baldilocks

So "Proud"

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) steps in it again, this time using her witless concepts about race.  Why does all the fun stuff happen on Thursday when I have obligations?

Help us, Sage from South Central (and run against this genius in 2010)--you're our only hope!

(Thanks to Andrew Breibart)

Eye Opener

Good morning. Familial duties take priority but the following image might be better than coffee. It's the House Democrat Health Care Plan.

(Click to enlarge)

(Linked all over but the source is here. Very good, Mr. Boehner.)

The Word for the Day is 'Pusillanimous'

As in "how pusillanimous the Democrats are to appease our enemies and to go after those who would protect us from harm."

Blackfive's Uncle Jimbo has more. And for the pusillanimous among you, there is harsh language to be heard.

(Thanks to Ace of Spades HQ)

Did the Russians Really Snub Obama?

Or was the president merely introducing member of his traveling part to President Mevedev?

Look at the video again, especially the last time that President Obama puts his hand out.

I think it's a misunderstanding on my part and that of other viewers. Of course it would have helped if the president could have at least faked that he was enjoying himself. That sour look sad 'snub.'

My bad.

(Thanks to Booker Rising)

PREVIOUSLY: It Won't Rub Off

Pattern: Masters

So U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s Department of Justice is pondering an investigation of the CIA and of Former Vice President Dick Cheney for some sort of crime when the man possibly directed the organization to even ponder making a direct hit on America’s enemies? And the particulars of said program were made public by the New York Times in 2002?

But didn’t this same Department of Justice decline to prosecute blatant voter intimidation perpetrated by the “New Black Panther Party” in Philadelphia—the exact same sort of voter intimidation which was practiced in the South against black Americans prior to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

I guess it really does come down to who is doing the crime with these people. Any sort of principle or morality is never even considered. Such must, of course, be grounded in truth.

And don’t forget the revenge motive, because these “inconsistencies” are always about that.

One more pattern observed: AG Holder pretends that his putative investigation is against the wishes of President Obama in the same manner that U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi pretends that her own crusade to show photos from the CIA’s Enhanced Interrogation Program and from Abu Ghraib are against the president’s wishes. Bull cookies. The two are merely acting on the president’s orders and taking the heat which he doesn’t have the stones to shoulder. These actions—and all the others—are done with President Obama’s approval, make no mistake about that. Delegation of authority isn’t part of a Leftist philosophy.

(Thanks to Karl at Hot Air)

It Won't Rub Off (UPDATED)

Whoa! During the Moscow trip, many Russian officials refused to shake the president's hand!

What was that about, Cold Warriors? I know that the Russians aren't exactly open-minded about race, but come on! It's the president of the United States.

Or perhaps President Obama is too much the Leftist even for Russians. Too weird.

(Thanks to American Thinker)

UPDATE: Did the Russians Really Snub Obama?

Tales from the Cold War

Liz Cheney, daughter of the former vice president of the United States, repudiates President Obama’s version of the Cold War:

Speaking to a group of students, our president explained it this way: "The American and Soviet armies were still massed in Europe, trained and ready to fight. The ideological trenches of the last century were roughly in place. Competition in everything from astrophysics to athletics was treated as a zero-sum game. If one person won, then the other person had to lose. And then within a few short years, the world as it was ceased to be. Make no mistake: This change did not come from any one nation. The Cold War reached a conclusion because of the actions of many nations over many years, and because the people of Russia and Eastern Europe stood up and decided that its end would be peaceful."

The truth, of course, is that the Soviets ran a brutal, authoritarian regime. The KGB killed their opponents or dragged them off to the Gulag. There was no free press, no freedom of speech, no freedom of worship, no freedom of any kind. The basis of the Cold War was not "competition in astrophysics and athletics." It was a global battle between tyranny and freedom. The Soviet "sphere of influence" was delineated by walls and barbed wire and tanks and secret police to prevent people from escaping. America was an unmatched force for good in the world during the Cold War. The Soviets were not. The Cold War ended not because the Soviets decided it should but because they were no match for the forces of freedom and the commitment of free nations to defend liberty and defeat Communism.

Just so.

With President Obama, it’s to the point where his groveling to and rewriting history for our enemies and frenemies has become so frequent that we are beginning to become complacent in refuting his fantasies. Good thing that pundits like the fearless progeny of Darth Cheney have not.

(Thanks to Drew M. at Ace of Spades HQ. Drew thinks that Miss Cheney and her father should be on the 2012 GOP presidential ticket and, to that end, has a most excellent slogan.)

The Stopped Clock

Normally I avoid Obama speeches like the plague. The president’s need to be on TV every single day reminds me of an ex-boyfriend who thought he was so great, so much God’s gift to womanhood, that a girl couldn’t possibly be in her right mind for preferring another over him.

“Stop calling me!”

(One thing about Obama-on-TV-fatigue: I’m sometimes think that the inducement of it is intentional.)

However, the speech made during President Obama’s first trip to the African continent as president was bound to produce some items of interest even though I had to take a nap in the middle of reading it.

In parts of it, President Obama almost sounds like Milton Friedman in his praise of self-reliance and laissez-faire economics.

We must start from the simple premise that Africa's future is up to Africans. [SNIP]

Yes, a colonial map that made little sense helped to breed conflict. The West has often approached Africa as a patron or a source of resources rather than a partner. But the West is not responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade, or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants. In my father's life, it was partly tribalism and patronage and nepotism in an independent Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career, and we know that this kind of corruption is still a daily fact of life for far too many.” [SNIP]

No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves, or police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top, or the head of the port authority is corrupt. No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. That is not democracy, that is tyranny, and now is the time for it to end.” [SNIP]

People everywhere should have the right to start a business or get an education without paying a bribe. [SNIP]

You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities, and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease, and end conflicts, and make change from the bottom up.

To be honest, I don’t think that a person who was not President of the United States and a President of the United States who was not of African descent would be listened to with respect to a message of self-reliance. Oh, you think that’s not fair? Fairness has nothing to do with reality. As a matter of fact, the concept of “fairness” is what’s taking this country down as I type this.

Frankly, I’m not sure that the president believes his own words. Actually, I know that he does not believe his words. He proves that he doesn’t by providing yet more “aid” to the tune of $63 billion, in spite of what people like James Shikwati, Dambisa Moyo and Philip Ochieng say about what aid--read: global-scale welfare--has done to the initiative of Africans. And the fact that this American chief executive has, in six months, set in motion the nationalization of much of his own country’s economy resounding buries the praise and exhortation of freedom and self-reliance to the continent of his fathers. The president’s words in Ghana were merely that—‘just words.’ To Americans, that is.

But to the Africans? I wonder whether some countries and/or ethnic groups will heed these words and, perhaps, follow through on them. Because it really doesn’t matter whether President Obama means what he says to the Africans or not. What does matter is whether some group/nation on the continent believes that free markets, etc. will improve their lot. And what does matter is whether an African group/nation puts forth a sustained follow-through on those beliefs. It is, however, up to the various sets of Africans whether they want to institute positive change, if you’ll pardon the expression. Just because Barack Obama talks out the side of his neck doesn’t mean that his insincere words won’t save some someones. God uses whomever He wants.

Africans have been sitting on a goldmine for millennia. But as it turns out, they are also sitting on a breadbasket. Think of this every time you see the starving, disease ridden African children on TV.

The “dark” continent could become reborn. All they need to do is stop trying to dupe people into giving them their money via the Internet, stop having tribal wars, ignore the DDT and biotech food naysayers, depose the kleptocrats and....

Find a basis for the rule of law. One does exist, as we know.

Tangent: here’s a opinion about Europe and Africa and how the two continents have developed over the centuries.

Europe embraced Christianity and that, in my opinion, made many intellects and talents open to divine inspiration. That Europe squandered its blessing by lording it over the world and then turning on each other does nothing to diminish that blessing. However, I bet that Europe and Russia turning on the Jews in the early to twentieth century was the final straw for God. Now that continent’s decline proceeds apace.

Will America follow in Europe’s footsteps? Some believe that it already has. Spiritual laws apply.

(Thanks to Rae and to Instapundit)

Pope and POTUS

President Obama paid his respects to the Russian versions of Bergen and McCarthy and caused a small stir at the G8 by appearing to ogle the backside of a young Brazilian girl (he didn’t but French President Nicholas Sarkozy definitely did; ah, the French). Now the POTUS is on his way to Ghana after having taken a trip to the Vatican for an audience with Pope Benedict XVI. The two allegedly discussed abortion and embryonic stem cell research—obviously from opposing viewpoints. As an opening salvo, the pope gave the president a book on bioethics.  

One wonders whether the pontiff also slipped a copy of Instruction on Certain Aspects of the Theology of Liberation-–authored by one Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger--to Black Liberation Theology’s most famous adherent. 

An excerpt therefrom: 

...it would be illusory and dangerous to ignore the intimate bond which radically unites them (liberation theologies), and to accept elements of the marxist analysis without recognizing its connections with the (Marxist) ideology, or to enter into the practice of the class-struggle and of its marxist interpretation while failing to see the kind of totalitarian society to which this process slowly leads. 

 (Emphasis mine.)

I wouldn’t doubt that this pope just happened to slip his 1984 repudiation of Liberation Theologies in with the gifts.

Speaking of Defenders of the Faith, my dad—the American one--is on a mission. One might call it a Crusade. Dad—a Methodist pastor—has made it his business to confront other black Christian pastors on their generalized failure to instruct their flocks regarding the evil of abortion and its role in the physical, moral and spiritual destruction of Americans who happen to be black.  Please pray for him.

Of the Bears (Again)

Over at Hot Air, Ed Morrissey is running a Caption This contest for the following photo snapped during President Obama's pilgrimage visit to Moscow to mend fences (or whatever) with President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

President Obama and President Medvedev bond

I haven't even read the seven pages of comments over there, but at the top of page seven is the winner--there cannot possibly be a better:

Today Georgia. Tomorrow Georgia.

In addition, the wily Vlad saw fit to praise Former President Bush's hospitality--read: class--and wish the latter a happy birthday--yesterday--in a telegram sent right before President Obama's visit.  

During the last years we have been working on strengthening Russia-U.S. cooperation. Although there were differences between our countries, I always valued your openness and sincerity," Putin said, congratulating Bush on his 63rd birthday on July 6.

"With special warmth I recall your hospitality in the Crawford ranch and your family estate in Kennebunkport," Putin wrote, referring to their 2007 meeting at the Bush family vacation home when the two leaders went fishing and ate lobster.

Is the timing mere coincidence?  "Russians don't take a dump, son, without a plan."

I wonder what the results of a POTUS appearing to be the world's doormat will be.  Those on the Left believe that it will make the world love us again (sic).  Those on the Right suspect that the supine posture of a POTUS will embolden our enemies.  But I can't help but believe that a third result will come from the rude, disrespectful treatment that the president is eliciting from our enemies and frenemies.  And as with all "hunches" I get, I'm content to let this one play out--sometimes I don't want to know.

Mirror, Mirror

Mind of his mind: 

"I think that President Medvedev is my counterpart, the president of Russia," [President] Obama said in an interview with FOX News Tuesday. "The prime minister [Vladimir Putin], who I just met today, obviously still has enormous influence." 

The U.S. president said that Medvedev and Putin are on the same page about Russian affairs, even if some think Putin is the master puppeteer controlling the president.

In spite of the denials, it's been obvious who’s pulling Medvedev’s strings. However, what about his counterpart? 

Pay attention to what's going on here--quite a few items will be slipped under the general radar today.  And pray for us here in LA who want no part of the mass rending of garments over you-know-who.

BTW, the You Tube videos recreating my Tea Party speech are up.  Drink coffee first; I bored myself.

Independence Day Speech Notes

(Dedicated to the Oath-Keepers)

The speech and the trip to Northern California went well, better than I had imagined—and not because I’m some great interlocutor or anything.  One of the blessings (for me) contained in the sojourn was that I got to make several new-old friends--like USN veteran Doug Wright and his family.  In addition, the reassurance that I am not alone or that those who think and believe as I do are not mere words on a monitor was extremely comforting.

Also, the opportunity to revisit the beauty of the beloved Monterey Peninsula presented itself.  Even though I didn’t arrive home until just after 5AM today, the entire trip was well worth it.

Here are some photographs of the event.  Since we don’t know whether anyone filmed it, I’m going to recreate the speech tomorrow and post the results--for good or ill--to You Tube.  However, since I made such a big deal of the event, I wanted readers to get an idea of the flow of the talk.  To that end, here are a few edited notes.

*****

• The Bill of Rights lists rights not conferred by the government; they’re rights conferred by Natural Law and, in turn, Natural Law is conferred by Divine Providence. 
• Barack Obama calls these ‘negative rights.’  But they’re not negative to individual human beings; they’re negative to those who want to assert power—who want to use government to insert themselves between the individual and God.
• What many  who observe the United States and its history and don’t get is that, if the Founding Fathers, what they stood for, their standards and beliefs were so great, why those principles coexisted with so much illiberty in the land up until the mid twentieth century.  Why was there slavery until 1863?  Why was there legislated civil and electoral oppression until the 1950s and 1960s? Answer: because human beings, their institutions and their adherence to their own professed standards are imperfect.  But does that mean that standards are useless or that the individual or nation which has objective standards is a hypocrite?
• Here’s a pertinent comparison: human beings murder each other.  Because this continues to happen, does that mean that God should have never legislated that we should not murder?  Does that mean that we should not have secular laws proscribing murder? 
• Martin Luther King, his fellows and his allies petitioned their government for a redress of grievances and said “America, you will live up to the standards that the Founders of OUR nation spelled out.” Such law existed and America and its government could only say “oh yeah, right.”  What if Dr. King had said the exact same thing but under these conditions:  no law existed which acknowledged the God-given freedom of this country’s citizens; instead there was a “constitution” which took the place of Natural Law? What if there had been no Bill of Rights? See: 2009 Iran.
  
• Infidelity: When a people and their government make promises to each other, and one party or another says “hey I’m breaking all of these promises—I don’t have to keep the promises I have made to you” then the contract is dissolved and the contract’s penalties are in effect.  We don’t even want to think about the endgame of a violated and dissolved marriage between this people and this government.  The penalties will be deep, harsh and horrible.  Let’s not get the point of such a divorce.
• I am the progeny of African and American slaves, of European and American slave owners, of Native Americans and of one East African come to America to better his life and that of his posterity.  I was born in Chicago.  That makes me an American, end of story.
• Disengaged from their foundation, laws are just window dressing—a pretense of a pretext for a power and resources grab.
• Original Redemption: This nation can and has been redeemed because the seeds of its redemption were planted in its very founding—just like that seed for our redemption as human beings was planted in creation. 
• It is explicitly stated in the Declaration of Independence that “all men are Created equal” meaning that all humans were made equally in God’s image.  The fact that all humans did not contemporaneously exist in equality at the time of the Founding does not diminish this in the least. On the contrary, the statement in the Founding transcended the existential realities of the time and made Freedom for all Americans possible.   

(Thanks to Thomas Sowell and Mark R. Levin) 

Independence Day

God keep us--especially those who are engaged in battle as we speak.

I'll be at the Fremont Tea Party with many other Left Coast Bitter Clingers, making the case for Liberty.

The Hazards of Having African Relatives

No this isn't about him.

The weirdest thing happened this morning. I received an email from my father--the African one--saying that he was in Nigeria attending a conference and that he was without money or a passport; he said that he had accidentally left them in a cab.  (Most regular readers know that my father is Kenyan journalist Philip Ochieng.)

It was the correct email address. The wording of the letter, however, seemed suspiciously generic as if were a broadcast--or a Nigerian email scam.  But I thought it was my father so I emailed back—“Okay I will help.”  Blessedly, however, I decided to Google the name of the conference.

So when the incipient scammer wrote me back with details I said “will help you, Father, but I need to know that you are who you say you are.”  Two simple questions were asked and the answer to one should have rolled off of the tips of my father's fingers.

The response?

Julieet [sic],
why are you asking such question, i want you to use the information of the Hotel manager and send what you said you have for now. i also want you to call me on this number +*************.
Get back to me with the scanned copy of the transfer receipt.

I don’t think so.  My father’s email address has been hacked.

So now I have to figure out how to let him know this. Suggestions?

UPDATE: An old friend volunteered to look up the headers and they do resolve to Nigeria.  The friend jogged my memory and I remembered that there is still an old email address of my father's lying around so we'll see whether he still has access to it.

I'm not calling there.  Arm. Leg. Firstborn.

New York State's Problem and America's

Leftists.

New York State Senate Democrats refuse to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States. And when one of their number tries to stand, he is pulled down.

So does that mean that this particular group has no allegiance, no loyalty--no Fidelity--toward this country?  Just wondering.  It would be instructive to know.

(Thanks to La Shawn Barber)