Get audio versions of top syndicated political columnists. OutloudOpinion's professional readers deliver eight to ten articles daily for subscribers. Save time and stay informed with the some of the best editorial content around. OutloudOpinion's authors include: Thomas Sowell, Dennis Prager, Michael Barone, Michelle Malkin, Brent Bozell, Robert Novak, Walter Williams, Larry Elder, Lawrence Kudlow, David Limbaugh, Patrick Buchanan, Emmett Tyrrell, Mona Charen, Dick Morris, Tony Blankley, William Murchison, Oliver North, Jacob Sullum, Joseph Farah, Matt Towery, Roland Martin, , Austin Bay and Terence Jeffery. http://www.outloudopinion.com News, Politics, Culture and Society © 2008 OutloudOpinion LLC & Creators Syndicate Inc http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en-us Fri, 3 Sep 2010 23:22:56 -0400 webmaster@outloudopinion.com Fri, 3 Sep 2010 23:12:50 -0400 webmaster@outloudopinion.com FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.3.1) http://www.feedforall.com Audio versions of Creators Syndicate Authors Audio versions of Creators Syndicate Authors OutloudOpinion OutloudOpinion LLC webmaster@outloudopinion.com Conservative podcast, Immigration, Foreign Affairs, Iran, Israel, Iraq, Environmentalism, Global Warming, Global Warming Hoax, conservative, republican no no http://www.outloudopinion.com/images/iTunes_BEST_OF_THE_WEB141.jpg http://www.outloudopinion.com 141 141 In our book "2010: Take Back America -- A Battle Plan," we write: "The prospect we now face is not the intermittent up-and-down fluctuations of unemployment we have had since the Great Depression. Thanks to Barack Obama's policies, we're confronting the possibility of an unemployment rate that never comes down, just as they have in Europe. If we stay on Obama's course, lower joblessness in the United States will be a thing of the past." The recent rise in unemployment back up to 9.6 percent and the loss of 54,000 jobs in August suggest that our prediction is -- dismally -- coming true. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100903Morris.mp3 2939E6E6-3D24-41C6-B9BA-7EDEE952E983 Fri, 3 Sep 2010 23:12:50 -0400 In our book "2010: Take Back America -- A Battle Plan," we write: "The prospect we now face is not the intermittent up-and-down fluctuations of unemployment we have had since the Great Depression. In our book "2010: Take Back America -- A Battle Plan," we write: "The prospect we now face is not the intermittent up-and-down fluctuations of unemployment we have had since the Great Depression. Thanks to Barack Obama's policies, we're confronting the possibility of an unemployment rate that never comes down, just as they have in Europe. If we stay on Obama's course, lower joblessness in the United States will be a thing of the past." The recent rise in unemployment back up to 9.6 percent and the loss of 54,000 jobs in August suggest that our prediction is -- dismally -- coming true. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dick Morris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dick Morris Imagine that you have a product whose price tag for decades rises faster than inflation. But people keep buying it because they're told that it will make them wealthier in the long run. Then, suddenly, they find it doesn't. Prices fall sharply, bankruptcies ensue, great institutions disappear. Sound like the housing market? Yes, but it also sounds like what Glenn Reynolds, creator of instapundit.com, writing in The Washington Examiner, has called "the higher education bubble." Government-subsidized loans have injected money into higher education, as they did into housing, causing prices to balloon. But at some point people figure out they're not getting their money's worth, and the bubble bursts. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100903Barone.mp3 2E3DD87A-E617-4323-A956-9CABB53D683F Fri, 3 Sep 2010 23:06:37 -0400 Imagine that you have a product whose price tag for decades rises faster than inflation. Imagine that you have a product whose price tag for decades rises faster than inflation. But people keep buying it because they're told that it will make them wealthier in the long run. Then, suddenly, they find it doesn't. Prices fall sharply, bankruptcies ensue, great institutions disappear. Sound like the housing market? Yes, but it also sounds like what Glenn Reynolds, creator of instapundit.com, writing in The Washington Examiner, has called "the higher education bubble." Government-subsidized loans have injected money into higher education, as they did into housing, causing prices to balloon. But at some point people figure out they're not getting their money's worth, and the bubble bursts. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone Tomorrow, many Americans will be enjoying a respite from the incessant demands of their jobs. But many Americans will be wishing desperately they could trade the holiday for the incessant demands of a job. This year, given the state of the economy, Labor Day should be called Not Enough Labor Day. The unemployment rate during the recent recession peaked at 10.1 percent last October, and in August, it was 9.6 percent -- an increase from July. Nearly 15 million people are looking for suitable work and not finding it. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100903Chapman.mp3 F318F19D-2B4B-4B9C-8227-16FE5FBB9FF1 Fri, 3 Sep 2010 23:05:33 -0400 Tomorrow, many Americans will be enjoying a respite from the incessant demands of their jobs. Tomorrow, many Americans will be enjoying a respite from the incessant demands of their jobs. But many Americans will be wishing desperately they could trade the holiday for the incessant demands of a job. This year, given the state of the economy, Labor Day should be called Not Enough Labor Day. The unemployment rate during the recent recession peaked at 10.1 percent last October, and in August, it was 9.6 percent -- an increase from July. Nearly 15 million people are looking for suitable work and not finding it. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman To mark Labor Day 2010, President Obama will join hands with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in Milwaukee and pose as champions of the working class. Bad move. Trumka's organizing record is a shameful reminder of the union movement's violent and corrupt foundations. The new Obama/AFL-CIO power alliance -- underwritten with $40 million in hard-earned worker dues -- is a midterm shotgun marriage of Beltway brass knuckles and Big Labor brawn. Trumka warmed up his rhetorical muscles this past week with full-frontal attacks on former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. He indignantly accused her of "getting close to calling for violence" and suggested that her criticism of Tea Party-bashing labor bosses amounted to "terrorizing" workers. Trumka and Obama will cast Big Labor as an unassailable force for good in American history. But when it comes to terrorizing workers, Trumka knows whereof he speaks. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100902Malkin.mp3 56F4CA99-C7C7-41F4-9341-733AA08EF612 Fri, 3 Sep 2010 05:37:46 -0400 To mark Labor Day 2010, President Obama will join hands with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in Milwaukee and pose as champions of the working class. To mark Labor Day 2010, President Obama will join hands with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in Milwaukee and pose as champions of the working class. Bad move. Trumka's organizing record is a shameful reminder of the union movement's violent and corrupt foundations. The new Obama/AFL-CIO power alliance -- underwritten with $40 million in hard-earned worker dues -- is a midterm shotgun marriage of Beltway brass knuckles and Big Labor brawn. Trumka warmed up his rhetorical muscles this past week with full-frontal attacks on former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. He indignantly accused her of "getting close to calling for violence" and suggested that her criticism of Tea Party-bashing labor bosses amounted to "terrorizing" workers. Trumka and Obama will cast Big Labor as an unassailable force for good in American history. But when it comes to terrorizing workers, Trumka knows whereof he speaks. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin Sorry, but I can't allow Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' statement that "we have a lot of re-education to do" slip by without comment. It's amusing when avowed leftists don't even recognize the Marxist buzzwords they're sputtering. Sebelius is attributing the public's vehement opposition to Obamacare to "misinformation given on a 24/7 basis. ... Unfortunately," she said, "there still is a great deal of confusion about what is in (the Obamacare law) and what isn't." She is especially peeved about the vulnerability of seniors, who "have been a target of a lot of the misinformation." (The target of Obama's misinformation, perhaps.) The most remarkable thing is that Sebelius didn't actually use the term "re-education" accidentally or out of school. Perhaps unwittingly, she's quite comfortable using a term long associated with tyrannical regimes. As one of Obama's chief lieutenants, she obviously believes this administration knows better than the public what is good for them. Indeed, one of the ongoing ironies of liberalism is that it holds itself out as open-minded, democratic and representative of the common man, when it is more comfortable dictating to and indoctrinating the masses. Just look at our universities alone if you need quick, verifiable proof. But let's consider a few other examples of this administration's employing that mindset. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100902Limbaugh.mp3 4D1F29D4-B9CC-494A-83B6-C1C88C7FAAB3 Fri, 3 Sep 2010 05:32:24 -0400 Sorry, but I can't allow Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' statement that "we have a lot of re-education to do" slip by without comment. Sorry, but I can't allow Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' statement that "we have a lot of re-education to do" slip by without comment. It's amusing when avowed leftists don't even recognize the Marxist buzzwords they're sputtering. Sebelius is attributing the public's vehement opposition to Obamacare to "misinformation given on a 24/7 basis. ... Unfortunately," she said, "there still is a great deal of confusion about what is in (the Obamacare law) and what isn't." She is especially peeved about the vulnerability of seniors, who "have been a target of a lot of the misinformation." (The target of Obama's misinformation, perhaps.) The most remarkable thing is that Sebelius didn't actually use the term "re-education" accidentally or out of school. Perhaps unwittingly, she's quite comfortable using a term long associated with tyrannical regimes. As one of Obama's chief lieutenants, she obviously believes this administration knows better than the public what is good for them. Indeed, one of the ongoing ironies of liberalism is that it holds itself out as open-minded, democratic and representative of the common man, when it is more comfortable dictating to and indoctrinating the masses. Just look at our universities alone if you need quick, verifiable proof. But let's consider a few other examples of this administration's employing that mindset. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh Hamas sent a greeting card to the quintet of leaders meeting in Washington, D.C., this week to initiate negotiations about a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In a well-planned ambush, they killed four Israeli civilians near the city of Hebron, two men and two women (one nine months pregnant), creating seven orphans. The murderers escaped, and may perhaps have videotaped the atrocity. In Gaza that evening, 3,000 celebrants clogged the streets, waving flags, setting bonfires, passing out candy, and carrying their children on their shoulders. If there is videotape, it will presumably permit the revelers to relive the pleasure, even as the video of Daniel Pearl's beheading has circulated on the Internet. While the Palestinian Authority did condemn the attack, it did so in mincing terms. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad disapproved, he said, because "the operation went against Palestinian interests." It would be difficult for a leader of the "moderate" (that word is always attached) PA to condemn such attacks as, say, immoral or despicable, as the Palestinian Authority itself (formerly the PLO/Fatah) was conceived in violence and continues to honor its spirit. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100902Charen.mp3 7D03FA1D-F4E8-4AB4-8EF1-95D06E6C6CC1 Fri, 3 Sep 2010 05:31:28 -0400 Hamas sent a greeting card to the quintet of leaders meeting in Washington, D.C., this week to initiate negotiations about a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Hamas sent a greeting card to the quintet of leaders meeting in Washington, D.C., this week to initiate negotiations about a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In a well-planned ambush, they killed four Israeli civilians near the city of Hebron, two men and two women (one nine months pregnant), creating seven orphans. The murderers escaped, and may perhaps have videotaped the atrocity. In Gaza that evening, 3,000 celebrants clogged the streets, waving flags, setting bonfires, passing out candy, and carrying their children on their shoulders. If there is videotape, it will presumably permit the revelers to relive the pleasure, even as the video of Daniel Pearl's beheading has circulated on the Internet. While the Palestinian Authority did condemn the attack, it did so in mincing terms. Prime Minister Salam Fayyad disapproved, he said, because "the operation went against Palestinian interests." It would be difficult for a leader of the "moderate" (that word is always attached) PA to condemn such attacks as, say, immoral or despicable, as the Palestinian Authority itself (formerly the PLO/Fatah) was conceived in violence and continues to honor its spirit. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen The labor movement doesn't have much to celebrate this Labor Day. Congress first established the national holiday in 1894 at unions' behest. Since then, the American labor movement's fortunes rose to their zenith in 1956, when more than three-in-10 workers were union members, only to decline each year after. Today, only 12 percent of workers hold union cards. And if you discount union members who are public employees, barely 7 percent of private-sector workers are union members. So why has labor unions' membership declined so far in the last 54 years? Some of it has to do with the changing work trends in the United States. We've moved from large-scale industry to service and white-collar jobs, from big employers to small business, and from lifetime tenure to job insecurity and frequent career changes -- all of which makes union organizing more difficult. But the biggest problem for unions has been their own leadership, which has grown increasingly out of touch with the very people those unions hope to represent. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100902Chavez.mp3 EB2C2637-96E5-48A6-8A00-0EEEAF9CF6A4 Fri, 3 Sep 2010 05:29:35 -0400 The labor movement doesn't have much to celebrate this Labor Day. Congress first established the national holiday in 1894 at unions' behest. The labor movement doesn't have much to celebrate this Labor Day. Congress first established the national holiday in 1894 at unions' behest. Since then, the American labor movement's fortunes rose to their zenith in 1956, when more than three-in-10 workers were union members, only to decline each year after. Today, only 12 percent of workers hold union cards. And if you discount union members who are public employees, barely 7 percent of private-sector workers are union members. So why has labor unions' membership declined so far in the last 54 years? Some of it has to do with the changing work trends in the United States. We've moved from large-scale industry to service and white-collar jobs, from big employers to small business, and from lifetime tenure to job insecurity and frequent career changes -- all of which makes union organizing more difficult. But the biggest problem for unions has been their own leadership, which has grown increasingly out of touch with the very people those unions hope to represent. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Linda Chavez editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Linda Chavez Some of the most important things in history are things that didn't happen -- even though just about everyone thought they would. Recent example: Scads of liberals gleefully predicted that the financial crisis and deep recession would destroy Americans' faith in markets and increase their confidence in big government. Many conservatives gloomily feared they were right. Hasn't happened. If anything, public opinion has moved in the other direction, with most Americans rejecting the stimulus package and the health care bill, denying that government action is needed to address global warming, expressing negative feelings about labor unions. How to explain this? One way is to see the public's reaction as opposition to governance by an alliance of Big Units -- Big Government, Big Business and Big Labor. In the 1930s, Americans supposedly lost faith in markets and rallied to government. But if you go back and look at public opinion polling then, you find something rather different. You find majorities grumbling about Big Government, scorning Big Business and opposing Big Labor. The 1940s were different. Facing the threat of total war, Franklin Roosevelt transformed himself from "Dr. New Deal" to "Dr. Win the War." He fostered cooperation between Big Government, Big Business and Big Labor. Roosevelt was brilliant at selecting, from all these sources, the best men (and women) for jobs he considered important. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100901Barone.mp3 EBF3A296-BDDF-4786-B3B1-634079B0C0DD Wed, 1 Sep 2010 21:56:58 -0400 Some of the most important things in history are things that didn't happen -- even though just about everyone thought they would. Recent example: Some of the most important things in history are things that didn't happen -- even though just about everyone thought they would. Recent example: Scads of liberals gleefully predicted that the financial crisis and deep recession would destroy Americans' faith in markets and increase their confidence in big government. Many conservatives gloomily feared they were right. Hasn't happened. If anything, public opinion has moved in the other direction, with most Americans rejecting the stimulus package and the health care bill, denying that government action is needed to address global warming, expressing negative feelings about labor unions. How to explain this? One way is to see the public's reaction as opposition to governance by an alliance of Big Units -- Big Government, Big Business and Big Labor. In the 1930s, Americans supposedly lost faith in markets and rallied to government. But if you go back and look at public opinion polling then, you find something rather different. You find majorities grumbling about Big Government, scorning Big Business and opposing Big Labor. The 1940s were different. Facing the threat of total war, Franklin Roosevelt transformed himself from "Dr. New Deal" to "Dr. Win the War." He fostered cooperation between Big Government, Big Business and Big Labor. Roosevelt was brilliant at selecting, from all these sources, the best men (and women) for jobs he considered important. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone If it were a crime to venture onto Capitol Hill to reveal yourself as a self-absorbed liar with an inability to admit mistakes, there would be tumbleweeds blowing through the vacant halls of Congress. Fortunately for members of the legislative branch, that is not a crime. Unless your name is Roger Clemens. The eccentric baseball legend is not one to let people disparage him without a forceful response, any more than he was one to let batters crowd the plate without retaliation. A couple of years ago, after being accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, he voluntarily appeared before a House committee to heap scorn on the charge. His denial was not very convincing, since other witnesses -- notably longtime teammate Andy Pettitte -- had given statements contradicting him. He was repeatedly reminded by skeptical interrogators that he was under oath. Democratic Chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis joined together afterward to advise the Justice Department that "significant questions have been raised about Mr. Clemens' truthfulness." But never mind if anyone believed him, or if his alleged dissembling made any difference on anything. Federal prosecutors got him indicted for perjury, and he faces trial on charges that carry penalties of up to 30 years in prison. It's possible to imagine less worthy uses of prosecutorial resources, but not many. Indictments for perjury unaccompanied by other criminal charges are rare, usually employed only when a statute of limitations makes it impossible to prosecute the accused for more significant felonies. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100901Chapman.mp3 A0DC17DF-72D1-4097-A148-34D4B9B51E22 Wed, 1 Sep 2010 21:56:56 -0400 If it were a crime to venture onto Capitol Hill to reveal yourself as a self-absorbed liar with an inability to admit mistakes, there would be tumbleweeds blowing through the vacant halls of Congress. If it were a crime to venture onto Capitol Hill to reveal yourself as a self-absorbed liar with an inability to admit mistakes, there would be tumbleweeds blowing through the vacant halls of Congress. Fortunately for members of the legislative branch, that is not a crime. Unless your name is Roger Clemens. The eccentric baseball legend is not one to let people disparage him without a forceful response, any more than he was one to let batters crowd the plate without retaliation. A couple of years ago, after being accused of using performance-enhancing drugs, he voluntarily appeared before a House committee to heap scorn on the charge. His denial was not very convincing, since other witnesses -- notably longtime teammate Andy Pettitte -- had given statements contradicting him. He was repeatedly reminded by skeptical interrogators that he was under oath. Democratic Chairman Henry Waxman and ranking Republican Tom Davis joined together afterward to advise the Justice Department that "significant questions have been raised about Mr. Clemens' truthfulness." But never mind if anyone believed him, or if his alleged dissembling made any difference on anything. Federal prosecutors got him indicted for perjury, and he faces trial on charges that carry penalties of up to 30 years in prison. It's possible to imagine less worthy uses of prosecutorial resources, but not many. Indictments for perjury unaccompanied by other criminal charges are rare, usually employed only when a statute of limitations makes it impossible to prosecute the accused for more significant felonies. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman How does one discredit the massive back-to-the-values-that-made-this-country-great rally in Washington at the National Mall? Easy. Call Glenn Beck, the leader and organizer of the rally, a "racist" -- as does former Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean. What makes Beck a racist? The question presupposes the need for a reason. Ever heard of Journolist? Apparently, neither have network news anchors Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric and Brian Williams -- none of whom saw fit to spend one second reporting on this astonishing story. Journolist was a confidential Listserv of 400 members of the media. It included people from Time, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, The New Republic, The Nation and other outlets. No Journolist member was a conservative. (Liberals would give a confidential Listserv of conservative media a somewhat different name: The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy.) From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100901Elder.mp3 4AADC381-28AA-4EC1-AF2F-A0D73F1BFC92 Wed, 1 Sep 2010 21:52:45 -0400 How does one discredit the massive back-to-the-values-that-made-this-country-great rally in Washington at the National Mall? How does one discredit the massive back-to-the-values-that-made-this-country-great rally in Washington at the National Mall? Easy. Call Glenn Beck, the leader and organizer of the rally, a "racist" -- as does former Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean. What makes Beck a racist? The question presupposes the need for a reason. Ever heard of Journolist? Apparently, neither have network news anchors Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric and Brian Williams -- none of whom saw fit to spend one second reporting on this astonishing story. Journolist was a confidential Listserv of 400 members of the media. It included people from Time, The Huffington Post, The Guardian, The New Republic, The Nation and other outlets. No Journolist member was a conservative. (Liberals would give a confidential Listserv of conservative media a somewhat different name: The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy.) For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Larry Elder editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Larry Elder In the 1959 film "The Mouse That Roared," an imaginary European nation called the Duchy of Grand Fenwick declares war on the U.S. "There isn't a more profitable undertaking for any country than to declare war on the United States and to be defeated," explains the nation's military leader. So it goes. The staunchly rational New York Times right-of-center columnist David Brooks asked readers this week how the nation-building reconstruction project in Iraq is working out. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100831Harsanyi.mp3 AFA2536B-661E-4754-8E2A-2D45BA8F647C Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:03:20 -0400 In the 1959 film "The Mouse That Roared," an imaginary European nation called the Duchy of Grand Fenwick declares war on the U.S. In the 1959 film "The Mouse That Roared," an imaginary European nation called the Duchy of Grand Fenwick declares war on the U.S. "There isn't a more profitable undertaking for any country than to declare war on the United States and to be defeated," explains the nation's military leader. So it goes. The staunchly rational New York Times right-of-center columnist David Brooks asked readers this week how the nation-building reconstruction project in Iraq is working out. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Harsanyi editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Harsanyi Alan Simpson violated a taboo last week when he likened Social Security to "a milk cow with 310 million tits." But contrary to the dictionary-deprived critics who accused him of sexist vulgarity, the former Wyoming senator's transgression had nothing to do with his use of a perfectly acceptable synonym for teat. Simpson's real sin was "belittling a bedrock program," as the AARP put it -- i.e., showing insufficient reverence for a sacred cow. To Simpson's detractors, it is self-evident that a man who supports entitlement reform has no business serving on, let alone co-chairing, a presidential commission devoted to fiscal responsibility. But anyone who takes an honest look at the federal budget can see how crazy that position is. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100831Sullum.mp3 0F9095B3-B646-4C3E-B1AE-C004CF67019F Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:02:13 -0400 Alan Simpson violated a taboo last week when he likened Social Security to "a milk cow with 310 million tits." Alan Simpson violated a taboo last week when he likened Social Security to "a milk cow with 310 million tits." But contrary to the dictionary-deprived critics who accused him of sexist vulgarity, the former Wyoming senator's transgression had nothing to do with his use of a perfectly acceptable synonym for teat. Simpson's real sin was "belittling a bedrock program," as the AARP put it -- i.e., showing insufficient reverence for a sacred cow. To Simpson's detractors, it is self-evident that a man who supports entitlement reform has no business serving on, let alone co-chairing, a presidential commission devoted to fiscal responsibility. But anyone who takes an honest look at the federal budget can see how crazy that position is. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Jacob Sullum editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Jacob Sullum An indignant President Obama complained last week, "I can't spend all of my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead." Fine. How about plastering a copy of his presidential oath of office there instead? The kowtowing commander-in-chief is in dire need of a daily reminder that his job is to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" -- not international law or global diktats. Case in point: Last week, Obama's State Department handed in America's first-ever report to the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights in conjunction with something called the "Universal Periodic Review." In short, the 29-page document is a self-aggrandizing report card touting the administration's far-left domestic and foreign policy initiatives for the world's approval. The report boasts of racial- and gender-bean-counting in the executive branch; Justice Department outreach to Muslim grievance groups opposed to post-9/11 security measures; teachers' union payoffs in the federal stimulus law; continuing commitment to closing the Gitmo detention facility for enemy combatants; and the illusory lifesaving effects of Obamacare on minorities through "expanding community health centers" (which have yet to be built, but not that it matters in our Nobel Peace Prize-winning president's age of post-achievement). From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100831Malkin.mp3 7C04825E-8BC9-4A13-B0F7-26D28F49346C Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:01:03 -0400 An indignant President Obama complained last week, "I can't spend all of my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead." An indignant President Obama complained last week, "I can't spend all of my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead." Fine. How about plastering a copy of his presidential oath of office there instead? The kowtowing commander-in-chief is in dire need of a daily reminder that his job is to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States" -- not international law or global diktats. Case in point: Last week, Obama's State Department handed in America's first-ever report to the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights in conjunction with something called the "Universal Periodic Review." In short, the 29-page document is a self-aggrandizing report card touting the administration's far-left domestic and foreign policy initiatives for the world's approval. The report boasts of racial- and gender-bean-counting in the executive branch; Justice Department outreach to Muslim grievance groups opposed to post-9/11 security measures; teachers' union payoffs in the federal stimulus law; continuing commitment to closing the Gitmo detention facility for enemy combatants; and the illusory lifesaving effects of Obamacare on minorities through "expanding community health centers" (which have yet to be built, but not that it matters in our Nobel Peace Prize-winning president's age of post-achievement). For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin It gets tiresome hearing the conventional wisdom say that the Democrats will likely keep control of the Senate. Far from it. To gain control, Republicans must win 10 new seats. An analysis of the latest polling data suggests that Republicans currently hold the lead in eight pick-up states: Pennsylvania, Colorado, Wisconsin, Washington state, Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota and Indiana. In a ninth, Illinois, the candidates are tied, and in the 10th -- Nevada -- Harry Reid is ahead by only one point. And, for insurance, Barbara Boxer in California and Kirsten Gillibrand in New York are both below 50 percent of the vote. In Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal is only at 50 percent. That's a potential pickup of 13 seats and a likely gain of at least 10 (enough for a majority). From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100831Morris.mp3 64288F41-86B2-45F6-8B1B-1B275AB58BAD Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:00:04 -0400 It gets tiresome hearing the conventional wisdom say that the Democrats will likely keep control of the Senate. It gets tiresome hearing the conventional wisdom say that the Democrats will likely keep control of the Senate. Far from it. To gain control, Republicans must win 10 new seats. An analysis of the latest polling data suggests that Republicans currently hold the lead in eight pick-up states: Pennsylvania, Colorado, Wisconsin, Washington state, Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota and Indiana. In a ninth, Illinois, the candidates are tied, and in the 10th -- Nevada -- Harry Reid is ahead by only one point. And, for insurance, Barbara Boxer in California and Kirsten Gillibrand in New York are both below 50 percent of the vote. In Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal is only at 50 percent. That's a potential pickup of 13 seats and a likely gain of at least 10 (enough for a majority). For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dick Morris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dick Morris As Israeli and Palestinian peace talks are scheduled to resume in Washington in a few days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Palestinian recognition of Israel as the Jewish homeland is an essential condition for peace. Completely reasonable, yet don't keep your fingers crossed, especially with the Obama administration's attitude toward Israel. In my new book, "Crimes Against Liberty" (I know, another shameless plug, but you'd do the same in my position), I dedicate an entire chapter to detailing the Obama administration's horrendous and unprecedented mistreatment of Israel. Can you believe we're even having a discussion about Israel's right to the land six-plus decades and numerous wars after the modern Israeli state was restored to the Jews? From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100830Limbaugh.mp3 63D98CA3-6DC5-4D69-86AE-AC3BDA084B36 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:15:00 -0400 As Israeli and Palestinian peace talks are scheduled to resume in Washington in a few days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Palestinian recognition of Israel as the Jewish homeland is an essential condition for peace. As Israeli and Palestinian peace talks are scheduled to resume in Washington in a few days, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Palestinian recognition of Israel as the Jewish homeland is an essential condition for peace. Completely reasonable, yet don't keep your fingers crossed, especially with the Obama administration's attitude toward Israel. In my new book, "Crimes Against Liberty" (I know, another shameless plug, but you'd do the same in my position), I dedicate an entire chapter to detailing the Obama administration's horrendous and unprecedented mistreatment of Israel. Can you believe we're even having a discussion about Israel's right to the land six-plus decades and numerous wars after the modern Israeli state was restored to the Jews? For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh Perhaps the most difficult economic lesson is that we live in a world of scarcity and everything has a cost. Scarcity exists whenever human wants exceed the means to satisfy those wants. For example, Rolls-Royce produces less than 4,000 cars a year but it's a safe bet that more than 4,000 of the Earth's 6.5 billion people want a Rolls-Royce. That means Rolls-Royces are scarce. But it's not just Rolls-Royces that are scarce. It's clothing, food, land and most anything a human would want. There's not enough to meet every single want. Scarcity means there's no free lunch. Having more of one thing requires having less of another. You might say, "Williams, that's where you're wrong. Someone gave me this newspaper and I'm reading your column for free!" Not true. If you weren't spending time reading my column, you might have spent the time reading something else, chatting with your wife or children, or going out for a jog. You're reading my column for a zero price but you're not doing so at zero cost. You have to sacrifice something. There are zero-price services such as "free libraries," "free public schools," "free transportation" and free whatever. It doesn't mean that costs are not being borne by somebody. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100830Williams.mp3 E8117EBA-34E5-458D-AF67-71DCB8859C1F Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:13:52 -0400 Perhaps the most difficult economic lesson is that we live in a world of scarcity and everything has a cost. Perhaps the most difficult economic lesson is that we live in a world of scarcity and everything has a cost. Scarcity exists whenever human wants exceed the means to satisfy those wants. For example, Rolls-Royce produces less than 4,000 cars a year but it's a safe bet that more than 4,000 of the Earth's 6.5 billion people want a Rolls-Royce. That means Rolls-Royces are scarce. But it's not just Rolls-Royces that are scarce. It's clothing, food, land and most anything a human would want. There's not enough to meet every single want. Scarcity means there's no free lunch. Having more of one thing requires having less of another. You might say, "Williams, that's where you're wrong. Someone gave me this newspaper and I'm reading your column for free!" Not true. If you weren't spending time reading my column, you might have spent the time reading something else, chatting with your wife or children, or going out for a jog. You're reading my column for a zero price but you're not doing so at zero cost. You have to sacrifice something. There are zero-price services such as "free libraries," "free public schools," "free transportation" and free whatever. It doesn't mean that costs are not being borne by somebody. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Walter Williams editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Walter Williams The proposed mosque near where the World Trade Center was attacked and destroyed, along with thousands of American lives, would be a 15-story middle finger to America. It takes a high IQ to evade the obvious, so it is not surprising that the intelligentsia are out in force, decrying those who criticize this calculated insult. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100830Sowell.mp3 98B757F9-B13D-4284-B734-1DB71F07499C Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:12:33 -0400 The proposed mosque near where the World Trade Center was attacked and destroyed, along with thousands of American lives, would be a 15-story middle finger to America. The proposed mosque near where the World Trade Center was attacked and destroyed, along with thousands of American lives, would be a 15-story middle finger to America. It takes a high IQ to evade the obvious, so it is not surprising that the intelligentsia are out in force, decrying those who criticize this calculated insult. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Thomas Sowell editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Thomas Sowell On a regular basis, we are enjoined, usually by a leading Democrat, to overcome our reticence -- or, in Attorney General Eric Holder's formulation, "cowardice" -- and engage in a hearty national conversation about race. No, thanks. As anyone with eyes can see, we are far from avoiding the subject -- in fact, it often seems that we are unable to talk about anything else. With our national debt ascending like Jack's beanstalk, our economy coughing blood, a maniacal, extremist regime in Iran close to getting the bomb, a loose worldwide network of Islamic fanatics trying to blow us up, violence flaring along our southern border, the after-effects of a massive oil spill hobbling the Gulf region, and a government in Washington determined to implement a social Democratic agenda despite vigorous public opposition, we are talking, of course, about race. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100830Charen.mp3 0A012511-BCB7-4026-A53A-87A7F08616F0 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:11:23 -0400 On a regular basis, we are enjoined, usually by a leading Democrat, to overcome our reticence -- or, in Attorney General Eric Holder's formulation, "cowardice" -- and engage in a hearty national conversation about race. On a regular basis, we are enjoined, usually by a leading Democrat, to overcome our reticence -- or, in Attorney General Eric Holder's formulation, "cowardice" -- and engage in a hearty national conversation about race. No, thanks. As anyone with eyes can see, we are far from avoiding the subject -- in fact, it often seems that we are unable to talk about anything else. With our national debt ascending like Jack's beanstalk, our economy coughing blood, a maniacal, extremist regime in Iran close to getting the bomb, a loose worldwide network of Islamic fanatics trying to blow us up, violence flaring along our southern border, the after-effects of a massive oil spill hobbling the Gulf region, and a government in Washington determined to implement a social Democratic agenda despite vigorous public opposition, we are talking, of course, about race. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen "I can't spend all of my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead," President Barack Obama told Brian Williams in an interview Sunday night on NBC's "Nightly News," reacting to the question of why a large percentage of Americans have serious doubts about his Christian faith. In Part 1, I began to demonstrate how the president is using U.S. special envoy Rashad Hussain, his own presidential position and others in his administration to deepen and expand the partnership between the United States and Islam. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100830Norris.mp3 A2ABB93E-EFB7-4FFA-A6AC-BFCC7F2C31D6 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:09:56 -0400 "I can't spend all of my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead," President Barack Obama told Brian Williams in an interview Sunday night on NBC's "Nightly News,"... "I can't spend all of my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead," President Barack Obama told Brian Williams in an interview Sunday night on NBC's "Nightly News," reacting to the question of why a large percentage of Americans have serious doubts about his Christian faith. In Part 1, I began to demonstrate how the president is using U.S. special envoy Rashad Hussain, his own presidential position and others in his administration to deepen and expand the partnership between the United States and Islam. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Chuck Norris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Chuck Norris There have been a lot of unsurprising news stories lately. Rod Blagojevich going on TV. Tiger Woods and his wife divorcing. The economy racing along like an elderly tortoise. And the Food and Drug Administration saying the salmonella outbreak proves the agency needs more power. We should have seen that coming. In the private sector, entities that fall short of doing their jobs find themselves forced to shrink. In the public sector, the opposite is typically true. Failure is an option, and often a beneficial one. The Federal Reserve Board and Treasury facilitated the 2008 financial crisis? Then obviously we have no choice but to give them even more responsibility. The Securities and Exchange Commission let Bernie Madoff rob investors? A bigger SEC will be a smarter SEC. Just once, I'd like to see a government official say, "We blew it, and you know what? If you give us another chance, we'll probably blow it again." But so far, my hope has not availed. It's true that the FDA is charged with assuring food safety. But really, the government can't do that. The task is too big and too complex. Fortunately, it doesn't have to do it, because the pressures of competition force producers to make sure their goods are clean and wholesome. What goes curiously unnoticed is that egg suppliers and grocery stores have nothing to gain from sickening their customers -- and a lot to lose. It doesn't take many obvious hygiene lapses for a company to get a bad reputation, and a bad reputation can be catastrophic. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100827Chapman.mp3 F23E1438-FC49-449B-86E7-B0084D1A57E7 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:55:25 -0400 There have been a lot of unsurprising news stories lately. Rod Blagojevich going on TV. There have been a lot of unsurprising news stories lately. Rod Blagojevich going on TV. Tiger Woods and his wife divorcing. The economy racing along like an elderly tortoise. And the Food and Drug Administration saying the salmonella outbreak proves the agency needs more power. We should have seen that coming. In the private sector, entities that fall short of doing their jobs find themselves forced to shrink. In the public sector, the opposite is typically true. Failure is an option, and often a beneficial one. The Federal Reserve Board and Treasury facilitated the 2008 financial crisis? Then obviously we have no choice but to give them even more responsibility. The Securities and Exchange Commission let Bernie Madoff rob investors? A bigger SEC will be a smarter SEC. Just once, I'd like to see a government official say, "We blew it, and you know what? If you give us another chance, we'll probably blow it again." But so far, my hope has not availed. It's true that the FDA is charged with assuring food safety. But really, the government can't do that. The task is too big and too complex. Fortunately, it doesn't have to do it, because the pressures of competition force producers to make sure their goods are clean and wholesome. What goes curiously unnoticed is that egg suppliers and grocery stores have nothing to gain from sickening their customers -- and a lot to lose. It doesn't take many obvious hygiene lapses for a company to get a bad reputation, and a bad reputation can be catastrophic. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman It's a bit too early for House Republican leader John Boehner to measure the drapes and pick out new wallpaper. But the Intrade pay-to-play prediction markets are now showing a 76 percent chance of a GOP House takeover in November, along with a 60 percent probability that Republicans will capture at least seven new Senate seats. So Boehner's lengthy broadside attack on Obamanomics at the City Club of Cleveland this week takes on special meaning. Headlines following the speech were all about Boehner's call for the resignation of Obama policy generals Larry Summers and Timothy Geithner. But the more substantive question is this: What might a newly ascendant congressional Republican majority actually stand for? Republican leaders are expected to publish a governing agenda next month, probably an updated version of the bold and successful Newt Gingrich/Dick Armey "Contract With America" of 1994. Boehner is a key alumnus of that effort. But folks around the country are waiting to see if congressional Republicans will make a strong and aggressive case for a true economic-growth and jobs agenda now, in 2010. The stock market, for example, has known for months that the GOP will capture the House. But investors are not yet confident that the GOP will focus on gross domestic product, instead of mere ambiguous generalities, trying to be all things to all people. Indeed, if the Republicans borrow heavily from the tea party "Contract From America" -- and its call for constitutional limits to government, tough spending restraint, free-market reforms and supply-side tax policies -- stocks could mount a mighty rally in the weeks ahead. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100827Kudlow.mp3 D582E420-ED70-40B8-890C-C996FA937C05 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:55:22 -0400 It's a bit too early for House Republican leader John Boehner to measure the drapes and pick out new wallpaper. It's a bit too early for House Republican leader John Boehner to measure the drapes and pick out new wallpaper. But the Intrade pay-to-play prediction markets are now showing a 76 percent chance of a GOP House takeover in November, along with a 60 percent probability that Republicans will capture at least seven new Senate seats. So Boehner's lengthy broadside attack on Obamanomics at the City Club of Cleveland this week takes on special meaning. Headlines following the speech were all about Boehner's call for the resignation of Obama policy generals Larry Summers and Timothy Geithner. But the more substantive question is this: What might a newly ascendant congressional Republican majority actually stand for? Republican leaders are expected to publish a governing agenda next month, probably an updated version of the bold and successful Newt Gingrich/Dick Armey "Contract With America" of 1994. Boehner is a key alumnus of that effort. But folks around the country are waiting to see if congressional Republicans will make a strong and aggressive case for a true economic-growth and jobs agenda now, in 2010. The stock market, for example, has known for months that the GOP will capture the House. But investors are not yet confident that the GOP will focus on gross domestic product, instead of mere ambiguous generalities, trying to be all things to all people. Indeed, if the Republicans borrow heavily from the tea party "Contract From America" -- and its call for constitutional limits to government, tough spending restraint, free-market reforms and supply-side tax policies -- stocks could mount a mighty rally in the weeks ahead. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Lawrence Kudlow editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Lawrence Kudlow In this tumultuous political year, the latest sharp surprises come from the far reaches of the Anglosphere -- Alaska and Australia. These were lands to which Capt. James Cook voyaged even as the seaboard Atlantic colonists were rebelling against king and Parliament in London. Cook's charts of the southern coast of Australia are still in use, and he sailed from there to Hawaii and then through the Bering Strait to the ice-choked Arctic Sea. You can see splendid murals of his voyages in the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage. Australia joined the Anglosphere when the British established a convict settlement there in 1788, and Alaska joined when Secretary of State William Seward purchased it from Russia in 1867. Today they are commonwealths with economies thriving on mining and oil. Australia's 22 million people have a massive export trade with China; Alaska's 700,000 people, as Sarah Palin accurately noted, live in a state that has boundaries with Canada and Russia. Both the Aug. 21 federal election in Australia and the Aug. 24 primary in Alaska were not supposed to produce surprises. One reason: Both have economies relatively untroubled by the financial crisis and recession. In Australia, the Labor government headed by Julia Gillard (after the intra-party ouster two months before of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd) was expected to cruise to victory, as Australian parties have after one term in government since 1930. The new leader of the conservative Liberal Party, Tony Abbott, was considered too extremist to win. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100827Barone.mp3 D17199D8-4991-4423-AB18-ACA2E1FD88A7 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:52:08 -0400 In this tumultuous political year, the latest sharp surprises come from the far reaches of the Anglosphere -- In this tumultuous political year, the latest sharp surprises come from the far reaches of the Anglosphere -- Alaska and Australia. These were lands to which Capt. James Cook voyaged even as the seaboard Atlantic colonists were rebelling against king and Parliament in London. Cook's charts of the southern coast of Australia are still in use, and he sailed from there to Hawaii and then through the Bering Strait to the ice-choked Arctic Sea. You can see splendid murals of his voyages in the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage. Australia joined the Anglosphere when the British established a convict settlement there in 1788, and Alaska joined when Secretary of State William Seward purchased it from Russia in 1867. Today they are commonwealths with economies thriving on mining and oil. Australia's 22 million people have a massive export trade with China; Alaska's 700,000 people, as Sarah Palin accurately noted, live in a state that has boundaries with Canada and Russia. Both the Aug. 21 federal election in Australia and the Aug. 24 primary in Alaska were not supposed to produce surprises. One reason: Both have economies relatively untroubled by the financial crisis and recession. In Australia, the Labor government headed by Julia Gillard (after the intra-party ouster two months before of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd) was expected to cruise to victory, as Australian parties have after one term in government since 1930. The new leader of the conservative Liberal Party, Tony Abbott, was considered too extremist to win. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone This weekend, on the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, civil rights activists and hip-hop stars will hold what they call a "healing ceremony" to commemorate the disaster. President Obama will speak at a separate event in New Orleans on Sunday. But don't expect any of these reconciliation-seeking leaders to confront the indelible stain of racial demagoguery left by the left in Katrina's aftermath. Hating George W. Bush means never having to say you're sorry. The Olympic gold medal for racial grievance-mongering went to rapper Kanye West, who railed during a supposedly nonpolitical nationwide telethon that the government was shooting "us," that "those are my people down there," and that "George Bush doesn't care about black people!" West's vulgar exploitation of a charity drive -- which was meant to unite America -- left most viewers with the same aghast, frozen expression as the one on comedian Mike Myers' face as he tried to rescue their fundraising segment from the sewage. Not to be outdone, the Congressional Black Caucus convened a press conference to blast news reporters for describing Katrina victims as "refugees." Yes, really. The Rev. Jesse Jackson echoed their complaint: "It is racist to call American citizens refugees." Refugees are, by dictionary definition, "exiles who flee for safety." How this could be construed as bigoted remains as much a mystery as the source of unhinged Huffington Post blogger and self-proclaimed "social justice advocate" Randall Robinson's bogus claim "that black hurricane victims in New Orleans have begun eating corpses to survive." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100826Malkin.mp3 6D891F24-2C82-4494-953A-1D0AC5B1D0A2 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:28:44 -0400 This weekend, on the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, civil rights activists and hip-hop stars will hold what they call a "healing ceremony" to commemorate the disaster. This weekend, on the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, civil rights activists and hip-hop stars will hold what they call a "healing ceremony" to commemorate the disaster. President Obama will speak at a separate event in New Orleans on Sunday. But don't expect any of these reconciliation-seeking leaders to confront the indelible stain of racial demagoguery left by the left in Katrina's aftermath. Hating George W. Bush means never having to say you're sorry. The Olympic gold medal for racial grievance-mongering went to rapper Kanye West, who railed during a supposedly nonpolitical nationwide telethon that the government was shooting "us," that "those are my people down there," and that "George Bush doesn't care about black people!" West's vulgar exploitation of a charity drive -- which was meant to unite America -- left most viewers with the same aghast, frozen expression as the one on comedian Mike Myers' face as he tried to rescue their fundraising segment from the sewage. Not to be outdone, the Congressional Black Caucus convened a press conference to blast news reporters for describing Katrina victims as "refugees." Yes, really. The Rev. Jesse Jackson echoed their complaint: "It is racist to call American citizens refugees." Refugees are, by dictionary definition, "exiles who flee for safety." How this could be construed as bigoted remains as much a mystery as the source of unhinged Huffington Post blogger and self-proclaimed "social justice advocate" Randall Robinson's bogus claim "that black hurricane victims in New Orleans have begun eating corpses to survive." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin My new book, "Crimes Against Liberty," has just been released, and in many of my radio interviews, hosts have been asking me whether I believe Barack Obama is a Christian or a Muslim. Though I don't address that subject in my book, I'll take a stab at it here. First, let me confess that we can't possibly know for sure whether someone is a Christian, in the sense that we can't read another person's soul. We can sometimes get a pretty good idea based on someone's statements, professions and actions, but ultimately, Christianity is about an individual's beliefs and his faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. With that disclaimer and the further admission that I'm no expert on Islam, let me share with you some factors that I believe merit our consideration on the question of whether he is Muslim, Christian or neither. In some ways, Obama exhibits a worldview that more closely resembles a secularist than it does either a Muslim or a Christian, especially in his views on social issues. Also, he seems to place a great deal of confidence in himself and in government to bring about transformational change. How many God-fearing people have you known who would say "we (meaning I) are the ones we've been waiting for" or "generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal"? The staggering conceit of these statements cannot be overstated. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100826Limbaugh.mp3 7A502FCC-3C8C-4D6D-947E-526DF66618D0 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:27:23 -0400 My new book, "Crimes Against Liberty," has just been released, and in many of my radio interviews, hosts have been asking me whether I believe Barack Obama is a Christian or a Muslim. My new book, "Crimes Against Liberty," has just been released, and in many of my radio interviews, hosts have been asking me whether I believe Barack Obama is a Christian or a Muslim. Though I don't address that subject in my book, I'll take a stab at it here. First, let me confess that we can't possibly know for sure whether someone is a Christian, in the sense that we can't read another person's soul. We can sometimes get a pretty good idea based on someone's statements, professions and actions, but ultimately, Christianity is about an individual's beliefs and his faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. With that disclaimer and the further admission that I'm no expert on Islam, let me share with you some factors that I believe merit our consideration on the question of whether he is Muslim, Christian or neither. In some ways, Obama exhibits a worldview that more closely resembles a secularist than it does either a Muslim or a Christian, especially in his views on social issues. Also, he seems to place a great deal of confidence in himself and in government to bring about transformational change. How many God-fearing people have you known who would say "we (meaning I) are the ones we've been waiting for" or "generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal"? The staggering conceit of these statements cannot be overstated. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh Sen. John McCain won the Arizona Republican primary against former congressman J.D. Hayworth this week, but he paid a heavy price. Never again will he be able to lead on an issue that was important to him and the Nation: reforming our broken immigration system. Not only did he flip-flop shamelessly, but it wasn't even necessary. Hayworth was a huckster -- not just shilling for an outfit that promised "free" government money to anyone who'd fork over a few bucks, but voting for pork-barrel projects throughout his congressional career. And it was ultimately McCain's exposure of Hayworth's record that led to his 20-point victory. McCain didn't need to pander on the immigration issue to be re-nominated. After all, he handily won his party's presidential nomination in 2008 after spending the previous two years in the Senate pushing for comprehensive immigration reform. For all the blather emanating from some circles, illegal immigration is not a top voting issue for most Republicans. Jobs, the economy, taxes, the national debt, government spending, and terrorism all trump immigration as primary issues of concern in most polls. And even in Arizona, the frontline of the immigration war, McCain's record on comprehensive reform wasn't much of a factor. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100826Chavez.mp3 9D4FA486-7341-43D1-94C7-673129CC11D9 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:26:08 -0400 Sen. John McCain won the Arizona Republican primary against former congressman J.D. Hayworth this week, but he paid a heavy price. Sen. John McCain won the Arizona Republican primary against former congressman J.D. Hayworth this week, but he paid a heavy price. Never again will he be able to lead on an issue that was important to him and the Nation: reforming our broken immigration system. Not only did he flip-flop shamelessly, but it wasn't even necessary. Hayworth was a huckster -- not just shilling for an outfit that promised "free" government money to anyone who'd fork over a few bucks, but voting for pork-barrel projects throughout his congressional career. And it was ultimately McCain's exposure of Hayworth's record that led to his 20-point victory. McCain didn't need to pander on the immigration issue to be re-nominated. After all, he handily won his party's presidential nomination in 2008 after spending the previous two years in the Senate pushing for comprehensive immigration reform. For all the blather emanating from some circles, illegal immigration is not a top voting issue for most Republicans. Jobs, the economy, taxes, the national debt, government spending, and terrorism all trump immigration as primary issues of concern in most polls. And even in Arizona, the frontline of the immigration war, McCain's record on comprehensive reform wasn't much of a factor. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Linda Chavez editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Linda Chavez President Obama has a weakness for thinking in categories. For someone who provokes swoons among liberals for his great intellect, he has repeatedly evidenced an unsophisticated, one might even say simple-minded, view of the world: Workers good; bosses exploitative. Borrowers good; lenders bad. Patients good; insurance companies bad. Again and again, the president and his spokesmen have justified their expansions of government power as efforts to help those who "through no fault of their own" find themselves in difficulties. Many politicians traffic in this kind rhetoric during campaigns, but Obama has institutionalized it in policy. One of those reifications -- the Home Affordable Modification Program -- now stands revealed as a failure. Recall that in February 2009, President Obama proposed to solve a "crisis unlike we've ever known." It wasn't, the president insisted, that anyone had made poor decisions. "It begins with a young family ... They save up ... They choose a home that feels like the perfect place to start a life. They secure a fixed-rate mortgage at a reasonable rate, and they make a down payment, and they make their mortgage payments each month. They are as responsible as anyone could ask them to be." But then someone loses a job, a spouse has his or her hours cut, or a child becomes sick. The president's $75 billion program guaranteed that homeowners with Fannie or Freddie mortgages would be eligible for refinancing to lower rates if their mortgages were between 80 and 105 percent of the home's worth. Other borrowers facing foreclosure would be able to refinance their mortgages down to 31 percent of their monthly income. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100826Charen.mp3 6C2ABAE8-D066-4BCB-885C-15264416549D Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:24:23 -0400 President Obama has a weakness for thinking in categories. President Obama has a weakness for thinking in categories. For someone who provokes swoons among liberals for his great intellect, he has repeatedly evidenced an unsophisticated, one might even say simple-minded, view of the world: Workers good; bosses exploitative. Borrowers good; lenders bad. Patients good; insurance companies bad. Again and again, the president and his spokesmen have justified their expansions of government power as efforts to help those who "through no fault of their own" find themselves in difficulties. Many politicians traffic in this kind rhetoric during campaigns, but Obama has institutionalized it in policy. One of those reifications -- the Home Affordable Modification Program -- now stands revealed as a failure. Recall that in February 2009, President Obama proposed to solve a "crisis unlike we've ever known." It wasn't, the president insisted, that anyone had made poor decisions. "It begins with a young family ... They save up ... They choose a home that feels like the perfect place to start a life. They secure a fixed-rate mortgage at a reasonable rate, and they make a down payment, and they make their mortgage payments each month. They are as responsible as anyone could ask them to be." But then someone loses a job, a spouse has his or her hours cut, or a child becomes sick. The president's $75 billion program guaranteed that homeowners with Fannie or Freddie mortgages would be eligible for refinancing to lower rates if their mortgages were between 80 and 105 percent of the home's worth. Other borrowers facing foreclosure would be able to refinance their mortgages down to 31 percent of their monthly income. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen Every 10 years, it's time for reapportionment and redistricting. The framers of the Constitution created the first regularly scheduled national census and required, for the first time that I am aware, that representation in a legislature be apportioned according to population. Reapportionment is automatic: A statutory formula takes the Census figures and apportions the 435 House districts among the 50 states. Wyoming and five other states will each get one, California will probably get 53, and the rest some number in between. Seven states, according to projections by Polidata Inc., will gain a House seat, and Texas will gain four -- nine states will lose a House seat, and Ohio will lose two. Overall, states carried by John McCain in 2008 will gain a net seven seats (and electoral votes), and states carried by Barack Obama will lose seven. But that doesn't necessarily mean Republicans will gain House seats. That depends on redistricting -- how the lines are drawn by the politicians in each state (or, in a couple of cases, by nonpartisan commissions). That's particularly true in states with large numbers of districts and densely packed metropolitan areas. You can't do much gerrymandering in a state with only a few districts. But you can in states with more than four or five. Eighteen months ago, it looked like Democrats were going to profit from redistricting. An optimistic scenario for Democrats, extrapolating from the 2008 election results, was that if they could gain three governorships and three state senates and otherwise hold what they had, they would control redistricting in 14 states with more than five districts, including California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina and New Jersey. Those states are projected to have 195 districts in the House elected in 2012. Clever redistricting could move between one and two dozen into the Democratic column. That would have been the Democrats' best redistricting cycle since the one following the 1980 Census. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100825Barone.mp3 3309F02E-D681-443A-854E-6C9C9CC1E6E5 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:23:00 -0400 Every 10 years, it's time for reapportionment and redistricting. Every 10 years, it's time for reapportionment and redistricting. The framers of the Constitution created the first regularly scheduled national census and required, for the first time that I am aware, that representation in a legislature be apportioned according to population. Reapportionment is automatic: A statutory formula takes the Census figures and apportions the 435 House districts among the 50 states. Wyoming and five other states will each get one, California will probably get 53, and the rest some number in between. Seven states, according to projections by Polidata Inc., will gain a House seat, and Texas will gain four -- nine states will lose a House seat, and Ohio will lose two. Overall, states carried by John McCain in 2008 will gain a net seven seats (and electoral votes), and states carried by Barack Obama will lose seven. But that doesn't necessarily mean Republicans will gain House seats. That depends on redistricting -- how the lines are drawn by the politicians in each state (or, in a couple of cases, by nonpartisan commissions). That's particularly true in states with large numbers of districts and densely packed metropolitan areas. You can't do much gerrymandering in a state with only a few districts. But you can in states with more than four or five. Eighteen months ago, it looked like Democrats were going to profit from redistricting. An optimistic scenario for Democrats, extrapolating from the 2008 election results, was that if they could gain three governorships and three state senates and otherwise hold what they had, they would control redistricting in 14 states with more than five districts, including California, New York, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina and New Jersey. Those states are projected to have 195 districts in the House elected in 2012. Clever redistricting could move between one and two dozen into the Democratic column. That would have been the Democrats' best redistricting cycle since the one following the 1980 Census. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone When he announced his policy expanding federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, President Barack Obama was not timid about proclaiming its benefits. It would, he announced, hasten "a day when words like 'terminal' and 'incurable' are finally retired from our vocabulary." You thought Obama wanted to establish death panels? Actually, he seems to think he can confer immortality. That announcement, made in March of last year, dismantled the limits imposed by the Bush administration. The change, in Obama's view, was a triumph over ignorance and ideology. His executive order was, the president claimed, "about protecting free and open inquiry" and letting scientists "do their jobs, free from manipulation and coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient." When science wins, he led us to believe, we all win. Conspicuously absent from those declarations were facts that Obama would prefer to omit because they are -- well, inconvenient. But those facts did not elude U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who on Monday said the revised policy violates federal law. What facts? A restriction approved by Congress in 1996, and repeatedly renewed, says federal money may not be used for "research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed." But the point of Obama's new policy was to pay for experiments using stem cells harvested from embryos that are killed in the process. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100825Chapman.mp3 7D7DDE60-6E2E-49A0-9315-5A28D7FEBD55 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:22:58 -0400 When he announced his policy expanding federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, President Barack Obama was not timid about proclaiming its benefits. When he announced his policy expanding federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, President Barack Obama was not timid about proclaiming its benefits. It would, he announced, hasten "a day when words like 'terminal' and 'incurable' are finally retired from our vocabulary." You thought Obama wanted to establish death panels? Actually, he seems to think he can confer immortality. That announcement, made in March of last year, dismantled the limits imposed by the Bush administration. The change, in Obama's view, was a triumph over ignorance and ideology. His executive order was, the president claimed, "about protecting free and open inquiry" and letting scientists "do their jobs, free from manipulation and coercion, and listening to what they tell us, even when it's inconvenient." When science wins, he led us to believe, we all win. Conspicuously absent from those declarations were facts that Obama would prefer to omit because they are -- well, inconvenient. But those facts did not elude U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, who on Monday said the revised policy violates federal law. What facts? A restriction approved by Congress in 1996, and repeatedly renewed, says federal money may not be used for "research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed." But the point of Obama's new policy was to pay for experiments using stem cells harvested from embryos that are killed in the process. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman Thirty-one percent of Republicans, according to the Pew Research Center, believe that President Barack Obama is a Muslim. And more Republicans, 74 percent, than Democrats, 39 percent, oppose the construction of a mosque near ground zero. Thus, goes the argument, opposition to the proposed mosque stems from similar "right-wing" ignorance and Islamophobia. Why do so many people think Obama is a Muslim? Are they lunatics? Perhaps people base their assumption about Obama's religion on what they believe Islam says about the matter. In a New York Times op-ed, Edward Luttwak, with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, wrote that Obama "chose to become a Christian." But, Luttwak wrote: "As the son of the Muslim father, Senator Obama was born a Muslim under Muslim law as it is universally understood. It makes no difference that, as Senator Obama has written, his father said he renounced his religion. Likewise, under Muslim law based on the Koran his mother's Christian background is irrelevant." Maybe some follow the lead of Hillary Clinton. When asked on "60 Minutes" whether she believes Obama is a Muslim, then-presidential candidate Clinton said, "Of course not. ... There is no basis for that." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100825Elder.mp3 C4390142-27C7-4F68-8927-A878BE18A955 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:21:42 -0400 Thirty-one percent of Republicans, according to the Pew Research Center, believe that President Barack Obama is a Muslim. Thirty-one percent of Republicans, according to the Pew Research Center, believe that President Barack Obama is a Muslim. And more Republicans, 74 percent, than Democrats, 39 percent, oppose the construction of a mosque near ground zero. Thus, goes the argument, opposition to the proposed mosque stems from similar "right-wing" ignorance and Islamophobia. Why do so many people think Obama is a Muslim? Are they lunatics? Perhaps people base their assumption about Obama's religion on what they believe Islam says about the matter. In a New York Times op-ed, Edward Luttwak, with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, wrote that Obama "chose to become a Christian." But, Luttwak wrote: "As the son of the Muslim father, Senator Obama was born a Muslim under Muslim law as it is universally understood. It makes no difference that, as Senator Obama has written, his father said he renounced his religion. Likewise, under Muslim law based on the Koran his mother's Christian background is irrelevant." Maybe some follow the lead of Hillary Clinton. When asked on "60 Minutes" whether she believes Obama is a Muslim, then-presidential candidate Clinton said, "Of course not. ... There is no basis for that." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Larry Elder editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Larry Elder The "Summer of Recovery" is looking more and more like the Beltway Chainsaw Massacre for America's workers. As President Obama lolls on Martha's Vineyard with his well-heeled Chicago pals, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that 72 percent of people are very worried about joblessness and 67 percent are very concerned about massive government spending. After a nearly $1 trillion fiscal stimulus and several multibillion-dollar corporate and union bailouts, unemployment remains stuck near 10 percent nationwide; jobless claims rose again last week. One shudders to think how many more jobs will be on the chopping block after the vacationing president finishes "recharging his batteries." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100824Malkin.mp3 C54BC499-B70E-4F6A-9405-FF121C23607D Tue, 24 Aug 2010 23:42:53 -0400 The "Summer of Recovery" is looking more and more like the Beltway Chainsaw Massacre for America's workers. The "Summer of Recovery" is looking more and more like the Beltway Chainsaw Massacre for America's workers. As President Obama lolls on Martha's Vineyard with his well-heeled Chicago pals, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows that 72 percent of people are very worried about joblessness and 67 percent are very concerned about massive government spending. After a nearly $1 trillion fiscal stimulus and several multibillion-dollar corporate and union bailouts, unemployment remains stuck near 10 percent nationwide; jobless claims rose again last week. One shudders to think how many more jobs will be on the chopping block after the vacationing president finishes "recharging his batteries." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin Get ready for the most productive and decent political condition known to man: sweet gridlock. You get nothing. And after what you've been through these past few years, you deserve it. Hey, things are tough. A new Rasmussen poll says 48 percent of voters regard President Barack Obama's political views as "extreme." Not surprising, seeing as -- how can I put this without being hyperbolic? -- Washington has been doing to the economy what "Piranha 3D" has done to cinematic excellence. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100824Harsanyi.mp3 E0E865E4-DF2B-489B-AFA6-7464AB30D5AB Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:41:12 -0400 Get ready for the most productive and decent political condition known to man: sweet gridlock. Get ready for the most productive and decent political condition known to man: sweet gridlock. You get nothing. And after what you've been through these past few years, you deserve it. Hey, things are tough. A new Rasmussen poll says 48 percent of voters regard President Barack Obama's political views as "extreme." Not surprising, seeing as -- how can I put this without being hyperbolic? -- Washington has been doing to the economy what "Piranha 3D" has done to cinematic excellence. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Harsanyi editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Harsanyi Neoconservatives, Reaganites and other militarily assertive factions in the United States are sometimes accused of thinking it is always 1938 (Britain's appeasement of Hitler at Munich) -- that there is always a Hitler-like aggressor being appeased and about to drag the world into conflict. There is sometimes merit in that charge. As, likewise, is there sometimes merit in the charge against isolations and other doves that they always see 1914 (start of WWI) or 1964 (beginning of escalation of troops in Vietnam) -- the imminent and foolish entry into or escalation of a war that can't be won -- or even if victory were to be gained, it would be Pyrrhic. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100824Blankley.mp3 02457FA4-77CD-40C9-8418-3AD34D1E8D14 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:39:54 -0400 Neoconservatives, Reaganites and other militarily assertive factions in the United States are sometimes accused of thinking it is always 1938 (Britain's appeasement of Hitler at Munich)... Neoconservatives, Reaganites and other militarily assertive factions in the United States are sometimes accused of thinking it is always 1938 (Britain's appeasement of Hitler at Munich) -- that there is always a Hitler-like aggressor being appeased and about to drag the world into conflict. There is sometimes merit in that charge. As, likewise, is there sometimes merit in the charge against isolations and other doves that they always see 1914 (start of WWI) or 1964 (beginning of escalation of troops in Vietnam) -- the imminent and foolish entry into or escalation of a war that can't be won -- or even if victory were to be gained, it would be Pyrrhic. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Tony Blankley editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Tony Blankley In a November 2008 telephone conversation that was recorded by the FBI, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich daydreamed about what he could get for appointing Barack Obama's preferred choice to fill the president-elect's Senate seat. "Cabinet's out of the question," he said, "but Health and Human Services ... I'd take that in a second. That'll never happen." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100824Sullum.mp3 68BA8C6C-7BF6-4B0F-B515-892CB9A600B3 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:36:30 -0400 In a November 2008 telephone conversation that was recorded by the FBI, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich daydreamed about what he could get for appointing Barack Obama's preferred choice to fill the president-elect's Senate seat. In a November 2008 telephone conversation that was recorded by the FBI, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich daydreamed about what he could get for appointing Barack Obama's preferred choice to fill the president-elect's Senate seat. "Cabinet's out of the question," he said, "but Health and Human Services ... I'd take that in a second. That'll never happen." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Jacob Sullum editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Jacob Sullum My column titled "What Handouts to Cut?" created a number of angry responses, and for the first time in my life, I had some, not much, sympathy for political cowardice. Most letters were from senior citizens angered by my suggestion that they were receiving handouts and those handouts be cut. Federal tax receipts for 2009 totaled $2.1 trillion. The largest items in the federal budget were Social Security ($710 billion), national defense ($689 billion), Medicare ($456 billion) and Medicaid ($327 billion). The primary recipients of federal spending are seniors. Some of the letters argued that it's unfair to characterize what seniors are getting as handouts because they worked all their lives and paid into Social Security and Medicare. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100823Williams.mp3 029FC874-B8FB-4F6F-A7CD-02AA051CABE3 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:04:50 -0400 My column titled "What Handouts to Cut?" created a number of angry responses, and for the first time in my life, I had some, not much, sympathy for political cowardice. My column titled "What Handouts to Cut?" created a number of angry responses, and for the first time in my life, I had some, not much, sympathy for political cowardice. Most letters were from senior citizens angered by my suggestion that they were receiving handouts and those handouts be cut. Federal tax receipts for 2009 totaled $2.1 trillion. The largest items in the federal budget were Social Security ($710 billion), national defense ($689 billion), Medicare ($456 billion) and Medicaid ($327 billion). The primary recipients of federal spending are seniors. Some of the letters argued that it's unfair to characterize what seniors are getting as handouts because they worked all their lives and paid into Social Security and Medicare. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Walter Williams editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Walter Williams There is so much political spin, and so many numbers games being played, when it comes to medical care, that we have to go back to square one and the simplest common sense, in order to get some rational idea of what government-run medical care means. In particular, we need to examine the claim that the government can "bring down the cost of medical care." The most basic fact is that it is cheaper to remain sick than to get medical treatment. What is cheapest of all is to die instead of getting life-saving medications and treatment, which can be very expensive. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100823Sowell.mp3 6188DD99-6E29-47A9-85A0-7655546C24C5 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:44:42 -0400 There is so much political spin, and so many numbers games being played, when it comes to medical care, that we have to go back to square one and the simplest common sense, in order to get some rational idea of what government-run medical care means. There is so much political spin, and so many numbers games being played, when it comes to medical care, that we have to go back to square one and the simplest common sense, in order to get some rational idea of what government-run medical care means. In particular, we need to examine the claim that the government can "bring down the cost of medical care." The most basic fact is that it is cheaper to remain sick than to get medical treatment. What is cheapest of all is to die instead of getting life-saving medications and treatment, which can be very expensive. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Thomas Sowell editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Thomas Sowell Last week, the media, White House and nation were in a hullabaloo over a Pew Research Center poll that revealed that 1 in 5 Americans believes President Barack Obama is a Muslim. The poll received so much attention and response that the White House released a rebuttal reiterating that President Obama is "a committed Christian." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100823Norris.mp3 68617597-B934-4F42-9F84-9DB9EB0D4BF0 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:35:28 -0400 Last week, the media, White House and nation were in a hullabaloo over a Pew Research Center poll that revealed that 1 in 5 Americans believes President Barack Obama is a Muslim. Last week, the media, White House and nation were in a hullabaloo over a Pew Research Center poll that revealed that 1 in 5 Americans believes President Barack Obama is a Muslim. The poll received so much attention and response that the White House released a rebuttal reiterating that President Obama is "a committed Christian." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Chuck Norris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Chuck Norris I recently wrote about leftists' hatred for conservatives as people, not merely for conservative ideas. Demonization of opponents is a fundamental characteristic of the left. It is not merely tactical; they believe people on the right are bad. (Here's a test: Ask someone on the left if active support of California Proposition 8 -- retaining the man-woman definition of marriage -- was an act of hate.) A related defining characteristic of the left is the ascribing of nefarious motives to conservatives. For the left, a dismissal of conservatives' motives is as important as is dismissal of the conservatives as people. It is close to impossible for almost anyone on the left -- and I mean the elite left, not merely left-wing blogs -- to say "There are good people on both of sides of this issue." From Karl Marx to Frank Rich of The New York Times, this has always been the case. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100823Prager.mp3 B19CDC6F-4852-46E7-8D62-604F2822F864 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:34:15 -0400 I recently wrote about leftists' hatred for conservatives as people, not merely for conservative ideas. Demonization of opponents is a fundamental characteristic of the left. I recently wrote about leftists' hatred for conservatives as people, not merely for conservative ideas. Demonization of opponents is a fundamental characteristic of the left. It is not merely tactical; they believe people on the right are bad. (Here's a test: Ask someone on the left if active support of California Proposition 8 -- retaining the man-woman definition of marriage -- was an act of hate.) A related defining characteristic of the left is the ascribing of nefarious motives to conservatives. For the left, a dismissal of conservatives' motives is as important as is dismissal of the conservatives as people. It is close to impossible for almost anyone on the left -- and I mean the elite left, not merely left-wing blogs -- to say "There are good people on both of sides of this issue." From Karl Marx to Frank Rich of The New York Times, this has always been the case. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dennis Prager editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dennis Prager Ten years ago, Republicans in Congress passed a major law to protect the right of Muslims to establish mosques even where such a building might be unwelcome. Yes, they did. They just may not have thought of it quite that way at the time. The law, called the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), was aimed at a common problem often ignored by the courts: local government bodies using zoning authority to prevent religious institutions from moving in or expanding their operations. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100820Chapman.mp3 DF39F42D-A887-4894-87EA-D6652697A038 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:38:12 -0400 My children have started to become exacting grammarians. Ten years ago, Republicans in Congress passed a major law to protect the right of Muslims to establish mosques even where such a building might be unwelcome. Yes, they did. They just may not have thought of it quite that way at the time. The law, called the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), was aimed at a common problem often ignored by the courts: local government bodies using zoning authority to prevent religious institutions from moving in or expanding their operations. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman Like many Democrats over the past 40 years, Barack Obama has hoped that his association with unpopular liberal positions on cultural issues would be outweighed by pushing economic policies intended to benefit the ordinary person. In his campaign in 2008 and as president in 2009 and 2010, he has hoped that those he characterized to a rich San Francisco Bay area audience as bitterly clinging to guns and God would be won over by programs to stimulate the economy and provide guaranteed health insurance. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100820Barone.mp3 62095F27-10D1-4457-BADA-39E9FB1B0AC4 Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:37:11 -0400 My children have started to become exacting grammarians. Like many Democrats over the past 40 years, Barack Obama has hoped that his association with unpopular liberal positions on cultural issues would be outweighed by pushing economic policies intended to benefit the ordinary person. In his campaign in 2008 and as president in 2009 and 2010, he has hoped that those he characterized to a rich San Francisco Bay area audience as bitterly clinging to guns and God would be won over by programs to stimulate the economy and provide guaranteed health insurance. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone My children have started to become exacting grammarians. David, 15, is driven nearly crazy every time someone misuses the expression "beg the question." It's a good thing he is away on a band trip this week and didn't catch a CNN report on the morning news. A story on the financial situation was phrased like this: "This begs the question: What happened to the TARP money?" From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100819Charen.mp3 C65850F4-497F-48AD-A1DB-0806900DF9D7 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:38:14 -0400 My children have started to become exacting grammarians. My children have started to become exacting grammarians. David, 15, is driven nearly crazy every time someone misuses the expression "beg the question." It's a good thing he is away on a band trip this week and didn't catch a CNN report on the morning news. A story on the financial situation was phrased like this: "This begs the question: What happened to the TARP money?" For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen His supporters are genuinely puzzled at President Obama's slip in popularity. They're racking their brains to explain how a man who swept into the Oval Office on a tide of good will could have fallen so low. According to recent polls, most Americans now disapprove of the job Obama is doing. That's a dramatic change from his early months in office, when the president held a 2-to-1 advantage in his approval ratings. Former Clinton White House chief of staff John Podesta suggests the president has been acting more like a prime minister and less like a president, relying on legislative accomplishments to define his presidency. Others, like former President Jimmy Carter, have even blamed racism for the president's unpopularity. But the explanation for the president's disapproval is pretty simple. He seems to have no clue what to do about the economy -- and everything he's done so far has either failed or made matters worse. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100819Chavez.mp3 953FF88F-3685-4400-A93A-2D9E0E0D5FD4 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:36:58 -0400 His supporters are genuinely puzzled at President Obama's slip in popularity. His supporters are genuinely puzzled at President Obama's slip in popularity. They're racking their brains to explain how a man who swept into the Oval Office on a tide of good will could have fallen so low. According to recent polls, most Americans now disapprove of the job Obama is doing. That's a dramatic change from his early months in office, when the president held a 2-to-1 advantage in his approval ratings. Former Clinton White House chief of staff John Podesta suggests the president has been acting more like a prime minister and less like a president, relying on legislative accomplishments to define his presidency. Others, like former President Jimmy Carter, have even blamed racism for the president's unpopularity. But the explanation for the president's disapproval is pretty simple. He seems to have no clue what to do about the economy -- and everything he's done so far has either failed or made matters worse. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Linda Chavez editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Linda Chavez Does anyone find it ironic that the very people who protest so loudly over supposed affronts to Islamic religious expression are often so hostile to the slightest Christian religious expressions -- even incidental expressions? The left is going bonkers over opposition to the ground zero mosque in the name of religious freedom, but the left's assault on Christian liberties proceeds unabated. One very recent example is the ruling by a three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that memorial crosses erected and displayed along Utah public roads to honor fallen state highway troopers must be removed as unconstitutional. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100819Limbaugh.mp3 9B31B2E4-190E-4CE2-9D86-4CA2B028E67D Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:35:07 -0400 Does anyone find it ironic that the very people who protest so loudly over supposed affronts to Islamic religious expression are often so hostile to the slightest Christian religious expressions -- even incidental expressions? Does anyone find it ironic that the very people who protest so loudly over supposed affronts to Islamic religious expression are often so hostile to the slightest Christian religious expressions -- even incidental expressions? The left is going bonkers over opposition to the ground zero mosque in the name of religious freedom, but the left's assault on Christian liberties proceeds unabated. One very recent example is the ruling by a three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that memorial crosses erected and displayed along Utah public roads to honor fallen state highway troopers must be removed as unconstitutional. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh It's not enough that the White House is moving to lock up hundreds of millions of acres of land in the name of environmental protection. The Obama administration's neon green radicals are also training their sights on the deep blue seas. The president's grabby-handed bureaucrats have been empowered through executive order to seize unprecedented control from states and localities over "conservation, economic activity, user conflict and sustainable use of the ocean, our coasts and the Great Lakes."_ Democrats have tried and failed to pass "comprehensive" federal oceans management legislation five years in a row. The so-called "Oceans 21" bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Sam Farr of California, went nowhere fast. Among the top reasons: bipartisan concerns about the economic impact of closing off widespread access to recreational fishing. The bill also would have handed environmentalists another punitive litigation weapon under the guise of "ecosystem management." Instead of accepting defeat, the green lobby simply circumvented the legislative process altogether. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100819Malkin.mp3 CF3A2ED2-C657-40C1-BA1D-E46ECB52B602 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:34:05 -0400 It's not enough that the White House is moving to lock up hundreds of millions of acres of land in the name of environmental protection. It's not enough that the White House is moving to lock up hundreds of millions of acres of land in the name of environmental protection. The Obama administration's neon green radicals are also training their sights on the deep blue seas. The president's grabby-handed bureaucrats have been empowered through executive order to seize unprecedented control from states and localities over "conservation, economic activity, user conflict and sustainable use of the ocean, our coasts and the Great Lakes."_ Democrats have tried and failed to pass "comprehensive" federal oceans management legislation five years in a row. The so-called "Oceans 21" bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Sam Farr of California, went nowhere fast. Among the top reasons: bipartisan concerns about the economic impact of closing off widespread access to recreational fishing. The bill also would have handed environmentalists another punitive litigation weapon under the guise of "ecosystem management." Instead of accepting defeat, the green lobby simply circumvented the legislative process altogether. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin When I drive from downtown Washington to Reagan National Airport, I often encounter delays on the George Washington Parkway due to construction of a small bridge over an inlet of the Potomac. It's called the Humpback Bridge, and the Federal Highway Administration began reconstruction in January 2008. It was supposed to be finished last February, but the estimated completion date is now June 2011. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100818Barone.mp3 C39FEEFC-3620-49C1-AB07-FEDA2E0E636D Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:20:21 -0400 When I drive from downtown Washington to Reagan National Airport, I often encounter delays on the George Washington Parkway due to construction of a small bridge over an inlet of the Potomac. When I drive from downtown Washington to Reagan National Airport, I often encounter delays on the George Washington Parkway due to construction of a small bridge over an inlet of the Potomac. It's called the Humpback Bridge, and the Federal Highway Administration began reconstruction in January 2008. It was supposed to be finished last February, but the estimated completion date is now June 2011. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone The position of chair of the Council of Economic Advisers is open. How President Barack Obama fills it can tell us whether he's finally gone wobbly on Obamanomics -- maybe in time to arrest some of the damage. Would President Obama, to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, ponder whether to nominate liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg or conservative Antonin Scalia? Would his finalists come down to Sonia Sotomayor or Samuel Alito? Elena Kagan or John Roberts? From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100818Elder.mp3 57503DD4-A286-478F-B8DD-8D0F99A647AF Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:19:29 -0400 The position of chair of the Council of Economic Advisers is open. The position of chair of the Council of Economic Advisers is open. How President Barack Obama fills it can tell us whether he's finally gone wobbly on Obamanomics -- maybe in time to arrest some of the damage. Would President Obama, to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, ponder whether to nominate liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg or conservative Antonin Scalia? Would his finalists come down to Sonia Sotomayor or Samuel Alito? Elena Kagan or John Roberts? For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Larry Elder editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Larry Elder When it comes to the proposed Islamic center near ground zero, I subscribe to President Barack Obama's position: "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country." But that's old news. Today the debate is the debate. And this debate is far more consequential. There are those who continue to make the facile claim that any protest over Park51 is a display in un-American intolerance and contempt for the Constitution. This position treats criticism of faith -- religious institutions and symbols included -- as tantamount to "bigotry." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100817Harsanyi.mp3 F6E69254-D73A-4D30-8A33-1592BC688FE2 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:21:20 -0400 When it comes to the proposed Islamic center near ground zero, I subscribe to President Barack Obama's position: "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country." When it comes to the proposed Islamic center near ground zero, I subscribe to President Barack Obama's position: "Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country." But that's old news. Today the debate is the debate. And this debate is far more consequential. There are those who continue to make the facile claim that any protest over Park51 is a display in un-American intolerance and contempt for the Constitution. This position treats criticism of faith -- religious institutions and symbols included -- as tantamount to "bigotry.". For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Harsanyi editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Harsanyi I do not often agree with President Barack Obama or New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. But they have taken the right position in the controversy over plans for a Muslim community center in lower Manhattan, defending religious freedom and property rights against government meddling driven by irrational prejudice. In contrast, whatever residual respect I had for Newt Gingrich because of his libertarian impulses as a Republican opposition leader and speaker of the House has been wiped out by his shameful performance as a jingoistic rabble-rouser who insists that "we should not tolerate" what the Constitution requires us to tolerate. By conflating the avowedly moderate, pluralistic and ecumenical backers of Park 51 with the terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center, he encourages the same sort of collectivist thinking that inspired those mass murderers. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100817Sullum.mp3 613ED1D0-511F-4DEC-80E0-D99D8CF08801 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:19:53 -0400 I do not often agree with President Barack Obama or New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. I do not often agree with President Barack Obama or New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. But they have taken the right position in the controversy over plans for a Muslim community center in lower Manhattan, defending religious freedom and property rights against government meddling driven by irrational prejudice. In contrast, whatever residual respect I had for Newt Gingrich because of his libertarian impulses as a Republican opposition leader and speaker of the House has been wiped out by his shameful performance as a jingoistic rabble-rouser who insists that "we should not tolerate" what the Constitution requires us to tolerate. By conflating the avowedly moderate, pluralistic and ecumenical backers of Park 51 with the terrorists who destroyed the World Trade Center, he encourages the same sort of collectivist thinking that inspired those mass murderers. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Jacob Sullum editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Jacob Sullum With apologies to George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward and their 1935 classic song, "Summertime" (and the living is easy): Summertime, And the living is queasy Taxes jumpin' And foreclosures are high Your daddy's broke And your ma's suicidal But hush, little voters Don't you cry From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100817Blankley.mp3 2AE0A8A2-EFE7-4FDE-9006-05FDF14A7028 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:04:31 -0400 With apologies to George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward and their 1935 classic song, "Summertime" (and the living is easy): With apologies to George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward and their 1935 classic song, "Summertime" (and the living is easy): Summertime, And the living is queasy Taxes jumpin' And foreclosures are high Your daddy's broke And your ma's suicidal But hush, little voters Don't you cry For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Tony Blankley editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Tony Blankley Everything you need to know about President Obama's fraudulent ethics pledge can be summed up in four words: SEIU lawyer Craig Becker. Becker is the left-wing lawyer Obama sneakily installed on the National Labor Relations Board. The U.S. Senate rejected Becker's nomination on a 52-33 cloture vote in February. Obama responded by flipping the bird and ramming through his recess appointment during the congressional spring break. (The New York Times approvingly dubbed it a "muscular show of his executive authority." When that authority was exercised by GOP President George W. Bush, of course, the Times editorial board called it a "constitutional gimmick.") From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100817Malkin.mp3 83A3A733-AE44-4787-996A-281707C04EA9 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:03:31 -0400 Everything you need to know about President Obama's fraudulent ethics pledge can be summed up in four words: SEIU lawyer Craig Becker. Everything you need to know about President Obama's fraudulent ethics pledge can be summed up in four words: SEIU lawyer Craig Becker. Becker is the left-wing lawyer Obama sneakily installed on the National Labor Relations Board. The U.S. Senate rejected Becker's nomination on a 52-33 cloture vote in February. Obama responded by flipping the bird and ramming through his recess appointment during the congressional spring break. (The New York Times approvingly dubbed it a "muscular show of his executive authority." When that authority was exercised by GOP President George W. Bush, of course, the Times editorial board called it a "constitutional gimmick.") For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin The left passionately supports the most remarkable and radical change in modern social history -- the redefinition of marriage from male-female to include male-male and female-female. Marriage is the building block of society. Changing its nature will therefore change society. Among other things, same-sex marriage means that because sex (now called "gender") no longer matters for society's most important institution, it no longer matters in general. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100816Prager.mp3 8FE93A1A-8E64-4D7C-8128-6DE9E0C07A2E Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:24:57 -0400 The left passionately supports the most remarkable and radical change in modern social history -- the redefinition of marriage from male-female to include male-male and female-female. The left passionately supports the most remarkable and radical change in modern social history -- the redefinition of marriage from male-female to include male-male and female-female. Marriage is the building block of society. Changing its nature will therefore change society. Among other things, same-sex marriage means that because sex (now called "gender") no longer matters for society's most important institution, it no longer matters in general. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dennis Prager editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dennis Prager More than they have been at any other time in U.S. history, our First Amendment freedoms of speech and religion are in jeopardy. As if recently passed "hate crime" laws and a politically correct culture weren't bad enough. Now our president is using international pressure and possibly law to establish a prohibition against insulting Islam or Muslims. Let me remind us how we got here. Speaking for most Founding Fathers in his day, John Jay, the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed by George Washington himself, said, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest, of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100816Norris.mp3 267984CB-23C5-4A26-B119-CE1FBA3B35E1 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:23:46 -0400 More than they have been at any other time in U.S. history, our First Amendment freedoms of speech and religion are in jeopardy. More than they have been at any other time in U.S. history, our First Amendment freedoms of speech and religion are in jeopardy. As if recently passed "hate crime" laws and a politically correct culture weren't bad enough. Now our president is using international pressure and possibly law to establish a prohibition against insulting Islam or Muslims. Let me remind us how we got here. Speaking for most Founding Fathers in his day, John Jay, the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed by George Washington himself, said, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest, of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Chuck Norris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Chuck Norris A caller to my brother Rush's show suggested that we were making a mistake by opposing the ground zero mosque, because this was an opportunity to show Muslims that we are better than that and that our form of government is superior. This is more muddle-headed leftist thinking, even if it did come from a caller who thinks he's conservative. It's an outgrowth of the liberal mindset that we need to prove our moral decency to Muslim people. Since the 9/11 attacks, it has been clear that many leftists believe that to some extent, America brought on itself the attacks. They can indignantly dispute this characterization, but we see too much evidence to dismiss it. No less a central figure than our own president's former pastor Jeremiah Wright took this position. Feisal Abdul Rauf, the imam of the ground zero mosque, reportedly expressed that view, and, knowing that, Obama's State Department is making him a liaison to the Mideast. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100816Limbaugh.mp3 05F95AF6-E866-4CC6-B332-08675138FBCF Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:09:40 -0400 A caller to my brother Rush's show suggested that we were making a mistake by opposing the ground zero mosque, because this was an opportunity to show Muslims that we are better than that and that our form of government is superior. A caller to my brother Rush's show suggested that we were making a mistake by opposing the ground zero mosque, because this was an opportunity to show Muslims that we are better than that and that our form of government is superior. This is more muddle-headed leftist thinking, even if it did come from a caller who thinks he's conservative. It's an outgrowth of the liberal mindset that we need to prove our moral decency to Muslim people. Since the 9/11 attacks, it has been clear that many leftists believe that to some extent, America brought on itself the attacks. They can indignantly dispute this characterization, but we see too much evidence to dismiss it. No less a central figure than our own president's former pastor Jeremiah Wright took this position. Feisal Abdul Rauf, the imam of the ground zero mosque, reportedly expressed that view, and, knowing that, Obama's State Department is making him a liaison to the Mideast. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh How did we get to the point where many people feel that the America they have known is being replaced by a very different kind of country, with not only different kinds of policies but very different values and ways of governing? Something of this magnitude does not happen all at once or in just one administration in Washington. What we are seeing is the culmination of many trends in many aspects of American life that go back for years. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100816Sowell.mp3 87FA8571-995F-4D28-8F8D-B43710E39399 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:08:08 -0400 How did we get to the point where many people feel that the America they have known is being replaced by a very different kind of country, with not only different kinds of policies but very different values and ways of governing? How did we get to the point where many people feel that the America they have known is being replaced by a very different kind of country, with not only different kinds of policies but very different values and ways of governing? Something of this magnitude does not happen all at once or in just one administration in Washington. What we are seeing is the culmination of many trends in many aspects of American life that go back for years. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Thomas Sowell editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Thomas Sowell Democrat control of the White House, House of Representatives and the Senate has produced an unprecedented level of political brazenness and contempt for the limitations placed on the federal government by the U.S. Constitution. As such, it has raised a level of constitutional interest and anger against Washington's interference in our lives that has been dormant for far too long. Part of this heightened interest and anger is seen in the strength of the tea party movement around the nation. Another is the angry reception that many congressmen receive when they return to their districts and at town hall meetings. According to the most recent Gallup poll, only 20 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, but that's up from a March 2010 low of 16 percent. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100816Williams.mp3 0B30A80E-9CDF-4340-9BCC-C74121D30472 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:07:07 -0400 Democrat control of the White House, House of Representatives and the Senate has produced an unprecedented level of political brazenness and contempt for the limitations placed on the federal government by the U.S. Constitution. Democrat control of the White House, House of Representatives and the Senate has produced an unprecedented level of political brazenness and contempt for the limitations placed on the federal government by the U.S. Constitution. As such, it has raised a level of constitutional interest and anger against Washington's interference in our lives that has been dormant for far too long. Part of this heightened interest and anger is seen in the strength of the tea party movement around the nation. Another is the angry reception that many congressmen receive when they return to their districts and at town hall meetings. According to the most recent Gallup poll, only 20 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, but that's up from a March 2010 low of 16 percent. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Walter Williams editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Walter Williams The campaign against birthright citizenship has been on a roll. Last month, it won the endorsement of South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, long seen as a moderate on immigration. He favors amending the Constitution because he's aghast that "people come here to have babies." Graham and his allies got a boost last week from the Pew Hispanic Center, which released a report that sparked ominous headlines. "Illegal immigrants bear 8 percent of children born in the U.S.," blared Fox News. "Rise seen in births to illegal dwellers," proclaimed USA Today. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100813Chapman.mp3 69E130C8-9D07-4DEB-A4C3-D482FE898EED Sat, 14 Aug 2010 20:21:25 -0400 The campaign against birthright citizenship has been on a roll. The campaign against birthright citizenship has been on a roll. Last month, it won the endorsement of South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, long seen as a moderate on immigration. He favors amending the Constitution because he's aghast that "people come here to have babies." Graham and his allies got a boost last week from the Pew Hispanic Center, which released a report that sparked ominous headlines. "Illegal immigrants bear 8 percent of children born in the U.S.," blared Fox News. "Rise seen in births to illegal dwellers," proclaimed USA Today. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the 43-year-old Iranian mother of two whose death by stoning was commuted to death by hanging (so generous) after an international outcry, appeared on Iranian television this week. Speaking unsteadily in her native Azeri, Ashtiani admitted to being an accomplice to her husband's murder and of committing adultery with her husband's cousin. It's bad enough that the mullahs torture and kill so many of their people. Must they also insult their intelligence? Ashtiani has previously denied both charges, though she has been tortured to force a confession. Her second lawyer Houtan Kian, (the first fled Iran last month in fear for his life) told the Guardian that "She was severely beaten up and tortured until she accepted to appear in front of the camera." No one would ever guess that she was speaking under duress. Listeners would naturally accept that this victim of the medieval thug regime would, in the words of the Guardian account, "blame the western media for interfering in her personal life." Mina Ahadi of the Iran Committee against Stoning (ICAS) said: "It's not the first time Iran has put an innocent victim on a televised programme and killed them on the basis of their forced confessions -- it has happened numerously in the first decade of the Islamic Revolution." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100812Charen.mp3 6A2ADC66-24E9-4419-BB8C-0707046CC507 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:02:44 -0400 Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the 43-year-old Iranian mother of two whose death by stoning was commuted to death by hanging (so generous) after an international outcry, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the 43-year-old Iranian mother of two whose death by stoning was commuted to death by hanging (so generous) after an international outcry, appeared on Iranian television this week. Speaking unsteadily in her native Azeri, Ashtiani admitted to being an accomplice to her husband's murder and of committing adultery with her husband's cousin. It's bad enough that the mullahs torture and kill so many of their people. Must they also insult their intelligence? Ashtiani has previously denied both charges, though she has been tortured to force a confession. Her second lawyer Houtan Kian, (the first fled Iran last month in fear for his life) told the Guardian that "She was severely beaten up and tortured until she accepted to appear in front of the camera." No one would ever guess that she was speaking under duress. Listeners would naturally accept that this victim of the medieval thug regime would, in the words of the Guardian account, "blame the western media for interfering in her personal life." Mina Ahadi of the Iran Committee against Stoning (ICAS) said: "It's not the first time Iran has put an innocent victim on a televised programme and killed them on the basis of their forced confessions -- it has happened numerously in the first decade of the Islamic Revolution." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen By this point, you no doubt have heard that the midterm elections will feature a jampacked roster of radical, offbeat, wacky, crazy, insane, extreme candidates. And by "radical, offbeat, wacky, crazy, insane, extreme," I mean "not even smart enough to understand that liberal sacred cows are off-limits. Sure, you freaks are free to chatter on your blogs or at your Klan meetings about "privatizing" Social Security or extending tax breaks for the "rich" (sorry, the super-rich) or shutting down green energy boondoggles or repealing "Obamacare," but serious people simply don't engage in extremist talk publicly unless they want to be ridiculed. Democrats, fortunately, have a strategy in place to alert the citizenry to the ... well, let's just call it the Rand Paul Menace. "The Republican Party agenda has become the tea party agenda and vice versa," Democratic National Chairman Tim Kaine recently explained. The Dems have pulled together a helpful guide called "The Republican Tea Party Contract on America," which, despite its various chilling exaggerations, is actually not an altogether awful agenda compared with the one being implemented in Washington. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100812Harsanyi.mp3 221B0C0D-C050-4886-9D5B-4E2D37233B86 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:00:20 -0400 By this point, you no doubt have heard that the midterm elections will feature a jampacked roster of radical, offbeat, wacky, crazy, insane, extreme candidates. By this point, you no doubt have heard that the midterm elections will feature a jampacked roster of radical, offbeat, wacky, crazy, insane, extreme candidates. And by "radical, offbeat, wacky, crazy, insane, extreme," I mean "not even smart enough to understand that liberal sacred cows are off-limits. Sure, you freaks are free to chatter on your blogs or at your Klan meetings about "privatizing" Social Security or extending tax breaks for the "rich" (sorry, the super-rich) or shutting down green energy boondoggles or repealing "Obamacare," but serious people simply don't engage in extremist talk publicly unless they want to be ridiculed. Democrats, fortunately, have a strategy in place to alert the citizenry to the ... well, let's just call it the Rand Paul Menace. "The Republican Party agenda has become the tea party agenda and vice versa," Democratic National Chairman Tim Kaine recently explained. The Dems have pulled together a helpful guide called "The Republican Tea Party Contract on America," which, despite its various chilling exaggerations, is actually not an altogether awful agenda compared with the one being implemented in Washington. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Harsanyi editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Harsanyi As my friends' kids leave the nest for their first year away at college, I think of the monolithic ideas with which they will surely be bombarded in an environment that is supposed to expose them to a variety of ideas. Are they prepared to resist the seductive but destructive message? Liberal elites have dominated most university faculties for years, but it seems they've become bolder, more radical and more militant. It is not their ideas I fear, because Christianity and conservatism stand up to truth challenges. It is the moral preening, the politicization of academics, the peer pressure, the revisionist distortions and the potential discrimination against dissenters. You know the drill. The professorate will aggressively beat into your children's heads that America is not the greatest nation in history, but largely responsible, through action or inaction, for much of the suffering in the world and that it is imperialistic, exploitive and selfish. They'll say that Christianity is narrow, intolerant, anti-intellectual, anti-science, homophobic, hateful and judgmental and that capitalism is corrupt and skewed toward the "rich" and big corporations. They'll say or imply that political conservatism is inherently racist, homophobic, sexist, militaristic, unenlightened, close-minded, mean-spirited and uncompassionate. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100812Limbaugh.mp3 32FFADA5-8662-4C7B-812F-90F4863C2655 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:59:11 -0400 As my friends' kids leave the nest for their first year away at college, I think of the monolithic ideas with which they will surely be bombarded in an environment that is supposed to expose them to a variety of ideas. As my friends' kids leave the nest for their first year away at college, I think of the monolithic ideas with which they will surely be bombarded in an environment that is supposed to expose them to a variety of ideas. Are they prepared to resist the seductive but destructive message? Liberal elites have dominated most university faculties for years, but it seems they've become bolder, more radical and more militant. It is not their ideas I fear, because Christianity and conservatism stand up to truth challenges. It is the moral preening, the politicization of academics, the peer pressure, the revisionist distortions and the potential discrimination against dissenters. You know the drill. The professorate will aggressively beat into your children's heads that America is not the greatest nation in history, but largely responsible, through action or inaction, for much of the suffering in the world and that it is imperialistic, exploitive and selfish. They'll say that Christianity is narrow, intolerant, anti-intellectual, anti-science, homophobic, hateful and judgmental and that capitalism is corrupt and skewed toward the "rich" and big corporations. They'll say or imply that political conservatism is inherently racist, homophobic, sexist, militaristic, unenlightened, close-minded, mean-spirited and uncompassionate. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh "It's conceivable," said then-presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008, "that there are those in the Arab world who say to themselves, 'This is a guy who spent some time in the Muslim world, has a middle name of Hussein, and appears more worldly and has called for talks with people, and so he's not going to be engaging in the same sort of cowboy diplomacy as George Bush.'" A 2008 Zogby International poll surveyed those in the "friendly" Arab countries of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Eighty-three percent viewed the United States "somewhat" or "very" unfavorably. Enter President Barack Hussein Obama, a man with a keen and learned understanding of the Arab world -- a man who promised to restore our image through outreach based on mutual respect and understanding. Bush, Obama believed, governed with a swagger and aggressiveness that alienated friends and hardened the hearts of enemies. To forge a "new beginning" and find "common ground," Obama apologized for America's "mistakes." Candidate Obama said Bush offended would-be allies in the "good war," Afghanistan, by diverting resources to the "stupid" war, Iraq. After winding down the war in Iraq, Obama expected that allies committed to Afghanistan would stay and that new ones would join. He would close down the American "gulag," Guantanamo, and reverse the offensive, civil rights-subverting policies of the Bush administration. He would fight not a "war on terror," but an "overseas contingency operation." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100811Elder.mp3 44C6F144-EEC4-4B55-A154-A19637AE4E88 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:57:06 -0400 "It's conceivable," said then-presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008, "that there are those in the Arab world who say to themselves, "It's conceivable," said then-presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008, "that there are those in the Arab world who say to themselves, 'This is a guy who spent some time in the Muslim world, has a middle name of Hussein, and appears more worldly and has called for talks with people, and so he's not going to be engaging in the same sort of cowboy diplomacy as George Bush.'" A 2008 Zogby International poll surveyed those in the "friendly" Arab countries of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Eighty-three percent viewed the United States "somewhat" or "very" unfavorably. Enter President Barack Hussein Obama, a man with a keen and learned understanding of the Arab world -- a man who promised to restore our image through outreach based on mutual respect and understanding. Bush, Obama believed, governed with a swagger and aggressiveness that alienated friends and hardened the hearts of enemies. To forge a "new beginning" and find "common ground," Obama apologized for America's "mistakes." Candidate Obama said Bush offended would-be allies in the "good war," Afghanistan, by diverting resources to the "stupid" war, Iraq. After winding down the war in Iraq, Obama expected that allies committed to Afghanistan would stay and that new ones would join. He would close down the American "gulag," Guantanamo, and reverse the offensive, civil rights-subverting policies of the Bush administration. He would fight not a "war on terror," but an "overseas contingency operation." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Larry Elder editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Larry Elder "The pace of economic recovery is likely to be more modest in the near term than had been anticipated." Those were the carefully chosen words of the Federal Reserve Board after its meeting Tuesday. Translation into English: We wuz wrong. So were a lot of people, including departing White House economics adviser Christina Romer, who wrote that the Obama Democrats' February 2009 stimulus package would hold unemployment below 8 percent. It wasn't just administration spokesmen who expected a solid recovery. California economist Bill Watkins in newgeography.com recalls a conference last fall in which all the other economists presented rosy scenarios and only he forecast extended malaise. He was relieved that his colleagues didn't pelt him with tomatoes. It's easy for Republicans to make partisan hay of all this. They can point out, as Bush administration economist Larry Lindsey does in the Weekly Standard, that the congressional Democrats' stimulus package was not the timely, targeted and temporary measure recommended by national economic director Larry Summers. They can add that the threat of pending regulations interpreting the health care and financial regulation bills and of pending tax increases as the Bush cuts expire have created a climate of uncertainty in which consumers don't consume, banks don't lend and businesses don't create jobs. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100811Barone.mp3 0069B536-35D8-418F-99A5-A771EF033BC2 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:57:04 -0400 "The pace of economic recovery is likely to be more modest in the near term than had been anticipated." "The pace of economic recovery is likely to be more modest in the near term than had been anticipated." Those were the carefully chosen words of the Federal Reserve Board after its meeting Tuesday. Translation into English: We wuz wrong. So were a lot of people, including departing White House economics adviser Christina Romer, who wrote that the Obama Democrats' February 2009 stimulus package would hold unemployment below 8 percent. It wasn't just administration spokesmen who expected a solid recovery. California economist Bill Watkins in newgeography.com recalls a conference last fall in which all the other economists presented rosy scenarios and only he forecast extended malaise. He was relieved that his colleagues didn't pelt him with tomatoes. It's easy for Republicans to make partisan hay of all this. They can point out, as Bush administration economist Larry Lindsey does in the Weekly Standard, that the congressional Democrats' stimulus package was not the timely, targeted and temporary measure recommended by national economic director Larry Summers. They can add that the threat of pending regulations interpreting the health care and financial regulation bills and of pending tax increases as the Bush cuts expire have created a climate of uncertainty in which consumers don't consume, banks don't lend and businesses don't create jobs. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone It's August, with autumn looming, and that means something bad is happening. No, not Brett Favre scheming for attention. The bad thing is the spectacle of state governments from Texas to Vermont trying to buy off voters with their own money. It's an annual ritual known as the sales tax holiday, which lets consumers make certain government-approved purchases without remitting the usual levy to the Department of Revenue. According to the Tax Foundation, 18 states will hold these events in 2010. The gimmick usually is deployed this time of year so that parents can save on school supplies and clothing. In spite of the "back-to-school" label, you don't necessarily have to be a student or the parent of one to get the break. A colleague of mine used the opportunity to buy her husband a pair of golf shirts. That's because Illinois extends the preferred treatment to most clothing and shoes under $100. The state exempts 24 different school supplies, including lunch boxes, transparent tape and legal pads, but to qualify, they "must be used by students in the course of study." In Texas, backpacks under $100 are tax-exempt only if they are "used by elementary and secondary students." Good luck enforcing those requirements. The relief allows politicians to depict themselves as stalwart champions of the average person. "I am confident this tax break will help students, families and businesses as they prepare for a new school year," said Florida Gov. Charlie Crist when he signed the law creating a sales tax holiday. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100811Chapman.mp3 3D5267F1-C49C-4AB7-A9B3-9D0B185D1DE0 Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:56:25 -0400 It's August, with autumn looming, and that means something bad is happening. No, not Brett Favre scheming for attention. It's August, with autumn looming, and that means something bad is happening. No, not Brett Favre scheming for attention. The bad thing is the spectacle of state governments from Texas to Vermont trying to buy off voters with their own money. It's an annual ritual known as the sales tax holiday, which lets consumers make certain government-approved purchases without remitting the usual levy to the Department of Revenue. According to the Tax Foundation, 18 states will hold these events in 2010. The gimmick usually is deployed this time of year so that parents can save on school supplies and clothing. In spite of the "back-to-school" label, you don't necessarily have to be a student or the parent of one to get the break. A colleague of mine used the opportunity to buy her husband a pair of golf shirts. That's because Illinois extends the preferred treatment to most clothing and shoes under $100. The state exempts 24 different school supplies, including lunch boxes, transparent tape and legal pads, but to qualify, they "must be used by students in the course of study." In Texas, backpacks under $100 are tax-exempt only if they are "used by elementary and secondary students." Good luck enforcing those requirements. The relief allows politicians to depict themselves as stalwart champions of the average person. "I am confident this tax break will help students, families and businesses as they prepare for a new school year," said Florida Gov. Charlie Crist when he signed the law creating a sales tax holiday. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman The first step in any recovery is accepting that you can't control your addictions. So though Republicans may stumble back into power, they should admit that they, like Democrats, probably can't be trusted to control themselves. That's why it's nice to hear that four Senate Republicans -- Jim DeMint, Lindsey Graham, John McCain and Tom Coburn -- are moving forward with a balanced budget amendment that would require the federal government to spend no more than it takes in. Election year posturing? Sure. But it can only help renew the call for more embedded self-control in Washington. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100810Harsanyi.mp3 0C220DCA-8A70-4AFD-A202-F58F1B19C49F Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:47:08 -0400 The first step in any recovery is accepting that you can't control your addictions. The first step in any recovery is accepting that you can't control your addictions. So though Republicans may stumble back into power, they should admit that they, like Democrats, probably can't be trusted to control themselves. That's why it's nice to hear that four Senate Republicans -- Jim DeMint, Lindsey Graham, John McCain and Tom Coburn -- are moving forward with a balanced budget amendment that would require the federal government to spend no more than it takes in. Election year posturing? Sure. But it can only help renew the call for more embedded self-control in Washington. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Harsanyi editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Harsanyi House Speaker Nancy Pelosi deserves a swift rap on the knuckles for hiding underneath the desk of the American schoolteacher. In a cynical ploy to evade accountability for the Democrats' continued fiscal recklessness, Pelosi accused opponents of the $26 billion public employee union bailout bill of "demeaning" teachers -- and nurses, police officers and firefighters. Pelosi took great offense at Republican leaders who called out the Big Labor special interests pushing the emergency summer rescue. But if they walk, talk, spend and lobby like special interests, let's call them what they are. I have nothing against public school teachers. My mother was one. My children are taught by some of the best in the nation. And over the years, I've reported on valiant battles between rank-and-file educators in government schools and their fat, bloated union leaders who've transformed their professional organizations into wholly owned Democratic subsidiaries. My opposition to the so-called "Edujobs" bill (more accurately: the BigGovJobs bill) stems not from meanness, but from compassion for millions of dues-paying school employees being used as special interest human shields. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100810Malkin.mp3 408B6AEF-35A7-46FA-A235-53407025B545 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:46:08 -0400 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi deserves a swift rap on the knuckles for hiding underneath the desk of the American schoolteacher. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi deserves a swift rap on the knuckles for hiding underneath the desk of the American schoolteacher. In a cynical ploy to evade accountability for the Democrats' continued fiscal recklessness, Pelosi accused opponents of the $26 billion public employee union bailout bill of "demeaning" teachers -- and nurses, police officers and firefighters. Pelosi took great offense at Republican leaders who called out the Big Labor special interests pushing the emergency summer rescue. But if they walk, talk, spend and lobby like special interests, let's call them what they are. I have nothing against public school teachers. My mother was one. My children are taught by some of the best in the nation. And over the years, I've reported on valiant battles between rank-and-file educators in government schools and their fat, bloated union leaders who've transformed their professional organizations into wholly owned Democratic subsidiaries. My opposition to the so-called "Edujobs" bill (more accurately: the BigGovJobs bill) stems not from meanness, but from compassion for millions of dues-paying school employees being used as special interest human shields. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin At first blush, the notion that there is no rational basis for California's ban on same-sex marriage, as U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn Walker ruled last week, seems extreme. But the more you consider the arguments presented by the ban's supporters the less far-fetched Walker's conclusion looks. Walker ruled that Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot initiative that excluded gay couples from the legal definition of marriage, violated the 14th Amendment's command that no state may "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." He deemed the case presented by the measure's supporters so weak that it failed even the "rational basis" test, the highly deferential standard used in equal protection cases that do not involve a fundamental right or a "suspect class," such as race (although he also argued that gay marriage bans implicate both). From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100810Sullum.mp3 5948B3CC-0F1B-4DDD-A323-B485F508FD2E Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:45:01 -0400 At first blush, the notion that there is no rational basis for California's ban on same-sex marriage, as U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn Walker ruled last week, seems extreme. At first blush, the notion that there is no rational basis for California's ban on same-sex marriage, as U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn Walker ruled last week, seems extreme. But the more you consider the arguments presented by the ban's supporters the less far-fetched Walker's conclusion looks. Walker ruled that Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot initiative that excluded gay couples from the legal definition of marriage, violated the 14th Amendment's command that no state may "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." He deemed the case presented by the measure's supporters so weak that it failed even the "rational basis" test, the highly deferential standard used in equal protection cases that do not involve a fundamental right or a "suspect class," such as race (although he also argued that gay marriage bans implicate both). For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Jacob Sullum editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Jacob Sullum The cheerful, jaded, sneering question de jour from liberal journalists and Democratic Party commentators (I know, there's a pretty fine distinction) is, "What will the Republican Party do if it gets back the House?" The question is phrased along the line of what a car-chasing dog would do if it caught the car. As a conservative tea party Republican, I am not particularly worried about that eventuality. Despite itself, a majority GOP, driven powerfully by the unambiguous vox populi of such an election, almost certainly would go about trying to repeal Obamacare and put serious, current-fiscal-year spending cuts into place -- necessarily including "entitlements." Republicans would try to reduce some taxes and start serious oversight of federal regulatory intrusions into traditional American freedoms -- including a powerful pushback on administration regulatory efforts on climate change, illegal immigration and other left-wing agenda items. With sufficient votes in the Senate, they would block future liberal judicial appointments -- from the trial court to the Supreme Court. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100810Blankley.mp3 A45BF993-3EC8-4899-B595-6D38B16BA940 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:43:46 -0400 The cheerful, jaded, sneering question de jour from liberal journalists and Democratic Party commentators (I know, there's a pretty fine distinction) is, The cheerful, jaded, sneering question de jour from liberal journalists and Democratic Party commentators (I know, there's a pretty fine distinction) is, "What will the Republican Party do if it gets back the House?" The question is phrased along the line of what a car-chasing dog would do if it caught the car. As a conservative tea party Republican, I am not particularly worried about that eventuality. Despite itself, a majority GOP, driven powerfully by the unambiguous vox populi of such an election, almost certainly would go about trying to repeal Obamacare and put serious, current-fiscal-year spending cuts into place -- necessarily including "entitlements." Republicans would try to reduce some taxes and start serious oversight of federal regulatory intrusions into traditional American freedoms -- including a powerful pushback on administration regulatory efforts on climate change, illegal immigration and other left-wing agenda items. With sufficient votes in the Senate, they would block future liberal judicial appointments -- from the trial court to the Supreme Court. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Tony Blankley editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Tony Blankley Do you associate dirt with great music? You might if you were the parent of kids attending the Interlochen summer music program in Michigan. For the third and second summer respectively, my teenage sons have plunged into six weeks of intensive music education, performance, and instruction. I arrived for the final weekend and was greeted by two artistically elevated, high-spirited, and undeniably grubby young men. (Several pairs of gray/brown socks that began life white have been sent to their reward.) I wrote about the incomparable Interlochen camp (there is also an arts academy during the academic term) last year. "Twenty-five hundred students in grades 3-12 from every state in the union and 40 countries converge on this breezy sylvan enclave between two sparkling lakes for several weeks of intensive training and performance in music, art, theater, opera, dance, motion picture arts, and writing. Even if you've never heard of Interlochen, now in its 82nd (83rd now) year, you've certainly heard from its alumni." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100810Charen.mp3 0C31433C-DF14-49EE-ACA3-B57513481F6E Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:42:44 -0400 Do you associate dirt with great music? You might if you were the parent of kids attending the Interlochen summer music program in Michigan. Do you associate dirt with great music? You might if you were the parent of kids attending the Interlochen summer music program in Michigan. For the third and second summer respectively, my teenage sons have plunged into six weeks of intensive music education, performance, and instruction. I arrived for the final weekend and was greeted by two artistically elevated, high-spirited, and undeniably grubby young men. (Several pairs of gray/brown socks that began life white have been sent to their reward.) I wrote about the incomparable Interlochen camp (there is also an arts academy during the academic term) last year. "Twenty-five hundred students in grades 3-12 from every state in the union and 40 countries converge on this breezy sylvan enclave between two sparkling lakes for several weeks of intensive training and performance in music, art, theater, opera, dance, motion picture arts, and writing. Even if you've never heard of Interlochen, now in its 82nd (83rd now) year, you've certainly heard from its alumni." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen Because of failure to heed the limitations of the U.S. Constitution, which has produced runaway federal spending, our nation sits on the precipice of disaster. Former Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming and Erskine Bowles, White House chief of staff under President Bill Clinton, co-chairmen of President Obama's debt and deficit commission, in a Washington Post article "Obama's Debt Commission Warns of Fiscal 'Cancer'" (July 12, 2010) said that "(A)t present, federal revenue is fully consumed by three programs: Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The rest of the federal government, including fighting two wars, homeland security, education, art, culture, you name it, veterans -- the whole rest of the discretionary budget is being financed by China and other countries." The commission added the current budget trend is a disaster "that will destroy the country from within" unless checked by tough action in Washington. The tough action required is spending cuts in programs, including the so-called nondiscretionary, eating most of the federal revenues. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100809Williams.mp3 599288CA-E23B-49A7-8050-8A047B249E24 Mon, 9 Aug 2010 23:18:49 -0400 Because of failure to heed the limitations of the U.S. Constitution, which has produced runaway federal spending, our nation sits on the precipice of disaster. Because of failure to heed the limitations of the U.S. Constitution, which has produced runaway federal spending, our nation sits on the precipice of disaster. Former Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming and Erskine Bowles, White House chief of staff under President Bill Clinton, co-chairmen of President Obama's debt and deficit commission, in a Washington Post article "Obama's Debt Commission Warns of Fiscal 'Cancer'" (July 12, 2010) said that "(A)t present, federal revenue is fully consumed by three programs: Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The rest of the federal government, including fighting two wars, homeland security, education, art, culture, you name it, veterans -- the whole rest of the discretionary budget is being financed by China and other countries." The commission added the current budget trend is a disaster "that will destroy the country from within" unless checked by tough action in Washington. The tough action required is spending cuts in programs, including the so-called nondiscretionary, eating most of the federal revenues. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Walter Williams editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Walter Williams Sarah Palin said this past week that unlike Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, President Barack Obama lacks "the cojones" to deal with illegal immigration and America's border problems. I agree. In fact, hers was an understatement. Actually, the only cojones President Obama has shown throughout this whole American boundary debacle are those to oppose that fine governor, turn his back on the great people of Arizona, empower drug lords, and enable illegal immigration and contraband to continue to run through our borders like gnats through screens. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100809Norris.mp3 78DB08B0-AAA1-40A1-8050-30D2E237CD42 Mon, 9 Aug 2010 23:09:17 -0400 Sarah Palin said this past week that unlike Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, President Barack Obama lacks "the cojones" to deal with illegal immigration and America's border problems. Sarah Palin said this past week that unlike Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, President Barack Obama lacks "the cojones" to deal with illegal immigration and America's border problems. I agree. In fact, hers was an understatement. Actually, the only cojones President Obama has shown throughout this whole American boundary debacle are those to oppose that fine governor, turn his back on the great people of Arizona, empower drug lords, and enable illegal immigration and contraband to continue to run through our borders like gnats through screens. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Chuck Norris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Chuck Norris Liberals' derision of "people of faith" as weak, anti-intellectual, anti-reason and anti-science is ironic beyond measure, given their stubborn adherence to their own discredited views on the thin thread of faith alone. New York Times editors' "In Search of a New Playbook" provides a perfect illustration. They not only don't apologize for President Obama's failed policies but also insist that Democrats run proudly on his record. They argue that for Democrats to retain control of Congress, "they need a sharper and more inspirational playbook." But they're talking about a playbook that deviates not from their tired liberal ideas, but simply from the way those ideas are presented. (This is reminiscent of Obama's tone-deaf reaction to his effective trouncing in the Massachusetts Senate election, when he said he would have to explain his health care ideas more clearly to the American people.) From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100809Limbaugh.mp3 C2452966-4BA3-4686-8E9E-59E11348ACBD Mon, 9 Aug 2010 23:00:43 -0400 Liberals' derision of "people of faith" as weak, anti-intellectual, anti-reason and anti-science is ironic beyond measure, given their stubborn adherence to their own discredited views on the thin thread of faith alone. Liberals' derision of "people of faith" as weak, anti-intellectual, anti-reason and anti-science is ironic beyond measure, given their stubborn adherence to their own discredited views on the thin thread of faith alone. New York Times editors' "In Search of a New Playbook" provides a perfect illustration. They not only don't apologize for President Obama's failed policies but also insist that Democrats run proudly on his record. They argue that for Democrats to retain control of Congress, "they need a sharper and more inspirational playbook." But they're talking about a playbook that deviates not from their tired liberal ideas, but simply from the way those ideas are presented. (This is reminiscent of Obama's tone-deaf reaction to his effective trouncing in the Massachusetts Senate election, when he said he would have to explain his health care ideas more clearly to the American people.) For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh The title of this column seems unbelievable, but it is in fact what happened in America this past week. And almost no one has noticed. After 50 years of being inundated with stories of white racism, and being taught in college that in this white-dominated society, only a white can be a racist, the American public has been properly brainwashed into accepting the otherwise incredible: A black man murdered eight white people at his place of work because they were white, and the media story is about the murderer's alleged experiences of racism. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100809Prager.mp3 C40B58CC-56DD-43C6-B00F-E6EC85133E37 Mon, 9 Aug 2010 21:00:38 -0400 The title of this column seems unbelievable, but it is in fact what happened in America this past week. The title of this column seems unbelievable, but it is in fact what happened in America this past week. And almost no one has noticed. After 50 years of being inundated with stories of white racism, and being taught in college that in this white-dominated society, only a white can be a racist, the American public has been properly brainwashed into accepting the otherwise incredible: A black man murdered eight white people at his place of work because they were white, and the media story is about the murderer's alleged experiences of racism. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dennis Prager editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dennis Prager A graduating senior at Hunter College High School in New York gave a speech that brought a standing ovation from his teachers and got his picture in the (SET UNDERLINE) New York Times. (END UNDERLINE) I hope it doesn't go to his head, because what he said was so illogical that it was an indictment of the mush that is being taught at even our elite educational institutions. Young Justin Hudson, described as "black and Hispanic," opened by saying how much he appreciated reaching his graduation day at this very select public high school. Then he said, "I don't deserve any of this. And neither do you." The reason? He and his classmates were there because of "luck and circumstances." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100809Sowell.mp3 7F942186-5614-46BE-8A7D-F24BAA065535 Mon, 9 Aug 2010 20:59:20 -0400 A graduating senior at Hunter College High School in New York gave a speech that brought a standing ovation from his teachers and got his picture in the New York Times. A graduating senior at Hunter College High School in New York gave a speech that brought a standing ovation from his teachers and got his picture in the New York Times. I hope it doesn't go to his head, because what he said was so illogical that it was an indictment of the mush that is being taught at even our elite educational institutions. Young Justin Hudson, described as "black and Hispanic," opened by saying how much he appreciated reaching his graduation day at this very select public high school. Then he said, "I don't deserve any of this. And neither do you." The reason? He and his classmates were there because of "luck and circumstances." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Thomas Sowell editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Thomas Sowell Republicans are starting to think about how to answer the Robert Redford question. You know the scene. In the 1972 movie "The Candidate," the Redford character, having won the election, turns to his political consultant and asks, "What do I do now?" Many Republicans fear they will look as clueless as Redford. They entered this campaign cycle with little hope of winning congressional majorities. Now they have a good chance to do so in the House and an outside chance in the Senate. Some cynical Republicans say candidates should just harp on their opposition to the policies of the Obama Democrats and figure out what to do if they're in the majority when they get there. Others say they should present public policy alternatives. Some young House Republicans have put out a call for voters to e-mail their ideas. And House Republican leaders say they'll put together something in the nature of a 1994-style Contract with America over the August recess. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100806Barone.mp3 A437A408-D836-42D9-8661-89914B54D544 Sat, 7 Aug 2010 07:17:10 -0400 Republicans are starting to think about how to answer the Robert Redford question. You know the scene. In the 1972 movie "The Candidate," the Redford character, having won the election, Republicans are starting to think about how to answer the Robert Redford question. You know the scene. In the 1972 movie "The Candidate," the Redford character, having won the election, turns to his political consultant and asks, "What do I do now?" Many Republicans fear they will look as clueless as Redford. They entered this campaign cycle with little hope of winning congressional majorities. Now they have a good chance to do so in the House and an outside chance in the Senate. Some cynical Republicans say candidates should just harp on their opposition to the policies of the Obama Democrats and figure out what to do if they're in the majority when they get there. Others say they should present public policy alternatives. Some young House Republicans have put out a call for voters to e-mail their ideas. And House Republican leaders say they'll put together something in the nature of a 1994-style Contract with America over the August recess. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone With the disappointingly soft jobs report for July and a faltering recovery overall, is Team Obama getting ready for some sort of new, liberal-left, Keynesian, big-bang stimulus package? Will it be desperate to "do something"? Already there are rumors of an August surprise (to use the phrase of business columnist Jimmy Pethokoukis) in which Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac forgive underwater mortgages held by millions of Americans. And with state and local government jobs having fallen 169,000 so far this year, perhaps the Democratic Congress and the White House will seek an even bigger spending plan for teachers and Medicaid workers From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100806Kudlow.mp3 BFBAEA7C-B5B6-49F3-B04B-E5EF9AEC32CE Sat, 7 Aug 2010 07:16:12 -0400 With the disappointingly soft jobs report for July and a faltering recovery overall, is Team Obama getting ready for some sort of new, liberal-left, Keynesian, big-bang stimulus package? With the disappointingly soft jobs report for July and a faltering recovery overall, is Team Obama getting ready for some sort of new, liberal-left, Keynesian, big-bang stimulus package? Will it be desperate to "do something"? Already there are rumors of an August surprise (to use the phrase of business columnist Jimmy Pethokoukis) in which Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac forgive underwater mortgages held by millions of Americans. And with state and local government jobs having fallen 169,000 so far this year, perhaps the Democratic Congress and the White House will seek an even bigger spending plan for teachers and Medicaid workers For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Lawrence Kudlow editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Lawrence Kudlow For now, the Iranian government has suspended the death by stoning sentence meted out to Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the 43-year-old mother of two who was convicted of adultery. There is a lesson here. There is often debate in free countries about whether it is counterproductive to protest human rights outrages committed by repressive countries. For most of the past decade, for example, while Hugo Chavez has cemented his relationship with Iran, he has made life for Venezuela's Jewish community more and more precarious. More than once, regime thugs have invaded Jewish community centers and synagogues. These violent outbursts were accompanied by escalating anti-Semitic rhetoric from state-controlled media and from the president himself. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100805Charen.mp3 1BFEEFCF-97CA-4DB6-96D4-36731163C34D Thu, 5 Aug 2010 23:43:07 -0400 For now, the Iranian government has suspended the death by stoning sentence meted out to Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the 43-year-old mother of two who was convicted of adultery. For now, the Iranian government has suspended the death by stoning sentence meted out to Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, the 43-year-old mother of two who was convicted of adultery. There is a lesson here. There is often debate in free countries about whether it is counterproductive to protest human rights outrages committed by repressive countries. For most of the past decade, for example, while Hugo Chavez has cemented his relationship with Iran, he has made life for Venezuela's Jewish community more and more precarious. More than once, regime thugs have invaded Jewish community centers and synagogues. These violent outbursts were accompanied by escalating anti-Semitic rhetoric from state-controlled media and from the president himself. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen The call to end affirmative action gained a new proponent this week -- and from an unlikely candidate. Gregory Rodriguez, a Los Angeles Times columnist and fellow at the progressive-leaning New America Foundation, wrote this week, "We need to find new, less divisive ways to fight inequality." I couldn't agree more with Rodriguez's conclusion but not entirely with the analysis that leads him there. Rodriguez's opposition stems from his fear that white racial anxiety is rising and that affirmative action could lead to a destructive white backlash. "The combination of changing demographics and symbolic political victories on the part of nonwhites will inspire in whites a greater racial consciousness, a growing sense of beleagurement and louder calls to end affirmative or to be included in it," he writes. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100805Chavez.mp3 A5524BF3-46D9-4075-A8BA-CFB455DBA552 Thu, 5 Aug 2010 23:42:00 -0400 The call to end affirmative action gained a new proponent this week -- and from an unlikely candidate. The call to end affirmative action gained a new proponent this week -- and from an unlikely candidate. Gregory Rodriguez, a Los Angeles Times columnist and fellow at the progressive-leaning New America Foundation, wrote this week, "We need to find new, less divisive ways to fight inequality." I couldn't agree more with Rodriguez's conclusion but not entirely with the analysis that leads him there. Rodriguez's opposition stems from his fear that white racial anxiety is rising and that affirmative action could lead to a destructive white backlash. "The combination of changing demographics and symbolic political victories on the part of nonwhites will inspire in whites a greater racial consciousness, a growing sense of beleagurement and louder calls to end affirmative or to be included in it," he writes. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Linda Chavez editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Linda Chavez First Lady Michelle Obama's latest overseas jaunt is getting all the headlines. But President Obama's money-grubbing junket to Chicago may cost taxpayers far more in the long run. With his Gaultier-clad wife sashaying around the Spanish seaside, the lonely fundraiser-in-chief returned to Illinois to take care of some birthday-week business. Job One: Filling the Senate campaign coffers of his corruption-tainted political protege Alexi Giannoulias. Mission accomplished. Obama's Thursday afternoon campaign event for Giannoulias, the beleaguered state treasurer of Illinois, reportedly raked in $1 million. Lagging behind his GOP opponent, liberal Republican Rep. Mark Kirk, Giannoulias has coveted one-on-one, grip-and-grin time with Obama for months. In addition to the cash, photo-ops and video of the Obama fundraising event that Giannoulias will milk from now until Election Day, the White House has dispatched Vice President Joe Biden, White House senior adviser David Axelrod and White House campaign management guru David Plouffe to boost Giannoulias' bid. Plouffe proclaimed Democrats "all in" for Giannoulias, whom he described as "a great progressive champion." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100805Malkin.mp3 B479FACF-F640-42F5-A03D-D6BDC6E09036 Thu, 5 Aug 2010 23:39:54 -0400 First Lady Michelle Obama's latest overseas jaunt is getting all the headlines. First Lady Michelle Obama's latest overseas jaunt is getting all the headlines. But President Obama's money-grubbing junket to Chicago may cost taxpayers far more in the long run. With his Gaultier-clad wife sashaying around the Spanish seaside, the lonely fundraiser-in-chief returned to Illinois to take care of some birthday-week business. Job One: Filling the Senate campaign coffers of his corruption-tainted political protege Alexi Giannoulias. Mission accomplished. Obama's Thursday afternoon campaign event for Giannoulias, the beleaguered state treasurer of Illinois, reportedly raked in $1 million. Lagging behind his GOP opponent, liberal Republican Rep. Mark Kirk, Giannoulias has coveted one-on-one, grip-and-grin time with Obama for months. In addition to the cash, photo-ops and video of the Obama fundraising event that Giannoulias will milk from now until Election Day, the White House has dispatched Vice President Joe Biden, White House senior adviser David Axelrod and White House campaign management guru David Plouffe to boost Giannoulias' bid. Plouffe proclaimed Democrats "all in" for Giannoulias, whom he described as "a great progressive champion." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin Will higher tax penalties on investment really spur jobs and faster economic growth? Most commentators would say no. It's really a matter of economic common sense. But Tim Geithner says, Yes! Speaking to a group in Washington this week, the Treasury secretary said that extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans would imperil the fragile economic recovery. He argued that government needs the revenues from those top-end tax hikes. So failure to raise taxes would (SET ITAL) harm (END ITAL) growth. And then he went on to say that the trouble with the wealthy is that they save more of their tax breaks than do other groups. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100805Kudlow.mp3 6E544377-9235-4E34-B9A8-999CBD4F4685 Thu, 5 Aug 2010 23:37:46 -0400 Will higher tax penalties on investment really spur jobs and faster economic growth? Will higher tax penalties on investment really spur jobs and faster economic growth? Most commentators would say no. It's really a matter of economic common sense. But Tim Geithner says, Yes! Speaking to a group in Washington this week, the Treasury secretary said that extending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans would imperil the fragile economic recovery. He argued that government needs the revenues from those top-end tax hikes. So failure to raise taxes would (SET ITAL) harm (END ITAL) growth. And then he went on to say that the trouble with the wealthy is that they save more of their tax breaks than do other groups. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Lawrence Kudlow editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Lawrence Kudlow In the 1500s, a pestering theologian instituted something called the Marriage Ordinance in Geneva, which made "state registration and church consecration" a dual requirement of matrimony. We have yet to get over this mistake. But isn't it about time we freed marriage from the state? Imagine if government had no interest in the definition of marriage. Individuals could commit to each other, head to the local priest or rabbi or shaman -- or no one at all -- and enter into contractual agreements, call their blissful union whatever they felt it should be called and go about the business of their lives. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100805Harsanyi.mp3 17C1E037-2112-42EE-A9CD-B45BBE1AEEE9 Thu, 5 Aug 2010 23:36:39 -0400 In the 1500s, a pestering theologian instituted something called the Marriage Ordinance in Geneva, which made "state registration and church consecration" a dual requirement of matrimony. In the 1500s, a pestering theologian instituted something called the Marriage Ordinance in Geneva, which made "state registration and church consecration" a dual requirement of matrimony. We have yet to get over this mistake. But isn't it about time we freed marriage from the state? Imagine if government had no interest in the definition of marriage. Individuals could commit to each other, head to the local priest or rabbi or shaman -- or no one at all -- and enter into contractual agreements, call their blissful union whatever they felt it should be called and go about the business of their lives. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Harsanyi editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Harsanyi Everybody, even White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, agrees that Republicans are going to pick up seats in the House and Senate elections this year. The disagreement is about how many. Some compare 2010 to 1994, when Republicans picked up 52 House seats and won majorities in both houses of Congress for the first time in four decades. That was a reaction to the big government programs of the first two years of the Clinton administration. Others compare this year to 1982, when Democrats picked up 26 House seats and recaptured effective control of the House two years after Ronald Reagan was elected president. That was a recession year, with unemployment even higher than now. Let me put another off-year election on the table for comparison: 1966. Like 1994, this wasn't a year of hard economic times. But it was a year when a Democratic president's war in Asia was starting to cause unease and some opposition within his own party, as is happening now. And it was a year of recoil against the big government programs of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society. The 89th Congress with two-to-one Democratic majorities had passed Medicare, federal aid to education, antipoverty and other landmark legislation. Democrats only failed, as they have in this Congress, to pass organized labor's No. 1 priority: then repealing section 14(b), which allowed state right-to-work laws, now the card check bill to effectively eliminate the secret ballot in unionization elections. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100804Barone.mp3 01729E2E-532E-46F0-99D7-BE9747F5EA21 Wed, 4 Aug 2010 22:26:40 -0400 Everybody, even White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, agrees that Republicans are going to pick up seats in the House and Senate elections this year. Everybody, even White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, agrees that Republicans are going to pick up seats in the House and Senate elections this year. The disagreement is about how many. Some compare 2010 to 1994, when Republicans picked up 52 House seats and won majorities in both houses of Congress for the first time in four decades. That was a reaction to the big government programs of the first two years of the Clinton administration. Others compare this year to 1982, when Democrats picked up 26 House seats and recaptured effective control of the House two years after Ronald Reagan was elected president. That was a recession year, with unemployment even higher than now. Let me put another off-year election on the table for comparison: 1966. Like 1994, this wasn't a year of hard economic times. But it was a year when a Democratic president's war in Asia was starting to cause unease and some opposition within his own party, as is happening now. And it was a year of recoil against the big government programs of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society. The 89th Congress with two-to-one Democratic majorities had passed Medicare, federal aid to education, antipoverty and other landmark legislation. Democrats only failed, as they have in this Congress, to pass organized labor's No. 1 priority: then repealing section 14(b), which allowed state right-to-work laws, now the card check bill to effectively eliminate the secret ballot in unionization elections. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone A well-known "civil rights activist" made the cover of Newsweek, the left-wing "news" magazine reportedly sold for its debt and $1. Based on this cover story, the buyer overpaid. The headline, above the flattering photograph of a Man of Gravitas, reads: "The Reinvention of the Reverend Al: From Tawana to Obama, What Sharpton's Longevity Says About Race in America." It's good to be the Rev. Al Sharpton, one of America's pre-eminent race-hustlers and demagogues. The word "shameless" doesn't do him justice. The word "whitewash" understates the gushing makeover accorded him by Newsweek. The article discusses, but minimizes, the how and why of Sharpton's rise to national prominence: He falsely accused a man of rape. Almost 20 years ago, Sharpton became famous by championing the cause of a black teenager named Tawana Brawley, who, it turned out, lied when she claimed that she'd been abducted and sexually assaulted by whites. Sharpton not only offered Tawana Brawley up as a sympathetic victim of America's alleged pervasive racism, he accused Steven Pagones, a white assistant district attorney, of committing the crime. A grand jury found that Tawana Brawley fabricated the whole thing. Sharpton not only refused to apologize, he dared Pagones to sue him for defamation. Pagones obliged. A jury unanimously found Sharpton liable, and Pagones' lawyer spent years trying to get Sharpton to pay the judgment. To this day, Sharpton refuses to apologize to Pagones, who said he received death threats. Newsweek says Sharpton "has been right much more often than wrong in his choice of causes." Obviously, this offsets the numerous times Sharpton, without due cause, screamed and blustered and bullied, pulling race cards from every pocket. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100804Elder.mp3 A73EA3C9-352C-4D42-8C88-C8020F86757D Wed, 4 Aug 2010 22:25:33 -0400 A well-known "civil rights activist" made the cover of Newsweek, the left-wing "news" magazine reportedly sold for its debt and $1. Based on this cover story, the buyer overpaid. A well-known "civil rights activist" made the cover of Newsweek, the left-wing "news" magazine reportedly sold for its debt and $1. Based on this cover story, the buyer overpaid. The headline, above the flattering photograph of a Man of Gravitas, reads: "The Reinvention of the Reverend Al: From Tawana to Obama, What Sharpton's Longevity Says About Race in America." It's good to be the Rev. Al Sharpton, one of America's pre-eminent race-hustlers and demagogues. The word "shameless" doesn't do him justice. The word "whitewash" understates the gushing makeover accorded him by Newsweek. The article discusses, but minimizes, the how and why of Sharpton's rise to national prominence: He falsely accused a man of rape. Almost 20 years ago, Sharpton became famous by championing the cause of a black teenager named Tawana Brawley, who, it turned out, lied when she claimed that she'd been abducted and sexually assaulted by whites. Sharpton not only offered Tawana Brawley up as a sympathetic victim of America's alleged pervasive racism, he accused Steven Pagones, a white assistant district attorney, of committing the crime. A grand jury found that Tawana Brawley fabricated the whole thing. Sharpton not only refused to apologize, he dared Pagones to sue him for defamation. Pagones obliged. A jury unanimously found Sharpton liable, and Pagones' lawyer spent years trying to get Sharpton to pay the judgment. To this day, Sharpton refuses to apologize to Pagones, who said he received death threats. Newsweek says Sharpton "has been right much more often than wrong in his choice of causes." Obviously, this offsets the numerous times Sharpton, without due cause, screamed and blustered and bullied, pulling race cards from every pocket. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Larry Elder editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Larry Elder Is questioning the presence of a mosque at ground zero really a sign of bigotry? Or is it just common sense? This week, the prospects of an Islamic center's rising on the boundary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks were all but assured when a New York City commission unanimously voted to allow the demolition of the building that now sits on the site. Which, technically speaking, is the right thing to do. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100803Harsanyi.mp3 2A30A17A-B775-4799-9DA6-5E9F360507B5 Tue, 3 Aug 2010 21:58:56 -0400 Is questioning the presence of a mosque at ground zero really a sign of bigotry? Is questioning the presence of a mosque at ground zero really a sign of bigotry? Or is it just common sense? This week, the prospects of an Islamic center's rising on the boundary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks were all but assured when a New York City commission unanimously voted to allow the demolition of the building that now sits on the site. Which, technically speaking, is the right thing to do. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Harsanyi editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Harsanyi In 1941, the Supreme Court overturned a Pennsylvania law that required non-citizens to register with the state, carry an "alien identification card" and present it to police officers upon demand. The court said the law conflicted with a federal policy, based on treaty obligations and the constitutional principle of equal protection, that sought to "protect the personal liberties of law-abiding aliens" and keep them "free from the possibility of inquisitorial practices and police surveillance," including "indiscriminate and repeated interception and interrogation by public officials." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100803Sullum.mp3 A79870C3-8C64-4178-A573-1428ABA42A20 Tue, 3 Aug 2010 21:57:17 -0400 In 1941, the Supreme Court overturned a Pennsylvania law that required non-citizens to register with the state, carry an "alien identification card" and present it to police officers upon demand. In 1941, the Supreme Court overturned a Pennsylvania law that required non-citizens to register with the state, carry an "alien identification card" and present it to police officers upon demand. The court said the law conflicted with a federal policy, based on treaty obligations and the constitutional principle of equal protection, that sought to "protect the personal liberties of law-abiding aliens" and keep them "free from the possibility of inquisitorial practices and police surveillance," including "indiscriminate and repeated interception and interrogation by public officials." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Jacob Sullum editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Jacob Sullum Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California is notorious for her high-decibel rants against corporate executives and career exploitation of identity politics. Class warfare and racial division are her two-decade-long stock and trade. She would normally be first in line (and in front of the cameras) to lambaste the very kind of Porsche-driving, luxury beach house-partying bank officials who begged her for a government handout. If they were white, that is. But the minority fat cats who lobbied her during the fall 2008 financial meltdown represented the black-owned OneUnited Bank. They were her longtime friends, donors and fundraisers. Her husband was an investor in one of the banks that merged into OneUnited. He later served on the company's board of directors. Both Woman of the People Waters and her hubby have owned six-figure sums of OneUnited stock at various times over the past six years. Mr. Waters remained a OneUnited stockholder at the time Rep. Waters went to bat for the company. However, that indelible conflict-of-interest odor didn't stop her from intervening to arrange a high-powered meeting between OneUnited and then-Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and 20 of his minions, who engineered a special federal rescue of the teetering company behind closed doors. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100803Malkin.mp3 583C6BEC-DD83-4CA8-8D60-FA088CD3ACD2 Tue, 3 Aug 2010 21:56:03 -0400 Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California is notorious for her high-decibel rants against corporate executives and career exploitation of identity politics. Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California is notorious for her high-decibel rants against corporate executives and career exploitation of identity politics. Class warfare and racial division are her two-decade-long stock and trade. She would normally be first in line (and in front of the cameras) to lambaste the very kind of Porsche-driving, luxury beach house-partying bank officials who begged her for a government handout. If they were white, that is. But the minority fat cats who lobbied her during the fall 2008 financial meltdown represented the black-owned OneUnited Bank. They were her longtime friends, donors and fundraisers. Her husband was an investor in one of the banks that merged into OneUnited. He later served on the company's board of directors. Both Woman of the People Waters and her hubby have owned six-figure sums of OneUnited stock at various times over the past six years. Mr. Waters remained a OneUnited stockholder at the time Rep. Waters went to bat for the company. However, that indelible conflict-of-interest odor didn't stop her from intervening to arrange a high-powered meeting between OneUnited and then-Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and 20 of his minions, who engineered a special federal rescue of the teetering company behind closed doors. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin "Wiki" is a cute Hawaiian word for "quick" -- borrowed by Ward Cunningham, creator of the first Internet wiki -- from the name of a fast little interterminal shuttle at Honolulu International Airport. But cute and innocent as the word may sound, when attached to damaging wartime leaks by WikiLeaks operator Julian Assange, its cuteness should not protect Mr. Assange from being prosecuted and possibly executed by the U.S. government for wartime espionage. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100803Blankley.mp3 E6D4381C-7741-4A2C-9D7E-969B44137C5B Tue, 3 Aug 2010 21:53:10 -0400 "Wiki" is a cute Hawaiian word for "quick" -- borrowed by Ward Cunningham, creator of the first Internet wiki -- from the name of a fast little interterminal shuttle at Honolulu International Airport. "Wiki" is a cute Hawaiian word for "quick" -- borrowed by Ward Cunningham, creator of the first Internet wiki -- from the name of a fast little interterminal shuttle at Honolulu International Airport. But cute and innocent as the word may sound, when attached to damaging wartime leaks by WikiLeaks operator Julian Assange, its cuteness should not protect Mr. Assange from being prosecuted and possibly executed by the U.S. government for wartime espionage. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Tony Blankley editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Tony Blankley I'm starting to wonder: Is President Obama fair to African-Americans? Asked about Rep. Charlie Rangel's ethics problems on CBS's "Evening News," the president could hardly have been more direct if he'd seized Rangel by the back of the collar and belt and pitched him out the door. "I think Charlie Rangel served a very long time and served his constituents very well, but these allegations are very troubling. And he'll -- he's somebody who's at the end of his career. Eighty years old. I'm sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity. And my hope is that it happens." Now Rangel, who is fighting the ethics charges, had no plans to "end his career" and may wonder why the president is so eager to usher him off stage. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100802Charen.mp3 2F8B61D0-A170-4214-9030-1C995CA771AC Tue, 3 Aug 2010 07:19:42 -0400 I'm starting to wonder: Is President Obama fair to African-Americans? I'm starting to wonder: Is President Obama fair to African-Americans? Asked about Rep. Charlie Rangel's ethics problems on CBS's "Evening News," the president could hardly have been more direct if he'd seized Rangel by the back of the collar and belt and pitched him out the door. "I think Charlie Rangel served a very long time and served his constituents very well, but these allegations are very troubling. And he'll -- he's somebody who's at the end of his career. Eighty years old. I'm sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity. And my hope is that it happens." Now Rangel, who is fighting the ethics charges, had no plans to "end his career" and may wonder why the president is so eager to usher him off stage. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen High among the blunders of history was the "blank cheque" Kaiser Wilhelm gave Vienna, after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, to deal with the Serbs as they saw fit. Five weeks later, Vienna cashed the check and declared war, after Belgrade refused to submit to all 10 demands of an ultimatum. Russia mobilized; Germany and France followed. And war came, the bloodiest in all of European history with 9 million soldiers in their graves. Since June 1914, a "blank check" given by one nation to another for war has been regarded as strategic folly. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100802Buchanan.mp3 D183FF30-71B7-4FDE-ACE5-15B6DCC266E7 Tue, 3 Aug 2010 07:18:15 -0400 High among the blunders of history was the "blank cheque" Kaiser Wilhelm gave Vienna, after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, to deal with the Serbs as they saw fit. High among the blunders of history was the "blank cheque" Kaiser Wilhelm gave Vienna, after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, to deal with the Serbs as they saw fit. Five weeks later, Vienna cashed the check and declared war, after Belgrade refused to submit to all 10 demands of an ultimatum. Russia mobilized; Germany and France followed. And war came, the bloodiest in all of European history with 9 million soldiers in their graves. Since June 1914, a "blank check" given by one nation to another for war has been regarded as strategic folly. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Patrick J. Buchanan editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Patrick J. Buchanan Last week, I gave evidence of how the Obama administration is importing its overseas policy of assassination and implementing it stateside against U.S. citizens it deems as radical threats to American security and safety. (If you have not read Part 1, please do so before you read the rest of Part 2.) I will reiterate a couple of key points. Deputy national security adviser John Brennan explained that the problem of homegrown terrorists ranks as a top priority because of the increasing number of U.S. individuals who have become "captivated by extremist ideology or causes." He went on to say, "There are ... dozens of U.S. persons who are in different parts of the world and ... are very concerning to us." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100802Norris.mp3 6FEEFF60-5DA8-400D-981C-E9E80FE6905C Tue, 3 Aug 2010 07:16:55 -0400 Last week, I gave evidence of how the Obama administration is importing its overseas policy of assassination and implementing it stateside against U.S. citizens... Last week, I gave evidence of how the Obama administration is importing its overseas policy of assassination and implementing it stateside against U.S. citizens it deems as radical threats to American security and safety. (If you have not read Part 1, please do so before you read the rest of Part 2.) I will reiterate a couple of key points. Deputy national security adviser John Brennan explained that the problem of homegrown terrorists ranks as a top priority because of the increasing number of U.S. individuals who have become "captivated by extremist ideology or causes." He went on to say, "There are ... dozens of U.S. persons who are in different parts of the world and ... are very concerning to us." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Chuck Norris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Chuck Norris As the granddaddy of political demagoguery, President Obama might have outdone himself with his recent admonition to political opponents not to "demagogue" the immigration issue. A "demagogue" is "a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument." "Ah," you say, "Obama is onto something here. Those who oppose his open-border policy are appealing to prejudice against immigrants instead of to rational argument." Wrong. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100802Limbaugh.mp3 7151FD9E-63A5-4D1B-8463-3FF151931D10 Tue, 3 Aug 2010 07:15:40 -0400 As the granddaddy of political demagoguery, President Obama might have outdone himself with his recent admonition to political opponents not to "demagogue" the immigration issue. As the granddaddy of political demagoguery, President Obama might have outdone himself with his recent admonition to political opponents not to "demagogue" the immigration issue. A "demagogue" is "a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument." "Ah," you say, "Obama is onto something here. Those who oppose his open-border policy are appealing to prejudice against immigrants instead of to rational argument." Wrong. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh There's a lot of luck in life. The longer I live -- Aug. 2 was my birthday -- the more I come to realize how much of life is affected by luck. Let's begin with life itself. Whether one lives to 62 -- or to 92 (my father's age) -- and whether in health or in sickness is largely a matter of luck. I strongly believe in taking care of one's health, but for most people, living long and in good health is a matter of good luck. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100802Prager.mp3 418F6C60-F675-411E-8080-2472391B04D9 Tue, 3 Aug 2010 07:13:56 -0400 There's a lot of luck in life. There's a lot of luck in life. The longer I live -- Aug. 2 was my birthday -- the more I come to realize how much of life is affected by luck. Let's begin with life itself. Whether one lives to 62 -- or to 92 (my father's age) -- and whether in health or in sickness is largely a matter of luck. I strongly believe in taking care of one's health, but for most people, living long and in good health is a matter of good luck. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dennis Prager editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dennis Prager The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct -- also known as the House ethics committee -- issued a Statement of Alleged Violation last week to Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y. To sum it up, Rangel thought he could skirt the rules and get away with it. Earlier this year, the ethics committee admonished Rangel for taking corporate trips to the Caribbean in violation of House rules. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100802Saunders.mp3 7B60C85B-8AFD-4E61-AEC4-C42577C15B98 Tue, 3 Aug 2010 07:10:21 -0400 The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct -- also known as the House ethics committee -- issued a Statement of Alleged Violation last week to Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y. The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct -- also known as the House ethics committee -- issued a Statement of Alleged Violation last week to Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y. To sum it up, Rangel thought he could skirt the rules and get away with it. Earlier this year, the ethics committee admonished Rangel for taking corporate trips to the Caribbean in violation of House rules. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Debra J. Saunders editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Debra J. Saunders Let's put government on a diet. That's what voters seem to be saying in response to the Barack Obama Democrats' vast expansion of the size and scope of government. Evidence comes from pollster Scott Rasmussen. He asked likely voters -- his usual sample, which tilts more Republican than all adults -- whether increased government spending is good or bad for the economy. The results were unambiguous. Good for the country? Twenty-eight percent. Bad for the country? Fifty-two percent. He got similar results when he asked whether increasing the federal debt is good or bad for the economy. Likely voters believe it's bad for the economy by a 56 percent to 17 percent margin. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100730Barone.mp3 CD0FF699-25F5-49CA-9E81-4491AA8832F9 Sun, 1 Aug 2010 18:29:13 -0400 Let's put government on a diet. That's what voters seem to be saying in response to the Barack Obama Democrats' vast expansion of the size and scope of government. Let's put government on a diet. That's what voters seem to be saying in response to the Barack Obama Democrats' vast expansion of the size and scope of government. Evidence comes from pollster Scott Rasmussen. He asked likely voters -- his usual sample, which tilts more Republican than all adults -- whether increased government spending is good or bad for the economy. The results were unambiguous. Good for the country? Twenty-eight percent. Bad for the country? Fifty-two percent. He got similar results when he asked whether increasing the federal debt is good or bad for the economy. Likely voters believe it's bad for the economy by a 56 percent to 17 percent margin. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone The other day, a citizen went before a House committee and urged its members to stop their burdensome interference with her business. "At its most basic level," said Annie Duke, "the issue before this committee is personal freedom, the right of individual Americans to do what they want in the privacy of their homes without the intrusion of government." I know what you're expecting: At that point, the politicians all had a good laugh and told her to get lost so they could get back to meddling in people's lives. But no. Not only did they hear out the winner of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, they did exactly what she suggested. The committee voted to lift the federal ban on Internet poker and other online gambling, while approving a measure to tax and regulate it. This happened over the objections of Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., who expressed shock that his colleagues would "open casinos in every home and every bedroom and every dorm room, and on every iPhone, every BlackBerry, every laptop." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100730Chapman.mp3 B9330775-5154-46D7-8933-1DCBA0E21182 Sun, 1 Aug 2010 18:28:19 -0400 The other day, a citizen went before a House committee and urged its members to stop their burdensome interference with her business. "At its most basic level," The other day, a citizen went before a House committee and urged its members to stop their burdensome interference with her business. "At its most basic level," said Annie Duke, "the issue before this committee is personal freedom, the right of individual Americans to do what they want in the privacy of their homes without the intrusion of government." I know what you're expecting: At that point, the politicians all had a good laugh and told her to get lost so they could get back to meddling in people's lives. But no. Not only did they hear out the winner of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship, they did exactly what she suggested. The committee voted to lift the federal ban on Internet poker and other online gambling, while approving a measure to tax and regulate it. This happened over the objections of Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., who expressed shock that his colleagues would "open casinos in every home and every bedroom and every dorm room, and on every iPhone, every BlackBerry, every laptop." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the world's worst cleaning lady. How has she fulfilled her vaunted promise to "drain the swamp" and preside over the "most ethical Congress in history"? By shrugging her shoulders, downplaying the gravity of myriad ethics charges against corruptocrat Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel and waiting for the "political chips" to "fall where they may." Imagine a custodial service that fixed toilet clogs by letting the overflowing waste and polluted waters "fall where they may." At a press conference to preempt the bipartisan House ethics panel's announcement of 13 ethics and federal regulation charges against Rangel on Thursday afternoon, Pelosi claimed to take "great pride" in her swamp-draining record. Unblinkingly, she cited the House trial against Rangel as proof that the "process" is working. But that beleaguered panel has been pathetically understaffed, has dragged its feet for two years on the Rangel case and has administered more halfhearted wrist-slaps than all the pushover parents on a season of "Nanny 911." Clinging bitterly to the moral equivalence card, Pelosi carped about Bush-era GOP corruption. (Cue a chorus of "Let's do the time warp again!") Her lips were sealed, however, on the continuing wheeling and dealing behind the scenes between Rangel's lobbyist-funded lawyers and the ethics panel on a deal to avoid a congressional trial. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100729Malkin.mp3 EE909CEB-F9F5-42C6-831E-DCDDD3505CFF Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:10:23 -0400 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the world's worst cleaning lady. How has she fulfilled her vaunted promise to "drain the swamp" and preside over the "most ethical Congress in history"? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the world's worst cleaning lady. How has she fulfilled her vaunted promise to "drain the swamp" and preside over the "most ethical Congress in history"? By shrugging her shoulders, downplaying the gravity of myriad ethics charges against corruptocrat Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel and waiting for the "political chips" to "fall where they may." Imagine a custodial service that fixed toilet clogs by letting the overflowing waste and polluted waters "fall where they may." At a press conference to preempt the bipartisan House ethics panel's announcement of 13 ethics and federal regulation charges against Rangel on Thursday afternoon, Pelosi claimed to take "great pride" in her swamp-draining record. Unblinkingly, she cited the House trial against Rangel as proof that the "process" is working. But that beleaguered panel has been pathetically understaffed, has dragged its feet for two years on the Rangel case and has administered more halfhearted wrist-slaps than all the pushover parents on a season of "Nanny 911." Clinging bitterly to the moral equivalence card, Pelosi carped about Bush-era GOP corruption. (Cue a chorus of "Let's do the time warp again!") Her lips were sealed, however, on the continuing wheeling and dealing behind the scenes between Rangel's lobbyist-funded lawyers and the ethics panel on a deal to avoid a congressional trial. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin esterday's federal court decision to enjoin enforcement of the Arizona immigration law is the latest example of a virtually unchecked renegade federal government waging war against the states and against the liberties of its citizens. We've seen that Obama will exercise any power he can get away with, from strong-arming secured creditors and favoring unions as he gobbled up automakers to making a mockery of due process with his Oval Office shakedown of BP. But he might have reached a new low with his assaults on the sovereignty of the people of Arizona. Indeed, Judge Susan Bolton's disgraceful decision to grant an injunction against Arizona's new immigration law is, in the words of Mark Levin, "abominable," but let's not forget that this case wouldn't have been before Judge Bolton if Obama's Justice Department hadn't initiated it. And let's not pretend that Obama's motives are anything other than political, the law and the rule of law be damned. He told Sen. Jon Kyl in a private meeting that he was unwilling to secure our borders because it would decrease his chances to pass "comprehensive immigration reform." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100729Limbaugh.mp3 2728DE07-450D-4AC4-B2E4-4A097BD5D24B Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:10:21 -0400 esterday's federal court decision to enjoin enforcement of the Arizona immigration law is the latest example of a virtually unchecked renegade federal government waging war against the states esterday's federal court decision to enjoin enforcement of the Arizona immigration law is the latest example of a virtually unchecked renegade federal government waging war against the states and against the liberties of its citizens. We've seen that Obama will exercise any power he can get away with, from strong-arming secured creditors and favoring unions as he gobbled up automakers to making a mockery of due process with his Oval Office shakedown of BP. But he might have reached a new low with his assaults on the sovereignty of the people of Arizona. Indeed, Judge Susan Bolton's disgraceful decision to grant an injunction against Arizona's new immigration law is, in the words of Mark Levin, "abominable," but let's not forget that this case wouldn't have been before Judge Bolton if Obama's Justice Department hadn't initiated it. And let's not pretend that Obama's motives are anything other than political, the law and the rule of law be damned. He told Sen. Jon Kyl in a private meeting that he was unwilling to secure our borders because it would decrease his chances to pass "comprehensive immigration reform." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh Come in. Make yourself comfortable. What's that? You are a congressional Democrat? You voted to triple the national debt, destroy a health care system that the overwhelming majority of Americans were happy with in a way that creates a massive and infinitely complex new entitlement, bailout the banks and car companies, and "stimulate" the economy with an $862 billion boondoggle that hasn't created a single private-sector job? Your president is suing the state of Arizona for having the effrontery to enforce a law he wishes not to enforce (though he does have the constitutional responsibility to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed")? The war in Afghanistan is not going well? The president's approval ratings are under water? Congress' approval ratings are running even with Mel Gibson's? Naturally, you're upset. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100729Charen.mp3 A75A45AE-2E9C-40E0-9647-B65444FDAD28 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 22:09:27 -0400 Come in. Make yourself comfortable. Come in. Make yourself comfortable. What's that? You are a congressional Democrat? You voted to triple the national debt, destroy a health care system that the overwhelming majority of Americans were happy with in a way that creates a massive and infinitely complex new entitlement, bailout the banks and car companies, and "stimulate" the economy with an $862 billion boondoggle that hasn't created a single private-sector job? Your president is suing the state of Arizona for having the effrontery to enforce a law he wishes not to enforce (though he does have the constitutional responsibility to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed")? The war in Afghanistan is not going well? The president's approval ratings are under water? Congress' approval ratings are running even with Mel Gibson's? Naturally, you're upset. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen Democratic spin doctors have set out how their side is going to hold onto a majority in the House. They'll capture four at-risk Republican seats, hold half of the next 30 or so Democratic at-risk seats, and avoid significant losses on target seats lower on the list. That's one plausible scenario. The shift of opinion away from Democrats so evident in the polls could turn out to be illusory. The widely held assumption that Republicans will turn out in greater numbers than Democrats could prove wrong. Democratic candidates do indeed have a money advantage in many close races, and their campaign committee has more cash than its Republican counterpart. All that said, this Democratic spin sounds a lot like the Republican spin back in the 2006 cycle. If the numbers don't change too much from 2004, Republicans said then, we can hold on. If the numbers don't change too much from 2008, Democrats think now, they can hold on. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100728Barone.mp3 6439773E-B944-4539-A34D-B500344DC8A2 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:07:59 -0400 Democratic spin doctors have set out how their side is going to hold onto a majority in the House. Democratic spin doctors have set out how their side is going to hold onto a majority in the House. They'll capture four at-risk Republican seats, hold half of the next 30 or so Democratic at-risk seats, and avoid significant losses on target seats lower on the list. That's one plausible scenario. The shift of opinion away from Democrats so evident in the polls could turn out to be illusory. The widely held assumption that Republicans will turn out in greater numbers than Democrats could prove wrong. Democratic candidates do indeed have a money advantage in many close races, and their campaign committee has more cash than its Republican counterpart. All that said, this Democratic spin sounds a lot like the Republican spin back in the 2006 cycle. If the numbers don't change too much from 2004, Republicans said then, we can hold on. If the numbers don't change too much from 2008, Democrats think now, they can hold on. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone Who knows what lies ahead for Shirley Sherrod -- a book, the lecture circuit, a wrongful discharge lawsuit that could bring millions? But if she keeps talking, the woman "wrongfully portrayed" as a racist may out herself as exactly that. Andrew Breitbart, a "right-wing" critic of the traditional liberal media, operates websites designed to expose the liberal bias of politicians, Hollywood types and the news media. He rejects the tax-and-spend, grow-the-government, race-based/identity policies of the left -- and believes these policies are aided and abetted by the left-wing media. This makes him a marked man -- with no margin for error. Angered by the NAACP's resolution condemning alleged "racist elements" in the Tea Party movement, Breitbart posted an excerpt of a speech that Sherrod, then a black employee of the Department of Agriculture, gave at a March NAACP function. In the excerpt, Sherrod appeared to boast about refusing, on racial grounds, to give full assistance to a white farmer seeking her help to save his farm from foreclosure. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100728Elder.mp3 76FCB08C-FB9D-43D7-942B-E934DB0B96A5 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:07:05 -0400 Who knows what lies ahead for Shirley Sherrod -- a book, the lecture circuit, a wrongful discharge lawsuit that could bring millions? Who knows what lies ahead for Shirley Sherrod -- a book, the lecture circuit, a wrongful discharge lawsuit that could bring millions? But if she keeps talking, the woman "wrongfully portrayed" as a racist may out herself as exactly that. Andrew Breitbart, a "right-wing" critic of the traditional liberal media, operates websites designed to expose the liberal bias of politicians, Hollywood types and the news media. He rejects the tax-and-spend, grow-the-government, race-based/identity policies of the left -- and believes these policies are aided and abetted by the left-wing media. This makes him a marked man -- with no margin for error. Angered by the NAACP's resolution condemning alleged "racist elements" in the Tea Party movement, Breitbart posted an excerpt of a speech that Sherrod, then a black employee of the Department of Agriculture, gave at a March NAACP function. In the excerpt, Sherrod appeared to boast about refusing, on racial grounds, to give full assistance to a white farmer seeking her help to save his farm from foreclosure. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Larry Elder editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Larry Elder The leaked Afghan war documents will prove politically devastating to President Obama, hitting him in his most vulnerable place -- his liberal base. Having already lost all Republicans and almost all independents, Obama is shedding Democrats these days. According to the FoxNews poll, his job approval among them has dropped from 84 percent at the end of June to 76 percent in mid-July. A combination of the Afghan War, the oil spill, Guantanamo and his failure to act on immigration reform have all eroded his credibility with his liberal constituents. Now comes evidence that the war in Afghanistan cannot be won -- certainly not with the effort and constraints now in place. It is obvious that Obama and Hillary Clinton are being duped by the Paki government and that the Afghan leadership is awash in corruption. With Pakistan offering the Taliban sanctuary next door and the government in Kabul staying in office in order to steal American aid, the Afghan War is looking more and more like Vietnam. And now we have the equivalent of the leak of the Pentagon Papers discrediting the war effort from the inside. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100727Morris.mp3 01811A99-AB1B-4C2E-8591-9FB6A1C6B15B Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:29 -0400 The leaked Afghan war documents will prove politically devastating to President Obama, The leaked Afghan war documents will prove politically devastating to President Obama, hitting him in his most vulnerable place -- his liberal base. Having already lost all Republicans and almost all independents, Obama is shedding Democrats these days. According to the FoxNews poll, his job approval among them has dropped from 84 percent at the end of June to 76 percent in mid-July. A combination of the Afghan War, the oil spill, Guantanamo and his failure to act on immigration reform have all eroded his credibility with his liberal constituents. Now comes evidence that the war in Afghanistan cannot be won -- certainly not with the effort and constraints now in place. It is obvious that Obama and Hillary Clinton are being duped by the Paki government and that the Afghan leadership is awash in corruption. With Pakistan offering the Taliban sanctuary next door and the government in Kabul staying in office in order to steal American aid, the Afghan War is looking more and more like Vietnam. And now we have the equivalent of the leak of the Pentagon Papers discrediting the war effort from the inside. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dick Morris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dick Morris You know when a politician starts a sentence with "frankly," he's about to lie to your face. The same principle applies to campaign finance legislation dubbed the "DISCLOSE Act." The voter's instinctive reaction should be: What are they trying to hide now? Drafted out of public view with left-wing lobbyists and rammed through Congress after bypassing committee hearings, this bum bill would have been better named the CLOSEDDOOR Act. At a Rose Garden press conference on Monday, President Obama decried the influence of "shadow groups" on elections and urged the Senate to pass the "reform" sponsored by N.Y. Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer. But the loophole-ridden package exempts large nonprofits with 500,000 or more members. Behemoth labor unions get preferential treatment. Bradley Smith, former Federal Elections Commission chairman, noted that the law places radical speech-squelching restrictions on companies' ability to run independent political ads: "(I)f you're a company with a government contract of over $10 million (like more than half of the top 50 U.S. companies) or if you're a company with more than 20 percent foreign shareholders, you can't even mention a candidate in an ad for up to a full year before the election. ... There are no similar prohibitions for unions representing government contractors or unions with foreign membership." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100727Malkin.mp3 A97020B7-D110-4E1E-BB81-6CA05396DB1B Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:27 -0400 You know when a politician starts a sentence with "frankly," he's about to lie to your face. You know when a politician starts a sentence with "frankly," he's about to lie to your face. The same principle applies to campaign finance legislation dubbed the "DISCLOSE Act." The voter's instinctive reaction should be: What are they trying to hide now? Drafted out of public view with left-wing lobbyists and rammed through Congress after bypassing committee hearings, this bum bill would have been better named the CLOSEDDOOR Act. At a Rose Garden press conference on Monday, President Obama decried the influence of "shadow groups" on elections and urged the Senate to pass the "reform" sponsored by N.Y. Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer. But the loophole-ridden package exempts large nonprofits with 500,000 or more members. Behemoth labor unions get preferential treatment. Bradley Smith, former Federal Elections Commission chairman, noted that the law places radical speech-squelching restrictions on companies' ability to run independent political ads: "(I)f you're a company with a government contract of over $10 million (like more than half of the top 50 U.S. companies) or if you're a company with more than 20 percent foreign shareholders, you can't even mention a candidate in an ad for up to a full year before the election. ... There are no similar prohibitions for unions representing government contractors or unions with foreign membership." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin In February, we wrote in the Wall Street Journal about a classified brief filed in federal court in which the Obama Justice Department argued for the importance and efficacy of the CIA interrogation program. Now a federal judge has reviewed the evidence and agreed. On Dec. 18, 2009, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, made the secret filing in response to a motion by Ahmed Ghailani, an al-Qaeda terrorist facing charges for his role in the U.S.-embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Ghailani argued that those charges should be dropped because lengthy CIA interrogations denied him his constitutional right to a speedy trial. Brought to you by OutloudOpinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/nro/20100727TheissenRivkin.mp3 D5B115CE-E94A-4402-9DB0-0CDF5E73827A Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:24 -0400 In February, we wrote in the Wall Street Journal about a classified brief filed in federal court in which the Obama Justice Department argued for the importance and efficacy of the CIA interrogation program. In February, we wrote in the Wall Street Journal about a classified brief filed in federal court in which the Obama Justice Department argued for the importance and efficacy of the CIA interrogation program. Now a federal judge has reviewed the evidence and agreed. On Dec. 18, 2009, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, made the secret filing in response to a motion by Ahmed Ghailani, an al-Qaeda terrorist facing charges for his role in the U.S.-embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Ghailani argued that those charges should be dropped because lengthy CIA interrogations denied him his constitutional right to a speedy trial. 5:00 Marc A. Thiessen & David B. Rivkin Jr. National Review, National Review Online, NRO, Rich Lowry, William F. Buckley, Jonah Goldberg, Mark Steyn, Kathryn Jean Lopez no no Marc A. Thiessen & David B. Rivkin Jr. Carole Jean Badertscher was a California nurse who just wanted to go to work and take care of her patients — but the SEIU was determined not to let that happen. The union’s contract with Badertscher’s employer, the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, had expired, and the union had called a strike in response. Badertscher and other nurses, unwilling to abandon their patients for the sake of a stronger SEIU hand in contract negotiations, resigned from the union and went to work. In turn, she was threatened by the union bosses, who promised to have her prosecuted under California’s antique professional-strikebreaker statute, which was long ago pre-empted by federal law. Badertscher and other nurses were told that they would be fined and could be thrown in jail for months. But there was more at stake in the case for the SEIU than the right to bully nurses in the Pomona Valley. The SEIU local had also informed hospital employees that they were legally required to keep paying union dues. If the hospital’s employees stopped paying their dues, the SEIU chapter would be starved of its income — and it was not about to let that happen. The national SEIU, which takes a piece of the locals’ dues, would take a hit, too. So the local SEIU bosses distributed a flyer full of false and misleading information. It read, in part: “You may have been mislead [sic] into believing that you are not obligated to pay dues and fees during the period of negotiations. This is untrue and retroactivity may occur prior or upon ratification of the contract. Please ask yourselves why all the anti[-SEIU] leaders are still paying dues. Could it be they don’t want the possibility of owing more in a lump sum?” Translation: The SEIU owns your paycheck and will come after it. Brought to you by OutloudOpinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/nro/20100721Williamson.mp3 82A80266-363B-4516-B79A-FB48CBF783A2 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:22 -0400 Carole Jean Badertscher was a California nurse who just wanted to go to work and take care of her patients Carole Jean Badertscher was a California nurse who just wanted to go to work and take care of her patients — but the SEIU was determined not to let that happen. The union’s contract with Badertscher’s employer, the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, had expired, and the union had called a strike in response. Badertscher and other nurses, unwilling to abandon their patients for the sake of a stronger SEIU hand in contract negotiations, resigned from the union and went to work. In turn, she was threatened by the union bosses, who promised to have her prosecuted under California’s antique professional-strikebreaker statute, which was long ago pre-empted by federal law. Badertscher and other nurses were told that they would be fined and could be thrown in jail for months. But there was more at stake in the case for the SEIU than the right to bully nurses in the Pomona Valley. The SEIU local had also informed hospital employees that they were legally required to keep paying union dues. If the hospital’s employees stopped paying their dues, the SEIU chapter would be starved of its income — and it was not about to let that happen. The national SEIU, which takes a piece of the locals’ dues, would take a hit, too. So the local SEIU bosses distributed a flyer full of false and misleading information. It read, in part: “You may have been mislead [sic] into believing that you are not obligated to pay dues and fees during the period of negotiations. This is untrue and retroactivity may occur prior or upon ratification of the contract. Please ask yourselves why all the anti[-SEIU] leaders are still paying dues. Could it be they don’t want the possibility of owing more in a lump sum?” Translation: The SEIU owns your paycheck and will come after it. 5:00 Kevin Williamson National Review, National Review Online, NRO, Rich Lowry, William F. Buckley, Jonah Goldberg, Mark Steyn, Kathryn Jean Lopez no no Kevin Williamson In light of Ankara’s recent criticism of what it calls Israel’s “open-air jail” in Gaza, this week, which marks the 36th anniversary of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus, has special relevance. Turkish policy toward Israel, historically warm and only a decade ago approaching full alliance, has cooled since Islamists took power in Ankara in 2002. Their hostility became explicit in January 2009, during the Israel–Hamas War. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan grandly condemned Israeli policies as “perpetrating inhuman actions which would bring it to self-destruction” and even invoked God (“Allah will . . . punish those who transgress the rights of innocents”). His wife Emine Erdogan hyperbolically condemned Israeli actions as so awful they “cannot be expressed in words.” Brought to you by OutloudOpinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/nro/20100721Pipes.mp3 974B70DE-4E24-4E81-9CA5-2A6DFED1C6C1 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:00:20 -0400 In light of Ankara’s recent criticism of what it calls Israel’s “open-air jail” in Gaza, this week, In light of Ankara’s recent criticism of what it calls Israel’s “open-air jail” in Gaza, this week, which marks the 36th anniversary of Turkey’s invasion of Cyprus, has special relevance. Turkish policy toward Israel, historically warm and only a decade ago approaching full alliance, has cooled since Islamists took power in Ankara in 2002. Their hostility became explicit in January 2009, during the Israel–Hamas War. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan grandly condemned Israeli policies as “perpetrating inhuman actions which would bring it to self-destruction” and even invoked God (“Allah will . . . punish those who transgress the rights of innocents”). His wife Emine Erdogan hyperbolically condemned Israeli actions as so awful they “cannot be expressed in words.” 5:00 Daniel Pipes National Review, National Review Online, NRO, Rich Lowry, William F. Buckley, Jonah Goldberg, Mark Steyn, Kathryn Jean Lopez no no Daniel Pipes Though I've seen evidence to the contrary, experts assure me that children are the nation's most precious natural resource. Logic, then, says that teaching is the most important profession in the country. And by extension, firing teachers who consistently fail to do their job should not be very controversial. Still, political parties come and go; teachers don't. All the while, urban school districts remain on a stable trajectory, headed from horrendous to Mississippi. Who knows? Perhaps there's hope. The country's top minds on education have cooked up a surefire solution to tackle this emergency: They're having a contest! Race to the Top is a nationwide competition that rewards states with cash prizes if they embrace a stunningly tepid catalog of reforms. Naturally, one of the more contentious measures is the institution of a genuine teacher evaluation system. Believe it or not, in some extreme cases, these evaluations may be used by superintendents and principals to determine which teachers should be hired or fired. As you know, teachers never are supposed to lose their jobs. In Denver, teachers are granted effective "tenure" after only two years of service. (Fortunately, this will change in a few years.) In New York City, the infamous rubber rooms often house teachers talented enough to pull down six-figure salaries but not moral enough to be permitted near any children. In 2006, 8 percent of eighth-graders in Washington, D.C., could perform minimal math, yet not a single teacher was fired for stinking up the place. In fact, as D.C.'s chancellor, Michelle Rhee, points out, for years, more than 90 percent of teachers in her district were evaluated as having "exceeded expectations." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100727Harsanyi.mp3 084D3DAE-FA35-41FA-BD2D-351D953EE940 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:36:40 -0400 Though I've seen evidence to the contrary, experts assure me that children are the nation's most precious natural resource. Though I've seen evidence to the contrary, experts assure me that children are the nation's most precious natural resource. Logic, then, says that teaching is the most important profession in the country. And by extension, firing teachers who consistently fail to do their job should not be very controversial. Still, political parties come and go; teachers don't. All the while, urban school districts remain on a stable trajectory, headed from horrendous to Mississippi. Who knows? Perhaps there's hope. The country's top minds on education have cooked up a surefire solution to tackle this emergency: They're having a contest! Race to the Top is a nationwide competition that rewards states with cash prizes if they embrace a stunningly tepid catalog of reforms. Naturally, one of the more contentious measures is the institution of a genuine teacher evaluation system. Believe it or not, in some extreme cases, these evaluations may be used by superintendents and principals to determine which teachers should be hired or fired. As you know, teachers never are supposed to lose their jobs. In Denver, teachers are granted effective "tenure" after only two years of service. (Fortunately, this will change in a few years.) In New York City, the infamous rubber rooms often house teachers talented enough to pull down six-figure salaries but not moral enough to be permitted near any children. In 2006, 8 percent of eighth-graders in Washington, D.C., could perform minimal math, yet not a single teacher was fired for stinking up the place. In fact, as D.C.'s chancellor, Michelle Rhee, points out, for years, more than 90 percent of teachers in her district were evaluated as having "exceeded expectations." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Harsanyi editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Harsanyi Sound too conspiratorial to be true? Like the cover-up ops of spy novels? Well, it's reality. And it is possibly the most bizarre, inhumane and abusive way that the White House is expanding its power over the American people. It's not an extremist belief or theory of the far right. It's a fact that has been confirmed by The New York Times, The Washington Post and MSNBC and even documented by the far-left online magazine Salon.com. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100726Norris.mp3 C4D2DC90-5033-4908-A465-3290A892483A Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:19:23 -0400 Sound too conspiratorial to be true? Like the cover-up ops of spy novels? Well, it's reality. Sound too conspiratorial to be true? Like the cover-up ops of spy novels? Well, it's reality. And it is possibly the most bizarre, inhumane and abusive way that the White House is expanding its power over the American people. It's not an extremist belief or theory of the far right. It's a fact that has been confirmed by The New York Times, The Washington Post and MSNBC and even documented by the far-left online magazine Salon.com. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Chuck Norris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Chuck Norris The Obama administration had gone to federal court to kill Arizona's new illegal-immigration law, scheduled to go into effect on Thursday. The Department of Justice argues that enforcement of the Arizona law "is pre-empted by federal law and therefore violates the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution." Does this mean that if Team Obama prevails over Arizona, San Francisco and other sanctuary cities should prepare to go to court against the feds? From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100726Saunders.mp3 4054D6E6-B431-4BA1-BD59-891DCBB10937 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:11:36 -0400 The Obama administration had gone to federal court to kill Arizona's new illegal-immigration law, scheduled to go into effect on Thursday. The Obama administration had gone to federal court to kill Arizona's new illegal-immigration law, scheduled to go into effect on Thursday. The Department of Justice argues that enforcement of the Arizona law "is pre-empted by federal law and therefore violates the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution." Does this mean that if Team Obama prevails over Arizona, San Francisco and other sanctuary cities should prepare to go to court against the feds? For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Debra J. Saunders editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Debra J. Saunders Many of the wonderful-sounding ideas that have been tried as government policies have failed disastrously. Because so few people bother to study history, often the same ideas and policies have been tried again, either in another country or in the same country at a later time-- and with the same disastrous results. One of the ideas that has proved to be almost impervious to evidence is the idea that wise and far-sighted people need to take control and plan economic and social policies so that there will be a rational and just order, rather than chaos resulting from things being allowed to take their own course. It sounds so logical and plausible that demanding hard evidence would seem almost like nit-picking. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100726Sowell.mp3 4C8A975D-88E6-4BF8-93F5-CA1B1DF8CBFA Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:54:03 -0400 Many of the wonderful-sounding ideas that have been tried as government policies have failed disastrously. Many of the wonderful-sounding ideas that have been tried as government policies have failed disastrously. Because so few people bother to study history, often the same ideas and policies have been tried again, either in another country or in the same country at a later time-- and with the same disastrous results. One of the ideas that has proved to be almost impervious to evidence is the idea that wise and far-sighted people need to take control and plan economic and social policies so that there will be a rational and just order, rather than chaos resulting from things being allowed to take their own course. It sounds so logical and plausible that demanding hard evidence would seem almost like nit-picking. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Thomas Sowel editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Thomas Sowell President Obama was apparently moved enough by a letter from a Philadelphia fifth-grader about bullying that he wrote back and encouraged his correspondent to continue her quest to end bullying. Oh, how rich the irony! Barack Obama is nothing if not a bully. There, I said it, and I believe it's true, no matter how politically incorrect and inconsistent with the mainstream media's narrative it is. Before getting to some examples, let me direct your attention to the White House's comments on the exchange and the reaction of Obama's fifth-grade correspondent, Zina Stokes. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100726Limbaugh.mp3 B3FA3A76-3E65-4CE4-9669-ECF82704909D Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:19:41 -0400 President Obama was apparently moved enough by a letter from a Philadelphia fifth-grader about bullying that he wrote back and encouraged his correspondent to continue her quest to end bullying. President Obama was apparently moved enough by a letter from a Philadelphia fifth-grader about bullying that he wrote back and encouraged his correspondent to continue her quest to end bullying. Oh, how rich the irony! Barack Obama is nothing if not a bully. There, I said it, and I believe it's true, no matter how politically incorrect and inconsistent with the mainstream media's narrative it is. Before getting to some examples, let me direct your attention to the White House's comments on the exchange and the reaction of Obama's fifth-grade correspondent, Zina Stokes. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh Arriving at a biker's convention in Ukraine on his Harley Davidson trike, Vladimir Putin offered a few observations on his recent celebratory meeting with the 10 Russian sleeper agents deported from the United States. "They had a very difficult fate," the former KGB colonel noted sympathetically. "They had to carry out a task to benefit their motherland's interests for many, many years without a diplomatic cover, risking themselves and those close to them." The reunion was heartwarming. They sang patriotic songs and "talked of life." Putin assured them, reports the Associated Press, that they would have good jobs and a "bright" future. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100726Charen.mp3 D9D7C4C1-931B-4F0C-A789-CB71EA371F44 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:08:56 -0400 Arriving at a biker's convention in Ukraine on his Harley Davidson trike, Vladimir Putin offered a few observations on his recent celebratory meeting with the 10 Russian sleeper agents deported from the United States. Arriving at a biker's convention in Ukraine on his Harley Davidson trike, Vladimir Putin offered a few observations on his recent celebratory meeting with the 10 Russian sleeper agents deported from the United States. "They had a very difficult fate," the former KGB colonel noted sympathetically. "They had to carry out a task to benefit their motherland's interests for many, many years without a diplomatic cover, risking themselves and those close to them." The reunion was heartwarming. They sang patriotic songs and "talked of life." Putin assured them, reports the Associated Press, that they would have good jobs and a "bright" future. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen Perhaps the most telling of the recent revelations of the liberal/left Journolist, a list consisting of about 400 major liberal/left journalists, is the depth of their hatred of conservatives. That they would consult with one another in order to protect candidate and then President Obama and in order to hurt Republicans is unfortunate and ugly. But what is jolting is the hatred of conservatives, as exemplified by the e-mail from an NPR reporter expressing her wish to personally see Rush Limbaugh die a painful death -- and the apparent absence of any objection from the other liberal journalists. Every one of us on the right has seen this hatred. I am not referring to leftist bloggers or to anonymous extreme comments by angry leftists on conservative blogs -- such things exist on the right as well -- but to mainstream elite liberal journalists. There is simply nothing analogous among elite conservative journalists. Yes, nearly all conservatives believe that the left is leading America to ruin. But while there is plenty of conservative anger over this fact, there is little or nothing on the right to match the left's hatred of conservative individuals. Would mainstream conservative journalists e-mail one another wishes to be present while Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi or Michael Moore dies slowly and painfully of a heart attack? From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100726Prager.mp3 A4F18364-59AB-491C-BF08-F92800375668 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 21:05:48 -0400 Perhaps the most telling of the recent revelations of the liberal/left Journolist, a list consisting of about 400 major liberal/left journalists, is the depth of their hatred of conservatives. Perhaps the most telling of the recent revelations of the liberal/left Journolist, a list consisting of about 400 major liberal/left journalists, is the depth of their hatred of conservatives. That they would consult with one another in order to protect candidate and then President Obama and in order to hurt Republicans is unfortunate and ugly. But what is jolting is the hatred of conservatives, as exemplified by the e-mail from an NPR reporter expressing her wish to personally see Rush Limbaugh die a painful death -- and the apparent absence of any objection from the other liberal journalists. Every one of us on the right has seen this hatred. I am not referring to leftist bloggers or to anonymous extreme comments by angry leftists on conservative blogs -- such things exist on the right as well -- but to mainstream elite liberal journalists. There is simply nothing analogous among elite conservative journalists. Yes, nearly all conservatives believe that the left is leading America to ruin. But while there is plenty of conservative anger over this fact, there is little or nothing on the right to match the left's hatred of conservative individuals. Would mainstream conservative journalists e-mail one another wishes to be present while Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi or Michael Moore dies slowly and painfully of a heart attack? For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dennis Prager editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dennis Prager Grass somehow manages to grow up through small cracks in the sidewalk. Similarly, the American private sector somehow seems to be exerting itself despite the vast expansion of government by the Barack Obama administration and congressional Democrats. Case in point: the announcement last week by four oil companies -- Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell -- that they are setting up a $1 billion joint venture to design, build and operate a rapid-response system to contain offshore oil spills as deep as and deeper than BP's Deepwater Horizon disaster. Their goal is a system that can start mobilizing within 24 hours of an oil spill. They hope to have it up and running within 18 months. I suppose one might ask why oil companies didn't do this before. But it seems a vivid contrast with the apparently hapless performance of the Mineral Management Service, recently renamed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, which seems to have sat on out-of-date response plans for years and which was not able to call in equipment and personnel to respond to the April 20 BP spill for weeks or months. Journalists tend to assume that effective regulation of potentially hazardous products can come only from government. But industry-generated organizations can provide it, as well. Consider Underwriters Laboratories, founded in 1894, whose UL stickers come attached to regulator products. Or the Society of Automotive Engineers, founded in 1905, which sets standards for the automobile and other industries. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100723Barone.mp3 42955CA1-85ED-4150-A454-30FC63A7BF98 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:22:24 -0400 Grass somehow manages to grow up through small cracks in the sidewalk. Grass somehow manages to grow up through small cracks in the sidewalk. Similarly, the American private sector somehow seems to be exerting itself despite the vast expansion of government by the Barack Obama administration and congressional Democrats. Case in point: the announcement last week by four oil companies -- Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell -- that they are setting up a $1 billion joint venture to design, build and operate a rapid-response system to contain offshore oil spills as deep as and deeper than BP's Deepwater Horizon disaster. Their goal is a system that can start mobilizing within 24 hours of an oil spill. They hope to have it up and running within 18 months. I suppose one might ask why oil companies didn't do this before. But it seems a vivid contrast with the apparently hapless performance of the Mineral Management Service, recently renamed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, which seems to have sat on out-of-date response plans for years and which was not able to call in equipment and personnel to respond to the April 20 BP spill for weeks or months. Journalists tend to assume that effective regulation of potentially hazardous products can come only from government. But industry-generated organizations can provide it, as well. Consider Underwriters Laboratories, founded in 1894, whose UL stickers come attached to regulator products. Or the Society of Automotive Engineers, founded in 1905, which sets standards for the automobile and other industries. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone In many places, voters become disenchanted when politicians move directly from high offices to lucrative jobs as lobbyists and consultants. Not in Illinois. Here, we are just happy when a politician doesn't go directly from high office to prison. Of the most recent eight governors (not including the incumbent), three have been convicted of felonies. That's a batting average of .375, which is high in any league. And then we have the last governor, who got impeached and is now on trial. It would not have been hard for Rod Blagojevich to raise the ethical standards of his office. His immediate predecessor, George Ryan, is serving a 6 1/2-year term in federal prison for bribery, extortion and other mischief. Yet Blagojevich has managed to disappoint even the most pessimistic voters. His tenure brought to mind comedian Lily Tomlin's lament: "No matter how cynical you become, it's never enough to keep up." All he did was get caught on wiretapped phone calls running his office like a used car lot. Most notable was his effort to trade an appointment to the U.S. Senate for money, campaign contributions or a job -- such as secretary of Health and Human Services, which was about as plausible as his winning the Cy Young Award. Yet last week, it came as a stunner to find we cannot believe everything he says. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100723Chapman.mp3 A1770D7B-1430-4B89-92F9-DC54457C6225 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:21:30 -0400 In many places, voters become disenchanted when politicians move directly from high offices to lucrative jobs as lobbyists and consultants. In many places, voters become disenchanted when politicians move directly from high offices to lucrative jobs as lobbyists and consultants. Not in Illinois. Here, we are just happy when a politician doesn't go directly from high office to prison. Of the most recent eight governors (not including the incumbent), three have been convicted of felonies. That's a batting average of .375, which is high in any league. And then we have the last governor, who got impeached and is now on trial. It would not have been hard for Rod Blagojevich to raise the ethical standards of his office. His immediate predecessor, George Ryan, is serving a 6 1/2-year term in federal prison for bribery, extortion and other mischief. Yet Blagojevich has managed to disappoint even the most pessimistic voters. His tenure brought to mind comedian Lily Tomlin's lament: "No matter how cynical you become, it's never enough to keep up." All he did was get caught on wiretapped phone calls running his office like a used car lot. Most notable was his effort to trade an appointment to the U.S. Senate for money, campaign contributions or a job -- such as secretary of Health and Human Services, which was about as plausible as his winning the Cy Young Award. Yet last week, it came as a stunner to find we cannot believe everything he says. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman Ben Bernanke threw a curveball in his midterm report to Congress this week. The Fed view of the economy has been downgraded since it last reported in February. Although the official Fed forecast for 2010-11 is still 3 percent to 4 percent real growth, Bernanke sounded particularly gloomy when he characterized the economy as "unusually uncertain." And he indicated that the majority view of the Fed Board of Governors and Reserve Bank presidents is that the risks to growth are "weighted to the downside." But here's the disconnect. With no inflation and weaker growth, including stubbornly high unemployment, Bernanke mostly talked about an exit strategy that would shrink the Fed's balance sheet by removing liquidity. This was the Fed's bias last winter when the recovery looked stronger. Now that the recovery looks weaker, the stock market was hoping to hear Bernanke hint of an easier policy that would (SET ITAL) increase (END ITAL) liquidity if necessary. Didn't happen. At the end of two days of testimony, Bernanke's message seemed to be this: Expect the zero-interest-rate policy to be extended for another year. Futures markets now predict free money until September 2011. Whether the economic outlook is as downbeat as Bernanke suggests is an interesting question. The vast majority of corporate profit reports for the second quarter show better-than-expected earnings and top-line revenues. In other words, the CEOs are a lot less pessimistic about the future economy than Wall Street or Main Street. And a combination of strong profits, a zero interest rate and a positively sloped Treasury yield curve would certainly seem to rule out a double-dip recession. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100722Kudlow.mp3 8DB65445-D897-4A77-9870-E1A684A5028B Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:10:39 -0400 Ben Bernanke threw a curveball in his midterm report to Congress this week. Ben Bernanke threw a curveball in his midterm report to Congress this week. The Fed view of the economy has been downgraded since it last reported in February. Although the official Fed forecast for 2010-11 is still 3 percent to 4 percent real growth, Bernanke sounded particularly gloomy when he characterized the economy as "unusually uncertain." And he indicated that the majority view of the Fed Board of Governors and Reserve Bank presidents is that the risks to growth are "weighted to the downside." But here's the disconnect. With no inflation and weaker growth, including stubbornly high unemployment, Bernanke mostly talked about an exit strategy that would shrink the Fed's balance sheet by removing liquidity. This was the Fed's bias last winter when the recovery looked stronger. Now that the recovery looks weaker, the stock market was hoping to hear Bernanke hint of an easier policy that would (SET ITAL) increase (END ITAL) liquidity if necessary. Didn't happen. At the end of two days of testimony, Bernanke's message seemed to be this: Expect the zero-interest-rate policy to be extended for another year. Futures markets now predict free money until September 2011. Whether the economic outlook is as downbeat as Bernanke suggests is an interesting question. The vast majority of corporate profit reports for the second quarter show better-than-expected earnings and top-line revenues. In other words, the CEOs are a lot less pessimistic about the future economy than Wall Street or Main Street. And a combination of strong profits, a zero interest rate and a positively sloped Treasury yield curve would certainly seem to rule out a double-dip recession. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Lawrence Kudlow editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Lawrence Kudlow When a story is too good to be true, it probably is. It is safe to say that conservative gadfly Andrew Breitbart -- whose notoriety exploded after helping expose ACORN's tax-assistance-for-hookers program -- ignored this journalistic truism when he rushed to release tapes of a speech by Shirley Sherrod. Yet faster than an administrative assistant in the Ag department could type the words "we are in the midst of conducting an internal investigation," the administration canned Sherrod in what is, no doubt, a particularly terrible time for the White House to be embroiled in any sort of scandal. Whatever the sins of the participating parties, however, the most peculiar aspect of this kerfuffle has been the onslaught of manufactured distress and outrage leveled by many in the media over the very idea that a political activist might accuse an opponent of racism without sufficient vetting. Because, you know, that sort of thing happens elsewhere. Asked whether there was anything Americans could learn from this regrettable incident -- considering Obama famously called for more dialogue on the topic when running for office -- White House press secretary Robert Gibbs answered, "Well, look, I think this is one of those teachable moments." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100722Charen.mp3 F898CE17-CD3F-453D-962E-2FAD10368FD0 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:08:02 -0400 When a story is too good to be true, it probably is. When a story is too good to be true, it probably is. It is safe to say that conservative gadfly Andrew Breitbart -- whose notoriety exploded after helping expose ACORN's tax-assistance-for-hookers program -- ignored this journalistic truism when he rushed to release tapes of a speech by Shirley Sherrod. Yet faster than an administrative assistant in the Ag department could type the words "we are in the midst of conducting an internal investigation," the administration canned Sherrod in what is, no doubt, a particularly terrible time for the White House to be embroiled in any sort of scandal. Whatever the sins of the participating parties, however, the most peculiar aspect of this kerfuffle has been the onslaught of manufactured distress and outrage leveled by many in the media over the very idea that a political activist might accuse an opponent of racism without sufficient vetting. Because, you know, that sort of thing happens elsewhere. Asked whether there was anything Americans could learn from this regrettable incident -- considering Obama famously called for more dialogue on the topic when running for office -- White House press secretary Robert Gibbs answered, "Well, look, I think this is one of those teachable moments." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen Congratulations are due to the Washington Post. "Top Secret America," its in-depth, multi-part, two-year investigation into the vast network of government security agencies and private contractors is an eye-opener -- obvious Pulitzer bait. Reporters Dana Priest and William Arkin have revealed a "hidden world, growing beyond control." Within this "alternate geography" of the United States, they found some 1,271 government organizations and 1,931 private companies at work on programs related to counterterrorism, homeland security and intelligence in about 10,000 locations across the United States. Over 850,000 Americans have top-secret security clearances. They spend "a gusher of money" that has flowed since 9/11. And -- this will blow your socks off -- the Post found that there is tremendous waste, duplication, and lack of accountability. Really? In a government program? "Many security and intelligence agencies do the same work, creating redundancy and waste. For example, 51 federal organizations and military commands, operating in 15 U.S. cities, track the flow of money to and from terrorist networks." Not only that, but they aren't careful about the way they spend taxpayer dollars. "With so much money to spend, managers do not always worry about whether they are spending it effectively. ' Someone says, let's do another study, and because no one shares information, everyone does their own study,' said Elena Mastors ... 'Everybody's just on a spending spree. We don't need all these people doing all this stuff.'" From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100722Charen.mp3 4D50491F-D7C6-4948-A748-F5DC28AD6FF8 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:21:25 -0400 Congratulations are due to the Washington Post. "Top Secret America," its in-depth, multi-part, Congratulations are due to the Washington Post. "Top Secret America," its in-depth, multi-part, two-year investigation into the vast network of government security agencies and private contractors is an eye-opener -- obvious Pulitzer bait. Reporters Dana Priest and William Arkin have revealed a "hidden world, growing beyond control." Within this "alternate geography" of the United States, they found some 1,271 government organizations and 1,931 private companies at work on programs related to counterterrorism, homeland security and intelligence in about 10,000 locations across the United States. Over 850,000 Americans have top-secret security clearances. They spend "a gusher of money" that has flowed since 9/11. And -- this will blow your socks off -- the Post found that there is tremendous waste, duplication, and lack of accountability. Really? In a government program? "Many security and intelligence agencies do the same work, creating redundancy and waste. For example, 51 federal organizations and military commands, operating in 15 U.S. cities, track the flow of money to and from terrorist networks." Not only that, but they aren't careful about the way they spend taxpayer dollars. "With so much money to spend, managers do not always worry about whether they are spending it effectively. ' Someone says, let's do another study, and because no one shares information, everyone does their own study,' said Elena Mastors ... 'Everybody's just on a spending spree. We don't need all these people doing all this stuff.'" For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen "Why do they hate us?" It's a burning question on the minds of border-dwelling taxpayers, small-business owners, farmers, and Rocky Mountain oil and gas industry workers suffering under punitive Democrat policies. Eighteen months into the Barack Obama administration, the war on the American West is in full swing. The first battlefront: immigration. On Wednesday, Senate Democrats rejected a GOP amendment banning the use of federal funds to participate in any litigation against the new Arizona immigration enforcement law. "Our federal government should be doing its job to secure our borders rather than trying to bully and intimidate the people of Arizona," argued Republican amendment sponsor Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina. "We should not be suing and really hassling the people of Arizona for doing what we should be doing here, and that's protecting the citizenry." All but five Senate Democrats (Indiana's Evan Bayh took a pass and didn't vote) sided with the anti-Arizona Obama administration -- and against not only a majority of Arizonans, but a majority of Americans who support the state's effort to restore order on the chaotic southern border and protect American workers facing double-digit unemployment. Several House Democrats have actively lobbied to boycott Arizona and crush its economy -- most notably, southern Arizona's own Democrat Rep. Raul Grijalva, who urged civic, religious and political groups to take their convention dollars elsewhere. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100722Malkin.mp3 43C4D589-629E-4418-BFBB-77D3BA85085C Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:17:44 -0400 "Why do they hate us?" It's a burning question on the minds of border-dwelling taxpayers, small-business owners, farmers, and Rocky Mountain oil and gas industry workers "Why do they hate us?" It's a burning question on the minds of border-dwelling taxpayers, small-business owners, farmers, and Rocky Mountain oil and gas industry workers suffering under punitive Democrat policies. Eighteen months into the Barack Obama administration, the war on the American West is in full swing. The first battlefront: immigration. On Wednesday, Senate Democrats rejected a GOP amendment banning the use of federal funds to participate in any litigation against the new Arizona immigration enforcement law. "Our federal government should be doing its job to secure our borders rather than trying to bully and intimidate the people of Arizona," argued Republican amendment sponsor Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina. "We should not be suing and really hassling the people of Arizona for doing what we should be doing here, and that's protecting the citizenry." All but five Senate Democrats (Indiana's Evan Bayh took a pass and didn't vote) sided with the anti-Arizona Obama administration -- and against not only a majority of Arizonans, but a majority of Americans who support the state's effort to restore order on the chaotic southern border and protect American workers facing double-digit unemployment. Several House Democrats have actively lobbied to boycott Arizona and crush its economy -- most notably, southern Arizona's own Democrat Rep. Raul Grijalva, who urged civic, religious and political groups to take their convention dollars elsewhere. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin The Shirley Sherrod episode is a painful reminder that most of us are too quick to allow prejudices to trump judgment. Sherrod's saga began when conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart decided to post a clip to his website from a speech Sherrod gave in March to an NAACP conference. In the clip, it appeared that Sherrod had refused to directly help a white farmer save his farm because she was only interested in helping blacks. As it turns out, the clip Breitbart used was only the beginning of the story that Sherrod was sharing with her audience, a story of how she overcame prejudice and learned that skin color shouldn't matter when someone needed help. But Breitbart's clip and the Obama administration's quick rush to judgment in anticipation of a media firestorm led to Sherrod's dismissal from her Agriculture Department job. And now, with Sherrod's full story out, everyone from Breitbart to the Obama administration to the media looks bad. There may be different levels of culpability -- Breitbart bears the brunt of the blame in my opinion for publicizing an edited and misleading clip -- but few people came off well in this story. But instead of admitting their errors, many of the players have simply pointed fingers. Breitbart blames the NAACP for implying that the tea party is a hot-bed of racial animus, which he claims motivated his airing of a clip that he thought proved the NAACP tolerated racism of its own. Liberal bloggers and news organizations blame Fox News Channel for railroading Sherrod out of her job. And the White House claims no one there was involved in the decision to force Sherrod to resign, blaming Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for the call. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100722Chavez.mp3 603CCA57-4183-4218-83C3-C4418F975BAC Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:20:18 -0400 The Shirley Sherrod episode is a painful reminder that most of us are too quick to allow prejudices to trump judgment. The Shirley Sherrod episode is a painful reminder that most of us are too quick to allow prejudices to trump judgment. Sherrod's saga began when conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart decided to post a clip to his website from a speech Sherrod gave in March to an NAACP conference. In the clip, it appeared that Sherrod had refused to directly help a white farmer save his farm because she was only interested in helping blacks. As it turns out, the clip Breitbart used was only the beginning of the story that Sherrod was sharing with her audience, a story of how she overcame prejudice and learned that skin color shouldn't matter when someone needed help. But Breitbart's clip and the Obama administration's quick rush to judgment in anticipation of a media firestorm led to Sherrod's dismissal from her Agriculture Department job. And now, with Sherrod's full story out, everyone from Breitbart to the Obama administration to the media looks bad. There may be different levels of culpability -- Breitbart bears the brunt of the blame in my opinion for publicizing an edited and misleading clip -- but few people came off well in this story. But instead of admitting their errors, many of the players have simply pointed fingers. Breitbart blames the NAACP for implying that the tea party is a hot-bed of racial animus, which he claims motivated his airing of a clip that he thought proved the NAACP tolerated racism of its own. Liberal bloggers and news organizations blame Fox News Channel for railroading Sherrod out of her job. And the White House claims no one there was involved in the decision to force Sherrod to resign, blaming Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for the call. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Linda Chavez editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Linda Chavez I realize that the hot topic today is racism and that both liberals and conservatives are falling all over themselves to prove how non-racist they are and, in the process, throwing anyone and everyone under the bus just to prove their bona fides. I think it's sad, especially when the people who are emerging unscathed from this are far from blameless and those accused of the dastardly deeds of reporting this incompletely aren't quite the villains they're being portrayed as. It bothers me how little courage people have to stand up for what is right on the issue of race, mainly for fear they'll be stigmatized with charges of insensitivity toward race or, worse, racism. It seems to me that President Obama's unchecked liberalism is in such disfavor among the electorate that supporters of his agenda often invoke the race card against opponents of his agenda both to distract attention from substantive issues and to demonize conservatives. I truly don't believe this Shirley Sherrod story is primarily about sloppy, negligent or even malicious reporting. Obviously, fairness dictates that quotes should be reported in context. And it is indefensible for a reporter to misrepresent a person's meaning intentionally, whether from failing to provide the context or otherwise. Having met Andrew Breitbart, I sincerely doubt he reported this story with any intent to mislead. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100722Limbaugh.mp3 DCBCA16F-C712-4CB2-8750-3E73291BE5C2 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:19:26 -0400 I realize that the hot topic today is racism and that both liberals and conservatives are falling all over themselves to prove how non-racist they are and, in the process, I realize that the hot topic today is racism and that both liberals and conservatives are falling all over themselves to prove how non-racist they are and, in the process, throwing anyone and everyone under the bus just to prove their bona fides. I think it's sad, especially when the people who are emerging unscathed from this are far from blameless and those accused of the dastardly deeds of reporting this incompletely aren't quite the villains they're being portrayed as. It bothers me how little courage people have to stand up for what is right on the issue of race, mainly for fear they'll be stigmatized with charges of insensitivity toward race or, worse, racism. It seems to me that President Obama's unchecked liberalism is in such disfavor among the electorate that supporters of his agenda often invoke the race card against opponents of his agenda both to distract attention from substantive issues and to demonize conservatives. I truly don't believe this Shirley Sherrod story is primarily about sloppy, negligent or even malicious reporting. Obviously, fairness dictates that quotes should be reported in context. And it is indefensible for a reporter to misrepresent a person's meaning intentionally, whether from failing to provide the context or otherwise. Having met Andrew Breitbart, I sincerely doubt he reported this story with any intent to mislead. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh Many years ago, I was privileged to attend a dinner with James Rowe, one of the "passion for anonymity" young aides to Franklin Roosevelt, original author of the winning strategy for Harry Truman's 1948 campaign and close confidante of then-President Lyndon Johnson. Rowe described how Johnson tested insider opinion. He would call an ideologically wide range of acquaintances and ask their views on an issue of the day. Most responded as he expected. But when one or two said something he hadn't expected, he would take notice. Maybe things weren't going as he thought. That memory returned as I read three recent articles saying there's an increasing chance that the United States -- or Israel -- might well bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. One was by Time's Joe Klein, who has been a harsh critic of George W. Bush's military policies and a skeptic about action against Iran. The other was by self-described centrist Walter Russell Mead in his ever-fascinating American Interest blog. Former CIA agent Reuel Marc Gerecht in The Weekly Standard argues cogently that an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities would not lead to all the negative consequences widely feared and could shatter the mullah regime. This is not out of line with his views over the years. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100721Barone.mp3 B7A997A3-F85A-418F-BAAC-FBEBCC5E65FC Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:01:28 -0400 Many years ago, I was privileged to attend a dinner with James Rowe, Many years ago, I was privileged to attend a dinner with James Rowe, one of the "passion for anonymity" young aides to Franklin Roosevelt, original author of the winning strategy for Harry Truman's 1948 campaign and close confidante of then-President Lyndon Johnson. Rowe described how Johnson tested insider opinion. He would call an ideologically wide range of acquaintances and ask their views on an issue of the day. Most responded as he expected. But when one or two said something he hadn't expected, he would take notice. Maybe things weren't going as he thought. That memory returned as I read three recent articles saying there's an increasing chance that the United States -- or Israel -- might well bomb Iran's nuclear facilities. One was by Time's Joe Klein, who has been a harsh critic of George W. Bush's military policies and a skeptic about action against Iran. The other was by self-described centrist Walter Russell Mead in his ever-fascinating American Interest blog. Former CIA agent Reuel Marc Gerecht in The Weekly Standard argues cogently that an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities would not lead to all the negative consequences widely feared and could shatter the mullah regime. This is not out of line with his views over the years. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone The civil rights group passed a resolution condemning "bigotry within" the limited-government/constitutionalist Tea Party movement, as if there is any large group without idiots -- and, in this case, inconsequential ones at that. Four percent of Democrats -- and 3 percent of Republicans -- according to a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, would refuse to vote for a black presidential candidate whose views mirror their own. That comes out to almost 3 million Democratic bigots. How does that compare with the number of presumed bigots within the Tea Party? Julian Bond, NAACP chairman from 1998 until 2010, routinely called the entire Republican Party racist and fascist -- and got away with it. These outrageous attacks -- not unlike the waving of Bush/Hitler signs at anti-Bush rallies -- provoked no indignation from those now hyperventilating over the Tea Party's alleged "racist elements." My book about the declining significance of racism in America, "What's Race Got to Do with It?" describes Bond's vulgar attacks against President George W. Bush: "(Bush) has selected nominees from the Taliban wing of American politics, appeased the wretched appetites of the extreme right wing, and chosen Cabinet officials whose devotion to the Confederacy is nearly canine in its uncritical affection." OK, this was before 9/11. But in December 2001, three months after the terrorist attacks, Bond savaged Attorney General John Ashcroft: "He knows something about the Taliban, coming from, as he does, from that wing of American politics." And in June 2004, at a Take Back America conference, Bond said, "(Republicans) draw their most rabid supporters from the Taliban wing of American politics." And speaking at historically black Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, Bond said, "The Republican Party would have the American flag and the swastika flying side by side." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100721Elder.mp3 490EB414-AB5E-4CCE-A6D7-7BDCE247FD58 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:00:30 -0400 The civil rights group passed a resolution condemning "bigotry within" the limited-government/constitutionalist Tea Party movement, The civil rights group passed a resolution condemning "bigotry within" the limited-government/constitutionalist Tea Party movement, as if there is any large group without idiots -- and, in this case, inconsequential ones at that. Four percent of Democrats -- and 3 percent of Republicans -- according to a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, would refuse to vote for a black presidential candidate whose views mirror their own. That comes out to almost 3 million Democratic bigots. How does that compare with the number of presumed bigots within the Tea Party? Julian Bond, NAACP chairman from 1998 until 2010, routinely called the entire Republican Party racist and fascist -- and got away with it. These outrageous attacks -- not unlike the waving of Bush/Hitler signs at anti-Bush rallies -- provoked no indignation from those now hyperventilating over the Tea Party's alleged "racist elements." My book about the declining significance of racism in America, "What's Race Got to Do with It?" describes Bond's vulgar attacks against President George W. Bush: "(Bush) has selected nominees from the Taliban wing of American politics, appeased the wretched appetites of the extreme right wing, and chosen Cabinet officials whose devotion to the Confederacy is nearly canine in its uncritical affection." OK, this was before 9/11. But in December 2001, three months after the terrorist attacks, Bond savaged Attorney General John Ashcroft: "He knows something about the Taliban, coming from, as he does, from that wing of American politics." And in June 2004, at a Take Back America conference, Bond said, "(Republicans) draw their most rabid supporters from the Taliban wing of American politics." And speaking at historically black Fayetteville State University in North Carolina, Bond said, "The Republican Party would have the American flag and the swastika flying side by side." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Larry Elder editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Larry Elder Suppose there were a heavily Muslim neighborhood in New York, with mosques, religious schools and shops with meat prepared according to Islamic dietary rules. Suppose an evangelical church wanted to build a chapel there. And suppose local Muslims tried to block it as a flagrant insult to them. Would Sarah Palin urge the church to retract this "unnecessary provocation" in the "interest of healing"? Would her followers? Or would they scorn this disparagement of Christianity and champion the religious freedom on which America was built? You know the answer. But Palin is not a slave to intellectual consistency. Change the church to a mosque, and put it a couple of blocks from the site of the World Trade Center, and she suddenly loses all patience with the rights of religious believers. This week, she posted Twitter comments urging Muslims and New Yorkers to put a stop to a proposed Islamic community center near Ground Zero because the pain from the 9/11 attacks "is too raw, too real." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100721Chapman.mp3 DEA1C9F3-D23B-4D97-9844-0A4055BB3656 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:59:35 -0400 Suppose there were a heavily Muslim neighborhood in New York, with mosques, Suppose there were a heavily Muslim neighborhood in New York, with mosques, religious schools and shops with meat prepared according to Islamic dietary rules. Suppose an evangelical church wanted to build a chapel there. And suppose local Muslims tried to block it as a flagrant insult to them. Would Sarah Palin urge the church to retract this "unnecessary provocation" in the "interest of healing"? Would her followers? Or would they scorn this disparagement of Christianity and champion the religious freedom on which America was built? You know the answer. But Palin is not a slave to intellectual consistency. Change the church to a mosque, and put it a couple of blocks from the site of the World Trade Center, and she suddenly loses all patience with the rights of religious believers. This week, she posted Twitter comments urging Muslims and New Yorkers to put a stop to a proposed Islamic community center near Ground Zero because the pain from the 9/11 attacks "is too raw, too real." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman Over the past year, the Democrats fixed on what they thought was a devastating four-word slogan to defeat Republicans in 2010: "The Party of No." Unlike many campaign slogans, it was fair enough. After all, the Republicans had opposed almost unanimously all of President Obama's major bills (socialized health care, stimulus, nationalization of GM and Chrysler, "cap and trade," financial overregulation, multitrillion-dollar yearly deficits, tax increases, etc.) But the Democrats seem to have stopped using that phrase in the past several weeks as, apparently, White House strategists have come to appreciate that the only people screaming "no" louder than the Grand Old Party are the American people. (The president is now opposed by more than 60 percent of independents, 60 percent of whites, almost 40 percent of Hispanics and a full 19 percent of registered Democrats -- all historic worst numbers for the president.) From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100720Blankley.mp3 3FBE09C1-4E96-4B0D-9368-26BDF9BF90B8 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:22:14 -0400 Over the past year, the Democrats fixed on what they thought was a devastating four-word slogan to defeat Republicans in 2010: "The Party of No." Over the past year, the Democrats fixed on what they thought was a devastating four-word slogan to defeat Republicans in 2010: "The Party of No." Unlike many campaign slogans, it was fair enough. After all, the Republicans had opposed almost unanimously all of President Obama's major bills (socialized health care, stimulus, nationalization of GM and Chrysler, "cap and trade," financial overregulation, multitrillion-dollar yearly deficits, tax increases, etc.) But the Democrats seem to have stopped using that phrase in the past several weeks as, apparently, White House strategists have come to appreciate that the only people screaming "no" louder than the Grand Old Party are the American people. (The president is now opposed by more than 60 percent of independents, 60 percent of whites, almost 40 percent of Hispanics and a full 19 percent of registered Democrats -- all historic worst numbers for the president.) For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Tony Blankley editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Tony Blankley Everything you need to know about the nightmare of government-controlled businesses can be found in a damning new inspector general's report on Dealergate. The independent review of how and why the Obama administration forced Chrysler and General Motors to oversee mass closures of car dealerships across the country reveals grisly incompetence, fatal bureaucratic hubris and Big Labor cronyism. No wonder you won't hear much about the report's in-depth details in the so-called mainstream media. Under the guise of "saving" the American auto industry through a bipartisan, taxpayer-funded bailout now topping $80 billion, President Obama's know-nothing bureaucrats pushed the car companies to eliminate thousands of jobs -- with unjustified haste using dubious economic models. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100720Malkin.mp3 B9B7335C-762F-488E-AD4C-3B04FD6BCAEA Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:19:18 -0400 Everything you need to know about the nightmare of government-controlled businesses can be found in a damning new inspector general's report on Dealergate. Everything you need to know about the nightmare of government-controlled businesses can be found in a damning new inspector general's report on Dealergate. The independent review of how and why the Obama administration forced Chrysler and General Motors to oversee mass closures of car dealerships across the country reveals grisly incompetence, fatal bureaucratic hubris and Big Labor cronyism. No wonder you won't hear much about the report's in-depth details in the so-called mainstream media. Under the guise of "saving" the American auto industry through a bipartisan, taxpayer-funded bailout now topping $80 billion, President Obama's know-nothing bureaucrats pushed the car companies to eliminate thousands of jobs -- with unjustified haste using dubious economic models. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin If your child is the correct gender and has the right grades, and you are poor enough to get financial aid or rich enough to pay the $49,898 in annual fees, your daughter can attend Hillary Clinton's alma mater of Wellesley and put herself in position to capitalize on a special provision in the financial reform bill that just passed Congress that mandates that the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve banks and all other federal financial regulatory agencies recruit people like her as workers. If your child is a boy, forget it. He does not qualify to benefit from this provision. If your daughter decides she would rather attend the University of Virginia, or Michigan, or Notre Dame, or Georgetown, or even Harvard, Princeton or Yale, you can also forget it. She is just not the right kind of girl. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100720Jeffrey.mp3 7D693FB9-B01E-4CFB-9036-9FCBCEBA3E7C Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:18:53 -0400 If your child is the correct gender and has the right grades, and you are poor enough to get financial aid or rich enough to pay the $49,898 in annual fees, your daughter can attend Hillary Clinton's alma mater... If your child is the correct gender and has the right grades, and you are poor enough to get financial aid or rich enough to pay the $49,898 in annual fees, your daughter can attend Hillary Clinton's alma mater of Wellesley and put herself in position to capitalize on a special provision in the financial reform bill that just passed Congress that mandates that the Treasury Department, the Federal Reserve banks and all other federal financial regulatory agencies recruit people like her as workers. If your child is a boy, forget it. He does not qualify to benefit from this provision. If your daughter decides she would rather attend the University of Virginia, or Michigan, or Notre Dame, or Georgetown, or even Harvard, Princeton or Yale, you can also forget it. She is just not the right kind of girl. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Terence P. Jeffrey editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Terence P. Jeffrey With midterm elections approaching, President Barack Obama has gone on the charm offensive, claiming Republicans are demonstrating a "lack of faith in the American people." "Faith" often is defined as "having confidence or trust in a person or thing." In this case, though, faith means adding another $35 billion in unemployment benefits to the infinite intergenerational tab -- sometimes referred to as the budget -- and mailing out as many checks as possible before Election Day. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100720Harsanyi.mp3 9322C9B9-D282-4CC4-AB26-F1E12B0F6282 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:17:11 -0400 With midterm elections approaching, President Barack Obama has gone on the charm offensive, claiming Republicans are demonstrating a "lack of faith in the American people." With midterm elections approaching, President Barack Obama has gone on the charm offensive, claiming Republicans are demonstrating a "lack of faith in the American people." "Faith" often is defined as "having confidence or trust in a person or thing." In this case, though, faith means adding another $35 billion in unemployment benefits to the infinite intergenerational tab -- sometimes referred to as the budget -- and mailing out as many checks as possible before Election Day. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Harsanyi editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Harsanyi Having worked with Elena Kagan at the Bill Clinton White House, I was inclined to see her as a political moderate, worthy of support as the best one could expect from the Barack Obama White House. But no more. Thanks to the work of the Center for Security Policy Director Frank Gaffney and the writing of Andrew McCarthy of the National Review Institute, there has emerged a compelling reason to vote against Kagan's confirmation as a Supreme Court justice: Her support for Shariah Law while she was dean of the Harvard Law School. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100720Morris.mp3 29B69159-0B2F-4350-BF04-5D0C5614DD13 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:02:12 -0400 If your child is the correct gender and has the right grades, and you are poor enough to get financial aid or rich enough to pay the $49,898 in annual fees, your daughter can attend Hillary Clinton's alma mater... Having worked with Elena Kagan at the Bill Clinton White House, I was inclined to see her as a political moderate, worthy of support as the best one could expect from the Barack Obama White House. But no more. Thanks to the work of the Center for Security Policy Director Frank Gaffney and the writing of Andrew McCarthy of the National Review Institute, there has emerged a compelling reason to vote against Kagan's confirmation as a Supreme Court justice: Her support for Shariah Law while she was dean of the Harvard Law School. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dick Morris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dick Morris Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius promised, "The U.S. government plans to increase funding to battle obesity and views healthcare reform as an opportunity to encourage better eating habits." Rather than spending money and attacking the food industry, the secretary and others concerned with the health of Americans ought to go after the U.S. Congress. Let's look at it. According to a study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (May 2009), widespread use of fructose may be directly responsible for some of the ongoing increase in rates of childhood diabetes and obesity. Consuming fructose-sweetened, not glucose-sweetened, beverages increases abdominal fat and decreases insulin sensitivity in overweight/obese people. The participants in the study who consumed fructose-sweetened food showed an increase of fat cells around major organs including their hearts and livers, and also underwent metabolic changes that are precursors to heart disease and diabetes. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100719Williams.mp3 E11760EE-25E2-40B1-88DB-A637BB9AC374 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:33:29 -0400 Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius promised, "The U.S. government plans to increase funding to battle obesity and views healthcare reform as an opportunity to encourage better eating habits." Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius promised, "The U.S. government plans to increase funding to battle obesity and views healthcare reform as an opportunity to encourage better eating habits." Rather than spending money and attacking the food industry, the secretary and others concerned with the health of Americans ought to go after the U.S. Congress. Let's look at it. According to a study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (May 2009), widespread use of fructose may be directly responsible for some of the ongoing increase in rates of childhood diabetes and obesity. Consuming fructose-sweetened, not glucose-sweetened, beverages increases abdominal fat and decreases insulin sensitivity in overweight/obese people. The participants in the study who consumed fructose-sweetened food showed an increase of fat cells around major organs including their hearts and livers, and also underwent metabolic changes that are precursors to heart disease and diabetes. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Walter Williams editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Walter Williams After President Barack Obama repeatedly and emphatically promised last summer that Obamacare would not use federal funds to pay for abortions (and even signed a supportive presidential order, to boot), last week it was revealed that federal funds are being funneled to provide for abortive services in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. This presidential lie is tragically just one more in an unprecedented string of flat-out falsehoods, reaching back to Obama's campaign promise to "clean up both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue" with "the most sweeping ethics reform in history." He repeatedly declared then that "an Obama administration is going to have the toughest ethics laws of any administration in history." Really? From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100719Norris.mp3 E92E6E42-67B5-49A3-8C59-A730712269CC Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:32:04 -0400 After President Barack Obama repeatedly and emphatically promised last summer that Obamacare would not use federal funds to pay for abortions (and even signed a supportive presidential order, to boot)... After President Barack Obama repeatedly and emphatically promised last summer that Obamacare would not use federal funds to pay for abortions (and even signed a supportive presidential order, to boot), last week it was revealed that federal funds are being funneled to provide for abortive services in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. This presidential lie is tragically just one more in an unprecedented string of flat-out falsehoods, reaching back to Obama's campaign promise to "clean up both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue" with "the most sweeping ethics reform in history." He repeatedly declared then that "an Obama administration is going to have the toughest ethics laws of any administration in history." Really? For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Chuck Norris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Chuck Norris The story goes that after New Times magazine labeled Virginia Sen. William L. Scott the country's "dumbest" congressman in 1974, he confirmed this judgment by calling a press conference to deny it. Is Rep. Joe Sestak in the same league? After one of Pat Toomey's ads accused Sestak of voting "100 percent" with Nancy Pelosi, Sestak howled that this was a lie. He voted with her 97 percent of the time. Hmmm. Sestak displayed the same unwise litigiousness after a group called the Emergency Committee for Israel ran ads calling attention to his poor record on support for Israel. Sestak's lawyers contacted Comcast and insisted that the ads be pulled. In so doing, he has invited closer examination of his record. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100719Charen.mp3 EB061AD1-4A8C-42D2-8765-80B2B8722698 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:29:00 -0400 The story goes that after New Times magazine labeled Virginia Sen. William L. Scott the country's "dumbest" congressman in 1974, he confirmed this judgment by calling a press conference to deny it. The story goes that after New Times magazine labeled Virginia Sen. William L. Scott the country's "dumbest" congressman in 1974, he confirmed this judgment by calling a press conference to deny it. Is Rep. Joe Sestak in the same league? After one of Pat Toomey's ads accused Sestak of voting "100 percent" with Nancy Pelosi, Sestak howled that this was a lie. He voted with her 97 percent of the time. Hmmm. Sestak displayed the same unwise litigiousness after a group called the Emergency Committee for Israel ran ads calling attention to his poor record on support for Israel. Sestak's lawyers contacted Comcast and insisted that the ads be pulled. In so doing, he has invited closer examination of his record. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen I am continually mystified by conservatives who urge Republicans to pick their battles against Obama out of fear we'll compromise our effectiveness if we oppose him every time he needs to be opposed. What a defeatist mindset! For instance, some I respect recommend against Republican efforts to repeal the Democrats' financial "overhaul" bill. They laud the effort but believe it will reduce the likelihood of their repealing Obamacare. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100719Limbaugh.mp3 0B55A87D-409D-4C88-9E90-272265C10C00 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:27:51 -0400 I am continually mystified by conservatives who urge Republicans to pick their battles against Obama out of fear we'll compromise our effectiveness if we oppose him every time he needs to be opposed. I am continually mystified by conservatives who urge Republicans to pick their battles against Obama out of fear we'll compromise our effectiveness if we oppose him every time he needs to be opposed. What a defeatist mindset! For instance, some I respect recommend against Republican efforts to repeal the Democrats' financial "overhaul" bill. They laud the effort but believe it will reduce the likelihood of their repealing Obamacare. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Limbaugh SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA -- Australia is the rare major economic power that, under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, avoided a recession in 2009. The unemployment rate here is 5.1 percent. Yet the reigning Labor government is as fearful as Washington Democrats -- with a national unemployment rate of 9.5 percent -- of losing big in the next election. Last month, Labor biggies, desperate over polls that showed their party losing in the next election, sacked Rudd and replaced him with Deputy PM Julia Gillard. Saturday, Gillard called an election for August 21. Polls show Labor with an edge, but it's not clear that the leadership switcheroo can save the left. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100719Saunders.mp3 8EEAD33D-FB37-4EFA-A665-20A8F63E0B1D Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:26:12 -0400 SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA -- Australia is the rare major economic power that, under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, avoided a recession in 2009. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA -- Australia is the rare major economic power that, under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, avoided a recession in 2009. The unemployment rate here is 5.1 percent. Yet the reigning Labor government is as fearful as Washington Democrats -- with a national unemployment rate of 9.5 percent -- of losing big in the next election. Last month, Labor biggies, desperate over polls that showed their party losing in the next election, sacked Rudd and replaced him with Deputy PM Julia Gillard. Saturday, Gillard called an election for August 21. Polls show Labor with an edge, but it's not clear that the leadership switcheroo can save the left. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Debra J. Saunders editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Debra J. Saunders When Barack Obama was elected president of the United States, every prominent conservative I know was unhappy that a left-wing Democrat had been elected, but was very happy that a black had won. Among conservatives, the general thinking was that it was good for America, good for blacks, and good for the world to see that America -- so often, in the conservative view -- unfairly criticized as racist, could and did elect a black man as president. The conservative position has for decades been that the Left's criticism of America as a racist country with "systemic" racism was a calumny. We conservatives did not merely believe, we knew that America had become the least racist country in the world. That is why, among many other indicators, more blacks have emigrated from Africa to America than came here as slaves (New York Times, Feb. 21, 2005). Apparently, these Africans did not believe the lie about America's racism. They came here for liberty and opportunity and got both. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100719Prager.mp3 EAAFACA1-8CC0-4C78-B3FD-01088BC95EE7 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:24:43 -0400 When Barack Obama was elected president of the United States, every prominent conservative I know was unhappy that a left-wing Democrat had been elected, but was very happy that a black had won. When Barack Obama was elected president of the United States, every prominent conservative I know was unhappy that a left-wing Democrat had been elected, but was very happy that a black had won. Among conservatives, the general thinking was that it was good for America, good for blacks, and good for the world to see that America -- so often, in the conservative view -- unfairly criticized as racist, could and did elect a black man as president. The conservative position has for decades been that the Left's criticism of America as a racist country with "systemic" racism was a calumny. We conservatives did not merely believe, we knew that America had become the least racist country in the world. That is why, among many other indicators, more blacks have emigrated from Africa to America than came here as slaves (New York Times, Feb. 21, 2005). Apparently, these Africans did not believe the lie about America's racism. They came here for liberty and opportunity and got both. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dennis Prager editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dennis Prager Over the last eight years, most Democratic politicians have made a distinction between The Good War (Afghanistan) and The Bad War (Iraq). That very much includes Barack Obama. As an Illinois state senator, he spoke out against military action in Iraq in 2002. And as a U.S. senator at a September 2007 hearing, he offered a blisteringly negative assessment of Iraq so lengthy that it left no time for Gen. David Petraeus to reply. But he has always said he supported military action in Afghanistan as a valid response to the Sept. 11 attacks that were planned there. So it is a little surprising to see in the results of this month's ABC/Washington Post poll that most American voters are not making the Good War/Bad War distinction. Has the war in Afghanistan contributed to the long-term security of the United States? Some 53 percent say it has, while 44 percent say it hasn't. Has the war in Iraq contributed to the long-term security of the United States? Some 50 percent say it has, while 48 percent say it hasn't. Those are virtually identical numbers. It seems that about half of Americans think both were Good Wars and about half consider them both Bad Wars. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100716Barone.mp3 9132A235-3AF9-4DA0-915D-60B3C3F538D9 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:45:14 -0400 Over the last eight years, most Democratic politicians have made Over the last eight years, most Democratic politicians have made a distinction between The Good War (Afghanistan) and The Bad War (Iraq). That very much includes Barack Obama. As an Illinois state senator, he spoke out against military action in Iraq in 2002. And as a U.S. senator at a September 2007 hearing, he offered a blisteringly negative assessment of Iraq so lengthy that it left no time for Gen. David Petraeus to reply. But he has always said he supported military action in Afghanistan as a valid response to the Sept. 11 attacks that were planned there. So it is a little surprising to see in the results of this month's ABC/Washington Post poll that most American voters are not making the Good War/Bad War distinction. Has the war in Afghanistan contributed to the long-term security of the United States? Some 53 percent say it has, while 44 percent say it hasn't. Has the war in Iraq contributed to the long-term security of the United States? Some 50 percent say it has, while 48 percent say it hasn't. Those are virtually identical numbers. It seems that about half of Americans think both were Good Wars and about half consider them both Bad Wars. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone If a job not worth doing is going to be done anyway, better for it to be done well than badly. So the Transportation Security Administration deserves credit for its Secure Flight program, aimed at curbing mistakes on its no-fly list. The American Civil Liberties Union, likewise, warrants praise for suing on behalf of travelers who were wrongly snared. But there is a better option that would eliminate this problem, as well as others: Get rid of the no-fly list entirely. For that matter, get rid of the requirement that passengers provide government-approved identification just to go from one place to another. Americans have a constitutionally protected right, recognized by the Supreme Court, to travel freely. They also have the right not to be subject to unreasonable searches and other government intrusions. But in the blind pursuit of safety, we have swallowed restrictions on travel and infringements on privacy we would never tolerate elsewhere. The no-fly list is a punishment in search of a crime. As Richard Sobel, a director of the Cyber Privacy Project and a scholar at Northwestern University, points out, it inflicts a penalty without a trial or any other form of due process. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100716Chapman.mp3 132D1532-C2DD-44FB-A064-170A38783AEF Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:44:21 -0400 If a job not worth doing is going to be done anyway, better for it to be done well than badly. If a job not worth doing is going to be done anyway, better for it to be done well than badly. So the Transportation Security Administration deserves credit for its Secure Flight program, aimed at curbing mistakes on its no-fly list. The American Civil Liberties Union, likewise, warrants praise for suing on behalf of travelers who were wrongly snared. But there is a better option that would eliminate this problem, as well as others: Get rid of the no-fly list entirely. For that matter, get rid of the requirement that passengers provide government-approved identification just to go from one place to another. Americans have a constitutionally protected right, recognized by the Supreme Court, to travel freely. They also have the right not to be subject to unreasonable searches and other government intrusions. But in the blind pursuit of safety, we have swallowed restrictions on travel and infringements on privacy we would never tolerate elsewhere. The no-fly list is a punishment in search of a crime. As Richard Sobel, a director of the Cyber Privacy Project and a scholar at Northwestern University, points out, it inflicts a penalty without a trial or any other form of due process. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman When President Obama picked former Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar as his Interior Secretary last year, the Coloradan donned a 10-gallon hat and dubbed himself "the new sheriff in town." But Cowboy Ken is the one who needs to be run out on a rail. In his continued quest to shut down offshore drilling, Salazar has run roughshod over scientific integrity, transparency and the Gulf Coast economy. Two federal courts have batted down the White House-approved, Salazar-directed drilling moratorium. Outraged scientists -- appointed by the Obama administration, mind you -- blasted Salazar for doctoring their work and contradicting their conclusions to bolster his manufactured case for the sweeping six-month ban. Undaunted, Salazar conjured up a "revised" moratorium rubber-stamped by oil spill czar Michael Bromwich, who sheepishly admitted that the new ban was "roughly congruent with the original moratorium." The sham changes would permit some drilling rigs to restart operations -- but only under onerous fantasyland testing conditions that industry leaders say would be virtually impossible to meet. In short, Salazar's "new" moratorium is a lot like Salazar himself: all hat, no cattle. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100715Malkin.mp3 7C001C42-5D29-43BC-B5F3-F3FE2A4A8038 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:14:42 -0400 When President Obama picked former Democratic Sen. When President Obama picked former Democratic Sen. Ken Salazar as his Interior Secretary last year, the Coloradan donned a 10-gallon hat and dubbed himself "the new sheriff in town." But Cowboy Ken is the one who needs to be run out on a rail. In his continued quest to shut down offshore drilling, Salazar has run roughshod over scientific integrity, transparency and the Gulf Coast economy. Two federal courts have batted down the White House-approved, Salazar-directed drilling moratorium. Outraged scientists -- appointed by the Obama administration, mind you -- blasted Salazar for doctoring their work and contradicting their conclusions to bolster his manufactured case for the sweeping six-month ban. Undaunted, Salazar conjured up a "revised" moratorium rubber-stamped by oil spill czar Michael Bromwich, who sheepishly admitted that the new ban was "roughly congruent with the original moratorium." The sham changes would permit some drilling rigs to restart operations -- but only under onerous fantasyland testing conditions that industry leaders say would be virtually impossible to meet. In short, Salazar's "new" moratorium is a lot like Salazar himself: all hat, no cattle. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin With a bad-blood, confidence-destroying battle royale going on between Team Obama and business, you would think a highly publicized White House jobs summit would have produced some kind of positive announcement that gives a nod to the business point of view. After all, as part of his so-called "business charm offensive," the president is arguing that "it's the private sector that has always been the source of our job creation, our economic growth and our prosperity; and it's our businesses and workers who will take the reins of this recovery and lead us forward." He also says "the free market depends on a government that sets clear rules that ensure fair and honest competition," and that "too much regulation or too much spending can stifle innovation, can hamper confidence and growth, and hurt business and families." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100715Kudlow.mp3 0EE1F9B1-2996-4BE0-89F3-13E1F5FE574A Thu, 15 Jul 2010 23:13:46 -0400 While President Barack Obama golfs his way through the Gulf Coast's oil-drenched environmental calamity, another crisis is looming across the Potomac. With a bad-blood, confidence-destroying battle royale going on between Team Obama and business, you would think a highly publicized White House jobs summit would have produced some kind of positive announcement that gives a nod to the business point of view. After all, as part of his so-called "business charm offensive," the president is arguing that "it's the private sector that has always been the source of our job creation, our economic growth and our prosperity; and it's our businesses and workers who will take the reins of this recovery and lead us forward." He also says "the free market depends on a government that sets clear rules that ensure fair and honest competition," and that "too much regulation or too much spending can stifle innovation, can hamper confidence and growth, and hurt business and families." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Larry Kudlow editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Larry Kudlow While President Barack Obama golfs his way through the Gulf Coast's oil-drenched environmental calamity, another crisis is looming across the Potomac. America's military, in harm's way in a two-front war, is about to get staggered by a double whammy below the belt. Unfortunately for those who wear our nation's uniform, the commander in chief and his cronies in Congress are throwing the punches. The first blow will land in the next two weeks unless Harry Reid's Senate and Nancy Pelosi's House of Representatives can get their acts together to pass a supplemental appropriations bill to fund combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In May, while proselytizing for homosexuals in our military, Defense Secretary Robert Gates gently reminded the congressional Armed Services committees that he needed the appropriation by Memorial Day. They ignored him. Last month, he went again and told them the funds had to be approved before the Independence Day recess or the Pentagon would have to start doing "stupid things" -- such as shifting funds within the overall Defense Department budget just to keep the troops in the field supplied with beans, bullets and bandages. Once again, Congress -- taking its cue from Obama's virtual silence on the matter -- did nothing. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100715North.mp3 4942BBAA-6781-43F3-BF62-6104D994318D Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:19:05 -0400 While President Barack Obama golfs his way through the Gulf Coast's oil-drenched environmental calamity, another crisis is looming across the Potomac. While President Barack Obama golfs his way through the Gulf Coast's oil-drenched environmental calamity, another crisis is looming across the Potomac. America's military, in harm's way in a two-front war, is about to get staggered by a double whammy below the belt. Unfortunately for those who wear our nation's uniform, the commander in chief and his cronies in Congress are throwing the punches. The first blow will land in the next two weeks unless Harry Reid's Senate and Nancy Pelosi's House of Representatives can get their acts together to pass a supplemental appropriations bill to fund combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In May, while proselytizing for homosexuals in our military, Defense Secretary Robert Gates gently reminded the congressional Armed Services committees that he needed the appropriation by Memorial Day. They ignored him. Last month, he went again and told them the funds had to be approved before the Independence Day recess or the Pentagon would have to start doing "stupid things" -- such as shifting funds within the overall Defense Department budget just to keep the troops in the field supplied with beans, bullets and bandages. Once again, Congress -- taking its cue from Obama's virtual silence on the matter -- did nothing. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Oliver North editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Oliver North Anytime Congress passes a 2,300-page law that creates more than 500 new regulations and sets up a new, complicated bureaucracy, we should be nervous. And the major financial overhaul that has cleared the final hurdles in the Senate proves the rule. The legislation -- the brainchild of Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. -- is the biggest overhaul of the nation's financial industry since the 1930s. Its Democratic supporters claim it was necessary to prevent another economic meltdown like the one we suffered in 2008. But no one knows whether it will do any such thing. Even Dodd acknowledged this week, "(Americans) don't ask for perfection. They know we have not solved every problem and that we are not going to bring back their homes and their jobs; but they expect us to respond to the situation that brought us to the brink of financial disaster. This is our best effort to do so." The bill goes far beyond attempting to regulate the risky derivatives market that led to the credit crisis in the fall of 2008, however. The bill literally touches every American who hopes to buy anything on credit in the future, dictates new capital standards for banks and other institutions, paves the way for new rules for selecting corporate boards of directors, and gives the government broad new powers to seize financial firms. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100715Chavez.mp3 664ADD0A-6C56-4EAB-912F-154F4FADB7DC Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:18:07 -0400 Anytime Congress passes a 2,300-page law that creates more than 500 new regulations and sets up a new, complicated bureaucracy, Anytime Congress passes a 2,300-page law that creates more than 500 new regulations and sets up a new, complicated bureaucracy, we should be nervous. And the major financial overhaul that has cleared the final hurdles in the Senate proves the rule. The legislation -- the brainchild of Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. -- is the biggest overhaul of the nation's financial industry since the 1930s. Its Democratic supporters claim it was necessary to prevent another economic meltdown like the one we suffered in 2008. But no one knows whether it will do any such thing. Even Dodd acknowledged this week, "(Americans) don't ask for perfection. They know we have not solved every problem and that we are not going to bring back their homes and their jobs; but they expect us to respond to the situation that brought us to the brink of financial disaster. This is our best effort to do so." The bill goes far beyond attempting to regulate the risky derivatives market that led to the credit crisis in the fall of 2008, however. The bill literally touches every American who hopes to buy anything on credit in the future, dictates new capital standards for banks and other institutions, paves the way for new rules for selecting corporate boards of directors, and gives the government broad new powers to seize financial firms. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Linda Chavez editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Linda Chavez The NAACP's decision to condemn "racist" elements within the tea party movement is about as surprising as the U.N. Human Rights Council voting to condemn Israel. Still, there's a difference. The U.N. Human Rights Council never had moral authority to lose. The NAACP did. The NAACP was formed on the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, in 1909, in a small New York apartment. "The Call" proclaimed the organization's mission: "If Mr. Lincoln could revisit this country in the flesh, he would be disheartened and discouraged. He would learn that on January 1, 1909, Georgia had rounded out a new confederacy by disfranchising the Negro, after the manner of all the other Southern States ... Added to this, the spread of lawless attacks upon the Negro, North, South and West -- even in the Springfield made famous by Lincoln -- often accompanied by revolting brutalities, sparing neither sex nor age nor youth, could but shock the author of the sentiment that 'government of the people, by the people, for the people; should not perish from the earth.'" From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100715Charen.mp3 000904C1-2698-41C6-8AD8-E2E76F806126 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:17:16 -0400 The NAACP's decision to condemn "racist" elements within the tea party movement is about as surprising as the U.N. Human Rights Council voting to condemn Israel. The NAACP's decision to condemn "racist" elements within the tea party movement is about as surprising as the U.N. Human Rights Council voting to condemn Israel. Still, there's a difference. The U.N. Human Rights Council never had moral authority to lose. The NAACP did. The NAACP was formed on the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, in 1909, in a small New York apartment. "The Call" proclaimed the organization's mission: "If Mr. Lincoln could revisit this country in the flesh, he would be disheartened and discouraged. He would learn that on January 1, 1909, Georgia had rounded out a new confederacy by disfranchising the Negro, after the manner of all the other Southern States ... Added to this, the spread of lawless attacks upon the Negro, North, South and West -- even in the Springfield made famous by Lincoln -- often accompanied by revolting brutalities, sparing neither sex nor age nor youth, could but shock the author of the sentiment that 'government of the people, by the people, for the people; should not perish from the earth.'" For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Mona Charen If nothing else, the state of Arizona has smoked out the Obama administration. To make the case that the Arizona immigration law conflicts with, and therefore is preempted by, federal law, the Justice Department has to make an extraordinary claim — that the federal laws as written don’t matter so much. Brought to you by OutloudOpinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/nro/20100714Lowry.mp3 F175C305-B469-47DE-9FDC-B2E8943C7B30 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:01:07 -0400 If nothing else, the state of Arizona has smoked out the Obama administration. If nothing else, the state of Arizona has smoked out the Obama administration. To make the case that the Arizona immigration law conflicts with, and therefore is preempted by, federal law, the Justice Department has to make an extraordinary claim — that the federal laws as written don’t matter so much. 5:00 Rich Lowry National Review, National Review Online, NRO, Rich Lowry, William F. Buckley, Jonah Goldberg, Mark Steyn, Kathryn Jean Lopez no no Rich Lowry America, we have a problem. Millions upon millions of people want to move here. Permanently. Even a country as prosperous as ours cannot possibly absorb so much humanity. As problems go, however, this is not a bad one to have. For the day that “huddled masses yearning to breathe free” no longer besiege America is the day we will have to admit that America has lost its “magic formula.” What is this formula? What makes America a beacon of freedom and limitless opportunity that draws people from every corner of the planet? Brought to you by OutloudOpinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/nro/20100714Ortega.mp3 1C42E87B-0096-43E2-8433-2FBA52517C88 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 09:59:59 -0400 America, we have a problem. Millions upon millions of people want to move here. Permanently. America, we have a problem. Millions upon millions of people want to move here. Permanently. Even a country as prosperous as ours cannot possibly absorb so much humanity. As problems go, however, this is not a bad one to have. For the day that “huddled masses yearning to breathe free” no longer besiege America is the day we will have to admit that America has lost its “magic formula.” What is this formula? What makes America a beacon of freedom and limitless opportunity that draws people from every corner of the planet? 5:00 Israel Ortega National Review, National Review Online, NRO, Rich Lowry, William F. Buckley, Jonah Goldberg, Mark Steyn, Kathryn Jean Lopez no no Israel Ortega One of the interesting things about the Obama administration is the strange dominance of labor unions. Yes, Barack Obama and other Democratic leaders do owe the unions something: Unions gave $400 million to Democrats in the 2008 campaign cycle, and they expect to get something in return. What they haven't gotten out of the Democratic Congress is the thing they wanted most -- the card check bill that would effectively abolish the secret ballot in unionization elections. Unions now represent only 7 percent of private-sector workers, the lowest percentage since the early 1930s. Union leaders believe that with card check they could vastly increase their dues income. But the unions have gotten lots of other things, as Peyton R. Miller reports in The Weekly Standard. Obama has appointed as head of the National Labor Relations Board a former union lawyer who once wrote that the NLRB could institute something very much like card check without congressional action. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/201007014Barone.mp3 EFE9730D-381C-474E-B86E-0AABAC6CFA63 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:30:00 -0400 One of the interesting things about the Obama administration is the strange dominance of labor unions. One of the interesting things about the Obama administration is the strange dominance of labor unions. Yes, Barack Obama and other Democratic leaders do owe the unions something: Unions gave $400 million to Democrats in the 2008 campaign cycle, and they expect to get something in return. What they haven't gotten out of the Democratic Congress is the thing they wanted most -- the card check bill that would effectively abolish the secret ballot in unionization elections. Unions now represent only 7 percent of private-sector workers, the lowest percentage since the early 1930s. Union leaders believe that with card check they could vastly increase their dues income. But the unions have gotten lots of other things, as Peyton R. Miller reports in The Weekly Standard. Obama has appointed as head of the National Labor Relations Board a former union lawyer who once wrote that the NLRB could institute something very much like card check without congressional action. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michael Barone editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michael Barone Let me first do what some in this business fail to do: Reveal a potential conflict of interest and remind readers that I served as Newt Gingrich's political chairman before and while he was speaker of the House. I've known him 30 years. But those who follow this column, including Gingrich, have not always enjoyed my views on some of his words or actions. Newt knows I am an independent thinker, and while I'm not on his level of political genius, I might be a bit more in touch with the daily grind that faces most Americans every day. So what's my take on this week's disclosure from Newt that he might run for president in 2012? First comes an initial, perhaps superficial reaction: Mitt Romney seems more charismatic, better organized and hungrier for the job than any other potential 2012 candidate. Sarah Palin is attractive, also charismatic and an ambitious potential candidate. Even Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is not well known, has a lot of "curb appeal" as a young candidate on the rise. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/201007014Towery.mp3 C074144A-8090-4AAC-9DA6-3856DA6AFA34 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:28:54 -0400 So what's my take on this week's disclosure from Newt that he might run for president in 2012? Let me first do what some in this business fail to do: Reveal a potential conflict of interest and remind readers that I served as Newt Gingrich's political chairman before and while he was speaker of the House. I've known him 30 years. But those who follow this column, including Gingrich, have not always enjoyed my views on some of his words or actions. Newt knows I am an independent thinker, and while I'm not on his level of political genius, I might be a bit more in touch with the daily grind that faces most Americans every day. So what's my take on this week's disclosure from Newt that he might run for president in 2012? First comes an initial, perhaps superficial reaction: Mitt Romney seems more charismatic, better organized and hungrier for the job than any other potential 2012 candidate. Sarah Palin is attractive, also charismatic and an ambitious potential candidate. Even Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is not well known, has a lot of "curb appeal" as a young candidate on the rise. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Matt Towery editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Matt Towery When former NFL player Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan, Americans were more moved by it than by any other soldier's death in that war. There was intense interest, particularly in Phoenix, where he had played. But local TV stations dropped coverage of his memorial service as it was going on. Why? Because some of the speakers used bad words. His brother Richard, for example, said, "He's not with God. He's f---ing dead." It was an honest statement at a public event. But airing it could have cost a TV station a large fine from the Federal Communications Commission -- or even its license to broadcast. The FCC has a policy against vulgar language, even in brief, unscripted outbursts. So broadcasters who know what's good for them do their best to avoid it, no matter how newsworthy, appropriate or even revealing it may be. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/201007014Chapman.mp3 396BE52E-D2E3-4036-9038-1C67236F894D Wed, 14 Jul 2010 22:27:48 -0400 When former NFL player Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan, Americans were more moved by it than by any other soldier's death in that war. When former NFL player Pat Tillman was killed in Afghanistan, Americans were more moved by it than by any other soldier's death in that war. There was intense interest, particularly in Phoenix, where he had played. But local TV stations dropped coverage of his memorial service as it was going on. Why? Because some of the speakers used bad words. His brother Richard, for example, said, "He's not with God. He's f---ing dead." It was an honest statement at a public event. But airing it could have cost a TV station a large fine from the Federal Communications Commission -- or even its license to broadcast. The FCC has a policy against vulgar language, even in brief, unscripted outbursts. So broadcasters who know what's good for them do their best to avoid it, no matter how newsworthy, appropriate or even revealing it may be. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Steve Chapman editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Steve Chapman Abraham Lincoln: "I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence." Lincoln address in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Feb. 22, 1861: "That sentiment in the Declaration of Independence which gave liberty ... to the people of this country ... Now, my friends, can this country be saved upon that basis? ... if this country cannot be saved without giving up that principle, I was about to say I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100713Blankley.mp3 7BBFD030-C58E-42FF-8E54-11725A93C4E5 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:36:50 -0400 Abraham Lincoln: "I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence." Abraham Lincoln: "I have never had a feeling politically that did not spring from the sentiments embodied in the Declaration of Independence." Lincoln address in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Feb. 22, 1861: "That sentiment in the Declaration of Independence which gave liberty ... to the people of this country ... Now, my friends, can this country be saved upon that basis? ... if this country cannot be saved without giving up that principle, I was about to say I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Tony Blankley editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Tony Blankley Last week, a federal judge confounded both sides of the political spectrum by ruling that the 10th Amendment requires the federal government to recognize state-approved gay marriages. Progressives worried that U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro's reasoning cast doubt on the constitutionality of many existing federal programs, while conservatives worried that it required equal treatment of same-sex unions. Since I am one of the few Americans who welcome both of these outcomes, perhaps you should take my opinion with a grain of salt. But it seems to me that conservatives are engaging in the sort of result-oriented constitutional analysis they so often decry when they shrink from a consistent application of federalism because it lends support to a social trend they fear. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100713Sullum.mp3 85EC41EB-F0C6-4BDA-A209-99AA120DA6B5 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:35:34 -0400 Last week, a federal judge confounded both sides of the political spectrum by ruling that the 10th Amendment requires the federal government to recognize state-approved gay marriages. Last week, a federal judge confounded both sides of the political spectrum by ruling that the 10th Amendment requires the federal government to recognize state-approved gay marriages. Progressives worried that U.S. District Judge Joseph Tauro's reasoning cast doubt on the constitutionality of many existing federal programs, while conservatives worried that it required equal treatment of same-sex unions. Since I am one of the few Americans who welcome both of these outcomes, perhaps you should take my opinion with a grain of salt. But it seems to me that conservatives are engaging in the sort of result-oriented constitutional analysis they so often decry when they shrink from a consistent application of federalism because it lends support to a social trend they fear. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Jacob Sullum editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Jacob Sullum Before the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People decided to ride the anti-tea party wave back to political relevancy, its most recent activist crusade involved a silly space-themed Hallmark graduation card. Yes, the NAACP has been lost in space for quite some time now. And blaming whitey will no longer cut it. In June, the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP demanded that the greeting card be pulled because it used the term "black holes" (which the bionically equipped ears of the p.c. police insisted sounded like "black whores"). "It sounds like a group of children laughing and joking about blackness," one NAACP official complained. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100713Malkin.mp3 986E8198-918F-4E06-A136-AE1A8CDB4AB5 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:34:27 -0400 Before the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People decided to ride the anti-tea party wave back to political relevancy, its most recent activist crusade involved a silly space-themed Hallmark graduation card. Before the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People decided to ride the anti-tea party wave back to political relevancy, its most recent activist crusade involved a silly space-themed Hallmark graduation card. Yes, the NAACP has been lost in space for quite some time now. And blaming whitey will no longer cut it. In June, the Los Angeles chapter of the NAACP demanded that the greeting card be pulled because it used the term "black holes" (which the bionically equipped ears of the p.c. police insisted sounded like "black whores"). "It sounds like a group of children laughing and joking about blackness," one NAACP official complained. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Michelle Malkin editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Michelle Malkin Is "Toy Story 3" a parable for today's deep political discontent? Think about it. A slick sloganeering teddy bear convinces a gaggle of beleaguered toys that he holds the key to a brighter future. The toys, longing for leadership after years of broken promises and incompetence, uncritically submit to the teddy bear's vision. Before long, even non-Ivy Leaguers like Mr. Potato Head, Rex and Slinky catch on. All creeds of plaything are forced to sacrifice liberty and happiness for the collective good -- as imagined by a technocratic leader, his feckless vice-leader (a Ken doll) and their muscle (a giant baby doll). First there is concern and then anger and then revolt. Even Barbie -- having shown no interest in political activism for more than 50 years -- unleashes the best line in the history of animated films: "Authority should derive from the consent of the governed, not from the threat of force!" From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100713Harsanyi.mp3 36CF288B-277F-415F-9C4E-7F4E7DD8A193 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:32:16 -0400 Is "Toy Story 3" a parable for today's deep political discontent? Is "Toy Story 3" a parable for today's deep political discontent? Think about it. A slick sloganeering teddy bear convinces a gaggle of beleaguered toys that he holds the key to a brighter future. The toys, longing for leadership after years of broken promises and incompetence, uncritically submit to the teddy bear's vision. Before long, even non-Ivy Leaguers like Mr. Potato Head, Rex and Slinky catch on. All creeds of plaything are forced to sacrifice liberty and happiness for the collective good -- as imagined by a technocratic leader, his feckless vice-leader (a Ken doll) and their muscle (a giant baby doll). First there is concern and then anger and then revolt. Even Barbie -- having shown no interest in political activism for more than 50 years -- unleashes the best line in the history of animated films: "Authority should derive from the consent of the governed, not from the threat of force!" For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Harsanyi editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no David Harsanyi The Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1865 by racist whites seeking to fight against radical Republican efforts to reconstruct the South. The KKK targeted both blacks and white Republicans; they even targeted some Southern white Democrats who weren't sufficiently anti-black. The KKK's argument: Blacks, by their mere presence and attempts to participate in the political process, were destroying the dignity of the white South. The radical Republicans in Congress fought the KKK tooth and nail; in the early 1870s, they passed the Force Acts, designed to destroy the KKK once and for all. Those acts allowed the president to use the federal military to enforce the 15th Amendment. It nearly did the trick. Within a few years, the KKK had been virtually wiped out. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100713Shapiro.mp3 BEFFDB0D-FD23-4EE9-B3D3-BF057A2376C8 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:30:51 -0400 The Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1865 by racist whites seeking to fight against radical Republican efforts to reconstruct the South. The Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1865 by racist whites seeking to fight against radical Republican efforts to reconstruct the South. The KKK targeted both blacks and white Republicans; they even targeted some Southern white Democrats who weren't sufficiently anti-black. The KKK's argument: Blacks, by their mere presence and attempts to participate in the political process, were destroying the dignity of the white South. The radical Republicans in Congress fought the KKK tooth and nail; in the early 1870s, they passed the Force Acts, designed to destroy the KKK once and for all. Those acts allowed the president to use the federal military to enforce the 15th Amendment. It nearly did the trick. Within a few years, the KKK had been virtually wiped out. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Ben Shapiro editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Ben Shapiro Not since President Eisenhower sent troops to Little Rock and JFK sent U.S. marshals to the University of Alabama has the federal government seemed so at war with a state of the union. Arkansas and Alabama were defying U.S. court orders to desegregate. But Barack Obama's war on Arizona is not a war of necessity. It is a war of choice -- an unprovoked war, undertaken not to defend constitutional or civil rights, but to pander to his party's left and Hispanic voters. New Mexico's Gov. Bill Richardson, himself Hispanic, gave the game away. At the Boston governors conference, he assured colleagues, nervous over the administration attacks on Arizona's immigration law, that "Obama is popular with Hispanic voters, and this is going to be a popular move with them nationally." From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100712Buchanan.mp3 996ED3A9-DBBC-4ACA-AE5D-6DD52A8973CB Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:40:04 -0400 Not since President Eisenhower sent troops to Little Rock and JFK sent U.S. marshals to the University of Alabama has the federal government seemed so at war with a state of the union. Not since President Eisenhower sent troops to Little Rock and JFK sent U.S. marshals to the University of Alabama has the federal government seemed so at war with a state of the union. Arkansas and Alabama were defying U.S. court orders to desegregate. But Barack Obama's war on Arizona is not a war of necessity. It is a war of choice -- an unprovoked war, undertaken not to defend constitutional or civil rights, but to pander to his party's left and Hispanic voters. New Mexico's Gov. Bill Richardson, himself Hispanic, gave the game away. At the Boston governors conference, he assured colleagues, nervous over the administration attacks on Arizona's immigration law, that "Obama is popular with Hispanic voters, and this is going to be a popular move with them nationally." For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Patrick J. Buchanan editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Patrick J. Buchanan ASHEVILLE, NC -- Biltmore House, the extravagant mansion built by Cornelius Vanderbilt's grandson in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, makes the White House look like a gardener's cottage. George Washington Vanderbilt opened his new home -- the largest private residence in the U.S. -- in 1895 with what must have been a resplendent Christmas party. Guests dined in a medieval-themed banquet hall complete with thrones, flags, and ancient tapestries. A 40-foot Douglas fir Christmas tree completed the decorations. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100712Charen.mp3 A41F79D0-AE57-40D2-B986-42D68E80C783 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:36:51 -0400 ASHEVILLE, NC -- Biltmore House, the extravagant mansion built by Cornelius Vanderbilt's grandson in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, makes the White House look like a gardener's cottage. ASHEVILLE, NC -- Biltmore House, the extravagant mansion built by Cornelius Vanderbilt's grandson in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, makes the White House look like a gardener's cottage. George Washington Vanderbilt opened his new home -- the largest private residence in the U.S. -- in 1895 with what must have been a resplendent Christmas party. Guests dined in a medieval-themed banquet hall complete with thrones, flags, and ancient tapestries. A 40-foot Douglas fir Christmas tree completed the decorations. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Mona Charen editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dick Morris In the first three parts of this series, I showed how the Obama administration is distancing itself from the Boy Scouts of America because of the organization's conservative positions. Well, the White House just did it again. At the June 29 White House press briefing, press secretary Robert Gibbs was given another opportunity to show support for the BSA on behalf of the honorary president of the BSA, U.S. President Barack Obama. Ironically, once again Gibbs ducked and dodged questions about the White House's sentiment toward the BSA, by claiming ignorance of the BSA's recent legal victory against the Philadelphia City Council, which accused the BSA of violating the city's nondiscrimination policies (or of being anti-homosexual). From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100712Norris.mp3 35538027-45F6-4DB9-9A34-8B91EBF1CF38 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:35:34 -0400 In the first three parts of this series, I showed how the Obama administration is distancing itself from the Boy Scouts of America because of the organization's conservative positions. In the first three parts of this series, I showed how the Obama administration is distancing itself from the Boy Scouts of America because of the organization's conservative positions. Well, the White House just did it again. At the June 29 White House press briefing, press secretary Robert Gibbs was given another opportunity to show support for the BSA on behalf of the honorary president of the BSA, U.S. President Barack Obama. Ironically, once again Gibbs ducked and dodged questions about the White House's sentiment toward the BSA, by claiming ignorance of the BSA's recent legal victory against the Philadelphia City Council, which accused the BSA of violating the city's nondiscrimination policies (or of being anti-homosexual). For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Chuck Norris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dick Morris If every school principal gave this speech at the beginning of the next school year, America would be a better place. To the students and faculty of our high school: I am your new principal, and honored to be so. There is no greater calling than to teach young people. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100712Prager.mp3 701F5079-9F5A-4331-A86F-6C5D9CA0F071 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:34:34 -0400 If every school principal gave this speech at the beginning of the next school year, America would be a better place. If every school principal gave this speech at the beginning of the next school year, America would be a better place. To the students and faculty of our high school: I am your new principal, and honored to be so. There is no greater calling than to teach young people. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dennis Prager editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dick Morris Sadly, with President Obama, each day is crazier than the previous one. His latest economic speeches border on the surreal. I just can't quite figure out who he thinks his audience is because so much of what he says doesn't square with reality. In a speech Friday in Las Vegas, Obama painted quite a rosy portrait of his economic record to date -- at least rosy compared with what we've all experienced with our five senses. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100712Limbaugh.mp3 3CE3C12A-92DF-4E24-959A-E9A6A6F87D3C Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:33:29 -0400 Sadly, with President Obama, each day is crazier than the previous one. Sadly, with President Obama, each day is crazier than the previous one. His latest economic speeches border on the surreal. I just can't quite figure out who he thinks his audience is because so much of what he says doesn't square with reality. In a speech Friday in Las Vegas, Obama painted quite a rosy portrait of his economic record to date -- at least rosy compared with what we've all experienced with our five senses. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 David Limbaugh editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dick Morris If you could spend vast amounts of other people's money just by saying a few magic words, wouldn't you be tempted to do it? Barack Obama has spent hundreds of billions of dollars of the taxpayers' money just by using the magic words "stimulus" and "jobs." It doesn't matter politically that the stimulus is not actually stimulating and that the unemployment rate remains up near double-digit levels, despite all the spending and all the rhetoric about jobs. And of course nothing negative will ever matter to those who are part of the Obama cult, including many in the media. But, for the rest of us, there is a lot to think about in the economic disaster that we are in. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100712Sowell.mp3 D19D75BB-1309-40DC-9507-9F35D713A455 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:31:43 -0400 If you could spend vast amounts of other people's money just by saying a few magic words, wouldn't you be tempted to do it? If you could spend vast amounts of other people's money just by saying a few magic words, wouldn't you be tempted to do it? Barack Obama has spent hundreds of billions of dollars of the taxpayers' money just by using the magic words "stimulus" and "jobs." It doesn't matter politically that the stimulus is not actually stimulating and that the unemployment rate remains up near double-digit levels, despite all the spending and all the rhetoric about jobs. And of course nothing negative will ever matter to those who are part of the Obama cult, including many in the media. But, for the rest of us, there is a lot to think about in the economic disaster that we are in. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Thomas Sowell editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dick Morris The increasing consensus that we are entering a "double dip" recession is seeping into the conventional wisdom, posing a further obstacle to Obama's attempts to keep control of Congress. Even when the conventional wisdom was that the economy was slowly emerging from recession, the president was having his problems keeping Congress. But now that all indicators -- from employment to housing to consumer confidence to the Dow ---are trending downward, the task is likely to become even harder. The days are fading when George W. Bush could be blamed for the economic problems we are facing as a nation. The passage of time and, interestingly, the very perception that things had been getting better earlier in the year both make this second dip the Obama dip rather than just a continuation of the "Bush recession." The facts are that we have likely never emerged from the recession at all. The Economic Conference Board has not yet declared the recession over, since so much (or even all) of the anemic but still somewhat positive growth recorded in the past three quarters stems directly from public sector cash transfer payments. These transfusions may mask the symptoms of recession, but they are no indication of emerging prosperity. We are now coping with the damage not of the original recession that started in 2007, but with the cures administered by Obama when he took office in 2009. His big spending, big borrowing and his looming tax increases in 2011 are driving the economy down. From OutloudOpinion - For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com http://media.blubrry.com/outloudopinion/traffic.libsyn.com/outloudopinion/20100709Morris.mp3 4DC678FD-E53A-4161-8A06-3358A96A7A08 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:46:16 -0400 The increasing consensus that we are entering a "double dip" recession is seeping into the conventional wisdom, The increasing consensus that we are entering a "double dip" recession is seeping into the conventional wisdom, posing a further obstacle to Obama's attempts to keep control of Congress. Even when the conventional wisdom was that the economy was slowly emerging from recession, the president was having his problems keeping Congress. But now that all indicators -- from employment to housing to consumer confidence to the Dow ---are trending downward, the task is likely to become even harder. The days are fading when George W. Bush could be blamed for the economic problems we are facing as a nation. The passage of time and, interestingly, the very perception that things had been getting better earlier in the year both make this second dip the Obama dip rather than just a continuation of the "Bush recession." The facts are that we have likely never emerged from the recession at all. The Economic Conference Board has not yet declared the recession over, since so much (or even all) of the anemic but still somewhat positive growth recorded in the past three quarters stems directly from public sector cash transfer payments. These transfusions may mask the symptoms of recession, but they are no indication of emerging prosperity. We are now coping with the damage not of the original recession that started in 2007, but with the cures administered by Obama when he took office in 2009. His big spending, big borrowing and his looming tax increases in 2011 are driving the economy down. For Podcasts of IBDeditorials, The New Republic, and Over 30 Syndicated Columnists, go to www.outloudopinion.com 5:00 Dick Morris editorial, opinion, politics, society, culture, OutloudOpinion, OutloudOpinion.com no no Dick Morris Home mortgage interest rates are the lowest in history, but house sales are plunging. Banks can make money easily because of the Federal Reserve's low interest rates, but they're not making many loans. Major corporations are sitting on something like $2 trillion in cash, but they're not investing. Unemployment is running at 10 percent, rounded off, for the 11th straight month, but few employers are hiring and a million people have stopped looking for work in the last year. Small-business hiring is at a nine-month low, and retail sales are tailing off. Government policies designed to stimulate the economy seem to be having the opposite effect. Consumers aren't buying, businesses aren'