Barack Obama, guardian of the US-British relationship

"President Obama admitted at a British press conference Friday that the U.S. and Great Britain will always be joined at the hip in the Special Relationship. He conceded that our cultural, historical and blood ties are so strong that nothing could ever separate our two countries. He’s tried everything."

Comedian Argus Hamilton. 

Take another look at the audience at Barack Obama’s ‘town hall’ meeting in London. Is this a portrait of Britain you recognise?

"RICHARD LITTLEJOHN argues the Obamas are desperate to provide a certain agenda whenever they visit Britain"

. . . "But even so. And before the usual, brain-dead suspects start bouncing up and down, screaming ‘raaay-cist!’, let me make it abundantly clear that I am not criticising any individual in the hand-picked audience." . . .
 . . . "They were hardly going to turn down an opportunity to be in the same room as the President of the United States, although I suspect they wouldn’t have been quite so keen to get up close and personal with George W. Bush.

"What a motley crew, though. It made your average BBC Question Time audience look balanced. Needless to say, there was the obligatory number of women in Islamic headgear, without which no televised gathering can be broadcast.

"The President was introduced on Saturday not by the democratically elected Mayor of London, as one might have expected, but by 21-year-old Khadija Najefi, a political science graduate who has recently been working as a volunteer at the Jungle camp in Calais, from where thousands of migrants have been attempting to enter Britain illegally."

And of course, his visit to Saudi Arabia was not a triumphal tour either, as this Brit discusses:

John Oliver Mocks President Obama’s Saudi Arabia Trip
. . . "As Last Week Tonight‘s John Oliver made clear Sunday night, the President got a chilly reception, from being snubbed at the airport right on down to the Saudi version of a C-Span cameraman who was filming the summit." . . .

Winners or Whiners?

"The biggest surprise among the Democrats is Bernie Sanders, and among the Republicans is Donald Trump. Although they are each seeking to be put in charge of the nation's government, does anyone know -- or care -- what their actual track record in government has been?"

Thomas Sowell

. . . "Although they are each seeking to be put in charge of the nation's government, does anyone know ­­ or care ­­ what their actual track record in government has been? Trump of course has no track record at all in government. If Sanders has anything to show for his many years in Congress, no one seems to know what it is. But both are great at rhetoric."

 

"Hillary Clinton's biggest selling point is that she has lots of "experience" in government, having been a Senator and a Secretary of State. But what she actually accomplished in those roles gets remarkably little attention. The foreign policies under Secretary Clinton have led to one disaster after another, whether in the Middle East, in Ukraine, or in North Korea. Where are her successes?

"The Republicans began this primary election campaign with a number of candidates who did have track records as governors that could have been examined, debated and critiqued. But Donald Trump's rhetoric and antics got the lion's share of the attention." . . .

"Partly this was due to the media's obsession with Donald Trump. But the public shares responsibility for the triumph of glitter over substance, because polls repeatedly showed that the public was far more attracted to the glitter.

"The current angry outcries because there was no primary vote in Colorado to choose delegates, supposedly because "the system" was "rigged" against Donald Trump, is only the latest sign of a widespread lack of interest in facts.

"The Colorado rules were there before the time for delegates to be chosen. If Donald Trump did not bother to learn those rules, or to hire people to keep on top of such things, that was his fault."

 

Cartoons added by TD

Op-Ed: Hypocrisy: In UK Obama did exactly what he ripped Netanyahu for doing

Arutz Sheva . . .

"Let me repeat this is a decision for the people of the United Kingdom to make. I am not here to fix any votes. I am not casting a vote myself. I am offering my opinion and in democracies everybody should want more information, not less, people shouldn’t be afraid to hear an argument being made. That is not a threat."

"Funny though, that is not how Obama reacted when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited to speak to congress about the P5+1 Iran deal. He didn’t say, because he lived in Iran’s neighborhood, Netanyahu was offering his opinion, and "in democracies everybody should want more information, not less, people shouldn’t be afraid to hear an argument being made." Obama saw it as a threat.

"When Bibi came to DC, both Obama and Secretary of State Kerry refused to meet with him, and pressured his fellow Democrats to boycott the Netanyahu speech to the joint session of congress.

"Heck one Obama supporter in congress, basically told Netanyahu that if he didn’t agree with the deal, he should stick to speaking to the Jooos:

Small Number of Muslims Backing Trump See Past His Bluster

ABC News  "As a Donald Trump supporter, Nedal Tamer feels he's in the minority among Muslim-Americans, comfortable with his choice yet somewhat confounded that he doesn't have more company.

"Small numbers of Muslims find comfort, not concern, in Trump's strong stance on immigrants. They see it as proof that the Republican presidential front-runner could better contain extremists than other candidates.

" 'People have the wrong idea, even Arabs and Muslims," said Tamer, 40, who works in real estate and construction and lives in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, which is known for its large Arab and Muslim population. "I like the fact that he's a little nuts. He's got the good heart, he cares about America."

"The discomfort that many Muslims have with the outspoken billionaire businessman comes from his suggestion that Muslims be banned from entering the United States. Trump also has said the U.S. should stop the flow of refugees from countries where the Islamic State group has a significant presence. For some, it's hardest to reconcile Trump's statement that "Islam hates the West."

"The Associated Press spoke to a number of Muslims who back Trump, some of whom declined to be interviewed.

"Tamer was born in Lebanon and immigrated to the U.S. in the late 1990s from the United Arab Emirates. He said Trump is speaking about extremists, such as the Islamic State group and those it inspires, not all followers of the religion.

"Many times, Trump has said, 'Not all Muslims' — he's not talking about all Muslims," said Tamer, a Republican. "He says there are certain people. ... We've seen what's happening. I don't think anybody would agree with what ISIS is doing," Tamer said, using an acronym for the extremist group. "He says, 'We have to stop ISIS now, immediately.' "

"In heavily Arab and Muslim Dearborn, many support Democrat Bernie Sanders, and people in those communities helped turn the tide toward him last month in the state's primary. Sally Howell, an associate professor at University of Michigan-Dearborn and author of several books on Arabs and Muslims in Detroit, described them as a small demographic overall but certainly a factor in Sanders' Michigan victory over rival Hillary Clinton. It helped that he came to Dearborn to court them." . . .

Queen: Obama’s ‘Over The Top’ Copters Wrecked My Garden

This man humiliates America every time he goes out.

Townhall

"The Queen banned Obama from landing a dozen helicopters at Windsor Castle because last time he visited six of them ruined the lawn. The 90-year-old monarch is said to have told aides the helicopters were ‘over the top’ and they would be limited to three.

"US Secret Service claimed it needed all twelve so agents could be in close proximity to the President when he came to the castle on Friday. The service also demanded to post guards inside the private dinner with the Queen and Obama, presumably to prevent the pensioner attacking the President.

"Commenting on the three helicopter limit an insider told the Daily Star newspaper: “Various US aides said that wouldn’t be possible. The President has a small army of Secret Service agents who follow him all over.

“ 'They said they needed to be within reach of the President at all times. They also wanted guards posted inside the dining hall when he had lunch with the Queen. But Her Majesty refused to back down and said, ‘three helicopters only’." . . .

In her last 270 days as First Lady, can't this professional victim ever say an uplifting thing?

Mrs. Obama should know better  "Welcome to the last 270 days, and here comes Mrs. Obama.    

"During a school speech, First Lady Obama decided to attack the people of Mississippi and their elected officials.  This is from the Daily Mail of the U.K.  . . . 

"It is demagogic because she is not offering any solutions other than making noise.  Has she actually spoken to African-Americans about men using women's bathrooms?  It's easy to make noise about this issue when your own daughters will never use a public restroom without security around or attend a public school.

"It is irresponsible because it shows the Democrats' desperation.  They are down to gender, racism, or whatever other card to get voters excited about Mrs. Clinton.  There is a lot of youthful excitement on their side, but it's about Senator Sanders, not Mrs. Clinton.

"The last 270 days will be tough to take.  My guess is that President Obama knows that there is not much of a legacy, from a collapsing Obamacare to the mess in the Middle East to the events we just watched in London.    

"Yes, the Obamas will go out with a bang, but not a very classy one at all."   By Silvio Canto, Jr.

Michelle’s Historically Black Attempt to Malign Mississippi
. . . "In the end, Michelle’s anti-freedom/ averse-to-equality rant are just more drivel issuing forth from a woman who, together with her subversive spouse, profess love for America and adherence to the Christian faith, but exhibit neither. 

"Instead, in an effort to destabilize the Constitution, disparage Biblical values, and chop away at conventional social mores, every year, Michelle “turns up like a bad penny” at historically black commencement ceremonies where she attempts to stir up racial divisiveness and gain political points by playing the victim card.

"At the end of the day, Mrs. Obama can be counted upon to defend against intolerance by speaking prejudicially against the foundational principles held dear by great historical figures such as the Christian freedom fighter about to be memorialized on the front of the $20 bill."

Hat tip to American Thinker

Frontiers of 'white privilege': good grammar is now ‘racist’ .

This should have been filed under "American Silliness".  If this becomes taught as conventional wisdom, we will see America on the downgrade.

Thomas Lifson
"There is open racism being spouted around the world, a good chunk of it out the lips of leftists who conceive of themselves as social justice warriors, progressive champions of the oppressed, or other such blather. To them, black people (or any other designated group they are trying to “help”) are simply incapable of meeting the same standards as whites (or Asians, who are usually accorded by the left the same status that Apartheid-era South Africa accorded them when visiting from overseas trade partners: honorary whites). 

"Consider Mona Chalabi, an editor of the iconic leftwing British newspaper, The Guardian, who believes that having good grammar and correcting others is racist, an expression of “white privilege.”

"The notion that nonwhites cannot command good grammar is racist to the core.  And the idea that grammar rules are simply optional based on race is a recipe for imprecise communication, aka misunderstanding."

Jerry Brown goes dictator on climate change

Richard Henry Lee  "With a stroke of his pen, Governor Jerry Brown (D) issued an executive order to extend California’s onerous climate change regulations, but the independent legislative counsel found he exceeded his authority.
"Like Obama, Brown also uses his pen to push his agenda when the legislature does not act.  A group of moderate Democrats has joined with Republicans and business groups to thwart tougher climate change legislation.  In response, Brown issued an executive order last year.  "The News Release announcing the order states:

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an executive order to establish a California greenhouse gas reduction target of 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 - the most aggressive benchmark enacted by any government in North America to reduce dangerous carbon emissions over the next decade and a half.

"Note that Brown “enacted” the benchmark, which somehow leaves out any action by the legislature.
"According to an AP story in the Washington Times:

The top lawyer for the California Legislature says Gov. Jerry Brown exceeded his authority when he issued an executive order imposing what he called the most aggressive carbon-emission reductions in North America, aligning California with the European Union’s aggressive climate change standards.
The opinion by Legislative Counsel Diane Boyer-Vine does not curtail Brown’s authority to continue implementing the greenhouse gas reduction plan, but it suggests a lawsuit challenging them could be successful.

"Brown’s executive order cites the emergency powers of the governor under Government Code 8567 and 8571 as the authority to extend the climate regulations.  These powers are designed to respond to immediate threats such as floods, earthquakes or fires.  The governor, however, takes an expansive view of his authority, which, if not challenged, could be used for almost any purpose.
"The executive order stands at this time, but someone with staying power could challenge it in court to put the brakes on Brown’s expansive executive authority." 

Awkward moment. . .

New Zeal

After a Sanders supporter mentions Monica Lewinsky, Clinton accuses his campaign of encouraging vitriol

WaPo

During an appearance Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sanders deflected a question about whether the remark was appropriate.

"A brief mention of Monica Lewinsky by a prominent Bernie Sanders supporter sparked controversy on the campaign trail this weekend, with Hillary Clinton’s team accusing her Democratic presidential rival of condoning “vitriol.”

"Actress Rosario Dawson, who has campaigned with Sanders on several occasions, brought up the former White House intern on Saturday during a Sanders rally in Wilmington, Del., referencing the work that Lewinsky now does to combat cyberbullying. Dawson said she and other Sanders supporters were being bullied by Clinton’s allies.

“ 'We are literally under attack for not just supporting the other candidate,” Dawson said in remarks introducing Sanders to the crowd. “Now I’m with Monica Lewinsky with this. Bullying is bad. She has actually dedicated her life now to talking about that. And now as a campaign strategy, we are being bullied, and, somehow, that is okay and not being talked about with the richness that it needs.' ”

Target on the cutting edge of societal changes

340,000 Pledge to Boycott Target over Transgender Bathroom Policy

"More than 340,000 have signed a pledge to stop shopping at Target, in response to the corporation’s announcement this week that transgender employees and customers will be allowed to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.

“ 'This means a man can simply say he ‘feels like a woman today’ and enter the women's restroom... even if young girls or women are already in there,” stated the American Family Association, which started the petition.

"Target on Tuesday became the first giant retailer to weigh in on an issue at the center of a heated national debate.

"The announcement came just after North Carolina passed a law requiring people to use bathrooms in public facilities that correspond with their gender at birth.

“ '#BoycottTarget has resonated with Americans,” wrote AFA president Tim Wildmon." . . .

AN OPEN LETTER TO TARGET: REGARDING YOUR NEW RESTROOM POLICY  

"I am a woman. I am a frequent shopper in your stores. I am first and foremost a mother. Your recent change in policy of who you allow to use each restroom concerns me. You stated in your blog post, “We believe that everyone…deserves to be protected from discrimination and treated equally.” and “…you’ll always be accepted, respected, and welcomed at Target.” As a business owner, I do understand your right to make a stance as a company. As a parent, I will never understand why you would trade the safety of our women and children for the sake of not hurting  feelings.I realize that everyone needs to feel accepted, loved, and wanted. I know the struggles of a person struggling to find their identity. I also know that as of September 2012, a Gallup poll showed that approximately 3.4% of Americans identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. If, for argument’s sake, we assume that those groups are of equal representation in that number, that would indicate that of the American population, only 0.85% of Americans identify as transgender.

 

New U.S. Navy Carriers Opt for Gender-Neutral, Urinal-Free Bathrooms

. . . "Urinals are omitted from the Gerald R. Ford class of carriers, due to hit the fleet in 2015, as both a cost-saving measure and an attempt to make bathrooms more gender-neutral. Urinal-free ships allow the Navy to easily switch a bathroom's designation between male and female, helping the ship adapt to changing crews. The U.S. Navy has deployed women on ships since 1994, but every carrier built since then has included urinals.

"In addition, urinals clog more than toilets and can cost more to maintain, Capt. Chris Meyer, manager of the Future Aircraft Carriers Program for the Naval Sea Systems Command, told CNN. Several sailors speaking on the condition of anonymity told the Navy Times that urinals were hard to clean and easily broken, and they were glad to see them go.

" 'There's a lot more at play in the design objectives than (making the toilet areas) gender-neutral," Meyer told CNN. "We're saving money in maintenance costs, and we’re improving quality of life.' " . . .

Then this Facebook post purporting to be from a lady in an LA Target:

"It's true. ..I'm in the women's bathroom at a Target north of LA...they actually took out a stall for women in order to accommodate the ones who have giblets...yes, these are urinals...for men...and so the war on women progresses. ..."  Hat tip to Kathleen Crawford

What Obama has done to our special relationship with Britain

We and the United Kingdom have been allies all of the 20th century. We stood by them when they were alone against Hitler and the Nazis, they stood by us in our trials  and battles. 
Now see what this British writer says Obama and  Democrats have done to our century-plus alliance with our ancestral homeland.
Do you think it wise to keep Democrats in office and continue the damage done this past eight years?  The Tunnel Dweller

PETER HITCHENS: America isn't our special friend. It ruined our Navy, Empire and future 

" Now will we grasp that the United States is not our friend, but a foreign country whose interests are often different from ours?

"President Obama’s blatant intervention in our internal affairs is not a sudden breach of a soppy ‘special relationship’. The USA’s only real special relationship is with Saudi Arabia, a 70-year-old hard pact of oil, money and power, welded together with such cynicism it ought to make us gasp.

"Barack Obama’s open desire for us to stay inside the EU is by no means the first or worst example of White House meddling here in these islands. Bill Clinton forced us to cave in to the Provisional IRA in 1998 and his successor, George W. Bush, continued the policy by making us do Sinn Fein’s bidding afterwards.

"Washington came close to scuppering our recapture of the Falklands in 1982. And with the current state of our Armed Forces, which can nowadays do nothing without American support, I often wonder how the White House and the Pentagon would behave if Argentina once again seized Port Stanley." . . .

"If anyone thinks Hillary Clinton is a great friend of Britain, they’re in for a big surprise."

Regrettably, I do take issue with Mr. Hitchens' point of view on this next:

"In the blackest months of the Second World War, just after the fall of France, the US Congress demanded almost every penny we owned before it would authorise the famous Lend- Lease programme.Secret convoys of Royal Navy warships carried our reserves of gold bullion (estimated to have been worth £26 billion in today’s values) across the Atlantic – mostly never to return. Billions in negotiable securities went the same way, and British assets in the USA were sold off at absurdly low prices."

True, Great Britain did almost bankrupt herself buying war materials from America. We were forced to do cash-and-carry because of the neutrality act and would have legally had to sell to Germany on the same basis. President Roosevelt's concern was for Britain's solvency and his desire was to-as he said- "remove the dollar sign". The American President with the help of Congress and the trade of some British bases approved lend-lease whereby we "loaned" Britain the materials to resist Hitler. This is discussed in some detail in the chapter titled "Lend-Lease" in Winston Churchill's history of World War Two, Their Finest Hour. Sir Winston calls Lend-Lease "the most unsordid act in the history of any nation".

As to Hitchens' opinion of Obama, I am in full agreement.
The Tunnel Dweller