Month: July 2012

#rsrh Did Valerie Jarrett scupper the first two attempts to get bin Laden?

OK, now that I can actually see this Daily Caller article I’m not sure that I buy it:

At the urging of Valerie Jarrett, President Barack Obama canceled the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on three separate occasions before finally approving the May 2, 2011 Navy SEAL mission, according to an explosive new book scheduled for release August 21. The Daily Caller has seen a portion of the chapter in which the stunning revelation appears.

…largely because I have a definite dislike of anonymous allegations, particularly when they’re not backed up by any other evidence.  I find it at least mildly difficult to believe that people would have been able to keep this a secret for this long; this isn’t the Bush administration, which means that there’s no inherent loyalty there.  It’s not impossible, but I am definitely wary of any unsourced allegation that happens to reinforce my already low opinion of this administration.

#rsrh QotD, Let’s Make The Activist Left Grind Their Teeth A Little edition.

Walter Russell Mead, on why the Israel portion of Mitt Romney’s trip is the most important one.

Americans by and large like both Britain and Poland but they don’t think about them very much, and they don’t think of either country as requiring a lot of help from the United States — though most Americans would be ready to stand by either of these countries should trouble come.

But Israel is a different matter. Large numbers of Americans perceive that Israel is in more danger than either Britain or Poland, and that the United States is the only real friend Israel has. They also think that Israel’s most bitter enemies are also deadly enemies of the United States. After the Iraq and Afghanistan wars there is not a lot of American appetite for launching new wars in the Middle East, but if anything that heightens the degree to which many people want the government to support what they see as the one real ally we have there.

Foreign policy experts can — and do — dispute many details of this vision of Israel’s situation and America’s interests, but the idea that Israel needs us and that it is both our moral duty and a strategic interest to support it to the hilt has sunk so deeply into the American public mind that Governor Romney can hardly go wrong in standing up for it.

Weirdly, there are people who get bothered by the above. Sad, really.

Romney calls Jerusalem capital of Israel.

Which it is, of course.  Although possibly the more important event from Romney’s Israel remarks was that “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before the speech that “all the sanctions and diplomacy so far have not set back the Iranian program by one iota.””  Which they haven’t, of course.

Back at home?  Well, the Democrats haven’t been exactly covering themselves in glory on this one.  President Obama did best, with his ever-so-sudden $70 million funding of Israeli missile defense (that’s about .14 solyndras*); meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi’s telling the world that the real reason why the GOP supports Israel is because Republicans want lower taxes (don’t ask me; she’s the one who said it).  And then there was this profile in courage: Continue reading Romney calls Jerusalem capital of Israel.

#rsrh Shorter Kimberly Atkins: Lizzie Warren doesn’t know how to campaign.

I’m sorry, was this not already known?

Background: Mike Bloomberg came out with a surprise endorsement of Republican Senator Scott Brown, supposedly due to Brown’s opposition to cross-state recognition of other states’ Concealed Carry Weapons permits.  Which is an issue that… I have not really considered before now, actually.  Personally, a Bloomberg endorsement is not something to look for, so if you’re more suspicious of Brown accordingly then I’m not about to criticize you for it. More to the point, there’s an excellent chance that this endorsement was hastily made in order to explain away a fundraiser that Bloomberg was planning for Brown next month – which I assume would have some resonance in Massachusetts.

Anyway… Continue reading #rsrh Shorter Kimberly Atkins: Lizzie Warren doesn’t know how to campaign.

I wish that Kickstarter took PayPal. (Benign Kingdom Fall 2012 KS)

Said complaint is in regard to this project (Benign Kingdom Fall 2012*); I understand that Kickstarter would probably not mind taking PayPal, but I think that PP is missing a bet, here.

Moe Lane

*I read at least two of the webcomics involved, so I figure that I have a 50% chance at the $15 level at getting a print copy of the book from an artist that I know that I like.  Plus, these people need to eat and none of them have smashed me in the face with their politics recently.

#rsrh QotD, This Is Exactly My Take On This edition.

Glenn Reynolds, commenting on John Kass’s disgust with the selective outrage in Chicago over Chick-fil-A*, notes:

See, I support gay marriage — though I think it should be arrived at legislatively, not through judicial fiat — but the thuggish behavior of gay-marriage supporters is a real turnoff. There’s a good chance it will inspire a backlash.

Precisely.

Moe Lane

*The short version is, apparently you can get away with being publicly against gay marriage in Chicago if you are a) Louis Farrakhan and b) don’t own a Chick-fil-A franchise.  Actually, Farrakhan could get away with it even if he did own a Chick-fil-A franchise.

#rsrh Please, DNC: Give Elizabeth Warren the keynote speech.

Please, please, please: “Citing an Obama campaign official, the [Boston Globe] recently reported that the Massachusetts Senate candidate – and liberal darling – is under consideration for the high-profile speaking assignment.”

Via @SissyWillis.  The Boston Globe article is here, by the way; unfortunately, it’s just at the level of dismissive rumor at the moment.  Which is a pity: I figure that the GOP* could net about twenty million bucks and lock down about five Electoral Votes just off of her speech.  The woman’s a walking menace to her own side.

Hey, ignore me.  Show me better.  Please.  I am on my knees and begging the Democrats to make Elizabeth Warren the keynote speaker…

Moe Lane

*You know.  The good guys.