The Post-Debate Handshake Controversy

Santorum was trying to be good-natured with that handshake, but I had to laugh at the video editing below. Ron Paul looks like he's practically being torn apart.

Atlhouse has more, "Why did Rick Santorum deliver a yank-your-arm-out-of-its-shoulder-socket to Ron Paul?" (Via Memeorandum and Rosie Gray.)

Girl, 9, Dies After She Was Forced to Run Three Hours as Punishment for Eating Chocolate Bar

This makes me cry.

 At Los Angeles Times, "Forced to run, girl, 9, dies in punishment for eating candy."

Elizabeth Price Foley Interview at PJ Media

An outstanding interview with Glenn Reynolds:

And check out Foley's book, The Tea Party: Three Principles.

Jennifer Love Hewitt Looks Fabulous!

The funny thing is I caught the last hour of "I Know What You Did Last Summer" last weekend, and I'd forgotten that Love Hewitt starred. That movie came out in 1997. She must have been just a teenager.

In any case, at London's Daily Mail, "Scarlet woman: Jennifer Love Hewitt displays every curve in saucy Client List wardrobe." And, "Happy birthday! Jennifer Love Hewitt celebrates turning 33 with a big bunch of balloons on set of The Client List."

And check the trailer for her new show, "The Client List - New Extendet Promo - Jennifer Love Hewitt."

What Do You Become When You Worship Government?

Via David Swindle:

Homeland Security to Monitor Policy Debates on Twitter and Facebook

Sounds familiar.

At New York Times, "Homeland Analysts Told to Monitor Policy Debates in Social Media."

WASHINGTON — Analysts for a Department of Homeland Security program that monitors social networks like Twitter and Facebook have been instructed to produce reports on policy debates related to the department, a newly disclosed manual shows.

The manual, a 2011 reference guide for analysts working with the department’s Media Monitoring Capability program, raises questions about recent claims by Homeland Security officials who portrayed the program as limited to gathering information that would help gain operational awareness about attacks, disasters or other emerging problems.

Last month, a previous disclosure of documents related to the program showed that in 2009, when it was being designed, officials contemplated having reports produced about “public reaction to major governmental proposals with homeland security implications.”

But the department said it never put that category into practice when the program began in 2010. Officials repeated that portrayal in testimony last week before an oversight hearing by a House Homeland Security subcommittee.

“I am not aware of any information we have gathered on government proposals,” testified Richard Chavez, the director of the office that oversees the National Operations Center, which runs the program.

Still, the 2011 manual, which was disclosed this week as part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, lists a series of categories that constitute an “item of interest” warranting a report. One category is discussion on social media networks of “policy directives, debates and implementations related to DHS.” 

Keep reading.

We've seen this movie before.

RELATED: What could go wrong?

Well, actually...

IMAGE: "The System Worked? Janet Napolitano Flip-Flops on Terror Threat; President Obama, Still Mum on Thwarted Attack, Will Take Golf Break to Address Nation."

Whitney Houston Open Casket Photo Controversy

Well, can we please get this lady out of the news and let her rest in peace? Sheesh.

At Los Angeles Times, "National Enquirer Whitney Houston casket photo: Finally too far?"

The photo's seen at this celebrity website, Gossip David.

Also at London's Daily Mail, "Chilling picture of Whitney Houston dead in her coffin published in National Enquirer."

And at Fox News, "National Enquirer publisher calls Whitney Houston casket photo 'beautiful'."

Western Culture's Path to Self-Destruction

Via La Shawn Barber, "God Bless America with Repentance":

Charles Blow's Religious Bigoty: New York Times Columnist Mocks Mitt Romney's 'Magic Underwear'

See Jim Geraghty, "New York Times Columnist Mocks Romney’s ‘Magic Underwear’" (via Instapundit).

Mormons wear a special under "garment" that is vested with spiritual significance. A comparable religious ritual is the wearing of the yarmulke in Judaism.

Charles Blow is just a typical pathetically mean progressive bigot. The New York Times is a perfect home for him.

More at JustOneMinute and Legal Insurrection (via Memeorandum).

Romney Slams Obama on Contraception Mandate

This was well played by Mitt, very well played.

At Los Angeles Times, "Romney says Obama undermines religious freedom":

When the issue of contraception came up in tonight's Republican debate, it offered the front-runners an attempt to finesse their positions on social issues to address seeming weaknesses.

For Mitt Romney, that meant taking a hard line against President Obama and his administration's decision to mandate that all employer insurance plans cover contraception -- even those that are offered by religious institutions like Catholic hospitals and universities.

Needing to make up ground among those conservatives who have of late turned to Rick Santorum, Romney accused Obama of undermining religious freedom.

"I don't think we've seen in the history of this country the kind of attack on religious conscience, religious freedom, religious tolerance that we've seen under Barack Obama," he said.

Rick Santorum was then asked to explain his statement to an Iowa blog about the "dangers of contraception."

The former Pennsylvania senator has been dogged this week by the increased scrutiny that followed his rise in the national polls, particularly concerning his hard-line views on social issues.

His answer showed an effort to soften the edges a bit, and fuse it with an economic message, saying the poverty rate is five times higher in single-parent homes.

"The bottom line is that we have a problem in this country, and the family is fracturing," he said. "How can a country survive if children are being raised in homes where it's so much harder to succeed economically?"

He added: "Just because I'm talking about it doesn't mean I want a government program to fix it."

The actual question, submitted from a CNN viewer, asked which of the GOP hopefuls "believes in birth control." The crowd booed it lustily, and Newt Gingrich kicked off the exchange by denouncing the media for a double standard in posing the question now.

"There is a legitimate question about the power of the government to impose on religion activities which any religion opposes. But I just want to point out, you did not once in the 2008 campaign -- not once did anybody in the elite media ask why Barack Obama voted in favor of legalizing infanticide."

He was referring to a vote Obama cast in the state Senate in Illinois.

Santorum's Missed Opportunity in Mesa

I found myself getting sleepy during the debate, as the excitement factor seemed quite low, although I don't think Santorum did as badly as some are suggesting. Mostly I thought the candidates got bogged down on earmarks and the congressional process. It wasn't until later in the debate did we get into social issues, which should have been leading off the night. And even then, I thought Mitt Romney more than held his own on that, overshadowing Santorum somewhat, while Newt Gingrich seemed subdued for he evening.

See Telegraph UK, "Rick Santorum misses opportunity to cement hold over Mitt Romney."

I like Santorum on foreign policy, I must say. But that's not what folks were looking for in the debate.

More at Washington Post, "Santorum struggles to defend record in heated GOP debate."

Mixed Messages on Iran Spark Talk of U.S.-Israel Strategy

At Los Angeles Times, "U.S., Israel send mixed messages on Iran": U.S., Israel send mixed messages on Iran":

As the U.S. seeks to tamp down talk of an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites, some analysts and officials see a campaign to wring concessions from Tehran.

The Obama administration is bluntly warning Israel about the danger of bombing Iran's nuclear facilities, but it is far from clear whether the allies are truly at odds over a core policy question or orchestrating an elaborate campaign to wring concessions from the Islamic Republic.

Both countries say that at least for now, tightening a web of economic sanctions around Iran's vital oil exports is the best way to pressure Tehran into serious negotiations about its nuclear program, which the U.S. and its allies suspect is aimed at mastering the know-how to build a bomb.

But Israel regards a nuclear-armed Iran as an existential threat, and in recent weeks officials have suggested they may attack its nuclear facilities before the program reaches a point of no return.

Early Wednesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement that Iran denied a request for access to a site where the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency suspects explosives testing related to a nuclear weapon took place, news services reported. The statement was released after the IAEA team left on a return flight to Vienna. The unusual timing, shortly after midnight in Europe, reflected the urgency of the communique.

With Tom Donilon, the White House national security advisor, visiting Israel over the weekend and James R. Clapper, the top U.S. intelligence official, due in this week, some Israelis suggested that Washington doesn't appreciate the threat their nation faces and is undermining the chance of success. Public signs of strain in the relationship are beginning to emerge.

After meeting separately Tuesday in Israel with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona told reporters that "there is clearly significant tension that now exists on how to approach this whole issue."

Continue reading.

Reason.tv: 'Why Gay Marriage is Winning'

The best thing about this video is Kennedy, the narrator, who I'm sure a lot of readers will hope is straight, and not married:

President Obama Sings the Blues with Mick Jagger, B.B. King

Well, I'm not going to begrudge Barack Hussein some good times with these rockers. Who'd pass that up? I wouldn't.

At LAT, "President Obama grooves with Mick Jagger, B.B. King."

Step Up For Israel

Via Theo Spark:

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2012: The Lineup

Well, I think this clip introduces all the SI models for 2012:

And check out this blog, "Who is that hot ad girl?" (Via Glenn Reynolds.)

The Sacred Dogma of the Left

From Jonathan Last, at Weekly Standard:

In the conflict between the Obama administration and the Catholic church over mandated contraceptive coverage in health insurance policies, it’s easy to understand the motivations of the church. Catholics object to artificial contraception—and to abortifacients and sterilization, reimbursement for which is also mandated—as a matter of doctrine, owing to their beliefs about the dignity of the human person.

The church’s allies—evangelical Christians, Tea Partiers, and other non-Catholic conservatives—are motivated by a conviction that, theology aside, the Obamacare edict forcing the church to pay for procedures it finds morally objectionable is an unconstitutional trespass on the free exercise of religion.

But what is it that motivates those on the left? Why do they care so deeply about the kind of insurance coverage Catholic employers provide? It’s not as if NARAL and Planned Parenthood devotees are heavily represented in the workforce of Catholic institutions. And you don’t see petitions from leftwing pressure groups calling on the church to provide better dental and vision coverage, or mental health benefits. Which would, as a pragmatic matter, be much more helpful for more of the workforce than the contraceptive mandate. No, for the left, the fight isn’t about social justice or the proper scope of the state. It’s about the contraceptives. It’s about sex.

Continue reading.

Zilla of the Resistance Exposes Hate-Blogger Patrick Adkins

I tried to be friendly with Patrick Adkins when he was blogging at Political Byline. But I generally avoided him because he's burned so many bridges across the 'sphere he's literally radioactive. That made him mad after a while, and he told me to f*** off --- and then only a few months later I found him in my Facebook feed sending me a friend request. He's messed up big time --- and I mean messed up like needing a psychiatrist.

In any case, see Zilla's post, "Bloggers Beware – A Cautionary Tale."

And here's Atkins on Twitter threatening Robert Stacy McCain.

The dude's one sick mofo.

Caller Says Dana Loesch Should Be Raped

At All Patriots Media, "Leftist caller wishes rape on radio host Dana Loesch" (via Protein Wisdom):

In addition to my own show, I fill in for syndicated radio host, Big Journalism.com editor and CNN contributor Dana Loesch. On Monday, I filled in for Dana, and discussed the controversial commentary by Keith Olbermann who denies that rapes have occurred at Occupy events around the country and the most recent words from Slate.com that compares a Virginia law (requiring an ultrasound before an abortion) to rape.

The phone lines were open, and a caller named “Brenda” was brought on to the show. Brenda started by attempting to dismiss Loesch, claiming she didn’t even know her last name because she’s “never really heard of her.” (Which would make one wonder why she called into the show of someone she’s never really heard of?)

Then, after voicing her displeasure over Loesch’s supposed position on sex and rape, “Brenda” put out this violent gem:

And a woman to say that about other women, saying maybe they shouldnt have had sex in the first place. I hope she (Loesch) winds up in the same circumstance as the women she is talking down to…

In order to truly understand the leftist-progressive, you must start by accepting that they hate you. They hate you for what you believe, and they hate you for not believing what they believe. In the case of Loesch, they hate her for being a woman who doesn’t tow the feminist line of “real” women (see, Liberal Women.)

The leftist-progressive also has no need for “The New Tone,” which was a fashionable catch-phrase used after the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tuscon in 2011. But, for them, it is only applicable to those they disagree with; used as a rallying cry of sorts to stifle dialogue and prevent conversations. Calling for the rape of Loesch, to them, is justified. After all, she said something they disagree with! Just add it to the list of Ed Shultz calling Laura Ingraham a slut, and Guy Cimbalo wanting to “hate fuck” Michelle Malkin and Megyn Kelly, amongst others.

Word.

More at the link.

Santorum Flops?

I don't know if he flopped (Santorum under-performed, no doubt), but see Jonathan Tobin, at Commentary, "Santorum Flops in the Debate Spotlight":

But see The Last Tradition, "Santorum had a strong night at Arizona despite spin that…"

I have posts scheduled for later, so check back. If the debates matter