Oil spill tars Dems' reputation for competence. Wait...what?

Michael Barone   "Looking back on all the presidential contests held since Obama as a Columbia undergraduate was parroting leftist criticisms of Ronald Reagan, it can be argued that Republicans have won the elections that turned on ideology, and that Democrats have won the elections that turned on competence.
Republican victories in 1984, 1988 and 2004 were clearly endorsements of Ronald Reagan's and George W. Bush's policies. Democratic victories in 1992 and 2008 were indictments of the two George Bushes for incompetence and in 1996 an endorsement of the competence of Bill Clinton."
 I personally believe the Republican majority in Congress made Clinton more competent. But hey, that's just me.

Memorial Day 2010 - What price freedom?

Blackfive "I keep this photo as probably the most powerful reminder for me of what the real price of freedom looks like. Those that give their all as well as those they leave behind. We should remember both as we celebrate the freedom they've blessed us with and assured for us on this Memorial Day." Click link to see the photo; I'm not savvy enough to figure how to show it otherwise.

Stories from the battlefield; posts by C.J. Chivers

"For those that follow good reporting (from any source) on the war, you've probably seen the name C. J. Chivers. He was a Captain in the Marines, and decided to take a new objective: reporting. Few do it as well, and you really need to go read the story to learn more. You will also learn of some memorials, and Marine humor." Blackfive You can trust a NY Times report by C.J. Chivers.

When Afghans Seek Medical Aid, Tough Choice for U.S. "The boy [Sadiq] had opened a sack of grain at his home early on Wednesday morning, and a pit viper coiled inside lashed up and bit him above the lip. His father, Kashmir, knew his son was sure to die. With no hospital anywhere nearby, he rushed the boy to an American outpost to plead for help."

Remembering a Marine, Step by Step  "COMBAT OUTPOST LILY, Helmand Province — For Marines who have experienced combat together, the many rituals and gestures of bidding farewell to the dead, beginning from the point of medevac and continuing beyond the fallen Marine’s journey to the grave, are observed with a devotion that is at once quiet, fiercely followed and unsummoned. "
A memorial to Lance Cpl. Christopher Rangel, who was killed in early May on a foot patrol in Marja.

Versus America; the myth of the moderate Democrat

Hot Air "The sense of alienation between the United States and its Democrat Party grows steadily deeper. If you ask someone on the right side of our political spectrum whether they believe America is the greatest country on earth, you would most likely receive instant agreement. Ask the same question of someone from the Left, and the answer will probably be negative, or at least heavily qualified. If they agree at all, they’ll probably need at least five or ten minutes to get all the disclaimers and caveats out of the way… followed by the angry insistence they love their country."

President Obama Skips Arlington for Chicago BBQ -- Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam Thugs Skirmish with Secret Service and Press pool

Atlas Shrugs "How did the President of the United States spend his Memorial day weekend? Honoring the glorious dead by laying a wreath at Arlington cemetery?? Not a chance. It is unclear, but he may have pow-wowed with race baiter, Jew-hater Louis Farrakhan, a frequent visitor to the White House. Back in March, Farrakhan blamed the Jews for O's woes."....
"We're outnumbered now by roughly a dozen Fruit of Islam agents for the Nation of Islam. As each casually dressed man arrives, he exchanges elaborate handshake/hug/double air-kisses with others. Two walked by your pooler chanting "Islam.""....
"Some observers will make light of the whole thing — just a little misunderstanding with those weird Nation of Islam guys — but the fact that Farrakhan’s security force is close to the president’s home is likely a matter of continuing concern to the Secret Service. And on Saturday night, the two forces ran into each other."
Farrakhan, press have minor ’stand-off’ in Obama’s neighborhood  "Indeed, notice how one of Farrakhan’s buds vouched for the New York Times and the rest of the press. What more do we need to know about them?"

The addiction of the Jews to the Democrats

Sick Addiction "Enough now, Jews! Speak up and defend the Jewish State and the right of its citizens to build in their eternal and undivided capital, Jerusalem, against a president who’s proving as inimical to you ..."
PAMELA GORMAN COMES OUT STRONG IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL "Congressional candidate Pamela Gorman today signed the “Israel Pledge” sponsored by Christians United for Israel today. Gorman said, “Too many politicians are afraid to offend someone by speaking the truth about what is going on in this country with our Israel relations under this administration. I am unapologetically pro-Israel and am not afraid to publicly say it.” "  God bless Israel and the state of Arizona as you are both surrounded by implacable foes. You can both only be spared if Arizona surrenders to political correctness and Israel converts to Islam.
How about this:  "...issue a pledge that would truly separate the pro-Israel candidates and those who proclaim their devotion to Israel but seek to hobble the Jewish state."
ANOTHER REVEALING ANTI-JUDEO/CHRISTIAN PRO-JIHAD DECISION BY OBAMA "The Obama regime reversed a Bush administration ruling and allowed Muslim Brotherhood supporter Tariq Ramadan to enter the country, now they’ve denied asylum and are trying to deport the unbelievably courageous Mosab Yousef, who millions of Islamists would love to kill for both spying for Israel and converting to Christianity…." From the Astute Blogger.

Major Mathew Schram's Memorial Day

Blackfive "The one part that I left out of this post is that Major Schram's convoy was followed by a car with a major weekly magazine reporter in it. Once the action began, the reporter and his driver turned and got the hell out of there. If it wasn't for Mat's charge up into the ambushers, they never would have made it out of there alive. The weekly magazine never ran a story about my good friend, Mat."....
"I started Blackfive and decided to write about Mat and other Americans like him - people that the media would never tell you about. It's Mat Schram's blog as much as it is mine. So, today, on the anniversary of the sacrifice of my friend, please take a moment to pray for the families who have lost their loved ones in our fight against terror.
"Mat would have liked that."
Afghan Soldier Embodies Warrior Spirit  "In the ensuing combat, Abrahim’s leg was nearly severed. Being an ANA medic and having the overwhelming urge to remain in the fight, Abrahim placed a tourniquet on his own leg and severed the remaining attachment with a medical knife." Mudville Gazette

The real problem with counterterror advisor Brennan's worldview

American Thinker "However, why did not Brennan suggest the correct name: hirabahists (unholy warriors)? Many Muslims understand that a hirabah is an unholy war, thus use of the term hirabahists would be effective in getting Muslims to take action against Islamic extremists."

The ‘Secular Crusader’: Former Air Force JAG Looks to Drive All Christian Symbolism from Military

Pajamas Media "...I do discern, nonetheless, a worrisome growing intolerance of the majority faith coupled with a kneejerk support of minority religions. Particularly, and unsurprisingly, Islam. This year alone, there have been four prominent attacks on Christian connections to the U.S. military:
– Charges of neo-Crusaderism against military supplier Trijicon for its gunsights inscribed with New Testament verses.
– Charges of neo-Crusaderism against an Army unit for daring to have a cross as part of its unit insignia.
– The branding as “a hate crime” the placing of a cross next to the the Air Force Academy’s neo-pagan worship site.
– The Army’s decision to disinvite prominent evangelical Franklin Graham from speaking at a Pentagon prayer service on the National Day of Prayer.
"These four incidents all have one major factor in common: the involvement of Mikey Weinstein and his “Military Religious Freedom Foundation” — which was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize last fall. " Emphasis added.

King Barack the Verbose

Mark Steyn   "Almost every problem we face today arises from the vanity of Big Government. Why has BP got oil wells 5,000 feet underwater in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico? Because government regulated them off-land, off-coast, and ever deeper into the briny."     The spill is a disaster for the president and his political philosophy.  "I don't see how the president's position and popularity can survive the oil spill. This is his third political disaster in his first 18 months in office. And they were all, as they say, unforced errors, meaning they were shaped by the president's political judgment and instincts."  Peggy Noonan

Higher Corporate Taxes Undermine American Competitiveness and Hurt Workers, Consumers, and Shareholders

Big Government "What the Democrats (either the blue or pink variety) apparently don’t understand, though, is that corporations don’t pay taxes. Yes, companies often write checks to the IRS, but all corporate taxes are really a burden on workers, consumers, and shareholders. Moreover, in a world where jobs and investment can cross borders looking for better tax policy, a high corporate tax rate is a huge competitive liability for a nation." I'm a retired hourly employee who used to carry a tool bag; if I can understand this, why can't the average Democrat?
Comrade Hillary: “The rich are not paying their fair share of taxes in any nation.”  "Once a socialist, always a socialist…"

The Asher doctrine applied

Powerline Blog "Using Mr. Asher's logic, Connecticut's Blumenthal must have served in Vietnam, Clinton must not have had "sex with that woman," and Mr. Madoff must have run an honest investment firm. This list could go on for pages and pages, but it's late Friday, after a long week!"