IS OBAMA HEADING DOWN THE ROAD TOWARDS APPEASEMENT, RATHER THAN VIGOROUSLY FIGHTING THE WAR ON TERROR?
I fear he is, and so does Victor Davis Hanson:
"So here we are in yet the latest round of perpetual peace, this time overseen by a postnational, messianic Barack Obama. Serial apologies, engagement with dictators, the trashing of his predecessor, and calls for a newly empowered United Nations are all part of a sophisticated soft power that has replaced the old Bush “smoke ’em out,” “dead or alive” reductionism.We are more likely now to put CIA interrogators on trial than to arrest and berate new terrorists. Dick Cheney, not Osama bin Laden, has become the new national threat. George W. Bush has been reduced to Orwell’s Emmanuel Goldstein, the “He did it” collective menace at whom we are supposed to yell out in hatred each morning. We now live in an era of renewed appeasement, faith in the United Nations, no “inordinate fear,” and all the usual tired slogans."
Of course the big exception to this is the Obama administration's decision to escalate American involvement in Afghanistan. Yet there too he's facing pressures to pull out. Can he withstand such pressures? His overall policy direction can't leave one feeling optimistic.
And we've touched here on the uptick we're seeing lately in terrorist bombings in Afghanistan and Iraq. Could it be that Obamaism is emboldening the terrorists?
IS THE GOP DEAD? DEPT:
Nope:
" In August, an average of 45% of Americans identified as Democrats or leaned to the Democratic Party, while 40% identified as Republicans or leaned to the Republican Party. This 5-point advantage represents a decided narrowing of the gap between the parties from the 17-point Democratic advantage in January."
By the way, what's a good way to tell how the Obama administration itself thinks it's doing with the American people when it comes to health care policy? Simple--now Obama's decided he needs to address Congress on the issue. The administration's internal polls must not look too good--otherwise Obama would never reverse field and decide to get real specific on what he wants in health care reform.
BASEBALL DIARY: last night the Tigers hit the ball well--3 home runs--and got just enough good pitching from Edwin Jackson to edge Cleveland, 8-5. But Jackson deserved the victory--he's pitched so well so often this year and gotten nothing for it, that he deserves to have his teammates pick him up here. It's so important for teams in a pennant race, like the Tigers, to beat the last-place clubs like the Indians. Good to see the Tigers take care of business last night.
Meanwhile the Texas Rangers won two yesterday over the Toronto Blue Jays--5-2 in game 1, and 5-2 again in the nightcap. Give big props to starting pitchers Dustin Nippert and Brandon McCarthy; and note Chris Davis' big hits throughout the doubleheader, along with Josh Hamilton's two home runs in the nightcap. Davis was banished to the minors earlier this season due to lack of production; he appears to have gotten back on track. And maybe Hamilton has again found his power. The Rangers are still only 3 and 1/2 out of the wild card; maybe the sky isn't falling.
The Cubs behind Randy Wells (who now has 10 wins--who'd a thunk) beat the Astros 4-1 last night. At least the Cubbies are still battling. And Milton Bradley remains hot. But it all might be too late...
