Clint Eastwood’s ad was bad history.

National Review Online"  "If Clint Eastwood narrated “The Cat in the Hat,” the words of Dr. Seuss would instantly take on a menacing authority. He could read the latest worthless United Nations condemnation of Syria and make Bashar Assad tremble."
...."Walking near the end of his tunnel, Eastwood assures us of our hoped-for national comeback: “Detroit’s showing us it can be done. And what’s true about them is true about all of us.” Yet if Detroit is the model for our future, we should prepare for national collapse. Yes, it is getting a boost from resurgent auto sales. Otherwise, it remains a byword for urban apocalypse. More than anything, the city is a standing warning of the perils of social disorder and unaffordable, dysfunctional government."  Rich Lowry

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/2012/02/06/96078

Lower class! Work hard, handle your money wisely, get rich and become one of Obama's enemies!

Victor Davis Hanson: Are You ‘Them!’?   "After three years, I realize that lots of us are on the downside of about every one of the president’s new Mason-Dixon lines."....
....
"Mr. President, sermonize to others abroad, not to us at home, about judging people on the basis of “how they look.” In India or Brazil, Obama, as most of us, would be relegated to a caste. Yes, I am worried at the present desire to run up trillions of dollars in debt and redistribute income while ignoring the sources of traditional American material wealth. Yet I still see no reason to lead from behind. I accept no post-American anything—and am quite tired after three years of being lectured that I am supposed to."


Charles Krauthammer: Obama’s campaign for class resentment  (from December 8)
"Or, as the philosophers of Zuccotti Park call them, the 1 percent. For Obama, these rich are the ones holding back the 99 percent. The “breathtaking greed of a few” is crushing the middle class. If only the rich paid their “fair share,” the middle class would have a chance. Otherwise, government won’t have enough funds to “invest” in education and innovation, the golden path to the sunny uplands of economic growth and opportunity.


PJ Media: Obama’s Vision of ‘Fairness’  "Abraham Lincoln once argued that you cannot make a poor man rich by making a rich man poor. This axiomatic position seems to be lost on President Obama, who continually quotes Lincoln in his speeches. The hope for the national future cannot rest on a powerful and intrusive government manipulating the economy in the name of egalitarianism. In fact, the road to serfdom begins with the belief you can overcome natural differences to create a tie at the finish line of life."

 
Bill Kristol at Weekly Standard:  It’s Not  (Only) the Economy . . . and We’re Not Stupid
"Nonetheless, the slogan has become a talisman, ...an easy, safe, cookie-cutter campaign strategy. But it’s not safe. The belief that voters react in a simple-minded way to their current economic well-being leads campaigns and candidates to counterproductively dumb their message down. It’s also condescending, and voters often see it as such."

The debate over Afghanistan

A letter from Lt Col Daniel L. Davis, who is a fulcrum that can move a nation – should we choose to help him   "Summary:  Please read this letter from Daniel L. Davis (Lt Colonel, US Army).  He has set in motion forces that can change America, but only if we choose to help.  Pass this on to your Congressmen, Senators, local newspapers, associate, friends, and relatives.  If we stand together we can reclaim America. Today is an opportunity to start this process."  
Whoa, not so fast there...


Max Boot: Are We Losing the War in Afghanistan?  "If we pull out too quickly, the gains that have been made will be for naught. And that points to the greatest cause for pessimism about the war’s course: not the lack of progress on the ground, as Davis claims, but the lack of resolution displayed by a White House that seems determined to withdraw our forces as quickly as possible."

Lt Col Daniel L. Davis- Truth, lies and Afghanistan: How military leaders have let us down    The letter in question, which will please the anti-war left greatly. But do consider if his thoughts are valid or not, though it pains me greatly to provide the loony left ammunition. TD

RAWA

Reuters,2011- U.S. must stay in Afghanistan or risk more attacks: envoy " "With the Taliban will come al Qaeda, and we will have the same situation that we had pre-9/11, and that to me is an utterly unacceptable outcome," he said in his Kabul residence, in the heart of the heavily guarded embassy."


The President and the Generals  "Understanding the proper relationship between the president and his generals is essential both for the president and for Americans concerned about national security. The president has the right to make decisions about the conduct of war as he sees fit, but he jeopardizes America and brings his own fitness for office into question by dismissing the professional advice of commanders he has personally selected."


Michael Yon would agree with Col. Davis   But who can have faith in any exit prompted and planned by Democrats, most particularly Obama?  Remember that phrase from long ago, "leave with honor"? How'd that work out for us?


This post from yesterday's Tunnel Wall discussed the issue.

White House offers little insight on conflicting Iran opinions

This administration has more and more similarities to the Carter Administration. Here is one like those we used to see in Carter's international dealings. That's one advantage to being 72 (and a half!); I haven't just read about Jimmy Carter's presidency, I lived through it at an age to understand what it was like.  Full disclosure: I voted for the man.


Politico  "White House spokesman Jay Carney isn't offering much in the way of explanation for why President Barack Obama and his intelligence chief offered dramatically different opinions in recent days on whether Iran is or is not trying to step up operations on U.S. soil."

" "We don't see any evidence that they have those intentions or capabilities right now," Obama said during a pre-Super Bowl interview Sunday on NBC. 

"However, in testimony to Congress just last week, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said the consensus of the U.S. intelligence community is that prominent Iranian leaders are moving in that direction."

Happy Birthday, Mr. President

"Today would be Ronald Reagan’s 101st birthday.  To commemorate the occasion, the group Americans for Prosperity has produced a short video.  The video compares two starkly different versions of America: Reagan’s last best hope for mankind and Obama’s vision of an America increasingly enslaved by the shackles of big government.  Enjoy:"

From Conservatives4Palin.  Hat tip to Legal Insurrection

Walker recall's ripple effect across U.S.

ocregister.com   "If a national symbol exists for the movement to rein in the power of public employee unions, it is Wisconsin's Republican Gov. Scott Walker. He pushed aggressive measures to curb the power and influence of government unions and now faces a union-funded recall campaign, which, if successful will empower unions and expand their power in Wisconsin and throughout the country, including in California."....
If the recall effort succeeds against Mr. Walker, public-sector union reform efforts will be stifled nationwide. It is most critical that he prevail.  (Emphasis added)

Obama and Afghanistan

White House Sends Confused, Unhelpful Message to NATO Allies on Afghanistan  "The mixed messages coming from the Obama Administration last week on the future of combat operations in Afghanistan have left our allies confused, the Afghan people anxious, and the insurgency stronger."
....
"The performance coming from the Administration this week on the future of America’s combat mission in Afghanistan was amateurish at best and hurtful for the campaign at worst. What should have been an internal debate between the White House, the Pentagon, and the CIA went too public. An important part of any counterinsurgency is the Information Operations campaign. This is, in part, accomplished by communicating a message of assurance to the people you are trying to protect while sending a message of strength to those you trying to defeat. The Administration failed this week. We hope this strategic error doesn’t have tactical consequences."

about.com

 Middle East Forum:  Rethinking U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan  "The emerging picture is very grim, indeed. How is it that, despite making Afghanistan the cornerstone of its struggle against militant extremism, the Obama administration's strategy is failing so miserably?"
...".Above all, Washington should recognize that Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Iran, Russia, and China—though having a vested interest in preventing the Taliban from returning to power—are reluctant to legitimate a large, foreign military presence in Afghanistan. The Uzbeks, in particular, fear that a Taliban-dominated Afghanistan will offer support to their own Islamist movement."
...." However, Tehran, presently confident that the Taliban will not retake Kabul, is reportedly extending them support.This is not so much a means of expanding Iranian influence in Afghanistan as it is a ploy to keep U.S. forces bogged down in an unwinnable counterinsurgency campaign, diverting attention from Tehran's nuclear program and preventing the possibility of a preemptive U.S. strike on these facilities."


The latter part of the above article seems solid and reasonable. One could have so much more confidence in the withdrawal from A-Stan if it were not being ordered by a radical, US military-hating leftist.
 Do these decisions rest on mentoring influences of geopolitical strategists or of Rev Wright and Bill Ayres? TD

Just who gives the occupiers moral ascendancy over authorities?

http://terrellaftermath.com/

Rick Moran: Rejoice. Washington no longer 'Occupied.'  "All this fuss over a couple of dozen protestors - national headlines, hand wringing, and ridiculous pronouncement about the "movement" and its popularity. The sane left has been moving away from these radicals for weeks. It's high time the press loses its starry eyed worship of these thugs and give them coverage commensurate with the size of their protests."


Occupier Vandalism Continues, “Class War” Spray Painted On Wells Fargo, Windows Smashed, Starbuck Targeted In Santa Barbara… "Class War” was written in black spray paint and referenced the Occupy Oakland movement, according to Sgt. Riley Hardwood. The wall of the CVS pharmacy at 1815 Cliff Drive was also damaged." Emphasis in the original.


Weasel Zippers: Occupy Oakland Holds “F*** The Police” Rally…

Where is the outrage at what these people are doing?

Yes, TW can profile; Here is wisdom from a few African-American Conservatives

On every TV channel we are subject to the racist rantings of black (and white) leftists that leave us with a picture of African-Americans who seem to be cartoonish, ill-informed demagogues. We are deluged with the shallow thoughts of Sharpton, Jackson, Clyburn, Sheila Jackson Lee, Maxine Waters, Louis Farrakhan, Tavis Smiley et al and we wonder if there is any other line of thinking among blacks. Our encounters out in public show most to be not angry, but warm and friendly and a pleasure to converse with, a strong contrast with those the news channels use to make "good TV". 
Here is commentary from a few of the many African-American conservatives that stands in sharp contrast to the racialists paraded daily before us on TV.  
For those who wish to call my words "racist", I will be prepared to publish words of all those listed above for the consideration of all. TD


Thomas Sowell:  Is Anybody Serious?  "Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or an independent, this is a very serious and historically crucial time for the United States of America. What Mitt Romney did or did not do when he was with Bain Capital, or what Newt Gingrich did or did not say to his ex-wife, are things that should be left for the tabloids.
"With the economy still faltering and Iran on its way to getting nuclear bombs, surely we can get serious about the issues facing this nation. Or can we?"  Related: The Florida Smear Campaign 


This excellent illustration from Black Quill and Ink

Also from BQ and I: African Americans and The Obama Dilemma

Conservative Black Chick:  Eat, Pray, Love and Be Black but Don’t Be a Republican  "Unlike whites and Hispanics, blacks claim another phenomenon– black ambassadors sometimes loosely called “our leaders,” who speak on behalf of “ALL blacks and their black issues.” If you think Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Cornel West, etc. you get it. (Of course this is despite the fact, many blacks don’t call these clowns our leaders but somehow the liberal media trots them out over and over as the voices of black people. Again, as if all us blacks think alike or rather are incapable of thinking and have to have ambassadors tells us what to think and how to vote.

"If this wasn’t enough monolithic brainwashing to make you sick, gird your loins."  More, including this tweet ostensibly from Cedric the Entertainer...

From WAKE UP BLACK AMERICA: " MSNBC Analyst Melissa Harris-Perry compared Governor Jane Brewer to a white segregationist who talked down to kids?  As always with MSNBC, it's all race, all the time, 24/7".

I'm liking this cartoonist more and more

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/2012/02/03/96009

Tale of Two Obamas

Which is it?  Which source do you trust as a more truthful news source: MSNBC or Human Events?


MSNBC: Obama said, “I deserve a second term”  Obama replied, “I'm going to just keep on doing is plodding away, very persistent. And you know what? One of the things about being president is you get better as time goes on.” It’s mildly surprising to hear a president say that, but it is also one of the truths the public does believe -- and it’s an additional hurdle for a potential challenger. In a close call election, the “don’t change horses in midstream” mantra can be a strong pull. 
Three words come to mind: Enn, Bee, See; those same people who grill Republicans as if they were suspects in some plot ("scheme" as Ted Kennedy would call it).


Obama presidency on life support  "Will the dim prospects for an Obama second term subject us all to a campaign of half-truths and smears? Conservatives in Congress should expect Obama to use the bully pulpit to blame them for everything from lousy unemployment numbers to congressional gridlock on his class warfare legislative agenda."  Brian H. Darling

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/2012/02/04/96016

Urban Legend: Walter Williams didn't write "No Matter What"

Snopes   This article improperly attributed to Dr. Walter E. Williams (pictured at right). The retraction and apology from RiteOn.org  is quoted at the link and here: 

 We published an article that we thought was written by him and we have subsequently found out it was not. The title of the article we published was "No Matter What" and it was published on April1. Please be informed that this article was mistakenly attributed to Dr Williams.We admire Dr. Williams work and the article we published was not written by him and was, in fact, a "phony" that fooled us also. We hope, by way of this explanation, to inform those who took the article as genuine to know that it was bogus and that Dr Williams had nothing to do with thewriting of the article entitled "No Matter What" that appeared under the column entitled "A Bad Dream" published on the RiteOn web site on April 1.We erred in not researching the real source of the article prior to publication and we erred in publishing it. We try within our means to avoid publishing phony material of the sort represented by this article and we are sorry we failed to catch the mistake prior to publication.  Chuck MacNab, Editor and Publisher, RiteOn.org

This TEA Party site also publishes both the purported Williams article and the retraction.


We searched the web but couldn't find who the author of this piece is. It is regrettable that some of the ideas expressed in the article are lost in the turmoil over its authorship. TD