Defending ‘Don’t Ask’

NRO "In addition, many African-Americans take offense at the comparison between their struggle and homosexuals’. As Colin Powell noted in his memoirs, the reaction among African-American groups in 1993 to the argument linking gay rights and the civil-rights movement was mixed: “The Congressional Black Caucus favored removing the ban on homosexuals in the armed services. But other leaders were telling me that they resented having the civil rights crusade hijacked by the gay community for its ends.” "

Morning Thread: Why Don’t Liberals Take Conservatives Seriously?

Washington Post "This condescension is part of a liberal tradition that for generations has impoverished American debates over the economy, society and the functions of government — and threatens to do so again today, when dialogue would be more valuable than ever." By Gerard Alexander; Liberal Conceit "The difference is that conservatives don't condescend towards liberals. But give us half a century of political and cultural power, and we could learn."

A NEW CLIMATE CHANGE AGENCY IN WASHINGTON

Boortz "This new agency will operate under a political premise. The political premise will be that global warming is real and is being caused by man. The agency, then, will be charged with promoting this premise and developing "solutions" to a problem that doesn't necessarily exist. Gotta love it."

New Black Panther Case Investigator Getting a Lifetime Judgeship?

Jennifer Rubin "...if she is nominated for a federal courtship, senators can finally quiz her on what political interference by Obami appointees in the work of career prosecutors may have been uncovered and why the OPR is slow-walking its way through an internal investigation that remains hidden from all outside scrutiny. That should make for an interesting confirmation hearing."

Is a Nuclear Iran a Good Thing?

Max Boot "Iran is going nuclear? Don’t worry, be happy. That, at least, is the message of this odd op-ed in the New York Times written by one Adam B. Lowther, identified as an analyst at the Air Force Research Institute at Maxwell Air Base in Alabama. He claims that a nuclear Iran will deliver all sorts of hidden benefits for the U.S."

What is Iran Planning for Thursday?

Michael Ledeen "Khamenei, whose public statements should be taken seriously, is promising some sort of devastating “punch” against the West on Thursday the 11th, the same day as the Green Movement is calling for a monster protest against his regime."

Surveillance Society: Obama Takes a Blue Pencil to the Bill of Rights

Richmond Times-Dispatch "...Which means, if the Obama administration continues to get its way, the federal government effectively will have carte blanche to spy on American citizens. The two points lead to one of two conclusions. Either President Obama owes the Bush administration a big apology -- or he owes the rest of us a very good explanation."

Drillgate: Internal Emails Shows Obama Team Lying to Public

Big Government "If you’re the President of the United States or one of his political appointees and you’re ideologically opposed to new oil and natural gas development offshore, what do you do when the public registers its overwhelming support for new drilling in public opinion polls? You dance, delay, and deceive. You speak melodious words about seeking the wisdom of the public in making these decisions and then ignore evidence of the public will when you get it, or worse, you hide it."

Political Cartoons by Lisa Benson

Townhall

Why Fear Big Government?

Victor Davis Hanson "There is no reason to review all the standard reasons why the American people are terrified of an all-powerful federal or state government. The case has been made in thousands of elegant treatises and books, and is best reflected in the Constitution and the written work of the Founding Fathers. But let me list a few other, less elegantly expressed worries, many anecdotal in nature."

Without Murtha, Dems now one vote short of passing ObamaCare in House

Hot Air "Back in November, the House passed its health care bill by a narrow 220 to 215 margin, with 39 Democrats voting against it. Since then, the one Republican who voted for it — Joseph Cao — has indicated that he would not support the bill a second time around given the weaker language on abortion in the Senate version. In addition, Florida Rep. Robert Wexler already retired prematurely. Factor in Murtha’s death today, and Pelosi is down to 217 votes — one short of passage. "

House GOP to Obama: We’ll meet with you about ObamaCare — if you agree to start over

Hot Air "I think this is a bluff, incidentally — the GOP’s not actually going to boycott The One’s invite for a televised meeting lest it seem petulant — but using the invite as a platform to raise these issues before accepting is a shrewd move." Negotiations Without Preconditions for Iran, But Not Republicans "In inviting Republicans to the negotiating table for the first time later this month, Obama has imposed the precondition that the negotiations start with the Democratic versions of health care legislation..."