Robert Scalapino, 1919-2011

Berkeley Political Scientist Robert Scalapino has died.

An obituary is at New York Times, "Robert A. Scalapino, a Scholar of Asian Politics, Dies at 92":

Robert A. Scalapino, an eminent scholar of Asian politics who achieved prominence during the Vietnam War for his strong defense of American policy as opposition to it was growing, died Nov. 1 in Oakland, Calif. He was 92.

The cause was complications of a respiratory infection, the University of California, Berkeley, said. Professor Scalapino taught there from 1949 to 1990 and founded its Institute of East Asian Studies in 1978.

The author of 39 books on Vietnam, China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan, Professor Scalapino was also editor of Asian Survey, a scholarly publication, from 1962 to 1996 and advised the State Department and other government agencies.

In 1965, he wound up arguing the Johnson administration’s case for escalating the war at what was billed as a national teach-in on Vietnam policy. The event was a debate by a panel before an audience of 5,000 in Washington and more than 100,000 people at more than 100 campuses who had gathered to hear the debate by radio hookups.

McGeorge Bundy, the national security adviser to President Lyndon B. Johnson, had been scheduled to attend, and many participants had hoped to hear his pro-war views and confront him. When he canceled at the last minute, it fell to Professor Scalapino, who had also been invited to join the panel, to take the lead in defending the White House’s policy. He argued that the United States was fighting communism, not Asian nationalism, and that China would regard the United States as a “paper tiger” if it abandoned the war.

He continued to make that argument the following year in a long article in The New York Times Magazine. He wrote that the war tested “the American capacity to respond to a threat that is important but not terminal.

RTWT.

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Taping

At WSJ, "Show Time on Victoria's Runway"

It was hard to know where to look at the taping of Wednesday night's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. The beautiful models scantily clad in lingerie are the obvious draw, but when they share the catwalk with Kanye West, it gets more complicated. Add a surprise appearance by Jay-Z, with his wife, Beyoncé, slipping into the crowd to sing along, and it gets tougher still.

The annual spectacle, set to air Nov. 29 on CBS, is an elaborate marketing tool for Limited Brands, the parent company of mall-based lingerie chain Victoria's Secret. The TV special airing during the crucial holiday selling period mixes beautiful women and A-list entertainers. And every year, it becomes less about fashion and more about show—not that there's anything wrong with that.

I just like the beauties!

BONUS: A slideshow at NYT, "With Wings and Little Else: Behind Victoria's Secret Fashion Show."

The Republican Unreality Show

Peggy Noonan on the debate earlier this week, and the GOP campaign, at Wall Street Journal (via Google):

One of the people in the debate was bombastic to the point of manic, and another was more pointedly aggressive than her usual poised and beautiful self. But enough about Jim Cramer and Maria Bartiromo. It was a revealing debate. It would be wonderful to see President Obama grilled as the Republicans were Wednesday night in Michigan. What exactly will you cut in the entitlement programs? How will you solve the foreclosure crisis? And we'd like you to answer in 30 seconds while we look at you with the sweet-natured gaze of a cop at a crime scene.

Those who say the debates are hurting the Republicans may be right. There is a freak-show element. But seeing Republicans repeatedly walk through fire may in the end make them seem far more impressive than the Democrat who doesn't have to. People notice the disparity. And this isn't a bad time in history to see would-be leaders get nailed, and fight back up.

But there was a moment in the debate that suggests something bad. Too many people in that audience were fully locked into Republo-world, a nice place but one that exists apart from the reality-based community. More on that in a moment. First a quick overview...

Read it all.

For European Union and the Euro, a Moment of Truth

At New York Times, "Even as Governments Act, Time Runs Short for Euro."

BERLIN — The window of opportunity to save the euro is rapidly closing, as the sovereign debt crisis erodes the solvency of Europe’s banks and drives up borrowing rates for even once rock-solid countries like France.

A growing consensus about the urgency of Europe’s situation has brought some drastic and tangible steps toward dealing with it: first by Greece, then by Italy, where lawmakers on Saturday signed off on austerity measures and cleared the way for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to step down.

Both countries are moving toward more technocratic governments that are committed to delivering the difficult reforms demanded by the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. But there are a host of problems that could quickly overwhelm that progress.

Looming over all the discussions of reform and financing mechanisms is the slowdown in the Continent’s already anemic growth rate, to 0.5 percent in 2012, and even the threat of a double-dip recession, the European Commission said in a forecast for the euro zone last week.

That calls into doubt the adequacy of the euro zone’s latest attempt to placate the markets, the lagging effort to bolster the $605 billion European Financial Stability Facility to $1.4 trillion or to find other funding. The task will become that much harder in a recessionary environment, especially as France’s credibility with investors begins to decline.

More at that top link. Plus, at Telegraph UK, "Germany must decide if it wants the eurozone to survive or perish":

European debt and equity markets ended a tumultuous week with a rally on Friday. So shares in the US and across the rest of the world rose too. But the threat of a "euroquake" – a systemic collapse which would make Lehman Brothers look tame – is by no means over. Far from it.

Europe's leaders don't know how to solve this crisis because they don't know what they want.

Should attempts be made to hold the eurozone together, with Greece staying in? Or should the threat to expel Athens be followed through, at the risk of causing further defections, with monetary union being reduced to a Franco-German rump?

This is an enormous question, which only Germany can answer. Until an answer is forthcoming, chaos will continue to ensue.

Michelle Malkin at BlogCon 2011

Phil Klein speaks briefly, then it's all Michelle.

Via Nice Deb:

And at Michelle's blog, "K Street’s Super Committee Splurge: Party time for Pork Chop Patty Murray."

Record-High Levels of Inequality?

From Robert Frank, at Wall Street Journal, "The Myth of ‘Record-High’ Inequality":

We hear more and more about our country experiencing “record levels of inequality.”

The gap between the rich and poor, we hear, is higher than ever. A new poll from the Washington Post and ABC News shows that 61% of Americans believe that the gap between “how much money wealthy people have” compared with the rest of the population is larger than it’s been historically. Only 31% believe it’s the same. Fully 61% also believe the gap between the wealthy is “much larger” than it’s been historically.

Unfortunately, the survey respondents and much of the media is wrong.

Inequality is clearly at high and (to many) disturbing levels. Over a 30-year period it’s undoubtedly gone up.

But by the latest measures, inequality is actually lower than it was four years ago, and well below its recent highs. While many people cite inequality as a cause for the recession and joblessness, inequality was actually higher during the boom times of 2007 and 2008, when unemployment was under 5%.

Continue reading.

Poor Babies! Righthaven Whines About 'Scorched-Earth, Anti-Righthaven Litigation Tactics'

Oh, this is rich.

At Las Vegas Inc., "Attorney complains about anti-Righthaven campaign":

A Las Vegas lawyer for copyright company Righthaven LLC complained Friday that opposing attorneys are engaged in “scorched-earth, anti-Righthaven litigation tactics.”

Righthaven as a company is regularly criticized for its 275 no-warning lawsuits charging that websites, bloggers and message board posters used content from the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Denver Post without authorization.

The criticism is that the suits are unnecessary as the defendants would have complied with takedown requests and that rather than protecting copyrights, Righthaven is running a money-making scheme involving dubious legal claims and shake-down legal tactics.

Righthaven and its partners at the Review-Journal regularly respond that the lawsuits were needed to crack down on rampant online theft of newspaper industry content.

Lately, the Righthaven criticism has been targeted at its main outside attorney, Shawn Mangano.

Attorneys at Randazza Legal Group in Las Vegas, which represents several Righthaven lawsuit defendants in Nevada and Colorado, stepped up the pressure on Mangano on Oct. 25, when they asked a Nevada federal judge to sanction him.

The sanctions motion charged that Mangano regularly uses stall tactics so Righthaven can avoid paying judgments to defendants who defeat the company in court.

Continue reading.

Also, "Judge scolds Righthaven lawyer, adds another $32,000 judgment," and "Marshals execute against Righthaven bank account."

PREVIOUSLY: "Beating Righthaven."

Michele Bachmann Dominates CBS News/National Journal Debate

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann gave a dominating performance in tonight's GOP debate in South Carolina. She displayed a mastery of details and a willingness to go after both President Obama and her GOP opponents, especially Congressman Ron Paul. Particularly impressive was Bachmann's forthright defense of the use of force in American foreign policy. She articulated a strong defense of America's conduct of the war on terror, even defending targeted killings under this administration. And she did not waver in stating her readiness to authorize enhanced interrogations for captured enemy combatants in the field.

Bachmann's performance was on par with Speaker Newt Gingrich's, the latter evincing his usual mastery of policy details. And Bachmann's grasp of policy nuances, for example in discussion of Pakistan, far surpassed that of Governor Rick Perry, who struggled to recover from his brain freeze from earlier this week. And Bachmann performed much better on Pakistan and the war in Afghanistan than did putative frontrunner Mitt Romney.

I'll update with video as it becomes available. Herman Cain appeared to struggle and Rick Santorum appeared competent but on the periphery of the debate. Jon Huntsman sounded like the diplomat he is, and is even further to the sidelines than Santorum.

Overall, Michele Bachmann's performance stood out as the breakout display that she needed to regain some traction in the race. A positive spin among media pundits could help Bachmann's campaign, which has appeared on the ropes since her intemperate Gardasil comments back in September.

Expect updates.

7:00pm PST: Live blogging at Maggie's Notebook and The Other McCain, "Greetings From Spartanburg! REPUBLICAN DEBATE ON CBS --- UPDATE: 'No Runs, No Hits, No Errors'."

7:40pm PST: At National Journal, "Perry's Rambling Remarks on China: China Should Change Its 'Virtues' -- VIDEO."

7:50pm PST: At HotAir Pundit:

The audio at the clip goes out at the end, which might be related to problems with the live feed. See Gateway Pundit, "Fail. CBS Airs Online GOP Debate – Loses Live Internet Feed."

8:30pm PST: At The Right Scoop, "Rick Perry cleverly jokes about gaffe from last debate."

And at Hot Air, "Video: Gingrich schools Pelley on “rule of law” on terrorists":

Bachmann's USS Yorktown Speech Lays Out Foreign Policy Doctrine

At MinnPost, "Bachmann Doctrine: Her foreign policy views":

WASHINGTON — When protesters interrupted her speech on the USS Yorktown in South Carolina Thursday, Michele Bachmann was in the middle of what her campaign had deemed a major address on the Minnesota congresswoman’s foreign policy positions.

Bachmann, like the other Republicans looking for their party’s presidential nomination, has been outlining bits and pieces of her foreign policy goals throughout the first five months of her campaign. But the race so far has been largely focused on economic issues, and the candidates have generally tiptoed around foreign policy up to now.

In her speech Bachmann essentially laid out a tried and true conservative foreign policy agenda, with the notable caveat that she’s looking to cut defense spending along the way. The speech was a way for her to ease into the foreign policy arena while keeping some of the focus on the issues she’s run on up to now.

Here are the basic topics Bachmann addressed (quotations come from the prepared text of her speech, from which she frequently deviated) and, if they’ve come at any of the recent Republican debates, what other candidates have said on the same issue.

There is, of course, more nuance to each candidate’s positions than what is presented here; consider this a primer for Saturday night’s foreign policy debate in South Carolina.

RTWT.

The text is here: "Keeping America Free, Safe and Sovereign: Michele Bachmann’s address aboard the U.S.S. Yorktown, November 10, 2011."

Also, at The Shark Tank, "Michele Bachmann Supports Enhanced Interrogation Techniques."

Italian Parliament Approves Austerity Package

At New York Times, "Berlusconi Steps Down, and Italy Pulses With Change" (via Memeorandum).

And at Bloomberg, "Berlusconi Resigns as Monti Prepares New Italian Government." Also, at Telegraph UK, "Silvio Berlusconi finally resigns as Italy's prime minister, to cheers from supporters and jeers from foes":

Silvio Berlusconi has resigned as Italy's longest-serving post-war prime minister, bringing to an end a tumultuous, 17-year political career which was marred by sex scandals, corruption allegations and gaffes on the international stage.

His departure came hours after the country's lower house of parliament approved, by a margin of 380 votes to 26, an urgently-needed package of economic reforms designed to tackle the country's €1.9 trillion debt, revive its sluggish economy and prevent it from going the way of Greece.

After the vote, the 75-year-old billionaire media baron held a final meeting with his cabinet, and was then driven home to his official residence. There he consulted with party advisers, the final step before going to the presidential palace, on Rome's Quirinale Hill, where he gave his resignation to Italy's 86-year-old president, Giorgio Napolitano, a former Communist.

The president released a statement saying that consultations on forming a new government would start on Sunday.

Michele Bachmann Slams Occupy Protesters as 'Ignorant and Disrespectful'

At CBS News, "Bachmann calls Occupy Wall Street protesters 'ignorant and disrespectful'."

"If they understood the heavy price that was paid for that 1st Amendment right, they'd be much more respectful. Because I was surrounded by heroes yesterday on the USS Yorktown who paid a big price for them, and they're just ignorant, that's all. They're ignorant and they were disrespectful, but someday hopefully they'll come to know the price that was paid for them."

Michele Bachmann is a generally cheerful woman. But you can see how deeply pissed she is at the videos. What's interesting to me is actually how many of those protesters stood up and heckled. That's a security issue. I wonder if they did a bag check before admitting guests to the event. Occupy Portland has activists throwing Molotovs, so who knows?

Also at Reuters, "South Carolina protesters disrupt Michele Bachmann speech."

Cities Around the Nation Confront Question of How to Deal with Occupy Protesters

The news summary at the beginning of this clip is especially good.

Protesters are planning to occupy the Rose Parade? Folks down in Pasadena won't take too kindly to that. And Portland Mayor Sam Adams sounds tentative in his crackdown on the protesters, and Jim Oliver, the representative of Occupy Portland started out by reading some communique, but he warms up and sounds pretty articulate toward the end of the video:

And at Christian Science Monitor, "Officials crack down on Occupy Wall Street camps around the country."

Plus, at Gateway Pundit, "Federal Judge Denies #Occupy St. Louis Permission to Continue Hobo Camp at Kiener Plaza" (via Memeorandum).

PREVIOUSLY: "Pressure Is Growing to Shut Down 'Occupy' Camps Across the Nation."

Pressure Is Growing to Shut Down 'Occupy' Camps Across the Nation

You think?

See New York Times:

Leaders across the country felt increasing pressure on Friday to shut down protest encampments after two men died in shootings and another was found dead from a suspected combination of drugs and carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a propane heater inside a tent. Citing a strain on crime-fighting resources, police officers pleaded with Occupy Oakland protesters to leave their encampment at the City Hall plaza where a man was shot and killed late Thursday. The Oakland Police Officer’s Association issued an open letter saying the camp was pulling officers away from crime-plagued neighborhoods. “Please leave peacefully, with your heads held high, so we can get police officers back to work fighting crime in Oakland neighborhoods,” the letter said. Late in the afternoon, police officers acting at the direction of Mayor Jean Quan distributed fliers to protesters warning that the camp was in violation of the law and had to be disbanded immediately...

More at the link.

Here's the letter: "AN OPEN LETTER TO OCCUPY OAKLAND FROM THE OAKLAND POLICE OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION" (via Memeorandum). Also at Hot Air, "Oakland police union to occupiers: It’s time."

PREVIOUSLY: "Seven Dead at Occupy Protests So Far."

Europe's Rescue Plan

This was at The Economist last week:

YOU can understand the self-congratulation. In the early hours of October 27th, after marathon talks, the leaders of the euro zone agreed on a “comprehensive package” to dispel the crisis that has been plaguing the euro zone for almost two years. They boosted a fund designed to shore up the euro zone’s troubled sovereign borrowers, drafted a plan to restore Europe’s banks, radically cut Greece’s burden of debt, and set out some ways to put the governance of the euro on a proper footing. After a summer overshadowed by the threat of financial collapse, they had shown the markets who was boss.

Yet in the light of day, the holes in the rescue plan are plain to see. The scheme is confused and unconvincing. Confused, because its financial engineering is too clever by half and vulnerable to unintended consequences. Unconvincing, because too many details are missing and the scheme at its core is not up to the job of safeguarding the euro.

This is the euro zone’s third comprehensive package this year. It is unlikely to be its last.

More at the link.

And also at The Economist, a special report, "Staring into the abyss."

And now, the latest news:

* At Der Spiegel, "Wobbling Domino: What Comes Next for Troubled Italy?"

* At IBD, "Strained By Its Debts, EU Is Breaking Up."

* At Los Angeles Times, "Italy lawmakers press to ratify reforms so Berlusconi can leave."

* At New York Times, "Italy and Greece Act With More Force on the Debt Crisis."

* At Telegraph UK, "Eurozone split 'would destroy single market’."

Greeks Vexed By Growing Crime

At Der Spiegel, "A Symptom of the Crisis":

With a struggling economy, massive austerity measures and increasing uncertainty, crime is surging in parts of Greece. This has sparked a boom for some in the private security business. Greek officials are considering plans to make the streets of Athens safer.

A few steps from the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, where visitors gawk at statues of Zeus and other ancient treasures of antiquity, a man crouches under a tree, wraps a rubber band around his arm and shoots up heroin.

Nearby, dirty streets are congested with drug sellers and buyers. Athenians say that cases of drug trafficking, prostitution, murder, thefts, burglaries, petty crime and illegal immigration have all increased as the Greek economy contracts.
Locals say they are seeing more signs of societal strain, with unemployment having risen to 16.3 percent in the second quarter -- up from 12 percent a year ago. Graffiti and shuttered store fronts speckle the winding downtown streets of Athens. Stray dogs and cats, some discarded by families unable to feed them, roam neighborhoods. With refuse workers often on strike these days, it is not uncommon for garbage to pile up on the streets, providing a feast for stray animals. Meanwhile, an uptick in muggings and armed robberies of even gated homes in Athens suburbs has proven deeply unsettling for Greece's middle and upper classes.

"The city's historic centre and other major areas are suffering desertification, all manner of criminal activity and manifestations of violence, insecurity, lawlessness, the impoverishment of significant numbers of people -- both native inhabitants and foreign nationals, illegal prostitution and illegal drug trading," the Athens City Council said in a statement.

Continue reading.

'Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie'

The Red Hot Chili Peppers:

From the new CD, "I'm With You," available at Amazon.

It's Not Just About the Millionaires

The kind of realities most folks don't talk about.

From Adam Davidson, at New York Times:

It serves the interest of both parties to argue about taxes on corporations and the wealthy because neither wants to discuss the alternative, which is where things get touchy. To solve our debt problems, we have to go to where the money is — the middle class. People who earn between $30,000 and $200,000 a year make a total of around $5 trillion and pay less than 10 percent of that in taxes (owing mostly to tax incentives and the fact that most families make less than $68,000, where larger tax rates begin). Increasing the middle-class tax burden an additional 8 percent, however, would actually have a bigger impact than taxing millionaires at 100 percent. Still, many experts say we don’t need to raise the tax rate on the middle class; we just need to get rid of some of those despised loopholes (or beloved incentives). Most reform proposals suggest gradually eliminating the most popular tax deductions, like mortgage interest rates ($120 billion per year) and workplace health insurance ($200 billion per year). Regardless, most economists acknowledge, and most politicians privately concede, that the middle class will have to give up some benefits (Social Security, Medicare) or it will have to pay more in taxes. Actually, it will probably have to do both. The millionaires will be paying more, too. Leading Democrats are proposing a nearly 10 percent hike.

RELATED: "Occupy Michael Moore."

Kids' Return Home Takes Toll on Parents

I was 28 years-old when I moved in with my old man in Fresno. I was transferring to Fresno State and Dad gave me a place to live. It was really hard. I think the toll wasn't on my father but on me. I moved out after the first year. And there was a lot of animosity by the time I met my future wife and we moved to Santa Barbara for grad school. But I'm glad I did it. Looking back at it now, the time I spent with Dad in Fresno was irreplaceable. Strange how the later years provide perspective.

The circumstances are different at this WSJ piece, but I can imagine how it is for a lot of young people moving back in with their folks. See, "The Toll on Parents When Kids Return Home":

As recent college graduates scramble to find full-time jobs, numerous parents are helping their children pay bills or letting them live at home again. About 59% of parents provide or recently provided financial assistance to children aged 18 to 39 who weren't students, concluded a May survey of nearly 1,100 people by the National Endowment for Financial Education.

According to Census data, 5.9 million Americans between 25 and 34 years of age—nearly a quarter of whom have bachelor's degrees—live with their parents, a significant increase from 4.7 million before the recession.

But many parents can't afford the extra expense. A full 26% of those polled by the nonprofit group took on more debt to help their offspring, 13% delayed a planned life event such as a home purchase, and 7% postponed retirement.

Glenn Reynolds Test-Drives the Nissan Leaf

And what was cool about it is that the dealer loaned him the car for a couple of days.

See: "TEST-DRIVING THE NISSAN LEAF." It's a good review.

When Students Can't Safely Display the American flag in an American School, Something is Badly Wrong

Says Eugene Volokh, "Not Safe to Display an American Flag in an American High School":

When we’re at the point that students can’t safely display the American flag in an American school, because of a fear that other students will attack them for it — on May 5 or on any other day — and the school feels unable to prevent such attacks (by punishing the threateners and the attackers, and by teaching students tolerance for other students’ speech), something is badly wrong. Here’s an excerpt from the court opinion describing the facts that led the court to uphold the restriction...

Read it at the link.

The Scandals of Silvio

A photo slideshow, at Der Spiegel.

90 Foot Wave!

Via Theo Spark:

Seven Dead at Occupy Protests So Far

See Gateway Pundit, "Salt Lake City Occupier Found Dead in Tent – Death Toll at 7."

Also at The Salt Lake Tribune, "Death at Pioneer Park results in closure of Occupy SLC camp."

The dead include (1) a young man who passed away at the Occupy Oklahoma encampment; (2) a woman at Occupy Vancouver overdosed; (3) a protester in Bloomington, Indiana, was found dead; (4) a man was found dead in his tent at Occupy New Orleans; (5) a man shot himself in an encampment at Occupy Burlington in Vermont; (6) a protester was shot dead at Occupy Oakland; and now this death at Salt Lake City brings the grim toll to 7 deaths.

Occupy Denver Protesters Get Slammed at BlogCon

And "slammed" isn't just metaphorical.

See Weasel Zippers, "Video: Occupy Denver Tries to Storm BlogCon, Hippy Body Slam Ensues…":

And a huge roundup at Hot Air, "One Occupy protester arrested at conservative conference in Denver." And Yid With Lid has even more, "Occupy Denver Fails in Attempt to Invade BlogCon."

BONUS: "Occutards show up at BlogCon (more video below)" (via Memeorandum). And The Other McCain, "#OccupyFail at #BlogCon11: What Fun!"

Rick Perry Media Blitz After 'Oops' Debate Catastrophe

At New York Times, "Perry Goes on TV to Regain Footing After Debate":

WASHINGTON — Gov. Rick Perry of Texas tried to neutralize an onslaught of ridicule with a dose of humor on Thursday, appearing on television from morning until night in an urgent attempt to deflect grave concerns about his candidacy and to keep the Republican presidential race from advancing without him.

As Mitt Romney sought to capitalize on the moment by persuading Republicans that he is the party’s strongest nominee to confront President Obama, the campaigns of Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich also jostled for new attention in the wake of Mr. Perry’s memory lapse that left him speechless at a debate on Wednesday.

Less than two months before the party’s nominating contest opens, Mr. Romney is taking steps to increase his investments in Iowa and South Carolina, two early-voting states with conservative electorates. He has played down the two states, but his advisers are moving closer to competing more aggressively in an effort to win over Republicans who have spent the year searching for another candidate.

But Mr. Perry plans to accelerate his television advertising campaign next week in Iowa to elicit empathy, minimize the damage from Wednesday’s debate performance, and at least keep voters open to supporting him. His aides said that he has sufficient resources to compete heavily in Iowa, but that he is increasingly turning to donors in Texas to make up for a falloff in national fund-raising.

It just looked so bad, the "oops" moment. Yeah, we all have memory lapses, but not during a presidential debate. That's why we have these debates in the first place.

Anyways, perhaps Mitt Romney's consolidating his lead. See Political Wire, "Romney Retakes Lead, Gingrich Surges Past Cain."

RELATED: At Hot Air, "Gingrich passes Cain for second place in Marist poll."

Cooking With the Troops

Bruce McQuain is working with a number of individuals and organizations to sponsor the event: "Cooking With the Troops."

Please give generously:

It really is simple: Donate so we can help the wounded, their families, and the U.S. and Allied troops on the line. There is no such thing as too small a donation, because they all can and do add up into something grand. So, please don’t hesitate as all are appreciated and needed!

Check the link for the donations page.

Black Sabbath Reunion and Tour

At Rolling Stone, "Black Sabbath Announce New Album Produced by Rick Rubin."

Obama's Virginia Defeat

An excellent piece, from Kim Strassel, at WSJ:

Virginia Republicans added seven new seats to their majority in the House of Delegates, giving them two-thirds of that chamber's votes—the party's largest margin in history. The GOP also took over the Virginia Senate in results that were especially notable, given that Virginia Democrats this spring crafted an aggressive redistricting plan that had only one aim: providing a firewall against a Republican takeover of that chamber. Even that extreme gerrymander didn't work.

Every Republican incumbent—52 in the House, 15 in the Senate—won. The state GOP is looking at unified control over government for only the second time since the Civil War. This is after winning all three top statewide offices—including the election of Gov. Bob McDonnell—in 2009, and picking off three U.S. House Democrats in last year's midterms.

Topline figures aside, what ought to really concern the White House was the nature of the campaign, and the breakout of Tuesday's election data. Mr. Obama may have big plans for Virginia, but the question is increasingly: him and what army?

Elected state Democrats—who form the backbone of grass-roots movements—couldn't distance themselves far enough from Mr. Obama in this race. Most refused to mention the president, to defend his policies, or to appear with him. The more Republicans sought to nationalize the Virginia campaign, the more Democrats stressed local issues.

And as I noted earlier, I think Los Angeles Times went a little over board with the analysis here: "This Week's Election Could Be Sign of Voter Backlash." And check the response there from ace commenter Bruce Hall.

The Continuing Appeal of Communism in the West

From Ron Radosh, at PJ Media:

The OWS crowd certainly don’t call themselves “communists.” If anything, those who get the most comment are self-proclaimed anarchists and others are socialists, radicals of various stripes, demagogues, anti-Semites, members of various fringe ultra-left groups like the Workers World Party and International Answer, and others of that ilk. But put together, they form a sometimes incoherent but nevertheless group of radical activists bent on overthrow of the system — not banking reform, political change in Washington, or anything remotely possible. Unlike the Tea Party activists, who moved to try and have a political influence, these protestors demand “revolution,” an all-encompassing phrase that means little but which reveals their favored stance.

Even Paul Berman, whose comments in The New Republic reveal the brilliant and subtle thinker succumbing to the revolutionary romanticism of his youth, writes the following:

Yes, yes, at Occupy Wall Street the madmen, the madwomen, the Groaners and the neo-Muggletonians will eventually have their day, and the movement will be ruined. Already the Maoists of the Revolutionary Communist Party are at work, together with Ron-Paul-ists, according to another of my informants. Visiting the demonstration on Thursday I noticed that the Workers World Party (which secretly controlled some of the big anti-Iraq War demonstrations, in the name of advancing the cause of North Korea) was already in evidence. The costumed neo-hippies and neo-anarchists will prove to be no match to the fanatics of Leninist discipline. Sooner or later the screw-ball groupuscules will wreck the whole thing. “Creative destruction” is originally Bakunin’s phrase, but the destructiveness of the Revolutionary Communist Party will not be creative. So the movement will stumble and fall, and a lot of young people will feel a little embittered and distraught.

I can excuse Berman for hoping that the message of Wall Street’s failures is the main concern of the occupiers — rather than the foolish remedies they are demanding. Yes, as he correctly writes, “Wall Street has led the country and the world over a cliff.” But OWS is doing very little to pressure for the kind of meaningful political change that will put them in their place.

This Week's Election Could Be Sign of Voter Backlash

I'm not down with all the analysis here, but check the last few paragraphs discussing President Obama's new populist tone. There might be something to that. At Los Angeles Times, "Election hints at larger populist backlash against deeply divided government."

And at New York Times, "Recall Election Claims Arizona Anti-Immigration Champion."

Occupy Penn State: Update on the Penn State Child Sex-Abuse Scandal

Well, it's been a big day for the Penn State community in the wake of Joe Paterno's firing, the students rioting, and now the national debate over sex abuse on campus.

The rioting made me think of the occupy movement, and hence "Occupy Penn State," which the St. Louis American also thought appropiate: "Occupy Penn State."

And here's this at Boston Globe, "Penn State should cancel season, fire staff":

Penn State should cancel the rest of its football season.

Now.

Legendary coach Joe Paterno and school president Graham B. Spanier were fired by the Board of Trustees late Wednesday night and these same officials would do well to take the next step and announce the cancellation of the remainder of Penn State's football season, starting with Saturday's "big game" against Nebraska.

Then send pink slips to everyone working on the football staff.

It's time to start over, folks. This has gone on way too long already.

Interim coach Tom Bradley (on the staff since 1979, which is not a good thing) submitted to questions in a riveting and awkward press conference Thursday morning and pledged that Penn State's students and players will show "class" and "dignity" when the Nittany Lions play Nebraska.

"Let's show them what Penn State is all about," said Bradley.

And at USA Today, "Penn State's Mike McQueary will not coach against Nebraska."

And more at New York Times, "An Aspiring Coach in the Middle of a Scandal."

The Grand Jury report on Gerald Sandusky is here.

And more, at NESN, "Jerry Sandusky Rumored to Have Been ‘Pimping Out Young Boys to Rich Donors,’ Says Mark Madden."

And see the roundup at Memeorandum. Also Sir Smitty and Hot Air: "Video: Savages riot over Paterno’s firing at Penn State as scandal threatens to get worse; Update: PSU students plan vigil, fundraiser for sex-abuse victims."

European Debt Crisis Widens

At Los Angeles Times, "Financial Markets Fear New Threat to Eurozone," and at New York Times, "Euro Fears Spread to Italy as the Debt Crisis Deepens":

Also, at Telegraph UK, "Debt Crisis: While Rome Burns, the Eurozone Fiddles":

Italy on Wednesday became the first major economy to require an international bail-out as its debts hit “totally unsustainable levels”.

The country's escalating crisis prompted questions about whether European leaders had sufficient will or financial firepower to rescue it.

The interest rate at which the Italian government borrows on the international bond markets hit seven per cent – the point at which the smaller eurozone economies of Ireland, Portugal and Greece had to be rescued.

Italy, the world’s eighth largest economy, has more than £1.5 trillion worth of debt, which has prompted speculation from some world leaders that it is too big to rescue.

Silvio Berlusconi’s pledge to resign as prime minister failed to stem the financial turmoil, and mixed messages on how the eurozone would respond to the crisis added to uncertainty in the markets.

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, called for deeper European integration and a new “breakthrough” treaty that would give the EU greater fiscal powers to stop member states from slipping into dangerous levels of debt.

Oh boy, that's not good.

See Reuters as well, "French and Germans Explore Idea of Smaller Euro Zone."

Herman Cain Responds to Harassment Charges at GOP Debate in Detroit

Also, at LAT, "Herman Cain grilled on scandal at debate, mocks Pelosi as 'Princess Nancy'."

Also, "On Romney's turf, all eyes to stay on Cain at GOP debate."

Victoria's Secret Angels

That fashion show's coming up pretty soon:

PREVIOUSLY: "What's It Take to Be a Victoria's Secret Angel?"

More Bowie

Via Ghost of a Flea, "Ziggy Stardust: Life On Mars?"

I like this clip, but check the link as well.

At Wikipedia as well, "Life on Mars?"

Public Split on Parties' Super Committee Ideas

At National Journal:

With the super committee scheduled to report its findings to Congress in just two weeks, a new survey finds that slightly more Americans favor a Democratic proposal to pare the deficit with cuts and revenue increases on the wealthy rather than a cuts-only approach.

By a margin of 49 percent to 44 percent, the public favored the Democratic plan suggested earlier this month that would include “$4 trillion in deficit reduction through a combination of federal spending cuts and tax increases on wealthier Americans” over “a Republican plan that calls for $3 trillion in deficit reduction through spending cuts alone, with no tax increases.” A small number of voters—7 percent—said neither one, said they didn’t know, or refused to answer.

With the super committee appearing deadlocked over how to get to $1.2 trillion in cuts—lest automatic sequestration go into effect in 2013—the American people seem no more unified than the politicians who represent them. However, when individual ideas are tested with the public, and not identified as being the progeny of any political party, the Democratic-proposed solutions score very well. That suggests that the party’s congressional strategy of holding a slew of Senate votes on pieces of the president’s jobs package—which went down to defeat earlier this fall—may be a wise idea even though it has yet to produce lasting gains in President Obama’s job approval, let alone Congress’s.

RTWT.

And at Fox News, "Super Committee Democrats Reject GOP Tax Proposal," and Hot Air, "Report: Democrats walk away from Super Committee? Update: I hope they can’t make a deal, says Dem rep."

Virginia GOP Celebrates Big Gains in State Legislature

Otherwise, Tuesday was good for the Democrats.

At LAT:

Republicans rejoiced Wednesday as they appeared poised to control both the governorship and the state Legislature in Virginia, though the party’s victories in Tuesday’s election fell short of earlier hopes.

In the House of Delegates, GOP candidates wrested at least six seats from Democratic control, expanding their advantage in that chamber to a two-thirds majority. And despite the looming possibility of a recount in at least one close race, Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell declared victory in the party’s quest to take control of the state Senate.

McDonnell’s successful campaign for the governorship in 2009 marked the beginning of the GOP’s effort to regain its footing in Virginia after Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate since Lyndon Johnson to carry the state. McDonnell worked furiously to help elect fellow Republicans this year, raising more than $5 million for the races, according to the Washington Post.

“In politics, change can come quickly,” McDonnell wrote in a statement posted Wednesday morning to RedState.com. “In our case, quickly doesn’t begin to do this turnaround justice.”

The GOP gains in the House of Delegates give the party the largest majority it has ever held in the chamber, said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

The Rick Perry Campaign is Over

Via William Jacobson:

And Scott Conroy on Twitter: "Brutal."

Plus, at Los Angeles Times, "Rick Perry draws a blank in latest debate flub."

BACKGROUND: At Washington Post, "Republican presidential hopefuls offer their ideas on economy."

Josh Kraushaar Responds

At National Journal, "A Tale of Two Kraushaars":

When I first heard that one of Herman Cain's accusers had the same last name as me, I immediately recognized there was a possibility I could get sucked into the media firestorm. After all, Kraushaar isn't the most common surname -- and I worked for Politico for several years. It wouldn't take much for some to wonder if there was a connection.

But I never expected a presidential campaign spokesman to go on national television, without even contacting me, and falsely implicate me in the whole sordid scandal. Yesterday I'd received e-mails from dozens of reporters, friends and colleagues asking if I was related to Karen Kraushaar -- and I promptly told them that wasn't the case. I wasn't contacted at all by Cain's chief of staff Mark Block, or anyone else from Cain's campaign. Despite that, Block proceeded to go on Sean Hannity's Fox News show to proclaim that I was Karen Kraushaar's son and to suggest I was one of the people who leaked the story.

Continue reading.

RELATED: At Legal Insurrection, "The worst thing anyone could do is falsely accuse someone of … working for Politico."

Even More Anti-Semitism at Occupy Wall Street

See Urban Infidel, "Occupy Wall Street: Zucotti Square Day 53 & Counting - The Crazy Has Set In."

"Them people in Palestine, you killing ‘em so bad that they gotta strap themselves up with bombs, and go take buses into Israel and blow themselves up and die. Ain’t a Israeli person going into Palestine, strapping themselves up with a bomb, and killed one Palestinian person. They gonna shoot them with guns, they gonna shoot them with [fire]. They ain’t got no heart, because they don’t have no righteousness. There’s no love for that. You got to really be about what you’re saying to sacrifice your life. C’mon, don’t tell me that they’re about that. C’mon, man, don’t talk to me about that, Israel. When you said that, I got to stop you, because what you’re saying is the lies. Actual lie. They’re not about peace. Israel is doing the same thing to the Palestinians that the Germans did to the Jews. Bottom line. They’re doing the same thing to the Palestinians that the Germans did to them."

The Jews are Nazis?

Man, that's some rancid stuff, and there's a whole lot more at Urban Infidel. I'm still waiting for the MFM to wake up and smell the coffee, because what they're saying is lies.

See Zombie as well, "Fresh anti-Semitic videos coming out of Occupy Wall Street."

Eddie Murphy Won't Host Academy Awards

The screencap from PuffHo, "Eddie Murphy Out as Oscar Host After Brett Ratner Resignation."

And at New York Times, "Eddie Murphy Drops Out of Oscars Telecast."

PREVIOUSLY: "Academy Awards Director Brett Ratner Resigns in 'Gay Slur' Controversy."

Remains of War Dead Were Dumped in Landfill

This sounds so bureaucratic and inhuman. It's just horrifying to think that veterans' remains were dumped like common garbage. Unreal.

At Washington Post (via Memeorandum):

The Dover Air Force Base mortuary for years disposed of portions of troops’ remains by cremating them and dumping the ashes in a Virginia landfill, a practice that officials have since abandoned in favor of burial at sea.

The Dover, Del., mortuary, the main point of entry for the nation’s war dead and the target of federal investigations of alleged mishandling of remains, engaged in the practice from 2003 to 2008, according to Air Force officials. The manner of disposal was not disclosed to relatives of fallen service members.

Air Force officials acknowledged the practice Wednesday in response to inquiries from The Washington Post. They said the procedure was limited to fragments or portions of body parts that were unable to be identified at first or were later recovered from the battlefield, and which family members had said could be disposed of by the military.

Lt. Gen. Darrell G. Jones, the Air Force’s deputy chief for personnel, said the body parts were cremated, then incinerated, and then taken to a landfill by a military contractor. He likened the procedure to the disposal of medical waste.

Jones also could not estimate how many body parts were handled in this way. “That was the common practice at the time, and since then our practices have improved,” he said.

Gari-Lynn Smith, portions of whose husband’s remains were disposed of in the landfill after his 2006 death in Iraq, said she was “appalled and disgusted” by the way the Air Force had acted. She learned of the landfill disposal earlier this spring in a letter from a senior official at the Dover mortuary.

“My only peace of mind in losing my husband was that he was taken to Dover and that he was handled with dignity, love, respect and honor,” Smith said. “That was completely shattered for me when I was told that he was thrown in the trash.”

RTWT.

Joe Paterno Fired!

At LAT, "Joe Paterno fired by Penn State board of trustees":

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State trustees fired football coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier amid the growing furor over how the school handled sex abuse allegations against an assistant coach.

The massive shakeup Wednesday night came hours after Paterno announced that he planned to retire at the end of his 46th season.

But the outcry following the arrest of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky on molestation charges proved too much for the board to ignore.

One key question has been why Paterno and other top school officials didn't go to police in 2002 after being told a graduate assistant saw Sandusky assaulting a boy in a school shower.

Paterno says he should have done more. Spanier has said he was not told the details of the attack.

Sandusky has denied the charges.

More at the link.

PREVIOUSLY: "Paterno Shouldn't Finish the Season."

Added: At New York Times, "Paterno Is Out and President Steps Down at Penn State."

More, an editorial at The Harrisburg Patriot-News.

Republicans Believe Romney Most Likely to Win Nomination

At Gallup (via Memeorandum):

Republicans are most likely to predict that Mitt Romney will be their party's 2012 presidential nominee. The 45% who believe Romney will win the nomination exceeds the combined 35% who think any other candidate will win, including 13% who say Herman Cain and 9% who say Rick Perry.

Keep reading.

Romney has a lot of weaknesses as a potential GOP frontrunner, compared to previous candidates for the nomination.

RELATED: At Atlas Shrugs, "We Must Not Choose Obama Lite: Courageous Foreign Policy Leadership Must Define GOP Nominee":

The struggle for the nomination is now. And I am so sick and tired of the enemedia and the subversive left destroying our most effective leaders on the right in their attempt to make them unelectable, all the while exalting vacuous vassals like Obama. They tried to do it to Reagan. They destroyed George W. Bush. They think they have done it to Sarah Palin, and now they are working on doing it to Herman Cain.

Not so fast, destroyers.

If they think they are going to pick our candidate this time (as they did with McCain in ‘08), they are in for a very rude surprise. Not. This. Time. We cannot let our domestic enemies define our leaders. We cannot let our domestic enemies destroy our most effective voices on the right. You must have seen by now that the more rational, the more effective, the more patriotic a Republican leader is, the more he or she is marginalized, ridiculed, destroyed.

This must stop, and we must stop it. The perspective and agenda that the chattering class, the media elites and their tools, are advancing will shatter in the face of reality.

Pamela highlights Michele Bachmann and expects her to improve in the polls. I'm not so sure, although I wish it were so.

More at Memeorandum.

Paterno Shouldn't Finish the Season

From Jemele Hill, at ESPN, "Penn State Should Not Allow Joe Paterno to Retire On His Own Terms":

This isn't good enough.

This isn't the appropriate conclusion for Joe Paterno, who announced on Wednesday that he will retire at the end of the season.

If the Paterno era is allowed to end this way, it will be just another example of Penn State University cowardice.

"I have come to work every day for the last 61 years with one clear goal in mind," Paterno said in Wednesday's statement. "To serve the best interests of this university and the young men who have been entrusted to my care. I have the same goal today."

But the only interests being served here are Paterno's and Penn State's. If the 84-year-old coach is given the freedom to dictate the terms of his departure, it means that university officials will have shown again that they are unwilling and unprepared to confront their legendary football coach.

Penn State cannot afford to allow Joe Paterno to orchestrate his own exit strategy.
Paterno shouldn't be given the opportunity to coach another game, whether he does it walking the sideline or sitting in the press box. He doesn't deserve to see these seniors -- whose last game in Beaver Stadium on Saturday will be memorable for all the wrong reasons -- play their final home game. He doesn't deserve to be celebrated or supported as he concludes a career now tarnished by his reprehensible, implausible inaction against a former assistant who stands accused of unspeakable crimes against children.

Continue reading.

And here's Ann Althouse, on Maureen Dowd's column at New York Times:

In case you've forgotten, the story Paterno heard — according to the grand jury report — was that McQueary, a graduate assistant coach, saw "a naked boy about 10 years old 'with his hands up against the wall, being subjected to anal intercourse by a naked Sandusky.'"

Unspeakable crimes.

Union Thugs Energized by Occupy Wall Street: Film at Eleven!

At New York Times, "Occupy Movement Inspires Unions to Embrace Bold Tactics":

Organized labor’s early flirtation with Occupy Wall Street is starting to get serious.

Union leaders, who were initially cautious in embracing the Occupy movement, have in recent weeks showered the protesters with help — tents, air mattresses, propane heaters and tons of food. The protesters, for their part, have joined in union marches and picket lines across the nation. About 100 protesters from Occupy Wall Street are expected to join a Teamsters picket line at the Sotheby’s auction house in Manhattan on Wednesday night to back the union in a bitter contract fight.

Labor unions, marveling at how the protesters have fired up the public on traditional labor issues like income inequality, are also starting to embrace some of the bold tactics and social media skills of the Occupy movement.

You think?

This whole thing --- the occupy movement and the epic enabling by the Democrat-Media-Complex --- is shaping up as the Big Lie of 2011. Immediately I'm reminded of Walter Russell Mead, "Occupy Blue Wall Street?" (Read it!) No surprise, but the news of sexual assaults, thug beatings, attacks on restaurant owners and street vendors, and multiple deaths don't seem to be dampening the media's #OWS enthusiasm one bit. Another death was reported last night. See the New Orleans Times-Picayune, "Man found dead in Occupy New Orleans encampment."

The deceased had been dead for two days. Hello!

Did anyone die at a tea party? I don't think so, but if someone had it would have been the biggest story since the death of George Tiller. I can see the headlines: "Survival of the Fittest: Tea Partiers Leave Protesters to Die." Or, "Ayn Rand Shrugs."

Long Beach Cracks Down on Panhandling

My campus is in North Long Beach, quite a distance from downtown. But the city's a major metropolitan area, and of course residents are quite familiar with urban ills, especially aggressive panhandling.

At Long Beach Press-Telegram, "Long Beach to weigh beggary law." And, "Long Beach council OKs panhandling restrictions."

RELATED: "Occupy Long Beach halts council meeting." It wasn't about panhandling. Just sleeping in the park. But the city council may cave to the occupy goons:

Obstinate protesters were upset by the council's perceived unresponsiveness on the issue. City park ordinances force demonstrators to leave Lincoln Park after 10 p.m. and forbid erecting tents overnight.

Increasingly vocal audience members shouted down Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, who is presiding over the council while Mayor Bob Foster is abroad.

Lowenthal deemed the unruly group "out of order."

"You're out of order!" a protester shouted.

Dozens of others joined in a chant. "The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!"

I hope so.

Herman Cain Accusers Plan Joint Press Conference

At Los Angeles Times, "Herman Cain's accusers may band together at news conference":

The women whose complaints Herman Cain attacked in a news conference Tuesday are planning to counter with a news conference of their own, attorneys for the women said Tuesday night.

"My client has decided to hold a joint news conference with as many of the women who complained of sexual harassment by Herman Cain as will participate," said Joel P. Bennett, the Washington lawyer for Karen Kraushaar, whose harassment claims against Cain got the current controversy rolling after a report of it appeared last week in Politico.

Also, "A Second Accuser Goes Public Against Cain."

IMAGE CREDIT: The People's Cube.

Mississippi Rejects 'Personhood' Initiative

At WaPo, "Anti-abortion ‘personhood’ amendment fails in Mississippi."

Violence at the Obamavilles

A great piece, from James Taranto, at Wall Street Journal, "This Is What Anarchy Looks Like."

Dana Pico Launches First Street Journal

Here's the inaugural post, "Welcome to THE FIRST STREET JOURNAL!":

In an effort to avoid the problems which plagued my previous site, I am instituting a new Comments and Conduct policy, which will have its own separate page, always available in the menu bar. While I always support the free expression of ideas, constant name-calling and personal attacks will receive the same treatment they’d get were someone to submit such as a Letter to the Editor in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or The New York Times. Repeat violators will simply have all of their comments deleted.

Congratulations to Dana! And here's to another 7 years of successful blogging!

PREVIOUSLY: "Dana Pico Closes Common Sense Political Thought."

Newt Gingrich Could Win the GOP Nomination? Newt Gingrich!

Funny, but earlier I watched the Newt Gingrich interview with Piers Morgan on CNN: "What's wrong with America? Newt Gingrich says we 'got off on several wrong tracks'." Morgan was practically slobbering over the guy. As readers know, Gingrich is not my favorite. He's got the worst people skills, seriously. I can't imagine voting for him. But Gingrich is generating some attention as the accusations against Herman Cain take their toll. (And also amid the growing grassroots resistance to Mitt Romney's inevitability.)

See Dorothy Rabinowitz, "Why Gingrich Could Win."

Rabinowitz is enamored of Gingrich's wonkishness, and she sees Romney, Perry, and Gingrich as the top-tier candidates come January. That sounds reasonable, but forgive me if I'm not bowled over by the choices.

William Jacobson has more, "Fear of Newt on blog-team Romney."

Eric Holder Won't Apologize to Family of Brian Terry

In flaming red font, at Michelle's, "Fast and Furious: Holder “regrets” lies, condemns “distraction,” redistributes the blame; Holder denies receiving F&F memos; NO STRAIGHT APOLOGY TO TERRY FAMILY; Grassley and Cornyn nail Holder: “Are you winging it?”"

Background on Brian Terry's death at Fox News: "EXCLUSIVE: Third Gun Linked to 'Fast and Furious' Identified at Border Agent's Murder Scene."

Herman Cain: 'I Absolutely Reject' Sexual Harassment Accusations

At Chicago Tribune, "Cain 'absolutely' rejects accusations and says he won't drop out of GOP race."

Lots more developments on this, and I'll be updating.

Meanwhile, at Gallup, "Cain's Image Showing Signs of Decline Amid Allegations." (Via Memeorandum.)

Academy Awards Director Brett Ratner Resigns in 'Gay Slur' Controversy

Well, you just can't say "fags" in Hollywood, I guess.

Where's Ann Coulter when you need her, eh?

At LAT, "Brett Ratner resigns as Oscar producer after gay slur":

Director Brett Ratner submitted his resignation as a producer of the 84th Annual Academy Awards Tuesday after coming under fire for making a gay slur.

"He did the right thing for the academy and for himself," Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak said Tuesday afternoon. "Words have meaning, and they have consequences. Brett is a good person, but his comments were unacceptable. We all hope this will be an opportunity to raise awareness about the harm that is caused by reckless and insensitive remarks, regardless of the intent."

In a Q&A session last weekend after a screening of his new film, “Tower Heist,” Ratner said, “rehearsal is for fags." He then went on Howard Stern's Sirius XM show and talked about masturbation, cunnilingus, pubic hair, the size of his testicles, his sexual encounter with Lindsay Lohan.

Ratner apologized Monday and Sherak seemed to accept his apology, but the drumbeat of criticism continued Tuesday, culminating in Ratner's resignation. It was not immediately clear whether Ratner's handpicked host, Eddie Murphy, would also leave the show, scheduled for late February. Ratner and Murphy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ratner's resignation letter read...

Continue reading for the resignation letter.

MacIver Institute: 'Origins and Philosophy Behind Occupy Movement'

A great clip:

Also, at Director Blue, "Occupy Hatred: A Gallery of #OWS Sickness."

PREVIOUSLY: "On the Origins of the Occupy Movement."

Herman Cain Accuser Has History of Financial and Legal Troubles

At Chicago Tribune, "Cain accuser has history of financial troubles, legal squabbles: Her father, fiance say they stand with her."

At the video is Jonathan Martin of Politico, who William Jacobson has been hammering. See: "Bring in the Politico clowns."

Also, at Washington Examiner, "Fifth woman raises questions about Cain's behavior."

What's It Take to Be a Victoria's Secret Angel?

At Telegraph UK, "Victoria's Secret show: What does it take to be a Victoria's Secret Angel?"

Berlusconi Denies Rumors He is About to Quit

At Der Spiegel:

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has denied speculation he is about to resign due to a looming rebellion in his party. Financial markets rose on the rumors he may quit, then fell after his denial, in a sign of how desperately investors want him to go.

Silvio Berlusconi was reported on Monday to be fighting a last stand to stay in power after leaders of his PDL party urged him to step down in talks on Sunday night. He faces a possible defeat in parliament on Tuesday in a vote to confirm a state financing bill which he has already lost once.

Newspapers estimated there are 20 to 40 potential defectors in his party, more than enough to bring down his government. A defeat on Tuesday is expected to lead to his immediate resignation or to a confidence vote.
Berlusconi is labelling the rebels as traitors to their country at a time of crisis and warning that his resignation would lead to an early election, which most MPs from his party don't want.

Two journalists with close links to Berlusconi fanned the speculation of his imminent departure on Monday. Giuliano Ferrara, editor of the Foglio newspaper and a former minister, said on his website: "That Silvio Berlusconi is about to resign is clear. It is a question of hours, some say of minutes."

Franco Bechis, deputy editor of the center-right Libero newspaper, said on Twitter that the 75-year-old leader would step down Monday night or Tuesday morning.

Berlusconi said on his Facebook page: "Rumors of my resignation are baseless." News agency Ansa quoted him as saying he didn't understand how such rumors could arise.

Berlusconi left Rome on Monday morning and travelled to Milan for lunch with his children.

Continue reading.

Republican Candidates Talk Tough on Iran

Actually, I don't think we should be escalating the rhetoric. The U.S. is pretty extended overseas as it is, and no doubt the U.S. would be pulled into a Persian Gulf conflagration one way or another.

Anyway, at New York Times, "G.O.P. Field Attacks Obama Foreign Policy With Tough Talk on Iran."

Smokin' Joe Frazier, Boxing Legend, Dead at 67

At New York Times, "Joe Frazier, Ex-Heavyweight Champ, Dies at 67."

Frazier won the undisputed heavyweight title with a 15-round decision over Ali at Madison Square Garden in March 1971, in an extravaganza known as the Fight of the Century. Ali scored a 12-round decision over Frazier at the Garden in a non-title bout in January 1974. Then came the Thrilla in Manila championship bout, in October 1975, regarded as one of the greatest fights in boxing history. It ended when a battered Frazier, one eye swollen shut, did not come out to face Ali for the 15th round.

The Ali-Frazier battles played out at a time when the heavyweight boxing champion was far more celebrated than he is today, a figure who could stand alone in the spotlight a decade before an alphabet soup of boxing sanctioning bodies arose, making it difficult for the average fan to figure out just who held what title.

The rivalry was also given a political and social cast. Many viewed the Ali-Frazier matches as a snapshot of the struggles of the 1960s. Ali, an adherent of the Nation of Islam, came to represent rising black anger in America and opposition to the Vietnam War. Frazier voiced no political views, but he was nonetheless depicted, to his consternation, as the favorite of the establishment. Ali called him “ignorant,” likened him to a gorilla and said his black supporters were Uncle Toms.

“Frazier had become the white man’s fighter, Mr. Charley was rooting for Frazier, and that meant blacks were boycotting him in their heart,” Norman Mailer wrote in Life magazine following the first Ali-Frazier bout.

Frazier, wrote Mailer, was “twice as black as Clay and half as handsome,” with “the rugged decent life-worked face of a man who had labored in the pits all his life.”

Those were the days, man.

Is an Ivy League Diploma Worth It?

At Wall Street Journal, "Fearing Massive Debt, More Students Are Choosing to Enroll at Public Colleges Over Elite Universities":

Daniel Schwartz could have attended an Ivy League school if he wanted to. He just doesn't see the value.

Mr. Schwartz, 18 years old, was accepted at Cornell University but enrolled instead at City University of New York's Macaulay Honors College, which is free.

Mr. Schwartz says his family could have afforded Cornell's tuition, with help from scholarships and loans. But he wants to be a doctor and thinks medical school, which could easily cost upward of $45,000 a year for a private institution, is a more important investment. It wasn't "worth it to spend $50,000-plus a year for a bachelor's degree," he says.

As student-loan default rates climb and college graduates fail to land jobs, an increasing number of students are betting they can get just as far with a degree from a less-expensive school as they can with a diploma from an elite school—without having to take on debt.

More students are choosing lower-cost public colleges or commuting to schools from home to save on housing expenses. Twenty-two percent of students from families with annual household incomes above $100,000 attended public, two-year schools in the 2010-2011 academic year, up from 12% the previous year, according to a report from student-loan company Sallie Mae.

More on that at Washington Post, "Two-year colleges draw more affluent students."

'Carlos the Jackal' Goes On Trial in France

I remember reading Robert Ludlum novels back when I was a teenager, and "Carlos the Jackal" was one of the mysterious terrorists in the background. There was almost a romanticism about it. Well, he's obviously not so mysterious or romantic.

At LAT:

The man known as Carlos the Jackal, once one of the world's most feared and hunted terrorism suspects, went on trial in a Paris court Monday for a series of bombings nearly 30 years ago.

Venezuelan-born Ilich Ramirez Sanchez was smiling and defiant as he was accused of being the mastermind behind four attacks in France in 1982 and 1983 that killed 11 people and injured nearly 200.

Asked to state his occupation, Ramirez, 62, replied that he was a "professional revolutionary," adding, "of the Leninist tradition."

He then insisted that although he had been born in Venezuela he had been given Palestinian nationality by the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whose cause he espoused.

With his gray hair, beard and reading glasses and needing a chair for his "bad back," Ramirez bore little resemblance to the photographs of him with dark hair, Che Guevara beret and sunglasses when he was at the height of his notoriety in the 1970s. While on the run from police in his heyday, he was reported to have had plastic surgery to change his appearance.

However, he had clearly lost none of his ability to provoke, giving a clenched-fist salute to a supporter on the public benches and leaping up to rage, in heavily accented French, about the "racist, Zionist state of Israel."

The outburst drew a round of applause from a group of young men at the back of the courtroom, prompting a warning against disorder from the president of the court, Olivier Leurent.

Adele Prognosis Good After Vocal Chord Surgery

At LAT, "Adele prognosis after vocal cord surgery is good, her doctor says":

The latest update on the singer Adele, who recently underwent microsurgery for a benign polyp on her vocal cords, is good. A statement released from Massachusetts General Hospital, where the singer had surgery, says her prognosis is optimistic:

"Adele underwent vocal cord microsurgery by Dr. Steven Zeitels to stop recurrent vocal cord hemorrhage (bleeding) from a benign polyp. This condition is typically the result of unstable blood vessels in the vocal cord that can rupture. Based on the advice of her doctor and voice therapist in the United Kingdom, Adele came to Boston to consult and undergo corrective voice surgery with Dr. Zeitels, the Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Voice Center. ... Dr. Zeitels expects Adele to make a full recovery from her laser microsurgery."

And Tania has the video, and some kind words:

Deaths Put Focus on Pastor's Advocacy of Spanking

My dad used to laugh about how he was going to "tear your little butt up," but he wasn't joking around. My dad would whip me on the back of the legs with the belt. I've forgotten what I did wrong. Maybe I forgot to do chores, or I fibbed about something to try to stay out of trouble. Little good that did. And I wasn't the only kid in my neighborhood to get the belt, either. Did it make us better kids? I don't know. I was just scared of my dad. And I don't know if that has a peripheral effect of increasing respect for authority, although that seems to be the premise of advocacy for old-fashion spanking.

In any case, here's this at New York Times, "Preaching Virtue of Spanking, Even as Deaths Fuel Debate":

PLEASANTVILLE, Tenn. — After services at the Church at Cane Creek on a recent Sunday, a few dozen families held a potluck picnic and giggling children played pin the tail on the donkey.

The white-bearded preacher, Michael Pearl, who delivered his sermon in stained work pants, and his wife, Debi, mixed warmly with the families drawn to their evangelical ministry, including some of their own grandchildren.

The pastoral mood in the hills of Tennessee offered a stark contrast to the storm raging around the country over the Pearls’ teachings on child discipline, which advocate systematic use of “the rod” to teach toddlers to submit to authority. The methods, seen as common sense by some grateful parents and as horrific by others, are modeled, Mr. Pearl is fond of saying, on “the same principles the Amish use to train their stubborn mules.”

Debate over the Pearls’ teachings, first seen on Christian Web sites, gained new intensity after the death of a third child, all allegedly at the hands of parents who kept the Pearls’ book, “To Train Up a Child,” in their homes. On Sept. 29, the parents were charged with homicide by abuse.

More than 670,000 copies of the Pearls’ self-published book are in circulation, and it is especially popular among Christian home-schoolers, who praise it in their magazines and on their Web sites. The Pearls provide instructions on using a switch from as early as six months to discourage misbehavior and describe how to make use of implements for hitting on the arms, legs or back, including a quarter-inch flexible plumbing line that, Mr. Pearl notes, “can be rolled up and carried in your pocket.”

The furor in part reflects societal disagreements over corporal punishment, which conservative Christians say is called for in the Bible and which many Americans consider reasonable up to a point, even as many parents and pediatricians reject it. The issue flared recently when a video was posted online of a Texas judge whipping his daughter.

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