If We Won't Send People To Syria...

The Western allies, under Obama's "leadership", won't send anyone to Syria, so they are sending their people to us. The refugee disaster in Europe is bad and getting worse.

And the Times notices the connection! Sort of:

Exodus of Syrians Highlights Political Failure of the West

...

It was never any secret that a rising tide of Syrian refugees would sooner or later burst the seams of the Middle East and head for Europe. Yet little was done in Western capitals to stop or mitigate the slow-motion disaster that was befalling Syrian civilians and sending them on the run.

“The migrant crisis in Europe is essentially self-inflicted,” said Lina Khatib, a research associate at the University of London and until recently the head of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut. “Had European countries sought serious solutions to political conflicts like the one in Syria, and dedicated enough time and resources to humanitarian assistance abroad, Europe would not be in this position today.”

"Serious solutions" might have included a no-fly zone and arms to moderate rebels, which of course was far too serious a step for our leaders of the West.

But let me not go crazy here - the Times has their own description of the page that brought us here:

As the numbers of displaced Syrians mounted to 11 million today from a trickle in 2011, efforts to reach a political solution gained little traction. The United States and Russia bickered in the Security Council while Syrian government warplanes continued indiscriminate barrel bombing, the Islamic State took over new areas, other insurgent groups battled government forces and one another, and Syria’s economy collapsed.

Just bickering over politics. An utter unwillingness to confront an arguably evil and illegitimate force with greater force was never part of the problem.

Fortunately, Lafayette had no such scruples about a war-weary France back when the US was trying to shake free from an unwanted ruler.

Whatever - we elected and re-elected Obama so let's suck it up and hope Europe can do the same.

GOOD POINT! At least Obama retained his eligibility for lunch boxes.

Comments

[lyle]

Sorry for the repost but this fits better on this thread:

Politicians only know how to do a limited number of things. Nicholas Kristoff, a columnist in the New York Times tweeted “I generally agree with Obama’s foreign policy, but he has badly mismanaged Syria, and the result is the tragedy and outflow of refugees.” So what does the president do? He goes to Alaska and renames a peak. He goes and stares down a glacier. He issues an emergency order to accept refugees from Yemen. It’s easy to rename rocks. It’s harder to change people.

http://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2015/09/03/plain-omelette-no-potatoes-tomatoes-instead/#more-44742

[Thomas Collins]

I guess Obama's red line diplomacy is in need of reset.

[Eric in Boise]

I guess the resettlement of Central and South Americans went so swimmingly that it's time to extend it to North Africans. Operation "New Friends and Neighbors" is officially underway!

"Challenger go at throttle up."

[lyle]

“And now the State Department has everything that they could have,” she continued. “So at the end of the day, I’m sorry that this has been confusing to people and has raised a lot of questions. But there are answers to all these questions, and I will continue to provide those answers.”

Translation: "Just give me the goddamn keys to White House already, you filthy proles!"

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/423591/clinton-i-was-not-thinking-lot-when-i-set-private-e-mail-account-brendan-bordelon

[lyle]

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-on-the-right/090315-769670-bipartisan-majorities-in-congress-oppose-obama-iran-deal.htm

More failure theater. McTurtle could nuke the filibuster if he wanted and force the vote, right?

[lyle]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/taxpayers-more-pension-burdens-headed-your-way-1441388090

Gee, who could have seen this coming?

[Johns_Creek_Bill]

Regarding HH and Trump -

Delegating is a key aspect of management success, however, some basic knowledge of a major issue is required as well.

Trump not knowing the difference between Hamas and Hezbollah is a concern and exhibits a certain lack of seriousness on his part.

It is pretty obvious he has no guiding principles besides his belief that he is the smartest most fantastic guy in a world full of losers.

It is also pretty obvious that he has not given serious thought to the issues we face. Being an LIV is one thing but he appears to be a LIC.

I get that support for Trump is a big FU to the ruling elites, however, at the end of the day I am unsure how the nation benefits if we elect a squish (which given the history of who he supported is a best case scenario) when it comes to economic and social issues.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

Yes, McTurtle can change the filibuster rules. They aren't set in the Constitution.

[lyle]

Thanks, CH. Chances of that happening? Zero.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

When does 404 apologize to he Navahos and start firing people in the EPA.

[Johns_Creek_Bill]

Better to nuke the filibuster when there is a Republican president.

Nuking it now will have no impact on the Iran Deal

[Johns_Creek_Bill]

"When does 404 apologize to he Navahos and start firing people in the EPA."

Captain,

About the same time he next shares a bed with Moochelle.

[narciso]

Kristof is a knave, fool having been long since ascertained. Our allies in ankara, Doha and Riyadh allowed this to happen, for northern syria to become what Snyder called eastern Europe.

[narciso]

Dial the neuraluzer with that image.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

JCB, considering the other countries have already lifted the sanctions and 404 and Lurch took it to the UN, any impact after that would be symbolic. But that doesn't absolve the Senate from doing its job.

[Beasts of England]

I really don't give a shit if a candidate in September of 2015 knows the difference between Hamas and Hezbollah. Not one shit.

And please name me a candidate who better understands economic issues than Trump. And social issues? I'd say that Trump has his finger on the pulse of those, as well.

Trump is not my guy. I'd say Cruz-Fiorina is my desire at the moment, but I could easily vote for and support a Trump nomination.

[narciso]

Bloodlands is the phrase I was a going for, and that 2014 link about the Syrian head of the Hamburg cell, should be on some people's minds.

[Beasts of England]

Let me add that I think the biggest enemy this country faces is its own ruling elite. Pretty sure that Trump can name those assholes.

[Beasts of England]

One more thing: the doer class in this country is being overrun by bureaucracy at every level and the taker class. Trump understands this in spades. Case closed.

Off to the boat before I have a come-apart. ;)

[Miss Marple]

Beasts,

Apparently a lot of people have forgotten that George W. Bush flunked an earlier version of Hewitt's type of questioning and much pearl-clutching was done on his ignorance of important questions like "Who is the president of Poland?"

Well, I get Hamas and Hezbollah mixed up myself adn lump them both into the "terrorists who blow up Israelis" category, which is not much different from Fiorina's "Iranian-funded terrorist groups." I also confuse all the Arabic names. Keeping them straight is the job of the CIA, Defense and State, who can supply a photo-chart of titled "Know Your Scum-Bag Terrorists."

I am sure Obama can identify all of them since he is way more familiar with Muslim names, and since he likes to make sure he avoids doing anything to harm them.

This is a non-issue and I am with you. You get a candidate who gets people interested and the smart set people decide to trash him. I am not amused.

Fiorina has an advantage on these questions because she spent quite a bit of time doing business with countries in the region. I back her as my preferred candidate, but I do not like this type of set-up from Hewitt and I do not think that Trump's people will suddenly lose confidence in him due to the results.

Those ARE gotcha questions when you are pretty sure that the candidate doesn't know the answers and are doing it to help out your favorite GOPe types. Similarly, it would be gotcha questions to Ted Cruz to ask him the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, the amount of acceptible radioation a nuclear facility would emit, or whether or not the human genome project is completed.

Questions like these are not sincere interest in someone's character or leadership style. They are designed to do harm in order to help someone else.

[Miss Marple]

http://twitchy.com/2015/09/04/very-unusual-why-did-president-obama-greet-saudi-arabias-king-salman-like-this-photos/?utm_source=autotweet&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=twitter

[Thomas Collins]

Hewitt's questions are gotcha questions. And judgment is more important than the ability to rattle off answers to Hewitt type queries. But basic knowledge is important, and Fiorina clearly has that. In addition, I have seen nothing to convince me that Trump would exercise better judgment as a POTUS than Walker or Fiorina. I would rather have Fiorina or Walker dealing with Congress, the Russkies, Red China, the mullahs and the NoKos than Trump.

Trump articulates the nonsense the credentialed moronocracy spews forth, and takes them on. So have many talk radio hosts over the years. Useful skill to be sure, but not one that, by itself, should make one a serious POTUS contender.

[Miss Marple]

Thomas Collins,

I agree to a certain extent, but Trump's style does not necessarily mean he will not have good judgement.

Agree about Fiorina. Not sure about Walker due to his hesitancy exhibited so far.

My basic foreign policy questions are "Will you destroy ISIS?" and "Can you stand up to Putin and Xi.?

[GUS]

"I generally agree with Obama's foreign policy".

What the f@#k???

You mean you generally agree that Obama is a MARXIST CLUSTERFOCK???

[Man Tran]

Just stirred the air over BOI. Hope Lyle and Eric enjoy it. Feel whupped after a week of listening to world class eng. mechanics types elaborate on rolling contact fatigue. The worst part: about 80% were very bright people for whom English was 2nd language and they all suffered from the dreaded beta lilt (tm).

[narciso]

Well they wouldn't put it that way, Gus. What does one do at the tail end of a war, that has gone on for than a maker's dozen years.

[GUS]

Trump attacked Hewitt after the interview.

Read Trumps attack of Hewitt, and then ask yourself. Is TRUMP Presidential.

His ego is bigger than his intellect. Trump has a purpose, but let's not ignore obvious flaws.

[Captain Hate on the iPad]

I still think it's amusing that the GOPe attack gerbils go after Trump much more rabidly than they do 404. And apparently don't think we notice.

[GUS]

Capn' the GOP establishment, LIKES being #2. Trump is more of a threat than the MARXOCRAT PARTY. The MARXISTS like the GOP 'Just the way it is'.
Trump threatens, Rove and McCakeHole and Boner et al.

[Neo]

Democratic Party Platform of 1996

Today's Democratic Party also believes we must remain a nation of laws. We cannot tolerate illegal immigration and we must stop it. For years before Bill Clinton became President, Washington talked tough but failed to act. In 1992, our borders might as well not have existed. The border was under-patrolled, and what patrols there were, were under-equipped. Drugs flowed freely. Illegal immigration was rampant. Criminal immigrants, deported after committing crimes in America, returned the very next day to commit crimes again.

[narciso]

The more I read, the fewer answers I see. Is this what many rank and file Americans see. Miss khatib is still enchanted with the Arab spring, someone give her a Gibbs slap.

[Cispigmented Heteronormative Microagressive Vulgarian Ignatz]

Pretty sure Syria and Libya are Bush's fault...
...and Turkey and Egypt and Yemen and Somalia and Sudan and Iran and Eritrea and Chicago and the EPA spill and the labor participation rate and....

[Johns_Creek_Bill]

In Trump's line of work you need to be a crony capitalist in order to succeed. That is his world and that is what he is.

I have not seen any indication that he is a believer in Free Enterprise.

He is just another one of these people who thinks that he is the smartest guy in the room (or he will bring in the smartest guy in the room)and that they have the IQ points to outwit markets.

His embracing of protectionist rhetoric is a clear indication that his grasp of economics is not as strong as one would think.

Trump's great strength is his ability to punch the people who deserve punching. While that provides comfort on a visceral level and is entertaining as hell it is not a substitute for a governing philosophy and guiding ideology.

My guess is that Putin and Xi view him as clown and who craves adulation as much as King Three Putt.

[narciso]

Point taken, but both volodya and xi regard most anyone that way. You think they respect Cameron or Sarkozy or merkel

[Extraneus]

“The migrant crisis in Europe is essentially self-inflicted,” said Lina Khatib, a research associate at the University of London and until recently the head of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut.

Duh. Hungary has a 109 mile border with Serbia, which they left completely unprotected. 109 miles. How many people does it take to guard a 109 mile border?

[Johns_Creek_Bill]

They would respect a Reagan, Eisenhower or Thatcher.

Looking at the GOP field I think they would respect Fiorina and Walker

[Extraneus]

Ex-Clinton aide testifies in Beghazi probe behind closed doors, Dem lashes out

Separately, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., a member of the panel, wrote in a New York Times op-ed that the committee had become "little more than a partisan tool to influence the presidential race, a dangerous precedent that will haunt Congress for decades."

He said the panel had let down the families of those killed in the attacks.

That prompted a highly unusual attack from Jamal Ware, a spokesman for the GOP-led panel. In an email to reporters, Ware blasted Schiff, saying he had not attended enough of the panel's meetings to levy criticism, including Friday's session. Schiff was traveling from California to Washington on Friday.

"You all need to ask Mr. Schiff how it is he has drawn these conclusions since he has only seen fit to attend one hour of one witness interview since the committee was constituted," Ware said.

Take that, Adam.

[henry]

Hewitt was last seen on Twitter arguing we should give citizenship to all the illegales ninos because... he says so.

Let's give every arriving Syrian or North African keys to Hewitt's house and car, as well as his debit and credit cards. For the same reason he wants us to give everything to the illegales.

[GUS]

To compare Trump to Obama is a hoot. Obama is a COMPLETELY USELESS MARXIST FUKWAD. Trump is not.
I'm no fan of TRUMP, but the fact that he'll get in Putin and Xi's faces and because Trump will assert American strength, Trump gets my attention.
I'm not saying I want Trump, I'm saying Obama is a DOUBLE SHIT BURGER, and Trump is not.

[narciso]

After what happened in libya, Shirley she can't be serious'

[GUS]

The BENGHAZI victims have been DEAD for 3 years. In that time, Rodham and Obama have stalled and slow walked any investigation, leading to Rodhams' own implosion. Rodham deserves serious SERIOUS prison time.
The LEFT has ZERO REGARD for our NATIONAL SECURITY. If you believe otherwise you're a moron.

[narciso]

The lead moneyman for the Jay vees was a Kuwaiti who ran a public school in birmingham, the other one.

[Johns_Creek_Bill]

Both Trump and Obama are narcissists who have an over-inflated sense of their intelligence and abilities.

Trump uses the word "I" as much as King Three Putt does.

[Jack is Back!]

From the git go I have warned about Trump.

Yeah he is rocking the boat but what if he is rocking the boat so hard all the viable candidates are no longer in the boat but sinking? He may be a great deal maker and manager but I thihk if you dig deep you will see many failures based on his judgement at the time. Financing, bad project modeling, optimitstc planning, underestimating his competition, partner issues, whatever, he has had some.

Sure, I get a big charge out of him being un-PC and totally bloviating the media out of their comfort zone but seriously is that what we want in a leader? Sorry, not me. My dad surved under Curtis LeMay and he was the role model for me for commitment, determination and purpose among the political elite. Trump couldn't carry LeMay's Hinson flight bag.

[Cispigmented Heteronormative Microagressive Vulgarian Ignatz]

--Both Trump and Obama are narcissists who have an over-inflated sense of their intelligence and abilities.--

Yep.

[Jack is Back!]

Geraldo on The Five. Over to Around the Horn, which is just as bad but they don't have him and Woody Paige is my favorite anyway.

[Extraneus]

Attorney for jailed clerk: Marriage licenses given to gay couples void, will appeal contempt

At least three gay couples received marriage licenses Friday from one of Davis' deputies, embracing and celebrating after repeatedly being turned away before Davis was jailed on Thursday.

Yay!

I warn you not to right-click on this celebratory moment.

.

[narciso]

Not on a bet.

[maryrose]

Hillary interview with Andrea big nothingburger
No one watched because they are all away for the Labor Day weekend
F Chuck effusive in his attaboy a
Will not directly apologize to the American people
Just sorry she got caught

[GUS]

I can't seem to right click and bring up anything.

[boris]

"him being un-PC and totally bloviating the media out of their comfort zone but seriously is that what we want in a leader?"

Might be a dirty job but somebody's got to do it.

For me the valid counter argument is that this election is a slam dunk for just about any of the candidates. Okay, but without Trump it's going to be Jeb and everybody is going to be so surprised when Hillary wins.

Does that mean it has to be Trump?

No. I want somebody other than Jeb and that means there has to be a monkey wrench big enough to confound the MFM and the GOPe.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/423539/ben-carson-donald-trump-better-outsider?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_content=55ea002004d301145e000001&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

I am convinced this is a sign that they know none of the traditional candidates are going to make it. It's also a blatant effort to get some of Trump's supporters to vote for Carson. (Note how he ignores Fiorina after a cursory mention.)

[Jack is Back!]

boris.

Even if it means the field is decimated by insult and invective but not on the issues?

Okay, enjoy your next quarto with some Dem, Biden, Clintonr or Warren. I am sure they will satisfy your monkey wrench result.

[GUS]

Jack, if you oppose Trump he attacks full bore.

Nice.

[maryrose]

Can't wait for college football tomorrow
Bama is on at night

[daddy on iPad]

If Mohammed will not go to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed.

Nice allusion in the header, TM.

If the mountain (Denali) will not move to the Mohammedians, move the Mohammedians to the mountain.

A bit scary that someone wants to move 65,000 Syrians to the U.S. I am sure Obama saw this week that my State is wide open as a dumping ground for new immigrants, since we have less than a million people living up here. 65.000 newcomers would be 1/4 of the total population of our largest city, and more than twice as large as any other city in the state. That many new voters could easily shift the electoral politics in such a small state. And they'd all be eligible for the PFD check.

Anybody know how to say "Sharia" in Athabascan?

[Jack is Back!]

GUS,

I have no problem with him attacking full bore. What I have a problem with as an ex-construciton executive who knows these guys, is how he willl govern as our President.

I've had it with amatuers.

[Miss Marple]

Jack,

I understand your frustration. However, of the "professionals" running, I am not convinced they would do any better than Trump. Jeb? Christie? Rand? Kasich? Rucio?

Maybe Cruz, but I don't think he can get elected. Walker has the aadministrative skills, but he is lacking in the inspirational quotient needed to get elected.

I favor Fiorina for this reason, as she seems to have the skill set and the ability to speak clearly and with force. Carson, being so smart, might be able to handle the job because he is a quick study and a unifier.

That's all I have to say.

[daddy on iPad]

Can't link it,, but interesting to see that the Dem Congresscritter who damned the Benghazi Hearings in a Times OpEd has only attended 1 of the 43 Hearings the Commuttee has had. Think it was a Daily Caller story if no one has posted it yet.

On the Kentucky Dem clerk in Jail for not marrying gays, caller in to a talk show, (a criminal defense attorney,) made the point that in his 30 years of defending members of the mob, they spent less time in jail right off the bat than this gal, because of all the roadblocks he would generally throw up to keep his defendants out of the slammer. His point was that she's getting treated worse by the legal system than lifelong gangsters from the mafia.

Was an interesting point, and he closed by mentioning that Cassius Clay, Muhammed Ali the boxer, had his conviction overturned by the 9th circuit boys under the umbrella of religious conviction, meaning that he didn't' have to comply with his draft notice because it conflicted with his newly acquired religious beliefs, therefore his conviction was tossed out.

I suppose I'd need to hear the other side, but was a fair discussion.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2958517/The-Mediterranean-sea-chaos-Gaddafi-s-chilling-prophecy-interview-ISIS-threatens-send-500-000-migrants-Europe-psychological-weapon-bombed.html

Apparently this article from February predicted the flood of immigrants into Europe.

[Extraneus]

Er...

NC teen facing jail for having naked pics — of himself

He'll be tried as an adult, for exploiting a minor.

[Miss Marple]

Regarding the Kentucky clerk:

Perhaps she wouldn't feel like she needed to take a stand if we hadn't seen the last 8 years of mocking our faith, lawsuits against nativities and crosses, prosecuted bakers and florists, forced birth control pills for convents, etc. etc.

There has been NO effort to ease an older generation nor a Christian population into these secular laws which turn things upside down. We are to bow to the will of the State and PRAISE those whom we find morally wrong. If you do not toe the line, they come after you with the fury of hell.

If gays want to live in a peaceful and just society, they wouldn't be making such an effort to punish those who disagree with them.

It's about revenge.

[Cispigmented Heteronormative Microagressive Vulgarian Ignatz]

I've had it with professionals.

[GUS]

Extraneus, the pictures were of an "adult" nature.
Jack. I have no problem with any CANDIDATE fighting back, but TRUMP goes ape shyte when anyone challenges him. Good temperment for a dictator or owner of his own business, not so good for a PRESIDENT.

[Cispigmented Heteronormative Microagressive Vulgarian Ignatz]

I've had it with experts.

[Cispigmented Heteronormative Microagressive Vulgarian Ignatz]

I've had it with our betters.

[DrJ]

Two (!) new threads.

[Stephanie]

Trump's point (which I agree with) is that as we drone and as they behead each other, the top players are in constant flux and cutting off the head won't stop the rest of the barbarians. Who needs to know who to 'deal with?' Blanket carpet bombing and some Warthogs will deal with them in the only language they know. You don't 'deal with' or have diplomatic dialog with barbarians. Bottom line, who gives a f@ck what their names are... kill em all.

[pagar]

Good point,Stephanie! Solves the entire problem.

[Jane]

And please name me a candidate who better understands economic issues than Trump. And social issues? I'd say that Trump has his finger on the pulse of those, as well.

I think Trump has a pulse on this stuff, but I am not convinced he has any actual beliefs.

And I'm also not convinced he is the great businessman he crows about. He inherited a bunch of property and has clearly enhanced his wealth multi fold, of that I do not dispute. But I don't get the impression that he is some phenomenal deal maker at all. I guess I just don't think his style puts him in that category. Maybe he is great at hiring people.

[boris]

From my POV Trump appears to be more lucky than smart.

An appearance that is often deliberate. If it is then reading the guy is not something I'm perceptive enough to try.

[Janet]

The guys leading now don't know too much.
John McCain doesn't know the meaning of Allahu Akbar!

http://www.frontpagemag.com/point/203031/no-john-allah-akbar-does-not-mean-thank-god-and-it-daniel-greenfield