Brand Democrat™ from Slublog.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 05:14 AM | Comments (165)
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Speech delivered today at Hillsdale College.

I rise to pay a debt of honor and a debt to history. My subject today is the presidency, and my hope is that you see that institution in a new light and never despair of the republic.

Good speech. I did not know the story about Calvin Coolidge's son.

Also this:

A president who slights the Constitution is like a rider who hates his horse: he will be thrown, and the nation along with him.

History, context. Purpose.

With commanding hair.

tip via Yukari

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 07:45 PM | Comments (134)
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Yeah, those fraudulent elections around the world aren't going to certify themselves. And if Jimmy Carter doesn't do it, who will hug dictators around the world?

BRIAN WILLIAMS: ...Do you feel-- that you receive your due? Or do you feel, in fact, apart from the crowd?
JIMMY CARTER: No. I-- I feel that my role as a former president is probably superior to that of other presidents. Primarily because of the activism and the-- and the injection of working at the Carter Center and in international affairs, and to some degree, domestic affairs, on energy conservation, on-- on environment, and things of that kind. We're right in the midst of the-- of the constant daily debate.

And-- and-- and the Carter Center has decided, under my leadership, to fill the vacuums in the world. When-- when the United States won't deal with troubled areas, we go there and we meet their leaders who can bring an end to a conflict, or an end to human rights abuse, and so forth. So I-- I feel that have an advantage over many other former presidents in being involved in daily affairs that have shaped the policies of our nation and the world.

BRIAN WILLIAMS: And do you think you're treated differently because of that?

JIMMY CARTER: Yeah, sometimes. And I can understand that. For instance, we-- I just got back from a trip to North Korea. We haven't had a-- a day of peace talks with North Korea since 2009. And this is one of the-- needs in the global affairs, is to bring about denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, and also to have a permanent peace agreement between the United-- among the United States and-- South Korea and North Korea.

We go there. I go to Pyongyang. I meet with their leaders. I talk to them. I bring back their messages to the State Department and to the White House. And-- and I think we fill, you know, a legitimate need. But I can see how it makes sometimes the incumbent president uncomfortable to have me doing things of this kind, when political niceties don't let-- him or his administration do them.

Yeah, Jimmy just loves North Korea. He even helped them with their nuclear weapons program back in the 90's.

Jimmy also told CBS that he has high hopes for Obama.

I can't control what people say about comparing me with Obama. But I hope that Obama will have as successful a term as I had in dealing with our nation's domestic and international affairs. And if he does, I'll be very proud of him, as I happen to be proud of myself, having had a successful administration when I was in office,"

If you want a rundown on all the many ways Carter is simply awful, here you go. Be warned though, that's an old piece (2002) so there's nearly a decade of awfulness left out.

*BTW-This post was up this afternoon but in a truncated form. I've been having computer problems today, so I pulled it down until I could fix. Sorry for that.

Posted by: DrewM at 07:20 PM | Comments (110)
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Welcome to the Monday all. I didn't quite plan on having a UK-oriented ONT but it sorta happened by accident so I just went with it.

The 1997 Royal Navy Field Gun Competition

Well if you loved the Canadian Army jeep tear-down and re-build last week, you'll love this Royal Navy Field Gun Competition from 1997. Here competing teams have to break down a field gun, transport it in pieces over several obstacles, reassemble it and then fire 3 blanks. Note that the wheels alone weigh 125 lbs and the barrel is over 800 lbs.

The competition began in 1907 and was held every non-war year up until 1999 when it was retired. It's based on actual events during the Boer War when sailors took guns from the HMS Terrible and Powerful and manhandled them over difficult terrain to relieve the siege of the British garrison in Ladysmith, South Africa.

Posted by: Maetenloch at 05:50 PM | Comments (817)
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I'm not a huge fan of the "Contract with America" fanfare/comparisons, but I do recognize the value of putting your agenda front and center. I don't think the "party of 'No'" crap really plays, because the prevailing sentiment right now from a majority of Americans sure seems to be not just "no" but "oh hell no".

That's not a loser. "NO" actually plays pretty damned well.

In an upcoming mid-term fight with the wave surging, you keep the momentum building. ALSO, you pay attention to the message you were handed by the voters in the primaries (a topic of some discussion here recently!)

So this Thursday, they plan to roll out their platform, a dozen or so differentiators, with some fanfare. I want it to be full of "no." No tax increases, no more outrageous payoffs to buy votes with public funds, no implementation of Obamacare, no more strangleholds on our economic liberty, no more shoving money into the public sector at the expense of the rest of us who actually create it in the first place.

No.

Obama whines "they have no ideas. They just say "NO".

You know something, President Wonderful? "No" is one hell of a great idea.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 05:50 PM | Comments (41)
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Pretty funny. Some background here.

He keeps asking them for specific "lies" as they allege. One guy says "I won't fall into that trap."

Then someone says "He's probably a gay." more...

Posted by: Ace at 05:22 PM | Comments (134)
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Posted by: Ace at 04:47 PM | Comments (102)
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This Ain't Hell wrote today to tell me that Margaret Cho was on Dancing With The Stars.

I expect Margaret Cho will be every bit the success at dance as she is at comedy.

Livestream: here.

Thanks to Melissa Clouthier.

Posted by: Ace at 04:04 PM | Comments (328)
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PPP is doing WV polling for Senate. They haven't released the big matchup number yet. So far they're just hinting:

[Y]ou have a state where voters, even a lot of the Democrats, are very down on national Democrats and want Republicans to control the next Congress by a 54-37 margin.

But a lot of folks also like Manchin. Among those who both like Manchin but want a GOP Senate, who wins?

his race may be decided by those voters being pulled in both directions and right now their dislike of national Democrats is outweighing their affection for Manchin- those folks go for John Raese 57-29.

I'm not sure if those are "swing voters," per se, but they seem to fit the definition -- pulled in opposite direction.

Posted by: Ace at 03:33 PM | Comments (101)
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You and me both.

Posted by: Ace at 03:05 PM | Comments (95)
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