The American 21st Century

Victor Davis Hanson "The American Constitution has been tested over 223 years. In contrast, China, the European Union, India, Japan, Russia, and South Korea have constitutional pedigrees of not much more than 60 years. The last time Americans killed each other in large numbers was nearly a century and a half ago; most of our rivals have seen millions of their own destroyed in civil strife and internecine warring just this past century.
"In short, a nation’s health is gauged not by bouts of recession and self-doubt, but by the durability of its political, economic, military, and social foundations. A temporarily ill-seeming America is nevertheless still growing, stable, multiethnic, transparent, individualistic, self-critical, and meritocratic; almost all of its apparently healthy rivals, by contrast, are not."

ObaToons

http://townhall.com/cartoons/kencatalino/2010/12/29/76893



http://legalinsurrection.blogspot.com/



'A big f------ deal' and more: The top 10 political quotes of 2010

The Hill  "Vice President Joe Biden’s use of profanity, a New York congressman’s admission of groping and a denial of witchcraft were among the top 10 political quotes of 2010.
"The healthcare reform debate is featured in several others, ranging from a Texas lawmaker’s outburst of “baby killer” to President Obama’s admission that he and his party took a “shellacking” in the midterm elections. " Via Lucianne

ABC Warns Republicans Against Challenging ObamaCare

Newsbusters  "If Pres. Obama's signal fight in the coming year will be preserving ObamaCare, he can count on at least one ally in his struggle with Republicans: ABC News and in particular its Political Director, Amy Walter.

"On GMA today, Walter issued a stern warning to Republicans who might have the audacity of hoping to repeal ObamaCare."

http://bigjournalism.com/

MSNBC: Bush's Book Is Popular Because He Was So Hated  From Newsbusters: "So, Bush's book is popular because:"

1.He's hated
2.People bought it as a gag
3.People received it as a gift they didn't want
4.Books are cheaper now
5.It's shorter than Clinton's

"It takes an amazing amount of rationalizations to be a liberal these days, doesn't it?"

What Is 'American Exceptionalism?'

FamilySecurityMatters.org  "Even President Obama, when asked if he believes in American exceptionalism said yes, just as the French and British believe in their own exceptionalism. And this remark raised the hackles of those who believe that with all our flaws, we have managed to be exceptional in almost every way—including the constant effort to admit and correct our shortcomings."
Very good article, though we did have a problem with it's author's view that the Constitution changes with the times. If they meant by amendments, OK, but if they meant interpretation by the courts, we have problems. That "living, breathing document" line is a fancy way of saying we will not be bound by the Constitution".
Hat tip to Astute Blogger

Yes, the Greatest Country Ever   Britain "invented the rights that are the bedrock of liberal democracy. More than most European powers, it lived by Adam Smith’s formula for prosperity: “peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice.” From a tiny island, it came to govern an enormous extent of the globe in a relatively benign colonialism. It was a bulwark against the dictatorships of the Continent, from Napoleon, to the Kaiser, to Hitler. And it spawned the countries that have made the English-speaking world a synonym for good governance and liberty: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and America.
"Which brings us to the U.S."   Rich Lowry is editor of National Review. 
Mr. Lowry speaks frankly of America's failures, but in context with her successes. Which I'm sure will irritate Tavis Smiley no end.

Top Ten Reasons America Won’t Miss the 111th Congress

Heritage  "The American people, though, think differently, and they have already issued their verdict on the 111th Congress by way of an earthshaking election in November. If you take a look at some of Congress’ big-ticket “accomplishments,” you might understand where they’re coming from. Here’s a look at 10 major pieces of legislation coming out of Congress the last two years and why Americans might not be so pleased:"...

Hillbuzz photo
Never forget this act.

The Viral Spiral of 2010; Yet another year full of bogus chain e-mails.

FactCheck.org  "Despite what you may have been told:
■It’s not true that the White House is planning to tax all credit card transactions.
■Muslims are not being exempted from the new health care law.
■President Obama did not order up a private jet for the family’s pet dog, Bo.
■Speaker Pelosi’s spending for liquor on congressional trips isn’t notably different than that of her predecessor. And Pelosi herself doesn’t even drink alcohol.
■The new health care law does not contain a 3.8 percent "sales tax" on the sale of all personal residences.
■Obama did not cancel the National Day of Prayer nor did he participate in a Muslim prayer event at the Capitol.

Waiting For the Ball to Drop

http://www.worldmag.com/editorialcartoons/

Republicans blast Obama for posting new Syrian envoy

Jerusalem Post  ""Making underserved concessions to Syria tells the regime in Damascus that it can continue to pursue its dangerous agenda and not face any consequences from the US," she said in a statement. "That is the wrong message to be sending to a regime which continues to harm and threaten US interests and those of such critical allies as Israel.""

Obama’s ‘Shocking’ Recess Appointment  "The president still regards al Qaeda as a mere criminal enterprise."

http://conservativeblogscentral.blogspot.com/

2010 a Banner Year for MSM’s Ministries of Mistruth

Pajamas Media  "In George Orwell’s 1984, set in a pre-computer era, Winston Smith, working in the misnamed Ministry of Truth, alters documents that contradict or conflict with his totalitarian government’s take on history, wiping out inconvenient truths or revising them to fit the current template.

"In 2010, the establishment press ramped up its propaganda role, acting as a collective of preemptive Winston Smiths."

Government by regulation. Shhh.

Charles Krauthammer  "Obama knows he has only so many years to change the country. In his first two, he achieved much: the first stimulus, Obamacare and financial regulation. For the next two, however, the Republican House will prevent any repetition of that. Obama's agenda will therefore have to be advanced by the more subterranean means of rule-by-regulation.
"But this must simultaneously be mixed with ostentatious displays of legislative bipartisanship..."

Lisa Benson; http://townhall.com/cartoons/

2010: The Entertainment Industry’s PC Year in Review

Big Hollywood  "For the entertainment industry’s practitioners of political correctness, 2010 was another banner year. Even as conservatives have made deserved headway in La La Land and other areas of the industry, there still aren’t enough conservatives to bring much needed patriotism, logic, and common sense to the scene. Sadly, the industry is still filled with those slavishly dedicated to anti-American tropes, left-wing blather, and self-hatred. From comic books, to music, to radio, TV and movies, PCism still runs rampant."

"Without further ado, here are (in no particular order) just a few examples of PCism from 2010 in music, TV, movies, and publishing."

Captain America proclaimed the Tea Party an enemy to America.

Speaking of which...The American Government Enables Worldwide Sharia by Censoring Critics of Radical Islam "...four “Swedes” and a “Dane” were arrested yesterday for planning a massive attack on the Jyllands-Posten building in Copenhagen as revenge for the Mohammed cartoons. They intended to make their operation a reprise of Mumbai, with as many innocent casualties as possible."

This must be "Sven", but I can't read Swedish