Dreams From My Communist Father

The PrestoPundit explains why Barack Obama's "Dreams From My Father" often reads like "Searching For Che" - Barack Obama the elder was an uncompromising anti-Western scientific socialist.

Well, Jeremiah Wright is not the candidate, Barack Obama is; Michelle Obama is not the candidate, Barack Obama is; and Barack Obama is not the candidate either - Barack Obama is.

But it would make a pleasant surprise to discover a cheerful pro-Westerner in the woodpile.

TO BE FAIR:  Obama's mother, who would have been a Nader-Kucinich backer unless she backed Hillary for feminist reasons or, I'll imagine, her son, seems cheerful enough.

Comments

[clarice]

His mother seems an odd one, too--I cannot imagine many Western feminists marrying a Moslem and going off to live with him in Indonesia and leaving her kid behind so she could study village blacksmith culture in Indonesia. Maybe it's just me, but I can't see me or anyone I know doing such things. And I have to guess that like her own father she, too,had little use for western values.

[DebinNC]

Some Obama family pics I haven't seen elsewhere.

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

His mother graduated from Mercer Island High School, which means upper middle class. Mercer Island sits in Lake Washington, east of Seattle. Go just a little further east and you're in Medina, where Bill Gates has his cozy little digs.

[Long Tall Texan]

Who cares what Obama’s Father was? He left him when he was 2 years old!!! Jesus Christ’s Father was a Jew, but Christ formed a different Church, and a different religion. Karl Marx did not come from a communistic family, he came up with those ideas on his own. Hillary Clinton’s Father was a Republican. Ronald Reagan was formerly a Democrat, and he turned into a Republican President.

This idea of trying to attack someone through their birth, their race, their family, or their Pastor (or, in the case of Ronald Reagan, judging by his past political affiliation) is idiotic at best, and disingenuous at worst. Listen to what the candidates are saying. Listen to the speeches they made before the Iraq War. Look at their voting records. If you have something good or bad to say about any of the candidates concerning THEIR OWN voting records or something they advocate in their speeches or the political positions on their websites, then say it. Otherwise, quit slicing the baloney!

Mitt Rommney’s Father was a Liberal Democrat of the FDR mold and Rommney, an arch consevative, has consistently and properly praised his father. Even if my father had been a Ku Klux Klansman (he wasn’t) I would still owe much to my father–our parents bring us into existence and provide us with the raw materials and DNA to build a unique person–a person who develops their own ideas, their own life, and their own political views and opinions.

The point is that it doesn’t matter whether your Father (or Mother) was a thief or a murderer, a communist or a coward, a rogue or a notorious sinner. The tradition of both Christianity and of America is that children do not inherit the sins of their parents. The meaning of God’s gift of free will and our constitution’s guarantee of individual liberty and freedom of thought and political expression is that we aren’t judged by the sins or errors of our parents. Everyone gets a chance to rise and fall on their own merits. The twisted argument you are making is the same one they tried to make about the blind man in the New Testament. “Was it because of his parents sin that he was born blind” they asked? Christ set them straight–we are NOT punished for the sins of our parents, and we are not to judge others by what their parents may have done in the past. Every human person is a free and unique individual that should be judged on their own individual merits. If what I am saying was not true, then we would all be hopelessly dragged down by the weight of the many sins and mistakes of our ancestors–nobody could progress forward. And just because Obama honors his Father does NOT mean that he agrees with him on his political views or anything else for that matter. There’s a really great set of rules that I would recommend to you called The Ten Commandments. It’s found in both the Christian Bible and the Jewish Torah, and it is the primary basis for our judeo-christian ethics and laws. One of those commandments is “Honor Thy Father and Mother”. Note carefully that the Commandment does NOT say to honor your Father and Mother because they are good, or honor them when you agree with their politics–it simply says to honor them. As Children, we honor our parents for being our parents (just as we honor God for being our God). And if Obama chooses to honor his Father, whether in a book or otherwise, then he is simply following that particular Commandment as he understands it. Your “parents’ views=childrens’ views” argument flys in the face of that reality.

[Cecil Turner]

Listen to the speeches they made before the Iraq War. Look at their voting records. If you have something good or bad to say about any of the candidates concerning THEIR OWN voting records or something they advocate in their speeches or the political positions on their websites, then say it. Otherwise, quit slicing the baloney!

Nonsense. You can't determine their positions from what they say, because they're politicians. (Though you can make a pretty good guess from Hillary's war stories or Obama's continued misrepresentation of "100 years" that they are polished liars.) Obama's sitting in a pew at Wright's church suggests he shares some of the beliefs (and certainly the attitudes). His book suggests he finds his father's life--and values--meaningful.

His non-vote on the war (and attempts to have it both ways afterward) tells us nothing except that he panders. Which ain't exactly news for the type.

[boris]

What Obama says and what he does are not the same. Actions speak louder than words. What Obama does is rather consistent with the words of Jeremiah and Michelle. Add Ayers. parents, flag pin, pledge and a pattern emerges.

Deny deny deny ... pay no attention ... listen only to Obama's soothing words ... Hope ... change ... o m m m m ....

[interested]

"in the woodpile" has a not very nice hertiage as a racist phrase. It is frequently preceeded by the N-word.

You might consider revising.

[MayBee]

Mitt Rommney’s Father was a Liberal Democrat of the FDR mold and Rommney, an arch consevative, has consistently and properly praised his father.

Except that Mitt Romney's father was a Republican.

[clarice]

boris and Cecil are right. Except for his tap-dancing, all we have to go on about his belief system is the stated beliefs of those who are closest to him. Now, he had no choice in his father, though he could have chosen to reject him as his father had abandoned HIM, but instead he seems to have idolized him and, instead, treated badly his grandmother who did NOT abandon him.
Interestingly, he says not a disparaging thing about his lefty grandfather or Ayres, and has refused to disown Wright.
If we cannot consider these actions as telling, we have nothing to go on.

[DebinNC]

I think Michelle is a good barometer of Obama's views. Apparently, they like pie:

"Most Americans, she said, don't want much.
They don't want the whole pie," she told the women. "There are some who do, but most Americans feel blessed just being able to thrive a little bit. But that is becoming even more out of reach." ....

"The truth is, in order to get things like universal health care and a revamped education system, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more."

[PeterUK]

"Karl Marx did not come from a communistic family, he came up with those ideas on his own."

Well,actually,no he didn't.Too boring to go to any lengths over Dialectic Materialism,but essentially Marx never did any original research of his own.All his conclusions were reached using the research of others.
What you need to know,is how much of those ideas have stuck to Barrack Obama.

[Rick Ballard]

I thought that it was BHO who picked the title for the insightful autobiography which he created (invented? dreamed? hallucinated?) at the ripe age of 37. Considering his pathetically meager accomplishments at the time of his writing, one can understand his desire to look about for subject matter which might hold a reader's interest (although not for long, BHO can't write).

So, BHO decides to frame his life story around "dreams" by the drunken lout who abandoned him to pursue his passion for communism and we're supposed to ignore that fact?

What are they teaching in the lefty madrasas these days? Advanced stupidity?

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

This, in the WSJ by Lanny Davis is too clever by (at least) half. Because, the answer to his question is that Obama joined, and stayed, in the church for its usefulness to him in his political organizing-state legislature-senatorial career.

That's his constituency; racialist grievance mongerers. Unfortunately for Lanny Davis, it's also one of the most important components of the Dem's base, and Hillary has to pander to it too.

[DebinNC]

I think, listening to Michelle Obama, that Obama stayed at Trinity as much because he agrees with Wright's view of endemic, institutionalized racism (which Wright prefers to call white supremacy) in our "imperfect union," than for the political benefit of remaining.

[Bill in AZ]

"...then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more"

Capitalisms approach is to just make more pie.

[clarice]

Yes, well--The really big pie pans are for heartland state fairs and no one else can get hold of them.

[pagar]

"baloney" . Sums up the entire Obama record for me. Voting, Associates, money that allowed him to become a well known name in political circles, any and every part of his record~it's all baloney.

[Barry]

Long Tall Texan, what you are really saying is "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil". It's what leftists always do. Don't look at reality, look at what I say.

[PeterUK]

"I would recommend to you called The Ten Commandments. It’s found in both the Christian Bible and the Jewish Torah, and it is the primary basis for our judeo-christian ethics and laws."

The new paradigm, the Party is your mother and father via the State.

[Barney Frank]

Long Tall Texan's theology is a bit simplistic and opportunistic to say the least.

[Soylent Red]

The point is that it doesn’t matter whether your Father (or Mother) was a thief or a murderer, a communist or a coward, a rogue or a notorious sinner.

Normally this would be true LTT, if we were talking about a fully matured and self-actualized man.

But we're not. We're talking about Obamessiah, who has spent his entire life trying live up to chimeric notion of what he thought his Mommy and Daddy wanted him to be, largely because they abandoned him and sent him to live with Granny and Gramps.

So what we get is a guy who is obsessed with the ideas that caused his parents to abandon him because maybe, maybe, if he participates in them there can be reconciliation.

At least that's what his f'ed up psychology is telling him.

[Barney Frank]

"...then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more"

From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.

[PeterUK]

The performer Little Richard has endorsed Democratic candidate Barrack Obama.
The legendary singer said from his luxury home.

"Obama lama, obama loo, obama lama, obama loo,
Obama lama, obama loo, obama lama, obama loo,
Now I dig his style, he's like a drive me wild with
Obama lama, obama loo".

Commentators say that this is a direct appeal to the older supporters of Republican candidate John McCain.

[sbw]

Bill in AZ, say it again, louder! "Capitalism's approach is to just make more pie."

That is Adam Smith 101. Not a theory, but observation of experience. If there is anything to learn between 1776's "On the Wealth of Nations" and now it is THAT THE PIE IS LARGER WHEN MORE PEOPLE WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY.

Inequality isn't the issue. Every day people with lots of money spend or invest all of it so that everyone else can compete for a portion of it. The sin is Democrats pandering for power and control of other people's money for their own personal benefit, and doing so under the guise of helping the poor and disenfranchised.

Would that our little Democrat friends would learn from those who have gone before that sensible policy doesn't greedily grab from one segment of the population and redistribute it to cover up a problem. Rather you prepare people to work doing the jobs that are available, wherever they are available.

[TexasToast]

...Obama's continued misrepresentation of "100 years" that they are polished liars.

What misrepresentation?

Are you suggesting that the Iraq we have come to know and love will be amenable to a "peaceful" American occupation of 100 years?
We have been "occupying" Iraq since "mission accomplished" and yet we all continue to describe it is the "Iraq War". If this occupation ain't a 100 year war, what is?

[Bill in AZ]

Pie-think goes along with Lib-think: History began this morning - and this morning, there was only one pie.

[sbw]

TT: If this occupation ain't a 100 year war, what is?

Think about it, TT. It is psy-ops to get you to give up. They think it will work because they think you don't know what's worth fighting for. Perhaps they're right.

[Ralph L]

So what we get is a guy who is obsessed with the ideas that caused his parents to abandon him because maybe, maybe, if he participates in them there can be reconciliation.
Seems to be a normal, if irrational, response. Maybe one day the light bulb will go off in his head that his parents chased false gods (or were just stinkers).

[DebinNC]

Obama is preparing to renege on his pledge to accept public financing for the general election. Then there's Obama shatters ad spending record during a nomination race:

"Barack Obama has spent a record breaking $60 million to run more than 100,000 political television ads...

In contrast, John Kerry ran a little more than 19,000TV ads...

Clinton, who trails Obama in fundraising by about $60 million, has run just over 60,000 TV ads...

In Pennsylvania, Obama has spent more than ,$3.6 million, while pouring another $600,000 into North Carolina and $800,000 into Indiana for TV ads, according to CMAG. So far, Clinton has spent $1.4 million in Pennsylvania, just under $200,000 in North Carolina and just recently went on the air in Indiana.

Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain has run ... about 14,000 ads..."
...........................................
Obama hasn't accepted the CBS offer for a NC debate. Is there a PA debate scheduled? Is Obama following Clinton's Bosnia example and conducting a safe, no-casualty (of him) ad "air war"? He's willing to "bomb from afar" via ads or surrogates, but he's unwilling to get in the ring with "Rocky" and do any actual fighting? Doesn't this reek of weakness by someone afraid to defend or even define his views and intentions?

[Rickter]

If people can't be held account for the actions of their ancestors, then why does the left(particularly blacks) demand reparation for slavery?

[Ralph L]

Rather "common", not "normal."

[TexasToast]

SBW

"Psy-Ops" by they?

Scary!!!!!!!!

Define "they"?

Apparently, you would like to define "they" as some nefarious anti-american invisible beings linked to AQ. The history doesn't quite bear that out.

In 2003, "they" was Saddam's government. In 2004 "they" were the Sunnis who later became the "sons of Iraq". Now "they" are apparently Shia militias supported and influenced by Iran (but only those that we don't like).

"They" is sure multi purpose. Just how is it in our interest to baby-sit a civil war for the benefit of Iran?

[Ralph L]

Oops

[F Major]

We've been 'occupying' South Korea and Japan for a while now.

How active was Obama with the 'land socialists' globally? What role did his church, wife, etc. play in the socialism? Chicago and unions?

Columbia is in the news. Drugs? How did he vote in drug issues like legalizing marijuana and were his socialists involved in the land issue trading for drug terrorists? Columbia's drug war can't pay out because of Chicago unions?

Chicago, unions, church and his background all work together; they all justify socialism and their participation in it globally.

[GMax]

...then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more"

From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs.

Actually the better quote for Michelle is of course:

"Everyone is equal, just some are more equal than others."

[Ralph L]

This blog does lean to the right, however.

[Appalled Moderate]

Comparing S. Korea to Iraq is the ultimate in false equivalencies.

[GMax]

They" is sure multi purpose. Just how is it in our interest to baby-sit a civil war for the benefit of Iran?

I am sure you were just as spitting mad when we went into Bosnia, right? Hello? Bosnia we were baby-sitting ( your words ) a true civil war but of course we had absolutely no national interest that anyone could articulate, so then its ok? HUH???

[Ralph L]

Rick, do you mean Colombia, a cocaine source in S. America, or Columbia, BHO's alma mater and a cocaine source in NYC?

[Rick Ballard]

Ralph,

That's FMajor, not me - I was turning off italics (unnecessarily). I don't have my loon decoder ring with me today so I can't translate.

[Elliott]

Debate question we'll never see but which might produce interesting results:

Who has had the greater influence on your economic philosophy: Adam Smith or Karl Marx?

Incisive follow-up questioning would be welcome, too.

[Bill in AZ]

Brit Hume: "Who has had the greater influence on your economic philosophy: Adam Smith or Karl Marx?"

Obama: "uh... well... if you have a pie... and the have's have 3/4 of it but give up 1/3 of it. uh... "

[PeterUK]

"If this occupation ain't a 100 year war, what is?"

A war that last 95 years longer.This is a problem with the innumerate,they are too casual with numbers.
Your military won't even be fighting the same way or using the same weaponry in ten years time.Nothing will be the same in a hundred years time.Certainly not Iraq.

[Rick Ballard]

"if you have a pie... and the have's have stolen 3/4 of it but give up 1/3 of it. uh... "

Can't leave out the central lie, Bill. The only way you could ever have more than me is if you stole it from me. Otherwise we'd both have exactly equal slices.

Immiseration - it's what's for dinner!

[TexasToast]

GMax

In Bosnia, we had broad international support (NATO) that the acts of the Serbs were threats to our collective security. In other words, we acted to preserve the peace. Mission accomplished.

In Gulf War 1, we had broad international support the the invasion of Kuwait was a threat to our collective security. In other words, we acted to reverse an act of aggression. Mission accomplished.

In Afganistan, we had broad international support (NATO) that the acts of the Taliban in harboring AQ was threats to our collective security. Mission -- Uhhm,unfortunately, we seem to have taken our eve off the ball on that one.

In Iraq, we invaded a country with no WMDs, a country that had no connection to AQ, and a country riven with sectarian divides and we disbanded the army. What was the mission?

PS Don't say oil.

[GMax]

Great Britain and Poland to name two are chopped liver?

"Our collective security" I will have to remember that.

I seem to remember being told that Saddam did not commit the acts of 9/11. WTF did the Serbs? How could there be any threat to our security from the Serbs?

Remember when Gulf War 1 ceased there was a written agreement on the cessation of hostilities. Remember that Saddam agreed to do a number of things, and reneged on some of them as well as starting shooting at our overflights, a clear act of aggression.

Make up your own facts much, what was the 727 fussilage doing in Iraq, seems to be a terrorist training magnet but of course there was no AQ ( you said so ). And no WMDs, again you must clearly believe that. I guess all those Kurds that died from the Mustard Gas argue different. Hell even those UN disarmament weanies thought he had them, so you have only Code Pink as company on this part. How secure are you in your collectivism?

[PeterUK]

""They" is sure multi purpose. Just how is it in our interest to baby-sit a civil war for the benefit of Iran?"

It is against the interests of Iran,who without a baby sitter in Iraq, would now be controlling three sides of the Gulf and be next door to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States.
Iran could be in control of most of the Middle East's oil production.How is that in your interests?

[sbw]

TT: Just how is it in our interest to baby-sit a civil war

Quaint name for it, isn't it? Civil war?

Rather than a war between two cultures, one might see it as a war for civility. You do have a dog in that fight, don't you?

And what, TT, are the minimum requirements of civility, where one person interacts with another, or one culture interacts with another?

If you can't see the conflict that way, we are talking across each other and you, I'm afraid, honestly might not see what is at risk.

[Rick Ballard]

A little smoke, a little dust and poof no more discussion of BHO's red as a radish roots.

Deb's link to BHO's rather profligate ad purchases is very interesting. I'd say that he really got other peoples money's worth. Who would have bet in November that RW would be on life support in April?

[cathyf]

In Iraq, we invaded a country with no WMDs, a country that had no connection to AQ, and a country riven with sectarian divides and we disbanded the army. What was the mission?

Let's see... One mission was keeping Saddam's anthrax out of your mailbox. Since you are still here bloviating, I guess that makes "mission accomplished."

[PeterUK]

How was Bosnia in Western interests? We put down the Christian Serbs to protect the Kosovan,Albanian Muslims.Then we got 9/11 and 7/7.
Didn't earn any brownie points there.

[Rick Ballard]

Baldilocks has a good piece with a slightly different angle on this:

Most Africans of a certain age are/were communists? Say it ain't so!

For Heaven's sake, my father's named his political column "The Fifth Column." Being a commie was all the rage for young Africans in the sixties. Why do you think most African countries are in the state they're in right now?

All true but BHO's past suggests that he embraces the leftist idiocy in the same way which his mother and father did. I would need to see a really good example of the Alinsky Acolyte moving beyond his Ayer's blessing and BLT racism before I could presume that he is a different fruit than that which one would expect from the family tree.

[Tom Maguire]

I would just like to say that having Texas T back is a kick. Feels like old times, so much so that I may go off and bash Kerry (Misison Accomplished!).

[TexasToast]

...one culture interacts with another?

If you can't see the conflict that way, we are talking across each other and you, I'm afraid, honestly might not see what is at risk.

We may well be - perhaps because I don't buy in to the "Clash of Civilizations" meme. (Although the Kingdom of Jerusalem lasted from 1099 to 1291. Thats almost 200 years! ;)

BTW, Cathy, what ever happened to the Anthrax scare? I honestly don't remember.

[boris]

I don't buy in to the "Clash of Civilizations" meme.

As in 911 was what ??? Karma ???

Just say so then. "The US had it coming and if the West would just accomodate any and all grievences there would be no more bad events, or at least no more than is tolerable given that US is indestrucable compared to other less developed states."

[GMax]

HaHa I had not laughed at John longface and his seriously intoned "Global Test" in years. Thanks TM ( who clearly is giving credit here to TT) for the laugh. Global Test indeed. Lets ask Putin what he thinks is in the US's best interest, no better yet how about the representative from Zimbabwe! Now my sides hurt.

[PeterUK]

No "clash of civilisations"?What happened to Christianity in the Middle East? Byzantium lasted until 1453,Islam was still at the Gates of Vienna 1683,230 years. It's a long game TT.

[cathyf]

BTW, Cathy, what ever happened to the Anthrax scare? I honestly don't remember.

The US invaded Iraq and took control of Saddam's anthrax stores.

[boris]

Comparing S. Korea to Iraq is the ultimate in false equivalencies.

Since the point is the presence of US bases that's a perfectly fine equivalence.

The situation in Iraq is an elected government allied with the US under assault by domestic and international terrorist forces as well as Iran and possibly Syria. US bases just makes good sense.

[Soylent Red]

US bases just makes good sense.

Wait a minute. Wait just a doggone minute...

You mean to tell me that putting bases where the fight is, is sensible? Oh, you are quite mistaken my friend.

In order to fight bad guys in Iraq, we must put troops in Okinawa. I know that because a prominent Democrat Senator told me so. So it must be true.

And that's only after we talk to AQI and JAM and the Mahdi Army and all the rest, and get them to see our point of view. We may not need any troops at all. After all, AQI and affiliated terror groups sitting on top of the world's oil supply are an Iraqi problem. I know that this is true because another well-known Democrat Senator told me so. And by God, he's a terrific orator.

Have we learned nothing?

[bgates]

TT, if you're upset about the hundred years' war in Iraq, what about the Thousand Year Reich in Bosnia? Or the twenty million people killed at Waco? Or the five hundred trillion interns Bubba nailed?

[GMax]

OT

Navy veteran and former Senate staffer Pete Olsen ( staffer to Senator Phil Gramm ) won the runoff for the right to boot Nick Lampson out of Congress. He thumped Sekula Gibbs 69% to 31%. You will remember Dr. Gibbs almost beat Lampson last time, despite her name not being on the ballot. Lampson better put his resume together. AMF Nick.

[GMax]

Olson with an O not an E

[bgates]

Methodology behind the claim of 20 million deaths in Waco: I surveyed one household which reported 76 deaths at the hands of the ATF. Extrapolating to the 45,000 households in the Waco area gives 3.42 million deaths. I then rounded up to the nearest 20 million.

[Rick Ballard]

bgates,

Have you considered submitting that to the Lancet? You're demonstrating the type of statistical rigor for which they are now famous - surely they would look favorably upon an article from you.

I knew Waco was bad but I had no idea that it was that bad.

[PeterUK]

"Have we learned nothing?"

No,you have learned that when it comes to American domestic politics the Democrats would talk to Vlad the Impaler to do down the opposition.

[clarice]

Considered? Who do you think did all the calculations for Lancet? Can't you tell from the bgatesian methodology?

[PeterUK]

bgates,

What about the kittens and the puppies?

[GMax]

If the Lancet turns up their nose, there is always the IPCC, but they will expect you to hide your data from view, otherwise it might get peer reviewed and questions might arise about what otherwise is now a consensus.

[PeterUK]

The real "Clash of Civilisations". Chavez v.USA>

[PeterUK]

If The Lancet doesn't want him,Gordon Brown will snap him up.

[Elliott]

DebinNC,

This is a few weeks old, but it says Clinton and Obama will be debating in Pennsylvania next Wednesday.

[Elliott]

Geraghty hits the high points on Obama and public financing.

[Rick Ballard]

Peter,

I think there's a real SCAM opportunity here. If we switch the neologism from Clarice's bgatesian to Gatesian Modeling - an adjunct of Bayesian analysis, and focus on "ethereal extrapolation" we could have a winner.

[Soylent Red]

Gatesian Modeling

May I suggest that Gatesian Modeling should produce some sort of curve or distribution that can be projected onto an enormous screen, and targeted with a laser pointer from a miniature cherry picker?

Perhaps "The Ballard Curve"?

Everybody's got to have a gimmick.

[boris]

The boris yellspin

[sbw]

tt: perhaps because I don't buy in to the "Clash of Civilizations" meme.

Meme? What meme? Let's go back to Society 101. You have your culture, I have mine. Our relationship must be built from zero because you can't force your beliefs on me and visa versa.

So if we are going to rise above non-society, you and I are going to have to establish the minimums for dealing with each other, one culture to a different one. And agree on those minimums. If we don't, that's the way it is and it just means that power rules, and we shall not rise above the rest of the animals.

In other words, independent of different cultures, if society is to function between us -- and that is what society is: the edge where any two cultures meet -- some small set of understandings needs to exist or we fall back into moral relativism and its irreconcilable differences.

Those understandings are only two, and you can deduce them yourself, without buying in to my culture. You deduce them yourself, from your own experience -- not mine. They can't depend on my religion, my history, or my "family values."

From your past, you can recall instances when you though you were correct but were mistaken, and got hurt by that misunderstanding. From that personal experience you can deduce that you make decisions from a mental map of reality that is not always accurate, nor can you know its flaws in advance. Humility springs from that realization, as does respect for others who, like you, seek to improve their mental maps of reality. Those who doubt and respect value the society of others who are similarly engaged.

Equipped with such a friend or foe detector, it is easier to appreciate those who put society at great risk. And easily in that category, one finds a place for terrorists who do not believe in the processes of peaceful problem resolution. And one begins to understand what is worth defending and why.

Science has put such power in the hands of anyone who cares to learn enough to use it, that our future depends making this understanding accessible to as many as possible, and on defending ourselves against the rest.

[PeterUK]

Mr Ballard,
I agree,but there needs to be some cute animals in there which are at risk.One cuddly puppy is worth a shed load of zeros.Just need to photoshop an ice floe in here
He has a nice way with fiddly figures.3.4 million doesn't slip off the tongue as easily as 20 million.

[Elliott]

Parody time. The title of the Senator's book has always put me in mind of a certain pop song. Thus, allow me to present Barack Obama's Communist friends:

Sometimes I find myself breaking off from my campaigning,
especially when I have to go out and do fundraising.
And I remember when you started asking real questions,
All the feigned pledges, all the false responses.
I'd tell you sad stories about my childhood,
I don't know why I hoodwinked you, but I knew that I could.
We'd spend the whole week, digging up McCain dirt,
I was just so happy in your beret and your Che shirt.

[chorus]
Dreams, dreams of when we'll redistribute things.
Dreams of History.
It seems, it seems
the Party needs my energies.
I wonder if we'll win the White House, too.

The Communist friends that got me here,
I'm not casting blame, but it's so true.
I know it's not right and it seems unfair
That the wingers are attacking me through you.
At first I tried to just pretend
I wasn't in the pews on those weekends.
So come on, tell me
Will I gain my end?

[AST]

So the choice is between a crypto-commie, a leftie feminist and a naive old warrior.

[pagar]

Along with the Communist background connections, there is other background on people who Obama seems to have some connections with over long periods of time. Evelyn Pringle has done a lot of research, her work is available at Rezko Watch

"If Obama had an ounce of respect for Democratic voters, he'd drop out of the race before the details of the corruption in Illinois spread to the rest of the country. If the leaders of the Democratic party had a lick of sense, they would inform Obama right now that under no circumstances will his name be on the ballot come fall."

From the last page of her entire 11 page Article

"A month ago a friend of mine who knew I did not think Obama was qualified to be president, asked me what I would do if he was nominated. I replied that I would vote for him of course, what a dumb question. No more. After a month of research, I could no more support Barack Obama as the leader of this country than I could support another war profiteering Republican.

If he becomes the nominee, all the Democrats in America will be viewed by the rest of the world as either utterly stupid, or totally corrupt. Therefore, for the first time in my life, I have made a conscious decision to take a stand and not vote in a presidential election if the choice is Obama. "

From her comment about supporting a Republican, I think one can understand that Ms Pringle did not do her research from a pro conservative position.

[Rick Ballard]

Lenin, Stalin and a Truman/Eisenhower blend with intermittent showers of narcissistic schizophrenia.

We're headed for the Chinese curse:

"May you live in interesting times."

[PeterUK]

Oh come now Mr Ballard,you know perfectly well that George Bush is going to declare martial law before the end of the year.The Alaskan Gulags are ready for all those who tipped their hands and supported BO and RW.

[Bill in AZ]

cathyf:
The US invaded Iraq and took control of Saddam's anthrax stores.

Yeah, but what happened since this morning when history began?

bgates - after careful Lancet style peer review of your study I note that you probably didn't really interview anyone from that household. Since Soros is paying for the study, and since he wouldn't want you to be too conservative with the numbers since it's for political purposes only, it probably wouldn't hurt to round that number up some - maybe an order of magnitude or so.

[PeterUK]

Robert Mugabe the Terror begins.African socialism at work.

[Bill in AZ]

I see at HotAir on the MO pie thread "make more pie" is in... It's a campaign of soundbites and bumper stickers. How about "Make MO Pie". Oh crap, that's prolly racist and unPC. Jay Leno "We'll Make More... Pie".

[clarice]

OT: Chris Matthews is apparently seeking a run for Senate against Specter.
http://stonezone.com/
It's a hard call for me.

[pagar]

PeterUK, That is a terrifying article, and to think that it could happen almost anywhere. From Peter's link~~~~~~~~

"Once the most educated and prosperous population in Africa, with life expectancy of 65 and literacy of 90 per cent, most of these people now scavenge for food alongside the few crops they can grow."

"The average age of death for women is 34; for men it is 37. Aged 40, I am solemnly called "baba" - father, or elder - a rarity because almost all Zimbabweans are dead by my age."

All of which happened in our lifetime, most started/aided by one
American

"Jimmy Carter invited Dictator #4 Robert Mugabe to the White House in 1980 (from Bleeding Hearts, Bloody Hands):

Rhodesia held free elections in which black moderate Bishop Abel Muzorewa was elected to the post of Prime Minister. However, the world press (and Jimmy Carter) declared the elections null and void because the two terrorist groups, ZAPU (Zimbabwe African People's Union) and ZANU (Zimbabwe African Nationalist Union), were not invited to participate. A continuation of sanctions eventually forced another election, overseen by international collectivists.

To nobody's surprise, the more powerful of the two terrorist leaders, Robert Mugabe, edged out rival Joshua Nkomo for the top slot, in balloting which was described as "one gun, one vote."

This was heralded by the world press as the gate to a new era, as Cecil Rhodes' name was dropped. During the 1980s, the saying was that "One used to go to Rhodesia to see the ruins of Zimbabwe. Now it's the other way around." American President Jimmy Carter hosted Mugabe at the White House in 1980, proclaiming that he had watched happily as Mugabe emerged victorious, adding that he was going to use similar tactics in his own reelection campaign!"

Note the last sentence again~~~~~~
"American President Jimmy Carter hosted Mugabe at the White House in 1980, proclaiming that he had watched happily as Mugabe emerged victorious, adding that he was going to use similar tactics in his own reelection campaign!"

[clarice]

That's how you get a Nobel prize--being responsible for elevating every dictatorialthug on earth. There aren't words enough to express my disdain for this horrid man.

[DebinNC]

Thanks, Elliott, for the debates link.

[Rick Ballard]

Pagar,

It's not very nice of you to present a clear picture of the end state promised for the United States by the Obama/Wright version of BLT.

It was supposed to be a surprise for after the election.

[Danube of Thought]

Texas Toast will now describe for us in detail the threat posed to the US by the Bosnian Serbs.

"In Afganistan, we had broad international support (NATO) that the acts of the Taliban in harboring AQ was threats to our collective security. Mission -- Uhhm,unfortunately, we seem to have taken our eve off the ball on that one." Actually, the ball resides across the border in Pakistan, with forays into Afghanistan at the time and place of the enemy's choosing. Does TToast, like Obama, think we should invade Pakistan? (Try to imagine the "international support" for that one.)

True enough that in Iraq, we invaded a country that had no WMD. Thus all the folks who told us on the eve of the invasion that Saddam had no WMD have been vindicated. However, the only person I can think of who said so at the time was one Scott Ritter, and he had receipted for 400 large from Saddam himself, and thus did not persuade a lot of people. Come on, TToast, give us a list of all the seers who told us before 2003 that Saddam had no WMD.

Try to come to grips with the fact that the US invaded a country that was believed by the entire world to have WMD, and 3/4 of the US congress authorized the invasion. Just acknowledge that, and you'll feel a whole lot more honest.

[Danube of Thought]

Here, TToast, let's look at McCain's exact words:

"'Maybe 100,' McCain replied. 'As long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed, it's fine with me and I hope it would be fine with you if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where al Qaeda is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day.'"

Make that into a hundred years of war if you like, but again, if you'd just be honest you'd feel a whole lot better.

[pagar]

Rick B, What gave it away? Was it this quote from Peter's linked article~~~

"But then Robert's world began to fall apart.

First, his adored younger brother, Michael, died of unknown causes. Then, in 1934, his father walked out after a row with his mother.

From being boisterous, Robert became withdrawn. He became attached to his mother and cursed his absent father. He was bullied. "He started hating the world," says a close relative."

And the result is Zimbabwe as it exists today.

[PeterUK]

Well the bloodbath is shaping up nicely in Zimbabwe.Mark up another one for the Prince of Darkness Baba Jimmah.What is he, a one man doomsday machine?

[Danube of Thought]

Hey Peter, don't bother the man--he's off to work his usual magic with Bashir Assad.

[Elliott]

Speaking of the approaching Democratic debate, Jane and I haven't done much liveblogging lately so we're planning to use The Masters for some practice. Need to be sharp next Wednesday.

Prediction: Nick O'Hern shoots 278 and defeats Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Andres Romero in a three hole playoff.

Trivia question: Who among this year's Masters participants is related to Valerie Plame?

[Soylent Red]

Who among this year's Masters participants is related to Valerie Plame?

I could answer that question, but for my fear of being indicted.

[Lesley]

Soylent, are you back home for awhile?