RealClearPolitics.Com

RealClearPolitics.com

With regular contributors like Thomas Sowell and Robert Tracinski, and links to major writers of quality in anglophone political thought like Mark Steyn and Charles Krauthammer, as well as influential left wing writers, this website is the sine qua non of daily op-ed hunting.

Post 1

Monday, June 30, 2008 - 10:04pm

Thomas Sowell

Does Patriotism Matter?

In France, after the First World War, the teachers' unions launched a systematic purge of textbooks, in order to promote internationalism and pacifism....

The once epic story of the French soldiers' heroic defense against the German invaders at Verdun, despite the massive casualties suffered by the French, was now transformed into a story of horrible suffering by all soldiers at Verdun-- French and German alike.

In short, soldiers once depicted as national heroes were now depicted as victims-- and just like victims in other nations' armies....

In Britain, Winston Churchill warned that a country "cannot avoid war by dilating upon its horrors." In France, Marshal Philippe Petain, the victor at Verdun, warned in 1934 that teachers were trying to "raise our sons in ignorance of or in contempt of the fatherland."

But they were voices drowned out by the pacifist and internationalist rhetoric of the 1920s and 1930s.

Did it matter? Does patriotism matter?

Read the entire article http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/07/does_patriotism_matter.html

Post 2

Monday, July 7, 2008 - 5:28pm

New Twin Towers?
It may not be too late.

By Nicole Gelinas in the City Journal:

Since al-Qaida demolished the World Trade Center nearly seven years ago, New York’s naked emperors—Governors George Pataki and Eliot Spitzer and architect Daniel Libeskind—have viewed an historic rebuilding challenge as an opportunity to invent a square wheel and then deny for years that it can’t roll....

Indeed: all New York has to show for its hoping and waiting is a partial support structure for the Freedom Tower—which, when it’s built, will be a sad white elephant. And all that the state promises today is more waiting: waiting for officials to figure out how a poorly designed, half-billion-dollar memorial can withstand the weight of the trees that are supposed to go on top of it; waiting for them to figure out a workable plan for the fancy, multibillion-dollar, Calatrava-designed transit hub, where inevitable changes will mean more changes and delays to everything else on the site. Can anyone be confident that the eventual results won’t be physical evidence of unimaginable folly?

Post 3

Saturday, July 19, 2008 - 5:03pm

Ralph Peters

Al Qaeda's Market Crash

In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, Osama bin Laden was the darling of the Arab street, seen as the most successful Muslim in centuries. The Saudi royal family paid him protection money, while individual princes handed over cash willingly: Al Qaeda seemed like the greatest thing since the right to abuse multiple wives.

Osama appeared on T-shirts and his taped utterances were awaited with fervent excitement. Recruits flocked to al Qaeda not because of "American aggression," but because, after countless failures, it looked like the Arabs had finally produced a winner.

What a difference a war makes.

Post 4

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - 5:22pm

"My client is going through a difficult time. As you can imagine, he is distraught."

From the NYPOST listed on RealClearPolitics.com

By JOHN P. AVLON
Rashid: Alleged killer says daughter dishonored the family.

ON July 6, police say, a Pakistani named Chaudhry Rashid strangled his 25-year-old daughter San- deela Kanwal with a Bungee cord in her bedroom because she wanted to end her arranged marriage. This "honor killing" came not in Pakistan, but in Jonesboro, Ga. - a suburb 16 miles outside Atlanta.

At his arraignment, Rashid said through an Urdu interpreter that he was "not in the state of mind to talk because of the death of his daughter," but stated "I have done nothing wrong."

This is not the same as declaring innocence. His attorney, Tammy Long, explained, "My client is going through a difficult time. As you can imagine, he is distraught." Apparently, it takes a stronger man to murder his daughter without sentiment.

The national media has paid little attention to the story of Kanwal's murder, though most outlets found plenty of time to debate the cover of The New Yorker.

When a blonde girl goes missing, cable networks stop in their tracks...Read more.

Post 5

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - 10:39pm

Reading about the horrors, like 'honor' killings, sends my mind reeling into a wild search mode... "Where are the catalysts that would accelerate any changes for moving media and intellectuals to focus on this? Why aren't more people, particularly in media, entranced with the power of that woman, I can't remember her name at the moment, who spoke with such passion and conviction against fundamental Islam (those who saw her on YouTube know EXACTLY who I mean)? Where are the tipping points for shifting the culture to looking at this with the kind of outrage that generates action? Maybe we need an Objectivist media outlet on TV that would be like Fox News is for the Conservatives? How the Hell does one get some traction on changing this current state of apathy in the midst of discontent?"

It is just intolerable that our culture tolerate this any further.

Post 6

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - 10:51pm

Teresa knows her name. (Please help us here.) I accidentally erased my bookmarks...uggh!

Say - how about the "Mother Teresa Hour" on ObjecTV?

Post 7

Monday, August 11, 2008 - 6:08pm

Why Obama is in Trouble

Post 8

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 12:03am

Ted,

That is well written article and it is exactly how I see Obama losing. I would add to the fear of a president that is too race-conscious, the fear factors in both economics and national security. The majority of voters will be leery of electing an inexperienced liberal with radical ideas at a time when the economy is felt to be so fragile, and they will have concerns about electing a radical liberal when the threat of terrorism is still there.

It isn't the way I'd like to see politics turn, but at this time, fear is what will drive most voters decisions. For our culture and this race, the lessor to two evils is the one that is the least nervous-making.

If I were McCain I'd have ads that ask, "Is this the man you want as president when the economy could be sent from recession to depression with his extreme spending sprees, promises to use American tax dollars to eliminate global poverty, and plans for massive tax increases on the very people that are keeping our economy going right now?"

And, "If Iraq develops nuclear weapons, and makes them available to terrorists, is this the man you want as commander in chief?"

Post 9

Tuesday, September 2, 2008 - 5:02pm

The Libertarian Case for Palin:

...Yes, Palin is without argument a staunch social conservative. She is fervently opposed to abortion - even in cases of rape and incest, which will raise eyebrows, but is certainly more philosophically consistent than the namby pambyism of your average politician. The choice issue, after all, is complicated, even for many libertarians. And, as I was recently reminded, Ron Paul, the Libertarian champion of the 21st century, also opposes abortion.

Even when advocating for "moral" issues, Palin's approach is a soft sell. Palin does not support gay marriage (neither does Obama, it should be noted). Yet, in 2006, Palin's first veto as Governor was a bill that sought to block state employee benefits and health insurance for same-sex couples.

We cannot bore into Palin's soul to see her true feelings about gay couples, but, at the time, she noted that signing "this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office" because it was unconstitutional. For most libertarians, the thought of politician following any constitution, rather than their own predilections, morality or the "common good," is a nice change of pace....

Post 10

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - 1:59am

Palin and the Narcissistic Left
By James Lewis:

...The Left is entitled to power, because in their own eyes they have Truth and Morality on their side. They are Mahatma Gandhi, they are Dr. King, they are the vanguard of the marching proletariat. It's not just Big O who has the incomprehensible egomania. His inner circle and vast numbers of his supporters do, too. Entitlement, grandiosity, narcissism: In psychiatric thinking they all suffer from secret feelings of inferiority, narcissistic wounds to their self-esteem. Every time they lose, those nagging feelings come up again. So they are always overcompensating, trying to bully reality into the shape they need.

So shrewd old McCain picks Sarah Palin for Veep, and steps on the Obama victory with devastating timing, the day after the launch. No big bounce in the polls for O. Within hours the Left feels cheated and betrayed. Why? Because they are entitled to victory. Because they have been in a rage for the last eight years and can just feel that aching need for revenge. Because Governor Palin is a traitor to her gender, in their eyes, just as Justice Thomas is a traitor to his race. This is the language of the Klu Klux Klan and the Nazis, of course; "race traitor" was their name for whites who supported civil rights for blacks. But it's ok to be a racist if you're a liberal. In fact you are supposed to be a racist, a sexist, and a heterophobe: It's practically mandatory to take on all the sins of racial fascism as long as you flip the targets.

What's more, Sarah Palin is pretty, well-spoken, smart, athletic, normal and middle aged. She made it to the governorship of Alaska on her own, bringing down corrupt Republicans on the way. But the Left has the exclusive rights to all the good-looking young women (or men) in Hollywood. You may think that's mad, but they secretly really believe it. Madonna told the world that O is just like Gandhi. You may think that's funny or annoying, but millions of her Obot fans fall for it. They are emotionally immature, to say it nicely....

(Edited by Ted Keer on 9/03, 5:33am)

Post 11

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 - 2:10am

Ted wrote:

It's not just Big O who has the incomprehensible egomania.

When I first read this, I was sure that the "Big O" that Ted was talking about were Objectivists! :-)

Regards,
--
Jeff

Post 12

Thursday, September 4, 2008 - 7:53am

Want Real Change? Quit Nominating Lawyers
By Victor Davis Hanson

...So, what's wrong with the Democratic nominee once again being a lawyer? After all, legal minds are trained to think precisely and evaluate both sides of an issue.

The problem is that lawyers usually do not run companies, defend the country, lead people, build things, grow food or create capital....

Post 13

Thursday, September 4, 2008 - 8:07am

So what's wrong with nominating a lawyer?

In addition to Ted's point, they are also trained in today's law schools, aided and abetted by today's culture, to see the law as a tool for amoral change - no connection to moral values, much less political philosophy. They are also taught that law isn't absolute in any way, you can ignore the spirit of a law and game the system to get the outcome you want.

Want to shift some money from this group to that... Want to get this group cut out of the marketplace.... Want to send some goodies to your special interest friends.... pass a law, bend a law, tell a lie. Today's lawyers are too often just paid liars.

Post 14

Thursday, September 4, 2008 - 9:33am

Sy Leon and others have argued that lawyers should be barred from holding certain public offices. I would definitely bar them from holding legislative and executive offices. They are part of the judiciary, simply because they are lawyers. This is part of the problem.

Post 15

Thursday, September 4, 2008 - 11:52am

Steve,

Regarding Post 5, I agree wholeheartedly. I can only assume that it's the reluctance of the media to criticize another culture's values, no matter how barbaric and despicable they are. It's the current obsession with multi-cultural egalitarianism. Everyone is equal and all values are equally good, except of course, the values of those who think that all values AREN'T equally good. THEN there is no tolerance!

- Bill
(Edited by William Dwyer on 9/04, 11:57am)

Post 16

Thursday, September 4, 2008 - 12:19pm

Bill,

"I can only assume that it's the reluctance of the media to criticize another culture's values, no matter how barbaric and despicable they are. It's the current obsession with multi-cultural egalitarianism. Everyone is equal and all values are equally good, except of course, the values of those who think that all values AREN'T equally good. THEN there is no tolerance!"

That was well put - I agree.

Media takes the multi-cultural, diversity as value, cultural relativism, PC positions as it's base and goes on to view ratings in our dumbed down culture as their driving force, asking:

Is it sensational or sensationalizable?
Is is so PC that we can mount an emotionally intense moral crusade?
Is it suitable for scaring people - can we pretend that it's a grave danger?
Well, then is it salacious or sleazy?

No...Well then it must not be newsworthy!

(Edited by Steve Wolfer on 9/04, 12:21pm)

Post 17

Thursday, September 4, 2008 - 1:31pm

Her name is Wafa Sultan.

(Edited by John Armaos on 9/04, 1:39pm)

Post 18

Thursday, September 4, 2008 - 2:57pm

Yes, that is who I was referring to in post #5 - Wafa Sultan. She is an extraordinary woman - in terms of moral courage she reminds me of Rand. Anyone that hasn't her heard her speak, click on those videos John provided. If I were McCain and in the White House next January, I'd invite her to come chat - in a very public way - and make a fuss over her - maybe give her a "Freedom metal" or something. Her's is the voice we should hear discussing the culture difference between the West and fundamental Islam.

I like the second of the video's above.

And this video is a good too.

Here is the Wikipedia article on her.

(Edited by Steve Wolfer on 9/04, 3:17pm)

Post 19

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 - 6:42am