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August 23, 2011

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Jeff

chickens are being counted ...

Thomas Collins

From the first article linked in TM's post:

"While Colonel Qaddafi’s whereabouts remained unclear, Russian news agencies reported he had a telephone conversation with the Russian head of the World Chess Federation, Kirsan N. Ilyumzhinov. One of Colonel Qaddafi’s eccentric circle of foreign friends, Mr. Ilyumzhinov quoted Colonel Qaddafi as saying he was alive and well in Tripoli."

Checkmating the king is turning out to be somewhat more difficult than first reported.

Thomas Collins

LUN for bgates (and of course for MayBee).

Porchlight

This all sounds pretty hinky to me. I'm not believing any of it yet.

huxley

Meanwhile Obama has shattered his -23/-24 lows, diving deep to a new Raz record of -26!

He has broken through.

Unless Obama delivers the Mother of All Obama Speeches post-Labor Day, I don't think he's coming back.

lyle

President "gutsy call," you wingers.

Danube of Thought

I have never seen anything quite like these rebels. How on earth did they defeat any trained military units? Bizarre.

Jim Rhoads a/k/a vnjagvet

bgates sure knows how to celebrate a bd. Not only does he get a present directly from RAZ, but he shares it with all of us.

Happy BD, bgates.

Extraneus

I can't figure out how to link it, since it's not an image file, but the Gallup Daily: Obama Job Approval chart is a nice one, too. I just hope he's able to keep his approval high enough that he won't have to drop out of the race.

Elliott

The bounce will arrive anon. Days not weeks. Within 24 business hours most likely.

MarkO

These rebels are mere factotums of the NATO forces which are the amanuensies of Obama's war on peace.

Elroy Jetson

MFM awaiting talking points from White House giving Obama all the credit for success in Libya......Unless the rebels can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

MayBee

I just hope we get an honest accounting of what we've put into this war. Certainly we didn't put any debate or Congressional approval into it. But I'd like to know who we've got there fighting with/for that ragtag band of "rebels".

Obama and much of the media seem quite content to pretend this is all just magically happening.

MarkO

It would be like Obama to claim credit for something he said he wasn't doing. That's he entire life history.

Porchlight

Ext,

I could be wrong, but the downward approval trendline since late May appears to be, by far, the steepest slide of his term.

It's going to be hard to pull out of this one - a "victory" in Libya isn't going to do it, and neither is an empty jobs speech.

Cecil Turner

Muammar don't surf!

Extraneus

I'm pretty worried that Hillary has the witch outfit on and is cackling into a crystal ball.

Porchlight

I fully encourage her, Ext. Not only would it be amusing beyond all worlds to watch, it would be a great help (as Kennedy's challenge was to Reagan). She can't take the nomination away from him because the thugs in the Dem party wouldn't permit it, and they'd be afraid of race riots and the black vote staying home. But she would weaken him to the brink of landslide territory for the GOP nominee.

I don't think she'll do it. But I'd welcome it.

lyle

I'm pretty worried that Hillary has the witch outfit on and is cackling into a crystal ball.

And this is different from her normal mien...how, exactly?

Appalled

I don't see Libya doing anything for Obama. A consequence of "leading from behind" is that you don't get to take much of the credit.

(BTW, if Obama was going to do this war,I am cool with the way he did it. The Irag and Afghanistan models have not turned out so well for the US, have they?)

Appalled

(I am not cool with the no Congrssional approval part of things. This has to be the most Nixonian presidency since Nixon in terms of doing things by administrative fiat as a matter of course.)

Appalled

And one final point. Obama has gotten little benefit from taking down Obama, and looks to get none for helping take down Daffy. If this were a GOP President, I think there would be a lot more of a bounce.

What does this say? Mostly, that the GOP has a lot more of its political mojo invested in foreign affairs and, alas, foreign military actions.

Appalled

Obama has gotten little benefit from taking down Obama,

I meant Osama, though, frighteningly, that sentence makes sense the way I wrote it...

Porchlight

Obama has gotten little benefit from taking down Obama

To be expected, really. ;)


What does this say? Mostly, that the GOP has a lot more of its political mojo invested in foreign affairs and, alas, foreign military actions.

I don't think it says that at all. I think it says that the economy in its current condition (and Obama's responsibility for it) dwarfs all, and also perhaps that Obama's spiking the ball over the Osama kill turned off as many people as it turned on.

Extraneus

I don't think she'll do it. But I'd welcome it.

Not me. I don't thinks she'd take him on head-to-head, but if he decides to do an LBJ...

I like our chances better against the Won.

Jane

BGates,

No fewer than 5 of my best friends have birthdays from 8-20 to 8-23 and even Mr Left.

I just love those LEO's!

huxley

We keep hearing that Obama is a "clutch player." So now's the time to see what he's got.

I think he's tapped out. He's been in big trouble since the Senate rejected his budget plan 97-0 in May. It got worse with the debt ceiling talks.

He threatened Cantor ("Don't call my bluff, Eric") that he would go to the American people. He did. Obama arrived fifty minutes late and talked for eight minutes on the economy blaming everyone but himself. The stock market dropped two hundred points during the speech and his polls followed.

Then he got into a humongous jet black bus (sans American flag) and made a three-day tour getting down with the midwest folks. More nothingburger, followed by an ultra-rich vacation in Martha's Vineyard with terrible optics.

Nothing works. He can't go left, he can't go right, he can't float above the fray, and he can't get down in the gutter.

The worst of it, I suspect, is that Americans now see that Obama has never had a real plan for jobs other than the sheer magnificence of his presence and the billions shoveled into the Oz world of "green jobs."

Thomas Collins

Has anyone seen an analysis adjusting these numbers for folks who are likely to "come home to progism" in Nov. of 2012? If Obama's drop is with non-core but prog leaning voters, these numbers I think don't present a realistic picture. With urban fraud, persuadable independents being manipulated by MSM and Axelplouffe's expertise at slice and dice (not to mention Sugar Daddy Ben putting off the reckoning until 2013 with some more QECrack), Obama could still reach 48%, which could be enough for an Electoral College victory (Ford came very close to doing this in 1976, and Kerry might have done it in 2004 if many of Cuyahoga County, Ohio's Dems and Dems in other parts of Ohio hadn't stayed home).

Jane

I like our chances better against the Won.

Why? Why would anyone think another dem could do a better job? They all want bigger government, and most people have figured out that is the problem. In fact there seems to be a surge in the "government is too big' people.

The far left wants Bernie Sanders, and the rest of them want Hillary who has doesn't seem like much of a threat these days.

Actually I'd love to see him primaried. If he got ridden out by his own kind his psyche would never ever recover.

Porchlight

Not me. I don't thinks she'd take him on head-to-head, but if he decides to do an LBJ...

I like our chances better against the Won.

Yeah, pulling an LBJ would be different. I thought you were talking about a primary challenge.

Danube of Thought

A belated happy birthday to Dana/Ben Franklin. Dana, I'd advise you to start drawing your SS at the earliest possible date (some time in the next year).

Porchlight

Actually I'd love to see him primaried. If he got ridden out by his own kind his psyche would never ever recover.

I'm sure he considers marginalizing the Clintons to be one of his greatest political accomplishments. Sure would be fun to see them take him down (as long as it doesn't threaten a GOP win).

Thomas Collins

I don't think Hillary deposing Obama makes the Dems more likely to win. But it could severely weaken Obama (as Reagan did to Ford in 1976 and Teddy Bare did to Carter in 1980). In any event, I don't think Hillary's plan is to depose Obama. I think her plan is to wait until 2016.

Extraneus

His whole plan was to reward his friends, punish his enemies, and take credit for a natural cyclical recovery for which his policies had no responsibility.

Callawyn

The draft Constitution starts by affirming Sharia Law as the sole basis for law in Libya. All further reference to the rule of law is merely a reference back to Sharia.

A tribal civil war in Libya at this point would be the best possible outcome. The more likely outcome will be the establishment of a sham democracracy and the imposition of Sharia Law. In other words, at our own taxpayer expense, we've helped force a regime change from a brutal dictatorship to an Islamic Republic. Way to go from bad to horribly worse.

Porchlight

Has anyone seen an analysis adjusting these numbers for folks who are likely to "come home to progism" in Nov. of 2012?

TC, I think most progs who vote will be there for him. It's more a question of turnout. He won in 2008 with big turnout. He needs even bigger turnout in 2012 to overcome his miserable ratings, and he ain't gonna get it. His major constituencies are dispirited and he's lost everyone else.

Danube of Thought

"...the GOP has a lot more of its political mojo invested in foreign affairs and, alas, foreign military actions."

Vietnam? Bosnia? Kosovo? Somalia? Yemen? The Afghanistan surge? All Dem initiatives, though admittedly not with much of a mojo return.

Danube of Thought

Hillary won't challenge.

Bubba having a flashback

I'm pretty worried that Hillary has the witch outfit on

Oh no. The witch outfit? Please no. I've been good....

Huma having a flashback

I'm pretty worried that Hillary has the witch outfit on

Oh no. The witch outfit? Please no. I've been good....

Porchlight

Hillary won't challenge.

I don't think so either.

Might Hill and Bill convince someone else to do it, with promise of a later reward? Isn't Evan Bayh a Clintonista?

Threadkiller

Happy B-day, bgates!

Janet

I think we just had an earthquake! I've never experienced one before. I live in Northern Virginia....wow.

Porchlight

Seeing Twitter reports of earthquake in DC. Everyone okay?

Threadkiller

Save the melons!

Thomas Collins

Let's encourage the progs to go on a two month cruise (Oct. and Nov. of 2012) to Fidel's island paradise, Porchlight.

MayBee

Wow Janet- don't they feel crazy?

Porchlight

Wow...reports of quake being felt all over - PA, NJ, NYC, VA, NC....

see this thread on FreeRepublic:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2767906/posts

centralcal

Janet did you just have an earthquake?

Extraneus

Hillary could argue that we had a surplus under a Clinton administration. (Never mind that it was due to the R's taking over the Congress in 1994.) She could claim to be more moderate than Obama, splitting the distance between the two "extremes." She could win over disaffected Dems and some Independents who aren't going to pull it for Obama again.

Weakened, yes, but I hope he's still breathing in 2012. The last thing we need is Hillary as a candidate.

Btw, I was dead set against Republicans making such a big deal about Howard Dean's "AAAAAARGHHHHH!" moment, too. Lurch was probably a better general election candidate than Dean would have been.

Sue

Good grief. Earthquake in DC. Janet? Clarice? You okay?

Porchlight

Lurch was probably a better general election candidate than Dean would have been.

And he nearly won. But I am of the firm belief that Dean was toast even before the scream, and couldn't have won the nom.

Sue

Per ABC Radio...Pentagon being evacuated because of earthquake.

centralcal

NewYorkPost New York Post
by jtLOL
BREAKING 5.8 EARTHQUAKE HITS DC -EPICENTER IN VIRGINIA 87 MILES FROM CAPITOL


Sounds like it was a pretty strong jolt. And you all thought only us Californians had earthquakes. lol!

hit and run

5.8 between Charlottesville and Richmond. mrs hit and run just called to say she felt it. We're roughly 3 hours away by car.

Sue

Reuters is reporting it was a 6.2.

daddy

Carp--- A Virginia Earthquake.

Another unforeseen bit of bad luck Obama can now blame for increasing the Debt another Billion or so.

JM Hanes

Oh Lordy, I think we just had an earthquake tremor! The whole house swayed ever so slightly, lampshades vibrated, and it sounded like huge raindrops were splattering on the roof which must have been the rafters crackling, because nary a drop hit the ground and there was not breath of wind. Either that, or someone silently dropped a redwood next door. It's actually made me woozy!

What's really creepy though, is that just yesterday I was remarking on how lucky it is that we don't have to worry about hurricanes, and tsunamis, and mega tornadoes.... or earthquakes in this part of the country.

Porchlight

Palin predicted Obama would come home early from his vacay. Maybe this is her way of making it happen. ;)

Clarice

I have just been evacuated a
Ong with thousands in judicial bldgs in DC

Sue

JMH,

Ruh...roh...you called it down upon yourself, no? ::grin::

centralcal

ha ha ha ha ha ha

DonaldJTrumpJr Donald Trump Jr.
by edmondesq
Breaking news: Obama blames 6.0 earthquake on Bush! Ha couldn't resist;)!!!!

Sue

OMG, Clarice. Not sure where you are but not home, it seems. Be careful.

hit and run

USGS: 5.9

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/Quakes/usc0005ild.php

MayBee

Is The Wolverine visiting DC?

sbw

We felt it in Rome, NY. Mild.

Ranger

A new low in the Gallup 3 day as well:

President Obama Job Approval


Gallup

Approve 38

Disapprove 54

Disapprove +16.0


Rasmussen Reports

Approve 44

Disapprove 56

Disapprove +12.0

If anything, it looks like the Libya situation is dragging him lower rather than higher. Maybe its just one more reminder of how empty his words are. In this case "Days, not weeks," rings pretty howllow 6 months later.

Janet

Wow Janet- don't they feel crazy?

yeah...I was out talking with neighbors.

Save the melons!

Hahaha...they're fine. Praise the Lord!

Thomas Collins

Some folks at my workplace (Financial District, Boston, MA) said they felt something, but I didn't.

huxley

There's no way for any Democrat to challenge Obama without doing terrible damage to the black voting bloc.

I'm a fan of the Obama/LBJ scenario but I doubt Hillary will be any better competition in 2012.

If Obama drops out, he leaves a Messiah-sized crater in the Democratic psyche that Hillary can't overcome. She's too close to Obama politically, she was part of his administration with a weak record, and she doesn't have the crowd appeal that Democrats seem to need.

sbw

The earth moved. Was it good for you, too?

Jane

Clarice will undoubtedly be let out early today. No damage so far.

My niece and I were on the phone when it happened. She is in NJ filling her car with gas. While she was getting gas she thought the people (Muslims) in the car behind her were shaking her car and she almost got out to ask them why they were doing it. Later in the conversation she got a text from a friend and realized it hit Jersey too.

Sue

♫ I feel the earth - move - under my feet ♪

Gmax

Obama has gotten little benefit from taking down Obama,

I chuckled. Somehow the Sheriff from the movie Blazing Saddles jumped into my head. Gun firmly placed to his own temple he commands " No one move or the n word gets it." A classic.

Ranger

An earthquake in DC as the 2012 election season starts? I take it as an ill omen for the Ruling Class...

Let's just hope there is minimal damage and no one is hurt.

Jane

I tell ya, the Mayans were pretty smart.

NK

Bam will go carefully on this Libya thing, because no one knows what will happen in the next weeks and even months -- especially the Libyans. Course-- if Bam wants to break out the "Mission Accomplished" banner and head to Aviano or NAS Sigonella -- he can be my guest.

NK

Cecil Turner-- BTW, excellent Apocalypse Now reference-- probably a top 3 line from that movie.

cathyf

WSJ breaking news link

I love those guys -- don't have a story up yet, so rather than linking to blather, they link to some minimal but useful site.

NK

Hey Tom--

did you feel the quake in Ct.?

huxley

The only viable Hillary scenario I see is -- and let me be perfectly clear that I am being entirely hypothetical -- assassination.

If Obama were assassinated, it would clear the path and re-energize Democrats and independents to elect Hillary Clinton.

Obama's death would be a horror at all levels and I pray that it does not occur. It would be one of the worst things that could happen to America.

matt

We have been sending AC-130 gunships and bombers against the Qadaffi elements while the Euros have sent in strike aircraft. It sounds like the only coherent leadership on the ground is that provided by the Euros and perhaps our own people.

We are really, really good at shock and awe but really, really bad at everything that comes afterwards.

BB Key

Vi for about siting Stokes County NC and felt it for about 20 seconds

JM Hanes

The epicenter was near Richmond. As strong as the largest magnitude event in Virginia seismic region on record (back to 1600-1700s).

matt

I meant to add that from all of the photos I have seen so far to assume that these clowns are capable of coherent warfare is just plain ill informed.

That Qadaffi's supporters don't seem to be able to hold against them is somewhat amazing except when they are faced with Euro fighter bombers, attack helicopters and said AC-130's.

I fear this is going to be a real mess, but as long as the oil keeps flowing the Euros will be happy. Make no mistake. This war especially is about oil.

Thomas Collins

My son (DC) and older daughter and son-in-law (Northern Virginia), all said it gave them quite a rockin' and rollin' (my phrase, but that's in substance what they said).

JM Hanes

Nuclear plant near Richmond has been shut down (as a precaution, or for inspection ,I assume).

BB Key

Shook up my Keyboard....Visiting in Stokes Co. NC lasted about 20 secs. felt like a car hit the building

centralcal

All kinds of reports on Twitter about folks losing cell phone service.

Have been through numerous earthquakes, never ever heard of anyone losing phone service - cell or otherwise! What's up with that?

Thomas Collins

TM, you're helping us be more productive at work! See LUN.

RichatUF

Pentagon, US Capitol evacuated...
Shakes Manhattan...
Felt from NH to Atlanta...
Less than 4 miles deep...
Comes day after rare big tremor hits Colo...
Obama was on golf course... Developing...

Obama's got the right priorities.

BB Key

CC, just all us ignorant easterners trying to call everbody we know. my daughter in NY and and son in PA felt it....My sister in VA did not because she was on the interstate near Charlottesville

Gmax

Pentagon, US Capitol evacuated...


Just read a post from a Pentagon staffer, the evacuation bit is not true. Building has been ruled structually sound and its business as usual there. First reports of natural disasters and war are rarely accurate it seems...

Thomas Collins

Are all you Californians and Japanese out there laughing at us Atlantic Coasters?

cathyf

The rock there is hard, so it transmits the energy of the quake much further that softer soils. Which is good -- the same energy over a larger area means less damage close to the epicenter.

Agent J

This LUN will give you much info

JM Hanes

CNN reports they felt it in Detroit.

sbw

cathyf must know, located as she must be ... between the rock and a hard place.

centralcal

Now this is a photo!

DC Earthquake Devastation.

(snort!)

Melinda Romanoff

National Cathedral has pieces fallen off of it. It's being inspected.

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