Jeff Emanuel's blog
Posted at 4:05pm on Jul. 7, 2008 Attempts to defend Obama's shift on Iraq lack logic, seriousness, chronology
By Jeff Emanuel
Attempts to come to terms with, and to defend, Barack Obama's sudden attempt to walk back the centerpiece of his presidential campaign -- unwavering opposition to the effort in Iraq, regardless of facts on the ground or of new information -- have abounded over the last few days, with each falling well short of anything even remotely resembling intellectual honesty or seriousness.
A couple of the latest have come from the New Yorker's George Packer, and from our old friend Andrew Sullivan -- someone whose writing contains intellectual honesty only rarely, and intellectual seriousness never.
Sullivan has this to say about Obama's sudden lurch to the right on Iraq:
"Any potential president who is uninterested in the facts on the ground in calibrating his Iraq policy would be another George W Bush."
All I have to say is, whoever usurped Bush's presidential duties from December 2006 onward, and is therefore actually responsible for effecting a wholesale change in the entire strategy of operations in Iraq as a result of the deteriorating situation on the ground there, while Sully's ideological allies on the left side of the legislative aisle were fighting tooth and nail to prevent any changes from being made, did one heckuva job.
There's no doubt the situation in Iraq progressively worsened over a long enough period of time that the administration has little or no excuse for not recognizing and responding to it with a series of adjustments in how the postwar was being waged. However, for Sully to make that claim after 2006 is simply ridiculous. Fortunately, none of us are surprised to see such ridiculousness emanating from that dank, musty corner of the blogosphere.
The New Yorker's George Packer took a slightly different tack, deciding that acknowledging progress in Iraq as a result of President Bush's willingess to change strategy was an Okay thing to do -- but, in the process of twisting things around as much as possible to defend Obama, he screwed up his timeline royally (while also doing wonderful imitation of Sullivan in terms of abandoning intellectual seriousness). According to the UK First Post:
Read on...
Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | New Yorker | Obamafiles — Comments (28) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 10:47am on Jul. 1, 2008 Democrat Congressman Tim Mahoney (FL-16): Honoring Those Who Defended the Soviet Union [Updated]
By Jeff Emanuel
[Update-7/1/08@1012CDT: Asked about the photo by Cox Newspapers-Washington, Mahoney spokeswoman Leslie Pollner-Levey said, “We’d like more time to respond. We’re looking into it.”
That tone changed quickly. When the staff realized the magnitude of their error, Charles Halloran, Mahoney's chief of staff, had this to say: “This was an honest staff error. We deeply apologize to those who were offended and we will take steps to ensure that this mistake doesn’t happen in the future.”
Kudos to them for being willing to "take steps to ensure that this mistake doesn’t happen in the future." After all, getting it right the first time -- which could have been ensured had one single U.S. military veteran been shown the mailpiece supposedly "honoring" veterans before it was sent out.
Sometimes it takes a massive screw-up to teach folks to kick the laziness habit and reinforce attention to detail, I suppose.]
Tim Mahoney, freshman Democrat Congressman from Florida, really, really loves the troops. Remember last March, when he responded to questions about whether or not the 'surge' in Iraq would work by famously saying "So what"? Well, forget it -- Tim Mahoney loves the troops, and don't you dare think otherwise.
He loves them so much that he wants every person in his district to know how much he loves, and honors, the efforts, dedication, and sacrifices of those who defend our freedom.
He loves them so much that he recently sent out a taxpayer-funded mailpiece titled "Honoring Those Who Defend Our Freedom" (viewable here in .pdf form, and here with Staff Advisory Opinion attached).
Read on.
Posted in 2008 | Honoring the Red Army of Josef Stalin | Targets | Tim Mahoney — Comments (14) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 5:58pm on Jun. 28, 2008 What kind of a world are we living in when....
By Jeff Emanuel
...God-fearing homosexuals can't even have a parade in which they dress provocatively (to say the least) and demand that the public watch their lewd sexual acts and displays that would be illegal for heterosexuals to commit in public, without the worry of people actually protesting it?
I mean, Jeez.
The first two paragraphs of the AFP story read:
Tens of thousands joined gay pride marches across Europe on Saturday but homophobics spoiled the party in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria where scores were arrested for disrupting events.Czech security forces were forced to intervene after right-wing extremists moved in on a parade in the country's second city Brno, leading to 15 arrests as tear gas was thrown, police said.
Not spinning a narrative there, now, are we?
Read on.
Posted in Culture — Comments (15) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 5:28pm on Jun. 28, 2008 David Addington, not yet killed by al Qaeda (much to Rep. Delahunt's dismay), PWNs Debbie Wasserman-Schulz
By Jeff Emanuel
Not allowed to return to his usual daily affairs after essentially being wished a slow death at the hands of al Qaeda by Democrat Congressman and Obama superdelegate Bill Delahunt (MA-10), David Addington, chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, had to grit his teeth and face a barrage of mindlessness from Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20), as well, in Guantanamo Bay/detainee treatment hearings on Capitol Hill Thursday.
From the C-SPAN transcript (both transcript and video are available here):
Wasserman Schultz: Did you discuss specific types of interrogation methods that interrogators should use while at Guantanamo Bay on the detainees?Addington: I don't recall doing that, no.
WS: That means you didn't, or you don't recall doing it?
A: I don't recall doing it, as I said
WS: Well, it's hard to fathom that you would not have a recollection on specific conversations about typeds of interrogation methods as opposed to just generally talking about interrogation.
A: Is there a question pending, ma'am?
WS: The question is I don't believe that you don't recall whether you discussed specific interrogation methods. So I will as you again. Did you discuss specific interrogation methods on any of your trips to Guantanamo Bay with people who would be administering the interrogation.
Read on.
Posted in Bill Delahunt | Congress | David Addington | Debbie Wasserman Schultz | hearings | PWN3D — Comments (10) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 6:48pm on Jun. 19, 2008 Witches from Code Pink to use time, money wisely Thursday night
By Jeff Emanuel
The fine upstanding ladies from Code Pink, recently seen dressing in their normal garb and acting as their normal selves (i.e., "casting spells of peace" on the USMC recruiting depot in Berkeley, CA), plan to do something during Thursday's House vote on Supplemental funding for Iraq that promises to be even more effective than the seances they held in Berkeley this Spring (I know, it just doesn't seem possible, does it?).
According to Roll Call ($), members of the communist organization "will throw 164 single-dollar bills covered in “blood” onto the House floor Thursday night as lawmakers vote to approve continued funding for the Iraq War."
A member of CODEPINK dressed in regular clothes - as opposed to the group's typical pink garb - will stand up in the balcony and throw $164 covered with red fingerprints onto the floor when Members begin to vote on the bill. Each dollar symbolizes a billion more dollars being spent in the war supplemental.
Read on.
Posted in Code Pink | War — Comments (5) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:00pm on Jun. 10, 2008 The peace agreements between Pakistan and the Taliban (that you probably haven't heard of)
By Jeff Emanuel
An Erstwhile "Ally" in the War on Terror Sells its Soul for Thirty Pieces of Silver and an Agreement its Enemies will Never Live up to
On February 17, the Pakistani government and the Taliban jointly signed a peace treaty dealing with the North Waziristan region of the Afghan/Pakistani border area (see graphic at right, and click for more detailed map). The agreement was shrouded in secrecy, with its terms being kept under wraps by both parties.
This weekend, a Pakistani news organization, the Daily Times, managed to obtain a copy of the agreement, which they roughly outlined on their web site.
They report that the agreement, "inked between the government and the Utmanzai tribes on February 17 to fight Taliban-linked militancy through support from the local population," contains the following terms:
- • Sharing the agreement’s contents with the media violates the terms laid down in the document [Auth. note: There is no information available yet as to how this leaking of the peace agreement to the Daily Times will affect the overall agreement, given this requirement]
- • "Al Qaeda-linked militants" are allowed to live in North Waziristan "as long as they pledge to remain peaceful"
- • "All foreigners" are required to "leave the area"
- • No "parallel government of suspected Taliban militants" will be tolerated
- • There will be "no attacks on security personnel or government employees" and no "target killings" will be "initiated" [Auth. note: The Daily Times points out that "suspected Taliban militants continue to blow up CD shops in Miranshah and target killings have continued despite the February 17 peace deal"]
- • Any violator of the peace accord will be fined 50 million Pakistani Rupees [Auth. note: Approximately U.S. $742,000]
Posted in Al Qaeda | appeasement | Foreign Affairs | foreign policy | GWOT | Pakistan | Taliban | War — Comments (19) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 2:15pm on Jun. 2, 2008 Debating the GI Bill -- Update the Existing Benefit, or Replace with a New Program for a New Generation?
By Jeff Emanuel
Since World War 2, the “GI Bill” has enabled hundreds of thousands of veterans (and some active duty personnel) to get the college degree they needed to get ahead in life. Now, the GI Bill is going to be revised and updated. But the several different proposals to do that have become a partisan taffy-pull with veterans in the middle.
Who is right?
The two most prominent legislative proposals have come from the Senate, with one being sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Virg.) and the other by Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC). The latter has gained exposure and attention due to presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s decision to sign on as a cosponsor -- a decision for which he has been challenged by Democratic presidential frontrunner Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the only individual of the four never to have served in the military.
Webb’s bill, S.22 (the “Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2007”), is focused on individuals who enlisted in the armed services on or after September 11, 2001, and completely alters the current GI Bill’s (also known as “the Montgomery Bill”) structure. For example, S.22 eliminates the buy-in formerly required of enlistees, who had to pay $1,200 over the course of their first 12 months in service into the program in order to be eligible for the over-$36,000 in available monetary benefits, and adds to the benefit a $1,200 annual allowance for books and supplies, as well as a generous housing allowance that is based on the Basic Allowance for Housing earned by an E-5 (with dependents) on active duty.
The Webb bill moves away from the Montgomery modus operandi of shoehorning every student-veteran into a one-size-fits-all monthly benefit payment plan. Under the current GI Bill, a student is paid a certain dollar amount per month depending on how many credit hours that student is taking in that particular period, with the maximum amount being received if enrolled in a course load of 12 or more semester hours. This can create difficulty for students who take courses in the summer, when, due to the compressed schedule, a full course load is 6 hours rather than 12. The current program recognizes that as half-time enrollment and pays the student accordingly during those months, meaning that the beneficiary’s real income is slashed. Further, the benefit is only usable for a certain number of months (36 total), so enrolling in a full course load in the summer means that months of benefit are used up and rewarded with less than full-time payments, resulting in overall benefit money being left on the table.
Posted in Congress — Comments (15) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 1:10pm on Jun. 2, 2008 With all due respect, this is pretty Ridiculous.
By Jeff Emanuel
With all due respect to RedState-endorsed Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), this is simply ridiculous. From a message I got this morning:
Subject: Family Fragments :: Fighting Pornography, Saving the Family: Are you subsidizing pornography?Rep. Broun (GA-10) has submitted HR 5821 which would remove pornography from PX and BX shops on military bases. Most products at these shops are subsidized by your tax dollars.
Recent peer reviewed research shows that men who view pornography are 3 times more likely to have an affair. Our military families have a difficult enough time as it is without having to deal with the psychological effects of pornography addiction.
Help support Congressman Broun. Tell your representative to sign on as a co-sponsor of HR 5821.
Now, I love me some Paul Broun, but this is really -- for lack of a better word -- dumb.
Read on.
Posted in Congress — Comments (6) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 8:39pm on May 23, 2008 Ross McGinnis, KIA at age 19, to receive the Medal of Honor
By Jeff Emanuel
Readers of RedState and Townhall met Private First Class Ross McGinnis on December 27, 2006. Unfortunately, by that time, the 19-year-old had been deceased for just over three weeks.
At that time, the word of McGinnis's heroic final moments in Iraq was just beginning to creep back to the people of the United States. Unfortunately, that word never got much past the "creeping" stage; McGinnis was the Army representative of the four-person profile that I wrote for Memorial Day 2007 entitled, "The Lost Heroes of the War on Terror," and for good reason -- because he, like the others profiled, was still as far from being a household name here in America as he had been before going to Iraq, before fighting for his country and his friends...and before, on December 4, 2006, at the age of 19, voluntarily giving his life to save both by throwing himself on a grenade that had been lobbed into his team's Humvee.
The turret-mounted gunner, had been the one man on the team perfectly positioned to escape with his life. Instead, he chose to send the rest of his teammates home with theirs.
Read on.
Posted in Heroism | War — Comments (7) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 9:27am on May 22, 2008 Is the New York Times attempting to extort access from the McCain campaign?
By Jeff Emanuel
As Soren posted on yesterday, and as California Yankee mentioned elsewhere last night, the New York Times, which has taken after John McCain with a white-hot fury since the man who was once their favorite Republican -- and whom they endorsed in the GOP race -- locked up the nomination a few months ago. This latest episode, related to the release of McCain's medical records, which the Times has been harping on for some time now, appears to be more of the same.
Ed Morrissey, now of Hot Air, has the details. Basically, the Times -- whose ethics policy states "We do not threaten to damage uncooperative sources, nor do we promise favorable coverage in return for cooperation" -- has sent a message to the McCain camp that failure to invite the NYT to the May 23 unveiling of Mr. McCain's medical records will result in far less favorable coverage of that release, and of those records, than McCain will receive if the Times is credentialed and invited to the presser.
Pardón? (Read on)
Posted in 2008 | liberal media | liberal media bias | Media | publications as trustworthy as the National Enquirer — Comments (9) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 6:54pm on May 21, 2008 "Don’t run against McCain by painting him as Bush III, because he’s not"
By Jeff Emanuel
Clearly a seal has been opened, and a rider has leapt astride his apocalyptic steed, because I am about to make a post in slight agreement with former Clinton staffer Sid Blumenthal.
From U.S. News's Washington Whispers blog (via Pejman):
Sidney Blumenthal, a former senior adviser to President Bill Clinton and strategist for Hillary Clinton’s Democratic presidential campaign, went “off message” (his words) today with a warning to his party: Don’t run against GOP nominee John McCain by painting him as Bush III, because he’s not.Bucking the Democratic National Committee’s talking points that characterize a potential McCain administration as tantamount to a third Bush term, Blumenthal told our Liz Halloran that running on that strategy in the fall would be a mistake.
“I understand people’s political reasons for doing that,” he said. “I think it’s more helpful to describe [political opponents] as they are.” Bottom line, Blumenthal calls the strategy “a mistake and adds: “The public doesn’t see [McCain] that way. That’s a hard sell.”
(Paragraph breaks added for readability.) Sid Blumenthal is correct in this one area: John McCain is no second George W. Bush. Will he make some of the same decisions and mistakes? Almost certainly.
Read on.
Posted in 2008 | Democrats | George W. Bush | John McCain — Comments (22) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 7:49pm on May 10, 2008 Not a racist? Prof. Alan Abramowitz thinks that makes you even more of one.
By Jeff Emanuel
 |
Tomorrow's Washington Post (h/t Adam C) will feature an op-ed by Emory University PoliSci professor Alan Abramowitz ("In These Primary Numbers, Warnings for the Fall") that seeks to turn logic and rationality on its head for the purposes of calling White America racist.
"Voting patterns in Indiana and North Carolina show that resistance to a black candidate among some white Democrats remains a serious threat to his chances in November," Abramowitz writes. "Obama continues to have particular difficulty with one segment of the Democratic electorate: white working-class voters."
His explanation of this is long on unsubstantiated, not-rationally-supportable conjecture, and his conclusions lack anything remotely resembling evidence or facts. I suppose that's the price one pays for (or the benefit of) being a political "scientist": rather than having an academic specialty that prepares one to conduct research (and draw conclusions from that research) and analysis, all a political "scientist" like Abramowitz seems to feel the need to do is obtain numbers. His analysis and conclusions drawn from those numbers are all assumption, with no explanation added as to how those conclusions were reached, or why they should be accepted as correct.
The backdoor assault on working-class whites begins with Abramowitz's declaration that, despite a dearth of "overtly racist beliefs" (which he concedes "are much less prevalent among white Americans of all classes today"), "a more subtle form of prejudice, which social scientists sometimes call symbolic racism, is still out there -- especially among working-class whites."
"Symbolic racism," he explains, "means believing that African American poverty and other problems are largely the result of lack of ambition and effort, rather than white racism and discrimination."
Read on.
Posted in Academia | Barack Obama | Liberals | liberals in the mist | Racism — Comments (78) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 3:07pm on May 6, 2008 "The FairTax Cult"
By Jeff Emanuel
That's the title of Chris Farris's outstanding piece on the "FairTax," posted over at my Georgia blogging home, Peach Pundit.
In his post (and please do read the whole thing), Farris addresses the publicize-at-all-costs tactics used by the program's supporters, and lays out the problems that can, and likely will, occur if and when the FairTax proposal leaves the Ivory Tower and becomes a seriously-debated policy prescription.
More below the fold.
Posted in Congress | Economy | Elections | FairTax | taxes — Comments (26) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 8:35pm on Apr. 25, 2008 Rev. Wright: Barack "does what politicians do"
By Jeff Emanuel
The Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Sen. BarackObama's spiritual mentor and pastor for over twenty years, source of the "HopeChangeHopeChange" mantra that has become the messianic core of his empty campaign, and giver of the Obama couple's nuptial vows, recently gave an interview to Bill Moyers about the recent dustup caused by the revelation to the general public that Wright has frequently used his pulpit to preach a racist, hateful, and intolerant brand of so-called "Christianity" to the members of his megachurch, including the surprisingly-not-so-post-racial Obama clan.
In the sit-down, one of the less-coherent segments of which was treated by RedState's absentee earlier today, the Reverend Wright made a very interesting comment about his former flock-member's Philadelphia speech on race and religion, made in the head of the Wright-gate media frenzy.
More below the fold, including video, and an accurate analysis from a most surprising source.
Posted in 2008 | Obamafiles | Politics as usual | Rev. Jeremiah Wright — Comments (9) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 10:11pm on Apr. 8, 2008 From the department of not-so-surprising results
By Jeff Emanuel
Well, the results of the 2008 Pulitzer Prizes were announced yesterday, and it's really no surprise to me that I and my work from Iraq didn't end up as a winner or a "nominated finalist" (the Pulitzers' equivalent of runners-up in the contest). To be sure, it would have been nice, and an incomparable honor, but I hardly expected to make it that far. Simply being nominated for the Prize in the first place was an amazingly humbling development.
Posted in Miscellanea — Comments (9) / Email this page » / Read More »
