Some Restraint, Please!

We recognize that Mr. Obama is the President-Elect, and will become the new President in a few months. But that does not mean it's prudent nor tactful to establish a parallel government during the transition, complete with policy declarations. Yet, he has already done so, with pronouncements on issues that are not particularly supportive of the real United States Government.

The Parallel United States Government has articulated, in rather clear language, exactly what will transpire in Iraq in the first year: we will be skulking out, apparently without little realistic regard to the conditions on the ground:

...Immediately upon taking office, Obama will give his Secretary of Defense and military commanders a new mission in Iraq: ending the war. The removal of our troops will be responsible and phased, directed by military commanders on the ground and done in consultation with the Iraqi government. Military experts believe we can safely redeploy combat brigades from Iraq at a pace of 1 to 2 brigades a month that would remove them in 16 months. That would be the summer of 2010 – more than 7 years after the war began. Under the Obama-Biden plan, a residual force will remain in Iraq and in the region to conduct targeted counter-terrorism missions against al Qaeda in Iraq and to protect American diplomatic and civilian personnel. They will not build permanent bases in Iraq, but will continue efforts to train and support the Iraqi security forces as long as Iraqi leaders move toward political reconciliation and away from sectarianism...

There is also planned for plenty of opportunity for Iran and Syria to provide their constructive inputs.

Yes, elections have consequences, one of which is inheriting the responsibility supporting the present government while you plan for the new government. The early behavior of the "shadow government" does not exhibit this responsibility.

Sound Recall.

The Conservative Corps has been shattered on the field of November 2008. The corps' generals and their camp followers have skee-daddled. It's time to sound recall - not retreat, but regroup, carry our dead from the field, find brave and brilliant new officers, and refit to fight another day.

The enigmatic General Obama has carried the day. We salute his brilliant victory, and to the extent that his interests in governance are harmonious with our visions for the welfare of our land, we can cooperate. We'll now see whether his mind is governed more by ambition than ideology. Ambition may to temper his socialism to "socialism-lite". But how he will proceed in the details of Iraq is a total mystery.

Required reading around the campfires: "Ten Conservative Principles", by the late Russell Kirk.

Triumph of the Brain Dead.

Jay Nordlinger comments on the spirit of mindless zealotry of Obama supporters; it has manifested itself in Ann Arbor with the harassment of McCain supporters. One guesses the change justifies the means.

The Bell Lap.

It's almost here, our national political orgasm is imminent. And whatever the result of Election Night, on Wednesday morning the Sun will rise, the geese will honk as they fly south, babies will gurgle "good morning" in their cribs, the toast will pop, coffee will be poured, and America will go on*.

Of course, for the pathological types, Wednesday morning will kickoff the campaign cycle for 2012: the planning for acquring power, retaining power, hoarding power, expanding power, or to ingratiate themselves with the newly powerful. Many will forget the reasons why they sought power in the first place. Some will be awake from the religous ecstasy, and ask "now what?"

In David Lean's magnificient film version of Doctor Zhivago (arguably the greatest film ever made), Red Army General "Strelinkov" proclaims to Yuri Zhivago that "the personal life is dead" - that human existance is reduced to service to the Communist Party - and derisively asks Yuri what he intends to do by traveling to the rural backwater of Varikino. "Just live", Zhivago replies.

Whether under the rapturous beneficience of Obamism or not, we can't wait to "just live".

*Inspired by Lou Rukeyser's post 1987 Crash Pep Talk.

No Room on the Plane.

It is reported that McCain campaign has denied Maureen Dowd a seat on the campaign plane. However, the refusal was to make room for more journalists.

Too Little and Too Late?

Jake Tapper has a "wait a minute!" moment with Mr. Obama's ENORMOUS list of promises to the people. Looks like you'll be off "O-Force One", Jake; you can pick up your luggage at the Greyhound terminal.

Old Home Movies Found of Obama Baby Shower!

Look for George Soros giving the gift of gold and Saul Alinsky's gift of a copy of "Rules for Radicals!"

Not Mentioned on The Daily Show.

The Russian Navy returns to the Western Hemisphere, guests of Hugo Chavez...

Thank Heavens You're Here!

The market has tanked, the economy is going south, socialism is knocking on the door, massteria is running amok, Democrats threaten us with unbridled power, and cats and dogs are in the streets. But there is one man who can save us in this desparate hour...

I Am Bill the Terrorist.

That Genius Iowahawk strikes again!

Obama, MoveOn, and Iraq.

Here is the audio of an April 2007 Q&A session on Iraq between members of MoveOn.org and Senator Obama. Its salient content: (i) Obama's declaration of the "failure" of the then-recent surge in Iraq, (ii) his insistance that US withdrawl from Iraq begin immediately (to be completed with a year), (iii) advocacy for a multilateral negotiations on the fate of Iraq between Iraqi Sunnis and Shias, Iran, and Syria, and (iv) appreciation and enthusiasm for MoveOn.org, the folks that brought you the infamous "General Betray Us" ad.

MoveOn endorsed Mr. Obama for the Presidency of the United States in early 2008 with 70% of its voting membership.

Lest we forget.

Barney Frank's Brave New World.

In an expansive and victorious mood, Congerscritter Frank describes his goals for an undivided government: a 25% spending cut for the DoD (forcing our hand in Iraq), expanded federal support of state spending programs, and higher taxes for The Rich^® (from Commentary Magazine).

An Ignored Story...

has been the explosive growth of the federal budget in non-defense related areas: consider the inflation-adjusted growth in the following catagories in the last eight years (courtesy WSJ):

• Transportation +22%
• Community Assistance +91%
• Education +57%
• Welfare +30%

Colin Powell's Endorsement.

The endorsement substantially hurts McCain, no doubt, but it was not a surprise. We wonder what Powell thought of Obama's earlier fellow traveling with MoveOn, who called General Petraeus, a brother in arms, "General Betray-Us"?

It's very clear that Obama has been building a firewall between himself and the Far Left organizations that provided early sustinence for his campaign. One wonders if such a wall will be demolished the day after Inauguration.

Founder's Quote for Today.

There are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of thepeople by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. - James Madison (speech to the Virginia Ratifying Convention,16 June 1788)

Poll: What Can We Expect?

The first few months of a new Administration is when the most politically incendiary decisions are made, counting on the short memory of the electorate.

Erbitux Is Not Aspirin.

Scott Gotlieb discusses in the WSJ about the risks to the developmental drug industry posed by government-forced cost controls on new drug therapies.

An O for All!

The creepy Obama "O" has now mutated into a myriad of forms for the spectrum of Hyphenated-Americans. Is this guy comfortable with this idol worship? (hat tip to The People's Cube)

The Cult of Personality.

This clip sings for itself.

Feel Good Green.

The Instapundit noted the following article about a Tennessee man who converted his 1994 Chevy S-10 to electric power for a mere $12,000. The two dozen batteries that are used will need to be replaced in three years, at a cost of about $3000. His gasoline bill was about $5000 a year, so he breaks even in year four. He could have bought a new S-10 for less, with better gasoline fuel economy. Yes, we're being a green humbug, but this report has as much signficance to practical garage-based energy solutions as a that about a waterskiing squirrel.