Rare Air

The Bear Growls
Russia signaled for the first time on Friday that it was prepared to annex the Crimea region of Ukraine, significantly intensifying its confrontation with the West over the political crisis in Ukraine and threatening to undermine a system of respect for national boundaries that has helped keep the peace in Europe and elsewhere for decades. (New York Times, 3/8/2014)

And so the effects of the Obama Doctrine are made known. The Obama Doctrine states that the U.S. will not protect its strategic interests in the world, will not curb the advance of totalitarian regimes and will abandon allies if necessary. We wonder how Poland is feeling right about now. They have seen this movie before.

Meanwhile, Obama does what he does best:

He headed to Florida for a speech on education and then a weekend off with his family, but aides promised he would be monitoring the crisis.

No doubt, he will find time for a round of golf.


The Waiting
The February unemployment rate of 6.7 percent, for example, would have been 10 percent if the 5.7 million workers who are waiting on the sidelines for job openings were included in the jobless rate. (New York Times editorial, 3/8/2014)

Too late for the 2012 elections, the New York Times admits what the conservative press reported at the time. Of course, the Times goes on to explain that high unemployment is the fault of Republicans, and not of President Executive Order.  


The Irritant
Ralph Nader is irritated with Bernie Sanders.

Sanders won’t return his calls, won’t combine forces with other progressives, and as a result, he isn’t getting as much done as he could, the frequent independent presidential candidate and consumer advocate says.

Nader detailed his grievances Thursday in a blunt two-page letter to the Vermont independent senator with the heading, “Bernie, we thought we knew ye!” Then Nader called the Burlington Free Press and shared the letter, which accuses Sanders of “speechifying” but getting nowhere, because he is a “Lone Ranger.” (Burlington Free Press, 3/6/2014)

In the world of conservative blogging, this is what is known as a wonderful gift: two moonbats at odds. 

Of course, we would disagree with Nader in his characterization of Sanders as a "Lone Ranger." To us, Sanders is more of a "Tonto" which would make him "the village idiot." 

Wooden Props

Not So
Skeptics — and there are plenty in the National Security Council, the Pentagon, America’s intelligence agencies and Congress — are not so optimistic. They think Mr. Obama runs the risk of being dragged into long negotiations and constant games of hide-and-seek that, ultimately, will result in little change in the status quo. They argue that the president’s hesitance to pull the trigger on Tomahawk strikes on Syria nearly two weeks ago, and the public and Congressional rebellion at the idea of even limited military strikes, were unmistakable signals to the Syrian and Iranian elites that if diplomacy fails, the chances of military action ordered by the American president are slight. (NYT, 9/19/2013)

Well, what do you think?

Is it likely that the mullahs in Iran looked at Obama's actions with respect to Syria and said to themselves: "This infidel Obama is serious. We'd better not mess with him. Let's see if we can cut a deal..."


Aspirations
He told one man affiliated with the temple that he aspired to be a monk, but he would stay up late at night playing violent video games in his room. (NYT, 9/19/2013)

Aaron Alexis. Another mass murderer. Another video game addict. Connect the dots. 


Free Fall
While the unemployment rate has fallen steadily, hitting a five-year low of 7.3 percent in August, much of that improvement has come from workers dropping out of the labor force rather than vigorous job creation. The monthly pace of new jobs has slowed, falling from well over 200,000 new jobs being added each month at the end of 2012 to 169,000 in August 2013. (NYT, 9/19/2013)

Exactly the point that the New York Times raised so vigorously during the 2012 presidential election and the reason that they ultimately decided to endorse Mitt Romney.  

Or did that not happen?


Supreme AND Drastic!
In what can be seen only as an act of supreme indifference, House Republicans passed a bill on Thursday that would drastically cut federal food stamps and throw 3.8 million Americans out of the program in 2014. (New York Times editorial. (9/19/2013)

OK, here's an idea. If you want to qualify for food stamps you have to meet the following criteria, in addition to the income threshold:

You cannot have a smartphone with a data plan. Basic cell phone only.
You cannot have enhanced cable television. Basic cable only.
You cannot smoke or use alcohol. 
Public transportation only.
No fast food.
No piercings. 
No tattoos.
You have to show proof that you are actively looking for a job. No job training. No on-line courses. McDonald's is hiring.

Comply and Republicans will consider reinstating your food stamps. Or maybe you will not need food stamps....


Big Time
Apparently some White House staffers have a new nickname for the president: "Obam-me," because it's all about him and his big thoughts. (Peggy Noonan, WSJ, 9/19/2013)

Wow!


Walkers
On Thursday, all but two Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee walked out before the parents of two of the victims killed in the Benghazi attacks testified. (Breitbart.com, 9/20/2013)

Among those who walked out: Vermont's own Peter Welch. Thanks for honoring the fallen, Pete.


The Path to Doom 
California is challenging the historic status of American citizenship with measures to permit noncitizens to sit on juries and monitor polls for elections in which they cannot vote and to open the practice of law even to those here illegally. It is the leading edge of a national trend that includes granting drivers’ licenses and in-state tuition to illegal immigrants in some states and that suggests legal residency could evolve into an appealing option should immigration legislation fail to produce a path to citizenship. (NYT, 9/20/2013)

And so America ends.


Iced
Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean underwent a sharp recovery this year from the record-low levels of 2012, with 50 percent more ice surviving the summer melt season, scientists said Friday. It is the largest one-year increase in Arctic ice since satellite tracking began in 1978.
....
Contrary to popular impression, the melting of sea ice does not cause a rise of sea level, since the ice is already floating and displacing its weight in water. (NYT, 9/20/2013)

Now they tell us. 

Silence the Critics

Devil's Due
The education proposal reflects the Obama modus operandi. First, identify an American industry that long ago made a Faustian bargain for federal support, such as hospitals and housing. Then describe the subsidy-dependent industry's inevitable bloat and inefficiency in images so stark no reasonable person could disagree. "Burdened with tens of thousands of dollars" in student debt, Mr. Obama said at Binghamton University in New York, "they have to put off buying a home, or starting a business, or starting a family." [Footnote: That was federal student debt.] Then after getting buy-in from the mortified industry, he imposes the solution—on his terms. (Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 8/28/2013)

This is brilliant analysis. We have nothing to add. 


Cause and Effect
Here’s how deterrence works in the Middle East. Syria, long committed to the destruction of Israel, has not engaged Israel militarily in 30 years. Why? Because it recognizes Israel as a serious adversary with serious policies.

This year alone, Israel has four times conducted airstrikes in Syria. No Syrian response. How did Israel get away with it? Israel had announced that it would not tolerate Assad acquiring or transferring to Hezbollah advanced weaponry. No grandiloquent speeches by the Israeli foreign minister. No leaked target lists. Indeed, the Israelis didn’t acknowledge the strikes even after they had carried them out. Unlike the American president, they have no interest in basking in perceived toughness. They care only about effect. They care about just one audience — the party to be deterred, namely Assad and his allies. Assad knows who did it. He didn’t have to see the Israeli prime minister preening about it on world television. (Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post, 9/5/2013)

Speaking of brilliant analysis, we have Charles, yet again. 

By the way, for a hoot be sure to read the reader comments in the Washington Post whenever Krauthammer or George Will write. The Liberals go crazy. Usually the commentary runs to personal attacks and complaints that Krauthammer/Will cannot be taken seriously because they never liked Obama. Liberals will NEVER argue based on the facts.  


Torn and Frayed
Congressional Democrats, torn over involving the United States in another unpredictable Middle East war, are emerging as a major barrier to President Obama’s plan to strike Syria. (NYT, 9/4/2013)

Further fueling discontent were Mr. Obama's Wednesday comments that Congress's "credibility" is at stake. Democrats were already frustrated that Mr. Obama had demanded they share his red line. It is one thing for a president to ask his party to support him in a tough moment, but it is quite another for that president to tell voters it is congressional Democrats—not him—who now own his foreign-policy mess. The steam was practically rising from Capitol Hill. (Kimberley A. Strassel, WSJ, 9/5/2013)

After months (years?) of hearing about divisions within Republican ranks, it is interesting to hear the same about Dems.


Tick Tock
He chose his home state as the venue, and did not refrain from ticking off several problems he saw with the law. But former President Bill Clinton on Wednesday made a meticulous, if wonkish, case for Americans of all political leanings to embrace the Obama health care law.
...
Mr. Clinton made the speech at the request of the White House, but on his own terms. He chose to deliver it at the glass building in downtown Little Rock that houses his presidential library. The venue allowed him to lend a hand to Senator Mark Pryor, a Democrat who is facing a difficult re-election fight here...
...
Mr. Pryor did not attend the event for risk of being too closely associated with the health care law, according to one person with knowledge of his plans, but who was not authorized to discuss them publicly. A campaign spokesman has said that Mr. Pryor had a scheduling conflict. (NYT, 9/4/2013)

This is priceless! Clinton endorses Obamacare while lending support to a local politician. Such politician who does not want his support for Obamacare to be widely known in a state where the law is not popular. And who does not show up for the event.


Slights
The nation’s employers added 169,000 jobs in August, slightly below what economists were expecting, and the unemployment rate ticked down to 7.3 percent from 7.4 percent. (NYT, 9/6/2013)

More proof for all you cynics out there that the Obama economic plan is working. Unemployment is now projected to be below 5% sometime during Obama's fourteenth term.


Of Course
Just in case you missed it, the New York Times features a story today called "Putting the Sex Back in Homosexuality." Actually you cannot miss it because it is a featured story with a photo in the INSIDE NYTIMES.COM section and then the lead story in the Arts Section and also the lead story in the Movie Section. The Times continues to be the paper of record for the .01% of the population that is homosexual.

Reprise

Expectations
America’s employers added 162,000 jobs in July, less than expected, as the unemployment rate ticked down to 7.4 percent. (NYT, 8/2/2013)

Unemployment falls to 7.4%. Previously it was 7.4%. More proof that Obama's economic plan is working.


Granted
President Obama is even less likely to go through with a visit to Moscow this fall after Russia’s decision on Thursday to grant Edward J. Snowden temporary asylum. For Mr. Obama, though, the Snowden affair is only one of myriad reasons to beg off the scheduled meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin. (NYT, 8/1/2013)

Putin gives asylum to Snowden. More proof that Obama's "reset" strategy with Russia is working.


Lapped
The overlapping lines that characterize the Clinton world set off questions, at times, about whose interests are being represented: For example, Ms. Abedin was permitted, while working at the State Department, to also work as a private consultant for a company linked to former President Clinton, for Mrs. Clinton in a privately paid role, and for the family’s foundation. (NYT, 8/1/2013)

So Danger Bird Weiner's wife - a federal government employee - also moonlighted at (if we have counted correctly) three other jobs. Nothing to see here folks....


R for Funny
“2 Guns” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). Violence throughout, including a disturbing scene involving live chickens that’s both played for laughs and comes with a sharp, ethical jab. (NYT, 8/1/2013)

From the New York Times movie review of the hilarious new buddy movie "2 Guns." Those wacky Hollywood moviemakers are at it again! Of course, none of this will have an impact on society....

(RedStateVT note: Jared Loughner was 22; James Holmes are 24; Adam Lanza was 20.)

A Modest National Security Proposal

RedStateVT proposes that law enforcement officials use the following to help identify potential terror perpetrators. 

1) Based upon previous experience, are future acts of terror most likely to be committed by individuals who are:

a) Young
b) Old


2) Based upon previous experience, are future acts of terror most likely to be committed by individuals who are:

a) Male
b) Female


3) Based upon previous experience, are future acts of terror most likely to be committed by individuals who are:

a) Muslim
b) Christian
c) Jewish

So, for example, if after extensive research it were determined that past terrorism was largely conducted by elderly Jewish women, going forward law enforcement would pay particular attention to this demographic group. (Note: this is hypothetical. See below for our conclusion as to the demographic group most likely to commit acts of terrorism.) While some may call this "profiling" we call it something else.  Good police work...or even common sense. 

(Answer key: Why are you looking here? You know the answers!)


Countless
In March, 7.6 million Americans who want more hours were stuck in part-time jobs, about the same as a year earlier and three million more than there were when the recession began at the end of 2007.

These almost invisible underemployed workers do not count toward the standard jobless rate of 7.6 percent.  A broader measure, which includes the involuntary part-timers as well as people who want to work but have stopped looking, stands at 13.8 percent. (NYT, 4/19/2013)

A story that the New York Times buried during the election: 13.8% unemployment. With Obama now safely re-elected they feel comfortable reporting the facts.