Jefferson Opposes Deficit Spending

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.

Thomas Jefferson

Russia Against Bail-Out

Following several days of protests the Russian government has chosen a tack against a bail-out.

Moscow plans huge budget cuts in an attempt to limit its fiscal deficit-–rejecting pressure to follow the U.S. to try to stimulate the economy with a big boost in public borrowing.

The proposals suggest that Moscow is losing hope it can stave off the crisis with public spending and is instead battening down the hatches for what might be a prolonged recession.

The plans also indicate that the authorities are not giving in to a quick-fix response and are ready to resist pressure.

Obama Apology to Muslims

I had hoped that this speech was just a nightmare of the psychotic lunatic fringe on the right but it looks like the Obama speech in a Muslim country may happen after all. Its appalling, America is down on its knees apologizing for supposed sins and mistakes of the past. Its pathetic.

Iraqi Security Progress

Ordinarily, at this time of month, I post the Iraqi Order of Battle. However, this graphic time line seems to illustrate better how the Iraqis have been rising to the challenge of their own security.

Obama Orders Charges Dropped Against Terrorist

Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri got what he wished for, the charges against him were dropped pending the review ordered by Obama. Although he should remain incarcerated, and charges may be filed subsequently, the message to the world is clear. Americans are weak and do not even prosecute terrorists. Al-Nashiri is the alleged "mastermind" behind the deaths of 17 U.S. sailors on the U.S.S. Cole in 2000.

Al-Nashiri was scheduled to go to trial on Monday. Prosecutors had asked for a continuance in the trial but Judge James Pohl had denied the request.

Pohl found the government's "argument for continuances were unpersuasive," according to a copy of his opinion. Pohl noted there had been no previous requests for a delay, and that the public's interest in a speedy trial would be harmed by further delay.

However, the convening authority for the Military Commission, Susan Crawford, withdrew the charges on her own Thursday night.

Security and Obama

A worthwhile article by the nonpartisan Center for Security Policy is well worth reading: Cf. http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/p17860.xml

S.U.B.M.I.S.S.I.O.N.

Center for Security Policy | Feb 02, 2009
By Frank Gaffney, Jr.

How appropriate that Barack Obama featured Aretha Franklin in his inaugural festivities since her signature song is "Respect." Literally from the moment she finished belting out "My Country Tis of Thee" on January 20, the new President has been conveying his "respect" the Muslim world. Unfortunately, the way he practices it seems to be spelled S.U.B.M.I.S.S.I.O.N.

Several observers have noted in recent days that Mr. Obama's outreach to the Muslim world is not only defensive and apologetic. It explicitly embraces a narrative that is factually erroneous and deprecating to his own country.

For example, in his inaugural address, the President spoke of seeking "a new way forward [with the Muslim world], based on mutual interest and mutual respect." He amplified this idea during his first post-inaugural interview which was granted to a Saudi-owned network, al-Arabiya: He is determined to "restore" the "same respect and partnership America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago."

The problem with this formulation is that it misrepresents the more distant as well as the recent past, even as it panders to those (abroad and at home) who would blame the United States for the ills of the Muslim world. As Charles Krauthammer put it in his syndicated column last week, over the past 20 years, "America did not just respect Muslims, it bled for them….It is both both false and injurious to this country to draw a historical line dividing America under Obama from a benighted past when Islam was supposedly disrespected and demonized."

The President also told al-Arabiya that: "My job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect. I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries." Lest there be any doubt about the priority he attaches to this messaging, Mr. Obama repeated the point. "My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect."

For good measure, the new President described America as a country of "Muslims, Christians, Jews" and others-- a presumably intentional upgrading of adherents to the faith of his father, Islam, from the second place position he accorded them in his State of the Union address several days before. (The rankings of both orderings obviously reflect something other than demographics; there are far fewer Muslims than Christians in the United States and, according to independent estimates, only half as many-- or less-- than Jews.)

Mr. Obama has also seriously mischaracterized our enemy as "a far-reaching network of violence and hatred," averring "We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence done in that faith’s name." Such statements deliberately ignore the animating and unifying role in jihad of authoritative Islam's violent and hateful theo-political-legal program: Shariah.

What is really worrying is that Mr. Obama’s actions and rhetoric are almost certainly being perceived by his target audience as evidence not of respect but of subservience-- precisely what Islam (literally, "submission" in Arabic) requires of all of us, Muslims and non-Muslims, alike. Consider the following:

* Mr. Obama has made no secret of his desire to cultivate improved relations with the mullahs of Iran, who have repressed their people and threatened ours for thirty years. It appears that he started to do so months before his election, as a senior campaign advisor, former Clinton Secretary of Defense William Perry, met repeatedly with a representative of Iran's genocide-supporting president, Mahmoud Ahamadinejad. In recent days, Obama special envoy for Afghan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, hired as a senior advisor Professor Vali Reza Nasr – an Iranian expatriate with an appalling record of shilling for the Islamic Revolutionary Iranian regime.

* According to GeostrategyDirect.com, a newsletter published by ace national security reporter Bill Gertz, "Diplomatic sources said Barack Obama has engaged several Arab intermediaries to relay messages to and from al Qaeda in the months before his elections as the 44th U.S. president. The sources said al Qaeda has offered what they termed a truce in exchange for a U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. 'For the last few months, Obama has been receiving and sending feelers to those close to al Qaeda on whether the group would end its terrorist campaign against the United States,' a diplomatic source said. 'Obama sees this as helpful to his plans to essentially withdraw from Afghanistan and Iraq during his first term in office.'"

If surrender in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran were not enough, upcoming opportunities for Mr. Obama to exhibit American submission to Islam include: ordering U.S. participation in the UN’s "Durban II" conference-- thereby legitimating its Iranian-dictated, rabidly anti-Israel, anti-American, Holocaust-denying and "Islamophobia"-banning agenda; adopting the program for undermining Israel promoted by longtime Friends-of-Barack Rashid Khalidi and Samantha Power (the latter just appointed a senior National Security Council official); and reversing the FBI’s long-overdue decision to end its association with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent front organization of the Muslim Brotherhood (whose stated mission is "to destroy America from within.")

Whatever Barack Obama’s intentions, the kind of "respect" he is exhibiting towards Shariah-adherent Muslims will surely be seen by them as submission. And that spells only one thing: D.I.S.A.S.T.E.R.

Eight States Re-Assert Sovereignty Questioning Obama

Eight states have submitted bills claiming sovereignty which is an intriguing development from the Obama issues have surfaced. They seek to restore the constitutional republican nature of the U.S.

Lobbyist Panetta Paid More Than $700,000

The nominee for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Leon Panetta, has earned more than $700,000 in speaking and consulting fees since the beginning of 2008; in addition, some of his payments came from the troubled financial firms and from a firm that invests in contractors for federal national security agencies.

Panetta received $56,000 from Merrill Lynch & Co. for two speeches and $28,000 for a speech for Wachovia Corporation.

Tomorrow there is a scheduled Senate hearing on Panetta's nomination.

Both Merrill and Wachovia reported big losses last year and were acquired by larger firms.

Retired politicians commonly make money giving speeches and consulting for prominent companies with significant interests before the government which was an important factor in the withdrawal of cabinet nominee, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.

Panetta also received a $28,000 honorarium from the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm that owns companies doing business with national-security agencies of the U.S. government. Carlyle holds a majority stake in the government consulting arm of Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., which works for the CIA and other agencies.

Panetta also reported receiving a $60,000 "Governmental Advisor Fee" from the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents the shipping industry. The group lobbies the federal government regarding terrorism laws that affect shipping.

Fleishman Hillard, a large public affairs and lobbying firm, also paid Panetta $130,000 in director's fees.

Another source of income for Panetta was California State University, Monterey Bay, which hosts the Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy, a nonprofit foundation run by Panetta and his wife. The school paid Mr. Panetta $150,000 in "consulting fees."

Its business as usual in Washington.

Iran Rebuffs Obama's Open Hand

It just doesn't get any better. After opening his hand, and looking for an unclenched fist, Obama planned to send a sports team to his new found friends, the Iranians. Yet, Iran refused to issue visas for U.S. Women's Badminton Team because of their late application. So much for the openness to the world for Obama.

Top Democrat Questions Ballooning China Debt

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said that he is concerned about the fact that much of the money that will be used for the $800-billion-plus stimulus bill under consideration in Congress must be borrowed from foreign sources, including the Peoples Republic of China.

Although I have been following the story closely this is really the first I have heard any Democrat questioning the source of the money. Obama certainly has not breathed a word of it.

Emanuel, White House chief of staff, Treasury Secretary Geithner, Office of Management and Budget chief, Peter Orszag, and Obama’s economic counselor, Larry Summers, have been mum as well.

As of November 2008, the People’s Republic of China was the largest single holder of U.S. debt at $681.9 billion, according to figures released by the U.S. Treasury Department. China, in fact, holds 10.8 percent of all publicly held federal debt.

The communist nation has increased its share of U.S. federal debt by $223 billion since November 2007 and by $95 billion since September of 2008.

If China loaned the U.S. 10 percent of the money for the stimulus bill, the U.S. debt it held would climb another $80 billion to $90 billion, depending on the size of the final bill.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) is still in denial: Frank told CNSNews.com, “I don’t think it would give them any undue influence over us."

Government Announces Next Crisis (But Hey, We Are Still Working On That Economy and Bank Thingie: Really)

As noted before, the next "crisis" will be the environment and true to form, the L.A. Times reports that California's farms and vineyards could vanish by the end of the century, and its major cities could be in jeopardy, if Americans do not act to slow the advance of global warming, according to Secretary of Energy Steven Chu.

As the one-world agenda progresses, the current administration will be announcing the new crisis, which will only be solved if we transition to international control and regulation. Already in place is Carol Browner, former hack of Clinton, whose recent resignation from the Socialist International did not hide the fact that as energy czar she is committed to a one-world government and second-rank status for the U.S.

Military Historian Evaluates Obama: And, It Could Get Worse

Writing in the National Review, His Excellency (an esteemed military historian) speaks:

The Impending Obama Meltdown Victor Davis Hanson

Some of us have been warning that it was not healthy for the U.S. media to have deified rather than questioned Obama, especially given that they tore apart Bush, ridiculed Palin, and caricatured Hillary. And now we can see the results of their two years of advocacy rather than scrutiny.

We are quite literally after two weeks teetering on an Obama implosion—and with no Dick Morris to bail him out—brought on by messianic delusions of grandeur, hubris, and a strange naivete that soaring rhetoric and a multiracial profile can add requisite cover to good old-fashioned Chicago politicking.

First, there were the sermons on ethics, belied by the appointments of tax dodgers, crass lobbyists, and wheeler-dealers like Richardson—with the relish of the Blago tapes still to come. (And why does Richardson/Daschle go, but not Geithner?).

Second, was the "stimulus" (the euphemism for "borrow/print money") that was simply a way to go into debt for a generation to shower Democratic constinuencies with cash.

Then third, there were the inflated lectures on historic foreign policy to be made by the clumsy political novice who trashed his own country and his predecessor in the most ungracious manner overseas to a censured Saudi-run press organ (e.g., Bush is dictatorial, the Saudi king is courageous; Obama can mend bridges that America broke to aggrieved Muslims (apparently Tehran hostages, Rushdie, serial attacks in the 1990s, 9/11, Madrid, London never apparently occurred, and neither did feeding Somalis, saving Kuwait, protesting Chechnya, Bosnia/Kosovo, billions to Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinians, help in two Afghan wars, and on and on).

Fourth, there was the campaign rhetoric of Bush shredding the Constitution—FISA, Guantanamo, Patriot Act, Iraq, renditions, etc.—followed by "all that for now stays the same" inasmuch as we haven't ben hit in over seven years and can't risk another attack.

Fifth, Gibbs as press secretary is a Scott McClellan nightmare that won't go away, given his long McClellan-like relationship with Obama (McClellan should have been fired on day hour one on the job). Blaming Fox News for Obama's calamities is McClellan to the core and doesn't work. He already reminds me of Rev. Wright's undoing at the National Press Club—and he will get worse.

Six, Biden is being Biden. Already, he's ridiculed the chief justice, trashed the former VP, bragged on himself ad nauseam in Bidenesque weird ways, and it's only been two weeks.

And the result of all this?

At home, Obama is becoming laughable and laying the groundwork for the greatest conservative populist reaction since the Reagan Revolution.

Abroad, some really creepy people are lining up to test Obama's world view of "Bush did it/but I am the world": The North Koreans are readying their missiles; the Iranians are calling us passive, bragging on nukes and satellites; Russia is declaring missile defense is over and the Euros in real need of iffy Russian gas; Pakistanis say no more drone attacks (and then our friends the Indians say "shut up" about Kashmir and the Euros order no more 'buy American").

This is quite serious. I can't recall a similarly disastrous start in a half-century (far worse than Bill Clinton's initial slips). Obama immediately must lower the hope-and-change rhetoric, ignore Reid/Pelosi, drop the therapy, and accept the tragic view that the world abroad is not misunderstood but quite dangerous. And he must listen on foreign policy to his National Security Advisor, Billary, and Sec. of Defense. If he doesn't quit the messianic style and perpetual campaign mode, and begin humbly governing, then he will devolve into Carterism—angry that the once-fawning press betrayed him while we the people, due to our American malaise, are to blame.

Cf. http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZDA1MTkzYTc4NjA5MWQxOGNjMzU3YmZiYTJhZDQ5YTY=

Historic Times: Car Sales

For the first time in history, U.S. car sales slipped below China’s.

American Heartland Emergency, American Heartless: No-Show Obama

When Hurricane Katrina hit Bush was roundly criticized for showing up late and not doing enough. However, in last week's massive ice storm which struck the heartland of America, leaving at least 42 dead, and millions without power or water, there was a no-show: Obama. The situation got worse and yet Obama still didn't show up. Where has he been?

On Thursday, Obama hosted a cocktail party at the White House and served up fancy martinis and an appetizer menu that featured mouthwatering wagyu steak costing $100 a pound.

On Saturday night, as the governor of Kentucky called up the entire National Guard in his state to deal with the ongoing crisis, Obama attended the exclusive Alfalfa Club dinner, where lavish cocktails and fine dining were the order of the evening.

And on Sunday, when millions still lacked the basic necessities of power and water-— Obama threw an extravagant Super Bowl party.

In addition, the devastating storm has been virtually ignored by the MSM. Five days after the storm, he still has not traveled to the area to provide aid and comfort to the victims.

Americans Retaliate Against Killing: Badminton

I wish my creativity extended to politics but I can not make these things up; I'm just not that bright. In Iraq, the ratline of insurgents leaves Iran to kill American troops. And, this fact is ignored by Obama who has announced plans to send an American badminton team, a woman's team no less, on a cultural exchange trip. And you wonder why Americans are under threat in the world? Who would respect a country who ignores the clear evidence that the Iranian government is sending its agents into Iraq, and the U.S. responds by sending a woman's badminton team in response?

Goodbye to Daschle

Daschle will not be around to kick any more since he had neglected to pay the nearly $140,000 in taxes. I guess he just plumb forgot about it.

New Hampshire: Nullification?

First Oklahoma, now New Hampshire, reaffirmed their states rights. Although there are only states it is significant that states feel the need to proclaim their independence at all. Tagged with an unfortunate association with the Confederacy, States Rights long seemed to be beating a dead horse. Of course States Rights is affirmed in the Constitution but it long lost out to the prevailing dominance of the Federal government. But this statement by the NH legislature is intriguing on several levels in the scope of liberties reaffirmed and the obvious countering points which begs the question: what do they know that I need to know?

The statement mutes Federal drug and crime bills along with a counter to recently resurrected "hate-crime" statutes. But the legislature enumerated additional cautions.

"I. Establishing martial law or a state of emergency within one of the States comprising the United States of America without the consent of the legislature of that State.

II. Requiring involuntary servitude, or governmental service other than a draft during a declared war, or pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law.

III. Requiring involuntary servitude or governmental service of persons under the age of 18 other than pursuant to, or as an alternative to, incarceration after due process of law.

IV. Surrendering any power delegated or not delegated to any corporation or foreign government.

V. Any act regarding religion; further limitations on freedom of political speech; or further limitations on freedom of the press.

VI. Further infringements on the right to keep and bear arms including prohibitions of type or quantity of arms or ammunition; and

That should any such act of Congress become law or Executive Order or Judicial Order be put into force, all powers previously delegated to the United States of America by the Constitution for the United States shall revert to the several States individually."

The legislature is wary of martial law being declared, involuntary servitude, surrendering power to a corporation or foreign government, limitations on the press, right to bear arms, and opposes powers not previously and duly delegated already.

A reasonable question, in light of this heightened rhetoric, is what do they think may happen? It does not bode well.

Bolton Urges Military Action

John Bolton, former U.S. envoy to the UN, stated that the U.S. has been defeated by Iran. Bolton said Washington has suffered a humiliating defeat in its drive against Iran’s nuclear activities.

In an interview with BBC Persian, Bolton stated the obvious, efforts to curb Tehran’s nuclear achievements have come to naught as Tehran has successfully managed to defend its national interests.

Bolton claimed that if Washington had settled on a military option against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure beforehand, “the threat of Iranian nuclear weapons would not have existed in the world today”.

The former US diplomat said that he seriously advises US President Barack Obama to opt for a military attack on Iran’s uranium enrichment, should three months of direct negotiation with Iran prove to be a failure.

Of course, the new administration will not listen and begun the process of submission to the Islamic Republic.

The former diplomat quit his UN job in 2006 after failing to win Senate confirmation and worked as a senior foreign policy adviser to former president George W. Bush.

Representative Proposes Civilian Camps

Alcee Hastings (D-FL) is proposing, now in his 8th term, H.R. 645 which seeks to allocate $360 million for developing the emergency centers. We do not need camps to be built in the U.S. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and to the Committee on Armed Services. I would be calling my Representative now to urge a no vote if this makes it out of committee.

I hear camps for civilians has been tried before and things did not go too well.

Iraqis Believe in Democracy: Inspire Americans to Vote?

The results of participation in local elections all over Iraq is 51% according to the IHEC, Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission.

The number of Iraqis who cast their votes 7.5 million.

Voting centers in Baghdad and other 13 provinces started at 07:00 a.m. Baghdad local time on Saturday (Jan. 31) to receive 15 million eligible voters who are electing their candidates to occupy all 440 seats in local councils.

On the other hand, the closet equivalent, American off-year elections, run around 37%, the "normal" modern midterm voter participation rate. In pointed contrast, the lowest rate--40%--was in Anbar, the Sunni heartland west of Baghdad. The sprawling desert area was dominated in 2005 by al Qaeda in Iraq. Thus, in four years, the Americans succeeded in pushing out AQ in Iraq and Iraqis responded by voting with more confidence and a higher percentage of them voted than the average American.

Apparently the Americans are better at exporting democracy than they are at practicing it.

The defeatism of American leaders would be laughable if it were not so dangerous to American's security to have these people in positions of power. In December 2006, those purveyors of pessimism, The Iraq Study Group, concluded: "The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating (p. xiii)." And again they concluded that the situation in Anbar, one of worst four provinces cited, was "highly insecure (p. 6)."