Since Justice Antonin Scalia’s death in February, the Obama administration and its allies have insisted that a failure to confirm D.C. circuit judge Merrick Garland to replace him would result in chaos. In the absence of an odd number of justices, the story went, the Supreme Court wouldn't be able…
WHEN ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER won the 2003 recall election, he became the only Republican elected to statewide office in California. He may not have been a doctrinaire conservative like State Sen. Tom McClintock, another candidate on the ballot, but the California GOP's board of directors nevertheless…
The McCain campaign was ready to go with an ad about Biden (and I hear several other VP contenders). Their piece on Biden is already on the web, and the 30-second format suggests it will also play on TV during next week's convention. It's simple and devastating. Every Republican operative I've…
Maybe Obama's media gurus read all the free advice I have for them here on the blog. Or maybe they're just finally catching on to the realities of this election. In either case, Obama staffers sacked their 50-state strategy days before the Denver convention and have begun focusing on the states…
Although the Obama campaign likes to claim he's won over Clinton supporters, the fact is he hasn't. Polls done of people who voted for Hillary reveal only a small percentage of those who said they would vote for McCain back in March, April, and June before he secured the nomination have changed…
Remember on Saturday when the DNC reported taking in more money in July than the RNC? Turns out that's untrue. Although an e-mail Saturday from Karen Finney, the DNC's director of communications, said Democratic National Committee raised $27.7 million, FEC reports show that the Democrats only took…
A bunch of people have talked about McCain's edge in being able to pick a VP after Obama. The reasoning goes, McCain can tailor his VP pick as a response to Obama's. I doubt this is realistic if McCain is in fact going to announce his VP the day after the Dem Convention, and there are at least two…
I'm surprised that residents of Quebec would let animal rights activists get the better of them on their 400th anniversary: The Thetford Chicken Massacre is not as well-known as the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but the controversial Quebec tradition in which participants place bets while decapitated…
The Washington Times reported that the McCain campaign will be playing ads during the Democratic convention. My sources on the campaign now tell me that several new ads will premiere, and they will be specifically tailored to the Denver convention. I wonder whether one of the new ads will focus on…
Democrats in Denver figure why feed the homeless when you can give them stylish haircuts. When Sylvester and Ghandia Johnson saw news reports about homeless people being given vouchers to the zoo and the movies during the DNC, they didn't feel it was right. "We just kind of felt like in news…
If you defy California Democrats in the State Assembly -- especially when they're desperately trying to get a bloated budget passed -- don't expect a corner office: In the latest episode of Capitol punishment, Assembly Speaker Karen Bass tossed Assemblywoman Nicole Parra from her office on Monday…
Polls from several battleground states show McCain gaining traction this past month. Just consider Colorado, Virginia, and Michigan. In July, every Colorado poll put Obama in the lead. In August, only one does, and the average of three others show McCain up by two. Polls from Virginia illustrate…
Obama advisers respond to the New York Sun editorial of last week about how Obama's tax plan will drive women back into the home: 'Absolutely outrageous" is how Senator Obama's economic adviser, Jason Furman, described our editorial of Thursday, "Obama's War on Women," about the effect the…
So Obama raised another $50 million. Why his campaign released this news on late Friday morning, I am not sure since it's not exactly bad news. Some of the doomsday scenarios I laid out last month about his campaign going bankrupt now seem less likely. But one point I made remains true: Obama is…
Nepal may have gotten rid of the royal family, but thankfully it hasn't yet dispensed with another tradition: the child goddess who sounds like a duck. If you are female, possess "the voice of a duck" and are between 2 and 4 years old, it could be just the job for you - Nepal is advertising for a…
Obama received the endorsement of the Savage Dragon, which is not one of his two favorite superheroes. Savage Dragon, a superhero and police officer whose adventures are published by Image Comics, is throwing his hat in the ring for Barack Obama. The news is blared across the cover of issue No.…
In the course of just a few minutes, Obama said two things at tonight's Saddleback Valley Community Church event that struck me as disingenuous. First, he claims to have worked with John McCain on bipartisan campaign finance and ethics reform legislation. I think John McCain might remember things…
Obama is just back from his Hawaii vacation, so who can blame him for skipping tomorrow's fundraiser in the Hamptons? Going in his place will be Caroline Kennedy, and celebrity co-hosts "include Alec Baldwin, Christy Turlington Burns & Ed Burns, Barbara Lee Diamonstein-Spielvogel and Carl…
The McCain campaign just released its July fundraising figure; it raised $27 million for the best month since becoming the presumptive nominee. This money must all be spent before receiving public financing in early September. John McCain and the Republican National Committee started August with a…
President Mikheil Saakashvili is understandably upset that Western leaders have offered little more than rhetoric: Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday called for John McCain and other American leaders to do more for Georgia in their response to the conflict in his country.…
If the rumors are true, John Edward's former mistress is receiving $15,000 a month in child support/hush money from a former campaign aide. Edwards says he wasn't aware of the payments, and has nothing to do with them. The Enquirer says nonsense in the tabloid's most recent update. At $15,000 per…
The New York Sun's take on the Obama tax plan: The Obama campaign has at long last lifted the veil of mystery that has surrounded the Democratic presidential candidate's tax increase plans. Mr. Obama's two economic advisers, Jason Furman and Austan Goolsbee, have an op-ed piece in today's Wall…
Obama eats as much as Michael Phelps. The Honolulu Advertiser reports, "Obama ordered six half-pound cheeseburgers, eight third-pound cheeseburgers, 10 kids' burgers and 20 orders of fries." The bill at at Kua 'Aina Sandwich Shop totaled $116 (plus a $40 tip). Is Obama training for the Olympics or…
Ted Kaczynski's cabin is on display now at the Newseum in Washington, DC, and he's none too pleased about it. Apparently an ad for the Unabomber exhibit found its way into his "supermax" federal prison in Colorado. He has sent a three page handwritten complaint to a U.S. Court of Appeals requesting…
In today's Washington Post, Peter Beinart says race still matters. Already, there is reason to believe that race is weighing Obama down. A survey this year by CBS and the New York Times found that 94 percent of respondents would vote for a black presidential candidate. But when asked if "most…
Now that the Democrats say there's only one America, they're holding two conventions. The first Democratic Convention is on the second and third days and will feature the Clintons, and the second Democratic Convention will take place on the first and final day and will feature the Obamas. The…
Barack Obama's new ad hits cable news today, and he's making a critical mistake in attacking McCain. Obama's numbers are falling not because people are gravitating towards McCain, but because they don't know who Obama is and the McCain ads mocking him are resonating. In an effort to be all things…
Obama's terse statement on Friday called for peace without blaming Russia for the conflict in Georgia. Then on Saturday, Obama issued a second statement, which allegedly beefed up his criticism. But a close reading reveals Obama still doesn't blame Russia for the attacks. "The current escalation of…
Forget about the Hillary emails. More interesting is Obama's correspondence with several celebrities. Obama lived in California for two years, matriculating at Occidental College, before transferring to Columbia. But before he left Los Angeles, he seems to have internalized the cult of…
Calling their convention "America's Townhall" takes a lot of chutzpah given Barack Obama refused to do a series of townhalls with McCain. But not as much as declining to do a townhall with U.S. soldiers because of a "previously scheduled commitment" and then jetting off to Hawaii for a vacation.…
In his latest ad, Obama uses a bunch of photos of Bush with McCain. There may not be many flattering photos of Obama with Clinton, but what about a response ad featuring ... sneider1.jpg sneider2.jpg sneider3.jpg
President Bush's visit to Georgia in 2005 was one of the most successful foreign trips of his presidency. He embraced the people of Georgia, and the people of Georgia embraced him. President Bush, under the influence of Georgian food, music and high-concept schmoozing, stayed up celebrating hours…
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The Washington Times notes that the late-night hosts have been shamed into doing their job. Jay Leno earlier this week quipped that when the Democratic presidential aspirant was asked what he thought about being called arrogant, "well he said he was 'above having to answer that question.' " Jon…
By their own admissionn, liberal political operatives seek to chill Republican speech by sending out thousands of letters warning donors of the potential repurcussion of giving soft-money to 527-like groups. Nearly 10,000 of the biggest donors to Republican candidates and causes across the country…
As Dean notes below, Paul Krugman has a particularly distasteful column in today's New York Times, reviving John Stuart Mill's mantra that conservatives belong to the Stupid Party. According to Krugman, [T]he debate on energy policy has helped me find the words for something I've been thinking…
Everyone has heard reports that public transportation is in record use in metropolitan areas, because of rising prices at the pump. Indeed, "The transportation association says people took 2.6 billion trips on public transportation nationwide in the first three months of 2008 -- almost 88 million…
Why pledge allegiance to the flag when you can salute Obama? obamasalute.jpg Is it a 0 for no progress on energy? Is it an O for overreaching? If the reactions being deleted from the U.S. News comment section are any reflection of how the country as a whole will react, John McCain should thank the…
Obama is making a strategic blunder in going on offense instead of playing defense in response to McCain's attacks. The fact is Obama will win this election if he convinces Americans he is a reasonable alternative. Polling suggests Democrats will expand their majorities in the House and Senate.…
A guide to Canadian etiquette for President Bush and his staff: When U.S. President George W. Bush visited Canada in 2004, members of his delegation were provided with a "protocol guide" to help them understand the language and customs of the foreigners. Among the advice: How to decipher what…
Prof. James Duane of the Regent University School of Law recently gave a lecture before a classroom full of students on why people should never talk to the police. To use his words, "it cannot help," and he quotes Justice Jackson that it is never a good idea under any circumstances. Now you may…
What distinguishes anti-Semitism in France from anti-Semitism in the rest of the world is the self-righteous way in which the French deny that their views are in fact anti-Semitic. Islamic fundamentalists are at least forthright, honest, and self-aware about their prejudices. The French are…
Today is Charlie Rangel's birthday. Actually, it's not the day of his birthday, and Rep. Rangel just doesn't seem to know it. THE WEEKLY STANDARD has obtained an invitation to Rep. Rangel's "birthday gala," and although Rep. Rangel turned 78 nearly two months ago on June 11, his b-day bash is this…
Obama doesn't just want to run against George W. Bush; he wants to run against Dick Cheney. Today he again accused McCain of "taking a page out of 'the Cheney playbook' on energy." The problem with this analogy is that it's wrong. Obama actually voted for Vice President Cheney's energy legislation…
It's no wonder the Chinese Olympic Committee selected Yimou Zhang to produce the opening and the closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Yimou is an incredible talent. Aesthetically speaking, his work is unmatched in Chinese cinema. In the span of just two decades, Yimou has directed…
Gwyneth Paltrow stars in an ad from the Democratic Party, encouraging Americans who live abroad to vote. Oh, and Paltrow advises that the hip thing to do is vote for Obama. Lesson 1: Never make a political ad two minutes long, especially when it's this boring. Just because Paltrow is easy on the…
Paris Hilton's parents have contributed to the McCain campaign. Although Paris Hilton is refusing to take any formal stand -- brands don't belong to political parties, don't you know -- she refused to object to the McCain ad and some suggest she may be a closet McCain supporter. Nonpartisan Paris…
Bush-and-Obama.jpg The similarities between Bush and Obama are becoming more and more apparent. It's not just that Obama is trapped "in a bubble more insulating than the actual president's." Or that they're both stubbornly unable to admit they were wrong about Iraq, which kept Bush from adopting a…
When reports surfaced that Orrin Hatch had written a song dedicated to Ted Kennedy, THE WEEKLY STANDARD requested the complete lyrics. Some senators are known for their less than captivating memoirs. Other are known for their carousing. A surprising number of Republicans on the Hill are aspiring…
Blasting McCain's latest ad, Obama meant to say the 30-second spot featured Britney Spears. Instead he said Hillary Clinton. Oops, he did it again. Check it out: "Now we've got ads about Britney and Paris," Obama said referencing McCain's new ad comparing his opponent to the young celebrities,…
Having returned from his European vacation, this is the perfect time for Obama to try out a new lapel pin. The seal is gone, and the American flag was temporarily gone. Here is a proposal that should ring true with his staffers: how about Obama wear a United Nations / USA friendship flag lapel pin?…
It's summertime. In a normal year that would mean overeager interns from the Ivy League are overrunning offices all along the Northeast corridor. But this is an election year and the Obama campaign is based in Chicago, so these students have spread their wings and ventured to the Midwest. They're…
The Obama campaign is not just spending thousands on coffee. It's also racked up a fairly sizable bill for wine and assorted booze. In total, the Obama campaign has charged over $6,100 at Sam's Wine and Spirits in Chicago. And the luxuries don't stop there. They spent nearly $2,800 on 14 meals at…
The latest report on Obama's missing thesis comes from MSNBC. Written his senior year at Columbia University, Obama's thesis was about Soviet nuclear disarmament. It's only natural to wonder what the budding socialist turned presidential candidate thought of nuclear proliferation in the early…
The Denver Post has some harsh words for the DNC following reports Democrats weren't paying the gas tax. So, let's get this straight: While the rest of us poor schlubs have been grimacing as we put $4 a gallon gas into our cars, local organizers of the Democratic National Convention have been…
Obama is skipping the election and proceeding at full speed to the turkey pardons and state dinners. Last year, Obama was on a bus in Iowa, his future uncertain. This week, he's getting chauffeured by the King of Jordan and saying he expects to be on the global stage for the next decade. Team Obama…
If journalism were a game of how many distortions you can pack into a single paragraph, Amy Wilentz's profile of Jimmy Carter in New York Magazine would win a Pulitzer. It's always been Carter's nature to avoid the political fray. He likes to engage in intelligent conversation with powerful…
No wonder the Democrats don't support the gas tax holiday. They don't pay taxes like the rest of us on the fuel they're using. Since March, staffers working on the Democratic National Convention have been using the city of Denver's tax-free gas pumps to fill up their cars - and using its carwashes.…
olympicmascots.jpg You're not the only one unhappy about the Olympic mascots, collectively known as the Fuwa. If the Beijing Olympics' five cuddly mascots go down in history as a dud, their creator wants no part of the blame. After China's Olympics organizers gave him the assignment, folk artist…
So the media blasted the Hillary campaign when reports surfaced that it spent $1,200 in a single month at Dunkin' Donuts. That's a lot of coffee for the campaign, or a lot of doughnuts for Bill Clinton. At the time, Gerard Baker wrote a brilliant article about what coffee preferences revealed about…
Despite the rumors, Obama will not hold any fundraisers during his Euro Trip. That means that six days out of the month, or about 20 percent of the month, will be spent without any such events. Obama's online efforts could make up the difference, but reports suggest they won't: "Several said in…
Well, if the Germans want Obama to be president, what possible cause for concern could there be? "There is a sort of Obama-mania in Germany right now, but I think a lot of people will have their illusions shattered if he does become president," an official in Chancellor Angela Merkel's office told…
Is anyone actually surprised by reports that two UN soldiers were photographed saluting the coffins of Hezbollah militants? unitem.jpg If only the UN could honestly say this kind of behavior were rare. The fact is the UN can't even say its terrorist sympathies are rarely caught on tape. In 2004,…
Who better to investigate Charlie Rangel than himself? Rangel calls on investigation of himself http://wcbstv.com/politics/charlie.rangel.ethics.2.773451.html Bloomberg refused to comment. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/rangels-rent-mayor-bloomberg-wont-go-there/
Last week, comedy writers for the late night shows bemoaned their inability to write jokes about Obama. Alas, there's nothing funny about the Great One--at least not in the minds of Harvard-educated white guys suffering from liberal guilt. In the off case they've been shamed into actually doing…
Marc Ambinder responds to my post about Obama's burn rate. He says, "it's almost absurd to compare the Obama campaign's primary burn rate -- which, incidentally, is a percentage, not an aboslute (sic) figure -- to McCain's for June." But I'm not just comparing Obama's spending to McCain's in the…
Democrats like Sen. Durbin and Sen. Kerry are eager to resurrect the so-called Fairness Doctrine, whereby radio stations will be required to give equal time to liberal talking heads. They know this would kill talk-radio, a traditionally conservative medium, which would instantly become unprofitable…
The $52 million figure may not be a disaster for the Obama campaign, but it is hardly a success. Not just because it's far below what the Obama campaign projected in June. It's a disappointment because it includes general election contributions from those who had previously maxed out. Remember also…
As it turns out, the public monument Rep. Rangel is dedicating to himself merely supplements the rent controlled private monument he currently resides in courtesy of the public dole. His family home consists of three rent-controlled apartments with "custom moldings and dramatic archways, [and] is…
From the Journal & Courier in Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University senior Ross McMullin said he was encouraged by the response members of Students for John McCain received as they rallied Wednesday morning on the Memorial Mall along State Street. About 20 students came out for the last-minute rally…
Charlie Rangel is a shameless self-promoter who proceeds from any meeting at the White House to the flock of reporters that congregates outside the West Wing. His accounts never bear much resemblance to reality, but they get him in the paper. In soliciting funds to build a $30 million monument to…
It's not Obama's fault no one can understand his position on Jerusalem. It's just a "syntax" problem. Senator Obama, in his speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, said, "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided." The next day, an unnamed adviser…
Perhaps Vidal will open a chain of V hotels to compete with the W. GORE Vidal, now 82 and confined to a wheelchair, sold his house in Ravello, Italy, five years ago when his lifelong companion, Howard Austen, died. Now, La Rondinaia (The Swallow's Nest), a seven-bedroom mansion on the Amalfi Coast,…
A lot of bloggers are using the fact Iran photoshopped evidence of missile tests to draw an analogy to the administration's claims with respect to Iraq's stockpiling of WMD. The better analogy is to the Soviet Union, which featured papier maché missiles in Red Square parades to compel the United…
So the late night hosts are laying off Obama ... There is no comedic "take" on him, nothing easy to turn to for an easy laugh, like allegations of Bill Clinton's womanizing, or President Bush's goofy bumbling or Al Gore's robotic persona. "The thing is, he's not buffoonish in any way," said Mike…
State polls are crazy, don't mean anything Virginia, Montana, etc. not enough data points. all over the place. instead of trying to make sense of them, try ignoring them.
The Pope wears red shoes? His Holiness has resumed the sporting of red Papal shoes, which have not been used since the early days of Pope John Paul II. Contrary to media speculation the shoes had been crafted by Prada, the Vatican has confirmed they were made by the Pope's personal cobbler. The…
The Dalai Lama said yesterday "'it's totally wrong, unfair' to call Islam a violent religion." Whatever the truth of this claim, there is certainly political wisdom in it. It will be easier to reform Islam if we assert terrorists pervert their religion rather than Islam is inherently flawed. And…
The new target of Salman Rushdie's affections is a 27-year-old Bollywood star. That puts her a full decade younger than his ex-wife Padma Lakshmi and more than three decades younger than the four-time married Rushdie who has pledged never to marry again. Sir Salman Rushdie has struck up a close…
Guess Obama will be otherwise preoccupied that night: A coalition of military groups is planning a nationally televised town-hall-style meeting with the presidential candidates near Fort Hood, Tex., the largest active-duty military installation in the country. But so far, only Senator John McCain…
Obama's base is livid, and tens of thousands are now organizing against him on his very own website. The problem with a people-powered movement is that eventually the people want a say. John Rosinski, an engineer in Orlando, Fla., always believed in the you-centered philosophy of Barack Obama's…
When it comes to offshore drilling, a growing number of Obama's Senate colleagues are distancing themselves from his steadfast opposition. They're even starting to side openly with McCain's proposal to allow it. First it was Sen. Durbin, the senior senator from Obama's home state, who said yes to…
A Chilean entertainer is determined to see her country climb the ranks of world's happiest place to be: Police in Chile have arrested a stripper who was attempting to remove her clothes outside the presidential palace in the capital, Santiago. Her arrest comes three days after she performed a…
It's been nearly a month since the British released known terrorist Abu Qatada from prison, and he's still walking the streets of London a free man.
Rick Davis just hosted a call to outline the McCain campaign's financial situation. The key figures are that McCain raised $22 million in June, which is $1 million more than last month. The RNC and McCain together have $94 million cash on hand, and expect to spend $400 million between now and the…
German Parliament has been weighing a bill to give children of all ages the right to vote. Yeah, babies would apparently have the same right to vote as their parents under the proposal, which is to say children would provide a pretext for giving parents multiple votes. If the bill gets adopted,…
Obama wants everyone to think he's a reasonable guy--perhaps even a maverick--when it comes to abortion. So he came out and said late term abortion isn't justified when the woman is just "feeling blue." Abortion rights activists fired back, and Obama issued the inevitable clarification--so frequent…
Last month, Bush apparently gave Prime Minister Olmert a Segway to take back to Israel with him. Bush seems oddly obsessed with the personal transportation devices since first setting foot on one early on his presidency. You might recall what happened, but if you don't, see the photo below ……
Even Europe thinks Obama is weak on Iran: European officials are increasingly concerned that Sen. Barack Obama's campaign pledge to begin direct talks with Iran on its nuclear program without preconditions could potentially rupture U.S. relations with key European allies early in a potential Obama…
amy_winehouse1.jpg Amy Winehouse's friends are worried about her addiction to tanning. One unnamed source tells the Telegraph, "This is another addiction that puts her health in danger. Why can't she take up squash or something?" Maybe the enablers in her life should be a little less preoccupied by…
Obama wants his supporters to believe his shifts reflect something other than political expediency. If only they didn't have transparent hack flip-flopping written all over them. Take FISA reform. Obama now says, "Given the choice between voting for an improved yet imperfect bill, and losing…
Although Obama pledged in an interview with Military Times to "spend more to improve veterans' health care and reduce the wait for a disability claim to be processed, ... Obama said he did not want to be more specific because he did not want to make promises he might not be able to keep." This…
ajadandwife.jpg The most surprising thing about Iran's First Lady is that it appears Mahmoud Ahmadinejad found a woman who's actually shorter than he is. The tiny tyrant is no doubt a great source of inspiration to all the tireless workers at Willy Wonka's factory and up at the North Pole.
Slate asks whether cockroaches really will survive nuclear holocaust, reporting, "studies over the last half-decade, such as those conducted by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, have found that these 'other insects' are more likely to reign in the age after…
"I accept that all candidates throw out a lot of proposals when they're campaigning," says Leon Panetta, former chief of staff in the Clinton White House. "You have to assume that's all part of a campaign strategy to appeal to a lot of different constituencies that are out there. But once he enters…
The first bit of good to come from letting China host the Olympics. For the first time in nearly a decade China is issuing new banknotes without the image of Chairman Mao Zedong. The 10 yuan ($1.5; £0.75) notes instead feature Beijing's new Olympic stadium on the front, with an ancient Greek…
So Iran recently rejected the latest package of benefits proposed by European diplomats if it would stop enriching uranium for the duration of talks. Russia and China appear to be backing off even this precondition, but the United States, Britain and France are standing firm. That means Obama's…
Have you heard? Obama is the Facebook candidate. He has created an entire network of supporters online. You know, on the Internet thing. Obama is to presidential candidates what the iPhone is to cell-phones. Sleek. Cool. A dream to hold. His hippest fans even edit their profiles and take on his…
The idea that Sharia should be incorporated into family law has become commonplace in several European countries, where leaders seem to think it is a moderate concession that might appease Muslim immigrants. As far as they're concerned, imposing Sharia is like a choice of law provision in a…
Prospective first ladies generally have a small staff on the campaign, including their own schedulers and hair stylists. Michelle Obama is no doubt the first to have her very own war room. I guess the campaign anticipates plenty more zingers from Obama's gaffe-prone wife, who has previously said…
Republicans didn't steal patriotism. Some Democrats just started believing that loving one's country meant trashing it. Being proud of the United States is certainly not a prerequisite in their mind. To the contrary, it is downright unpatriotic to love one's country unconditionally. The definition…
Dick Cheney is for Marriage Equality http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/07/obamas-marria-1.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5817720/ Steve Schmidt http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/Schmidt_takes_control_of_daytoday_operation.html
Sen. Chuck Hagel recently said he wasn't ready to endorse John McCain. That makes him the Republican Joe Lieberman, except in one respect. There has been no hysterical outcry from his party. Republicans haven't declared Hagel a traitor or a Judas. (Admittedly, that might change if he and Obama were…
Perhaps the McCain campaign should schedule a meeting between the two: "I've never even met the man, never spoken to him," Limbaugh said. "I'm sure there are things about him I'd like if we meet. This isn't personal." He then delivered a litany of the presumptive nominee's personal failings - too…
Charges of flip-flopping do play a big role--perhaps too much--in the rapid response operations of both campaigns. There are obviously a lot of reasons a candidate might alter his position that have nothing to do with political opportunism. After 9/11, for example, President Bush's foreign policy…
tablets.jpg I guess this means the campaign fired the poor staffer whose job was to etch everything Obama said into stone: Sen. Claire McCaskill says Sen. Barack Obama's commitment to withdraw troops from Iraq has not changed - although the timetable might be adjusted "based on circumstances" in…
Minutes after President Ronald Reagan was sworn in on January 20, 1981, Iran released the 52 U.S. diplomats it had been holding hostage for more than a year. Hours after John McCain arrived in Colombia today, U.S. hostages held by FARC are freed. McCain may work in hours as opposed to minutes, but…
Lindsey Graham takes aim at the Republican nominee: Graham and Joe Lieberman are traveling with McCain on his two-country tour of Latin America, but this morning were shunted to the press boat (think of kids and the small table at Thanksgiving) for a tour by the entourage of the Port of Cartagena.…
From alien killer to alien worshiper, Will Smith is starting a new school to bring the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard to impressionistic young people. I'm sure parents will be eager to send their kids, because Smith is such a great judge of character and has said yes to aliens. As long as children are…
Some very disturbing plans: In an interview with the Financial Times, Anthony Lake, a former US national security adviser who has worked with Mr Obama since the start of his campaign, also urged the US to learn lessons from its traumatic withdrawal from Vietnam regarding pulling out of Iraq. "The…
Andrew Sullivan says the "neocon right" is uninterested in debating foreign policy in a serious way, yet he dismisses the notion that such a debate should include further discussion about the surge. It's not surprising that any issue that Sullivan happens to be wrong about is not part of a serious…
In celebration of Quebec's 400th anniversary, France created a special hybrid animal that reflects the dual French and North American heritage of the city: "The Vachibou is a hybrid animal with a very short lifespan," quipped a spokesman for the French consulate. The peculiar mascot, designed for…
Page Six reports that Taki recently traveled to Brussels to defend his World Judo Championship title: Taki Theodoracopulos, the elitist co-founder of The American Conservative, won the US National Judo Championship last year in Miami in the 90-kilo weight class and 70-75 age group. So last week,…
Only days after I endorsed Mitt Romney for VP, a chorus of political insiders are singing the same tune. Two important questions remain about Romney's utility to the McCain campaign. First, what good is the money Mitt Romney raises if McCain remains in the public financing system? Second, can…
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Barack Obama visited Independence, Missouri, yesterday to assure people that he doesn't have a patriotism problem. The day before he was in Unity, New Hampshire, to assure Democratic party insiders, in a joint appearance with Hill-Dog, that he doesn't have a unity problem. No word yet on when Obama…
The words "children's rights" and "discrimination" take on new meaning: An eight-year-old boy has sparked an unlikely outcry in Sweden after failing to invite two of his classmates to his birthday party. The boy's school says he has violated the children's rights and has complained to the Swedish…
Using grown-up words on standardized tests in Britain get kids extra-credit, not detention. Peter Buckroyd, chief examiner of English for the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), an examination board, said swear words should gain positive marks if the spelling and punctuation is correct.…
In place of a comprehensive energy plan, Barack Obama blames the oil companies for rising prices, alleging that they have the means to increase our supply of oil if only they would drill on the federal lands they've already leased. "I want you to think about this," Barack Obama said in Las Vegas…
Seymour Hersh's latest opus focuses on the threat posed by Iran. He cites no reason to doubt that Iran's nuclear enrichment program is strictly for civilian use, and he fails to ask what conceivable reason a country with Iran's oil reserves could have for nuclear power other than to build a weapon.…
Saying the British are wussy is like calling the Italians romantic, the Germans belligerent, the French arrogant. Still, this seems particularly wussy even for them: Children under the age of eight have been banned from playing in football leagues and cups amid fears they are under too much…
If only the Taliban had respect for evolving community standards: Militants in Pakistan have carried out what officials have called a "public execution" of two Afghans before thousands of cheering supporters. The pair were alleged to have helped an American missile strike that killed 14 people in a…
Never mind those pesky missiles being fired into Israel. Never mind that Hamas refuses to do anything to stop Fatah from firing them. The UN says Israel has violated the truce: UN records 7 incidents of IDF soldiers attempting to drive Palestinian farmers away from border fence by shooting at them.…
Terrorists in Al Qaeda's "last urban stronghold" in Iraq are without a leader: The US military in Iraq says a militant killed on Tuesday has been positively identified as the leader of al-Qaeda in the city of Mosul. It said the man - identified by a pseudonym, Abu Khalaf -- had co-ordinated and…
When it comes to endorsing pols, Will Smith is very particular. "Nelson Mandela is kind of the one person I've said yes to," says Smith. "And Barack Obama was probably only the second person that I've really to this level said yes to." Note that world leaders come to Smith-not the other way around.…
Despite reports that the necktie is dead, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is doing his part to ensure the survival of those "lovely silken things" that hang around men's necks. In fact, some female MPs say he is taking his one-man mission to an extreme. Nicolas Sarkozy's office sent a sleek black…
amywinehouse.jpg Amy Winehouse
Looking at this chart of swing states, it becomes clear who John McCain's choice for VP should be. McCain should select Mitt Romney as his running mate. This move would put Nevada in the Republican category and, at the very least, make Michigan a "toss up" if not "leans Republican." To the extent…
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For Obama, it's still a question of debate whether Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon. His web site observes only that "Iran has sought nuclear weapons." Obama isn't even willing to go out a limb and say there is no peaceful reason the country with the second or third largest oil reserve in…
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Novelist Ian McEwan has rushed to the defense of his friend, Martin Amis, and offered his own critique of Islamism for its persecution of women and homosexuals. McEwan goes on to assail the intellectual environment in Britain and across Europe for allowing chilling accusations of racism to be…
Everyone who has seen question time since Tony Blair stepped down knows Gordon Brown is a cold fish, but he may also be a lame-duck. Brown foolishly confessed to friends he wouldn't remain Prime Minister even if Labor, by some miracle, managed to hold onto a majority in upcoming national elections.…
On the heels of a successful mission in Kandahar, which cleared the area of hundreds of Taliban fighters, U.S. and Afghan forces dealt a second major blow to insurgents in the past week: U.S.-led forces rained fire for two days on militants near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan, officials said…
In no uncertain terms, McCain should reject the endorsement of Tran Trong Duyet, the one time manager of the Hanoi Hilton and now an amateur ballroom dancer. Although twinkle-toes tells reporters, "If I was American, I would vote for him," he makes a number of despicable assertions that McCain…
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is one eccentric terrorist. First, he objects to a court-artist's rendition of his schnoz. Now we learn he wrote poetry for his CIA interrogator's wife. Mr. Martinez came in after the rough stuff, the ultimate good cop with the classic skills: an unimposing presence,…
The photo of ANWR published here Friday looked familiar, and then it dawned upon me: the Alaskan nature preserve is about as beautiful as Mars. Can you tell which is which? anwr.jpg Mars.jpg
Despite yesterday's successful mission in Southern Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of several hundred terrorists, the New York Times continues to assert that Afghanistan is an utter disaster and the U.S. lacks a coherent strategy. In an editorial today, the Times claims most of the 50,000…
So Obama's new ad, the first of the general election, "cites Public Law 110-181 when he talks about his efforts to extend 'health care for wounded troops who'd been neglected.'" The problem? Obama never showed up to the vote. He was actually too busy campaigning to make it back to Washington to…
Just one week has passed since the Maoist controlled Parliament deposed King Gyanendra, the Etonian head-of-state, and Nepal is already in the crapper. Thousands of local government workers have gone on strike in protest of a Maoist minister, who "locked up an 'errant official' in a toilet" for an…
A new biography of Boris Johnson reveals how David Cameron stifled Johnson's rise in Parliament, and might have inadvertently created a challenger to head the Conservative Party of Britain. Many assume the two are friends, because they attended both Eton and Oxford together. At the party conference…
A wonderful editorial in today's Dallas Morning News urges Obama to reconsider his girlish retreat on town halls: Our excitement grew this month when Mr. McCain challenged his fellow senator to 10 town-hall-style appearances, with the candidates effectively shedding their protective wrapping and…
In the past week, several disturbing stories out of Afghanistan suggested the Taliban was gaining traction, especially in Kandahar, where an elaborate jail-break freed hundreds of terrorists. Afghan and NATO troops though have already taken action to curb this disturbing trend, and it sounds like…
The most taxed, regulated product in the country is about to become even more regulated. Congress is weighing a ban on flavored cigarettes that are popular among today's youth. The tobacco companies are even supporting the legislation, and with good reason. It contains one big exception--it exempts…
A few weeks back, I wrote a longer article on why presidents don't use email. A not entirely unrelated issue is email retention under the Presidential Records Act, which requires all email to be archived and eventually disclosed years after the president has left office. Democratic congressmen are…
There are only five months before the election, and Obama is only now convening the inaugural meeting of his Senior Working Group on National Security and disclosing (at least partially) who he solicits advice from when it comes to foreign affairs. Obama apparently runs his campaign like he does…
Hillary Clinton is hosting her first fundraiser for Obama, and it will be next week at the Mayflower Hotel. Has anyone yet forgotten the Mayflower was Eliot Spitzer's hooker hang-out? If Democratic big-wigs go through with this affair, I encourage them to consult my handy drink guide. Alas, the…
Tom Wolfe brands television news reporters a gang of intellectually handicapped misfits. "As newspapers are declining rapidly . . . I would just point out, all news today comes from newspapers. All of it. Television has never initiated a successful story in its life. When they have a big story,…
Which is more obscene, this or that, I don't know.
Barack Obama spoke earlier this past week with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. Their accounts of the conversation differ in politically convenient ways for the junior senator. Obama's version: At a press availability in Michigan, I asked Obama if Zebari had expressed any concern to him that…
John McCain has set things up brilliantly: He proposed a gas tax holiday and now supports offshore drilling, both very popular ideas with the American public and bound to lower gas prices at least temporarily. Compare that with Obama, who says he is favor of higher gas prices. Sure, Democrats can…
The British Ministry of Justice just released known terrorist Abu Qatada from prison even though he is suspected of being involved with the September 11 attacks and has already been convicted for several bombings in Jordan. No, today isn't opposite day; the British are just that stupid. The Special…
An astute reader notes that President Bush used the "urban" handshake in meeting with Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi at an earlier date in his European tour. Bush buddy Berlusconi does not appear fazed. bush berlusconi.jpg
No timetables, no nothing. Democrats are in full retreat. Democrats in the U.S. Congress, who came to power last year on a call to end the combat in Iraq, will soon give President George W. Bush the last war-funding bill of his presidency without any of the conditions they sought for withdrawing…
President Sarkozy is ushering in a new era of military policy in France. In its first new national defense policy in 14 years, France has decided that its security lies within Europe and NATO, establishing a significant shift from the country's longstanding notions of moral and military…
Winking at the Queen of England may not comport with proper etiquette, but President Bush deserves the support of his countrymen in employing the hip-hop style handshake in greeting Gordon Brown this past week. Bush Brown.jpg For his part, the Prime Minister seemed startled and confused-a look I…
Since the Huffington Post premiered, it has been home to plenty of ludicrous speculation. Today Steven Rosenbaum earns a place in the Huffington Hall of Fame for claiming John McCain will drop out at the convention as part of a September Surprise by the Republicans. The creator of MTV UNfiltered,…
Gore Vidal is a bitter, washed up has-been of American letters. His increasingly loopy commentary on current events would invite sympathy for a senile old man if he weren't such a loathsome figure. Just consider his take on the presidential race: [W]hat about Mr. McCain? Disaster. Who started this…
Obama will tour Europe, not Iraq, in his first overseas trip as his party's nominee. The Guardian reports, Barack Obama is planning his first overseas trip since he launched his US presidential bid in February last year - and Britain is pencilled in as part of a possible European tour next month.…
The DNC is worse than broke. It's $15 million in the red, and Denver city auditors are worried taxpayers are going to end up footing the bill for the Democratic Convention. So much for the Republicans being outspent in the upcoming elections. As it were, Howard Dean will be lucky if the donkey he…
Not all the bias directed at Hillary Clinton stems from misogyny. There were plenty of liberal journalists who were simply willing to say anything in their quest to see Obama win the Democratic Party nomination. The comments perversely continue even now that she is out of the race. Just take this…
Remember when Obama agreed in theory to a "series" of town halls across the country? Then he wanted it to be Lincoln-Douglas style, so he could take advantage of a teleprompter and his less than fastidious command of public policy? Well, now Obama is proposing only a single town hall. So much for…
U.S. intelligence may question whether Iran has an active nuclear weapons program, but Iranian funded terrorist organization Hamas appears to concede the point. In an interview with the BBC, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal had this to say: Another key question for Mr Meshaal-does he think Iran should…
Ron Paul has finally abandoned his insurgent candidacy for president. Questions still linger: Why no siren on the Drudge Report? Will Paul join Dennis Kucinich in forming the greatest third-party ticket in history? They'd have a lock on voters who support the gold-standard, believe in aliens.
Having rescued the world's people from genocide and tyranny, the UN Human Rights Council is taking on the British monarchy. Oh, Cuba and Saudi Arabia are part of the committee. The resulting report said Britain should have a referendum on the monarchy and the need for a written constitution with a…
Although many legal scholars are celebrating yesterday's ruling as a return to the rule of law, the rule of law was never in question. President Bush has adhered to every one of the Supreme Court's War on Terror decisions, requesting and receiving congressional authorization when the Court ruled in…
capt.cps.mrv67.120608105550.photo00.photo.default-512x335.jpg Dustin the Turkey, via Yahoo News
Gordon Brown won a much-needed victory yesterday with Parliament approving his plan to permit the detention of terrorist suspects for up to 42-days without charges. An odd postscript to the story is the abrupt resignation of Shadow Home Secretary David Davis, who was outspoken in his opposition to…
A Kuwaiti man, educated in the United States, has given the Middle East its first comic books: Mutawa's superheroes are modern, secular and spiritual, moving seamlessly between East and West. They come from 99 countries and are split between males and females. The heroes include Darr the Afflicter,…
A bunch of publications are naming Rep. Eric Cantor, the only Jewish Republican in Congress, as a potential running-mate for McCain: The National Journal, The Washington Post, the Richmond Times-Dispatch and a flurry of bloggers all have made recent mentions of Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Henrico, as a…
To mask his own liberal-Democratic views, Obama must brand John McCain more of the same. Hence why he's repeatedly said McCain is running for Bush's third-term. In responding, McCain typically asserts that Obama is running for Jimmy Carter's second-term. That is fine and good when it comes to…
Although conservative Democrats like Jim Webb have handed Congress to the Democrats, many of them want nothing to do with Obama and think he is likely to lose in November. When NPR asked Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland if he was auditioning to be Obama's VP, the Hillary supporter remarked, "Absolutely…
Sure, Hamas has proved itself relatively resilient, but it is now battling a foe more formidable than the IDF: Internet Porn. "A couple of weeks ago Hamas installed a filter to prevent people from accessing such pages on the net," said Ali Sarayfi who runs an Internet cafe in the university area of…
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Mayor Bloomberg is oft mentioned as a possible running-mate to either candidate, but it seems more likely that Obama would select him than McCain. After all, a moderate Republican like McCain has less to gain than liberal-Democrat Obama in nominating an ostensibly independent candidate. Yesterday,…
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is refusing to compromise on his proposal to permit a 42-day detention period for terrorists before charges must be filed, and the public is supporting him. What is so appalling about the Conservative Party's opposition is how apparent it is they merely wish to deny…
A 9/11 conspiracy theorist is on Day 15 of a hunger strike outside the Phoenix office of John McCain, and says he won't leave until the senator hears out his wacky views that the U.S. government planned the attacks. When asked how he thinks this will end, Blair Gadsby inadvertently reveals the…
Columbia University has more than its share of intellectual hacks, and high on the list is Joseph Massad. Professor Massad's controversial beliefs invite mockery. He believes the Iraq war stemmed from the sexual prowess of the American male ("In such a strategy, Iraqis are posited by American…
Just because the Obama campaign doesn't pay for cabs from O'Hare and staffers are expected to double-up at hotels doesn't make it frugal. Indeed, Obama oversees a team of 700 people--more than twice as many as Bush in 2004--the biggest, most bloated campaign in the history of presidential…
John McCain and Barack Obama are often seen sending emails between campaign rallies as they barnstorm the country. But whichever man is elected president will face a predicament: unholster his Blackberry or risk political suicide. As George W. Bush told a small group of friends just days before…
It's not just the real Mohammed who is image conscious. On trial for his life, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed took time from his defense to quarrel with a court-artist's depiction of his nose: During that process, the sketch was shown to Mohammed's defense team, and the accused terrorist took a moment to…
K-Mart's abstinence sweatpants, which read "True Love Waits" on the front and back, will remain on shelves, at least for now. This is a welcome improvement from the "hyper-sexualized" clothing worn by many of today's tweens, but I wonder if it ultimately affirms the very suggestions it ostensibly…
Carla Bruni, France's first lady, says "her husband was so bright he appeared to have 'five or even six brains.'" That's five or six more than her.
Worse than the Hummer, dastardlier than a Gulfstream V, cow flatulence is the bête noire of the environmental movement. "Livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together." And until…
The U.N. Food Summit in Rome kowtowed to President Ahmadinejad in barring an Iranian journalist critical of the pint-sized tyrant from attending his address. After international criticism, however, the U.N. has apologized. The United Nations apologised Wednesday to an Iranian journalist who was…
After lamenting the cost imposed by overeating in the West on the world's hungry, conference-attendees at the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization grappled with food shortages over a modest menu that included "puff pastries with corn and mozzarella, pasta with pumpkin and shrimp, and rolls of…
Obama already agreed in theory to do town halls and now says he is still interested, but don't expect him to keep his word. A week ago, Obama rejected McCain's proposal for a joint-trip to Iraq as a "political stunt." In coming weeks, I anticipate similar language will begin to appear with respect…
Obama already agreed in theory to do town halls and now says he is still interested, but don't expect him to keep his word. A week ago, Obama rejected McCain's proposal for a joint-trip to Iraq as a "political stunt." In coming weeks, I anticipate similar language will begin to appear with respect…
In desperate need of a victory, Prime Minister Gordon Brown is making concessions to ensure members of his own party don't vote against his proposal to permit terrorist suspects to be detained without charge for up to 42 days. At prime minister's questions today, Gordon Brown described the…
British police demonstrated their regard for free speech and freedom of religion in threatening Christians with arrest for proselytizing. A police community support officer ordered two Christian preachers to stop handing out gospel leaflets in a predominantly Muslim area of Birmingham. The…
The Home Office in Britain has allocated $25 million for therapy for Islamic extremists, and says counseling is more suitable than criminal charges for those who belong to violent hate-groups. The central element of the Home Office plan is a new national "deradicalisation" programme that would…
I've always been a fan of judges who use creative sentencing in punishing the guilty, but this strikes me as misguided: Call it poetic justice: More than two dozen young people who broke into Robert Frost's former home for a beer party and trashed the place are being required to take classes in his…
It appears the Democratic Party is no more alive than the conservative movement--at least according to two prominent opinion columnists writing in today's papers. The New York Times's Bob Herbert has the lowdown on the Democratic downfall: This was supposed to have been the Democrats' year. But…
Despite Obama's assertions that Iraq is distracting from the fight in Afghanistan, this new report from the front lines emerges: Missions by special forces and air strikes by unmanned drones have "decapitated" the Taliban and brought the war in Afghanistan to a "tipping point", the commander of…
Building on Trent Duffy's devastating op-ed, I just want to discuss one aspect of McClellan's account that strikes me as particularly disingenuous. McClellan has cited Bush's partial declassification of an intelligence report as playing a critical part in his own disillusionment. According to…
Germany's unemployment rate fell "below 8% for the first time in more than 16 years." Unemployment in France is 7.8%. Among EU members, unemployment averages 7.1%. If only the U.S. economy were as strong as our European brethren. If only the U.S. unemployment rate were so low, fewer headlines would…
Some good news from Iraq: American deaths in the Iraq war dropped to 19 in May, their lowest monthly level since the invasion in 2003, the United States military said Sunday, though officials said they were reluctant to highlight the number as a milestone.
Eric Felten's column, How's Your Drink, is a great contribution to American Letters. His passion for the sacrament knows no bound, and one imagines his plush Wall Street Journal expense account is put to good use. That is, in the pursuit of research. Felten's latest contribution concerns the…
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SCOTT McCLELLAN HAS LAUNCHED a scathing and unexpected attack on the Bush administration. The media's punching bag will soon be its darling. Much has already been made of McClellan's preposterous claim that the White House operated in "permanent campaign" mode. Alas, if the campaign had been run…
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