Friday, September 12, 2014

Obama the Divider?


Hot Air   "The only real hope that Democrats have in this midterm is to cobble together the voter coalition that Barack Obama created in two elections in order to counter what looks to be a Republican wave. They have one big obstacle to that goal — Barack Obama himself. According to an analysis from the Washington Post’s Karen Tumulty, Obama has lost the confidence of his once-favored demographics, and with it any enthusiasm to protect him in November:
...
"Aaron Blake says that’s not the worst of the poll’s findings, though. The worst is that a strong majority now see Obama as a divider rather than a uniter:
The most troubling number for President Obama in the new Washington Post-ABC News poll is this one: Americans say 55 percent to 38 percent that he is more of a divider than a uniter.
That’s a reversal from last year, when Americans said 47-45 that Obama had done more to unite the country than divide it

Penn State yanks Bibles after atheists complain

Campus Reform

 
... "FFRF claims in their statement that Penn State officials confirmed to them that the Bibles have been removed from the two university-run inns, but Powers confirmed to Campus Reform that the Bibles can still be found by guests in public areas.

“ 'The Gideon Bibles have not been removed from our hotels,” Powers said. “The Bibles have been removed from individual guest rooms. Bibles and other publications are now available in our libraries and other public access areas (our Nittany Lion Inn has two libraries).”

"Powers said that the Bibles had been in the Nittany Lion Inn rooms for “decades” and had been in place in the Penn State Conference Center Hotel for “probably a dozen years.' ”

The thrust of the Scriptures is not the ordained killing of unbelievers, but a history of times when such thing were done. The final message that is applicable to us now is the story of how humanity became to be as warped as we see that it is. Then it gives the story of the redemption our Creator offers to us.  TD

Is the Islamic State Really un-Islamic?

Political Cartoons by Chip Bok

Jonah Goldberg
“Now let’s make two things clear: ISIL is not Islamic. No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of ISIL’s victims have been Muslim. And ISIL is certainly not a state.” –    President Barack Obama in his address to the nation on Wednesday.

 ... "The president faces the same dilemma that bedeviled George W. Bush, and I sympathize with him. It is not in our interest for the Muslim world to think we are at war with Islam, not just because it is untrue, but more specifically because we desperately need the cooperation of Muslim nations. That’s why Bush constantly proclaimed “Islam means peace.' ”
...
"To be sure, there are Muslims who have had precisely this reaction as well. But can anyone deny that the world would be a better place if more Muslims felt – and demonstrated – that terrorists were giving them a bad name?"
 
Political Cartoons by Lisa Benson

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Is you is or is you isn't Islamic?

Political Cartoons by Glenn Foden
 
Obama: Islamic State 'Is Not Islamic'   "Addressing the nation from the White House, he used the opportunity to repeat the administration’s rejection of the jihadists' claim to be acting on behalf of Islam." ...
 
On What Is and Is Not Islamic   "During his speech last night, President Obama declared, “ISIL is not ‘Islamic.’ No religion condones the killing of innocents. And the vast majority of ISIL’s victims have been Muslim.” It is certainly true that the vast majority of the victims of ISIS, as the group is more commonly known, have been Muslim as have been the majority of victims of other radical Islamist movements, it is not the job of any president to decree what is and is not Islam; what is and is not Christianity; and what is and is not Judaism. For all practical purposes, religion is what its practitioners believe it to be, not what an American president says it is." ...

Never forget; not just the Islamic radicals but a few of ours as well.

John McCain Dresses Down Jay Carney over Obama’s Syria and Iraq failures

Legal Insurrection   "Barack Obama’s address to the nation regarding the threat of ISIS was met with both cautious optimism and unbridled mockery from pundits on both sides of the aisle.

"No one was more optimistic than CNN’s latest hire, former Obama Administration press secretary Jay Carney. Unfortunately for Carney, however, CNN had also invited Senator John McCain (R-AZ), who was more than a little irritated at the media’s willingness to overlook the fact that Obama chose to ignore the possibility of the current crisis when he decided to pull the occupying force out of Iraq."
 


... "Senator McCain’s assertion that a residual force in Iraq could have tempered the threat of ISIS comes from a place of experience, not of brash partisanship."

 Senator, do you wish you had not said this back in 2008?
 

 
ISIS assumed you were speaking to them.

World reaction to 9/11

Your Child’s School Might Be Pushing Zinn’s Marxist View of US History

Sara Noble  "Many public schools in the United States have been putting Howard Zinn’s Marxist view of the history of the United States on reading lists and on bookshelves. Most recently, Zinn’s tome, A Peoples’ History of the United States, has been added to supplementary reading lists for AP U.S. history. There is even A Young Peoples’ History of the United States.

"How teachers in the classroom use it does matter, however, it reads more like Soviet propaganda than U.S. history and it’s about as accurate.

"Howard Zinn was a Marxist whose book presents a dreary, cynical history of a dystopian United States. It is filled with inaccuracies because, for him, it was not about the truth, it was about spreading the ideology. He used second-hand sources for his “factual US history – statements of alleged facts without footnotes, clip jobs, and interviews substituted for real research.

"Zinn came out the New Left and the 1960’s leftism extremism. His book reflects their views." ...
...
But wait! There's more! The article finishes with this:

"Bill Bigelow, who runs the Zinn Project today, wrote an anti-July 4 article this year, claiming that George Washington was a war criminal and Thomas Jefferson basically plagiarized The Declaration of Independence.

"Zinn was an America-basher, a dangerous one. So are his followers who keep the flame alive.

"Parents need to read over their children’s reading material or they might find their child growing up hating America." (Emphasis added, TD)
Full article...

The REAL War On Women, NOT the silliness we see on Western streets and campuses

The REAL War On Women    "Our latest video is up now. This video is not sugarcoated and may contain some disturbing images for some viewers. It is a serious and sensitive subject, yet the message needs to be heard. A very big thank you to our producer Rob Duke on an excellent job done.
"Please watch, like and share this video and help us spread the truth about the so-called "war on women."    Hat tip to Ray Merryman; Constitutional Freedom Party photos

"This video is not sugarcoated and may contain some disturbing images for some viewers.
It is a serious and sensitive subject, yet the message needs to be heard."


Stay with this for about a minute and a half

 

UPDATED Saturday: ‘If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you.’ – Ted Cruz.

RedState  "It would have been the easiest thing in the world for Senator Ted Cruz (R, Texas) to ignore the fact that the “In Defense of Christians” summit dinner that he was speaking tonight at had far too many people involved with it who, as the Washington Free Beacon notes, “includes some of the Assad regime’s most vocal Christian supporters, as well as religious leaders allied with the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hezbollah.” But he did not. Instead, he told those folks the truth:..."

 

"Those who hate Israel hate America,” he continued, as the boos and calls for him to leave the stage got louder. “Those who hate Jews hate Christians. If those in this room will not recognize that, then my heart weeps. If you hate the Jewish people you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ. And the very same people who persecute and murder Christians right now, who crucify Christians, who behead children, are the very same people who target Jews for their faith, for the same reason.”

Ted Cruz Stands Up to ‘Hatred and Bigotry’ at Conference of Middle Eastern Christians
"Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) said in an interview with the Washington Free Beacon that the “hatred and bigotry” he encountered when he was booed off the stage at a Middle Eastern Christian conference for defending Israel on Wednesday night was like nothing he has previously seen in his political career."   Via www.lucianne.com/

It was when Senator Cruz said “Christians have no greater ally than Israel”  ... " But, as the Caller reported, “”Cruz had already had enough.” He declared: “If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you. Good night, and God bless.” Then, in a show of character that is rare among politicians, Mr. Cruz just turned around and walked out. It was a marvelous moment and, we’d like to think, a glimpse of how Mr. Cruz might perform as president in the world organizations...."

Wait a minute, there. Aren't these the "Christians" we hope to defend against Islamic oppression? These tend to be liturgical Christians whose voice of authority is the Church organization and not the Scriptures. Love for Israel comes from a knowledge of it as learned from the Old and New Testaments where we read of the role Israel has played and will play in the course of history. TD

UPDATES:
Mideast Christian Conference Organizers Never Told Cruz That Israel Was Off Limits
“ 'Tonight’s injection of politics when the focus should have been on unity and faith, momentarily played into the hands of a few who do not adhere to IDC’s principles,” Baaklini said of the incident. “They were made no longer welcome.' ”
... "[Mark] Tooley also noted, however: “Cruz, a savvy politician, knew the reaction he would provoke from some by commending Israel, and he maximized his political moment before the many cameras.' ”

Spengler (David P. Goldman) asks: Why Did Middle Eastern Christians Drive Sen. Cruz from the Stage?

Ted Cruz booed at Christian unity dinner over Israel stance...Lebanon was a Catholic project from the outset, and the Vatican’s thinking about the region is colored nostalgia for a dying Christian community and a searing sense of regret for what might have been. If only the State of Israel hadn’t spoiled everything, many Arab Christians think, the Christian minority would have wielded enormous influence in the Arab world. It is true that in many Arab countries, Christians comprised a disproportionate share of merchants and intellectuals. But the same was true of the 130,000 Jews of Iraq before 1947, who owned half the businesses in Baghdad...

Why Was Ted Cruz Booed Wednesday Night?   ... "A key goal of the summit was to bolster resolve here in the U.S., focusing people on the looming elimination of Christianity over in the Middle East. As best I could tell from that ballroom Wednesday night, they booed Ted Cruz because, instead of using his platform to help nameless, foreign, forgotten Christians targeted by Islamic extremists, he added yet another distraction to the mix." ...

Some Educated Reaction to the President's 9/10/ 2014 speech


CNN: 5 takeaways from Obama's ISIS speech     ... " I thought the first part of the speech as he talked about the attack on ISIS was strong and presidential and serious. You could quibble with it, I am sure there will be disagreements. But as a presidential speech, it did very well. What surprised me was the second part of the speech when he started to talk about how well the country is doing with jobs and leading around the world. I think for an awful lot of people, America is feeling pretty blue right now. I think those kind of assertions don't ring true to a lot of people. It seemed to me it detracted from the main message of the speech. - David Gergen - CNN commentator and former adviser to presidents from both political parties"

From 9/9: 10 questions for Obama on ISIS  from Newt Gingrich

Political Cartoons by Steve Kelley
 
Arizona lawmakers react to President Obama speech on ISIS   

What Obama Got Right—and Wrong—in His ISIS Speech   ... "He mentioned that Secretary of State John Kerry in particular was seeking more Arab assistance.  Unfortunately, Kerry’s credibility is weak, and the Arab countries are not big “joiners” when the fight is tough. But the president is right to seek this. It is a key to any measure of success." ...
" Never tell your enemies what you will not do, Mr. President."

Obama's poll-driven ISIS speech pleases almost no one   ... "So he went on television last night to enunciate…something.  Because he has to do something.  (“Do” in his customary sense of “say.”)  The particulars don’t matter nearly as much as the appearance." ... American Thinker

The speech "succeeded in tone but failed in substance." "When it comes to foreign policy, a presidential speech is measured by two things: strategic tone and strategic substance."...
 "It was self-limiting when it comes to our capabilities, it was hedging in intent, and it manifested an obsession with domestic opinion." NRO

Andrew Malcolm: Tardy Obama talks tough on ISIS. But can anyone really believe him?

Another truckload of ISIS victims bound for the landfill.
 
... "Unfortunately, these 1,985 well-spoken words of Obama's come in the context of a presidency that has been degraded and virtually destroyed by his own actions -- and inactions."
"Barack Obama has squandered the hope, good will and, most importantly, the credibility he carried into the Oval Office nearly a thousand years ago. His serial lies, misleading claims and phony stats have not only corroded trust in him and his office but crushed and ground it into microscopic dust."
... Via Lucianne

Obama Rejects 'Best Military Advice' in Fighting ISIS   ... "Recommitting ground combat forces to Iraq would have been highly controversial, and most likely would have been opposed by a substantial majority of Americans. But Austin’s predecessor, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, said the decision not to send ground troops poses serious risks to the mission.
" ' 'The American people will once again see us in a war that doesn’t seem to be making progress,' Mattis said. 'You’re giving the enemy the initiative for a longer period.' '"
 
Obama’s ‘Strategy’ Has No Chance of Success  "President Obama just announced that he is bringing a counter-terrorism strategy to an insurgency fight. He was at pains to repeat the phrase “counter-terror” four times in a short speech. Noting that ISIL is not a state (partly because the international community thankfully does not recognize it), he declared, “ISIL is a terrorist organization, pure and simple. And it has no vision other than the slaughter of all who stand in its way.”  Neither of those sentences, unfortunately, is true."
...
 "ISIL has described a very clear vision of seizing control of all of the territory of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories.  It intends to abolish all of the borders and redraw them according to a new structure of governance suitable to its hateful version of an old Islamic heresy.  That vision also makes it more than a simple terrorist organization.  It’s awfully hard to develop a sound strategy when you start by mis-diagnosing the problem so profoundly. That’s why the “strategy” the president just announced has no chance of success."   FREDERICK W. KAGAN and KIMBERLY KAGAN 

Online posts show ISIS eyeing Mexican border, says law enforcement bulletin

 
Jana Winter;   "Social media chatter shows Islamic State militants are keenly aware of the porous U.S.-Mexico border, and are “expressing an increased interest” in crossing over to carry out a terrorist attack, according to a Texas law enforcement bulletin sent out this week.

“ 'A review of ISIS social media messaging during the week ending August 26 shows that militants are expressing an increased interest in the notion that they could clandestinely infiltrate the southwest border of US, for terror attack,” warns the Texas Department of Public Safety "situational awareness" bulletin, obtained by FoxNews.com.

Texas Department of Public Safety Issues Bulletin Warning of Increased "ISIS Interest on the Southwest Border"    Quoting Judicial Watch:  
Intelligence officials have picked up radio talk and chatter indicating that the terrorist groups are going to “carry out an attack on the border,” according to one JW source.  “It’s coming very soon,” according to another high-level source, who clearly identified the groups planning the plots as “ISIS and Al Qaeda.” An attack is so imminent that the commanding general at Ft. Bliss, the U.S. Army post in El Paso, is being briefed, JW’s sources say. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to multiple inquiries from Judicial Watch, both telephonic and in writing, about this information. 
U.K. Prime Minister Warns of ‘Greatest Terrorist Threat’ in History. Hours Later, Obama Made This Comment at Fundraiser.
“[I] promise you things are much less dangerous now than they were 20 years ago, 25 years ago or 30 years ago,” Obama said after referencing challenges posed by the Islamic State terror group, the Ukrainian crisis and China’s advancing economy." ...

@BailofRights wrote:
I laughed at "America is safer" Lol. We may as well have a welcoming committee with fruit baskets & guns on the southern border.