Wow, was this the most bloggity Saturday for the HQ ever? Ace and Dave and Lauraw, oh my!

All I've got is this shiny movie trailer for some sci-fi flick called "Skyline" that probably won't be very good. On the other hand, it will be loud, it will be pretty, and SHIT WILL BLOW UP.

Oh, and keep your eyes peeled in the trailer for a certain somebody of blogospheric disrepute. If you were wondering what he was up to, well, now you know.

This is an opun thred. Knock yourselves out.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 02:21 PM | Comments (231)
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A snippet of his speech that deserves to be singled out for special scorn.

Obama said that Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been part of America.

"The first Muslim ambassador to the United States, from Tunisia, was hosted by President Jefferson, who arranged a sunset dinner for his guest because it was Ramadan — making it the first known iftar at the White House, more than 200 years ago."

How very disingenuous. We have here a fact presented not merely out of context, but so deceitfully as to be a laughable fraud.

First of all, the term 'a part of America' needs some thoughtful defining. I think we can mostly agree that the implication is that the mere act of feting the Tunisian envoy during his diplomatic mission to the US is some sort of general inclusion of Islam into the American experience at that early date.

How? Merely through his temporary presence in our country? Even though we were in conflict with his state at the time?

This isn't the first time Obama has spouted this same warped poppycock.
From his Cairo speech in 2009:

“Islam has always been a part of America’s story. The first nation to recognize my country was Morocco. In signing the Treaty of Tripoli in 1796, our second President John Adams wrote, “The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims.”

.............................

And when the first Muslim-American was recently elected to Congress, he took the oath to defend our Constitution using the same Holy Koran that one of our Founding Fathers – Thomas Jefferson – kept in his personal library.”

"Islam has always been a part of AmericaÂ’s story."

Indeed!
That would be the same Treaty of Tripoli that was essentially a protection racket against the United States, requiring that tribute be paid to avoid being the victim of piracy.

That would be the same John Adams who reluctantly figured that bribing the pirates of Barbary was cheaper than military engagement (out of an understanding that the political will and money for creating the necessary naval force was out of reach for the time being).

And that would be the same Thomas Jefferson who, with his great knowledge and understanding of the Koran, reversed our course and decided that military engagement against the various Muslim states engaged in piracy was the only sensible way to proceed.
And then bombarded their coastline, invaded them, and persuaded them to find a new hobby.

This particular piece of history cannot be rewritten to suit current PC needs. The reasons for the envoy's visit cannot be recast into some pap about multicultural understanding.

And this earliest merging of Islam into 'the American story'- where we invade and punish them for their banditry- is not the sort of event someone with half a brain uses as a bragging point about American inclusiveness.

The best that can be said about our regard for Islam at the time is this: The United States' concern was for the economic and physical safety of the United States' interests and people and there was no religious conflict in effect (“The United States has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Muslims.”).

That's it. We don't have a problem with you because of what you believe, but because of what you do.

It's pretty much the same deal now, frankly.

Posted by: LauraW at 12:01 PM | Comments (338)
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He says he supports the right to build it, but won't comment on whether or not it should be built.

Voting present...! What a surprise!

President Obama said on Saturday that in defending the right of Muslims to build a community center and mosque near Ground Zero he “was not commenting” on “the wisdom” of that particular project, but rather trying to uphold the broader principle that government should treat “everyone equal, regardless” of religion.

...

White House officials said earlier in the day that Mr. Obama was not trying to promote the project, but rather sought more broadly to make a statement about freedom of religion and American values. “In this country we treat everybody equally and in accordance with the law, regardless of race, regardless of religion,” Mr. Obama said at the Coast Guard station. “I was not commenting and I will not comment on the wisdom of making the decision to put a mosque there. I was commenting very specifically on the right people have that dates back to our founding. That’s what our country is about.

“And I think it’s very important as difficult as some of these issues are that we stay focused on who we are as a people and what our values are all about.”

So, does that mean he has no opinion on the wisdom of it?

No, indeed: He has a strong opinion which he will not say publicly, but lets instead his aides transmit to liberal supporters like the NYT, who report it deep in the story, after a jump:

Aides to Mr. Obama say privately that he has always felt strongly about the proposed community center and mosque, but the White House did not want to weigh in until local authorities made a decision on the proposal...

Posted by: Ace at 11:37 AM | Comments (192)
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If only.

Thanks to rdbrewer.

Related: Confidence in MFM remains near record lows.

mericans continue to express near-record-low confidence in newspapers and television news -- with no more than 25% of Americans saying they have a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in either. These views have hardly budged since falling more than 10 percentage points from 2003-2007.

...

Americans' confidence in newspapers and television news is on par with Americans' lackluster confidence in banks and slightly better than their dismal rating of Health Management Organizations and big business.

Well, that's certainly good company to be in.

For purposes of comparison, the media finished just slightly ahead of gout.

Posted by: Ace at 11:04 AM | Comments (94)
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65 years ago today, Japan surrendered and it was finally over.

I just caught this remarkable video over at Iowahawk.

It was only five years later my dad was there in Honolulu, playing baseball for the SUBPAC, learning how to operate sonar on a diesel electric submarine. I need to call one of my sisters to show him this.

Thanks to those veterans who made this day happen.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 10:18 AM | Comments (101)
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He's commenting on one Democratic candidate for Congress who ran an ad that seems to bash Pelosi and Obama.

"Democrats who kind of are afraid to be who they are, or are pushing back on their leaders, I think they're crazy," said Kaine during an appearance on "Fox & Friends." "You can't win as a Democrat without energizing Democratic voters, and if you pour cold water on them and think you're going to win, it's tough....The good news is this is not what I'm seeing generally, as I travel around."

...

[O]ne Democratic incumbent has actively criticized the president and other Democratic Party leaders. Rep. Joe Donnelly of Indiana, who is seeking a third term, has unveiled an ad that touts his hard line on illegal immigration. In the ad, narrated by Donnelly himself, the candidate says he has voted to "deport illegals" and "eliminate amnesty" for them. "No no one should ever be rewarded for breaking the law," Donnelly says, as a still photograph appears on-screen showing President Obama with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH). "That may not be what the Washington crowd wants," the ad says while returning to an image of Donnelly, "but I don't work for them. I work for you."

[F]acts suggest Donnelly's strategic decision to campaign against "Washington" and top Democrats was an elective choice, not a poll-driven move born of desperation or intense pressure by special interest blocs.

Apparently he's ahead by 20 points so he's not in great danger. Donnelly didn't return calls asking about the ad, apparently preferring to let it speak for itself.

Thanks to cthulhu.

Posted by: Ace at 08:37 AM | Comments (146)
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Film teaser. And it's working, because I don't want to wait until 2011 to see this.

Thanks to PattyAnn.

Posted by: LauraW at 06:00 AM | Comments (143)
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I'm reminded of the words of Thomas Jefferson, "free speech is overrated but not overtly so".

Target Stores has been targeted by Moveon.org activists for donating $150k to MN Forward, a business-focused group running ads supporting Rep. candidate for gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, some other Republicans running in Minnesota, along with a few Democrat nominees. Because Emmer is "vehemently anti-gay marriage".

Their (Human Rights Campaign) demand? Give the same amount of money to candidates "we favor". Accompanied with the Protests™! (I wonder how many "protesters" were hired at minimum wage?). The AP laughably tells us it's a "customer backlash", and warns darkly "But conservative organizations are likely to react harshly if Target makes significant concessions to the left-leaning groups."

Well here's my harsh reaction to Target if they give in..

Eh, let em work it out. Give em a little room folks.

Target Stores may feel that their initial decision wasn't in the best interest of their shareholders. They may decide placating the HRC is in the best interests of their shareholders.

I don't care one way or the other. It's their business to run, not mine. I don't placate. If a lefty agitprop group is having its period, and asks me "does my body look ok?", I have to say "no."

What I do care about is that Target Stores, and other collections of like-minded groups have the right to express their views, however they choose, with however much support they decide is appropriate. Like the AFL-CIO.

And Moveon.org.

This is the typical whine (and outright lie) from the professional victim class, that the playing field is unfairly stacked against them. So they cry and demand to be given a three touchdown advantage.

Speaking of three-touchdown advantages, those of you who are inclined to throw down in the NFL pickem leagues can find information on how to sign up here. Bunch of morons already in, if the first league you pick is full, pick the next one. There's openings for like, 298 goofballs and one or two grouches. So go sign up.

Just don't ask me if your ass looks fat in those jeans.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 04:40 AM | Comments (45)
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Really good. Part 1 about Stalin (and they take the bark off the NYT and Walter Duranty), Part 2 about useful idiots about the Iranian Revolution and other horrors.

This is hard hitting stuff -- the BBC is state owned and yet they produce this.

Compare to the American media -- not paid by the government, but owned even harder.

BTW, contains the quote "something so stupid only an intellectual could believe it."

(Oh, this is how tough this is on leftist apologist intellectuals: FoxNews wouldn't air this because it seems too bating and would get them too much criticism. For example, here's a lurid fact the documentary notes: Walter Duranty wrote the "poetry" for Allistair Crowley's psycho-sexual Satanic rituals and often was bound in chains and had crosses carved in his chest. Another historian notes, flatly, the Soviet archives say he was being blackmailed over "sexual misdemeanors" of unknown types.

It's really like, Whoa. This dude is hard-core!

Oh, and he lays Stalin's victims pretty much at the useful idiots' feet and refuses to make excuses for them.)

Direct mp3 Downloads: Part 1 and Part 2.

Thanks to Arthur.

Posted by: Ace at 09:18 PM | Comments (127)
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A reader wrote:

I am convinced we're looking at something bigger than 1994. And I remember the denial on the left even on election night that year.

Johnny Coldcuts, the foul-mouthed time-traveling meth-head baloney sandwich already saw what happens on the night of November 2nd, and this is what he told me:

Chris Matthews: "Bob Shrum, tell me why Republicans shouldn't take this as a mandate... Wouldn't you say that this is just the public asking for a breather from so much change, just for a little bit, and not the mandate we're starting to hear buzz of from the rightwing?"

Bob Shrum: "Absolutely, Chris, this election wasn't a referendum on Obama or his policies at all, it was just an anti-incumbent election and since most Congressmen were Democrats, it stands to reason that they took the brunt of it."

Chris Matthews: "In a way, wouldn't you say this is sort of the public giving a big thumb's up to Obama's policies? A big endorsement?"

Bob Shrum: "Ermmm... how?"

Chris Matthews: "Because the public likes Obama's policies so much they wanted to put Republicans into office to endorse them so they'd have real bipartisan staying power."

Bob Shrum: "Uhhh... okay, okay, I see where you're going with that... sort of... So... Sure, I guess in a way this is a backhanded endorsement of... Okay, Chris, I'm sorry, I was with you on the 'no mandate' thing but I can't go with you here. A man has limits. I have a career as a professional political consultant, you know."

Chris Matthews: "Right, understood... would you say then that this is Barack Obama's moment to shine?"

Bob Shrum: "What on earth could that possibly mean?"

Chris Matthews: "Nothing, really. Just sort of sounds good. Hopeful."

Bob Shrum: "Is it important to you that I say it?"

Chris Matthews: "Very."

Bob Shrum: "Okay, this is Barack Obama's moment to shine."

Chris Matthews: "Well that is the clearest Big Picture idea I've heard this evening -- Bob Shrum saying this is Barack Obama's moment to shine. And coming up next on Hardball's continuing election night coverage -- big upset a-brewin' in the tightly contested race for Milwaukee Inspector of Public Records. Does the underdog Democrat have a chance? Will this turn the Democrats into the comeback kids of the night? Stay tuned."

Posted by: Ace at 06:08 PM | Comments (221)
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