Argus Hamilton Quips

Here's some much needed humor by the columnist, who makes pointed comments on the news. I like this one: "President Obama arrived in Rome Thursday where he held a joint press conference with Italy's prime minister before driving across town to met with Pope Francis. The president could hardly contain his joy when he walked into the Vatican. He thought the sign said Vacation."

Biased Dopey Students

The BDS movement on American college campuses makes me sick, but this fact made me sicker: the director of Vassar's Jewish Studies program, Joshua Schreier, who is Jewish, is for the boycott. But if it makes you feel any better, he was against it before he was for it.

Something is Rotten in Denmark -- and Malaysia

Did you ever think that, nearly a month later, we'd still be discussing Flight MH370, watching daily recaps of the latest "critical developments" on TV, and still finding no evidence of an ocean crash? It makes you feel that we are all being deliberately misled, and it's infuriating.  When I saw this advice,  I wondered how the families are possibly managing to hang on to their sanity: "China has urged the families of those aboard missing flight MH370 to accept that their loved ones are dead and called on them to stop directing their anger towards the Malaysian authorities handling the investigation."  China, if anything, should be joining in that anger!

The Fairness Obsession Gone to Extremes

You won't believe the subject of Allen West's column.  "As reported by The Blaze, 'The U.S Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has forced a school in Michigan to tear down a brand-new set of bleachers for its boys’ varsity baseball team because the new seating is nicer than the girls’ softball bleachers.' Yes, they ordered seats torn down – which by the way have been in place six years ago — because they were nicer than the girls’ softball bleachers.  The raised seating deck for the boy’s baseball team was paid for and installed by parents. Fans who’d come to watch games at Plymouth High School in Canton, Michigan were having a hard time seeing the game through the chain-link fence, according to WJBK-TV. The parents installed the new bleachers themselves and even added a new scoreboard...What lesson have the kids been taught? They’ve been exposed to the danger of socialism, where everyone is at the same level in shared misery, and no one is allowed to rise above — regardless of individual liberty and initiative."

 reported by The Blaze, “The U.S Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has forced a school in Michigan to tear down a brand-new set of bleachers for its boys’ varsity baseball team because the new seating is nicer than the girls’ softball bleachers.” Yes, they ordered seats torn down – which by the way have been in place six years ago — because they were nicer than the girls’ softball bleachers.
The raised seating deck for the boy’s baseball team was paid for and installed by parents. Fans who’d come to watch games at Plymouth High School in Canton, Michigan were having a hard time seeing the game through the chain-link fence, according to WJBK-TV. The parents installed the new bleachers themselves and even added a new scoreboard.

Read more at http://allenbwest.com/2014/03/social-egalitarianism-hits-new-height-absurdity-baseball-bleachers/#u8he4RCHl3RlAys8.99

As reported by The Blaze, “The U.S Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights has forced a school in Michigan to tear down a brand-new set of bleachers for its boys’ varsity baseball team because the new seating is nicer than the girls’ softball bleachers.” Yes, they ordered seats torn down – which by the way have been in place six years ago — because they were nicer than the girls’ softball bleachers.
The raised seating deck for the boy’s baseball team was paid for and installed by parents. Fans who’d come to watch games at Plymouth High School in Canton, Michigan were having a hard time seeing the game through the chain-link fence, according to WJBK-TV. The parents installed the new bleachers themselves and even added a new scoreboard.

Read more at http://allenbwest.com/2014/03/social-egalitarianism-hits-new-height-absurdity-baseball-bleachers/#u8he4RCHl3RlAys8.99

Hollywood Nostalgia

Here's another terrific column by Greg Crosby, bemoaning the demise of the musical comedy show, and the lack of decent talent. "What we don't have are well-rounded performers who can so it all; sing, dance, and act in musical comedy. The real old-timers learned that stuff in vaudeville, later performers learned it while under contract at the studios...There are no Bob Hopes, Fred Astaires, Mickey Rooneys, or Donald O'Connors anymore. There are no Ginger Rogers, Judy Garlands, Betty Grables, or Debbie Reynolds anymore."  Read it all, and go back in time.

Obamacare Lies and Propaganda

It was hilarious to see how Obama and his administration is celebrating the fact that 6 million people have signed up for Obamacare.  Not too many people are wondering what happened to the "40 million uninsured" whose supposed plight inspired the White House to destroy a perfectly good health care system. Why haven't those 40 million signed up?

Of the 6 million: how many of them rushed to sign up willingly and enthusiastically; and how many of them were forced to sign up when their existing plans were cancelled?!

Lots 'o Links

The Council has spoken! Here are the latest Watcher's Council winners!

Here's Daniel Greenfield's Friday Afternoon Roundup -- Into The Sunset.

Catching up on the stuff you missed this week? Visit Betsy's Page, Maggie's Farm, and Larwyn's Linx!

Obama's Amateur Hour

I love Avik Roy's headline: "Surprise! White House To Delay 'Firm' Obamacare Enrollment Deadline Past March 31."  Pretty soon he'll do away with the deadline entirely!

Depressing News

It's no wonder the families of the passengers on MH370 are so angry. For the Malaysian PM to declare that the plane was in the ocean, without a shred of tangible proof, is unacceptable.  Check out the Malaysian Star for more coverage.

I don't know what Malaysia was like before March 8, but since then, they have destroyed their own reputation. It's like the Edsel, or Tylenol after the murders, only much worse. How if ever will they recover?

Blame the Jews!

Here he goes again!  Jonathan S. Tobin writes, "Former President Jimmy Carter is back in the news this week publicizing a new book about women’s rights. But, as is often the case with Carter, he drew more interest for comments he made about Israel and its supporters. When asked on NBC’s Meet the Press yesterday by Andrea Mitchell why it was that Barack Obama never called upon him for advice, he made it clear that the Jewish state was the reason he has been treated like a pariah."

Tobin also writes about the threats against Jewish students at these vicious BDS events on college campuses. What next, bringing back Jewish quotas at universities?

Doctor! Doctor!

If Obama's intention is to force doctors and insurance companies out of business, he's doing an excellent job of it: "Obamacare May Leave Doctors With Unpaid Bills."  Maybe the illegal aliens he's encouraging to come here can take the jobs that doctors don't want to do!

Good Friday Links

The Council has spoken! It's time for this week's Watcher's Council winners.

Also, see Daniel Greenfield's Friday Afternoon Roundup, titled The Voices They Hear.

Still no answers, and yet another wild goose chase.  Look what the relatives of the MH370 passengers are going through.  This story reminded me of the "missing" posters that went up in New York after September 11. 

March Madness

By Michael Ramirez.

Lots 'o Links

You'll be infuriated, outraged, and often even delighted when you follow the latest news and information at Betsy's Page, Larwin's Linx, and Maggie's Farm!

Hope Down Under?

This has been the largest and most tragic shared experience since September 11. But finally the first bit of heartbreakingly optimistic news came tonight in a speech from Australian PM Tony Abbott.  This is the first hopeful news we've had in two weeks, and tomorrow may finally bring some answers to the anguished families, and to the world. At any rate, the calm, professional demeanor of the Australians has been reassuring after seeing the Malaysian press conferences.

Jews in the News

Here's what things would look like if we Jews really did control the Internet!

"U.S. wants public apology from Israeli defense minister for verbal assault." An apology for speaking the truth? "On Monday, Ya'alon attacked the United States for failing to lead the campaign against Iran. 'But at some stage the United States entered into negotiations with them, and unhappily, when it comes to negotiating at a Persian bazaar, the Iranians were better,' said Ya’alon, speaking during an event at Tel Aviv University, as reported by Haaretz.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday with Ya’alon, regarding the uproar caused by the latter’s remarks, which also criticized American conduct regarding the Ukraine crisis, as well as American relations with China and Asia. At one point, the defense minister had said: 'Look what’s happening in Ukraine, where the United States is demonstrating weakness, unfortunately.'    And unfortunately, he's absolutely right!

Beautiful Tenor Arias

In my opinion, Placido Domingo is the greatest tenor after Jussi Bjorling, and the greatest actor among tenors. But in this WQXR list of the most beautiful tenor arias,  I have to add "Tosca"'s Recondita Armonia, the way Pavarotti sang it during the Three Tenors concert. I still get chills when I hear it.  And don't forget Che Gelida Manina from "La Boheme"!

Discuss

This week, the Watcher's Forum asked, "If You Had The Opportunity, What Would You Discuss With President Obama?"   I like the questions from AskMarion: "Who really pulls your strings and how did they recruit you? How do you live with yourself? Do you really hate America as much as it appears?", and I echo The Independent Sentinel's comment that "I can’t think of a thing I’d want to talk to President Obama about except would there be any circumstance under which we could get him to resign."

Comparisons

Cartoon by Michael Ramirez.

The Ordeal Continues...

I can't believe, as some are speculating, that the terrorist/hijacker of MH 370 took off on the spur of the moment to commit suicide after his wife and kids left him and he was upset with his political leader's arrest. This all sounds ridiculous, like a kid having a temper tantrum.  Instead, this sounds like a well-planned and coordinated attack by a highly-skilled pilot. His wife and kids were spirited away to protect them from the consequences of his actions.  He must have had a lot of help that we don't know about yet.  These aren't amateurs when  "14 countries, 43 ships and 58 aircraft are looking for the plane" and not a sign has been found. (Another eerie fact is that, in our cell phone-obsessed society,  the passengers' phones weren't used to call or text.  If nothing else, maybe our technology will be improved to make tracking planes quicker and easier, and to allow passengers to make calls from any location.) Unfortunately, we may only know the fate of MH370 when it's used for the "nefarious purpose" we can only imagine. In the meantime, all these people are grieving.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

It's an especially happy day for the family of Toby Sonneman, whose father Erich arrived in America from Nazi Germany on March 17, 1939.

Stating The Obvious

It's really a shame that something so obvious makes news in Obama's "new normal" society:  "Choosing American Workers Over Amnesty", by Daniel Greenfield at Frontpage Magazine.  "The Republican Party’s fate in 2016 will be decided in places like Macomb County. It will be decided by white men and women earning $20,000 to $50,000 a year. It will be decided by working families struggling to get by and searching for answers from a government that keeps betraying them.
That is the point that Senator Jeff Sessions, the Republican senator who has stood tallest against amnesty, makes in his National Review article 'Becoming the Party of Work.' Sessions argues that slowing down immigration in a time of tremendous economic turmoil would actually be the populist thing to do. Three to one of those earning under $30,000 want to see reductions in immigration. Instead the Republican Party is alienating them further by championing illegal aliens." 
We have plenty of jobs for Americans who want them and who are willing to work, so let's promote the work ethic here at home rather than in Mexico! 

Thinking of the Passengers

Here's an article about the families of the passengers on Flight MH370. They are hoping the jet was hijacked and everyone's still alive.  What else can you do but hold out hope and imagine this is similar to what happened to TWA Flight 847.  People and psychologists wonder why we're all so fascinated by the disappearance.  A 777 just doesn't simply vanish; we all remember what happen on September 11; there are many nations involved; and there are nearly 300 passengers whose lives hang in the balance.  It's not fascination, it's concern.

Roger Waters -- Yet Again

When I saw the latest column by Rabbi Schmuley Boteach, I thought it was an old column.The title is "Roger Waters’ New Blood Libel", and I feel as if we keep hearing this same anti-Jewish, anti-Israel rhetoric from him over and over. I remember the name Roger Waters used to mean Pink Floyd. Now the name Roger Waters means anti-semite. He should stick to playing music and just shut up.

Man At Work

This man ought to be on a billboard or a postage stamp to encourage the concept of hard work:   "Real-estate agent Stewart Wade rises at 5:30 or 6 most mornings, swims 500-600 strokes in the Pacific, and then heads to work by 8 a.m.  It's pretty impressive for anyone, but especially for a 99-year-old."

Chilling

Finally reports are coming in that show that Flight MH370 was "deliberately diverted" and that whoever did this was "an expert".  Either the pilots are working alone and have hijacked the plane; the pilots are in cahoots with terrorists on board; or the pilots have been forced to do all this at gunpoint by terrorists.  Whatever the reason, it's been an extremely unthinkable and stressful ordeal for those on board and for their suffering families, and when the story finally comes out, no excuses should be made for the evil criminals responsible.

It's been 13 years since the 9/11 attacks -- think of what terrorists may be capable of now. Also, after 9/11, airline passengers fought back: on Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania, and against the shoe bomber Richard Reid and the underwear bomber.  Did they fight back against their hostage-takers this time, too?

Good Friday Links

The Council has spoken! Here are the latest Watcher's Council winners! And don't forget to see Daniel Greenfield's Friday Afternoon Roundup- Appropriate My Culture, Please.

Where?

It's hard to believe we're still talking about the whereabouts of Flight MH370 -- six days after it disappeared! You can read more at The Malay Mail Online, and this timeline shows you a very stark picture.  From the start, I suspected terrorism, and it's been something to see many of the TV news anchors trying their best to avoid using that word.  On AC360, Anderson Cooper asked the experts if they could come up with any reason the transponders and other equipment would have been deliberately turned off with "no malicious intent." (The answer, of course, was no.) If it is terrorism, they've succeeded beyond their wildest dreams -- in their calculated planning, they have terrorized the world.

"It's The Pictures That Got Small"

I love Greg Crosby's nostalgic columns. In this one, he discusses today's movies as compared to the great films of the past.

Time For My Cake, For My Cake and Milk

Here's another childhood favorite that, like The Beatles, is somehow fifty years old: Harriet The Spy! It wasn't just the writing and the characters that made that novel so unforgettable, it was also the drawings.

Obama's World

Every day Obama or one of his Democratic sycophants say things that are hard to believe. Obama has actually said this: if you want to afford Obamacare, simply cancel your cell phone and cable service!  (Of course, you don't need to pay for cell phone service if you have a free Obamaphone, but there's no such thing as ObamaTV ....yet) Maybe when electric bills skyrocket as he promised, he'll suggest you use candlelight. Imagine any other president saying such a thing and getting away with it. Where's Sam Donaldson when you need him?

Lots 'o Links

Here's the latest news thanks to the people at Larwyn's Linx, Betsy's Page, and Maggie's Farm.  Read about Representative Trey Gowdy's speech here.  He used to be a federal prosecutor, and I wish he could prosecute Obama for ruining our country!

Blame Everything Else

This reader comment was perfect, regarding female celebrities trying to ban the word "bossy:"   "It's time for some people to grow up. Why is it that every failure, every setback, every delayed gratification in peoples lives today has to be attributed to some type of oppression? Did it ever occur to you that maybe you are not good enough, or that there are other people that are just better? Perhaps you are in the wrong place at the wrong time....or maybe the situation isn't what you know but who you know. Mr. Jagger said, you can't always get what you want - and he was right. Part of the enjoyment of life is overcoming adversities AND developing the wisdom to know when you are in a no win situation and move on. Sinatra said it best.....That's life!  Banning words because you think it's going to impede someones ability to excel is just plain asinine, and these women are teaching these girls to blame someone else when they don't get what they want. We have too much of that in society already."

Branded

Just look at these powerful photos, from the UK Daily Mail:  "Revealed: The evil-looking gadgets Auschwitz guards made as instruments of genocide to stamp tattooed numbers onto doomed prisoners."  I suppose the Holocaust-deniers think the Jews did this to themselves.

An Unusual Scene

I saw Dianne Feinstein's speech on TV and almost couldn't believe my ears, so I went online. She didn't blame Bush, and she didn't blame Republicans; she "accused the CIA of secretly removing documents, searching committee-used computers and attempting to intimidate Congressional investigators by requesting an FBI probe of their conduct — charges that CIA Director John O. Brennan disputed vigorously within hours of Feinstein’s extraordinary appearance on the Senate floor." Let's see if anything actually comes of these charges by a Democrat against Democrats.

Life in Obama's America

What has happened to my country that this is cause for celebration?  "Colorado Gets High On Pot Revenue, Marijuana Tourists."  And, in the same vein, there's this: "Wanna Work With Weed? Marijuana Job Fair in Denver This Week." Shouldn't people feel ashamed and embarrassed that this is now a booming industry in America? No -- this is "the new normal".

The Obama Administration: For The Birds

This is yet another perfect Ramirez cartoon.

Flight 370

At CNN, Peter Bergen has a column called "When Passenger Jets Mysteriously Disappear." There's more in a similar vein here.  This delay must be so unbearably stressful for the grieving loved ones.
(I found it unfortunate timing that the Weather Channel chose last night to air a program called "Why Plane Crash".)

No Laughing Matter

Read Guy Benson's column at Hot Air titled, "“The whole law – from its name to its effects – is one bad joke.” He writes, "Nine out of ten eligible uninsured Americans haven’t selected plans under Obamacare, with the top reason cited being lack of affordability.  Of those few who have ‘signed up,’ only about half have paid, and are therefore covered.  So we’re looking at roughly five percent of the previously uninsured population that has decided to participate in a $2 trillion law that was ostensibly foisted upon the rest of the public for their benefit." Right!  So why don't all hard-working, health insurance-earning Americans care more about this?  Are we now so completely outnumbered by the dependency class that our opinions, and our votes, no longer matter?

No-Nonsense Views

I loved this scathing British take on Muslims who are always offended.

Lost Souls

Here's the passenger manifest from missing Malaysia Airlines MH370: it's seven pages of victims. If it turns out to have been terrorism, the group responsible should be hunted down and made to pay, and there should be no politically correct excuse-making whatsoever.

The Johnson Treatment

Not surprisingly, Bryan Cranston is receiving rave reviews for his portrayal on Broadway of LBJ. If you remember Johnson as President, or if you've read the marvelous Robert Caro biography, you know this is the right actor for the subject.
(Photo - and another good review - from the Daily Beast.)

Vanished!

The story of missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 is a terrifying situation for the 239 people on board, as well as for their distraught families.  A crash is tragic enough; a terrorist attack would be even worse. Let's hope that whatever happened, it was quick and they didn't suffer.

The Blame-The-Jews Excuse of the Day

World Jewish Daily has the best headlines! "We Didn't Do It! You Didn't See Us Do It! You Can't Prove Anything! Iran denies it sent the missile ship it sent to Gaza, blames incident on AIPAC-Israeli-Jewish conspiracy."

Good Friday Links

Read Daniel Greenfield's Friday Afternoon Links. This edition is titled "Weakness is the New Stength."

The Council has spoken! Here are the latest Watcher's Council winners. 

Adding Insult to Injury

At Human Events, John Hayward writes, "You’ve got to give President Obama this much: his health-care plan might be the most comprehensive failure in the history of American government.  Never before has a program tried to control so much, at such soaring expense, and utterly failed in every single way.  Insurance is getting less affordable for many Americans; plans are getting wiped out left and right, contrary to Obama’s promises; the quality of medical care is declining as provider networks contract, also contrary to Obama’s promises; the cost of the Affordable Care Act is soaring high enough to make its original cost estimates look ridiculous; and the insurance industry has been hollowed out enough to enter the bailout zone.
But perhaps worst of all, there are new studies that show uninsured Americans are profoundly uninterested in ObamaCare.  The ostensible point of this hideously expensive exercise – the way it was sold to the American people – was the desperate need to bring insurance coverage to those left in the cold by the old system.  A trillion dollars later, it turns out most of the uninsured would rather stay out in the cold."
And that's probably because they found out it's not free.  Which only proves the maxim that you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink -- especially not at the expense of the rest of us.

Obama's Red Lines

Cartoon by Bob Gorrell.

Lots 'o Links

Time to play catch-up with the news!  Cruise the web at Betsy's Page.  Check out the Thursday morning links at Maggie's Farm.  And don't forget to stop by Larwyn's Linx. As a bonus, see what it'd be like if Disney movies had had politically correct titles.

Perfect!

As seen at American Digest.

The Jewish Question

Heeb is wondering about a Brooklyn assemblyman's anti-Nazi initiative.  Maybe he should focus on the antisemites in his backyard instead, namely, at New York University.  At Tablet Magazine, Liel Liebovitz writes, "Last week, I argued here that there was no point in debating with people who fundamentally disagreed with you; if you believed in Israel’s right to exist, I wrote, and someone didn’t, you really have very little reason to sit down and chat. Apparently, Israel’s academic detractors were paying attention.  This weekend, the American Studies department at NYU held a conference titled 'Circuits of Influence: U.S., Israel, and Palestine.' With a morning session about the history and efficacy of boycotts and a lunchtime workshop devoted to organizing students on campus and featuring representatives of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voices for Peace—both organizations being strong advocates of BDS—there could be little doubt about the conference’s true aim."

Conservative Website Awards

Check out the winners of the 12th Annual Right Wing News Conservative Website Awards! See your favorites listed, or discover some new sites.

Tidbits in the News

What a rarity these days: parents actually acting like parents! No wonder this spoiled brat is making national news!

Paul Greenberg comments on the disarming and weakening of America: "This president isn't hated, he's just ignored and despised, for he's become the personification of weakness and drift in American foreign policy. He abandons one ally after another and courts one tyrant after another. As high an opinion as he may have of himself, the world has lost respect for him, friend and foe alike.  It is said in the president's defense that he's really leading -- from behind. There are only two things wrong with that assertion: (1) He's not leading, and (2) he's so far behind he's not even in the picture."

Regarding the vandalism of books about Anne Frank -- in Japan, Rachel Raskin-Zrihen asks,  "What did Anne Frank ever do to Japan?"

Do you believe this?  "FDA approves over-the-counter sale of generic versions of Plan B." Put it on the shelf next to the marijuana.

Deadlines or Red Lines?

In case anyone still cares, the deadline for enrolling in Obamacare is March 31.  Of course, just because they said it doesn't mean that really IS the deadline. You probably misheard, just like you heard wrong about the enrollment goal being 7 million people, and just as you didn't hear correctly regarding the red line in Syria.  With the media protecting him, Obama can say (or not say) whatever he wants -- and people will still worship the ground he walks on. He has one thing in common with Russia: he has his own version of Pravda.

Thanks, Obama, for the Vote of Confidence!

This is from The Times of Israel:  "Obama: US won’t be able to defend Israel if peace talks fail. Ahead of meeting with Netanyahu, president says unprecedented ‘aggressive settlement construction’ detrimental to peace process." If anything is detrimental, it's Obama and Kerry, in yet another foreign policy disaster.

What Would Reagan Think?

Headline: Ukraine crisis: Moscow catches the world off guard.  No kidding! Most Americans don't even care about the scandals in our own country, never mind foreign affairs, so is it any wonder?  All they care about is getting something for nothing, and nothing else concerns them. Maybe Obama ought to send Dennis Rodman or the Kardashians to Moscow for diplomatic talks -- then people might wake up! (Image from The People's Cube.)

Lack of Character

Shades of last year's Doral Open! I saw that Tiger Woods withdrew from the Honda Classic today with a "bad back" after being 5 over for the day.  When things aren't going your way, it's easier to blame anything else than take personal responsibility.  Too bad Tiger didn't simply say "I stunk today" as his reason for withdrawing -- he would have gotten more sympathy.

Red Line Deadline

Why is anyone surprised at all by Obama's wishy-washy statement on the situation in the Ukraine? Since his "red line" bluff with Syria, does any other country actually fear us?

Besides,  doesn't Vladimir knows Obama has more flexibility now?