John Kerry advocates talking with the enemy: again

The New Neo Posted on by

John Kerry has a piece in today’s Washington Post that champions Obama’s policy of talking to any and all comers, friend and foe alike.

It’s full of Kerry’s overheated and outraged rhetoric towards the opposition. Bush’s mention of appeasement in his Knesset speech was “slander” towards Obama (even though he didn’t mention his name), and “toxic rhetoric” as well. I’m surprised Kerry didn’t label it “swiftboating,” but perhaps he’d like us to forget that particular episode in his own past.

Of course, there are other even more relevant episodes in Kerry’s past that he’d like us to forget, although he once seemed quite proud of them. I refer to his own talks with the enemy—this time, an enemy in a hot and ongoing war: Vietnam. Continue reading →

The networking Valley Boy (Silicon, that is): how Obama raised his money

The New Neo Posted on by

Every time I’ve read that Obama has been one of the largest political fundraisers of all time, I’ve wondered how he did it. Here’s the answer.

He did it by innovative networking-type fundraising among computer-savvy people who were excited by the newness and youth of his candidacy. Google and Facebook and You Tube were started by the very young, and they’re wildly successful. Why not a president who understands such things and isn’t hampered by too much prior experience? Experience just hobbles the mind. Who needs it—and who needs to know much about history? Not Obama.

Here’s the flavor of his appeal: Continue reading →

Obamaphiles: well, nobody’s perfect

The New Neo Posted on by

I have a friend who isn’t ordinarily very political. But from the start she’s been taken with Obama, and supported him enough to do some canvassing for him during the primaries—the first time in her long life that she’s actually worked for any candidate. She’s a highly intelligent, not-too-far-to-the-left Democrat, and even a practical and rather cynical sort. And so it stunned me to see that certain light in her eyes—the light of a quasi-religious belief—when she spoke of her admiration for the man.

She and I have learned over time not to talk about politics too much. But after the Wright revelations, I decided to ask her a brief question or two, because I was so intensely curious to hear her reaction. Continue reading →

Tough talk about—talking

The New Neo Posted on by

Charles Krauthammer charts the shifting sands of Obama’s changing desire to talk to Iran, without preconditions and/or with.

The responses in the comments section of his piece break down in the usual fashion. Supporters write, “You tell ’em, brother!” Haters excoriate the slimy neocon Jew.

But a goodly number of the commenters harp on an old theme, which is that anyone who opposes or criticizes Obama and does not believe we should be talking to Iran sans conditions is motivated by, of all things, fear. Continue reading →

More on the Karsenty win

The New Neo Posted on by

Richard Landes has a roundup.

And here, Karsenty adds that if France2 and Enderlin continue to assert their innocence, that “we will have victims of terror attacks that directly resulted from the [al-Dura] footage sue France 2.”

Good. I’d like to see some accountability for the purposeful (cameraman Talal) and/or the recklessly negligent (newsman Enderlin) promulgation of lies.

Remember that this suit was started by France2 and Enderlin, in an effort to clear their names. Now, as with the case of David Irving, their hubris may come back to haunt them.

And wouldn’t it be nice if this case could get the publicity the original footage of al Durah did?

Obama: too intelligent and too weak

The New Neo Posted on by

I added a link to the NY Times op-ed article by Nathan Thrall and Jesse James Wilkins entitled “Kennedy Talked, Khrushchev Triumphed” as an addendum to the previous post. But it’s such a good piece that I’d like to highlight it still further.

Read it. Or perhaps “read it and weep,” if you think (as I do) that Obama has a good chance of actually becoming President.

Obama has approvingly cited Kennedy’s meeting with Khrushchev as a precedent for his own willingness to talk with tyrants and enemies. But what actually happened there? Continue reading →

Advice to Obama: it’s the context, stupid

The New Neo Posted on by

Karl Rove has some advice for Obama: not all “talks” are created equal.

No doubt Obama’s supporters see his wild whiplashing on whether or not to talk with Iran, and under what conditions such talks might be held, as evidence of his highly nuanced and complex approach to things. Or perhaps they just don’t care to analyze it, because by definition He Who Cannot Be Criticized is always right.

But the rest of us see Obama’s words on the subject as further indication of his fogginess of both mind and will.

Actually, I take the latter word back: Obama’s will seems clear enough. For his entire public life, his thrust has been to become President rather than to actually accomplish anything along the way. Continue reading →

American Idol: the Davids

The New Neo Posted on by

Okay, so I watch “American Idol.” So sue me.

I see it as a brief weekly escape from our drab, wretched lives, a la Michelle Obama. I see it as a continuing soap opera with music, although the sort of pop stuff the contestants tend to sing is not what I usually like to listen to—with the exception of Jason Castro, who sang one by Leonard Cohen (sigh) and one by Bob Dylan.

Last night’s final featured the Two Davids, Cook and Archuleta, both very telegenic and personable young men. Hey, if I were sixteen, I’d give either of them a run for their money, although I think I’d favor Cook, who’s got more of an edge.

Archuleta has no edge at all. Continue reading →

The changing face of the Democratic Party

The New Neo Posted on by

I’ve often stated that I used to be a Democrat, but no more. Now I belong to neither party, and I don’t think I ever will again, except perhaps for strategic registration before a primary.

I sometimes wonder how someone like Joe Lieberman does it, though. How does he stay affiliated with a party that has moved so far away from him, a party in which he now appears to be so very alone? Continue reading →