Bit: I’m with Fred

It really has been mortifying to watch The National Review going supine for nothing but the value of winning the next election. That they would endorse Mitt Romney is just pathetic, and a glaring sign of the times. Kathryn Jean Lopez should be ashamed of herself, but she’s too dizzy for that and there is nothing to be done for it. Stupid fools: that’s all there is to it.

That’s Billy Beck last night.  I understand where he’s coming from, and I sympathize with him, but I wonder if the pragmatism that National Review is showing us, here, isn’t justified. My read is that they’ve written off Thompson. I haven’t.

(Sigh) OK, here we go… I guess it’s time I stood up and got counted. In doing this, I want to explain my thinking, so bear with me, here.

Personally, I would much prefer Fred Thompson, get the nomination, and I’ve made no bones about that. Barring that most pleasant of possibilities, however, I began to wonder if Romney isn’t going to be the best choice beyond the candidacy of Fred Thompson. Let’s imagine then, that for some reason Fred Thompson does not yet the nomination (His winning the nomination certainly seems an open question at this point at least) At that point, we end up in a situation not unlike what we ran into with the initial nomination of George W. Bush back in 2000.  I said at the time and have been saying repeatedly since the Bush is not a conservative that I wished he would be.  Then again, given his track record, and that of his father, I held no illusions about the matter.

As back in 2000 than we find ourselves in a situation of voting for the candidate who will do the least damage.  Someone of those still standing, who, while not the first choice, will do the agenda of the right the least amount of damage.

First, I won’t go anywhere near Duncan Hunter, one of the gang of 14, and in truth, not a factor anyway. I could have almost dealt with him, (I initially supported him last February) were it not for that gang of 14 business.  Same goes for John McCain. The gang of 14 business, in combo with his overt liberalism, totally disqualifies him.  Hagel’s a flake, and no factor.  I’ve spoken often enough about Ron Paul to get something of a reputation for it.  You know where I stand there.  I want the man nowhere near the White House… even a White House tour line, much less holding the Oval Office. Given the relative standing of these people in the polls it would appear that my judgment is not unique in that area.

Then, there’s Mike Huckabee. Where to begin with this one?

The man has all the liberalism of John McCain wrapped up in a holier than thou attitude that I find reminiscent of John Kerry…. and unappealing of itself. When taken as a package,  I suggest to you that there are very few candidates for any office in the country who are as unlikeable as a candidate, and unattractive, in terms of furthering the cause of freedom.  Living in an upstairs apartment over a Fish market holds greater allure. How he can call himself a Republican is something of a mystery to me. Then again, look at McCain.

This is not to say that Huckabee doesn’t have his personal attractions. He most certainly does. Every report I have ever heard of him, suggested he is a charming individual in person… So is Bill Clinton.  When considering a candidate for president, the man’s personal likability is not in my first three considerations.  I find Huckabee’s foreign policy, clueless to the point where any one of the Democrats could do better…. and on domestic policy, you can’t fit water between Mike Huckabee and Hillary Clinton. No wonder the press likes him.

Anyway, so as far as the Republican side goes, that leaves us three choices in my view.

• Fred Thompson.
• Mitt Romney.
• Rudy Giuliani

I want to explain to you what I’m thinking of these three at this point.

I’ve made no secret that I’m with Fred.  On every issue that gets brought up, Fred’s position is by far the one I would choose.  But given the politics, we must consider a fallback position, if Fred doesn’t get the nomination.  I must base these choices on the biggest issues of the day, and I’ve chosen what I feel are the top three.

1:Islamic terrorism

Not to speak for Billy here, but my perception of his position is that such a “Better of three evils” choice is altogether unacceptable. I would counter that argument by saying that the specter of having an Al Gore in the White House and planes flying into the World Trade Center used to gruesome a prospect to consider. For all of the complaints coming from the left about a “never-ending war” I submit that with Al Gore as president on September 12, 2000 we would’ve started a real never-ending war. One a hell of a lot more Americans, particularly American civilians, would have died in As it stands right now, with George W. Bush in the White House, we actually stand a chance of not only coming away with a victory, but a workable peace thereby. that’s an equation, the Democrats have never figured out, and so are disqualified from my list immediately, all of them at a swoop. This then is the first consideration in my support of a presidential candidate.

You see, I am not one who thinks that once we withdraw from Iraq we are going to be completely safe from Islamic terrorists.  Thus for the next several elections of least the possibility of attack against us, must be high on the list of considerations in selecting a candidate for president, and ultimately a president.  Certainly none of the Democratic party candidates possess the stones that I would want in a leader.  Under those circumstances my choices would include Fred Thompson, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani in that order, with Romney and Giuliani being more or less tied for second.

2: At that point we go down the list a little, and start looking at the remaining concerns…namely, domestic concerns, most notably spending, taxes, and the reduction of government. Certainly, here again, Fred Thompson shines in those areas far brighter than either of the other two that Romney comes a distant second, with Rudy Giuliani trailing him, but not by much. Both Romney and Giuliani are far too wedded to big government programs for my taste. that said, they still look somewhat better than any of the Democrat candidates.

3: Finally we come to the issue of border control. Fred Thompson stands head and shoulders above the other two here, as well.  Frankly, I am most bothered by Giuliani on this issue, not by what he’s saying currently, but by the actions he’s taken in the past as the mayor of a city with a large population of illegals.  I am somewhat less nonplussed by what I see of Romney, in this area.

As a bonus round, we come to electability.

Certainly, there are those who will suggest that Fred Thompson is not centrist enough (or frankly, liberal enough) to be elected president of the United States in the general election.  I don’t agree.  I remind you of them saying the same thing about Ronald Reagan. I am firmly convinced that if the Republican Party has the courage to go through with nominating Mr. Thompson that he’ll will be elected as Regan was, and for the same reasons.  The reasons are simple enough; primarily among them: A real conservative can easily break down liberal dogma.  Ronald Reagan proved that easily. It’s called standing for something.

That said we come to the other two.  As with all the other considerations that I’ve listed here.  Romney and Giuliani come fairly close to each other with Romney in my view having a slight edge.as others have noted, there are a number of people who will cross party lines to vote for one or the other.  And that’s fine.  Whether or not it’s going to be enough to overcome the Democratic challenger, remains to be seen.  But if it comes to it, I’ll vote for them, despite being uncomfortable with both of them on matters of policy in some areas. They’re still a better choice than Hillary Clinton, or her clone, Barack Obama.

So, with these considerations in mind, I hereby heartily endorse Fred Thompson for President.

That endorsement made, I will say that Mitt Romney, and or Rudy Giuliani would make an acceptable second choice. I will add that I hope I’m not forced into that choice.

JOINT STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR RYAN C. CROCKER AND GENERAL DAVID H. PETRAEUS ON THE CAR BOMB ATTACKS IN MAYSAN PROVINCE

Posted: 13 Dec 2007 04:28 AM CST

JOINT STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR RYAN C. CROCKER AND GENERAL DAVID H. PETRAEUS ON THE CAR BOMB ATTACKS IN MAYSAN PROVINCE

IRANIAN ROCKETS FOUND, TURNED OVER TO COALITION FORCES

Posted: 13 Dec 2007 04:25 AM CST

IRANIAN ROCKETS FOUND, TURNED OVER TO COALITION FORCES

IRAQI FORCES, U.S. SPECIAL FORCES DETAIN SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ LEADER

Posted: 12 Dec 2007 09:20 AM CST

IRAQI FORCES, U.S. SPECIAL FORCES DETAIN SUSPECTED AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ LEADER

The Sleeze just keeps pouring out of Spitzer’s office:

December 12, 2007 — NY Post-ALBANY – A top state housing official – who is married to one of Gov. Spitzer‘s close aides – is set to quietly receive a $46,000-a-year pay raise, The Post has learned.

Priscilla Almodovar, who since Jan. 25 has been CEO and president of the State of New York Mortgage Agency, the state Housing Finance Agency, and three other small housing agencies, is due to have the raise approved tomorrow by the board overseeing the agencies.

Almodovar is the wife of Spitzer’s handpicked insurance superintendent, Eric Dinallo, a close friend of the governor who served under him in the Attorney General’s Office.

The planned pay hike to $250,000 a year, up from her current $204,350, has angered some officials at the agencies who say it not only dwarfs the salary of her more experienced predecessor but also comes at a time when state lawmakers and judges have been so far unsuccessfully pushing for their own raises.

“This is a very bad precedent,” said a senior SONYMA official.

It’s amazing what Democrats can do when they put the taxpayer’s backs into it, isn’t it?

Apparently, a fairly minor heart attack for Alex Trebek.

He’s resting at the Cedars Sinai in LA, and will be back after the first of the year.

….in OTB’s Caption Contest

If there is one thing I admire about Mrs. Pelosi is how clean her toes are: 

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out at Republicans on Thursday, saying they want the Iraq war to drag on and are ignoring the public’s priorities. “They like this war. They want this war to continue,” Pelosi, D- Calif., told reporters. She expressed frustration over Republicans’ ability to force majority Democrats to yield ground on taxes, spending, energy, war spending and other matters.“We thought that they shared the view of so many people in our country that we needed a new direction in Iraq,” Pelosi said at her weekly news conference in the Capitol. “But the Republicans have made it very clear that this is not just George Bush’s war. This is the war of the Republicans in Congress.”

Mrs. Pelosi needs to learn some basics.   Sane people do not like war.  Rather rational people accept that sometimes war is to the worst alternative of several bad alternatives.
Hat Tip:  Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review.

So why do patriachal societies continue to exist?   Because they work.   And because they better accomadate the different desires of the two sexes.   From the gender feminist capital of the World, Sweden, by Sue Reid, Daily Mail(UK):

The backlash in Sweden against Government interference in family and work life is based on women’s realisation that they are missing out on something very precious: the chance to raise their own sons and daughters

My belief is that gender feminists are few, except in the media and academia.  

Hat Tip: Stanley Kurtz, National Review.

Why on earth would Hillary Clinton be focused on Obama’s drug use, when Bill Clinton has a record of it, himself? After all, who was it who said of Cocaine…

“Gotta get some for my brother. He’s got a nose like a vacuum cleaner!”

Nor was it just for his brother. 

NEW YORK —AP- Judgment Day arrived for baseball’s steroids era, with the Mitchell report set to be released and posted on the Internet for all to see.Many questions from a decade of doping will be answered, but many will remain and perhaps new ones will emerge.

The Mitchell Report exposes a “serious drug culture within baseball from top to bottom,” fingers MVPs and All-Stars and calls for beefed-up testing by an outside agency to clean up the game, The Associated Press learned Wednesday.

Don’t misunderstand the headline here. I don’t mean to imply that Major league baseball won’t decide to throw a couple players under the bus. Unfortunately, that’s probably all that will occur, here.

After so many years of leading this stuff slide, I can’t believe they’re actually going to get serious about it, now. If I see that situation changed, I will be among the first to say I was wrong, but I don’t think that’s going to happen… particularly given the pressures that the players union will undoubtedly bring.  The union has always been a large part of why MLB has never gotten serious before.  Everyone’s been making money off this situation… and there’s far too much to lose, financially,  to fully expose it.  Simply put, I don’t see any reason for that situation to change.

Ok, the debates was boring.  The moderator,  Carolyn Washburn, was insipid,  However if the of the Des Moines Register thinks that somehow Alan Keyes is a presidential contender in Iowa, why not invite Charles Krauthammer,.   Then at least the debate would have been amusing.    The K-Hammer pares the debate down to sizs.

Hat Tip:  Allah Pundit, Hot Air.

LGF:

Palestinians continue to attempt to commit random murder with barrages of rockets, even as they pretend to talk “peace:” Israeli-Palestinian peace talks resume.

JERUSALEM – The highly anticipated renewal of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians got off to a rocky start Wednesday, with the Palestinians criticizing Israel for a construction project planned in disputed east Jerusalem, and Israel complaining about continued rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. …

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the meeting with the media, cited a “tense atmosphere” and said Israel complained about ongoing Palestinian rocket fire from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Early Wednesday, Palestinian militants fired 20 homemade rockets toward Israel, causing minor damage and lightly wounding one woman, Israeli officials said. The barrage came hours after Israeli forces ended a broad incursion into the coastal strip that killed six militants and left a wide swath of damage in its wake.

The real story here, of course, is that the “Palestinians” are using the using these  “peace talks”  as they would any other weapon; against their enemy. They’re using the peace talks as one would use an overly heavy coat… to hide the bomb.  We have seen this play out again and again, over the last 100 years. So much so, that if there’s anything about this that amazes me, it’s that anybody continues to try to talk peace with these people.  They simply don’t want it.  I keep thinking that maybe someone will get a clue.  It never happens.

The bottom line is that while the Clinton “machine” has run a “machine” campaign — raising gobs of money and putting pressure combined with treats to generate support from party insiders — Hillary Clinton is an unlikeable person and a terrible candidate.  As the day draws closer when people have to decide if they really WANT her as President – at this point Democrats having to decide — they are staring into the abyss and not liking what they see.

Patterico.

I note Patterico and company taking major bits of backside off Chuckie, again. That’s OK. The guy can afford it.. as he’s amply demonstrated several times, he’s ALL ass. The documentation of that is here on BitsBlog, and in this linked post at Patterico’s place.

As is typical with Chuckie, he tries to place the blame for the attacks on his nonsense, on anyone and everyone else… just as he blames Bush for his living in his mom’s basement.

He claims to be a populist, but is clearly having problems understanding why he as a populist ain’t all that popular. Apparently he’s also got anti-social confused with Anti-socialist.

Regardless of his claims of ‘populism’, the guy’s pure leftist, one end to the other.  Given the mental concerns the guy obviously has, this speaks volumes to me about both Chuckie in particular, and leftism in general. I’m of the firm belief that he needs his meds adjusted, and his internet connection taken away.

Read the comments over there and tell me you don’t agree.

By the way, it doesn’t mean much within the framework of Chuckie’s nonsense, but I must say, I’d never seen a pic of Christiana Hendrix (Mike’s wife) before. Jim has one posted, of her with Mike.

What a beauty… a striking woman… and very clearly in love.

I hesitate to say this, but I can almost hear some jealousy in Chucky’s sniping about that whole thing. Given what Chucky must attract (See his pic at Jim’s, also) some jealousy is understandable… even if his vile comments are inexcusable.

Update: Chucky has erased his blog.

I give him about a day and a half. That’s been the average time he could keep his oversized yap shut on previous occasions.

Jason Zengerle,  from that stalwart bastion of right wing thought the New Republic, nails Mrs. Clinton for her doublespeak:

From today’s NYT article about Hillary’s struggles in Iowa, this is a bit of a damning admission from the candidate, isn’t it?

“I always thought that Iowa would be a challenge,” she said, “and I’m personally really pleased with how far I’ve come, never having done this with Bill. I’ve really been working to understand what was necessary to run a competitive campaign.” [Emphasis added.]

Is this what Hillary means when she talks about experience–things she watched her husband do? And if he hasn’t done them before, she’s basically clueless?

On one hand, Mrs. Clinton claims to be ready to govern from day one, but on the other she confesses to be a political rookie.  

Bat Tip:  Memeorandum.

Contrast Mrs. Clinton with Fred.  Byran, Hot Air, has a Glenn Beck interview wtth Fred, who makes the point that we need a President who can be trusted.  The Clintons have waved their fingers at the public too many times to ever be trusted again.

Billy Beck:

I have e-mailed Joe Scarborough as calmly and coolly and clearly as humanly possible, and now I’m saying it short and sharp: That disgusting microcephalic, Mika Brzezinski, must go.

Heh. Well, you keep watching PMSNBC, Billy… I told you the solution was change the channel… and I’ve been telling you that for bloody well years, now.  I gave up on watching anything from them years ago… I don’t like being lied to.