Wisconsin Holds the Line

Heritage  "The liberal political machine was in full throttle. Millions of dollars in campaign ads streamed on TV. An army of union workers descended on the state in a massive grassroots voter mobilization effort. But when the dust settled, the smoke cleared, and the votes were counted, the conservative majority that swept into Wisconsin last November remained intact last night despite an unprecedented recall effort designed to bring an end to Governor Scott Walker’s reforms."

Republicans hold off Dems in recalls, win enough seats to keep majority in Senate   "Republicans won four of six recall races, meaning the party still holds a narrow 17-16 majority in the Senate — at least until next week, when Sens. Robert Wirch, D-Pleasant Prairie, and Jim Holperin, D-Conover face their own recall elections. A third Democrat, Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, easily survived a recall attempt last month."

American Thinker has this:  "Wisconsin stands as model for GOP reforms we can promise voters in 2012. America has turned against Big Labor, precisely because of such self-interested political thuggery as seen in the Badger State. Public employees more likely to die in office than get fired are seen rioting and defacing the State Capitol. In the aftermath, boards of education save millions and avoid teacher layoffs because a cozy insurance monopoly gets broken.

"The GOP nominee must champion union reform, and use the events in Wisconsin as a teaching opportunity."

More here, Video here, here,

Boortz on The Wisconsin recall efforts  "Government employee labor unions – with their ridiculous pension benefits and costly work rules -- are at the core of the fiscal problems faced by state and local governments across the nation. The more the taxpayers realize this the closer we come to restoring some fiscal sanity to governance in America."

The view from the left:

A Stinging Defeat for Big Labor  "It’s a crushing blow to the unions, especially coming on the heels of their failure to oust Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser just a few months ago. The Washington Post’s “The Fix” blog reports this isn’t just a defeat for labor, but also for the progressive movement:"...

Rush calls it "inspiring".

Reviewing the Resumes: The Politicized Hiring of Eric Holder’s Voting Section

Part 2: J. Christian Adams  "America should be appalled at the overwhelmingly politicized backgrounds of Eric Holder's hires in the Department of Justice Voting Section."

....

"Not only did Shore contribute $1,000 to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, her resume is a lengthy story of a leftist activist. Shore also worked for the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, a group dedicated to “environmental justice” and aiding illegal aliens. Naturally, while at MALDEF, she vigorously campaigned for comprehensive amnesty for illegal aliens and characterized the citizenship verification program as an attempt to “disenfranchise” not only Hispanics, but also blacks. She also fought against Georgia’s photo identification requirement for voters, something states passing such laws should realize."

Part 1: Every Single One: The Politicized Hiring of Eric Holder’s Voting Section  "All sixteen new hires to the Voting Section have far-left resumes — which were only released following a PJM lawsuit. (This is the first in a series of articles about the Civil Rights Division’s hiring practices since President Obama took office.)"....

"For nearly a year, the Civil Rights Division rebuffed Pajamas Media’s Freedom of Information Act request for the resumes of attorneys hired into the Division during the tenure of Eric Holder. PJM was finally forced to file a federal lawsuit earlier this year. Only then did Justice relent and turn over the documents. The result leaves little wonder why PJM’s request was met with such intense resistance."

Michele Bachmann is the target, but it's Newsweek's editor who gets wounded.

Slate  "Newsweek Editor in Chief Tina Brown, punchbowl-spiker extraordinaire, got just the response she was looking for this week by picking a cover shot in which presidential aspirant Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., lit up her brightest Charlie Manson eyes. "

....

"The transgression comes only when the editor pretends—as Brown has with the Bachmann and Diana covers—that she wasn't playing let's-goose-the-public with sensationalist images. Obvious lies, such as Brown's about merely trying to convey "intensity" with the Bachmann portrait, end up conveying contempt for the reader. And that's not a pretty picture."

  "CNN ran Bachmann's wide-eyed picture on the latest Newsweek cover multiple times Tuesday morning, asking if the picture and harsh headline were examples of media maltreatment of conservative women presidential candidates. "

MSNBC Features Ex-Obama Aide Bashing 'Crazy,' 'Loopy' Bachmann, Defends Newsweek Cover

CNN Picks Up on Bachmann's Newsweek Cover Photo, Questions Media's Treatment of Conservative Women Candidates

L.A. Riots: A Blast from Obama’s Past

National Review  "The release quotes Obama explaining the need for Project Vote by pointing to the rioting in Los Angeles. Said Obama in 1992: “The Los Angeles riots reflect a deep distrust and disaffection with the existing power pattern in our society.” That’s Alinsky-speak for “We’ve got to use the power of the angry underclass to put capitalism in check.” "

DC Democrat

Commented 1 hour ago in UK 60283

“I'm disenchant­ed with Obama as well, but I see in him a poor leader and negotiator­, not one who is blaming all problems on others. And, no, I'm not making the connection between Obama and the London rioters. Perhaps in your mind that makes sense.”  Huffpo

London rioters: 'Showing the rich we do what we want'  Video.

Does Obama “Hate” the Rich?  "Of course, our silver-tongued leader of the free world would easily defend his actions toward rich folk by taking us to the pulpit and reeling of his best Jesse impersonation, saying, "These folks got to pay their fair share. They got rich in America, so they owe America. You who struggle to pay bills and have tough times deserve some of their success. Can I get an Amen? These wealthy folks making over $250,000 must support those of you who quit school, committed crimes, made irresponsible relationship choices, had the Man keep you down and best of all voted for me. I know I got a witness here!" "  Raymond Dix Jr.

Spare Us the Sermons, Mr. President

Victor Davis Hanson   "We are now engaged in a continuing debate about debt, taxes, and spending. Both sides have vastly different ideas about how to solve our financial problems, and they will continue to embrace tough talk to win over public opinion to their respective sides. We hope for the best argumentation but expect the worst — democratic politics being what it is. And President Obama, the past master of bare-fisted partisan invective, knows that better than anyone."

The London riots

The Riots in London are a Culmination of Decades of Failed Social Policies  "The abandonment of effective discipline in schools, the namby-pamby non-judgementalism that pervades social services and the youth offending service and a compliant state that funds dissolute lifestyles are all contributory factors to the chaos on our streets. "

Video: London is burning 

" Rather than have me blather at you, open up a couple of tabs and follow the BBC’s and the Telegraph’s liveblogs, which are riveting. The BBC’s, in particular, really does make it sound as though the whole city is being sacked. Exit question via Jim Treacher: Remember when MSNBC hack Martin Bashir marveled at how orderly and dignified British crowds were compared to their troglodytic American cousins?"

London Bridges Falling Down - Why?  "How much dialoguing with people -- kids or otherwise -- conducting themselves as savages is of any real value is dubious. Jail time might be a better cure. But Womack's other insights point strongly to the tragic results of anything goes, value- and moral-free progressive culture."  American Thinker.

How come they always come for the Jews first? 

"Guardian report on London riots omits the race or ethnicity of rioters...." Quoting JAWA Report

Right: Man is forced to strip, non-Jewish looking person already has the man's shoes.

911 calls in Wisconsin riots

 

Obama campaign to get big-screen bin Laden boost?

USA Today  "The yet-to-be-titled project from director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal -- the duo behind The Hurt Locker, which won the Oscar for best film of 2009 -- is scheduled for release on Oct. 12, 2012.

"The focus of the film is on Navy SEAL Team 6, which performed the bin Laden operation, but some political observers can't help but wonder how much it will touch on Obama's role, and how it might affect his re-election bid at that stage of the campaign."

Reader Poll: Is Sony’s Release Date for “Killing Bin Laden” Designed to Help Obama Get Reelected?  "Accusing a film studio of exploiting our military and their heroism for partisan political purposes is a pretty serious accusation. Accusing the White House of cooperating with this kind of propaganda is also a serious accusation. But that’s exactly what New York Times’ Leftist Maureen Dowd said is happening."

Maureen Dowd has this:  "The White House is also counting on the Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal big-screen version of the killing of Bin Laden to counter Obama’s growing reputation as ineffectual. The Sony film by the Oscar-winning pair who made “The Hurt Locker” will no doubt reflect the president’s cool, gutsy decision against shaky odds. Just as Obamaland was hoping, the movie is scheduled to open on Oct. 12, 2012 — perfectly timed to give a home-stretch boost to a campaign that has grown tougher."

 Mudville Gazette has this.  Hat tip to Blackfive

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/lisabenson

The Downgrade

instapundit

Down, down, down  "Are you starting to see what we have here? I must believe that with every day that passes we have more Americans who realize what a colossal mistake we made by putting this unqualified and inept man into the White House.

"So did our Dear Ruler come up with any new and innovative solutions to our debt crisis? Are you kidding me? This is Barack Obama we’re talking about, not some risk-taking entrepreneur of investor who has actually built a business, hired a private sector employee or ever filled a business tax return. We’re talking about the Barack Obama who lives, eats and breathes government every second of his existence."

....

 "Then Obama tells us that he “intend(s) to present my own recommendations over the coming weeks on how we should proceed.”  Oh!  So you’re going to do that now, are you?  Where were you and your own recommendations when the Senate and House were trying to come up with something that would work.  I know, you were busy reminding Paul Ryan that you won the election...." Neal Boortz. 

More here. And here.

Obama to blame for S and P downgrade, former Cabinet nominee says  " "I think the burden is primarily the president's, because he's supposed to lead, and he has been essentially absent from this exercise," (Judd) Gregg says."

From Forbes: U.S. Dollar Is The Next Financial Shoe To Drop

Global Economic Downturn: A Crisis of Political Economy

STRATFOR  "As we all know, the origin of the current financial crisis was the subprime mortgage meltdown in the United States. To be more precise, it originated in a financial system generating paper assets whose value depended on the price of housing. It assumed that the price of homes would always rise and, at the very least, if the price fluctuated the value of the paper could still be determined. Neither proved to be true. The price of housing declined and, worse, the value of the paper assets became indeterminate. This placed the entire American financial system in a state of gridlock and the crisis spilled over into Europe, where many financial institutions had purchased the paper as well."  George Friedman

Who is to blame?

President Bush? NY Times:  "[Bush] pushed hard to expand homeownership, especially among minorities, an initiative that dovetailed with his ambition to expand the Republican tent — and with the business interests of some of his biggest donors. But his housing policies and hands-off approach to regulation encouraged lax lending standards." Karl Rove rebuts:

Congress? Frank’s fingerprints are all over the financial fiasco  "The roots of this crisis go back to the Carter administration. That was when government officials, egged on by left-wing activists, began accusing mortgage lenders of racism and “redlining” because urban blacks were being denied mortgages at a higher rate than suburban whites.

"The pressure to make more loans to minorities (read: to borrowers with weak credit histories) became relentless. Congress passed the Community Reinvestment Act,"....

Timeline shows Bush, McCain warning Dems of financial and housing crisis; meltdown

Introducing the Blameshifter

Verum Serum   "Your stimulus program was a bust, unemployment is at 9.1%, the nation’s debt has been downgraded, and there’s an election coming your way? Sounds pretty hopeless.

"What you need now is someone else to blame. Thank goodness for the Tea Party. This tiny minority of elected representatives makes a perfect class of villains. All you need to do now is shift the blame…"

What’s that rumble? It’s the BlameShifter! (OFA employee shown for scale)

At last there’s a tool that’s able to meet your national level demands for shoving your failure onto others.

You say you’ve got 9.1% unemployment? Push the Bush did it line by the metric ton.

Just saw the nation’s debt downgraded by S&P? With the BlameShifter your surrogates can drive the “Tea Party downgrade” right down their throats.

Best of all, at just $4 million each, your billion dollar campaign can pilot a fleet of these. Soon everyone will know that none of this is your fault!

The BlameShifter – because all that blame isn’t going to shift itself.

Video: Dems Strategy – Blame the Tea Party

Debt man talking  "President Obama gave a statement this afternoon on the historic downgrade of the United States’ credit rating. As of this writing, the statement is not posted on the White House site. I wonder why. The best account I can find of it at the moment is this live summary by Politco. [UPDATE--Video below.] The following draws directly from the Politico summary." This article cites the following from CATO:

Obama’s Failed Response to the Downgrade and the Outlook for Fixing America’s Spending Crisis  "President Obama just spoke about the downgrade and his remarks were very disappointing. He uttered some empty platitudes, offered no plan, (amazingly) called for more government spending, and continued his advocacy of class-warfare taxation.

"So what does this mean? Other than expecting volatility, I have no idea what will happen in financial markets over the next few days. But I can opine about the downgrade, Obama’s unserious response, and what it means in terms of public policy over the next few years and into the future."

....

"But, barring some remarkable change in attitude, Obama is mostly irrelevant except to the extent that he can make matters worse by luring Republicans into a phony tax-hike deal." Dan Mitchell

The Afghan Mission and the SEAL Tragedy

Max Boot  "While we should be in awe of special operators and their accomplishments, we should keep their capabilities in perspective: They cannot win a war by themselves.

"The Tangi Valley is an area infested by Taliban. Even if Saturday's raid had been a success, killing or capturing some local Taliban leaders, it would hardly have ended the insurgent threat in that area. "Counterterrorism raids are a vital part of any integrated counterinsurgency strategy, but they cannot substitute for the lack of such a strategy. The loss of leaders hurts any organization, but terrorist groups like the Taliban—or al Qaeda or Hezbollah—have shown considerable ability to regenerate even after major losses.

"Only one thing can lead to their decisive defeat: a critical number of boots on the ground. In Afghanistan, the U.S. and our allies have the necessary ratio of ground forces in only two provinces—Helmand and Kandahar. The rest of the country is an "economy of force" mission. U.S. commanders hope to shift resources from the south, once that has been secured, to the east to gain control of ungoverned areas. But that strategy has been thrown into jeopardy by President Obama's decision to pull out 30,000 U.S. troops by September 2012.

"Many in the administration wanted an even more precipitous withdrawal, arguing that we could rely on Special Operations troops to keep our enemies from establishing control of critical terrain. Saturday's disaster shows the risks of that strategy and underlines the limitations of even the world's best special operators. So we should honor them, but we should not exaggerate what they can do."

Excerpt taken from a subscription-only Wall Street Journal article which may not be available when you click on the link. Ergo, we have printed the crux of the article here.

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/default.aspx