Andrew Stuttaford reviews a classic book on totalitarian art.
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Jehuda
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Jehuda
Backwards ran the rhetoric: Nicholas Kristoff extolls the virtues of “Our Lefty Military” and puts it out as a model to imitate by society at large. Hmm. Why does that sound familiar?
Snark aside, I think Kristoff is missing the forest for the trees when he refers to the U.S. military as a “model of compassion”. One of the reasons why employment benefits in the military are far more generous than those offered in the private sector is that the Pentagon doesn’t have to make a profit to stay “in business”, as it were. But if people like Kristoff are starting to look to the military for political direction, the elite Left must be experiencing more uncertainty than anyone could have imagined. And really, who can blame them?
Next thing you know, Kristoff et al. will call for a reinstatement of the draft, all in the spirit of fomenting the adoption of a “model of compassion”. Heck, Kristoff even – ever so subtly – gives the ROTC program a compliment in that piece, so you really can’t rule anything out.
UPDATE (June 23): Looks like Kristoff is not the only member of the elite Left who is now embracing what he and his confreres told us for years to reject. Is this what happens when your ideology hits a dead end at every turn?
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Jehuda
2008 local news report profiles the gangsters Janice Hahn freed in L.A.:
Rape, murder, and automatics! Oh, my! Those are some of the issues in CA-36. Making TRUSA’s attack ad an issue instead is a desperate attempt by Hahn’s campaign and her supporters to help her avoid responsibility for what were evidently some very poor policy choices.
At its most elemental, that’s what any election should be about: can this candidate cut it? If so, why? If not, why not? Otherwise, voters have nothing to go on but abstracts and empty words when it comes to judging the candidates courting their vote. And we know what happens when you vote on nothing but abstracts and empty words.
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Jehuda
THR: Premiere of Olbermann’s re-incarnated Countdown beats CNN in target demographic. 179,000 viewers to 89,000.
Keep in mind CurrentTV is carried by few cable systems; as opposed to CNN, which can be seen everywhere.
Of course, 179,000 is not that impressive a number, either. As a TV executive friend of mine once said, “I can open a window and have a bigger audience” (Not really – maybe when I lived in NYC). But this must be something of a humiliation for CNN…
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Jehuda
Are some pro-Hahn Democrats threatening to make things explosive for TRUSA?
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Jehuda
CNNMoney: “Taxpayers have spent $4 billion since 1978 on California’s capital punishment system — and with only 13 executions to show for it. That’s about $308 million per execution.”
Now Californians may have to abolish the death penalty in order to balance the state budget. But given that death row in California is such a joke, maybe it’s for the best. Just another instance of Blue State decline, I suppose…
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Jehuda
The recently released anti-Janice Hahn attack ad directed by Ladd Ehlinger was bound to ruffle feathers. Now Turn Right USA, the PAC responsible for the ad, has become the object of a DDOS attack on their website. But have they uncovered the man responsible for the attack?
Sounds like another instance of ‘Freedom of Speech for me but not for thee’, all too common among the oh-so-tolerant Left.
Now the FBI is involved. Stay tuned.
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Jehuda
With a redesign and a whole new section.
Incidentally, Prof. Jacobson of LegalInsurrection has also relaunched his blog, at a new url: legalinsurrection.com
No more Google Blogger!
UPDATE: And now there’s also Dan Collins’ new project on the web, The Conservatory, which he’s launched with Joy McCann. I like their style and coverage! Check them out.
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Jehuda
Of course he does: Russian president Medvedev wants to see Obama re-elected.
And I bet you Brezhnev was hoping Carter would get re-elected, too…
Related content at Power Line.
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Jehuda
The Obama administration has been full of unpleasant surprises for both sides of the political divide. The Left – if not heartbroken – must be stunned.
On the Right, we’re suffering from face-palm overdose. But we did issue many a warning about Obama back in 2008 while the Left and its media apparatch-holes (hi, Journo-List!) did everything they could to cover up or airbrush Obama’s obvious shortcomings.
Well, now we learn that what has been looking like an imperial presidency is run very much like one: NYT: Obama overruled 2 Top Lawyers In Libya War Debate. Turns out that it’s not a war when the president does it! Funny how Obama just keeps channeling Nixon.
Democrats and Lefties everywhere
must beare kicking themselves like a jilted girlfriend. But they had it coming. They’ve been sold out and lied to…but then again they sold themselves to the Hope and Change marketing machine and lied to everyone they could about it. Like some Lefties are so fond of saying: You reap what you sow…Related: More hubris and nemesis news from Ed Driscoll.
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Jehuda
Steve Benen: When The Networks Muted Pelosi: “The major cable news networks waited with bated breath for Pelosi to start talking. But the moment she turned her attention to job creation and the middle class, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News immediately decided they were no longer interested…No Weiner. No coverage.”
Can you blame them? It’s not like Pelosi can speak with any credibility about either job creation or the middle class, right? Anything she would have said about Weinergate would have been infinitely more relevant than her thoughts on either topic.
Plus, she’s not Speaker anymore. I know that shouldn’t matter because she’s the minority leader; but I enjoy saying it as much as I enjoy saying she’s the minority leader…
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Jehuda
Remember that old Insty intra-meme? ‘Name That Party’, which referred to instances of MSM organs omitting the party affiliation of morally-challenged Democrats whenever coverage was given to their pecadilloes?
The formula evidently has evolved: A headline for a Reuters-sourced article posted on the website of an Indian affiliate of CNN’s is actually referring to Anthony Weiner as a “U.S. Republican”. The article seems to be an edited version of this Reuters item (they share some paragraphs in common).
To be honest, I believe this is the result of poor research from an overseas organ, more than the result of bias. But really, how can anyone mistake Weiner for a member of the GOP? He’s so obviously a Democrat. Republicans in similar circumstances are forced out of office within days and no one steps to make excuses for them or to defend them (not even fellow Republicans); while Weinergate unraveled in a period of about 3 weeks amid an outpouring of support and skepticism from multiple Leftie pundits, Sorosphere apparatch-holes, and liberal glitterati.
Via Jonah Goldberg.
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Jehuda
The saga of Weiner’s errant wiener has come to an end. Or as a Facebook friend posted: “If you tweet your meat, you lose your seat.”
I expect Weiner will sublimate his thirst for power and womenfolk (and penchant for lying) in a manner analogous to Al Gore’s reinventing himself as Lord Protector of Planet Earth. Maybe not achieving the same degree of success as Al Gore; and certainly not in the same genre as Al Gore (science fiction), but maybe in erotica or something along those lines.
But he’ll bounce back somehow. Heck, if Elliot Spitzer can get a TV show…
UPDATE: TOM has a robust roundup on this latest development…
MORE: HotAir on Weiner’s next move: Could Weiner escape ethics probe by resigning and running for seat again?
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Jehuda
Introducing the Happy Hot Dog Man:
I suspect the congressman would not approve, though.
But wait! There’s more: Related: Why Anthony Weiner Can’t Leave Congress.
UPDATE: Weiner scandal far from petering out: TOM has the latest on that Delaware 17-year old and Professor Douglas has the latest on porn star Ginger Lee’s involvement.
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Jehuda
Ladd Ehlinger is at it again: “She ran a city program that coddled gang members, paid them with taxpayer money, got them out of jail to rape and kill again.” Now she wants to run for a seat in the U.S. Congress. Who is she? You’ll have to click here to find out.
I’ll tell you right now that she’s been a member of the Los Angeles City Council for about a decade. I lived in L.A. for almost 17 years and I can also tell you that’s not exactly a resume enhancer for her…
UPDATE: The predictable response. What’s so stunning about the ad? The imagery is the same as that of countless hip-hop videos. If the ad is nothing but lies, Hahn should sue for defamation. The fact that all she’s done is call for “condemnation” speaks volumes. Her calling it “sexist towards all women” is hilarious. The ad doesn’t address gender roles in any way or fashion. It’s about bad ideas by Janice Hahn, not about her being a woman. The ad has definitely taken her by surprise. And now she’s bringing even more attention to it. I’m not sure what I think about her Republican opponent’s reaction. I would have said nothing instead of condemning the ad.
TPM’s suggestion that Ehlinger is racist for describing Los Angeles gangs as mostly African American while citing 2005 gang population statistics from LAPD to back up their insinuation is also highly misleading. The statistics they link to are for Los Angeles County gangs, not for gangs within the City of Los Angeles. Los Angeles County is much larger than the City of L.A.; and a significant number of gang members in the city are African American. Maybe not all of them, but that doesn’t mean most gang members in the city are Latino.
MORE: Related content from TOM.
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Jehuda
Can we keep U.S. forces in Afghanistan for decades? Guardian: Secret US and Afghanistan talks could see troops stay for decades.
Insert your own “They told me that if I voted for McCain” line here. Just make sure it’s about lack of transparency and war so that it fits just right.
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Jehuda
And The Daily Show goes out of its way to punish Crowder by targeting his manager.
Classy move from the people behind the Rally to Restore Sanity, isn’t it?
UPDATE: Related content from Ace.
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Jehuda
“In discussing how a totally bogus Sarah Palin quote made it into a Politico opinion piece, Hagey reverts to the passive voice, not naming names, not focusing in on anyone’s fault”.
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Jehuda
Did Rep. Weiner send obscene photos to a seventeen-year-old?
Wasn’t Mark Foley hounded into resigning for less?
Will Chris Matthews keep blaming “backward” Christian Conservatives over Weiner’s troubles?
And aren’t Dems reaping what they sow?
Stay tuned. This ain’t over yet…
UPDATE: Chris Matthews link was bad. Sorry! Just fixed it.
MORE: Pelosi says Weiner can stay.
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Jehuda
Douchecanoe Diaries: Featuring the incisive commentary of Dan Collins, whom I know from Twitter well enough to tell you he doesn’t suffer fools well. Which probably explains why the blog is so Joan-Walsh-centric.
Via TOM.
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Jehuda
Mediaite: New Weiner Sexting Buddy Emerges. Good times. Sounds to me like the resignation countdown just sped up a bit.
Plus, the obligatory Next Media animation video of the scandal so far.
Next Media is a Taiwanese company about which you can read more here. You’ve seen their stuff before.
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Jehuda
Lisa Graas: Why Palin and Bachmann Will Inevitably Butt Heads.
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Jehuda
Compare and contrast: Andrew Breibart crushes MSM and Sorosphere with Weiner. Meanwhile, the AOL/HuffPo sort of sounds like the Obama Administration in microcosm. Or worse!
UPDATE: Related content from Prof. Jacobson: Charles Johnson won’t apologize to Breitbart: “Not a freaking chance. If Weiner admits to sending the pictures in question, I’ll be surprised and disappointed, but I’m never going to apologize for calling it as I see it.” It almost sounds as if Johnson is describing the way he sees things as the wrong way…
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Jehuda
Of course he isn’t. Only Republicans are expected to resign in this sort of situation…
UPDATE: Whoa! Dems calling for ethics probe? (and not of Andrew Breitbart, either).
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CBS News: Probe Could Give Weiner More Headaches.
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WSJ: “The White House said Wednesday that taxpayers could lose roughly $14 billion of the money spent on auto industry bailouts“.
Funny. Just last week – or the week before that – I was at the gym incidentally watching MSNBC ‘s Ed Schulz proclaiming that all the Congressional Republicans who dared to describe the auto bailouts as a waste of taxpayers’ money were dirty liars…or something like that. You know, your typical Ed Schulz fare. I wonder if he’ll apologize to them when he’s allowed back on the air?
Of course, the White House didn’t just say the above. They added that “while ‘there is no joy’ in acknowledging that loss, the bailout succeeded in saving jobs and preventing a broader industry collapse”. That’s some pricey success, isn’t it?
So what they’re saying is that the $14 billion loss was worth it and maybe even necessary? That’s a little hard to accept as even making some sense. Ford Motor Co. is part of the same industry, employs the same unionized workers, accepted no bailout funds…and yet is thriving. But then again, I don’t expect anyone at the White House to be able to tell a good investment from a bad one…
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Jehuda
Satellite images of North Korean Prison Camps show 200,000 living as slaves.
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Jehuda
Size matters (story size, that is) and that’s bad news for Rep. Weiner: “The supply-and-demand incentives for coverage of this story are therefore so strong that, liberal bias or not, the major news networks can’t simply ignore it.”
But Weiner’s clumsy handling of the event is partly to blame. Talk about the emperor having no clothes. “Can’t say with certitude” whether the picture was of his own crotch or not? And this after downgrading the proximate cause of the kerfuffle from the ever-reliable computer hack to a mere prank? This doesn’t look like a cover-up anymore. It looks like a desperate cry for damage control.
Related: Some great Weiner puns at the Tygrrrr Express.
UPDATE: Interesting theory: “Rep Weiner did not send the tweet. Neither did Dan Wolfe. The reason Rep Weiner is so shifty on this [is] because it is his wiener, and he is horribly embarrassed that he took that picture, leaving himself so vulnerable in such a boneheaded way.” (via Insty)
MORE: R.S. McCain links with even more Weiner content! Thanks!
ANOTHER ONE: Theory debunked?
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Jehuda
Ben Shapiro on the subjects of his new book
, Primetime Propaganda: “Hollywoodites admit openly to messaging their product, and to their scorn for conservative Americans. I’m just reporting what they told me.”
It’s not like we needed any convincing, but it’s good to hear it coming straight from the horse’s mouth. Not everyone in the industry is like that, but many are. And it sure doesn’t hurt, careerwise…
Which is why when I hear Media Matters bitch and moan about Fox News, I just have to roll my eyes…
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Jehuda
Cult of Personality: Putin battles terrorists and public protests in new comic book.
Both equally noxious threats, I suppose…
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Slate: Perry says he’s now considering running for the White House.
So now he’s “considering” it. I guess that’s something…
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Jehuda
Presumptive Strauss-Kahn successor facing prosecution over financial sleaze.
Related: Closer to home, Arnold Schwarzenegger is starting to look like the West Coast version of Elliot Spitzer…
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Jehuda
“ABC News reports this morning that Justice Department officials have given the green light on criminal charges to be filed against former presidential candidate John Edwards“.
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Jehuda
Going for a little post-modern fashion statement…or something…
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Jehuda
The rumors are picking up steam, with Laura Ingraham adding fuel to the fire.
I hope it’s all true. And I say that not just as a proud native Texan, but as someone who believes Perry has a good chance against Obama.
UPDATE: Related content at HotAir: Growing jobs is big in Texas.
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Jehuda
Exploring a new genre: Sully leaves the Palin-centric uterine mystery milieu (momentarily, no doubt) to start penning a Zionist conspiracy thriller.
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Jehuda
Ed Driscoll on how to be forgiven for uttering just about anything: “Depends on who the listeners are.”
Or on who the utterer is…
UPDATE: Same Roger Ebert Who Sees Coded Racism in ‘Food Stamps’ Excuses Director’s Pro-Nazi Rant.
I rest my case…
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Jehuda
Arnold is very much in the news today, at least in the world of entertainment news.
But here’s another side of Arnold that you didn’t know about…or 30 sides, to be precise:
UPDATE: Heh.
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Jehuda
Former global warming alarmist says carbon warming too minor to worry about.
And he’s a climate scientist, too.
Finally, we can disagree with Al Gore without being “denialists”. I can live with that…
Via HotAir.
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Jehuda
