Commentary and analysis on American politics, culture, and national identity, U.S. foreign policy and international relations, and the state of education
- from a neoconservative perspective! - Keeping an eye on the communist-left so you don't have to!
I wonder how badly doctored the Afghanistan video will turn out to be? As readers will recall, almost everything about the WikiLeaks Apache video was manufactured and wrong. The folks at Jawa Report so thoroughly eviscerated WikiLeaks they should be up for a Pulitzer.
Meanwhile, check out this passage buried in Glenn Greenwald's long (even unusually long for Rick Ellensburg) essay on WikiLeaks and Wired's reporting on whistleblower Brad Manning:
Any rational person would have to acknowledge that government secrecy in rare cases is justifiable and that it's possible for leaks of legitimate secrets to result in serious harm. I'm not aware of a single instance where any leak from WikiLeaks has done so, but it's certainly possible that, at some point, it might. But right now, the scales are tipped so far in the other direction -- toward excessive, all-consuming secrecy -- that the far greater danger comes from allowing that to fester and grow even more. It's not even a close call. Any efforts to subvert that secrecy cult are commendable in the extreme, and nobody is doing that as effectively as WikiLeaks (and their value is not confined to leaking, as they just inspired a serious effort to turn Iceland into a worldwide haven for investigative journalism and anonymous whistle-blowers).
This Manning detention -- whether it was by design or just exploited opportunistically -- is being used to depict WikiLeaks as a serious national security threat and associations with it as dangerous and subversive. Just in the last week alone, several people have expressed to me fears that supporting or otherwise enabling WikiLeaks could subject them to liability or worse. There's no reason to believe that's true, but given the powers the U.S. Government claims -- lawless detentions, renditions, assassinations even of American citizens -- that's the climate of intimidation that has been created. This latest incident is clearly being used to impede WikiLeaks' vital function of checking powerful factions and imposing transparency, and for that reason alone, this is an extremely serious case that merits substantial scrutiny, along with genuine skepticism to understand what happened.
Who decides the current national security regime has gone too far in "the other direction"? Of course, just to get that initial concession from Greenwald on the necessity of governmental secrecy is something. And notice how the rest of the quote implies that Greenwald himself isn't in fact rational, ha!
Modern soccer has turned the penalty area into a wrestling ring, and that's what cost the United States victory in its World Cup match against Slovenia on Friday.
Maurice Edu committed no foul as he scored from just over six yards.
However, just about every other player in the penalty area was holding, grabbing, pulling or pushing as the U.S. free kick sailed in to the 18-yard zone.
Referee Koman Coulibaly of Mali saw one of several fouls. Unluckily for the U.S., he saw the only one committed by an American, defender Carlos Bocanegra.
Bocanegra had his arms around Slovenia substitute Jejc Pecnik and was preventing him from jumping for the ball.
Coulibaly was ideally placed to see the foul he called. He was 10 yards away from Edu as the striker hit the ball home, but the Bocanegra-Pecnik grappling took place just one yard away, in the referee's direct line of sight.
The 39-year-old referee, who has been officiating in tough African competitions for 17 years and called the final of the African Cup of Nations between Ghana and Egypt earlier this year, didn't hesitate to do his job.
But he couldn't see everything in the penalty area. So Coulibaly missed two American players being held and grabbed in different parts of the penalty area by Slovenian players.
Korn and the Backstreet Boys lead the way by turning their summer tours into BP-free odysseys, and a slew of musicians have followed suit.
Lady Gaga, Creed, Godsmack, Disturbed, Rise Against, Slightly Stoopid, Rob Zombie, Megadeth, Black Label Society with Zakk Wylde, Anthrax, Filter, Hellyeah and Flogging Molly are all bypassing BP fuel for other options, according to a statement.
Early estimates show about 100 buses, vehicles and trucks belonging to committed musicians are involved in the boycott.
This should be a battle to warm conservative hearts. You've got Governor Jan Brewer standing on principle to secure the southern border. She's got roughly two-thirds of Arizona voters backing her, and probably that nationwide. One the other hand, we've got the hardline leftist base of the Democratic Party hammering the Obama administration on "comprehensive reform" (amnesty). And lord knows we're talking about more than a few elderly precinct workers in Pasadena and Poughkeepsie. But also important is the controversy's shaping up as an epic battle over federal-state relations. And this is where various conservatives should be able to join together. In the tea party era is hard not to be for more limited government if you're a Republican. While folks might differ on economic vs. social issues, on immigration most factions can rally under the banner of devolution of governmental power to state and local officials. I imagine it's only the editorial board at the Wall Street Journal, and perhaps a few of the folks at Cato or Reason, who oppose making a stand with Arizona on this one. But if you watch the way Sarah Palin's playing it, I think you'll have a good feel for which way the winds blowing as fas as the November elections go.
At the viddy, Gov. Brewer on Greta's last night. Some good stuff:
Toward the end of the GOP gubernatorial primary this spring, former E-Bay CEO Meg Whitman claimed to be aggressively tough-on-borders and 100 percent opposed to amnesty. Here's the big ad buy that aired right up to the June 8th election:
On immigration, I will secure our border. And I'll send in the national guard if necessary. I say no driver's licenses, no sanctuary cities, and absolutely no amnesty. Period.
Whitman was endorsed by former California Governor and Prop 187-sponsor Pete Wilson: "I know how important it is to stop illegal immigration, and I know Meg Whitman. Meg will be tough as nails on illegal immigration."
Right.
Now Whitman's launched a "Latino outreach" campaign ad buy as "part of a comprehensive, multimedia effort to engage Latinos during this crucial election year":
Anncr: Meg Whitman is a different kind of candidate. She is a business leader ready to fix Sacramento, ready to create more jobs and better schools in California. She respects our community. She is the Republican who opposes the Arizona law and opposed Proposition 187.
She means real change. She has a specific plan for A New California. With more jobs, better schools and less bureaucracy.
Text: More jobs, better schools, less bureaucracy.
Anncr: She includes all of us. Meet Meg Whitman. A different kind of candidate, and the Governor California needs.
It's to be expected. I almost rolled over when I first saw Whitman toughening-up on immigration as her poll numbers wilted amid attacks from Steve Poizner. And while she's always been "kinder, gentler" on the issue, this switch-a-roo sets a new record for crass political pandering. Meanwhile, she's already sunk another $20 million into her campaign, bringing her total funding up to $91 million so far. Amazingly, Whitman so might anger the conservative base that die-hard opponents of McCain-Feingold might well start backing limits on wealthy self-funded non-voting amnesty-loving flip-flopping RINOs.
It's extremely fascinating. Death by gunshot's obviously more humane than the peace industry's lethal injection horror show. Gardner's attorney's made an 11th hour appeal to stop the execution, but the wheels of justice kept rolling despite late efforts to slow things down. Watch for the international outcry all weekend as criminal rights groups attack the U.S. as "barbaric." And the circumstances surrounding the case would seem to give death penalty opponents ammunition. Gardner's victim, attorney Michael Burdell, was a pacifist who opposed capital punishment. Attorney's for dead-man-walking Gardner invoked Burdell's name in speaking out out against the execution, saying that "Michael Burdell's voice has never been heard."
Couple of videos below. I wonder if someone's got a hidden mini-cam clip of this guy's death? Gardner's arms kept twitching after the shots fired, apparently. And it's hard to keep that stuff off the Internet in this day and age:
O'Reilly is too easy on this guy Jose Lara. But what's interesting his how Lara makes no arguments based on sound argumentation. He claims for example that Arizona's law is unjust BECAUSE city councils and civil rights groups around the country have denounced it. That's not argument. He also claims not to indoctrinate students. From I've heard, that whole Santee High School in Los Angeles is one anti-American hate dump. And remember, this is a guy in the classroom supposedly teaching young people "social studies." I get chills thinking about the sick ideology that's being instilled --- and remember, I marched with thousands of people like this on May 29th. They hate the United States. Maybe probing that hate might be O'Reilly's next line of questioning for these tools:
I'll be posting some beautiful blonde Sarah Brandner for my Friday night blogging, so stayed tuned. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the music, so overnight folks can enjoy a little beautiful blonde Debbie Harry, "The Tide Is High" (Wikipedia entry here):
Both parties, and both ideological perspectives, have their extremists. And one of the more interesting things about American politics is how each side labors to brand the other as outside the mainstream. Which side is winning? The conservatives, libertarians and tea partiers, who've been making the case that the Obama-Democrats are pushing a socialist-authoritarian regime on the country. It's not extreme to suggest it. They've been proving it in spades, with Obama's Oval Office disaster on Tuesday just the latest in the left's long propaganda campaign to bring about the communist cap-and-tax system of economic statism. Meanwhile, the left's media elites strain to portray the tea party movement as gun-toting terrorists about to kill and maim legions, the most recent example being Chris Matthews' one-hour special last night. I watched it, but check Lori Ziganto's piece, "Chris Matthews’ “Rise of The New Right”: Delusional Neo-Communist Propaganda":
Last night, MSNBC aired a Chris Matthews special, labeled a documentary, called The Rise of the New Right. I decided to take a quick break from my radical right wing extremist acts like bitterly clinging to my guns and my Bible, whilst fiendishly drawing Hitler moustaches on Obama photos, to watch it. I know. Apparently, I’m a glutton for punishment. However, while absolutely infuriating, it was simultaneously hilarious and almost took my mind off the distressing shortage of windmills in this country.
Almost immediately, two things became rather apparent. Firstly, MSNBC’s NewSpeak definition of “documentary” is evidently “blatant fallacies and pure propaganda”. Secondly, it’s quite clear that Chris Matthews’ leg ‘tingle’ has moved into his brain, or what passes for some semblance of one. Either that, or he’s merely decided to embrace his cuckoo pants. Plus, he’s a big, fat liar. I feel no qualms about saying that, since Matthews spent a full hour demonizing me and people like me as violent, irrational racists. In fact, the entire show could be summed up like this:
Racists. Birthers. Guns! Evil scary militia groups that have the same “Don’t Tread on Me” flag!!! Chanting “USA, USA” and being fond of the Constitution and, you know, liberty is super scary and ominous. Also, racist. And violence fomenting. Plus, racist.
Anyway, Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" is totally unrelated. Heard it yesterday and realized it had grown on me. Seemed off in a way when I first saw this video years ago, and don't know why since it's something Iggy might do, so Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. More later ...
I dislike Markos Moulitsas even more the Olby, so maybe this is something of a sign of hope for the world, LOL!
At issue is the MSNBC host's attacks on Obambi, which are well deserved but verboten in the left's fever swamps, even for a swamp creature like Olby himself. Politico's got more, "Keith Olbermann Leaves Daily Kos" (via Memeorandum).
The public relations office at Hearst Magazines sent the cover photo from their latest issue of Harper's Bazaar, featuring "Katherine Heigl Gets Real":
Saw this yesterday, and hey, you gotta give it up for that Iraq/Iran bumper sticker. Note how the last letter at the gas-meter image rolls over to "N", which implies two things: Regime change Iran is the next stop on the American imperial agenda, and it's all about oil. Also interesting is how this "peace thug" activist boasts the full package: A Subaru with Berkeley and Yale stickers in the rear window, a "teach peace" bumper sticker, and --- it's a little small --- but that's an Obama-Biden sticker there at bottom-right:
I saw this story a couple of days ago but didn't have an embeddable video. At TigerHawk, "Peace Teachers."
The actions of two teachers at the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, have come under considerable criticism. There are likely first amendment issues here protecting the speech of the teachers, and perhaps helping to insulate them somewhat from possible disciplinary action (along with their union), but I would guess that there will be some people who are sympathetic to their anti-war position who would nonetheless question the appropriateness of holding up signs at an assembly recognizing graduating seniors who are entering military service ....
Ms. Verani states in the video above, "It was not against them at a personal level," demonstrating that she is tone deaf on this matter -- only six students are being honored at an assembly, and it is then and there that she chooses to exercise her right to dissent, and that shouldn't be considered personal? I love Michael Corleone's line from The Godfather as much as anybody -- "It's not personal, Sonny, it's strictly business," -- but this is at least a little bit personal. The teachers are either directly or indirectly criticizing the career choice decisions of six students in a public forum.
Actually, my friend Dana Loesch was just on Fox & Friends. And then I see her link in my Sitemeter referrals. So I'm laughing at the timing of Robert Stacy McCain's post, "Dana Loesch in Playboy?" ...
Oh, don’t you wish, you creep. The teaser from Instapundit was effective, however, and Dana explains ...
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you for shopping through my links.
