Morning Briefing
For August 21, 2014
President Obama Shows Why He Cannot Beat ISIL
Credit where it is due: for once "No Drama Obama" showed some real anger and emotion. In addressing the nation about James Foley, President Obama had a level of righteousness in his voice he does not often have. While I think it unseemly that he was literally within ten minutes of his speech on a golf course, I appreciate the righteousness in the tone of his statement. But his words bother me greatly. His words expose why he can never beat ISIL. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Ferguson, MO and Our Neighbors' Love
We now know from Michael Brown's autopsy that he was not shot in the back. We now know from other eye witnesses that Michael Brown did attack the police officer who stopped him. If leaks are to be believes, we know the officer was seriously injured in the attack.
There is a lot that bothers me about all of this. I am bothered by the slow response from the Ferguson Police. Many facts could have mitigated some of the issues. I am bothered by so much of the media getting so many of the early facts wrong. I am bothered by so many people who wish to treat this as a binary situation. I am bothered by the Al Sharpton's and Jesse Jackson's of the world swooping in to fan the flames and fundraise.
But I am most bothered by the near gleefulness of some that the early facts were wrong. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Holy crap this is the funniest thing I've read today. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.
Oh my gosh. I don't want to refer to a reporter as a fluffer (probably do not want to google that one), but good grief he had to be wearing knee pads to write this. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Perry Grand Juror Is Democratic Party Activist. Sought Out a Grand Jury Witness While Serving.
Media Trackers has the scoop. A grand juror in the Rick Perry grand jury is not only a Democratic activist, but was active in the party while on the grand jury . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Police Officer in Ferguson Threatens to Kill Protester
Via NYMag comes some pretty shocking video from Ferguson last night. By all media accounts, last night was the first night of relative calm in several days and the crowd had settled in to peaceful protest. In the middle of this comes two astonishing videos of a police officer (I cannot tell which department he is with) threatening to kill protesters who were engaged in no obvious acts of violence at all, including aggressively pointing what appears to be a tricked out carbine, a police version of the Army's M4A1 at the crowd. Warning: pervasive language warning . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
It's Time to Pay Attention to Kansas
While it is far too early to write an obituary in Topeka, conservatives must acknowledge the reality that Governor Sam Brownback is fighting for his political life right now in Kansas. The RCP average has him trailing by 2.8%, with even GOP-leaning polling firm Rasmussen Reports showing Brownback down 10 points earlier this month. Considering Kansas's reputation as a bastion of cultural conservatism and a hub for such limited-government stalwarts as Club for Growth-endorsed Reps. Mike Pompeo (KS-04) and Tim Huelskamp (KS-01), this strikes us at first blush as counterintuitive. When we probe a little deeper, however, we begin to see some cracks beneath the surface that provide important lessons for conservatives moving forward. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Morning Briefing
For August 20, 2014
Another Species Has Gone Extinct
Last night in Virginia an endangered species went extinct due to a special election. That would be the coal country Democrats. Last night brought to an end the tenure of all coal country Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly.
What is also interesting is that the GOP turned out in Northern Virginia last night that they did in the gubernatorial race in 2009. Again, I remain skeptical of the results of special elections. But with so much on the line for the Democrats in Virginia, including control of the Virginia State Senate, they fell short. Virginia probably will not now expand Obamacare. Virginia probably will not now see taxes go up. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
ISIS Beheads American Journalist
ISIS (which now just goes by "the Islamic State") has released a video of a member of theirs beheading American photojournalist James Foley. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
The Republicans who helped Indict Rick Perry
Much as we wish we could place the blame solely on the Democrats for the revenge indictment of Rick Perry, there are several Republicans who helped pave the way for it. The Texas State House of Representatives has long been a moderate's haven under the gavel of left-of-center Speaker Joe Straus, whose squishiness is well known here at RedState. As Breitbart notes, when Governor Perry tried to move the Public Integrity Unit from the Travis County DA's office to under the purview of the Attorney General, it was Straus' lieutenant Rep. Charlie Geren, a Fort Worth Republican, who made the move to kill the amendment that would accomplish the transfer. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Come See Russell Moore, Joe Scarborough, and Me in Nashville on September 16, 2014
have always been of the opinion that you can tell how a man feels about women by the way he treats women. However, in 2012, the fact that Mitt Romney was by all accounts a doting and supportive husband to Ann, they saw fit to run a campaign based on innuendo and alleged dog whistles. And so it is that the leader of the campaign that made virtually infinite amounts of hay out of "binders of women" today unloaded a complete barrage of anti-female rhetoric against Iowa Senate candidate Joni Ernst . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Rick Perry Wins
The drunk in charge of the Travis County District Attorney's Office wants to settle a political grudge with a criminal indictment. It is sad that this has gone so far. It is sad that Rick Perry had to suffer the indignity of a mug shot as Democrats try to fundraise off it.
But I'll take Perry's mugshot over Rosemary Lehmberg's any day of the week. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Hillary Clinton is About Hillary Clinton
At RCP, Michael Barone notes that Hillary Clinton has been almost totally absent from either stumping or fundraising for Democrats in this midterm election cycle. Barone notes that when Nixon lost the GOP primary to Goldwater in 1964, he went out on the campaign trail in force for Republicans in 1966 and helped them win a significant number of off-year seats. Barone observes the difference between 1966 Nixon and 2014 Clinton . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Rick Perry Becomes the 2016 GOP Frontrunner
Rick Perry has been on a subtle campaign since November of 2012, and he has done it well. The Texas Governor has wooed away companies from multiple states by showing off the energetic business environment, he has engaged in national political discussions through videos, social media, and op-eds, and he has kept his name, and more importantly, the record of the state he governs, in the news.
But now we have the news of two criminal indictments. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Lawfare and Mutually Assured Destruction
In the not too recent past, a sense of basic decency and fair play, combined with the threat of mutually assured destruction, were the only things that prevented prosecutors from settling every political dispute with criminal indictments. Prosecutors, after all, are some of the most dangerous and politically and legally immune people in the country. A large number of them are ambitious either politically or for promotion within their own office, and this is typically driven by conviction rates. There's relatively little incentive for a prosecutor to ever do the right thing when the right thing involves not prosecuting someone or ending a prosecution that has already begun. Nonetheless the terrible, life-destroying powers of a criminal prosecutors were rarely used as weapons of partisan warfare until relatively recently. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Morning Briefing
For August 19, 2014
Lawfare: When Screaming Racism, 'War on Women,' and Impeachment Are Not Enough
Democrats knew going into 2014 they'd have bleak chances nationwide. They started screaming racism, trying to whip black and hispanic voters into a frenzy against Republicans. If Republicans dared look angrily at Eric Holder, why that was racism. Even now, Democrats intend to turn the tragedy of Ferguson, MO into a political campaign, thereby undoing a lot of bridge building between the left and right.
Using racism to motivate black and hispanic voters to vote is one thing, but single white women need their own motivation. Hence we have the ongoing 'war on women' where Democrats claim politicians like Marsha Blackburn, Nikki Haley, Deb Fisher and others have bowed to the oppressive misogyny of their male Republican masters. And please pass out taxpayer funded birth control under the guise of "free."
To get the rest of the Democrats motivated, the White House staff and its allies claim the GOP wants to impeach the President and subject the entire nation to a President Biden. We all know Barack Obama picked Joe Biden to prevent that from ever happening and no Republican is going to subject America to a Clown Car Biden presidency of follies.
With claims of racism, wars on women, and impeachment failing them, the Democrats are resorting to one final tactic - lawfare. A party that has had great success amending the U.S. constitution via black robes, intends to skirt the democratic processes and win election via black robes too. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Ferguson, Missouri and the Fog of Partisanship and Ideology
Having a coherent political philosophy is a good thing. So is being active in partisan politics and choosing a side. But the saga of events in Ferguson, Missouri is a reminder of the hazards of letting your choice of side do all your thinking for you.
I am particularly reminded of this by the juxtaposition of two items of news today. On the one hand, we have the preliminary autopsy report showing pretty clearly that Michael Brown was shot in the front, not in the back - which had been the original inflammatory claim that helped incite riots in Ferguson. On the other, we have people like Al Sharpton pushing voter registration drives in Ferguson, with Markos Moulitsas, Steve Benen and ThinkProgress cheerleading. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
My Interview with Gov. Rick Perry
On my radio show on WSB, I just interviewed Governor Rick Perry. He compared what is happening to him, accurately I think, to what would happen with show trials in the Soviet Union. He also said he'd do it all over again and his team is going to try to expedite this indictment to get it dismissed. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
DNC Chair: "That Woman" Joni Ernst is "An Onion of Crazy"
have always been of the opinion that you can tell how a man feels about women by the way he treats women. However, in 2012, the fact that Mitt Romney was by all accounts a doting and supportive husband to Ann, they saw fit to run a campaign based on innuendo and alleged dog whistles. And so it is that the leader of the campaign that made virtually infinite amounts of hay out of "binders of women" today unloaded a complete barrage of anti-female rhetoric against Iowa Senate candidate Joni Ernst . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
US ratchets up bombing campaign in Iraq; Kurds retaking parts of Mosul Dam
"The Sunday strikes were the first reported use of land-based bombers in the campaign. Previously, most of the strikes had been conducted by a mix of fighter jets and drones." . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
From David Horowitz: The Hell That is the Obama White House
Let me begin by acknowledging that this inspirational title is lifted from a tweet by screen actor James Woods. And now I will explicate his tweet.
Every sentient human being whose brain isn't stuffed with ideological fairy dust can see that Obama is behind every major scandal of his administration from Benghazi to the I.R.S. disgrace. How can one know this? Because the culprits haven't been fired. Moreover, if they are serial liars like Susan Rice, they've actually been promoted to posts where their loyalty to the criminal-in-chief can do America and its citizens even more damage, if that is possible. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Instead of Leadership, an Empty Void
One of the things that has distressed me the most about the sad and degenerating Ferguson situation has been Obama's inability to have any effect on the racial powderkeg that has exploded there. Worse than being unable to step in and help, Obama seems uninterested in even trying. The UK Telegraph has an interesting op-ed by Tim Stanley today which notes that since becoming President, Obama has not really done a lot for the black community, other than being black . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
'Dead broke' Hillary's lavish extravagance on the speakers' circuit
According to documents obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, this is what Hillary requires for a speaking engagement . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Courting Evangelicals: An Opportunity for Jindal, Perry, and Cruz
The Washington Post has an interesting story about the rising number of evangelicals feeling left out of politics these days and, in particular, out of the Republican Party.
Many evangelicals have grown weary of Mike Huckabee and are convinced that Santorum is unable to win, Ben Carson is a novelty, and Rand Paul is too far removed from them. While evangelical support will not make or break most candidates, they certainly can fund a race and help a candidate go further. Likewise, they become a crucial voting block for Republican candidates in the general election.
Right now there are three candidates who seem most able to tap into evangelical angst. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Garbage In, Climate Consensus Out
In the July 8 Wall Street Journal, Robert J. Caprara describes his direct experience with the process of computer modeling and how results intersect with the motivations of the modeler. Caprara was a consultant to the EPA, charged with building a detailed computer model of the nation's fresh water sources, including drinking water intakes and sewage discharges in the lakes and streams. He tuned and tweaked the model, and was happy with his preliminary conclusion: the program he had been asked to study had reached a point of diminishing returns and should be wound down. Bzzzzzzt! Wrong answer. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
The 'unbelievably ridiculous,' 'sketchy' and farcical Perry indictment will not stand
It is not coercion to threaten to do something you are lawfully permitted to do. I successfully used this legal principle in court early in my legal career. This well-established legal principle is not some obscure legal concept, except perhaps in Travis County, Texas. I am unaware of any other jurisdiction in the United States that might agree with the Travers County Grand Jury and special prosecutor Michael McCrum. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Morning Briefing
For August 18, 2014
Governor Rick Perry will join me on my radio show this afternoon. You can listen live at 5:08pm ET today by following this link.
- Erick
Rick Perry Becomes a Victim of Lawfare
Rick Perry, scourge of frivolous litigants, has just become the victim of one of the worst and most insidious variety: the runaway prosecutor. Perry was indicted late Friday afternoon on charges of abuse of power by a grand jury at the behest of special prosecutor Michael McCrum. The basic facts of the case appear not to be in dispute - Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg, an influential Democrat, pled guilty to DWI and served 45 days in jail. After serving her jail sentence, Lehmberg returned to her office and refused to step down. Perry announced that he would veto a bill that funded the Public Integrity Unit, a division over which Lehmberg was supervisor, unless she stepped down because he felt that she had lost the public's trust. Later he followed through and did veto the bill.
The indictment is clear that Perry is not accused of abuse of power for actually vetoing the bill - presumably, everyone accepts both legally and factually that a Governor has the absolute privilege to veto a bill for any reason he wants to or no reason at all - but rather for announcing beforehand his intention to veto the bill. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Ferguson Is Not Binary
It is perfectly fine to think Mr. Brown was no saint, the rioters should be punished, and in addition to both of those, to think the police in Ferguson, MO behaved badly too. Before rioting even began the police in Ferguson decided to behave like soldiers instead of police.
Regardless of where conservatives fall on the spectrum of how they see Ferguson, MO, conservatives should also be willing to agree on two things. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Obama has a great round of golf; General Green not so much
On Thursday, Major General Harold Green was laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery. MG Green is the highest ranking US officer to die in combat since MG George Casey was killed in Vietnam on July 7, 1970, he was killed August 5 by an Afghan soldier who was being trained by NATO troops.
On Martha's Vineyard, his Commander in Chief was playing golf with celebrities on Martha's Vineyard. That tells you all you need to know about the contempt Obama has for the men and women in uniform. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Rick Perry Punches Back Against Indictment
Of course, it shouldn't surprise anyone that Rick Perry is not going to take this revenge indictment by Rosemary Lehmberg lightly. I mean, who on Earth would have the temerity to suggest that a prosecutor arrested for a DWI should step down from her office?
Shortly after the news of the indictment broke, Governor Perry's General Counsel Mary Anne Wiley released this statement . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Militarization of the police: it is more than just equipment
If anything good comes out of the mess in Ferguson it may be a national consensus that American police forces have gradually morphed from a force designed to protect citizens into a heavily militarized force. While much silliness has been spread for the reasons for this - apparently the "North Hollywood Shootout," in which two heavily armed bankrobbers held LAPD at bay for nearly exactly 20 minutes before one was killed and the second wounded and left to bleed out on the pavement justifies combat fatigues, MRAPs and the Dallas Independent School District having its own SWAT team. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Ferguson, the social contract, and the consent of the governed
"In moral and political philosophy, the social contract or political contract is a theory or model, originating during the Age of Enlightenment, that typically addresses the questions of the origin of society and the legitimacy of the authority of the state over the individual." . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Abortion is an Easy Decision
The former mouth of Emily's List has an op-ed in today's Washington Post in which she tackles what she considers to be a problem - people who say that abortion is a difficult choice . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
The Market-Distorting Effects of Current Affirmative Action Policies
"With so many oddities in the public school system, it's hard to know where to start. Across the country, arbitrarily drawn school district lines radically distort real estate markets. Anyone who has shopped for a house in the United States knows one sad truth: Better school districts command a steep premium. (The other truth, it seems, is that you probably won't like the kitchen.) Despite our government's lofty rhetoric of free and equal public education, the fact remains that better-off families can buy their way into better schools." . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Morning Briefing
For August 22, 2014
So Then What About Bowe Bergdahl?
The ISIS/ISIL nuts are not above trading a hostage for American dollars to later use against us. They made a ransom demand to the United States. CNN's Crossfire tweeted out the response from the spokesman for President Obama's National Security Council.
"[The U.S.] does not grant concessions to hostage takers.. Doing so would only put more Americans at risk of being taken captive," said the spokesman.
So then why did we trade several terrorists from GTMO for Bowe Bergdahl? Speaking of Bergdahl, "the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office says the Defense Department's failure to notify the relevant congressional committees at least 30 days in advance of the exchange broke the law."
Not only was Obama willing to swap terrorists for Bergdahl, but he was willing to break the law doing so. RIP James Foley. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
I Increasingly Find Conflict Between My Faith and Some Conservative Discourse
In the past several months there have been three incidents that have solidified for me that my faith and my politics are starting to collide. While I am a firm believer in the idea of a conservative populism, I see a dangerous trend within the mix of unfortunate shrillness and hostility. That trend is playing out in the comments here at RedState and on social media. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
The failed rescue of James Foley and the price of prevarication
GEN Keane says that failed operations shouldn't be mentioned. I'm sure if I were involved in the planning or execution of a failed operation I'd not want the word getting out, as a citizen I'm not sure I agree with that. While I think his argument is specious and a transparent justification of bureaucratic butt-covering he does hit upon a valid point. When was the last time this administration owed up to a failure? Fast and Furious? No. Obamacare Exchange rollout? No. This administration has resolutely refused to acknowledge any failure no matter how small. And now they are going to offer up a previously secret failed rescue mission? . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Obama's Irresponsible Leak of the Failed Operation to Rescue Foley
The news of this raid was released via a conference call by Obama administration officials with reporters. While I obviously cannot read minds, I have to think that the release of this information was done in hopes of drawing attention away from the fact that Obama went right back to his vacation after delivering his speech condemning ISIS.
Whatever the Obama administration's motivations for releasing this information, it certainly was not a wise decision. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Bill Cassidy Slams Mary Landrieu on Qualifying Day
Yesterday was Qualifying Day in Louisiana, and embattled incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu and her presumptive challenger Republican Bill Cassidy both hit the ground running. Landrieu's chief pitch to the voters of Louisiana seems to be that she has a lot of seniority that they should not throw away; Cassidy took the opportunity to point out that Landrieu's seniority thus far has not gotten the State of Louisiana squat . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Teamsters Threaten 'Top Chef' Star: "We're gonna bash that pretty face in, you f*cking whore!"
Some things never change. After nearly 15 years of trying to clean up a reputation marred with corruption, shake-downs of the film industry, as well as violence, Boston's famous Teamsters Local 25's public face turned very ugly earlier this summer when the popular Bravo network show Top Chef rolled into Beantown using non-union production assistants and drivers.
Although it was only briefly reported on in June, the incident received wider coverage yesterday when Deadline.com covered it in some more detail. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
Travis Co. Investigator Says Perry Innocent in CPRIT Matter
A theory floated by Texas Democrats about the recent indictment of Gov. Rick Perry (R) has been proved false by a Travis County investigator. Perry was accused by a grand jury of abusing the power of his office when he vetoed funds for the state-funded Public Integrity Unit overseen by Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. The district attorney had publicly disgraced herself by earning a DUI citation and, when officers detained her, harassing and physically abusing them.
Democrats have suggested that it wasn't just Lehmberg's bad behavior, but Perry's concerns about a PIU investigation of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, that led to his veto of funding for the PIU. . . . please click here for the rest of the post ?
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