"Hillary: The Movie" and unintended consequences

"The Supreme Court will cut short its summer break in early September to hear a new argument in a momentous case that could transform the way political campaigns are conducted. The case, which arose from a minor political documentary called “Hillary: The Movie,’’ seemed an oddity when it was first argued in March. Just six months later, it has turned into a juggernaut with the potential to shatter a century-long understanding about the government’s ability to bar corporations from spending money to support political candidates."

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/08/30/high_court_ends_its_break_to_revisit_campaign_finance_case/

Right wing Republicans did their best to destroy Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy. We can assume Clinton's candidacy would have result in Bill Clinton-style government - - balanced budgets, compromise and incrementalism.

Right wing Republicans did such a good job stopping Hillary Clinton (including voting for Obama in open caucus and primary states) that we now have Obama-style record deficits, runaway spending and hyper partisanship.

Talk about unintended consequences.

Obama, Crist and Le Mieux

"Broward County native George LeMieux will be the newest United States senator, Gov. Charlie Crist announced today. In naming Lemieux, 40, for the rare Senate appointment, Crist chose his closest and most loyal adviser and political guru. Lemieux ran Crist's 2006 campaign for governor -- earning the nickname "maestro" from the governor -- and later served as his chief of staff. Before that, LeMieux was Florida's deputy attorney general under Crist from 2003-2007."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osceola/orl-crist-picks-sentator-replacement-martinez-0828,0,7928711.story

Florida Gov. Crist is a "pragmatist". His only core belief is getting elected. An ultra conservative candidate for U.S. Senate in the 90's, Crist drifted to the center to run for governor. Earlier this year, Crist appeared with Obama to endorse Obama's stimulus plan, back when Obama's approval was at 70%.

Le Mieux is equally "pragmatic". Now a self described "social conservative", Le Mieux once ran for state legislative office as a gay rights advocate. Le Mieux will clearly be Crist's puppet.

Crist is running for the senate seat, and appointed Le Mieux to hold it for him until the next election.

If Le Mieux "pragmatically" supports Obama on "health insurance reform" (as Crist did on the stimulus bill), Le Mieux will get a high national profile (and the possibility of a post Senate high level appointment). As further part of any exchange, would Obama be willing to pay for a Republican vote by betraying the likely Democratic nominee against Crist, diehard Hillary Clinton supporter Rep. Kendrick Meek? Smells like a possible deal to me.

Pakistan: Another American friend

"A Pakistani court on Friday ordered the government to lift any remaining restrictions on a scientist alleged to have spread nuclear technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya . . . The interim instruction came in response to a petition filed by scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan . . . Khan's lawyer, Ali Zafar, said the Lahore High Court observed that "nobody can restrict the movement of A.Q. Khan given a court ruling earlier this year that declared him a 'free citizen.'" . . . Khan was detained in December 2003 and admitted on television in early 2004 sole responsibility for operating a network that spread nuclear weapons technology to Iran, North Korea and Libya. . . . He was pardoned by then President Pervez Musharraf, but immediately placed under de facto house arrest."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090828/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan_nuclear_scientist

Why are our troops getting killed in Afghanistan, to protect Pakistan, so that Pakistan can share nuclear technology with our enemies? It makes no sense.

The New York Times: You're stupid or racist if you oppose Obamacare

"Liberals are flummoxed by the fact that obviously false and widely discredited claims about health care reform have not only taken root, but appear to be growing in acceptance. . . . Is it partly the utter gullibility of some people? Sure. Is it partly deep-seated resentment of the black man in the White House? No doubt. But it’s also about something more fundamental: fluctuations of basic trust in the federal government."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/29/opinion/29blow.html?_r=1

Get it? According to this New York Times editorial writer, if you oppose Obamacare, you're (1) stupid, or (2) racist, or (3) distrustful of government. Valid intellectual, ideological or economic grounds for opposition? No such thing. They're not factors in the discussion. The author of the column won't even consider the possibility that a professional or technological or union worker with good health care benefits might be satisfied with his health insurance, and not want the government to mess around with his coverage.

And they wonder why they're losing the argument.

Saudi Arabia: Now they're concerned about terrorism?

"Prince Mohammed Bin Naif, Saudi Arabia’s Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs, survived an assassination attempt carried out by Al Qaeda on Thursday night when a suicide bomber visited the prince’s home claiming that he wanted to turn himself in. . . . The incident occurred days after Saudi authorities discovered and broke up a 44-member terrorist cell suspected of supporting and funding most of the terrorist operations that have taken place in Saudi Arabia since mid 2003."

http://aawsat.com/english/news.asp?section=1&id=17932

Funny, but Saudi Arabia didn't seem all that concerned when all those Saudi citizens (including Osama bin Laden) attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9/11/01.

Colombia: Read these stories together

"Colombian President Alvaro Uribe defended his U.S. military alliance against tough criticism from other South American presidents on Friday, saying the United States was alone in answering Colombia's call for help against drug traffickers and terrorists. . . . Uribe provided few details about the 10-year base deal . . ."


http://news.corporate.findlaw.com/ap_stories/i/1102/08-28-2009/20090828125010_04.html


"President Álvaro Uribe, whose government has forged a close alliance with the United States to fight Marxist guerrillas and drug traffickers, stepped closer to extending his presidency with Colombian Senate approval of a bill permitting him to run for a third term."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/20/AR2009082002431.html


Get it? In exchange for allowing U.S. military bases on Colombian soil, the U.S. is ignoring Columbia's efforts to establish an old school strongman-style permanent executive government in South America's second-most-populous country and its oldest democracy.

Imagine the media and "progressive" response to this news if this was being done under President Clinton or President McCain. At what point in time will they stop excusing President Obama's foreign policy incompetence?

Afghanistan, again

"With the death of four U.S. soldiers Tuesday, the U.S-led NATO coalition in Afghanistan now has lost more troops this year than in all of 2008, and August is on track to be the deadliest month for American troops there since the war began more than eight years ago. . . Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is considering asking for more U.S. troops even as opinion polls show that a majority of Americans think the war is not worth the cost. . . In July, 45 U.S. troops died in Afghanistan, the highest monthly toll this year. So far in August, 40 Americans have died . . ."

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/world/story/1202442.html

Imagine the media and "progressive" response to this news if this was President Clinton's or President McCain's fiasco. At what point in time will they stop excusing President Obama's military policy incompetence?