SUPREME COURT NOTEBOOK: State of Union no-show

WaPo  "The president will begin a sentence with an invocation of the country's greatness, Alito said. If justices don't jump up and applaud, "you look very unpatriotic," he said.
"But, Alito continued, then the president may finish the thought by adding "because we're conducting a surge in Iraq or because we're enacting health care reform." Justices aren't supposed to react to statements about policy or politics." Via  Volokh Conspiracy

OBAMA'S "PEACE PROCESS" TALKS HAVE OFFICIALLY COLLAPSED: ABBAS WITHDRAWS

Astute Blogger  "AS LONG AS THE ENEMY FAILS TO ACCEPT THIS MINIMUM THRESHOLD, THERE CAN BE NO LAND DEAL, AND NO PEACE DEAL.
"THE PERIODIC "PEACE PROCESS" SHAM IS ONCE AGAIN OVER."

Next Cartoonist to Receive a Fatwa............ Mallard Filmore

 Atlas Shrugs  "Filmore gets it ..... let's hope not literally. "Muslims Who Repudiate Violence""

From France: "Obama Does Not Dare Propose Anything Else"

WatchingAmerica  "I am struck by something that no television commentator seems to point out: The president does not dare propose anything else.
"He speaks mainly about preventing the horrible Republicans from putting big business lobbyists back in power. He campaigns against George W. Bush. The problem is that George W. Bush is invisible, is not a candidate and has totally retired from politics."  Pierre-Yves Dugua

Rep. Waxman Spokeswoman: ‘We Do Not Know’ If We Aided Fallujah Terrorists with Code Pink Letter

Big Peace "In 2004, Congressman Waxman did supply a letter to some of his constituents who were traveling abroad. His constituents reported to him that they were bringing needed medical supplies to refugee families, not insurgents. Congressman Waxman certainly did not intend to assist insurgents who had been killing and attacking our troops. In fact, he continues to vote to fund the war and to provide our soldiers with the necessary equipment and weapons they need."

What does Obama read?

Snopes.com  From a forwarded email about the book in Mr.Obama's hand. The email reads: "The name of the book Obama is reading (see insert) is: The Post-American World, and it was written by a fellow Muslim*.
""Post" America means the world After America ! Please forward this picture to everyone you know, conservative or liberal. We must expose Obama's radical ideas and his intent to bring down our beloved America! "
*Fareed Zakaria  

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/postamerican.asp

For Obama and past presidents, the books they read shape policies and perceptions  "Reading lists don't only give presidents a break from the tedium of briefing documents; they can also inform their politics and policies, reaffirming, creating or shifting their views. White House watchers obsess over which aides have the ear of the president, but the books presidents read also offer insight on where they want to take the country -- and how history will remember them."

 

MTV Casting Call Pays Off: Obama Pitched Only Softballs at Townhall

Big Hollywood  "From what I gather, these cherry-picked students, which are supposed to reflect young America – only care about issues that make Obama seem like a caring sensitive dad: anti-bully, gay rights, race issues, and stuff about “political rhetoric” – a jab at Obama haters. Oh yeah – don’t’ forget “environmental justice,” whatever that is. Sure, a tea party question popped up, but Obama managed even to nail them, if only a little."

The Democratic ‘D’ Now Stands for Demagoguery

Michael Barone   "Back in January, the president attacked the Supreme Court for ruling that corporations and unions have First Amendment speech rights and pointed to the possibility that foreigners might try to influence American election outcomes. Now he and his spokesmen on the campaign trail and on Sunday interview programs are charging that outfits like the Chamber of Commerce are smuggling foreign money into the campaign.
"Their evidence? Well, there isn’t much, as even the New York Times, the Washington Post, and factcheck.org agree.
"The smoking gun? The Chamber of Commerce collects $100,000 in membership dues from foreigners out of a $200 million operating budget and spends some of that budget on campaign ads. But Obama uber-adviser David Axelrod says it’s up to the chamber to prove it’s innocent."

Your Pre-Election Post-Mortem

Charles Krauthammer "When the election is over, prizes and trophies and hosannas will be issued left and right. But why wait? As a public service, I present an infallibly prescient scorecard of best and worst of 2010."

Which party is dominated by extremists?

Rick Moran  "For more than a year, the media has hammered the tea party and the GOP for being "too extreme." But the proof is in what each party has been pushing during that time. The Democrat's agenda is seen as radical by a plurality of voters - even 22% of Democrats think so.
"Another false narrative crashes and burns before the election."

CNS

Anatomy of Petulance (Updated)

Victor Davis Hanson "I was fascinated watching the recent Obama campaign stops, particularly the contrast with 2008. Gone are the faux columns and classical backdrops. There are no more vero possumus seals (now they fall off the podium). All pretense of “no more red states, no more blue states” nonpartisanship has long ago been dropped. Even the shrill, boilerplate evocation of “Bush-Cheney did it” sounds strained. The blatant divisive appeal to unions, young people, and “black folks” is now unapologetic. Them versus Us is the new theme. "....
"Add all that to new health care and financial regulations, and the message is clear the American private sector is suspect rather than industrious and critical to our nation’s economic life. After Obama’s slurs against Fox, the Republican leadership, insurers, Wall Street, doctors, police, the people of Arizona, or opponents of the Ground Zero mosque, fairly or not, a lot of people conclude that he does not like them or what they do or what they represent. So trillions of dollars in capital are waiting on the sidelines until November and proof that the Obama agenda is stalled."

Mike Ramirez, Townhall