Weekend Download (June 5 – 7)
The Weekend Download is a summary of the top stories you missed if you stop listening on Thursday night. This weekend’s significant stories:
"So sorry about the whole invasion thing. Won't happen again."
Obama Fails to Apologize for U.S. Aggression towards Vichy France
In his remarks at the 65th anniversary of the Normandy landings, President Obama failed to apologize for imposing our system of government upon the peaceful people of Vichy France. Indeed, Mr. Obama noted that Nazism was “a competing vision of humanity. Nazi ideology sought to subjugate, humiliate, and exterminate. It perpetrated murder on a massive scale, fueled by a hatred of those who were deemed different and therefore inferior. It was evil.”
It was left to the listener to consider how Nazism (or Bushido) was any different than the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein, or the inhumane and sadistic regime of the Taliban. After all, just two days earlier, Obama had said “I know there has been controversy about the promotion of democracy in recent years, and much of this controversy is connected to the war in Iraq. So let me be clear: no system of government can or should be imposed upon one nation by any other.”
Obama was also on the defensive over rumors of a split with our European allies, despite his rainbow unicorn pony campaign promises of better relations with Europe. As if on cue, election results in the European Parliamentary elections and in local elections in the United Kingdom showed a growing tilt to the right in Europe. Not to worry, Obama still has Gordon Brown. In his D-Day speech he called it “Obama Beach“ instead of “Omaha Beach”:
We Can’t Impose Democracy, but Healthcare. . .
We cannot force democracy on a brutal rapist regime, but we can force your boss to fire half of his staff so the rest will get health care. Ted Kennedy (D-rink up) introduced a bill that would force employers to provide health care coverage or face public executions. Just kidding, no one has read the bill, nor is it completed yet, but just like the stimulus bill, we’re sure it will all work out fine. What we do know is not pleasant, and mostly involves government intrusion into your medical file. On the plus side, the Obama administration announced it plans to take a more active role in the health care mandate debate. No doubt czars will be appointed.
Quickly, More Kumbayah Songbooks in Farsi!
An IAEA reported was leaked on Friday warning that Iran has 5,000 operational centrifuges, and now has a stockpile of 1,339 kg of low-enriched Uranium. Such an amount would be enough, when further enriched, for at least one nuclear weapon. The same day, the Obama administration announced that an Iranian delegation would attend a G8 summit alongside Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the end of the month. As if also on cue, former President Carter praised Obama’s Mideast policy. Mr. Carter’s policy, you will recall, lead to our current state of affairs with Iran, not to mention seizure of a U.S. embassy, the kidnapping and holding of U.S. personnell and ultimately, the downfall of his failed presidency.
Afghanistan
It was also reported on Friday that the Pentagon would be sending 1,000 Special Forces operators to Afghanistan. The commandos will engage in counter-insurgency and will be assisting in the broader, 24,000 strong surge ordered by President Obama. No that was not a typo. I suppose we can impose democracy on some people, after all.
Looters Ball
The Obama administration and its Democratic colleagues continued to assert undue influence on business this weekend. Although the administration swore it didn’t intend and would not allow the government to interfere in the day-to-day operations of its new toy, General Motors, Barney Frank (D-ispicable) bragged on Friday that he had strongarmed GM into keeping open (at least until next election day) a plant in Frank’s district which GM had previously announced would close. Also on Friday, the FDIC announced it is trying to squeeze out management at Citigroup, the nation’s largest bank.
In response to negative jobs numbers, Vice President Biden noted that “less bad” employment numbers were not the administration’s goal. This seems in conflict with President Obama’s repeated assertion that his plan would “create or save” 3.5 million jobs and that the stimulus bill has already “saved” 150,000 jobs. Politico also noticed on Friday that a political pattern seems to be emerging in the Obama administration’s stimulus pork tour: all of the trips have been to states Obama won in 2008.
D’Oh, Canada!
In the Unintended Consequences department, Canadians are becoming increasingly angry over the stimulus bill’s “Buy American” rule. An organization representing Canadian mayors have enacted their own “Buy Canadian” law.
Nobody Expects the Global Warming™ Inquisition
The principle difference between a science and a religion is how it treats its own skeptics. This is why astrology can more fairly be called a science than can the Global Warming™ movement. After all, no one was ever called a holocaust denier or accused of treason because they said an Aries can be even tempered.
Add to the growing list of heretics, Mirabile Investment Corporation (MIC). MIC owns more than 40 Burger King franchises across Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi and is currently in a dispute with Burger King (the franchiser) over roadside signs that say “Global warning is baloney.”
Relatedly, Saturday held the third annual International Conference on Climate Change, a sort of heretical ball. Meanwhile, western North Dakota saw its first June snowfall in nearly 60 years and the Saturday high temperature in Green Bay set a low record for June 6.
More Criminal Ties and other Embarrassments in Washington
An elderly couple were arrested on Friday and charged with spying for Cuba for over 30 years. Walter Kendall Myers and his wife, Gwendolyn Myers, both in their 70’s, had worked for the State Department and had allegedly been spying for Cuba since the last Carter administration.
Last week, we reported on Congressman Murtha’s ties to an allegedly corrupt defense contractor, Kuchera Defense Systems, from whom Murtha received over $60,000 in campaign and PAC contributions and to whom Murtha directly steered millions in taxpayer money. On Friday, it was reported that two of the principal members of that firm were convicted drug dealers.
Heavy rain and a broken sewer pipe caused the obesely over budget monument to government waste known as the Capitol Visitor Center to flood on Friday. The irony, of course, is that the Capitol Visitor Center was designed solely to protect tourists from the weather. As the Agitator points out, it has “a TV studio (with make-up room) for members to record messages to their constituents, a 450-seat dining area, two orientation theaters, an auditorium, and an exhibition hall.” Just like any government program, the bells and whistles may look pretty, but the primary purpose is long forgotten. Still want government healthcare?
Speaking of embarrassment in D.C., a new blog chronicles the self-important stylings of tomorrow’s corrupt government leaders. Check out Spotted: DC Summer Interns for the awkward, deluded truth about Congressional interns.
Obama Administration Moves
Philip Mudd, Obama’s pick to head the intelligence arm of the Department of Homeland Security, withdrew his nomination on Friday. Mr. Mudd previously held the position of deputy director of the Office of Terrorism Analysis at the CIA, where he was involved in the enhanced interrogation techniques Mr. Obama now says he deplores and Mrs. Pelocchio says she was not uninformed about being briefed regarding having been told that the briefings occurred. No word on why Mr. Obama is so squeamish about defending his pick for the post, but Tom Daschel, Bill Richardson, and Nancy Killifer, were unavailable for comment. As were Jeremiah Wright, William Ayers and Obama’s grandmother. But the wheels on the bus keep turning: thump, thump, thump.
Speaking of profiles in courage, the Obama administration will not be attending the National Mayor’s Association conference in order to avoid having to cross a union picket line. In the “win” column, the Obama administration appointed renowned hacker Jeff Moss to DHS’s Advisory Council. This is like hiring a professional burglar to secure your home.