Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category
Democrats quietly cheer high court gun ruling
For them, the court’s groundbreaking decision couldn’t have been more beneficial to the cause in November. Now, Democratic candidates across the map figure they have one less issue to worry about on the campaign trail. And they won’t have to defend Republican attacks over gun rights and an angry, energized base of gun owners.
“It removes guns as a political issue because everyone now agrees that the Second Amendment is an individual right, and everybody agrees that it’s subject to regulation,” said Lanae Erickson, deputy director of the culture program at centrist think tank Third Way.
I guess I can see how this could possibly help some of them with November’s elections, but it certainly doesn’t help many in the overall scheme of things. And, particularly given Chicago Mayor Daley’s plans in the wake of McDonald, I don’t really believe that the gun issue is going to go away any time soon.
Claiming that most Democrats are pleased about this is sort of like claiming the Nazis were better off after D-Day because then they didn’t have to worry about defending the coast of Normandy.
Paul McCartney is still a jerk
Jim Treacher:
I’m not sure how the BP oil spill proves global warming, but then again, I didn’t write “Silly Love Songs.” The point is, if you disagree with Paul McCartney, you’re a Nazi.
To prove his dedication to giving our kids a decent world, McCartney has sworn off all petroleum products and now tours by pack-mule caravan. Ha ha, just kidding! He flies around all over the place, same as always.
I was actually a pretty big fan of Paul McCartney’s music for a long time. But he seemed to lose it around ‘90 or so and every time he opens his mouth on politics he sounds like a fool on the hill.
Word on the street is that Gen. Stanley McChrystal is out and Petraeus is in.
UPDATE: Obama relieves McChrystal of command; Gen. David Petraeus replaces him as top Afghan commander
This whole Rolling Stone debacle is, well, a debacle. I know that McChrystal has a lot of detractors, but the game plan doesn’t look overly brilliant to begin with, so I wonder how much real difference we’ll see with Petraeus in charge.
Amid crises, Obama declares war — on Arizona
On June 3, the president, under criticism for refusing to meet or even talk to [Arizona Governor Jan] Brewer, reluctantly granted her an audience in the Oval Office. After the meeting, Brewer told reporters Obama pledged that administration officials would come to Arizona within two weeks with details of plans to secure the border.
June 17 marked two weeks, and there were no administration officials and no plans. There still aren't. “What a disappointment,” Brewer told van Susteren. “You know, when you hear from the president of the United States and he gives you a commitment, you would think that they would stand up and stand by their word. It is totally disappointing.”
“Totally disappointing” describes a lot of what’s going on.
These two headlines were near each other this morning on Air Force Times:
Ax May Fall on Mortgage Interest Deduction
The popular tax break for mortgage interest, once considered untouchable, is falling under the scrutiny of policymakers and economic experts seeking ways to close huge deficits.
Because homes are selling so well already and current homeowners are awash in excess cash.
Personally, I’m not really in favor of any tax credits that target anything. But the entire system has to be re-worked first. Get a simple flat tax where everyone everywhere has the same deduction and pays the same rate , THEN ditch the mortgage interest deduction and all the other deductions and credits.
Yeah, right.
Via Instapundit.
‘Black Hawk Down’ Commander On Winning The War on Terror
Col. (Ret.) Danny R. McKnight:
We are trying to be too kind and gentle in our approach, suggesting to the world – friends and enemies – that we don’t need to use our military might to defend ourselves and our interests. We are trying to rely too much on negotiating and compromising and trying to convince the world that we are not the preeminent military force in the world to be reckoned with.
Go read the whole thing.
Michael Totten on Obama’s new choice for Director of National Intelligence, John Brennan:
This is the man who wants to go looking for moderates in Hezbollah, who do not exist, and promote them within the organization, which he could not do even if they were real. We can’t monkey with Hezbollah’s org chart any more than we can Al Qaeda’s or the Iranian government’s.
I’d have a little more faith in the Obama Administration’s foreign policy officials if they demonstrated more consistent knowledge of Middle East 101.
