"...And He is Us."

The title is from Pogo's famous observation "we have met the enemy, and he is us".

Jayson Javitz at Wizbang hits the nail on the head:

The anti-McCain radio blocs also have managed to accomplish the ultimate in the way of ironies. They've become the very same things of which they've incessantly accused the far left: Factually inaccurate, driven solely by agenda, uninformed, misinformed, petty, arrogant, incompetent.

Enough said.

In Defense of McCain.

Bill Bennett and Seth Liebsohn provide the antidote to McCain Derangement Syndrome.

So Glib and Irresponsible.

Ann Coulter has followed up her much-trumpeted "support" for Hillary Clinton in the case of McCain's GOP nomination with a column detailing McCain's heresies that compels her realignment. It's the standard stuff: Gang of 14, "pro-amnesty", McCain-Feingold, etc.

Notably absent: Iraq, except for a terse four-word dismissal.

Let's be perfectly clear about where the Dems stand on Iraq: both Clinton and Obama have stated that most if not all of American forces will be out of Iraq by 2010 if either of them were to become president. In fact, during the last Dem debate Clinton and Obama discussed the need to evacuate and assist those Iraqis that had been so foolish to think that the United States had been committed to securing a stable, safe, and democratic Iraq. Think of human beings clinging to the undercarriage of helicopters atop the US Embassy.

Such tunnel-vision by Coulter is intellectual dishonesty, which one thought she detested. Shame on her for it, and her apparent little regard that she has for the sacrifice that the US has made in Iraq and for the Iraqis who have their pledged their Lives, their Fortunes and their sacred Honor for their country.

Super Tuesday.

All one can ask for today's vote is for one to truly vote for whom one believes is best...and then let the chips fall as they may and support the party's nominee. But for some in the conservative ecosystem to declare that if McCain would prevail to become the GOP nominee that they will "take their ball and go home" and not cast a ballot in November is completely irresponsible.

Last week's Democrat debate left no doubt that Clinton and Obama are committed to withdrawl of American forces from Iraq by the beginning of 2010. This is *the* critical issue that will distinguish a Democrat or Republican White House. Such a withdrawl would cut the throat of the Iraqi people, and those in the conservative "movement" who advocate sitting November out if McCain is the nominee truly risk such a disaster in Iraq.

Change.

These videos are truly offered without prejudice. The first are cuts from the 1994 Massachussetts senatorial debate between Ted Kennedy and Mitt Romney:




Hmmm...not the Mitt we know now. The second is video is provided by the Romney campaign showing his explanation of his policy reversals on the Glenn & Helen Show Podcast:



Draw your own conclusions.

Datapoint.

At the conclusion of a recent public lecture on cosmology at the University of Michigan, the lecturer conducted an anonymous poll of the 200+ attendees as to whether they believed that (1) God created the universe and is still active in guiding it, (2) God created the universe but is now absent from it, or (3) God does not exist. The result of the poll was about 30% of the responding attendees chose (1), 10% chose (2), and 60% chose (3). There may be a sampling bias - the population consisted of people getting up on a Saturday morning to attend a physics lecture - but it's an interesting result nevertheless.

In Their Own Voices.

The American Institute of Physics has a great oral history site, "Moments of Discovery", featuring the discovery of nuclear fission, pulsars, and superconductivity. Featured are the voices of Rutherford, Einstein, Hahn, and others describing events that altered our understanding of the universe.

Is McCain Conservative or A Conservative?

RealClearPolitics' Robert Robb explains the difference. A good balanced read on Mac.

Evil Incarnate.

Two bomb blasts shattered the peace of a sunny day in Bagdhad, killing scores of people - many children - who were visiting streetside petstores. Mr. Moore's "Freedom Fighters" may have employed two mentally retarded women as human bombs in the attacks. This is the nature of our enemy - knowing no limit to the evil they will commit in pursuit of their objectives. We cannot leave the people of Iraq to the vengence of these barbarians.

The Democrat Debate and MDS.

Watching last night's Democrat Debate in California was much like a soldier's life: 99% tedium and boredom, 1% extreme terror. The tedium: listening to the subtle differences between the HC and BO plans for nationalized health care. The terror: their plans to give up on Iraq by 2010 (and God help those Iraqis who cast their lot with us). Listening to the Dems made it very clear of the stakes involved with this election and the imperative for the GOP to prevail this fall. Mitt or McCain, let us come together.

Meanwhile, the fever of McCain Derangement Syndrome doesn't appear to be breaking.

Hillary Trounces Nonexistent Opposition in Florida Primary.

In the grand style of one-party rulers, Hillary is holding a "victory rally" in Florida tonight. True Theatre of the Bizarre.

A Mission from God.

Cigar Aficionado's Gordon Mott pens a wonderful story of the Blues Brothers. Many of us Phillistines were first introduced to The Blues by Joliet Jake and Elwood. Little brother Zee has filled Jake's shoes very well, while Jake is on extended tour with Gatemouth, Muddy, Ray, T-Bone, and Johnny Lee.

Double-Checking McCain's Stand on Illegal Aliens.

A question was asked of McCain at recent town-hall meeting in Florida about his Hispanic Outreach Director, a Mr. Juan Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez is a vocal supporter of what appears to be a dual-citizenship status for illegal Mexican aliens now in the United States. Here's the transcript of the exchange at the town hall meeting (from Hot Air):

QUESTION: Senator McCain, I thank you so much for your service … as an Irish … my parents and grandparents both came here … I so much want to vote for you, I have one concern … straight talk … it is you have an outreach - Hispanic outreach person - on your staff, Juan Hernandez, and he has said that he understands why Social Security … because we don’t allow the immigrants to get their own, so it’s ok for him that we steal other Americans Social Security. He also has written a book called “The New American Pioneers” about comparing illegal immigrants not [with] legal immigrants … I wonder if you agree with his policy? If so, explain it to me and if not why is he on your staff?

SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN: He’s on my staff because he supports my policies and my proposals and my legislative proposal to secure the borders first. No one will receive social security benefits who is in this country illegally. I don’t know what his previous positions are or other positions are, he supports mine. I have nothing to do with his. He has volunteered to help me with outreach to our Hispanic citizenry as I outreach to every citizen in America. I’ve been very clear on my position on immigration; I’ve been very clear on my position on Social Security. Of course I am grateful that so many people came from Ireland to the United States of American and anybody else who come here legally and that’s the only system I will ever support. I have no idea but I will check in to the information you’ve given me. I promise you, I will secure our borders, I will not allow anyone to come here illegally, I will not allow anyone to receive Social Security or any other benefits because they have come here illegally and broken our laws.

Senator, make sure this guy understands that he works for you, not vice-versa. And does he really sign up to your point of you expressed in your answer to this question? If not, show him the door now.

Yes, Conservatives Can Be Green.

Newt Gringrich is promoting "green conservatism":

...It is possible to have a healthy environment and a healthy economy. It is possible to build incentives for a cleaner future. It is possible to have biodiversity and wealthy human beings on the same planet. And it is possible to have free markets, scientific and technological advances, and an even more positive environmental outcome. There is every reason to be optimistic that if we develop smart environmental and biodiversity policies our children and grandchildren will experience an even more pleasant world...

Somewhere, in a pleasant place, TR is "Dee-lighted!"

Only the Lonely.

Willard "Mitt" Romney has few, if any, friends among his GOP rivals, so says the New York Times. We at Deaddrifts can only observe the "waves" that Mr. Romney emits: distance, discomfort, and an ersatz sincerity. It's not quantitative, it's perhaps a bit unfair - he might be a real mensch in familiar surroundings - but we have an uncomfortable feeling about him that is reinforced with his every appearance. These might be personality traits that a successful businessman or CEO must have; perhaps a different set is required for the office of President of the United States.

David Limbaugh's Test of Faith.

A column by David Limbaugh is now being parroted by the Establishment Republican Media as the Litany Against McCain. It serves as the ERM's Test of the Faith; to wit:

• A Conservative does not criticize a sitting Republican president, ever, regardless of the effect of said President's actions on the national security.
• A Conservative always supports tax cuts, even when a Republican Congress cannot not restrain its spending.
• A Conservative believes that the problem of illegal aliens can be solved by literally rounding up millions of people in the United States and deporting them, with no possibility of mistakes nor violation of liberties of American citizens, nor consideration of extenuating circumstances (such as members of the Armed Forces with illegal alien parents).
• A Conservative tortures enemy captives to extract information, regardless of the quality of said information.
• A Conservative tears up the rules of the Senate, regardless of unintended consequences such as loss of the protection of said rules when Republican control of the Senate is lost.
• A Conservative cannot believe in climate change, and cannot disagree with the Republican Establishment on environmental issues.
• A Conservative cannot criticize the political positions adopted by Evangelical Christian groups.
• A Conservative cannot criticize corporations. Theodore Roosevelt was mistaken in his "trust busting".

We just want make sure we've got it straight.

Come 'an Git It!

Uncle Sugar Daddy has backed the truck up and is tossing the hams out on the curb. The Old Folks might get hams, too. Our Gummint knows no bounds in its generosity; just send the bill to the kids.

Not Unexpected.

In an effort to make every delegate count - for her - Hillary starts pulling the strings to get the Michigan and Florida delegates reinstated for the party convention.

MLK's "Knock at Midnight" Sermon.

Bill Bennett featured this sermon on his MLK Day show. This sermon is quite prescient of our many present-day afflictions.

Masters of Our Fate.

Bill Kristol observes the unmodern qualities of John McCain.