Tag Archives: Democrats

Osama bin dead?

Posted on February 13, 2008 | Comments Off on Osama bin dead?

No, tell me it ain’t so. Surely not. I mean the gang that couldn’t predict the collapse of the Soviet Union (not to mention lately asserting, counterintuitively, that Iran is NOT building an A bomb) surely knows whether the world’s chief terrorist died at Tora Bora or not? Or have they just denied it all this time to make Bush look bad? And now wish to help their anti-war buds of the Dems make their case for election? That sounds more reasonable, for them, anyhow, rather than just more of their usual schtoopidty.

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Posted in The War

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Obamavision

Posted on February 1, 2008 | Comments Off on Obamavision

That’s what Cobb calls Obama’s unique style of soft-spoken but vague rhetoric about unity and change and etc. The specifics aren’t readily apparent, which is undoubtedly purposeful. But some positions are dribbling out of the public record. Here’s one on his intention to decriminalize reefer, an idea I could support, because the Drug War has been a disaster, though I doubt he could do it by executive order. But then he confuses things, saying he’s not out to legalize it. Maybe he means to make possession or sale a civil penalty? Maybe it’s just part of his preferred vagueness.

James Taranto thinks he sees a demagogue in the making: "Whatever the merits of compromise vs. confrontation in any given situation, Obama…is standing the meanings of words on their heads–and lots of citizens respond by nodding their heads as if no one has ever made so much sense. Isn’t there something a bit worrying about this Obama phenomenon?"

The Dems are nodding. They did that with Kerry in ’04. They tend to do that. But what a choice they have: Obama the soother or everyone’s wicked stepmother. Fortunately there’s months left for Obama to reveal himself. Then he won’t be so soothing. Mickey Kaus, afterall, already finds him pandering to the Hispanic vote on illegal immigrants–though a lot of them are also upset about illegals. What a crazy political year, and it’s hardly begun.

MORE:  This, and other things he’s said now and then suggest the kind of change he has in mind.

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Posted in Scribbles

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Courting defeat

Posted on April 26, 2007 | Comments Off on Courting defeat

The Dems, it seems, truly want another Vietnam defeat in Iraq, now that they’ve attached departure dates to the refunding of the campaign. Presumably Bush will veto, and the Dems haven’t the votes to override. Some conservatives think this will energize the Republican base, but I wonder. The Dems could keep this up until the military runs out of money.

Pultizer prize winning author (and old neighbor in another part of town) Lawrence Wright ("The Looming Tower") says democratization of the Middle East may be our only hope to defeat al Q and its religious zealots and wannabees. But that it won’t be pretty, and that leaving Iraq too soon could convulse the region. But with House Speaker Pelosi skipping two meetings with the commanding general in Iraq, and Senate Majority Leader Reid saying the war is lost, it looks like the Dems either disagree or don’t care.

UPDATE  Crazy Politico points out that a veto isn’t all Bush can do. He can find other ways to pay for the war: "Bill Clinton couldn’t get the GOP controlled Congress to pass what he wanted for funding for Kosovo, so he signed executive orders halting certain defense contract work, and shifting the money to fund troops."

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Posted in Iraq, The War, Troops, Viet Nam

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Barack the Banal*

Posted on February 12, 2007 | Comments Off on Barack the Banal*

Democrat presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama (are we really ready for this guy?) kicks off his campaign by using the Left’s chickenhawk ploy to insult John Howard, the prime minister of America’s most venerable ally, suggesting Australia hasn’t done enough in Iraq.

As Wretchard notes, the Aussie’s 1,400 troops are proportionately about right for a nation of only 20 million. In any case, in addition to the chickenhawk argument being used mainly by chickens, Obama-rama is anti-war. So, apart from being politically boring with nothing new to say–at best, a black Dennis Kucinich–in my book he’s also irrelevant. Except, as Howard says, to OBL who would welcome a withdrawal from OBL’s proposed new caliphate. But perhaps I err. Even Kucinich would have more guts than to put off his proposed withdrawal from Iraq thirteen months in the future. Now who’s the chickenhawk?

*HT to Roger L. Simon 

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Posted in The War

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A welcome and a warning

Posted on January 3, 2007 | Comments Off on A welcome and a warning

President Bush, who lately seems to be dithering, welcomes the new Congress in Opinion Journal, with a warning for the party most identified with retreat:

"If democracy fails and the extremists prevail in Iraq, America’s enemies will be stronger, more lethal, and emboldened by our defeat. Leaders in both parties understand the stakes in this struggle. We now have the opportunity to build a bipartisan consensus to fight and win the war."

He also notes that Republicans will get their say in anything the Dems seek to pass, and he has a veto to use, if necessary. Tough stuff.

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Posted in Iraq, The War

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White lines and dead armadillos

Posted on November 18, 2006 | Comments Off on White lines and dead armadillos

That’s what onetime Texas ag commissioner Jim Hightower says are in the middle of the road. But fav columnist Peggy Noonan says the center is where the Reps and Dems need to be, especially the Dems.

"Can they go down the center, or will radicalism of various sorts erupt and gain sway? No one knows. The Democrats don’t know. The answer is going to help shape America’s future political history. And it will help shape George Bush’s. If the Democrats are radical, he will look more reasonable, not only in the eyes of the public but of history."

The Hightower wing prefers radicalism to imitating armadillos. But at the expense of elevating Bush?

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Posted in The War

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Bush unfiltered

Posted on November 8, 2006 | Comments Off on Bush unfiltered

There’s no better time than after an election to see exactly what the president said, as opposed to the way the media uses his remarks to flesh out their narratives. Here’s one quote I have already seen truncated to the point of being almost unintelligible. Perhaps on purpose.

"I know there’s a lot of speculation on what the election means for the battle we’re waging in Iraq. I recognize that many Americans voted last night to register their displeasure with the lack of progress being made there. Yet I also believe most Americans and leaders here in Washington from both political parties understand we cannot accept defeat."

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Posted in The War

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