Team Obama, Wrapping Themselves In Reagan

Great news!  Our struggle against radical Islam is over!

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's advisers plan to remove terms such as "Islamic radicalism" from a document outlining national security strategy and will use the new version to emphasize that the U.S. does not view Muslim nations through the lens of terrorism, counterterrorism officials say.

The change would be a significant shift in the National Security Strategy, a document that previously outlined the Bush Doctrine of preventive war. It currently states, "The struggle against militant Islamic radicalism is the great ideological conflict of the early years of the 21st century."

The rationale is that the US needs a broader relationship and perspective with the Muslim world; former Bush adviser Karen Hughes is supportive:

The revisions are part of a larger effort about which the White House talks openly, one that seeks to change not just how the U.S. talks to Muslim nations, but also what it talks to them about, from health care and science to business startups and education.

...

But the Bush administration struggled with its rhetoric. Muslims criticized Bush for describing the war on terrorism as a "crusade" and labeling the invasion of Afghanistan "Operation Infinite Justice" — words that were seen as religious. He regularly identified America's enemy as "Islamic extremists" and "radical jihadists."

Karen Hughes, a Bush confidante who served as his top diplomat to the Muslim world in his second term, urged the White House to stop [link].

"I did recommend that, in my judgment, it's unfortunate because of the way it's heard. We ought to avoid the language of religion," Hughes said. "Whenever they hear 'Islamic extremism, Islamic jihad, Islamic fundamentalism,' they perceive it as a sort of an attack on their faith. That's the world view Osama bin Laden wants them to have."

Hughes and Juan Zarate, Bush's former deputy national security adviser, said Obama's efforts build on groundwork from Bush's second term, when some of the rhetoric softened. But by then, Zarate said, it was overshadowed by the Guantanamo Bay detention center, the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison and a prolonged Iraq war.

Apparently concerned that "Bush did it" won't fly, Team Obama reaches for "Reagan did it":

...Obama's speechwriters have taken inspiration from an unlikely source: former President Ronald Reagan. Visiting communist China in 1984, Reagan spoke at Fudan University in Shanghai about education, space exploration and scientific research. He discussed freedom and liberty. He never mentioned communism or democracy.

"They didn't look up to the U.S. because we hated communism," said Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes, Obama's foreign policy speechwriter.

OMG!  Are we talking about the Ronald Reagan of "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" fame?  Mr. "Evil Empire" his bad self?

Well.  Back in 1984 the government of the Soviet Union was Reagan's targeted enemy, not China, just as it is radical Islamists, not all Muslims, that trouble America today.

But Reagan was not silent on the matter of the Soviet Union during his visit to China, if we can trust the Times; instead, he was censored:

For all the controversy over the earlier censorship of some of his televised remarks, President Reagan appears to have created a positive impression among many Chinese.

...But interviews with more than two dozen Chinese in Peking and Shanghai suggest that many people have been interested not only in what he had to say but how he said it. Indeed, President Reagan has shown that his skill as a great communicator at home has served him as well here in China.None of those interviewed seemed aware that Mr. Reagan's implicit criticisms of the Soviet Union and his affirmations of God, capitalism and Western-style freedoms had been deleted from his remarks that were subsequently televised to an audience estimated at more than one million people on Friday and Saturday nights. A student said he thought one speech had been abridged but had not wondered what was in the missing parts.

As to the speech at Fudan University specifically, we are told that Reagan "discussed freedom and liberty. He never mentioned communism or democracy."  A subtle distinction!  Try to guess whether Chinese college students were able to grasp Reagan's drift here:

I draw your special attention to what I'm about to say, because it's so important to an understanding of my country.

We believe in the dignity of each man, woman, and child. Our entire system is founded on an appreciation of the special genius of each individual, and of his special right to make his own decisions and lead his own life.

We believe -- and we believe it so deeply that Americans know these words by heart -- we believe ``that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among those are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.'' Take an American student or teacher aside later today and ask if he or she hasn't committed those words to memory. They are from the document by which we created our nation, the Declaration of Independence.

We elect our government by the vote of the people. That is how we choose our Congress and our President. We say of our country, ``Here the People Rule,'' and it is so.

And a bit further:

Now, you know, as I do, that there's much that naturally divides us: time and space, different languages and values, different cultures and histories, and political systems that are fundamentally different. It would be foolish not to acknowledge these differences. There's no point in hiding the truth for the sake of a friendship, for a friendship based on fiction will not long withstand the rigors of this world.

Oh, well - if Obama has picked Reagan as a role model, good for him.  But the idea that Reagan ducked the obvious gap between democracy and communism is a bit thin.

Comments

[Clarice]

The clim is stupid--yu're right TM.
Caro,"Here he people rule" would be a great sign for the tea party.

[Clarice]

I apologize
**The clAim is stupid--yOu're right TM.
Caro,"HereT he people rule" would be a great sign for the tea party."

[daddy]

JUST FYI our Alaskan Earthquake this morning was a 4.7 shaker
and not too far away.

Usually when I click on the Cal/Nevada Earthquake map under the LUN, It'll usually read about 400 earthquakes on the map for the last week. Right now its at ">http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Maps/special/California_Nevada.php"> 1667 for the last week, probably much due to aftershocks from the Mexicali 7.2 from a couple days back.

Up here we are still sitting at out standard ">http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Maps/special/Alaska.php"> 290 for the week, close to our average of 300, even with Redoubt starting to come out of hibernation.

[Jane]

Clarice,

I can honestly say that was the first time I absolutely couldn't decode your typos.

Have you been drinking?

[Clarice]

I was eating lunch and typing at the same time.

[Jane]

LOL - been there. done that.

[Clarice]

Next time I won't unlessi t's definitely of the non dripping sort of repast.

[Dave (in MA)]

Clarice, you can eat and read Cleo's crap? Strong stomach.

[Clarice]

cast iron,Dave.

[Neo]

So, Chris Matthews claimed that without the selfless progressives, America would be just like Calcutta.

Truth is ... with those selfless progressives, America is just like “O Calcutta.”

[Rob Crawford]

They didn't look up to the U.S. because we hated communism,

Yes, they did. I've heard them say it.

[narciso the harpoon]

Or how about the Vanden Heuvel line that we live in a center left country with a center
right media, what color is the sky on her world

[MayBee]

I don't care if Obama wants his admin to take a different tone, so long as they don't believe it to the point they miss important things like the growing presence of terrorists in Yemen.
It was Obama's own people who said they were surprised about that after the Christmas day bomber, despite two Yemen-trained killers in the US the year prior.

[Jack is Back!]

Joe Hare should read Regan's Fudan speech. He might learn something.

It is 76F here in Southampton and some roads are still flooded in the low spots. Took the South and North Ferries today to Greenport and a drive up Island to Orient Pt. Incredible amount of water still standing. And both the South and North Fork are glacial till with sandy-loam soils. Hard to believe that in 10 days it still has not drained down.

Looks like this spring and summer will be scorchers unlike the monsoon weather of last summer in New York and the North East.

[narciso the harpoon]

It really shouldn't surprise that General Jones 'minder' at the NSC, and one of Obama's chief speech writers doesn't know what he is talking about, or just naturally mendacious

[Rick Ballard]

Very cool - Obamacare is so popular that Harry Reid has been forced to conduct a Stealth Political Tour.

Relax, Dingy, you're dead meat and there's nothing in the world that can change that. The real downside for you is that you're too damn dumb to be worth anything on K St.

[Neo]

So what is it now ...
"contingency operation dealing with raving lunatics"

[narciso the harpoon]

violent extremism, it is so amorphous it apply to Awlaki but just as much to non existent violence at tea parties.

Rick, one is reminded of the Python sketch on the 'value of not being seen' he really is the same schlub that Dick Smothers portrayed
in Casino

[Clarice]

wonderful, Rick..Reid's secret mystery bus trip.

[Neo]

Harry Reid, who sounds a lot like an "angry Wally Cox," seems destined for the center square.

[Rick Ballard]

I read somewhere that President Obama is very upset about people not realizing the true value of Obamacare. It's my understanding that he wants everyone who feels a need to have their unpaid medical expenses paid (or reimbursed, if paid by accident) to forward the bill to:

FREE MEDICAL
c/o Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003

The President feels that it is only fair that registered Democrats be the first to have all their medical expenses paid so be sure to forward this information to any Democrat that you know.

[Dave (in MA)]

"angry Wally Cox,"

"When trouble calls I am not slow; it's hip hip hip and away I go." ...And then after causing all kinds of damage... "I am a hero who never fails. I cannot be bothered with such details."

[Jane says obamasucks]

Boy Rick, that is the best plan I've seen yet.

[hit and run]

Rick:
FREE MEDICAL
c/o Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003

"The truth is, in order to get ... universal health care ... the DNC is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so that someone else can have more."
--stuff Michelle Obama (almost) said.

[Clarice]

Rick--I'm stealing that and asking everyone I know to spread it around..
Heck-it's worth one of those billboards.

Thanks, man..I owe you so much for these unattributed "borrowings"

[anduril]

I thought the struggle was against "Terror." And that Islam is a religion of peace. Or am I just an unreconstructed Bushie?

[Clarice]

Steve Gilbert pores thru the indictment of the man who'd been phoning patty Murray. Contrary to press accounts he never threatened to kill her, he said she was likely to be by someone for her stand. Also ignored by the press, the accused exlicitly stated he was not a tea party member nor a Rep or Dem.
http://sweetness-light.com/archive/murray-threatener-is-not-a-tea-partyer

[glasater]

Clarice--Thank you for tracking the Murray threat down. Good to know the fellow was just a nut in general:-)

Also for the terrific article on healthcare legalities . I put it--the article--on my FB page.

[Clarice]

Thnx!!

[Soylent Red]

"Barack and I are so into helping the poor victims of capitalism that we will make up the gap in payouts for the first three years out of Barack's stash."
--Stuff Michelle Obama Really Meant To Say, But Didn't Get Around To For Some Reason, 74th ed., p.14.

Please contact her and Barack at:

Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461

or by mail at

High Grand Chamberlain of Barack's Stash
c/o The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington DC 20050

[Soylent Red]

Kill the fucking senator! Hang the fucking senator! I hope somebody puts a fucking bullet between your fucking eyes. Far left liberal socialist democratic bitch. You motherfucker. You sold the fucking people of the country out for socialism. I hope somebody fucking erasers your fucking life. Yes, I hope somebody assassinates you, you fucking bitch.

As you grow older, you are going to have a target on your back forever, for voting in socialism into this country with your health-care bill and your cap 'n tax. You're gonna have a target on your back for the rest of your life. How long do you think you can hide? Yes, for the rest of your life. And there is going to be—it could be a senior citizen, could be a veteran, could be a mad momma, an upset momma. By your attempts to overtake this country with socialism, somebody's gonna get to you one way or another and blow your fucking brains out, and I hope it does happen. If I have the chance, I would do it. You have created hatred in this country against socialism, and you low-life backstabbing, lying, cheating, politicians are going to be held accountable. And hopefully it is with your life. I hope it's with your life. I hope somebody takes your fucking fat ass fucking out, I really do. And it's just my belief. I'm not a tea party bagger. I'm an independent U.S. voter. I'm neither Republican nor Democrat. I hope you fucking die. I want to fucking kill you. I hope somebody fucking hangs you, blows your fucking brains out. We will not be socialized, you fucking cunt. Get it through your fucking head. You have—You are a marked person for the rest of your fucking life, you fucking slut.

[JeanD]

To the lousy coward at 7:30:

You post your garbage under another person's name and sully the blog that TM pays for and permits you to post upon...are you proud of yourself?

You should be ashamed.

[Soylent Red]

You should be ashamed.

Clarice claimed there was no direct threat to Patty Murray; the portion in bold (above) seemed germane to the discussion.

[Clarice]

the kook in the Murray case is suggesting somebody's going to kill her but makes it quite clear he won't. It seems obvious cleo (pretend Soylent) he's nuts, but not really dangerous.

[tie1219]

Executive Office of the President as the Coordinator for Global Conservation

H.R.4959

I think it was Bush who saved the biggest reef in the world.

[Clarice]

As more facts come out, the case against the seattle nutter seems quite flimsy, another FBI in peace and war special:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Turning-COINTELPRO-on-the-tea-party--90125857.html>Everyone in Seattle is Nuts

[Soylent Red]

the kook in the Murray case is suggesting somebody's going to kill her but makes it quite clear he won't.

Funny, "I would do it" doesn't sound like he's saying he won't.

somebody's gonna get to you one way or another and blow your fucking brains out, and I hope it does happen. If I have the chance, I would do it.

[Clarice]

Too remote. If I had the chance I'd wring the neck of any abusive troll who showed up here..but that's not a real threat because it is impossible..and in his telling, it''s impossible for him, too.

[Soylent Red]

So saying "I would do it", in your mind means he "makes it quite clear that he won't".

Got it.

[Soylent Red]

I'm curious...

What would make a person who was so sure of their moral superiority

a. spend time at a place where they will never change a single mind on any issue;and

b. post under someone else's handle?

Seems like something someone would do if they were either childish or had something they were ashamed of.

[Soylent Red]

I hope you fucking die. I want to fucking kill you.

In Clarice's world, this clearly means "I hope you guys have a great Easter break with the family!"

So if this guy walks Clarice will be sending him real estate listings for her neighborhood. Maybe have him over for brunch some time. He's just a misunderstood soul needing some love and understanding, that's all.

[Jane says obamasucks]

Does anyone have Cleo's info. I think the feds would like to know who is threatening patty Murray's life on line.

[Soylent Red]

See, being actually me, and being able to prove I didn't post that crap, I could (theoretically) pick up the phone to federal law enforcement, and make a complaint.

And just FYI, the FBI and Secret Service can easily tell the IP address from whence such a threat came.

In fact, I suppose anyone could make that complaint. I wouldn't mind, since I have nothing to hide...

I wonder if Bizarro Soylent would mind a midnight knock on his (or his parents') door.

[Clarice]

My friend Col West on Islamist terror :http://www.lucianne.com/article/?pageid=marines_usually_have_the_answer>History and the Koran

[Rick Ballard]

"Does anyone have Cleo's info"

How much info would anyone want about the result of a chance encounter between a venereal wart and a hemorrhoid?

[Soylent Red]

See, being actually me, and being able to prove I didn't post that crap, I could (theoretically) pick up the phone to federal law enforcement, and make a complaint.

Interesting; you might want to run that theory past Clarice. She doesn't think that threatening to blow a congresswoman's brains out will land you in jail.

Could be an interesting conversation on your part though.

"See, there's this flame war on the internet because we defend people who want to blow a congresswoman's brains out.

Yeah! I know!

Oh, you want my address? Well, I guess you might need that to prosecute, huh?"

What a bunch of maroons.

[MayBee]

You are free to disagree with clarice, 'cleo. Just don't steal other handles- there's no need.

[Clarice]

By contrast, here is LeBoon's threat to Cantor:

A 33-year-old Philadelphia man was charged today with threatening to kill Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) in a profanity-strewn Youtube video that has since been pulled down.

In the video, Norman Leboon says Cantor will "receive my bullets in your office, remember they will be placed in your heads. You and your children are Lucifer's abominations."

[Rick Ballard]

Flaming Skull at Ace

Man Claiming Diplomatic Immunity Attempts to Light Shoe on Fire on DC to Denver Flight

He's from Qatar so it's obviously part of a Presbyterian/Mossad plot.

[Soylent Red]

So the common theme is blowing someone's fucking brains out.

But of course calling Murray's answering machine multiple times a day shows more intent and planning than just dumping a video on youtube.

[Soylent Red]

Actually I think the conversation would go something like this...

"Hey B---...I have this asshole on the internet, pretending to be me, making vaguely threatening statements about politicians. If I send you the site can you pull his IP address and find out who he is? I may want to make a complaint."

"Sure. Send it over anytime."

"Cool. You want to play golf on Sunday?"

You should be careful who you fool with cleo. You never know who they might know.

By the way...how's your poor dead make-believe son?

[Clarice]

Both defendants, I predict, will plead not guilty because of insanity or some such and will never go to trial. One however, made a far more direct threat than the other..neither threat was made face to face was it?

[Charles Johnson]

a Presbyterian/Mossad plot.

Stupid Jooooooos and their Christianist cronies!

[Clarice]

ABC:
"Federal air marshals subdued a man who authorities say attempted to "light his shoes on fire" on a United flight from Washington Reagan to Denver Wednesday night, federal law enforcement officials told ABC News.

United Airlines aircraft are lined up at their gates at Denver International Airport, December 9, 2002.
(Gary C. Caskey/Reuters)
More Photos
Authorities say an explosive team is on the way to the airport, and that while the presence of explosives has not yet been confirmed, they believe it was an attempted "shoe bomb."

The suspect was identified by authorities as a diplomat in the Qatar embassy in Washington, Mohammed al Modadi. The FBI said the man had full diplomat immunity as the 3rd secretary and vice-consul."

[narciso the harpoon]

Unlike Joe Stack who flew a plane into the IRS, John Bedell who shot up the Pentagon subway stop or Amy Bishop who shot her faculty colleagues, and had a history of
killing he brothers and sending pipebombs
to professors, all on your loony fringe

[Soylent Red]

Actually I think the conversation would go something like this...

Sounds like a plan!

Tell you what; I'll continue posting under your name for the interim, and when I get The Big Call, I'll stop posting under your name.

That way people will know you're the real shizznit and not just the pathetic ED-inflicted blowhard you seem to be.

You cool with that?

[MayBee]

Soylent (the real) don't forget to tell the FBI about the racial hatred your impostor displayed.

[narciso the harpoon]

Qatar is where Quradawi hangs out, he advocated suicide bombings in Iraq, but when
a similar incident happened in Doha, he as much said, that's not what I meant at all.
It was also where Putin's team took out a Chechen exile leader, with nowhere as much
attitude as the Israelis have had to push up

[MayBee]

Tell you what; I'll continue posting under your name for the interim, and when I get The Big Call, I'll stop posting under your name.

Why? You seem to want to make valid points. Why not just use your own handle and make it easier for us to converse with you?

[Soylent Red]

neither threat was made face to face was it?

Not that I'm aware of; but today they picked up some other guy for repeatedly calling Pelosi at her residence. Apparently he talked to her directly on one occasion.

[Soylent Red]

Very cool. Expect a call or visit in the next couple of days.

I really think cleo might be planning on killing Barack Obama. S/He has demonstrated obvious racial hatred under an assumed name in the comments section here. Repeatedly and in bold.

In fact, s/he's been doing it under several assumed names since Obama was elected.

Now s/he's re-publishing overt threats under an assumed name.

I don't think s/he's playing with a full deck and is capable of extremist violence. You know, his/her poor dead was a veteran. He might be trying to get back at the government.

[Clarice]

Harassment or threat? Repeated calls, especially full of invective certainly seem to meet the harassment test.

[Constitutional Law Scholar-in-Chief]

We believe -- and we believe it so deeply that Americans know these words by heart -- we believe ``that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among those are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.'' Take an American student or teacher aside later today and ask if he or she hasn't committed those words to memory. They are from

As a Constitutional law scholar, I know that that notion is enshrined in our Constitution.

the document by which we created our nation, the Declaration of Independence.

Whatever. They're both deeply flawed documents written by dead white male slaveowners.

[Barack Obama]

Stop threatening me and members of my political party, whoever you are!

[Soylent Red]

Very cool. Expect a call or visit in the next couple of days.

Neat!

Say, when that doesn't pan out, you can always change your name to Soylents Beeotch.

Because that's what you'll be, right? Talking shit that you can't back up?

Is that a deal? 3 days from now, if I'm still posting under your name, you'll use Soylents Beeotch, OK?

[Soylent Red]

re Pelosi arrest:

Several federal officials say the man made dozens of calls to Pelosi's homes in California and Washington, as well as to her husband's business office, reciting her home address and saying if she wanted to see it again, she would not support the health care overhaul bill that was recently enacted.

[Soylent Red]

Accused man's mom blames Fox News for behavior

Gregory Giusti's 83-year-old mother had not heard that her son had been arrested, but she told ABC7 he has a history of mental problems. She does not think he would be capable of carrying out the threat; he has never owned a gun, and she blames Fox News for getting her son worked up.

Giusti was arrested Wednesday afternoon for threatening Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi over recent healthcare legislation.

"Greg frequently gets in with a group of people that have really radical ideas and that are not consistent with myself or the rest of the family, which gets him into problems," Eleanor Giusti said. "I say Fox News, or all of those that are really radical, and he, that's where he comes from."

[MayBee]

Giusti, 48, has a long history of encounters with law enforcement.

In 2004, Giusti was convicted of criminal threats. The San Mateo District Attorney's office says he was trying to evade the fare on a Caltrain, and when the conductor tried to kick him off, Giusti started yelling and threatening the conductor's life. As a result, Giusti was sentenced to one year in county jail and three years supervised probation. He was also ordered to undergo mental health counseling.

There is also a lawsuit filed in February by Hamilton Square Baptist Church in San Francisco. It says, "Giusti has engaged in and continues to engage in a campaign of harassment" against people at the church.

Giusti also has a record of skipping out on his BART fares and causing disruptions. BART sued him in 1996.

He also has two convictions in San Francisco for welfare fraud and petty theft from 1992.

Stupid Fox news for encouraging threats against Baptists, Train operators, and petty theft (before it was even on air!).

She sounds like a good mom, and her boy just kept falling in with a bad crowd.

[Clarice]

Soylent--enough with the psychotic troll act..okay?

[Soylent Red]

Just to be perfectly clear...

I am asking you to stop impersonating me to publish racist and potentially threatening posts to this comment section.

You have no legitimate purpose to do so, other than to harass or otherwise cause distress to myself and others. I believe this is your intent.

You have knowingly done so, repeatedly, with my handle as well as others in an attempt to falsely harm our reputations, and to potentially cause criminal repercussions.

[caro]

Here the people rule!
Got it, Clarice,
I am late in saying how good your PJM article is.

[caro]

Oh, I forgot to mention that we have had 83" of snow in the past 7 days. Global warming.

[Jane]

WOW! I bet teh skiing is fantastic!

[Clarice]

Thanks, Caro..Keep your head up!