Lafayette, We Are Not Here

Barack Obama and other top Administration officials take a pass on the huge (but strangely exclusive) pro-liberty, anti-terror demonstrations in France. Thank heaven the days of "Go it alone" cowboy diplomacy are over!

Barack Obama n’est pas Charlie — or at least, he wasn’t this weekend.

Don’t look for the president or vice president among the photos of 44 heads of state who locked arms and marched down Boulevard Voltaire in Paris. Nor did they join a companion march the French Embassy organized in Washington on Sunday afternoon.

...

Joe Biden was back home in Wilmington, Delaware. Neither they nor any high-level administration official attended either event.

France’s top diplomat in the U.S. tried, diplomatically, to make the best of it.

“Thank you to Victoria Nuland, assistant secretary at the Department of State, who has represented the U.S. Authorities at the demonstration in DC. A friend,” Ambassador Gérard Araud tweeted Sunday evening, as criticism of the administration mounted.

Geez, a full Assistant Secretary of State? And of course we sent our Ambassador, Obama bundler Jane Hartley, who most people could not pick out of a lineup. What, no Deputy Postmasters General were available?

Speculation is that security concerns kept top officials away. That is not implausible - if the Secret Service can't even secure the White House they will be lost in Paris. Fortunately, not even this Administration is stupid enough to admit that they skipped a rally against terrorism for fear of terrorism.

Of course, maybe Obama was being polite and was afraid that his presence would steal the spotlight from French President Hollande and the European and other leaders. Or more probably, Obama was afraid that his presence would not steal the spotlight.

As they say in DC: Liberté, egalité, keep away.

Of course, we should note that this was not really a National Unity rally - the "far-right" party that won 25% of the French vote in European elections last spring was not invited. So, this was a Partial Unity rally in favor of constrained free expression - vivé la France! Philip Gourevitch of the New Yorker has more on the French politics behind the non-invitation. On the other hand:

Le Pen claims she is ready to participate, just like she attended a ceremony in March 2012 to honor the victims of the Mohamed Merah terrorist attack. The French presidential campaign was fully underway at the time, and Nicolas Sarkozy invited all electoral candidates to Montauban. At the time, it would have been awkward for a candidate not to be invited or for a candidate to refuse to participate.

Still more at France24. And the Paper of Broken Record did note the omission:

On the streets, people said it was impressive that world leaders had gathered, but Pablo de Gastines, a French illustrator, said the moment went “way beyond politics.” He held up a work he had painted that was inspired by Eugène Delacroix’s “Liberty Leading the People,” in which he had inserted pens and pencils as symbols of freedom.

“There is a very strong feeling here,” Mr. de Gaskins said.

Echoing many others in the crowd, Mr. de Gaskins said his main concern now was that the far-right National Front party would try to use the situation to divide the French public. “We need to make sure that they do not capture our liberty by capitalizing on what extremists did,” he said. Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Front, was excluded from the rally.

Exclusion of Evil Rightiesl Righties makes a timeless fit to the Times narrative, free expression and national unity notwithstanding.

IRONY LOST: The NY Times editorializes in support of the rally:

United in Outrage

...

But with the horror and fears raised by the attacks still fresh, it was important and proper that the first response in Paris — as elsewhere in France, across Europe and across the Atlantic — was a resounding and united demonstration of outrage and solidarity. Simply by turning out in vast numbers, the marchers eloquently demonstrated a shared conviction that Charlie Hebdo was exercising a right fundamental to democracy, the right of free expression. No perceived provocation, no grievance and certainly no religious conviction justifies killing those who wield only a pen.

Read casually, one could mistake that for a call for free speech. But don't be fooled by their use of "exercising a right fundamental to democracy, the right of free expression".

What the Times editors really support is clarified in the next sentence - they are opposed to murder, not censorship. David Brooks, William Saletan, and Nick Gillespie all looked at this.

Back to the editors:

Perhaps the greatest danger in the wake of the massacres is that more Europeans will come to the conclusion that all Muslim immigrants on the Continent are carriers of a great and mortal threat. Anti-immigrant sentiments were already at a dangerous level, making it essential for national and pan-European leaders in coming days to underscore that extremism is not inherent to the Muslim faith, and that the Islamists themselves are hardly a single entity.

So shutting out the National Front was simply a response to the "greatest danger". With these guys the danger is never the terrorism, it is always the expected right-wing over-reaction.

PUTTING THE 'SPECIAL' BACK IN THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP: Blistering criticism of Team Obama in the Daily Mail masks the news that at least the Brits now realize it is not just them.

STOP THE MUSIC! Matt Yglesias reads the National Front policy prescriptions and finds something sensible - France needs to dump the Euro.

Comments

[Comanche Voter]

Well I've heard it said that Obozo had a pressing event on his schedule--watching the NFL playoffs.

And then there was the fact that that scoundrel Bibi Netanyahu was going to be one of the guests at the party in Paris, and Obozo would never go to a party where Netanyahu was a guest. So there's that as well.

[Frau Edith Steingehirn]

Thomas Lifson concludes about Lurch, former Senator Conehead (D-South of France),

"But as a number of people have quipped, he is quite comfortable saying, “Je suis Charlie” because he used to say it all the time in Vietnam."

[narciso]

but of course, grey poupon

http://patterico.com/2015/01/12/john-kerry-you-people-quit-criticizing-this-white-house-about-the-paris-march/#comment-1728577

[NKvirusedand back]

Frau@11:08-- too funny.

[maryrose]

Frau: You are hilarious,commemnt of the day !

[NKvirusedand back]

How long before Nikki M winds up like Mussolini? http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-12/venezuela-woos-qatar-as-oil-rout-exacerbates-cash-crunch.html

[Captain Hate]

Is there a French word for "lantern jaw"?

[narciso]

'there's a fine line between clever and stupid' and Hollandaise doesn't get that,

[Porchlight]

I think Obama has the Spurs in the Rose Garden today. Can't miss the chance to appropriate someone else's glory and get his honorary jersey.

That said, I think he's just trolling us. Oh, plus he's on the side of the bad guys.

[Danube on iPad]

Next month's summit at the White House is to discuss how to combat "extremism."

[Extraneus]

I can't get annoyed at our lack of participation in the Parisian demonstration. First of all, we couldn't send anyone higher than an assistant secretary who wouldn't be a complete embarrassment. More importantly, the gathering was a useless effort without any discernible value except to Muslim fundamentalists, who surely viewed it with glee.

What was its purpose? What was it supposed to accomplish?

[narciso]

yes, I'm not buying the argument, why weren't they detained when they came back from Yemen?

http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?from=fr&to=en&a=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lefigaro.fr%2Fconjoncture%2F2015%2F01%2F12%2F20002-20150112ARTFIG00083--charlie-hebdo-le-budget-illisible-du-renseignement.php

[narciso]

well he is, but Zaphod always wants to be in the middle of the action 'citizen of the world' and all that folderall,

[narciso]

of course, by 'extremism' they mean tea party,

[Danube on iPad]

Comparing the reaction to Charlie Ebdol with that to the Boko Haram massacre, one could conclude that black lives don't matter very much.

[Jim Eagle]

CH,

lanterne mâchoire:)

[clarice]

Love, the header, TM

[James D.]

NK on the previous thread:

Rowling's rant is not just idiocy it's hypocrisy. She is a multi-millionaire based on kids books based on the dangers of self-deceit about evil and the destruction caused by denying its existence. The Jihadis are Rowling's deatheaters, her willful denial of that makes her hypocrisy world class.

I guess we can add her to the list of writers who miss the point of their own work. She can sit next to Joss Whedon, I suppose.

[Captain Hate]

I think Obama has the Spurs in the Rose Garden today. Can't miss the chance to appropriate someone else's glory and get his honorary jersey.

He's such a shameless jock sniffer.

Thanks, JiB; too bad the Norks are such friends of terrorists or they'd be using their five IP addresses to spam it everywhere.

[narciso]

an interesting perspective,

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/cia-bides-its-time/article/2558407

[maryrose]

I agree with Sue and Publius.Dez caught the ball.The rule is stupid and wrong. Packers are "America's team "so the fix was in. Even the announcer was pro-Pack. I wanted Dallas and I hope they remember this travesty next year. Now I am pulling for Seattle. no one should win this way amidst controversy.
Jane: I pick New England to win it all.

[Extraneus]

BBC reporter to worried French Jewish woman: The Palestinians suffer at “Jewish hands” too, you know

After the French government began to send invitations to world leaders to participate in the rally against terror, Hollande’s national security adviser, Jacques Audibert, contacted his Israeli counterpart, Yossi Cohen, and said that Hollande would prefer that Netanyahu not attend, the source said.

Audibert explained that Hollande wanted the event to focus on demonstrating solidarity with France, and to avoid anything liable to divert attention to other controversial issues, like Jewish-Muslim relations or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Audibert said that Hollande hoped that Netanyahu would understand the difficulties his arrival might pose and would announce that he would not be attending.

The source noted that one of the French concerns – not conveyed to representatives of the Israeli government – was that Netanyahu would take advantage of the event for campaign purposes and make speeches, especially about the Jews of France. Such statements, the Elysee Palace feared, would hurt the demonstration of solidarity the French government was trying to promote as part of dealing with the terror attacks.

What was the purpose of this rally again?

[Sandy "I Stand with Walker 2016" Daze ن]

Bares repeating:

Of course, we should note that this was not really a National Unity rally - the "far-right" party that won 25% of the French vote in European elections last spring was not invited. So, this was a Partial Unity rally in favor of constrained free expression - vivé la France!

[narciso]

pictures are worth a thousand words:

https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/554644060049522689/photo/1

[Sandy "I Stand with Walker 2016" Daze ن]

errr, bears repeating...

[NKvirusedand back]

Please no 'fix' was in; that is the 'rule'. The rule is stupid, but it was correctly applied.

Seahawks probably beat the injured Rodgers; I just hope Andy Luck beats the Brady Bunch and Belicheat.

[Sandy "I Stand with Walker 2016" Daze ن]

This too:

Thomas Lifson concludes about Lurch, former Senator Conehead (D-South of France),

"But as a number of people have quipped, he is quite comfortable saying, “Je suis Charlie” because he used to say it all the time in Vietnam."

[Iggy]

Here's the Rowling stupidity which JamesD and NK refer to from the previous thread;
Yes, JK Rowling is just as stupid as one might imagine her to be; referring to "so-called Islamic terrorists".
She also refers to herself as being "born a Christian" which is about as ignorant a comment as one might make on the subject.

[NKvirusedand back]

JamesD-- I assume Rowling understands the theme of her books, she is in wilful denial of who the deatheaters and who the 'Order' are. To Rowling the christian right are the evil deatheaters, and the buggerers are the virtuous Order.

[Ben]

Lafayette is a sentimental reference. Just as McArthur used him as an prop for freedom and democracy, it resonates 'Je suis' or whatever.

No one looks at the postscript of the French Revolution in context.

We have our own Bonapartes stealing the narrative.

[Sandy "I Stand with Walker 2016" Daze ن]

Just back from my parish's "Social Outreach" a 21st century soup kitchen (M-W-F), and food pantry (available only once every two months per "client").

Very, VERY apolitical, not once in my several years experience has politics or current political events, been part of the conversation among the volunteers.

Until today. Eight volunteers, six in one room. In that one room all five were exchanging views re the non-attendance from the USA. I walked in (#6) on the conversation, very surprised at what I heard (all uniformly negative); kept my comment brief, and deadpanned:

"Well, I understand it was a meeting of world leaders."

Pause, 1-2-3.

Ouch. Was like a tactical nuke.

All agreed.

I'll repeat, I have never heard anything political discussed before. I could not even tell, if asked, what political sympathies are held by the other volunteers.

If this anecdotal experience is any guide, after years of being hit with a sledgehammer, it is the hammer that did not attend, that has woken up the hoi polloi.

[Janet - healthy and jolly as a joker!]

What was the purpose of this rally again?

The same can be said of all rallies. If I'd have been in Paris, I would have gone.

There is something energizing about being with so many people that decide to speak up about an issue. The really big 9-12 march was like that.
A big..."you are not the only one" makes me braver.
If it feels like everyone will attack you for speaking out against Islam (which the MFM does)...the rally lets you know that there are MANY who are thinking the same thing you are.

CH was attacked for years, so it's sad that it took their slaughter to finally get people out.

[narciso]

'from a certain point of view' the abstention might look like a 'shout out' to the ban lieu's. relying on Boulabidier (sic)
the paris mosque chief as interlocutors,

of course, that is wrong because the drone strikes haven't earned them any goodwill in that quarter,

[Danube on iPad]

Je suis Charlie Martel.

[danoso]

I doubt the rule change. It didn't after Calvin Johnson's mishap a few years back, and that one was clearly a catch. You hit the ground, you have to hold onto the ball, and he didn't. But I do love the whining.

[Extraneus]

Yeah, I understand that to a point. I went to tea party rallies, too, but the purpose was to show opposition to Obama and the federal government.

Were Abbas and all the others marching in order to show opposition to Muslims? Religious Muslims? Solidarity with Jews?

"Je suis Charlie" just seems so phony and lame.

[Extraneus]

Je suis Charlie Martel.

Ha. Much better!

[Porchlight]

We need a Charles Martel. Desperately.

[Danube on iPad]

The author of the phrase "Lafayette, we are here" was Col. Charles Stanton. The reference had nothing to do with the French revoolution; it was an acknowledgement of the vital role played by the French in the American revolution, in which Lafayette was a participant.

[danoso]

Actually, looking a Megatron's again, his wasn't an obvious catch. I remember him a placing the ball on the ground, but it was forced out when he rolled over.

[narciso]

one wonders where some of that ransom money
paid out to AQAP and other parties, ended up.

[Janet - healthy and jolly as a joker!]

I guess people step out in the moment that IS.

We can all wait for a perfect event, with only saintly people attending, with perfect motives, totally honorable leaders...& nothing will change.
I agree that it is sad that it happened so late. And the MFM - who STILL won't print the cartoons - acting all "in solidarity" makes me sick. But I like that people came out. It will make the citizenry braver.

[narciso]

it was symbolic, but it was still too tenuously close to reality,

[NKvirusedand back]

Denial about the Jihadi threat is like any other obsessive disorder (alchohol, weed, cigarettes, food), the first step to overcoming it is admitting there is a problem. The Euro political class and the sheeple are admitting Jihadis are a real problem, they are not a Righty bogeyman.

[Danube on iPad]

The very model of a modern major single-payer system:

"A Vietnam veteran denied a vital cancer checkup for more than a year by the VA in Atlanta died at home on Saturday. Great-grandfather, Norman Spivey, 64, passed away from complications arising from Stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to his liver and lymph nodes. He was seen for the first time and diagnosed as terminal in July and Spivey´s wife, Gayla, has revealed her fury at the fatal delay."

[Ben]

It's a sentiment regardless of who said first (Pershing).

Sentiment is the cheapest of the emotions.

[MarkO]

Free Beacon ‏@FreeBeacon · 3m3 minutes ago
!!! RT @lachlan: CENTCOM's YouTube page has also been hacked. Three ISIS propaganda videos posted https://www.youtube.com/user/centcom

[Danube on iPad]

"It will make the citizenry braver."

Perhaps it will also put some governments on notice. Even this one.

[MarkO]

NBC Nightly News ‏@NBCNightlyNews · 2m2 minutes ago

JUST IN: U.S. defense official confirms @CENTCOM has been hacked, scrambling to deal with the issue -@JimMiklaszewski

DOOM™®

[henry]

MarkO, includes personal information of retired general officers. This is bad.

[Porchlight]

I think war is coming.

[Sandy "I Stand with Walker 2016" Daze ن]

Janet, to follow up on your Mattis Quotes in the earlier thread, I will take this opportunity to cross-post a comment from JoM, 10 Nov 2013, "Eat Dirt"

I say, we need to adopt one of the MARINEs' mottos (well, as attributed to General Mad Dawg Mattis)
“Demonstrate to the world there is ‘No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy’ than a U.S. Marine.”

In fact, on this the 238th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps, a few other Mad Dog quotes for your consideration (warning, salty language follows):

“The first time you blow someone away is not an insignificant event. That said, there are some assholes in the world that just need to be shot.”

“I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I’ll kill you all.”

“Find the enemy that wants to end this experiment (in American democracy) and kill every one of them until they’re so sick of the killing that they leave us and our freedoms intact.”

“The most important six inches on the battlefield is between your ears.”

“Fight with a happy heart and strong spirit”

Let me be the first to say it

MATTIS 2016.
Maddog for Top Dog.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I Stand With Walker 2016; but certainly wouldn't mind standing with Mattis 2016--although I think it is unlikely.

How about I Stand With

Walker-Mattis 2016 !

Yeah, ef-yeaaaaah, that's the ticket!

[narciso]

last week's episode of NCIS, reminded me of this, last season , a Russian hacker, had sent a virus into their servers, the consequences were seen in this one,

[Jim Eagle]

Porch,

As "Mad Dog" has noted "the enemy has a vote". They're voting and we are staying home. Hell, we don't even march in show parades any more.

[Sandy "I Stand with Walker 2016" Daze ن]

Can anyone tell me what is the difference between "an IS attack" and an attack by "an IS-sympathizer?"

Radio news at the top of the hour said re the hack against CENTCOM, it could not be determined if it was by one or the other.

Aren't the "IS" and "IS Sympathizers" the same thing?

Or, are we talking "core IS" and the larger IS diaspora ????????

[jimmyk]

"Je suis Charlie" just seems so phony and lame.

Ext, as I said previously, I agree, but when you are President, actions and inactions make a statement. Simply not going doesn't make the statement that it's phony and lame, just "I don't give a s**t." Not going and saying why not is a more useful exercise.

[henry]

Sandy, if bozo has a drone handy, it will hit "ISIS," otherwise it's a sympathizer.

[Jim Eagle]

From the Reuters story on the Centcom hack:

"The apparent infiltration came as President Barack Obama prepared to outline new proposals to protect the country's Internet systems from cybersecurity threats."

The Merde Touch at Work again!

[jimmyk]

I think war is coming.

I think it's come already, especially in Europe, but already no doubt in the U.S., but only one side is really active, the other is failing to respond meaningfully.

[Danube on iPad]

These words were spoken during World War I at the tomb of the Marquis de Lafayette during a speech honoring his heroic service in the cause of the American Revolution. On 4 July 1917 Paris celebrated American Independence Day. A U.S. battalion marched to the Picpus Cemetery, where several speeches were made at Lafayette's tomb. The historic words uttered on that occasion, "Lafayette, nous voilà" (Lafayette, we are here), have been popularly, but erroneously, attributed to General John J. Pershing. He stated that they were spoken by Colonel Charles E. Stanton, and "to him must go the credit for coining so happy and felicitous a phrase."

[Jane]

The tap dancing has begun.

Obama didn't go - despite wanting to, because he is more important than everyone else in the world.

[Jane]

"U.S. defense official confirms @CENTCOM has been hacked, scrambling to deal with the issue"

Catherine Herrige has a handle on this and according to her it is huge. Unfortunately I'm not smart enough to explain it to you.

Earnest is still tap dancing. His shoes are very shiny.

[Miss Marple]

Jane,

Did you hear the French reporter woman?

Imagine this in a heavy French accent, dripping with contempt:

"Zis so-called conference you sent zee announcement out about on Sunday, what is zee point of zis?"

[RickB]

The absence of His Petulance, Head of the Freeshit Army, is more probably due to pique over the lack of concrete support by the EUtopians in various venues where leading from his behind has left chaos rather than the Shining Rainbow shown in the Flaccid Power Manual.

We're always much better off when he's sulking in the Oval Office or chooming it up on the links.

[Miss Marple]

Ed Henry pointing out he went to the Mandela funeral. He is doing good, not giving up!

[Jane]

Ed Henry is giving Earnest shit: "So you prepared for this little presser, what was the president doing yesterday?"

" I didn't ask him"

Ta Dum

"Why could he go to the Mandela funeral?"

"We planned for that for years"

I wonder if Mandela knew

[Jane]

Saw it MM.

[NKvirusedand back]

"Why could he go to the Mandela funeral?"

He liked Mandela. He doesn't like white people who aren't MB.

[Old Lurker]

Rick, speaking of the FSA, I see today that the Progs in Congress are proposing a huge new redistribution from the 1% to themselves. (Van Hollen speaking on their behalf).

Obviously going nowhere but I take that as laying a background for a Warren run.

[Captain Hate]

We're always much better off when he's sulking in the Oval Office or chooming it up on the links.

Yes, surely the world knows that we're stuck with the spoiled brat and appreciates keeping him away.

[Iggy]

--I think war is coming.--

That's been a pretty safe bet for the last....well, ever.

[narciso]

it's like Dr, Strangelove's involuntary salute,

[Danube on iPad]

BTW, I think the Colonel must have said "Lafayetten nous voici."

N'est-ce pas?

[Threadkiller]

Je suis Charlie Martel.

http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2015/01/ill-pass-this-along.html?cid=6a00d83451b2aa69e201b8d0bc911a970c#comment-6a00d83451b2aa69e201b8d0bc911a970c

[Miss Marple]

They are trying this "Wow the White House apologized and this hardly ever happens" meme.

I am not accepting that. Obama has been in office 6 years, this isn't something that came up in the first month with a green staff.

WHO made the decision? (Earnest said not Obama.) Then WHO? Valerie Jarrett? If so, name her!

And make HER apologize to the public and to France!

[Porchlight]

Okay, let me clarify. I think a much larger war is coming, and fairly soon. You can't demonstrate weakness and vulnerability on this scale without major attacks on US interests if not the US homeland.

[RickB]

OL,

I've never actually listened to Red Squaw lie but she'd have to be better than even an extraordinarily good liar like Bubba to overcome the general distrust engendered by BOzo in his BOzocare sales pitch. Given that lying is the foundation of the progressive Fascist Party, I have reservations as to the probability of her success.

The LIVs and especially the Lackwitz Sisters and Millenials are getting hit with the BOzocare frozen flounder every time they avoid medical care due to increased deductibles. BOzocare is a very good instruction aid concerning progressive free lunch.

[jimmyk]

I think a much larger war is coming

I agree, Porch, and didn't mean to quibble. I've been losing a bit of sleep over this, given NYC's particular vulnerability. I was glad to get an e-mail from my daughter's school about a lock-down drill, especially as I know this school is under no illusions that the main threat comes from an angry right-wing Republican. But I still feel that both she and I are at obvious targets, as is NYC in general.

The sad conclusion is that preemptive strikes are very difficult, so it's necessary to suffer a major attack before taking any offensive response.

[Jane]

Paris police are looking for 6 more cell members.

[Jane]

Jimmy,

I'm 2 hours away if you and your family ever think you have to get out.

[daddy]

The tap dancing has begun.
Obama didn't go - despite wanting to, because he is more important than everyone else in the world.

Jane and Miss M,

I live blogged Tapper (next thread) on CNN saying this just after the Josh Ernest tap dance:

Tapper: This is being referred to as France's 9/11...Truly I have to say that it was beyond just optics. You also have to look at the fact of who was the first world leader who came to New York after 9/11? it was the President of France. I don't think that our relation with France is shaken with the President not being there or Biden not being there, or Mitch McConnell or John Boehner, or any other American leader, but it reaffirms, it would have reaffirmed, not just in the minds of the French people but in the minds of the American people. I think that's important for people too convey.

That bit about McConnell or Boehner sure struck me as odd. Why the hell should those 2 of their own accord have jumped right up 36 hours before the event and gone? The presumption of every thinking individual in the world is that this is the Administrations responsibility and the Administration, meaning the President, takes the Lead. Not Boehner, not McConnell, but President Obama. He's the sunuvabitch with Air Force 1 and Air Force 2. He's the sunuvabith who should have taken action, and if it had been Bush, Bush would have gone and he would invited the opposition leaders of the House and Senate tand the members of the Press to come on along with him. That's how it works, not the other way round you jackass.

Now I click on Tapper's column posted at Insty: Jake Tapper: I'm ashamed by U.S. leaders' absence in Paris, wherein he says this:

And this is not just a matter of the current occupant of the White House.

I find it hard to believe that Speaker of the House John Boehner and new Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had more worthy pursuits on Sunday than standing side-by-side with our French brothers and sisters as they came together in an inspirational way...

Chris Christie, Scott Walker and Paul Ryan attended the Green Bay-Dallas football game Sunday and at least one of them sent his potential rivals mischievous tweets as if they were contemplating running for president of Beta Theta Pi.

And Jeb? Mitt? Crickets...

Kiss my ass you piece of shit, Tapper. So Scott Walker, who your network won't give the time of day to, should have decided to go to France to show Unity? If you're going to be so GD'd idiotic. then why the hell didn't Wolf Blitzer go; or your damn boss Zucker? Why the hell should those morons get a free pass?

This is the responsibility of the White House. Quit trying to collectively smear Republican's in your damn damage control efforts at protecting this White House. The fault lies with Obama---and with Holder sitting on his ass in Paris and not even participating.

And then to top it all off, as soon as Ernest's Press Conference is over, you congratulate Ernest on being wise for not answering any specific questions about who screwed up and for allowing those question to be "unpacked" in future by underlings, when little damage will accrue to the President.

Eff you Tapper and the network you rode in on.

[rich@gmu]

Posted by: Old Lurker | January 12, 2015 at 02:01 PM-

saw that flagged up in the WaPo ... paid for by closing "tax expenditures"-Yikes.

>>>All told, the package is about a third of the size of tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush.<<<

[jimmyk]

Thanks, Jane, I will remember that. Mrs K usually thinks of her mother's place in Lake Placid as a refuge, but that's 5 hours away.

Also, to clarify, when I said "preemptive strikes are very difficult" I meant politically. No one gets credit for preventing something unless there is clear evidence that it was in progress.

[pagar]

"You can't demonstrate weakness and vulnerability on this scale without major attacks on US interests if not the US homeland."

http://babalublog.com/2015/01/12/obamass-new-cuba-policy-gives-communist-castro-dictatorship-a-hemispheric-coup/

"If this sounds familiar, it's because the exact same arguments were made in the months and weeks leading up to the 2009 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad. Just days before that summit, the Obama Administration did ease sanctions against Cuba. Despite this "gesture," "Obama was not received in Trinidad as a hero. He was treated as a pushover."

The Panama Summit:
"The Obama Administration initially stated its opposition to Cuba being invited to the Summit. However, in a turn-around announcement on December 17, it chose to "lead from behind" and acquiesce to the whims of those hemispheric leaders all-too-eager and willing to suspend the "democracy clause." Not only has President Obama now accepted Cuba's participation, but he will also be there to personally welcome dictator Raul Castro."

The result will be a total sellout of all democracy in Latin America, IMO.

[RickB]

Porchlight,

I can see why the pervasive carrion stench from the MENA dump fires lit by the President's application of flaccid power to engender Arab Spring might seem to foretell wider war but I don't see much in the way of a threat to US or EUtopian strategic interest. There's certainly no shortage of rabid Mahometans and every effort should be made to get them tickets to Syria and Iraq to keep that dump fire going but the demographic and financial resources necessary to sustain widespread war outside of MENA do not appear to be available.

[jimmyk]

Despite this "gesture," Obama was not received in Trinidad as a hero. He was treated as a pushover.

Sent to Taranto for his "Fox Butterfield, Is That You?" category.

[daddy]

Comparing the reaction to Charlie Ebdol with that to the Boko Haram massacre, one could conclude that black lives don't matter very much. Posted by Danube.

Correct DoT,

But from the Prez going to Africa for Madela's death, one could similarly conclude that Obama doesn't think dead whites matter as much as dead blacks.