Some words of wisdom from Dr Sowell

We always read Dr. Sowell's weekly columns.

We definitely recommend this one: A Rookie President By Thomas Sowell:

"It is not just that he has never been President before. He has never had any position of major executive responsibility in any kind of organization where he was personally responsible for the outcome."

Most of our presidents have had executive experience. Pres BO doesn't.

Save this post and Dr. Sowell's article.

I have a funny feeling that the public will be looking for experience and maturity rather than "hope and change" the next time around.

Just in case you didn't think that The NY Times "was in the tank" for Obama

During the presidential campaign, we speculated that The NY Times was shamefully in the tank for Obama.

Check this out from The Bulletin:

"A lawyer involved with legal action against Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) told a House Judiciary subcommittee on March 19 The New York Times had killed a story in October that would have shown a close link between ACORN, Project Vote and the Obama campaign because it would have been a “a game changer.”"

Keep an eye on this story. I think that there is a scandal here!

The bad news is that The NY Times is a dishonest newspaper. The good news is that they are going under, and fast!

4,257 posts! We passed Pete Rose!

Pete Rose got 4,256 hits with the Reds, Phillies, Expos and the Reds again!

He passed Ty Cobb in 1985. I saw it on TV. I recall when he got that phone call from Pres Reagan!

We just passed him with our 4,257th blog post.

We started this blog in Oct' 04 and here we are.

Thank you for reading many of the posts. Here is Pete Rose in 1985 after passing Ty Cobb:

What happened to all of the love?

"Where is the love" was a popular 1970's tune.

We ask today: Where is all that love that Obama's election was supposed to create toward the US?

We posted this last summer: They cheered every line except sending troops to Afghanistan!

Last summer, candidate BO toured Europe and was greeted by "movie star" crowds.

They cheered every line except the one about sending troops to Afghanistan.

Today, the "Euros" are not exactly in love with all of those Obama deficits!

In fact, The Economist just posted a very tough editorial called Learning the hard way:

"Take the G20 meeting in London, to which he will head at the end of next week.

The most important task for this would-be institution is to set itself firmly against protectionism at a time when most of its members are engaged in a game of creeping beggar-thy-neighbour.

Yet how can Mr Obama lead the fight when he has just pandered to America’s unions by sparking a minor trade war with Mexico?

And how can he set a new course for NATO at its 60th-anniversary summit a few days later if he is appeasing his party with talk of leaving Afghanistan?"

Mona Charen has a good post, too:

"Secretary of State Clinton presented a cutesy “reset” button to the Russian ambassador.

But apparently the State Department had gotten the Russian word wrong. Instead of “reset” it said “overcharge.” (Rebooting America’s Global Image Not Going Well)

According to news reports, Obama Faces Cold Reception in Europe!

Again, the Euros read the "stimulus" plan! They don't like it! This is the one that Pres BO and the Dems didn't read but signed into law anyway.

They specially don't like the protectionist smell of the stimulus bill!

Even The NY Times, the voice of the American left, is reporting this: Obama Will Face a Defiant World on Foreign Visit! (I thought that once we elected Obama people were going to love us!)

Abe Greenwald has this post:

"The point is: the rest of the world will not follow the U.S. just because a charming American president smiles and compliments everyone in his path.

This is not the first indication that Obama’s charm has its limitations.

He is having a hard time getting Europe to pledge more troops to Afghanistan and convincing the Continent to take in Guantanamo Bay detainees.

This is to say nothing of his depressing failure to flatter hostile nations into cooperating with us."

To be fair, US presidents always face hostile crowds.

Nevertheless, it's surprising to see how Europe is falling out of love with Obama.

It reminds of something that Gerard Baker of the UK wrote in 2007: Oh George, what will we do when you’re gone?

They can't blame Pres Bush anymore.

The Euros are waking up and discovering a couple of things about their beloved Obama:

1) He is the most protectionist president in US history. Just ask the Mexicans!

2) He will continue Pres Bush's program in Iraq. The US will leave 50,000 troops permanently there.

3) He will send a major military force into Afghanistan. Pres BO is expecting the Euros to do their part! (Where is the love, where are the troops)

They can't blame Pres Bush anymore.

They can't use Pres Bush as their excuse for doing nothing or refusing to face reality!

P.S. I couldn't find a video of the original version by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway.

This is Dana singing "Where is the love":

"Where is the love

You said you'd give to me soon as you were free

will it ever be

Where is the love?

You told me that you didn't love her,

and you were gonna say goodbye

but if you really didn't mean it,

why did you have to lie?

Where is the love,

you said was mine all mine,

till the end of time

was it just a lie where is the love

If you had had a sudden change of heart

I wish that you would tell me

so don't leave me hangin on the promises

you've got to let me know

Oh how I wish I never met you

I guess it must have been my fate

to fall in love with someone else's love

all I can do is wait

Where is the love"

We need to seal the border!

J.G. Thayer wrote a good post entitled Hillary’s Half-Truth:

"There is a simple solution to both nation’s problems.

All it would take to ease the problems caused by unregulated traffic across the border — in both directions — is staunch enforcement of existing laws and taking border security seriously.

If that was coupled with a general easing of immigration and other cross-border traffic laws, the result would be a boon to everyone: more legal crossings, fewer illegal ones."

That's right!

There is too much illegal traffic going north and south!

How do you really help Pres Calderon?

We seal our border and encourage Mexicans to seal theirs!

The border war is not a police matter. We don't need people to check documents.

We need our high tech military technology to find, and kill if necessary, the cartels causing so much violence.

We need troops ready and able to engage the brutal cartels on the border.

This is a war and a national security threat.

How bad are things along the border?

Very bad.

Check out this video with Sara Carter of The Washington Times.

Her article Hezbollah uses Mexican drug routes into U.S. should be an alarm for everyone:

VP Biden to PM Rod-Zap: Thanks for the troops in Iraq!

Last year, we posted that Joe Biden was the most qualified Dem running for president.

We also said that he has a "gaffe problem".

Today, José M. Guardia of Barcepundit informed us that VP Biden thanked PM Rod-Zapatero of Spain for all of those troops in Iraq.

Again, what was VP Biden thinking? It's hard to believe that VP Biden would forget this one!

As we recall, PM Rod-Zapatero won an unexpected victory in 2004.

He shamefully used the March '04 incident to attack PM Aznar's government.

What happened? Spanish troops were withdrawn.

And terrorists are still operating in Spain!

Sec Clinton to Mexico: Who painted your virgin?

We understand that Sec Clinton had a difficult and embarrassing incident in Mexico City.

Here is the story: Hillary Clinton leaves flowers for Our Lady of Guadalupe, asks ‘Who painted it?’

A few minutes later, Sec Clinton told Mexicans: “you have a marvelous virgin!”

Is this like the "reset" button that she gave the Russian foreign minister?

Didn't some "expert" at The State Dept tell Sec Clinton that it's "a divine image" not some Mexican "Mona Lisa"?

Our friends at Power Line nailed this one:

"This is one of those stories that seem like they can't possibly be true.

Could America's Secretary of State really be ignorant of a central cultural symbol of a country next door?

It is as though a foreign minister came to Washington, was shown Stuart's portrait of George Washington, and asked, "Who was he?"

It is hard to imagine how Clinton's staff could have prepared her for her visit without making sure she knew the story."

It's spring! So let's go to the Ft Worth Botanic Garden!

We "officially" entered spring last week. So now it's time to go and appreciate nature.

In Dallas-Ft Worth, we have a wonderful place called The Ft Worth Botanic Garden:

".....the oldest botanic garden in Texas, is a lush 109-acre tapestry of dappled shade and vibrant splashes of color.

A peaceful haven nestled in the heart of Fort Worth's Cultural District, the Garden is home to over 2,500 species of native and exotic plants that flourish in its 23 specialty gardens."

It's a popular place for weddings and business meetings. You can even eat there!

For many of us, The Botanic Garden is just a nice place to spend a Sunday afternoon. Or, enjoy a concert!

P.S. Speaking of spring, here is my favorite song about butterflies and spring.

This is Bob Lind's "Elusive butterfly".

In high school, my English teacher was a huge fan of this song. She always loved the imagery and lyrics.

She was right:

[Words and Music by Bob Lind]

You might wake up some mornin'

To the sound of something

Moving past your window in the wind

And if you're quick enough to rise

You'll catch a fleeting glimpse

Of someone's fading shadow

Out on the new horizon

You may see the floating motion

Of a distant pair of wings

And if the sleep has left your ears

You might hear footsteps running

Through an open meadow

Don't be concerned It will not harm you

It's only me pursuing somethin' I'm not sure of

Across my dreams With nets of wonder

I chase the bright Elusive butterfly of love

You might have heard my footsteps

Echo softly in the distance

Through the canyons of your mind

I might have even called your name

As I ran searching After something to believe in

You might have seen me runnin'

Through the long-abandoned ruins

Of the dreams you left behind

If you remember something there

That glided past you followed close

By heavy breathin'

Don't be concerned It will not harm you

It's only me pursuing somethin'

I'm not sure of

Across my dreams With nets of wonder

I chase the bright Elusive butterfly of love

Across my dreams With nets of wonder

I chase the bright Elusive butterfly of love"

We support Pres BO in Afghanistan! Will the Dems stick with him?

Overall, I support Pres BO's statement about increasing our troop levels in Afghanistan.

We need to secure the country and destroy Al Qaeda or The Taleban.

I agree with Max Boot:

"The new Afghanistan policy that President Obama unveiled at the White House today was pretty much all that supporters of the war effort could have asked for, and probably pretty similar to what President McCain would have decided on."

So far so good.

We are very happy to see that Pres BO is listening to the generals!

What could go wrong?

First, wars always bring surprises. Just read about The Civil War, WW2 or more recently Iraq.

Second, will the Europeans finally send combat troops? We need guys to fight not to sit in the bleachers!

We can't fight the world's enemies if the world does not want to fight.

As the father of 3 sons of military age, I am tired of this. It's time for the Euros to get in the game!

We can't fight in Afghanistan with US, UK and Canadian troops.

Third, and most important, when will the Dems turn against the war?

Afghanistan will be costly, difficult and a lot more complicated than Iraq.

It will require patience, money and a president who governs rather than reads polls.

I have not seen anything in Pres BO's past, or first 60 days, that he will stand up to anyone. So far, he didn't stand up to the Democrats who embarrassed him with protectionist provisions in the last budget or the teachers' unions who stand against any change in public education!

Again, we will support Pres BO in Afghanistan because we understand the geopolitical implications of a defeat.

My concern is the Dem party.

Is this party tough enough to fight this war? I have serious doubts!

Michael Yon had an interesting post on Pres BO's decision:

"President Obama has just spoken on AfPak. I closed my eyes and listened closely to his words, coming via the BBC from the other side of the world.

The President's words were disappointing. He talked about our goal to reach a force level of 134,000 Afghan soldiers and 82,000 police by 2011.

This is not even in the neighborhood of being enough.

Further, the increase of 21,000 U.S. troops is likely just a bucket of water on the growing bonfire.

One can only expect that sometime in 2010, the President will again be forced to announce another increase in U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

If there were not people like Gates and Petraeus up there, my gut would say to pull out.

It is only my faith in the military, and what I saw them accomplish against heavy odds in Iraq, that gives me hope."

I respect Yon a lot. Let's hope that things work out in Afghanistan.

We know this: This is Pres BO's war now. It won't be long before "the left wing" turns on the war!

In fact, we are already seeing this in the media: Don't Go There Mr. President! By Tom Hayden!

"The Great Communicator" and his sense of humor!

During his two terms, President Reagan's humor was a great weapon. He used it against his critics, our enemies and even himself.

We remember some of that humor this weekend:

Happy birthday to Diana Ross

Just heard that Diana Ross is 65.

Question: Is that possible? I guess that time really does fly by!

Diana Ross is really 65........and we say happy birthday.

We have followed Diana Ross from The Supremes to her solo career.

The Supremes had a bunch of # 1 singles. In the late 1960's, they were one of the most consistent hit makers along with The Beatles. We wrote a post about The Supremes last year: Remember The Supremes!

She is a great performer and artist.

Our first selecton is "Stop in the name of love" from The Supremes:

(Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier/Edward Holland, Jr.)

"Stop! In the name of love Before you break my heart

Baby, baby I'm aware of where you go Each time you leave my door

I watch you walk down the street Knowing your other love you'll meet

But this time before you run to her Leaving me alone and hurt

(Think it over) After I've been good to you ?

(Think it over) After I've been sweet to you?

Stop! In the name of love Before you break my heart

Stop! In the name of love Before you break my heart

Think it over Think it over

I've known of yourYour secluded nights I've even seen her Maybe once or twice

But is her sweet expression Worth more than my love and affection?

But this time before you leave my arms And rush of to her charms

(Think it over) Haven't I been good to you?

(Think it over) Haven't I been sweet to you?

Stop! In the name of love Before you break my heart

Stop! In the name of love Before you break my heart

Think it over Think it over

I've tried so hard, hard to be patient Hoping you'd stop this infatuation

But each time you are together I'm so afraid I'll be losing you forever

Stop! In the name of love Before you break my heart

Stop! In the name of love Before you break my heart

Stop! In the name of love Before you break my heart

Baby, think it over Think it over, baby Ooh, think it over baby..."

The second selection is from the late 1980's. This is "Chain reaction" a tune written by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb of The Bee Gees. It became one of Diana's biggest solo hits:

"You took a mystery and made me want it

You got a pedestal and put me on it

You made me love you out of feeling nothing

Something that you do And I was there and not dancing with anyone

You took a little, then you took me over

You set your mark on stealing my heart away

Crying, trying, anything for you

I'm in the middle of a chain reaction You give me all the after midnight action

I wanna get you where I can let you make all that love to me

I'm on a journey for the inspiration To anywhere and there ain't no salvation

I need you to get me nearer to you

So you can set me free

We talk about love, love, love We talk about love

We talk about love, love, love We talk about love

You make me tremble when your hand moves lower

You taste a little then you swallow slower

Nature has a way of yielding treasure

Pleasure made for you, oh You gotta plan, your future is on the run

Shine a light for the whole world over

You never find your love if you hide away

Crying, dying, all you gotta do is

Get in the middle of a chain reaction

You get a medal when you're lost in action

I wanna get your love all ready for the sweet sensation

Instant radiation You let me hold you for the first explosion

We get a picture of our love in motion

My arms will cover, my lips will smother you

With no more left to say

We talk about love, love, love We talk about love

You let me hold you for the first explosion

My arms will cover you

All you gotta do is get in the middle of a chain reaction

You get a medal when you're lost in action

Don't pass me by I wanna get your love all ready for the chain reaction ...."

Thurs show: Mexico, the deficits and abortion!

Today, we spoke with Kyle Godfrey of Yellow Limes, Adryana Boyne, delegate to the Republican Convention, and Laurence Iliff of The Dallas Morning News.

Adryana reviewed the case of Rev Hoye in California.

Kyle discussed a recent post and we spoke about the deficits.

Laurance updated us on the trade war and the situation in Mexico.

Click here for the show or go the icon on the right and select the show!

Blaming Bush for BO's deficits is not working!

When will Pres Obama stop blaming Pres Bush?

We don't know. However, it didn't work with a group of voters who watched the press conference with Pollster Frank Luntz.

At some point, you have to get the "batter out" and stop blaming the starting pitcher for "loading the bases".

Karl Rove has a good summary of this deficit issue:

"Last fiscal year, the deficit was $459 billion.

For this fiscal year, it was $569 billion when Mr. Obama took office.

Under his proposals, another $1.276 trillion will be added to the deficit this year, for a total of $1.845 trillion.

The CBO says deficits will fall for three years to $658 billion, still nearly 50% larger than any past deficit.

After that, deficits go back up every year, reaching the trillion-dollar a year mark again in nine years."

Blaming Bush for Obama's deficits won't work!

Update on "Hope and change" and the "screamers"

Check out Noemie Emery's Death of the Obama dream:

"First, the financial crisis he was hired to fix has only grown worse under his tutelage, losing another 2,000-plus points on the Dow since his ascension.

Second, the ‘smoothest transition on record’ stopped being smooth when Bush went back to Texas, and has since been a mélange of scandals and dithering.

Third, the immense sums in his budget are starting to stun the more moderate Democrats, not to mention the Obamacons, who once put their hopes in his ‘moderate’ temperament.

Fourth, he and some of his high-profile picks have shown a repeated addiction to unforced errors and slights---mixing up names, misplacing dates, dissing Nancy Reagan, dissing the British Prime Minister, dissing the Special Olympics, created and run by John Kennedy’s sister—giving the impression the administration is run by the under-informed and the boorish and socially compromised.

Would Caroline’s father, who took part in his family’s effort to raise his retarded sister as normal, and who as president put great store in his special relationship with “Uncle Harold” McMillan, have found this amusing?

One rather thinks not."

What else is happening?

Pres BO's budget proposals have Dems worried:

Tension on the ocean liner by Dick Polman

Obama’s Budget: It’s Absolutely Insane! by Peter Ferrara

How can anyone justify budget deficits of 10-12% of GDP running for several years into the future? John Hinderaker is right: Who's Going to Lend the Money?

The "yes we can" screamers are worried, too. They had such high expectations for this president.

We warned them during the campaign to check out FOUAD AJAMI and Obama and the Politics of Crowds!

We recall this from the article:

"Victory will steadily deliver the sobering verdict that our troubles won't be solved by a leader's magic."

Let me say it again:

The "yes we can" screamers will soon feel terrible pain, the pain of having been taken for a ride by someone who told them what they wanted to hear.

Of course, there is always that video. It tells you everything that you need to know about these voters!

For me, this whole Obama episode, from the speeches about "healing the planet" to doing press conferences with a TelePrompter, is something out of The Twilight Zone:

Dear Mexicans: Don't listen to what they say, watch what they do!

Sec Clinton is down in Mexico and telling them what they want to hear.

She does that well, as we learned last year when Clinton and Obama were bashing NAFTA during the Dem primaries.

This is what she is telling the Mexicans today:

"Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade.

Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the death of police officers, soldiers and civilians," Clinton told reporters during her flight to Mexico City.

"I feel very strongly we have a co-responsibility." (Reuters)

OK. It sounds good. We can agree on some of that.

Let's agree that we need to do our part to fight these cartels.

Can anyone say "US troops" on the US side of the border?

We agree with Gov Perry, and most Republicans, who would like a serious response to the border violence.

I wrote a post about this a few days ago: Gov Perry wants troops on the border and he is right!

We have nothing against sending border agents but this is not an immigration problem anymore. We are facing brutal cartels with the latest weapons in the world!

Back to Sec Clinton.

Why in the world are Dems holding up the Merida Plan money?

What possible excuse did she give Pres Calderon?

This is as disgraceful as the issue of the trucks.

What party constituency are they pandering to on this one?

The Dem Congress has not released the funds for Mexico:

"The Mérida Initiative, a multiyear $1.4 billion assistance plan, is designed to help Mexico fight organized crime.

Congress has so far approved $700 million to bolster Mexico's rule of law and its law enforcement with training and equipment, including surveillance aircraft.

But delivery of some crucial equipment, such as five helicopters, has been postponed until 2011 and 2012." (DMN)

So why are we holding up deliveries of money or equipment?

What possible reason is there for the Dems to hold up this money?

When will the Obama administration deliver the money that Mexico needs to fight this war?

I don't know.

The Dallas Morning News is right:

"Despite grandstanding about the border crisis, Congress still hasn't fully funded the $1.4 billion in assistance pledged under the Mérida drug-fighting initiative, and military-grade helicopters promised in the package might not be delivered until 2012.

That hardly conveys a sense of urgency."

Frankly, there is no urgency in the Dem Congress to help Mexico fight this war.

There is a lot of talk but The Merida Plan money has not been delivered!

Again, what excuse did Sec Clinton give Pres Calderon on that?

Memo to Mexicans: Watch what they do NOT what they tell you!

Dear Sec Clinton: Don't smile and stab Mexico in the back with protectionist policies!

Sec Clinton will be in Mexico City for a day or two. She is there to show US support for Pres Calderon and the war on the cartels.

So far, so good!

Time will tell whether Mexico succeeds or turns into a failed state. You can read opinions from both sides on this one.

I have always enjoyed reading ENRIQUE KRAUZE. I feel a little better after reading The Mexican Evolution !

He wants everyone to chill out and give Mexico a chance to fix its problems.

OK. Let's do that!

In this blog, we have supported Pres Calderon's war and his overall efforts to reform the Mexican economy.

On the other hand, we can't deny some of the reality south of the border:

Mexican drug wars now worse than Iraq

Combating Organized Crime in Mexico and Latin America

Mexico Isn’t a Failed State — Yet

Drug cartels' new weaponry means war

Mexico: The Next Iraq or Afghanistan?

My guess is that Mexico can win this war because Pres Calderon looks like a committed man.

We are happy to see that there is a lot of "Bush" in Calderon.

Mexico's current war looks a lot like Iraq in 2006.

What did Pres Bush do after 2006? He committed to victory and things are doing quite well in Iraq today.

Wouldn't the citizens of Cd Juarez love to see some of the peace in Baghdad today?

Mexico can defeat the cartels.

Mexico can not win a trade war with "protectionist" Democrats.

This is why I want Sec Clinton to bring some "truck keys" and reaffirm US support for NAFTA.

How do you show support for Pres Calderon and Mexico?

First, commit yourself to NAFTA and stop pandering to labor unions.

Besides the pandering, most Ohio jobs did not go to Mexico anyway. They moved to Texas and the south. Why? Because we have low taxes and a pro-business climate in all of the states that voted for McCain rather than Obama!

Want to help workers in PA, Ohio and New York?

Don't bash Mexico.

Cut taxes and tell the labor unions to get real!

Second, support Mexico so that it can create enough jobs to keep people at home. This is how you fix the illegal immigration problem. We can't take in every Mexican who can't find work or has given up on his country. They need to stay home and find a job! They need to believe in Mexico again!

Third, we need to stand with reformers, like Pres Calderon. Let's support them so that they can survive the onslaught from demagogues in the left.

Do the protectionist Dems understand this?

We will find out over the next few months!

P.S. The LA Times has a great editorial:

"In a move that defies the North American Free Trade Agreement and hurts U.S. workers, Congress is denying Mexican truckers permission to travel more than a few miles north of the border." ( A roadblock to Mexico)

Yes, I want Pres BO to fail. Why would I want this to succeed?

Rush Limbaugh created a lot of commotion by saying that "he wanted Pres Obama to fail".

In fact, Rush said that he wanted Pres BO's liberal policies to fail.

Let me say this: I want Pres Obama to fail!

Why in the world would I want this kind of unsustainable debt to happen? See the above chart!

This is where we are today:

"Over the next decade, Obama's plan will produce annual deficits averaging 5.3% of the economy — compared with a post-war average of 2%.

Even Obama's own budget director says that's unsustainable.

Meanwhile, the national debt will hit 82.4% of GDP in 2019 under Obama's plan, according to the CBO, more than double the post-war average.

Worse, none of this includes Obama's pledge to expand health coverage." (IBD: Debt To The Next Frontier )

Why would I do this to my sons or other kids?

What about that fear of inflation?

You can't spend money like this, or borrow money like this, without some inflation:

"Right now, almost everyone is concerned about recession.

However, two years from now, the current economic contraction will be a distant memory, and other concerns will be more prominent.

The most prominent problem is likely to be inflation." (Don't Forget About Inflation)

Again, why would I do that to my sons?

This is insane.

Pres BO's budget deficits are unsustainable and will cripple the US. (This is why he is going to have so many problems selling his budget.....see Michael Goodwin)

We need to spend every minute of our day making sure that this insanity fails!