Erick Erickson's Blog, page 125

Morning Briefing for August 5, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For August 5, 2011

Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.

1. The Debt Rises, The Economy Sinks

2. Lisa Jackson is Using the EPA to Destroy the Coal Industry

3. Uh Oh! The Progressives Have Figured Out How The Tea Parties Took Over the GOP…

4. Chevy Volt's Loss is GM's Gain?

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1. The Debt Rises, The Economy Sinks

Despite being dispirited by the one-sided nature of the debt ceiling deal, most of us were looking forward to reaping the rewards from its only ancillary benefit; the impending stock market rally. Much to our chagrin, the Dow dropped precipitously, losing over 800 points since the opening bell on Monday. After the initial euphoria from the debt ceiling hangover began to subside, people have been forced to confront an inconvenient reality. The problem with the economy is not the debt ceiling; it is the debt – and all that it represents; overbearing and job-killing government.

Late Sunday night, Republican leaders forged a bipartisan deal with the president to raise the debt ceiling another $2.4 trillion without any preconditions for the second tranche. Despite pretentious claims that we were entering a new era of austerity, the debt deal has charted us on a trajectory to incur $7.8 trillion more in debt, even considering the unrealistic baseline projections of economic growth and revenue.

Well, the Treasury wasted no time utilizing its new credit card and devouring the spoils like the starved beast that it has been for the past few months. On Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner issued $239 billion in new debt, almost 60% of the entire $400 billion increase in borrowing authority that Congress granted for the first round of the debt limit hike. To put that in perspective with the "austerity side of the debt deal," it will take 4.5 years to achieve a commensurate degree of savings from the discretionary caps imposed in the bill. I guess that is one way of measuring dollar-for-dollar cuts.

Our total cumulative debt (including the intragovernmental share) now stands at $14.58 trillion, approaching 100% of out GDP for the first time. We have joined the failed socialist experiments of Europe in this ominous distinction.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. Lisa Jackson is Using the EPA to Destroy the Coal Industry

I reported recently on EPA rules that ran the risk of causing shut downs of plants in Texas and elsewhere. But that was before the massive heatwave began putting the real strain on them. So much so that they are almost at full capacity. And unfortunately, the EPA is only tightening it's grip.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Uh Oh! The Progressives Have Figured Out How The Tea Parties Took Over the GOP…

Wow! It's really flattering that radio talk-show host Thom Hartmann is attributing the Concord Project with the Tea Party taking over the GOP. The fact is, though, the GOP is still filled with those who would compromise the Constitution and bankrupt our country. Taking over the GOP has barely begun and, more importantly, the Tea Party (and other conservative activists) taking over the GOP involves many more people, groups, and organizations than the Concord Project.

Nevertheless, if Thom Hartmann wants to give some credit to the Concord Project for the strategy to take over the GOP, as long as it gets you to really know how important precinct activism is, so be it. More importantly, if progressives understanding the strategy and doing it themselves, get you motivated to get involved, even better.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. Chevy Volt's Loss is GM's Gain?

I've written about General Motor's CEO Dan Akerson before, but for those who don't remember, he was appointed to the board of directors by President Obama to represent the administration. He's also been a big proponent of the gas tax which he believes will increase the cost of car ownership just enough to get America off of foreign oil by forcing us to choose crappy cars that use less fuel.

As though the fates are trying to prove to Akerson that a gas tax is the only way Americans will ever buy into their green dreams, the Chevy Volt has crossed over into the realm of abysmal failure (one step above abject failure).

Please click here for the rest of the post.

I'm Back On At Night #EERS

I'm finally back on at night full time, having spent the better part of two weeks filling in for Neal Boortz.

And just in time to cover the blood bath on Wall Street today.

You can listen live by going to http://wsbradio.com and you can call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.

The show starts at 7pm and runs till 10pm ET.

Consider this an open thread.

The Horserace for August 4, 2011

IA Caucus: Feb. 6, 2012

NH Primary: Feb. 7, 2012

NV Caucus: Feb. 18, 2012

SC Primary: Feb. 28, 2012

That sound you hear is the Huntsman campaign imploding. Or it could be the Perry campaign launching. Both are happening concurrently. A slew of new polling is out showing a Rick Perry entry is going to shake up the race. Even more so, Sarah Palin is joining the soundbite wars to go after Mitt Romney.

This race is as fluid as ever and more and more interesting. The list of candidates is also getting shorter. I no longer see Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, or Thad McCotter as viable, adding each to the list of former candidates.

But now we have to take Rick Perry seriously, keep an eye on Sarah Palin, and also glance at Rudy Giuliani. The horserace is getting interesting.

Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann continues a strong performance. She got a shout out from Sarah Palin for standing on her principles. So much for the "cat fight" meme the media has been pushing. In fact, Bachmann's loud condemnation of the plan set her apart from Mitt Romney and made her look like a leader while his seeming opportunism made him look less than a leader.

The problem for Bachmann remains Rick Perry. She's doing great, but there is a media bias against her more pervasive than any sort of liberal bias. It is the historic bias that a member of the House of Representatives has not gone to the White House since the eighteen hundreds. Bachmann is going to have to overcome not just a liberal bias, but also a bias toward history in paving her own way into the White House.

She can do it, but she won't have a lot of outside help along the way. And polling suggests Perry's entry will rock the boat big.

Herman Cain

Herman Cain has moved beyond the muslim issue, but all the upside does leave one issue outstanding. As long as he was saying that stuff, the media found it worthwhile to focus on him. Now he is just a run of the mill candidate. He is going to have to find more ways to shine.

But with the grassroots, Cain continues to shine and that's why, though some would love to count him out, it is impossible. He has strong ties into the grassroots community and there is a lot of affection. To be sure, Bachmann's campaign has sucked up most of the energy, but there is an ever closing window of opportunity for Cain to get back some of those grassroots as they shift their glass from Bachmann to Perry.

Herman Cain will probably have to spend some capital to make it happen, but it is still possible to put him on a path to victory. It's just he has a very small window and if he doesn't get into the top three in Iowa, he not only has no path to the White House, but has no path to the Vice President's house either. He would, however, still have a path to the Senate challenging Saxby Chambliss in 2014.

Rudy Giuliani

I'll say what I said last week. There are signs of life in a possible Giuliani campaign, but not much. I still don't think he will run, but should he it will hurt Mitt Romney. In fact, were Rudy to get in, he'd never say it, but I think it'd be to get Romney out.

Now let me add something else. Even Rudy's 2008 fundraisers are cold on him running, so I don't think it will happen and this will probably be his last appearance in the horserace.

Jon Huntsman

I told you people that hiring John Weaver was a sign the Huntsman campaign wasn't viable. This happened with John McCain too. That Huntsman saw what happened to John McCain in 2000 and 2008 and decided to go the same route raises all sorts of questions about his judgment.

The media darling is still loved by the media for embracing both the Boehner plan and the compromise plan — but both put him at odds with the bulk of the GOP base. Huntsman's strategy has always been to avoid conservative voters and hope to woo moderates and independent crossovers into the primary. I still don't see there being enough of them to get him over the hump.

Jon Huntsman's days are numbered it would seem, but remember he has a pile of money to buy his way out of trouble. I just think it will be an insurmountable pile of trouble he himself has stacked up. It is all summed up for me, in this bit from the Politico:

Huntsman's father and wife, Mary Kaye, are worried about the direction of the campaign. "Why isn't he on any of the talk shows yet?" his wife asked in June. "Why isn't he on 'The View?'"

Dude is running in a Republican primary and his wife wants him on The View?!?!?!

Game over.

Sarah Palin

I'll say what I said last week. Palin will be heading a big even in Iowa for the tea party movement on September 3rd. There are no outward signs that she'll use it to launch a Presidential campaign. If Perry gets in before then, I really don't think she will run. But, several people have pointed out that the date of her speech is the 3rd anniversary of her speech in 2008 at the RNC.

Let me add that I hear there is a growing sense among people at Fox that Palin is not going to run. Likewise, Palin has now been out praising Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann, while calling Mitt Romney, more or less, an opportunist. I still don't think she's running, but I would remain delightfully surprised if she did get in.

Ron Paul

Ron Paul will not be the nominee.

Tim Pawlenty

More and more it seems Pawlenty, who has run a largely flawless campaign, will not be the nominee. I have long thought he would, but his campaign never caught fire. As long as there are people expecting a Perry entry, it will make it even harder for Pawlenty to gain traction. With polling showing a Perry entry pushes Pawlenty further down the list, even in Iowa, I do not know how he will be able to sustain himself.

He is a genuine, likable, good guy. But that isn't translating in the field right now. If he can't retool and find a way to stand out and stay in people's minds, it'll be lights out sooner rather than later.

Rick Perry

According to fundraisers and others, Perry's entry is all but a done deal. We're already seeing the opposition research dump coming on strong against Perry. I think he is going to have to play his initial entry well, or the media story will be how he came out and lost his footing early.

It is doable, but he needs to remember that everybody, including the Bushies, will be gunning for him. All that said, one Democratic operative recently told me the reason a lot of Washington Democrats who know Perry fear him. They say he has more charisma on the stump than any other politician in America and is the GOP's version of Bill Clinton. He also has the come from behind, poor roots that Clinton had to present a compelling narrative. Democrats and Republicans both worry about Perry, which means he is going to get the crap beat out of him the moment he declares. We'll see if he can take a punch and throw one back.

Mitt Romney

The "Mittness" Protection Program meme has taken hold. Even Sarah Palin is dinging Romney for disappearing only to raise his head after sticking his finger in the wind. Polls show he is still the front runner, but his lead slips with a Perry entry. If the anti-Romney faction consolidates behind Bachmann, Pawlenty, or Perry, the Romney campaign will not be able to hold on to first place.

Why?

Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but one of Romney's largest advantages has been the psychological factor of the inevitability of him being the nominee. If the others consolidate behind one person, that factor goes out the window and Romney becomes just another candidate, not the heir apparent. At that point, people are going to have to take a hard look at him.

What they'll discover is that a lot of the establishment has embraced him simply because he was the presumed front runner and a lot of the grassroots distrust him because of Romneycare and presumed flip-flopping on issues.

Once the other candidates consolidate, Romney is going to have to give people a reason to vote for him for something other than being heir apparent. But don't count him out. There are plenty of reasons to vote for a guy like Romney with his business experience. More so, Romney has the money the other candidates do not have.

He's still the front runner and even with Perry getting in, Romney is the odds on favorite. Thought it is worth pointing out he is slipping behind Perry in intrade, the online stock market that lets you place bids on who will or will not win. The market is starting to turn against Romney.

Listing of Presidential candidates

I consider "former" candidates

(in order of being dropped)

Gary Johnson

Rick Santorum

Thad McCotter

Newt Gingrich

Morning Briefing for August 4, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For August 4, 2011

Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.

1. Agenda for the 2011 RedState Gathering

2. The Case of the Missing President

3. Let Them Eat Cake! DNC Blows Off Unions For Obama's 50th Birthday Bash!

4. A Rational Shut Down Strategy

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1. Agenda for the 2011 RedState Gathering

Folks, i've posted the full and final agenda for the 2011 RedState Gathering in Charleston, SC. The event will be from August 12 to 14, 2011. The main event is August 13th.

You can register by going to http://www.redstate.com/gathering.

To see the agenda, please click here.

2. The Case of the Missing President

This anonymously-sourced report from The Hill, which clearly derives in good part from Republican sources, is pretty damning about President Obama's leadership, if it turns out to be accurate.

As John Podhoretz noted in the NY Post, Obama's inability to either work out a deal in private or rally public support behind any particular plan resulted in a deal that left out the one thing he had demanded, any tax hikes. And indeed, whether or not the Hill's account is accurate, it is telling that Obama insisted that his entire role be performed offstage where the public couldn't verify what he was doing or where he stood except by taking the word of him and his spokesmen. That amounted to a total surrender of the 'bully pulpit,' despite Obama's frequent appearances to repeat his vague appeals for a "balanced" approach – Republicans could see that he wasn't willing to take any stand for which he'd be held accountable, and so they inferred, correctly, that he'd never stand ground he'd taken in private if he feared to take it in public. His silence on the specifics rendered him weak and vulnerable, and ultimately impotent. He became the man who'd take any deal, so of course he got none of what he asked for.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Let Them Eat Cake! DNC Blows Off Unions For Obama's 50th Birthday Bash!

A day after President Obama held an "urgent" meeting with AFL-CIO bosses in the White House, the Democrat National Committee is hosting a huge birthday bash for Obama's 50th birthday tonight in Chicago. The only problem is, DNC organizers apparently chose not to use union labor for the event.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. A Rational Shut Down Strategy

In case you haven't noticed it part of the federal government is now shut down. The Federal Aviation Administration's budget is caught up in a disagreement between the House and Senate. The House has adjourned, except for pro forma sessions which prevent Obama from placing more commies in positions of power, which means the FAA will be unfunded until September.

As we approach yet another budgetary food fight when the current continuing resolution expires on September 30 what has happened with the FAA is instructive on how to reduce federal spending, including the elimination of agencies, without triggering a widespread government shutdown with uncertain outcomes.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Agenda for the 2011 RedState Gathering

RedState Gathering 2011 Agenda

Friday, August 12, 2011

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Welcome Reception with welcome by Rep. Tim Scott (R-SC)

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Gov. Rick Scott of Florida

Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina

8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Reception with Gov. Nikki Haley

Saturday, August 13, 2011

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. American Majority Training Session

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Welcome from Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Hon. Ted Cruz, former Solicitor General of Texas

Candidate for the United States Senate

11:00 – 11:30 a.m. Michael Needham, Heritage Action for America

11:30 – 12:00 p.m. Hon. Don Stenberg, Treasurer of Nebraska

Candidate for the United States Senate

12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. LUNCH

During Lunch, a presentation from South Carolina FairTax

With Rep. Bill Taylor (R-SC) and Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA)

1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas

2:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Balanced Budget Amendment

A conversation with Colin Hanna of Let Freedom Ring 

3:00 to 3:15 p.m. BREAK

3:15 to 3:45 p.m. Hon. Adam Hasner, Majority Leader, Florida House of Representatives

Candidate for the United States Senate

3:45 to 4:15 p.m. Hon. Michael Williams, Railroad Commissioner, State of Texas

Candidate for the United States Congress

4:15 to 4:45 p.m. Max Pappas, Executive Director, FreedomWorks PAC

4:45 to 5:15 p.m. A Conversation with Ben Domenech, Josh Trevino, and Erick Erickson

5:15 to 5:30 p.m. Conclusion

6:00 p.m. Reception

7:30 p.m. Dinner & Movie

Details on registration are here.

Morning Briefing for August 3, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For August 3, 2011

Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.

1. Reflections on the Deficit Deal

2. Congressional Democrats Aim to Kill Energy's Golden Goose

3. Harry Reid Admits He's a Terrorist Hijacker of FAA Funding

4. Jonah Goldberg is tired of the vicious hypocrisy of these people…

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1. Reflections on the Deficit Deal

I don't make claims to prescience and have no idea what the final product of the current debt ceiling negotiations will produce. I'm guessing it will not be as good as the boosters claim and not as bad as the partisans on both sides suggest. Make no mistake about it, the debate and deal were of historic import. This is the first time that an increase in the debt ceiling has ever been seriously debated.

It would be a mistake, I think, to be discouraged over this deal or to take uncritically the view of my friend and colleague Francis Cianfrocca that Obama was a big winner. The left doesn't see it that way. We didn't win all that we wanted, though I must confess that I'm still more than a little unclear on what was expected to be achieved while operating in the shadow of a bill that had to be passed, but we moved the ball forward and I think we are well positioned for the next round.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. Congressional Democrats Aim to Kill Energy's Golden Goose

If "it's all about the jobs", why are Democrats trying to kill one of the only successful job creation engines in our economy?

From Texas and Louisiana to North Dakota and Pennsylvania, energy development is creating good jobs, well-paying jobs, by the tens and even hundreds of thousands. Billions of dollars are flowing into the economies of the host states. The common thread of the booms in these states is shale drilling. Over the last few years, technological advancements have enabled commercial oil and gas production from shale rock long that according to conventional wisdom was unproductive.

Successful? At this point, some 25% of domestic natural gas production is from shale formations. And that proportion is expected to grow in the coming years.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Harry Reid Admits He's a Terrorist Hijacker of FAA Funding

Throughout the debt ceiling fight, Harry Reid purported to be the only true compromiser, while painting the Tea Party as extreme hostage takers. However, unlike most hostage takers, tea partiers made no demands of government for their own personal gain. They simply wanted to preclude their children and grandchildren from incurring permanent indebtedness. Harry Reid, on the other hand, has shown us the true meaning of hostage taking. And he is now admitting it.

While the public was focused on the potential government shutdown over the debt ceiling debate, Harry Reid quietly forced a partial shutdown of the FAA. For months, Reid has blocked a long-term extension of the FAA reauthorization, while forcing Congress to pass reckless short-term measures that lacked much-needed reform.

The last extension expired July 23, but Harry Reid has refused to consider the House-passed extension through September. The House bill cut a subsidy program to three rural airports, where the cost of subsidized flights was hopelessly uneconomical. One of those airports, White Pine County Airport in Ely, Nevada, enjoys a subsidy to the tune of $3,720 per passenger! [Read more about it here] Yet, Reid refused to relinquish his selfish pork, causing a partial shutdown of the FAA and the furloughing of 4,000 employees. Additionally, the shutdown has cost the government millions in lost revenue from taxes on airline tickets. So much for a balanced approach on revenue.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. Jonah Goldberg is tired of the vicious hypocrisy of these people…

'These people' being the media, and their contemptible willingness to accept a double standard when it comes to violent rhetoric. After screaming for so long about every possible hint of a suggestion of a possibility of violent speech from the Right, it's amazing what will be forgiven when it comes from the Left.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Two More Days for Boortz

Today I'm filling in for Neal Boortz again. The Talkmaster finally returns from the far side of the world on Thursday.

Tune in live from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET by clicking right here.

The phone number is 1-800-WSB-TALK.

Consider this an open thread.

The Necessity of the Fight

Here's something no one wants to talk about, whether Republican or Democrat. Well, I should not say no one, but pretty much every Republican and Democrat who participated in the terms of the debate over the debt ceiling has ignored this.

Government spending is going above 25% of GDP.

Tax revenue, up until the last two years has averaged 18.5% GDP.

Let's give the Democrats, for the sake of argument, their Clinton tax increases back. The 1998 to 1999 years saw the highest amount of federal revenue come in. But it was only in the 21% of GDP range.

In fact, 1945 and 1999 are the only two years I can find where tax revenue into the federal government surpassed 20%.

In other words, with the economy firing on all cylinders, only twice has revenue into the federal treasury been over 20% of GDP and spending has now gone well above 20% of GDP.

Today the Senate will vote on the compromise debt ceiling plan. If the plan is implemented to the letter as intended, we will add $12 trillion in debt over the next decade.

Democrats are convinced that they can keep squeezing blood from turnips and get more tax revenue. They can't. History shows us that. Wealth flight will happen or people will find it cost effective to shelter income.

So if tax revenue, in the very case, is going to max out around 20%, it seems even were the Republicans to concede tax increases, the Democrats are going to have to concede massive spending cuts — much more massive in terms of GDP than tax increases.

They'll obfuscate. They'll distract. But history will not be denied.

This is why conservatives must keep pushing for more and more. Both the GOP and the Democrats are in denial about the very real issue — government spending is exceeding its ability to take in revenue to fund the leviathan and at some point the leviathan will come crashing down on us, if we are not first consumed by it.

Morning Briefing for August 2, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For August 2, 2011

Go to www.RedStateMB.com to get
the Morning Briefing every morning at no charge.

I'll be filling in for Neal Boortz again today. You can listen live from 8:30 a.m. to 1p.m. by going to http://wsbradio.com and call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.

— Erick

1. The Necessity of the Fight

2. Obama is the Big Winner in the Debt-Ceiling Debate

3. Barack Obama is Keyser Soze

4. The Attempted Terrorist Attack by the Face of Peaceful Islam, and the Problems it Presents for Media and Muslims Alike

5. Is Gov. Steve Beshear (D, KY) extorting campaign contributions?

6. WSJ Misses the Mark on Oil Markets and the SPR

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1. The Necessity of the Fight

Here's something no one wants to talk about, whether Republican or Democrat. Well, I should not say no one, but pretty much every Republican and Democrat who participated in the terms of the debate over the debt ceiling has ignored this.

Government spending is going above 25% of GDP.

Tax revenue, up until the last two years has averaged 18.5% GDP.

Let's give the Democrats, for the sake of argument, their Clinton tax increases back. The 1998 to 1999 years saw the highest amount of federal revenue come in. But it was only in the 21% of GDP range.

In fact, 1945 and 1999 are the only two years I can find where tax revenue into the federal government surpassed 20%.

In other words, with the economy firing on all cylinders, only twice has revenue into the federal treasury been over 20% of GDP and spending has now gone well above 20% of GDP.

Today the Senate will vote on the compromise debt ceiling plan. If the plan is implemented to the letter as intended, we will add $12 trillion in debt over the next decade.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. Obama is the Big Winner in the Debt-Ceiling Debate

This isn't Monday-morning quarterbacking. For one thing, it's not football season yet. For another, the game wasn't played on Sunday afternoon. It's been going on for weeks, with twists and turns more reminiscent of comic opera than football.

Even so, today's media game has been all about deciding who got the better deal. Many of the partisans think they came up short, and are looking to blame their guys. In the media (which sees any legislation as an achievement, no matter how hollow, cynical, or ultimately ineffectual), many are scoring this as a win for both sides. (That's to say, all of the parties will be able to go back to their respective bases with something to brag about.)

Around the middle of last week, I lost track of the specific content of the deals, which was in constant flux. And the media lost track of it too! The only reporting, it seemed, was about who was up (Boehner, Reid, Obama) and who was down at any point in time. That tells you all you need to know about how cynical and empty this whole process has been.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Barack Obama is Keyser Soze

He's got the Democrats to take the fall with the base, convinced Obama is an inept negotiator.

He's got the GOP befuddled thinking they've had some success.

Meanwhile, Obama himself gets several loose ends sewn together that could complicate his re-election, including the debt ceiling, spending cuts, and tax reform.

And if he pulls it all off and wins re-election, he's also secured full funding for Obamacare, killed off the Bush tax cuts for good, and probably cut defense spending enough to be re-allocated elsewhere in 2013.

People saying the Democrats were big losers are right. On policy.

But politically, Obama is a massive winner and if he wins re-election will also have some long term liberal policy victories greeting him January 1, 2013.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. The Attempted Terrorist Attack by the Face of Peaceful Islam, and the Problems it Presents for Media and Muslims Alike

A second terrorist attack on soldiers stationed at Fort Hood, Texas in under two years was discovered last week, and its plotter, Private First Class Naser Jason Abdo, was arrested before the attack could be carried out. The latter fact, of course, differentiates this plot from the successful attack carried out by Major Nidal Hasan in November 2009, when the Army officer and Islamist radical gunned down thirteen people – including a pregnant woman – and wounded thirty-two more, while yelling "Allahu Akbar!" after receiving counseling and religious justification for the attack from the Yemen-based, American-born al Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

Abdo was formally charged in federal court Friday with possession of an "unregistered destructive device." The plot that was foiled last week, allegedly inspired by Hasan's rampage (Abdo reportedly yelled "Nidal Hasan, Fort Hood 2009!" in court Friday), involved attacking a popular (and still unspecified) off-post restaurant with pipe (pressure cooker) bombs, and then using a handgun to shoot any who survived the blast. According to law enforcement officials, the attack was planned for Thursday – the day after Abdo was arrested. His next appearance in court is reportedly scheduled for 2 pm on August 4, at the Waco Federal Courthouse.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

5. Is Gov. Steve Beshear (D, KY) extorting campaign contributions?

That's the rather bombshell allegation being made today; the gist is that Rodney Young (a retiring psychologist for the Department of Juvenile Justice has reported that his colleagues were the target of an attempt to extort $500 contributions to Steve Beshear's re-election campaign, with the threat that they could lose their jobs if they did not so contribute. The major argument against this happening is that it would be EXTREMELY STUPID of anyone affiliated with the Governor to make this kind of threat.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

6. WSJ Misses the Mark on Oil Markets and the SPR

An article by Sarah Kent in Monday's Wall Street Journal, "Traders Eye Oil Tanker Play", (full text requires subscription*) purports to explain current action in the oil market, as 30 million barrels of crude oil are due to be released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) before August 31.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

Barack Obama is Keyser Soze

Playing off of Francis's timely post, I think we should start considering Barack Obama the Keyser Soze of American politics.

He's got the Democrats to take the fall with the base, convinced Obama is an inept negotiator.

He's got the GOP befuddled thinking they've had some success.

Meanwhile, Obama himself gets several loose ends sewn together that could complicate his re-election, including the debt ceiling, spending cuts, and tax reform.

And if he pulls it all off and wins re-election, he's also secured full funding for Obamacare, killed off the Bush tax cuts for good, and probably cut defense spending enough to be re-allocated elsewhere in 2013.

People saying the Democrats were big losers are right. On policy.

But politically, Obama is a massive winner and if he wins re-election will also have some long term liberal policy victories greeting him January 1, 2013.