Obama Faces Perilous Political Path on Afghanistan
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on December 17th, 2010 5:31 am by HL
Obama Faces Perilous Political Path on Afghanistan
Scott Conroy, RCP
President Obama on Thursday cited “significant progress” in Afghanistan, but the administration's own annual review of the situation on the ground in the nearly decade-long conflict indicates a perilous road ahead on an issue that has already become a defining facet of his presidency and could add to his political vulnerability as the 2012 presidential campaign kicks into high gear.”This continues to be a very difficult endeavor,” Obama told reporters at the White House on Thursday. “But I can report that thanks to the extraordinary service of our troops and…
Spending, Taxes & the Government’s Debt
Nick Gillespie, Reason
Nick Gillespie | December 16, 2010In my mind, I picture Jon Chait of TheNew Republic as the Gale Gordon of theliberal punditocracy (full disclosure: Chait, whom I've met a fewtimes, looks nothing like Gale Gordon). As the hapless Mr. Mooneyon The Lucy Show, Gordon was the perpetually put-upon straight manwhose eye-rolling and ribs-elbowing were never recognized by asingle other human being, including the audience. The comic result:The gold standard of slow burns giving rise to comic eruptions thatat least one otherReason staffer finds memorable enough to mention withsemi-disturbing…
Central California’s New 3rd World
Victor Davis Hanson, National Review
The last three weeks I have traveled about, taking the pulse of the more forgotten areas of central California. I wanted to witness, even if superficially, what is happening to a state that has the highest sales and income taxes, the most lavish entitlements, the near-worst public schools (based on federal test scores), and the largest number of illegal aliens in the nation, along with an overregulated private sector, a stagnant and shrinking manufacturing base, and an elite environmental ethos that restricts commerce and productivity without curbing consumption.
What Election? Lame Duck Congress Gorges
Daniel Mitchell, NY Post
The weeks since Election Day have provided nauseating confirmation of Mark Twain's observation: “There is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.”Exhibit A is the “omnibus” spending bill Harry Reid is trying to push through the Senate. This monstrosity contains about 6,500 earmarks — special provisions inserted on behalf of lobbyists to benefit special interests. The lobbyists get big fees, the interest groups get handouts and the politicians get rewarded with contributions from both.
