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 →

Oregon: Maybe it’s the weather

The New Neo Posted on by

Quote of the day:

Oregonians seem to like the cool, cerebral type,” Oregon pollster Tim Hibbitts said. “They liked Harding. They liked McCarthy. They liked McGovern. They seem to like that kind of Democrat. And, without putting an ideological implication on it, I think that Obama stylistically appeals to Oregonians.”

Obama’s ignorance: this is getting scary

The New Neo Posted on by

I used to think it might be a good thing for Obama to continue to make egregious errors. It would allow people to see his feet of clay and to understand the dangers of his naive and uninformed views.

But, as he’s made goof after goof and none of his myriad supporters—including his enablers in the MSM—seem to notice or care, it’s become more frightening. Now I’m hoping he smartens up, but fast—especially if he wins the election.

So I’m offering the following in the spirit of helpfulness—sort of. Continue reading →

No Sanity Squad tonight

The New Neo Posted on by

You may have noticed that my highly-esteemed Sanity Squad colleague and good friend Dr. Sanity is taking a break from blogging and podcasting. I understand how difficult it is to keep up the pace, and how important it can be to recharge the batteries. I wish her well, and hope she returns soon.

So right now the Squad is in the midst of deciding whether to take a break from our podcasts, as well. No podcast tonight, however.

Obama: don’t know much about history, but I know what I like

The New Neo Posted on by

I have long lamented the decline of the teaching of history and of critical thinking. One can be a highly intelligent intellectual today and know almost nothing about either.

This is where it’s led us. A Democratic nominee this ignorant, and a populace who can’t tell the difference.

Obama is the least qualified serious contender for the Presidency from either party that I can recall in my lifetime. And that includes Ross Perot.

Now, here’s a novel idea for legislators: how about some domestic oil development?

The New Neo Posted on by

Last week a proposal to lift the moratorium on shale oil extraction was narrowly defeated in a Senate committee. The vote was along strictly party lines, Republicans for lifting the ban and Democrats against. What a surprise.

All of this despite the fact that everyone pays lip service to the idea that we need to get closer to that dream of energy independence. And this despite the fact that oil prices have gone through the roof and then some, raising the motivation (and cost-effectiveness) of developing our own reserves.

Many people have come to distrust oil companies, and think everything they do is suspect and perhaps even evil. And many people—especially of the Democrat persuasion—would like nothing better than to for us to go back to some golden age of low energy needs, although how this would happen without a huge culling of the present population I can’t quite imagine. Short of that, they would prefer us to do without oil entirely, to develop alternative energy sources that are clean and have the blessing of environmentalists, although none of these promise to be any more than slight adjuncts to the task of meeting our current and future energy demands (and why alternative energy companies, if successful, would be any less profit-motivated or venal in the end than the oil companies are perceived to be is anybody’s guess. Maybe because they’d be run by Democrats? [/sarcasm]) Continue reading →