The 80's Are Calling (Still Getting Muzak)

Lest you wondered, here are the Times editors echoing SecDef Ashton Kutcher:

The Pentagon’s Top Threat? Russia

By THE EDITORIAL BOARD  FEB. 3, 2016

The Pentagon has put Russia at the top of its list of national security threats with its plan to increase the deployment of heavy weapons, armored vehicles and troops on rotating assignment to NATO countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

In a speech on Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter listed a hierarchy of threats to the United States, which included China, North Korea, Iran and finally, the fight against terrorism. But his primary focus was Russia.

Yeah, we elected snark over substance in 2012. And by "we" I mean "you". OK, probably not the JOM "you". Would you believe "They"?

The Times then wrings their hands about the JV:

While he makes a good case for deterring Russian aggression, his proposal to quadruple military spending in Europe in 2017 to $3.4 billion from $789 million seems excessive and raises questions about whether other immediate threats, like the Islamic State, are getting short shrift.

Just what sort of shrift ehey would give ISIS, and how, is left a mystery.

After a long discussion of the growing Russian threat, they conclude:

Deterring Russia is essential. But this initiative seems like a reversion back to what the Pentagon has traditionally done — prepare to fight big wars with ever more costly weapons against adversaries like Russia. Threats from the Islamic State and other terrorist groups are messier and harder to predict. America must be able to confront both, but it is unclear that Mr. Carter’s plan gets the balance right.

 Folks who thought Obama would be worse than Carter now get both.

Comments

[henry]

We're gonna need zombie Reagan to fix this.

At this point, putting more defense assets in Europe sets up arming a future branch of the caliphate. Shouldn't the Euros do something about the threat from within first (well something besides importing another million potential jihadis)? The help those who are willing to help themselves.

Of course the former Soviet colonies are acting like they want to save themselves, perhaps focus the buildup there?

[danoso]

Kelso said what?

[Jack is Back!]

Mitt Romney to the White courtesy phone, please.

Isn't it Rubio of all the candidates who pushes the Russian theme?

[Miss Marple]

Good morning!

I have lost confidence in everyone. IS Russia a danger? Or is this some other deal they have cooked up to distract from their lack of effectiveness on ISIS?

I don't know. I base my hierarchy of enemies on whether they like dogs or not. Russians like dogs (unlike most of the Muslim world) and also they aren't coming over here and killing people right now.

I suppose it's good to expand the military, but everything this administration does is so worthless and incompetent that I really can't form an opinion.

[Captain Hate]

Yes, what are the chances a straight shooter like Ass Carter would pull a bait and switch? Where was "climate change" on that list?

[Miss Marple]

Where was "climate change" on that list?

Well, it's probably hidden under something like "formation of King Canute Brigade."

[Miss Marple]

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/268003-ryan-quotes-braveheart-unite-the-clans

I don't know what to think about this.

[henry]

MM, maybe the Chamber sees their savior JEB! getting 4% and decided to cover their butts by making nice with the new non GOPe overlords.

[Buckeye]

If Obama wants to increase military spending in Europe, it can only be because it is now personal.

Putin has been kicking sand in his face and by God he is not going to take it anymore.

This is an area where I agree with Trump. If the western Europeans want a strong defense, they should get it the old fashioned way. They should pay for it.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/02/espns-fivethirtyeight-launching-a-documentary-series-218650

[Jeff Dobbs]

TM:
here are the Times editors echoing SecDef Ashton Kutcher:

Heh.

danoso:
Kelso said what?

Hah.

Red has a few words for Obama...

[henry]

The evil we deal with on a daily basis, Chisolm and his DA buddies try to send John Doe "evidence" to San Francisco law firm, which would conveniently get the trove of illegally stolen private information out of WI and out of reach of the WI Supreme Court. The excuse? They need it to appeal to the US SC (which won't take it up). Despicable.

[henry]

I messed up the link.

[DebinNC]

“We have to be straight with each other, and more importantly, we have to be straight with the American people,” Ryan will say. “We can't promise that we can repeal Obamacare when a guy with the last name Obama is president. ...“All that does is set us up for failure ... and disappointment ... and recriminations.”

I'm liking Speaker Ryan a lot so far. At least he's been forcing Dems to vote or abstain on the record. I'm also seeing fewer quotes from blowhards like Rep. Peter King, which I appreciate.

[Janet]

It is ridiculous to beef up our military abroad while we have open borders & are importing thousands & thousands & thousands of unvetted citizens of other countries to our homeland.

Why fight Russia?...why not just bring all their people here?...that seems to be the plan with other countries.

[NK]

The Illinois Bd of Elections issues a ruling finding Ted Cruz eligible to be on the Ill primary ballot as a qualifying natural born citizen. The Illinois Board interpreted Article II exactly as I do.... so the Board by definition is correct :)
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/ruling-ted-cruz-is-a-natural-born-citizen/article/2582259

[Buckeye]

Janet

Couple across the street are immigrants. He is Russian, she is from Ukraine. Great people, we could use more like them.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/430707/republican-party-conservatives-reform-ted-cruz-bob-dole

This is rich. After how many years of telling us that we should be getting stuff done and W wasn't conservative enough, blah blah blah, we get this:

"The Democrats have been building their welfare state since 1913.If you expect a President Cruz or a President Rubio to dissolve it during his first 100 days in office, you will be disappointed. It took 25 years for conservatives to reform the Republican party in Congress."

[Miss Marple]

Dave Ramsey ‏@DaveRamsey 3m3 minutes ago

You are more greedy when you try to be righteous with other people's money than the people are who actually earned it. #politics
1 retweet 2 likes

------------------------------

Someone send this quote to Kasich.

[Buckeye]

"Someone send this quote to Kasich."

We would just get a lecture from John...."when I was on the xyz committee

[NK]

Turns out my long delay Monday from suspended train service was the result of an apparent suicide of a sophomore at Fordham Prep (SJ). My daughter has her degree from Fordham and my son is taking some courses there for a further degree. Terrible

[Jeff Dobbs]

VOTE VOTE VOTE!

Or else....

[NK]

Jeff-- I did last night from home online devices, and cleared cookies there to ahem.... refine the vote totals. Can't do that at the office the IT gestapo here don't permit that kind of stuff.

[Miss Marple]

http://www.pajiba.com/politics/an-allcaps-explosion-of-feelings-regarding-the-liberal-backlash-against-hillary-clinton.php#.VrEWzwEzPH0.twitter

Hillary supporters are getting frustrated. It's fascinating to read the comments.

[DebinNC]

It's The Middle Class, Hillary

"Recently Mr. Goeas carried out a survey for the Ripon Society zeroing in on voters who describe themselves as middle class, which works out to 70% of the electorate. The survey confirmed they are unhappy—but it finds they are specifically unhappy with President Obama and a federal government that does not provide them value for their tax dollars. Mr. Goeas puts it this way: “The middle class believes the rich get the benefits, the poor get the programs and they get stuck with the bill."

And I don't see how replacing HC or Bernie with Biden or Warren, much less Deval Patrick or Julian Castro, changes that reality.

[Captain Hate]

We would just get a lecture from John...."when I was on the xyz committee"

Or "when you're at the pearly gates they'll be more interested in how many people's lives you made better with that money than where it came from".

[Marlene]

CNN reporting that Rand Paul will suspend his campaign.

[henry]

Marlene, that is a surprise!

[NK]

Oil/Gas Prices: continue their collapse. Probably will bottom in the Mid $20s/bbl and rise from there. How far does Oil fall/rise? tell me what those idiots at the Fed do. If they slowly increase USA rates while ECB/BoJ mess with NIRP then Oil on a Dollar basis will stay quite low based on relative currency valuation. Being paid in Dollars will suit the Sauds/Mullahs very nicely and they will continue to overproduce. The EuTopian Serfs will shiver in the dark as the USA and Chinese consumers rejoice with $1.50 prices for regular at the pump.

[NK]

henry- personal observation is I may. You have been en fuego hilarious recently. Is Mel feeding you material :)

[Texas Liberty Gal]

MM - Have you seen this video of Cruz talking with an Iowa farmer? If you get a chance, watch it. You'll like him even more!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6cUDscjrNg

[Captain Hate]

The survey confirmed they are unhappy—but it finds they are specifically unhappy with President Obama and a federal government that does not provide them value for their tax dollars.

But but but we keep getting told how popular 404 is. Quite the quandary for the commiecrats, no?

[henry]

NK, a lurking one feeds me material constantly. I gladly pass credit for any hilarity there.

[narciso]

Yes we've bailed them out three times in the last century, voldya will a firm but fair master.

[NK]

heh!

[Buckeye]

Bingo CH

Or in other words, my judgment is better than yours. From God's lips to my ears.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Trump gonna Trump ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[narciso]

I told you of ash's pedigree earlier on, they were more peeved over the czars stance on gay marriage then any real objection to cossack justice.

[NK]

The Russian Bear. Of course the Obamaniacs cite the Russian threat 5 years after the fact, and of course at a time when Vlad's Czarist ambitions are being thwarted by $30/bbl Crude and LNG exports to EuTopia from Qatar and now the USA. As someone pointed out above this announcement is prompted by Obummer's fit of petulance at having been bitch slapped by Putin for 5 years. The other major threat, the ChiComs seem to acting as rational self-interested mercantilists so a balance of power should work there, thus the other REAL threat is Islamism from ISIS to MB to Erdogan to the Mullahs. Of course Obummer will say nyet about that REAL threat, so call out the Russian bear. What a POS he is.

[DebinNC]

It's "stealing" that the self-described IA evangelical turnout was 65% of the R whole, instead of the expected 57%? Seems stupid to denigrate evangelicals days before the NH primary.

[Captain Hate]

the USA and Chinese consumers rejoice with $1.50 prices for regular at the pump.

I've been rejoicing at $1.44

[henry]

Deb, Trump is displaying NY values.

[Cecil Turner]

Ted Cruz didn't win Iowa, he stole it.

The whole birther thing is borderline, but this . . . "You went full retard, man. Never go full retard." Maybe we'd better start an implosion watch.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Winning Iowa was an inside job!!!

new thread

[Miss Marple]

Deb,

This isn't about a higher evangelical turnout. It's about the Cruz staffers telling caucus goers that Carson was dropping out so they should vote for Cruz.

There is a case to be made that if Cruz hadn't gained those votes from Carson supporters, The finish would have been a virtual tie between Cruz and Trump.

I don't know that it could ever be proven that Trump would have won. However, it DID happen and Cruz has apologized. Carson wants the staffers fired. He was plenty mad.

In the scheme of things, the measly delegate count isn't but a difference of 1 between Cruz and Trump. I do pay attention to stuff like this, however, because you can learn a lot by observing the behavior of the candidate's staff.

[narciso]

maybe he can get the federalist to notice this, instead of the voodoo pins in trump,

http://hotair.com/headlines/archives/2016/02/02/a-socialist-nearly-won-iowa-will-the-media-stop-obsessing-247-about-trump-now/

[henry]

Looks like Trump is going independent...

[narciso]

I noted last night, how Red Queen's excellent adventure has fared in the varsity's new franchises in north africa,

[Cecil Turner]

If you don't have a strategy, operations don't much matter. (And tactics just boil down to self defense.)

[narciso]

should have been in the ground hog thread

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/02/senior-al-qaeda-hidden-commander-thought-killed-by-us-in-2014.php

[Jack is Back!]

(oxymoron alert)

Knowing how Trump thinks I woud not be surprised he offers Russia a membership in NATO,