India Launches Long-Range Missile Capable of Reaching China

Well, so much for nuclear non-proliferation during the Obama administration.

At the Wall Street Journal, "India Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile":

India tested its most advanced long-range nuclear-capable missile to date on Thursday, a launch experts say will serve as a deterrent against Pakistan and China.

Agni V, an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, was launched from Wheeler Island, off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa, said Sitanshu Kar, a spokesman for India's defense ministry.

"It was a perfect launch which took place at 0807 hours," said Mr. Kar. "It has achieved all the parameters and goals set for it." He didn't elaborate, but Indian media is saying it reached its intended target 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) out in the Indian Ocean, and was visually tracked along its whole path.

Avinash Chander, chief controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems) of the Ministry of Defence's Defence Research and Development Organisation, described the launch as a "marvelous achievement" in an interview on news channel NDTV. "We achieved exactly what we wanted to achieve." He said the team has "full confidence in the missile capability" and the missile landed "exactly where it was supposed to land. "

The launch of the locally built Agni V is part of India's broader missile-development program, a key aspect of the country's nuclear strategy. Its range of over 5,000 kilometers means it could reach as far as Beijing, Tehran or Pyongyang.

Experts say this makes it the most advanced missile in India's missile inventory. But though a successful test fire is a positive sign, it could take a few more years of tests to make the ballistic missile operationally ready.

Poornima Subramaniam, an Asia-Pacific armed-forces analyst with IHS Jane's, a global think tank specializing in security issues, said by email that Agni V would boost India's strategic position against China while improving its deterrence system against its other regional rival, Pakistan.

"The Agni V can strike targets across the depth of China, potentially freeing up other short- and intermediate-range missiles for use against Pakistan and much of west and south-central China," she added. "While India maintains a no-first-use policy, it views this road-mobile ICBM capability as technologically narrowing the missile gap between India and China."

New York Times/CBS News Poll Shows Doubts on Economy Helping Romney

At the New York Times, "Doubts on Economy May Give Romney Opening, Poll Finds":

A rising number of Americans see improvement in the economy, but a persistent wariness about their own financial circumstances is allowing Mitt Romney to persuade voters that he could improve their economic prospects more than President Obama, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

Even as the nation rebounds from the recession, its lingering effects are reflected in the adversities facing families. Nearly two-thirds of people are concerned about paying for their housing, the poll found, and one in five people with mortgages say they are underwater. Four in 10 parents say they have had to alter expectations for the type of college they can afford to send their children. More than one-third of respondents said high gas prices had created serious financial hardships.

The general election match between Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney is opening with evidence that economic conditions are providing ammunition for both candidates. For Mr. Obama, there is a gradually growing perception that the general outlook is turning brighter, and for Mr. Romney, there are those individuals who are still not feeling substantial improvement in their own lives.

The poll found that the two men are locked in a tight race, with each gathering 46 percent of the support. Nearly an equal number of voters say they are as confident in Mr. Romney’s ability to make the right decisions on the economy and to be commander-in-chief as express confidence in Mr. Obama.

With less than seven months before Election Day, a furious scramble is under way by Democrats to define their opponent. Mr. Romney’s bruises in the Republican primary fight are evident — only 29 percent of voters have a favorable view of him — but more than one-third say they have yet to form an opinion, creating a chance for him to introduce himself as a fix-it man who can improve the personal economic circumstances of Americans.

“We need a president who has a business background, and Mitt Romney’s business background is tremendous,” Michael Larson, 55, a salesman and independent voter from Minneapolis, said Wednesday in a follow-up interview. “He has a vision that will bring the country back to economic strength.”

Continue reading.

The opening for Obama is to play the class warfare card, as "A majority of voters say upper-income Americans pay less than their fair share of taxes, while half say capital gains and dividends should be taxed at the same rate as income from work — a disparity highlighted by Mr. Romney’s own effective tax rate of about 15 percent." But then again, not so fast, "Americans are showing gradual signs of optimism: 33 percent say the economy is getting better now, compared with 14 percent who said the same last October. But only 27 percent of voters said Mr. Obama had changed the country for the better, compared with 20 percent who said he had changed it for the worse and 47 percent who said he had not changed it at all."

Either way, it's going to an extremely close election, and perhaps one of the nastiest in history.

Obama Ate Dog Meat as a Boy

In normal times, this wouldn't be a big deal. But I'm glad it is at this point, since it's now considered a disqualification for high office that the Romneys put their dog on the roof of the car during vacation, or something.

Let it rip, I say...

See James Taranto, "Bam Bites Dog: The Political Perils of Personal Attacks" (via Memeorandum).

And see Jim Treacher's post at The Daily Caller. It turns out Obama adviser David Axelrod may end up regretting this tweet.

U.S. Troops Posed With Bodies of Suicide Bombers in Afghanistan

At this morning's Los Angeles Times, "U.S. troops posed with body parts of Afghan bombers" (at Memeorandum):

The photos have emerged at a particularly sensitive moment for U.S.-Afghan relations. In January, a video appeared on the Internet showing four U.S. Marines urinating on Afghan corpses. In February, the inadvertent burning of copies of the Koran at a U.S. base triggered riots that left 30 dead and led to the deaths of six Americans. In March, a U.S. Army sergeant went on a nighttime shooting rampage in two Afghan villages, killing 17.

And differing opinions, at Jawa Report, "Sandcrawler PSA: Don't Try Suicide Bombing," and Jihad Watch, "U.S. condemns photos of soldiers posing with body parts of Afghan jihadists."

Ted Nugent on The Dana Show

Dana Loesch has an interview:

And check all the batsh*t reactions at Memeorandum.

PREVIOUSLY: "'Stranglehold'." (Linked at The Other McCain, "LIVE AT FIVE – 04.18.12."

Sweden's Minister of Culture Participates in Racist Black Cake Cutting Said to Depict Genital Mutilation in Africa

This reminds me of racist Tom Boggiani of Firedoglake.

Progs think racism is just hilarious.

Glenn Reynolds has the story: "OH, GOOD GRIEF: Swedish minister denies claims of racism over black woman cake stunt."

The cake was designed to simulate female genital mutilation --- and the artist screams as guests cut into the cake.

Only on the left, seriously. View it here.

And at London's Daily Mail, "'A tasteless, racist spectacle': Swedish minister in race row after being pictured cutting cake designed like naked, black, African tribal woman."

'Stranglehold'

The progs are going batsh*t crazy over Ted Nugent's remarks on President Obama and the Democrats: "We need to ride into that battlefield and chop their heads off in November..." (at CNN and Memeorandum).

It'll be interesting to see if this faux controversy has as much staying power as Hilary Rosen's attack on Ann Romney. And should Mitt renounce Nugent's endorsement? Who knows? But in this era of prickly partisanship and progressives' suppression of speech (stranglehold), I'm not going to be surprised if he does.

Democrat Bob Beckel Drops F-Bomb on Live TV, Attacks Tea Party Activist Jennifer Stefano: 'You Don't Know What the F—k You're Talking About'

The dude's the biggest asshole, seriously.

At Pamela's, "VIDEO: Bob Beckel Abuses Female Guest, “You Don't Know What the F*ck You're Talking About!,” Refuses to Apologize..."

Beckel was Walter Mondale's campaign manager in the 1984 presidential race.

Stay classy progs.

BONUS: Check out this comment thread at No More Mr. Nice Blog. Freakin' progs are actually threatening me for calling out their bullsh-t "chicken hawk" meme --- and Steve M. loves hims some anti-Ann Romney misogyny!

The Rise and Fall of Japanese Industrial Power

With all the predictions of American decline this last few years, it's almost amazing to see this article, at the New York Times, "Declining as a Manufacturer, Japan Weighs Reinvention":

AMAGASAKI, Japan — A few years ago, the densely built-up coastal region around this port was called Panel Bay because of its concentration of factories making the sophisticated flat-panel screens that were symbols of Japan’s manufacturing prowess. But now the area has become a grim symbol of its industrial decline.

In recent months, many of those plants have been closed or partially sold off, as the once seemingly invincible electronics industry has lost out to Chinese and South Korean challengers. Panasonic alone shut down two of its three factories here in March while Sharp, desperate to cover losses from its $10 billion flat-panel plant in nearby Sakai, accepted a bailout from a Taiwanese technology company — a stunning reversal in a nation that once prided itself on being Asia’s economic leader.

The demise of Panel Bay is the latest sign of what many Japanese fear is the hollowing out of their heavily industrialized economy, which has been in a gradual but relentless decline since the bursting of its twin real estate and stock bubbles in the early 1990s. The decline is largely a result of growing competition from Asian rivals, an aging work force and merciless gains by the yen. But many officials and business leaders now fear that this trend has accelerated since last year’s nuclear accident in Fukushima, which has raised the prospect of higher energy prices and even power failures.

“We already had a sense of crisis about the loss of manufacturing and manufacturing jobs,” said Tetsuya Tanaka, a director of manufacturing promotion at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, or METI. “Now we are afraid the concerns about electricity could give manufacturers the excuse they need to move offshore.”

The increased price pressures have wounded many of Japan’s corporate giants. Last week, Sony — the Apple-like innovator of the 1980s — forecast a $6.4 billion loss amid reports it may cut 10,000 workers, a drastic step in a nation where layoffs are still seen as socially unacceptable. Even Japanese carmakers like Toyota, which last year handed back the title of world’s largest auto company to General Motors after the supply disruptions from the tsunami, fear that they are becoming vulnerable to game-changing competition in electric cars or just lower-cost producers in South Korea and elsewhere.

The reversals have gripped Japan with a sense of national angst over its future, though economists are divided over how much the nation will actually deindustrialize — and whether a shift away from factories is really such a bad thing. Most economists agree that Japan, which rose to economic superpower status in the 1980s by building compact sedans and color televisions, has outgrown the “Asian Miracle” template and needs a new economic strategy. What that approach should be, though, is the subject of intense and growing debate.

IMAGE CREDIT: That's the cover art from Paul Kennedy's, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers (1987). The United States was was supposed to go the way of previous great powers, like Great Britain. Hasn't worked out that way, apparently.

Feminists at Camden School For Girls 'Blast' Tesco Market for Sale of Nuts Magazine at 'Eye-Level'

Well, we wouldn't want any young fellas seeing anything improper, now would we?

At the Camden New Journal, "Camden School For Girls’ Feminist Group blasts Tesco for displaying ‘degrading’ lads’ mags at child’s eye level":

SIXTH-FORM pupils have formed their own campaigning feminist group and are taking on a shop selling “degrading lads’ mags” near their school.

They argue magazines such as Nuts and Zoo – with pictures of women posing in their underwear and showing off their cleavages – should be positioned away from the eyeline of children and teenagers.

The Camden School For Girls’ Feminist Group say they have asked staff at the Tesco, opposite their school in Camden Road, Camden Town, to move the magazines – but have so far been ignored.

The rack of magazines is next to where many children buy their sandwiches and drinks  at lunchtime.

Isabella Woolford Diaz, 17, one of the founders of the group, said: “If you walk in here, you can see where people go to get food, and the magazines are clearly on the eyesight level of us all.

“The magazine covers are not the image we should see – it is very submissive for women. In other shops, they have already moved magazines or put covers over the picture bit of the front cover. Marks & Spencer has been good at this.”

The feminist group is concerned that the racy front covers have two negative impacts: leading boys to see women only as sexual objects; and pushing girls into worrying about weight and appearance, possibly triggering eating disorders.

Asked what the group would say to models like Lucy Pinder – this week’s Nuts cover girl – if they met her, Ms Woolford Diaz added: “We are not about being aggressive or judgmental. I’d want to know the background, how she got into doing this.”

Hmm, Lucy Pinder at eye-level?

That would be horrible, just horrible!

Hearings on GSA Scandal: Republicans Hammer Administrators on Lavish Spending

At Washington Examiner, "GOP rips GSA for 'culture of wasteful spending'."

And at the Washington Post, "GSA official asserts right to remain silent as Congress begins hearings into spending scandal."

BONUS VIDEO: Via Michelle:

More at Memeorandum.

Obama's Bloodiest Scandal

From Katie Pavlich, at Townhall, "Barack Obama's Bloodiest Scandal":

If the majority of American people knew Fast and Furious like they know Solyndra or the GSA scandal, they would be outraged. Despite very few exceptions, the media has been complicit in the cover-up of Obama’s bloodiest scandal by ignoring and refusing to report about it. Why? To protect the President. This scandal, one that has left hundreds of bodies in its wake, would be deadly to the administration. This is the scandal that will bring President Obama down in November, so long as the American people know its details.

Wow!

That sounds like a blockbuster.

Check out the book here: Fast and Furious: Barack Obama's Bloodiest Scandal and the Shameless Cover-Up.

And Michelle seconds that emotion: "Katie Pavlich exposes “Fast and Furious: Barack Obama’s Bloodiest Scandal and the Shameless Cover-Up”."

Anders Behring Breivik Goes on Trial

At Telegraph UK, "Anders Behring Breivik forced to confront cold reality of his crimes," and "Norway killer Anders Behring Breivik moved to tears."

Breivik's emotional at the video, but most of the coverage indicates he was defiant.

More here, "Anders Behring Breivik spent a year playing World of Warcraft role-playing game online," and "Anders Behring Breivik statement 'will determine legal sanity'."

And at London's Daily Mail, "The red dots died, the yellow dots survived: Court sees chilling map of Breivik's deadly rampage around island," and "'There's someone shooting just outside. He's coming in': Terrifying phone call of survivor of Breivik's massacre is played to court."

My previous reporting is here. And see especially, "Anders Behring Breivik — No Clear Ideological Program."

First Street Journal — Rule 5 Blogging

Recall Dana at First Street Journal posts our military's women warriors.

See: "Rule 5 Blogging: The Fashionistas."

I liked this one. I think shows endurance and sacrifice.

Toy Boarders

This is cool:

The homepage is here.

Madison Tea Party Rally — April 14, 2012

William Jacobson has a report, "Madison Tea Party battleground more divided, entrenched than ever."

And at Gateway Pundit, "THOUSANDS Turn Out at Pro-Walker Madison Tea Party Rally."

And here's video of Dana Loesch, via Althouse:

More from Althouse at her tags, here and here.

ZoNation: 'Liberals Are the Agents of Censorship'

A great clip:

BONUS: An example of progressive censorship, at Blazing Cat Fur, "'I am an atheist who opposes Wilson's ideas and supports gay rights. That said, our side acted like f----ng children tonight'."

Pat Condell: 'Israel and the United Nations'

Via Jake Finnegan:

Happy Birthday, Ann Romney!

I like it: "Romney for President Releases New Web Video: 'Happy Birthday, Mom'."

And folks are talkin' like today's the kickoff of the general election campaign, even though the GOP nomination's not sewn up yet.

Gallup started its presidential election tracking poll today, for example: "Romney, Obama in Tight Race as Gallup Daily Tracking Begins." (Via Memeorandum.)

PRINCETON, NJ -- Mitt Romney is supported by 47% of national registered voters and Barack Obama by 45% in the inaugural Gallup Daily tracking results from April 11-15. Both Obama and Romney are supported by 90% of their respective partisans.

That sound's nice, of course, but it's the Electoral College that decides the election, and it's a bit more complicated: "A few states could decide Obama-Romney battle."

With the November field set, Americans can look forward to months of trench warfare as President Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney wage a costly, brutal and scathingly negative fight over a narrow slice of voters in a limited number of states.

Although Romney still must accumulate the 1,144 delegates he needs to officially claim the Republican presidential nomination — a task made infinitely easier by the exit of his chief rival, Rick Santorum — the more important calculation involves the 270 electoral votes needed to capture the White House.

Each candidate starts with a core of partisan supporters, which together represent at least 80% of the electorate, and a set of states he can reliably expect to win come November, strategists in both camps agree.

Romney is almost certain to sweep most of the Great Plains and Southern states, notwithstanding his weak performance there during the primary season, as contempt for Obama overcomes much of the resistance the former Massachusetts governor has faced among evangelical and socially conservative voters.

The president should repeat his 2008 performance by prevailing along the West Coast and carrying New York, his home state of Illinois and most of New England and the Mid-Atlantic states.

That leaves about a dozen states to decide an election that, barring the unexpected, promises to be more like the cliffhangers in 2000 and 2004 than Obama's comfortable victory four years ago.

Continue reading.

Community Colleges Offer Path to Four-Year Degrees

Well, this is interesting.

At the New York Times, "Opening Up a Path to Four-Year Degrees":

PHILADELPHIA — At the end of his first year at the Community College of Philadelphia, Christopher Thomas decided that his goal — to go back to school and get a degree — was no longer worth it. He was in debt from thousands of dollars in student loans. After class, he rode a bus an hour and a half to a suburban restaurant where he worked as a waiter. When the shift ended at midnight, it took him three buses to get home. He couldn’t afford a computer, so in the middle of the night, he walked to his aunt’s house and used hers to finish his class work.

He got seven A’s and a C, but the plan was for eight.

Mr. Thomas was 36, living in a spare bedroom at his grandmother’s house and doing much of his sleeping on the Route 124 bus. “I’m done,” he told friends.

But he wasn’t. A woman in the college’s Institutional Advancement department, Patricia Conroy, kept sending e-mails about a $2,000 scholarship. “WHY DON’T YOU APPLY FOR THIS,” she wrote. He won one. Professors spoke about his promise. Friends said it would be a crime.

“My dream of a 4.0 was gone,” he said. “I figured what it would take for a 3.9. If I aced out, I still might not make it, but a 3.89 was possible.”

Actually, he finished with a 3.91. This fall he will enter the University of Pennsylvania.

Increasingly, the students here are making that jump. Dawn-Stacy Joyner, a former hospital cook, will also attend the University of Pennsylvania. Nine women graduating this spring have been accepted to Bryn Mawr. Larry Thi, who hopes to become a teacher, transferred to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

“There’s been a major acceleration the last few years,” said Rod Risley, executive director of Phi Theta Kappa, the community college honor society.

It’s partly the economic collapse. The Community College of Philadelphia costs $4,400 a year for city residents; the most expensive private colleges are $60,000. Getting an associate degree first can save $100,000.

“These students are choosing community colleges with the intention that this is their path to selective institutions,” Mr. Risley said.

I don't know about this.

Students like Christopher Thomas are extremely atypical, in my experience. As are the other students also mentioned at the article, including the author's own kid. Maybe the Times needs a larger sample. As I reported earlier, 90 percent of students at my college are taking remedial courses --- and frankly, if I had just a handful of students who were aiming for a 4.0 I'd be delighted. It's just not working out like that. See: "Cost of ignorance - Ill-prepared students a burden for colleges," and "Remedial classes are draining CSULB budget."

I applaud all hard-working students like those cited at the Times, but we're going to need a lot more kids like that.

Catholic Vote 2012

William Jacobson asks if Catholics will "vote in larger numbers and against Obama this year?"

I don't know, and will update with more information later. Meanwhile, a re-post of my favorite political video:

And recently at the New York Times, "Obama Shift on Contraception Splits Catholics."

And from John Feehery, last year, "Obama and the Catholic Vote."

Laura Marling Live at Coachella 2012 — 'Ghosts' / 'Blackberry Stone'

A nice clip, via London's Daily Mail, "You're supposed to watch the bands! Besotted Emma Watson only has eyes for new boyfriend as they kiss at Coachella":

Emma Watson has fallen under the spell of Will Adamowicz, clearly enchanted by her new beau.

The besotted duo attended Coachella, but spent more time gazing at one other than watching bands.

The Harry Potter actress didn't seem shy kissing her boyfriend in full view of the public at the music event, which is around a 90 minute drive from Los Angeles, even closing her eyes passionately as she planted a kiss on Will's lips.

Dressing down for the festival, birthday girl Emma - who turns 22 today - sported jeans, a leopard print scarf and a feathered gilet as the balanced shades on her head doubled up as a hairband.

Will, who has been dating Emma since the end of last year, looked equally infatuated as he gazed at his famous girlfriend with a look that only couples in their honeymoon phase possess.

When they weren't lost in each other's eyes adoringly, they still appeared content just to be together.

Lots more from the festival at the link.

Laura Marling's lyrics to "Ghosts" here.

'Have a Nice Flight' — Israel's 'Welcome Letter' to 'Flytilla' Activists

This is too good not to share, via Blazing Cat Fur and Director Blue:

Also at Jerusalem Post, "Israel to 'thank' fly-in activists in mocking letter."

Class, Gender, and One Hundred Years After the Titanic

Here's an essay from Jean Kaufman, a.k.a. Neo-Neocon, at The Weekly Standard:

It is clear that class was a huge factor in Titanic survival, although it is difficult to know how much of the class differential was deliberate exclusion and how much accidental circumstance. But there is no escaping the conclusion that gender was an even greater factor than class, and that this was deliberate: Many first-class male passengers either elected to die in order that third class female passengers might live, or were forced by the crew to refrain from saving themselves at the expense of those third class women. That’s a different–and more accurate–narrative, although it’s not quite as politically correct. And it’s one that has gotten very little traction over the years.

RTWT, and be sure to leave a comment at Neo-Neocon.

Oops! Britain's First Muslim 'Life Peer' Suspended After Placing £10 Million Bounty on Presidents Obama and G.W. Bush

Well, multiculturalism is hard.

At Pamela's, "UKs first Muslim "Life Peer," Lord Ahmed, offers 15-million-dollar bounty for President Obama and Former President Bush's Head, too UPDATE: Lord Nazi Suspended..."

And at Telegraph UK, "British Peer Lord Nazir Ahmed suspended after 'offering £10m bounty on Barack Obama and George Bush'":

A controversial British peer has been suspended from the Labour Party amid reports that he offered a £10 million bounty for the capture of President Barack Obama and his predecessor President George W Bush.

Lord Nazir Ahmed, 53, who in 1998 became the first Muslim life peer, was reported to have made the comments at a conference in Haripur in Pakistan.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "We have suspended Lord Ahmed pending investigation. If these comments are accurate we utterly condemn these remarks which are totally unacceptable."

According to Pakistan's Express Tribune newspaper Lord Ahmed offered the bounty in response to a US action a week ago.
The US issued a $10 million reward for the capture of Pakistani militant leader Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba group, who it suspects of orchestrating the 2008 Mumbai attacks in which 166 people died as terrorists stormed hotels and a train station.

The British peer reportedly said: "'If the US can announce a reward of $10 million for the (capture) of Hafiz Saeed, I can announce a bounty of £10 million (for the capture of) President Obama and his predecessor, George Bush."

Lord Ahmed reportedly said he would arrange the bounty at any cost, even if he had to sell his own personal assets including his house.
He was said to have made the comments at a reception arranged in his honour by the business community of Haripur on Friday.
A former Pakistani foreign minister and a provincial education minister were said to have been present at the reception.

Lord Ahmed, who was born in Pakistan, became Baron Ahmed of Rotherham at the age of 40. In 2007 he was highly critical of the awarding of a knighthood to Salman Rushdie, claiming the author had "blood on his hands."

In 2009 he was jailed for dangerous driving after sending and receiving text messages minutes before being involved in a fatal motorway crash. The Court of Appeal later suspended his 12-week jail sentence.

A week ago the US offered the bounty on Saeed in response to what it called his increasingly "brazen" conduct in Pakistan where he moves freely and appears on television.

Documents found by US special forces at Osama bin Laden's final hideaway in Abbottabad, 22 miles north of Haripur, last year apparently linked Saeed with the al-Qaeda leader. The evidence was said to have shown that bin Laden played a key role in planning the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

In its statement suspending Lord Ahmed the Labour Party said: "The international community is rightly doing all in its power to seek justice for the victims of the Mumbai bombings and halt terrorism."

Kim Novak Says She's Bipolar — 'Branded as Difficult' by Hollywood, 'They Prohibited Her Friendship With Sammy Davis Jr.'

Once you've seen "Vertigo", you're hooked on Kim Novak.

And she's in the news, at Los Angeles Times, "Kim Novak says she's bipolar, regrets leaving Hollywood."

And get this on her conflicts with establishment Hollywood:

She was branded as difficult, Novak said, in part because she rejected attempts by studio executives to define and control her. At one point, they wanted her to take the name "Kit Marlowe" and wear her makeup like Joan Crawford did; at another, they prohibited her friendship with Sammy Davis Jr., saying it was too provocative.

Too provocative, right.

And just think, it's conservatives who're constantly attacked as "racist." Meanwhile, not much has changed regarding Hollywood's "promotion" of "diversity."

David Axelrod 'Makes the Case for Mitt Romney'

At Los Angeles Times, "Romney campaign says Axelrod 'makes the case for Mitt Romney'."

More at Memeorandum.

UPDATE: At Twitchy, "Obama adviser David Axelrod endorses Mitt Romney for President?"

Sunday Cartoons

At Flopping Aces, "Sunday Funnies."

And at Reaganite Republican, "Reaganite's Sunday Funnies," and Theo Spark, "Cartoon Round Up..."

Taliban Insurgents Launch Coordinated Attacks in Kabul

At Telegraph UK, "Taliban insurgents attack embassies and Nato headquarters in Kabul":

The Taliban said they and other militant groups were behind a coordinated assault in the Afghan capital, Kabul, on Sunday which included attacks on the British and German embassies in the heavily guarded, central diplomatic district.

Also at Time, "Blasts and Gunfire Shake Kabul as Taliban Launches Coordinated Attacks."

I'm seeing the eerie comparisons to Vietnam in 1968 and the Tet Offensive. It's a prelude to a pullout, and a loss of U.S. influence for decades.

UPDATE: Stormbringer reports, "KABUL: ALL HELL BREAKING LOOSE."

And at the Los Angeles Times, "At least 35 killed in Afghan assaults; attackers reportedly surrounded."

Also, at the New York Times, "Kabul Rocked by Gunfire and Explosions" (via Memeorandum).

Obama Campaign Claims Mitt Romney Would 'Outlaw Abortion'

At Riehl World View, "BuzzFeed Catches Team Obama Lying About Romney's Views."

And at Big Government, "Obama Campaign Claims Romney Would 'Outlaw Abortion'."

Also, at Human Events, "Five Lies You Need to Know about Mitt Romney."

Angels 7-1 Win Over Yankees Breaks Three-Game Losing Streak

This is going to be on of the big rivalries of the season.

At the Los Angeles Times, "C.J. Wilson throws struggling Angels a lifeline, beats Yankees."

At the New York Times, "Boos Rain on Hughes After Shaky Start Against Angels":

The glow emanating from the Yankees’ home opener Friday quickly dimmed Saturday. The Los Angeles Angels exacted their revenge on Phil Hughes, whose second sloppy start revived questions about his place in the rotation.

One day after being shut out by Hiroki Kuroda, the Angels fired back with six runs against Hughes, who was knocked out in the fourth inning having allowed two home runs among the eight hits he yielded. Before it was over the Angels would tack on another run for a 7-1 win at Yankee Stadium that halted the Yankees’ winning streak at four games.

Howie Kendrick had three hits off Hughes, including a three-run homer in the fourth that landed in the second deck in left field. The blast signaled the end of a disappointing day for both Hughes and many of the 46,829 in attendance, many of whom booed him as he left the mound.

Hughes had an impressive spring but his two ineffective outings, coupled with a poor season last year that included time on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, are already raising questions about his long-term viability. Manager Joe Girardi, however, bristled at suggestions that Hughes was in danger of losing his starting spot after only two outings.

“It’s April 14 and we’re talking about our rotation and we’re 4-4?” he said. “We’re not 0-8. People are kind of getting a little bit ahead of themselves.”

But the questions were not posed in a vacuum. With Andy Pettitte continuing to build arm strength in the minor leagues, and Michael Pineda (left shoulder tendinitis) expected back next month, one or two Yankees starters could lose spots in the rotation. Hughes was not the most likely candidate coming into the season and still may not be. But he did nothing to help his cause Saturday.

He allowed six earned runs in three and a third innings, walking two and striking out six. In his previous start last Sunday against Tampa Bay, Hughes held the Rays to two runs in four and two-thirds innings. That was not a good game for Hughes, who ran his pitch count to 99. But that start was not as bad as this one.

Hughes also surrendered a two-run homer in the second inning to Chris Iannetta, who tucked a looping drive into the right-field corner.

“I felt my stuff was pretty good,” Hughes said. “But I wasn’t locating, and there were a couple that hurt me really bad.”

Game 3 will air tonight on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.

Winning the War Against Women

At the Wall Street Journal, "The marriage tax and other obstacles to economic progress."

Another great editorial.

Read it all at the link.

Secret Service Agents in Prostitution Scandal Placed on Leave

Glenn Reynolds has a roundup, "OBAMA’S WAR ON WOMEN (CONT’D)."

And see the Los Angeles Times, "Misconduct inquiry targets 16 U.S. security team members."

WASHINGTON — Eleven Secret Service agents and five members of the U.S. military working on a security team preparing for President Obama's arrival at a regional summit in Colombia were under investigation Saturday for apparent misconduct involving prostitutes.

The incident occurred early Thursday at the Hotel Caribe, a historic beachfront hotel where the advance team was staying in the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena.

The episode began when police and hotel personnel began checking hotel rooms as part of the strict security surrounding the weekend Summit of the Americas, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the investigation.

Several visitors had not left identification with the front desk as required, prompting the room checks, the official said. It was then that a Secret Service agent was found with a woman believed to be a prostitute in his room.

Other Secret Service agents also had women in their rooms who were believed to be prostitutes, the official said. Prostitution is legal in certain "tolerance" areas in Colombia, and Cartagena has a large red light district.

Checks of the rooms also revealed U.S. military personnel with unauthorized visitors, a military official briefed on the incident said.

A dispute between one of the women and a Secret Service agent over whether she should be paid created a disturbance, andthe U.S. Embassy ultimately was notified.

The 11 Secret Service agents were relieved of duty and flown home Friday before Obama arrived in Cartagena. The group included special agents and uniformed division officers, none of whom are assigned to the president's protective detail.

Continue reading.

And a video report at ABC News, "Secret Service Agents Caught in Prostitution Scandal During."

Society Coming Apart

William Tucker reviews Charles Murray's new book, at The American Spectator, "The Coming Cultural Disintegration":

THE CULTURAL EARTHQUAKE that Murray has brought to national attention in Coming Apart goes as follows: Whatever the causes, the social disintegration that once seemed to apply only to African Americans has now engulfed blue-collar, white working-class communities as well. Men are dropping out of the workforce, single motherhood has risen to nearly 50 percent, crime has skyrocketed, religious faith is declining, and the chances for upward mobility are rapidly diminishing. As Murray concludes: "The absolute level [of social cohesion] is so low that it calls into question the viability of white working-class communities as a place for socializing the next generation."

Murray identifies what he calls the "founding virtues"—marriage, industriousness, honesty, and religiosity—that were once shared by all Americans and held us together in a common culture. That culture was still intact on November 21, 1963, the day before the Kennedy assassination that Murray chooses as his benchmark. In graph after graph drawn from the sociological literature, he shows how these four qualities have deteriorated—not among the college educated, who spend most of their time disparaging those virtues, but in blue—collar communities where people are rarely educated beyond high school. By way of illustration, he applies this data to two real places, Belmont, an upscale suburb of Boston dominated by college graduates, and Fishtown, a working-class neighborhood on the fringe of Philadelphia where the once strong ethic of marriage and family is now falling apart.

The disintegration of Fishtown over the last thirty years is a grim and depressing story. In one remarkable passage, Murray quotes social workers from the 1970s as they expressed their frustration about how Fishtown residents wouldn't accept government programs:

"Kensingtonians [i.e., Fishtown residents] are psychologically unable to face up to their cultural and economic deprivation," said one Philadelphia social services administrator. "Pride prevents them from taking advantage of social services. For them to accept these services would be to admit they're not what they claim to be." The director of Temple University's Student Community Action Center lamented that "nobody knows how to work in the white community. Kensington doesn't want us there. It refuses to admit it's a poverty area."

There in a nutshell is the reason why white working-class neighborhoods were once so strong. But the government eventually won.

Continue reading.

Murray's book is here: Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010.

Sarah Palin: 'Paying at the Pump'

Video c/o C4P.

And ICYMI, "Exclusive Interview: Palin Talks Pain at the Pump Ahead of Fox News Special."

East Against West in California's Economic Recovery?

As soon as I clicked the link, before scrolling down, I knew that was Newport Beach at the photo.

See: "In California, Economic Gap of East vs. West."

The Times overstates the economic recovery. The coastal areas are extremely affluent and less prone to the deep cycles of the economy, and the outer counties are perpetually underdeveloped. The housing boom naturally took off like wildfire in places like Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and so it's not surprising that the market crashes there pulled down the local economies like an anchor. And don't even get me going about the Central Valley. Drive an hour outside of Fresno and you'll think you're in the "Grapes of Wrath."

San Bernardino County, which with Riverside County makes up the Inland Empire, a sprawling area now scattered with vacant homes built in the last decade, posted an unemployment rate of 12.6 percent in March. Compared with Orange County, on the more prosperous, western side of California’s vertical divide with an unemployment rate of 8 percent, it can feel like another world.

The disparities have played out in all kinds of ways. The Inland Empire and the San Joaquin Valley, in the center of the state, have some of the highest rates of poverty in the country. El Centro, on the state’s southeast edge, has the highest unemployment rate for any metropolitan area in the country, nearly 27 percent. Stockton, 550 miles to the north and also on the eastern side of the divide, became the first city to test the state’s new process for possible bankruptcy.

At the same time, the gap between the per capita income in the San Francisco Bay Area compared with the Inland Empire grew to more than $40,000; it was $26,000 four decades ago. While suburbs in the eastern parts of the state were some of the fastest-growing areas in the nation in the last decade, that growth has slowed to a near halt.

Welcome to California.

North Korea's Nuclear Embarrassment

The Los Angeles Times reports, "North Korea's failed missile may foreshadow nuclear test":

Experts say that experience suggests the embarrassment of Friday's missile launch will encourage North Korea's young leader to test a nuclear device soon. Meanwhile, the U.S. cancels food aid.

But I'm really tripping on this video from last week, "North Korea threatens 'merciless punishment' as it readies rocket launch."

More from Telegraph UK, "Inside North Korea: Empty screens and blank faces as rocket launch fails."

Why the Left Fears Ann Romney

She's a spectacular woman, for one thing.

But that's not all, according to Teri Christoph and Suzanne Haik Terrell, at CNN:

As her husband moves toward locking up the Republican nomination, recent headlines have screamed that Ann Romney is the "Romney that Democrats fear most." And for good reason. Pundits point out that she is passionate, attractive, charismatic and elegant -- all true -- but we would argue that what Democrats truly fear is her message and the impact it is having with women of all walks of life.

Recently, Romney made headlines when she said, "Women care about jobs. Women care about the economy, they care about their children, they care about their debt. They're angry, they're furious about the entitlement debt we're leaving our children." She is right.

Meanwhile, Democrats preen on about the phony "war on women" and are increasingly desperate to lure attention away from their disastrous policies. The women we know are smarter than this and realize this is merely a smokescreen meant to distract women voters from the true legacy of the Obama administration: failed economic policies that adversely affect women.

In her stunning comments, Rosen claims Romney "never really dealt with the kind of economic issues that a majority of women in the country are facing."

Moms all across this country look to the unemployment numbers, which have disproportionately affected women, and worry about their families' immediate future and security.

Moms look to record high gas prices as they begin to plan summer road trips. Women make 80% of all health care decisions in our country, so it's no wonder a consistent majority of them oppose Obamacare.

Moms know how to make and maintain a budget and are left wondering why it has taken Harry Reid over 1,050 days to pass a budget in the male-dominated, Democrat-led U.S. Senate.

Moms know the crushing legacy that debt can leave and are outraged that, as of today, each of our children owes $50,017.33 of the national debt. This is the legacy of the Obama administration, and this is why liberals like Ms. Rosen make personal attacks on mothers like Ann Romney, rather than debate the issues most important to women.

More and more women like Ann Romney are standing up and speaking out. Women are joining the political arena in droves, both as activists and as candidates.

RELATED: From Michelle Malkin, "Why do Soros monkeys hate women?"

Alan Dershowitz on George Zimmerman Arrest Affidavit

William Jacobson has the affidavit, "Alan Dershowitz on George Zimmerman Arrest Affidavit."

And see London's Daily Mail, "Zimmerman did NOT use racial slur against Trayvon Martin, prosecutors now say."

Lawrence Auster has more: "CRITIQUES OF ZIMMERMAN AFFIDAVIT."

The Economics of Ann Romney

From Kevin Williamson, at National Review (via Instapundit):

Ann Romney is economically a hell of a lot smarter than Hilary Rosen.

The marginal value of the wages earned in a typical C-level career would have been almost nothing to the Romneys. But there is that other scarce resource: parental time.

A great piece.

RTWT.

Ezra Levant Tells Saudi Arabia to Step Off in Muslim Bra Photo Controversy

Via Blazing Cat Fur.

Background at Scaramouche!, "Tempest in a C Cup."

North Korean Launch Fails

See the report at the Wall Street Journal, "Pyongyang Admits Test of Rocket Collapses; U.S. Condemns 'Provocative Action'."

And from the editors, "A Pyongyang Joke" (via Google):

North Korea's declared intention in launching a ballistic missile Friday morning was to place a satellite in orbit to mark the 100th birthday of Kim Il Sung, the regime's founder. After the missile's failure 80 seconds into its flight, current leader Kim Jong Eun will have to come up with some other firecracker for his grandfather, probably another nuclear test. Maybe that will fizzle, too.

The missile failure is now being portrayed as a crashing humiliation for the North, particularly after it had invited foreign media to inspect the launch site. No doubt it represents a loss of face for the young Kim and his military machine, which spent an estimated $450 million on the missile. That the North admitted the failure to its people over state TV may also suggest that the Great Successor's political grip isn't firm.

Then again, more than the North Koreans should feel humiliated by the launch. It was only in February that the Obama Administration struck a deal with Pyongyang, offering 240,000 metric tons of food aid over the next year in exchange for the usual promises of good nuclear behavior. We warned at the time that the North was certain to break the deal. They did so within weeks.

Why they broke their word as quickly as they did is a good question. Maybe it reflects the regime's internal power dynamics—or maybe the North figures it can extract a bigger bribe if it first indulges in some outrageous behavior. It won't be the first time they've played that game to profitable effect.

Whatever the case, the North's decision to launch is also an indication of its disdain for the protests of the U.S. and its allies...

Read it all at that top link.

BONUS: From Dana Pico, "The First Street Journal scoops everybody, with the first film of the failed North Korean rocket launch."

Barack Obama's Problem With Women

A great essay, from Marc Thiessen, "Obama’s women problem":

With polls showing Mitt Romney losing ground with women voters, many in Washington have been buzzing in recent days over Romney’s “woman problem.” They’ve got it backward: It is Barack Obama who has the bigger problem with women.

When he took office in 2009, Obama’s job approval rating with women had reached 70 percent; today it has slipped to 49 percent — a precipitous decline of 21 points. This is why the president has been working overtime to court the women’s vote — weighing in on whether women should be admitted to the Augusta National Golf Club (even though nobody asked what he thought); publicly taking the side of a female Georgetown University law student in her spat with Rush Limbaugh; and forcing religious employers to provide coverage for contraception and abortion-inducing drugs.

But here’s the interesting thing: It’s not working. As these controversies have dominated the news in recent weeks, Obama’s approval rating among women has not gone up; it has actually declined slightly. Why is that? Perhaps it’s because country club membership and who pays for birth control are not the issues women voters are most concerned about...

Continue reading.

NewsBusted: 'Connecticut Abolishes Death Penalty'

Via Theo Spark:

BONUS: From Theo, "Red Friday Totty..."

Buffett Rule Bill Leaves Some Millionaires Untouched

The NEA sent me an email with the video below included. And here's part of the pitch for higher taxes:

Also on Tax Day, the Senate will vote on the Paying a Fair Share Act (S. 2230). The bill, introduced by Senator Whitehouse (D-RI) would implement the “Buffet Rule” to ensure that millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share in taxes. In doing so, it would help choose the right vision for America – the one in which every American contributes to economic recovery and all have the hope and the help they need to succeed.

I literally hate the union's political activities. I don't hate unions, since I think collective bargaining has a place, but unions are the "schoolhouses of socialism," and the NEA proves it again and again.

And this push for the Buffet Rule is just another tax-raising scam by the left. See IBD, "Bill to Implement Buffet Rule on Millionaires Shelters Tax-Exempt Bonds":

President Obama brought the Buffett Rule front and center in his re-election campaign this week, but legislation to implement it has a major exemption that would reduce likely tax revenue and discourage productive investment.

If passed by Congress — highly unlikely — the Buffett Rule would require everyone with an income of $1 million or more to pay a 30% minimum federal income tax. It's named after billionaire Warren Buffett, who famously said his secretary paid taxes at a higher rate than he did.

Obama on Tuesday renewed his call for the rule. Hours earlier, the White House issued a report arguing that rich people weren't paying enough taxes.

But a Buffett Rule bill by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., has a glaring omission. It exempts a favorite tax shelter of the wealthy, municipal bonds.

The legislation determines whether a taxpayer has a million-dollar income by looking at adjusted gross income. That excludes tax-exempt interest payments.

"That does undermine the logic put forward for the rule," said Alan Viard, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. "I'm surprised more people haven't picked up on that. Municipal bonds are held disproportionately by high-income taxpayers, and they get the highest tax break."

Municipal bonds are issued by state and local governments to finance capital projects like schools, roads and high-speed trains. Because they are tax exempt, interest rates — and financing costs for local governments — are lower.

More at the link.

Sarah Palin Slams Obama's 'Inconsistencies' and 'Double-Standards' in Left's War on Women

Governor Palin's making the interview rounds.

Here's last night's with Sean Hannity, via Tina Korbe, "Palin: Rosen “awakened many Mama Grizzlies”":

See Big Government, "Exclusive Interview: Palin Talks Pain at the Pump Ahead of Fox News Special."

And lots more at C4P.

Ann Romney Speaks to Ann National Rifle Association!

You gotta love it!

Via The Hill, "VIDEO: Ann Romney Briefly Addresses NRA Meeting."

More at The Other McCain, "Warning: Brain-Bleach Shortage!"

And at Michelle Obama's Mirror, "Failure to Launch. What the Fluke is going on here? -- UPDATED!"

EXTRA: At the New York Times, "Romney Warns Gun Lobby of a Second Obama Term." (VIA MEMEORANDUM.)

If the 2012 Election is Framed as 'Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Years Ago?' Then Obama is Going to Lose

A great piece from Jay Cost, at The Weekly Standard, "Obama's Troubled Reelection Strategy" (via Memeorandum):

This, put simply, is Barack Obama’s problem. If the 2012 election is framed on “are you better off than you were four years ago?,” then he is going to lose. His record on the economy, the deficit, energy policy, and health care are all very unpopular.

So, Obama’s objective is to get the country to think about other things. In particular, he has of late employed a series of gimmicks to induce the country to conceive of Mitt Romney in the above terms. The whole “war on women” is exactly along those lines, as is the Buffett Rule. Both speak to the core strategy – Romney is a conservative radical and tool of big business who wants to deprive women of birth control and help only the rich get richer.

London's Daily Mail: 'Lesbian Democrat' Apologizes for Saying Mrs. Romney 'Never Worked a Day in Her Life'

Well, shoot, at least somebody decided to mention that Hilary Rosen is a lesbian freak radical feminist.

See: "'Mrs Romney seems like a very nice woman': Obama forced to defend rival's wife as lesbian Democrat apologises for saying she's 'never worked a day in her life'."

Records show that Rosen, a former lobbyist with the recording industry and link person between Hollywood and the Democratic party, belongs to a firm paid more than $120,864 by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) this election cycle.

But the DNC denied she was an adviser and Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, said he personally knew three people called Hilary Rosen, did not know how often she had been to the White House and had no idea what her meetings had been about.

Appearing on CNN, Rosen appeared pained by the White House’s virtual denial of her existence. ‘I don't know any other Hilary Rosens but Jay must,’ she said. ‘It's politics.’

The DNC accused conservatives of attacking Rosen for being a lesbian. The adoptive mother of two children, Rosen split up with her long-time partner and co-adoptee Elizabeth Birch in 2006.

Actually, "conservatives" didn't attack Rosen for being lesbian --- an act of omission which is easily explained by the cancer of political correctness infecting society. A blogger at Red State mentioned but DID NOT JUDGE Rosen's sexual orientation, and then in a separate post Erick Erickson went batsh*t crazy while attempting to slap down the mere mention of Rosen's lesbianism by the Catholic League.

So let's be honest here: Rosen's homosexuality has everything to do with how she sees family, motherhood, and work. She was rightly called out for a vicious attack on Mrs. Romney, and it's perfectly clear to me that her comments were driven, at least in part, by sheer radical lesbian feminist ideological hatred --- and to think, it all flows out so easily, from a top-level Democrat Party insider. These are people who are supposed to be tolerant and accepting of difference, when in fact the difference they despise and demonize is traditionalism and moral righteousness. If we've learned anything this last week it's that political correctness is destroying reasoned debate in society. While few people would comment on black thuggery as did John Derbryshire, the guy is supposed to have a constitutional right to speak his mind. And now what? He's thrown under the bus by the editorial heavyweights at National Review? What a disgrace. And here we have Erick Erickson, who was in fact on CNN debating Rosen at the time, defending this progressive political hack against the mere mention of her sexual orientation. Gee, wouldn't want to offend anyone, you think?

Just because someone is gay doesn't mean you can't talk about how their gayness radicalizes their politics. Progressives have no inhibitions against destroying the other for political gain, absolutely none. When you keep progressives' sexual identity under the table you're channeling off a tremendous amount of political information. That sexual orientation animates a politics of vile opposition and attack that in turn benefits from a set of self-defeating double-standards that the right applies only to itself. See Maggie's Notebook for more: "Elizabeth Birch - The Children’s Other Mom - Hilary Rosen Worries About Same Things Ann Romney Worries About." These people are radical. Call them out for who they are and what the stand for. All of Rosen's apologies and clarifications have been CYA bullsh*t. People shouldn't be kidding themselves about it. Just take a look at this post from TBogg --- "The Umbrage Games" --- and you can see that progressives play to destroy and they play for keeps. They live off of this stuff and it's how they'll put you under if you're not pushing back.

More, thank goodness, at Bob Belvedere's, "Ann Romney Attacked By Crazed Lesbian." And again, at The Other McCain, "Feminism, Careerism, Lesbianism":

What the hell? Liberals consider this an “apology”?

Spare me the faux anger from the right who view the issue of women’s rights and advancement as a way to score political points.

Rosen is defending, not apologizing for, her hateful attitude toward traditional wives and mothers. And please tell me who spent weeks trying to “score political points” on this issue, huh?

*****

And let's not forget: Ann Romney is a beautiful, wonderful mother and wife --- and Mitt's truly enriched to have her campaigning at his side.

Anti-Elite Protester Trenton Oldfield Stops Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race

This is unreal, truly.

At London's Daily Mail, "Chaos at the Boat Race: Event stopped because of SWIMMER in the Thames... then Oxford's broken blade gives Cambridge victory."

And the guy was himself wealthy and educated at elite institutions, which tells you how deranged are the world's social activists. See Australia's Herald Sun, "Aussie ‘class warrior' who derailed Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race is a privately-educated ‘toff'."

And see Melanie Phillips, "A Boat Race rebel without a clue and the politics of narcissism":

His website entry should surely have been entitled ‘anti-elitism leads to imbecility’. Equating the excellence and superiority of Oxford and Cambridge with tyranny is not just stupid, but positively odious when one considers real tyranny in countries such as Syria or North Korea.

In any event, elitism is merely another way of saying that some achievements are considered superior to others. The great question is which achievements should be given priority.

Those like Oldfield who practise class war believe no achievements should be afforded superior status. To the Oldfields of this world, the great crime committed by Oxford and Cambridge is simply to be excellent.

Read it all at the link.

Primary Lessons for Mitt Romney

From Kim Strassel, at the Wall Street Journal, "Romney's Primary Lessons" (via Google):

Nominee Romney. It took six years, 36 debates, epic organization and a small fortune, but it appears he will finally claim that title. The question is whether he is willing to learn from his experience.

Despite the GOP handwringing over the length of its contest, the primary did serve one purpose: competition. Competition, at its best, makes the last man standing stronger. And Mr. Romney's rivals—both in their successes and their failings—helped sharpen the contours of today's political landscape. Each one has had a lesson to offer him. Combined, they offer a blueprint to victory in the tougher competition against Barack Obama this fall.

The two candidates who might, oddly, provide the biggest takeaway are Michele Bachmann and Jon Huntsman. Their campaigns were short-lived, for the reason that voters did not understand their purpose. Politics is about vision, yet Mrs. Bachmann never got beyond appealing to "mothers," or Mr. Huntsman beyond ramblings about China.

President Obama has a vision for this country, even if it's not one to which most aware Americans would subscribe. Mr. Romney is adept at warning about this Obama view and insisting that his view is different. But what is it? The governor has been inching toward a vision, but its description has been long-winded, framed in overused phrases ("freedom" or "the American Dream"), and its substance lost amid 59-point plans. The biggest test ahead for Mr. Romney will be whether he can define a grand purpose for his presidency in a clear and compelling way.

For inspiration, he can look to Herman Cain. His lesson was that it isn't enough to talk about the economy; a winning candidate has to present big, bold, pro-growth solutions. Mr. Cain's 9-9-9 plan had flaws, but it appealed to Americans in its freshness and its daring. Mr. Romney dragged through much of the primary with the least inspiring tax plan of his competitors, though he improved it in February—with a 20% across-the-board cut in income tax rates. There's no reason he can't improve it more, say by also including an optional and clean flat tax.

Speaking of big and bold, he could also study Newt Gingrich. Mr. Romney is fond of poking Mr. Gingrich about moon colonies, but at least the former speaker has ideas. Voters were drawn by Mr. Gingrich's notions to replace the EPA, and he pulled out a Georgia victory in part on his vision for harnessing America's new energy boom. The way for Mr. Romney to prove he has a vision is to lead with innovative reform—on energy, taxes, education, entitlements, regulation.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry offered pointers on one way to enthuse an unconvinced base: states' rights...

Read it all at the link.

I think the best thing will be for Romney to hone his case for improving the economy. A catchy 9-9-9 slogan might help, but with the economic numbers continuing to drag Obama down, it's James Carville's lesson from '92 that counts the most: "It's the economy, stupid."

Or, Rick Santorum's, Strassel suggests:

If Mr. Romney won't forcefully make the case that lower tax rates for all is what produces jobs and economic growth—but instead joins the president to beat up "the rich"—then Republicans are cooked. Mr. Santorum got that.

That sounds about right.

Michelle Williams, New Black Panther Party Chief of Staff, Wanted George Zimmerman Dead or Alive

Hope and change.

At Freedom Eden, "Michelle Williams, New Black Panthers: Racist Rant":

Let me tell you, the things that's about to happen, to these honkeys, these crackers, these pigs, these pink people, these ---- people. It has been long overdue. My prize right now this evening ... is gonna be the bounty, the arrest, dead or alive, for George Zimmerman. You feel me?

And she still comes off the victim.

Shoot, just own it. Black dirtbag loser bitch. You just own it.

More here: "New Black Panther chief of staff and community activist Michelle Williams had run-ins with the law."

'Frame-Fail' for the New York Times: Democrats Taking Steps to Narrow Romney's Gender Gap

There's some brutal political irony in this front-page New York Times report out today, "Romney Taking Steps to Narrow His Gender Gap."

Mitt Romney moved Wednesday to confront one of his most vexing general election problems — how to narrow the gender gap he faces against President Obama — but his campaign immediately found itself squeezed between its intensifying efforts to appeal to women and its need to avoid alienating conservatives.

Female voters have emerged as one of Mr. Romney’s largest vulnerabilities. A Washington Post/ABC News poll this week showed that women preferred Mr. Obama to Mr. Romney by 19 percentage points, and an earlier Gallup/USA Today poll of voters in 12 key swing states showed Mr. Obama leading over all, buoyed by independents and women — two critical voting blocs.

Now, in the face of mounting attacks from Democrats and the Obama campaign, Mr. Romney is taking steps to address that gender gap head on. In the past week, his campaign has devised a three-pronged strategy, which it finalized Tuesday night, advisers familiar with the internal discussions said. They will try to debunk the notion that Mr. Romney’s policies have hurt women, turn the criticism back on Mr. Obama and outline how they believe women have suffered under his administration, and brand those issues in a memorable way.

The article then goes on to suggest that Romney "stumbled" with his comments on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, but then continues:

As the Romney campaign shifts to the general election, his aides will reintroduce him to voters, warming up his image by emphasizing his role as a devoted father and husband. Mr. Romney’s wife, Ann, has already made several Web videos that feature her reminiscences, along with gauzy family photos; voters are likely to see more of these. Mrs. Romney will also increase her campaign appearances; she has already begun to talk about how women tell her they care deeply about the economy, where the campaign wants to keep its focus. Polls showed that as the Republican primary campaign dragged on, Mr. Romney began losing support with women, who may have been put off by the contest’s focus on social issues like Planned Parenthood, immigration and contraception.

“Women voters are pocketbook voters, and the highest casualties of President Obama’s failures on the economy have been among women,” said Eric Fehrnstrom, a senior adviser to Mr. Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts. “Governor Romney has a good record on women’s issues. When he was in office, he was judged to have the best record of all governors in hiring women into senior positions.”

Well, no doubt Ann Romney is the Romney campaign's secret weapon! And she's taking off like lightning! Althouse notes the left's "frame-fail" in the Hilary Rosen backlash:

This is creating so much interest in Ann Romney now, shining a sudden bright light on her, and she is so ready. She's a great persona, better than Mitt at talking to people and generating warmth.

And here's Alana Goodman at Commentary, "Dems Retrench in the “War on Women”?":

From the staggering statistic released by the Republican National Committee that found women have lost 92.3 percent of all jobs lost since Obama took office, to yesterday’s scathing story on the gender pay gap in the Obama White House by the Washington Free Beacon, the GOP has started throwing the “war on women” rhetoric back into the faces of the Democrats who coined it.

And that was before the Hilary Rosen controversy erupted last night. Rosen has since apologized, and her statement appears to be more of a plea for a truce than a mea culpa...

There's more from Goodman at the link, but here's the icing on this beautiful "frame-fail" cake, at National Journal, "Obama Defends Ann Romney":

President Obama defended Ann Romney on Thursday, weighing in on a controversial comment made by Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen that the Republican presidential front-runner's wife “hadn’t worked a day in her life.”

“There’s no tougher job than being a mom," Obama told KCRG-TV9, an ABC affiliate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, according to the network’s website. “Anybody who would argue otherwise, I think, probably needs to rethink their statement.”

Obama added that the families of presidential candidates shouldn’t be the targets of negative attacks. “I don’t have a lot of patience for commentary about the spouses of political candidates,” the president said.

Man, that's harsh.

And that's after Rosen has met Obama at least five times in person, among the at least 35 of her visits tracked at the White House visitors' logs.

As Tammy Bruce snarks on Twitter: "I wonder how Rosen likes the view from under the bus..."

And that gender gap the Times is talking about isn't quite so extreme, and is likely to close completely if the Democrats keep up the good work. See Fox News, "Fox News Poll: Romney Edges Obama as Approval of President Drops":

The poll shows the gender gap may not solely be a problem for the Republican candidate. Women are more likely to back Obama (by 49-41 percent), while men are even more likely to give their support to Romney (by 52-38 percent). The 2008 Fox News national exit poll showed women voted for Obama over Republican John McCain by 13 percentage points (56-43 percent). Historically, exit poll results show women have consistently backed the Democrat over the Republican in presidential elections.

So there you go, your Democrat Media Complex frame-fail for the day!

(And more really good news for Romney at that poll.)

Great job progs!

UPDATE: Linked at The Rhetorican! Thanks!

Also, linked at An Ex-Con's Views.

Bar Refaeli Smokin' Hot Bikini Photo-Shoot for Agua Bendita Swimwear

Well, how about a little timeout from the left's war on women?

See London's Daily Mail, "Big hair and bikinis: Bar Refaeli poses in stunning new swimwear shoot."

Hilary Rosen's 'Faux' Apology

She's not very apologetic, is she? Wolf Blitzer has to wrench that apology out like he's performing oral surgery.

CNN has this, "Rosen apologizes over comments against Ann Romney."

And Mediaite has more on the story, with a full video: "Wolf Blitzer Chastises Hilary Rosen Over Comment: Democrats Are Now ‘Throwing You Under The Bus’."

And see Michelle's response, "A non-apology apology from Hilary Rosen; prog haters spew venom at Ann Romney on Twitter":

She apologizes if she “offended” anyone with her attack on Ann Romney and women who stay at home to raise their children.

Spoken like a true good ol’ Beltway boy schooled in blame-avoiding politics as usual.

I especially love how her apology continues her attack on conservative women by accusing them of “faux” outrage…even as First Lady Michelle Obama herself chimed in this morning to make clear she supports all mothers and create cover for herself.

Keep digging, Ms. Rosen. Keep digging.

And Michelle links to the literally unbelievable Twitter outbursts of progressive misogyny, at Twitchy: "New Tone alert: Libs attack Ann Romney as ‘cunt,’ ‘bitch,’ ‘whore’."

BONUS: At The Other McCain, "Feminism, Careerism, Lesbianism."

Ann Romney Responds to Democrat Hilary Rosen's Disgusting Stay-at-Home Mom Remarks

Boy, look out Democrats!

Ann Romney is hot and she knows how the game is played!

Tiny Korbe has the full video: "Video: Ann Romney responds to stay-at-home mom controversy on “America’s Newsroom”."

More at Memeorandum. This story is hot!