So--the rabble decides to attack the US Embassy in Cairo over some indy film-maker's obscure film critical of the prophet Muhammed, and the Embassy girds up its loins in response to the outrage...and issues an apology....from which the White House (which undoubtedly had earlier blessed the statement) begins back-pedaling furiously away.
This administration is in complete, hopeless disarray. This is Jimmy Carter helping to depose the Shah only to have the US Embassy held hostage by Muslim nut-jobs all over again. OS is old enough to remember this debacle clearly. It was completely humiliating, and completely needless. That self-righteous old fart never has explained himself, continues to pontificate from Atlanta, and the press continues to lap up every word of his nonsense.
So, here we go again...
From Politico:
The Obama administration is disavowing a statement from its own Cairo
embassy that apologized for anti-Muslim activity in the United States.
"The statement by Embassy Cairo was not cleared by Washington and
does not reflect the views of the United States government," an
administration official told POLITICO.
The U.S. embassy in Cairo put out a statement early Tuesday that
apologized for an anti-Muslim film being circulated by an
Israeli-American real estate developer.
"The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing
efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of
Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions,"
the embassy said in a statement published online. According to the Wall Street Journal, the film depicts the Muslim
prophet Muhammed as a "womanizer, pedophile and fraud" — a depiction
bound to offend many Muslims.
The embassy came under widespread criticism for failing to defend
free speech in the face of threats of violence. Egyptian protesters
rioted anyway, breaching the embassy walls and tearing down the American
flag.
"Some have sought to justify this vicious behavior as a response to
inflammatory material posted on the Internet. The United States
deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of
others. Our commitment to religious tolerance goes back to the very
beginning of our nation. But let me be clear: There is never any
justification for violent acts of this kind," Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton said in a Tuesday statement.
The Romney campaign accused the Obama administration of sympathizing
with the protests in a statement released after the administration
statement. “I'm outraged by the attacks on American diplomatic missions in Libya
and Egypt and by the death of an American consulate worker in
Benghazi. It's disgraceful that the Obama administration's first
response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to
sympathize with those who waged the attacks,” Romney said.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
OS Has A Few Questions For Dr. Brad DeLong
This morning's post from Dr. Brad DeLong is worth a read, as are his daily musings.
DeLong is a brilliant gent, as one can see in his short bio:
J. Bradford DeLong is a professor of economics at the University of California at Berkeley, chair of its political economy major, a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, and was in the Clinton administration a deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury.
OS has never had the privilege of having his very occasional questions published under Dr. DeLong's posts. Which is perfectly ok--it's his house, he gets to do as he pleases.
OS did send some questions along this morning, and as of this moment, they haven't been acknowledged. It's the academic year now, with all those pesky students stalking the halls, so patience is a virtue.
In the meantime, OS will post his questions here, to see if anyone else may have the same thoughts in mind.
Dear Professor DeLong:
At what degree of downward slope, for how long a period of time, will you perhaps consider the notion that the Obama Administration, with its parade of economic advisors, stimulus packages, 'Summer(s) of Recovery', etc. has not been an effective steward of the privilege of governance granted to it by the electorate? Their task was to reverse the direction of those lines.
Bin Laden is dead, thank heavens. GM is operating, but still significantly underwater if we look at its share price. It's better that it be operating than not, granted, but it's not quite as resuscitated as JoeB would have us believe.
What we were told last week was that all those promises made in 2008 simply were unattainable. Bill Clinton himself said that. Many of us knew that in 2008, just not a majority of us. Then, in his acceptance speech, the President seemed to reiterate those promises. I'm genuinely concerned by that.
What course of action do you see the Obama Administration taking that truly would turn those lines significantly in the other direction? We are 16 trillion in debt, which does limit our room to maneuver a bit.
You are a brilliant gent, and this is said with not a hint of irony. No one occupies your position in academia without that quality of brilliance and true achievement.
So, what do we do next? It appears to me that Obama will retain his office, as will most of the GOP House.
What should HE do next, the day after he is re-elected? Much of what he had done to date has not been effective.
Many thanks and good wishes--your blog is a favorite read.
DeLong is a brilliant gent, as one can see in his short bio:
J. Bradford DeLong is a professor of economics at the University of California at Berkeley, chair of its political economy major, a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, and was in the Clinton administration a deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury.
OS has never had the privilege of having his very occasional questions published under Dr. DeLong's posts. Which is perfectly ok--it's his house, he gets to do as he pleases.
OS did send some questions along this morning, and as of this moment, they haven't been acknowledged. It's the academic year now, with all those pesky students stalking the halls, so patience is a virtue.
In the meantime, OS will post his questions here, to see if anyone else may have the same thoughts in mind.
Dear Professor DeLong:
At what degree of downward slope, for how long a period of time, will you perhaps consider the notion that the Obama Administration, with its parade of economic advisors, stimulus packages, 'Summer(s) of Recovery', etc. has not been an effective steward of the privilege of governance granted to it by the electorate? Their task was to reverse the direction of those lines.
Bin Laden is dead, thank heavens. GM is operating, but still significantly underwater if we look at its share price. It's better that it be operating than not, granted, but it's not quite as resuscitated as JoeB would have us believe.
What we were told last week was that all those promises made in 2008 simply were unattainable. Bill Clinton himself said that. Many of us knew that in 2008, just not a majority of us. Then, in his acceptance speech, the President seemed to reiterate those promises. I'm genuinely concerned by that.
What course of action do you see the Obama Administration taking that truly would turn those lines significantly in the other direction? We are 16 trillion in debt, which does limit our room to maneuver a bit.
You are a brilliant gent, and this is said with not a hint of irony. No one occupies your position in academia without that quality of brilliance and true achievement.
So, what do we do next? It appears to me that Obama will retain his office, as will most of the GOP House.
What should HE do next, the day after he is re-elected? Much of what he had done to date has not been effective.
Many thanks and good wishes--your blog is a favorite read.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
The Next Time You Hear About What A Wonderful Leader Obama Is, Remember What You Read In This Article By Bob Woodward
We really came to the brink last year during the debt ceiling negotiation.
Holy. Cow.
Obama was prepared to veto anything not exactly to his liking, but he had no plan B in place for keeping the country and the economy in one piece.
This man has got to go.
Holy. Cow.
Obama was prepared to veto anything not exactly to his liking, but he had no plan B in place for keeping the country and the economy in one piece.
This man has got to go.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Sometimes, Only Laughter Will Do: Prince Harry's Comrades Offer Their Support And Salute In The Buff
Maybe the young men and women doing the fighting in Afghanistan are trying to tell the self-righteous fretters back home to lighten up a bit...
The pics at the link are, well, cheerful and funny. Perhaps the most fitting way to draw the whole episode to a close.
Note to Harry: You're a public person, big guy. Assume whatever you do or say will make the headlines next week. It goes with your role, so no whining, ok?
The pics at the link are, well, cheerful and funny. Perhaps the most fitting way to draw the whole episode to a close.
Note to Harry: You're a public person, big guy. Assume whatever you do or say will make the headlines next week. It goes with your role, so no whining, ok?
Thursday, September 6, 2012
'Let Me Do That Again', or, What The Democrat Bosses Think A Two-Thirds Vote Of 'Aye' Sounds Like
The issue at hand was that Himself was getting beaten to a pulp because the Democrat Platform Committee had struck language that included mention of the Almighty and the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
So, the word came down fromThe Kremlin The White House to FixThisProblem! So, dutifully, HizHonner The Mayor Of Los Angeles took the podium, and put the question to a voice vote.
The delegates were, well, uncooperative. So, in true Stalinist tradition, it was decided to keep voting until they GotItRight, know-whud-I-mean? After three attempts, with the 'no' crowd clearly in the majority, and more vociferous each time, The Chair decided that he had his 2/3's majority and deemed the question passed. The boos rained down.
No matter. This is, after all, Obama's World. The original language suited him fine, he just didn't like the blowback. He'll continue to govern as if He were the Almighty's Chosen, and He'll hang Israel out to dry. The reaction on the floor was a rare moment of candor. The majority of the delegates want no mention of the PotentateOfTime ruining their event, and the anti-Semitism of the Left is becoming ever more apparent.
Were OS Jewish, he would be making contingency plans in case Himself were elected. It will get ugly at some point in the not-distant future.
As a Christian, OS is completely unsurprised, and really not upset. TheGreatIAm is doing just fine, with or without the approval of the DNC delegates, and it was refreshing for OS to see and hear his intuitions confirmed. The camera cuts to the audience last night during His Billness's speech told the tale. They do believe that the only kingdom to concern one's self with is in this world, and this speech was much more of a religious event than a political address. No telling what will transpire tonight...
The disturbing bit is that this sort of approach awaits us all in November--what if Himself decides that all those millions of people who voted GOP really were confused, mistaken, and need to be given the 'opportunity' to vote again, until they GetItRight? Or He decides that 45% of the vote and a minority of electoral votes really does comprise a majority...why that could never happen here, right?
OK, now take a peek at the video....
So, the word came down from
The delegates were, well, uncooperative. So, in true Stalinist tradition, it was decided to keep voting until they GotItRight, know-whud-I-mean? After three attempts, with the 'no' crowd clearly in the majority, and more vociferous each time, The Chair decided that he had his 2/3's majority and deemed the question passed. The boos rained down.
No matter. This is, after all, Obama's World. The original language suited him fine, he just didn't like the blowback. He'll continue to govern as if He were the Almighty's Chosen, and He'll hang Israel out to dry. The reaction on the floor was a rare moment of candor. The majority of the delegates want no mention of the PotentateOfTime ruining their event, and the anti-Semitism of the Left is becoming ever more apparent.
Were OS Jewish, he would be making contingency plans in case Himself were elected. It will get ugly at some point in the not-distant future.
As a Christian, OS is completely unsurprised, and really not upset. TheGreatIAm is doing just fine, with or without the approval of the DNC delegates, and it was refreshing for OS to see and hear his intuitions confirmed. The camera cuts to the audience last night during His Billness's speech told the tale. They do believe that the only kingdom to concern one's self with is in this world, and this speech was much more of a religious event than a political address. No telling what will transpire tonight...
The disturbing bit is that this sort of approach awaits us all in November--what if Himself decides that all those millions of people who voted GOP really were confused, mistaken, and need to be given the 'opportunity' to vote again, until they GetItRight? Or He decides that 45% of the vote and a minority of electoral votes really does comprise a majority...why that could never happen here, right?
OK, now take a peek at the video....
The Great DNC ClintonGasm: OS Just Had To Watch
Really, he tried to resist the temptation, to instead read more on that book, listen to a bit of music. But just as people sit transfixed when they see a plane fall from the sky, or see trains on a collision course, OS found himself in front of the TeeVee, waiting to see what President 'It Depends Upon What Your Definition of 'IS' Is' Clinton would have to say to the adoring crowds about the man he previously so thoroughly despised.
It is so useful to possess a mind such as Bill Clinton's, which is able to ignore actual events as it explains history. There was one moment where he asked the rhetorical question about why the federal budget balanced from 1996-2000. OS was half-hoping to hear His Billness utter Newt Gingrich's name.
Nope! He blurted out the word 'Arithmetic!', to the cheers of the adoring crowd.
For any of us who remember the 1990's, this simply was not the case. OS remembers going to the poll early in the morning in November 1994, thinking he and Mrs. OS would arrive to an empty venue. Instead, they found voters lined up out the door, all waiting for the opportunity to vote Republican, here in one of the deepest yeller-dog Democrat counties of the South. HilaryCare had scared them shitless, and they were hopping mad. That was just one item on their list, by the way.
It was Newt who forced Bill to begin to behave like something resembling someone who had completed seventh-grade math. Even then, Bill let the gubbermint shut down before conceding.
(It was during the 'shutdown' he staged that boredom set in and a 19-year-old female intern walked in. His Billness, at one point, even tried to pin the blame for that debacle on the Republicans, for creating the 'shutdown'. Puhleeeeze...)
Newt and his majority later forced Bill to sign on to welfare reform as well.
Now here we are, in 2012, and His Billness is claiming credit for both.
Nothing about the man has changed. Nothing about the party he spoke to has changed, except for their utter willingness to forgive the man anything, so long as he tells what they wish to hear.
His behavior in the Monica Lewinsky affair was just deplorable. He ended up being impeached, and brought the country to a halt as a consequence. He wasn't removed, but he was disbarred, and ended his term admitting in writing to his perjury. In the meantime, bin Laden had the opportunity to ramp up his operation, and the wacko Left extracted its pound of flesh for protecting his sorry ass. The foundations of the housing bubble were laid as a consequence, as Fannie and Freddie were transformed from sleepy institutions to instruments of social transformation, shoving money toward both properties and buyers that had not a chance of success.
Given his track record with Lewinsky, Kathleen Willey, and so many other credible women--what woman would remain in the room with him, much less cheer for him? Compare what we know about Clinton versus what was only alleged about Herman Cain.
What sort of person does it take to deliberately forget major pieces of history about people such as Clinton, Teddy Kennedy and Barack Obama--simply for the privilege of being told what he wants to hear?
'It's all Bush's Jr.'s fault. It's all Bush Sr.'s fault. It's all Reagan's fault. It's the Tea Party's fault. It's Mitch McConnell's fault. No one could have turned this thing around, not even me. It's all getting better, ya'll just don't feel it yet. It's Paul Ryan's fault. It's the fault of people like Mitt. It's Bush's fault. We had nothing to do with this debacle, even though we oversaw it for the past four years. It's Bush's fault. It's Bush's fault.
They ate it up. They just ate it up.
Forty-seven million people on food stamps. Twenty-three million unemployed. Sixteen trillion in debt. The House was swept by the GOP in 2010, and almost the Senate with it. Whole swaths of states, such as Kentucky, won't even be contested, because Obama is so completely disdained.
And they just ate it up, Couldn't get enough of His Billness, telling them what they most wanted to hear--that it's all ok, that no matter what that stream of cash will flow endlessly into the pockets of those unionized teachers, government employees, UAW members. No matter what, they'll be ok, even as the culture falls apart around them.
We've got your back, just deliver us them votes.
It is so useful to possess a mind such as Bill Clinton's, which is able to ignore actual events as it explains history. There was one moment where he asked the rhetorical question about why the federal budget balanced from 1996-2000. OS was half-hoping to hear His Billness utter Newt Gingrich's name.
Nope! He blurted out the word 'Arithmetic!', to the cheers of the adoring crowd.
For any of us who remember the 1990's, this simply was not the case. OS remembers going to the poll early in the morning in November 1994, thinking he and Mrs. OS would arrive to an empty venue. Instead, they found voters lined up out the door, all waiting for the opportunity to vote Republican, here in one of the deepest yeller-dog Democrat counties of the South. HilaryCare had scared them shitless, and they were hopping mad. That was just one item on their list, by the way.
It was Newt who forced Bill to begin to behave like something resembling someone who had completed seventh-grade math. Even then, Bill let the gubbermint shut down before conceding.
(It was during the 'shutdown' he staged that boredom set in and a 19-year-old female intern walked in. His Billness, at one point, even tried to pin the blame for that debacle on the Republicans, for creating the 'shutdown'. Puhleeeeze...)
Newt and his majority later forced Bill to sign on to welfare reform as well.
Now here we are, in 2012, and His Billness is claiming credit for both.
Nothing about the man has changed. Nothing about the party he spoke to has changed, except for their utter willingness to forgive the man anything, so long as he tells what they wish to hear.
His behavior in the Monica Lewinsky affair was just deplorable. He ended up being impeached, and brought the country to a halt as a consequence. He wasn't removed, but he was disbarred, and ended his term admitting in writing to his perjury. In the meantime, bin Laden had the opportunity to ramp up his operation, and the wacko Left extracted its pound of flesh for protecting his sorry ass. The foundations of the housing bubble were laid as a consequence, as Fannie and Freddie were transformed from sleepy institutions to instruments of social transformation, shoving money toward both properties and buyers that had not a chance of success.
Given his track record with Lewinsky, Kathleen Willey, and so many other credible women--what woman would remain in the room with him, much less cheer for him? Compare what we know about Clinton versus what was only alleged about Herman Cain.
What sort of person does it take to deliberately forget major pieces of history about people such as Clinton, Teddy Kennedy and Barack Obama--simply for the privilege of being told what he wants to hear?
'It's all Bush's Jr.'s fault. It's all Bush Sr.'s fault. It's all Reagan's fault. It's the Tea Party's fault. It's Mitch McConnell's fault. No one could have turned this thing around, not even me. It's all getting better, ya'll just don't feel it yet. It's Paul Ryan's fault. It's the fault of people like Mitt. It's Bush's fault. We had nothing to do with this debacle, even though we oversaw it for the past four years. It's Bush's fault. It's Bush's fault.
They ate it up. They just ate it up.
Forty-seven million people on food stamps. Twenty-three million unemployed. Sixteen trillion in debt. The House was swept by the GOP in 2010, and almost the Senate with it. Whole swaths of states, such as Kentucky, won't even be contested, because Obama is so completely disdained.
And they just ate it up, Couldn't get enough of His Billness, telling them what they most wanted to hear--that it's all ok, that no matter what that stream of cash will flow endlessly into the pockets of those unionized teachers, government employees, UAW members. No matter what, they'll be ok, even as the culture falls apart around them.
We've got your back, just deliver us them votes.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
In All Fairness, Obama HAS Succeeded At Something!
Food Stamp participation is at an all-time high as the Democrats meet in Charlotte to celebrate these four glorious years.
In August 2008, participation was about 29 million people. June 2012 saw the participation of 46.7 million people. 46.7 divided by 29 is....1.61.
A 61% increase in participation in just under four years, most of that time under the Obama administration.
Like every other achievement, it took determined effort to accomplish. Indeed, the Obama Administration devoted great effort and huge amounts of money borrowed from the Chinese, which of course will have to be paid back by us and our children.
A small price to pay for this landmark moment.
In the 1960's, the United States put men on the Moon. In the 1980's, we launched Space Shuttles and took the Soviet Empire down without firing a shot. In the 1990's, American ingenuity put a computer in every home and connected them all together via the internet. In the 2000's, clever things like iPhones and computer tablets appeared and became ubiquitous, and wireless. Internet commerce blossomed. Need we go on?
These paltry events pale in comparison to the crowning achievement of Barack Hussein Obama.
Undoubtedly, Himself will be much too modest to mention it Thursday night.
For a history of food stamps, refer to OS's earlier post.
In August 2008, participation was about 29 million people. June 2012 saw the participation of 46.7 million people. 46.7 divided by 29 is....1.61.
A 61% increase in participation in just under four years, most of that time under the Obama administration.
Like every other achievement, it took determined effort to accomplish. Indeed, the Obama Administration devoted great effort and huge amounts of money borrowed from the Chinese, which of course will have to be paid back by us and our children.
A small price to pay for this landmark moment.
In the 1960's, the United States put men on the Moon. In the 1980's, we launched Space Shuttles and took the Soviet Empire down without firing a shot. In the 1990's, American ingenuity put a computer in every home and connected them all together via the internet. In the 2000's, clever things like iPhones and computer tablets appeared and became ubiquitous, and wireless. Internet commerce blossomed. Need we go on?
These paltry events pale in comparison to the crowning achievement of Barack Hussein Obama.
Undoubtedly, Himself will be much too modest to mention it Thursday night.
For a history of food stamps, refer to OS's earlier post.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Cartoon Of The Week: The Department Of 'Just-Us'
Humor is effective because it is the needle that draws the blood of truth from the vein of life.
This cartoon is quite effective.
This cartoon is quite effective.
The Grim Reality That The Democrats Cannot Explain Away: Labor Force Participation Rate Since January 2009
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Data extracted on: September 3, 2012 (7:39:11 PM)
Labor
Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey
(Click to enlarge...)
You can plug in dates for yourself, and see the results. It's interactive, it's fascinating, it tells the story of a massive failure, a slow-motion train wreck.
As you do, remember that Himself campaigned on the promise that he would reverse this trend, that He would bring the economy back.
He didn't. A few firms, such as GM and Chrysler (with heavy union presence) were salvaged. The destruction of wealth that occurred during that process is never mentioned.
Hundreds of billions of dollars borrowed and spent, and this is the result.
This is a picture of failure.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Um...So, Who's The Mayor Of Chicago? Where's The President From?
Didn't they promise that if the voters gave them the reigns of power that the earth itself would begin to heal?
So, why did Chicago have another twenty shootings this weekend, some of them near Himself's house? Whis is Rahm calling in the Feds for his own homegrown 'surge'?
Wasn't Himself put on the fast track to the Presidency because He did such a brilliant job as a 'community organizer' in Chicago. Aren't most of those murders occurring in the communities He 'organized'?
Perhaps we should send Him back. His homies in his old hood really need Himself as never before. Being the great humanitarian Himself is, He should naturally return with a happy heart.
So, why did Chicago have another twenty shootings this weekend, some of them near Himself's house? Whis is Rahm calling in the Feds for his own homegrown 'surge'?
Wasn't Himself put on the fast track to the Presidency because He did such a brilliant job as a 'community organizer' in Chicago. Aren't most of those murders occurring in the communities He 'organized'?
Perhaps we should send Him back. His homies in his old hood really need Himself as never before. Being the great humanitarian Himself is, He should naturally return with a happy heart.
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