There are lots of folks criticizing the President for not being at the Memorial Day Commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery today. I'm not one of them.
John Miller gets it about right in this short blurb from NRO.
Here's a minor point of order, subject of course to your educational comments. I served 21 years in the Navy and am proud of my service. But I always feel a little oogie being thanked/recognized for my service on THIS DAY--as it seems to me to be a day in which we should remember the men and women who gave that "last full measure of devotion". I got far more than I gave during my time in the Navy. Veterans Day is in November, and if folks want to pat me (and the Hammer) on the back for our Service, well then have at it. Or any other day for that matter. Today? Not so much. I have no qualification to share in the honor afforded our war dead nor any desire to detract from it.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Maureen Dowd on President Spock
Again, even blind squirrels find acorns now and then, and everyone's favorite Pulitzer lightweight Maureen Dowd has an entertaining column out taking the President to task.
It does strike me as written from that whiny "personal as political" style for which she is so famous. She's like that woman sitting with her friends at lunch kvetching about the boyfriend who just won't explore his feelings--something she knew from the start but felt she could change. Sorry Maureen. You got what you voted for.
It does strike me as written from that whiny "personal as political" style for which she is so famous. She's like that woman sitting with her friends at lunch kvetching about the boyfriend who just won't explore his feelings--something she knew from the start but felt she could change. Sorry Maureen. You got what you voted for.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Makes "Hackey Sack" Sound Downright Barbaric
Boyhood. I remember it well. Playing pick up competitive sports, building forts so we could play Army or Cowboys and Indians and other generally harmless games that have since fallen from grace because someone finally determined they were boiling cauldrons of racism and violence that would cause boys to grow up wanting to kill things and each other or, worse yet, to compete at the expense of the loser's self esteem. So what is a boy today to do for entertainment? Apparently one of the more popular replacements for my era's games of violence and hurt feelings seems to be a nifty little activity called "Sack Tapping." This extracurricular activity involves punching or kicking your buddy in his progeny before he can do same to you and yours. So, as is the case with just about everything a guy does that is fun, everyone else now wants to make it illegal.
I know, a kid lost one (uh, we have a spare for a reason). But if we were really serious about protecting males from the painful sensation of taking the full brunt of a kick in the nads, then we would prohibit Nancy Pelosi from ever again being shown on TV and we would cancel about 80% of the meetings in the Pentagon.
Too Entitled To Fail?
Poor Cortney Munna. The 26 year-old New York University graduate has found herself, like many recent graduates like her, mired in college loan debt. The New York Times financial columnist Ron Lieber uses Munna's story as a cautionary tale on the dangers of making investing and borrowing decisions based upon emotion rather than reason.
And just who are the villains in this morality tale?
"For starters, it's the shared responsibility of parenting and loan underwriting...but perhaps the biggest share lies with colleges and universities because they have the most knowledge of the financial aid process. And I would argue they had an obligation to counsel students like Ms. Munna, who got in too far over their heads."
While I would submit that Ms. Munna herself assumes the onus of the responsibility here, I can't say that I totally disagree with Lieber's belief in the culpability of the university system. I think colleges and universities ought to provide incoming students with information on employment statistics and career prospects for their chosen major - including students who are taking on debt to finance their degree, and especially those students enrolled in academic degree programs in the Arts and Humanities.
Alas, Cortney borrowed almost $100,000 to finance a degree in Religious and Women's Studies - and is now putting all of that acquired knowledge of Buddha and Sylvia Plath to work as a photographer's assistant while living in the fourth most expensive city in America.
For me, this is the more meaningful moral of the story - that if you're going to leverage your rainbow, you'd better make sure there's a pot of gold at the end to pay for it.
And just who are the villains in this morality tale?
"For starters, it's the shared responsibility of parenting and loan underwriting...but perhaps the biggest share lies with colleges and universities because they have the most knowledge of the financial aid process. And I would argue they had an obligation to counsel students like Ms. Munna, who got in too far over their heads."
While I would submit that Ms. Munna herself assumes the onus of the responsibility here, I can't say that I totally disagree with Lieber's belief in the culpability of the university system. I think colleges and universities ought to provide incoming students with information on employment statistics and career prospects for their chosen major - including students who are taking on debt to finance their degree, and especially those students enrolled in academic degree programs in the Arts and Humanities.
Alas, Cortney borrowed almost $100,000 to finance a degree in Religious and Women's Studies - and is now putting all of that acquired knowledge of Buddha and Sylvia Plath to work as a photographer's assistant while living in the fourth most expensive city in America.
For me, this is the more meaningful moral of the story - that if you're going to leverage your rainbow, you'd better make sure there's a pot of gold at the end to pay for it.
Friday, May 28, 2010
All is Not Well on the Sub-Continent
No word yet on whether the study was paid for by the Pakistani government.
Obama And The Oil Spill
I'm not one of these people who is buying the whole "Obama isn't doing enough about the oil spill". I'm quite sure that there are places the federal government can be more helpful--but all in all, I think this is an incredibly complex catastrophic occurrence, and sometimes things like that happen. Has there been a failure of the system--the one that studies the safety of these rigs and the technical challenges therein? Yes. Should someone in the--oh, I don't know--fifty years of offshore drilling have sat a group of folks down and said, "yeah, I hear you, but what if THAT doesn't work?" Yes again. But all of this stuff should have been going on for decades, far longer than Barack Obama's been in office. The role of the feds now is to be helpful, clean up the mess and help out the residents. Plugging the hole? Not Barack's job, no matter what Meliah may think.
Yuval Levin says it all much better than I.
Yuval Levin says it all much better than I.
Peggy Noonan Agrees With My Metaphor
It seems I am not the only one who thinks sees the oil spill metaphor.....
Big Fat Friday Free For All
Ok folks. All the good work I did from April to November 2009? Down the toilet. Well, mostly down the toilet.
I took it from 192.2 on April 1 to 168.6 on November 7. I did it through exercise and limiting my carbs. I have learned once again, that lack of exercise and eating anything I want is a recipe for disaster.
So--with fanfare--we "restart" the weight tracking feature of BFFFFA. Any of you wishing to join in with your weekly updates are welcome to do so.
All time high (April 1 2009): 192.2
Last weigh in: 185.4
This week's weight: 185.4
Now--onto the fun stuff. It's a free for all, after all! What's on your mind this week? Oil slick got you down (it does me)? Barack got you down (yep, there too)? Get it off your chest, why don't you?
PS--If you see the Kitten, wish her a happy birthday!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The Oil Spill As A Metaphor For Obamanism
Ok. What I'm about to write may turn out to be some of the more controversial stuff I've ever put on this blog. I'm working this out as I write it (which is after all, both the wonder and the horror of blogging), so stay with me.
I've had a sinking feeling since Barack Obama became President that he and his administration were determined to permanently alter the political landscape, that the detrimental impact of their policies and actions would be huge, pervasive, long lasting, and very difficult to reverse. Even more than this though, I've had a feeling of powerlessness, that no matter how hard guys like Boehner, McConnell, Ryan, and Cantor work, they are really only just monkeying around on the edges; that the best we can hope for at this point is slowing down the decline and hope that they can minimize the damage to the country until such time as we are able to reverse things at the ballot box. Do you see where I'm going with this...?
The oil spill by itself is a calamity of epic proportion. The technical challenges associated with stopping a leak at 5000 feet below the surface are mind-numbing. Any suggestion that "the government" should step in and "take control" of this strains credulity. Do we REALLY think that this kind of expertise resides in the government? No. It resides in the brains of smart, rough men and women who work in private industry and who are paid massive amounts of money to perform this dangerous, rarely needed and incredibly difficult work. The charges I hear leveled against BP are amazing--we are watching a great company disintegrate before our very eyes. Do we really think that they aren't more motivated than ANYONE to plug this leak?
But because of the direction of the country, the oil spill has double the impact on me. Every time I think about the spill--unrelenting, massive in scope, devastating to whole swathes of our population, a cleanup of YEARS duration to follow, absolute powerlessness to stop, good men and women doing everything they can to reverse it--I cringe. I know in my heart that someday the gusher will be plugged somehow. But every day that it continues, I get a little more disheartened.
And so it is with our government, and so it is with our country. When I see the President stand in the Rose Garden with the Mexican President while both run down an American state trying to enforce federal law, I grow disheartened. When I see the Mexican President repeat that performance in the well of our legislative chamber to the thunderous applause of the Democrats, I grow disheartened. When the Democratic Congress and Administration pass "financial regulatory reform" that does NOTHING to address Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac--two organizations DEEPLY enmeshed in our financial crisis, I grow disheartened. When the Congress kvetches once again about extending unemployment benefits with no way to pay for them, I grow disheartened.
I know that this will all end. The Republicans will take a chamber of the legislature, they will eventually retake the White House. The oil leak will eventually be plugged. The shoreline will eventually be cleansed.
In the meantime, both the spill and this government will cause inestimable damage for years to come. So you tell me. Is this an apt metaphor?
I've had a sinking feeling since Barack Obama became President that he and his administration were determined to permanently alter the political landscape, that the detrimental impact of their policies and actions would be huge, pervasive, long lasting, and very difficult to reverse. Even more than this though, I've had a feeling of powerlessness, that no matter how hard guys like Boehner, McConnell, Ryan, and Cantor work, they are really only just monkeying around on the edges; that the best we can hope for at this point is slowing down the decline and hope that they can minimize the damage to the country until such time as we are able to reverse things at the ballot box. Do you see where I'm going with this...?
The oil spill by itself is a calamity of epic proportion. The technical challenges associated with stopping a leak at 5000 feet below the surface are mind-numbing. Any suggestion that "the government" should step in and "take control" of this strains credulity. Do we REALLY think that this kind of expertise resides in the government? No. It resides in the brains of smart, rough men and women who work in private industry and who are paid massive amounts of money to perform this dangerous, rarely needed and incredibly difficult work. The charges I hear leveled against BP are amazing--we are watching a great company disintegrate before our very eyes. Do we really think that they aren't more motivated than ANYONE to plug this leak?
But because of the direction of the country, the oil spill has double the impact on me. Every time I think about the spill--unrelenting, massive in scope, devastating to whole swathes of our population, a cleanup of YEARS duration to follow, absolute powerlessness to stop, good men and women doing everything they can to reverse it--I cringe. I know in my heart that someday the gusher will be plugged somehow. But every day that it continues, I get a little more disheartened.
And so it is with our government, and so it is with our country. When I see the President stand in the Rose Garden with the Mexican President while both run down an American state trying to enforce federal law, I grow disheartened. When I see the Mexican President repeat that performance in the well of our legislative chamber to the thunderous applause of the Democrats, I grow disheartened. When the Democratic Congress and Administration pass "financial regulatory reform" that does NOTHING to address Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac--two organizations DEEPLY enmeshed in our financial crisis, I grow disheartened. When the Congress kvetches once again about extending unemployment benefits with no way to pay for them, I grow disheartened.
I know that this will all end. The Republicans will take a chamber of the legislature, they will eventually retake the White House. The oil leak will eventually be plugged. The shoreline will eventually be cleansed.
In the meantime, both the spill and this government will cause inestimable damage for years to come. So you tell me. Is this an apt metaphor?
Who Owes First?
Once you get past the frightening gravity of what is being said, the following video clip is actually very funny.
This explains in part my pessimism on the strength and endurance of the 'recovery'.
Hat Tip: Greg Mankiw
This explains in part my pessimism on the strength and endurance of the 'recovery'.
Hat Tip: Greg Mankiw
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
GOP Suggestion Box
With time, if they are able to separate the wheat from the chaff (and pranksters), this could prove to yield some good policy ideas. A writer at True/Slant has admitted there are some suggestions that are "surprisingly tempered and reasonable." On the other hand, there are suggestions such as one for training ninja cats to hunt terrorists and illegal immigrants. The site could screen out most of the whack err...non-constructive comments though, if it enacted code that screened out overuse of exclamation marks, CAPS LOCK, and misspelled words.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
Anyone else out there feel guilty for the parenting mistakes you know you've made? Get over it. You've been trumped by Indonesian Mohamed Rizal, whose two-year-old Ardi has developed a habit to the point that he throws a tantrum when he can't have a smoke. Pop is unconcerned - after all, he 'looks' healthy.
Congressional Candidate To Appear ON CW LIVE Tonight!
Very pleased to announce that Justin Bernier, candidate for Congress in the 5th District of CT will be with us tonight on the show.
Justin's a Naval Reserve Intelligence Officer, and I thought this was a cool photo.
Conservative Wahoo Live at 8PM.
Donkey Bombs
Now they've gone too far.
Ahmed: So brother, is today the day you finally accept your glorious martyrdom?
Muhammed: Hell no, are you crazy?! Find some other dumb ass to do it.
Ahmed: (shrugs shoulders) Umm...ok.
Ahmed: So brother, is today the day you finally accept your glorious martyrdom?
Muhammed: Hell no, are you crazy?! Find some other dumb ass to do it.
Ahmed: (shrugs shoulders) Umm...ok.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Agenda For Wednesday's Radio Show
Be sure to join in the fun Wednesday, 26 May at 8PM for The Conservative Wahoo Live! Call in at (347) 637-2203.
Here's our agenda:
We are hoping to spend the first part of the show talking with Republican Congressional Candidate Justin Bernier, who is running for Congress in the 5th District in Connecticut, and if his schedule can support it, he'll call in.
The rest of the show will go as follows:
Radio Show Notes
• Blair firing
o Denny Blair, DNI, fired
§ Retired four star Admiral
§ Was the Navy’s man at CIA as a two-star
§ Very good man
o Thought to lack political skills, or at least those that matter in this White House
§ Picked fights with Leon Panetta—“B” in judgment.
o Big slips in intelligence
§ Underwear bomber
§ Times Square bomber
o But….how can you fire Blair and not fire
§ Holder
§ Napolitano
• Calderon disses us on our own soil
o Arizona law
o Obama and Calderon both talk it down in the Rose Garden
o Speech before Joint Session of Congress
§ Dems cheered his chiding of Arizona
o Doesn’t have a leg to stand on
§ Mexican immigration law very strict
§ Mexican authorities can ask for papers! Just because of how one looks….
• South Korea/North Korea
o Sinking of South Korean ship
§ 46 dead
§ Norks did it
o SoKor so far not ratcheting up a military response
§ Serious diplomatic moves
o Theory is that this was the result of a “succession” issue in North
§ Still an unsatisfying answer
§ Why?
o In the tragedy, there is opportunity
§ Chance to expose China
§ Obvious Nork involvement—push sanctions, make China either act like an adult or expose them as rapacious
§ Demonstrate once again to nations in the region that in a choice between US and cozying up to China, there really is only one choice.
• Rand Paul, Wingnut?
o Bad, bad week
o Not ready for prime time
o Academic, theoretical approach to libertarianism just doesn’t cut it—difference between dorm room political smack talk and how you express yourself on national TV
o I’m not ready to designate him as a wingnut yet—but I’m getting close.
§ No secret that the Dems in KY were HOPING he’d be the Repub nominee
• Financial Regulation
Sorry the format is gooned up here a bit, but you get the gist of it.....
Here's our agenda:
We are hoping to spend the first part of the show talking with Republican Congressional Candidate Justin Bernier, who is running for Congress in the 5th District in Connecticut, and if his schedule can support it, he'll call in.
The rest of the show will go as follows:
Radio Show Notes
• Blair firing
o Denny Blair, DNI, fired
§ Retired four star Admiral
§ Was the Navy’s man at CIA as a two-star
§ Very good man
o Thought to lack political skills, or at least those that matter in this White House
§ Picked fights with Leon Panetta—“B” in judgment.
o Big slips in intelligence
§ Underwear bomber
§ Times Square bomber
o But….how can you fire Blair and not fire
§ Holder
§ Napolitano
• Calderon disses us on our own soil
o Arizona law
o Obama and Calderon both talk it down in the Rose Garden
o Speech before Joint Session of Congress
§ Dems cheered his chiding of Arizona
o Doesn’t have a leg to stand on
§ Mexican immigration law very strict
§ Mexican authorities can ask for papers! Just because of how one looks….
• South Korea/North Korea
o Sinking of South Korean ship
§ 46 dead
§ Norks did it
o SoKor so far not ratcheting up a military response
§ Serious diplomatic moves
o Theory is that this was the result of a “succession” issue in North
§ Still an unsatisfying answer
§ Why?
o In the tragedy, there is opportunity
§ Chance to expose China
§ Obvious Nork involvement—push sanctions, make China either act like an adult or expose them as rapacious
§ Demonstrate once again to nations in the region that in a choice between US and cozying up to China, there really is only one choice.
• Rand Paul, Wingnut?
o Bad, bad week
o Not ready for prime time
o Academic, theoretical approach to libertarianism just doesn’t cut it—difference between dorm room political smack talk and how you express yourself on national TV
o I’m not ready to designate him as a wingnut yet—but I’m getting close.
§ No secret that the Dems in KY were HOPING he’d be the Repub nominee
• Financial Regulation
Sorry the format is gooned up here a bit, but you get the gist of it.....
Monday, May 24, 2010
My What Big Brussels You Have...
The Vice President goes to Europe and finally begins to talk of American Exceptionalism.
This Will Make You Make That Face You Make When You Begin to Suspect Someone is Crazy
E.J. Dionne Takes On Social Conservatives
May I burn in hell for ten thousand life-times, but I actually have some affinity for Dionne's arguments here.
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