Another Story

As often happens, Jonah Goldberg says what I would like to say better than I could ever said it, in his recent NR column here.

BHO did not lose the first debate because he was unprepared, over-prepared, caught by surprise or having trouble with the altitude.  He didn't even lose it because he was outmatched.  He lost it because of who he is, and -- more importantly -- who he is not:  He is not a great debater, he is not a good speaker without a TelePromTer, he is not able to think on his feet.  He is arrogant, condescending, and uninterested in the inconveniences of such things as running for reelection when he has already been annointed.  Left exposed and unfiltered, we see who he really is.

This isn't political; it's simply personal.  We can discuss the lousy politics another time.

In 2000, three different versions of Al Gore showed up in the three presidential debates.  Nobody knew for sure -- then or now -- which one was real.  We saw the real BHO this past Wednesday.  If another one shows up in Round 2, it will look even more ridiculous.  Trust me.

Quote from Jonah Goldberg

"[A]s a conservative, I actually believe that conservative policies will be better for America.  From school choice to free markets to advancing democracy around the world, I believe that conservatives are, for the most part, correct.  When conservative proposals are rebuffed with insinuations of fascist motives, it not only cheapens public discourse but also helps beat back much-needed reforms, and it does so not through argument but hrough intimidation."

Jonah Goldberg, Liberal Fascism, pg. 392-393
Doubleday (C) 2007

Making the world safe for...

There was a time -- not long ago -- when support for democracies around the world was a nonpartisan (or at least bipartisan) issue.  Particularly when those democracies are surrounded by well-armed, hungry enemies who seek annihilation, not coexistence. 

Thus, I find reports like this very disturbing.  Not to mention disrespectful. 

Reading the article, I began theorizing that lawmakers like Lindsay Graham and John McCain -- who nobody is ever going to consider part of the VRWC -- may represent the views that Scoop Jackson and like-minded Democrats held fifty-something years ago.  You had Republicans and Democrats, generally divided on domestic policy, but united on foreign policy.  Today, the Scoop Jacksonites have moved, largely, to the Republican Party (or Independents, in the case of Joe Lieberman), and you have a new, radical element, fostered by Bill Ayers and other people in his neighborhood, and held, apparently, by BHO himself. 

One wonders what good can come of insulting a fellow democracy and a strong ally in the fight against terrorism.  Seriously.  I'd like to hear someone come up with a defense of this one. 

The Map Room

Those following the presidential campaign should check out the Electoral College map at CNN.com.  It reflects (at least some) current polling in each state, but also allows you to change states from one column to another to see what each candidate has to do to get to the magic number of 270.  There's even a scenario for a tie, if you can stomach that possibility. 

Dusting off the 'blog...

Well, after almost exactly a year, it may be time to resuscitate Salad Days, if for no other reason other than providing posts (and links) that aren't suitable for the more congenial environment of Facebook or otherwise.  A good start is to (re-)read the last post, from a year ago, courtesy of National Review.  More to come...