At Least Someone Is Acting Presidential

Sadly, it’s not the President.

Friday night, former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush made a private visit to those wounded in the Fort Hood massacre. No press corps, no photographers, no reporters. Just President and Mrs. Bush, comforting the victims. After a few hours there, they left as quietly as they had arrived. This is only to be expected of a Commander-in-Chief who understands that those injured or grieving may have no wish to be bombarded by camera flashes or microphones shoved in front of tearful faces.

The former President and his wife behaved exactly as we have come to expect them to do. With class, dignity, and grace. With gravitas and humility. In a word, presidential.

Has President Obama visited Fort Hood yet? Why, no. No, he has not. Right now, he’s at Camp David with the First Family. (Unless he is making a private trip out there as I write this, in which case, good for him!)

Barack Obama is our President. But as far as I’m concerned, George W. Bush is still our Comforter-in-Chief.

H/T: Atlas Shrugs

Stoutcat

Sign of the Times

 

Say no more!

Stoutcat

Fun With (Presidential) Words

 

Okay, I admit it. I’m behind the times here at Chateau Chat Valliant, so it’s likely that you all know about this already. But I’ve just been pointed to Wordle, a very cool word tool. On the offchance that you don’t know what it is, the site explains:

Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.

It’s fun, it’s addictive, and it’s also very informative.

For example, out of idle curiousity (and at the prompting of commenter Stoutcat’s Sister), I “wordled”  the text of two separate presidential inauguration speeches, to see if it could tell me anything about the ideas and aspirations of the speakers. I left the standard defaults in place (it omits common words like “the”, “with”, “and”, etc.), and here’s what I got:

                                                            Inaugural Speech A

                                                            Inaugural Speech B

The two speeches were Barack H. Obama’s 2009 Inaugural speech, and George W. Bush’s 2004 Inaugural speech. Can you tell which is which? (Click on each image for larger versions.)

Stoutcat

Iraqis To US: “Don’t Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out”

Saddam's Statue Toppled 2003

Years ago, when I was dating a young lady who worked in a travel agency, a huge poster on the wall beside her desk always intrigued me. It said, “Come Visit The Middle East… Where It All Began.” There was actually a series of these posters, each featuring a different middle eastern country. This particular one featured photos of Iraq. It did the trick. I longed to go there and visit this strange, but alluring country.

This morning’s Christian Science Monitor reports tens of thousands of supporters of Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr converged in Firdos Square in Baghdad, to demand that U.S. President Obama “fulfill his promise to withdraw US troops.” This happens, no coincidence by the way, on the sixth anniversary of the day US Troops and joyful Iraqis pulled down the statue of Saddam Hussein that had stood guard in this same square for years in tribute to the former leader.

File this under, “Allah never lets any good deeds go unpunished.”   Tt comes as no surprise to me that the Iraqis would eventually demand US troops vacate the country they liberated from the hands of  murderous tyrant Saddam Hussein.  It should further be pointed out that people in this region were deep into America Bashing long before it became so in vogue that even our current President loves to participate by apologizing for virtually everything this country has done since liberating Europe in WWII. 

Reading between the lines, however, this poses an interesting conundrum for the Obama administration.

• When he was campaigning, Obama repeatedly announced he would end the war quickly and bring the troops home. He often refused to give a specific date or define “quickly.”  This was done principally to give him an edge over Hillary Clinton (really an unnecessary campaign promise, as ACORN had pretty much cleared the way for his nomination through their alleged voter registration fraud in numerous key states).
• Obama announced on February 27th of this year: “Let me say this as plainly as I can: By August 31st, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end.” 
• But in the same speech, Obama added he plans to leave a force of 35,000 to 50,000 to advise Iraqi security forces, conduct counter-terrorism missions and protect U.S. personnel.  That’s about half of the number of troops we started out with in 2003.  I’m not sure the Iraqis will see this as a full withdrawal of troops.  Perhaps more of a problem for Obama, those who elected him based on his alleged commitment to end the war and bring all the troops home are bound to be disappointed.

The fact is, history will eventually show that Bush was right to go into Iraq for reasons too numerous to go into in this short space. Key among those reasons, however, was to install some sense of a democracy in a region where the vast majority of people live in the 14th century or earlier based on religious beliefs. These are a people who have fought amongst themselves with sticks and stones for centuries.

Until they caught up to the technologies of war. Now, government and religious radicals in this region have (or are developing) weapons that can essentially wipe the entire Middle East of the face of planet earth. And, unlike western nations, they don’t care if that happens, because it’s an honor to kill and/or BE killed for Allah.

Stability in this region isn’t an option.

The bottom line? It’s not a popular one, but here it is, boys and girls: Bush was right. And Obama would be wise to stick to his guns about maintaining a presence of 20,000-30,000 troops in the area.

It’s been years since I dated that young lady, and I don’t know whatever became of her.  But I can visualize the poster that would be in that office today… “Come See The Middle East. Where It All Began. Before It All Ends.”

Gerry Ashley

Legacy of the Purple Finger

Here’s my guess as to what Dubya’s ultimate legacy will be.

• It won’t be the drubbing of the economy – we can thank liberalism for that.
• It won’t be Abu Ghraib… The enemy bears the guilt of so much of this. Objectively, we pale in comparison.
• My guess is that it won’t even be the seven years he kept America safe after 9/11…

No… 50 or 100 years from now, Americans (and perhaps even the world) will finally understand the two precepts that George Walker Bush tried so many times to explain… First, freedom is an intrinsic right of the human condition. (Mr. Bush et al call it “God-Given”… So be it.) And the second is that societies of free peoples don’t behave aggressively (and even preemptively) unless cornered by cults and madmen. (The last time I checked, Germany, Italy, and Japan haven’t attacked us lately.)

Yesterday, the Iraqi voter turnout was 60% – 70%… Remarkable by any standard. So perhaps Dubya’s legacy will simply be that of millions of purple fingers and the meaning therein.

Not bad, George… Not bad…

Alan Speakman

Friday Round-up: 01-23-09

 

Gerald Warner at the Telegraph has some dire warnings about the future in his article, “Barack Obama inauguration: this Emperor has no clothes, it will all end in tears”. I do believe he may be correct:

“To anyone who kept his head, the string of Christmas cracker mottoes booming through the public address system on Washington’s National Mall can only excite scepticism. It is crucial to recall the reality that lies behind the rhetoric. Denouncing “those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents” comes ill from a man whose flagship legislation, the Freedom of Choice Act, will impose abortion, including partial-birth abortion, on every state in the Union. It seems the era of Hope is to be inaugurated with a slaughter of the innocents.”

There’s more, and it’s all very compelling.

###

Last week, Hugh Hewitt linked to a very interesting article about the economy as seen through the eyes (as it were) of the Disney corporation. Perhaps things aren’t as bad as we think:

“ …The news coming out of Lake Buena Vista these days is still lots better than anyone ever anticipated back in late October / early November.

Which is why — very quietly — Walt Disney World has begun thawing out some previously frozen projects…

…No, I’m talking about WDW’s family suites project. Which will involve taking those half-completed buildings on the Legendary Years side of Disney’s Pop Century Resort and then turning them into two, three and four-bedroom units where entire families can stay together during their Disney World vacations. Just this past week, contracts were signed to begin the clean-up / preparatory phase on this construction project. Which will involve sending survey teams into this long-empty structures to identify where repairs need to be made. More importantly, what walls need to come down.

Now keep in mind that Disney is doing this work in early 2009 because the Company genuinely believes that — by mid-2010 (i.e. when the first of these family suites buildings will actually be ready for Guests to occupy) — that the economy will have made a strong enough recovery that there’ll actually be demand for these types of rooms on property. And as the economy gets stronger & stronger, more & more blocks of rooms at Disney’s Pop Century will be transformed into family suites…”

So a huge corporation thinks the economy is doing well enough, relatively speaking, to plan for growth in the coming years. I find that heartening, don’t you?

###

Lastly, here is one more lovely farewell, courtesy of A Soldier’s Perspective, via The Anchoress (via Mom):

Let’s leave it at that, shall we?

###

Unless you’d like to see some peaceful video of birds at a feeder. What’s that? You would? Well, okay, if  you insist, here’s just the ticket, by way of eBirdseed:

###

Have a terrific weekend!

Stoutcat

An Embarassing Day

For me, Jan 20, 2009 should have been a great day… A day of celebration and history. More importantly, it was to be the day of a new beginning.

Instead it was day of shame and embarrassment. In particular, I speak of the crowds‘ booing of former First Lady Laura Bush… Dislike Dubya, dislike Cheney… Whatever… But boo Laura?

Mrs. Bush never wanted to get involved in politics. All she ever wanted to do with her life was to teach disadvantaged children. In my humble opinion, those who booed her are nothing more than liberal, petty, classless, ignorant, agenda-driven lemmings…

I’ve got news for the media and the liberals. My guess is that the Conservative honeymoon for Obama ended when he didn’t show just that tiny sliver of decency in gently chastising the million or more for booing Mrs. Bush. Just a quick reminder of civility would have worked wonders. But that collective gesture (booing) was childish, self-indulgent, oblivious, obnoxious, entitlement-laden, ignorant, brat behavior. In short, it was embarrassing.

And before anyone wails, “We have the right to boo because Dubya got us into a war based on lies about WMDs…” You’d better read up on those 500 tons of uranium yellowcake we found in Iraq.

And before anyone wails, “We have the right to boo because Dubya got us into this economy mess…” You’d better check out what one of your liberal writers said. (Max. kudos BTW go out to Mr. Card. He’s one of the few journalists Left or Right who has the guts to simply tell the truth.) Not to mention this pathetic circus. Oh, and check out this.

Other miscellaneous thoughts on Jan. 20…

As the Bushes left the White house, there were no “O” keys missing. Sounds like Dubya et al were more than slightly classier than the Clintons et al.

I guess I should have expected this kind of behavior from this kind of citizenry. How else do you rationally explain the vocal snubbing directed at the former First Lady?

I don’t know much about much… I really don’t. But I do know that Mrs. Bush didn’t deserve the send-off she received on Jan 20…

That’s just embarrassing.

Alan Speakman

Once More, With Feeling

 

Thank you

Thank you

 

Thank you

 

Thank you

 

Thank you

 

Thank you

Thank you.

God bless you, Mr. President.

Stoutcat

Righting a Wrong (Kind of, Sort of) As Bush Leaves

It has been announced today that President Bush, in his final act of clemency, has decided to commute the sentences of former US Border Guards Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. You will recall they are the two border guards who shot a Mexican drug dealer as he tried to smuggle drugs into the United States.

Charged with assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, violation of civil rights and obstruction of justice, their convictions led to bitter rancor between conservatives who felt this sent the wrong signal to everyone involved (border guards, the Mexican drug cartel, and even foreign nationals who see our loose borders as an easy way to infiltrate this country).  All their convictions, except obstruction of justice, were upheld on appeal.

So where does the “kind of, sort of” come into the picture?  You will note that  Bush didn’t pardon the guards. He commuted their sentences. That means the convictions stick, but he’s letting them be released from prison, convictions intact. Good luck to the two as they try to find work in this economy with felony convictions. Actually, they have both become so well-known that they may actually do well on the outside. Can you say, “Bio-Pic?”

The problem I have is with the inconsistency of President Bush in dealing out his mercy. Several months ago, he pardoned a rapper/producer named John Forte who was caught and convicted of smuggling liquid heroin with a street value of up to $14 million. His cause was championed by singer Carly Simon. What was her connection? Forte was the former roommate of her son Ben when they attended Phillips Exeter Academy together.  That’s right… a full pardon for someone who intended to flood the streets of New York with cocaine for his own personal profit.  Compare that with merely commuting the sentences for Ramos and Compean, who will live the rest of their lives with felony convictions, and who were doing their jobs of trying to keep our  borders safe.  Also, keep in mind that the Obstruction of Justice conviction (for allegedly attempting to cover up evidence in the shooting) for Compean and Ramos was overturned. The assault with a dangerous weapon charges stuck… a farce in the mind of millions when you remember the guards were shooting at a convicted drug dealer with a history of smuggling drugs into this country.

If there is a moral to the story, I guess it’s that one should always try to suck up to celebrities whenever possible. You never know when they will be able to keep your worthless butt out of prison.

To Ramos and Compean, congratulations on regaining your freedom. One would only hope you will be able to secure meaningful employment upon your release… and that you haven’t completely lost faith in how democracy is meted out in this country.

This being President Bush’s final act of clemency as he leaves will only reinforce those of us who voted for him and are  left shaking our heads in wonder…

Gerry Ashley

“What Would Obama Do?”

 

For all of you who have asked that question repeatedly over the last two years of campaigning, you’re about to find out. We all are. And the thought of that does not bring much comfort to me.

In a previous rant, Alan discussed why we want Obama to succeed. Let me add my support to that as well. Obama’s success means the success of America. And, as much as I was a supporter of the Bush administration, Obama could be just the breath of fresh air this country needs. The opportunity is there for a strong, vibrant, and talented young man. I join with Alan and others in offering him a clean slate at the beginning of his first term. It is now truly up to Obama. Dramatic speeches alone are of little value. It’s going to require action, and the right action at that.

That’s where I see a potential problem, and it could be a big one. Think fast: When have you ever heard Obama say, “You know what? I was wrong on this issue.” Or, “I made a mistake doing this, but I’ve learned from it and here’s what I’ve learned…” That’s right, I’m talking about Obama’s ego. Let’s look at an example:

Yesterday (Tuesday) Larry King interviewed President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. At one point, Bush was asked about his role in the economic meltdown. He defended his approval of the $700 billion bailout presented by Congress. He then added:

“I recognized the dangers inherent with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and asked Congress to regulate them.”

Bush then added that, while he was worried the two programs were getting “a little overextended,” he acknowledged that his administration did not foresee the meltdown. ”No, we didn’t see it coming. We saw that there could be dangers in an unregulated Fannie and Freddie and they needed a regulator and they needed to be reined in.”

What would Obama do in a similar circumstance? Do you think he, like Bush, would be able to admit a mistake? I have serious doubts. Again, when is the last time you heard Obama admit to a mistake? To date, the closest we’ve gotten was spin, followed by someone being thrown under the bus… from his grandmother, to his pastor, up to and including his first choice for Commerce Secretary.

The problem with some egos is that, if they’re not kept in balance by intelligence garnished with common sense, they will often continue down a wrong path, depending on razzle-dazzle and spin to convince others that it is they who lack vision.  Given a Democrat-controlled Congress and a liberal media, there’s a good chance the White House could spend more time spinning during the next four years than Dorothy’s farmhouse headed to Oz in a tornado.

One would hope Obama’s intelligence will lead him to do just the opposite. If he’s as smart as he wants us all to believe, he’ll see the bigger picture as to how history will see him in total rather than the day-to-day polls.

And therein lies the difference between outgoing President George Walker Bush and incoming rookie, Barack Hussein Obama: Bush has been willing to be despised in the present for doing what he believes is right. History will ultimately show him in a far more favorable light for having done the right (albeit unpopular) thing. On the other hand, during the Presidential campaign, every position, every comment made in public by Obama seemed to have been driven by the result of polls. One comment Bush made seemed to be offered as sage advice and should be food for thought as the Chosen One prepares to take office:

“You cannot make decisions based upon, you know, popularity polls. I have people come to me and say, you get out of Iraq because you’re making us unpopular. And I say, ‘well, pal, you must not know what it means to be commander-in-chief. If the military thinks you’re making decisions based upon a Gallup poll, they’re not going to follow the commander-in-chief.’”

For now,  the question remains: “What Would Obama Do?”

Beginning next week, we’ll all find out.

Gerry Ashley