But the Obamas Don't Go To China. Ahh, Metaphorically.

James Taranto points out that maybe Obama could quit apologizing for America and start defending us.  Well, he is a bit more gracious:

Obama's election was supposed to be a corrective to Bush's bellicosity. In a sense, Bush played against type by exhorting Americans to rise above their suspicions of Muslims. But the Nixon-to-China principle goes both ways. As Bush the cowboy had moral authority with Americans, Obama the conciliator has moral authority with Muslims. So far, he hasn't done much but pander to them--most notably at last month's iftar dinner, where he endorsed the right to build the Ground Zero mosque--further alienating Americans.

What if he made it his mission to understand Americans' feelings on the matter and challenged Muslims to respect those feelings by building the mosque elsewhere? That would be an act of reconciliation worthy of George W. Bush at his most admirable.

I'm not holding my breath.  But I am remembering a comparable anecdote about Michelle Obama, back in her days directing the University of Chicago clinics:

In the mostly black neighborhoods around the hospital, Mrs. Obama became the voice of a historically white institution. Behind closed doors, she tried to assuage their frustrations about a place that could seem forbidding.

Like many urban hospitals, the medical center’s emergency room becomes clogged with people who need primary care. So Mrs. Obama trained counselors, mostly local blacks, to hand out referrals to health clinics lest black patients felt they were being shooed away.

She also altered the hospital’s research agenda. When the human papillomavirus vaccine, which can prevent cervical cancer, became available, researchers proposed approaching local school principals about enlisting black teenage girls as research subjects.

Mrs. Obama stopped that. The prospect of white doctors performing a trial with black teenage girls summoned the specter of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment of the mid-20th century, when white doctors let hundreds of black men go untreated to study the disease.

“She’ll talk about the elephant in the room,” said Susan Sher, her boss at the hospital, where Mrs. Obama is on leave from her more-than-$300,000-a-year job.

As I ranted at the time, one might have thought that she would put her high-priced education and street cred to work rebuilding trust between the white doctors and the neighborhood population.  But she lacked the impulse, as does her hubby.

Comments

[Cecil Turner]

But she lacked the impulse, as does her hubby.

They also apparently share an article of faith that the "captors" are trying to keep the "subjugated" down by (in part) "Killing them off directly, and/or fostering a social system that encourages them to kill off one another."

If that's part of your world view, it puts a bit of a damper on the prospects for bridge-building.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

But she lacked the impulse, as does her hubby.

That sort of explains the entire presidency.

[lyle]

Let me make it a trifecta:

But she lacked the impulse, as does her hubby.

You're too kind and/or circumspect, TM. It's clear to me that race consciousness and resentment runs through the DNA of the Obamas. I reckon they walked away from the Rev's "God Damn AmeriKKKa" sermons every sunday high-fiving each other.

[bgates]

race consciousness and resentment runs through the DNA of the Obamas

Barack Disdain Obama.
Woof, woof, woof.

[Danube of Thought]

In my fantasy Obama announces that it is henceforth the policy of the United States to make Muslims a tad bit uncomfortable in a variety of ways until Islam gets its house in order. And I sprout wings from my scapulae and leap joyously into interstellar space.

[MayBee]

Today, Andrew Sullivan links approvingly to a blog that declares GWB has not spoken out about the current situation because GWB simply doesn't disapprove of Islamophobia.

[squaredance]

Lacked the "impulse"? That is a odd construction.

"Lacked the character" or "lacked the decency" perhaps, but "impulse"?

This is, of course, one of their problems, and our problems too. These sort act all to often act out of "impulse" rather than principle, and when they do act out of "principles" those are ideological principles and not moral ones. They in fact conflate the moral with the ideological, as they do the their self-interest and those of their section and party with the interests of the Republic.

Believe me, the last thing we want Ms Obama or her hubby to do is act on their "impulses", or even on their "principles" for that matter. This is just what they have been doing.

As an aside, there are few greater indication of just how bad things are down Princeton way than the fact that this idiot is a graduate of that once fine university.

She obviously learned not one meaningful and valid thing in her time there. She was just past through the AA diploma mill, and obviously did nothing but imbibe the usual ivy league cultural Marxist swill.

In a sane society she would be a real estate agent somewhere and have no college degree whatsoever.

That she and her husband has managed to get so far based on so little talent, discipline, actual education, real attainment and capacities for judgment or wisdom tells us all we need know about so-called "higher education" in this nation. It also tells us a great deal about the nation at large.

[Danube of Thought]

I think it was Sullivan who coined the term "Islamofascism," back before he was afflicted with AIDS-related dementia.

[lyle]

Damn, MayBee. Here I thought Sullivan had already offed himself by auto-erotic asphyxiation in a back alley in P-town. Too bad.

[Rob Crawford]

lyle -- where's the evidence he hasn't?

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Squaredance,

Are you a tea partier?

[Clarice]

Folks, watch out!!!!!!! Janet's trying to get you to behave and do good and Jane wants to sign everyone up for the tea party. Forewarned......

[Danube of Thought]

Rush just said that Fla. federal judge Roger Vinson has said he is going to allow some of the plaintiffs' claims to proceed to trial.

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Give him a call DOT, for old times sake!

[Danube of Thought]

It's been 48+ years since I last saw him, Jane. He's evidently had a pretty successful legal career since leaving the Navy.

[anduril]

Don't ask me to define obscenity, but I know it when I see it.

From Gus Lubin at Business Insider:

Head Of NJ Teachers' Union Makes $550,000 A Year--2X As Much As The Governor And 10X The Average American

NJEA head Vince Giordano

As Governor Chris Christie goes to war with the NJ teachers union, let's review what he's up against.

NJEA director Vince Giordano received $421,615 in salary and $128,508 in deferred compensation last year, according to tax filings released last spring.

NJEA president Barbara Keshishian earned $256,450 last year. VP Wendell Steinhauer and Secretary-Treasurer Marie Blistan were paid $170,974 each.
Meanwhile, the governor earned a measly $175,000.

Christie's war with the union escalated earlier this summer when a union official suggested praying for the governor's death. Last week, Christie lambasted a teacher at a public forum.

For more examples of public sector excess, meet the 8,074 New York transit workers who earn over $100,000 -->

[rse]

Met the Rep AG candidate this summer, Pam Bondi. No question she will keep pushing on this.

Hope she does well in S Fla. She's been a prosecutor in the Tampa area for more than 10 years.

Insights narciso or clarice?

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

I was just kidding DOT, he seems to be doing just fine.

[anduril]

Microsoft does the right thing, after all, thanks to a push from NYT. Per Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols:

Microsoft does the right thing for Russian protest groups

"It's no mystery that I generally don't like Microsoft or its products. On the other hand, when Microsoft does something right, I'll say that too. By issuing a free, blanket software license to nonprofit and journalist groups in Russia and other NGOs (non-government organizations) outside the U.S., Microsoft has done the right thing.

"After the New York Times reported that Microsoft lawyers have helped Russian authorities to raid advocacy groups and newspapers in the name of copyright enforcement in recent years, Microsoft slammed on the brakes on its copyright enforcement policies. Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith wrote in his blog, "We want to be clear that we [Microsoft] unequivocally abhor any attempt to leverage intellectual property rights to stifle political advocacy or pursue improper personal gain.""

[Neo]

Clean, Green Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid rolled up to the Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada last week. . . in a fleet of giant SUVs.

[peter]

Nixon met with the murderous Mao, granted him absolution for no other reason than his own political expediency, and millions of Chinese and Tibetans remained oppressed for years afterwards. But he did bring back acupuncture, which was apparently a mask for real anesthesia as applied to Scotty Reston. (LUN)
So do I think that Obama can aspire to the lofty moral heights of Richard Nixon? Well he has already started sounding like him with the dog comment. However, I think even less of Obama than I did of Nixon.

[narciso]

I voted for her, if that's any indication

[peter]

Schumer's temper tantrum LUN

[Chubby]

Cecil

((They also apparently share an article of faith that the "captors" are trying to keep the "subjugated" down by (in part) "Killing them off directly, and/or fostering a social system that encourages them to kill off one another."))

What an odd article of faith considering both Obamas adamantly support abortion which destroys black babies in huge numbers compared to other races.

[Neo]

Nixon also helped to restore the status of "Ping-Pong" as a competitive sport.

[Danube of Thought]

Ya know, when I see what is happening in Cuba, and I see that the Economist ranks the Venezuelan economy last out of 57 surveyed, I wonder: what effect will that have on the thinkng of Oliver Stone, Sean Penn, Michael Moore and all the usual suspects? Can one imagine any evidence--anything at all--that would engender the slightest doubt? My guess is no...

[Clarice]

When Chavez stops paying them, DoT. You do know that he's underwritten some of their stuff and Medea of Code Pink makes her living by doing his p.r., don't you?

[Danube of Thought]

Didn't know that...

[Danube of Thought]

French senate has just passed a ban against garments covering the face. An excellent step: let's begin to make the Musselmen see the need to civilize themselves and enter the modern world.

[matt]

apropos of nothing;

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur! -

[daddy]

Re: The Castle-O'Donnell business.

Local Talk host said he heard from a guy who heard from a guy...that the first Halcro sponsored Lisa Murlowski poll numbers have reportedly come in, and it looks promising for Lisa to do the Write-In candidacy.

We are told she will definitely not be on the Ballot. Appears no other Dem will replace the current Dem loser Candidate. So betting now is saying Lisa will declare as a Write-In Candidate within 48 hours, and then with the assist of the ADN, the local and the National Media, and with anti-Palin funding, an all out assault on Joe Miller will commence, and she will become the new Joe Lieberman.

As for the Write-In ballot, am now advised it does not have to be spelled perfectly; it simply needs to be written decently enough for the counters to be able to divine the intent of the scribbler.

[daddy]

Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia-quam elenganter concinnatur! - Those green pants go so well with that pink shirt and the plaid jacket!

That was just what I was thinking Matt! Great minds...

[Pofarmer]

and then with the assist of the ADN, the local and the National Media, and with anti-Palin funding, an all out assault on Joe Miller will commence,

Which is a good enough explanation for the Palin Resignation, as well. She was facing an election where the Dim's were willing to spend ANYTHING to unseat her, and then rub it in her face and plaster it all over the papers and use it to destroy any credibility she had left after being indicted 43 times and being 20 million in debt because of it.

[daddy]

This story tell us that come November, a new kids book written by President Obama will hit the shelves: ">http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/14/obamas-book-for-kids-of-thee-i-sing-a-letter-to-my-daughters/"> 'Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters.'

From the story:

"Of Thee I Sing" is part of a three-volume deal Obama signed in December 2004, just after he was elected senator but before he took office. When the deal was originally announced in 2004, the kids' book was due in 2006, the profits were to go to charity...

This publication fulfills Obama's obligation to turn in a children's book to his publisher. Obama got a $1.9 million advance in 2004 for the package, though the children's book was not part of the revenue stream. The advance enabled the Obamas to buy a mansion on the South Side of Chicago."

Brings new meaning to the old saying that "Charity Begins At Home."

And I vaguely recall Gingrich taking grief for taking a book advance while in office. Anybody have a decent recollection about that?

[Rocco]

Evidently Faiz Khan practices a form of Islam known as Sufism This Sufi Circle website states Khan's bio...

"Dr. Khan is a khateeb (Imam of Friday services) and conducted Friday prayers for 7 years at the Al-Farah Mosque in Tribecca, Manhatten, which was founded in the 1970s by Sheikh-ul-Tasawwuf (Sufi master) Muzaffer Ozak of the Jerrahi Order in Turkey. He continues to conduct prayers at the Islamic Center of Long Island and other NY area mosques.

And this World History Connected website informs us that the Sufi and Wahhabi sects of Islam are often at odds with each other.

In the modern period Sufism as an interpretation and practice of Islam has been subjected to critique and even persecution on the part of movements such as the Wahhabis of Arabia and various Islamist groups. A major focus of this critique is that local cultural adaptations of certain Sufi orders such as incorporating music into worship constitute heretical innovation (bid'a). In addition, Sufis were accused of excessive other worldliness that made Muslim populations subject to colonial domination, despite the fact that Sufi warriors such as the Libyan al-Sanusi order were at the forefront of liberation struggles

If this is true, perhaps Rauf and his Sufi friends plan the mosque as a gift to the radical Wahhabi's as payment for protection from their violence?

[Clarice]

Wonder how Ayers is getting the drafts to him?

[Captain Hate]

The Indonesian Imbecile will still need somebody to ghost-write a children's book. Hopefully it will have the same impact on his career as Jim Wright's did on his.

[maryrose]

daddy: I do recall that. Newt was brought up on charges and had to pay a fine to Ethics Committee. Hillary got the rule changed so she and Obama could skate!

[Captain Hate]

Clarice beating me to the punch.

[narciso]

Some Sufis like the Nasquabandi (sic) are not so nice, they led the early struggles against
the Russians in Chechnya

[bgates]

The advance enabled the Obamas to buy a mansion

Barack Champagne Obama.
Woof, woof, woof.

[daddy]

Don't know if this is related to the just announced decision in France to ban face coverings as linked by Dot above, but ">http://channel6newsonline.com/2010/09/tens-of-thousands-evacuated-from-the-eiffel-tower-and-champ-de-mars-over-bomb-threat/"> bomb threats in Paris have just forced the evacuation of the Eiffel Tower and 25,000 people from the Champ de Mars. Interesting coincidence.

[Jack is Back!]

Pam Bondi is tough and a conservative. I voted for her also. She will carry NE Florida - Jacksonville, Daytona and even Orlando. Don't know about Miami area but the Dems are staying home this year so she should do fine. I don't know one County Sheriff or City Police Chief or County Prosecutor who is not a urban democrat who hasn't endorsed her. Problem now is Rick Scott. He needs to put the same energy into this campaign that he did the primary. He seems in no hurry and the negatives on Alex Fink won't work like they did on McCollum since she has very limited political experience. Tar and feathering ex-bankers turns off independents and this is the year of turning the indies in order to win in Florida or anywhere else. Scott has to go back to talking about issues like Rubio does and what he will do for us in Florida (i.e. Citizens Insurance, Education, Tax policy, Teachers unions and such).

[jean]

When did Obama write the book.The contract was signed in Dec.04.When has he had time to write a third book?

[Jack is Back!]

Clarice,

Tut-tut! Snark of the day/week/month/year! U pick!

Now I know why he doesn't do anything worth what we need done because he is trying all day to rhyme Bo with another word other than Hoe!

[anduril]

From what I've been reading at WS, O'Donnell sounds like a flake. I've got a problem with Palin endorsing her.

[Rick Ballard]

Jean,

Perhaps Ayers "retirement" will allow completion. My bet is that Ayers is currently tasked with talking BOzo out of bed in the morning and making sure that gets enough Thorazine in his diet.

[Dave (in MA)]

Wonder how Ayers is getting the drafts to him?

A supersonic frequency only dogs can hear.

[Clarice]

It seems like just yesterday the smart money was on Crist and Rubio was sure to lose.

It seems even more recent that Angle was a sure loser and that race is neck and neck.

[jean]

Don't they think the American people are going to find it a little strange the President is writing a kiddy book while in office

[centralcal]

Exactly, Clarice. Besides being a "meteorologist," I think being a "smart political pundit" is one career almost anyone could succeed at. snort.

O/T: Tonight, during The Factor (I believe) FNC will air Media Matters ad about the $1 million News Corps donation to Republicans. Apparently, it will only air once. Another, snort! Who exactly does Media Matters expect to be horrified by that news?

[Jack is Back!]

Jean,

Wait until they find out that Michelle edited it while she was in Spain:)

These two are completely tin-eared to PR and its ugly consequences. In order to rake in $1.4 million he would rather suffer the 'slings and arrows of misfortune" than stand up and do his damn job for America. He has to be the most self-centered egoist I have ever seen in public life.

I wonder if the book will also contain any dietary tips for kids?

[bgates]

I wonder if the book will also contain any dietary tips

Sit and look expectantly while your owner is eating, and he may share some with you.

OR

Stay away from pork. It is haram.

[Rocco]

Maybe it will be in comic form? Note the communist symbol at the top of his page...makes me sick.

[anduril]

Says Roger Simon

“He cannot save 2010,” the big-time Democrat is saying of Barack Obama. “It is gone. He must now concentrate on saving 2012. But the biggest fear of some of those close to him is that he might not really want to go on in 2012, that he might not really care.”

In my experience, the big-time Democrat has hardly ever been wrong. He does not dislike President Obama. On the contrary, like most big-time Democrats, he worked hard for his election in 2008 and would much rather see Democrats hold onto Congress this Nov. 2 than lose.

He just doesn’t think it’s going to happen. A few months ago, he told me Democrats could win the House in a squeaker and also retain the Senate. We talked again a few days ago, and things had changed.

“There is going to be a total wipeout, and it is totally going to be in Obama’s lap,” he said. “He should drop plans for Congress and plan for Nov. 3 and what he does next.”

The big-time Democrat appreciates the unfairness of this. We always go around saying, “all politics is local,” until it comes to the midterm elections, when politics becomes a national referendum on the sitting president.

David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager in 2008, said on “Meet the Press With David Gregory” on Sept. 5 that “our House candidates are running great localized campaigns, really focusing on turnout and making that a choice between two individuals.”

In other words, Democrats can do great as long as the election is not about Obama.

Good luck with that. Obama was not a hyperpartisan figure when he ran for president, but now, as the de facto head of his party, he must travel across the country beating the drum for every Democrat — or at least those who will have him. And this election is largely about Obama and his successes and failures in his first two years in office.

Which is the problem. “You know the president is in trouble when people in the White House go around saying, ‘If the public only knew this guy!’” the Democrat said. “Obama has been in the public eye for three years, and people are saying they don’t know him? Whose fault is that? The public’s?”

[Jane]

.When has he had time to write a third book?

It's not like he has done anything else.

[Clarice]

He couldn't put two literate graphs together if he'd spent 20 months doing nothing else. Not even at the level of elementary school readers.

[Clarice]

A message from Sandy Daze in Baghdad:

4 Sep 10
Baghdad

Dear Clarice,

It is late and I am struggling to stay awake, will turn in presently.

BUT, before I do, I wanted to comment on the Delaware race. What the heck is going on with some of the JOM elitists errr, I am sorry, they would call themselves "pragmatists." Better to invoke the Buckley rule of the most electable Republican, they say.

Let me get this straight, a man opposed to and who voted against the surge in Iraq is to be voted for by conservatives because he is supposedly more electable? Where does this ODonnell have no chance come from anyhow. Oh I know, there are lots of experts who have already decided the race. So, why even hold the election?

If we had followed Castle, there would have been no surge and Iraq would have been a chalk line int he LOST column, and more a significant advance against America's -- and FREEDOM's -- enemies. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGAH5j8HOKo

What was it, "Give me liberty or give me death." Guess principles don't actually matter. Everyone is the Grand Armchair political strategist.

This is what I think. If you are a conservative, get out there and fight, Fight, FIGHT. JOMers should, instead of just quibbling and snickering on the sidelines, do what Castle was against, surge to Delaware to support a conservative Republican. I hear that O'Donnell has all sorts of issues and that the decision is not as easy as some would like.

What was it Reagan said: There are no easy answers' but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.

Are we being true to what is morally right when supporting Castle. I think not.

So, I suggest a Tea Party surge to support the conservative (warts and all) candidate. Spend a weekend going door to door in Delaware. Drive folks to the polls; volunteer every opportunity.

Reagan also said: Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have.

Clarice, we are in danger of losing our freedom. Triangulation, better on the come is wrong.

Failure is not an option. 'Cause, if we fail, America fails and Freedom is extinguished for our future generations.

One last quote from RR: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.

We must fight, FIGHT with every breath, with every ounce of strength to win.

Take good care,
Sandy

[anduril]

John Boehner has been taking his lumps lately in some quarters, but Keven Hassett says, consider at least one of the sources:

Obama’s Insults Mask Fear of Boehner: Kevin Hassett

A look at Boehner’s recent speeches and proposals suggests that he has been reshaping the Republican Party in a manner that should make it much more attractive to middle-of-the-road voters, and doing so with, yes, some new ideas. No wonder Obama is scared.

Five Points

In the very speech that Obama mocked -- Boehner’s Aug. 24 address in Cleveland -- Boehner outlined a five-point plan to restore the American economy.

First, he proposed extending George W. Bush’s tax cuts for all, not just for those making less than $250,000 per year, as Obama prefers. Nothing new there.

But since then, Boehner has indicated a willingness to compromise by extending the tax cuts for two years and then, presumably, debating the issue again under less-dire economic circumstances.

...

Second, Boehner highlighted the damaging effect that economic uncertainty is having, and he called on Obama to veto any legislation a lame-duck Congress might produce on union organizing, limits to industrial emissions or any other topic that would harm businesses.

...

Third, Boehner said Democrats should permit the repeal of the provision in the health-care law that requires business to submit Form 1099 paperwork to the Internal Revenue Service for every supplier from which they purchase more than $600 of goods each year. Most small businesses don’t have the bookkeeping resources necessary for this level of detailed reporting and will needlessly have to spend capital to conform.

Fourth, Boehner suggested that non-defense discretionary spending -- that is, spending on domestic programs ranging from housing assistance and education to transportation and space flight -- be immediately cut to its 2008 level.

While Keynesians might think such a cut would harm economic growth, Boehner makes the case that reducing government spending could have near-term positive stimulus effects because of its influence on sentiment. As he put it in June, “Listen, the Democrat spending spree is scaring the hell out of the American people and it’s hurting our economy.”

Ample academic literature backs Boehner in concluding that spending cuts that restore budget discipline can stimulate the economy, even in the short-run. Boehner might not be using phrases such as “the non-Keynesian effects of fiscal consolidations,” but he’s on the right track nonetheless.

...

Finally, Boehner called on Obama to fire his top economic advisers, Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers. OK, maybe this isn’t a new idea -- just a good one.

Taken as a whole, Boehner’s plan represents a major departure from the compassionate conservatism spend-a-thon under Bush and former House Speaker Dennis Hastert. Gone is the Republican Party that seeks to buy off citizens with juicy benefits and pork. Good riddance.

Boehner could probably say nothing between now and the Nov. 2 election and still become the next House speaker in a Republican rout. The fact that he’s proposing anything at all should win him admiration, at least enough to offset a president’s scorn.

[Jack is Back!]

Sandy for Press Secretary for the T-Party!

[bunky]

I live in DE. Castle is el lamo supremo, but O'Donnell is a fu*%ing train wreck. I hate to say stuff like that. She wins tonight and it's a Dem hold. What a shame. Sandy be safe in over there.

[I R A Darth Aggie]

Ancient Vulcan proverb: Only Nixon can go to China.

[Danube of Thought]

a man opposed to and who voted against the surge in Iraq is to be voted for by conservatives because he is supposedly more electable?

If you strike the loaded word "supposedly," my response would be, "precisely." And the support for the proposition is not the word of "experts," it is the result of innumerable polls. A conservative Republican could no longer win Delaware than one could win Massachusetts; we settled for Scott Brown, which is one hell of a lot better than Marsha Coakley.

But no one should understand me as telling him how to vote. I'm simply telling you how I would vote, and why.

[anduril]

Sandy for Press Secretary for the T-Party!

Go back, Jack. The WS is chock-a-block full of Neocons--i.e., they're Surge True Believers--yet they've been running exposes 24/7 on O'Donnell.

Taranto at BotW (another Neocon Surge True Believer) concludes:

Delaware is a much less conservative state than Alaska or Utah, or even Nevada or Pennsylvania. FiveThirtyEight's Nate Silver rates Castle's likelihood of defeating Democrat Chris Coons (who is running unopposed) at nearly 95%, O'Donnell's at 17%. From a conservative standpoint, those odds favor Castle, whose unreliable vote would surely be preferable to a Coons's reliably liberal one.

"I'd rather have 30 Marco Rubios in the Senate than 60 Arlen Specters," Sen. DeMint said in February. As we acknowledged above, DeMint was right about Specter last year: 60 Arlen Specters would be 60, not 59, too many. DeMint's effort to nominate more conservative candidates has proved its worth. But if Christine O'Donnell wins the nomination and loses in November, it will have exceeded its worth.

And O'Donnell, the supposed conservative, has shown herself willing to savage the people like ISI who are out there doing the grass roots conservative work that the entire movement benefits from.

[Clarice]

The CNS story I posted earlier about how over $800k in stimuus funds was spent teaching African men to wash their penises after sex involved only 250 men--that is, you and I paid out over $3k per person to teach them basic hygiene to stimulate our flagging economy.

Were I O'Donnell, I'd point out that omes to $1 for every eligible DE voter..

[Clarice]

The CNS story I posted earlier about how over $800k in stimuus funds was spent teaching African men to wash their penises after sex involved only 250 men--that is, you and I paid out over $3k per person to teach them basic hygiene to stimulate our flagging economy.

Were I O'Donnell, I'd point out that comes to $1 for every eligible DE voter..

[anduril]

Here's what Taranto was talking about in giving full credit to DeMint, but remember that--even outside of the whole issue of electability--none of these others have anything like the personal baggage or exhibit the flake factor of an O'Donnell:

In this age of partisan polarization, Republicans and Democrats found something on which they could agree: Arlen Specter does not belong in the Senate.

Toomey, who ran unopposed in the primary, is now heavily favored to win the seat in November. Meanwhile, similar scenarios emerged in six other Senate races, as establishment favorites lost the GOP nomination to more conservative challengers:

In Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist followed Specter's lead and left his party when it became clear he would lose the Senate primary to Marco Rubio, a former speaker of the state House. In Alaska and Utah, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Bob Bennett fell to Tea Party candidates. In Colorado and Nevada, conservative candidates won primaries to take on incumbent Democratic senators. And in Kentucky, libertarian ophthalmologist Rand Paul trounced the favored candidate of the state's senior senator, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

A liberal media narrative developed: Republicans were hopelessly divided, riven by a "civil war." Worse, the "far right"--those crazy Tea Party guys!--was winning, so that the GOP was nominating fringe candidates who couldn't win.

How's that working out? According to FiveThirtyEight.com, now a division of the New York Times, the GOP candidate is favored in every one of those states except Nevada, where Sharron Angle is only a slight underdog against Harry Reid, the sad clown of a Senate majority leader.

[anduril]

I got it the first time.

[Frau Lehrerin außer Dienst]

As Governor Chris Christie goes to war with the NJ teachers union, let's review what he's up against ... NJEA director Vince Giordano."

As a retired teacher and firmly on Gov. Christie's side, there's a pay-per-view I'd gladly watch.

[Captain Hate]

Harry Reid, the sad clown

So accurate, although creepy clown might even be more so...

[Appalled]

I would think that the question is not how O'Donnell would vote on Irag. It's how he'd vote on repealing Obamacare.

[Frau Lehrerin außer Dienst]

"Braccae illae virides cum subucula rosea et tunica Caledonia"

matt- don't tell me FLOTUS is wearing this over her trousers. Alert Ann.

[Clarice]

Appalled,O'Donnell is a SHE and she will vote to repeal it and will not vote for cap and trade which her opponent in the primary will.

[DebinNC]

Al Franken is certifiable. The Dems did everything possible, legal and illegal, to get his reliably far left vote in place.

[Frau Lehrerin außer Dienst]

If the "f'ing train wreck" wins, I hope there will be armies out to help her take Bite Me's seat. McCain was not the favorite of many Republicans, but they campaigned. Too bad Alxelturf had the spigot to foreign and domestic illegal funds.

[bunky]

Clarice: she can't win the general here.

[DebinNC]

I'm not sure it's better for Reps to barely win now with RINOS and give Obama a foil, or barely lose with fewer RINOS and be in a much better position in two years to win the WH.

[Extraneus]

I thought Appalled was talking about Castle in the 2nd sentence.

[Clarice]

Breitbart says he'll release an audio tape of a respected Congresswoman hitting up a donor for funds in a way he hints is improper. Who do you think that is? And the Dems have said they will be making a major announcement tomorrow. What?

[matt]

I believe it is her personal motto, lieber frau....

[boris]

IMO this year the tea party can win anywhere.

[DebinNC]

Pelosi won't run for Speaker and endorses Hoyer now?

[maryrose]

Reps have to win now to stop freight train Obama from crashing and burning our economy and our children's furure.If that means Castle now so be it. Why give dems O'Donnell another target for them to shoot at?

[anduril]

Here's part of what Fund had to say last week:

Delaware, like Alaska, has a closed primary which bars independents from voting and so potentially provides a strong outlet for conservative anger over Mr. Castle's vote in favor of cap-and-trade climate policies and abortion rights. The state hasn't had a competitive GOP primary in a decade, which means voters aren't used to turning out for primaries. An O'Donnell upset is not out of the question.

Tom Jensen, director of Public Policy Polling, tells The Hill newspaper that Mr. Castle's poll numbers appear weaker than Ms. Murkowski's were in Alaska. "If you're looking for the next possible seismic upset, [Delaware] would be it," he says.

But in the end Mr. Castle is likely to prevail. Unlike Senator Murkowski, he is planning to run negative ads against Ms. O'Donnell. And he has some material to work with. Ms. O'Donnell, who has run for office several times before, has not always held up well in the glare of the media spotlight that's been shone on her this time.

Yesterday, she claimed her political rivals are stalking her. "They're following me," she told the Weekly Standard. "They follow me home at night. I make sure that I come back to the townhouse and then we have our team come out and check all the bushes and check all the cars to make sure that -- they follow me." She also claims her home and campaign office were vandalized during her 2008 senate campaign. Unfortunately for her, she never told police about any of the incidents.

Ms. O'Donnell has even managed to alienate many conservative media outlets. Several national bloggers who backed Mr. Miller have declined to back her and instead endorsed Mr. Castle, who at least supports extending the Bush tax cuts and opposed ObamaCare. Delaware talk-show host Dan Gaffney, a conservative who has endorsed Ms. O'Donnell in the past, conducted a heated interview yesterday in which he confronted her with some of her past misstatements. After the candidate suggested the talk-show host was being "paid off" by the Castle camp, the host shut off her microphone.

The job of a candidate is to remain cool under pressure, no matter how they are provoked. Ms. O'Donnell doesn't clear that bar. Mike Castle is a moderate Republican facing a conservative primary electorate in an angry political climate. But from the evidence I've seen to date, Christine O'Donnell is no Joe Miller.

[Frau Lehrerin außer Dienst]

(matt, what's her clan family plaid?)

bunky, will the DE Republicans *refuse* to vote for her? I cannot think that Castle garners so many Democrat votes.

boris - repeat loudly and often.

[bunky]

DE Repubs will vote for her, esp in the two southern counties. Castle gets big independent numbers in generals. In DE, that's the only way Rs win statewide.

[The Spectre of Tuskegee does not excuse her shame.]

How many cases of HPV blossomed in Chitown because Moo Shell Ma Bellicose kept the trials out of her Hood?
==============

[Clarice]

Funny--elsewhere in the country independents are breaking strongly for the T party candidates.

She's not the best, but she's no worse than Biden..

And whether or not she's loony, Castle refused to debate her which suggests he's no genius on his feet and he rather consistently votes with the Dems on every major issue.Had he had his way there'd have been n surge..If he has his way, there'll be a stronger possibility of cap and trade oassing,

[Ignatz]

It's one thing to vote for someone you believe will lose if their loss is due to their principled stand.
It's quite another if their loss is more likely going to be due to paranoia, false claims and a good bit of other ethical baggage.
O'Donnell is sounding pretty nutty and train-wrecky as bunky observed.

[hrtshpdbox]

There's no reason at all that O'Donnell can't win the general; the last poll I saw had her trailing Coons by 10, which in terms of actual likely voters probably translates into 5. If Angle wins (and I think she will), then O'Donnell wins too.

[Clarice]

Still, she's surging ahead.
http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=7228

If she wins, I hope everyone does what they can to help her win.Even if the slogan is No Crazier than Biden

[jean]

My first thought when told O'Donnell was a nut.Isn't everyone that runs for a Senate seat.

[centralcal]

I find the blogoshphere/talk radio back and forth over Castle v. O'Donnell quite troubling. Wonder, when the dust settles, who will still be speaking? ::eyeroll::

[Captain Hate]

IMO this year the tea party can win anywhere.

boris, with Kwame Kilpatrick's mother being dumped this year in Detroit, I'd like to think you're correct but I'm afraid that my POS representative, Marcia Fudge, is as immune to being tossed as it gets.

And again, why is it that after holding my nose and voting for McCain, I'm supposed to feel bad about supporting a non-RINO? I'm sure bunky, who I like, has good reasons underlying his opinion; but nothing's a sure thing. Except maybe Marcia Fudge.

[Rob Crawford]

The CNS story I posted earlier about how over $800k in stimuus funds was spent teaching African men to wash their penises after sex involved only 250 men--that is, you and I paid out over $3k per person to teach them basic hygiene to stimulate our flagging economy.

Wrong way to look at it. We paid about half a dozen loyal Democrats over $100,000 a piece to figure out ways to teach 250 guys how to scrub their tackle.

[Rocco]

A pretty good YouTube about Hamas and Gaza. H/T New Zeal

[Rick Ballard]

The current registration split in DE is D 47, R 29, I 24.

I suppose we could all hope real hard for a change...

[BobDenver]

Studies like this make me wonder if I've been doing it wrong.

[Jane]

I went back to the polls this afternoon to accompany my spectacular Sturbridge Tea party sign with my new BFF Paul who guarded it while I got some work done.

Turnout was very light from 2-5 probably because there is only one competitive race on the ballot, but no fewer than 6 people walked 150 yards over to where we were to ask what they could do to help the Tea Party. (maybe 50 came to vote)

It made my heart swell.

[Ignatz]

--Even if the slogan is No Crazier than Biden--

Heh. Trying to think of a pol who is. Grayson? Fortney Hillman "Pete" Stark Jr?