Politicians rarely win plaudits for limiting an imminent disaster to a mere debacle. That’s why two years ago, many lawmakers knew they would never get credit for what they were about to do — pump hundreds of billions of dollars into Wall Street banks at the urgent request of an unpopular White House that was openly fearful of financial doom.
The rest is here:
Hindsight on TARP Isn’t Quite 20-20
This post is a reprint of the first thing NewsReal Blog ‘s Editor-in-Chief David Horowitz wrote after the planes hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. TODAY IS Pearl Harbor. The destruction of the World Trade Center, the attack on the Pentagon, the revelation to all the world that even the White House is vulnerable, should be a wake up call to Americans. This country is at war, and we are far behind in securing our citizens’ safety and preparing for our defense. How was it possible to hijack 4 commercial airliners from major airports – one of them Dulles International – and to do so within a set time frame? How could obvious targets like the Pentagon and the World Trade Center Towers be so undefended? We know the answer. America is soft. America is in denial. America is embarrassed at the idea that it has enemies and must protect itself. America has been so eager to cash in on “peace dividends” that it has stripped itself of even prudent defenses. America is in denial that much of the world hates us, and will continue to hate us. Because we are prosperous, and democratic and free. Today’s tragedies must be a wake up call. It’s time to remember that the first duty of government is to provide for the common defense. That means it’s time to spend the surplus on national security now. Beginning with a missile defense system that will prevent even bigger terrorist disasters in the future. It is time to dramatically increase our domestic counter-terrorist and intelligence efforts, and to step up the monitoring of all groups who have declared war on the United States. It’s time to tighten our security systems, beginning with airport checks. It’s time to let the profiling of potential terrorists – and that does mean Islamic and Palestinian terrorists – outweigh the objections of the ACLU and other leftist groups. It’s time for those on the political left to rethink their alliances with anti-American radicals at home and abroad. It’s time for the President to identify the monsters who planned the day of infamy, and then to carry out a massive military strike against them and any government who sponsored these acts. It is time for a new sobriety in America about what is at stake in the political battles with those who condemn America as an “oppressor” nation. It is time for Americans who love this country to stand up in her defense.
See the original post:
The First Thing David Horowitz Wrote After the Planes Hit the Towers
The Politico : PRESIDENT OBAMA GOES RINGLESS AT PRESSER
Now THIS is a radical. Remember that nutty pastor in Gainesville, Florida who was going to commemorate the anniversary of 9/11 by burning copies of the Qur’an? Terry Jones is calling off the event after speaking with various members of the government, including Robert Gates. “ Red Eye ” host, Greg Gutfeld , said in a special supplementary Greg-Alogue Obama said the act would incite terrorists “to blow themselves up.” Maybe. Remember when an Imam was going to build a mosque near Ground Zero and the government stepped in because they feared the emotional reactions of everyday Americans would incite violence and lead to people “blowing themselves up?” Me neither. Gutfeld continues but… nobody burned Korans before 9/11, or the first World Trade Center attack in 93. To me, the definition of radical extremism, is that its viciousness exists independent of anything you or I do. Radicals blow up nice people and jerks – and that includes innocent Muslims who coveted their Korans. There was no Koran barbecue prior to terror attacks in Argentina, Kenya, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, London, Lebanon, Italy or Germany. The victims there didn’t ask for it. And that defines an extremist. Yet, I’ve grown up with images of burned American flags, dead American hostages, our troops dragged through streets, and psychotic masses of angry chanters preaching our death. And I haven’t killed anyone. That’s not how the main stream media portrays things, though. While they busily try to tie Timothy McVeigh to every Tea Party member, it has fallen out of fashion to link radical, faith-based acts of terror on … not the Jews or the Christians. You know, the other ones. This double standard doesn’t stop with the leftist media. It goes all the way to the White House. Some of you may remember Eric Holder’s almost constitutional inability to say “ radical Islam .” (Watch Eric Holder refuse to say “Radical Islam”) But sneeze in the vicinity of a burka and – presto! – you’re an “Islamophobe.” Welcome to newspeak. I mean, the new world. Remember that horrible scene in “Saving Private Ryan,” where the German soldier sneaks up the stairs and quietly buries a knife in the chest of an American soldier, all the while making comforting shushing sounds? I can’t get those images out of my mind. Except, when the scene plays in my head, the free world is the American soldier, radicalized Islam is the German soldier, and the American political Left is the knife. Playing on the Left’s gullibility and political correctness , radical Islam has convinced them there’s nothing to fear. No one’s really bad , after all, just tragically misunderstood. Except white conservatives. They’re pure evil. Wielding the leftist media like a well-honed blade, Islam tries to lull us into compliance and submission with buzz phrases like “Religion of Peace” and “tolerance.” It’s not working like they’d hoped, however. More and more, Americans are seeing the difference between peaceful protest and flying planes into buildings. Gutfeld is right. No one burned a Qur’an before 9/11. We hate what radical Islamists do. They hate what we are. We fight terrorism. They fight freedom. We look down on someone who would burn the flag. They threaten to kill anyone who offends them. Their radicals are not like our radicals. Yet the Left continues to allow itself to be used as a tool of the very extremism it plays down. Burning the Qur’an is offensive. Threatening to kill innocent Americans because of it is hateful and immoral. Trying to treat the two as if they were the same thing is evil. — Chris Barnhart is a conservative social and political blogger . He can also be found frequently haunting Twitter
View post:
Red Eye: To Burn or Not To Burn – Radicalism Explored
Vice President Biden appeared on The Colbert Report last night for the show’s week-long special celebrating the end of combat operations in Iraq. Say what you will about the vice president, but he genuinely cares about our soldiers. He said some things that needed to be said, calling on all Americans to support the troops substantively, such as by offering to babysit their kids or cut their grass. We’ve got to go beyond a simple “Thank you.” But that doesn’t mean he said all the things that should be said. Stephen Colbert praised General Odierno for making the surge work and bringing victory—and I don’t believe he was being sarcastic at all. He even pressed Biden on the issue, saying how he’s been criticized for not giving President Bush any credit. Biden did thank Bush for supporting the troops and defended his integrity (something I wish I saw more of between 2001 and 2008) but still did not credit the surge. Watch Biden after the jump: The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Joe Biden www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes 2010 Election Fox News Although it was probably self-serving, Biden did mention that the timeline for withdrawal was originally signed under the Bush Administration. This provides some cover for the Obama Administration but also gives some credit to its predecessor for ending the war successfully. Biden was quick to clarify that it was Colbert, not the Obama Administration, declaring victory. I understand that if the Iraqi government collapses or if casualties spike, the White House will suffer politically as its critics say the declaration of victory was premature. I get it, but I can’t help but be disappointed. Let’s think back to World War II. The Allies overthrow Nazi Germany and dismantled its apparatus but still faced a long reconstruction effort and guerilla attacks—yet they still declared victory. And they were right. If post-war Germany collapsed after Hitler fell, does that mean the Allies lost? Of course not. And I see it the same way today. The Coalition and Iraqi forces have won. A disaster could happen in a short period of time, but that’s true of many countries, not just Iraq. If we hold to this definition of “victory,” we’re decades away from that word ever being used. That said, Biden deserves credit for what he said about the troops and challenging the American people. Last night, I was a fan of Biden (for the most part)—even if he referred to his “home state of Dover.”
See the original post:
I Was a Fan of Joe Biden Last Night—For the Most Part.
Ben White / The Politico : Warren delay has Wall St. wondering
The Politico : Obama may look inside for Rahm job
Chris Cillizza / The Fix : Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley to retire, speculation swirls around Rahm Emanuel candidacy