For God And Country

Pepper Time
To the American Civil Liberties Union, its use as a crowd-control device, particularly when those crowds are nonthreatening, is an excessive and unconstitutional use of force and violates the right to peaceably assemble. (NYT, 11/23/2011)


The peace and love crowd - yes, the same group that stood by idly while murder, rape, and drug use took place in their midst - is all upset about pepper spray.  Let's review the facts: 1) They refused to obey the orders of police to disburse; 2) ...Well, there really is nothing else to know. They refused to obey the law.  They were told they would be sprayed if they refused and they were sprayed.  End of story.  As a society, do we want the rule of law or not?


Au Contraire
The anonymous hacker who shook the world of climate science two years ago by posting a trove of stolen e-mails delivered a new batch on Tuesday, stirring up climate-change contrarians a little more than a week before global negotiations on greenhouse gases are to begin in Durban, South Africa. (NYT, 11/23/2011)


More great stuff from the 'scientists who stand to gain financially from pushing climate change.' Not surprisingly, the Times and all "scientists" involved quickly conclude that there are no damaging or contradictory revelations. End of story.


Mr. Big Stuff
I voted for Barack Obama, and I don’t want my money back. He’s never gotten the credit he deserves for bringing the economy he inherited back from the brink of a depression. He’s fought the war on terrorism in a smart and effective way. He’s making health care possible for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions, and he saved the auto industry. This is big stuff. (Thomas L. Friedman, NYT, 11/22/2011)


Another view - using the same fact pattern - is as follows: unemployment remains sky high and the economy is moribund after three years of Obama; he has emboldened Islamic terrorists by pre-announcing the date of U.S. troop withdrawals; he jammed through a highly unpopular health care plan using dishonest accounting for its costs; and, he bailed out his union supporters in the auto industry which now produce a highly subsidized $40,000 electric car which no one will buy. Big indeed.


Arc of a Diver
Mr. Obama's career has been one in which the main effect has been the impression he leaves on audiences—the main effect has been himself. Familiarity with his country—or any other country—would be helpful at this point, if only to counterweight his mesmerization with the arc of his personal story. (Holman W. Jenkins, Jr., WSJ, 11/23/2011)


There is an increasing eloquence on the part of all writers - Left and Right - in describing the abject failure of Obama.