Erick Erickson's Blog, page 193

Jonathan Pollard

I have known Jennifer Rubin for a while and really like her, but I am terribly befuddled about her Washington Post blog "Right Turn." It has descended into advocacy of getting the traitor Jonathan Pollard out of prison.

First, I have no idea why that has anything to do with coverage of conservatives and secondly, I think she's gone a bridge too far now.

Certainly there are some noted people like George Shultz who are happy to have Pollard released, but Jennifer writes, "Conservatives in effect have offered Obama all the support he might need should he be inclined to pardon Pollard."

Jonathan Pollard was a spy for hire who was hired by Israel, South Africa, and potentially other countries. He ratted out our intelligence and potentially cost people their lives because of it.

There are few conservatives within the actual conservative movement who are paying attention, but the bulk of those who are do not want Pollard released. They want him hanged or shot as a traitor to his country.

I realize there are people who believe our alliance with Israel outweighs every other consideration and they are forced to make logical leaps to defend or mitigate Jonathan Pollard's actions. But let's be clear that Jonathan Pollard is a traitor to his country and those defending him or mitigating what he did are defending a traitor with blood on his hands.

Were Barack Obama to release this traitor, it would not help him politically. It would yet again cause people to question his world view — something he is desperate to avoid.

Conservatives have offered nothing to Barack Obama in exchange for a Pollard pardon. To say so stretches the very definition of "conservatives" to the point that the word has no meaning. In this case, it appears "conservatives" means a handful of very old Cold Warriors. And Jenn Rubin.

Count the majority of conservatives out.

Closing point: I cannot fathom why right now when the right is having to defend itself from accusations of murder, Jenn Rubin is using a Washington Post platform to cover conservatives to claim conservatives want to help a traitor to this country.

Morning Briefing for January 12, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For January 12, 2011

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

1. Jonathan Pollard

2. What's Missing

3. Sanders puts Tucson attack in fundraising crosshairs.

4. The Stone-Throwing AFL-CIO Boss Who Lives in a Glass House

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1. Jonathan Pollard

I have known Jennifer Rubin for a while and really like her, but I am terribly befuddled about her Washington Post blog "Right Turn." It has descended into advocacy of getting the traitor Jonathan Pollard out of prison.

First, I have no idea why that has anything to do with coverage of conservatives and secondly, I think she's gone a bridge too far now.

Certainly there are some noted people like George Shultz who are happy to have Pollard released, but Jennifer writes, "Conservatives in effect have offered Obama all the support he might need should he be inclined to pardon Pollard."

Jonathan Pollard was a spy for hire who was hired by Israel, South Africa, and potentially other countries. He ratted out our intelligence and potentially cost people their lives because of it.

There are few conservatives within the actual conservative movement who are paying attention, but the bulk of those who are do not want Pollard released. They want him hanged or shot as a traitor to his country.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. What's Missing

In all the discussions we're having, let's not forget that bad things have happened throughout history, but we are seeing more and more a pattern of violence from those who reject Christ and we are seeing the most extreme rhetoric from those who reject the only real truth while embracing every other historic fad and nonsense as variations of truth. The one true way has been shunned, ridiculed, bastardized, co-opted, and buried over in psycho-babble nonsense, "find your own spirtual self" crap, and haphazard soul damning assorted other garbage.

For a taste of what I'm talking about, look at Timothy McVeigh. Raised a Catholic, McVeigh self-admitted that there was a god of some sorts, but that he was agnostic, had no belief in hell, and had drifted far from anything having to do with Jesus Christ. But the left routinely tries to portray McVeigh as some sort of Christian terrorist. They know not of what they speak.

The topic of faith in Christ makes people cringe. But whether you believe it or not, here is the reality: beyond us is a world we cannot see with our eyes. It impacts us on a daily basis. It is a world of very real angels and very real demons. It is a world of a very real God and a very real Satan, a very real Heaven and a very real Hell.

The back and forth and accusations and lies surrounding Jared Loughner should be a constant reminder to us that there is more at play in our world than what we see.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. Sanders puts Tucson attack in fundraising crosshairs.

Senator Bernie Sanders - the socialist Senator from Vermont who we're supposed to pretend isn't a socialist because the Democrats get upset about us bringing up the entire 'socialism' thing - has decided that the best way to handle last weekend's attempted assassination of a Congresswoman (and the murder of six people, including a nine-year-old girl) is to send out a fundraising letter blaming the whole thing on the right wing.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. The Stone-Throwing AFL-CIO Boss Who Lives in a Glass House

Intellectual dishonesty. Other than, perhaps, sheer hypocrisy, there just doesn't seem to be any other term that describes the Left's behavior in the aftermath of Saturday's massacre in Tucson.

On Monday, AFL-CIO boss Richard Trumka weighed in.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

The Premiere of the Erick Erickson Show

Tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET, you can tune in to the premiere of the Erick Erickson Show on WSB Atlanta. The signal can be picked up all over on AM 750 and in much of Georgia on 95.5 FM. You can also click the "listen live" button at http://wsbradio.com.

The call in number is 404-872-0750 in the Atlanta area and 1-800-WSB-TALK elsewhere.

You'll like the intro music.

By the way, I'll be following the hashtag #EERS on Twitter throughout the show.

What's Missing

"Whether you believe it or not, here is the reality: beyond us is a world we cannot see with our eyes — a world of very real angels and very real demons, of a very real God and a very real devil. "

I am tired of talking about the Arizona shooting. The left has done its best to try to pin it on the right. We know now that not only was Loughner of the left before he went nuts, but that, in fact, Loughner was nuts.

His actions can be pinned on neither the left nor the right.

All of the media handwringing over the "tone" in the country and the "extremist rhetoric" distracts from and implies that the tone and rhetoric had something to do with Jared Loughner's rampage.

It did not.

By continuing to discuss this topic, the media continues to imply that it did.

We also know Barack Obama's advisors are urging him to seize the moment and join the left in blaming the right for this violence. Not only is that disgusting, but should he, the media wringing their hands about the tone better call him out on it — but I won't hold my breath.

Through it all though, well meaning people on both sides of the ideological and partisan divide are not talking about the one thing that should be talked about — a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

I am no saint. And I am no preacher. This is not intended to be a sermon. But it needs to be said and is not being said. Thankfully God is the God of the imperfect and all of us are.

In all the discussions we're having, let's not forget that bad things have happened throughout history, but we are seeing more and more a pattern of violence from those who reject Christ and we are seeing the most extreme rhetoric from those who reject the only real truth while embracing every other historic fad and nonsense as variations of truth. The one true way has been shunned, ridiculed, bastardized, co-opted, and buried over in psycho-babble nonsense, "find your own spirtual self" crap, and haphazard soul damning assorted other garbage.

For a taste of what I'm talking about, look at Timothy McVeigh. Raised a Catholic, McVeigh self-admitted that there was a god of some sorts, but that he was agnostic, had no belief in hell, and had drifted far from anything having to do with Jesus Christ. But the left routinely tries to portray McVeigh as some sort of Christian terrorist. They know not of what they speak.

The topic of faith in Christ makes people cringe. But whether you believe it or not, here is the reality: beyond us is a world we cannot see with our eyes. It impacts us on a daily basis. It is a world of very real angels and very real demons. It is a world of a very real God and a very real Satan, a very real Heaven and a very real Hell.

The back and forth and accusations and lies surrounding Jared Loughner should be a constant reminder to us that there is more at play in our world than what we see. And, frankly, at times like this I am more and more mindful of the great chasm in this world between the saved and damned.

Political rhetoric did not make Jared Loughner do what he did. His embrace of evil led him down a road down which we should be in constant prayer no others dare travel.

The Erick Erickson Show

Tonight at 9:00 p.m. on AM 750 and 95.5 FM WSB in Atlanta, the real and true premiere of the Erick Erickson Show gets off the ground. I'm excited. We had a four hour run yesterday, but I considered it a beta version. We worked out most of the kinks and we'll go live tonight.

You can listen online at http://wsbradio.com and call in at 1-800-WSB-TALK.

The intro music will be one of the coolest things you'll hear on radio.

Morning Briefing for January 11, 2011

RedState Morning Briefing

For January 11, 2011

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

Tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET you too can catch the premiere of the Erick Erickson Show on 750 AM WSB in Atlanta. You can listen online at http://wsbradio.com.
1. The Left Puts a Bullseye on the Right

2. Did Dupnik dismiss Loughner threat?

3. MoveOn.org's Spin

4. Rahm Emanuel Secretly Tells Union Bosses He Plans to Cut Chicago Workers' Pensions

5. What Time Is It? It's Time To Cheat

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1. The Left Puts a Bullseye on the Right

If this weekend has taught us anything politically, it's that the left is not interested in facts. Once a template has been established, no amount of evidence is going to usurp their idea of how and why certain events have transpired.

After the Discovery Channel hostage situation, Media Matters grabbed the mantle of leadership and advised against jumping to conclusions.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

2. Did Dupnik dismiss Loughner threat?

I have a rule of thumb: if I write a post on a topic, and I get either hate mail or hate posts about it, then I'm onto something. Well, yesterday I wrote a post on Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik's rather strange tactical decision to imply that the Chinese were behind Jared Loughner's attempted assassination of Giffords*, and I got both. Apparently, the Left was not too happy at my suggestion that Sheriff Dupnik's re-election chances have taken a fatal hit; which was perhaps a bit surprising, because I've had Arizona political mavens tell me that Dupnik's typically seen as being fairly safe.

Well, about that. Reportedly, Loughner had a history of making public death threats that been ignored by the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

3. MoveOn.org's Spin

MoveOn.org has sent out a blast email blaming "hate" on the shooting in Arizona.

Back during 2003, MoveOn.org ran ads equating George W. Bush to Hitler.

During the health care town hall debates, a MoveOn.org supporter bit the finger off a conservative activist.

MoveOn.org called "the violence 'regrettable.'"

Please click here for the rest of the post.

4. Rahm Emanuel Secretly Tells Union Bosses He Plans to Cut Chicago Workers' Pensions

With a huge lead in the polls (his nearest competitor trails by 16 points), Rahm Emanuel is apparently confident enough about winning election as Chicago's next mayor that he privately met in December with union bosses to tell them he plans to cut the pensions of all Chicago city workers.

Moreover, it appears union bosses either didn't want their members to find out about Rahm's plans, or they don't want their members to find out cuts are likely to happen anyway, regardless of who wins.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

5. What Time Is It? It's Time To Cheat

Senate Democrats in the 111th Congress got a lot of mileage from procedural cheating (fiscal and legislative) –- and from extorting concessions from Republicans by threatening to cheat.

For instance, the accounting tricks used to pass ObamaCare would have, if employed by a private business, put the company's CEO in prison for the rest of his life.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

6. Will the Union-Controlled NLRB Kick the Girl Scouts Out On the Streets?

If you're a parent who is accustomed to helping your local Girl Scouts sell their cookies in front of your local grocery store, don't be surprised if, very soon, you learn that you're not welcome anymore. Unfortunately, the Girl Scouts, as well as other charitable organizations, may soon become the victims of a power play by the union-controlled National Labor Relations Board and union bosses who want to further muscle their way onto employers' private property.

Please click here for the rest of the post.

The Beta Launch — Here We Go!

Tomorrow night at 9:00 pm, The Erick Erickson Show launches on Newstalk WSB in Atlanta.

Tonight, a beta launch if you will. With Snowpocalypse 2011 grinding Atlanta to a standstill, I'll start up tonight at 8:00 p.m. from the frozen bunker we shall call Hoth.

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

MoveOn.org's Spin

MoveOn.org has sent out a blast email blaming "hate" on the shooting in Arizona.

From their email:

Windows were smashed at Representative Giffords' district office last March just a few hours after the House vote on health care reform.2 At one of the infamous town hall events in August 2009, a man attending the event accidentally dropped a handgun on the floor that he had been hiding under his arm.

And violent tendencies have been inflamed by the careless and irresponsible rhetoric of certain political leaders. Sarah Palin's infamous "target list" displayed Democratic districts, including Rep. Giffords', in crosshairs, as if viewed through a gunsight.

Back during 2003, MoveOn.org ran ads equating George W. Bush to Hitler.

During the health care town hall debates, a MoveOn.org supporter bit the finger off a conservative activist.

MoveOn.org called "the violence 'regrettable.'"

Thought for the Day Open Thread

When John F. Kennedy was assassinated, one of the first thoughts of many was that it was an ultra-right winger who did. Turned out to be a Karl Marx fan.

When Congresswoman Giffords was shot, immediately the media wanted to discuss heated rhetoric and the tea parties. Turned out the shooter is a Karl Marx fan.

Prior to Ronald Reagan's attempted assassination, many lefties were very vocal that they hoped he'd be assassinated or die because of his age because he'd otherwise start a nuclear war with the Soviets.

When Hinckley attempted to assassinate Reagan, there was no discussion the media about left-wing rhetoric or attempts to blame the left.

Consider this an open thread.

Are RNC Committeemen Even Listening?

I wonder if Republican Committeemen are even listening to the Republican grassroots. Or do they just think they know best? That's what they thought two years ago. They thought the RNC needed a black man as the face of the Republican Party to take on Barack Obama. They thought the consultants knew best.

Now look at where we are. Maybe, just maybe, if the Republican Committeemen listened to the grassroots for just a minute they'd be able to finally stop the revolt among the grassroots still so intent on doing end runs around the RNC.

If they listened to the grassroots before voting for Chairman of the Republican National Committee, I think they'd be surprised. They might learn some of the following.

Many people who watched the RNC Chairman debate were actually shocked at how well Michael Steele did. I myself, who did not watch it initially but went back to it, have to commend Chairman Steele for doing a solid job. I'm even shocked I'm writing that.

Saul Anuzis also did very, very well. His answers were refreshing and deeply reflective of a tea party heart, something the GOP could probably use at the top right now.

What the committeemen might also be surprised to learn is that among both grassroots activists and conservative organizations in general there is an extremely high level of angst over Maria Cino.

Having given money to and supported an organization that backs pro-child killing candidates, Cino is more divisive than I had realized. And if it is surprising to me how divisive she is, I suspect the committeemen will be taken by surprise too. To be clear here, I am told that Ms. Cino has come around to the pro-life position and I have no reason to doubt it. But many do and I think that lingering doubt should be cause for concern.

But it is not just giving money to and supporting candidates who support killing children that has the grassroots upset with Cino. It is also the very thing the RNC needs to avoid this year — ties too close to the establishment.

Reince Priebus, whose name I will never be able to pronounce, is obviously the most contentious candidate, if only because everyone is presuming Michael Steele absolutely cannot get re-elected.

I have been personally concerned because several people tell me that the same consultants who backed Steele two years ago are backing Priebus. But I will say in his credit that many of the tea party and grassroots activists in Wisconsin sing his praises. [UPDATE on Priebus: I had earlier noted the Anderson brothers backing Priebus. Apparently this info was conflated from the Anderson brothers doing work in Wisconsin for the state party. They are not, however, backing Priebus]

Were I an RNC committeeman, however, I would be deeply worried about the rift between the tea party movement and the RNC right now. And Priebus, more than any of the other candidates save Cino, exacerbates that rift. Outside of Wisconin, the tea party movement wants to see this guy defeated with the passion otherwise reserved for defeating Michael Steele.

It may be unfair. There are many Priebus defenders who think so. But that he has done such a poor job addressing the concerns the grassroots have should worry the RNC that they'd be in for two more years of fighting with the grassroots.

Last is Ann Wagner. Her RNC Chairman debate performance was not stellar. But Wagner is loved, loved, loved by the grassroots in a way no other candidate save Saul Anuzis is. Like with Anuzis, questions on life issues go away as do questions of grassroots support.

Thus if I were an RNC Committeeman I would realize that the present rift between the grassroots and establishment could largely be healed overnight, but only by supporting Wagner or Anuzis.

Personally, I'd vote for Saul Anuzis. I know him and know the amazing work he did when the odds were against him in Michigan. Wager is an attractive alternative.

But you can bet your bottom dollar that, whether you or I may like it, the fight with the tea party movement will continue if Steele, Priebus or Cino is chosen. That's just the reality of the situation.