tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50026518187813993872011-11-27T18:56:06.883-05:00The ModConbullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comBlogger2941100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-66212086425350044232010-11-02T20:12:00.014-04:002010-11-03T16:57:50.399-04:00UPDATES: Mid-Term Elections 2010UPDATE 9: The Denver Post has called the senate race for the Democrat, Michael Bennet over challenger Buck (R) by less than 1%. Lisa Murkowski seems destined to make history as an NPA write-in candidate in Alaska, while Washington is still evenly split between Murray (D, incumbent) and Rossi (R) at 50:50. Overall, there were 6 Senate pickups for the Republicans, with no Democratic gains. The bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-24741495112017437032010-09-27T22:38:00.000-04:002010-09-27T22:38:40.667-04:00There's Enough Blame To Go AroundPreach it brother!
"The Tea Party movement is an expression of what I think is a mainstream widespread sentiment in America that Washington is broken, that both parties are to blame, and that people want to elect folks that are going to go to Washington, DC, number one and do what they say they’re going to do primarily stand up for the agenda that’s coming from there and offer some clear bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-55162768297997409082010-09-21T17:25:00.000-04:002010-09-21T17:25:10.542-04:00Breaking .. Natural EvolutionCNN is reporting that Larry Summers is leaving the President's economic team, as part of a 'natural evolution,' in the composition of that team. That leaves only Geithner from the President's original economic team, and he's been receiving quite a few mixed signals.
Maybe Boehner had an effect after all.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-65211750080254420572010-09-21T13:33:00.001-04:002010-09-21T13:36:00.893-04:00As If There Weren't Enough Reasons To Dump ReidVia Politico:
'Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had an unusual form of praise for New York's junior senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, this morning at the fundraiser Mayor Bloomberg hosted for him at his townhouse - referring to her as "the hottest member" as she sat just a few feet away, according to three sources. ... First Bloomberg spoke, then Sen. Chuck Schumer, and then Reid, according to the bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-50266770617936701322010-09-14T16:19:00.000-04:002010-09-14T16:19:21.044-04:00Strategic Bachelor ReserveSometimes, you gotta go light.
Obama Releases 500,000 Men From U.S. Strategic Bachelor Reservebullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-21101728983525137342010-09-11T22:37:00.004-04:002010-09-12T21:55:14.841-04:00Patriot Day 2010We Remember Them
To Mae and David
Donald McCullough
Text: Author unknown
Published by Hinshaw Music, Inc.
'In the rising of the sun and in its going down, we remember them.
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them.
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth ofbullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-66243183486925224582010-09-09T17:37:00.002-04:002010-09-09T17:47:47.681-04:00Dreams of AnticolonialismDinesh D'Souza, president of King's College in New York and an Indian ex-pat, has published a fascinating little thesis on the roots of Obama's decision-making and philosophy at Forbes.com. D'Souza hypothesizes that the president's search (recounted in Dreams From My Father) for identity and purpose in his father's history, profoundly influenced Obama's current political thinking. More bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-37431073749788827222010-09-07T15:29:00.001-04:002010-09-07T15:41:11.141-04:00Who's Paranoid Now?From the increasingly rare file of excellent NY Times Op-Eds, we have this fascinating look at the political uses of charging the other guy as paranoid.
'Conservatives and libertarians dubbed Lee a “liberal eco-terrorist” inspired by a “green climate of hate.” They pointed out that he traced his political “awakening” to Al Gore’s apocalyptic rhetoric. They cited an F.B.I. statement calling bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-58783593868616994902010-09-05T12:40:00.000-04:002010-09-05T12:40:57.703-04:00Stealing From The FutureEarly in 2009 the Initiative On Global Markets website published updates of then current research projects including the following description by two economists from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Fiscal Stimulus and Macroeconomic Fluctuations: Evidence from Cash for ClunkersAtif Mian, Associate Professor of Finance
Amir Sufi, Associate Professor of Finance
Summary: We seek bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-90860170021255602552010-08-27T11:26:00.003-04:002010-08-30T15:56:26.042-04:00UPDATED: LeadershipUPDATE:
Apparently, the president figured that the best way to "do that [discuss the recent economic news]" was to give a last minute, barely audible, Rose Garden presser in which his main theme revolved around bashing the Republicans as still responsible for whatever goes wrong under his watch. Good job attempt at leading Sir!
Original Post:
We are leaderless, and that's the biggest reason bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-25434845132024138532010-08-25T11:55:00.004-04:002010-08-27T11:17:36.635-04:00UPDATED: Language Abuse Update:
Just to hammer home the point that so many of those who claim to want civil discourse engage in anything but, we have this gem via Uppity Woman.
Original Post:
Now that we have only ten weeks until the latest 'hope and change' election, I have time to post on a niggling irritant - the abuse of language in campaigns and political discourse. The ones that bug me the most are misused bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-29179012052169388422010-08-24T12:40:00.019-04:002010-08-25T06:27:58.015-04:00FINAL UPDATES: Primary Day in South FloridaFinal Updates:
The final results put Scott up over McCollum by 3% (46:43), while McCalister indeed played the role of spoiler, taking 10%.
Update 4:
The Palm Beach Post reports that Scott's lead over McCollum has edged up by 0.7.
Update 3:
In a too-close-to-call race, Scott continues to maintain a slim lead over McCollum. At this rate, neither will be able to declare victory until early bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-89627000004585521652010-08-15T10:18:00.012-04:002010-08-15T11:10:41.892-04:00Remember VJ DayPerhaps the one thing that most of the post-WWII generations 'know' about VJ Day is something they probably don't know was associated with the VJ Day celebrations - the iconic kissing sailor photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt taken during the first celebrations in New York City. Girls had posters of it on their walls when I was in college, and most of the initial links from a quick Google search of VJ Bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-26616578298681277622010-08-13T20:52:00.013-04:002010-08-13T22:09:55.181-04:00StagnationWith unemployment continuing high, retail sales bopping up and down, and the housing market and foreclosure rates still dropping, it's hard to see where the President's claim that the economy is recovering comes from. The economic picture is far from clear, and multiple indicators show some stabilization, but those felt on the individual level (consumer confidence, under- and unemployment, the Bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-23981165136747604342010-08-02T14:49:00.001-04:002010-08-02T14:51:06.868-04:00The Spider and the FlyThe Obamacare organizational diagram, assembled by Congressman Kevin Brady's Office, is depicted below (click the diagram to enlarge).
It rather reminds me of the famous grade school poem, 'The Spider and the Fly.'
The Spider and the Fly
Mary Howitt
Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is upbullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-86182591065787005602010-08-02T12:52:00.000-04:002010-08-02T12:52:14.981-04:00A Look At the Florida Senate RaceThe new Weekly Standard has an interesting look at the Florida Senate race, with emphasis on the Rubio campaign. As mentioned in the article, Rasmussen is currently the only poll showing Rubio up over Crist. All of the polls show either Crist or Rubio winning easily over either Green or Meeks.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-63038209250744490902010-07-28T14:05:00.000-04:002010-07-28T14:05:31.417-04:00Debt and CrisisThe CBO Director's Blog has an ominous assessment of the where our massively increasing national debt may be leading us in the coming decade. While the brief is careful to note that there is no way to accurately predict when and if increasing debt will lead to financial crisis or collapse, history (and recent experiences in Greece and Poland) indicates that out-of-control debt leads to collapse.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-38856130275563759892010-07-27T22:22:00.000-04:002010-07-27T22:22:48.826-04:00Double Dip ... PollingPresident Obama's poll numbers have dipped back into negative territory (actually, they've been there for most of the prior two weeks) in a big way with today's polling numbers. The RCP average puts him at -3.3. Only the Time Magazine poll (never a bell-weather) has him in positive territory at +4, and Rasmussen has fallen to -12 (likely voter poll). Congress continues it's slow fall into the bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-63596420294922777152010-07-26T21:08:00.003-04:002010-07-27T14:49:24.521-04:00When Does Sympathy Become Something More?The saga continues surrounding the release on The Daily Caller of Journolist archives and emails, that suggested remarkable cohesiveness at the best, collusion at the worst, among the liberal bloggers, journalists and academicians that were its members. On the one end we have the argument that the Journolist members were only like-minded partisans who kicked ideas around but never followed bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-86399996718283191952010-07-21T15:44:00.000-04:002010-07-21T15:44:52.895-04:00CollusionSigh. Why I am not surprised by this.
'Excerpts published Tuesday by a conservative online news site suggest that a group of journalists from the mainstream media discussed ways to shield Barack Obama from criticism during the 2008 presidential election. Among the strategies put forward: call conservative critics racists. ... "The [JournoList] is troubling," says Jim Campbell, a political bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-15012196583515657992010-07-17T19:22:00.001-04:002010-07-17T19:26:53.433-04:00Another Quarter - Another Afghanistan MissionPer the AP and Fox News: 'Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is heading to South Asia on a mission aimed at refining the goals of the nearly 9-year-old conflict in Afghanistan as fears mount about the war.' We have consistently failed to establish a clearly stated mission in Afghanistan, adapting tactics to the situation as necessary, and we have yet to properly and fully source any of the bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-21827228589533555712010-07-12T17:11:00.000-04:002010-07-12T17:11:24.344-04:00Monkey See No EvilH/T TwiceRight:
That's right, when in doubt, deny, deny, deny. Hope and change in action folks.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-90116401309306581322010-07-08T22:52:00.001-04:002010-07-08T23:39:42.306-04:00The Public's Latest Sobriety Treatment for the GovernmentOh my, my, my. The President's RCP average is down to -1.9, Congress is at -49.4, the GOP is up to +1.7, and the country overwhelmingly feels that the country is going in the wrong direction. Worse for the President and Democrats, Independents are abandoning them almost across the board. I'd like to crow, but the reality is that it's too late for crowing - the country bought into a pile of bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-33757727286245413642010-07-03T22:59:00.001-04:002010-07-03T23:02:00.982-04:00Independence Day 2010Unlike the political classes of today, on all sides, the Founding Fathers knew how to write with clarity, brevity and eloquence. May God bless America.
The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America (July 4, 1776)
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-51957363380393272202010-06-28T17:01:00.006-04:002010-06-28T17:06:20.863-04:00The New S-A PartyField season is done, and I'm back at it with an all-important question - are you willing to join the new 'Smart-Ass Party?' Trash-talkin' Joe seems to feel that a lot of us might be in it, just for requesting lower taxes. Remember Joe, nice is as nice does.Bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-22285448818024881832010-06-08T21:24:00.000-04:002010-06-08T21:24:43.882-04:00Super Tuesday PrimariesThe RCP Live Blog for results tonight is here.
Ongoing results for individual states can be found here.
Major results to date include:
South Carolina Governorship, GOP Primary- Haley leads the pack but has not yet passed 50%.
Arkansas, Senate, DNC Primary- With 2% of precincts reporting, Blanche Lincoln is leading Bill Hatler 54% to 46%
Still awaiting results from Nevada and California. They bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-8791892099437620602010-06-06T21:36:00.002-04:002010-06-06T21:44:25.457-04:00D Day CommemoratedSixty-six years ago, the beaches at Normandy were the site of one of the largest invasions in history, as the Allied Forces began the slow recovery of Europe from Germany and the Axis. Interviews with veterans from last year's celebrations, such as the one in the Telegraph with SGT Ken Scott (UK: 50th Div, Durham Light Infantry), say it all:
'"There's no hatred left, none at all," he says. "We bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-91536871863254352992010-06-04T13:07:00.000-04:002010-06-04T13:07:25.442-04:00Hiring Up (or not) and Unemployment Down (sort of)This one page article says it all:
'U.S. nonfarm payrolls expanded by a seasonally adjusted 431,000 in May, but virtually all the new jobs were temporary jobs at the U.S. Census, leaving private-sector hiring very weak in May, the Labor Department reported Friday. ... The unemployment rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 9.7% in May from 9.9% in April, according to a separate survey of 60,000 bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-30192909930362808172010-06-02T10:19:00.003-04:002010-06-02T16:38:03.368-04:00Change We Can Believe In - UPDATEDUPDATE: Now that the trial of the Governor-from-Hell, Blagojevich, has begun, questions about the role of the White House and presidential associates in 'helping' to pick candidates will continue to bubble up. Just ask Paterson and Ford about the WH cherry-picking candidates in New York.
Hannity not-withstanding, it's pretty obvious that the vague White House offer, extended by the hand of Billbullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-68487789779603694122010-06-01T17:13:00.002-04:002010-06-01T17:14:54.211-04:00"We Are Ready" (or not)When Nancy Pelosi predicted that the Democrats would hold on to the House through 2012, there were understandable guffaws on both sides of the aisle. Claiming that "we are ready ... and in the past when there [have] been these swings, it's been when people have not been ready," Pelosi seems to believe that readiness is enough. I wonder what she'll make of the radical swing reflected in today's bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-83817138856470509872010-05-31T14:06:00.001-04:002010-05-31T15:10:14.301-04:00Memorial Day 2010
In Flanders Fields
John McCrae, 1915.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-37749531479096811042010-05-30T20:26:00.000-04:002010-05-30T20:26:15.777-04:00Debt:GDP and the Future(BMG: back from conferences and a short research trip, and returning to the blog for awhile; posting will be irregular through the end of June and will then pick up again).
According to the US National Debt Clock, the Debt to GDP ratio (converted to a percent of GDP) now exceeds 90%. This is the largest Debt:GDP we have been at since the close of WWII and the largest ever peacetime ratio in ourbullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-35153359597282886132010-04-19T12:01:00.003-04:002010-04-19T21:12:25.497-04:00Scientific Iliteracy on All SidesMoving away from the normal foci of this blog, I've been struck over the last few weeks with how scientifically illiterate Americans in general are. It's common for the left to accuse the right of being so, but there are plenty of examples of scientific illiteracy throughout the political spectrum. For instance, in the last two weeks, there were these fine examples of complete ridiculousness:
bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-58846841432118260362010-04-16T12:28:00.007-04:002010-04-16T12:41:53.258-04:00Why ... Thank You Mr. PresidentI'm sure you've seen or heard this lovely quip from the president:'After his speech at the Kennedy Space Center today, President Obama headed to Miami for a pair of fundraisers expected to bring in $2.5 million for the DNC. Speaking at one of those events, the president made a Tax Day defense of his administration's policies and claimed to be "amused" by the tea party rallies occurring Bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-43615749135083544542010-04-14T12:15:00.000-04:002010-04-14T12:15:15.178-04:00Oink, oinkCitizens Against Government Waste has released its annual Pig Book. Rather depressing reading, although some of the earmarks are so strange they're funny. The entire 2009 book may be found here. Many of the projects for which the funds are appropriated are actually worth while; the problems are the means by which the funds were appropriated (often tacked on to wholly unrelated bills for bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-83326681572406503372010-04-13T18:53:00.004-04:002010-04-13T19:09:31.607-04:00Shell GamesWhile awaiting FL-19's special election results, I thought I'd take a look at the WaMu testimony, and got distracted by this. The court-appointed examiner of the Lehman Brothers failure has reported back to the court that the investment house's directors did not breech their fiduciary responsibilities. Of greater interest however was this little gem:'A 2,200-page report by a court-appointed Bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-88148907361965133612010-04-13T11:33:00.022-04:002010-04-13T21:14:34.685-04:00FINAL UPDATES: Election Day Special on the Florida's Special ElectionUPDATE 2: There will be no change in party affiliation for FL-19. As of 8:56 PM, Ted Deutch has won by 64.75% to Lynch's 32.64% and McCormick's 2.55%. A write-in candidate, Josue Larose obtained .06% of the total vote. 24,854 votes have been counted. These numbers are not too likely to alter significantly since most precincts have reported in. Where the national will move to in November bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-52647948138649798302010-04-12T18:19:00.000-04:002010-04-12T18:19:13.711-04:00Down in the WeedsFollowing yesterday's brief post, on declining poll numbers for the president, Congress and the Democratic Party, here's a more detailed analysis. Today's RCP Average for the president is -0.7.
And for your general entertainment, here's a science-based approach to international negotiations.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-17211186045550380962010-04-11T18:25:00.000-04:002010-04-11T18:25:58.745-04:00Down in Negative TerritoryFor the second time to date, and far more significantly than previously, President Obama's RCP average has dropped into negative territory. Gallup, Rasmussen, Fox, and USA Today/Gallup are all negative. The friendliest of the most recent polls to the President, The Marist (which typically has a high bias toward self-identified DNC responders) is down to it's lowest point; +3. Today's RCP bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-60084353587914693862010-03-22T09:47:00.005-04:002010-03-22T11:04:16.322-04:00Updates to Last Night's House VoteThe threat of having passed Deem and Pass through committee, combined with the Stupak deal, was enough to push the final vote on the initial Senate bill (HR 3590). The vote tally was 219:212, a three vote margin over what Pelosi needed for passage. The passage of the reconciliation measure quickly followed, and will be rapidly sent to the Senate. Sen. Reid states that he has the 51 votes bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-28859365677296606622010-03-21T22:22:00.004-04:002010-03-21T22:40:43.359-04:00Non-Vote Vote Rule Passed - House Voting on Senate BillThe House has passed the rule allowing the 'deem and pass' measure to provide Democratic House members with cover from a recorded vote on the Senate HC bill, allowing it to move directly to a vote on a reconciliation package of 'fixes' to the Senate bill. These are required to deal strictly with budgetary matters, but of course one can word just about any measure in such a way as to make it bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-76650715968169387202010-03-19T16:34:00.007-04:002010-03-19T16:46:11.744-04:00The Lines Have CrossedFor the first time in his presidency, and even more precipitously than Bill Clinton, President Obama's RCP average (a running average of major polls) has dropped into negative territory. The approve vs. disapprove lines have crossed, and he is down to -0.2.President Obama Job ApprovalPolling DataPollDateSampleApprove Disapprove SpreadRCP Average3/3 - 3/18--47.547.7 -0.2Gallup3/16 - 3/181547 bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-78164325372450744822010-03-12T11:18:00.007-05:002010-03-12T11:30:49.005-05:00Seventy Years Later - Honoring the WASPsThey paid for their own pilot licenses, and when they died in the line of duty, for the transport of each other's bodies for burial. The Air Force refused to acknowledge or honor them properly, and forced them from their training positions, rather than let men with junior positions and fewer in-flight hours lose a position. They flew cargo, fighter planes, test planes, and moving gunnery bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-76810272550137290282010-03-08T10:42:00.004-05:002010-03-08T11:01:39.247-05:00North Korea Thumps Its ChestThe little man in high heels, Kim Jong-Il, and the North Korean People's Army, have declared themselves ready to 'blow up' the United States and South Korea, after the opening of the annual joint defensive drills. This year's operational name is Key Resolve/Foal Eagle, and is somewhat scaled down from previous years, with only 18,000 US troops participating.'The U.S. and South Korea argue the bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-56639086676536262582010-02-27T16:12:00.004-05:002010-02-27T16:25:06.153-05:00Results of Blair House: 0.1Following the 'Blair House Summit' this past week, the president's RCP average has sunk to +0.1. The lines aren't just kissing, they're entangled. Any bets as to how long it will take for them to cross?Congress is faring no better (-56.8), while Republicans continue to lead the generic vote polling (+1.1), and the sense of 'direction of the country' has sunk to -24.4. These results seem to be bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-33391991589411188242010-02-23T22:07:00.005-05:002010-02-23T22:23:18.103-05:00Seriously? Fawning Reaches New HeightsTwo wacked-out headlines:1. From the NYT (of course): 'Gentle White House Nudges Test the Power of Persuasion''Tempers were fraying in the White House Cabinet Room as night turned into morning on Jan. 15. President Obama had been cloistered nearly all day with House and Senate Democrats, playing “marriage counselor,” an aide said, as he coaxed, cajoled and prodded them on a health care overhaul.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-35165051179339977222010-02-22T20:02:00.006-05:002010-02-22T20:18:52.292-05:00Transparency? Nah, Who Needs That?Apparently having an Inspector General tasked with catching sticky little hands in the TARP cookie jar is too much government for the Obama Administration. At the end of January, the IG released its report on TARP, stating that it had failed to meet many objectives. Apparently that hit a little too close to home.'While the administration has not yet finalized its legislative proposal for the bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-39085452749388930662010-02-22T09:50:00.007-05:002010-02-22T16:24:43.991-05:00Iran Restricting Airspace Over A WordIran is pitching a hissy-fit over the commonly used commercial air term, 'Arabian Gulf,' threatening to ban airlines that fail to call the shared waterway the 'Persian Gulf.''"The airlines of the southern Persian Gulf countries flying to Iran are warned to use the term Persian Gulf on their electronic display boards," Road and Transport Minister Hamid Behbahani said in comments in the daily Iranbullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-71568529203045792222010-02-20T16:58:00.002-05:002010-02-20T17:01:01.560-05:00Farewell to HaigAlexander Haig died this morning following a hospitalization for an infection. He was a fascinating, complex, colorful man with long and honorable military and civilian service records. RIP.Bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-49189368214350290962010-02-20T15:54:00.001-05:002010-02-20T15:58:18.842-05:00Dependency AgendaH/T: TAH.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-61708671512334047852010-02-18T23:50:00.007-05:002010-02-19T00:43:46.939-05:00Does Iran Have the Payload?Short answer - no one knows. The new Director General of the IAEA, Yukiya Amano, is a technician who is focusing on the ways and means by which Iran could acquire a nuclear weapon. In particular, Amano is focused on Iran's treaty violations. In contrast, Mohamed ElBaradei, who apparently has political ambitions of his own, has seemed more focused on keeping all parties appeased and at the bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-40738398158404579972010-02-15T10:40:00.001-05:002010-02-15T10:42:36.701-05:00Happy Washington's BirthdayAnother reason to celebrate? Congress takes a week long recess for the President's holiday week, following the better part of a week off for snow. Maybe the enforced time off will help restore a little sanity (not betting on it, but I'm ever hopeful).Meanwhile, see how much you know about the holiday here.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-20309438033534126862010-02-14T19:43:00.005-05:002010-02-14T20:01:10.038-05:00To Afghanistan - With LoveOn Valentine's Day, I enjoyed a nice meal with my family, cards, flowers, etc. As I enjoyed those, US Marines and Afghan soldiers had their minds and hearts on their mission - and I find my thoughts and prayers with them. 5,000 US and Afghani troops are participating in a major operation to destroy the Taliban in Marja (west of Kandahar), while British and Afghanis are operating in Nad Ali.Goodbullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-11407794042515667942010-02-12T19:15:00.003-05:002010-02-12T19:27:04.267-05:00Loving the Iranian Bomb?With apologies to all of my Air Force friends, only an Air Force officer could have come up with a apologetic for accepting a nuclear Iran (and only the NY Times would have published it). The strangest point in the whole ludicrous article?'Third, Israel has made clear that it feels threatened by Iran’s nuclear program. The Palestinians also have a reason for concern, because a nuclear strike bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-43203994518108415602010-02-08T16:36:00.004-05:002010-02-08T17:14:06.514-05:00The Never-Ending Story: Illinois Political FailingsThe Democratic candidate for Lt-Gov of IL, Scott Cohen, has resigned in tears over battery charges filed by his-then girlfriend in 2005. Interestingly, his own party has forced him out, after he won last Tuesday's primary. His ex-wife has also accused him of battery and assault in the past, to include securing an order of protection, but is standing by her 'ex-man' today, stating that she does bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-49927960732625006882010-02-07T21:46:00.002-05:002010-02-07T22:04:05.962-05:00Saints WinThe Saints just won. Peyton Manning single-handedly gave them the game, but it was well-earned.Drew Brees takes MVP - great young man.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-29256970555271903902010-02-07T20:16:00.005-05:002010-02-07T20:34:20.420-05:00Super Bowl Non SequitursWho would have thought that The Who would sound so ... old?At least here, in So. FL, we're having fabulous weather for the big game.What is it with all the beaver and ground hog commercials this year? Three so far.It's not too late to give back a little from the giant fest today - check out the Souper Bowl site.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-40015560375990152362010-02-06T20:40:00.002-05:002010-02-06T20:42:53.099-05:00It Only Took An Actual Attempt to Form the HIGJake Tapper reports:'Following the Jan. 20 disclosure that a special interrogation team for high-value terrorist suspects was not yet operational -- months after it was supposed to have been -- the Obama administration approved the charter to create the High-Value Interrogation Group, or HIG, an administration official tells ABC News.'bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-12663205242079900342010-02-06T19:46:00.005-05:002010-02-06T19:53:43.514-05:00Understanding and ArroganceFrom Fortune:'The Obama White House likes to say that the theories of John Maynard Keynes form the foundation for its fiscal policies. Most notably, it draws upon the legendary British economist's idea of spending big to pull out of a recession.But one economist says the administration has gotten Keynes only half right. Allan Meltzer of Carnegie Mellon is one of the most influential monetarists bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-77872571244968947512010-02-03T17:25:00.006-05:002010-02-03T17:42:37.449-05:00Comparing Relative Deficit, Debt and Spending LevelsThis article from Robert Robb provides a good comparison between the relative debt, deficit and spending levels of the Bush and Obama Administrations, as well as providing several historic benchmarks. The entire article is well-worth reading, but these points jumped out (apologies for excessive quotation):'From 2008 to 2009, federal spending increased 18 percent. This was a budget year that bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-55402559814022347162010-02-03T07:51:00.006-05:002010-02-03T17:41:32.408-05:00Primary Results in Illinois and FloridaLost in all the discussion over the Illinois primaries was the fact that Florida had a special primary for its 19th Congressional District yesterday. That cleared the way to elect a replacement for Rep. Wexler, who ostensibly retired to head up a think tank (the fact that he serially cheated on his wife, a la Edwards, and had no hope of re-election, of course had nothing to do with it). Despitebullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-9996962141012210422010-02-01T19:48:00.002-05:002010-02-01T20:46:13.679-05:00On the Job TrainingRemember when Biden and Hillary Clinton said variations on this phrase? '''I think he can be ready, but right now I don't believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.'" How about this one by then-candidate Obama, '“What you see in FDR that I hope my team can emulate is not always getting it right but projecting a sense of confidence and a willingness bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-34430017741292741222010-01-29T22:39:00.003-05:002010-01-29T22:57:44.299-05:00Throwing NASA Under the BusIn direct contradiction to his many claims to make objective decisions based on sound science, and in particular, space science, President Obama intends to deliver a budget request to Congress that eliminates public funding of manned space missions, and that limits manned space flight to a mere 'taxi service' to the International Space Station. The Ares rocket is to be cancelled with no bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-58318529784072525102010-01-29T13:43:00.006-05:002010-01-29T14:00:28.804-05:00See Nancy .... Pole Vault?Apparently, Nancy Pelosi thinks that health care reform is an Olympic sport, rather than a very serious reorganization of 1/6th of the economy.'“It means, we will move on many fronts, any front we can,” Ms. Pelosi said. “We’ll go through the gate. If the gate’s closed, we’ll go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we’ll pole-vault in. If that doesn’t work, we’ll parachute in. But we’re bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-62369614176793756112010-01-28T23:47:00.003-05:002010-01-28T23:53:09.142-05:00Debt Ceiling Raised to $1.9 TrillionAs discussed here three days ago, the debt ceiling has been raised to a whopping $1.9 - trillion, on a strictly party-line vote. The Dems hope they don't have to vote to raise it again before November 2, but they have already signalled that it will be raised again no matter what.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-79118882644457332322010-01-27T19:42:00.024-05:002010-01-27T23:24:54.935-05:00SOTU 2010 - Continuously updatedUPDATE 20: Final updates.The text of President Obama's speech is here, and the text of the Republican response is here.Video on the job (e.g., stimulus bill in hiding) is below:Video clips and various pundit response from the SOTU are here.UPDATE 19: The Republican response did a great job of re-establishing what the core values of the party are. President Obama gave a 'super-market' of a bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-15931197942450506492010-01-27T10:37:00.002-05:002010-01-27T10:57:47.838-05:00Tacking Into the WindPresident Obama seems to be wavering between two options for tonight's SOTU speech.Option 1: Tack to the middle. Moderates in his party are demanding this, and are trying to block efforts to resuscitate the health care bill through reconciliation. Sen. Reid and Rep. Pelosi seem to realize that efforts to ram through a compromise bill are dead, and the House will not pass the Senate bill withoutbullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-54398806232735276542010-01-24T21:33:00.005-05:002010-01-24T22:18:25.263-05:00Ceiling? What Ceiling?Politico reports:'In a bold but risky year-end strategy, Democrats are preparing to raise the federal debt ceiling by as much as $1.8 trillion before New Year’s rather than have to face the issue again prior to the 2010 elections.'Of course, they haven't quite succeeded in beating the New Year's deadline, and the loss of the Massachusetts Senate seat to Scott Brown, may change the calculus, but bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-54750557439847686592010-01-24T00:52:00.002-05:002010-01-24T00:59:24.411-05:00Team Rubicon in HaitiMany thanks to Blackfive for promoting Team Rubicon. They are probably one of the most effective med-relief organizations out there, and are doing tremendous work in Haiti. Have an extra $10 to $25? Team Rubicon will use it efficiently and to great effect.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-79467722822544260572010-01-21T23:18:00.005-05:002010-01-21T23:37:45.114-05:00Election Fun - The Left ImplodesEnjoy!The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10cIndecision 2010 - The Re-Changeningwww.thedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesPolitical HumorHealth Care Crisisbullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-6254819708388417262010-01-20T09:39:00.007-05:002010-01-20T10:44:25.685-05:00Tales from the Other Side of the CryptAs I wrote yesterday, I think it's important that Republicans take care to not over-reach following the the phenomenal win by Scott Brown in the Massachusetts special election. Hubris has brought the party low very recently. Nonetheless, the win should clearly signal that the public thinks that the Obama administration and Congressional leadership have moved too far to the left, and is bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-50974910982336374962010-01-19T20:40:00.011-05:002010-01-19T22:38:24.376-05:00Brown Wins! Results of Massachusetts Special Election - Constantly UpdatedUPDATE 7: Highlights from the Brown victory speech: "I bet they can hear this cheering all the way in Washington D.C." That would be the reason you were elected - he does seem to get this. "The independent voice of Massachusetts has spoken ... the independent majority has delivered a great victory." The crowd is chanting "41, 41, 41." Brown - "This Senate seat belongs to no one person, no oneBullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-4535901709557284612010-01-19T19:03:00.005-05:002010-01-19T19:40:34.710-05:00They're Baaaaaack!.... and so is the ModCon - just in time for the MA senatorial election. The next person to hold one of the two senatorial seats in Massachuetts will be decided within the hour, bickering not withstanding. While the DNC may be hoping against hope, much of the country is deciding that hope and change lie in different direction than envisioned by the administration. Should Scott Brown (the Bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-36328025341346961302009-12-16T18:35:00.002-05:002009-12-16T18:52:20.860-05:00Silent in SolidarityIn support of Milbloggers everywhere, and especially MSG CJ Grisham, The ModCon is going silent until December 18th.Here's a cross-posting from Blackfive.I urge you to contact your members of Congress to request that they act now to stop the suppression of open discussion about PTSD. Honorable warriors need to know they will be supported when they are injured - in any way.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-69577307709562335662009-12-12T18:01:00.009-05:002009-12-12T18:17:10.943-05:00Army - Navy Game 2009Despite being, in all other respects Army-true, this one day each year I'm all Navy, in honor of my father, a 1962 Annapolis grad. A few minutes ago, Navy won: 17 -3. The best and friendliest of rivalries of college sports is done for another year, and many of the 2010 graduates, especially from Westpoint, will be headed to Afghanistan next summer.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-48680760505260085122009-12-10T14:12:00.007-05:002009-12-10T23:48:08.204-05:00Obama Utters the E(vil) and T(errorist) WordsDuring his acceptance of the Nobel Peace Award, President Obama uttered the words "evil" and "terrorism" echoing President Bush, who was so often accused of using those words in service of 'fear-mongering.'"But as a head of state sworn to protect and defend my nation, I cannot be guided by their examples alone. I face the world as it is, and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-68363908270980467832009-12-09T08:37:00.001-05:002009-12-09T08:44:40.634-05:00The Gap Continues to NarrowThe frame won't accommodate the entire image, but clicking on the title link will reveal that the gap between average "approve" vs. average "disapprove" ratings (averaging five polls from the previous 1.5 weeks) has narrowed to +2.5. A linear trend line shows that the "disapprove" ratings have risen faster than the "approve ratings have dropped. Again, these polls meaningless for President bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-50536363494666802152009-12-08T01:16:00.007-05:002009-12-08T01:56:54.957-05:00Post-Afghan Speech Job-Approval PollingPresident Obama's polling numbers, following the speech on revisions to the Afghanistan policy, have continued on a downward trend. RCP noted that the Gallup poll had an unusual drop of four points overnight.'Obama suffered a net four point loss of support overnight - a noticeably sharp decline for a tracking poll that usually doesn't move more than a point or two in either direction on any bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-46374295395887322692009-12-07T12:38:00.009-05:002009-12-07T13:04:22.812-05:00Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and Azar 16thToday is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, and the 68th year since Japan attack the United States, opening the Pacific front of WWII.Today is also Azar 16th, which commemorates the university students in Iran. In honor to the day, students at many universities protested their total lack of freedom today, and are paying the price for demanding that freedom. From Revolutionary Road (the blog appears bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-23380235853821728602009-12-03T23:05:00.009-05:002009-12-04T11:17:47.735-05:00UPDATE 1: You Took Your Time - We're Taking OursUpdate 1: Good news from Secretary Clinton: NATO appears to be pledging up to 7,000 troops from twenty-five member nations. NPR is reporting that WH staffers state that these commitments were made prior to the president's speech. Germany and France are standing pat on waiting for the January conference before committing to any troop increase. It will be interesting to see 3,000 more troops canbullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-35646173882044413862009-12-02T21:56:00.004-05:002009-12-02T22:08:16.908-05:00Success v. VictoryWhen even the Daily Beast pleads for some victory talk from the President (along with others), you know there's a problem.'It would have helped him immensely if he'd actually used the word "winning"—or any kindred words—somewhere, anywhere, in his speech. But he did not: "Successful conclusion" and "responsible transition" just do not hack it.'Contrast 'victory' to this:'In a prime-time speech atbullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-10306895735373092312009-12-01T19:52:00.005-05:002009-12-01T21:00:08.984-05:00Updates: Obama's WarUpdate 1: The most recent Gallup poll shows support for Obama's handling of Afghanistan at 35%, and it's really not surprising. Tonight is the third strategy address the President has made (the first was when he was a candidate). Each time, he has: 1. blamed Bush (fair enough the first time or so, but old once you've been in charge for awhile) and 2. tried for something new, claiming it was a bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-87824804862383160412009-11-30T19:58:00.005-05:002009-12-01T21:00:42.448-05:00Via the Telegraph: Will the Real Man Step Up?I'm back (sort of) early in light of the President's Afghanistan address tomorrow. The Telegraph is asking the poignant question: "Will the true Barack Obama stand up on Afghanistan?" The answer is likely, no. He's more likely to try to find some sort of a balance point between all positions, and in so doing, may very well fail on one of the cardinal issues of his campaign. The President's bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-12701249837302127172009-11-21T10:00:00.002-05:002009-11-21T10:01:26.305-05:00On a Posting Break until December 2.The ModCon is on a break while I finish submitting my dissertation proposal and some data analysis. I will return December 2.bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-83259161603412575292009-11-03T20:02:00.017-05:002009-11-04T06:57:32.344-05:00UPDATES: Final ResultsFINAL UPDATES: Hoffman lost to Owens by 2%, conceding early this morning. Interestingly, some of the same folks who refused to support the local RNC nominee for Hoffman, now appear to be setting their sites on a number of races, including next year's race in FL for Senate. The very moderate/neutral governor, Charlie Crist, has been dominating the headlines and cashflow in that race, but Mark bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-64541757799390105932009-10-29T15:04:00.002-04:002009-10-29T15:07:48.285-04:00Does the White House Know How to Strategize?This is third week in a row that Jake Tapper (ABC News) seems utterly mystified at the lack of any real strategy originating from the White House for any of the administration's major policy initiatives.'TAPPER: Robert, is it the opinion of this White House -- has it been conveyed by this White House to Senate Democrats that the trigger mechanism for the public option would be a better way to bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-71065656842596346412009-10-29T14:25:00.004-04:002009-10-29T14:46:54.115-04:00Vote for Freedom of the PressWhether you like or dislike the commentary on the Fox cable channel, their news division is out there gathering and reporting on the news just like any other news division. And yet, the White House is trying to treat them like a political enemy. Freedom of the press is one of the most cherished rights in the country, and no administration has the right (or is right) to try to suppress that bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-62926552791504013342009-10-25T22:09:00.006-04:002009-10-25T22:39:13.540-04:00Iran Dithering Over ProposalsWhile Iran is permitting inspections of the recently -revealed nuclear processing site, near Qom, to go forward, it is by no means certain that it will accept the proposed deal to allow France and Russia to finalize fuel processing. The proposal would ship, either in stages or in bulk, all of Iran's nuclear fuel to Russia and France for final reprocessing. The two countries would ensure that bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-90710806758698406982009-10-18T22:53:00.011-04:002009-10-19T09:27:01.578-04:00UPDATED: No We Won't - Oh Wait, We WillUPDATE 1: Link here to an interesting editorial on a better use for White House talent.After throwing the equivalent of a four-year old's tantrum over the posturings of puffed-up opinion commentary on Fox, the White House has decided that it might be in its best interest to allow Administration officials to appear on Fox News shows after all. In the last posting, I discussed the increasingly bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-36436034263435211252009-10-11T00:11:00.008-04:002009-10-11T00:51:18.848-04:00Cable News Wars Heats UpCNN aired an ad in the South Florida market tonight with a voice-over by a woman calling herself "... a lifelong Democrat." In the spare ad, she states that she listens to CNN's Anderson Cooper (AC360) because she knows that he "... holds right-wing Republican Congressmen ..." accountable when they "lie." Nothing in the ad says anything about holding left-wing politicians who lie accountable. bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-42279033026041833292009-10-06T14:11:00.016-04:002009-10-06T19:32:33.938-04:00Updated: At Least the Swiss Have SpineUpdate 2: Poland and France seem to be backing off its support for the pig (actually, that's an insult to innocent pigs everywhere, but words fail me when it comes to people like him).UPDATE 1: What makes Poland's objections to the Polanski arrest so strange, is its recent passage of a law requiring the chemical castration of pedophiles prior to release from prison. That's actually a law I wouldBullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-83943732133297980962009-10-01T09:52:00.007-04:002009-10-01T11:46:49.447-04:00John Kerry Serving at the Pleasure of His Own EgoSen. Kerry is now advocating that President Obama take a good deal of time in deciding whether or not to resource Gen. McChrystal's request for additional troops. McChrystal's analysis of the situation on the ground is fully backed by Gen. Petraeus and Adm. Mullen, who are dealing directly with the mission that was given to them by the President this year. Kerry seems to blame the military bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-61434507623522150492009-09-29T14:25:00.014-04:002009-09-29T14:53:43.134-04:00Student Protests in TehranOver one thousand students participated in demonstrations, yesterday at Tehran University and today at Sharif University, as the new semester got underway. 'Iranian Education Minister Kamren Daneshju was visiting Sharif University at the time to mark the new academic year.' They aren't giving up.Cross-Posting from Revolutionary Road (quoting article from BBC):Tehran students protest on bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-78222152778676698112009-09-23T18:31:00.013-04:002009-09-24T10:26:45.222-04:00UPDATES: Is Gen. McChrystal Being Muzzled?UPDATE 1: Defense Secretary Gates has said that he will formally receive Gen. McChrystal's troop request by the end of the week, but that the report will stop there until the President and his staff are 'ready to consider it.' Apparently, doing more than one thing at a time only goes so far. Meanwhile, Gen. McChrystal has stated that there is no rift between he and the White House, and that he bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-83883178069129634362009-09-18T09:49:00.015-04:002009-09-18T10:23:10.718-04:00The Color PurpleResurgent Republic has published the results of an extensive polling of self-identified Independent voters, with an eye to the 2010 elections. As has been evidenced in a number of recent polls, these voters (who are often the determining factor in national election cycles) still like President Obama, and generally support him. Support for specific policies however, is steadily slipping, bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-34406742017319050312009-09-15T09:59:00.006-04:002009-09-15T18:03:12.449-04:00UPDATED: A Pox On AllUpdate 1: As expected, the sanction of Rep. Wilson passed the House on a largely partisan basis. The hyperbole involved was enough to choke a horse. Hypocrisy marches on.For all I know, the sanction of Rep. Wilson for the shout heard 'round the world last week, is fully justified. What's bothering me is the sheer hypocrisy. Democrats loudly booed, hissed and called out at President Bush during bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-86284400620749358742009-09-14T08:49:00.004-04:002009-09-14T11:05:38.751-04:00UPDATED: Iran Starts Fifth Trial over Post-Election Unrest - Cross-PostUPDATE 1: We'll talk .... about anything that doesn't matter to you.(cross-posted from Revolutionary Road).Iran starts fifth trial over post-election unrest Share Today at 7:05am TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran began a new trial Monday of people accused of fomenting street unrest after a disputed presidential election three months ago, official media reported.Six people were in the dock for Monday's bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07242833844641815642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-43758708664428373262009-09-11T08:38:00.012-04:002009-09-11T10:22:08.785-04:00Call to RemembranceWe remember so many people today whose lives were set on a new course eight years ago. My friend, Todd Beamer, who was a year behind me at Wheaton College is first among them for me. He reminded us all that even in death, one can change lives and live out faith. We also remember the many who died at the Pentagon that day and subsequently, and in New York City. I remember these men and women, Bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-52553194799264303852009-09-07T10:10:00.007-04:002009-09-07T10:18:45.445-04:00No Labor on Labor DayA rather grim assessment of the job market on Labor Day:'-- The unemployment and "underemployment" rate is 16.8 percent -- this includes the officially unemployed plus all part-time workers who'd prefer full-time jobs, as well as discouraged and demoralized job-seekers who have stopped looking for work. ... What's most ominous is not today's job market; it's the outlook. After the 1981-82 Bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5002651818781399387.post-66749036499575804272009-09-06T21:24:00.008-04:002009-09-06T21:52:58.843-04:00How Many Czars Does it Take to Screw in a Lightbulb?(http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/CHRPOD/ICN10109019801~Portrait-of-a-Man-Said-to-Be-Tsar-Peter-the-Great-1672-1725-Posters.jpg)Yup, we've got yet another Czar appointment, although we lost one in the middle of the night (Van Jones). How many of these officially paid and appointed, but not Senate-approved, officials are we going to have (currently 28-34 depending on accounting)? It Bullmoosegalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732610863696907201noreply@blogger.com