Thoughts on Romney's Tax Returns

Yesterday, Matthew Romney (the second eldest son of Mitt Romney) had to apologize yesterday after telling an audience in Concord, New Hampshire on Thursday that his father would release his tax returns "as soon as President Obama releases his grades and his birth certificate."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Suppose Santorum Wins Iowa

For the sake of argument, let's suppose Rick Santorum shocks the world and wins the Iowa Caucus next Tuesday.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Bailey of Boston (Or is Michael Lewis Planning to Write Moneyball II?)

Yesterday, the Boston Red Sox acquired closer Andrew Bailey along with outfielder Ryan Sweeney from the Oakland Athletics for outfielder Josh Reddick and minor league prospects Miles Head and Raul Alcantara.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

What's Not in CBS News' Political Gaffes of 2011 List

With 2011 drawing to a close, people are writing up year end lists. I am no exception to this and have just finished up a year end list of my own concerning the worst of President Obama in 2011 which I hope will be up on the main ite either tomorrow or Thursday.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Zany Might Not Be That Bad After All

Romney insists in regards to Gingrich that "zany is not what we need in a President".

By that, one must assume Romney considers as "zany" a willingness to at least consider approaches to issues outside of the box and observing where our time fits with the overall flow of history.

To Romney, it seems how things are going now are, to use vocabulary fitting with his own patterns of speech, "just peachy".

But one supposes there really isn't anyway of ascertaining such since Romney also informed us that we really didn't need an historian either.

And just think, he could have likely gotten by with it if it weren't for those pesky kids.

Thought I would toss that in if candidates are going to start sounding like they are doing voiceovers for Scooby-do episodes from the mid 70's.

by Frederick Meekins

More Terrorism in Nigeria on Christmas

For the second Christmas in a row, Boko Harum, an Islamic terrorist group, has committed multiple terrorist attacks against churches in Nigeria.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Gorby Calls on Putin to Quit

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has called upon Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to resign.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Anyone lecture these Occupy Wall Street beatniks on giving back to the COMMUNITY? They don't even have the decency to hold their bowels in public.

Regarding this "giving back to the COMMUNITY" drivel. The average person does that everyday they go to work, pay their taxes, occasionally slip something into the collection plate at church, and doesn't rampage in the streets like this Occupy Wallstreet & Air Jordan mobs.

GOP Debates Then & Now

So let me see if I have this straight. Quin Hillyer is now claiming that Newt Gingrich is arrogant and committing an act of "bad karma" because he challenged Mitt Romney to a one on one debate.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

New Yorker Cartoon Exposes Bias & Not Historical Realities

It has been observed that often a picture is worth a thousand words. By this, it is meant that often a witty image can more quickly convey an idea than a written exposition.

Another truism nearly as classic insists that the only thing we learn from history is that we don't learn anything from history.

A prime example of these working in tandem could be found on the cover of a late 2011 edition of the New Yorker Magazine. Depicted violating the U.S. southern border were migrants adorned not in sombreros but rather in what would be considered traditional Thanksgiving pilgrim garb.

Such doodling, though admittedly humorous, displays a number of questionable assumptions.

For starters, the cartoon assumes that the illegal aliens of today are the equivalent of the Pilgrim settlers.

In addressing this issue, emphasis must be placed upon ILLEGAL.

The migrants coming here today are doing so in violation of the agreed upon governing authorities of the territorial United States.

The English Separatists voyaging here aboard the Mayflower committed no such transgression. In fact, the pioneers making that trek were so eager to see law and order established that among their first acts was to promulgate the Mayflower Compact. They are not to blame if the Indians did not have an as developed sense of property as we have in our own Western tradition or that there was not as much of a need to enforce borders back then as there is today.

The naive will likely respond but, if our Founders were all immigrants, who are we to forbid entrance to those that come here after us?

If that is the case, should those making such a case (especially if they are White) be forced to not only provide shelter to any minority squatter that crawls in through an open window but also cook daily meals and provide laundered sheets for the uninvited house guests? If not, how is amnesty and assorted social welfare benefits going to those that have not earned them any different?

Those fawning all over the border violators of today will gush incessantly how moral and family oriented these blatant criminals are just like the Pilgrim settlers coming here to start a new life. Even the likes of alleged conservatives such as Dr. Dobson of Focus on the Family have at times been duped by this as evidenced by the time he got atop his Colorado high horse and proceeded to castigate Pat Buchanan regarding the syndicated columnist's classic "The Death Of The West".

However, just how moral are these new arrivals when one of their foremost weekend activities is bawdy drunkenness that often results in public urination? It's doubtful many Pilgrims blared music until 3 AM given the solemnity and austerity for which the rigorous Protestants of that era were renowned.

Often leftists like to harp on the decline that befell the American Indians once the historical paths of these people groups intersected with those of the Europeans. Then let's draw on some lessons from that episode as to why the United States of today must curtail the numbers crossing over the nation's frontiers.

If the migrants of today are to be construed through the prism that they are the equivalent of the Pilgrim "foreparnets" (no need to set off radical feminists among fanatic grammarians), it must be pointed out that their famed work ethic wasn't the only thing the early Puritans brought with them. They also brought a number of diseases against which the population already residing here had little immunity.

Sadly, little can be done to prevent the suffering and death from the epidemics that swept across the New World centuries ago. But with the germ theory of disease that has developed since that time, shouldn't we honor those passing in that tragedy by clamping down on our own borders by only granting admittance to those from beyond our borders that adhere to the most rigorous of health standards?

Don't think this is a valid concern? Then why are not only diseases once thought conquered or at least under control such as tuberculosis but even bedbugs as well making a resurgence?

Nation-states exist primarily for the benefit of those already living within the boundaries of a particular delineated territory that have a proper legal basis for being there. Once a culture loses its wherewithal to defend this particular principle, it won't be long until it is swept into the dung heap of history.

by Frederick Meekins

Ron Paul Still Needs to Seriously Answer Newsletter Questions

On December 15th, Jeff Lord predicted that Ron Paul would have to "seriously answer" for his newsletters as he ascended in the polls in Iowa.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

UN Holds Moment of Silence for Kim Jong-Il

Here's yet another reason why I don't care for the UN.

Today, the UN General Assembly held a moment of silence for Kim Jong-Il.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Mitt Fears Newt

In an interview with the AP while campaigning in New Hampshire today, Mitt Romney said he would not meet Newt Gingrich in a one on one debate "out of respect" for the other candidates in the GOP race.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Abbas Meets with "Terrorist Temptress" in Turkey

Yesterday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas travelled to Turkey where he met with 11 Palestinians who had been freed from Israeli jails as part of the deal which saw the release of Corporal Gilad Schalit back in October.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

No Room for Civil Disobedience in The Military

I know Reid Smith is playing devil's advocate but there is no room for civil disobedience (whether it be from the shoreline of Walden Pond or not) when it comes to Pvc. Bradley Manning or any other member of the U.S. military.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Did Carter Wish Kim Jong-Un "Every Success"?

We know likes of Raul Castro, Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega and Robert Mugabe are grieving over the loss of their fellow tyrant Kim Jong-Il.

Well, North Korea's state run news agency is claiming that former President Jimmy Carter expressed his condolences on the passing of Kim Jong-Il and wished his youngest son Kim Jong-Un "every success."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Congratulations Rachel!!!

My congratulations to Rachel for making RightWing News 50 Best Political Quotes for 2011 list.

I should note that my American Spectator colleague Robert Stacy McCain also made the list at #44.

Obama: There He Goes Again

You probably know by now that President Obama told Steve Kroft in an unaired portion of his 60 Minutes interview earlier this month that he had accomplished more in his first two years in office than any other President "with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

The World's Tyrants Mourn Kim Jong-Il

If a man can be judged by the company he keeps while he lives then I would add that a man can also be judged by those who weep when he dies.

In the case of the recently departed Kim Jong-Il the only people shedding tears for him (apart from the North Koreans forced into publicly outgrieving their neighbors) are the world's tyrants.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Right Wing News releases Third Annual 50 Best Political Quotes of 2011

One of my quotes made #41

“Sexual harassment” is an amorphous word that can be manipulated to infer guilt onto anyone. At some point society has to say enough is enough, this is overkill. Most men are friendly in the workplace and when their friendliness rises to the level of flirting it is all too frequently welcomed and encouraged. The rare incidents where a clueless man does not realize his flirting is not welcome should not be punished by destroying his career. The punishment is overkill and does not fit the behavior. Feminists want to have it both ways which is impossible. They have made the workplace politically correct, imposing laws against sexual harassment, while at the same time permitting flirting in the workplace to continue, letting office romances flourish.

The entire list is here.

Ralph MacDonald, 1944-2011. R.I.P.

Songwriter, producer and percussionist Ralph MacDonald passed away on Sunday of lung cancer. He was 67.

To read the rest of this obituary, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on Chanukah: No Maccabees, No Miracle

In light of the fact that I have just written an article about my twelve favorite Christmas songs, I would be remiss if I didn't write something about Chanukah as it begins tonight at sundown.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

No Lament for Kim Jong-Il

I share John Tabin's sentiments regarding the passing of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Vaclav Havel, 1936-2011. R.I.P.

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel died yesterday at the age of 75 after a lengthy illness.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Leftist Factions Co-opt Rather Than Abolish Holidays

For about the past two decades, those to the left side of the sociopolitical spectrum have made such a fuss over their hostility towards traditional American holidays and celebrations that the arising disputations have themselves become an anticipated aspect of the close of each year. It was claimed such festivities promote values so vile that these sentiments must be expunged from the civic calendar and the very names seldom mentioned for fear of irrevocably harming those not participating for whatever the reason.

Though not always cognizant of the epic spiritual and philosophical struggle taking place all around them, Americans can be a remarkably stubborn and independent lot. As such, a number sympathetic to the process of communalization have realized that they might be more successful in accomplishing their goals through a subdued gradualism rather than through sudden revolutionary upheaval.

The first of the remembrances of the waning year subverted by manipulative social engineers is Thanksgiving. This holiday is despised for a number of common liberal reasons.

For starters, it is argued that Thanksgiving is racist because of the hostilities that eventually erupted between Americans of European origins and the American Indians. However, such criticism fails to recognize that, at the time of the first Thanksgiving Feast, these distinct groups were at accord with one another over the blessings shared amidst hardships and struggle.

Frankly, if you have a problem over the concept of Thanksgiving, you have a serious attitude problem. No one is saying that at points that the Indians weren't screwed over. Yet it must be remembered that some of them gave as good as they got in terms of inflicting violence upon innocent Whites not responsible for crafting or implementing policy.

So if you can't take a few moments to express gratitude for what you do have in this country as a result of the values set in motion there at the beginning even if they weren't adhered to in full at every step along the way, you are yourself harboring a degree of animosity bordering on racism.

The next and probably deeper reason as to why Thanksgiving is really despised despite all the lofty platitudes regarding honoring indigenous cultures and the like is that the day expresses gratitude towards God. In this era of postmodern enlightenment, such homage is to be directed more towards terrestrial sources, the COMMUNITY being foremost among them.

Usually when given the opportunity in a public forum such as the popular press to provide words of encouragement and understanding, those holding positions as professional clergy worthy of their hirer tend to draw focus to what God has done for us, how we have fallen short of the glory of God, and how He still loves us anyway with restoration available for those placing themselves under His mercy. Interestingly, pastors of Emergent Church inclinations would rather go along with the flow rather than prevent the nation's downward slide into tyranny and desolation.

Writing in the November 2011 edition of the Hyattsville Life & Times, pastor of the town's First Baptist Church Todd Thomason asserts that the thing he is grateful for this Thanksgiving season is not so much his God, his freedom, or even his family but rather COMMUNITY. In other words, this pastor does not value people as individuals but rather as part of the overall group.

In his analysis, Thomason in particular reflected upon a power outage following Hurricane Irene. Commenting on what took place, the pastor observes, "But I was hardly the only person offering assistance. It was a wonderful display of community at its best."

If this represents the kind of spiritual insight available at this particular congregation, no wonder the discerning get the impression it is becoming increasingly ensnared in the clutches of communalism.

Thomason continues, "Then the lights came back on and we all went back...to our narrower, more familiar life patterns that...keep us apart."

What this misguided cleric fails to realize is that, by its definition, community does not include everyone and by its nature is necessarily exclusive. That is not necessarily a bad thing.

In a paragraph following this lamentation, Pastor Thomason lists a number of things that he views as obstacles to social harmony. These include categories such as economic status, political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Why aren't these valid categories around which to in part derive one's social identity?

G.K. Chesterton is credited with saying that one should not take a fence down until you know why it was put up. Sometimes the best way to maintain amicable relations is to limit one's interactions with those whose values are diametrically opposed to one's own.

Rev. Thomason, on the other hand, advocates such a compulsory and contrived degree of togetherness that one ought to willingly surrender those convictions of the heart one holds most dear. For usually in those kinds of situations where the parties involved hold to conflicting perspectives, it is the party holding to the higher standard that is forced to adopt the more lax principle.

For example, in terms of religion, if this is not to be one of the categories by which we determine those from the within from those from the without, it is usually the ones that believe that faith alone in Jesus Christ without reliance upon good works is the only means of eternal salvation and not those that believe all paths are equally valid so long as our good works outweigh our evil deeds that are forced to compromise in the name of ecumenical unity. Likewise in regards to sexual orientation, when we supposedly come together setting aside our differences, in the postmodern context that does not mean the promiscuous elevate their behavior by henceforward living lives of repentant abstinence, covenantal monogamy, or at least keep their mouths shut regarding what kinky proclivities they might be into. Rather, it ends up that those espousing a traditional morality are the ones not only shamed into silence but forced to smile and applaud in affirmation under threat of punitive denunciation.

Until recently, the disputes regarding Thanksgiving have for the most part been of a more subdued or subtle nature. Some of the really great battles of the culture war have instead broken out over Christmas.

The key to winning any conflict is controlling how that conflict is expressed in terms of language and conceptualization. Those that despise Christmas and the Christ that the celebration was originally intended to honor have gone to considerable lengths to minimize the mention of the day's very name.

Occasionally this is accomplished under threat of some kind of punishment on the part of the state. More often, this is achieved by attempting to shame these words out of common usage by crafting elaborate reasons as to why the values given lip service by petty despots such diversity, inclusion, and hyperpluralism are to be extolled at the expense of those preferred by the average person.

For example, the Hyattsville Reporter insert of the November 2011 edition of the Hyattsville Life & Times lists a number of events to be held by the municipality throughout the month of December such as the "Annual Holiday Tree Lighting", breakfast with Santa, and a memorial toy drive. At no point in the announcement is the reader informed as to why these events are being held this time of year rather than in the middle of the summer as Christmas is never mentioned.

In the past, it was claimed in connection with this very issue that the phraseology "holiday" has to be utilized since not everyone celebrates Christmas. If so, then why is the word invoked in the column immediately to the left?

The heading reads none other than "We're Dreaming Of A Green Christmas". However, what follows does not so much detail what certain individuals plan to do themselves but rather what they hope to guilt trip everybody else into.

For example, in regards to gifts, it is literally insinuated "You shouldn't have." Instead of traditional gifts, the responsible consumer rather gives donations to charities or purchases locally made items. In other words, things nobody really wants.

As in the case of the blurb about domestic artificial and locally grown trees, the reason behind locally produced gift items has nothing to do with bolstering the U.S. economy. Rather, it is about reducing the distance for ecological reasons the miles goods and supplies are transported. But unless an artist or craftsman forges, smelts, or mixes their own supplies, does it really matter if the assorted petrochemicals are assembled down the street or across the country since they will still have to travel the exact same distance?

In "The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe", the tyranny imposed by the White Witch upon Narnia is categorized as it being always winter but never Christmas. It seems now the next stage of villainy has developed where the White Witches of our own time and realm instead wish to use the trappings of this celebration as a tactic in the attempt to implement their assorted agendas.

by Frederick Meekins

Sad Wisdom from Philip Larkin on Iraq

One more thought on the official conclusion to the War in Iraq. As it happens, I am reading Philip Larkin's Collected Poems (edited by Anthony Twaite.) While riding back home on the T, after I had written my lament about Iraq, I read this poem which I have read previously but seemed especially germane under the circumstances.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Goodbye Christopher Hitchens

I learned of Christopher Hitchens passing when I read John Tabin's obit earlier this morning.

To read the rest of this lament, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Fox News Iowa GOP Debate Post-Mortem

Here are my final thoughts on tonight's Iowa GOP Debate in Sioux Falls which aired on the Fox News Channel.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

I'm Surprised Romney Mentioned Rudy

I'm surprised Mitt Romney mentioned Rudy Giuliani's name while answering Megyn Kelly's question on immigration given the unkind words Rudy had for Mitt today not to mention his praise for Newt.

Newt Gives Solid Answers on UN, Keystone Pipeline

Newt is getting stronger as the debate goes on and has just given solid answers on both questions concerning the UN and the Keystone Pipeline.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Ron Paul's Assinine Views on Iran

Yes, you just heard Ron Paul defending Iran's right to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Paul: "I Wouldn't Want More Power" as President

Don't believe anyone running for President who says he wouldn't want more power for himself. Lock your doors.

It's contrary to human nature.

Is Romney Still Mad at Baier?

Bret Baier is asking each of the candidates what they would do if they had a stalemate with Congress in thirty seconds.

Mitt Romney objects to having only thirty seconds to answer the question.

Is Mitt still mad at Baier for asking him "overly aggressive" questions in that juice factory?

Perry: I Hope I'm The Tim Tebow of the Iowa Caucuses

Texas Governor Rick Perry says he hopes he will be the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses.

That will only happen if Republicans are prepared to give Perry the ball.

Thoughts on the End of The Iraq War

I would be remiss if I didn't take note of the official end of the War in Iraq.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on NRO's Anti-Gingrich Editorial

Yesterday, the editors at National Review Online put out a memo imploring the conservative populace at large not to cast its fate, much less its vote for Newt Gingrich.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Justin Trudeau's Fecal Intervention

If people think political discourse is less than civil in the United States then they ought to look north of the border.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

I'll Tell You What's Zany

Yesterday, in an interview with The New York Times, Mitt Romney called Newt Gingrich "zany."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Reagan Admired FDR Too

Quin Hillyer's latest salvo against Newt Gingrich concerns his long standing admiration for Franklin Delano Roosevelt. To be precise, he is miffed that Newt called FDR "the greatest President of the 20th Century."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

The GOP Field & The Ryan Plan

With regard to Paul Ryan's criticism of Newt Gingrich, I respectfully disagree with Joe Lawler's assertion the other GOP candidates have "signed on" to Ryan's fiscal reforms. Although some of the candidates have had kind words for various aspects of Ryan's plan they haven't exactly fallen all over themselves to give his plan their unconditional, wholehearted endorsement with perhaps the notable exception of Jon Huntsman.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

The Specter of Santorum

I appreciate Quin for his reply to my query as to why he believes Rick Santorum's endorsement of Arlen Specter in 2004 is less objectionable than Newt Gingrich's endorsement of Dede Scozzafava in 2009.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Down in the Trumps

A few days ago, I speculated that with only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum agreeing to attend the Donald Trump moderated Newsmax GOP debate, the debate might not proceed.

Well, today The Donald announced he was withdrawing as debate moderator.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

What's The Difference Between Scozzafava & Specter?

Quin Hillyer is once again reminding us of Newt Gingrich's endorsement of Dede Scozzafava in New York's 23rd Congressional District back in 2009 as he has done previously.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Belgian Grenade Attack Could Be Linked to Honor Killing Sentence

Three people have been killed and 75 people have been wounded after a man fired a machine gun and threw grenades outside a courthouse in Liege, Belgium.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Arab League Condemns Newt

On Sunday, a spokesman for the Arab League condemned Newt Gingrich's remarks about the Palestinians being "an invented people" calling them "irresponsible and dangerous."

Newt should wear their condemnation as a badge of honor.

Thoughts on Ryan Braun

Over the weekend, news broks that NL MVP Ryan Braun had a positive drug test during the post-season. Braun disputes the results of this test and is appealing. If he loses that appeal, the Brewers leftfielder will serve a 50-game suspension at the beginning of the 2012 season.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Remember When Obama Mistook Bob Gates for Bill Gates

Texas Governor Rick Perry took heat over the weekend for flubbing Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's name (he called her Motomayor) and for stating there are eight justices on the Supreme Court rather than nine.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Frightening article about the future of this country as Agenda 21 is implemented

One way homeowners are being forced out of single-family homes is by increasing the number of onerous regulations they are forced to comply with.

"Another common element of these plans is to limit the activity that may occur within the various plan designations. In King County, Washington, for example, property owners in some parts of the county are required to leave 65% of their land unused, in its "natural" condition. Known as the 65-10 Rule, it calls for landowners to set aside 65 percent of their property and keep it in its natural, vegetative state. According to the rule, nothing can be built on this land, and if a tree is cut down, for example, it must be replanted. Building anything is out of the question."

Read the article

ABC Iowa GOP Debate Post-Mortem

Here are my thoughts on Saturday's GOP debate broadcast by ABC and co-sponsored by the Des Moines Register and Yahoo.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Bachmann Praises 9-9-9?

Twice during the debate Michele Bachmann made a point of praising Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Perry & Romney Praise Paul

It's interesting to see how both Rick Perry and Mitt Romney went out of their way to praise Ron Paul.

Now Stephanopoulos & Sawyer Talk Civility

After spending the entire night goading the candidates to beat up on each other (particularly Gingrich and Romney) now they lectures the candidates about civility. Please give me break.

GOP Discussion on Israel

Well, that was a quite a discussion on Israel.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Marital Fidelity

I realize the question of marital fidelity was posed by the Des Moines Register but to hear it from Stephanopulos' mouth is really quite ripe. On the other hand Newt handled the question well. It should be noted he was the last candidate to answer the question. Other candidates like Santorum said it shouldn't be a disqualifier and thus blunted the impact of the question by the time it came Newt's way.

Newt Romney?

Didn't Newt Romney coach at Notre Dame?

They're Taking Stephanopoulos Bait

George Stephanopoulos is baiting Romney, Paul and Bachmann against Gingrich. Those Clinton Administration folks hold a grudge for a long time.

Why Does the GOP Prefer Stephanopoulos over Trump?

The GOP debate is about to get underway on ABC.

Let me see if I get this straight. They have no problem with a debate being moderated by George Stephanopoulos but five of the seven GOP candidates think Donald Trump is beyond the pale.

I'm just sayin'.

Newt is Right About The "Palestinians"

Newt Gingrich is drawing fire for arguing that the Palestinians are an "invented people."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Occupy Boston Ends After 70 Days

Occupy Boston went out with a whimper as the Boston Police Department swept in early this morning, arrested the remaining 46 occupiers and took down their tents without incident.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

David Stern Pulls a Bowie Kuhn

When I read that NBA Commissioner David Stern had nullified a three team trade between the New Orleans Hornets, the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers that would have sent Chris Paul from the Hornets to the Lakers, while the Lakers would have sent Lamar Odom to the Hornets and Pau Gasol to the Rockets, respectively, "for basketball reasons" the first thing that came to mind was the late Bowie Kuhn, who served as MLB Commissioner from 1969 to 1984.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Rick Perry's Peculiar Ad

Rick Perry's ad in Iowa strikes me as more odd than offensive.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Obama & Delegitimizing Israel

Yesterday, Reid Smith posed the question, "So what can we do for Israel?" Based on the "seven existential threats" criteria set out by Michael Oren, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Smith concludes "there's not a whole lot America can do for Israel that it's not already doing."

I don't entirely agree.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Pujols Goes to Anaheim

Albert Pujols, a St. Louis Cardinal since 2001, is heading west to Anaheim via the Gateway Arch. Pujols has signed a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim worth between $250 and $260 million.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on the Trump GOP Debate

Jeff Lord and Reid Smith differ on the merits of Donald Trump moderating a GOP debate.

Although I'm not a fan of Trump and was highly critical of him during the birther nonsense, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul and especially Mitt Romney aren't doing themselves any favors by ducking The Donald. As of this writing, neither Rick Perry nor Michele Bachmann have made a decision to as to whether they will attend. Rick Santorum figures he has nothing to lose by accepting the invitation while Newt, of course, just loves a good debate.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Ambassador Gutman's Gutlessness

Earlier today, Ross Kaminsky shared his thoughts with regard to the remarks of Howard Gutman, our Ambassador to Belgium, regarding Muslim anti-Semitism. Kaminsky also recommended Robert M. Goldberg's article which appears on the front page today which discusses the Obama Administration's unceasing hostility towards Israel.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Harry Morgan, 1915-2011. R.I.P.

Actor Harry Morgan has died at the age of 96. His cause of death has not been released.

To read the rest of this obituary, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Mass Dems & Baseball

I appreciate Joe Lawler for linking to the video showing Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats vying to face off against Scott Brown next year unable to answer the simplest of questions.

In what years, this century, did the Red Sox win the World Series?

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Glad to Hear Newt Can Count on Quin's Support

I seem to have hit a raw nerve with Quin Hillyer when I asked him if he would support President Obama should Newt Gingrich be the GOP nominee in 2012.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

A Question for Quin

In the space of less than a month, Quin Hillyer has written ten items about Newt Gingrich. To be precise, Quin has written nine blog posts and today has written a feature article about the former House Speaker.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Dobie Gray, 1940-2011. R.I.P.

Singer Dobie Gray has passed away at the age of 71. His cause of death has not been released.

To read the rest of this obituary, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Francona for Valentine

Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona has accepted a job with ESPN and will join Dan Shulman and Orel Hershiser in the broadcast booth on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball for the 2012 season.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on Ron Paul & The Republican Jewish Coalition

Like Jeff Lord, I don't care much for Ron Paul's foreign policy nor do I care for the anti-Semitic inclinations of some of his followers.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Ron Santo's Bittersweet Hall of Fame Election

At long last, Ron Santo is going to Cooperstown. Today, at MLB's Winter Meetings in Dallas, the "Golden Era" Veterans Committee finally elected legendary Chicago Cubs third baseman to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Canada Won't Sign Onto Kyoto II

Canada is raising eyebrows both at home and abroad for announcing it will not sign onto the second phase of the Kyoto Protocol. Peter Kent, Canada's Minister of the Environment, made the announcement today in Durban, South Africa. The current agreement expires at the end of 2012.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Panetta Goes All MSNBC on Israel

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is at it again where it concerns Israel.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on Huckabee's GOP Forum

Kudos to Mike Huckabee for bringing together the GOP candidates (save for Jon Huntsman) for a forum on his Fox News Channel show.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Cain Moves to Plan B

I watched Herman Cain's speech announcing the suspension of his presidential campaign filled with a mixture of sadness, anger and good cheer.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on Gingrich-Huntsman Debate

Joe Lawler is right when he says that a one on one debate between Jon Huntsman and Newt Gingrich in New Hampshire could be of enormous benefit to Huntsman especially given that he has put all his stakes in the Granite State.

On the other hand, in most of the GOP debates in which he has participated, Huntsman has been snarky and insufferably annoying. I mean if that's the impression Huntsman can convey in five minutes then imagine what could happen if he has the floor for an hour.

Who Wants Donovan McNabb?

Yesterday, quarterback Donovan McNabb asked for and was granted his release by the Minnesota Vikings.

As I write this, NFL teams have about ten minutes to claim McNabb before he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Holy Faith Governor Chafee

Jeff Lord illustrates the silliness of Lincoln Chafee calling a Christmas tree a Holiday tree. Let me add to Chafee's conundrum.

By Chafee's reasoning, if he were Governor of New Mexico, wouldn't he have to rename Santa Fe? Translated into English, Santa Fe means Holy Faith.

Thoughts on the Nov 2011 Unemployment Rate

The national unemployment rate has fallen from 9% to 8.6%, its lowest point since March 2009.

But no one, least of all the Obama Administration, should be jumping for joy.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

The Chancellor of UC Davis should resign; but not for the reasons you might think

Adam Baldwin and Liberty Chick have written an excellent article at Big Journalism analyzing what happened between the Occupiers at UC Davis and the police who came in and pepper sprayed them. They think Chancellor Linda Katehi should resign not because of the pepper spray, but because she allowed the unruly students to get away with mayhem and violate the rights of others. Here are some excerpts:

Protesters have since admitted, they intentionally surrounded the police and blocked them in.

Whether you agree or disagree with cities’ decisions to evict Occupy encampments, the fundamental 1st Amendment rights of the protesters are not being violated. Protesters are still permitted to assemble, they are still permitted to speak, they simply must do so within the limits of the law – free speech is subject to time, place, and manner regulations. Such guidelines exist in order to protect the rights of the public as a whole to safely access the same facilities in an unrestricted manner....The first amendment does not protect the right to camp out or to prohibit others from gaining access to the same spaces.

In fact, not only should Chancellor Katehi resign for her failure to show leadership, but the protesters who violated the Standards of Ethical Conduct should be expelled or punished, not given amnesty. Pepper spray aside, they broke the rules and that has an impact on their fellow community members who chose to be responsible and play by the rules.

Read the full article at Big Journalism

Very few Occupiers show up to protest ALEC; stumped by National Debt Relief Amendment

North Dakota State Senator Curtis Olafson had a little fun with the Occupy protesters this week at the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) annual conference in Scottsdale. Only about 50 protesters showed up yesterday (many shipped in from out of town) and today there was only one lone protester, pictured below. Olafson is trying to get a Constitutional amendment passed to the U.S. Constitution that would require a majority of state legislatures to approve any increase in the federal debt. The Occupiers are ostensibly angry at the federal government's spending and bank bailouts. So Olafson approached a few of them and asked them what they thought about the proposal. The Occupiers had no response, they were completely confused! Why are they protesting ALEC if ALEC's legislators are proposing legislation that would restrict the runaway federal government spending? He walked away with them scratching their heads....

Confederation of Iranian Students Press Release - Basiji Attack on UK Embassy

Iranian Freedom Institute

And

Confederation of Iranian Students

Press Release

 

Basiji-led Attack on the British Embassy in Tehran

 

As the U.S. and its European allies begin to impose effective sanctions on the Islamic Republic, the western democracies should anticipate that the regime will initiate more of these fully-authorized, staged incidents under the guise of a student movement.  The so-called students, of course, are plain-clothed basiji following orders from the regime. Even Moussa Ghornani, a member of the legal committee of the Iranian Parliament, admitted unwittingly in a statement that “the students who entered the British Embassy yesterday were members of one of the official and effective organizations within the regime.” The basiji “students” published an announcement in the Raja News (the official news agency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) that railed against the government of Britain because “this evil government had the audacity to sanction our Central Bank.”

 

The western democracies should take this incident as evidence that the recently imposed sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) have infuriated the regime. And for good reason. The CBI sanctions will disrupt the smooth flow of revenue to the regime that is essential to pay its loyalists, the basiji, and the Revolutionary Guard Corps leadership.  The Iranian Freedom Institute (IFI) and the Confederation of Iranian Students (CIS) applauded the imposition of CBI sanctions noting that this is a major step in the right direction.

 

Contrary to the regime’s propaganda, the Iranian freedom student movement believes the regime has lost its legitimacy and has called repeatedly for its removal.  The western democracies should not be misled by the regime’s subterfuge. The Iranian freedom student movement seeks a free, democratic and secular Iran.  The Confederation of Iranian Students, in particular, has been at the forefront of this fight for basic human rights and freedoms that the Iranian people desperately seek.  Be clear on this point.  The Iranian regime, not the average Iranian citizen, is affected by the CBI sanctions and only the imposition of oil sanctions would have a decisive impact on the Islamic Republic.

 

IFI and CIS believe that the imposition of oil sanctions against the Islamic Republic will cut off the life blood of the regime – the revenue essential to meet the payrolls of its domestic security forces, the basiji and the Revolutionary Guard Corps leadership. The oil sanctions report prepared by the CIS presents a detailed analysis showing how a carefully developed and implemented plan, coordinated closely with the Saudi government, would cripple the Iranian regime and avoid shocking the international oil markets during the current period of international financial turmoil. In this regard, IFI and CIS strongly support French President Sarcozy’s call for international sanctions on the Iranian regime’s oil exports, and will continue their efforts to encourage the U.S. Congress to adopt bipartisan legislation toward that end.

Abe Lincoln in a Turtleneck

O.K, it's Daniel Day-Lewis as Abe Lincoln in jeans and a turtleneck. But if the 16th President of the United States wore a turtleneck then this is what he might look like.

Lincoln, which is being directed by Steven Spielberg, is expected to be released in December 2012.

Obama Pats Himself on the Back

Daniel Halper of The Weekly Standard draws our attention to President Obama's remarks at a campaign event last night in New York City during he which praised himself for his pro-Israel policies - I kid you not.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Obama & Romney: Both Thin Skinned

Earlier today, I wrote about Mitt Romney being piqued with Bret Baier of Fox News.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

The Cain Train Stays on Track

As Jim Antle noted earlier today, Herman Cain has no intention of withdrawing from the GOP presidential race.

Good for him.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Pakistan Fired First

So it turns out Pakistan did fire at NATO and Afghan troops along the Afghan-Pakistani border over the weekend.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Is Occupy Boston Next?

Yesterday, the liberal Democrat mayors of Los Angeles and Philadelphia ordered their police departments to clear Occupy encampments in their respective cities.

Could Boston be the next major city with a liberal Democrat administration which rids itself of the Occupiers? Boston Mayor Tom Menino said, "I want to have the tools to remove them from the Dewey Square area."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Romney Feels Squeezed by Baier

Last night I saw the Mitt Romney interview on Special Report with Bret Baier.

It might have been unwise for Romney to do an interview in the middle of a juice factory because it appears that he downed a bottle of snark nectar before he sat down with Baier. Or perhaps Romney felt that Baier was squeezing him like a lemon because his disposition certainly wasn't peachy.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Red Sox Heart Valentine

ESPN is reporting that the Boston Red Sox have hired Bobby Valentine to be their new manager.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Barney Frank vs. Joel Pollak Revisited

With Barney Frank announcing he will not seek re-election to Congress I thought I would bring you back to one of his greatest misses.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Afghanistan Questions Pakistan's Account of NATO Attack

There is much outrage in Pakistan over a NATO air strike yesterday which took the lives of 24 Pakistani soldiers.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Ron Lyle, 1941-2011. R.I.P.

Former heavyweight boxer Ron Lyle has died of a sudden illness. He was 70.

To read the rest of this obituary, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

NYC Too "Bureaucatic"

For more than seventy years, The Algonquin Hotel in Midtown Manhattan has been world famous for having a cat freely roam much to the delight of its guests.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

The Anti-Semitism of Ron Paul Supporters

As I expected, there were a large quantity of comments by Ron Paul supporters to my article critiquing his foreign policy. Alas quantity often doesn't mean quality. There were, of course, exceptions to the rule but they were few and far between.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

My Op-Ed on Occupy Wall St. en Espanol

After I prasied the NYPD for liberating Zuccotti Park last week, the Spanish language daily El Diario La Prensa asked me to write some additional thoughts about Occupy Wall Street. You can find the piece here.

Please note the piece has been translated into Spanish. The way I look at it is that a whole new audience now has an opportunity to be offended by my writing.

CNN-AEI-Heritage Foundation GOP Debate Post-Mortem

Tonight, I watched the CNN-AEI-Heritage Foundation GOP Debate and here is my evaluation of each candidate.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Newt Takes a Page From Cain on Social Security

When asked about entitlement reform, Newt Gingrich noted how he unveiled a Social Security reform package yesterday in Manchester, New Hampshire based on plans in effect in both Chile and in Galveston, Texas.

Herman Cain has been talking about the Chilean model for months.

Romney: First Foreign Trip is to Israel

Most U.S. Presidents make their first foreign trip to Canada or Mexico. Mitt Romney just said if he is elected President that his foreign trip will be to Israel.

Santorum: I Agree With Ron Paul

Rick Santorum nearly had a stop the presses moment when he said, "I agree with Ron Paul."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Texas Takes a Gamble on Nathan

Yesterday, following a steak dinner, pitcher Joe Nathan agreed to a two-year contract with the Texas Rangers worth $14.5 million with a club option for the 2014 season.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.

Thoughts on Rocky: The Musical

Today, Sylvester Stallone announced plans to bring Rocky to Broadway.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The Spectacle Blog.