Quote of the day
posted at 11:13 pm on October 8, 2009 by Allahpundit
“Which gets us to the commander in chief, who directs the secretary of defense, who runs the Pentagon. The president, as almost all have noted—and for once, almost all are correct—has not distinguished himself in this matter. Afghanistan is a necessary war or not, we’ll see. He famously talked to Gen. McChrystal only once in the latter’s first 70 days in Afghanistan. He is meeting with advisers, considering options. Would that he’d begun earlier.
At the moment he seems a sort of anti-Lincoln. President Lincoln was early on damaged by Gen. George McClellan’s leaking to his friends in the press, but Lincoln every day was focused on one thing, the war, and took no offense. He knew what was urgent. For Mr. Obama, many things are urgent. But when many things are urgent, nothing really is urgent.”
Blowback
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Nobel Prize for what he might do?
Now that is funny!
Do they take it back if he does nothing?
elclynn on October 9, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Oh my, look at my hand…a fist…why I’ve crushed this metal coffee cup. Me erupting?..why no, I’m quite calm. Wait, my wife wants to know why I’m turning red.
“What do you mean my eye is twitching?
The dog is hiding under the bed? Me, hollering?
I swore? Hell, I never #@^%$ swear.”
Jeff from WI on October 9, 2009 at 8:09 AM
That’s our Jeff!!!
yoda on October 9, 2009 at 8:13 AM
I want my Nobel Prizes, too!:
Physiology or Medicine: I may discover a cure for every disease known and unknown to man.
Chemistry: I may discover how to turn water into oil.
Physics: I may discover how to repeal the law of gravity at will.
Economics: I may discover an economic system that allows everyone to loaf around and magically have all the material wealth they want–no effort required.
Peace: I may discover a way to turn Islam into a Religion of Peace.
Literature: I may write a book about all my Nobel prizes, so stirring that just touching the cover makes one weep.
DrMagnolias on October 9, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Go back to your pasties. Nothing here to comment on. A stooge got a prize from a stooge-esque organization for being a world class stooge. BIG Deal!
jbh45 on October 9, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Well Obama did tell us words have meaning. Action…not so much.
texabama on October 9, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Good for Noonan. This is as least a start. I’m sure I’m not the only one who said Obama was the anti-Lincoln when he opposed the Surge.
Despite the wrenching cost in human life, Lincoln [Bush] never relented and saw the emancipation of the blacks [Iraqis] through to a successful conclusion despite the personal cost to him. Like Lincoln, and unlike Obama, Bush did not shirk the burdens which history imposed upon him.
The latest Nobel Peace Prize winner is a shirker who has made the world less safe. This prize is Upside Down, as is Obama.
Basilsbest on October 9, 2009 at 8:36 AM
jbh45 on October 9, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Pasty for dinner tomorrow, as a matter of fact.
mmm mmm mmm, good!
Yoop on October 9, 2009 at 8:41 AM
That one is out. His falling numbers in the polls prove that the one is still in the gravity field.
Yoop on October 9, 2009 at 8:44 AM
This is the best consolation prize ever! See, the world still loves him even though they didn’t give him the Olympics. (retching sounds)
nogooddeed on October 9, 2009 at 8:52 AM
Willingly, knowingly, and actively began pursuing the dismantling and desctruction of this country.
AZ_Redneck on October 9, 2009 at 8:55 AM
Lincoln was not only single-minded in his pursuit of restoring the Union by force – he was frustrated to hell by his Generals. As an example, Shelby Foote wrote something about this in his novel “Civil War – A Narrative”. He said that Lincoln was always looking for a military commander who could “stomach the math”.
The fact was, the North had more soldiers than the South did and Lincoln thought that fact should be used to the North’s advantage. Shelby recounted that, at Fredericksburg – with horrendous losses on the Union side – Lincoln pointed out that if the Army of the Potamac had continued the fight there while taking / giving the same ratio of casualites (2.5 Union Soldiers killed to every Confederate one) – then Lee’s Army would still have been destroyed in less than thirty days while Burnside’s Army of the Potomac would still be a viable fighting force and … The war would be over.
Lincoln rifled through Commanders until he found Grant – who could, as Foote said “stomach the math”.
Obama is NO Lincoln. Not in the slightest. Licoln was willing to risk all to save the Union. Obama – not so much.
HondaV65 on October 9, 2009 at 9:01 AM
I would respectfully disagree with those who suggest that Obama has yet to accomplish anything deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize.
First, at every turn he has shown himself to be anti-USA, anti-Israel, and pro-tyranny, thus meeting the minimum requirements.
More important, through executive order and his actions as commander in chief, he has emasculated the national security apparatus and the military capability of the world’s sole super power.
Finally, as president, he has started a chain of events designed to destroy the economic engine that runs that super power.
Based on their criteria, the Nobel committee has found in Obama their perfect all time Peace Prize recipient.
TXUS on October 9, 2009 at 9:08 AM
The Won is in great company.
TimBuk3 on October 9, 2009 at 9:09 AM
yoda on October 9, 2009 at 8:13 AM
LOL
Jeff from WI on October 9, 2009 at 9:14 AM
oh that’s right, pasty is served on bath night.
jbh45 on October 9, 2009 at 9:22 AM
Yoop, I am just kidding of course, I love uppers.
jbh45 on October 9, 2009 at 9:23 AM
Or should I say yoopers?
jbh45 on October 9, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Or is it you-pee-ers?
jbh45 on October 9, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Well, he did close Gitmo and got us out of Iraq. Oh, wait…
Kissmygrits on October 9, 2009 at 9:27 AM
“But when many things are urgent, nothing really is urgent.”
Sorry if this has been noted already, but did Noonan watch The Incredibles before writing this?
SKYFOX on October 9, 2009 at 9:28 AM
You betcha! Got ta get cleaned up, jus in case dat Nobel bunch call bout my prize, don cha know, eh.
Yoop on October 9, 2009 at 9:29 AM
You know who should really be upset about this prize—his speechwriter. Talk about having your words stolen…
texabama on October 9, 2009 at 9:30 AM
BTW, regarding the picture of Lincoln and Zerobama morphed together…
Yesterday I found a dead mouse in a mousetrap in my garage. Something had gotten to it, bitten open the head and eaten the brain. That was less disgusting to me that the morph picture. Please stop insulting Lincoln like that. I understand why you do it but still… please stop.
SKYFOX on October 9, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Yah, it be dat “yoopers”.
Interesting transition: Upper Peninsula inhabitants (aka stump jumpers) >>> UPPERS >>> UP’ers >>> Yoopers
Lower Peninsula inhabitants (aka flat landers) >>> Lowers >>> Those below the Bridge >>> Those under the Bridge >>> TROLLS ( there were trolls before the internet)
Yoop on October 9, 2009 at 9:39 AM
@ SKYFOX
Right on. Obama should be morphed with Chamberlain.
Basilsbest on October 9, 2009 at 9:40 AM
Next year, to right a huge wrong from this year, the Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded to TOTUS.
Jeff from WI on October 9, 2009 at 9:47 AM
ahfta matta! I’ll bring a hot dish over!
jbh45 on October 9, 2009 at 10:35 AM
The more I read about what people think Lincoln was like the more I am convinced that people have NO idea of what Lincoln was really like! The man wanted war, and got it. He refused to meet with ANY peace delegation send by the fledgling Confederacy, or by the state of Virginia (before VA left the union.) He declared war while congress was in recess, suspended the write of Habeas Corpus (again while congress was out, and a power that belongs to Congress not the president.) He closed down hundreds of news papers, and arrested news paper owners, and editors “with out a warrant” simply for disagree with him, or his policies! In short Lincoln killed the union as it was created by founders, and set the stage for the central government we have today! F.D.R. may be the father of big socialist government, but Lincoln is the Grand Father of the totalitarian state we not live in!
Confederate on October 9, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Actually I love the UP. I drive through at least once a year when I lived in minnes-soda. Ironwood, Marquette, Munising, St Ignace. Tahquamenon Falls. Nice area.
you betcha
jbh45 on October 9, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Wow, flying that confederate flag of bitterness a bit high to day. Or should I just say you are a bit high today.
jbh45 on October 9, 2009 at 10:44 AM
Great argument for public information on Af-Pak war policy. I have several incidental issues though.
Firstly, I’m not sure what Ms. Noonan means by “a truly national debate” in the context of infoming or updating the public on the war policy; it isn’t clear to me why a debate, in the pure sense of the term, is most important—of all times—right when we have troops in the field requiring clear direction and resourcing; and if a debate were to be held nationally, then it makes sense for it to take place in media of all kinds, including on newspaper opinion-editorial pages, not solely nor even necessarily in a congressional forum. In order to inform the public however, a congressional hearing is probably the best formal avenue to begin. A debate for its own sake is delay.
Secondly, in discussing US policy on the Afghanistan campaign so far, it is fairly revisionist to state that it merely comprised “stay and fight.” Weight of Glory points to information on how President saw it when he addressed Veterans some nearly two months ago. According to what we know of the President, that view may have expired, but his direct predecessor waveringly (or is it stubbornly?) had a similar policy, basically, of “fight for victory in order to prevent 9/11 sequel terror attacks.” Now, perhaps the strategy of having a “small footprint” and relying more on the local forces (Northern Alliance and then the Afghan National Army and Police), of enabling civil society, and of building government capacity is ineffective or inefficient in executing the policy. If so, then so say it. Misrepresenting the policy does not express perceived error (in its execution) with “good faith” or “moral seriousness” as Ms. Noonan apparently desires.
Lastly, I say again, public debate that is not public-informing is useless—actually, it is worse. It is detracts from the war effort by turning us on one another—hence neutralizing public support for any policy position—and by showing our leaders as unserious and indecisive. That brings me to Mr. Obama’s attitude and behavior toward this Afghanistan war effort. Ms. Noonan speaks of concensus. Well, obtaining national concensus will probably take a period of many livetimes and, so, cannot help us in the here and now. I would agree that it is all well and good for the President to give some delibration to the grave decisions of war-making. That, though, is not the same as procuring national concensus—or, in my book, merely seeking and taking the path of least resistance. Mr. Obama cannot afford to do that on our behalf. After 2 years running for office, the public made Mr. Obama chief executive. After 9 months in office, he should stop acting as if still seeking office and start executing. USA is a republic, not a direct democracy.
Failure to lead or indecision is not something the President can afford to inflict on the troops either. He has got to digest the plans given to him by his hand-picked war commander and decide what to do with or without it. Rest assured, the enemy does not pause, he perseveres.
ConScribe on October 9, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Yea; His picture with the caption “What? Me worry?”
Cybergeezer on October 9, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I’ll tell you what Lincoln would do. He’d send the troops to murder, pillage and rape the population. Yea, I said it. Yes, I meant it…And no, I love this country (and specifically this Constitution) more than you can know.
This Lincoln that everyone supports and loves is not the Lincoln of history.
God knows what an evil tyrant Lincoln was. I’d say 80% of our problems today can be directly linked to him. Taxes, massive government, centralized federal government, off the gold standard, etc. etc.
Tim Burton on October 9, 2009 at 1:18 PM
This is some kind of sick joke by the Norwegians, right?
JohnBG on October 9, 2009 at 1:25 PM
–
What’s the matter can’t handle the TRUTH!
Confederate on October 9, 2009 at 1:33 PM
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Well I see some one has been doing there homework. Good job Tim!
Confederate on October 9, 2009 at 1:38 PM
I just believe in being faithful to history as it was.
Dirty little secrets about the South:
-Blacks fought for the South of their own free will in integrated units.
-Jefferson Davis is the only American President to adopt a black child (Jim Limber). The northerners have tried to make him out to be a family pet, but writings and their desperate attempt to find him after the US Army took him shows otherwise. He was adopted, because a black man was beating him.
-A black man brought life-time slavery vs. indentured servatude (Research Antonio the Negro)
-Jefferson’s Davis person slave, became a man servant and refused to leave his side, even after he was freed and Davis was in jail.
-Stonewall Jackson taught blacks to read against state law. One of his closest friends during the war was his black cook.
-Even though the men had left the plantations, few black slaves left and many were recorded protecting the plantation owner’s wives against abusive northerners.
-NYC wanted to secede to keep out of the war.
-NYC rioted when the Emancipation Proclamation was announced, because they refused to fight for blacks.
-There were no segragated churches in the South. Some churches even required owners to sit with their slaves, so they would remember that all were equal in God’s eyes.
-The North constantly threatened secession. They refused to support the War of 1812. Many Abolitionists supported secession, especially after 1850, because they saw the Compromise as evil. They realized that they could economically destroy slavery by seceding and giving slaves the ability to escape. It was the South that had the balls to do it.
-The entire Western world freed their slaves with time and by making it uneconomical, why would the South have been any different?
-Tocqueville wrote that racial harmony in the South was better than the North. He commented it was common for blacks and whites to work together, whereas that would never happen in the North.
-The 3rd largest slave owner in North Carolina was a black man.
-Per a capita more free blacks than whites owned slaves in New Orleans.
….You get the point.
Tim Burton on October 9, 2009 at 2:56 PM
Forgot to reference this.
Tim Burton on October 9, 2009 at 5:28 PM
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