Can France and Germany Keep the Euro Alive?

At Telegraph UK:

Can Germany and France reach agreement on radical new rules that would mean a loss of sovereignty over fiscal policy for euro nations - and can they do it in time to save the single currency?

On the same day that the world's main central banks took emergency action to prevent a global financial crash caused by the eurozone crisis and as France warned that war could again return to Europe, a short film was released.

The slick computer-generated imagery shows a beautiful woman coming to life from the frieze of an ancient Greek vase: she is Europa.

Using video technology, the mythical goddess of ancient Greece morphs into an attractive real-life woman wandering magical bridges that link the European continent.

Last Wednesday's film, a seven- minute "informational" from the EU to mark 10 years of the euro, is accompanied by a reassuring female voice-over telling viewers that "Europe inspires hope".

In an unintentionally surreal touch, the film was released at the same time that Alain Juppe, the French foreign minister, warned that the euro's looming collapse could lead to war. On the same day, others were equally downbeat. Herman Van Rompuy, the EU's president, admitted that the eurozone debt crisis had become "systemic" and "full blown". Enda Kenny, Ireland's prime minister, said: "There is a real and present sense of danger."

Continue reading.

PREVIOUSLY: "German Power to Shape Europe's New Rules."

Inequality in High-Speed Internet Access

I'm continually surprised at the lack of both access and personal facility with these technologies among my students. Kids have wireless devices, phones and so forth. But the more fundamental knowledge of accessing high quality news online is often lacking. My class assignment in American Government makes an effort to rectify some of these gaps, but economic inequalities remain a huge impediment to literary fluency for many students in the current era.

See Susan Crawford, at New York Times, "Internet Access and the New Divide."

'No More I Love You's'

Annie Lennox:

Number of Television Owners Declines for First Time in 20 Years

At the Kansas City Star, "For first time in 20 years, TV ownership declines."

I was working on this post while listening to the MSNBC live-feed of Herman Cain's campaign announcement. And just the other day I was thinking that I no longer head straight for the TV when I get home. I can watch news online while blogging. The Star reports on Nielson data tracking the shifts in television ownership and emerging technologies. Live-streaming shows from the web would seem to be an important alternative to the television news, but DVRs and HDTV are the fastest growing technologies, which are tied to the classic television-monitor format. I'm just online all the time so that's my main source of news and information --- which, in the case of Herman Cain's departure, was delivered in real time.

Who Killed Horatio Alger?

From Luigi Zingales, at City Journal:

The title character of Horatio Alger’s 1867 novel Ragged Dick is an illiterate New York bootblack who, bolstered by his optimism, honesty, industriousness, and desire to “grow up ’spectable,” raises himself into the middle class. Alger’s novels are frequently misunderstood as mere rags-to-riches tales. In fact, they recount their protagonists’ journeys from rags to respectability, celebrating American capitalism and suggesting that the American dream is within everyone’s reach. The novels were idealized, of course; even in America, virtue alone never guaranteed success, and American capitalism during Alger’s time was far from perfect. Nevertheless, the stories were close enough to the truth that they became bestsellers, while America became known as a land of opportunity—a place whose capitalist system benefited the hardworking and the virtuous. In a word, it was a meritocracy.

To this day, Americans are unusually supportive of meritocracy, and their support goes a long way toward explaining their embrace of American-style capitalism. According to one recent study, just 40 percent of Americans attribute higher incomes primarily to luck rather than hard work—compared with 54 percent of Germans, 66 percent of Danes, and 75 percent of Brazilians. But perception cannot survive for long when it is distant from reality, and recent trends seem to indicate that America is drifting away from its meritocratic ideals. If the drifting continues, the result could be a breakdown of popular support for free markets and the demise of America’s unique version of capitalism.

Continue reading.

RELATED: I dealt with some similar issues here: "Decline of American Exceptionalism?"

Kelly Brook – Official Calendar 2012

She's lovely!

See all the pics: "Christmas is coming early Kelly Brook’ Official Calendar 2012 is Here."

And available at Amazon: Kelly Brook Official Calendar 2012.

Gingrich Leads in Latest Iowa Poll‎

At the Des Moines Register, "Iowa Poll: Newt Gingrich leads three-candidate race in Iowa" (via Memeorandum).

And see Michael Barone, at Washington Examiner, "Barone: Newt vies for America of his imagination."

German Power to Shape Europe's New Rules

It's interesting that Angela Merkel is so determined to preserve the Eurozone, even if that means making structural changes that weaken her European partners. The alternative is a collapse of the single currency and perhaps the disintegration of the European Union. The EU began as an effort to tie down France and Germany in a web of mutual cooperation and multilateral institutions. Germany now is the leading state working to prevent a return to balance of power politics on the continent. Strange how things work like that, but in the post-WWII era, no other political regime has undergone a great cultural change than Germany.

See Los Angeles Times, "Germany's hand will be uppermost as Europe writes new fiscal rules."

Herman Cain Suspends Presidential Campaign

I knew he was done after his first few words. It seemed like a wake not a rally.

See Midnight Blue, "There Can Be Only One – Cain Suspends his Presidential Campaign," and The Other McCain, "HERMAN CAIN ANNOUNCEMENT - UPDATE: SUSPENDING CAMPAIGN." And at Los Angeles Times, "Cain suspends campaign, vows to keep fighting."

The question now is how everything shakes out. National Journal has something on that, "Cain Reaches Out to Rivals," and The Hill, "Cain suspends campaign, vows to work from outside the race."

More on the John Mearsheimer Anti-Semitism Controversy

One of the better, more concise discussions I've read on this, at Counterpoint, "From the Editors: On the Controversy of John Mearsheimer" (via Instapundit).

And from Pejman Yousefzadeh, "It Is Time for John Mearsheimer to Go."

I wrote on this here: "The Tragedy of John Mearsheimer."

Test-Driving the 2012 Porsche 911

I mentioned that I worked valet parking back in the '80s. It was a fun job. Valets get to drive the world's best cars, and in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa (South Coast Plaza), there's no shortage of fabulous vehicles. The thrill of a Mercedes wears off pretty quickly, but I never tired of the Porsches.

In any case, I'm reminded of all this with the review at Popular Science, "Driven: The All-New 2012 Porsche 911" (via Instapundit).

Yep, best 911 ever. The new 991 is larger, faster, sportier, more efficient, and basically makes the last generation look as outdated as a four-button ventless suit with double-pleated pants. We loved the drive of the new version and feel it is the telos of the 911 model range. With its near-perfect blend of style, speed and technology, it's a surefire winner. Until the next all-new 911 comes out and starts the cycle anew.

Note: The video features owners taking possessing of their new cars at the El Toro Air Station in Irvine earlier this year. Saddleback Mountain can be seen at just after 1:00 minute at the clip.

Giant Pandas Prepare For New Life In Scotland

At Sky News:

Edinburgh Zoo is about to take delivery of two of the rarest animals on the planet - a pair of giant pandas on loan from the Chinese government.

Sunshine and Sweetie - Yangguang and Tian Tian in Chinese - are both seven-years-old.
They have grown up together in the misty mountains of southwest China.

On Sunday they will embark on a 5,000 mile journey to Scotland, where they will become star exhibits at the Edinburgh Zoo.

Continue reading.

The Neocon Rush to War Against Iran

From Jacob Heilbrunn, at National Interest:

Is Iran a threat to America? Or is it a fading power? The Iranian storming of the British embassy should not be interpreted as a sign of growing radicalism in Iran but as testament to the weakness of the regime. It has nothing in common with the 1979 takeover of the American embassy. There is no mass support inside Iran for attacking the United Kingdom. The calls in the Iranian parliament for "death to Britain" have an obligatory feel to them.

Yet the possiblity of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons has prompted a number of neoconservatives to maintain that it's imperative to launch a strike against it. Max Boot's column in the Los Angeles Times is a case in point. Paul Pillar points to the abuse of Nazi analogies in his post today. But Boot's column can be questioned on other grounds as well.

What caught my eye were the other historical analogies that Boot made. He asks why the West remained passive not just during the rise of Nazi Germany, but also

While the Soviet Union enslaved half of Europe and fomented revolution in China in the late 1940s? And, again, while Al Qaeda gathered strength in the 1990s? Those questions will forever haunt the reputations of the responsible statesmen, from Neville Chamberlain to Bill Clinton.

Continue reading.

Heilbrunn is right to take after Boot for that misguided analogical turn, although he's kidding himself if he really thinks Iran's an imaginary threat. See my earlier entry, "Melanie Phillips: Britain Impotently Warns Iran of 'Serious Consequences'."

Lady Gaga 'Marry the Night'

At Mirror UK, "Lady Gaga topless and eating cereal in shocking Marry The Night video set in a psychiatric ward."

The video, all 14:00 minutes of it, is at Los Angeles Times, "Lady Gaga's 'Marry the Night' video: five delicious moments."

Greta Van Susteren Interview with Newt Gingrich

At Greta's blog, "Speaker Newt Gingrich ‘On the Record’."

RELATED: At WSJ, "Gingrich Bolsters Campaign."

'We Are the 99 Percent' Joins the Cultural and Political Lexicon

The New York Times featured this at the front-page on Wednesday, predictably: "Camps Are Cleared, but ‘99 Percent’ Still Occupies the Lexicon."

Skim the first few paragraphs at the link and then listen to Adam Carolla, who created a sensation over the last few days with this viddy:

Gregory McNeal on Targeted Killing and Collateral Damage in U.S. Drone Warfare Operations

Gregory McNeal is Associate Professor of Law at Pepperdine University School of Law. Professor McNeal emailed me yesterday with a heads up on his new essay at the Social Science Research Network, "The U.S. Practice of Collateral Damage Estimation and Mitigation." And he's got a abbreviated version of the argument at Lawfare. An excerpt:

Much of the commentary about air launched targeted killing–especially the commentary that focuses on a “video game” style of warfare with unaccountable geographically remote pilots dropping bombs at their own discretion–simply does not describe the reality of current combat operations (I directly address the false claims about targeted killing in a forthcoming book chapter). To highlight one example of the reality I describe versus commentary we typically read, just consider the fact that in Afghanistan since at least June 2009, all air-to-ground operations are pre-planned operations unless troops are in an emergency situation requiring close air support (CAS), close combat attack (CCA) or the pilot is acting in self-defense. In both CAS and CCA in Afghanistan, the pilot may not deploy a weapon without ground commander direction, usually through a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) (a JTAC is a person who accompanies ground forces and is specifically trained to direct accurate close air support to engage enemy targets while reducing collateral damage and civilian casualties). The pilot’s only discretion in current operations is to decide not to release a weapon, in other words the ground commander owns the battlespace not the drone pilot. Furthermore, Air Force leaders repeatedly emphasize to their pilots that they will not be disciplined for returning to base with all of their bombs on their plane. Air Force leadership will even support the decision of pilots not employ a weapon, even if that decision directly contravenes the orders of the ground commander. This reality is a far cry from the free fire zone of “video game” warriors described by many drone critics.

Because targeted killing operations by UAV are not CAS or CCA, they are pre-planned operations, and as such must be subjected to the military’s rigorous collateral damage methodology. That methodology is grounded in scientific evidence derived from research, experiments, history, and battlefield intelligence, and is designed to adapt to time-critical events. The CDM is a planning tool that assists commanders in mitigating unintended or incidental damage or injury to civilians, property and the environment and aids them in assessing proportionality and in weighing risks to collateral concerns. In the context of targeted killing, the CDM takes into account every conventional weapon a UAV could carry.

The first step in the military’s collateral damage estimation process requires military commanders and their subordinates to ensure that they can positively identify, with reasonable certainty, that the object or person they want to affect is a legitimate military target (in the case of persons, one who is directly participating in hostilities). In targeted killing operations, the process of positively identifying a target means that commanders and their subordinates are focusing principally on the identity of the target. This is an intelligence-heavy task that relies on the collective effort of the intelligence community (both military and civilian) to vet and ensure the validity of the target in accordance with IHL and the ROE. Before engaging in an operation, military personnel must inform a commander (or “strike approval authority”) of the assumptions and uncertainties associated with information provided for the operation, including the time sensitive nature of any intelligence relied upon. In practice, what this means is that if positive identification of a target fails, no operation will take place. This is so because in U.S. practice, positive identification satisfies the requirement of ensuring that a target has the status of a legitimate military objective. When doubt arises as to whether an object holds civilian status, there exists a presumption that it does, hence the requirement of positive identification in U.S. operations.

Continue reading.

Also, see the response from Benjamin Wittes, at Lawfare, "Gregory McNeal on U.S. Targeting Standards." And from Kenneth Anderson, at Volokh, "Gregory McNeal on US Military Targeting Processes."

RELATED: A blast from the past. See Colin H. Kahl, at International Security, "In the Crossfire or the Crosshairs? Norms, Civilian Casualties, and U.S. Conduct in Iraq."

The Death of European Socialist Welfare States

A massive state sector requires a robust economy, and the peripheral states of the EU can't sustain the socialist project. It's not the end of European socialism, but the left is being pummeled by events, and good thing too.

See Jonathan Blitzer, at The New Republic, "Has the Euro Crisis Killed Off Social Democracy For Good?":

Madrid – Outgoing Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, of Spain, had until recently been the beneficiary of propitious circumstances. Party infighting enabled him to outmaneuver the establishment favorite in the 2000 primaries. Four years later, he eked out an eleventh hour victory in national elections when a terrorist bombing mere days before voting turned the tide against incumbent conservatives. As he took office, a booming economy—which enjoyed the second largest budget surplus in Europe as late as 2007—paved the way for an ambitious social agenda, which rallied his progressive base.

But if a flair for the unexpected studded his ascent, it was a bruising inevitability that brought him low. A rapidly worsening economic crisis left him with little choice but to announce, in April, that he would not stand for re-election. After months of daily flaying by an emboldened conservative opposition, early elections came as a relief for Zapatero, even as his party blamed him when it was trounced, as expected, two weeks ago.

But Zapatero didn’t fall alone: Center-left governments in Portugal and Greece have also fallen in recent months. All in all, it’s a long-standing trend. Leftist governments in Europe have been teetering now for over a decade. Ten years ago, social democratic governments were at the helm in half the countries of the EU. That number has since dropped to three. But their recent plight is their most dire. The sovereign debt crisis has done more than batter incumbent socialists out of office; it may well have stripped the social democratic movement of its soul in the crisis zone.

Continue reading.

November Employment Situation Dissected & Reviewed

By Barry Ritholtz, at The Big Picture (via TigerHawk).

PREVIOUSLY: "Signs of Hope? Unemployment Lingers Near 9 Percent as Obama Depression Drags On."

RELATED: Steven Gandel, at Time, "American Unemployment Falls to 8.6%: Amazing News, But Is It a Game Changer?" Also, "William Galston, at The New Republic, "Our Deeply Daunting Jobs Hole."

Herman Cain Announcement Today

And Weasel Zippers has this, "Report: Herman Cain Will Quit Race…"

But see Los Angeles Times, "Herman Cain prepares announcement on campaign's future":

Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain, already reeling from sexual harassment claims and rocked anew by allegations of adultery, has told supporters he is preparing to make a major announcement Saturday.

That set off widespread speculation Friday that the former chief executive of Godfather's Pizza, who briefly enjoyed front-runner status in the Republican presidential campaign, would drop out of the race.

Cain, whose businessman's approach to issues and lack of elective experience appealed to voters weary of career politicians, refused to tip his hand Friday in South Carolina, where he held a town hall meeting with supporters.

"I am reassessing because of all of this media firestorm stuff," he said. "Why? Because my wife and family comes first." He planned to meet with his family, he said, to "clarify ... what the next steps are."

Steve Grubbs, who is running Cain's campaign in Iowa, said he believed Cain would stay in the race.

"As dark as it seems today, we're not out of this thing. I know it," Grubbs said Friday.

More at the link.

Happy Birthday Britney!

She's 30!

At LAT, "Britney Spears turns 30: A timeline of the singer's life in video."

New Direction for Occupy Wall Street?

Check yesterday's Los Angeles Times, "Eviction pushes Occupy protesters in new directions."

Lots of folks are talking about how Occupy's causing a long-term shift towards reducing income inequality in American politics. I'm a bit skeptical about that. I expect mostly more violent agitation from the more radical Occupy mobs. Mentioned at the Times, for example, are plans for "national and regional coordinated actions" like "a Dec. 12 shutdown of West Coast ports."

I saw something on this the other day, and Occupy Oakland has this, "Support Grows For Occupy Movement’s Coordinated West Coast Shut Down On December 12th."

“We’re shutting down these ports because of the union busting and attacks on the working class by the 1%: the firing of Port truckers organizing at SSA terminals in LA; the attempt to rupture ILWU union jurisdiction in Longview, WA by EGT. EGT includes Bunge LTD, a company which reported 2.5 billion dollars in profit last year and has economically devastated poor people in Argentina and Brazil. SSA is responsible for inhumane working conditions and gross exploitation of port truckers and is owned by Goldman Sachs. EGT and Goldman Sachs is Wallstreet on the Waterfront” stated Barucha Peller of the West Coast Port Blockade Assembly of Occupy Oakland.

“We are also striking back against the nationally’ coordinated attack on the Occupy movement. In response to the police violence and camp evictions against the Occupy movement- This is our coordinated response against the 1%. On December 12th we will show are collective power through pinpointed economic blockade of the 1%.”

Sounds pretty militant, and no doubt some of these folks are dead serious, given the scale of unrest during the recent Oakland port shutdown. Anyway, more on this from Lee Stranahan, at Big Government, "Occupy Leader Says Union ‘Opposition’ to Planned 12/12 West Coast Port Shutdown Is ‘Just a Game’."

Mitt Romney vs. Newt Gingrich

From Charles Krauthammer, at Washington Post, "Mitt vs. Newt" (via Memeorandum). It's an astute analysis, and I think objectively more harsh on Gingrich. Read it all. I'm adding the conclusion here for contemplation:

My own view is that Republicans would have been better served by the candidacies of Mitch Daniels, Paul Ryan or Chris Christie. Unfortunately, none is running. You play the hand you’re dealt. This is a weak Republican field with two significantly flawed front-runners contesting an immensely important election. If Obama wins, he will take the country to a place from which it will not be able to return (which is precisely his own objective for a second term).

Every conservative has thus to ask himself two questions: Who is more likely to prevent that second term? And who, if elected, is less likely to unpleasantly surprise?

I believe Romney is by far more likely to prevent that second term, but not because he's so great a campaigner or because of his (actually scant) political achievements. I think Romney will be the one that swing voters hate less. That is, Romney's eminently less repulsive than Newt. It's something that goes way beyond the flip-flopping (on which both Mitt and Newt are major leaguers ). The 2012 campaign is going to be the ugliest in memory. Because Barack Obama has been such an obviously lousy president --- with so many enormous liabilities, especially on the economy, health care, and Israel --- the Democrat-Media-Complex and the progressive left's ideological character attack machine will be ramped up to such hyper-steroidal velocities that even Sarah Palin will blanch. It will be merciless. Mitt will be torn to shreds as a Mormon social policy extremist in sheep's clothing who'll take a razor to the economy to eviscerate jobs in the employment sector. Newt will be hammered as the right's public policy Ebenezer Scrooge who's also an epic hypocrite adulterer with the moral backbone of a snail. The electability argument then becomes not just which candidate is better able to withstand the onslaught, but which candidate is best able to retain his dignity and humanity. That's where I think Mitt will have the edge.

But again, I'll reiterate that Romney will be least bad, but he'll still be pretty awful. Michelle Malkin has hammered Romney as the "cupcake candidate," unable to withstand a set of reasonable questions from a reasonable interviewer like Bret Baier. But Michelle's attack on Newt is devastating --- a wonder to behold --- and in the end more damaging to a general election campaign:

VIDEO PULLED

I admit it's not a lot to hang your hat on --- in fact, Michelle says we'll need Hold Your Nose Plugs for the 2012 GOP campaign. But I've met both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. I've listened to them both. Campaigning for the presidency also requires personal attributes such as accessibility and likability, points on which I find Newt woefully inadequate. But most of all I think on the economy and jobs --- notwithstanding the left's forthcoming demonic smear campaigns --- I see Mitt Romney as better positioned to make the case for change in 2012. He's got business executive experience that voters will appreciate as necessary to turn the economy around. If he can pick up his game for the hot-seat television interviews he'll have a good shot at mounting a formidable campaign for both the nomination and for the presidency next November.

I'll have more later. Meanwhile, see Legal Insurrection for the anticipated problems for a Romney general election campaign: "How Obama would attack Romney." And also more on Romney's cupcake factor: "Romney one step closer to Pawlentyville."

The Anti-Israel President

From the Horowitz Freedom Center:

Signs of Hope? Unemployment Lingers Near 9 Percent as Obama Depression Drags On

The MFM is putting the most positive gloss on the job numbers, at New York Times, for example, "Signs of Hope in Jobs Report; Unemployment Drops to 8.6%."

The RNC isn't settling for the left's economic whitewash: "Republicans throw cold water on unemployment numbers."

And see Maggie's Farm, "More MSM Cheerleading." Plus, from James Pethokoukis, "November jobs report: 7 reasons why it’s better but still terrible."

And more at the Heritage Foundation, "Morning Bell: America Needs More Job Creation":

The question is whether this improvement is real and enduring or a fluke. The economy is growing, but there’s little evidence of the real strength the report suggests, and there’s a lot in the report to suggest something’s amiss with the numbers–something likely to be corrected in the next report. For example, is it likely the labor market strengthened as much as the job number suggests at the same time so many people abandoned the workforce? And this is only one of the anomalies in the report.

The White House would therefore be wise to trumpet today’s news with soft notes. The fact remains that under President Barack Obama’s watch, the U.S. unemployment rate remains high because America just isn’t creating enough new jobs. And if the only way the Obama Administration can get the unemployment rate to drop is by convincing people to quit looking for work, that’s bad news for the American economy. Or to quote liberal blogger Matt Yglesias, ”Decreasing unemployment by shrinking the labor force is not exactly winning the future.”

It goes without saying that if the U.S. economy loses more jobs than it creates, the unemployment rate goes up. If job losses are low but few new jobs are created, then the unemployment rate treads water and remains high, with occasional dips and rises–and that’s what we’re seeing today.

Still more from John Hayward, "Unemployment Rate Falls Due To Workforce Contraction."

VDH on Immigration, Multiculturalism and Amnesty

Victor Davis Hanson is the very best commentator on the illegal immigration crisis in California.

Hanson's don't-miss book is Mexifornia: A State of Becoming.

'Serial Hypocrisy' — Ron Paul Slams Newt Gingrich in New Ad

It's a powerful advertisement, via Ace of Spades HQ:

Incidentally, let me go on the record here: For any Paul fans who are thinking "This is his time," I heretofore state I will not support, or vote for, Ron Paul, under any circumstances whatsoever.

That's where I'm coming from. Under no circumstances whatsoever will I vote for this reactionary, anti-semitic peacenik "We brought 9/11 ourselves" pacifist Chomnskyite crank.

And I'll say it: I will, yes, be amenable to Barack Obama being re-elected under those circumstances. As members of the Purity Brigade used to tell me -- Sometimes you win by losing.

Keep reading.

That's a provocative blog entry. And long too, but go check it out.

CDC's Dr. Kimberley Lindsey Charged With Bestiality and Child Molestation

At London's Daily Mail, "Female scientist charged with child molesting and bestiality is back at work at the Centers for Disease Control."

And at iOWNTHEWORLD, "The World is Being Shaped By the Morality of the Left":

All calls for tolerance and understanding and the creeping acceptance of this kind of crap comes from the left. They are despicable.

Exactly.

As I always say, it's freakin' live and let live with these reprobates. There are no moral indecencies. The bastards.

Dissing American Exceptionalism, Again

Another commentator, radical leftist Tom Engelhardt, misses the basic thesis of American exceptionalism. It's not all about power, which is how most of those who cheer American decline conceptualize it. See, "The American century: That was then":

As a 67-year-old, I grew up in a post-World War II era that, by any measure, was the height of the first American century. As much of the rest of the developed world struggled to rebuild devastated cities, the United States couldn't have been more exceptional, a one-of-a-kind country in producing the big-ticket items both of peace and of war, often from the same corporations.

Back then, there was no need for presidents or presidential candidates to get up and repetitively reassure the American people of just how exceptional we were. It was too obvious to state. After all, when you've really got it, you don't have to flaunt it.

So, the next time you hear any politician insisting that this country is American century-style exceptional, think of it as a kind of secret confession that we aren't. These days, you can feel the uncomfortably defensive snarl (or whine) that lurks in the insistence that our country isn't just another powerful nation in political gridlock and economic trouble.

Actually, we are, but Engelhardt's too much the bloody idiot --- surrounded by bloody communist idiots --- to understand why.

PREVIOUSLY: "Harvard's Stephen Walt: 'The Myth of American Exceptionalism'."

VIDEO: Sean Hannity Interview With Herman Cain — 'I'm Going to Fight 'Em'

Continued developments:

Listen closely. Cain sounds less like he's thinking of quitting than earlier reports stressed. Cain says his wife has "forgiven him" and she's "ready to move on." Despite the admission that quitting is indeed "an option," the overall tone of the interview is combative --- not combative towards Sean Hannity, but combative towards those making the allegations. There's nothing indicating an imminent exit from the race. Cain feels he's got a viable campaign. His wife is "totally supportive." Cain rejects the allegations of an affair and says "I'm going to fight 'em no matter what."

See my previous entry, "Herman Cain Admits Wife Didn't Know of Payments to Alleged Mistress Ginger White."

Herman Cain Admits Wife Didn't Know of Payments to Alleged Mistress Ginger White

At Los Angeles Times, "Herman Cain says wife didn't know about payments to Ginger White." And at Christian Science Monitor, "Herman Cain admits payments to Ginger White, edges toward quitting":

In an interview with New Hampshire's Union Leader newspaper, Herman Cain said his wife didn't know he was giving money to Ginger White, who claims to have had a 13-year affair with him. Cain also said quitting the presidential race 'is an option.'

Goodness, this is another brutally painful interview. Newspaper editorial offices are the new courtrooms of public opinion:

Lots more at Hot Air, "Cain: My wife didn’t know that I was giving money to my accuser," and Memeorandum.

Europe at the Brink

A great analysis at yesterday's Los Angeles Times, "In Europe debt crisis, markets and masses wait for Merkel to blink." And at New York Times, "Money Flows, but What Euro Zone Lacks Is Glue."

And now, at The Economist, "The euro zone: Is this really the end?":

EVEN as the euro zone hurtles towards a crash, most people are assuming that, in the end, European leaders will do whatever it takes to save the single currency. That is because the consequences of the euro’s destruction are so catastrophic that no sensible policymaker could stand by and let it happen.

A euro break-up would cause a global bust worse even than the one in 2008-09. The world’s most financially integrated region would be ripped apart by defaults, bank failures and the imposition of capital controls (see article). The euro zone could shatter into different pieces, or a large block in the north and a fragmented south. Amid the recriminations and broken treaties after the failure of the European Union’s biggest economic project, wild currency swings between those in the core and those in the periphery would almost certainly bring the single market to a shuddering halt. The survival of the EU itself would be in doubt.

Yet the threat of a disaster does not always stop it from happening. The chances of the euro zone being smashed apart have risen alarmingly, thanks to financial panic, a rapidly weakening economic outlook and pigheaded brinkmanship. The odds of a safe landing are dwindling fast.

Keep reading.

The authors argue that the European Central Bank needs to provide massive liquidity, and fast.

IMAGE CREDIT: Der Spiegel, "Euro Zone on the Brink: A Continent Stares into the Abyss."

Melanie Phillips: Britain Impotently Warns Iran of 'Serious Consequences'

She's the best.

See, "Hague shakes his puny fist in the thirty years' invisible war":

For some thirty years, Britain and the west have experienced war waged upon them by Iran – but fantastically, have refused to acknowledge this fact. They refused to fight back. They refused therefore also to acknowledge what has been crystal clear for at least the past two decades: that it was never going to be a choice between war or peace with Iran. It was always going to be a choice between fighting that war sooner, when Iran was weaker and the west had more chance of minimising the fall-out, and fighting that war later, when Iran would be much stronger -- and possibly even a nuclear power -- and when the consequences for the west would be that much more terrible.

What the west refused to grasp was that there was never any chance of the Iranian regime seeing sense. That’s because what drives its dominant members at least is not conventional political impulse but an apocalyptic messianism. That means they actively seek to bring about a conflagration -- even if this consumes much of Iran -- since they believe that this apocalypse will prompt the return to earth of a religious messiah figure. They actually want to bring about the end of the world. But the west just didn’t take any of this remotely seriously.

The result has been catastrophic for the world. Iran has been outwitting the west at every turn, aided immeasurably by an American President who extended to these genocidal fanatics the hand of friendship while smashing his fist down on their principal prospective victim, Israel. As a result, Iran has enormously extended its power in the region and become seen there – disastrously -- as the strong horse which must be ridden, while the once-mighty US has become the enfeebled nag that is no longer prepared even to defend itself, let alone anyone else.

RTWT.

Accused Adulterer or Admitted Adulterer? Herman Cain Backers Look Warily to Newt Gingrich

The media meme du jour.

At Los Angeles Times, "Cain's backers warily consider Gingrich":

Republicans who don't want to vote for Mitt Romney had rallied behind the Atlanta businessman, but his campaign has been rocked by accusations of an affair. And the former House speaker has a marital track record of his own.

Herman Cain's latest presidential campaign implosion has put some of the Republican Party's most active voters in a distinctly uncomfortable position: deciding whether to abandon an accused adulterer to side with an admitted adulterer.

Even before Monday's allegation by an Atlanta businesswoman that she and Cain had a 13-year affair, the GOP contest was moving toward a two-man race between steady front-runner Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the latest candidate to catch the fancy of the anti-Romney forces. That movement now is expected to hasten.

Cain told backers Tuesday that he was "reassessing" his candidacy in light of the newest accusations, which follow allegations that he sexually harassed several women in the 1990s. His campaign offered no clue as to when he might come to a decision about his future.

In Iowa, where voting in the 2012 contest will begin in just over a month, an alternative to Romney has been intensely sought by the potent bloc of evangelical voters, who remain suspicious of his Mormon faith and his past support for abortion rights and gay rights. Many are throwing their support to Gingrich despite his history of extramarital affairs and two divorces.

"Newt's got the best shot of heading Romney off at the pass," said Steve Scheffler, head of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition and the state's Republican national committeeman.

Cain appears to be plowing ahead, actually. But the press has left the "Cain train" at the station. At USA Today, "News media gives up on Cain campaign."

See the full report at The Other McCain, "CRISIS LOOMS FOR HERMAN CAIN CAMPAIGN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE UPDATE: Cain Tells CNN He’ll Make Decision ‘Within the Next Several Days’."

Early Results in Egypt Show Mandate for Islamists

At New York Times:

CAIRO — Islamists claimed a decisive victory on Wednesday as early election results put them on track to win a dominant majority in Egypt’s first Parliament since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak, the most significant step yet in the religious movement’s rise since the start of the Arab Spring.

The party formed by the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s mainstream Islamist group, appeared to have taken about 40 percent of the vote, as expected. But a big surprise was the strong showing of ultraconservative Islamists, called Salafis, many of whom see most popular entertainment as sinful and reject women’s participation in voting or public life.

Analysts in the state-run news media said early returns indicated that Salafi groups could take as much as a quarter of the vote, giving the two groups of Islamists combined control of nearly 65 percent of the parliamentary seats.

That victory came at the expense of the liberal parties and youth activists who set off the revolution, affirming their fears that they would be unable to compete with Islamists who emerged from the Mubarak years organized and with an established following. Poorly organized and internally divided, the liberal parties could not compete with Islamists disciplined by decades as the sole opposition to Mr. Mubarak. “We were washed out,” said Shady el-Ghazaly Harb, one of the most politically active of the group.

Also, from Barry Rubin, "Flash: What, Me Pessimistic? Egyptian Election Outcome is Worse Than I Expected."

Victoria's Secret Bombshell Babes Boost CBS Ratings

A wrap-up on Tuesday night's show, at Los Angeles Times, "'Victoria's Secret Fashion Show' shows ratings legs for CBS":

The models may have cavorted on the runway in little wisps of things, but the ratings were fully dressed.

CBS defied the skeptics once again Tuesday night and turned "The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" into a ratings winner.

The lingerie extravaganza stripped down before 10.3 million total viewers, up 15% compared with last year's show, according to Nielsen.

Among the adults aged 18 to 49 demographic coveted by advertisers, "Victoria's Secret" climbed a big 35%.

'Love The Way You Lie'

And, ICYMI, the interview with Eminem, at GQ's, "Survivors Music Portfolio":

The current Mathers narrative revolves around his triumph over a nasty addiction to prescription meds. It's not a touchy subject: Within minutes, he introduces the topic, explaining how he used to drink and pop pills to get through his concerts. "I'm very much a creature of habit," he says, picking up his Red Bull. "If I'm used to waking up in the morning and having one of these, I could do it every morning for the next ten years straight until I find something else to move on to. So if I'm used to taking a Vicodin when I wake up in the morning because I'm hungover from ­drinking or taking pills..." He trails off. "The bigger the crowd, the bigger my habit got."

Mathers says you can trace the arc of his addiction by listening to his albums: He was more or less sober writing the white-trash party that was The Slim Shady LP (1999); he credits experimentation with drugs for taking his music to unexpected places on The Marshall Mathers LP (2000); with The Eminem Show (2002), he struck the perfect balance—a potent mix of punch-line raps and intensely biographical material. Then the balance tipped: His fourth album, Encore, was his weakest, and it took him two years to complete because of his addiction to pills. "Five or six songs leaked from the original version of Encore," he says. "So I had to go in and make new songs to replace them. In my head I was pissed off: 'Oh well. Songs leaked. Fuck it. I'm just going to take a bunch of fucking pills and go in there and have a party with myself.' I'm sure the more pills I took, the goofier I got."

He's a little hazy about that time, when he was taking, by his own account, somewhere between sixty and ninety pills a day, including Valium, Vicodin, Ambien, and Seroquel (used to treat schizophrenia). "Ambien," he says, "ate a hole through my brain." He thinks he went to rehab in 2005, but don't hold him to that. Like I said, it's a little hazy.

Rehab was not a safe space for Eminem. "Look," he says, "every addict in rehab feels like everyone's staring at them. With me? Everyone was staring at me. I could never be comfortable. There were people there that treated me normal. Then there were a bunch of fucking idiots who aren't even concentrating on their own sobriety because they're so worried about mine. They're stealing my hats, my books—it was chaos. Everything was drama in there. And at the time, I didn't really want to get clean. Everybody else wanted me to. And anyone will tell you: If you're not ready, nothing is going to change you. Love, nothing."

He left rehab pissed off and heavily burdened with what he calls "woe is me"—and started popping pills again. It nearly killed him. "I came to in the hospital and I didn't know what the fuck happened," he says. "Tubes in me and shit, fuckin' needles in my arms. I didn't realize I had [overdosed]. I wanted my drugs—get me the fuck outta there! I think I was clean for two weeks. I was trying so hard—I was trying to do it for my kids—but I just wasn't ready."

What finally got him clean after a second relapse wasn't his kids or his coma or even hip-hop. This time he really thought he was going to die. "I had a feeling in my arm that was weird, man," he says. "Like, it really freaked me out. So I went to some people I trust and said, 'Look, I know I need help. I'm ready now.' I got a room in the same hospital where I overdosed, and I detoxed."

More here: "The Survivors: Eminem."

Tea Party vs. Occupy

Via American Glob:

Herman Cain Hangs On

At New York Times, "Amid Questions, Cain Stays Defiant":

COLUMBUS, Ohio — As leading Republicans began openly questioning how Herman Cain has handled the allegations against him, he remained defiant Wednesday with a message that he had repeated over and again: “Don’t give up!”

The line seemed doubly resonant. It was clearly a motivational message for the several hundred young adults at an afternoon rally for Mr. Cain at Ohio State University here. But it was also a statement about Mr. Cain himself as pressure mounted for a second day for him to withdraw from the presidential race amid an escalating scandal about his sexual conduct.

On Monday, an Atlanta woman came forward to say that she and Mr. Cain had had a 13-year extramarital affair that ended this year, just as he was getting ready to run for the Republican nomination. Already, Mr. Cain had spent most of November defending himself against revelations of sexual harassment allegations stemming from his time as president of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s.

But nothing in Mr. Cain’s actions on Wednesday suggested that he would halt his campaign as he engaged in a whirlwind day of campaigning around Ohio and in New Hampshire.

“They want you to believe that we can’t do this,” he told a few hundred supporters gathered in a hotel ballroom in Dayton on Wednesday morning. “They want you to believe that with enough character assassination on me, I will drop out!”

The audience shouted, “No!” and “Don’t go!

And at The Other McCain, "New Cain Campaign Video: ‘Put an Executive in the Executive Office’." And from Jeff Goldstein, "It's NOT Time For Herman Cain to Go."

Protesters Leave Behind 30 Tons of Debris at Occupy L.A.

Dirtbags.

And from Glenn Reynolds, "Remember how the Tea Party protesters left things neater than they found them? Which group is more likely to have a positive vision for America’s future?"

At Los Angeles Times, "Occupy L.A.: 30 tons of debris left behind at City Hall tent city."

Plus, "Occupy L.A.: Protesters march downtown past LAPD headquarters."

Bey Blade Shopping

My son loves Hell Kerbecs.

More here: Shop Amazon's Holiday Toy List.

Romney Goes Up With New Ad in New Hampshire

At the New Hampshire Union-Leader, "Romney goes positive, features Ayotte, in new TV ad."

Police Clear Occupy Philadelphia

At the Philadelphia Inquirer, "Police clear Occupy encampment, 52 arrested":

Police swarmed around City Hall and rousted Occupy Philadelphia protesters from their encampment overnight, more than two days after a deadline passed for them to leave.

The occupiers responded by roaming around Center City, scattering and regrouping with police following their every move in a chaotic night of cat-and-mouse that ended before daylight.

"The Dilworth occupation is over," Mayor Nutter said at a news conference just before 7 a.m.

Crews were using bulldozers and other heavy equipment to clear up debris and fire hoses to wash down Dilworth Plaza as he spoke.

He called the police operation to clear the plaza "tremendously well planned and executed."

Officials said 52 people were arrested, 45 of them in a 5 a.m. face off on North 15th Street behind the Inquirer and School District buildings. all were charged with failure to disperse and obstruction.

"We followed them around Center City all night long and finally arrested some of them," Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey.

Also, "Occupy Philly marches on city police HQ."

Plus, Tania Gail reported on the Sunday deadline, "Occupy Philly Moving On":

I decided it was just too risky to venture down to Dilworth Plaza tonight as there was already a history of rape and assault against women at Occupation Philly – I didn’t want to attract that kind of attention.

Exactly, a bunch of rapists, drug addicts, and murderers.

PREVIOUSLY: "Police Clear Occupy Los Angeles."

RELATED: At New York Times, "Police Clear Occupy Encampments in Two Cities."

6 Ideas for the Ash Heap of History

From Tyler Cowen, at the new special issue of Foreign Policy, "100 Top Global Thinkers 2011":

4. The eurozone is for pretty much everyone in Europe. By now, it should be obvious that a 17-nation eurozone was a bad idea. The only questions left are how many countries do not belong and how painful will it be to push out those that shouldn't be there. Whether or not you think the current patchwork bailouts will work (probably not, see No. 5 below), just what, precisely, are those bailouts fighting to defend? No one knows anymore. The peripheral countries, like Greece and Portugal, used to think that if they suffered through a bit of deflation from eurozone membership, they still could benefit from the lower borrowing rates enjoyed by stronger economies like Germany. Now they're getting the deflationary pressures, stronger than ever before, but without the low borrowing rates. So what's in it for them to remain? What's in it for Germany and Finland and the Netherlands? It's hard to see.

Police Clear Occupy Los Angeles

At San Francisco Chronicle, "Nearly 300 arrested in raid on Occupy Los Angeles," and KCAL 9 Los Angeles, "292 Protesters Arrested, ‘Occupy LA’ Ends Peacefully."

Maybe not so peaceful, actually. See Los Angeles Times, "LAPD too violent, some Occupy L.A. protesters allege."

Also, "Occupy LA: LAPD clears nation’s largest remaining Occupy camp."

Keystone State Remains Vital to Obama

I think he'll lose it.

At Washington Post, "Pennsylvania becomes major battleground for Obama in 2012":

Every Democratic nominee in the past two decades has won Pennsylvania — and Obama did so by a comfortable margin in 2008 — but the state has grown less hospitable to Obama in the past three years. Republicans swept the 2010 midterms, winning the governor’s seat, a Senate seat and five congressional districts, including the 11th District, where Obama will appear on Wednesday.

Yet unlike other similarly challenging states — Ohio and Florida — where Democrats think they can lose and still win overall, Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral college votes are still key to almost any path to 270 electoral college votes. “It’s hard to figure out a scenario for a Democrat to win the presidency without carrying Pennsylvania,” former Democratic governor Ed Rendell, a prominent Obama supporter, said. “It’s not impossible, but it’s very, very hard.”

Unemployment was 8.1 percent in October, and higher in some parts of the state, like Scranton, with a 9.7 percent jobless rate. The state's gonna need a jobs miracle for Obama to have a prayer. See New York Times, "Obama Is Facing a Replay of ’08 Hurdles in ‘Hillary Country,’ Pa."

American Airlines Bankruptcy

At Chicago Tribune, "American Airlines files for bankruptcy":

And at Washington Post, "American Airlines travelers: Some see great service, some see cattle cars."

I almost always fly American. I haven't had a problem.

Kids at Occupy L.A. Sparked Eviction Order

At LAT, "Villaraigosa: Children living at Occupy L.A. sparked eviction order":

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said he decided it was time to evict Occupy L.A. protesters from the City Hall lawn after learning that there were children staying there.

Given the smattering of assaults and other incidents reported at the camp, “the chaos out there could produce something awful,” he said in an interview with The Times.

The mayor, a former union organizer and president of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said he and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck jointly made the decision to allow overnight camping on the lawn in hopes of charting a “different path” with protesters. That was, he said, in part because he respects many of their views.

More at the link.

Amazing that someone thought it inappropriate for kids to be at the camp. I mean, teachers felt perfectly fine having students tour the site with marijuana wafting through the air. No big deal, right? It's all live and let live for the progs, you know.

Iranian Students Storm British Embassy in Tehran

The Lede followed the story all day, with lots of video, "Storming of British Embassy in Tehran Broadcast Live on State Television." Also at New York Times, "Protesters Storm British Embassy in Tehran."

And Telegraph UK reports on the obvious and troubling comparison to the United States, "Iran: British embassy attack brings to mind US siege":

Iranians stormed two British Embassy compounds in Tehran, bringing to mind the seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran by Iranian students on Nov 4 1979.

Here are details of that siege.

* Students helped spearhead the overthrow of the US-backed Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in the 1979 Islamic revolution. The Shah, who was already gravely ill, sought refuge overseas.

* Exiled cleric Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran in triumph to seal victory for a revolution whose mantra was "Death to America".

* Student activists in co-ordination with radical clerics stormed the U.S. embassy, taking 90 hostages. Fifty-two were held captive for 444 days with the students demanding the extradition of the deposed Shah from the United States.

* The siege prompted then U.S. President Jimmy Carter to freeze Iranian assets and sever all diplomatic ties with Tehran.

* On April 25, 1980, a US commando mission to rescue the hostages was abandoned in the desert with the loss of eight American lives when a helicopter collided with a tanker aircraft, politically damaging President Carter.

More at the link.

Also, "British relations with Iran sink to lowest in decades as Tehran embassies are stormed."

Victoria's Secret Angels, 'Moves Like Jagger' — And Don't Forget, Fashion Show Tonight!

The wait is over!

Tonight on CBS.

Booming Cyber Monday!

At USA Today, "Buyers click away as Cyber Monday sales jump 18%."

The shopping season's biggest online holiday was more popular than ever yesterday as consumers rushed to the Web for exclusive Cyber Monday deals.

Online traffic was up 43% from last year, says content delivery network Akamai, and online sales were up 18% over Cyber Monday 2010 as of 9 p.m. ET, says IBM Smarter Commerce, a Web performance analytics firm for 500 of the largest retail websites.

Matt Shay, CEO of the National Retail Federation, says sales on Cyber Monday and over the long weekend show retail is "providing a needed shot in the arm to our nascent recovery."

RELATED: At New York Times, "A Shopping Day Invented for the Web Comes of Age."

The Rolling Stones at 50

At LAT, "The Rolling Stones' Ageless Rock":

Chief Charlie Beck: Time On LAPD's Side at Occupy L.A.

At Los Angeles Times, "In clearing Occupy site, time is on LAPD's side, chief says":

After a flurry of eviction threats, street protests and court maneuvering, Occupy L.A. remained standing on the City Hall lawn Monday evening — prompting debate about the caution displayed by city leaders seeking to avoid violent clashes seen in other cities.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said Monday he remains committed to the restrained approach, noting that the encampment has shrunk by about 150 tents in recent days and that police have so far managed to avoid aggressive confrontations with protesters.

Officers will clear the camp when they can "do it effectively and efficiently and with minimal force," he said. Time is on the department's side, Beck added.

Matador Juan José Padilla Vows Return to Bullring

See London's Daily Mail, "Some people never learn: Blinded and battered bullfighter vows to return to ring in first public appearance since horrific goring."

Michelle Malkin: Thanksgiving White House Visitor Log Document Dump

And Rachel Maddow's visited the White House five times?

Geez, all the MSNBC neo-commie "lean forward" crap pays off.

Rick Neuheisel Fired as UCLA Football Coach

I posted on this earlier. This time there's no question mark.

At LAT, "UCLA to close book on Rick Neuheisel era, after one last chapter":

UCLA's Rick Neuheisel Era, ushered in with great fanfare four years ago, will end Friday night, adding another twist to an already unusual Pac-12 Conference football championship game.

Neuheisel was fired Monday morning, but he will be allowed to coach in the title game. If the Bruins beat eight-ranked Oregon in Eugene, they are off to the Rose Bowl — without their coach of the last four seasons.

"We're certainly going to be playing for him," UCLA linebacker Sean Westgate said.

Offensive coordinator Mike Johnson will be the interim coach after Friday.

More at the link.

The Myth of Income Inequalty

From Jim Pethokoukis, at The American, "Income inequality myths: No, the rich didn’t steal all the money."

And at Doug Ross, "More media myths shattered: #OWS 'income inequality' scam exposed."

PREVIOUSLY: "Occupy is 99 Percent Lies," and "Record-High Levels of Inequality?"

Camp of the Saints Gets 1 Million Hits!

Congratulations to Bob Belvedere!

See: "Crossing The Threshold: One Million Hits."

And this calls for a little celebration. I recently passed 3 million hits myself and haven't had a chance to raise a toast to the occasion. Kelly Brook and friends are here to help:

I'm getting about a million hits a year, and that's with the help of Robert Stacy McCain: "Blogger Gets 2 Million Hits Because of His Insightful Commentary and Lucy Pinder’s Enormous Breasts, But Mainly..."

And a huge thanks to Glenn Reynolds as well. Those Instalanches really do the trick!

Regime Change Syria

From Max Boot, at Weekly Standard, "Assad Must Go":

The West could just sit back and watch this slow-motion catastrophe unfold. But doing so runs the risk of deepening fissures, in particular between Alawites (a Shiite offshoot) and the majority Sunnis, that could take decades to heal. We also run the risk that regional players will become more deeply embroiled in backing competing sides in what is fast becoming a Syrian civil war. If parts of Syria slip outside anyone’s control (as occurred in Iraq from 2003 to 2007), they could become havens for Sunni extremists such as al Qaeda.

On the other hand, if Assad goes, it will be a historic opportunity for a strategic realignment that takes Syria out of the Iranian camp and denies Hezbollah its main source of supply. It is almost certain that any Sunni regime that succeeds Assad will not be as close to Tehran as he has been. And, if we help bring about Assad’s downfall, we will have leverage with his successors that we would otherwise lack.

In some ways the current moment recalls the Balkans of the early 1990s—another situation where the West (and in particular the United States) tried to ignore a human-rights catastrophe but eventually intervened. That intervention stopped the killing and produced a delicate but durable peace accord. Might outside intervention be equally successful in Syria? It very well could be, which is why, despite the understandable reluctance in Washington to mount another Libya-style operation, it is time to start thinking seriously about what can be done to hasten Assad’s downfall. Obama has done a good job so far of isolating and sanctioning Syria, but more action is necessary.

In Fog of War, Rift Widens Between U.S. and Pakistan

At New York Times":

WASHINGTON — The NATO air attack that killed at least two dozen Pakistani soldiers over the weekend reflected a fundamental truth about American-Pakistani relations when it comes to securing the unruly border with Afghanistan: the tactics of war can easily undercut the broader strategy that leaders of both countries say they share.

The murky details complicated matters even more, with Pakistani officials saying the attack on two Pakistani border posts was unprovoked and Afghan officials asserting that Afghan and American commandos called in airstrikes after coming under fire from Pakistani territory. NATO has promised an investigation.

The reaction inside Pakistan nonetheless followed a now-familiar pattern of anger and tit-for-tat retaliation. So did the American response of regret laced with frustration and suspicion. Each side’s actions reflected a deepening distrust that gets harder to repair with each clash.

The question now, as one senior American official put it on Sunday, is “what kind of resilience is left” in a relationship that has sunk to new lows time after time this year — with the arrest in January of a C.I.A. officer, Raymond Davis, the killing of Osama bin Laden in May and the deaths of so many Pakistani soldiers.

Sarah Palin: A Personal Thanksgiving Reflection

At IBD (via Glenn Reynolds).

Herman Cain Accused of Having 13-year Affair

At Pundette's, "Oh dear. A new allegation against Herman Cain." And Legal Insurrection, "Obligatory Cain Affair Allegations."

Also, the accuser's video at Los Angeles Times, "Herman Cain accuser Ginger White: 'I'm not proud' of alleged affair." More at Memorandum.

Tim Tebow Powers Broncos to 16-13 OT Win Over Chargers: Hardest Hit — TBogg, Racist Anti-Christian Bigot at Firedoglake

I rarely check out racist TBogg's progressive stinkhole, but the mofo's ramping up the bigoted bashing on Christians, not to mention racist attacks on black conservatives.

Turns out Tim Tebow, the Broncos' evangelical quarterback, is working miracles at the starting spot, as noted by Bill Dwyre, at Los Angeles Times, "Broncos have a prayer with Tim Tebow":

From San Diego -- The premise that a higher being doesn't really care about football games continued to be challenged Sunday.

Tim Tebow won another one. He led the Denver Broncos to a tie in regulation and a win in overtime. We aren't sure whether he is magical or mystical. We don't know when, or if, he will start multiplying loaves and fishes. Right now, we just know he wins.

This time, at the end of five quarters of National Football League action — well, that's too strong a word, but more on that later — it was the San Diego Chargers who had to genuflect before him.

These days, when Tebow takes a knee, it isn't a football term.

After the 16-13 win, completed when Tebow led his team from its 43-yard line with 2 minutes 31 seconds left in overtime, to the San Diego 19, from where kicker Matt Prater could end the game from 37 yards, Tebowmania was even more alive and well. Picture a snowball rolling downhill.

There is an aura of the surreal to this. Is he real or is he Memorex?

Tebow has won five of his six starts, and the Broncos are now 6-5. Sunday's success meant that Tebow has led Denver on scoring drives in either the fourth quarter or overtime 11 times in the Broncos' last seven games. The most frightening sight for NFL opponents now is Tebow with the ball, the score in reach and the clock ticking down.

Also, from Kate Shellnutt, at Houston Chronicle, "Tebow popularity fueled by football fanatics, evangelical faithful."

Yeah, that evangelicalism bugs the shit out of progressive dirtbag racist Tom Boggioni of Jane Hamsher's communist Firedoglake. See: "There Will Be Teblood – The Chargering":

Now that Kyle Orton has been cast from DenverEden, God will be particularly protective of Timmy because, Notre Dame or no Notre Dame, nobody wants to see Brady Quinn placing his hands near another man’s manparts. Not even Touchdown Jesus.

Oh, hilarious, right? Well not as "funny" as racist TBogg's racist black sexual stereotype slam on Herman Cain as a "jungle boogie black stud" who has "Sexed Up Every Woman In America Including Your Mom." Racist TBogg spices up the post with some white go-go boot betties looking to go down on a big bad black Cadillac-drivin' Shaft-style mofo. And of course the URL there is "Herman Cain's Business Card."

And remember, TBogg was the first to blame Sarah Palin for Gabrielle Giffords' shooting last January: "Fuck it, I'm going there."

Progressive racists and anti-Christian bigots. All too ready to smear the tea parties as racist gun-totin' rednecks, when folks like racist TBogg are the most vile scum this side of the Ku Klux Klan.

UPDATE: Linked at Instapundit! Thanks!

Cowboys Cheerleader Melissa Kellerman Twitter Controversy

There's an NFL video here, in case this YouTube gets pulled: "Cowboys cheerleader knocked over by Witten forced off Twitter."

And full details at The Blaze, "TACKLED DALLAS COWBOYS CHEERLEADER FORCED OFF TWITTER?"

Great News! David Frum Threatens to Bolt the GOP!

God, good riddance to that guy! He's bailing the party if Mitt or Huntsman don't get the nomination. Hunstman? What's up with that anyway? And Newt's too conservative for Frum? Newt "Dede Scozzafava" Gingrich? Talk about a puerile punditry. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, loser.

See Legal Insurrection, "Jump, David, Jump."

And check out Victor Davis Hanson for the palette cleanser:

Attack Ads Take Aim at Obama

At New York Times, "TV Attack Ads Aim at Obama Early and Often."

Kelly Brook Holiday Weekend Rule 5

I'm off my Rule 5 game!

But I'll tell you, if anyone can get me back on track it's Kelly Brook! (Click image for awesome enlargement!)

See London's Daily Mail, "Beauty and the beast! Kelly Brook caught in bed with Leigh Francis... but don't worry, it's just for the cameras." (And make sure you click that link because Brook snapped a shot of herself with just her lovely hair providing cover.)

And now, over to American Perspective, "Catch a swimsuit model in a net - Rule 5." And Maggie's Notebook, "Bill Maher Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Maher on The View – Women, Football and Egypt."

And you'll get Lucy Pinder ads at Lonely Conservative, "How Does the Left Indoctrinate Our Children?"

Plus, your weekend football hotties are at Randy's Roundtable, "Winners And Losers," and "Thursday Nite Tart: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders." And at Proof Positive, a lovely hottie featured at "Bye Week for 9-2 Niners..."

Eye of Polyphemus can't go wrong with "Mila Kunis." And Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World's got a lovely "Friday Pinup."

Speaking of pinups, don't miss Pirates's Cove, "Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup." Plus Gator Doug with "DaleyGator DaleyBabe Vanessa Mae." And a nice rear view at Guns and Bikinis.

Last but not least is Bob Belvedere, "Rule 5 Saturday: Juliana Paes."

BONUS LINKS: Blazing Cat Fur and Zilla of the Resistance.

Drop me a link in the comments to have your Rule 5 entry added.

Rick Neuheisel to Be Fired After Playoffs?

I had on the Stanford/Notre Dame game and tuned into USC/UCLA for the second half. At 50-0, perhaps folks should be hammering the Trojans for running up the score. Either way, USC will get another boost in the rankings and will no doubt contend for the national championship next season.

But see Los Angeles Times, "Rick Neuheisel expected to be fired after playoff game."

New Hampshire Union Leader Endorses Newt Gingrich for President

See, "For President, Newt Gingrich":

This newspaper endorses Newt Gingrich in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary.

America is at a crucial crossroads. It is not going to be enough to merely replace Barack Obama next year. We are in critical need of the innovative, forward-looking strategy and positive leadership that Gingrich has shown he is capable of providing.

He did so with the Contract with America. He did it in bringing in the first Republican House in 40 years and by forging balanced budgets and even a surplus despite the political challenge of dealing with a Democratic President. A lot of candidates say they're going to improve Washington. Newt Gingrich has actually done that, and in this race he offers the best shot of doing it again.

Continue reading.

We're gonna have a RINO as the GOP nominee. We know all about Newt's accomplishments. And he is the smartest candidate in the race. I'm still going to have a hard time pulling the lever if he's the nominee next November. Yeah, anybody but Obama, I guess. But Gingrich is the quintessential establishment insider. He threw the tea party under the bus. His personal skills are this side of the iceberg that sunk the Titanic. I'd prefer Mitt Romney, and again he's not anywhere near my ideal candidate. Sarah Palin backers are pushing a "reconsider" ad in Iowa next week, so die-hards can still dream, in any case.

Via Memorandum and Doug Powers (at Michelle's).

James Joyner's Wife Has Died

I met James at CPAC 2011, but I know him best from our conversations on Twitter. He's a mellow operator with an exceptionally even temperament. I think we'd all be grateful to have such qualities in very difficult times like these. James' wife leaves behind two beautiful young daughters. Please join me in a prayer for James Joyner and his family.

See: "Kimberly Webb Joyner, 1970 to 2011."

Occupy is 99 Percent Lies

At IBD, "An Occupy Movement Based On 99% Lies":

As cities rousted Occupiers, liberals claimed the movement has already succeeded by calling attention to income inequality. But all it's really done is give the left an excuse to recycle bogus class-warfare claims.

Soon after Mayor Bloomberg cleared the Occupiers out of New York's Zuccotti Park, Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein reassured his fellow liberals. "The movement has already scored some big wins," he wrote, because it has "changed the national conversation." The evidence? The press has written lots of stories about income inequality lately.

Of course, counting news stories proves nothing. The liberal media love the Occupy crowd and what it stands for, and so it generously flooded the zone with adoring coverage, while carefully covering up the movement's violence, depravity and anti-American radicalism.

But then again, almost nothing that's been written or said about the Occupy movement and its main issue has been true.

Continue reading.

Man Dies After Black Friday Shopping at South Charleston Target

See London's Daily Mail, "Not a single Good Samaritan: Frenzied bargain hunters unfazed as they step around and even OVER collapsed man at Target who later died."