TOP 100 Politics

BackyardConservative on Technorati. At least for now on the site page. Showing number 65.

Going as a blogger for Halloween. Scary enough. Got some snickers and reese's ready for the little trick or treaters who should show up soon with their moms and dads.

Sarahcuda in Play:)

HotAir.

Dr. Melissa made a good point the other day too.

Who shall lead us? :)

Who indeed: What a fisherman said about Sarah Palin.

And I would add this:

The Culture of Minnesota is a subculture of the United States with influences from Scandinavian Americans, German Americans, Native Americans, African Americans, Polish Americans and numerous other immigrant groups.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_betcha

Don't misunderestimate us, and Palin's appeal.

Related post: Winners and Losers in NY-23

Winners and Losers in NY-23

Matt Lewis, Townhall.

Overall winner--the TeaParty spirit.

Losers. I am especially disappointed in Newt and Mitt. I am not at all surprised at Huckabee, who despite all his social conservative talk has always been a left of center squish on school choice and taxes.

The message is--the GOP beltway should not default to some outdated "moderate" mode (you know, the loser McCain economic mush)--because this year especially indies are going with conservatives.

P.S. As for all these retreads from the Illinois GOP in the state races--I wish they would just GO AWAY. Give us some breathing room to reform and win. And the congressional and Senate races--pay attention to the anti-tax mood. For some it's too late.

More. Legal Insurrection. The Dems are set to demonize bigtime. Yes, the ad hominem attacks rather than debate the real issues--anti-tax, anti-Washington. And they lose on character too, so nastiness is their only choice. Yes, a mild-mannered accountant and family man is truly a menace to society.

More. Mark Tapscott, DC Examiner. Background and reaction. UPDATES at The Other McCain. Erick at RedState shares credit.

More. Richard Viguerie: Tea Party Activists Are the New GOP :

"That was one more example of the 'closed tent' mentality of big-government, establishment Republicans who have worked long and hard to keep conservatives out of power at the national, state, and local levels.

"The GOP leadership's backing of Ms. Scozzafava was a slap in the face to Tea Party activists, town hall protesters, and conservatives across the country. The Washington GOP establishment's abandonment of fiscal responsibility led directly to the election of Barack Obama as President and Nancy Pelosi as Speaker. The American people see the GOP leadership and establishment every bit as much a part of the problem as the Democrats.

HT Illinois Review.

UPDATE: Sarahcuda in Play:) Big win for Palin. Her early move showed lots of moxie and guts.

Old Fence, New Fence

Old leaves:) Across the alley on a Saturday morning.

Gray Lady Reporter out of comfort zone

New York Times profiles Tom Coburn, damages barn

P.S. A little music:

It's still there

Wallace for Senate Meets Heartland

Wallace Congratulates Heartland Institute at Their 25^th Anniversary Celebration

(Chicago, IL) Eric Wallace, Republican candidate for US Senate seat in Illinois participated in the 25^th Anniversary Celebration of the Heartland Institute (www.hearlandinstitute.org) held last night at the downtown Chicago Hilton.

Dr. Wallace commented, “Congratulations to The Heartland Institute for 25 years of defending freedom, promoting individual responsibility, trumpeting free enterprise and advocating for limited government.” These are all principles consistent with the

L-I-F-T principles (click here) that I am promoting in my campaign for US Senate.

He added, “I appreciate that Heartland has recognized the importance of black conservatives such as Lee Walker (Senior Fellow at The Heartland Institute) and their role in developing and advocating some of the great free market ideas to solve the social and economic problems facing all Americans.”

The Heartland Institute is the publisher of Lee Walker’s book, “Rediscovering Black Conservatism.” The book demonstrates that conservatism is not a new phenomenon within black America, and that it is the source of powerful ideas that can be used to solve problems in our society.

Wallace concluded, “These principles are why I am running to be a US Senator from Illinois. To present true conservative and traditional ideas from the “heartland” of America that can solve our nation’s problems and represent the pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit of the people of Illinois. I invite the citizens of Illinois to join me by signing My Contract With The People of Illinois.”

For more information on Dr. Eric Wallace including his bio and campaign information visit www.wallaceforillinois.com. For more information on black conservatism visit Freedom Journal Magazine (click here) published by Dr. Wallace and named after America’s first black newspaper.

The headline you won't read

From a faithful reader:

President Obama has some very sophisticated economic modelers working for him. I wonder if anyone will ask: What would the unemployment rate be now if the Bush tax cuts had been repealed on Jan 21 2009? Lets pretend the answer is 500.000 people would have lost their jobs? (Which I am told is in the ball park). Presumably then the NY Times would run the story Bush Tax Cuts Saved or Created Half a Million Jobs.

Peggy Noonan Loses Heart

Well, she gave her heart to Barack, she voted for him, she was elitist, now she faults the Obamabots as callous children. Perhaps you should have listened to the heartland before this:

Part of the reason is that the problems—debt, spending, war—seem too big. But a larger part is that our federal government, from the White House through Congress, and so many state and local governments, seems to be demonstrating every day that they cannot make things better. They are not offering a new path, they are only offering old paths—spend more, regulate more, tax more in an attempt to make us more healthy locally and nationally. And in the long term everyone—well, not those in government, but most everyone else—seems to know that won't work. It's not a way out. It's not a path through.

Well, we are resilient out here. We are fighting to take our country back.

One thing about Peggy, she always knows which way the wind is blowing--at the time.

Obama and Rahmbo and the Ax should be worried...since they've lost Peggy.

Another Double-Talking Illinois Governor

Channeling Blago. Tribune editorial.

And how about this, anything to say Gov. Quinn?

House Dems' Health Care Bill Will Bust Illinois's Budget. Illinois Policy Institute.

ProtectStudentChoice.org

Video: ProtectStudentChoice.org

On the bright side

Drop in divorce filings. Rush says the Obama administration is preparing stats on how many marriages they've saved.

P.S. And perky Katie doubts The One's numbers: CBS Says White House Is Fudging Stimulus Jobs Numbers. Newsbusters.

White House has new PUBLIC ENEMY!!!

a car website.

The White House Stupidly Goes To War With Car Web Site Edmunds.com

P.S. Report on US GDP Growth Was Actually 'Horrible': Faber:

"I wouldn’t rely on the GDP figures and I think the market will actually realise that they were quite poor," Faber said.

The figures, which pleased investors by beating analysts' consensus expectations Thursday, didn't give positive signs for personal income and unemployment, Faber pointed out.

Today: Consumer spending falls in September, incomes flat. Stocks lower.

The enemy is us.

Brave Student Defies Supreme Leader

of Iran.

Iran rejects uranium deal.

Israel prepares for war with Iran.

Russian Mission

Subs off East Coast.WSJ. Prompting some hilarity:

Putin wants to see if he can trade the submarines in the "cash for clunkers" program.

Maybe they can make enough off of it to fund their planned manned mission to Mars.

P.S. Or maybe to finance world distribution of a "documentary" of secret agent Putin's Cold War heroics.

Michigan Tea Partier to NBC Cameraman

Video. We love this country and we love our God. Big Government.

Our so busy president

Michael Ramirez. Charles Krauthammer:

In Iraq, the heavy footprint -- also known as the surge -- dramatically reversed the fortunes of war. In Afghanistan, where it took longer for the Taliban to regroup, the failure of the light footprint did not become evident until more recently, when an uneasy stalemate began to deteriorate into steady Taliban advances.

That's where we are now in Afghanistan. The logic of a true counterinsurgency strategy there is that whatever resentment a troop surge might occasion pales in comparison with the continued demoralization of any potential anti-Taliban elements unless they receive serious and immediate protection from U.S.-NATO forces.

No holiday from history, not even for one so, so busy as you.

More. Chris Muir.

No (Forced) Phony "Paradise", Please

Turn out the lights, shorten the shower to three minutes, buy a portable generator.

Has Barack put on a cardigan (um, doesn't he like the Oval Office hot enough for orchids?) Is this a message from our Dear Leader? No, from south of the border. Via the RCP Blog:

That is President Hugo Chavez's message to the citizens of energy-rich Venezuela, where the "socialist revolution" has brought power cuts, water shortages and collapsing public services.

I'm sure the EPA will give The One a pass. As for the rest of us, good luck. No hope in sight for a sensible energy policy either, even though the planet has been cooling. But who needs actual observations? These guys want to run our lives:

If you really want to save the planet? Kill cap and trade.

P.S. Asinine article in the Tribune print edition today, ending with this:

In August, African nations called on richer, developed countries -- which are responsible for the bulk of global warming -- to give the continent $67 billion a year for climate-mediation projects, including dealing with refugees.

Frank Biermann, a climate expert and professor at Vrije University in Amsterdam, said the costs could rise to $150 billion.

"It's a politically charged issue because of the question of liability and compensation," Biermann said.

Let's help as we can, but we are not obligated, nor are we liable. If the luddite and protectionist EU would allow greenrevolution crops to be imported these farmers might have a better chance.

Just Minutes to Find Profound Stupidity

The bill defines which businesses are subject to the health care tax based upon the dollar amount of employee payroll. There even is a sliding scale right in the bill (section 501, at page 276) which tops out at 8% for businesses with $750,000 of annual payroll. Annual payroll is defined as the "aggregate wages" paid by the employer.

This provision creates incentives for businesses to keep down payroll. One way would be not to hire anyone whose compensation would fall under the definition of payroll under the bill.

In other words, outsource whatever you can. Hire a software engineer in India, or ship manufacturing to China, or structure your business in such a way that you send 1099s not W-2s to the people who work for you (and hire an accountant and tax lawyer to navigate IRS rules on independent contractors).

Death Panel Back In Dem Bill

Pelosi's prescription for your aging loved ones. the blogprof: Death Panels Reinserted Into New Healthcare Bill

HT Dan Riehl. And direct public funding for abortion. Jill Stanek.

More.

BOTeleprompter

Big Guy hopes America is happy with H1N1 vaccine rollout, which we're calling the "govt-run health-care sneak peak." #BOTeleprompter

Healthcare Debate, Illinois Reps.

The Illinois GOP contingent spoke up strongly in opposition to the massive big government approach to healthcare, negotiated behind closed doors by Democrats. Republicans favor a more flexible, consumer friendly fix, with tort reform and choice of policies across state lines. Congressman Mark Kirk, running for Senate, is even running radio ads.

The Daily Herald does a disservice in misrepresenting the Democrat majority's behavior. Despite the president's post-partisan campaign promises, Republicans have been shut out of talks in the House from Day One. Incredibly, even the public announcement of the public bill shut out the public.

As for Democrats struggling to read the bill it seems bass-ackward for Dem Speaker Pelosi to announce it as a done deal without their members having read it first. Incredibly irresponsible.

And fundamentally dishonest.

More. GOP Factcheck and details of the bill as they start reading it, here and here. Veterinarians and vending machines?

More. Scott Stantis cartoon, Chicago Tribune. Editorial, Not an option: Government doesn't compete. It overwhelms.

Snow Stimulus for Duluth?

What would Ole and Lena say about this:

6. $6 MILLION FOR A SNOWMAKING FACILITY IN THE 15th SNOWIEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY:
“The Other Third Of The Stimulus, Government Infrastructure Spending, Has Been The Most Controversial From The Start. Some Proposals Have Been Criticized As Wasteful, Such As A $6 Million Snowmaking Facility In Duluth, Minn.” (“The Challenge In Counting Stimulus Returns,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/27/09) (Top 101 Cities With The Highest Average Snowfall In A Year (Population 50,000+))

Too far.

The Public Option Deception

Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune.

Bad Driving Genetic?

No, it's not sex-linked, so hold the dopey jokes. It's a mutant gene.

Al-Marri gets light sentence

Only 8 years, but will serve only 6. Not reassuring. A foolish judge, a supine Obama Justice Dept.

The judge thinks he had no specific mission, but he came back the day before 9/11.

More. A foolish judge.

Related:

Two of the most mentioned locations being considered by the Obama administration are the federal prison in Standish, Michigan and the federal Administrative Maximum (aka “Supermax”) prison in Florence, Colorado. One of the left’s core arguments in the debate rests on the belief that the security provided by such a facility would render Gitmo’s terrorists totally unable to organize and convert fellow prisoners eager to learn from the jihad-masters.

In this case, not only did a domestic Islamic terrorist organization arise from within the walls of our prison system, but the “Supermax” facility currently serves as the headquarters for this radical group.

Passports Linked to 9/11 Found

along the AfPak border.

Sen. John McCain: Why we can--and must--win the war in Afghanistan.

And from a recently returned veteran, a Harvard Law grad prior to joining the army. Powerline, Tom Cotton: why we need more troops-- now.

Do they all look alike?

Who would have thought White House propaganda chairman, uh communications director Anita Dunn would be so insensitive and ignorant. Mickey Kaus: Anita Dunn's Alibi: The Case of the Confusing Chinese?

Of course, maybe she thought no one would fact-check her.

New Trier News

They want higher taxes. Meet your elected representatives:

Tuesday, November 3, 7:00 p.m.
New Trier Board of Education meeting, Room 301
385 Winnetka Ave., Winnetka (east campus)

More at conservativeBrand.

Hillary in a head scarf

From one of my women friends:

Sent an e-mail to the State Department; Hillary in the head scarf is infuriating. NOW complained about Obama's males only play dates, but says nothing about the Sec. of State caving in to Islamic social customs. How PC of them.....

Pix from CBC story.

Meeks speaks up

For the first time in my personal and political career, I am exploring the idea of vouchers and charter schools to help facilitate choice and enhance academic performance. Why should we continue to make investments in a system that is bankrupt and weighed down with bureaucracy?

4 Cases of Pop in Chicago, $354

They stuffed the ballot box, but Chicago will probably lose out anyway. Why? Cost. Convention business is going elsewhere. ABC7:

Plastics News sent ABC7 a recent letter from an exhibitor at the NPE convention at McCormick Place in June. The exhibitor ordered four cases of pop for his booth. The bill totaled $354.39. Here's the breakdown:

$254 for the Pepsi products,

a 21% service charge,

10.25% state sales tax,

3% Chicago soft drink tax,

a tax on the service charge and a food and beverage tax.

Government taxes, the exhibitor said, totaled $38.06.

"Now, a nice man in a tuxedo delivered the Pepsi, along with a couple of buckets of ice and a few cups," wrote Tim Hanrahan, CEO of Erema North America. "Good service? Sure, but not worth $345.39."

The four cases of pop could have been purchased for roughly $30 at a local grocery store.

There you go.

Our Dithering Dear Leader

The dithering label sticking to our President Barack Obama. Ann Althouse.

You heard it from me over 10 days ago:

...meanwhile America is in peril--our real enemies remain unchecked by this administration. Incompetent and contentious at home, dithering and dilatory abroad.

Our troops are in harm's way, Mr. President.

Pence Response

Video, on CNN.

Cantor: Pelosi Denies Access

Even her public option announcement denied access to the public. What does that tell you? Watch: Sorry, you're not on the list. It's just for a select few:

The Next Generation of Domestic Terrorists

The leader of a Detroit mosque who allegedly espoused violence and separatism was shot and killed Wednesday by the FBI in a gun battle at a Dearborn warehouse.

Detroit News. He was formerly known as Christopher Thomas. More:

His black Muslim group calls itself "Ummah," or the brotherhood, and wants to establish a separate state within the United States governed by Sharia law, Interim U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg and Andrew Arena, FBI special agent in charge in Detroit, said in a joint statement.

The national Ummah leader is Jamil Abdullah Al-AminH, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, who is currently serving time for the murder of two policemen.

More. News photographer assaulted outside of Michigan mosque. Video.

There they go again

ACORN may be given oversight in new financial "reform" bill?!!!

Democrats Ask New Jersey Secretary of State to Ignore Mismatched Signatures on Absentee Ballot Requests

Dems Wham Bam Ma'am

Dems' approach to healthcare. Unveiling a bill as a fait accompli that was arrived at behind closed doors. House GOP response, quick points:

• House Republicans will oppose any effort to pass a sweeping government takeover of health care and are committed to working on bipartisan solutions to fix what is broken.

• After weeks of meeting behind closed doors, Speaker Pelosi has unveiled another government-run health care plan - this one running 1,990 pages long and costing nearly $1 trillion.
  

• The Pelosi health care bill will raise taxes, raise health care costs, add to our national debt, hurting America's seniors, families and small businesses.

• Despite months of town hall meetings and after millions of Americans voiced their opposition to a government takeover of health care, Democrats in Washington didn't get the message.

• According to various studies millions of Americans could lose their current health insurance under a government-run health care plan.

• One recent independent study estimated that younger Americans could see their health care premiums triple and a family of four could see their health care premiums more than double.

• The Congressional Budget Office has testified before Congress that the Democrat health care plan will actually INCREASE health care spending.

• House Republicans and an overwhelming majority of the American people want to pass responsible reform that lowers the cost of health care.

• House Republicans will a offer a positive alternative to Speaker Pelosi's plan for a government takeover of health care, an alternative that the American people support.

• President Obama and Speaker Pelosi need to start over on their health care plan. Republicans are ready to work on bipartisan solutions to health care reform.

Text of bill here. Who knows how long it will remain operative?

An iPhone for Healthcare

If we were really living in the world of leading-edge politics that many people thought they were getting with Barack Obama, he would have proposed an iPhone for health care—a flexible system for which all sorts of users could create or choose health-care apps that suited their needs. Over time, with trial and error, a better system would emerge.

DNC Uses Flag Desecration to Raise Funds

Video: For life? Don't make me laugh. And then there's the Chicago (Catholic) Way. Is nothing sacred? Nah. Well, maybe.

Broad Consensus on Media Bias

Rasmussen: 62% Say Congress More Responsive To Media Than To Voters. And reporters are biased and out of touch. It's more of an issue than money in politics.

You break it, you own it, Dems

The imperious Dem House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is less than forthcoming, as usual. Her new healthcare bill is only deficit neutral because of massive medicare cuts (and unfunded mandates to the states). And up front huge tax increases for 3 years before the healthcare in the bill even takes effect. This morning she shut Republicans out of her news conference. It's on your head, Nancy. You break it, you own it.

In other news, government swine flu management less than stellar. NY Times.

P.S. I would add that the NY Times does not cover the fact that the government is for the first time involved in the distribution--rather than medical facilities. I recall in years past our pediatrician would recommend higher risk children for flu shots. Now the government bureaucracy is "in charge" with shifting guidelines, uneven distribution, unconscionable incompetence and inevitably, rationing. This after whipping up everyone's anxiety.

More. Daniel Henninger, WSJ:

In a world defined by nearly 100,000 iPhone apps, a world of seemingly limitless, self-defined choice, the Democrats are pushing the biggest, fattest, one-size-fits all legislation since 1965. And they brag this will complete the dream Franklin D. Roosevelt had in 1939.

The culture still believes the U.S. has a hipster for president. But the Obama health-care bill, and maybe this whole administration, is starting to look totally out of sync with the new zeitgeist, the spirit of the age.

Everything about the health-care exercise is looking very old hat, starting with the old guys working on it. Max Baucus, Patrick Leahy, Pete Stark—all were elected to Congress in the 1970s, and live on as the immortals in Washington's Forever Land. But it's more than the fact that Congress looks old. The health-care bill is big, complex, incomprehensible and coercive—all the things people hate nowadays.

Flower Power Obama.

Some Principles, Please

NY-23 congressional race exposes the "GOP must be a Big Tent" myth. Mark Tapscott, Examiner:

"When feckless GOPers embrace RINOs such as Scozzafava, the only winners are liberal Democrats like Pelosi who can then claim 'bipartisan' support for higher taxes, more regulation, bigger government and less individual freedom."

And Scozzafava is a supporter of the discredited ACORN. Michael Barone:

“The Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava, is a pretty dodgy character from a Republican point of view,” said Barone. “I mean, this is a woman who was endorsed by the Working Families Party, which is basically front for ACORN … As we’ve seen, it’s an organization whose organizations have systematically aided and abetted child prostitution, as reported in the videos that Fox News ran — that other networks were finally forced to run, that Andrew Breitbart put on the Big Government Website. There is some reason for principled Republicans not to back the Republican nominee in a situation like that.”

A big tent shouldn't embrace corrupt and unprincipled individuals.

Holder told him to shut up

D.C. school choice has a strong advocate--and it's not President Barack Obama. Washington Times:

Kevin Chavous, a prominent black D.C. lawyer and board member of D.C. Children First, is the guy making the president so uncomfortable. In the advertisement, Mr. Chavous says, "President Obama is ending a program that helps low-income kids go to better schools, refusing to let any new children in. I'm a lifelong Democrat, and I support our president. But it's wrong that he won't support an education program that helps our kids learn."

That's when America's first black attorney general, Eric H. Holder Jr., stepped in to tell the lawyer to shut up, Mr. Chavous revealed on a local radio talk show. Mr. Chavous said the attorney general - in front of witnesses - asked him to pull the ad.

Via the Chicago Daily Observer, watch the ad here. Listen to DC Children First.

Mr. President--how about doing the right thing. Simple as that.

Taliban Targeted Women in Bombing

Remember before we liberated Afghanistan--widows starved as they were not allowed to work, not even to bake bread for sale. They lived off the crumbs, and were at the mercy, of Taliban men. Girls were not allowed to go to school. Those who resisted were shot in a stadium, as public entertainment.

The Taliban operate freely along the Afghan/Pakistan border. Wednesday they bombed a market on the border, frequented by women and children.

At Lady Reading Hospital, wards were filled with badly wounded women, some with their injured children in the next beds.

"There was a massive blast, and then the roof of the fabric shop I was in fell on me," said Sameena, 18, who suffered a broken leg and broken hand. Like many Pashtun Pakistanis, she uses one name. "I saw shops burning, smoke and dead bodies everywhere, many of them women. These people are inhuman. They want to keep women inside homes. And they want to kill women."

It sounds like the British built that hospital, doesn't it.

Pakistan is engaging the Taliban, fighting for the future of their country. Afghanistan is poorer and depends on NATO forces and ours to secure the peace, as they work hand in hand with us to build up their forces. We need to hold up our end so that it doesn't become a haven for these brutal terrorists again. The terrorists who blew up the benign Buddhas, carved in the hillside, safe for centuries, then attacked America on 9/11.

Half-measures will only prolong the battle and loss of life--and risk failure:

The reality of this, if Afghanistan descends into civil war and the Americans and Europeans retreat into their welfare states, may not be pretty. "Who lost Afghanistan?" will define the transatlantic conversation. The last time we saw a cash-strapped self-centered isolationist Europe and a cash-strapped self-centered isolationist United States was the 1930s.

Der Spiegel.

Times of London.

The world waits for our president, the leader of the free world, to show resolve.

Because these horrific acts are "honor killings" writ large and bloody. Now they use car bombs to attack defenseless women and children. What next? Pakistan has nukes, Iran is developing them. Terrorists with nukes and dirty bombs, a few can wreak a holocaust.

Will we defend our freedom? We are at a pivotal point. Mr. President?

More. Congress needs to read McChrystal's report. Washington Examiner.

More. Support Vets for Freedom. Afghan vets going to see Congress on Nov. 5th.

More. Victor Davis Hanson, WSJ. It seems President Obama is following Carter's disastrous path, rather than Harry Truman's:

Truman's no-nonsense Secretary of State Dean Acheson summed up the president's doctrines: "Released from the acceptance of a dogma that builders and wreckers of a new world order could and should work happily and successfully together, he was free to combine our power and coordinate our action with those who did have a common purpose."

Ever since, most Democrats have embraced Truman's "common purpose." That means containing rival anti-Western ideologies, establishing alliances of similarly-minded democratic allies, and periodically standing up to regional thugs.

Jimmy Carter's presidency was a departure from this strategy.

More. Blackfive. Honoring the fallen or staged photo-op?

A 9/11 Reunion in Chicago

They were separated just as they brought them to safety. Two NY men meet the Chicago mother and daughter they rescued, 8 years later. John Kass. There's video.

A mortal wound

Yes, abortion is in the bill. We have it from the horse's mouth. Rep. Jan Schakowsky. So to speak.

Burris Bumbling Publicly

The video: Via the Right Scoop.

Previous posts: Dramatically Incoherent Testimony, Burris Healthcare Vote Bleepin Golden

Anti-tax Dem challenges Suffredin

Evanston Review.

Have the World Series on. Don't know who to root for.

Women Dubious About ObamaCare

Via RedState, new Independent Women's Forum poll.

Note to Barack: Charm is not enough anymore.

Women vote on healthcare--it's a big issue for them.

The Israeli Economic Miracle

Kathryn Jean Lopez, NRO interviews Dan Senor, co-author of a new book on the subject. Fascinating.

They're after your kids now

A council has banned parents from supervising their children in public playgrounds until they have undergone criminal record checks.

Bill Ayers Very Busy in 1995

What Bill Ayers Saw in Barack Obama. Jack Cashill, The American Thinker

Could it be the news Dems (don't) get?

Pew Political IQ Poll: Republicans Consistently More Knowledgeable. Mary Katharine Ham, TWS.

NY Times Interfering in Afghan Election

NRO:

The New Afghan Edition of Media Blog [Greg Pollowitz]

The Karzai brothers respond to the allegations in today's New York Times that Ahmed is in the employ of the C.I.A. and involved with the heroin trade:

Can we call them elitist imperialists? Trying to engineer a coup? Looking for a new big hole in NYC? How wonderful does Pakistan look now with Musharaff gone?

They're after your dog now

Eco-zealotry reaches new heights of madness. Jonah Goldberg, NRO,"Fido, a.k.a. the Climate Criminal"

Will pitched battles break out with the PETA people?

Let the loony lefties duke it out. Just keep away from the rest of us. Fido might get upset.

Kudlow Rips Uncle Barney, MSNBC

Economic freedom fighters unite! Video: More. ‘Jobs Created or Saved’ Is White House Fantasy: Caroline Baum, Bloomberg.

P.S. I see Kudlow has an NRO piece on the subject.

The Heart of the Matter: Cost

How can healthcare become more accessible if it becomes horrendously expensive? And how can we afford to pay for those who can't afford it if there is no competition to keep costs in line (and provide real choice)? WSJ: The WellPoint Revelation: Private insurance premiums could triple under ObamaCare.

In all of the 14 states WellPoint scrutinized, ObamaCare would drive up premiums for the small businesses and individuals who are most of WellPoint's customers. (Other big insurers, like Aetna, focus on the market among large businesses.) Young and healthy consumers will see the largest increases—their premiums would more than triple in some states—though average middle-class buyers will pay more too.

Start over.

More. A GOP health plan. Chicago Tribune.

More. Government-run healthcare massively more expensive. Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman. Heritage Morning Bell. (Apropos, GMAC asking for its 3rd bailout.)

Bowling for $$$ at the White House

Washington Times.

More Women Buying Guns in Chicago

Brutal beatings, violent crime on the rise in the city. Given Chicago's handgun ban, pending with the Supreme Court, we're talking handgun purchases in the surrounding area. CBS2:

Local gun shop owners say they're seeing an increase in the number of women shoppers right now. The reasons, they say, are many, including the downturn in the economy and violence on the street.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, about 48 percent of people taking their first handgun seminars this year happen to be women. CBS 2's Pamela Jones reports on the growing trend.

"It's very dangerous out there. I mean, there's people getting robbed here and there," said Josie Santiago. "It's just for protection."

Miss Santiago wants to become a police officer. But, of course, the police can't be everywhere. Can they.

In his own hand?

Scott, Powerline. In which he examines NEA director Rocco Landesman's assertion that our President Barack Obama compares favorably with Julius Caesar as a "powerful writer".

Michele, Blue State Belle

The conservative Michele. Bachmann. Smart Politics: Bachmann Raising Significantly Larger Out-of-State Funds Per Capita from Obama States than McCain States

In fact, 10 of the top 12 locales contributing at the highest rate to Bachmann are in Obama Territory, led by the District of Columbia, which sets the pace at a rate of $688.37 per 100,000 residents.

Only the red states of Nebraska (#2, $583.15) and Wyoming (#4, $478.72) crack the Top 12, with deep blue states like Maryland (#3, $516.54), Illinois #7 ($324.57), Vermont (#8, $321.92), and California (#9, $279.57) all perched in the Top 10 in per capita contributions to one of the U.S. Houses' most conservative members.

Can I take credit for Illinois?:) We know Obama well. Put it that way. And have great respect for savvy women bucking the tide in Blue States:)

Worse than a coward

Holder to Blacks: You're Too Stupid

Can we talk hate speech?

Should the Catholic Bishops demand an apology from the United Church of Christ? (Should the UCC be examined?) Jeffrey Lord, TAS:

Amazingly enough, if one goes here on the UCC website, one will find something fascinating, something mentioned before in this space. This official page of the United Church of Christ website is run by the Rev. Chuck Currie, who has made occasional appearances in these columns. Who is he? I'll let the UCC describe him for you:

He is also the author of a widely read blog on religion and social issues that The Los Angeles Times cited in 2004 for "top-tier" editorial writing. In 2007, he was named editor of the United Church News Blog, an official denominational site of the UCC.

If you click onto the UCC-supplied link to Reverend Currie's blog, the one the Los Angeles Times applauded for "top tier" editorial writing, you will find a link to -- yes indeed -- Air America Radio. While his writing is standard left-wing fare, his choice of link is disturbing, considering his page is linked officially by the UCC itself. This link take one to very same place that has produced the assorted garbage mentioned above. Can we talk hate speech?

Indeed.

The laughs start now...

Director Blue:

I normally eschew the use of bold type for emphasis – too horsey. But I am making an exception in this case because British humor is so deadpan it might pass you by if I didn’t. The laughs start now...

British police and intelligence officers sent to tackle UK-funded torturers on West Bank

Chicago News Bench Checks Out Terrorist Home

The neighbor said he counted "29 boxes" being carried out of Rana's house by FBI agents.Rana's house, a run-down hovel with a messy yard and too many satellite dishes on its roof, was dark with all curtains drawn when we photographed it at midday. See our exclusive photo slideshow below.

Proft, Brady Pursue Black Vote

Laura Washington, Sun Times.

Valerie Jarrett, Hack

CNN video. Jarrett makes, retracts charge Fox is biased ...a pattern of distortion. Really Valerie? "Speaking truth to power". (Barack been shutting you out on the golf course?) You hack. Hack.

Always related post: Valerie Jarrett, Slumlord

How about those excessive teacher benefits?

Hmm, mmm, mmm. Dennis Byrne, Chicago Tribune.

SEIU Hypocrisy on Banks

Crashing the ABA in Illinois. Marathon Pundit with a clip and comments.

We could add Obama hypocrisy--raking in the campaign donations from bankers. Yeah, he used to get big donations from Fannie Mae.

And puhleeze--doesn't SEIU/ACORN make you sick? These guys pressured banks to make loans to people who couldn't pay them back. And now we're paying the price. Shut up SEIU.

Previous posts: Are you listening Dick Durbin?, Note to Sen. Durbin

McKenna not the Answer

From Dan Proft, Republican candidate for governor:

Andy McKenna: Mayor Daley's Candidate for Governor

(Chicago, IL) – In response to Andy McKenna’s announcement this morning, conservative Republican candidate Dan Proft released the following statement:

"Andy McKenna’s entrance into this race clarifies the choice Republican primary voters have. We can nominate a candidate beholden to a small group of affluent political insiders who give money to both parties. They win when Republicans get elected; they win when Democrats get elected. Either way, you lose.

"Or we can nominate a candidate willing to take the fight to the establishment politicians of both parties, those who are concerned only with peddling influence and dividing up other people’s money. We can nominate a candidate who will fight for the people who play by the rules in Illinois for a change.

"The McKenna family has donated thousands of dollars to Chicago Democrats, including Mike Madigan, Lisa Madigan, Dan Hynes, Rich Daley, and Dick Durbin. They have also donated thousands of dollars to Republicans and the Illinois Republican Party.

"Andy McKenna has taken indicted Springfield powerbroker Bill Cellini’s infamous ethos to heart, ‘When we're in, we're in, and when you're in, we're in. We're always in.’

"As Republicans, we have been down this road so many times as a party. Every time we allow the bipartisan combine to select our candidates, we run into a dead end. We cannot make the same mistake again if we want to not only win elections, but also bring about the system-change reform required to make Illinois economically viable. We cannot hope to un-fix Illinois before we un-fix our own party.

"I am the only candidate willing to make a clean break from our ignominious past; to hold cynical Chicago Democrats and complicit Republicans accountable for what has happened on their watch; and to chart a future focused on expanding opportunity for people who play by the rules in Illinois.

"As State Senator Matt Murphy, who is running on the McKenna ticket, said a few months ago, ‘People are looking for a new face to take us in a new direction, especially on the Republican side…They want to see somebody who can represent a clean break from the past.’

"Sen. Murphy is right. And that is why Andy McKenna is absolutely the wrong candidate to lead our party and lead this state."

Another Palin Book

No, not the predictable liberal mockery, but one by TWS' Matthew Continetti, The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried to Bring Down a Rising Star.

I certainly agree with the characterization of Tina Fey.

Stuff the class war demagoguery

Brian Wesbury and Robert Stein, Forbes (and is the government part of the problem?):

When it comes to income inequality, conventional wisdom says that it's been getting worse for a long time. Productivity is going up, but middle-class incomes are stagnating. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. You've heard it over and over again. Many free-market economists have argued against the conventional wisdom, only to be dismissed as out of touch. But an incredible new paper from Northwestern Professor Robert Gordon, a pillar of the "mainstream" academic establishment, says maybe they are right and have been for a long time.

Read on. Interesting point on the Heartland numbers as well.

Fighting for the Soul of the Party

Conservatism wins every time it's tried. Fiscal sobriety is the core belief. Taking the party bosses to the woodshed. NY Post:

New York's 23rd Congressional District lies near Canada, far to the north -- but next week's special election merits attention throughout the state.

That's because the Republican candidate in that race, Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, is the product of an obscenely corrupt political bargain by GOP bosses that sells out their party -- and New Yorkers generally.

Because of that, and because so many of her positions ill-serve the interests of New York and the nation, The Post today endorses businessman Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party nominee.

We believe in democracy. Do you?

Gov. Blago is a trial to us

Time on Blago, quoting Gov. Elvis' friend:

"Not long ago, Blagojevich's reviews were mostly glowing. The first Democratic governor in Illinois in a generation, he had charisma, connections, deep coffers and a Horatio Alger–type bio. "You have to remember, a lot of people thought that Rod Blagojevich had a very good shot at becoming President of the United States," says Mike Jacobs, a state senator from Rock Island, Ill., and a former friend. "I know that sounds comical today."

I hate to break it to you, but it sounded comical then. Other than Blago himself, and apparently Sen. Jacobs, nobody was talking about Blago for President. But Blago's not done inflicting himself on us yet, we all know that:

This lack of contrition has led armchair psychologists, and not a few former colleagues, to label Blagojevich a megalomaniac, a textbook narcissist, a poster boy for America's coarse and craven political culture. Blagojevich calls himself a victim — with one caveat. "If I'm lying to you," he says, "then I'm a sociopath."

Well, call me speechless on that one.

And we still have the trial in June to get through.

Previous posts: Blago a Gentleman, in Private?, BlagObama Jobs Machine

These Weak Horse Democrats

An architect of the Afghan strategy speaks up. Read it all, but this is key to expose the facile thinking of Sen. Kerry and dufus Joe Biden, and our President who seems incapable of making a decision not tinged with rank partisan opportunism, even as the lives of our troops hang in the balance and we are threatened with terrorists back in Chicago. James Shinn, WSJ:

Replacing the hard work of counterinsurgency and nation-building with Predator drones and Special Operations defies geography and common sense. A Predator has a range of 400 miles: It is 600 miles from Pakistan's Waziristan region to the Arabian Sea.

From where are you going to fly the drones? What intelligence will be available to guide the drones or special ops if we abandon Kabul and Islamabad to fight on their own?

A "regional" solution that convinces India, Pakistan and Iran (among others) that their interests are better served by a stable Afghanistan than by backing proxy forces there is a laudable undertaking. But it would take years of patient diplomacy, in which the terms and pace of NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan will be the central item of negotiation. Fat chance of striking a deal if you're already gone.

Will the president choose to be a strong horse or a weak one? If you choose to lose, Barack Obama, the decision will haunt you--because these people will not go away unless they are decisively defeated.

Still a Pig in a Poke

No matter what you call it, no matter how Harry and Nancy dress it up, ObamaCare Big Government is still a pig in a poke.

More. We can't have health reform without tort reform. Stanley Goldfarb, TWS. AARP conflict of interest. Yes.

P.S.

U.S. taxpayers spent about $32 subsidizing the cost of the typical Amtrak passenger in 2008, about four times the rail operator's estimate, according to a private study.

Amtrak operates a nationwide rail network, serving more than 500 destinations in 46 states. Forty-one of Amtrak's 44 routes lost money in 2008, said the study by Subsidyscope, an arm of the Pew Charitable Trusts.

More. Seniors being broadly given psychotropic drugs in nursing homes. Tribune. Making them "comfortable". Betsy McCaughey, treating seniors as clunkers.

No Worries, No Terror, Nah

Now we know some of the mystery behind the halal meat plant raid in exurban Kinsman. The owner of the plant was arrested the same day at his North Side Chicago home. Now this: 2nd Chicago man tied to terror plot: Man taken into custody at O'Hare was allegedly to meet with people linked to terrorist organizations

Oh well, no worries. He was going to be trained to go after European targets.

But what about that other trial tomorrow in Peoria?

Then there's news of a hapless couple caught by pirates off Somalia. Just sailing along.

And our game-playing president leaves our guys and gals hanging overseas--without needed reinforcements.

UPDATE: He wanted to attack the Danish newspaper which published the Muhammad cartoons:

Federal officials said there was "no imminent danger in the Chicago area," and added that the charges are not related to recent terror plot arrests in Boston, New York, Colorado, Texas and central Illinois.

Headley conducted surveillance of targets in Denmark beginning in 2008, and then reported to Ilyas Kashmiri, an operational chief in a Pakistani-based organization known as Harakat-ul Jihad Islami, which has links to al-Qaida, according to an FBI affidavit filed in the case.

Headley also allegedly communicated with another terror organization, Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Headley and the people he communicated with coded their plan for attacks over the cartoon as "the Mickey Mouse Project," according to the affidavit.

He allegedly traveled to Denmark in January 2009 and visited two offices of the newspaper that printed the cartoon, Jyllands-Posten, in Copenhagen and Arhus. During his visits he claimed to be a businessman interested in advertising with the paper, according to the document.

Rahm at the Baby Shower

Is the PC straight-jacket chafing at the White House? The View is miffed, WaPo blogger defends The One and NBC's Chuck Todd brushes back Andrea Mitchell.

How about the president man up on foreign policy and stop hiding behind Rahm's and the cowardly John Kerry's skirts.

Biden in the Doghouse

Numbers worse than former VP Cheney's. Byron York on the Gallup poll.

Take away The One's glow and this is where the country is.

Rubio on Morning Joe

Conservative GOP Florida Senate candidate. Watch:

Double Digit Property Tax Increases

Cook County. 4 out of 5 homeowners will get higher bills. For many, median suburban hit tops 10%.

And for what.

Kick this guy out

Northwest Indiana Dem congressman Pete Visclosky. The Politico:

Democratic Rep. Pete Visclosky’s taste in pork has changed considerably amid a federal investigation into his office’s earmarking and fundraising practices, and that’s just one sign that the shy appropriator is adjusting to his new life in the spotlight of a Washington scandal.

Visclosky once earmarked millions of Pentagon dollars a year for private companies outside his home state of Indiana but now seeks cash only for public works, educational institutions and the National Guard in the Hoosier State.

Come on, Indiana. You can do better.

Dramatically Incoherent Testimony

Our Sen. Roland Tombstone Burris at work. Roland Burris Has a Lot of Questions About How the Federal Government Works

In other news, we may have massive lines, medicine shortages and incoherent Big Med thanks to Sen. Burris. The Politico: Will Burris budge on public option?

Holding out for a Czar appointment. Tomb czar. Chicago Public Schools elocution czar.

That Terrifying Music

The latest outrage of the left. Loud music. Their own. (Played at Gitmo.) BBC.

The Barney theme song? Terrifying, I would agree. Those poor terrorists.

I'm not a thug

Michael Ramirez.

P.S. Real attacks. Setting a new low. Chicago has a lot to answer for.

Big Baby O

Thanks Lucianne:)

$1.85 Million for the house next door

...to the Obamas. (No, we're not talking the Rita and Tony Rezko memorial to Barack side yard.)

Um, no traditional open house.

In Harm's Way

Mr. President, we already have troops in harm's way.

Send all the troops Gen. McChrystal asked for.

Half-measures will not win the day--and will cost us lives.

More. We love 'em:

Too Tacky

Sorry, no matter the worth of the cause, the White House should not be used like this.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't recall this kind of thing happening before.

Healthcare Hokey Pokey

Rev. Isaac Hayes The option-option is another futile attempt of Washington Bureaucrats to take over the health care system. We don't need Nancy Pelosi or Pat Quinn opting us in or out. It's like health care hokey pokey.

Are you listening Dick Durbin?

Gonna make a speech about this? Edward Pinto: The Government's Loan Modification Numbers Are A Total Sham

And say NO to ACORN.

Abandoned Detroit, Revival?

Since the government is rock-bottom incompetent, it's gotten out of the way. In some areas, a free-spirit revival, the new urban prairie:

So what did $1,900 buy? The run-down bungalow had already been stripped of its appliances and wiring by the city’s voracious scrappers. But for Mitch that only added to its appeal, because he now had the opportunity to renovate it with solar heating, solar electricity and low-cost, high-efficiency appliances.

Buying that first house had a snowball effect. Almost immediately, Mitch and Gina bought two adjacent lots for even less and, with the help of friends and local youngsters, dug in a garden. Then they bought the house next door for $500, reselling it to a pair of local artists for a $50 profit. When they heard about the $100 place down the street, they called their friends Jon and Sarah.

Resident hunters selling raccoon carcasses? Well I guess. Toughening up the artiste types. (Somehow free of community organizers. Cross your fingers for them.)