FM 3-24 is the Army and Marines' counter-insurgency manual. It was written in part by one Sarah Sewall, who is now an adviser on the Obama campaign. In the Weekly Standard, Dean Barnett, not seeming to know this, blasts her along with Samantha Power as embodying "dovish idealism" in the course of his critique of the "Obama Doctrine." It's a lot of juvenile giggling over … [Read more...] about FM 3-24
Gallup Poll: Obama Retakes Big Lead Over Clinton Amid Signs Wright Race Speech Worked
A new Gallup daily tracking poll shows Democratic Senator Barack Obama has now taken an 8 point lead over Senator Hillary Clinton in their party's bitter presidential nomination battle -- a sign that Obama's speech on race prompted by his fiery pastor's comments worked and that Clinton's inaccurate Bosnia assertions short-circuited her momentum: Today's Gallup Poll Daily … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Obama Retakes Big Lead Over Clinton Amid Signs Wright Race Speech Worked
The World is an Amazing Place
Let others praise ancient times; I am glad I was born in these. --Ovid, 43 BC - 17 AD Every once in awhile, I look out on the world and marvel at where we are. The pace of technological improvement, and humankind's ability to adapt to it, is nothing short of amazing. My roommates are all science majors, and sometimes I grill them to explain to me how these things works. But … [Read more...] about The World is an Amazing Place
Deport Candidates’ “Spiritual Advisers”
Jacques Berlinerblau has an interesting suggestion at the Washington Post's "On Faith" that gave me a good laugh: Time for the 28th Amendment Although I had initially conjured up the idea only to reject it as undemocratic, perhaps it is high time that we as a nation, believers and nonbelievers alike, consider the establishment of the 28th Amendment. Its majestic words … [Read more...] about Deport Candidates’ “Spiritual Advisers”
A Big Obama Endorsement in Pennsylvania
The power of endorsements have been something of an unknown quantity in the Democratic presidential campaign, but Barack Obama bagged a big and surprising one today when Bob Casey Jr., a U.S. senator and superdelegate, came out for him. Casey, the son of former Pennsylvania Governor Bob Casey and who is about as conservative on social issues as Democrats come these days, … [Read more...] about A Big Obama Endorsement in Pennsylvania
Bush the Multilateralist
The Wall Street Journal is running an editorial this morning arguing that President Bush has been inaccurately characterized as a go-it-alone president. In fact, they suggest, "with a couple of exceptions, he's been the model of a modern multilateralist." This is an absurdly hard point to make, and the WSJ makes a valid attempt. But, inevitably, they fall short. The problem … [Read more...] about Bush the Multilateralist
A Different McCain
If he had not been sidetracked in 2000 by the Bush-Rove smear machine, John McCain might have attracted enough Independents and so-called Reagan Democrats to win the White House without the help of the Supreme Court. In that event, would we have been spared not only the Bush years but the far different McCain who is contending for the Presidency this year? In power after … [Read more...] about A Different McCain
(Updated) Iraq I: Is All Hell Breaking Loose?
UPDATE The seven-month ceasefire brokered by anti-American radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is, for all an intents and purposes, off. Times Online reports that neighborhood after neighborhood in Baghdad is being taken by militia gunmen, some with heavy fighting and others without a shot being fired. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports that U.S. troops have taken … [Read more...] about (Updated) Iraq I: Is All Hell Breaking Loose?
Iraq II: From the Other End of the Telescope
Below is an excerpt of a translation of an article in the Saudi newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat by editor Tareq Al-Homayed that offers a fascinating insight into how the U.S.'s closest ally in the Middle East sees the outburst of violence in Iraq as the presidential race goes into overdrive. Marc Lynch, who says he checked the accuracy of the excerpt compared to the original … [Read more...] about Iraq II: From the Other End of the Telescope
A Not Good Internet News Media Sign For Hillary Clinton
We've written here before on how the news media's conventional wisdom has now shifted on Senator Hillary Clinton and her chances to get the Democratic nomination -- and now there is a sign of a shift in the Internet news media as well: the online magazine Slate has started "The Hillary Deathwatch" page which gauges the odds on her getting the nomination. Its logo is a … [Read more...] about A Not Good Internet News Media Sign For Hillary Clinton
Tibet, Beijing and the Occident: An ‘Incredible Mess’
Is there any hope at all that the West will do more than pay lip service to the plight of the downtrodden Tibetan people? Le Figaro's Beijing correspondent Mével writes, "China has erred on Tibet. The West deluded itself about China - and the Tibetans are likely to pay dearly if their illusions lead them to expect more than dust in the eyes [a show of support] from the … [Read more...] about Tibet, Beijing and the Occident: An ‘Incredible Mess’
A Desperate Dem
Mike Keefe, The Denver Post … [Read more...] about A Desperate Dem
Wright’s Comments Show That the Stain of Antisemitism Remains
Heretofore unrevealed antisemitic and racist comments from former Obama pastor Jeremiah Wright received prominent play on Thursday night. This was the straw that broke the camel's back for me, convincing me that tonight, I needed to react and analyze Wright's various pronouncements from one Christian's perspective: [Antisemitic] talk like this has no place in Christian … [Read more...] about Wright’s Comments Show That the Stain of Antisemitism Remains
Despite Democratic Primary Divisions Democrats Have Good Long Term Prospects
Right now the conventional wisdom is that growing party divisions due to the bitter battle between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama seem to suggest the Democratic party's outlook for regaining the White House is increasingly iffy. But is that accurate? The Christian Science Monitor says no. In an article, the Boston-based newspaper suggests that although the … [Read more...] about Despite Democratic Primary Divisions Democrats Have Good Long Term Prospects
Hillary Clinton Urges Divided Democrats Not To Vote For John McCain
After weeks of criticism that comments made by her and her husband implied that she was suggesting GOP likely nominee Senator John McCain might be preferable to her prime rival Senator Barack Obama, Senator Hillary Clinton has urged Democrats to remain unified no matter who gets the nomination -- and not to vote for McCain: Hillary Clinton pleaded for partisan unity on … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton Urges Divided Democrats Not To Vote For John McCain
Chavez’ Harebrained Scheme to Restrict the ‘Language of Empire’
Does President Hugo Chavez' recent order forcing employees at Venezuela's state telephone company to stop using English words [the language of Empire] in favor of Spanish ones make any sense? In this biting tongue-in-cheek editorial from Venezuela's Tal Cual newspaper, the absurdity of the plan is taken to task. According to the editorial, "Why force people to speak Spanish, if … [Read more...] about Chavez’ Harebrained Scheme to Restrict the ‘Language of Empire’
My (personal) problem with Bloomberg
Angela Winters' earlier post on Barack Obama's speech this morning has generated some wonderful discussion. I'm enormously grateful for those thoughtful comments, since I'm truly not an economy expert. (I'd describe it as barely literate...) But there was also a bit of buzz before the speech, centered up on Mayor Bloomberg's introduction of Obama. Is an endorsement in the … [Read more...] about My (personal) problem with Bloomberg
News Media Conventional Wisdom Shifting Fast On Hillary Clinton Chances
New York Senator Hillary Clinton's chances to get the Democratic party nomination have been described by the news media and new media in see-saw terms for months, but there now seems to be a notable shift in the media's conventional wisdom: the perception is that she now has little chance of winning and that the race is basically over. The Clinton camp totally rejects that … [Read more...] about News Media Conventional Wisdom Shifting Fast On Hillary Clinton Chances
I’m Totally Burnt Out on the Presidential Campaign
It looks like I'm not the only one. The way I see it, on the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton cannot win the nomination and is unelectable...too many negatives...and Barack Obama has been rendered equally toxic by the Jeremiah Wright debacle. But those uncommitted superdelegates just might save the day for Dems, after all. Here's how: The superdelegates could remain … [Read more...] about I’m Totally Burnt Out on the Presidential Campaign
Prof. Marty Defends Rev. Wright
Professor Martin Marty's full comment on Trinity United's former pastor can be found here. And just who the heck is Martin Marty? Andrew Sullivan writes that he knows "of few more distinguished, principled or decent public figures." … [Read more...] about Prof. Marty Defends Rev. Wright