My God, it's full of pussy, as LauraW. said of me recently.

As much as I buy into the idea that we don't want to "enrage the Arab street" and put our boys' lives in elevated danger...

...we cannot keep matching each of the demands of expansionist, murderous Islam and giving it a special place as the de facto national religion, the single religion for which the legal penalty of blasphemy exists.

I should note that AP had no trouble whatsoever in running obviously-staged propaganda pictures of Burning Korans during the Israel-Lebanon war of 2006. Then, the picture was intended as an incitement of Muslims against the Israelis, and obviously was a Hezballah-approved propaganda shot.

But now? Nope, can't do that.

If a Muslim burns the Koran in order to blame it on Israelis and incite Muslims into warfare, run the shot.

If a Christian burns the Koran to make a point about Islam not in fact being this country's official, obligatory sate religion, don't run the shot.

Via JimmieBJR's twitter feed. He calls it "cowardly." I'm not sure there's another word for it.

On that point -- this very good (as usual) essay by Christopher Hitchens. There he notes we have demanded that every other religion be "domesticated," which, dogged metaphor aside, means that we have demanded that other religions fall into compliance with civil law -- even where (as with Christian Science) the illegal aspect of the religion is a truly important part of the religion.

And yet we don't similarly insist on this with Islam. Islam is apparently a special religion in that it trumps civil law.

Again, another badge of Islam's supremacy over other religions -- and all governments -- which is precisely what they're killing for.

Other people have remarked upon the perverse incentives here: If Christians want their faith taken seriously, and respected by institutions and the government, apparently they'll just have to start bombing and beheading and they'll have that.

Furthermore, we continue to encourage Islamist killers. Every time they kill, what message does the nation and its communicative institutions parrot over and over?

1) Islam is a religion of peace.

2) Islam is one of the world's "great religions."

3) The overwhelming majority of Islam's faithful are good, pious people.

Every time they murder in the name of Allah, then, we all collectively begin shouting how fucking wonderful Allah is.

Is it any surprise they continue to murder us then? They kill us, and we then proselytize on their behalf.

Posted by: Ace at 09:09 AM | Comments (265)
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Rubio 43, Crist 29, Meek 23.

As Allah and other have noted, we sort of need Meek to remain competitive, and not terribly far behind in Crist, to prevent the large-scale strategic defection of Democrats from Meek to Crist. So far we've got that.

At Hot Air, by the way, there's a parody of Crist's "Americans" ad, but I'm sure you've seen it. Still: Perfect.

Remember sad clown Phil Hare? You might remember his previous work of declaring he doesn't care what the Constitution says, re: the permissibility of insurance mandates.

He's behind, 41-38. He's in Illinois' 17th district. His opponent, Bobby Schilling, has offered his own contract with the voters of IL 17:

Below is the outline of the contract with Illinois:

1. Bobby will not accept the 5-year congressional pension.

2. Bobby will not accept any congressional pay increases whatsoever. Any pay raises will be returned to a charity inside of the 17th district.

3. Bobby will not sign on to the congressional health care option.

4. Bobby will term limit himself to 8 years maximum in the House of Representatives.

5. Bobby will provide constituent services that are “second to none.”

6. Bobby will not vote in support of any bill that he has not read.

Posted by: Ace at 08:55 AM | Comments (62)
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...but not in a number you want.

Democrats lead 47-40 among "drop off voters" -- voters not likely to vote this year. I suppose that's not actually as bad as I imagined to be; I figured it would be 55-35 or something. But then, he does skew (I imagine) a bit liberal.

On the actual number you want to know: the GOP leads 49-42 among likely voters.

Thanks to ArthurK for suggesting the dishonest headline, which is my favorite kind of headline, because it makes me feel like I'm a real part of the MFM.

More: At Hot Air. Same poll:

Economy – Republicans lead 48/36
“On your side” – Rep, 41/37
Government spending – Rep, 49/31
Federal deficit – Rep, 50/32

My favorite is the "on your side" one, because that's an emotional driver -- and you know I think emotion is 88% of this -- and because Democrats usually enjoy a big advantage there. They are the party that's quote "for the little guy" unquote and quote "workin' for the workin' man" unquote and quote "all the rest of the horseshit they've been peddling since William Jennings Bryan" unquote.

And now we edge them. Not a big edge, but an edge.

They really had to work hard to reverse that impression from a net plus to a net minus. And work hard at it they did.

Posted by: Ace at 08:08 AM | Comments (80)
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Rasmussen says it's close, really close in the race to replace the Grand Cyclops (or whatever he was).

West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin and Republican businessman John Raese continue to run a surprisingly close race in the state's special Senate election to replace the late Robert Byrd.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in West Virginia shows Manchin with 50% support and Raese with 45%, when leaners are included. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) are undecided.

The West Virginia race now moves from Leans Democratic to a Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings. Less than two weeks ago, the first post-primary survey of the race moved it from Solid Democratic to Leans Democratic.

Meanwhile, we are still waiting on word if Lisa "It's my damn seat cause daddy gave it to me" Murkowski is going to run a write-in campaign that can only be viewed as a sour grapes, spoiler effort.

National Republican establishment money is lining up behind Joe Miller, with a $212,000 pledge from the same national campaign committee Miller accused of trying to steal the election for incumbent U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski. The support comes as Murkowski is considering an independent write-in candidacy after losing to Miller in last month's Republican primary.

...Miller spokesman Randy DeSoto said Wednesday the campaign didn't think it was appropriate for the NRSC to choose sides before the Republican primary was decided.

"They heard us out, and they responded," DeSoto said. "We were pleased with their response, and we're pleased they're also backing the campaign."

Murkowski's own Denali Leadership Political Action Committee in May contributed $15,000 to the NRSC -- joining the pot of money that will now flow to Miller, potentially to use against Murkowski if she wages a write-in effort as an independent. Murkowski's campaign staffers are waiting to hear if she will.

Good to see the party apparatus coming together behind the legitimate party nominee.

Posted by: DrewM at 07:52 AM | Comments (72)
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Feisal Abdul Rauf is back from his abbreviated trip around the Muslim world on behalf of the Department of State and he's shocked people are so upset about his victory mosque.

Rauf said that if he knew how controversial the project would be, he "never would have done this - not have done something that would create more divisiveness."

However, he said he is convinced he shouldn't move the center now because "our national security now hinges on how we negotiate this, how we speak about it and what we do."

By that, he said, he means that if the controversy forces a move, "it means the radicals Â… will shape the discourse on both sides."

Here's what I find so interesting about that...if Islamaphobia is so rampant in America, wouldn't he have just assumed that a nation of supposed bigots would react negatively?

Now, he and the tiny fringe minority that are on board with this project will say that Islmaphobia is just now on the upswing. Um, ok. 9 years after 9/11/01 and Americans are finally letting their inner anti-Islam rage fly? That doesn't seem like a nation seething with anti-Islamic hatred just waited for a chance to explode.

So why now? Why such a delayed reaction?

I'd offer the thought that Americans are not Islamaphobic but amazingly tolerant. What they are not however is stupid. We'll put up with a lot, cut folks a lot of slack but at some point (like building a victory mosque as close as possible to Ground Zero) we finally call bullshit.

Personally, I think the reason people are finally saying enough! is that almost a decade of being told Islam=peace simply doesn't match the reality of what we see from a sizable portion of the Islamic world.

Rauf also explained why he must continue forward with the project. Surprisingly, it's has to do with the ever delicate sensibilities of...Muslims.

Rauf reiterated that the issue about what to do with the center going forward is important for national security.

"If we don't do this right, anger will explode in the Muslim world," Rauf said. "... If we don't handle this crisis correctly, it could become something very dangerous indeed."

He said moving the project to another location would strengthen Islamist radicals' ability to recruit followers and will increase violence against Americans.

What other religion in the world is constantly telling everyone they as so damn peaceful so long as we get what we want but cross us and it's on?

If Rauf is so interested in bridge building, instead of telling Americans to suck it up and appease the 'radicals' in Islam, why doesn't he start telling the 'radicals' to get with the whole Islam=peace program?

Nah, can't do that. Not straight up anyway.

When asked if the State Department was correct in saying Hamas is a terrorist organization, Rauf said: "I condemn everyone and anyone who commits acts of terrorism, and Hamas has committed acts of terrorism."

Why not a simple, "yes"? Why does Islamic terrorism always have to put in some broader context? Just say, "yes, Hamas is a terrorist organization", he'd build a few more of those bridges he's always on about if he did.

Of course related to all of this is the Koran burning stunt this weekend in Florida.

Seems the idiots from the Dove World Peace Center aren't technically affiliated with the Fred Phelps freak show but they party with them when they come to town.

Michelle Malkin notes that there's a name for the day when Muslim protest the US in vile ways...Everyday.

Naturally, President Obama has now weighed in.

"You could have serious violence in places like Pakistan or Afghanistan. This could increase the recruitment of individuals who would be willing to blow themselves up in American cities or European cities," he said.

"This is a recruitment bonanza for al-Qaeda."

"If he's listening, I hope he understands that what he's proposing to do is completely contrary to our values as Americans. That this country has been built on the notion of freedom and religious tolerance."

"And as a very practical matter, I just want him to understand that this stunt that he is talking about pulling could greatly endanger our young men and women who are in uniform."

Interesting that Obama is willing to discuss the wisdom (or lack thereof) in burning Korans but won't say what he thinks about the wisdom of building the GZ mosque.

I really wish someone would ask Obama and Rauf a very simple follow up question..."Why? Why do so many, not all, but an awful lot of Muslims threaten violence in cases like this and the Mohamed cartoons?"

I'd love to hear the answer to that. Here's a chance for the President to follow up on his statement in his speech in Cairo where he said, "I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear."

As always, Obama's defense of American values is somewhat selective.

Thanks to Carin via LauraW for that.

Added: Main financial backer of GZ Mosque says he just wants to make some money. This guy? This guy I like. more...

Posted by: DrewM at 07:20 AM | Comments (149)
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Brand Democrat™ from Slublog.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 05:33 AM | Comments (323)
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The Office of the Actuary of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services just came out with their latest projection of National Health Expenditures. Since they also made a pre-Obamacare projection last February, we can easily find the cost savings of Obamacare. And here you have it:

"But Hey!" the liberal set opines, "at least Obamacare is insuring millions more people, so we're getting more for our money!!"

Har. Looking through their report you'll find that they have once again assumed that doctor's Medicare fees will be cut by 23% after 2010. You also find that while Medicaid enrollment in 2019 is supposed to go up by 1/3 as a result of the new policies, they only allow for a 10% increase in cost. And I particularly like their brave estimates of the Exchange plan costs, when those costs have never been priced out by the insurance companies that will underwrite it. Until they are actually priced, they serve as a great source of imaginary cost savings.

So our stalwart leader has done it once again. Having raged about the necessity of bending the cost curve, he has indeed bent it. Up. And as the years go by, I think we'll find that the CMS's cost projections were wildly optimistic.

Posted by: Geoff at 05:09 AM | Comments (66)
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Season starts tonight, so get your special pudding spoons and put on a helmet. Also get your picks in. Minnesota and New Orleans tonight, in an NFC Championship game rematch. I hate them both.

This year Ben recruited an assist from longtime commenter who's not too big a PITA, CDR M. Thanks CDR M.! FYNQ, TGIF, and NTTAWWT.

Ben asked me to remind you all, because you're idiots, that the picks are against the spread.

Vote early and vote often.

Cheerleader pic below the fold, also courtesy CDR M. I think he collects them or something. more...

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 10:37 PM | Comments (61)
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Welcome to tonight's semi-half-assed hump day ONT.

Last US Light Bulb Factory Closes

After 120 years the US is now out of the electric light business thanks to new regulations on incandescent bulbs. The last 200 workers at the GE plant will be laid off and all manufacturing will now be done in China. Democrats are always carrying on about how Green Technology will save US industry, but it turns out that green tech isn't so Green manufacturing-wise and China can still make it cheaper than we can. So thanks Democratic Congress of 2007!

University To Offer Zombie Classes

Well finally. But since it's run by the English department expect them to suck all joy and interest out of the subject and leave out all zombie countermeasures. Really this ought to be covered by the biology or anthropology departments in cooperation with the campus ROTC.

Posted by: Maetenloch at 05:03 PM | Comments (872)
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This actually made me giggle. A friend of mine is working on the Linda McMahon campaign and told me about it today with a big smile.

Everybody says that campaign promises are mostly bull, but I believe this fellow actually means to follow through. On making everything you buy and everything you do more expensive:

The environment. That's what's on everybody's mind right now, AMIRITE?

What I hear when I listen to this ad:

"I will block your access to affordable energy, continue laying waste to the economies of the Gulf states, and then follow the Granholm Plan for economic destruction and urban de-gentrification! MWAA HA HAAA..."

He should have pounded his shoe on a podium right at the end there.

Posted by: LauraW at 03:21 PM | Comments (161)
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