Liz’s radical idea, Elizabeth Cheney at SPLC, via Andy McCarthy, National Review [1] and Jennifer Rubin, Commentary [2]:
In the era of Obama, American allies have their loyalty met with humiliation, arrogance and incompetence. The shabby reception Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu received in Washington a few weeks ago — being treated as an uninvited guest at the White House — was disgraceful. President Obama must not understand the most fundamental point about US-Israeli relations — the world is safer when there is no daylight between America and the state of Israel.
Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East and one of our strongest and most important allies in the world. Barack Obama is playing a reckless game that could have deadly consequences if he continues on the path of diminishing America’s ties to Israel. Israel is not the only ally to have felt Obama’s wrath — last year the Obama Administration pulled the rug out from under leaders in Poland and the Czech Republic by abruptly canceling a missile defense system they had committed to host. We did so because the Russians complained.
Afghan President Karzai, whose support we need if we are going to succeed in Afghanistan, is being treated to an especially dangerous and juvenile display from this White House. They dress him down publicly almost daily and refuse to even say that he is an ally. There is a saying in the Arab world: “It is more dangerous to be America’s friend than to be her enemy.” In the age of Obama, that is proving true.
Comments, Rubin:
Although Cheney is undeniably one of the most popular conservatives and the Left’s second-favorite bogeywoman, her message should not be controversial and is anything but extreme. Presidents of both parties at least tried to maintain robust alliances with like-minded democracies. It is extraordinary to have a president now who by design seeks to distance himself from loyal allies for the purpose of proving our bona fides to our foes.
Alan Grayson is an ass. Tea Party Patriots [3].
On Thursday, April 8th, 2010, Congressman Alan Grayson, Democrat in Florida’s 8th district, interrupted a district meeting of the local Orange County Republican Executive Committee. The meeting was being held at Perkins, a family restaurant.
Unanswered question: How did Alan Grayson know about this meeting? Who informed him? Was this staged?
Matthew Falconer, candidate for Orange County Mayor, quickly challenged Alan’s rudeness. Grayson demanded not to be interrupted, but Falconer quickly reminded the congressman that he is in fact interrupting their meeting.
So what worse than some jerk who crashes your party? A person to crashes your party and then gets rude to you. The voters of Florida’s Eighth Congressional District [4] deserve better.
Commentary, Jim Geraghty, National Review [5]:
Never mind whether Grayson is a good representative; he seems . . . not entirely there, no?
Bad taste award. from Patricia Alex, North Jersey [6]:
Bergen County representatives of the state teachers union have ratcheted up the campaign against Governor Christie’s agenda in a fiery memo that encourages members to “get some dirt” and “go public,” and adds the education commissioner to the “attack list.”
But it’s the memo’s closing “prayer” that is sure to ignite controversy:
“Dear Lord … this year you have taken away my favorite actor, Patrick Swayze, my favorite actress, Farrah Fawcett, my favorite singer, Michael Jackson, and my favorite salesman, Billy Mays. … I just wanted to let you know that Chris Christie is my favorite governor.”
The memo, sent to locals in the county earlier this week and obtained by The Record on Thursday, is signed by New Jersey Education Association field representatives, including Joe Coppola, president of the Bergen County Education Association.
Coppola said the “prayer” was a joke and was never meant to be made public.
“Obviously, it’s inappropriate,” he said. “I would never wish anybody dead.”
I am sorely tempted to paraphrase Joe Coppola’s prayer, but I don’t want to invite a visit by the Secret Service. Liberals don’t object to invoking God, provided it is a liberal god.
Coppola’s prayer is fully protected under the First Amendment and I fully support Coppola’s right to pray his prayer. On the other hand, I wonder to whose god Coppola is praying. It would seem a mighty weak god to be moved to action by such a blatantly dishonest and transparent prayer. It would be offensive to find that Coppola thought the god to whom you pray would be so naive and gullible to fall for Coppola’s prayer. Coppola can only pray that the people he offended are willing to forgive hm.
Commentary, Jim Geraghty, National Review [7]:
After this crap [6] that the New Jersey Education Association — the state branch of the NEA — is pulling, I don’t want to hear any more whining about “incendiary rhetoric” at the Tea Parties:
Personal moan, after going all of March with no snow, a taught I saw a snowflake this afternoon. Somehow warm weather of Spring sprung a leak.