Thomas Sowell: Gingrich vs. Obama

RealClearPolitics  "But how much weight should we give to [Gingrich's baggage] when we are talking about the future of a nation?   (It wouldn't matter at all if Gingrich were a Democrat-even if he had been accused of rape or having sex in the Oval Office. TD)
"This is not just another election and Barack Obama is not just another president whose policies we may not like. With all of President Obama's broken promises, glib demagoguery and cynical political moves, one promise he has kept all too well. That was his boast on the eve of the 2008 election: "We are going to change the United States of America." "
Many Americans are already saying that they can hardly recognize the country they grew up in. We have already started down the path that has led Western European nations to the brink of financial disaster.  (Emphasis added. TD)
....
"Those who want to concentrate on the baggage in Newt Gingrich's past, rather than on the nation's future, should remember what Winston Churchill said: "If the past sits in judgment on the present, the future will be lost." If that means a second term for Barack Obama, then it means lost big time."

http://www.worldmag.com/editorialcartoons/

Obama's Collateral Damage

Comically Incorrect

Senators, Do Your Job and Get to Work

The Foundry  "On the front page of the White House’s website, a clock slowly ticks away, second by second, counting down to the day, hour, minute, and second that the nation’s payroll tax “holiday” expires and the American people get socked right where it counts — in the pocket book. And just next to that clock is a message laying the blame squarely on the House of Representatives. But today the real culprit in this debacle is the U.S. Senate which, right now, is home for the holidays already, celebrating with family while Washington sits in a stalemate." ....
"As you might not be surprised to learn, there is, of course, more to the story than the President lets on. Here’s what you need to know about the latest standstill in Washington that, unfortunately, follows much of the same order of business that America has witnessed for the past year."

Political Wire:  Why House Republicans Won't Win   "With the Wall Street Journal editorial page already calling on House Republicans to surrender in their fight over a payroll tax cut extension, First Read gives three reasons why the House GOP is unlikely to win this fight:"...

Republicans have also achieved the small miracle of letting Mr. Obama position himself as an election-year tax cutter, although he's spent most of his Presidency promoting tax increases and he would hit the economy with one of the largest tax increases ever in 2013. This should be impossible

The House Republicans want a full year tax holiday, Obama and Reid want only a two month extension, which is poor governing.  The Republicans- rightly -say that it will not promote hiring and the economy.
God bless the House Republicans; they are standing on principle, not politics. But the politics of it is what will kill them. To wit:

By blocking the payroll tax cut, the Republicans have given the president a chance to redeem his promise   "This is the moment he and his presidency promised to deliver. The fight over the payroll tax cut extension gives Obama a chance — perhaps one, final chance — to elevate the more pinched, listing and frequently uninspired policy agenda he prosecuted from the White House these past three years toward his lofty rhetoric of 2008."  Don't you hate it when a demagogue gets the upper hand?

http://townhall.com/political-cartoons/garyvarvel/2011/12/20/94751

Dept. of Irony: Obama White House lectures Iraqis on reaching out to political opponents

Investors.com  "The politicians in Baghdad have in their own way been working hard at this democracy business, especially hard now that most U.S. troops are gone. ....
"Iraq's leaders have no doubt been monitoring CNN International in recent days as the needless payroll tax extension fight in that exotic place called Washington was settled, fell apart and now both houses of Congress have packed up without any agreement.
""We have more important things to worry about now than politics," said Obama, who cares so much about working constructively with opponents that he didn't chat with the Senate GOP leader for nearly two years because he didn't need to and that would take leadership.
"Now, Obama is so interested in getting an extension deal done that he hasn't even bothered to try mediation with a bipartisan political summit because, frankly, dividing everybody everywhere is really the only hope his endangered reelection effort has of winning, given the country's awful economic and morale mess."

Missing Bush

Weekly Standard

From Bad Rachel : Thank You, O Masters of the Obamic Universe
"5,000 Syrians have been massacred by Bashar Assad since March, including 300 children. How are those sanctions workin’ out, Mr. Obama?"

U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Pays Homage to Obama—But Not Jesus

CNSNews  "The 63-foot Sierra White Fir lighted at the U.S. Capitol Grounds on Dec. 6 as the official 2011 Capitol Christmas Tree includes a prominently displayed ornament paying homage to President Barack Obama, but includes no ornament readily visible to a person standing near the tree's base that uses the word “Christmas,” or includes an image of the Nativity, or bears the name or image of Jesus Christ.

Mousey Dung

"On the north side of the tree--at a height of about 4 feet and easily visible to people standing near it---there is an ornament that says: “I ♥ President Obama.” "

Hedda Lettuce

EXCLUSIVE: Transvestites, Mao And Obama Ornaments Decorate White House Christmas Tree  (In the Blue Room)  "Why let a holiday season come between the White House and making some political statements? The White House pegged controversial designer Simon Doonan to oversee the Christmas decorations for the White House. Mr. Doonan, who is creative director of Barney’s New York has often caused a stir with his design choices. Like his naughty yuletide window display of Margaret Thatcher as a dowdy dominatrix and Dan Quayle as a ventriloquist’s dummy. For this year’s White House, he didn’t disappoint."....

These photos of ornaments on the White House Christmas tree in the Blue Room were taken just days ago. "Of course, Mao has his place in the White House. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without an ornament of legendary transvestite Hedda Lettuce"
This was Obama's to approve or disapprove. They wanted this as part of the fundamental change of America they desired.

Fearful, passive tolerance of religious extremism has let Islamic extremism grow unchallenged

Up Pompeii  ...."Passive tolerance has been forced upon the British public largely by government funded agencies that have inflicted political correctness upon the population of these islands. This has led to the persecution of those who dared to show that they followed the values of Christianity, this has happened many many times.
"The English people are a recognized race as are the Scots and the Welsh, the English are also a recognized ethnic people, this is confirmed by all the World powers such as the U.N and to deny the basic building block of the English, Scot or Welsh is to deny them as a race of people."
"Many will say I do not believe, that is their prerogative, but the fact remains, even if you do not believe in the religion, all of what this country is based on is the values and moral code of Christianity."....  (Emphasis added)

America's purging of all her building blocks of culture, morals and economics is without excuse and likely deliberate. We see all these things taking place before our eyes in Europe and the UK, yet our left still drags us toward this same abyss. We are shamed into silence by cries of "intolerance!" and "diversity now!"

Netanyahu Dares to Say It: Merry Christmas!  "I say not surprising because, of course, it took a Jew (Jesus Christ) to found Christianity. And, as Netanyahu observes, the Jewish state is today a refuge, not only for Jews, but also for Christians, who are being persecuted and discriminated against in many Islamic states.
"Mazal Tov, Prime Minister. Happy Hanukkah -- and Merry Christmas."
There is also a video with this but, well, you know.

When Did Atheists Become Persnickety, Litigious Anti-Christmas Whiners?

Doug Giles   "My other non-believing buddies who weren’t the robust Hemingway types were usually heady stoners who were into physics, Pink Floyd and Frisbee and were completely comfortable around people of faith versus today’s reflexively irate, touchy atheists who pop a blood vein in their forehead if they accidentally hear “Silent Night” playing at Macy’s.
"For God’s sake atheists, übermensch up why don’t you?"
....
"FYI to the spindly atheists: You’ve got your work cut out for you if you want to scrub culture of its Christian influence because we have rubber stamped this planet via the arts and human expression for many, many moons. Have you ever heard of Bach, van Eyck, Vermeer, Handel, Mendelssohn, Haydn and a writer named Billy Shakespeare? What about the artists of the early Italian Renaissance or the tens of thousands of other artists, writers and composers throughout history who were either die-hard believers or at least worked within the framework of a Christian worldview? Are you going to take a belt sander to their works....?"

What will happen when these people discover what the bagpipe tune "Amazing Grace" played at government funerals is all about?

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
....
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

First Red China had their cultural revolution; now America is having one inflicted upon her.

The Death of Kim Jong-il; Updated

The Foundry  "North Korean provocative behavior or military action is unlikely in the near-term. However, Seoul and Washington will be wary that Kim Jong-un, third son of Kim Jong-il and the next leader of North Korea, may feel it necessary in the future to precipitate a crisis to prove his mettle to other senior leaders or deflect attention from the regime’s failings. South Korea announced on Sunday that it had increased the alert of its military and would convene an emergency meeting of its national security council."

Kim Jong-un:  "Kim Jong-il's youngest son, was named by North Korea's official news agency KCNA as the "great successor" to his father, which lauded him as "the outstanding leader of our party, army and people".
"Little is known of Jong-un who is believed to be in his late 20s and was appointed to senior political and military posts in 2010."

curiousphotos



Something tells me those generals will have him for breakfast and things will be as they always have been.

Kim Jong Il Loved Hollywood and Movies (Except ‘Team America’)  "God bless Trey Parker and Matt Stone who forever beclowned  North Korea’s evil dictator during this shameful era when the rest of liberal Hollywood has forever disgraced themselves by embracing human rights abusers of the worst kind in both Cuba and Venezuela. Parker and Stone also proved how effective a brilliant piece of satire can be. This evil man will forever be a punchline."

Update: Kim Jong Il, Faminist

Kim with Bill Clinton's Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright; BadRachel

" Bill Clinton’s secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, found him “smart” and “well-informed,” though perhaps somewhat “cruel”; he gave Ms. Albright’s counselor, Wendy Sherman, a little tingle: “He was smart, engaged, knowledgeable, self-confident, sort of the master-director of all he surveyed ..." Bad Rachel

Whoopi Goldberg on Communism: ‘On Paper It Makes Perfect Sense’  "Goldberg shared her latest profound political thoughts on “The View” earlier today. The all-women panel were pontificating on the sudden death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and the greater geopolitical picture in his absence. That meant the conversation veered toward Communism, and the Oscar-winning Goldberg sounded like she wished she lived in a Communist-run country.
"On paper, at least."  (Video)

Picture at right from Big Peace:  "The Bizarre, Twisted Cult Known as the ‘Democratic’ People’s Republic of Korea"

Media Mash: NB Publisher Bozell Takes On Liberal Media Pumping Up Obama While Bashing Gingrich

Newsbusters  "Referring to a story on the December 15 ABC World News in which anchor Diane Sawyer excitedly proclaimed "the comeback is for real" in the economy, Bozell declared: "That story could have produced by the Obama for President committee and you wouldn't have seen anything different." He added: "Or she could be wearing an Obama for President sticker...and you wouldn't feel at all awkward about it."

Still no video imbedded because the TW is remaining Adobe Flashless

"In response to the hyperbolic media denunciation of Gingrich, Bozell explained: "They fear and they loathe Newt Gingrich. They fear him because of his ideas, he's got bold ideas....loathing because of 40 years in public office, they saw what he did in the 1990's, they saw how he broke the gridlock and the monopoly the left had on the Congress and they fear he'd do it again as president. "

Cartoon from DrawforTruth

Hell Has A New Occupant: North Korea’s Kim Jong Il Dead…(Updates added)

Weasel Zippers   "“It is the biggest loss for the party … and it is our people and nation’s biggest sadness,” an anchorwoman clad in black Korean traditional dress said in a voice choked with tears. She said the nation must “change our sadness to strength and overcome our difficulties.” "

From the Council on Foreign Relations,October 25, 2010;  Succession and Stasis in North Korea "However daunting all of this may seem, and however dim Kim Jong Un’s prospects appear, several factors, both internal and external, will work in his favor. He will rely on the system designed by his grandfather, the founder of North Korea, Kim Il Sung -- a system that, as Daniel Byman and I have written, was designed for resilience."

Thomas Lifson:  North Korean Communist dynasty goes into its third generation  "Power is passing to the youngest of his three sons, Kim Jong-un, now known as the "Great Successor," formerly labeled by the regime as the "Brilliant Comrade."
Sounds like a title for the head lemur in "Madagascar".  But I digress...
Oldest brother Kim Jong Nam reportedly "had been the favorite to succeed his father but reportedly fell out of favour after being caught trying to enter Japan on a fake passport in 2001 to visit Tokyo Disneyland." Second brother Kim Jong Chul was also passed over. Information is fragmentary, but a Japanese sushi chef who worked for Kim Jong il left North Korea and wrote about the Kim family. He is reported to have indicated:

Kim would often bemoan that Kim Jong Chul, his 23-year old son, would never rule because he had turned out to be "like a girl." ....

Bloviating Zeppelin
"The news came as North Korea prepared for a hereditary succession. Kim Jong Il inherited power after his father, revered North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, died in 1994.
"In September 2010, Kim Jong Il unveiled his third son, the twenty-something Kim Jong Un, as his successor, putting him in high-ranking posts."

The funeral dinner will consist of stale bread and water.

OWS manages to shut down a business; commentary ensues

Hot Air  " Milk Street Cafe , the restaurant whose business dried up in the face of the Occupy Wall Street barricades, is shutting down.
"Thursday will be the last day for the 23,000 square-foot eatery that opened at 40 Wall St. in June, the Daily News has learned.
" “It’s terribly sad,” Milk Street Cafe owner Marc Epstein told the News.
"Epstein blamed the barricades that remained in front of his restaurant even after the Occupy Wall Street protestors were removed from Zuccotti Park.
" “This is now the 12th straight week of the barricades,” he said."

Their web site

Townhall: Occupy Forces a Business to Close   "Nice job sticking it to the man, Occupy. You really showed those investment bankers."

OC register.com

The Gothamist: Milk Street Cafe, Which Blamed Occupy Wall Street For Bad Business, Closing Tomorrow    "Hope you're happy, Occupy Wall Street. All your rabble rousing has driven a small business owner out of business, the business owner said. You'll recall that Marc Epstein, the owner of the kosher upscale food court that opened in June on Wall Street, laid off a quarter of his staff at the end of October, when the Occupy Wall Street occupation at nearby Zuccotti Park was at its zenith. With business down 30 percent, Epstein described himself as "collateral damage" from Occupy Wall Street, which he characterized as "not serious... If it was, they would not want small businesses going out of business." Now he's out of business."

Is Occupy Wall Street late to the game? "The poll shows 64 percent of Americans say “big government” is the biggest threat to the country, while just 26 percent say it’s “big business” and 8 percent say it’s “big labor.” "