SUNDAY,  JANUARY 4,  2009

BEFORE WE WRITE THOSE CHECKS - AT 6 :49 P.M. ET:  From the Politico: 

President-elect Barack Obama’s plan for a swift, record-setting economic stimulus is encountering its first resistance, with congressional leaders saying it could take a while to pass.  For the first time, Republicans began proposing alternatives to Obama's broad framework for creating or saving 3 million jobs over two years.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told host George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week” that perhaps the money for states should be a loan rather than a grant because it would “make them spend it more wisely.”

COMMENT:  McConnell is one of the sharpest men in the Senate; look for him to emerge as a main force in a Republican revival.  It's critical that the GOP be in the fight from day one, and not mope over the election results.

UNDER THE BUS, UNDER THE BUS - AT 6:19 P.M. ET:  From Jake Tapper at ABC News:  Sources tell ABC News that officials on the Obama Transition Team feel that before he was formally offered the job of commerce secretary, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was not forthcoming with them about the federal investigation that is looking into whether the governor steered a state contract towards a major financial contributor.

COMMENT:  Richardson goes under the bus, along with Rev. Wright, Gov. Blagojevich, grandma (the typical white person), Bill Ayers (who just lives in the neighborhood), Tony Rezko, Samantha Power and assorted others.  It's a big bus, with a lot of room underneath.

GAZA UPDATE - AT 6:11 P.M. ET:  From the Israeli newspaper Haaretz: 

The international community, headed by the U.S. and Egypt, is giving Israel time to carry out the ground offensive in Gaza, so it will severely damage Hamas' regime. The rationale behind such a move is that a weakened Hamas would improve the chances of achieving a stable agreement in Gaza once the fighting subsides.

And so there is a degree of foot-dragging in the diplomatic efforts to reach a cease-fire. The most visible sign of this was the decision to postpone the United Nations Security Council discussion on Gaza planned for Monday.

COMMENT:  That sounds about right, from the press reports that we've monitored.  The usual angry statements are being made, but Israel is not being put under any extreme pressure.  The collusion of Egypt in this is fascinating, but not shocking.  This whole notion of Arab unity and concern for "our dear, brotherly Palestinians" has always been a bit of a crock.  Hamas is seen, in part at least, as a tool of Iran, and Iran doesn't win Miss Congeniality in the Arab world.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED TO BILL RICHARDSON ON HIS WAY TO... - AT 3:55 P.M. ET:   From The New York Times: 

WASHINGTON — Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, one of the country’s most prominent Hispanic politicians and President-elect Barack Obama’s choice to be commerce secretary, on Sunday dropped out of consideration for that post.  Mr. Richardson attributed his decision to the ongoing investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico.

COMMENT:  We can't blame the president elect for this, although it was known at the time of Richardson's appointment that he was under investigation.  Again, someone close to Obama has legal or ethical problems, not exactly an advertisement for change we can believe in.  It's the image thing.  Now the question is how Obama appeases the Hispanic community. 

NEW SENATOR - AT 8:43 A.M. ET:   DENVER (AP) -- Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter on Saturday named Denver's public schools superintendent as his choice to fill a Senate vacancy that will be created by the promotion of Sen. Ken Salazar to interior secretary in the Obama administration.

COMMENT:  The guy appears decent, the guy appears capable.  The guy appears honest.  How did this happen?

GAZA UPDATE - AT 8:39 A.M. ET:  From The New York Times: 

GAZA — Israeli troops advanced into Gaza on Sunday under cover of heavy air, tank and artillery fire after opening a ground war against the militant group Hamas on Saturday night.  Witnesses said the Israeli forces had punched across Gaza, bisecting its northern and southern parts, and had taken over certain strategic areas, including what the military has described as rocket launching sites.

COMMENT:  There are some news reports that Hamas has softened its stand on a cease-fire.  One thing to watch here is whether the military action is over by the time Obama is inaugurated, which is two weeks from Tuesday.  He would have an easier time if the combat was finished and he would have to deal only with the diplomacy.  But Hillary will have her hands full. 

LIBERAL FASCISM?

Posted at 7:54 a.m. ET:

For those of us brought up on George Orwell, the idea of liberal fascism isn't new.  But some still don't take it very seriously.

Jonah Goldberg, who wrote a book called "Liberal Fascism," takes it very seriously indeed.  Here, in London's Daily Mail, he explains his thesis.  This is a cautionary tale.  You don't have to buy it all to realize that Goldberg gives us some worrisome signposts to watch for. 

For more than 70 years the Left has hurled the F-word at anyone who gets in its way - Stalin invented this tactic to de-legitimise socialist opponents, including Leon Trotsky, assassinated for leading a 'fascist coup'.

As early as 1946, George Orwell wrote that: "The word Fascism has now no meaning except in so far as it signifies "something not desirable.'"

Today, a better working definition of a fascist might simply be a conservative who's winning an argument. But what if fascism means something more than 'bad'. What if fascism was not, and is not, a Right-wing phenomenon at all?

Hmm.  This idea is surfacing.  Some believe that Hitler could more properly be called a leftist, in that "Nazi" was short for national socialism.

For instance, what were the motivating passions of fascism? For starters, there was the cult of unity. The Nazis mastered the spectacle of the crowd to project an aura of unity, equality and common purpose...

...Such spectacles were made possible by the cult of personality, the faith that a great leader would rise from among 'us' and bring everyone together.

And...

According to The New York Times, Barack Obama's own recruiters were trained not to talk about issues, but to 'testify' about how they 'came to Obama' the way one might normally talk about coming to Jesus.

But isn't unity good?  Shouldn't we all be singing from the same hymnal?

It's worth noting that in the Anglo-American tradition, unity is not, in fact, the highest political value. That's why we have constitutions, separation of powers and independent courts. The hero in the Anglo-American tradition is not the mob, but the man who stands up to it.

In other words, the individual - that accursed fellow who thinks for himself.

It's ironic how the Left is always ready to brand a conservative who steps off the politically correct reservation as a fascist, but sees nothing wrong with embracing concepts that fit neatly within the fascist wheelhouse.

And...

Italian Fascism and German National Socialism were both sold as a Third Way that would bypass all hard choices. 'Neither Right nor Left!' was a central fascist slogan...

...Economic growth and environmental regulations, socialised medicine and medical innovation, none of these things is at odds with one another so long as the right enlightened geniuses are in power.

And...

Nonetheless, it's also important to remember that fascist isn't necessarily synonymous with 'evil'. Militarism during the first third of the 20th Century was seen as the best means of organising society. Since then, liberals have been searching for a moral equivalent of war..

...But today, the desire to find a moral equivalent of war that will bind the individual to the State manifests itself in unlikely places. Consider the ever-increasing emphasis on 'the children.'

Ever since Plato, the idea of capturing the hearts and minds of children has fascinated social planners. Mussolini cast himself as a 'schoolmaster' to the nation, while in the Soviet Union a prize was given by the State in honour of a boy who informed against his mother and father. Late last year, a British energy company created a website to teach children how to become 'climate cops' and turn in their own parents.

Pretty chilling.  Coming soon to a university near you.

Even though we are greeted every day with countless stories of 'political correctness gone mad' we tend to dismiss them as solitary or silly.

But the reality is that they fit into a bigger picture, a coherent Left-wing agenda. The idea is that there can be no safe harbours from politics. If 'you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem'.

And it's up to the State and the social engineers to solve problems - whether you like it or not.

You have to be very careful with a thesis like that, but it is, as I've noted, a cautionary tale.  I'm always a little concerned when writers compare things to Nazism and Communism.  After all, even the despicable Nazi and Communist regimes did some things that, when correctly done in a democratic society, could contribute.  But Goldberg is right in warning us about the cult of "unity" or about those who believe that, if we surrender to the state, wonderful things will automatically happen. 

I'm particularly concerned about a forced intellectual conformity, often pushed along by simply ridiculing anyone who doesn't agree.  The global-warming "debate" is a clear example, where dissenters are simply laughed at rather than engaged.  Indeed, ridicule has become a powerful tool of the political left, and many people genuinely fear it.  Social ostracism is not fun.

Goldberg must be read carefully, but he's worth reading.

January 4, 2009.      Permalink          

SATURDAY,  JANUARY 3,  2009

THE JOKE'S ON MINNESOTA - AT 8:51 P.M. ET:  Power Line's Scott Johnson reports that comedian Al Franken's lead over incumbent U.S. Senator Norm Coleman in the Minnesota recount has jumped to 225, and may well be insurmountable.  Franken will probably be declared the winner on Monday.  Coleman has the right to contest the election, but may not, depending on how firm the outcome seems to be.

COMMENT:  At this critical time in history, Minnesota has apparently chosen to send a comic to the U.S. Senate, replacing an excellent, highly respected senator.  The joke is on Minnesota, and the Democratic Party.   This may encourage big-mouth "journalist" Chris Matthews to enter the Pennsylvania Senate race of 2010, against incumbent Arlen Specter.  What's next?  An acrobat?  Juggler?  Exotic dancer?   

GROUND ACTION IN GAZA - AT 1:49 P.M. ET:  Major news organizations are reporting that Israeli ground troops have started moving into Gaza.  The initial goal is to end the rocket fire that has thousands of Israelis living in bomb shelters in the south of Israel.  The ultimate goal, and this is informed speculation, is to end Hamas's rule in Gaza, which was established by an armed coup. 

COMMENT:  The international left is starting to go crazy, with thousands of "demonstrators" marching in London, with, natch, Bianca Jagger, at the head of the column.  They are protesting Israel's actions.  There is no concern about Hamas, whose fascism is fairly open.

HOT ROD TO STALL OUT? - AT 9:14 A.M. ET:  CHICAGO — Illinois lawmakers will be called back into session next week, which is earlier than expected, in an effort to expedite impeachment proceedings against Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, and, ultimately, some said, to prevent his appointee from becoming the state’s next United States senator.

COMMENT:  That would save the president elect some potential embarrassment.  The fact that Democrats are pushing impeachment, and the blocking of the governor's pick for the Senate, who is African-American, suggests that the Obama camp has given the okay to the ousting of the governor.

SARAH STRIKES

Posted at 9:03 a.m. ET

Remember Sarah Palin?  She was John McCain's vice presidential choice, and, according to the liberal script, was supposed to disappear after the election, return to Alaska, and never cast a shadow over the Age of Obama.  I mean, Charlie Gibson disapproved of her.  What more is there to say?

Well, there's plenty more to say.  Governor Palin is making it plain that she will not permit her family to be cannon fodder for the liberal press.  Her daughter, Bristol, just had her baby, and some journalists took the usual liberties with facts.  The governor strikes back:

Alaska has a new form of wildlife: Gov. Sarah Palin, who has turned into a mama tiger, or a grandmama tiger anyway, in defense of her young.

Mrs. Palin is engaging in an unusually personal attempt to protect her 18-year-old daughter Bristol from the inaccuracies of the press.

In three different accounts, journalists have described Miss Palin and/or her fiance Levi Johnston as "high-school dropouts."

Them there are fightin' words.

And she is fighting.  Republican establishment take note.

Mrs. Palin has personally contacted People magazine, the Associated Press and the Anchorage Daily News contesting Saturday's reports on the birth of Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, the unmarried couple's child and the governor's first grandchild.

The fightin' words:

"You need to know that both Levi and Bristol are working their butts off to parent and going to school and working at the same time. They are certainly not high-school dropouts," she said in a phone message to People, which promptly published the words on its Web site Wednesday.

And...

"Bristol begins her final semester of high school next week where she'll get her last credit needed to graduate," Mrs. Palin said. "Levi is continuing his online high school work in addition to working as an electrical apprentice."

"The road ahead for this young couple will not be easy, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy," Mrs. Palin said.

The media has covered itself with its usual glory:

The kerfuffle has since been covered by a gleeful, global press -- the content snarky at times. Rumors persisted on MSNBC, for example, that Miss Palin was to receive $300,000 from People for exclusive photos of her new son. The magazine's spokesman Larry Hackett said the rumors were untrue.

The press consistently underestimates Sarah Palin.  No, she did not always do well on the campaign trail, but she's a fast learner and a governor with a considerable following.  Don't count her out, especially if she leads Alaska successfully through the recession.

January 3, 2009.      Permalink          

GAZA

Posted at 8:40 a.m. ET

It doesn't take long, in any Mideast crisis, before the usual suspects emerge from the nearest faculty lounge or foreign ministry to anguish over the "disproportionate" use of force, a label which always seems to be applied to democracies.  When it's dictatorships or thug groups, it's "understandable resistance."

Michael Gerson, of The Washington Post, who was formerly chief speechwriter for President Bush, has a clear moral perspective on what is happening in Gaza.  Obviously, the loss of life is tragic, but Gerson sees a clear moral lesson:

WASHINGTON -- There is no question -- none -- that Israel's attack on Hamas in Gaza is justified. No nation can tolerate a portion of its people living in the conditions of the London Blitz -- listening for sirens, sleeping in bomb shelters and separated from death only by the randomness of a Qassam missile's flight. And no group aspiring to nationhood, such as Hamas, can be exempt from the rules of sovereignty, morality and civilization, which, at the very least, forbid routine murder attempts against your neighbors.

Yeah, I'd say that right.  President Bush agrees.  So does Condi Rice.  We haven't heard a word, even a leaked word, from the president-elect.  What that means we have no way of knowing.

Israel's response has been criticized as "disproportionate," which betrays a misunderstanding of proportion's meaning. The goal of military action, when unavoidable, is not to take one life in exchange for each one unjustly taken; this is mere vengeance. The goal is to remove the conditions that lead to conflict and the taking of life. So far, Israel's actions have been proportionate to this objective. And the convoys of fuel, medical supplies and food sent by Israel into Gaza show an appropriate concern for Palestinian suffering, even during a broad assault on Hamas forces.

Of course, this is not what we read in the "international" press or in statements from "human rights" groups, whose concern for "human rights" seem to extend only to this year's left-wing favorites.

The Israeli public will not accept any further risks for peace as long as Hamas missiles fly. Those missiles are a daily symbol that Israeli territorial concessions result in the strengthening of committed enemies and the death of Israeli citizens. The removal of this threat is not an obstacle to the peace process. It is the prerequisite for the resumption of the peace process.

That's common sense. 

Israel recognizes that Hamas will claim victory no matter how badly it is damaged. But the real determination of winners and losers will come six months after a cease-fire. And there are two objective criteria of Israeli success: an end of rocket and mortar attacks on Israel and an end of large-scale arms smuggling to Hamas.

More common sense.  There must be a victory.  As MacArthur said, in war there is no substitute for it.

In this crisis, Israel faces a test of its wisdom and competence: Would its leaders really have undertaken such a high-risk operation without a clear endgame?

America, in turn, faces a test of its moral judgment. This conflict is not a contest between shades of gray in mist and fog. It is a matter of distinguishing between murderers and victims -- and of supporting an ally until a clear victory against terrorism is achieved.

Well said.  It's sad, but very few are saying it.  I fear that the new administration will give us the usual mush about the need for "a negotiated settlement" and a "resumption of the peace process."  The key figure here will be Hillary Clinton, as secretary of state.  We should know in the first few weeks whether she was sincere in the generally moderate foreign policy she favored as a senator from New York, or whether she'll start running for secretary general of the UN.

January 3, 2009.      Permalink