Al-Qaeda insults Obama

Ayman al-Zawahri, Al-Qaeda's No. 2 leader, has released a message calling President-elect Obama and other black officials "abeed al-beit," literally translated as "house slaves." The terrorist leader warns Muslims and Arabs that Obama's victory doesn't mean a change in American foreign policy of supporting Israel.

This is a clear message that al-Qaeda continues to be the greatest terrorist threat against the country, no matter who enters the White House.

Calls against Hillary as State Secretary

Hillary is being vetted as a candidate for Secretary of State in the Obama administration, but there are many out there who do not like the idea. David Ignatius explains in the Washington Post blog:

The game changer in foreign policy is Barack Obama himself. Traveling in Europe earlier this month, I was stunned by the excitement he has aroused. The day after the election, the French newspaper “Le Monde” carried a cartoon atop its front page that showed Obama surfing a red, white and blue wave. Above him, it said: “Happy New Century!” You can sense the same enthusiasm around the world -- in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia. Even among the followers of radical groups, such as Hamas and the Taliban, Obama has inspired a sense of change and opportunity.

Furthermore, Ignatius worries about Hillary stealing Obama's thunder in foreign policy should she become Secretary of State. I hate to say it but with Obama's thin resume, almost any Washington politico would steal Obama's thunder if appointed to a post.

I applaud Obama's effort to unify his party, but I can't help but wonder if this move is to keep his enemies closer? Besides, we all know that Hillary voted for McCain/Palin, right?

Paulson, Bernanke grilled in the Hill

The House Financial Services Committee plans to hear testimony from Treasury Secretary Paulson and Fed Chairman Bernanke today about their U-turn decision in using the $700 billion bailout money. Originally the money was for rescuing bad mortgage loans, but now Paulson wants to alleviate the pain in consumer debts. He's even taking his cause to the media with an op-ed in the NYT.

Congress gave Paulson overwhelming power with TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program), but now it realizes that things aren't improving much, especially with the doomsday talk from Detroit automakers and stock markets continue to plunge. Lawmakers now want some answers as to how Paulson's new focus would help the economy.

I really don't think Paulson and Bernanke know what they are doing. Either the scale of the problem is beyond their control, or they are just incompetent. Whatever the reason, I think the only sure way we know will work is through capitalism without government interference. It's a bitter pill to swallow, but it'll help with the recovery. I'm afraid that the government's help isn't really helping and will only prolong the pain.

CAP is liberals' Heritage Foundation

The Center for American Progress is in headlines a lot these days. And that's no surprise as the liberal think tank aims to be high profile, thanks in part by its funding from George Soros and Clintonite president and founder, John Podesta. The organization has shaped Obama's campaign agenda and Podesta is even part of the president-elect's transition team. CAP's influence reaches deep into the incoming administration.

Its website lists the following priorities: Restoring America's global leadership, Seizing the energy opportunity, Creating progressive growth, and Delivering universal health care. Out of these four priorities the most misleading would be "creating progressive growth." That's really liberalese for "more taxes and wealth redistribution." In fact, that's probably the highest priority but they dare not list that above "restoring America's global leadership" (national security) because it would make them look bad.

One thing is for sure in the next four years... We can count on Obama and Congress to follow CAP's marching orders on many issues.

Gingrich rains on Palin's parade

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich isn't that impressed with Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin, especially about her prospects in the 2012 presidential election. He categorizes Palin as "a significant player" for the GOP in the years to come, among "20 or 30 significant players," such as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Utah Gov. John Huntsman, and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels.

One thing is for sure: Gingrich wants attention directed towards the Republican governors in hopes of a sound victory in 2010. It's clear he wants to see the governors shape the state politics in the coming years, win in 2010, then prepare for the victory in 2012. The big question is who will emerge as the leader?

Latest bailout saves UAW, not Big Auto

Another bailout package is in the works in Congress, one that's even less popular but that's not stopping the Democrats from pushing for it. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said a government lifeline would be provided only if the auto industry meet new fuel-efficiency standards and restructure to limit executive compensation. Of course, there is no mention of concessions from the United Auto Workers (UAW) union.

We all know that the Democrats are good buddies with the UAW. This bailout will infuse fresh blood into the dying General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler so that the UAW can drain them some more. Big Auto already knows to make better, fuel-efficient cars. They came late to the green game and are paying the price. But the root of the problem is unionized labor in the auto industry. It's interesting how Jeffrey D. Sachs never mentions this in his Washington Post article. Michael E. Levine, writing for WSJ, is on the right track: Why bankruptcy is the best option for GM.

With Obama elected, radicals feel more comfortable

Bill Ayers, the unrepentant 1960s Weather Underground terrorist, gave an interview on "Good Morning America" and guess what? He's still unrepentant:

"The content of the Vietnam protest is that there were despicable acts going on, but the despicable acts were being done by our goverment... I never hurt or killed anyone," Ayers said.

"Frankly, I dont think we did enough, just as today I dont' think we've done enough to stop these wars," he said.

This is the guy that our president-elect sat on the same board of directors with. This is the guy that our president-elect sought advice in his presidential run. And now that Ayers' candidate will enter the White House, he's more than proud to be on TV to blab about his past deeds and continue to point fingers at the U.S. government.

Obama wants to probe Bush, where's the change we can believe in?

Change we can believe in? Obama had just gotten a tour of his future White House home, and he's already talking to Congressional Democrats about investigating Bush and his administration of torturing terrorists. In anticipation of such actions by Democrats, Bush is readying a "blanket pardon" to all who were involved in the administration's interrogation policies. Such a pardon would be rare but completely legal under the Constitution.

I can understand if Obama wanted to pursue this when he's a senator. Now that he's president-elect and got elected on a "change" narrative, why can't he just let it go? It's just classless for an incoming president to plan such investigations of the outgoing president. What would it prove? It's just more of the same Washington partisanship and to an extent, political persecution.

Leftists will argue till their faces turn blue that there's nothing more sacred than human rights. Yes, it is true. But when a person's sole purpose in life is to blow up innocent people and destroy others' right to live, then that person is a criminal. And in our society, we want to stop criminals from harming others.

Can torture be allowed? Just imagine this scenario: A person in custody is known to have information pertaining to an attack which will kill your family and others. He remains tough and silent, unwilling to divulge that important piece of information. Wouldn't you do anything to try to extract that information from him in order to save your loved ones and many others?

To President Bush, his fellow countrymen are his family. Somehow I feel that President-elect Obama and his Democrats think their families share no ties with the rest of us...

The importance of the Georgia senate race

Incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss won only 49.98% of the popular vote and cannot avoid a runoff against Democrat challenger Jim Martin. The runoff election is on December 2. Dick Morris puts it best: The election is not over.

He also mentions GOPTrust.com as the conservatives' MoveOn.org. Seriously? I hate to say it, but GOPTrust.com has a long way to go to even be as effective as MoveOn.org.

Use and abuse Sen. Lieberman

Poor Sen. Joe Lieberman. Ever since his speech at the RNC, he's probably the most hated Democrat in the world. There are calls to purge him from the party, but then the Democratic caucus needs him to reach the 60-seat supermajority pending senate race results from Alaska, Georgia, and Minnesota. John Nichols writes in The Nation:

If Democrats did somehow get to 60 in the Senate, and if Lieberman then betrayed the party on a critical vote, that would be the point at which to debate expelling him from the caucus.

At this point, the discussion sounds more like venting than smart, or serious, politics.

In other words, use him and abuse him until he's no longer valuable to the Democrats.

The Architect breaks down election numbers

Karl Rove thinks the Republicans have a good chance in 2010 from a historical context. Cautious optimism, I say.

A (nut)case study in BDS...

Paul Waldman's article published on Nov. 11 in The American Prospect is a great case study in BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome). He's euphoric that President Bush is about to leave the White House because it is apparent that he has a deep hatred and irrational emotions toward this man...

Goodbye, we can say at last, to the most powerful man in the world being such a ridiculous buffoon, incapable of stringing together two coherent sentences. Goodbye to cringing with dread every time our president steps onto the world stage, sure he'll say or do something to embarrass us all. Goodbye to being represented by a man who embodies everything our enemies want the people of the world to believe about America -- that we are ignorant, cruel, and only care about foreign countries when we decide to stomp on them. Goodbye to his giggle, and his shoulder shake, and his nicknames. Goodbye to a president who talks to us like we're a nation of fourth-graders.

BDS patients' #1 complaint about our president? He's dumb, "a ridiculous buffoon," and incoherent. Be reminded that in any argument when a party starts calling names, it's more than likely that he has ran out of intelligent things to say (or he isn't very smart at all). Mr. Waldman goes further in insulting President Bush's body language and gestures. Hmmm, this may be a severe case of BDS.

And I beg to differ about America's reputation among foreign countries. So maybe Russia, France, and China think we are ignorant and cruel, but they are not the world. We are loved in the former Soviet bloc because these nations understand tyranny as they overthrew communism. We are loved in Israel because that's the only nation in the world surrounded by enemies and America helps defend the Jewish state. We are loved by the Japanese because we helped defend them, rebuild their economy, and buy their products. We are loved by many all over the world. Otherwise, how do you explain the millions of legal and illegal immigrants?

Goodbye, indeed, to the entire band of liars and crooks and thieves who have so sullied the federal government that belongs to us all. We can even say goodbye to those who have already gone, to Rummy and Scooter, to Fredo and Rove, tornados of misery left in their wake.

Liars, crooks, and thieves. President-elect Obama, with his past and present associations with radicals like Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers, and criminals like Tony Rezko, probably wouldn't be granted security clearance had he not been elected. I do like Waldman's use of "tornados of misery" though -- quite a penmanship.

Goodbye to the Bush Doctrine of preemptive war. Goodbye to the lust for sending off other people's sons and daughters to fight and kill and die just to show your daddy you're a real man. Goodbye to playing dress-up in flight suits, goodbye to strutting and posing and desperate sexual insecurity as a driver of American foreign policy. Goodbye to the neocons, so sinister and deluded they beg us all to become fevered conspiracy theorists. Goodbye to Guantanamo and its kangaroo courts. Goodbye to the use of torture as official U.S. government policy, and goodbye to the immoral ghouls who think you can rename it "enhanced interrogation techniques" and render it any less monstrous.

Just one question to ask Mr. Waldman: Have you been safe, going about your business, in the seven years since Sept. 11, 2001? You are able to write an opinion piece criticizing the president and his administration because of the Bush Doctrine, brave American troops, and the information extracted from torturing terrorists. Please don't be an unappreciative child.

Goodbye to James Dobson and a host of radical clerics picking up the phone and hearing someone in the White House on the other end. Goodbye to the most consequential decisions being made on the basis of one man's "gut," a gut that proved so wrong so often. Goodbye to the contempt for evidence, to the scorn for intellect and book learnin', to the relentless war on science itself as a means of understanding the world.

Mr. Waldman ran out of bad things to say about President Bush, so he'll badmouth James Dobson and "radical clerics." Speaking of radical clerics, what's happening with Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Father Pfleger, Barack Obama's religious buddies?

So that concludes the case study of a BDS sufferer. Can it be cured? Why, yes we can! Come January there will be a prescription for higher taxes, nationalized health care, social programs, and more to cure BDS.

Obama urged to send daughters to public school

Being the first family means relocating to Washington, D.C. and scoping out the education choices around town. Right now chances are that the Obama daughters will attend a private institution rather than a public school. The D.C. Board of Education really wants to teach the young Obamas, though.

GM, Ford look for handouts

There's already talk in Washington, especially among Democrats, to bailout the troubled U.S. automakers. GM and Ford may be no more if they cannot get a good-sized loan or some sort of capital infusion. GM is betting its future on the Chevy Volt all-electric car to come out in 2010, but the automaker may not make it through next year. That's how bad they are...

Let's face it. These U.S. automakers are in the shape they are in now mainly because of bearing the burden of labor unions like UAW. Hundreds of thousands of employees could lose their jobs if the companies go under, but maybe that's what's needed to get Detroit back on track. The unions have to realize that the automakers do not provide social programs and welfare. The automakers are in the market to make cars that'll sell and create profits. If GM and Ford want loans, then let them go bankrupt first so the court can restructure their obligations and fire the executives, too.

Something fishy in the MN senate race

The Minnesota senate race is in a real mess now. Republican Norm Coleman had a decent lead after election day, but in the next few days Democratic challenger Al Franken started getting more and more votes. In fact, a gain of 504 votes in 4 days. And there hasn't even been an official recount yet!

Obama leaks private conversation with President, say goodbye to national secrets

President-elect Obama can't even keep to himself a private conversation with President Bush. And this guy is to be entrusted with our national secrets and classified information???

House Democrats discuss confiscating retirement accounts

The Democrats' election victories have emboldened them. House Democrats now want their hands even deeper, and I mean deeper, into your pockets. The have been holding talks on handing your private retirement accounts -- 401(k)s and IRAs -- to the management of the Social Security Administration.

As crazy as this sounds, what's their excuse?

Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, in prepared remarks for the hearing on “The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Workers’ Retirement Security,” blamed Wall Street for the financial crisis and said his committee will “strengthen and protect Americans’ 401(k)s, pensions, and other retirement plans” and the “Democratic Congress will continue to conduct this much-needed oversight on behalf of the American people.”

Yes, of course they blame the economy. Because of the economic downturn, these retirement accounts are threatened, and therefore it is the government's job to protect them by confiscating them!

No, thank you. I'd like my retirement accounts where they are right now, managed by the private financial institutions. The government can get my tax dollars, but they better not touch my hard-earned retirement savings.

Remember, folks: what the government gives, they government can take it away. Think twice about nationalized health care, nationalized banking, nationalized oil production, etc.

Let's focus on 2010

I share the same sentiment as Patrick Ruffini. Stop worrying about the presidential election in 2012. The focus should be transforming Congress and state legislatures in 2010, and that will eventually bear fruit for the 2012 race.

Calls for Obama to keep turning left

David Sirota writes in Salon for Obama to "go big and go liberal," claiming that is what the voters want:

... acknowledge their progressive mandate, rather than denying it as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did on Tuesday. "This is not a mandate for a political party or an ideology," he fearfully told reporters.

They should also retire the Innocent Bystander fable about being powerless onlookers. Democrats first cited this myth as reason the Iraq war continued during their congressional majority -- expecting the country to forget that Congress can halt war funding. Today, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that "there's not much we can do" to amend the sputtering bank bailout. In 2009, such mendacity will metastasize from banal dishonesty into grist for scathing comedy-show punch lines.

Wait a minute, "progressive mandate"? Let's have Mr. Sirota run the Democrat Party, I'd love to see him drive it to the ground. If Obama had won 60% of the popular vote, then I'd agree with "mandate." But he won only 53%, and as much as people hated Bush and disagreed with the Republicans, still 46% of voters chose McCain. Why? Because they weren't going to give Obama a mandate.

This will be the primary struggle for the Obama presidency. Based on his background, we know he leans very left and there are many supporters who share that spectrum of ideology. But when he governs from the White House, he also has the other half of the population to please. After all, he'd want to keep his job after four years, no?

Will miss ya, Dubya...

Yes, me too.