Could you imagine a Republican First Lady doing this?

Now could you really imagine a Republican First Lady doing something as silly as this? No. I could not either and I happen to believe that it is a crying shame that the Office of the First Lady is being brought down to such a cheap level as this right here.

Whatever happened to class, whatever happened to the First Lady’s respectability? Whatever happened to our elected leaders and their wives being a cut above the rest of the Country and actually acting like it?

It is no damned wonder the rest of the World looks at America and think we are nothing more than a ill-timed joke anymore. Also too, this is not about race at all; this is about what our Country looks like to the rest of the World.

I might not have agreed with President George W. Bush’s foreign policy, but at least I did not have to worry about the First Lady being reduced to the level of a night club dancer. 🙄

Via Is Michelle Obama a Better Dancer Than Your Mom? — Daily Intelligencer.

Someone please tell Bill O’Reilly this, thanks.

Well put, I must say:

Northern intellectuals, then, need to get over their snobbery about the South. The Southern model is based on more than beggar-thy-neighbor policies. In any case, it seems to be working. On the other hand, the South’s boosters shouldn’t exaggerate its distinctiveness. Like the North, the South does best when it encourages innovation and high-skill employment. And that takes more than just cutting taxes and regulation. – Is America’s Future Southern? | The American Conservative

Someone finally said it, something that I have been thinking for a very long time.

Hillary Clinton goes on speaking tour

I would say that this is a sign that she is not running in 2016. But, these days, who knows? She could be doing the speaking tour to warm up for a political run in 2016.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will hit the paid speaking circuit this spring (likely April or May) and has selected the Harry Walker Agency, which represents President Clinton, as her agent. Industry officials expect that she will be one of the highest paid speakers in the history of the circuit, with fees well into the six figures in the United States and abroad. Secretary Clinton will likely do some speeches for no fee for causes she champions, and expects to occasionally donate her fees for charitable purposes. Clinton, who will maintain her homes in Washington and Chappaqua, is also beginning to make decisions about the book she has said she will write, an account of her four years as secretary of State. Non-profit work will be another component of her new life, perhaps through her husband’s foundation or one of her own. — HILLARY CLINTON UNVEILS FIRST PHASE OF NEW LIFE -POLITICO.com

Either way, I wish her the best. I think it would be interesting to see Hillary Clinton and a Republican woman run for President. It would make for some interesting debates, especially on Abortion. If anything at all, it would be fun to see who could out-harpy the other. You know, two feminists, screaming at each other as to whom was the more self-important. It would, if anything, make for some very funny TV.

Just my opinion.

The Further Consequences of Wilsonian Foreign Policy in Iraq

This is what happens when you invade sovereign nations based upon bad intelligence and do not bother to verify said intelligence.

BAGHDAD – Car bombs struck two outdoor markets and a group of taxi vans in Shiite areas across Iraq on Friday, killing at least 36 people and wounding nearly 100 in the bloodiest day in more than two months, as minority Sunnis staged large anti-government protests.
Sunni protesters have rejected calls to violence by an Al Qaeda-linked group, but there is concern that Sunni insurgents could step up attacks ahead of the April 20 provincial elections — the first country-wide vote since the U.S. troop withdrawal more than a year ago.
via 4 car bombs at outdoor markets in Iraq kill at least 36, wound 100 | Fox News.

Now I am not going to sit here and write a posting blaming Bush for all the above. Yes, Bush was wrong about Iraq; but Bush has not been President since 2009, when he left office. Obama took the reigns of the Country and he now is the President, so, basically, Iraq was Obama’s baby when he took office. There are some who believe that Obama removed our troops too early; to be quite honest with you, I really do not agree with that at all. Because to be honest with you, our presence there was causing a good deal of friction in that Country, or at the very least, adding to the friction that was already there. Now the total anti-war people say that, if we would have never invaded Iraq, this above would not be happening; because Saddam would not tolerate it. This is true, but Saddam also was a brutal dictator, who did horrible things to his people as well. So, while it is not a good thing that we invaded that country, we did get rid of someone who was a horrible tyrant. This is why I never took, and still do not take a hard stance on the Iraq War and the middle east; because it is such a complex subject, and seems to get more complex by the minute. This is why I never really bought into the, “blood for oil” meme by the Democrats and the anti-war crowd. I did feel however, that once we got Saddam, we should have started making the moves to leave the Country.

However, I will say this; this Wilsonian bungle that did happen in Iraq, will be a black mark on America for a very long time to come. The Wilsonian foreign policy crowds biggest flaw, is that they cannot see past the end of their noses. They never look past the “here and now.” They always live in the moment. They do not stop to think about what might happen down the road; they never do. All they care about is defending Israel, no matter the cost of life or money. This is their fatal flaw and they have ruined America’s credibility around the World. What gets me is, how the Republicans like to blame Obama for ruining America’s standing in the World. The problem is, Obama is a very little part of that; the Neoconservatives, with their Wilsonian foreign policy ruined America’ reputation in just eight years time. True the Democrats did destroy the housing market and the economy. But, our standing in the World was done by Bush and the Neocons.

Anyone that tells you anything different than that, is either lying or a partisan. But, then again, I repeat myself.

Ronald Brownstein at National Journal confirms what I have believed for a while

That is that the Democrats have basically told the “Blue Dogs” to piss off and die:

With his suddenly aggressive second-term agenda, President Obama is recasting the Democratic Party around the priorities of the growing coalition that reelected him—and, in the process, reshaping the debate with the GOP in ways that will reverberate through 2016 and beyond. On issues from gay rights to gun control, immigration reform, and climate change—all of which he highlighted in his ringing Inaugural Address last week—Obama is now unreservedly articulating the preferences of the Democratic “coalition of the ascendant” centered on minorities, the millennial generation, and socially liberal upscale whites, especially women. Across all of these issues, and many others such as the pace of withdrawal from Afghanistan and ending the ban on women in combat, Obama is displaying much less concern than most national Democratic leaders since the 1960s about antagonizing culturally conservative blue-collar, older, and rural whites, many of whom oppose them. —- Why Obama Is Giving Up on Right-Leaning Whites – NationalJournal.com

I can tell you now; if the Democrats believe that this sort of thing will be good for the future of the party; and for winning elections — they are very wrong. Because there are not enough white city liberals to win an election. The Republicans did do some outreach to the heartland and to some typically very liberal areas, with some good success. Could you imagine, if the Republicans finally were actually able to get someone to connect with those people?

I also believe that another reason the white, rural, Conservative Democrats are feeling alienated from the Democrats is because every time there is a shooting of some sort; the Democrats want to try to push though some sort of gun ban. Which is quite frankly, stupid. Because whether the Democrats want to admit it or not; Guns are a part of the culture of America and this goes way back into history. The United States of America was founded at the end of gun. We fought wars to make our separation from the British stick with guns. We also quelled a southern rebellion with guns.

So, this whole entire idea that we have to disarm society is quite frankly un-American. The Democrats need to learn that lesson, or they will pay dearly for it in the next coming elections in 2014 and 2016. Because the American people are just not going to pick a political party that wants to make us into Europe. Just is not going to happen at all.

More via Memeorandum

Ed Koch RIP

Video:

The Story via the New York Times:

Edward I. Koch, the master showman of City Hall, who parlayed shrewd political instincts and plenty of chutzpah into three tumultuous terms as mayor of New York with all the tenacity, zest and combativeness that personified his city of golden dreams, died Friday morning at age 88.
Mr. Koch’s spokesman, George Arzt, said the former mayor died at 2 a.m. from congestive heart failure. He was being treated at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia hospital.
Mr. Koch had experienced coronary and other medical problems since leaving office in 1989. But he had been in relatively good health despite — or perhaps because of — his whirlwind life as a television judge, radio talk-show host, author, law partner, newspaper columnist, movie reviewer, professor, commercial pitchman and political gadfly.

He will be, however, remembered for this:

Out of office, Mr. Koch remained influential in New York politics. He crossed party lines to support Mr. Giuliani in the 1993 mayoral election, an endorsement crucial to Mr. Dinkins’s defeat. But Mr. Koch later turned against Mr. Giuliani, flaying him as “a good mayor but a terrible person” and refusing to endorse him for a second term.
Mr. Koch endorsed Mr. Bloomberg’s successful races for mayor as a Republican in 2001 and 2005, calling him about “as Republican as I am.” (Mr. Bloomberg later refashioned himself as an independent.) And when Mr. Bloomberg engineered a legislative finesse of term-limits laws to run for a third term in 2009, Mr. Koch backed him and called for an end to term limits.
In presidential races, Mr. Koch went back and forth. He supported the losing Democratic ticket of Al Gore and Joseph I. Lieberman in 2000, but joined the Bush-Cheney re-election bandwagon in 2004 and promoted the Republican National Convention in New York, urging New Yorkers to “make nice” to conventioneers. By 2008, he was back with the Democrats, supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton’s bid for the nomination and, when she lost, switching to Mr. Obama.

Now, I do not normally speak ill of the dead; but I will say this: Mayor Koch switched to a Republican stance, because of terrorism and what it did to NYC — that ,I fully understand. I was one of the many who watched 9/11 unfold on television in 2001 on CNN. I found it to be totally unbelievable that we were witnessing an attack on American soil. It was worse than pearl harbor. At the time, I was not really politically active. But, I found the Democrats response to 9/11 and the subsequent cries for “no war” to be sickening. At the time, I felt that we should bombed the entire Arab world for what happened on that day.

Koch also understood that what happen on 9/11 was a horrible thing and when the Democrats decided to play the role of “lets all just get along,” Koch switched sides. It earned him the praise of the people of NYC at the time; but it earned him the scorn of the political elite of the Democratic Party.

As for the man’s sexuality, I could honestly give two flips about that; if he was gay at all. You would have never known it about him, he never looked the part at all. Except for that high-pitched Curly Howard sounding voice of his — which is very common in that ethnic group.

Put very simply; the man was a leader, something that New York City needed at the time; and he did well at leading the city during a very tough time. One thing he said in that video up there, that I posted; which I found to be very poignant is “You don’t spend money that you do not have!” I only wish that our leaders in Washington D.C. would truly learn that lesson; before America goes into a meltdown. My friends, that is not a Republican or a Conservative position; that is a position of common sense. Something that is sorely lacking in this modern day and age.

Rest in peace Koch, you damned well earned it.

Blogger reactions via Memeorandum: ABCNEWS, The Hill, The Week, Shakesville, Algemeiner.com, The Reaction, No More Mister Nice Blog, msnbc.com, Taylor Marsh, Outside the Beltway, Scared Monkeys, Capital New York, Washington Wire, The PJ Tatler, Deadline.com, Althouse, Discourse.net, Capitol Confidential, Conservatives4Palin,Runnin’ Scared, The Other McCain and Ricochet Conversations Feed,

Hope and Change: Government drops probe of possible inside trading by media companies

Hmmmmm… Maybe Cornell West has a point:

The dismissal of an investigation into major media companies suspected of giving clients a sneak peek at crucial data drew great surprise on Wall Street, where traders make their living profiting from blips of information moving at the speed of light. Federal authorities had been pursuing allegations that various media companies — including Bloomberg LP, Thomson Reuters and Dow Jones and Co. — leaked key economic data to select investors, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. But the investigators dropped the probe, according to the paper, in part because they could not conclusively determine that investors were able to use the advance look at the numbers to extract profits. Wall Street analysts pronounced that explanation baffling, noting that in modern markets — fueled by high-frequency trading and robotic transactions — a mere fraction of a second can be enough to execute trades worth billions of dollars. — Government Drops Insider Trading Probe Of Media Companies, Baffling Investors

How much you want to bet that these companies told Obama, “You want our support? You had better call off your dogs on this probe.” How much you want to bet that this is what went down? I would be willing to bet you a nice steak dinner, with all the trimmings that is what happened here. This is why I did not support the Democrats this time around; because I knew this is what was going to happen. Believe you me, it would not have been any better with Hillary either; she is bought and paid for like the rest of them.

This is why I won’t be voting for Democrats in 2014 or 2016; because they are two sides of the same coin. Bought out, corrupt, self-serving vermin is all that they are, anyone that believes anything else; is crazy.

Video: An important Message to my readers

(video removed)

UPDATE: I thought I would let you all know why I removed the video. Upon further investigation, I discovered that “A Sheep No More” group on facebook, was nothing more but an Anti-Jewish, Anti-Israel — as in Anti-Semite kind of Anti-Israel group. It is one thing to not agree with the goings on inside Israel; it is another to make baseless accusations against Israel which are steeped in Antisemitism. I discovered it last night. For the record, the man had a point, okay? But, if he is using his “Sheep no more” group to promote Anti-Israeli views, I want nothing to do with it. I don’t hate Jews or Israel at all. I might not agree with the Wilsonian Jewish Right or with the actions of the prime minister of Israel; but that does not equate to the hatemonger idiocy of these people.

—-

Now as for the video, I happen to think that this is pretty smart advice. I am not a big fan of the current Government at all. But, I will not be the first one to start the fight with them at all. I believe that anyone that encourages others to violence is hindering the freedom movement ought to be outed. As for whom is a Government agent, I don’t know and could care less, really.

We can win the battle of ideas and push back against the Government behemoth, we just have to do it wisely.

Another thing too, is this: We need to learn from the mistakes of the old radical left from the 1960’s. They tried violence and you know what? It failed them greatly and hindered their cause. We on the Indy/right of center/no sheep crowd should learn from that and not allow ourselves to be fooled into starting fights that we cannot win. Like it or not friends, the Government has more guns and ammo; and they will turn on their own citizens to protect the empire. Remember that, fight wisely, and no not be fooled into believe that you will out gun them. We must win with intelligence and ideas; not with violence.

Just my two cents…

For those who disagree, I present to you these:

And…:

Remember Waco? – You cannot win against the Government. – Be Smart.

(Via a sheep no more on Facebook) (linked removed)

Taking Religion out of the Military?

I have mixed feelings about this one:

“Soldiers with minority religious beliefs and atheists often feel like second-class citizens when Christianity is seemingly officially endorsed by their own base,” American Atheists president David Silverman told Fox News. “We are very happy the Pentagon and the Army decided to do the right thing.” A military spokesman told Fox News the cross was literally dismantled and will be removed from the base to be in “compliance with Army regulations and to avoid any misconception of religious favoritism or disrespect.” “After a Christian prayer, the cross was removed from the roof of the chapel,” the spokesman said. “During the removal, the cross was dismantled; however the cross was reassembled and currently awaits transportation to a larger operational base.” The military told Fox News the cross will only be brought out during Christian services and will be designated as a “non-permanent religious symbol.” Silverman said a Christian chapel on an Army base in Afghanistan could have put American troops in danger. “It inflames this Muslim versus Christian mentality,” he said. “This is not a Muslim versus Christian war — but if the Army base has a large chapel on it that has been converted to Christian-only, it sends a message that could be interpreted as hostile to Islam.” An Army spokesman said all chapels must be religiously neutral. “The primary purpose of making a chapel a neutral, multi-use facility is to accommodate the free exercise of religion for all faith groups using it,” he said. “We take the spiritual fitness of our Soldiers seriously and encourage them to practice their faith and exercise their beliefs however they choose.” Retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin, of the Family Research Council, told Fox News a Christian cleansing of the military is under way. “I don’t think you can categorize it any other way,” he said. “There is a strong effort, led partially by the Administration as well as by atheist groups to destroy the identity of who we are as a nation and that means robbing us of our history.” —- Military: Crosses Removed ‘Out of Respect for Other Faiths’ | FOX News & Commentary: Todd Starnes

On one hand, I would hate to think that having Christian symbols on a battle front could be putting our Military at risk. On the other hand, I would hate to see Christianity being removed from the Military entirely. However, we are in a Muslim Nation is Afghan region; one would think that the Military would want to be respectful of those people and their culture.

It is a mixed bag, and all the more reason why we really need to get out of that Country. Our mission is done there; we killed Osama and we need to leave. We do not want to make the same mistake the Russians made there. Besides all that, Al-Qaeda has moved into other regions and is much more a threat to other interests in other parts for the world now.

So, to this Independent, the quicker we leave, the better.

GOP, Social Media and Democrats

Just a little comment about InstaPundit and Bryan Preston’s posting about Obama’s ground game.

Instapundit Says:

The GOP has some learning to do.

Bryan Preston says:

Obama’s personal political army posted it on the web and require a valid email to obtain it. So I downloaded it and have posted it right here. Download it for yourself and take a look.
The GOP had better not only pore over every detail of this at the national and state levels, they must build something better for 2014 and beyond. The Romney campaign’s ORCA project was supposed to be the GOP’s technological answer, but it was a total failure.
Last night, Gov. Bobby Jindal pushed the GOP to stop being the “stupid party.” They not only have to stop being stupid, they have to become very, very smart.

So, I did, I took a look at it; and I have to tell you all something. If the GOP thinks that they are going to be able to get anyone, who is that well versed in social media; who is a Conservative — they are crazy. Silly

The majority of the people that are well versed in social media are, unlike me, committed leftists. They will not just switch for the right some of money, they are liberal purists through and though and they will not do anything to help out a Republican cause at all. This is and has been the huge handicap and disparity between the left and the right. Most, if not all, of silicon valley and the social media world is of the liberal mindset.

It is a sad thing, but it is very true. Obama might be many things; but he is no idiot. Obama knew exactly what he was tapping into, when he decided to do the ground game for 2012. He learned from his mistakes and this time, he did very well. Romney did well himself, he just did not have the ground game to fight Obama well enough to get his message out. Plus too, there were demographic issues as well.

What needs to happen with the Republican Party is that they need to broaden the tent a bit. They need to moderate out their message a bit. They need to stop pretending to be something that they are not; and that is some sort of Democratic Party light. They need to quit doing the “Go along to get along” nonsense as well. They also need to stop pandering to protected minorities and get in touch with what true Conservatism really is. They need to also move away from this Feminist nonsense and move towards a Christian message, without being overly offensive about it. In other words: Celebrate being pro-life, but lose the silly rape comments.

They need to embrace the Huckabee crowd, and the Pat Roberson crowd, and maybe even the Pat Buchanan crowd a bit more. They part also needs to get in touch with the Conservative grassroots a bit more, and move away from the Elitist beltway crowd, as the cocktail crowd might get the big donations; but the heartland people are the ones that vote. An outreach to the farmers, and I do not mean the large corporate farmers either, I mean small-town farmers; this would help things out a good deal.

What needs to happen is the Republican Party needs to get back to the people that the Democrats left behind. Like the small-town farmer who’s making about $250.000 a year, but is barely able to keep his farm. Like the screw machine shop owner and employees, who put in a honest days work; just to put food on the table. Tell them, that they want to help them keep more of their own money. Reagan did this, and won big.

Populism is where the real people live, and if the Republican Party does not meet with these people and let them know, that they want to represent them; they will go the way of the Whig party. The American people will vote for someone that they can relate to; Mitt Romney was not that kind of a person and Ronald Reagan happened to be that kind of a person.

I just hope the GOP figures this out, before it is too late.