Dogwood Pundit

Obama Continues His Apology Tour

2009-06-07T09:45:00.003-05:00

Obama's Kinder, Gentler Military Commissions

2009-05-15T17:32:00.002-05:00

Meet the new boss, yada, yada.... Read this:

Obama officials have been dispatched to insist to journalists (anonymously, of course) that Obama's embrace of "new and improved" military commissions is neither inconsistent with the criticisms that were voiced about Bush's military commission system nor with Obama's prior statements on this issue. It is plainly not the case that these "modifications" address the core criticisms directed to what Bush did, nor is it the case that Obama's campaign position on this issue can be reconciled with what he is now doing.

Yes, well Obama's mistake is not in retaining these policies, it was in criticizing them in the campaign in the first place. Which just goes to show how easy it is to pass moral judgment, and how difficult it is to actually govern. This will create a major schism between Mr Obama and many of his backers, to which I say ha ha ha. As for Mr Obama, welcome to reality. You have much more coming your way.

Left Wing Bigots And Carrie Prejean

2009-05-13T09:13:00.002-05:00

This was part of the statement issued by Maine Governor John E. Baldacci when he signed the bill authorizing gay marriage:

“I appreciate the tone brought to this debate by both sides of the issue,” Governor Baldacci said. “This is an emotional issue that touches deeply many of our most important ideals and traditions. There are good, earnest and honest people on both sides of the question.”

Somebody tell the Leftist Thought Police attacking Carrie Prejean that earnest and honest people can disagree on this issue. Read this:

It’s easier to dismiss proponents of traditional marriage as bigots than to answer questions about whether changing traditional marriage will lead to polygamy, or the lowering of the minimum age to marry.

Ms Prejean did not say anything hateful or damaging about anyone. She voiced an opinion held by millions of Americans, including the current occupant of the oval office. The campaign against her has been a despicable display of intolerance and slime politics. It should be condemned by all people of good will. Governor Baldacci said it best:

This is an emotional issue that touches deeply many of our most important ideals and traditions.

We live in an era of change. The civil rights and tolerance towards gay people is being confirmed nationwide. It would be a shame if their more radical elements turn Americans against them.

George W. Obama Thinks There Are 57 States

2009-05-11T18:14:00.002-05:00

We are only human and everyone falls on their tongues now and then. but had any Republican said this the lib press would have been in a tizzy over their "intelligence". Therefor, it is fair game.

The $1.8 Trillion Deficit

2009-05-11T16:51:00.003-05:00

It is funny how so many people seem to think this is no big deal. I disagree. Read this:

The White House raised the 2009 budget deficit projection to a staggering $1.8 trillion today. For context, it took President Bush more than seven years to accumulate $1.8 trillion in debt. It also means that 45 cents of every dollar Washington spends this year will be borrowed.

Obama's father was from Kenya but his economic policies are from Zimbabwe.

Plus this:

The government will have to borrow nearly 50 cents for every dollar it spends

Ans you think this will have no consequences ???

This Is News?

2009-05-11T13:27:00.001-05:00

Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Sunday he no longer views Colin Powell as a Republican. Many a Republican will second that motion.

ObamaDebt

2009-05-11T13:20:00.002-05:00

The Media Finally Covers John Edwards

2009-05-09T00:12:00.002-05:00

Why You Can Never Cut The Budget In Washington

2009-05-08T07:37:00.001-05:00

Democrats Assail Obama's Budget Hit List. That's why.

After 9/11, Torture Had Bipartisan Support

2009-05-08T07:29:00.002-05:00

Pelosi knew. They all knew. Read this:

Intelligence officials released documents yesterday saying that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was briefed in September 2002 about the use of harsh interrogation tactics against al-Qaeda suspects, seeming to contradict her repeated statements that she was never told the techniques were actually being used.

It appears Ms Pelosi is being a litle less than truthful about this matter. The memo goes on to say that many members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, were briefed on these harsh interrogation methods. The point is, we were a traumatized nation after the 9/11 attacks and we took the gloves off. We would have been less than human had we done otherwise.

We should forgive ourselves and vow to sin no more.

What Happens When the Taliban Comes to Town?

2009-05-08T07:27:00.002-05:00

"The people were filled with great rage, and great fear."

Bush's Axis of Evil VS Obama's Axis of Evil

2009-05-07T20:58:00.024-05:00

The Axis of Evil According to the Bush Administration:

NORTH KOREA, IRAN, AND IRAQ

The Axis of Evil According to the Obama Administration:

BEAUTY CONTESTANTS WITH THE TEMERITY TO EXERCISE THEIR FREE SPEECH RIGHTS

REDNECKS

AMERICAN SOLDIERS RETURNING FROM COMBAT

The Land Of No Smiles

2009-05-07T18:16:00.003-05:00

Renowned documentary photographer Tomas van Houtryve entered North Korea by posing as a businessman looking to open a chocolate factory. Despite 24-hour surveillance by North Korean minders, he took arresting photographs of Pyongyang and its people—images rarely captured and even more rarely distributed in the West. They show stark glimmers of everyday life in the world’s last gulag. Many more photos here.

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SHOP GIRL: This is shopping in North Korea. The clerk sits in the dark, unheated special store, waiting to turn on the lights for foreigners, the only permitted customers. “She’s wearing a ski jacket or parka; the rest of this time they’re sitting there with the lights off, freezing,” van Houtryve says. The goods—toys, televisions, and the like—are imported from China. The store only accepts euros.

Teachers Unions Vs. Students

2009-05-07T07:37:00.002-05:00

If you want to cure what ails urban schools, you must confront the teachers unions. There is no other way.

Gallup: Al Gore Losing With Public on Global Warming

2009-05-06T17:34:00.002-05:00

The American public knows a hysteria campaign when it sees one. Read this:

He admits that it's counterintuitive, but Gallup Poll Editor Frank Newport says he sees no evidence that Al Gore's campaign against global warming is winning. "It's just not caught on," says Newport. "They have failed." Or, more bluntly: "Any measure that we look at shows Al Gore's losing at the moment. The public is just not that concerned." What the public is worried about: the economy.

That's not to say people aren't passionate about the issue. But it's the direction of their passion that will disappoint Gore. Newport says that some 41 percent believe global warming claims are exaggerated, and "that's the highest we've seen."

Exaggerated? By these scare mongering zealots like Gore? Nooooo....

Obama reacts to Tea Parties

2009-05-06T14:10:00.002-05:00

This Week in History

2009-05-06T14:01:00.000-05:00

From the Washington Post

Muammer al-Gadaffi Says Europe Will Turn Into A Muslim Continent In A Few Decades

2009-05-06T13:52:00.000-05:00

Securing Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal

2009-05-05T15:05:00.001-05:00

I'll Quote You on That

2009-05-05T14:42:00.001-05:00

The Republican Party needs centrists, but not unprincipled ones like Arlen Specter.

Agreed.

Taliban Vow to Fight Till Death

2009-05-05T14:39:00.002-05:00

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Then by all means available, accommodate them.

World War II Photographs

2009-05-05T14:32:00.000-05:00

A fine collection of World War II photographs, many in color.

Uncle Murtha Goes To Washington

2009-05-05T09:54:00.003-05:00

Remember when Nancy Pelosi said she was going to drain the swamp? Well, never mind. Same old corruption, just with D's behind their names instead of R's. Read this:

The headquarters of Murtech, in a low-slung, bland building in a Glen Burnie business park, has its blinds drawn tight and few signs of life. On several days of visits, a handful of cars sit in the parking lot, and no trucks arrive at the 10 loading bays at the back of the building.

Yet last year, Murtech received $4 million in Pentagon work, all of it without competition, for a variety of warehousing and engineering services. With its long corridor of sparsely occupied offices and an unmanned reception area, Murtech's most striking feature is its owner -- Robert C. Murtha Jr., 49. He is the nephew of Rep. John P. Murtha, the Pennsylvania Democrat who has significant sway over the Defense Department's spending as chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee.

Well isn't that just cushy. The most striking detail about this article isn't th no bid contract. No, it's the apparent lack of any real function of the company recieving Uncle Murtha's largesse: More here:

Robert Murtha said he is not at liberty to discuss in detail what his company does, but for four years it has subsisted on defense contracts, according to records and interviews. Giving more details could provide important clues to terrorist plotters, he said.

Murtha said he does not advertise being the nephew of John Murtha and considers it "unfortunate" that some will unfairly assume Murtech received its federal contracts because of his uncle's influence at the Pentagon.

Well, he's gonna simply have to live with these unfortunate consequences, because we are going to raise just such a concern. Also note the "if you ask questions the terrorists win" line of defense. But it isn't just terrorist plotters Mr. Murtha has to worry about giving clues to, it is Federal prosecutors.

Affirmative Action Can No Longer Be Justified

2009-05-05T09:18:00.003-05:00

Alas, it takes a liberal to point this out. Which Richard Cohen does here:

...in a case recently argued before the Supreme Court. It was Ricci's misfortune to take -- and pass -- the New Haven, Conn., fire department's exam for promotion to lieutenant and captain, and then have the job denied him because he is white. Others will argue -- fatuously and, when they are before St. Peter, with heads bowed in shame -- that race had nothing to do with what happened to Ricci, but the fact remains that had he been black, his uniform would already sport a lieutenant's bar.

We should never confuse unfair with illegal. Still it would be nice if every once in a while they coincided. That is especially the case in matters such as this because the justification for affirmative action gets weaker and weaker. Maybe once it was possible to argue that some innocent people had to suffer in the name of progress, but a glance at the White House strongly suggests that things have changed. For most Americans, race has become supremely irrelevant. Everyone knows this. Every poll shows this. Maybe the Supreme Court will recognize this.

These are individuals being held back because of their race, in this case because they are white. There is no longer any justification for it, and its defenders are on very shaky ground if they think otherwise.

U.S. NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK

2009-05-04T18:11:00.005-05:00

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God help us.