Where Will Olbermann Go Now?

Current TV (co-owned by Al Gore) has dismissed Keith Olbermann after less than a year on the air. Olbermann has been replaced by former New York Governor (and former CNN host) Eliot Spitzer. I guess Rick Sanchez wasn't available.

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

A Penny For Your Thoughts? Not in Canada

Perhaps the most interesting item in Canada's proposed federal budget which was handed down yesterday in the House of Commons by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is that the Royal Canadian Mint will soon stop manufacturing pennies and will be phased out of circulation.

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

Mofaz Ousts Livni in Israel's Official Opposition

Earlier this week, Tzipi Livni was ousted as leader of Israel's Official Opposition. Members of the Kadima Party decisively voted for former IDF Chief of Staff and former Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz by a margin of 62% to 38%.

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

Earl Scruggs, 1924-2012. R.I.P.

Bluegrass and country music legend Earl Scruggs passed away yesterday of natural causes. He was 88.

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

Spike Lee Does The Wrong Thing

In act of sheer stupidity, film director Spike Lee retweeted a tweet which purportedly contained the address of George Zimmerman, the man who shot Trayvon Martin in Florida last month.

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

Swearing on Santorum

I want to take some time to comment on Rick Santorum cussing out New York Times reporter Jeff Zeleny earlier this week after a speech in Racine, Wisconsin and his subsequent defense of his language.

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

Hilton Kramer, 1928-2012. R.I.P.

Hilton Kramer, co-founder of The New Criterion, passed away this morning of heart failure. His death comes two days after his 84th birthday.

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

Mulcair Elected Leader of NDP

Canada has a new leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition. Delegates at the New Democratic Party (NDP) Convention have chosen Thomas Mulcair as its new leader. Mulcair won the party leadership on the fourth ballot besting Brian Topp. The online voting has hampered by hackers and delayed the result for hours.

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

French Teacher Had Moment of Silence for Merah

A school teacher in Rouen called for a moment of silence for Mohammed Merah, the day after he had been killed by French authorities. The teacher, who has not been identified, described Merah as a "victim."

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

French Claim Shooter Wasn't al Qaeda

An unnamed French official is claiming that Mohammed Merah, the man responsible for the deaths of seven people, has no ties to al Qaeda.

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

Chipper Jones Will Retire After 2012 Season

Chipper Jones has announced he will retire at the end of the 2012 season. Jones, who turns 40 next month, has played his entire MLB career with the Atlanta Braves.

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

French Shooter Dies "Like a Mujihadeen"

As French commandos closed on Mohamed Merah, he said he wanted to die "like a Mujihadeen."
Merah got his wish as he engaged in a gun battle which saw him fall to the ground from a balcony. So Merah will be greeted by 72 virgins. Or is that 72 raisins? Whatever awaits Merah, seven people who wanted to live are dead at his hands.

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

Is it Spring or Summer?

Yesterday marked the first day of spring. But it's more like summer as it 73 degrees here in Boston on Tuesday. Today it was 80 and tomorrow it's supposed to be 84. Yes folks, it's March. I don't know what it's like in your neck of the woods but if you can go to work tomorrow wearing short sleeves then count your blessings.

Romney's Gaffes Haven't Hurt Him...So Far

In the wake of the "Etch a Sketch" controversy set into motion by Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom this morning, ABC News has produced a list of Romney gaffes.

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

Tebow Leaving on a Jets Plane

A day after officially signing Peyton Manning, the Denver Broncos have traded quarterback Tim Tebow to the New York Jets for a fourth round draft pick.

Wow! The Broncos practically gave Tebow away.

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

Jeb Bush Endorses Romney

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has endorsed Mitt Romney following his decisive win in the Illinois GOP Primary last night.

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

Mel Parnell, 1922-2012. R.I.P.

Mel Parnell, the greatest left-handed pticher to toe the rubber for the Boston Red Sox, died yesterday after a long battle with cancer. He was 89.

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

French Shooter an al Qaeda Terrorist

As of this writing, there is a standoff at an apartment building in Toulouse between French authorities and the shooter responsible for seven deaths over a period of eight days.

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

The Search for Amelia Earhart Continues

This morning I watched a ceremony on the State Department's website featuring Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announce the support of the federal government in renewing the search for Amelia Earhart this summer. The search will coincide with the 75th anniversary of her disappearance as Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan attempted to circumnavigate the globe aboard the Electra Lockheed.

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

Prediction: Tebow Will Start in 2012

Jim Antle argues that there is a limited market for Tim Tebow. But even if that's true a limited market is quite different than no market at all.

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

Manning: A Rocky Mountain Mistake (Or John Elway's Lack of Faith in Tim Tebow)

Jim Antle makes a very good argument about how signing Peyton Manning will be a good thing for the Denver Broncos.

But I'm going to stick my neck out and say that the Broncos will rue the day they signed Manning especially if they trade Tim Tebow.

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

Anti-Semitism in France

The shooting outside a Jewish school today in Toulouse which resulted in the deaths of a rabbi and three children warrants another examination of anti-Semitism in France.

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

Manhunt in France for Moped Shooter

There is now a nationwide manhunt in France for a shooter on a moped after three students and an adult were shot and killed outside a Jewish school today in Toulouse. Apparently, the adult was the father of two of the students killed.

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

NYT Calls J Street a "Pro-Israel Group"

I had a funny feeling when I saw this New York Times headline:

Pro-Israel Groups Differ on Approaches Toward Iran

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

Ron O'Paul?

I went to the St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston this afternoon.

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

Pettitte Comes Out of Retirement

I didn't see this coming. Andy Pettitte, who retired after the 2010 season, has signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees.

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

Williams to Step Down as Archbishop of Canterbury at End of 2012

After ten years at the helm of the Church of England, Rowan Williams will step down as Archbishop of Canterbury at the end of 2012 to accept a position at Cambridge University.

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

We're Not Going to War with Iran

Jim Antle argues that the discussion over whether Iran is a rational actor misses the bigger picture of whether we ought to go to war with Iran.

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

An Evening with Jon Anderson

On Thursday night, I went to see former Yes lead singer Jon Anderson perform in a solo concert at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston.

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

Iran's Regime is Inherently Irrational

I appreciate Ross Kaminsky's comments in response to my criticism of General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, concerning his assessment of Iran as a rational actor.

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

D'Antoni Steps Down as Knicks Head Coach

In a stunning move, Mike D'Antoni has abruptly resigned as head coach of the New York Knicks.

What a difference a month makes. In February, the Knicks experienced a renaissance with the emergence of Jeremy Lin. At one point, the Knicks had won eight out of nine games including victories over the L.A. Lakers and the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.

However, it's from Linsanity to just plain insanity. Call it March Madness if you will.

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

Santorum Wins Mississippi

Rick Santorum is 2 for 2 tonight. Shortly after winning Alabama, Santorum was declared the winner in Mississippi.

This is the tenth contest Santorum has won against two for Newt Gingrich.

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

Santorum Wins Alabama

With just under 50% of the vote in, Fox News is calling Rick Santorum the winner of the Alabama Primary.

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

General Dempsey Rationalizes Iran's Irrationality

Today, I have a feature article on the main site which rejects the notion advanced by General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff amongst others than Iran is a rational actor.

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

Leftist Commemoration Undermines Resolve Against Terror

Yes. Perhaps this is being posted a bit late. However, the points are still valid. If you are going to be that condescending, perhaps you should be reminded that you seem to be spending an inordinate amount of time online obsessively reading columns and articles of those you snidely dismiss as less accomplished than yourself.

It is said that the only thing we learn from history is that we don't learn anything from history. Following the attack on 9/11, the nation's leaders as epitomized by the members of Congress joining on the steps of the Capitol in patriotic chorus vowed that they would be vigilant against the laxity of policy and perspective that left the door wide open allowing such a tragedy to transpire in the first place. However, in the decade since then, little has changed in the hearts of many that would prevent an occurrence of similar or greater magnitude from happening again in the future.

Under the auspices of the National Cathedral, an interfaith memorial was to be held in Washington, DC. Since the President and a number of representatives from a variety of religious perspectives were scheduled to speak at the service, the event was billed as and assumed to be one promoting an inclusive brand of diversity and spirituality.

It is estimated that nearly 20% hold to a theology or worldview classifiable as Evangelical in nature. Critics might respond that is only a small percentage of the population and as such the perspective should not be catered to with a proverbial seat on the dais.

If that is the case, then why should a number of other faiths have been included that did next to nothing in laying the foundation upon which this country was built or offer little in addressing the 9/11 attack. One could argue that, at least, Islam should have been allowed on stage to offer an apology for the entire awful mess.

The number of Hindus, Buddhists and Jains in this country no doubt come in at a percentage far below that of the Evangelical Right. A number of these Eastern faiths are emphasized over that of Evangelicalism because of the tendency of these creeds of the Orient to ignore the reality of the troubles plaguing mankind rather than addressing how to really resolve them as in traditional Christianity.

Leftwing religionists, such as those organizing the memorial service sponsored by the National Cathedral, despite clinging to the Christian name do not like to admit evil manifesting in human lives known as sin exists. Pantheism --- the philosophical backbone of Hinduism --- denies the objective reality of sin altogether.

Popular conceptions of Hinduism further down the chain of enlightenment consist of an infinite number of gods (though adherents of a multiplicity of deities still get as jacked out of shape as a monotheistic Jew if a family member comes to Christ as Lord and Savior). However, among elites, the multitude of divinities are not so much distinct personalities but rather representations of the singular unified reality known as “Brahman”.

In fact, according to the adherents of this outlook, we ourselves are not really independent consciences distinct from the comprehensive totality (“Atman is Brahman”). What we perceive as the self is merely an illusion. This is summarized by the teaching of “maya”.

Thus, instead of grappling with the overwhelming horror of sin on such a grand scale as an objective reality such as 9/11, the Eastern perspective just glosses it all over by insisting that the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon never really happened in the ultimate sense. And if by some small chance that it really did, such an act at its core couldn’t possibly be evil at its most profound depth. One of the beauties the pantheist insists upon in the All Is One mentality of philosophical monism is that at such a level everything is beyond the limited concepts of good and evil.

One religion invited to the interfaith prayer service is so obscure that it is a safe wager that the majority of Americans have likely never heard of it and even fewer understand it. It was in all likelihood selected as it represents the kind of religion Episcopalian elites would like to impose upon the masses in the future.

As a system of belief, there is very little that Jainism can provide to defend a civilization against the onslaught of terrorism. It does posses a number of tenets that are the equivalent of where liberalism ends up if followed to its logical conclusions.

For example, Jainism does not believe in a personal God as found in the monotheistic traditions. Rather, what is thought of as the ultimate has more in common with a form energy. When considering Jainism, one is reminded of Yoda in “The Empire Strikes Back” when he describes the Force of that series as “surrounds us. binds us.”

As such, a ratiocinative consciousness cannot be seen as the characteristic separating the higher order lifeforms more worthy of additional ethical concern and reflection. Since this characteristic is not possessed by what Paul Tillich would categorize as the ultimate concern of this creed now under consideration, those life forms possessing it are no more superior or much higher along the chain of being than those that do not.

The way this principle manifests itself is reminiscent of how things would operate if PETA had its way. Jainists are fanatic vegetarians. Not only do they refuse to eat meat, but they also sweep the ground in front of them so as to not inadvertently step on any bugs.

Jains also wear a cloth over their mouths and also abstain from certain vegetables so as to avoid inflicting undue harm on microorganisms. In other words, during the outbreak of a killer epidemic, if they want to remain philosophically consistent, they would have to remain no more in favor of the triumph of man over germ than germ over man in such a biological survival of the fittest.

Certain schools of Eastern thought construed through a Western New Age mindset hold that we create our own reality, largely through how we conceptualize the world around us. This has to be the reason to justify how the Obama administration decided to commemorate the anniversary of September 11th.

To fully appreciate what happened that tragic day, one cannot avoid who it was and what motivated these scumbags to carry out an act of such evil that the average person cannot fully grasp the magnitude of the deed's animus. By emphasizing this act of Islamist terror, the nation would be reminded that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance and that there exists those in the world whose highest goal is the destruction of that with which we have been blessed.

Instead, the Obama administration issued directives that the specifics of the attack were to be downplayed (as if the Twin Towers simply collapsed and a large gaping whole split the Pentagon all on their own). Instead, government officials and spokesmen were to present a "positive forward looking narrative" emphasizing trivialities such as community service.

However, some things that happen aren't positive. To be historically accurate, one cannot deny or sweep under the rug that several thousand Americans died that day and who it was that killed them.

Religion and/or spirituality is one of the most important pillars embraced by an individual influencing how they will cope with what transpires in the world around them. And though the state should have virtually no say in determining what path one ultimately decides upon for oneself, it has to be admitted that some creeds optimize one's chances of survival over others in that they approach the world as it actually exists rather than how we would like it to be.

by Frederick Meekins

Soledad O'Brien & That Guy From Cheers Get Really, Really Mad

I saw this video of this interrogation of Joel Pollak of Breitbart.com on CNN by Soledad O'Brien over the video of a then Harvard Law Review President Barack Obama embracing the late Harvard professor Derrick Bell followed by Harvard Law's Charles Ogletree bragging about how he hid the tape during the 2008 election.

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

Could Manning Replace Tebow in Denver?

Well, this is very interesting. Peyton Manning is meeting with the Denver Broncos.

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

Get ready for the onslaught of Props to part you with your money: Proposition 29 is the first step in a tax hike deluge

By Martha Montelongo

Anyone who’s been following the news in recent weeks knows that the tax-and-spend lobby is planning to unleash of horde of new tax hikes at the ballot box this election year. Three major hikes, which altogether would raise taxes by tens of billions of dollars annually, are all currently jockeying for a spot on the November 2012 ballot. However, flying under the radar is an equally abhorrent tax increase that creates a nearly $1 billion per year spending program dominated by special interests with no accountability to the public.

Proposition 29, http://www.noon29.com/ the so-called California Cancer Research Act, raises taxes to create a massive new spending program run by a new commission with six political appointees. The decisions of this commission, which has the authority to spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year, are unchangeable by even the Governor and the State Legislature for 15 years, even in cases of fraud or waste. Worse yet, the commission can spend the taxes from Californians outside California!

Leading fiscal conservative and anti-tax groups are weighing in strongly against the measure. As David Spady of Americans for Prosperity wrote here on Flash Report http://www.flashreport.org/featured-columns-library0b.php?faID=2012022506500330 , “The last thing California should be doing is creating a brand-new billion-dollar special-interest spending program at a time when we can’t even fund critical state programs like education and public safety. After all, isn’t that a big part of what got us into this budget mess in the first place?”

This election season, voters have a chance to tell the spending lobby that they’re sick and tired of higher taxes and rampant special interest spending. Saying no to Proposition 29 in June should be a prelude to rejecting the tax hikes coming in November.

Martha Montelongo is a conservative Latina, radio talk show host and columnist.

When Liberal Musicians Don't Like Their Conservative Fans

For some reason, I had Rush drummer Neil Peart on the brain this morning. I'm not sure why. I haven't listened to any Rush music in ages.

Then lo and behold, I saw Daniel Flynn's articles about Rush demanding that Rush Limbaugh stop using their songs as bumper music specifically "Spirit of the Radio".

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

Kirsten Powers Gets It Right - Again

Liberal writer Kirsten Powers isn't making excuses for her side when it comes to the double standards of the left-wing intelligentsia including the Obama Administration when it comes to Rush Limbaugh and Bill Maher.

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

Obama Super PAC Keeping Maher's Million

Bill Burton, the head of the Obama Super PAC - Priorities USA Action won't return Bill Maher's $1 million donation.

Quel surprise.

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

Tarkenton Echoes Hillyer

Earlier this week, Quin Hillyer held nothing back against his beloved New Orleans Saints in light of revelations of a bounty system instituted the Saints former defensive co-ordinator Gregg Williams which other team officials including Sean Payton were apparently aware of. Simply put, Williams paid members of the Saints' defensive team to deliberately injure opposing quarterbacks.

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

The Obama Video I'd Like to See

Matt Naugle provides with us a link to a video of a young Barack Obama when he was President of the Harvard Law Review back in 1990.

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

Study: Springsteen Turns Whites Racist

Yesterday, as Bruce Springsteen's new album Wrecking Ball was released, a study done by the University of Minnesota was also released. It's thesis is white students are more apt to be unconsciously racist if they listen to white musicians like Springsteen.

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

Romney Wins Ohio

With 96% of the votes counted, FNC has called Ohio for Mitt Romney who leads Rick Santorum by just over 12,000 votes.

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

The Rick Perry Factor in Ohio

With 93% of the vote, Mitt Romney is leading Rick Santorum by 7,229 votes in Ohio.

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

Romney Wins Idaho

Although only 12% of the vote is in, Mitt Romney has decisively won the Idaho caucuses with 78% of the vote with Ron Paul and Rick Santorum fighting for second place.

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

Santorum Wins North Dakota

FNC has just called the North Dakota caucuses for Rick Santorum with Ron Paul and Mitt Romney in a fight for second place.

With 77% of the votes in, Santorum with 40% of the vote with Paul narrowly leading Romney (27% to 25%).

Santorum: I Have Never Been For An Individual Mandate on a State or Federal Level

While speaking in Steubenville, Ohio, Rick Santorum pointedly said, "I have never been for an individual mandate on a state or federal level."

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

Santorum Leading Romney in Ohio

With less than a quarter of the vote counted in Ohio, Rick Santorum is leading Mitt Romney by 6,000 votes (39% to 36%).

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

Super Tuesday Going As Expected So Far

Super Tuesday is pretty much going as expected.

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

There Will Always Be Hockey Night in Canada

Ross Kaminsky draws our attention to an article in The National Post citing a study by researchers at McGill and Concordia University (both in Montreal) which postulates that climate change could mean the end of outdoor hockey rinks in Canada in the next fifty years.

What shall Canadians do?

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

The Rush-Maher Double Standard Goes Beyond CNN

Although I was critical of Rush Limbaugh's behavior last week, it doesn't mean I am not critical of liberals who behave badly and the liberals who look the other way. Jeff Lord, via Brent Bozell, has enlightened us to Piers Morgan's double standards when it comes to Rush Limbaugh and Bill Maher.

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

Remembering John Belushi Thirty Years After

Whenever I see March 5th on a calendar, the first thing that comes to mind is that it is the day John Belushi died.

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

Obama: I Don't Bluff (Tell That to Eric Cantor)

In an interview last week with Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic concerning Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon, President Obama said, "I think that the Israeli government recognizes that, as president of the United States, I don't bluff."

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

Romney Wins Washington

With 94% of the votes tabulated, Mitt Romney has won the Washington GOP Caucuses with 37% of the vote winning 30 delegates. Ron Paul edged out Rick Santorum for second place with both men earning five delegates apiece.

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

Rush Apologizes to Fluke

Rush Limbaugh did the honorable thing today and apologized to Laura Fluke.

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

O'Reilly on Fluke

Tonight, Bill O'Reilly offered a tough critique of Sandra Fluke and her support of taxpayer subsidized contraception.

Yet he managed to put forward his views without calling Fluke a slut. How perspicacious of him.

MLB Adds Two Wild Card Spots

After months of deliberation, MLB has announced it will expand the playoff format and add a Wild Card team to both the AL and the NL beginning this season. This means ten teams, five from each league, will make the post-season.

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

James Q. Wilson, 1931-2012. R.I.P.

Social scientist James Q. Wilson passed away this morning at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital here in Boston of leukemia. He was 80.

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

The American Conservative Defends Taibbi For Bashing Breitbart

Last night, I took Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone to task for delighting in the death of Andrew Breitbart.

Well, this morning Clark Stooksbury of The American Conservative (which these days is neither particularly American nor conservative in its outlook) rushed to the defense of Taibbi. Stooksbury complains, "He quotes the nasty part of Taibbi's obit but leaves out all the nice parts and whines about how mean liberals are to conservatives."

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

Why Liberals Cheer When Conservatives Die

Earlier today, Quin Hillyer ripped Matt Yglesias a new one after he went to Twitter to delight in the death of Andrew Breitbart.

Well, Yglesias was outdone by Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone who wrote this afternoon, "Good! F#*k him. I couldn't be happier that he's dead."

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

Rush Pulls an Ed Schultz

I found it interesting that Sandra Fluke should choose to make an appearance on Ed Schultz's show on MSNBC. Fluke is the Georgetown Law Student who testified in front of a Democratic congressional committee concerning the HHS mandate of contraceptives. Her testimony prompted Rush Limbaugh to call her, amongst other things, "a slut."

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

Andrew Breitbart, 1969-2012. R.I.P.

I couldn't believe Ross Kaminsky's post when I saw it.

But it's true. Andrew Breitbart is dead at the age of 43. He apparently collapsed while taking a walk near his home in Los Angeles just after midnight and never regained consciousness.

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