Daily Commentary – Friday, February 10th, 2011 – Is Textspeak Invading Real Life?

P reports that people are starting to introduce text and twitter abbreviations into common speech.

 Daily Commentary – Friday, February 10th, 2011 – Is Textspeak Invading Real Life? [2:33m]:  | Download

Newt Gingrich Calls Obama Administration “Weak” and “Amateurs In Foreign Policy”

YIKES!!!

Former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich comments on the Obama Administration otherwise known as the ”Gang that Couldn’t Shoot Straight”. Gingrich said, “If We End Up With an Islamist Regime in Egypt, It Will Be Catastrophic”. Egypt on the verge of exploding, the Middle East anxiously watching and we have rank amateurs in office residing over US foreign policy.

Gingrich said:

“This is the most incompetent performance (by the Obama administration) since Jimmy Carter presided over the collapse of the American Alliance in Iran in 1978-79.”

“People will realize that this is a very weak government led by a group of amateurs in foreign policy.”

Remember when Joe Biden said that Obama was not ready to be President during the 2008 campaign … “the job does not lend itself to on the job training” (VIDEO).

From Mediaite, CIA Director Leon Panetta testified to Congress today of a “strong likelihood” that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would step down based on media reports. WHAT!!! A CIA director based his comments on media reports and not intelligence. UNREAL!

The worse part isn’t that Panetta was basing his statement on on media reports (and not intelligence.) No, National Intelligence Director James Clapper outdid Panetta with his erroneous claim that the Muslim Brotherhood is a “secular” organization.

More from the NY Times:

American officials said Mr. Panetta was basing his statement not on secret intelligence but on media broadcasts, which began circulating before he sat down before the House Intelligence Committee. But a senior administration official said Mr. Obama had also expected that Egypt was on the cusp of dramatic change. Speaking at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, he said, “We are witnessing history unfold,” adding, “America will do everything we can to support an orderly and genuine transition to democracy.”

Daily Commentary – Friday, February 11th, 2011 – Why Do People Want to Hear About Lindsay Lohan?

Daily Commentary – Friday, February 11th, 2011 – Why Do People Want to Hear About Lindsay Lohan? [1:41m]:  | Download

Joe Biden’s Latest Huh Moment … “They’re Going to Own Our Kids” Without High-Speed Rail

 As reported at the Washington Post, VP Joe Biden said the following regarding the need for high-speed trains, “… they’re gonna own our kids.” Huh? So high-speed trains are what our future depends on? Is Biden nuts? Newsflash to Biden … it is our out of control national debt that will have our kids owned.

Speaking about the need for high-speed rail, Vice President Joe Biden commented that, “If we don’t get a grip, folks, they’ll not only be teaching us, they’re gonna own our kids.”

What?

If I’d known that all it required to own someone’s kids was to discourage him from supporting high-speed rail, I would be beating Angelina Jolie right now in the people’s-kids-owning-game.

HE SAID WHAT!!! Director of National Intelligence James Clapper Says Muslim Brotherhood “Largely Secular”…

HE SAID WHAT!!!

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said what!!! DNI James Clapper said earlier today during a House Intelligence Committee hearing that the Muslim Brotherhood movement was “Largely Secular”. WHAT!!! Are you serious? An organization who’s belief is … “Allah is our objective; the Quran is our constitution, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations.”THIS IS A SECULAR GROUP?  Is anyone in the Obama Administration capable of telling the truth or having a clue? More at the Jawa Report of the so-called secular Brotherhood.

Video Hat Tip: Weasel Zippers via RCP

During a House Intelligence Committee hearing Thursday, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper called Egypt’s branch of the Muslim Brotherhood movement “largely secular.”

In response to questioning from Rep. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) about the threat posed by the group, Clapper suggested that the Egyptian part of the Brotherhood is not particularly extreme and that the broader international movement is hard to generalize about.

“The term ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ . . . is an umbrella term for a variety of movements, in the case of Egypt, a very heterogeneous group, largely secular, which has eschewed violence and has decried Al Qaeda as a perversion of Islam,” Clapper said. “They have pursued social ends, a betterment of the political order in Egypt, et cetera. . . . In other countries, there are also chapters or franchises of the Muslim Brotherhood, but there is no overarching agenda, particularly in pursuit of violence, at least internationally.”

The Brotherhood uses the slogan, “Islam is the answer,” and generally advocates for government in accordance with Islamic principles. The movement has as a broad goal unifying what it perceives as Muslim lands, from Spain to Indonesia, as a “caliphate.”

As stated by Andrew C. McCarthy at The Corner … “There’s Willful Blindness, and Then There’s Willful Stupidity”.  These people are protecting us?

This stupidity comes from the same man who had no idea that there were terrorist arrests in England during an ABC interview on the very day the arrests took place. Of course Clapper is only Obama’s Director of National Intelligence. How frightening is this Administration in the protection of the United States?

Obamanomics meets Obamacare: CBO Director says that Obamacare would Reduce Employment by 800,000 Workers … JOBS, JOBS, JOBS

So much for Obama focusing on jobs like a laser.  Barack Obama claims that his main focus will be jobs. Of course he said the same thing last year and the year before that. However, it appears that Obama’s signature legislation, Obamacare, will cost America jobs. CBO director says that Obamacare would reduce employment by 800,000 workers. Is there ever a moment when Obama is not trying to kill jobs?

Doug Elmendorf, Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director confirmed in a House Budget Committee that Obamacarewould kill 800K jobs. It is yet another false promise of Obamacare. Initially Obama promised that the government take over of health care would lower costs and let people keep their own insurance. That was proved to be false.

Chairman [Paul] Ryan: “[I]t’s been argued…that the new health care law will create jobs and increase labor force participation. But if I recall from your analysis, it was quite the opposite. Is that not the case?”
Director [Douglas] Elmendorf : “Yes.”…

Rep. [John] Campbell: … First on health care, … you just mentioned that you believe — or that in your estimate, that the health care law would reduce the labor used in the economy by about 1/2 of 1 percent, given that, I believe you say, there’s 160 million full-time people working in ’20-’21.  That means that, in your estimation, the health care law would reduce employment by 800,000 in ’20-’21. Is that correct?
Director Elmendorf: Yes. The way I would put it is that we do estimate, as you said, that…employment will be about 160 million by the end of the decade.  Half a percent of that is 800,000.

Is it any wonder why the people want to repeal Obamacare?

Senator John Kyle (AZ-R) Announced He Will Retire after Term is Over in 2013

Republican US Senator John Kyle announced today that he will not run again and will retire when his current term is over in 2013. Kyle, the number 2 Republican, Senate Minority Whip in the US Senate, stated that over the next 22 months he will be focused on his job, the issues and helping fellow Republicans get elected.

The Arizona lawmaker, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, is the fifth senator scheduled for re-election next year to announce a departure from Congress when the 113th convenes in 2013.

“This is the time to end my public service, in January 2013, and therefore, I will not seek reelection to the U.S. Senate,” said Kyl, who was speaking from Phoenix with his wife by his side.

He added it has been a “tremendous honor” to represent the people of Arizona, but “there comes a time when you have to consider other things.”

Just the other day, Virginia Democrat US Senator Jim Webb announced that he will not run in 2012. This represents a greater chance for a Democrat loss than Kyl’s retirement represents a Democrat win. The scramble is on for a Democrat candidate. Kyle in the fifth Senator not to run in 2012  joining Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Jim Webb (D-VA) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX).

Obviously, this is a blow to the GOP as Kyle would have been a solid hold in 2012, , Hot Air reports that Larry Sabato’s already downgraded the seat from solid Republican to leans Republican. As reported at The Hill, Democrats see an opportunity to winning the seat. Honestly, the Democrats are going to be so busy trying to defend their 23 seats in 2012 that it is  highly unlikely that the seat will flip to Democrats.

UPDATE I: Will Arizona Republican Rep. Jeff Flake run for the Senate? Seems like a perfectly good choice.

Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak Rumored to Step Down … Vice President Suleiman to take over as Transition Leader (Update: Or Not, Defiant Mubarak Refuses to Step Down for Now)

Rumors are abound … Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak Rumored to Step Down.

According to MSNBC, Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak is to step down and Vice President Suleiman to take over as leader in a transition process to elect a new leader. At this point who knows as all media outlets are all over the place in speculation. ABC News is reporting, “Egyptian Army Chief Tells Protesters: ‘All Your Demands will be Met’”.

Following an all-day meeting of the country’s supreme military council, the army said all the protesters’ demands would be met and a further statement was expected to be made later Thursday, clarifying the situation.

Mubarak was also due to address the nation.

UPDATE I: BBC is reporting that Mubarak will step down after 17 days of protests from the Egyptian people.

The real question has to be not if Mubarak steps down, but who and what will succeed him in Egypt. As stated by Weasel Zippers, Victory, but for whom? I wonder what’s going on over in Israel and how they feel about all this.

UPDATE II: FOX News reporting that Mubarak will step down and transfer power to a military council.

UPDATE II: Hell No, he won’t go! After all the hype and build up to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stepping down and history taking place, the end result turned out to be quite anticlimactic.

Well so much for all the rumors that Mubarak was stepping down and handing the reins over to a military tribunal. A defiant Mubarak stated that he was not going to step down; however, would not run again at the end of his term later this year. This should go over well with the protesters in the streets of Cairo and Tahrir Square.

President Hosni Mubarak told the Egyptian people on Thursday that he would delegate authority to Vice President Omar Suleiman but that he would not resign, enraging hundreds of thousands gathered to hail his departure and setting in motion a volatile new stage in the three-week uprising.

The rumors were running wild yesterday in anticipation that Mubarak would step down. Even US President Barack Obama stated that Egypt was “witnessing history unfold.” However, it never happened. Although during his speech Mubarak stated that he would not be told what to do by outside forces as he stated, “We will not accept or listen to any foreign interventions or dictations.” Following the speech, Obama was critical of Mubarak’s decision. At this point, it is probably better for Obama to just remain quiet and work behind the scenes.

The Egyptian military has stated that they will back Mubarak’s decision to remain in office.

Surely this cannot continue with a defiant Mubarak and 100,000 protesters in the streets of Cairo.

Most Americans Think Barack Obama Will Not be Reelected in 2012

The come back kid, really? A majority of registered voters say “Just say No” to BO in 2012. According to a recent CNN poll, a majority of Americans stated that Barack Obama will not be reelected in 2012.

In a new CNN poll, 26% of registered voters say they will definitely vote for Obama and 37% say they won’t. If you add in those leaning one way or the other, it turns out that 47% will probably or definitely vote for Obama and 51% probably or definitely won’t.

Should Obama be concerned about this poll almost 2 years out from the election? Yes, the problem still seems to be with convincing “Independents”. As reported at Hot Line On Call, “Independent voters would vote against Obama by a 44 percent to 53 percent margin.”

And more voters say, at the moment, they will vote against Obama. Fully 51 percent say they definitely or probably will not vote for Obama, while 47 percent say they’re predisposed to vote for him. Independent voters would vote against Obama by a 44 percent to 53 percent margin, while he would win moderates by a much larger 55 percent to 45 percent margin.

Hmm … Ed Rollins asks whether Obama can be beaten in 2012, the answer is yes. In order for Obama to play to the middle, he will have to upset his liberal base. In order for Obama to potray himself of a phoney middle of the roader, he will have to completely change everything that he has done during his first two years of office. Who really sees that happening?

The safest bet is that Obama will be the Democratic nominee. You can go to the bank on that one. And my counsel is to stay away from betting this far in advance on the Republican side. Unless you’re privy to divine inspiration, the best thing to do is to watch the process evolve.

One thing that you should know though is there are some extremely competent candidates who I believe will run — and that whoever wins the GOP nomination will be a formidable opponent for Obama.

The political landscape of 2012 is nothing like the one that ushered Obama into office in 2008. Barack Obama now has a record that he must defend, not slogans like “Hope & Change”. His signature piece of legislation, Obamacare, is highly unpopular and faces an ultimate court challenge in the SCOTUS.  Then there is the economy. In the wake of the 2010 midterm elections, it is obvious that a majority of Americans are against Obama’s and Democrat policies. The loss of US Reps, US Senators, Governors and state legislatures in the 2010 shellacking will greatly affect Obama’s reelection bid.

Popularity only goes so far, an unpopular opinion on policy during difficult times trumps it every time. Pundits can make a fluffy puff piece as to why Obama could win, but just look at the shift in the electoral college and where Obama will get wins in 2012 as compared to 2008?

The shift in the political environment where the GOP swept elections in 2010 in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virgina, North Carolina, Indiana and Florida. All states that Barack Obama carried in the 2008 Presidental election. How does Obama win in 2012?

Another Clueless Foolish Congressman … US Rep Chris Lee (NY-R) Goes from Scandal to Ex-Congressman

When will politicians ever learn? Craig’s List, buy a coach, buy a washing machine, ruin your political career …

Congressman Chris Lee of the 26th district in New York was reported by Gawker to have sent topless pics on Craig’s List “Women Seeking Men” forum portraying himself as a “divorced” “lobbyist” and “fit fun classy guy.”  The problem, US Rep. Lee is a married US Congressman with a child. Yeah, REAL CLASSY!

PICS at Gawker … EESH!

ABC News

How absolutely foolish and wreck-less could a politician be? How could Chris Lee not have thought that in the age of on-line social media that some one would not have recognized who he was?Com’on Man! Did we say he was a Congressman? Correct, Congressman no longer … he is now a former Congressman in what might be one of the fastest political scandals ever as Lee has now promptly resigned in disgrace, having apologized to his family and staff for “profound mistakes” and  promised “to work as hard as I can to seek their forgiveness.” How could he be so pathetic as to cruise Craig’sList for chicks and not think that he would be outed? At least he did not use the excuse that he was hiking the Appalachian trail.

The apology from USA Today:

“I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents,” the two-term congressman said in a statement posted on his site Wednesday evening. He said he made “profound mistakes.”

“The challenges we face in Western New York and across the country are too serious for me to allow this distraction to continue, and so I am announcing that I have resigned my seat in Congress effective immediately.”

Why do people continue to think that they can get away with such actions? Why would any one go into a career like politics and participate in such foolish behavior?