Holiday Cheer From The US!

Glenn linked to this days ago but the "Peak Left" essay by Walter Russell Mead will be a perennial. An unfair use intro:

Next Up in America: The Liberal Retreat

WALTER RUSSELL MEAD

The Obama administration may represent “Peak Left” in American politics. As a result, what we are getting from the left these days is a mix of bewilderment and anger as it realizes that this is as good as it gets.

As the United States staggers toward the seventh year of Barack Obama’s tenure in the White House, a growing disquiet permeates the ranks of the American left. After six years of the most liberal President since Jimmy Carter, the nation doesn’t seem to be asking for a second helping. Even though the multiyear rollout of Obamacare was carefully crafted to put all the popular features up front, delaying less popular changes into the far future, the program remains unpopular. Trust in the fairness and competence of government is pushing toward new lows in the polls, even though the government is now in the hands of forward-looking, progressive Democrats rather than antediluvian Gopers.

For liberals, these are bleak times of hollow victories (Obamacare) and tipping points that don’t tip. For examples of the latter, think of Sandy Hook, the horrific massacre in Connecticut that Democrats and liberals everywhere believed would finally push the American public toward gun control. Two years later, polls show more Americans than ever before think it’s more important to protect gun access than to promote gun control...

He also notes the IPCC climate change report that will not sway the Senate, the Ferguson/Garner protests that have ended in disaster, the UVA rape story that ended in debacle, the Senate torture report that left the public waterbored, and of course the multitude of foreign policy fails that were supposed to be avoided by embracing our allies and ending cowboy diplomacy. No mention of the likely immigration reform backlash, but that is more of an establishment fail than a purely progressive bellyflop.

Do read it all. And try to avoid Peak Schadenfreude (if you can, you're a better person than yours truly.)

 

Comments

[henry]

We are getting to peak ACA fail and peak pension fail. Plenty of upside for the schadenfreude.

[Threadkiller]

Exclusive: Obama Impeachment Reportedly In Planning Stages
HAVE “STEPS TOWARD IMPEACHMENT” BEEN TAKEN?
by Sharon Rondeau

(Dec. 22, 2014) — In a conversation with a source on Monday afternoon, The Post & Email was told that the impeachment of Barack Hussein Obama is being contemplated by Republicans currently both in and out of Congress.

Will Obama be impeached by the U.S. 
House of Representatives in the near future?While the source said that the information she provided is reliable, she advised us to “go to the source,” which she identified as “Palin, Cruz, Huckabee, Gingrich.”  The references are to Sarah Palin, former Governor or Alaska; Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas; former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee; and former congressman and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich.

“Go to their websites,” the source said

http://www.birtherreport.com/2014/12/report-obama-impeachment-reportedly-in.html?m=1

[Captain Hate]

Don't worry, Top Men are depending on their preferred group of consultants who say it's not the time to "overplay their hand" and pretty much bend over to the socialist agenda. Elections matter to everybody but the GOPe.

[Ben]

More like Peak Capitalism. Just as Sino/Soviet Communism had to reboot after their trial run, so too the promise of Capitalism has resulted in Serfdom and the erosion of trust that it is working for the population in a good way. Wresting control from the execrably avaricious is the fly in the ointment

[Old Lurker]

After what Orangeman did to his power of the purse, you think he's going to allow an impeachment?

right.....

[Extraneus]

Interesting piece on how David Gregory lost his MTP job. In the ensuing history, there's a description of how Comcast got the feds to ok the deal to acquire NBC from GE, with a special mention of how Al Sharpton got his own TV show...

In 2009, it announced it would sell a controlling stake in NBC Universal to Comcast, the Philadelphia-based cable behemoth. NBC was struggling at the time: The network had dropped to fourth place in the ratings overall, behind CBS, ABC, and even Fox. But Comcast CEO Brian Roberts believed that to succeed in the 21st-century media landscape, the cable company needed to do more than control the distribution of TV—it needed to control the making of the content, too. Comcast already owned E!, the Style network, and a couple of cable sports stations. NBC was to be its biggest prize yet. Before that could happen, there was a hurdle to clear: Washington.

The Comcast/NBC deal faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators who worried that this kind of industry consolidation and vertical integration would squelch competition. Minority advocates weren’t thrilled about the idea, either. They were concerned the merger might reduce diversity throughout the industry.

...

To rally political support for the merger, Comcast’s political-action committee handed out campaign cash, and Cohen worked to head off the concerns over diversity. Between 2008 and 2010, Comcast’s corporate foundation donated more than $3 million to 39 minority groups that wrote letters to federal regulators in support of the NBC deal. Comcast and NBC Universal also worked out an agreement with advocacy groups guaranteeing increased “minority participation in news and public affairs programming”—so long as the deal went through. And in 2009 and 2010, Comcast gave $155,000 to an organization founded by the Reverend Al Sharpton, who ended up endorsing the merger.

The campaign paid off. In January 2011, Washington approved the deal. One week later, NBC signed Cohen’s old boss, Ed Rendell, to an on-air contract. At MSNBC, which Comcast also owns, Sharpton landed a talk show. A spokeswoman for Comcast says the company is a “long-standing supporter” of minority groups and had nothing to do with Sharpton’s hiring. She also says Cohen played “little to no role” in securing Rendell’s contract.

http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/how-david-gregory-lost-his-job/index.php

[Threadkiller]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avaricious

[Appalled]

TK:

Oh dear -- impeachment is being considered by these Republicans:

“Palin, Cruz, Huckabee, Gingrich.”

I'd be worried, if it didn't sound more like the casting call for a new reality show. "The Four Retreads of the Apocalypse."

[Threadkiller]

You'll never be worried. That is the safety of being a "moderate."

[peter]

let's hope it is peak. screw all the progressive two faced liars

[henry]

Ext, from our Chitown lurker Reid's chief of staff was a Comcast VP. Dens of thieves.

[NKvirusedand back]

Mead's observations are brilliantly accurate. The Progs thought that by taking over the Dem Party from faux centrists, they'd acquire the same power the Dems have had since 1933. Heh, idiots. From 2006-2010 the Progs merely projected their own bleak political future on what they claimed would happen to Repubs/conservatives. The irony is just delicious.

[Appalled]

TK:

The curse of being a moderate is to be always worried that the crazies are going to take control and break all the furniture.

Anyway, I prefer the RINO handle these days...

[RickB]

I don't believe we've hit Peak Merde Touch. Estimates of the President's reserves of incompetency and stupidity do not incorporate the very latest recovery techniques. Any prog thinking the damage won't get worse is going to be sadly mistaken.

[AliceH]

On balance, I prefer crazies breaking furniture to crazies obsessive spending to pack the room with more and more furniture.

[Threadkiller]

I these trying times, moderates find comfort in RINO clothing.

[henry]

One more for the peak oil crowd. It has Saudi costs at $4-6.

[Appalled]

TK:

Since being a moderate in these precincts requires a very thick skin...seems like a RINO'S hide would be very helpful...

[Threadkiller]

RINOs have a thick skin. John McCain is a perfect example.

[Cecil Turner]

Appalled, are you claiming you vote Republican? And did you for Romney? McCain? Bush?

[Porchlight]

Hi JOM! Been busy, but hope to catch up one of these days.

[Threadkiller]

Hi Porch!

[Thomas Collins]

TK, here's the bet if you want to take it. If Obama is impeached and convicted, I'll provide you with a free month of legal advice. If Obama either serves out his term or otherwise leaves office without being impeached and convicted, you'll do free maintenance on my car next time you travel to the East Coast.

Now, I know that's an unfair bet for you, since your car maintenance skills have more value than my legal advice. So I'll throw in a bonus: If you win the bet, you get to pose with me while I am treadmilling in a three piece!

[Threadkiller]

I do not believe Obama will ever get impeached, TC. I can't take the bet.

But I will gladly take you up on the treadmill offer!

[MarkO]

As an added bonus, I will take that photo.

[Iggy]

-- It has Saudi costs at $4-6.--

Henry, when you were little didn't anyone tell you the fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bens?

High Saudi production costs confirm Ben's point, whereas low Saudi production costs confirm Ben's point and just right production costs really confirm Ben's point.

[Threadkiller]

“Former Proteus Airlines boss Marc Dugain claims MH370 may have been shot down by US military near Diego Garcia”

“Emirates president and CEO Sir Tim Clark made world headlines in October when he revealed his doubts about the fate of the missing plane, which disappeared early in the morning of March 8 this year.

In an interview with German newspaper Der Spiegel, Sir Tim voiced his scepticism about the complete lack of wreckage from the incident, and the electronic satellite “handshakes” which positioned the plane in the southern Indian Ocean.”

“Now a second senior airline industry source has voiced his doubts about the fate of the plane, with the even wilder claim that the Boeing 777 may have been shot down by US military personnel who were fearing a September 11-style attack on the US Navy base on Diego Garcia.

The former boss of Proteus Airlines, Marc Dugain, put forward his theory that the Malaysia Airlines plane crashed near the remote Indian Ocean island in a recent edition of Paris Match.

Dugain speculated that the plane’s computers may have been subject to a remote hacking, or an on-board fire, which prompted a diversion from its flight path.

Diego Garcia is a British territory but has been used as a significant US military base and refuelling stop since the 1970s. It is currently home to 1700 military personnel and 1500 civilian contractors.”

“He pointed to the testimony of residents of the Maldives, who reported seeing an airliner travelling towards Diego Garcia on March 8, but whose claims were largely dismissed.

Dugain said a fisherman on Kudahuvadhoo island told him a “huge plane … with red and blue stripes on a white background” had flown overhead at a low altitude.

The former airline boss claimed he had also been shown pictures of a strange object that had washed up on a beach of neighbouring Baraah island.”

https://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2014/12/23/malaysian-flight-777-shot-down-by-us-military-near-diego-garcia-marc-dugain-theory-feared-september-11-style-attack-on-us-navy-base-planes-computers-may-have-been-subject-to-remote-hacking/

[NKvirusedand back]

@11:14- a conspiracy so vast....

[henry]

Iggy, that was more for Sandy Daze given his daughter's potential employment in the business. Your point on trolls is spot on.

[Cecil Turner]

I'm stealing "waterbored" . . . I guess it's been around awhile (e.g., Slate used it--albeit hyphenated--in a 2009 article) . . . but I hadn't seen it.

[Threadkiller]

So true, NK.

[Cecil Turner]

“Former Proteus Airlines boss Marc Dugain claims MH370 may have been shot down by US military near Diego Garcia”

Well, we've certainly established the credibility of that particular website.

[Threadkiller]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/former-proteus-airlines-boss-marc-dugain-claims-mh370-may-have-been-shot-down-by-us-military-near-diego-garcia/story-fniztvne-1227164555636?from=google_rss&google_editors_picks=true&nk=6f03489e59bf485fe41d019d5b0061db

Better?

[Miss Marple]

Hey, after a bazillion hours of coverage of these protests, die-ins and the like, I would be glad to go back to solving the missing plane mystery.

[Iggy]

Putting on my prog, multi-culti, bean-counter beanie it's interesting to note in that most/least admired conservatives poll
that 4 of the top 10 most admired are black, 3 are women, 1 is Filipino, 1 is Jewish and 1 a Mormon. Haters.
Also interesting to note 17 of 20 of the least popular are white men [16 of 20 if Lindsey Graham is counted on the chick side].

Be interesting to see a similar ranking by progs.

[iqvoice]

My thoughts exactly, Cecil. Even if it wasn't an original thought from Tom Maguire's head, it's still brilliant.

Use in a sentence: "My whole body felt waterbored after listening to the Obama press conference."

[Threadkiller]

Be interesting to see a similar ranking by progs.

Yes, but will Appalled lower his/her faux RINO shield long enough to give us such a list?

[Appalled]

Appalled, are you claiming you vote Republican? And did you for Romney? McCain? Bush?

1. Romney in 2012
2. Bush in 2000 (not 2004)
3. Not McCain. I don't like McCain, at all. He's a statist with an intervention everywhere bias. Sort of the inverse of almost all my preferred policy points. (I only agree with him on immigration.)
4. I am likely to vote Republican in 2016, barring a Ted Cruz nomination. (I happen to like Walker...)

[Cecil Turner]

Better?

Actually, quite a bit better. The headline of the first one: "Malaysian flight 370 shot down by US military . . ." gives a patina of plausibility that absolutely is not warranted. But neither story is doing their respective publications much good.

[Pagar]

Non holiday cheer from the US.

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2014/12/cuba_libre.html

"Poor Cuba. Poor free Cubans. So far we can see the demoralizing results of cozying up to the tyrants. The Obama administration has succeeded in demobilizing and dispiriting Cuban exiles and their progeny. There is no Ferguson in Miami. And America’s Cubans should be sending an unequivocal message to the White House on the behalf of their enslaved sisters and brothers: “no hay justicia no hay paz.” Not for the sake of “the process,” or the president’s youthful romance with Che Guevara and other socialist mass murderers, this must be for the sake of freedom. "

IMO, every Cuban and every American who loves freedom has been sold out by the Obama regime.

[Threadkiller]

Waterbored

[RickB]

Henry,

If Saudi economists have determined "this is the moment" wrt the OPM Famine and are correct, then it will be some time before we see oil prices return to $100. China is highlighting the idiocy of the flaccid power aspect as well as the weakness of the IMF/World Bank thieves cartel. China will loan to those with the productive potential to repay. You won't see them advancing yuan to Greece or Ukraine to maintain profligacy or prop EUtopian fantasy.

The flaccid power failure really belongs on the Peak Prog list.

[Old Lurker]

"claims MH370 may have been shot down by US military near Diego Garcia"

Equally true statement:

"claims MH370 may have been shot down by aliens from outer space near Diego Garcia"

"may" negates the entire statement, seems to me.

[Threadkiller]

That didn't work so well

[Iggy]

No TK. That's waterboring.

[Old Lurker]

"claims MH370 may have been shot down by US military near Diego Garcia"

equally true:

"claims MH370 may have been shot down by aliens from Mars near Diego Garcia"

Writers used to know what the word "may" does.

[Appalled]

TK:

I'm afraid you'll have to get your list from Ben.

Personally, I think DublinDave is a fake leftist, so his list will be more a drinking game than anything else...

[Old Lurker]

"claims MH370 may have been shot down by US military near Diego Garcia"

equally true:

"claims MH370 may have been shot down by aliens from Mars near Diego Garcia"

Writers used to know what "may" meant.

[Iggy]

--China will loan to those with the productive potential to repay. You won't see them advancing yuan to Greece or Ukraine to maintain profligacy or prop EUtopian fantasy.--

It's a marshmallow world in the winter when the ChiComs are less willing to prop up the prog winter wonderland than the IMF and other welfare statists.

[Old Lurker]

TP being TP again I see.

[Eric in Boise]

Speaking of EUtopian fantasy, there seem to be some protests taking place in Germany as well that have the usual suspects clutching their pearls:

http://www.breitbart.com/london/2014/12/23/17500-germans-gather-to-sing-christmas-carols-against-islamisation/

Peak Islamization?

[Threadkiller]

CEOs of airlines believe in Martians.

[Cecil Turner]

2. Bush in 2000 (not 2004)
3. Not McCain.

If you voted Kerry and Obama, I don't think that qualifies as a RINO (or any other kind of "R") . . . DINO, maybe.

[Threadkiller]

Kerry and Obama are more moderate that Bush and McCain.

[Captain Hate]

IMO, every Cuban and every American who loves freedom has been sold out by the Obama regime.

Marco Rubio has been making this point when he doesn't have to fend off the extremely strange attacks by Rand Paul.

[Iggy]

US economy grew at 5% last quarter.
Let the in spite of/because of debate begin.

[Threadkiller]

This seems to have the order of events, CH.

https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-12-19/rand-paul-battles-marco-rubio-over-cuba-policy

[NKvirusedand back]

Igy-- we can all drill down on the numbers.

BTW-- sorry about not getting that your Joe Pepe's pizza to you last night.

[RickB]

"when the ChiComs are less willing to prop up the prog winter wonderland than the IMF and other welfare statists."

When it's tankety tank v tweety tweet, the ChiComs know where to put their money.

The Germans are actually following the lead of the Swedes in rejecting the Peak Mahometan movement and the French are coming along as well. I credit the OPM Famine as the prime cause in all instances. Achmed just costs too much.

[Iggy]

That's ok NK, acolytes gotta eat too.

[glasater]

I will take that photo

Hey!

[Captain Hate]

Paul asked why Rubio didn't want a "new approach" instead of the continuance of an obvious debacle.

If the "debacle" is so fucking obvious, why don't I see it? Is he seriously blaming the embargo for the lack of human rights in Cuba?

[NKvirusedand back]

I am not optimistic about the French, Dutch Belgians-- I see a moon and star flag flying over Elysee Palace, not the Tri-Colour.

[Iggy]

Rick,
In rejecting Peak Islam are the EUrotrash stopping new arrivals or tossing already theres?
The already theres are having way more little baby musselmen than there are baby EUroweenies so how do they stop that?

[Miss Marple]

Carter White House Christmas ornaments, 1978:

[clarice]

Did you mean pique left?

Any way a really important oil article by Conrad Blackhttp://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/12/20/conrad-black-the-saudis-believe-the-the-west-is-about-to-give-in-to-iranian-demands-crashing-the-price-of-oil-is-how-it-fights-back/

[Old Lurker]

Moon & Star or the Black Flag of ISIS seems to be the question to me.

[Threadkiller]

I think he is saying the embargo didn't do any good for the people of Cuba. Tough to argue that point.

Rubio decided to be a dickhead and attack Paul first and Paul isn't walking away from the fight. A quality I admire.

Now Rubio left a gaping hole in his own argument by saying that it is the oppressive regime that is the problem, not the embargo, and Paul is making him answer for it.

The go-to Cuban will not win the debate by his Cuban-ness alone.

[Captain Hate]

Carlos Slim's trained chimps and support garment challenged file clerk struggle to define the great issues of the world:

http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=353942

[Iggy]

Wonder if Amy still has nightmares.

[NKvirusedand back]

OL-- is it too much to expect the UVa Board to demand Sullivan's resignation? http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/u.va.-board-chair-blasts-rolling-stone-for-damage-to-universitys-reputation/article/2557719?custom_click=rss#!

[glasater]

T Boone PIckens has some thoughts on oil.

The comments at the link are pretty good too.

[NKvirusedand back]

Amy? is she still a gal, or did she become a dude like Chaz Bono?

[lyle]

Tis the season...

A Republican, in a wheelchair, entered a restaurant one afternoon and asked the waitress for a cup of coffee.
The Republican looked across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus sitting over there?"
The waitress nodded "yes," so the Republican requested that she give Jesus a cup of coffee, on him.

The next patron to come in was a Libertarian, with a hunched back. He shuffled over to a booth, painfully sat down, and asked the waitress for a cup of hot tea. He also glanced across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus, over there?"
The waitress nodded, so the Libertarian asked her to give Jesus a cup of hot tea, "My treat."

The third patron to come into the restaurant was a Democrat on crutches. He hobbled over to a booth, sat down and hollered, "Hey there honey! How's about getting me a cold mug of Miller Light?" He too looked across the restaurant and asked, "Isn't that God's boy over there?"

The waitress nodded, so the Democrat directed her to give Jesus a cold beer. "On my bill," he said loudly.

As Jesus got up to leave, he passed by the Republican, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Republican felt the strength come back into his legs, got up, and danced a jig out the door.

Jesus passed by the Libertarian, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed." The Libertarian felt his back straightening up and he raised his hands, praised the Lord, and did a series of back flips out the door.

Then, Jesus walked towards the Democrat, just smiling. The Democrat jumped up and yelled, "Don't touch me .... I'm on disability."

[Dublindave]

Exploding economic growth,the dow reaching an all time high...Merry Christmas from the Liberal President of the United States to all of you and your portfolios.

No, seriously, no thanks are needed.Christmas is about giving not getting and considering the brutal time you all had under a Republican run economy we feel it's the least we can do for you.

Marry Christmas to one and all xxxxxxxxx

[Captain Hate]

I think he is saying the embargo didn't do any good for the people of Cuba. Tough to argue that point.

The embargo has made it tougher on the leaders of the country. How they react to the people they oppress is completely on them. 404 had a chance to squeeze them into backing off of their human rights violations, particularly against Stedman's "my people" and voted "present". Nothing will change by lifting the embargo except diminished pressure on the leaders.

Neither Rubio nor I need lectures from the likes of Rand Paul or his insane father on foreign policy. I've criticized Rubio before on things but not here.

[Captain Hate]

Those economic numbers will be dialed back like they always are.

[Threadkiller]

From Rubio:

"I would expect that people would understand that if they just took a moment to analyze that, they would realize that the embargo is not what's hurting the Cuban people. It's the lack of freedom and the lack of competent leaders."

Bold mine.

[James D.]

Exactly, CH.

Why would we look at ANYTHING from Obama's Commerce Department with anything other than complete distrust?

[Iggy]

Rand Paul does ask, IMO, a good question;
If an embargo on Cuba is good policy why don't we have one on China?
With the fall of the USSR Cuba is no longer a threat and we no longer need China as a counterweight to the USSR. China seems more of a long term threat to us than Russia so wouldn't it make even more sense to crunch their economy by embargoing them?

[Threadkiller]

Paul's comment that set Rubio off:

The 50-year embargo just hasn't worked," Paul said. "If the goal is regime change, it sure doesn't seem to be working, and probably it punishes the people more than the regime because the regime can blame the embargo for hardship."

[NKvirusedand back]

Have to check the GDPs to ascertain what moved them. Cathy is always informative on those things. Suffice to say, whatever the reason, Obummer had NOTHING POSITIVE to do with them. He's still trying to jack up gas prices (epic fail there) and he has sucessfully killed the full-time job market. So the economy benefitting from collapsing energy prices is DESPITE Obummer.

[NKvirusedand back]

TK-- I'll put this as plainly as I can. About Cuba, Obummer is a commie idiot, and Randie Paul is a bigger libertarian idiot.

[henry]

NK, ZH has a couple posts up on the GDP. The "Obamacare boost" from Q1 was revised into Q3.

[Iggy]

TK, I believe Paul is misstating Rubio's point.
Rubio is saying that while the embargo doesn't hurt the people of Cuba, it does hurt the aspirations of the Castro bros and ending it will not help the Cuban people but the extra money will be swallowed by the party and strengthen the Castros' grip and neighborhood mischief.
Not an implausible argument.

[Threadkiller]

Since you believe Gillespie lost in Virginia due to a handful of Libertarians, NK, I will not challenge your opinion.

[lyle]

This is unbelievable totally believable:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/anti-police-remarks-dispute-911-center-sources-article-1.2054253?cid=bitly

[NKvirusedand back]

[email protected]:46--- that's a simple one. Money. We don't need anything from Cuba nor do we need to export anything to them. In contrast, the USA manufacturers wanted cheap China labor to compete with Japan/Taiwan inc. so we made China the world's factory floor in the 90s. We were so sucessful buying cheap Chinese manufactured goods, that we needed China to buy USA T-Bonds to balance the trade account deficit. Then Obummer/Bernanke dialed up the deficit to eleventy, so we really needed China Bond buying. Embargo our bond buyers? My ass that happens.

[Threadkiller]

I think Paul's point, prior to Rubio's tantrum, was along the lines that the regime could no longer blame the embargo. Perhaps Paul believes that a better informed Cuban population will make good use of that news.

[NKvirusedand back]

Gillespie lost because he received slightly fewer votes.

[Old Lurker]

Glasater I beat you to the T Boone prediction of $100 by a week. Sounds like he is doubling down.

NK, I don't see UVa firing the lady.

[narciso]

no, neither do I, funny how when it was South Africa's turn, there was no expense
or time spared, to make it airtight, binding at the local, state, national level,

when it's a regime that is not actually allied with us, like Iraq, the waterworks come up, despite they invaded two of their neighbots,

[Iggy]

I know why we did it NK.
My question was more of the 'should we have done it' variety.

[narciso]

Of course they will, they will ask for reparations to make up for the damage by the blockade, if you haven't seen this train coming,

now, that wasn't the original region, they thought China could be a proxy against the Soviets, as they served in Afghanistan, and possibly stop aiding Vietnam, I think what we got out of it was the "Jacob Marley' chain of supporting the Khmer Rouge, as you can tell, I'm not a friend of Kissinger, on that score,

[NKvirusedand back]

The Cuban people need to have the Castro gang's goons disarmed so they can avail themselves of their inalienable rights. Instead, commie Obummer is throwing some dollars at his fellow commies to prop up their tyranny a few more years. This is not complicated.

[Eric in Boise]

Why don't we embargo China?

I was just going to snark "Wal-Mart shelves", but NK made the point, and others, much more skillfully.

[NKvirusedand back]

'Should have'.. realpolitics say there is no such thing, ultimately Cuba is Cuba and the ChiComs are the Chicoms and never the twains shall meet ;)

[narciso]

I know facts rarely enter into it, but recognition of the Soviet Union, and the retiring of property claims, in 1933, did not make a bit of difference, even the somewhat less hardline Kruschev didn't change things, the DGI, which 'guy in the neighborhood' Ayers is well familiar with, the bloc committees, the ration book, the
sugar cane archipelago of gulags, that's why that idiocy by Valerie Plame, re Cheney
struck me as particularly daft, is the reason why Cuba is the way it is,
gal V

[Iggy]

--'Should have'.. realpolitics say there is no such thing--

If we someday lose a war to China using a military we party financed for them who will have been engaged in real realpoltiks?

[MarkO]

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