Could Francona Be Wearing New Sox?

On September 13th I speculated that if the Boston Red Sox were to collapse and miss the post-season that manager Terry Francona would be out of a job.

Well, thirty-six hors removed from their nadir, it appears that the Red Sox will not be picking up Francona's option for next season following a meeting he had this morning with Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner and Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. The club held options on his contract for both 2012 and 2013.

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

My 2011 MLB Post-Season Predictions

Well, now that I've had a chance to reflect on the collapse of the Boston Red Sox while Larry Thornberry revels in the triumph of the Tampa Bay Rays, I shall make my 2011 MLB post-season predictions.

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

A Note on Canadian Sales Tax

This morning, Ross Kaminsky critiques the merits of Herman Cain's "9-9'-9" plan. Kaminsky particularly objets to the introduction of a national sales tax stating, "Here's the important history lesson: Sales taxes almost never fall."

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

U.S. Born al Qaeda Leader Killed in Yemen

As Joe Lawler noted in his morning round up, Anwar al-Awlaki, the American born al Qaeda leader, was killed this morning in Yemen in a joint operation between the CIA and U.S. Special Forces.

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

Franks, Fortenberry, Aderholt Send Letter on Behalf of Christian Iranian Pastor

Washington D.C. - Representatives Trent Franks (AZ-02), Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01), and Robert Aderholt (AL-04) today sent a letter to Iranian Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini on behalf of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who has been sentenced to execution as early as today for refusing on four separate occasions to recant his Christian faith.

Congressman Trent Franks:

"I am compelled to remind an ostensibly modernized government that it is shameful and cowardly to kill an innocent person for merely practicing his faith. While Iran's leaders claim to uphold tolerance, the Iranian people deserve to know that their government is hypocritically disregarding one of the most fundamental human rights: the ability of the Iranian people to freely choose a faith of their choice.

"I appeal to whatever semblance of humanity may remain in the hearts of Iran's leaders and urge the Obama Administration to make it clear, through every channel possible, that such grievous human rights abuses will not stand."

Congressman Jeff Fortenberry:

“I am deeply grieved by reports of the apostasy verdict issued in the case of Pastor Nadarkhani.  The scope and nature of religious persecution in Iran is deeply disturbing.  Leaders in the civilized community of nations must speak out loudly and clearly against such a drastic violation of basic and commonly held human rights norms.”

Congressman Robert Aderholt:

“Religious freedom is one of the most important and fundamental rights a person should have. The conviction and sentencing of Iranian Christian Pastor, Mr. Youcef Nadarkhani because of his religious beliefs is very unfortunate and violates basic human rights and Iran’s international commitments. No one should be persecuted, discriminated against or face death because of their faith and it is my sincerest hope that Iran’s leaders do what is right and release Pastor Nadarkhani and all those facing persecution because of their faith.”

The full text of the letter is below, click to enlarge.

Sylvia Robinson, 1936-2011. R.I.P.

Singer, songwriter, producer and recording executive Sylvia Robinson passed away this morning of congestive heart failure. She was 75.

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

Perry calls illegal immigration opponents "heartless;" Herman Cain will not support him for president

Rick Perry should have never attempted to defend his support for in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants. Besides defending his position during GOP presidential debates, he has now called those who oppose it "heartless." Way to turn off the entire conservative base. That is akin to saying that the children of parents who have stolen nice stereo equipment should be allowed to use that stereo equipment unlike the rest of us who don't have nice stereo equipment, since it's not their fault that their parents stole the equipment. No, if your parents do something illegally, you should not be rewarded for it. I still have $50,000 in student loans to pay off, some due to paying out of state tuition at the University of Arizona. Fortunately, we have a Governor and legislature here that do not believe that illegal immigrants should get preferential treatment over the rest of us who moved here legally. Herman Cain understands this and has come out against Perry, stating that he cannot support him for president.

Read the article at The Hill

Fleshing Things Out in San Francisco

I read Bob Tyrell's piece this morning on liberalism and the protests in support of public nudity in San Francisco's restaurants and am reminded of the late David Niven's quip when a streaker ran out on stage during the Academy Award ceremonies in 1974.

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

Braves & Red Sox Collapse; Cardinals & Rays Win Wild Card Spots

Tonight, we witnessed the collapse of not one, but two teams that appeared playoff bound a month ago.

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

Should Palin Sue McGinniss & Random House

Robert Stacy McCain provides an excellent overview of what led Sarah Palin's attorneys to contact Random House concerning Joe McGinniss' book Rogue: Searching for the Real Sarah Palin.

Let us assume for argument's sake that Palin does in fact have a case that Random House "knowing published false statements" by McGinniss. Should she actually go ahead and proceed with a lawsuit?

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

Obama Goons Threaten Ford Over Commercial Mentioning Auto Bailout

Obama goons have threatened the Ford Motor Company over a commercial mentioning the auto bailout.

Ford was requested to censor the advertisement because Il Duce's minions assumed the spot "denigrated" the stimulus program and cast aspersions on the Obama presidency.

For supposedly being among the brightest people to ever walk the earth, these statist bureaucrats certainly have the hardest time comprehending the simplest of phrases such the right to free speech shall not be infringed.

I guess such constitutional protections only apply to filthy beatnik protestors on the verge of vandalism.

Guillen Departs Chisox, Bound for Miami

The Ozzie Guillen era is over in Chicago but appears to be starting over in Miami.

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

What The Hikers Don't Understand About Iran

Yesterday, freed American hikers Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal returned to U.S. soil accompanied by Sarah Shourd who was also held captive in Iran with them until she was freed a year ago.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Cain Wins Florida Straw Poll

Herman Cain decisively won the Florida Republican straw poll today by better than a two to one margin over Texas Governor Rick Perry.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Brewers, D'Backs & Rangers Clinch

The MLB post-season picture is much clearer tonight as the Milwaukee Brewers, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers have clinched their divisions.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Another Prediction for Ryan's Health Care Reform Proposals

Joe Lawler makes several predictions concerning Paul Ryan's health care reform proposals to be announced on Tuesday.

Let me add one of my own. I predict there will be people asking why Ryan isn't running for President.

Re: RE: Thoughts on Santorum & DADT

I'm afraid that David N. Bass misses the point of my critique of Rick Santorum's statement on DADT and the question from Stephen Hill which prompted it.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Thoughts on Santorum & DADT

I respectfully disagree with David N. Bass' assertion that American soldier Steven Hill's question concerning the status of gay and lesbian soldiers under a Republican administration was "loaded."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Fox News-Google GOP Debate Post-Mortem

Let me take this moment to sum up the Fox News-Google GOP debate in Orlando.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Gary Johnson Takes a Dig at Obama

Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson has just summed up the Obama Administration's economic policies.

Johnson said, "My next door neighbor's dogs have created more shovel ready jobs than the Obama Administration."

Now that's taking a dig at Obama.

Perry Swinging & Missing vs. Romney

Earlier today, I said that Rick Perry had to come out swinging against Mitt Romney.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Huntsman & Santorum Spar Over Afghanistan, Iraq

Jon Huntsman and Rick Santorum sparred over Afghanistan and Iraq. While my foreign policy views are closer to Santorum than Huntsman, I think Huntsman got the better of the exchange when he said, "America can't save Pakistan. America can't save Afghanistan. Only America can save America."

Perry Holds His Own on Immigration vs. Romney & Santorum

Rick Perry was criticized by Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum for providing illegal immigrants in state tuition. Perry turned it around by focusing on border security. He wasn't exactly given a rousing ovation but he wasn't rattled either.

Romney to Perry: "Nice Try"

Rick Perry took a swipe at Mitt Romney for President Obama's "race to the top" and said "that's not conservative." Not exactly sure what Perry is talking about.

Romney replied, "Nice try."

Round two to Romney.

Romney Needs to Take a Breath

Mitt Romney was asked if he believed President Obama was a socialist. Romney replied by calling him a liberal and disclosing that he didn't inhale. Romney is talking in talking points. He needs to take a breath.

Perry & Romney Throw Books at Each Other

Rick Perry and Mitt Romney are throwing their books at each other. Round one for Perry.

Cain Takes a Swing at Romney

After not a taking a swipe at anyone in the last debate, Herman Cain took Mitt Romney's tax plan to task by saying "that dog won't hunt."

Romney replied without acknowleding Cain.

Perry & Romney Standing Together

The GOP debate is just about to get underway. Once again, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney are standing beside each other like they did last week in Tampa. Coincidence? Methinks not.

What Perry Must Do To Romney

Texas Governor Rick Perry has to come out swinging against Mitt Romney and put him on the defensive in tonight's Fox News/Google GOP Debate in Orlando.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Yankees Win AL East at a Bargain

Last night, the New York Yankees clinched the American League East on a pinch hit two-run single by Jorge Posada for a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

I know a lot of baseball fans bemoan the Yankees high payroll.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Hikers or Haters? They're Still Americans

Yesterday, I wrote about the release of American hikers Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer who were held hostage in Iran for more than two years. The commentary towards them was not particularly generous.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

How Boston is Blowing It

A little over a week ago I wrote about the Boston Red Sox September swoon.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Thoughts on Obama's UN Speech

To read this post, please check out The American Spectator.

American Hikers Released

Well, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal didn't join Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his flight to New York but the two American hikers who were held in captivity in Iran for more than two years have finally been released. They are expected to land in Oman before returning to the U.S.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

GOP Wins Seat in MA State House

Last night, Republican Keiko Orral defeated Democrat Roger Brunelle, Jr. in a special election to fill the vacant seat in the Massachusetts State House for the 12th Bristol District. Orral garnered more than 54% of the vote. The seat was vacated last June by Democrat Stephen Canessa who accepted a job in the private sector.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Tony Bennett: "We Caused" 9/11

Yesterday, while promoting his new album Duets II on Howard Stern's radio show, singing legend Tony Bennett claimed "we caused" the attacks of September 11, 2001. To be precise, he said, "They flew the plane in, but we caused it."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Santorum Being Petty to Perry

I came across GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum's criticism of GOP frontrunner Rick Perry with regard to Israel.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

David Brooks Finds a Wrinkle in Obama's Pants

It seems that New York Times columnist David Brooks has found a wrinkle in President Obama's pants. Yesterday, Brooks referred to himself in his latest column as a "sap" ten times for believing in President Obama's stimulus plan.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Why Mariano Rivera Isn't The Greatest Relief Pitcher of All-Time

Let me begin my congratulating Mariano Rivera for earning his 602nd career save this afternoon. The longtime New York Yankees closer passed Trevor Hoffman for MLB's all-time lead in saves when he got the final three outs against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium to preserve a 6-4 victory.

Michael Kay, the longtime voice of the Yankees, proclaimed "the greatest closer in history now has the most saves in history."

While Rivera's accomplishment is magnificent, I beg to differ. I submit that Mariano Rivera is not the greatest relief pitcher in the history of baseball.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Thoughts on Obama's "Buffett Rule"

When I first heard that President Obama was planning to propose a "Buffett Rule" I knew it had nothing to do with parrotheads, margaritas and cheeseburgers.

Obama is apparently set to propose a minimum tax for millionaires and billionaires on Monday. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone given what he has said in promotion of the American Jobs Act over the past few days beginning with his speech before a joint session of Congress on September 8th.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Phillies Clinch 5th Straight NL East Title

I have just watched the Philadelphia Phillies clinch their fifth straight NL East title tonight with a 9-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in front of their fans at Citizens Bank Park.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Tigers Clinch AL Central

Tonight, the Detroit Tigers clinched their first AL Central title with a 3-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics in Oakland. The Tigers have been playing on all eight cylinders as of late having won 13 of their last 14 games.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Perry: Palestinians Must Recognize Israel as a Jewish State

Texas Governor and GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry wrote an op-ed taking the Palestinians to the woodshed for their plans to seek UN recognition of a Palestinian state.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Palestinians Seek Full UN Recognition

It has been announced that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will submit an application for full UN membership a week from tomorrow.

The Obama Administration is expected to veto this application in the Security Council and would be wise to do so. But these days, the Obama Administration and wisdom seldom collide.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Why I Don't Think The Swissair Flight 111 Crash Was an Act of Terrorism

In July, when I was visiting my younger brother in Nova Scotia, we paid a visit to Peggy's Cove. It was not far from there that Swissair Flight 111 en route from New York to Geneva crashed in September 1998 killing all 229 passengers and crew aboard. A memorial was erected in honor of those who perished.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Israeli Embassy in Jordan Evacuated

This can't be good. Israel has evacuated its staff (save for one) from its embassy in Jordan. A large protest is expected to gather in front of the embassy later today.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

K-Rod Kvetches

Consider what I wrote when the New York Mets traded relief pitcher Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez to the Milwaukee Brewers during the All-Star Game in July.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Shaking Assumptions Regarding Natural Disasters

Though the event displays the wonder of God and His creation, no minister can hand down an edict one way or the other whether a particular earthquake other than the ones foretold in prophetic passages of Scripture such as the Book of Revelation was an act of retribution and judgment.

Countless congregations no doubt heard from the hyperpious among their number how they were disappointed the quake didn't result in total destruction and that any not so eager for it all to end aren't even worthy of the chewing gum stuck under the pew.

In response to the earthquake, it has been admonished that it id God and not government that saves you.  But should you need to be pulled from the rubble, is it the direct hand of God doing so or, in the vast majority of instances, is it more likely to be a policeman, firefighter, members of the National Guard or a group of average concerned citizens?   Taking this mindset to its natural conclusion, is it therefore wrong to express gratitude toward parents if they do something good for you?  Is it wrong to verbalize one's love to one's spouse if language can only be used in such an exclusivist and univocal manner?  Furthermore, if we are to wait on the direct divine intervention of God to determine what happens to us in such calamitous upheavals, does that mean we should not seek medical attention during times of sickness or to even prepare a meal to stave off hunger?

If earthquakes are to be viewed as God’s judgment, is one sinning if one takes steps to save one’s life during such an event?  Would hyper legalists such as Christian Reconstructionists and Dominionists advocating the perspective that natural disasters are to be understood as divine retribution insist that criminal charges be filed against those their elaborate spy network discover took steps to protect themselves?

Just because your family and spouse mean less to you than promoting your image as an uberChristian is not sufficient grounds for insinuating a lack of faith on the part of those that left work after the quake to check on loved ones and property.

A number of talk radio hosts and hyperpious individuals actually have their panties in a bundle thinking the response to the earthquake and hurricane indicate America is a nation of wimps.  And what if we are?  So long as you don't trample over innocent people or take any undue handouts, it really isn't anyone's business.  If the President's life is valuable enough as to be guarded with excessive caution, then why can't the rest of us exercise such care and concern over our own lives?

Speaking in reference to the earthquake, a host substituting for Rush Limbaugh insisted Sarah Palin was more of a man for killing a feral ungulate on national television than most actual men.  Real men don’t get their undies in a bunch if a TV station doesn’t have a bendy straw in a particular brand of bottled water.

In part of his condemnation of the response to the earthquake, the fill in for Rush Limbaugh ridiculed so-called helicopter parents who tend to watch over their progeny rather than hand them over for exploitation by assorted social institutions such as government, education, and I suppose the purveyors of intoxicating compounds such as booze and cigarettes.  It most be noted that it is the parents that are the ones that are paying the bills and thus should have ultimate say as to the training of children and what risks their progeny should be permitted to take.

It's easy, as in the case of these various radio personalities such as Rush Limbaugh, to sneer down your nose at those that may have overreacted at the prospect of losing their homes when you no doubt own several fortified compounds scattered across the United States.  Are those outraged over the nation's alleged lack of courage themselves willing to die to prove that Americans are not wimps?

Do those losing their lives and property think the calls for emergency preparation were overkill?  Are these individuals any less dead because predictions regarding the intensity of Irene didn't pan out?

Do talk show hosts encased in padded studios out of the elements and the hyper pious criticizing "excessive" hurricane preparation intend to pay the expenses incurred in the next disaster by those persuaded by such orators that living up to some arbitrary affectation of machismo is more important than survival?   Of course, some of the ostentatiously pious probably salivate at the prospect of a high casualty count in order to validate their rants regarding judgment and such.

Assorted foreigners are accusing Americans of self-absorption for paying attention to the coverage of Hurricane Irene rather than the uprising in Libya.  Isn’t it an even greater act of self-absorption to fly into a homicidal rampage when someone pokes fun at your religion?

A number of posts on the Washington Post website are lamenting the fact that consumers have stockpiled their pantries with "too much" food following Hurricane Irene.  For starters, who are they to determine how much food is too much for your pantry?  Can't the victuals just as well sit in your cupboard as on the store shelf?  What these elitists really oppose is the notion that a food supply of your own makes you less dependent on whatever agenda they may be attempting to implement.

Technically, isn't it a form of borderline Humanism to assume that the earthquake and hurricane were primarily a response to mankind's behavior.  God may have simply been focusing on natural processes, phenomena, and cycles with humans just being in the area when these events occur as a result of where we ourselves have decided to live.

It is interesting how those arguing that the Book of Revelation is not to be taken literally are among the most insistent that the hurricane and earthquake are God's judgment when He has not handed down any specific decree as to why these particular events took place.  At least those crazed Dispensationalists can point to a text that definitively tells them which earthquakes in history are to be viewed as retributive in nature.

God sets the weather into motion. He's bright enough to realize why you might not have been in church last week. Church authorities might have the say so whether or not there will be services. However, you are the one that has the final veto as to what transpires from your house to the church. No need to harang a congregation if most thought it more prudent to remain home following a significant storm.

I don't see how it logically follows that if you did not go to church last week because you did not know what the conditions were from your house to the church that you somehow don't care about learning about God. Church will still be there the following week. I thought the strength of Protestantism was suppose to be the individual following one's own conscience in regards to unsettled matters.

If I will be declared a heretic for thinking that the quake was not necessarily God's judgment, so be it. They can add it as another charge at my Inquisitional hearing.

by Frederick Meekins

Is Turner a Turning Point for Jewish Voters?

Bob Turner's victory in the early hours of this morning in New York's Ninth Congressional District is certainly in part a rebuke of President Obama's overt hostility towards Israel.

But does Turner's triumph represent a turning point for Jewish voters at large when it comes to President Obama? I'm not so sure.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Iran Playing Games With Release of U.S. Hikers

After Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday that two American hikers would be released as a humanitarian gesture, Iran's judiciary now says otherwise.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Maybe Bachmann is a Flake After All

Now I didn't like it when Chris Wallace asked Michele Bachmann if she was a flake last June because he unfairly singled her out.

But I am having second thoughts.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Wakefield Wins Number 200

Boston Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield won his 200th big league game tonight with a 18-6 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Thoughts on Poverty in America

Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released a report stating the poverty rate in America had increased to 15.1% in 2010. It is the fourth straight year there has been an increase.

It just goes to show that all the government spending in the world isn't going to lift people out of poverty. With this in mind, President Obama's jobs plan will be no more successful than his Stimulus bill.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Selig Has Only Himself to Blame

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig is reportedly "irate" at being "thrown under the bus" by the New York Mets for publicly disclosing that his office would not permit the team to wear NYPD, FDNY and PAPD caps during Sunday night's game against the Chicago Cubs to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Obama Re-Election or Civil War

I thank Shawn Macomber for drawing our attention to Andrew Sullivan's daily frothing. In a nutshell, Sullivan tells us that Obama had better win or else there's going to be a civil war.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Ahmadinejad Say Two U.S. Hikers Will Be Released

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stated that he has granted a "unilateral pardon" to Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the two American hikers who have been in Iranian custody since the summer of 2009. They are reportedly set to be released within the next 48 hours pending $500,000 bail for both men.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Are The Red Sox Imploding?

The Boston Red Sox got off to a most inauspicious start in 2011 by losing their first six games of the season. On April 15th, their record stood at 2-10.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Manny Being Unmanly

Last night, former MLB superstar Manny Ramirez was arrested on domestic battery charges after allegedly slapping his wife across the face during an argument in their Florida home.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

CNN-Tea Party Express Debate Post-Mortem

Here is my candidate by candidate breakdown of tonight's Tea Party Express Debate in Tampa Bay.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

What a GOP President Would Bring to The WH

Wolf Blitzer wants to know what the GOP candidates would bring to the White House.

I hope one of them says a bust of Winston Churchill.

UPDATE: Score one for Romney.

Bachmann & Santorum Needle Perry

Michele Bachmann is trying to get back into this race and Rick Santorum is trying to stay relevant. When Rick Perry admitted he erred on the HPV Vaccine, Bachmann and Santorum pounced. You could say they needled him. Perry was visibly stung when Bachmann suggested that Perry instituted the vaccine because he received a campaign contribution from Merck. Methinks the allegation was unfair but might prove effective. Perry seems off his game.

Blitzer is Trying To Make It Romney-Perry Debate

I am watching the CNN-Tea Party Express Debate.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Romney-Pawlenty?

When I first heard that Tim Pawlenty had endorsed Mitt Romney to be the GOP standard bearer in 2002 my first thought was, "I guess he doesn't think Obamneycare is so bad after all."

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

MLB Wouldn't Let Mets Wear NYPD, FDNY & PAPD Caps

Major League Baseball would not let the New York Mets wear NYPD, FDNY and PAPD during last night's game against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

On 9/11 Love Isn't Enough

This afternoon I met up with my roommate Christopher and we proceeded to the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade overlooking the Charles River to attend the Massachusetts Remembers September 11th concert and tribute. It's the same place where the Boston Pops perform their Fourth of July TV specials.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Cliff Robertson, 1923-2011. R.I.P.

Actor Cliff Robertson passed away today of natural causes. He had just turned 88 yesterday.

To read the rest of this obituary, please check out The American Spectator.

Egyptians Storm Israeli Embassy in Cairo

Last month, when a man removed the Israeli flag from its embassy in Cairo and burned it, I feared it would embolden Egyptians to storm the embassy and take hostages and that Egyptian authorities would do nothing to stop it. Well, I was right about the former and wrong about the latter.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

I Guess Trumka Speaks For The Labor Movement

Wow! What a vile thing AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka wrote with regard to the tenth anniversary of the events of September 11, 2001. He accuses the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Karl Rove and "wealthy CEOs" of opening "the doors to hate." This, folks, is the Left's idea of civility.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Revolutions: Reagan, Perry, Paul & Tracy Chapman

Well, aren't we partying like it's 1988?

I have spent a good pat of the day writing about the Reagan Revolution in the context of the têtê-â-têtê between Rick Perry and Ron Paul and where both men were politically that year. I suppose it's only fitting that Jim Antle should make reference to a Tracy Chapman song (although I must admit I preferred "Fast Car" over "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution.") But in all seriousness let me answer Jim's question. Specifically, did Reagan preside over too much spending or not enough.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

What They Teach About 9/11

I read Michelle Malkin's piece about how the events of September 11, 2001 are taught in school and it is not very encouraging.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

More on Perry, Paul & The Reagan Revolution

It is curious to see some of the commentary concerning my post earlier today regarding Rick Perry, Ron Paul and the Reagan Revolution.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Perry, Paul & The Reagan Revolution

Over at The Weekly Standard, Jay Cost asks if it matters that Texas Governor Rick Perry was once a Democrat. He poses the question in light of Ron Paul's recent ad telling voters that while he was a Reagan stalwart when few others were, Perry was supporting Al Gore for President. Cost isn't impressed.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Memo to Obama: Show Us Your Jobs Bill

I just watched President Obama's address before a joint session of Congress.

I'll say this much for Obama. He was full of piss and vinegar.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

The Teamsters: Obama's SOBs

Let me give Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa, Jr. the benefit of the doubt with regard to the Tea Party. I am sure when he said "let's take these son of bitches out" that he meant it in a nice way. I am sure Hoffa was saying that the Tea Party or at the very least their ideas should be taken out at the ballot box, not in the streets.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Canadian PM: "Islamicism" Still a Major Threat

In an interview which will air on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) later this week revolving around the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says where it concerns Canada's security "the major threat is still Islamicism." The Tory leader elaborated that "Islamicism" is a major threat whether it comes from abroad or from within Canada's borders.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Eddie Murphy to Host The Oscars

Eddie Murphy has been named the host of the 84th Annual Academy Awards which will air on February 26, 2012.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

The Kiss of Death for Jon Huntsman

Michael Moore thinks Jon Huntsman should be the GOP nominee.

As The Chisox Go, So Goes Obama

President Obama's favorite baseball team did not have a good weekend.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Krauthammer Loves The Washington Nationals

Charles Krauthammer is the Washington Nationals' number one fan even if they are far from being the number one team in Major League Baseball.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Turkish Chutzpah

Within the past 24 hours, Turkey has gone ballistic on Israel since a UN report largely vindicated Israel's naval blockade of Gaza against the Turkish flotilla which sought to bring weapons to Hamas last year.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Clemens to be Re-Tried in April

Yesterday, Judge Reggie Walton rejected Roger Clemens' bid to have perjury charges against him dismissed.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Vermin Lovers Downplay Bubonic Plague

A hypothesis is being put forward that rats are not responsible for the Black Death as once conjectured.

More afoot here than a desire for accurate history.

Any other time, Leftists assure us that at best accuracy in antiquarian pursuits isn't all that important and at worst an imposition of Whites upon the world's more backwards cultures.

This is rather planting the seeds to downplay efforts to curtail rats, which PETA assure us are just as important as human children.

One can see this in regards as to how certain policies such as the prohibition of specific pesticides have rejuvenated the bed beg menace.

Eventually, one will not be allowed to refer to this episode of history as Black since one cannot retain any sinister connotations to that particular hue and one cannot look at this tragedy negatively since to elites, so long as they do not rank among the victims, such mass curtailments of the excess population are to actually be seen as a positive thing.

by Frederick Meekins

Israel Philharmonic Disrupted in London

Last night, a concert given by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra led by renowned conductor Zubin Mehta at London's Royal Albert Hall was disrupted by agitators from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign chanting, "Free, Free Palestine!!!" The audience, to its credit, wasn't having any of it chanting, "Out! Out! Out!"

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.

Why There's No Buffett in Britain

Earlier this week, The New York Times ran an approving piece written by Julia Werdigier about prominent wealthy Europeans who have echoed Warren Buffett's call to raise taxes on higher income earners.

To read the rest of this post, please check out The American Spectator.