Awesome Video Saturday CX

Only the first part of this episode was Halloweeny, but it was great. Enjoy.

Back to Normal

Having made my post in praise of Obama's impact on perceptions of the U.S., I now have a whole slate of reasons regarding some of his poor choices.

• Why is it that some on the Left think being tolerant means limiting the liberty of others? This is evident in certain restrictions on speech deemed offensive to different religious groups. I avoid offending people over religion whenever possible (pretty much always), but the impact of our country supporting laws that restrict free speech sets a dangerous precedent. I do not want the government determining whether my views are inappropriate, outside of the traditional restrictions on speech that have existed since before the founding.
• The United States should always stand for liberty, and side with those who would expand it. Our recent dealings with oppressive regimes do not provide a strong sense that we intend to do so.
• Obama isn't the first president who has faced difficult foreign policy questions upon assuming the office. Victor Davis Hanson makes reference to Harry Truman, and hopes Obama will be more like him than a spiritual successor to Jimmy Carter.
• Obama is no "uniter." He is more openly critical of the preceding administration than any president in memory. It does not help him appeal to the significant portion of the population that happens to like the last administration, notwithstanding its fault.
• Politics as usual continues in the Obama administration.

Chilling

Here are two good pieces from the Wall Street Journal on the damage being done to liberty in two Latin American countries with leftist goverments.

O'Grady looks at how Argentine president Cristina Kirchner is putting pressure on the free press, following the Chavez playbook.

In Nicaragua, President Danny Ortega has used a shady process to move toward the abolition of term limits in that country.

Changeup

Since I've only posted 3 times in the last 2 weeks I wanted to do something tonight in the few minutes I have before bed.

Time to look at what has worked for Obama, and by the measure of the world's admiration of our country, there has been dramatic improvement.

I have been dismissive in the past of some efforts to curry favor around the world, and I haven't changed my mind, but there is no question that this kind of change is good for America.

The War on Fox

The Obama administration has declared FoxNews organization non grata. When confronted about it by ABC News' Jake Tapper the following exchange occurred:

Tapper: It’s escaped none of our notice that the White House has decided in the last few weeks to declare one of our sister organizations “not a news organization” and to tell the rest of us not to treat them like a news organization. Can you explain why it’s appropriate for the White House to decide that a news organization is not one –
(Crosstalk)
Gibbs: Jake, we render, we render an opinion based on some of their coverage and the fairness that, the fairness of that coverage.
Tapper: But that’s a pretty sweeping declaration that they are “not a news organization.” How are they any different from, say
–
Gibbs: ABC -
Tapper: ABC. MSNBC. Univision. I mean how are they any different?
Gibbs: You and I should watch sometime around 9 o’clock tonight. Or 5 o’clock this afternoon.
Tapper: I’m not talking about their opinion programming or issues you have with certain reports. I’m talking about saying thousands of individuals who work for a media organization, do not work for a “news organization” -- why is that appropriate for the White House to say?
Gibbs: That’s our opinion.

There is a lot of debate about whether FoxNews' coverage is skewed, but no more than for CNN or MSNBC. The White House is setting a bad precedent here.

Awesome Video Saturday CIX

Hilarious.

Awesome Video Saturday CVIII

A fun little video to play with your mind. Would have been cooler before computerized special effects became so accessible, but at just over a minute it is a small investment of time.

CHOP CUP from :weareom: on Vimeo.

Nobel Farce Prize

President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize. Not everyone thinks it was a good call.

I don't. From the above-linked Times (UK) piece:

Mr Obama becomes the third sitting US President to receive the prize. The
committee said today that he had “captured the world’s attention”. It is
certainly true that his energy and aspirations have dazzled many of his
supporters. Sadly, it seems they have so bedazzled the Norwegians that they can
no longer separate hopes from achievement. The achievements of all previous
winners have been diminished.

It has been reported that Obama himself is surprised at the award, and if he is honest will admit to himself that his resume is very thin at this point.

The Peace Prize has grown more irrelevant over time. It is unfortunate, though not altogether surprising, that it has continued down that path. There is no doubt that other people have done more to deserve it. It is too bad that their deeds will not be better known.

Extremism on the Latin Left

You can't draw conclusions about someone based solely on their supporters. You can learn about their supporters from their supporters.

Honduras' Zelaya has some extreme supporters. At least one prominent supporter has espoused anti-semitic views. I don't understand why anyone in Honduras should be complaining about Zionism, but given ties that are strengthening between Iran and Zelaya supporter Venezuela, it is a nasty connection.

Read O'Grady's article for more.

Clunked

A tough critique in the Wall Street Journal of the Cash for Clunkers program. If there is any data or explanation about why the program was a good one I'd like to know.

I just don't feel like taking the time to find out for myself.

Awesome Video Saturday CVII

I don't drink alcohol, but like most people, have found Bud Light's ads to be very funny over the years. Their most recent ads have been pretty lame, so let's take a look at some of the classics.

Olympic Fail

What are the implications of the President's failed bid for the 2016 Olympics? From Rick Moran at Pajamas Media:

It would be easy to read too much into the rejection of Chicago as the site of the 2016 Summer Olympics despite the president’s personal lobbying junket to Copenhagen in order to plead the city’s case before a meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
But neither should the president get a pass or an “A” for effort — or any other spin one wishes to put on the decision by the IOC to bypass Chicago as host for the games.
In a word, this is a disaster for the president.
“If he goes and does not bring home the Olympics, it’s going to be kind of a blow for him on the international stage where he is immensely popular, which is really the reason why they think it will help the bid for him to go,” said Kenneth Vogel, a senior reporter for Politico.
He placed the prestige of his presidency directly on the line and failed. That’s the bottom line. He gambled with the one thing no president should ever gamble with unless the stakes are much higher than his hometown getting the Olympic games.

I really don't think this was an instance of people acting against Obama, but his being there appeared to have no positive effect, and it will affect his credibility. I really think this decision was more emblematic of where Brazil is as an international player.