At PJTV, Bill Whittle geeks out on Star Trek while discussing Why Vulcans and Other Intellectuals Don’t Belong In the Big Chair.
Great Shatner impression, whoever did the voiceover!
Updates from June, 2009 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts
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Thompson: The Hangover pulls an upset at the last minute. Anne doesn’t seem surprised. Plus a Land of the Lost post-mortem…
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Can your job be safe for much longer if you work at NBC and produced this video about Obama’s teleprompter?
(H/T: Barack Obama’s Teleprompter’s Blog)
UPDATE: In case you’re wondering why I pose the above questions…
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It’s becoming more patent every minute that the ineffectiveness of Obamanomics is unspinnable. Especially with Joe Biden trying to help. As usual, he’s better off not saying anything. But others have picked up on his message, which can be summed up as “Hang in there. The Stimulus will kick in any minute now”. Sure.
The thing is that we were told only weeks ago – by Obama himself – that we were already enjoying the fruits of Stimulus. I guess Obama was “exaggerating”. Talk about a Mission Accomplished moment.
In fact, in Obama’s eyes the Stimulus has done so well that he has now admitted that he is not done stimulating. Nice. If at first spending doesn’t yield results, keep spending!
Indeed, Obama’s negatives as to the economy are already exceeding his positives in two categories according to Gallup: his handling of the deficit and of federal spending. Looks like it’s Obama’s deficit now.
Of course we’ll keep hearing that it’s still all Bush’s fault. Nevertheless, it’s Obama’s responsibility.
UPDATE: Who needs Biden? Obama is caught on tape calling the unemployment figures “a sign we’re moving in the right direction.” Brilliant! (via Gateway Pundit)
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Ramesh Ponnuru on what the GOP should do instead of crying gloom and doom, lest they end up looking stupid in the event the economy bounces back.
Good thinking. Although it seems to me the chances of the economy roaring back before November 2010 are slim, especially if the excessive government spending and the ominous regulatory schemes the White House is planning to introduce continue to develop.
By the way, NRO needs donations. I know. Bad time to ask, but if you can spare it and you like what they do, why not?
UPDATE: Ramesh also advises the GOP against taking this other advice.
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McClatchy: California state government mulls doing away with welfare.
You mean they’ll throw the needy under the bus before they lay off workers or try to renegotiate public employee union contracts?
UPDATE: Related content at American Power.
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Obama’s Teleprompter comments on that “if looks could kill” pic of Michelle Obama and Carla Bruni that Drudge has up today.
Professor Althouse has a caption contest for it, if you’re feeling creative (via Instapundit where Professor Reynolds has a sort of “compare and contrast” thing going on).
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It’s a compact four-door powered by a lithium-ion battery .
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Culper Ring: Kuwaiti dissident says Al Qaeda is casing the U.S.-Mexico border to smuggle bio-weapons.
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There’s Funemployment and then there’s the White House’s version of reality, or at least its clumsy attempts at Doublethink: Austan Goolsbee proposes that “last month’s loss of 345,000 jobs (resulting in a half percentage point jump in the jobless rate) is somehow good news because it beat predictions”.
Yes. And we’ve always been at war with Eurasia, Mr. Goolsbee. Ha!
The VOA didn’t get the memo: US Unemployment Rate Gallops Ahead of Expectations.
So you can just imagine the tensions gripping Obama’s economic team. But, actually, you don’t have to. The NYT has looked into them.
Sure, blame it on Bush if you want, like Goolsbee does in part. At least the AP is not afraid to face the truth:
The Federal Reserve announced a $1.2 trillion plan three months ago designed to push down mortgage rates and breathe life into the housing market.
But this and other big government spending programs are turning out to have the opposite effect. Rates for mortgages and U.S. Treasury debt are now marching higher as nervous bond investors fret about a resurgence of inflation.
That’s the Catch-22 threatening to make an awful housing market potentially worse and keep the economy stuck in a funk.
Just in time for 2010. Looks like the Left is going to need a bigger Sorosphere…
UPDATE: Related content at Vodkapundit: The Grand Unification Theory of Sucking.
MORE: Insta-lanche! Thanks for the link, Professor Reynolds.
Perfect opportunity for a Rhetori-Poll:
ANOTHER ONE: The Other McCain links with related content. Thanks!
Also made “Best of the Blogs” on RealClearPolitics. That one I didn’t see coming. And I’m somewhere on Memeorandum.
The Federal Reserve announced a $1.2 trillion plan three months ago designed to push down mortgage rates and breathe life into the housing market. -
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Up still at #1. Doesn’t look like The Hangover will be able to dethrone it.
As for Land of the Lost, I’m betting it will be out on DVD sooner than expected. Didn’t perform too well, to say the least. But then again, it got pretty bad reviews.
Nikke Finke has the figures and analysis.
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Now with treason! “Disdain for U.S. policies May Have Led to Alleged Spying for Cuba”? Is it just me, or does it sound like the WaPo is making excuses for spying?
I doubt the WaPo would be so understanding if Rush Limbaugh became a spy for Israel and helped derail Obama’s policies in the Middle East. And they wonder why newspapers are disappearing…
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Hillary tells Stephanopoulos that Obama has “absolutely” passed the 3 A.M. test.
Hard to take her seriously. What else is she going to say? “Are you kidding? My boss is in over his head”? Come on.
But really, when did Obama pass the 3AM test? Passive observation of North Korean saber-rattling isn’t much of a test. What other instance in the last 6 months can come remotely close to the sort of situation Hillary’s famous “3 AM” ad implied?
Obama will be put to the 3AM test sooner or later. When that happens, there won’t be any doubt as to its ocurrence. Hopefully he will be ready for it. I don’t think he is just yet. And I’m not alone in that sentiment.
UPDATE: James Joyner and I seem to be on the same page on this.
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Procedural shortcuts in the War on Terror “Overseas Contingency Operation”. Outrageous under Bush White House. But not so in the Obama Era: NYT unfazed by proposal to allow detainees in military commissions to plead guilty in capital cases without facing a full trial (via Instapundit).
Outing. Outrageous when done to liberal bloggers. But a matter of fierce moral urgency when done by liberal bloggers: Legal Insurrection: Outer Objects to Outing.
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Victor Davis Hanson on all that Obama doesn’t know that he doesn’t know; but will probably soon realize, at a steep price.
I think we can safely assert that there is something about being responsible for a business that makes people wise. Something that community organizing doesn’t teach.
Definitely one of the best pieces of writing to have ever come from Professor Hanson’s mind. Not to be missed.
H/T: Instapundit.
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Remembering D-Day, in 300 words or less, at NTC.
I’ve been remiss on posting on D-Day. I wasn’t sure what to write about it aside from the admiration and gratitude we should all feel for the brave men who fought on the beaches of Normandy on that day; and I didn’t feel like that would be a tremendous contribution. But I liked Smitty’s thoughts at NTC.
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McTerrorism? “One could argue the joke is meant to be on us, but I thought the point was to find culturally non-Western, Islamic ways of doing things and prove they work better than Western concepts? What do I know, I’m just an infidel.”
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Ed Morrisey has taken a look at the Obamacare plans, and doesn’t like what he sees, especially in regards to medical records privacy vis a vis the 4th Amendment [But is it an unreasonable search if the records are in the possession of government contractors to begin with? In other words, is there a reasonable expectation of privacy in medical records to which the state already has access? --ed. Good question].
But let’s not get distracted by privacy concerns. With a nationalized health system, privacy will be the least of our worries. Access to healthcare will be the real issue.
People forget that universal healthcare is a misnomer. Universally rationed healthcare is a more accurate name. And if it is universally rationed, by definition it will NOT result in all the healthcare a patient might need or want. It will be whatever healthcare you are lucky to get. Ask the Canadians…or the Brits. They know.
UPDATE: I just remembered this post from a month ago: Frank Luntz’s advice for the GOP on how to effectively oppose Obamacare.
UPDATE: Oliver Willis comments on stupid complaints, with a stupid complaint of his own. The reason why massive bills are a matter of concern is that they are almost impossible for legislators to review properly (case in point is the Stimulus Bill, which authorized the AIG bonuses to the surprise of many Congresspersons…or did you forget already, Ollie?). Get it? Or should I explain democracy to you, Ollie?
Massive bills are also quite impossible for the citizenry to review, which sort of defeats the purpose of Obama’s promise to increase Washington transparency by putting bills on line for public review for 5 days. Still waiting for that promise to be fulfilled, actually.
Speaking of Oliver Willis, if Willis’s blog is “Kryptonite to Stupid”, does that mean it makes Stupid weak? The only thing that can make Stupid weak has to be stronger Stupidity, though. Now, before you think I’m taking cheap shots at Willis, let me state outright that I don’t think Willis is stupid. Not at all. I just don’t think that tagline on his blog makes sense.
But neither do many of his rants, so I guess it’s par for the course.
And did he license the Superman logo from DC Comics or is he infringing on that trademark? Worth looking into…
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First, the President loses Un-America. Now Open Left‘s David Sirota is complaining of presidential cynicism and broken promises.
Could Latte America be next?
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Jim Cramer: How Bernanke saved us from a second Great Depression.
Yes, it’s that Jim Cramer. But isn’t it a little too soon to feel saved?
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Matthew Continetti: Where it came from and how to fight it.
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James Langenfeld: Is GM the new Amtrak?
I have the feeling Amtrak will end up looking like small potatoes by comparison, but I have no doubt GM will be kept alive no matter how it performs, just like Amtrak.
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Hmm. Is Newsweek owned by GE? Or does Newsweek‘s Evan Thomas and NBC News‘s Brian Williams share similar religious beliefs?
Maybe this is just one of those Newsweek gimmicks.
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Word is The Shield
could be heading to theaters. Good idea or bad idea?
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Sotomayor doesn’t know what “liberal” means. Fortunately, NRO‘s Ed Whelan explains the term to her.
It’s hard to define, but you kinda know one when you see one…
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Reuters: Carter Praises Obama Mideast Policy.
If Carter were to praise Obama’s Bushian approach to national security, now that would be news…
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Horror comedies don’t fly with audiences? Who knew? Anyway, that’s part of the theory Anne Thompson is positing to explain Drag Me to Hell‘s poor box office performance despite great reviews.
I wonder if Evil Dead II
had similar troubles over two decades ago? It was the first horror comedy (and the first Raimi flick) I ever saw. It still works after 22 years!
Plus, Anne’s theory of what’s wrong with Away We Go. Too bad. Looked like a nice movie.
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TVNewser: Megyn Kelly Lashes Out at Playboy!
(via TV Squad, where there’s video.)
UPDATE: American Power links with related content. Thanks, Prof. Douglas!
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Politico: A political pattern to stimulus tour.
Well, duh!
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According to a recent Gallup poll.
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London Times: Obamas decline dinner with the Sarkozys.
And fixing a rift with Germany?
I thought “Change” meant a new era of solid, respectful relationships with our global allies and the international community. Or was it John Kerry who stood for that?
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A round-up, at American Power.
My own reaction is here.
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Thompson on Hollywood: Cameron discusses the videogame for Avatar – his much-anticipated 3-D film – at E3, of all places (there’s video). Plus, Anne offers a Terminator: Salvation post-mortem.
More on Avatar - the movie - at BigHollywood.
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GeekDad: 10 Things You and Your Kids Will Want From E3.
Sorry, guys. No E3 booth babes. I’d tune in to G4 for that. They should have extensive E3 coverage.
I know my E3 coverage has been non-existent. And I apologize. I love videogames, although I just don’t play them regularly anymore (I haven’t upgraded to a next-gen console yet, either). But in between politics, film, and TV, I just don’t seem to have the time. I wish I could hire a videogame editor, but no chance of that either.
I certainly appreciate any news tips or scoop you may care to send me by e-mail, though.
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The LAT discovers the Happy Unemployed: For the funemployed, unemployment is welcome.
Funny how stories like this one never surface during Republican administrations, when the slightest macroeconomic hiccup is often painted by liberals and their MSM allies as a tragic recession.
What’s next? Funflation? Everything is more expensive, so it’s like adding value to your life!
Anything to prepare the battlespace for the recrimination that is sure to come, I guess.
UPDATE: Ace links. Thanks!
MORE: JWF has a different take: he’s experienced funemployment personally. I guess my law school years could have been funemployment too (I put an abrupt stop to 11 years of steady employment to get a law degree). Except for the studying, the papers, and the substantial student loans, that is…
ANOTHER ONE: Reader Gekkobear follows up by making a case for something even better than funflation: Winflation! “The one possible upside to look for” in what he acknowledges has “many downsides”:
The “average” American household debt is over $100,000. With inflation the debt won’t rise, but the corresponding value of the item owned will.
Hence… “Winflation”.
That’s what I usually hear when I lament my law school debt. And it is a comforting thought when you look back at loans.
But prospectively it’s a different story. The fact remains that as inflation rises and the value of each dollar decreases, the cost of credit (interest rates) goes up. So eventually the leveraging party loses steam; and you end up like 90′s Argentina; or 80′s Mexico (which I had the displeasure of experiencing).
Or 70′s America, with trucker movies, disco, and worse, although not necessarily in that order.
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Reuters: Obama seeks to change Muslim perceptions of U.S.
Good luck with that. Why don’t you try to change their religion while you’re at it? Your odds of success are about the same.
Let’s just say it’s a pointless exercise. And that’s not just my opinion: Reuters: Iran says Obama sweet talk not enough for Muslims.
Perhaps we should just tell Muslims that if they let us be, we’ll let them be; although, if they ever need American help – like our servicemen gave them in Kuwait, Somalia, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and even Iraq – they may come to regret the bargain.
Obama’s time could have been better spent asking Muslims to foster justice and freedom, instead of buttering them up, but that would be inappropriate because the U.S. can’t “impose its values” on them just like that.
And here I thought human rights were universal values. Who knew?
UPDATE: U.S. Muslims respond positively. Of course they do. It takes a certain kind of person to immigrate to the U.S. so they can bust their ass to make a living. And we should show them great appreciation. It’s the buttering up of the international Muslim community that I think is a useless gesture of appeasement.
MORE: Ed Morrisey also liked what he heard. Who knew?
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Rober Ebert: That’s Not the Imax I Grew Up With.
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Politico: Gay groups grow impatient with Obama.
I never thought I’d see a core liberal constituency holding “Obama Fail” and “Obama Fraud” signs. But there you have it.
Of course, many people out there who support gay rights are contributing to the problem by focusing their frustration on individuals of little political influence while giving Obama a free ride. Right, Hollywood?
