truth-in-advertising laws enforced, know this is the last gasp for another generation. It really is the last time the sixties radical washouts will have almost total control of the levers of power, and it looks like they have about ten days left. After that they know they will have diminishing influence on policy and have to engage in public discourse to change attitudes. And they are never good at that sort of thing when serious issues dominate the discussion. Who cares about global warming, climate Change or whatever they are calling the climactic disaster du jour -- when funding college tuition or unemployment is the major topic of conversation at the dinner table?

Liberals who spout off about the poor in Africa miss the point when our children may not get to go to college. They sound like whining children to an under- or unemployed steel worker. Who really cares about the coming climate disaster when your company is downsizing because they couldn't sell enough product to justify their payroll? Some moderate Democrats understand the lessons the Republicans learned when they took a good flogging last year in the election: a voter's family comes first. It comes first over the political aims of either party; all politics are local and the issue becomes personal during a recession.

The Democrats have to sort out what manner of party they are, now that their agenda has been completely rejected by the voters. And this is only a prelude to November. True socialist believers will continue to demand a Euro-American model, knowing they are doomed to failure. Moderate Democrats will have to distance themselves from the party in the short term while they battle behind the scenes for control. Republicans will gradually meander more to the right as they seek to differentiate themselves from Democrats who have just 'found religion.' This will be enjoyable to watch, especially as the Communist News Network and the Liberal Mass media grow more dour as the election approaches. Their Party is over, at least as they know it.

But we have to do something to rescue our economy from a possible disaster: this hyper-spending must stop. We must return to a work ethic that stresses enthusiastic effort and not manipulation of some other person's productivity. A re-adoption of self-reliance and can-do spirit in the vein of Ronald Reagan is in order. And I know just the ticket to stir up some good ole' American controversy: Sarah Palin and Scott Brown. Who more to humble the 'Entitlement Party' then two self-made successes?

Let the Democrats dwell on that for a while.


Victor The Contractor


Keith Olbermann's Perversions and the Burden of Proof

On January 18th, crack MSNBC newsman Keith Olbermann analyzed the close Massachusetts Senate race with a concise summary of the policy issues at stake.

In short, in Scott Brown we have an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against woman and against politicians with whom he disagrees. In any other time in our history, this man would have been laughed off the stage as an unqualified and a disaster in the making by the most conservative of conservatives. Instead, the commonwealth of Massachusetts is close to sending this bad joke to the Senate of the United States.

On January 19th, expert MSNBC anchorman Keith Olbermann offered a retrospective analysis of the Massachusetts Senate race with a plainly-stated, even-handed review of the policy issues.

In Senator-Elect Brown, we have an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, sexist, ex-nude model, teabagging supporter of violence against woman and against politicians with whom he disagrees.

And if he, or you, don't like that characterization, my answer to you is simple: disprove it.

Because he... .hasn't.

On January 20th, Global News Service editor-in-chief Simon Criswell responded to Olbermann's attacks.

In MSNBC newsman Edward R. Olbermann, we have an irresponsible, bloviating, reactionary, sexist, please-lord-no-nude-posing, pudding-sucking, strap-on-using, garlic-breathed wearer of women's underwear who demeans politicians with whom he disagrees.

And if he, or you, don't like that characterization, my answer to you is simple: disprove it.

B***ches.

Olbermann was unavailable for comment at press time, reportedly because he was on a shopping junket for Perfect Pair Breast Enhancers and a rare Kochi the Anime Doll.


Linked by: Michelle Malkin. Thanks!

Parallel Universe: Massachusetts and New York

Dan from New York:

New Yorkers have our own special election in November to pick a lucky guy or gal to complete Hillary Clinton's term. Right now, a junior lightweight going by the name of Kirsten Gillibrand is keeping that seat warm. Her appointment by Gov. Patterson brought gasps to the liberal hoi polloi who favored Princess Caroline and thought Kirsten was much too far to the right. But since taking office Gillibrand has rolled over like a puppy, showing she knows how and whom to please. Sure enough, the lady has their backing and intends to run in the fall.

After Massachusetts (and even before), this would seem like a juicy opportunity to add another Republican senate seat. But noooo! To date, not one of our pathetic RINOs has stepped up to the plate. Rudy, Pataki and Peter King have all said they'll run - the other way. Yesterday's upheaval could light a fire in someone's pants and a Republican with some stature may emerge to seize the day. But more and more this state is succumbing to the dictatorship of the proletariat, and I'm not holding my breath.

Schumer-Weiner. Schumer-Weiner. Schumer-Weiner.

Sorry. Every time I think of New York politics, those names of those two crapsacks rattle around in my brain.


No Way Out for Japan: an Ominous Preview of the Ramifications of the Democrats' Massive Deficit Spending

Global Economic Analysis provides a fascinating interview with Kyle Bass, founder of hedge fund Hayman Capital. Bass, you may recall, made billions betting that housing was headed for a meltdown... in 2006.

Bass concisely explains the kind of trouble Japan is in and what it means for the massive deficit trajectory that the U.S. is on -- courtesy the free-spending Obama-Pelosi-Reid Democrats.

Kyle Bass: .... China and Japan own a lot of Fannie and Freddie Debt. I think we are more sensitive to them losing money than we are to the US taxpayer losing money and I think that has to change. ... Fannie and Freddie have paid $200 million into campaigns of 354 politicians over the last 10 years. This is an organization created by the lawmakers. Why are they paying the lawmakers? Let's get rid of this structure and just have the government make mortgage loans. ...

David Faber: Let's talk briefly about some other things you are doing at Hayman. ... We saw the mini-blowup in Dubai, we have heard a lot about Greece, when you look at the totality of sovereign risk, where are you focused?

Kyle Bass: I think the big canary in the coalmine is Japan. When you see how Japan has lost 20 years of their prosperity from 1990 to today, you see what happens when a government steps in and runs giant deficits to make up for the private market place pulling back and attempting to deleverage.

So what we've seen around the globe in the developed world, bad private assets are moving onto public balance sheets. Sovereign balance sheets have expanded 86% from pre-crisis levels of debt. If you extrapolate that from the beginning levels of debt, many of these countries around the world won't be able to service their debt. So I think in the next 2-3-4 years you start to see significant defaults.

David Faber: Do you believe Japan is in a position where it might default and/or devalue its currency as well, in the next 3-4 years?

Kyle Bass: I do not think Japan has a way out of this.

David Faber: Why Not?

Kyle Bass: You have a secular decline in population, and you have a huge funding structure at below market rates. So Japan's weighted cost of capital is only 1.4% and their sovereign balance sheet is much worse than the rest of the developed world. If their cost of capital goes up 250 basis points, their interest expenses of the government will exceed their total government revenue, and it can't even get there [that high].

David Faber: Now their debt is held there as opposed to us where our debt is held by foreigners, in Japan it's mostly citizens.

Kyle Bass: That's right. In the United States about 57% of our debt is held externally. In Japan 6% of their debt is held externally. 94% is held by the people, the pensions, and the life [insurance] companies. What's happening now with the population decline, all the buyers of their debt are turning to sellers. And the largest pension fund in the world in Japan told the Ministry of Finance in May that they are going to be a net seller from now on. So their buyer's base is disappearing and if they have to go to the international capital markets to raise money, they can't exist. It's an awful social problem for Japan.

David Faber: These things always seem to be years away and they never seem to happen.

Kyle Bass: If you put pen to paper, and you understand the problems that some of the larger nations have, the good news is the United States is a good 10 to 12 years away from this. The silver lining is, we can see what happens when a country decides to spend its way into a huge deficit and have nowhere to turn.

Unfortunately, as long as ideologues like Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi are in power, facts, logic and reason will always play second fiddle to a Marxist agenda.

Our only hope is to continue to educate the citizenry -- because an informed electorate is a conservative electorate.


Larwyn's Linx: GOP's Brown Wins in an Epic Upset

Have a great link you'd like me to review? Drop me an email. You can also install a Larwyn's Linx blog widget.

Massachusetts

GOP's Brown Wins in an Epic Upset: Driscoll
The Left's Pied Piper: AT
Does Brown Victory Pose a Danger for GOP?: Moran

The Democrats’ Massachusetts meltdown: Malkin
Liberty 1, Tyranny 0 After Brown’s Big Win: PJM (Blumer)
Seeing Red: Graphic of the Night: Malkin

A Referendum on the Establishment: RWN
Mowbray: the Stunning Turnout in Massachusetts: Power Line
A Salute to Scott Brown: Power Line

Nation

Texas' In-State Tuition Law for Illegals: Unconstitutional: MNR
The Coming Democrat Counteroffensive: AT
Jimmy Carter Part II: Dems Move Away Sprint from Obama: Ace

Webb: suspend votes until Brown is seated: BlogProf
It's the Enemy, Stupid: NRO
Missouri Lawmakers Say No To Fed Health Care: GWP

Economy

Time to Cut the Size of Government: Times
Putting 'limited' back in government: Democrats squander your money, liberty: Times
The next battle: stop Socialism: Morris

Next to Be Nationalized: Your 401K: RWN
$42 Million Union Embezzlement case, Little Media Coverage: RWN

Climate & Energy

As Global Warming Movement Collapses, Activists Already 'Test-Marketing' the Next Eco-Fear: Depot
AP: 2000s warmest decade on record because it snowed a lot or something: BlogProf
IPCC: New climate change deal unlikely this year: Maktoob

Media

David Brooks: If Brown wins and Dems pass ObamaCare anyway... Bayh warns of 'catastrophe': Hot Air
Case Study in New York Times Bias, Coakley/Brown Edition: Reason
Schadenfreude – Media Matters In Desperate Denial Over Brown Win: Founding

I Told You Ninnies He Was Going to Win: Ace
Paul Krugman - You know who Obama doesn't blame enough? George Bush that's who: DPU
Journalism: the Most Trusted Scam in America: PJTV

The World Turned Upside Down: DPU
MSNBC hack anchors gasp as Chris Matthews says "it looks like Brown": BlogProf
Newsman's Remorse: "He's Done Everything Wrong": MoneyRunner

Mike Will Pay for This: C&S
Rush Limbaugh: “This One’s For You, Mary Jo”: GWP

World

China removed as top priority for spies - Intelligence chiefs object: Times
‘Tiny Chair’ Diplomacy Harms Israel-Turkey Relations: PJM
Israel Does What US Hasn't In Haiti: Maggie's Farm

Professions To Become Less Elitist In England: Briggs

SciTech

How Scott Brown Used Google to Get Results in Mass. Election: WSJ
Commercial open source had very good 2009: CNet

Cornucopia

The new Hitler YouTube is here! The new Hitler YouTube is here!: SondraK
Trulon Henry wants to make most of 2nd chance: Trib


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Yo, Tanenhaus! How's that 'Conservatism is Dead' Meme Workin' Out?

Remember this numbskull?

Well, lookee here:

In an epic upset in liberal Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown rode a wave of voter anger to defeat Democrat Martha Coakley in a U.S. Senate election Tuesday that left President Barack Obama's health care overhaul in doubt and marred the end of his first year in office.

The loss by the once-favored Coakley for the seat that the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy held for nearly half a century signaled big political problems for the president's party this fall when House, Senate and gubernatorial candidates are on the ballot nationwide.

More immediately, Brown will become the 41st Republican in the 100-member Senate, which could allow the GOP to block the president's health care legislation and the rest of Obama's agenda. Democrats needed Coakley to win for a 60th vote to thwart Republican filibusters.

To my brothers and sisters in Massachusetts: thank you! You have fired another historic "shot heard 'round the world."

Hear me, Democrats: a powerful storm nears. Read feverishly through the Constitution if you wish to save your jobs. The time between thunderclaps is narrowing.


InTrade servers appear to be down, but last trades before 8PM ET show Brown leaping 10 points to 90

The InTrade site appears to be down, probably crushed under a heavy load. Just before it went under (about 8PM ET), I captured the following graphs.

Over the last 20 minutes before the polls closed, a glut of rapid-fire trades pushed Brown up 10 points to a new high of 90.

One could surmise that Brown will win by a significant margin, because if it's close any rational person would assume that the Democrats would simply steal the election.

That's why the most bizarre two words in the English language are "Senator Franken".


Magical Obama Iconography Saves Unicorn From Certain Death -- But Coakely Campaign: Not So Much

Just noticed that the Coakely campaign got some mileage out of that creepy, ubiquitous Obama campaign logo.

Kinda bizarre.

I'm trying to think back in American history -- like the last time that a President had his own personal logo.

Looking back, it was either John Quincy Filmore... or never. Probably never.


CNN breathlessly markets Coakley campaign's ludicrous complaints of GOP vote fraud; Party of ACORN, SEIU and Daley concerned Brown is cheating

As if you need further proof that the Democrat-Legacy Media complex is in full panic mode, consider the following CNN Breaking News headline:

Some in Mass. got ballots already marked for Republican Brown, Dem. candidate Coakley's camp says.


It breathlessly reports the Coakley campaign's ludicrous assertion of GOP vote fraud.

Let me see if I understand: the party of ACORN, the SEIU, the Chicago machine, walking-around money and dead voters... the party which favors granting voting rights to illegal aliens and felons... that party now claims Scott Brown and his minions are cheating.

Ed Driscoll notes that the accusation appears to have been made even before voting began.

Note the date on the "before" version of the Coakley press release.

I see an SNL skit in the making.


Chris Matthews calls Brown's election 'deliberate, pre-meditated murder' of health care reform

At what point does a parent or guardian have Chris Matthews committed? Jim Pethokoukis of U.S. News & World Report twitters:

chris matthews calls Brown election "deliberation, pre-meditated murder" of healthcare reform


Over the last couple of days, the MSNBC anchor has appeared depressed and erratic. Though, since I don't watch the channel, I'm not sure if that represents a change.


I sincerely hope he seeks prompt treatment before he loses all 18 of his viewers.


Brown vs. Coakley Tweets o' the Day

• Coakley's hinting at voter fraud? Yeah, the big Massachusetts Republican Machine has the whole state wired.

• RT @benpolitico: Nobody's using the coat check at Coakley

• Observer in Mass says Scott Brown by a wide margin, the polls are swamped and the voters electric. Calls it an avalanche

• RT @BrentTeichman: **BREAKING** ACORN admits there are not enough Disney characters to put Coakley over the top.

• For those who are watching Martha Coakley 16% Scott Brown 66%

• does Coakley need drivers to pick up more bodies from morgue or just another batch from the asylum

• Time for #Coakley to take her place under the #Obama bus

• Give Axelrod heartburn... Vote Scott Brown.

• Was there a "FULL MOON" last night? It looks like all the #Obama Zombies R out today & twitting against Scott Brown Tea Party Massachusetts

• Coakley's only qualifications for the senate is the D at the end of her name and the Machine

• U.S. News & World Report: Scott Brown Fueled by Independents’ Anger at Liberal Arrogance http://ow.ly/YlzZ

• Scott Brown America Stands With U Today!

• Ace commenter makes a great point: if Brown wins by Obama's margin, will it be a "landslide"?

• Suggested line for a desperate Coakley campaign: "If Brown wins, MLK will have died for nothing."

• ABC Empathizes with White House: Coakley Loss ‘Shakespearean,’ ‘Tragedy of Greek Proportions’

• Wow. Martha Coakley has bought every piece of AdSense in my Reader. Lame.

• Gravediggers worked overtime last night to get out the vote for Coakley.

• Breaking News from MA...Coakley suffering from a horrible rash from ASTROTURF

• Scott Brown is a trending topic on twitter. Martha Coakley is not. Is that indicative of the outcome?

• Why is this woman handing out blank absentee ballots? http://bit.ly/91Ouot

• Best line of the day I heard: "Scott Brown win is Mary Jo's revenge" ?Go Scott Go Baby!?? <--Don't forget Martha Moxley

• How can any democrat tweet me in my face saying "Scott Brown is a joke." When they elected Al Franken.

• Since it pisses off teabagging turds: Remember, Mass voters: vote for Scott Brown like spitting on Ted Kennedy's grave

Actually, that last one might motivate a few conservatives to vote for Brown.

Larwyn's Linx: Brown vs. Coakley, Liberty vs. Tyranny

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Nation

Brown vs. Coakley, Liberty vs. Tyranny: PJM (Blumer)
Here we go: Dems to ping-pong ObamaCare bill: Hot Air
Ballot integrity worker blocked by Coakley thugs: Founding

Liberalism is Dead: AT (Lewis)
"Our nation's health care crisis... is a crisis of culture": Wizbang
Panther politics: Obama interference derails Justice?: Times

Double Down: Obama Plans 'Combative' Response: Belmont
Federal health care foes plot for state opt-outs: Times
'It Was the Hindenburg Crashing Into the Titanic' : JWF

Old GOP Doesn’t ‘Get’ Tea Parties: RWN
Oh Noes! Epic Kerry Rally Will Help Coakley: iOTW

Economy

Can Doctors Afford To Stay In Medicare?: RWN
Fixing the Financial System: The Fix is In :AT
Hope and Change?: BlogProf

Liberal Professors: A Type-Casted Profession?: RWN
Bay State's Blue State Blue-Collar Blues: CFB

Climate & Energy

IPCC Will Retract Report of Himalayan Glaciers Melting By 2035 If They Haven’t Melted By Then: Powers

Media

If It’s Close In Massachusetts, Expect ACORN To Lead Vote Fraud Effort: NewsReal
Your Tears Are Delicious, Mmm, Mmm. :Ace
CNN Calls Scott Brown ‘Insurgent’. Seriously.: iOTW

In Other Words, He’s Perfectly Qualified To Work At MSNBC: Driscoll
Cavuto Slams Obama For Attacking Scott Brown & GM Truck Owners: GWP
They Are All Marcia(sic) Coakley, Now: Riehl

A Tale of Two Walters: InstaPundit
Question of the Week: President's first year in office: Sheboygan Press
"James Cameron Hearts Ecoterrorists": Proof

Frustration, Anger, and the Party Line: GoV

World

The Superman Complex: With Haiti Aid, Even a Superpower Can’t Move Mountains: PJM
Farewell to the London Mega-Mosque: GoV
Slow news day: ABC reports military Trijicon sights inscribed with secret 'Jesus' Bible codes : Jawa

SciTech

FCC wades through Net neutrality comments: CNet
50 Things Successful People Have in Common: DewView
Calls to ditch Internet Explorer after China hacks: SMH

Cornucopia

All we need is a name: Brigadier General McSoulpatchy: Cdr. Salamander
Keith Olbermann Special Commentary About Yesterday’s Lunch: Powers
Bookie pays off early, predicts Brown win: Times


Monday, January 18, 2010

Glute-meter quivering: Andrew Sullivan predicts Brown landslide

Famed Atlantic columnist and ghost-blogging expert Andrew Sullivan says Democrats can stop hoping now.

I can see no alternative scenario but a huge - staggeringly huge - victory for the FNC/RNC machine tomorrow. They crafted a strategy of total oppositionism to anything Obama proposed a year ago.

Is oppositionism a word?

Mebbe one of the ghostwriters did it.

Remember they gave him zero votes on even the stimulus in his first weeks. They saw health insurance reform as Obama's Waterloo, and, thanks in part to the dithering Democrats, they beat him on that hill. They have successfully channeled all the rage at the massive debt and recession the president inherited on Obama after just one year.

Where does one learn to weave prose this masterful, this powerful, this sublime? I think my glutes just tensed, not that there's anything wrong with that.

If they can do that already, against the massive evidence against them, they have the power to wield populism to destroy any attempt by government to address any actual problems.

This is a nihilist moment, built from a nihilist strategy in order to regain power ... to do nothing but wage war against enemies at home and abroad.

Shhh... no one tell Andi about that living-and-breathing document called "The Constitution". Or that other anachronism "The Declaration of Independence". Andi believes in unlimited government, unlimited taxes and the superiority of central planning, Politburo-style. To hell with the free market, peons! Government always knows best!

What comes next will be a real test for Obama. I suspect serious health insurance reform is over for yet another generation... The uninsured will even probably vote Republican next time in protest at Obama's failure! That's how blind the rage is.

Ditto any attempt to grapple with climate change.

Is that what it's called now? I thought you used to call it "global warming"? Or is that only in the summer?

In fact, any legislative moves with this Democratic party and this Republican party are close to hopeless. The Democrats are a clapped out, gut-free lobbyist machine. The Republicans are insane. The system is therefore paralyzed beyond repair.

Hold on, I'm writing all of these brilliant insights down.

Memo to self: Andi doesn't believe that the Constitution is worth defending. Therefore conservatives are "insane".

Yes, I'm gloomy. Not because I was so wedded to this bill, although I think it's a decent enough start. But because if America cannot grapple with its deep and real problems after electing a new president with two majorities, then America's problems are too great for Americans to tackle.

And so one suspects that this is a profound moment in the now accelerating decline of this country. And one of the major parties is ecstatic about it.

Actually, we'll be ecstatic once we impeach every Democrat who took an oath to uphold the Constitution and then proceeded to spit on it.


Daily Kos pulls out Leni Riefenstahl game-plan, launches last-ditch propaganda attack on Scott Brown

The immortal Lauren Clawson, writing at Daily Kos, exposes the demonic male-succubus that is Scott Brown.

The campaign against Scott Brown has effectively been ten days long. Ten days is not a long time, but in that time we've learned a lot about Brown.
That's a lot to take in in ten days. Imagine if there'd been a longer campaign in which these stories emerged more gradually so voters had time to absorb them fully.

Clawford forgot some of Brown's critical flaws:

  • Scott Brown intentionally threw away stem-cells that could have cured Christopher Reeve's paralysis.
  • Scott Brown used a chainsaw to kill a baby penguin that had wandered in front of his pickup truck.
  • Scott Brown once served on the board of oil transport conglomerate Kramerica™
  • Scott Brown hates kittens.
  • Scott Brown believes that Atheism should be illegal.
  • Scott Brown once killed a man in Reno, just to watch him die.

Scott Brown is campaigning as a man who is transformational and that -- as we have seen -- is just false.

Chris Matthews sickened by egg-salad sandwich and crushing defeat in Massachusetts, but mostly crushing defeat in Massachusetts

Jim Hoft says, "This will make you laugh out loud from start to end" -- and he's right! Chris Matthews, looking more sullen and distraught than ever, predicts a clear Scott Brown victory in Massachusetts.

My favorite part: listen for the female MSNBC hacks groaning as Tingle-Boy relays news that Coakley is toast.

Second favorite part: Matthews insisting that this isn't a referendum on Obama and his disastrous policies. You'll laugh until it hurts.