American Exceptionalism

This new Gallup poll shows that a large majority of American's agree that "that the United States has a unique character because of its history and Constitution that sets it apart from other nations as the greatest in the world."  The same poll shows that just 58% believe that President Obama agrees with the sentiment.

In 2009, President Obama was asked if he believed in American exceptionalism. He replied, 

"I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism." 

In fairness, Obama does go on, in the same reply, to state that he is "proud of my country and its role and history in the world."  The quote continues with nuanced language about partnerships and compromise and how the other nations of the world are also wonderful, etc.  He doesn't seem to understand what American exceptionalism is actually referring to.

Many, mostly on the left, conflate American exceptionalism with nationalism.  American exceptionalism is not based on national pride, but rather refers to the opinion that America was uniquely founded upon an idea.  It was designed by the founding fathers as a nation of laws, based on liberty and individualism.

Obama's relativism regarding American exceptionalism can be summed up with a quote from the movie "The Incredibles":

Helen: Everyone's special, Dash.
Dash: Which is another way of saying no one is.

Does unemployment stimulate the economy?

Does unemployment stimulate the economy?  It seems, on it's face, like an absurd economic strategy.  But, upon further analysis - yes, it is absurd.

Keith Olbermann, Nancy Pelosi and other Keynesian Democrats would like to believe that is true. It's simply wrong (and dangerous).

Olbermann's claim:

"The unemployed, unlike the rich ... are, in fact, the job creators"

A panel on PJTV, including Yaron Brooks and Terry Jones, dissects Olbermann's theory here:

UPDATE:  Trickle-up economics via xtranormal.

Curtis Got Slapped ...

A child named Curtis Bowen © was allegedly slapped by his teacher at Martin Luther King Jr., Elementary School.  In response, his mother, Lisa Henry Bowen © wrote a racially charged 40-page letter of demands for reparations.

This site shows most of the 40-page letter.  

To start things off, Ms. Bowen © presents a bill, payable by money order or silver coinage, for $250,000.  She uses some basic math to arrive at that figure.

"Curtis Bowen © has a million dollar face, and I've always told him so.  Curtis Bowen © is my sovereign property and belongs to me, according to God's laws, the Common Law ... Curtis Bowen © demonstrated for me how Ms. Curry slapped him and it appears, by his demonstration, she slapped 1/4 of his face."

The 14 page list of demands that follows ranges from merely ridiculous ...

  - Annual trips to Disneyland

  - An audience with the President

  - A $15,000 per month consulting job for Ms. Bowen ©

... to entirely insane: 

  - No H.A.A.R.P. signals used to "... make us confused, crazy, stupid ... "

  - No "mind control tactics ... "

  - No "... "mysterious deaths" in an effort to avoid paying us"

You have to read the whole thing to fully appreciate the magnitude of the madness required to write this manifesto.

... Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happy Meals

San Francisco's board of supervisors has voted, by a veto-proof margin, to ban most of McDonald's Happy Meals as they are currently being served in the restaurants. The measure is intended to force fast-food chains to either make their children's meals healthier or stop selling them with toys. View the full story here.

The measure will make San Francisco the first major city in the country to forbid restaurants from offering a free toy with meals that contain more than set levels of calories, sugar and fat.


The ordinance would also require restaurants to provide fruits and vegetables with all meals for children that come with toys.

The money quote in the article is this:

"We're part of a movement that is moving forward an agenda of food justice," said Supervisor Eric Mar, who sponsored the measure.

Who needs to parent when there are nanny-state politicians ready to legislate parenthood instead?

The Victory Speeches of Barney Frank and Marco Rubio.

Compare and contrast the following victory speeches.

Barney Frank: arrogant, bitter, petty, angry.


Marco Rubio: humble, gracious, dignified, inspiring.

first blood in the arizona immigration fight

 is drawn by a clinton-appointed federal district judge.  one of the arguments she makes is that

"The number of requests that will emanate from Arizona as a result of determining the status of every arrestee is likely to impermissibly burden federal resources and redirect federal agencies away from the priorities they have established..." 

so, in essence, democrats find themselves cheering the proposition that we won't bother enforcing laws if enforcement would be onerous.

i wonder whether they would support the proposition in other contexts.  my guess is that no effort would be spared if they could legally jail, say, tea-partiers.

what the media doesn't cover

ought to embarrass any self-respecting journalist.  it should be interesting to see what coverage, if any, develops of this story about quotas in the financial bill.  Drudge could force the issue, and he's already got a link.  No siren, though.

scott johnson at powerline posted earlier about this phenomenon.

'All of the Above'

Bill Whittle on Obama.

"Is Barack Obama:

A. A Muslim-sympathizing, neo-marxist true-believer, who sees America and capitalism as the principal barrier to fairness and world peace, or;

B.  Is he merely an empty suit, an unwitting pawn of much larger hidden forces, or:

C.  Simply a self-obsessed, incompetent, narcicist who happened to be at the right place at the right time.

... I've given this a lot of careful thought, and I think the real answer is ... 'Yes'."

Here is the link to the whole thing.

Media Says 'Jump'; Obama Asks, 'How High?'

Obama, relying on daily polls and media advice, is clearly in reaction mode and constantly finding himself one step behind where he ought to be.

Barack Obama, political weathervane.

via Byron York.

DeMint's South Carolina Senate Seat Appears Safe.

Incumbent S.C. Senator Jim DeMint is facing the winner of the Democratic party primary, Alvin Greene.  Greene is such a terrible candidate that Dems are claiming he's a Republican plant.  That seems unlikely, as presumably the Republicans wouldn't have planted a candidate this bad.  Firstly, they didn't need to, as DeMint is expected to trounce whoever the Dems put up against him.  Secondly, they wouldn't have expected this character to make it through the primary.

Republicans, when planting candidates in a Democratic primary, usually don't go for an unemployed, barely literate candidate who is facing felony obscenity charges.

Greene has given several completely bizarre interviews, including this one with Keith Olbermann:

Obama's blame game

CHRIS STIREWALT: Obama Falls Headfirst Into The Hypocrisy Trap.

(via Instapundit) 

Why Won’t Obama Meet With the CEO of BP?

via Michelle Malkin:

Presidential candidate Obama, would you be willing to meet with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hugo Chavez and and Kim Jong Il?

“I would.”

*****
President Obama, have you spoken with the CEO of BP to discuss the oil spill in the Gulf?

“No… when you talk to a guy like the BP CEO, he’s going to say all the right things to me. I’m not interested in words. I’m interested in actions.”

           *****

Helen Thomas apologizes for having said it out loud.

Helen Thomas issued a non-apology apology for her remarks about the need for Jews to "get the hell out of Palestine" and return to Poland and Germany.

The "apology" is paraphrased below:

“I deeply regret [that the] comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians [were spoken out loud]. They do not  [accurately] reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties [Israel] recognize[s] the need for mutual respect and tolerance [Hezbollah]. May that day come [Israel be destroyed] soon.”

Update: Thomas has resigned.  I'm not sure she could do worse than she has already, but apparently there is more Thomas video on the way.

Study finds increased gov’t spending results in unemployment.

Not exactly man bites dog stuff, but the results surprised the researchers anyway...

via HotAir:  Study finds increased gov’t spending results in unemployment.

 "Our findings suggest that they [policy makers] should revisit their belief that federal spending can stimulate private economic development. It is important to note that our research ignores all costs associated with paying for the spending such as higher taxes or increased borrowing. From the perspective of the target state, the funds are essentially free, but clearly at the national level someone has to pay for stimulus spending. And in the absence of a positive private-sector response, it seems even more difficult to justify federal spending than otherwise."

Pelosi's prolific absurdity

Pelosi recently referred to the health care bill as "entrepreneurial"...

"...We see it as an entrepreneurial bill, a bill that says to someone, if you want to be creative and be a musician or whatever, you can leave your work, focus on your talent, your skill, your passion, your aspirations because you will have health care."

Question:  In what alternate universe does quitting your job translate to entrepreneurial?

Answer: California’s 8^th District 

Here is the clip ...