Pictures from CPAC 2010

Bloggers' Row

The Victory VoIP lounge (#thevso)

Mitt Romney with cadets from The Citadel in the Victory VoIP lounge

Tucker Carlson with Shannon Burns of Victory Solutions

Tucker Carlson at the Victory VoIP lounge

Jim DeMint

The Difference Between Austin & Fort Hood

I wish to make one more observation about yesterday's terrorist attack in Austin.

It concerns the juxtaposition of liberal media behavior after what happened in Austin and what happened following the terrorist attack af Fort Hood last November.

I find it interesting that the liberal media were a lot more eager to identify Joe Stack as part of the Tea Party movement than they were to identify Nidal Malik Hasan as a terrorist.

Somehow I don't think anyone in the liberal media will come and out say that Stack was suffering from PTSD.

Thoughts on the Terrorist Attack in Austin

I consider the actions of Joe Stack on Thursday in Austin, Texas to be an act of terrorism.

I consider it a terrorist attack because Stack chose to navigate a plane into a building to inflict carnage and take as many innocent lives as possible much in the same way the 9/11 hijackers did. The fact he used a plane as his choice of weapon is quite telling.

This attack was planned well beforehand. Stack set his home ablaze. He worked on his "manifesto" months in advance. Although Stack did not espouse an ideology of Islamic fundamentalism he justified his attack due to a multitude of resentments he had against individuals, ideologies and institutions - chief amongst them the IRS. The IRS is certainly not the most popular public institution but the people who had the misfortune of being inside that building did not deserve their fate.

Joe Stack might very well have had the deck stacked against him in life and he is certainly not alone in this respect. But his actions today did nothing to solve his problems nor did they redress the grievances of anyone else. All he did was to compound the pain and suffering.

Cheney Calls Obama "A One Term President"

Speaking this afternoon at CPAC in Washington, D.C., former Vice-President Dick Cheney said, "I think 2010 will be a phenomenal year for the conservative cause and I think Barack Obama is a one-term president."

It's a nice sentiment. But I won't truly believe it's a possibility unless a Democrat challenges Obama in the 2012 Primary. Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush were challenged. They survived their primaries but not the general election. Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush didn't have to fend off a primary challenger and were re-elected.

However tempting it might be it's far too early to eulogize President Obama's political fortunes.

Women Caned in Malaysia

Yesterday, Malaysia's Home Minister announced that three women had been caned earlier this month for having extramarital sex. This despite the fact federal law in Malaysia prohibits the caning of women. The local Sharia courts have effectively supplanted Malaysian federal law. It should be noted that four men were also caned.

Of course, one could make the argument the Malaysia is far more benevolent when it comes to adultery than its neighbor Indonesia. Last September, the Indonesian province of Aceh passed a law making adultery punishable by death by way of stoning.

Yet I suspect most people will not have much reaction to these developments in this country. After all both Malaysia and Indonesia are a world away and there's a sense of belief that such a thing could not happen in the United States or in the West.

But Sharia courts have been operating in Britain for two years now. If Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was accurate in stating that Sharia law was unavoidable in Britain then one must also conclude that caning and stoning for committing adultery are sure to follow.

Duke LaCrosse Rape Accuser Charged With Attempted Murder

Crystal Gail Mangum, the woman who wrongly accused four lacrosse players from Duke University of raping her, was arrested early this morning in Durham, North Carolina and charged with attempted first degree murder of her boyfriend. She has also been charged with other offenses ranging from assault to arson.

All I will say about this is that I hope Ms. Mangum will be accorded a fairer hearing by the Durham County D.A. than was afforded to the Duke lacrosse players.

First thoughts at CPAC 2010

CPAC this year is estimated to have 10,000 attendees, a thousand more than last year. It has come a long way since my brother worked there in the late 1990's, when 800 would show up. The exhibition hall has around 100 booths, every conservative organization from the John Birch society to an organization promoting the liberalization of poker laws. Surprisingly, there was a booth for "GO Pride," a gay travel agency, which was located far away from the booth for the Sanctity of Marriage.

There are a couple of cool lounges to hang out at during the conference. Since 10,000 people cannot possibly fit into the Marriott's largest room, some organizations have set up lounges outside of it. For $15 ($20 at the door), the younger hipper attendees at CPAC can attend XPAC. XPAC is put on by the actor Stephen Baldwin and his co-host Kevin McCullough of Xtreme Radio.

Victory Solutions is hosting a technology lounge known as The VSO that will feature prominent politicos throughout the conference stopping by to chat. Mitt Romney will be stopping by after his speech at 2pm and I expect to interview him and post the video later today. Victory Solutions' VoIP phone banking services helped with the Scott Brown victory in Massachusetts.

Live coverage of CPAC can be found streaming from townhall here. Follow twitter coverage at #cpac10. VSO's coverage is at #thevso (which I have running on my website intellectualconservative.com). Bloggers have set up #bloggerbash to discuss their party.

She Who Laughs Last....

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, fresh from being unable to convince the Saudis to go along with more sanctions against Iran, is celebrating by laughing at Sarah Palin. When asked by a Saudi Arabian student if the prospect of a Palin presidency terrified her and that if she would move to Canada or Russia if Palin was elected President, Hillary let out one of her laughs.

Well, at least the Saudi student didn't ask her what her husband thought of Sarah Palin.

Of course, this episode provides an opportunity for left-wing pundits to sling more arrows in Palin's direction as if they needed an excuse. John Nichols of The Nation writes, "Luckily for Clinton, the whole Palin-as-president conversation provides plenty of comic relief -- as few Americans are taking it seriously."

Hey, let Nichols snicker. Let Nichols and his ilk behave as if the presidential election is taking place next week instead of a mere two years, eight months and sixteen days from now. Don't they know that a week in politics is a lifetime? Sarah Palin has both time and circumstance on her side. Remember she who laughs last....

Arnold Beichman, 1913-2010. R.I.P.

Our main site is of course known as Intellectual Conservative. Today, we lost an intellectual conservative. Arnold Beichman, a political scientist and journalist who spent much of his life writing and speaking out against communism and revolution, died today at the age of 96.

Beichman continued to write sharp commentary almost to the very end of his life. Take a gander at what he had to say about Iran under Ahmadinejad in July 2007 after it had begun to ration gas:

If there is one country in the Middle East that should be a howling economic success, it is Iran. And if there is one country in the world that proves revolutions usually create worse conditions than previously existing, it is Iran. For however bad conditions were in the days of the shah and his secret police, the Savak, Iran was a far happier place and more open than it is today.

I had this confirmed for me a few months ago on a trip to Washington, D.C. I could tell from the surname on his visible license that my airport taxi driver was Iranian. I asked him how he had ended up in Washington. "Because I was a fool," he replied. In Iran he had been a major in the Iran air force, well paid with a nice home and family. Then he got involved in the revolution against the shah and was exiled. "How much better off we were under the shah than under Khomeini," he said.

Too late. It's always too late. The lure of revolution may be irrational and, often, irresistible. What follows the overthrow of the old system is even worse — the Reign of Terror, the aftermath of revolution. From the rule of 18th-century Maximilien Robespierre to 20th-century dictators like Josef Stalin and Mao Tse-tung, flow torrents of blood, the blood of their own people, their own citizens, their own children.

The 19th century was the century of nationalist revolutions, the 20th century ended as the century of counter-revolution. The 21st century appears to be the Era of the Lone Bomber — no longer a terrorist, today a "militant" on a suicide mission, recruited by a nation-state, Iran, and endowed with the war powers of the nation-state. Is Iran untouchable?

Beichman concludes his thoughts with a most pertinent question. Sanctions are the preferred route but there's no political will for Russia and especially China to go along with us. But even if Russia and China came on board would those sanctions be any more effective than the ones that are already in place?

If the Obama Administration isn't moving heaven and earth to obtain the release of the three American hikers it is certainly not going to embark on a military strike especially when Sarah Palin endorses the idea.

Which leaves it up to Israel. But if the Obama Administration does move heaven and earth it would be to prevent an Israeli strike against Iran even if it did develop a nuclear weapon headed straight for Jerusalem.

Alas one can only imagine what the world might be like had the Iranian Revolution never happened thirty one years ago. A revolution that has as Beichman put it "flow torrents of blood, the blood of their own people, their own citizens, their own children." Unless someone chooses to act Iran will remain untouchable. And with that another voice for freedom has been lost.

Wang Comes to Washington

Former New York Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang appears to have agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the Washington Nationals. The signing will become official on Friday.

The Washington Post is correct in describing this signing as "less a purchase than a gamble."

Wang won 19 games with the Yankees in both 2006 & 2007. The Taiwanese born right-hander finished runner up to Johann Santana in AL Cy Young balloting in 2006. However, his career went off track when he sustained a foot injury while running the bases in Houston in June 2008 forcing him to miss the rest of the season. Wang subsequently developed hip and shoulder trouble. The latter of which required surgery. In 2009, Wang finished 1-6 with an atrocious 9.64 ERA.

Which Wang Washington will get very much remains to be seen. But Wang need not win 19 games to have a positive impact. If he and ex-Rockie Jason Marquis can win 10 to 12 games they will give the Nats starting rotation a much needed veteran presence and will ease the pressure on the likes of Jordan Zimmermann and Steven Strasburg, the top pick in the 2009 MLB Draft.

Jim Bibby, 1944-2010. R.I.P.

Former major league pitcher Jim Bibby passed away last night. The cause of death is unknown. He was 65.

Bibby was originally signed by the New York Mets in 1965. However, nearly seven years would pass before he made his MLB debut with the St. Louis Cardinals late in the 1972 season. Bibby pitched in the big leagues for 12 seasons with the Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates before returning to the Rangers to finish his career in 1984.

Bibby was a tall, hard throwing right-hander who made people sit up and take notice when he tossed a no-hitter for the Rangers on July 30, 1973 against the defending World Series champion Oakland A's. The no-hitter took place a few weeks after the Rangers acquired him from the Cardinals. Yet Bibby often encountered control troubles even during his no-no. Although Bibby struck out 13 batters he also walked six.

The control troubles continued in 1974 for Bibby despite winning 19 games for the Rangers under the helm of Billy Martin. The problem was he also lost 19 games that season. Although he struck out 149 batters he also issued 113 walks. He would be traded midway through the following season to the Indians along with fellow pitchers Rick Waits and Jackie Brown for future Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry.

However, Bibby is probably best known for his stint with the Pirates. He would sign with them as a free agent prior to the 1978 season and he would be a part of the "We Are Family" World Series Champion Bucs the following year winning 12 games. By this stage of his career Bibby had improved his control and would enjoy his best campaign in 1980. Bibby won 19 games and finished third in the NL Cy Young Award balloting behind Jerry Reuss and Steve Carlton.

After his major league career ended, Bibby returned to his home to Lynchburg where he would become a pitching coach for the Lynchburg Mets, Lynchburg Red Sox and the Pirate affiliated Lynchburg Hillcats. The Hillcats retired Bibby's number (an unusual honor for a pitching coach) shortly after he retired from coaching in 2002.

Romney Accosted by Passenger on Air Canada Flight

Former Massachusetts Governor and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney was accosted by an unruly passenger yesterday on an Air Canada flight departing from Vancouver.

Romney and his wife Ann were guests of honor at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Of course, it was Romney who was the chief organizer of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Apparently, when a passenger in front of Romney's wife pushed his seat back Romney asked him to push the seat back. It was at this point when the passenger became aggressive with Romney forcing airline personnel to intervene and remove said passenger from the flight.

From the sounds of it I doubt the passenger knew it was Romney. He probably would have reacted in that manner regardless of who asked him to push his seat up.

One wonders though if the man in question just suddenly became violent or had perhaps been intoxicated beforehand. If it is the latter then one might wonder why he was permitted to board the flight in the first place.

Whatever the case the Romneys were fortunately unharmed.

Good Bayh

So Indiana Democratic Senator Evan Bayh is set to announce his retirement and not seek re-election this fall.

Bayh's announcement has taken everyone by surprise because his poll numbers were in pretty good shape and he has said as much. Apparently, Bayh has become alienated with the excessive partisanship on Capitol Hill. He specifically cited the Senate's decision to put the kabosh on the bipartisan commission on the national debt as well as the jobs bill. Here is a part of Bayh's statement:

But running for the sake of winning an election, just to remain in public office, is not good enough. And it has never been what motivates me. At this time I simply believe I can best contribute to society in another way: creating jobs by helping grow a business, helping guide an institution of higher learning or helping run a worthy charitable endeavor.

That doesn't speak highly of the Senate - an institution he's been a part of for more than a decade. It certainly doesn't encourage people to pursue that kind of public service. Let's also remember that Bayh came this close to becoming Barack Obama's running mate. But he has been less than enthusiastic about his presidency and his agenda in office. When Scott Brown shocked the world last month, Bayh was not a happy camper. It was Bayh who said following Brown's victory, "If you lose Massachusetts, if it's not a wake-up call, there's no hope of waking up." Bayh was also critical of the state of left-wing politics in America:

The only way we're able to govern successfully in this country is by liberals or progressives making common cause with independents and moderates. Whenever you have just the furthest left elements in the Democratic Party attempting to impose their will on the rest of the country, that's not going to work too well.

In hindsight, one could make the case his statement foreshadowed today's announcement. On the other hand, I am sure that for some the thought of Bayh stepping down was as inconceivable as Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning suddenly announcing his retirement.

Could we soon be saying "Good Bayh" to the Democratic majority in the Senate?

Obama, Executive Power & Signing Statements

What are signing statements? They are statements made by the President appended to acts of Congress the President has signed into law. Notwithstanding the President's approval, the President does have the prerogative to add a statement if he believes certain legislative provisions encroach on executive authority.

Charlie Savage, now a Washington based correspondent for The New York Times, wrote about President Bush's extensive use of signing statements while with The Boston Globe. These articles would subsequently become a book titled Takeover: The Return of the Imperial Presidency & the Subversion of American Democracy. Savage would win a Pullitzer Prize for the book.

After reading Takeover I had an opportunity to question Savage about his work. This led to an article I wrote in October 2007. Consider this passage:

During his talk, Savage mentioned he had only been in Washington since 2003 and thus has only covered the Bush Administration. He also mentioned that signing statements “are not a partisan issue.” Still, it remains to be seen whether Savage will be as dogged in his investigations should a Democrat be elected to the White House in 2008.

Should that happen and if Savage writes another book equally critical of Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama and their use of the signing statement then one could argue that Savage is at least being consistent, if not necessarily accurate in his assessment of signing statements and presidential power. However, if he is not as vigorous when Democrats in charge on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, it will once again confirm the inherent liberal biases of the mainstream media. His work will be little more than yet another effort to get the Bush Administration for the sake of getting the Bush Administration.

When Barack Obama was running for the White House he decried President Bush for his use of singing statements calling them "an end run around Congress." Of course, this hasn't stopped President Obama from using signing statements now that he has the right to use them. In 2009, he utilized signing statements on eight occasions including with the Stimulus Bill.

Now consider this excerpt from an article that appeared on Friday in The New York Times:

Already, Mr. Obama has had to reconcile his campaign-trail criticism of Mr. Bush for excessive use of so-called signing statements to bypass parts of legislation with his own use of such tactics. After a bipartisan furor in Congress last year, Mr. Obama stopped issuing such signing statements, but aides said last month that he still reserves the right to ignore sections of bills he considers unconstitutional if objections have been lodged previously by the executive branch.

So while President Obama might not formally utilize a signing statement that doesn't mean he won't assert his executive authority if he believes legislative provisions overstep Congressional authority. BTW, I find nothing wrong with Obama doing just that. So what does Savage have to say with regard to Obama's approach vis a vis signing statments? Here's what he wrote last month:

The Obama administration is lowering the volume in a long-running argument between Congress and the executive branch over when, if ever, a president has the power to bypass federal statutes he has signed into law.

Legal scholars said the administration’s new approach, which avoids repeating claims of executive power that the White House has previously voiced, could avoid setting off fights with lawmakers. But the approach will make it harder to keep track of which statutes the White House believes it can disregard, or to compare the number of laws challenged by President Obama with former President George W. Bush’s record.

Well, the Obama Administration isn't so much as "lowering the volume" as he is keeping things off the record. While Savage acknowledges that Obama is being much sneakier with regard to the exercise of his powers somehow I don't think Savage will be inspired to write a book about Obama's use of executive authority. If he does then I don't think he'll win another Pullitzer.

Professor Gates Disses Scott Brown

I was looking through The Corner and read John J. Miller's post about Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. donating the handcuffs that were used in his arrest last summer to the National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian.

My first thought was who gave him the handcuffs? So I checked out the interview with The New York Times Magazine. Apparently, it was Sergeant Crowley who gave them to him when they met for drinks at River Gods in Cambridge's Central Square last October. I hope the Smithsonian has the good sense not to display them.

But what stands out in the interview was his comment about Senator Scott Brown. When asked to comment about the possibility of Brown and President Obama being 10th cousins Gates quipped, "Yes, I wish they had discovered their familial link before Scott Brown joined the Republican Party."

Why? So Obama could tell Brown how the Party of Lincoln is a racist organization? So Obama could show Brown the error of his ways? If only Obama had gotten hold of Brown and enlightened him then a Democrat would be sitting in Ted Kennedy's seat and Obamacare would be a reality.

Alas, Henry Gates is the gift that keeps on giving.

Doug Fieger, 1952-2010. R.I.P.

Doug Fieger, the lead singer of the rock group The Knack, died today after a long battle with cancer. He was 57.

Fieger co-wrote The Knack's 1979 hit "My Sharona." It was inspired by a teenaged girl he met named Sharona Alperin. Today, she sells high end real estate in Los Angeles. Her website is - what else? - http://www.mysharona.com/.

Contrary to popular perception, The Knack were not a one hit wonder. Their follow up single "Good Girls Don't" was a Top 20 hit in the U.S. Since The Knack hit big during the tail end of the disco era they often thought of as a disco act but their sound was more new wave or power pop. But the disco perception hurt them and their time in the spotlight was shortlived.

But "My Sharona" would briefly return to the charts in the mid-1990s after it was featured in the movie Reality Bites. The song was also included on the iPod of former President George W. Bush.

There are thousands if not millions of struggling musicians who would give their souls to have composed a song that has had this kind of cultural impact. Doug Fieger was one of the fortunate few.

Thoughts on the University of Alabama Shooting

On Friday, three biology professors were murdered at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Three others were also wounded in the attack. Amy Bishop, a fellow professor, was subsequently arrested and charged with three counts of capital murder.

It also turns out this isn't Bishop's first experience taking another human life. Bishop, a Massachusetts native, shot and killed her brother in Braintree in 1986. It was ruled an accidental shooting and Bishop was never charged with a crime.

When I heard about these murders it brought to mind a similar incident which occurred at Concordia University in Montreal back in August 1992. Valery Fabrikant, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, shot and killed four colleagues and wounded another staff member. Fabrikant was sentenced to life in prison but is eligible for parole in 2017. Like Bishop, Fabrikant was denied tenure.

Fabrikant has spent his time in prison filing nuisance lawsuits. Unlike Fabrikant, Bishop is eligible to receive the death penalty.

Violence in Vancouver

The Winter Olympics in Vancouver have not got off to a good start.

First, there was the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili.

Today, violence broke out in downtown Vancouver. Riot police had to be called in to quell hooligans who broke shop windows, committed acts of vandalism and menaced pedestrians.

One can only hope it stops there. But you know that these things often come in threes.

What Do You Expect When There's a Lefty in the WH?

I like Bill Kristol's latest piece in The Weekly Standard.

In it he likens the Obama Administration to New York Yankees pitching legend Lefty Gomez. Notwithstanding the fact that Gomez helped pitch the Yankees to six World Series titles and seven American League championships en route to the Hall of Fame he often said, "I'd rather be lucky than good."

Kristol argues that despite the Christmas Day bomber, Honduras as well as the Israelis & Palestinians that Obama has been lucky rather than good.

But then again what do you expect when there's a Lefty in the White House?

Shedding Some Light: Solar Panels at the White House

Bob Herbert, the latest New York Times columnist to sing the praises of China, writes about China's role as a leading producer of environmental technologies including solar power. Here is how the article begins:

It was primarily a symbolic gesture. Way back in 1979, in the midst of an energy crisis, Jimmy Carter had solar panels installed on the roof of the White House. They were used to heat water for some White House staffers.

“A generation from now,” said Mr. Carter, “this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken, or it can be a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people, harnessing the power of the sun to enrich our lives as we move away from our crippling dependence on foreign oil.”

Ronald Reagan had the panels taken down.

Ah yes, Carter was leading us into the 21st century until that neanderthal Reagan took us back to the Dark Ages. And so it goes.

Except Herbert omitted one crucial piece of information. Solar panels are back at the White House and have been since September 2002. This means solar technology was restored to the White House during the administration of George W. Bush.

I suppose it was too much of an inconvenient truth for Mr. Herbert.

Nodar Kumaritashvili, 1988-2010. R.I.P.

The opening of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver began on a sour note when Nodar Kumaritashvili, a luger competing from Georgia, was killed while practicing on a sliding track in Whistler, B.C. He was only 21 years old.

For a time the Georgian Olympic delegation considered withdrawing from the games but were convinced to remain and were given a warm standing ovation during opening ceremonies in B.C. Place.

Kumaritashvili's death was captured on video. I haven't seen it and have no desire to do so. It's not how he ought to be remembered.

Glavine & Big Hurt Retire

Two future Hall of Famers formally announced their retirements over the past couple of days.

Yesterday, pitcher Tom Glavine announced his retirement after 22 big league seasons with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. He won 305 big league games, was a two time NL Cy Young Award winner, an 11 time NL All-Star and earned a World Series ring in 1995. Glavine will work in the Braves front office.

Glavine grew up in Massachusetts. Several years ago, I met one of his classmates in elementary school. She told me that he was a star athlete in baseball and hockey but that he was the antithesis of a jock. His parents kept him centered and as such he treated everyone around him well even those who lacked social standing. He never thought his athletic gifts made him a better human being than anyone else and he carried forth that demeanor during his big league career.

Today, Frank Thomas retired after 19 big league seasons mostly with the Chicago White Sox. "The Big Hurt" also had stints with the Toronto Blue Jays and Oakland Athletics. Thomas won back to back AL MVP Awards in 1993 and 1994, won an AL batting title in 1997, drove in 100 or more runs 11 times, collected 100 or more walks ten times (led the AL in walks on four occasions) and finished his career with nearly 2,500 hits. Oh yes? He hit 521 career home runs tied for 18th on the all time list with Ted Williams.

The Big Hurt should be inducted into the Hall on the first ballot. But I wonder if the bias of the BBWAA against DH might keep him out for a year or two. If it does he won't wait nearly as long as Jim Rice or Andre Dawson did.

Neither Glavine nor Thomas played during the 2009 season. Although they might share the stage at Coopersotwn they never faced each other in big league competition.

Thoughts on the Vancouver Olympics

I am generally not a huge follower of the Olympiad but I am looking forward to the Winter Olympics which commence tonight in Vancouver.

I do take a certain pride that my native country is once again hosting the Olympics. Last month, the Olympic torch passed through Thunder Bay and my father told me there were huge crowds to receive the torch. He also said it was the only time in the all years he's been in Thunder Bay that he was reminded of being in New York City.

The last time Canada hosted the Winter Olympics was in 1988 when Calgary played host. The torch came through Thunder Bay as well. I remember we were let out of school for an hour or so to watch the relay. I don't think I quite gave it the appreciation it deserved.

It is interesting that Vancouver is hosting the Olympics because it almost never snows there. In fact, Olympic officials have had to bring snow into Vancouver. I'm sure there a lot of people in D.C. and in Baltimore who would love to give their snow to Vancouver.

I've never been to Vancouver but I did live in Victoria, the provincial capital of British Columbia, for a year when my Dad was on sabbatical in the late 1970s. As I recall it snowed maybe once the entire winter and it was barely a dusting. It was light years away from the winters I spent growing up in Northwestern Ontario. Evidently, Vancouver is experiencing its warmest winter since the 1930s.

Well, perhaps Vancouver doesn't need to enlist help from Baltimore after all. Snow has fallen in the Vancouver area and it seems not a moment too soon. Let the games begin.

Cambridge, MA: Where's The Beef?

I didn't realize this was going on. But I can't say it surprises me. Only in The People's Republic of Cambridge.

Just over the Charles River the city has convened a Climate Congress which is putting forth recommendations to the City Council. Amongst them are a tax on plastic and paper bags, a municipal carbon tax as well as Meatless Mondays:

Asking/mandating that local restaurants and schools institute "Meatless or Vegan Mondays"
to increase community awareness and reduce reliance on meat, dairy and eggs as food sources.

I guess Free Range Fridays didn't make the cut.

Somehow I can't imagine the owner of Frank's Steakhouse, a favorite haunt of Tip O'Neill's in North Cambridge, being thrilled at the prospect of being mandated a Meatless Monday.

For all their desire to address the "climate emergency" they sure aren't thinking about the local business climate. Simply put, unless you specialize in vegan or vegetarian food, who would want to open a restaurant in Cambridge?

China Calls on Obama to Cancel Dalai Lama Meeting

Yesterday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced that President Obama would meet with The Dalai Lama in the White House on February 18th.

China has issued a public statement demanding President Obama cancel the meeting.

I have every reason to believe President Obama will proceed with his meeting with The Dalai Lama. He would look incredibly weak if he were to abruptly "call off the wrong decision" as the Chinese have so delicately put it.

But the mere fact the Chinese have made this demand public demonstrates they believe they can push Obama around. After all, Obama snubbed The Dalai Lama last October. Let's remember that President Bush not only met with The Dalai Lama on multiple occasions but bestowed him with the Congressional Gold Medal in October 2007. This is China's thinking. If Obama bows to us once he will do so again.