All That Is Necessary

Month: June 2009

  • Don’t Overlook the Good News in Iraq

    In the midst of Bernie Madoff, Governor Sanford, cap-and-tax, unrest in Iran and the continuing deceasement of MJ, take a moment to note a happy milestone: The orderly, scheduled withdrawal today of American troops from major cities in Iraq, turning over primary responsibility to the Iraqi security forces. Here’s Ralph Peters today in  the New […]

  • Madoff Hoped for Eventual Freedom

    Bernie Madoff got the maximum sentence of 150 years in prison for stealing billions in what the judge called his “extraordinarily evil” Ponzi scheme. Probably it should now be renamed a Madoff scheme — Mr. Ponzi has been dead since 1949, and his take was denominated in mere millions. He was sentenced to only five […]

  • R.I.P., President Obama’s Honeymoon

    It’s been a while since I’ve updated the Honeymoon-Over Watch.  According to David J. Rothkopf at Foreign Policy, this should be the last update needed: Mark it on your calendars.  It was in June 2009 that Barack Obama’s honeymoon officially ended.  And to be more specific, it was this past week.  Through some mysterious alchemy, […]

  • Better Pass It Quickly — Someone Might Read It!

    Once again the Democrats in Congress are trying to push through a hugely expensive and controversial bill that nobody — literally nobody — has read. In February, as Congressional leaders and the Obama Administration were twisting arms to gather the votes they needed for the $800 zillion porkulus bill, I wrote this: When listening to […]

  • Michael Jackson, 1958-2009 —
    May Light Perpetual Shine Upon Him

    He was three days younger than me. Self-absorbed, I suppose, but that’s what came to mind first when I heard of Michael Jackson’s death.  He’s indexed in my mind along with Madonna and Prince, who are a few weeks older, in a file labeled “People My Age.” I was never a huge fan, but as […]

  • The Perilous Implications of Bush’s Third Term

    While much of Barack Obama’s national security policy has, thankfully, looked like a continuation of the Bush administration, his rhetorical response to the crisis in Iran thus far contrasts sharply with what we would have expected from his predecessor. Bush turned the heat up under Iran by naming the regime to his “Axis of Evil.”  […]

  • Jonesing for My Iran Fix — Did They Strike or Not?

    Andrew Sullivan posted his latest update from the #iranelection Tweetstream at about midnight last night, indicating confusion about whether the national strike is planned for Tuesday or Wednesday.  Now it’s 8:15 a.m. on the US East Coast — 8.5 hours later in Iran means the normal work day must be almost over.  No sign of […]

  • Obama Critic Indulges in Overwrought Rhetoric

    I think President Obama’s expression of support Friday for Iranians “seeking justice in a peaceful way” in Iran set the proper tone.  I’d give it a B+, with points deducted for tardiness, as it could and should have been said days earlier.  Obama is right to be wary of appearing to meddle in Iranian affairs, […]

  • CWCID: Thank You, Mr. President; Now Please Teach CBS How to Edit

    Credit where credit is due: President Obama yesterday said unambiguously “we stand behind those who are seeking justice in a peaceful way” in Iran. And then, after days of complaints about the president’s lack of public support for the demonstrators, CBS, which had Obama’s words on tape in an exclusive interview, edited that statement out […]

  • The Election Was a Sham — I Hope the Revolt is Not

    Charles Krauthammer today, taking aim at Obama’s tepid expression of “deep concern about the election”: Moreover, this incipient revolution is no longer about the election. Obama totally misses the point. The election allowed the political space and provided the spark for the eruption of anti-regime fervor that has been simmering for years and awaiting its […]