Stay classy, Chrissy

As you may or may not recall, Chris "Snugglebuggle Kissyface" Matthews said just after the 2008 election that his job was to "make sure this presidency works", rather than, you know, doing any actual journalism, thus earning him the nickname cited above, at least from me.  (See here for details, and hey, it's better than a lot of other things Mr. Matthews has been called recently by others.)

As of this week, now we have a better idea of what making the Obama presidency works means.  Why, part of that job includes musing, almost wistfully so, about someone killing Rush Limbaugh.  Don't believe me?  See for yourself.



Can someone please tell me why NBC News continues to employ this guy?

(Hat tip:  Hot Air)

Dreams from Bill Ayers?

Anne Leary at BackyardConservative writes of an interesting encounter with one Bill Ayers yesterday.  According to the discussion she relates, he was speaking to a consortium called the Renaissance Group.

It's well worth a read.  I especially like this part:

Then, unprompted he said--I wrote Dreams From My Father. I said, oh, so you admit it. He said--Michelle asked me to. I looked at him. He seemed eager. He's about my height, short. He went on to say--and if you can prove it, we can split the royalties.

The entire writeup may be found here.  Check it out.

Obama went to Copenhagen and all he got was this lousy T-shirt

Look, I don't necessarily care if Chicago had gotten the 2016 Olympics or not. What annoyed me about the whole process was that President Obama took time away from dealing with a messed-up economy (or a jobless recovery, depending on how you look at it), an increasingly unpopular war in Afghanistan that really needs some attention from him, a national debt that is skyrocketing, and, if you lean the other way politically (hi, Dad), taking over the health-care system and punishing energy consumers.

As Tommy Christopher pointed out to me earlier today, President Bush certainly did not get a free pass when he was seen to be taking long ranch vacations or playing golf a lot.  (Remember "now watch this drive"?)  So why was it okay for President Obama to drop everything to lobby for this?  (Granted, Mr. Christopher was looking at his statement from a different angle than I was, but my point stands.)

It was a lose-lose situation for President Obama to go on this trip anyway.  Why?  Well, if he were to get the Olympics for Chicago, and the conventional wisdom in the MSM was that he would, then charges would be made (and were already being made) that he went just to get his own personal glory about having accomplished this.  (This drive for personal glory does seem to color some of his policy decisions.  Yes, that's my opinion.  It's also my blog.)  And now that he hasn't succeeded (or, as some ecstatic people on my side have put it today, "EPIC FAIL"), that is seen as a personal slap in the face for President Obama and his credibility (further discussion here).  It is my opinion that he would have been much better off had he simply stayed in Washington.

This ever-so-slightly snarky video from Cuffy Meigs appears to sum this whole story up:

C. Edmund Wright: "Palin's Revenge"

Apparently several people over at American Thinker are fans of Sarah Palin.  I mentioned James Lewis the other day; now, let's hear from C. Edmund Wright.  He published a piece today for all the people who proudly declared that Sarah Palin's career was over in July.  Its title:  "Palin's Revenge:  Who's Laughing Now?"

In it, Mr. Wright directly addresses the conventional wisdom in most places in July, when Governor Palin surprisingly announced her retirement.  Many, after all, said that she would become irrelevant once she left office.

Now correct me if I am wrong, but didn't I hear the Jurassic media bury the career of Sarah Palin just last July?  And weren't they joined in this mockery by the so-called conservative elites like David Brooks and Karl Rove and Joe Scarborough and so on?

Wasn't Mo Dowd just delirious in fact that the wicked witch (of her world) was dead?

You betcha. 

Well, just who is looking out of touch and foolish now? Hint: It isn't the Killa from Wasilla.  And yes, I think that is her Brinks Truck in fact. One of them anyway.

Many thought her resignation was a bad idea.  I was not thrilled when I originally heard the news.  But things have worked out well for both her and Alaska, as Mr. Wright explains:

What is the real story here is that given a set of singularly difficult circumstances, Governor Palin made a counter-intuitive and gutsy decision that has already proven right for all parties involved.  We call that brilliance. We call that effective leadership.

[...]

Palin did not seem to worry a bit about how her decision would look to the pundit class as she strode to the microphones and confidently gave a shocking announcement that she knew would bring down a hell storm of self-important derision.  She did not flinch. She made her decision, announced it, and went about making it work for all involved.

And it has. It has worked for the state of Alaska, where their small government is no longer burdened by over the top media scrutiny and an endless string of nuisance legal actions.  Alaska can get back to being Alaska, and the state is governed by a man who shares Palin's vision for the state without having one of the biggest media targets in the history of the country painted on his back.

[...]

And the resignation has certainly worked for Palin's family and the former governor herself no doubt.  They no longer have the targets painted on their backs either.  They no longer are burdened by a mountain of legal debt and the mountain of legal debt is no longer growing like it was. Win. Win. Win.

If Sarah Palin is getting ready for a 2012 run, she has put herself into a very good position at this point:

It is obvious that Palin knew what she was doing all along.  Who knows what she will do in 2012.  It doesn't matter at the moment.  What matters is that her decision to resign as Governor of Alaska will put her in a far superior position for whatever she does or does not pursue. 

I think that's hilariously ironic.  Betcha she does too.  So who's laughing now?

For months, the easy positions have been that Sarah Palin had no clue; she was finished; she has no shot in 2012.  The first two positions have been repudiated; I believe the third will be as well, in due course, if that is the path she chooses.

84 Shopping Days to Go...

My wish list for Christmas 2009 came much more into focus this week. In a move that will, once again, dismay my parents, my number one want for a Christmas gift this year is this:

As a convenience to my wonderfully loyal readers, you can purchase your copy (or mine, if you like; I certainly wouldn't mind) via this handy link:

Going Rogue: An American Life

Here's the writeup on the book from HarperCollins:

One year ago, Sarah Palin burst onto the national political stage like a comet. Yet even now, few Americans know who this remarkable woman really is.

On September 2, 2008 Alaska Governor and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention that electrified the nation and instantly made her one of the most recognizable women in the world.

As chief executive of America’s largest state, she had built a record as a reformer who cast aside politics-as-usual and pushed through changes other politicians only talked about: Energy independence. Ethics reform. And the biggest private sector infrastructure project in U.S. history. And while revitalizing public school funding and ensuring the state met its responsibilities to seniors and Alaska Native populations, Palin also beat the political "good ol' boys club" at their own game and brought Big Oil to heel.

Like her GOP running mate, John McCain, Palin wasn’t a packaged and over-produced candidate. She was a Main Street American woman: a working mom, wife of a blue-collar union man, and mother of five children, the eldest of whom is serving his country in Iraq and the youngest, an infant with special needs. Palin’s hometown story touched a populist nerve, rallying hundreds of thousands of ordinary Americans to the GOP ticket.

But as the campaign unfolded, Palin became a lightning rod for both praise and criticism. Supporters called her "refreshing" and "honest," a kitchen-table public servant they felt would fight for their interests. Opponents derided her as a wide-eyed Pollyanna unprepared for national leadership. But none of them knew the real Sarah Palin.

In this eagerly anticipated memoir, Palin paints an intimate portrait of growing up in the wilds of Alaska; meeting her lifelong love; her decision to enter politics; the importance of faith and family; and the unique joys and trials of life as a high-profile working mother. She also opens up for the first time about the 2008 presidential race, providing a rare, mom’s-eye view of high-stakes national politics—from patriots dedicated to "Country First" to slick politicos bent on winning at any cost.

Going Rogue traces one ordinary citizen's extraordinary journey and imparts Palin’s vision of a way forward for America and her unfailing hope in the greatest nation on earth.

Shop early; beat the crowds!

James Lewis: "I believe that Sarah Palin just gave her first presidential address"

James Lewis of American Thinker leaves no doubt as to how he believes the winds of change are blowing in the first paragraph of his piece, "Redefining Sarah Palin":

As President Obama fumbled badly at the UN and G-8 last week, Sarah Palin began redefining herself as presidential timber.

Mr. Lewis sets the cast of characters for the foreseeable future thus: 

1) "a president who is way over his head"

Given another eight years of seasoning Obama might have made a skilled presidential player, but he won election prematurely, as he himself told the press two years ago. He simply was not ready. He was right about that, but he could not stop himself from seizing the big moment. 

2) a future challenger in Sarah Palin, who "showed Reagan's classic simplicity and directness, and like the Gipper's best talks, she went straight to the heart of today's political battle."

Palin spoke in Hong Kong, the most cosmopolitan city in China. By addressing China in both a fair and a tough-minded way she is likely to make a favorable impression. I would think that the Chinese and Japanese are more impressed by clarity and honesty than by flattery and evasions. So you can be sure it is being read all over Asia. 

3) the observers:  we, the voters, along with the other countries and leaders.  Everyone's watching this.  First, we're watching President Obama appearing to be in a losing endgame with Mahmoud Admedinejad:

In the US battle with Ahmadinejad, the most dangerous maniac in the world, we can now see the likely winner. Obama has foolishly put himself into a position of unprecedented weakness, where he can no longer stop Ahmadinejad's systematic march to nuclear weapons. For the first time in history, nukes will be in the hands of a fanatical Armageddon regime that is determined to use them.  In such a contest it is will power that matters. 

Then, we're watching Sarah Palin redefining her own image without the help of her detractors:

Since the election campaign, it seems that Sarah Palin recruited a top-notch team of advisors and political talent. The Hong Kong speech goes straight to her alleged weakness in foreign affairs, and it is a very good first step toward re-making her media image to be more substantive. The truth is that most of our media heads would not recognize foreign policy substance if it hit them right between the eyes. But they know the image of substance, and the Hong Kong speech was good on both appearance and reality. She demonstrated "gravitas" -- in the pop slogan of the early Bush years. We need more of the same, but she has now shown convincingly that she can do it. 

I don't think it is possible at this point to assume that Obama will win re-election in a walkover.  And at this point, Sarah Palin is presenting herself as a very good alternative to his administration's failing policies.

(Hat tip:  Conservatives 4 Palin)

Unfairly Forgotten Song #7: Piece of My Heart by Tara Kemp

A few months before my last forgotten song honoree hit the charts, a California girl named Tara Kemp hit the top ten with two songs from her eponymous and only album.  The first, "Hold You Tight", went gold and is, to my knowledge, still somewhat familiar to people.  For years, this song was the only Tara Kemp offering available for request at Austin's Bob FM.  (Since then, they now show all tracks from her album as being available.  Yeah, right.  I've never even heard them play "Hold You Tight" in five years of operation.)  The second, "Piece of My Heart", is notable for, among other things, using the exact same rhythm track as "Hold You Tight" had.  (Seriously, listen to the two songs together sometime.  Part 2 of the October 4, 2002 Crap From the Past show actually plays the two together for comparison:  a Tara Kemp-a-thon.)

In any case, for some reason, as "Hold You Tight" held on through the years, "Piece of My Heart" seemingly disappeared entirely (as did Tara Kemp, apparently after her record company went under).  Luckily, thanks to the magic of YouTube, the video survives.



(Note: most information in "forgotten songs" entries comes from the always-reliable Wikipedia; as such, its veracity may be questionable.)

Palin's speech brings out the haters

As promised, here's a closer look at the people who comment at CNN, as well as their abject hatred for Sarah Palin. As you may or may not have heard, she gave a speech in Hong Kong which has received some attention, and CNN wrote about it. Unfortunately, a good number of people who comment at CNN's website have felt the need to screech their scattered thoughts, most of which seem to center around either Sarah Palin being an idiot, the CLSA being idiots for inviting her to speak, or Republicans in general being idiots. In general, this is not a good way of convincing people of anything; however, it just might increase the likelihood of these commenters appearing as panelists on The Chris Matthews Show.

Enough of that...let's get to the comments.

• Tony:  Obviously for Palin to get the gig, Lindsey Lohan, was back in rehab, Jessica Simpson is depressed over the loss of her dog and boyfriend, Britney Spears is working on her comeback and Paris Hilton wasn't interested.
• DC Mike:  I would not pay one thin dime to hear this complete ignoramus speak. Never before has someone so incredibly stupid been a prominent member of a US political party. Her popularity amongst Republicans sheds light on the complete and total lack of intelligence within their party.
• k:  So she happens to now afford a speech writer, most likely paid for by the RNC, so she has the appearance of intelligence. This doesn't change the fact that she's still about as "with it" as a Pig.
• US Citizen:  Who she think she is? Only morans and combined total IQ of attendees must be in single digit. Is this a news worthy item? News Media is should be shame of them selves, giving this less than 5th grade intelect be the main story.
• Josh Lewis:  I get embarrassed enough for her when I see her on television, I don't think I could handle watching her speak in person. She has no place speaking to such an exclusive group of intelligent professionals.
• Debra:  This isn't about a liberal slant to the story. The point is that this is not a well versed person on any topic. To invite her is beyond reason. Perhaps it was a spectacle event. They could have gotten our former Miss California up there to do the same speech that someone else wrote. What's the point? I wouldn't pay 2 cents to hear her speak about any topic. It would certainly be a waste of time.

They sound like open-minded people, don't they?  I especially like the comments made by "US Citizen".  I almost think that the comments were made by someone parodying the haters' position; otherwise, they're just sad.  Seriously, "News Media is should be shame of them selves, giving this less than 5th grade intelect be the main story"?  I weep for the future.*

What exactly has happened to civility here?  (I refer here to both sides.)  Let's talk issues or reasons; let's not denigrate people as idiots, be they Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, or even Snowed In.

*10 points and virtually no prestige to the first to place that quote.

Sarah Palin shines in Hong Kong

Most of the reaction I've seen so far from Sarah Palin's speech at the CLSA Investors' Forum in Hong Kong appears to be quite positive.  At least one source remarked that she took not just one party to task but both major parties in the US, and she also gently chided China on the human rights front.

Surprising me, the NYTimes presented a fairly positive view of her speech.  I particularly liked this part:

A number of people who heard the speech in a packed hotel ballroom, which was closed to the media, said Mrs. Palin spoke from notes for 90 minutes and that she was articulate, well-prepared and even compelling.

Not really surprising me, CNN made the fact that a couple of people walked out the main point of its headline:  "Some early exits as Palin woos Hong Kong investors".

Those who attended her speech said she did well, though some could be seen leaving early on. A few of those people said they were heading to other forum offerings. Most people declined to speak with the media about the speech.

CNN didn't really have much to say about the content of the speech, choosing instead to use quotes from others, starting, of course, with someone who didn't care for her.  Typical.  (And, I could go on about the people who comment at CNN's articles, and I will, but not here.)

Dan Riehl links to the NYTimes (link above) and to AFP (linked by Breitbart), which, according to at least one of his readers, had the worst write-up of the speech.  Was it?  As they used to say during Monday Night Football, you make the call:

Although she touched on the threat posed to the United States by terrorism and talked about links with traditional US allies in Asia such as Japan, Australia and South Korea, one Asian delegate complained she devoted too much time to her home state of Alaska.

"It was almost more of a speech promoting investment in Alaska," he said, declining to be named.

"As fund managers we want to hear about the United States as a whole, not just about Alaska. And she criticised Obama a lot but offered no solutions."

Granted, they did offer some positive coverage:

"She was brilliant," said a European delegate, on condition of anonymity.

(Why would you need anonymity for a quote like that?)

But what really told me what I needed to know about AFP's coverage was that the author of this piece seemingly expected Sarah Palin to screw the speech up somehow:

There were no apparent gaffes though from Palin, who was mocked during last year's presidential campaign for her lack of experience in foreign affairs and for her verbal blunders.

Now, if we were to see sentences like that after President Obama (who was mocked during last year's presidential campaign for verbal blunders such as "57 states") or Joe Biden (oh, you know!) spoke, I wouldn't be so convinced that this report was severely slanted.  But, as you may have noticed, we don't.

(But Snowed, isn't your blog slanted?  Yes.  I like Sarah Palin.  Duh!  But at least I'll admit it.  The MSM likes President Obama as much or more than I like Gov. Palin, but with the exception of Chris "Snugglebuggle Kissyface" Matthews, no one will bother to admit the truth about this situation, not that we haven't already figured it out...)

For more on Governor Palin's speech, Josh Painter has a great write-up, including tweets from people who were at the speech and links to several other reports.  Check it out.

Don Surber also has a good take on it:

Methinks some people expected Joan of Arc while others expected Tina Fey. I think they got Sarah, a bright person from middle America who is more mainstream than the geniuses we have in Washington.

So what is the takeaway from this speech?  Is Sarah Palin prepping for a 2012 presidential run?  Who knows.  And, in my opinion, it's too soon to care anyway.  My takeaway is that Sarah Palin is going to be someone who makes things happen, whether she is in office or not.  And I think that is a good thing.

Promoting Better Lighting

This week Austinites have a great opportunity to help promote better, more efficient lighting in construction around here.  For those who don't know it (and apparently there are many), there is a group called the Illuminating Engineering Society, which is made up of architects, engineers, lighting designers, etc. and is devoted to helping produce better lighting designs--not just nicer, more intricate designs, but also more environmentally friendly ones.  (Thankfully, it is possible to have nice lighting designs that are efficient...lighting designers are no longer limited to those 2x4 fluorescent things that have been in everybody's office since about 1985.)

The local IES section will be meeting Wednesday the 23rd at 11:30am at Joe's Crab Shack on Riverside.  Here is the information that the local section has sent out regarding the meeting:

Did you know that the IES holds 25% of committee seats for ASHRAE?  Have you ever heard of the Advanced Energy Design Guide?  Have you ever wondered how lighting power densities were determined in ASHRAE or how many members the IES actually has?  This month’s meeting focuses on us – the IES.  We will cover the Who, What, Where of our organization including discussion about the new strategic plan (did you know there was one?), as well as delve into the inner workings of ASHRAE and its impact on LEED (with V3 updates).

If you are in a relevant field and are interested in seeing better lighting designs in Austin in the future, check it out.  You can get a discount by prepaying, so visit the local section website, http://tcsiesna.org, for more information.